JP2017211393A - Particle separate collecting device and particle separate collecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for separately collecting particles in a microchip efficiently.SOLUTION: There is provided a particle separate collecting device including: a first light irradiation unit for irradiating particles flowing in a flow passage with a first irradiation light; a second light irradiation unit for irradiating the particles with a second irradiation light at a position different from in the case of the first irradiation light; a light detector for detecting light emitted from the particles; and a separate collection controller for calculating a time difference of arrival of the particles to the separate collector leading to the flow passage from the time difference in detection of light derived from the first irradiation light and light derived from the second irradiation light and controlling separate collection of the particles based on the calculated time difference, the flow passage and the separation collection part being located in the microchip.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present technology relates to a particle sorting apparatus and a particle sorting method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for separating and collecting particles based on the result of analysis by an optical method or the like.

  Conventionally, an optical measurement method using flow cytometry (flow cytometer) has been used for analysis of biologically relevant particles such as cells, microorganisms and liposomes. A flow cytometer is a device that irradiates particles flowing through a flow channel formed in a flow cell, a microchip, or the like with light and detects and analyzes fluorescence and scattered light emitted from the individual particles.

  Some flow cytometers have the function of sorting and collecting only particles with specific characteristics based on the analysis results, and the device that specifically sorts cells is called the “cell sorter”. . As a sorting method of the cell sorter, a droplet charging method is mainly employed in which droplets containing particles are charged and separated (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In a droplet charging system, a fluid discharged from a flow cell, a microchip, or the like is converted into droplets, plus (+) or minus (-) charge is applied to the droplets, and the traveling direction is changed by a deflecting plate or the like. By changing, it collects in a predetermined container.

  However, a sorting method such as a droplet charging method has a problem that it is easily affected by a change in measurement environment or a fluctuation in fluid pressure. Therefore, conventionally, a particle sorting apparatus for sorting in a microchip has also been proposed (see Patent Document 2). Since the particle sorting device described in Patent Document 2 draws and collects particles to be collected by a negative pressure suction unit in the microchip, droplet formation and charging are unnecessary, and the particles are damaged. Therefore, it is possible to perform sorting at high speed and stably.

JP 2009-145213 A JP 2012-127922 A

  In the conventional particle sorting apparatus, generally, the acquisition operation of the particles to be collected is controlled after a certain time from the detection time in the light detection unit. The time from detection to acquisition is set in advance based on the fluid pressure or the distance from the detection position to the sorting position. However, the control method in which the arrival time is fixed in this way has a problem that the purity and the acquisition rate of the recovered material are lowered when the flow rate of the particles fluctuates.

  On the other hand, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, in order to prevent a decrease in purity due to fluctuations in the flow rate of particles, the movement speed is detected for each particle, and the timing for applying an electric charge to each particle based on the movement speed is set. I have control. However, in the case of the charged droplet method, it is only necessary to determine which droplet each particle belongs to. However, in the case of a device that performs sorting in a microchip, in addition to the attributes of each adjacent particle, the characteristics of the fluid mechanism Need to be considered. Here, the “particle attribute” is whether or not the particle is a particle to be sorted, and the “fluid mechanical characteristic” is a reverse flow or the like generated at the rise of the pulse signal of the acquisition operation.

  In the charged droplet method, droplets are controlled. However, in an apparatus for sorting in a microchip as described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to control individual particles. . Furthermore, the charged droplet method and the method of sorting in the microchip differ in the path to reach the acquisition position and the factors that affect the arrival of particles. For the above reasons, the technique described in Patent Document 1 cannot be simply applied to the apparatus described in Patent Document 2 that performs sorting in a microchip.

  Accordingly, the main object of the present disclosure is to provide a particle sorting device and a particle sorting method that can efficiently sort particles in a microchip.

The particle sorting apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an excitation light irradiation unit that irradiates particles flowing through a flow path with excitation light, and a speed detection light that irradiates the particles with speed detection light at a position different from the excitation light. Each particle communicates with the flow path from a light irradiation unit, a light detection unit that detects light emitted from the particle, and a detection time difference between light derived from the excitation light and light derived from the speed detection light. An arrival time calculation unit that individually calculates the time to reach the sorting unit, and a sorting control unit that controls the sorting of the particles, and the flow path and the sorting unit are in the microchip. The sorting control unit determines whether to collect the particles based on the data of each particle detected by the light detection unit and the arrival time calculated by the arrival time calculation unit. to decide.
The sorting control unit calculates, for example, the arrival time difference between the preceding and following particles, and determines that particles having the arrival time difference equal to or less than a threshold value are not collected.
The speed detection light may have a wavelength different from that of the excitation light.
In that case, the arrival time calculation unit can calculate the arrival time of each particle from the detection time difference between the scattered light derived from the excitation light and the scattered light derived from the speed detection light.
The excitation light irradiating unit may include two or more light sources that emit light having different wavelengths.
The sorting unit may include a negative pressure suction unit that communicates with the flow path.
In this case, the sorting control unit controls the operation of the negative pressure suction unit based on the data of each particle detected by the light detection unit and the arrival time calculated by the arrival time calculation unit.
In addition, the sorting control unit determines the timing of collecting the particles in the sorting unit based on the data of each particle detected by the light detection unit and the arrival time calculated by the arrival time calculation unit. It can also be controlled.

The particle sorting method according to the present disclosure includes an excitation light irradiation step of irradiating particles flowing through a flow path provided in a microchip with excitation light, and speed detection at a position different from the excitation light on the particles. From the speed detection light irradiation step of irradiating light, the light detection step of detecting the light emitted from the particles, and the detection time difference between the light derived from the excitation light and the light derived from the speed detection light, The arrival time calculation step of individually calculating the time for each particle to reach the sorting unit provided in the microchip and communicating with the flow path, the data of each particle detected in the light detection step, and the arrival time A fractionation control step of determining whether to collect the particles based on the arrival time calculated in the time calculation step.
The sorting control step may calculate an arrival time difference between the preceding and succeeding particles, and determine that particles having the arrival time difference equal to or less than a threshold value are not collected.
Further, light having a wavelength different from that of the excitation light may be used as the speed detection light.
In that case, in the arrival time calculation step, the arrival time of each particle may be calculated from the detection time difference between the scattered light derived from the excitation light and the scattered light derived from the speed detection light.
In the excitation light irradiation step, light having different wavelengths can be emitted from two or more light sources.
On the other hand, the sorting unit may include a negative pressure suction unit that communicates with the flow path. In this case, the sorting control step includes the data of each particle detected in the light detection step and the arrival of the particles. Based on the arrival time calculated in the time calculation step, the operation of the negative pressure suction unit is controlled.
Further, in the sorting control step, the timing for collecting the particles in the sorting unit is controlled based on the data of each particle detected in the light detection step and the arrival time calculated in the arrival time calculation step. You can also.

  According to the present disclosure, the sorting control unit determines whether or not to collect particles based on the data of each particle detected by the light detection unit and the arrival time calculated by the arrival time calculation unit. Therefore, the acquisition performance of particles can be improved.

It is a figure showing typically the composition of the particle sorter concerning a 1st embodiment of this indication. It is a figure which shows the detection data in the photon detection part 7 shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the arrival time calculation part 8 and the fractionation control part 9 of the particle | grain fractionation apparatus which concerns on the modification of 1st Embodiment of this indication. FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing processing in the event detection circuit shown in FIG. 3. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing distances in the gating circuit shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of acquisition priority mode. A and B are diagrams showing detection data when particles are close to each other. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of purity priority mode.

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In addition, this indication is not limited to each embodiment shown below. The description will be given in the following order.

1. First Embodiment (Example of a particle sorting apparatus including a sorting control unit)
2. Modified example of the first embodiment (Example of a particle sorting apparatus having a mode switching function)

<1. First Embodiment>
First, the particle sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a particle sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing detection data in the light detection unit 7.

[Overall configuration of the device]
As shown in FIG. 1, the particle sorting device 1 of the present embodiment sorts and collects the particles 10 based on the result of analysis by an optical technique or the like. The particle sorting apparatus 1 includes, for example, a flow path 1, a sorting unit 2, an excitation light irradiation unit 3, a speed detection light irradiation unit 4, a light detection unit 7, an arrival time calculation unit 8, a sorting control unit 9, and the like. It has.

[Regarding Particle 10]
The particles 10 analyzed and sorted by the particle sorting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment include biologically related particles such as cells, microorganisms and ribosomes, or synthetic particles such as latex particles, gel particles and industrial particles. included.

  Biologically relevant particles include chromosomes, ribosomes, mitochondria, organelles (organelles) that constitute various cells. The cells include plant cells, animal cells, blood cells, and the like. Furthermore, microorganisms include bacteria such as Escherichia coli, viruses such as tobacco mosaic virus, and fungi such as yeast. The bio-related particles can include bio-related polymers such as nucleic acids, proteins, and complexes thereof.

  On the other hand, examples of the industrial particles include those formed of an organic polymer material, an inorganic material, or a metal material. As the organic polymer material, polystyrene, styrene / divinylbenzene, polymethyl methacrylate, or the like can be used. Moreover, as an inorganic material, glass, silica, a magnetic material, etc. can be used. As the metal material, for example, gold colloid and aluminum can be used. The shape of these particles is generally spherical, but may be non-spherical, and the size and mass are not particularly limited.

[Flow path 1]
The channel 1 is formed in the microchip, and a liquid (sample solution) containing particles 10 to be sorted is introduced. Here, the microchip provided with the flow path 1 can be formed of glass or various plastics (PP, PC, COP, PDMS, etc.). The material of the microchip is transparent to the light irradiated from the excitation light irradiation unit 3 and the speed detection light irradiation unit 4, has less autofluorescence, and has less optical error due to small wavelength dispersion. It is desirable to use a material.

  On the other hand, the channel 1 can be formed by wet etching or dry etching of a glass substrate, or by nanoimprinting, injection molding, or machining of a plastic substrate. And a microchip can be formed by sealing the board | substrate which shape | molded the flow path 1 etc. with the board | substrate of the same material or a different material, for example.

  FIG. 1 shows only the portion of the flow path 1 that is irradiated with the excitation light and the speed detection light. However, the sample liquid introduction flow into which the sample liquid containing the particles 10 is introduced upstream of this portion. A path and a pair of sheath liquid introduction channels into which the sheath liquid is introduced may be provided. In this case, the sheath liquid introduction channel joins the sample solution introduction channel from both sides, and the channel 1 is provided on the downstream side of the junction. In the flow channel 1, the sample flow is surrounded by a sheath flow, and the liquid flows in a state of forming a laminar flow, and the particles 10 in the sample liquid are arranged in approximately one row with respect to the flow direction. Run side by side.

[Sorting part 2]
The sorting unit 2 sorts the particles 10 to be collected and is formed in the microchip. The sorting unit 2 communicates with the downstream end of the flow channel 13 and includes a suction flow channel 21 and a negative pressure suction unit 22. The configuration of the negative pressure suction unit 22 is not particularly limited as long as the fine particles to be collected can be sucked at a predetermined timing. For example, the negative pressure suction unit 22 may be an actuator (not shown) or the like. The volume of 22 can be configured to be expandable at an arbitrary timing.

[Excitation light irradiation unit 3]
The excitation light irradiation unit 3 is provided with a light source 31 that generates excitation light such as laser light, an optical system 32 that shapes a spot shape, a mirror 33, and the like. Then, for example, the excitation light is irradiated to the particles 10 flowing in the flow channel 1 formed in the microchip. FIG. 1 shows an example where the number of light sources 31 is one, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and two or more light sources 31 may be provided. Light of different wavelengths may be emitted from the light source 31.

[Speed detecting light irradiation unit 4]
The speed detection light irradiation unit 4 includes a light source 41 that generates speed detection light, an optical system 42 that shapes a spot shape, a mirror 43, and the like. Then, for example, the velocity detection light is irradiated at a position different from the above-described excitation light onto the particles 10 flowing in the flow channel 1 formed in the microchip. The speed detection light may be light having the same wavelength as the excitation light, but it is preferable to use light having a wavelength different from that of the excitation light from the viewpoint of simplifying the device configuration.

[Photodetection unit 7]
The light detection unit 7 detects light (scattered light, fluorescence, etc.) generated from the particles 10 flowing through the flow path 1, and includes a zero-order light removal member 71, mirrors 72a to 72d, and light detectors 73a to 73a. 73d or the like. As the photodetectors 73a to 73d, for example, a PMT (Photo Multiplier Tube) or an area imaging device such as a CCD or a CMOS device can be used.

  In the light detection unit 7, for example, the forward scattered light derived from the excitation light by the photodetector 73a, the scattered light derived from the speed detection light by the photodetector 73b, the fluorescence by the photodetectors 73c and 73d, respectively. To detect. The light to be detected by the light detection unit 7 is not limited to these, and side scattered light, Rayleigh scattering, Mie scattering, and the like may be detected. Then, the light detected by the light detection unit 7 is converted into an electric signal.

[Arrival time calculation unit 8]
From the detection time difference between the light derived from the excitation light and the light derived from the speed detection light, the time for each particle 10 to reach the fractionation unit 2 communicating with the flow path is calculated individually. The method for calculating the arrival time is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, forward scattered light (Ch1 data) derived from excitation light detected by the light detection unit 7 and speed detection. The arrival time of each particle 10 is calculated from the detection time difference of the forward scattered light (Ch2 data) derived from the working light.

  Here, the arrival time at the sorting unit 2 can be calculated by, for example, a simple linear approximation represented by the following formula 1. In the following formula 1, L1 is the distance between the excitation light irradiation position and the speed detection light irradiation position, and L2 is the distance from the speed detection light irradiation position to the suction flow path 21 of the sorting unit 2 (see FIG. 1). ). T1 in the following Equation 1 is a detection time of light derived from excitation light, T2 is a detection time of light derived from speed detection light, and (T1-T2) is a difference between these detection times (FIG. 2).

  Note that the method for calculating the arrival time at the sorting unit 2 is not limited to the linear calculation method shown in Equation 1, and other calculation methods such as polynomial approximation and a lookup table may be used.

[Sorting control unit 9]
The sorting control unit 9 controls the sorting of the particles 10, and based on the data of each particle 10 detected by the light detection unit 7 and the arrival time calculated by the arrival time calculation unit 8, the particles It is determined whether or not 10 is to be collected. For example, the sorting control unit 9 calculates the arrival time difference between the front and rear particles 10 and determines that the calculated arrival time difference is equal to or less than a preset threshold value as “non-recovered”. Thereby, when the particle | grains 10 are adjoining and flowing, it can prevent acquiring the particle | grains before and behind the particle | grains of collection | recovery object.

  Further, the sorting control unit 9 controls the timing of collecting the particles 10 in the sorting unit 2 by controlling the operation of the negative pressure suction unit 22 based on the above-described determination result, for example. Thereby, the acquisition accuracy of the target particle | grains can be improved, and it becomes possible to perform fractionation with high purity and an acquisition rate.

[Operation]
Next, the operation of the particle sorting apparatus of this embodiment will be described. When the particles are sorted by the particle sorting device of this embodiment, the sample liquid containing the particles to be sorted is introduced into the sample inlet provided in the microchip, and the sheath liquid is introduced into the sheath inlet, respectively. . And while irradiating the particle | grains 10 which flow through the flow path 1 with excitation light, the particle | grains 10 are irradiated with the light for speed detection in the position different from excitation light. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the excitation light and the speed detection light may be collected by one condenser lens 5 and irradiated on the particles 10, but are condensed by separate condenser lenses. Also good.

  Next, the light emitted from each particle 10 is detected in the detection unit 7, and in the arrival time calculation unit 8, from the detection time difference between the light derived from the excitation light and the light derived from the speed detection light, the sorting unit The time for each particle 10 to reach 2 is calculated individually. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the light derived from the excitation light and the light derived from the speed detection light are collected by one condenser lens 6 and collected by the zero-order light removing member 71 of the detection unit 7. Although it may be lighted, it may be condensed by a separate condenser lens.

  Thereafter, the sorting control unit 9 collects the particles 10 from the optical characteristic data of each particle 10 detected by the detection unit 7 and the arrival time to the sorting unit 2 calculated by the arrival time calculation unit 8. Judge whether or not. Based on the determination result, the sorting control unit 9 controls the timing at which the sorting unit 2 collects the particles 10. For example, when the sorting unit 2 includes the negative pressure suction unit 22 that communicates with the flow path 1, the sorting control unit 9 controls the operation of an actuator or the like provided in the negative pressure suction unit 22.

  As described above in detail, in the particle sorting apparatus of this embodiment, the arrival time to the sorting unit is calculated for each particle, and not only the optical property data of each particle but also the reaching time to the sorting unit. Whether or not to collect the particles is also determined. This makes it possible to sort the particles with high purity or high acquisition rate regardless of the flow position and flow state of the particles. As a result, the acquisition performance can be improved as compared with the conventional particle sorting apparatus.

  In addition, since the particle sorting apparatus of the present embodiment calculates the arrival time for each particle, it is less susceptible to changes in flow rate due to changes in environmental temperature, supply tank remaining amount, and the like. This eliminates the need to control the flow rate with high accuracy, so it is possible to employ a low-cost pressure control device, simplify flow path component management and assembly accuracy management, and reduce manufacturing costs. be able to.

<2. Modification of First Embodiment>
Next, a particle sorting apparatus according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the particle sorting apparatus of this modification, the user can select whether to give priority to “purity” or “acquisition rate” when determining whether or not to collect.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the arrival time calculation unit 8 and the sorting control unit 9 of the particle sorting device of this modification. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing processing in the event detection circuit, and FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing distances in the gating circuit. Sorting in the “purity priority mode” or the “acquisition rate priority mode” can be realized by a circuit having the configuration shown in FIG. 3, for example.

[Event detection circuit]
The event detection circuit triggers on the detection signals of Ch1 and Ch2, reads the waveform of each Ch, and calculates the width, height, and area shown in FIG. 4A. And about the detection data of Ch1 regarding the forward scattered light derived from the excitation light and the detection data of Ch2 regarding the forward scattered light derived from the speed detection light, the time at the center of the waveform is calculated and set as the detection time.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, in the event detection circuit, Ch1 (forward scattered light derived from excitation light) and Ch2 (forward scattered light derived from speed detection light) acquired in time series for each particle 10. Are detected, and the detection data (event) of each particle is packetized. The packet includes items that are updated as the subsequent processing proceeds, and the Flag is basically 1/0, which corresponds to acquisition / non-acquisition determined by each logic. In addition, the trigger time of Ch1 and Ch2 can also be used for detection time.

[Arrival time calculation circuit]
The arrival time calculation circuit uses the detection times (T1, T2) of Ch1 and Ch2 to calculate the arrival time from the above equation 1 and the like, and sets it as the “Sorting Time” of the event packet.

[Gating circuit]
The gating circuit determines “acquisition / non-acquisition” of the particle 10 based on a preset threshold and sets “Gate Flag” of the event packet. For example, before starting the gating acquisition operation, the histogram chart shown in FIG. 5A or the 2D chart shown in FIG. (Particle group) is specified by, for example, geometric shapes.

  The parameter (threshold value) for determining “acquisition / non-acquisition” may be any of the width, height, and area of the detection data acquired in each Ch, or a combination thereof.

[Output queuing circuit]
The output queuing circuit rearranges the detection data (event) of each particle 10 in the order of arrival of the sorting part based on the sorting part arrival time ("Sorting Time"). Thereafter, “acquisition / non-acquisition” is determined according to the sorting mode selected by the user, such as “purity priority” or “acquisition rate priority”. Based on the result, “Sort Flag” is set.

  When the particles 10 are flowing close to each other, there is a possibility that the preceding and following particles 10 are also involved in a single acquisition operation, and the plurality of particles 10 are collected in the sorting unit 2. The “purity priority mode” and the “acquisition rate priority mode” differ in the determination method of “acquisition / non-acquisition” when the particles 10 are close to each other. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation in the acquisition priority mode. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing detection data when the particles are close to each other. Further, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the operation in the purity priority mode.

  The “acquisition rate priority mode” is a mode in which the number of acquired particles is increased even when the purity of the trapped particles is lowered. As shown in FIG. 6, even when the particles 10 are flowing close to each other, Collect the particles. On the other hand, the “purity priority mode” is a mode for increasing the purity of the captured particles. When the acquired particles and the non-acquired particles come close to each other, the acquired particles are dared to prevent them from being captured together. Is determined as “non-acquisition”.

  Particularly in the “purity priority mode”, as shown in FIG. 8, when the detection data (event) of the particle 10 detected later is close to the previous particle 10, “Acquisition” also needs to be judged again. Here, ΔT1 shown in FIG. 7A is a set value and is a time for entraining the next particle (T1 = Tn + ΔT1). Further, ΔT2 is also a set value and is a time for entraining the previous particle (T2 = Tn + ΔT2).

[Output timing generator]
The output timing generation circuit reads the time (Sorting time) of the event acquired first in the output queue, compares it with the Clock Counter value, and generates an output timing signal at that time.

[Output signal generation circuit]
The output signal generation circuit detects an output timing signal and outputs a waveform signal for controlling the actuation device of the sorting unit 2.

  In the particle sorting apparatus of this modification, the user can select whether to give priority to “purity” or “acquisition rate” when determining whether to collect or not. Sorting according to is possible. The configuration and effects other than those described above in the present modification are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

In addition, the present disclosure can take the following configurations.
(1)
An excitation light irradiation unit that irradiates particles flowing through the flow path with excitation light;
A speed detection light irradiator that irradiates the particles with speed detection light at a position different from the excitation light;
A light detection unit for detecting light emitted from the particles;
From the detection time difference between the light derived from the excitation light and the light derived from the speed detection light, an arrival time calculation unit that individually calculates the time for each particle to reach the sorting unit communicating with the flow path,
A sorting control unit for controlling the sorting of the particles,
The flow path and the sorting unit are provided in a microchip,
The sorting control unit determines whether or not to collect the particles based on the data of each particle detected by the light detection unit and the arrival time calculated by the arrival time calculation unit. apparatus.
(2)
The said fractionation control part calculates the arrival time difference of the particle | grains before and behind, The particle sorting apparatus as described in (2) which determines that the particle | grains whose arrival time difference is below a threshold value are uncollected.
(3)
The particle sorting apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the speed detection light has a wavelength different from that of the excitation light.
(4)
The said arrival time calculation part is a particle sorting apparatus as described in (3) which calculates the arrival time of each particle | grain from the detection time difference of the scattered light derived from the said excitation light and the scattered light derived from the said speed detection light.
(5)
The said excitation light irradiation part is a particle sorting apparatus in any one of (1)-(4) provided with two or more light sources which radiate | emit the light of a different wavelength.
(6)
The said fractionation part is a particle | grain fractionation apparatus in any one of (1)-(5) which has a negative pressure suction part connected to the said flow path.
(7)
The sorting control unit controls the operation of the negative pressure suction unit based on the data of each particle detected by the light detection unit and the arrival time calculated by the arrival time calculation unit (6). The particle sorting apparatus described.
(8)
The sorting control unit controls the timing at which the sorting unit collects the particles based on the data of each particle detected by the light detection unit and the arrival time calculated by the arrival time calculation unit. The particle sorting apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7).
(9)
An excitation light irradiation process for irradiating particles flowing through a channel provided in the microchip with excitation light;
A speed detection light irradiation step of irradiating the particles with speed detection light at a position different from the excitation light;
A light detection step of detecting light emitted from the particles;
From the detection time difference between the light derived from the excitation light and the light derived from the speed detection light, the time for each particle to reach the sorting part provided in the microchip and communicating with the flow path is individually determined. An arrival time calculating step to calculate;
Based on the data of each particle detected in the light detection step and the arrival time calculated in the arrival time calculation step, a sorting control step for determining whether to collect the particles,
A particle sorting method.
(10)
In the sorting control step, the difference in arrival times of the preceding and following particles is calculated, and the particles whose arrival time difference is equal to or less than a threshold value are determined to be non-collected.
(11)
The particle sorting method according to (9) or (10), wherein light having a wavelength different from that of the excitation light is used as the speed detection light.
(12)
The said arrival time calculation process is a particle sorting method as described in (11) which calculates the arrival time of each particle | grain from the detection time difference of the scattered light derived from the said excitation light and the scattered light derived from the said speed detection light.
(13)
The excitation light irradiation step is the particle sorting method according to any one of (9) to (12), in which light having different wavelengths is emitted from two or more light sources.
(14)
The fractionation unit has a negative pressure suction unit communicating with the flow path,
The sorting control step controls the operation of the negative pressure suction unit based on the data of each particle detected in the light detection step and the arrival time calculated in the arrival time calculation step (9) to (13) The particle sorting method according to any one of the above.
(15)
The sorting control step controls the timing of collecting the particles in the sorting unit based on the data of each particle detected in the light detection step and the arrival time calculated in the arrival time calculating step (9 ) To (14).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flow path 2 Sorting part 3 Excitation light irradiation part 4 Speed detection light irradiation part 5, 6 Objective lens 7 Light detection part 8 Arrival time calculation part 9 Sorting control part 10 Particle 21 Suction flow path 22 Negative pressure suction part 31 , 41 Light source 32, 42 Optical system 33, 43, 72a-72d Mirror 71 0th-order light removal member 73a-73d Photodetector

The particle sorting device according to the present disclosure includes a first light irradiation unit that irradiates particles flowing through a flow path with first irradiation light, and a second irradiation light on the particles at a position different from the first irradiation light. From the detection time difference between the light emitted from the second irradiation light, the light detection part detecting the light emitted from the particles, the light derived from the first irradiation light and the light derived from the second irradiation light, A time difference for the particles to reach the sorting unit communicating with the flow path, and a sorting control unit for controlling the sorting of the particles based on the sorting mode and the calculated arrival time difference between the preceding and following particles; The flow path and the sorting part are provided in the microchip.
The second irradiation light may have a wavelength different from that of the first irradiation light.
The particle sorting apparatus according to the present disclosure individually calculates the time for each particle to reach the sorting unit from the detection time difference between the light derived from the first irradiation light and the light derived from the second irradiation light. You may further have a calculation part. In that case, the said calculation part may calculate the time difference when the particle | grains before and behind arrive at the said fractionation part from the said time.
The particles may be bio-related particles.
The particle sorting device according to the present disclosure may further include a sample solution introduction channel into which the sample solution containing the particles is introduced, and a pair of sheath solution introduction channels into which the sheath solution is introduced. Good.
The first light irradiation unit may include two or more light sources. In that case, the two or more light sources may emit light of different wavelengths.
The light detection unit may be composed of any one or more area imaging elements selected from the group consisting of a PMT (Photo Multiplier Tube), a CCD, and a CMOS element.
The light detection unit may detect any one or more light selected from the group consisting of forward scattered light, side scattered light, Rayleigh scattered light, and Mie scattered light.
The sorting control unit may determine that the particles are acquired or not acquired according to a sorting mode selected by a user. In that case, the sorting control unit may determine that particles whose arrival time difference is equal to or less than a threshold are not collected.
The sorting unit may include a negative pressure suction unit that communicates with the flow path. In that case, the sorting control unit may control the operation of the negative pressure suction unit based on the data of each particle detected by the light detection unit and the time calculated by the calculation unit. .
The sorting control unit may control timing of collecting the particles in the sorting unit based on the data of each particle detected by the light detection unit and the time calculated by the calculation unit. Good.

Particle analysis system according to the present disclosure includes a first light irradiation part for irradiating the first irradiation light to particles passing through the flow channel, the second irradiation light at a position different from the first irradiation light to the particles A fine particle measuring device having at least a second light irradiating unit for irradiating and a light detecting unit for detecting light emitted from the particles, the light derived from the first irradiated light, and the second irradiated light From the difference in detection time of the light derived from, calculate the time difference between the preceding and following particles reaching the sorting part communicating with the flow path, and based on the sorting mode and the calculated arrival time difference between the preceding and following particles, A control device having at least a sorting control unit that controls sorting, and the flow path and the sorting unit are provided in the microchip.
Further, the particle sorting method according to the present disclosure includes a first light irradiation step of irradiating the particles flowing through the flow path with the first irradiation light, and a second irradiation at a position different from the first irradiation light on the particles. From the second light irradiation step of irradiating light, the light detection step of detecting light emitted from the particles, and the detection time difference between the light derived from the first irradiation light and the light derived from the second irradiation light, Sorting control for calculating the time difference between the preceding and following particles reaching the sorting unit communicating with the flow path and controlling the sorting of the particles based on the sorting mode and the calculated arrival time difference between the preceding and following particles And the flow path and the sorting part are provided in the microchip.

Claims (1)

A first light irradiation unit for irradiating the particles flowing through the flow path with the first irradiation light;
A second light irradiation unit that irradiates the particles with second irradiation light at a position different from the first irradiation light;
A light detection unit for detecting light emitted from the particles;
From the detection time difference between the light derived from the first irradiation light and the light derived from the second irradiation light, the time difference between the preceding and following particles reaching the sorting part communicating with the flow path is calculated, and the sorting mode and the Based on the calculated arrival time difference between the before and after particles, a sorting control unit that controls sorting of the particles;
Having at least
The particle sorting apparatus, wherein the flow path and the sorting unit are provided in a microchip.

Images