JP3933959B2 - Chemical microdevices - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a chemical microdevice such as a microchip or a microreactor used to perform analysis or reaction in a minute amount, and in particular, emits predetermined light from a light source to a subject in a detection unit provided on a plastic substrate. The present invention relates to a plastic chemical microdevice used for detecting light that has been irradiated and whose light amount and / or wavelength has been converted by interaction with a subject (hereinafter referred to as converted light).
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, microchips that perform reactions and analyzes in minute quantities to perform a variety of reactions, separations, and analyzes such as DNA analysis, electrophoresis analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cell reaction, cell sorting, or trace chemical reaction Chemical microdevices such as microreactors have come to be used.
[0003]
Further, in such a chemical microdevice, in order to perform various types of analysis and confirmation of reaction, the subject is irradiated with predetermined light and converted light from the subject is detected. . The predetermined light may be directly guided from the light source, but may be adjusted to a necessary wavelength or light amount via a filter or a prism in accordance with the purpose. For example, by irradiating the subject with excitation light and detecting fluorescence from the subject, or by irradiating the subject with continuous wavelength light, the amount of light absorbed by the interaction with the subject, substantially For this purpose, so-called ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectroscopic analysis that measures the amount of transmitted light for each wavelength, or measurement of the amount of light absorbed, reflected or scattered by the subject and concentration analysis based on this amount of light is performed. Is called.
[0004]
Here, in irradiating a subject with predetermined light and detecting converted light by the subject, conventionally, many reactions and analyzes are performed in one chemical microdevice. For example, FIG. 1 and FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, a number of supply units 2 for supplying the specimen A to the glass substrate 1 are provided, and the specimen A is guided from each supply unit 2 to the detection unit 4 through each fine flow path 3 and guided in this way. The subject A is irradiated with predetermined light from the light source L, and the converted light from the subject A by the predetermined light is detected by the optical sensor S provided at an appropriate position. The sample A was collected in the collection unit 5 through each channel 3. The light source L refers to means for emitting predetermined light, and refers to a system including a filter, a prism, a lens, and the like as necessary.
[0005]
Here, in detecting the converted light by the subject A in this way, if the interval between the flow paths 3 in the detection unit 4 is large, the subject A guided to the detection unit 4 by each flow path 3 On the other hand, since it is necessary to move the excitation light source L in order to appropriately irradiate predetermined light, conventionally, the detection unit 4 is configured to reduce the interval between the flow paths 3 and to collect them. .
[0006]
However, it is very difficult to provide a large number of supply sections 4 for supplying the subject A to the glass substrate 1 as described above, and to provide the fine channels 3 for guiding the subject A from the supply sections 4 as described above. There is a problem that such a chemical microdevice cannot be mass-produced and the manufacturing cost is high.
[0007]
In addition, as described above, there is a limit to consolidating the intervals between the flow paths 3 in the detection unit 4. When the number of the flow paths 3 in the detection unit 4 is increased, the detection is performed by each flow path 3. In order to properly irradiate the subject A guided to the unit 4 with predetermined light, it is still necessary to move the excitation light source L.
[0008]
Furthermore, light having a different amount of light that is absorbed and transmitted for each wavelength by the interaction between the predetermined light and the subject A, and light that has been converted in wavelength / light amount by the interaction, has a small amount of light. There is a problem that it becomes difficult to properly detect the converted light from the light sensor S.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in chemical microdevices such as microchips and microreactors used for performing analysis and reactions in minute amounts. Microdevices can be easily manufactured and mass-produced at low cost, and even when the number of flow channels in the detection unit is increased, a predetermined amount of the sample guided to the detection unit through each flow channel is determined. It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to easily irradiate light appropriately and to appropriately detect converted light due to interaction between predetermined light and a subject.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the first chemical micro devices in the present invention, to solve the above problems, in the detection unit 11 in the plastic substrate 10, to irradiate the predetermined light to the subject A from the light source L, the specimen A In the plastic chemical microdevice used for detecting the converted light due to the interaction , the concave lens 12a is integrally formed on the detection portion 11 on the irradiation surface side irradiated with the predetermined light.
[0012]
In the second chemical microdevice of the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problems, the detection unit 11 in the plastic substrate 10 irradiates the subject A with predetermined light from the excitation light source L, and In a plastic chemical microdevice used to detect light whose wavelength and / or wavelength has been converted by interaction with the specimen A, a concave lens 12a is provided on the detection unit 11 on the irradiation surface side irradiated with predetermined light. In addition to being integrally molded, the convex lens 12b is integrally molded on the detection unit 11 on the side opposite to the irradiation surface.
[0013]
If the plastic substrate 10 is used as in the first and second chemical microdevices in the present invention, a fine flow path for guiding the subject A to the detection unit 11 can be easily provided by injection molding or the like. The manufacturing of the chemical microdevice is facilitated, mass production is possible, the manufacturing cost is reduced, and the concave lens 12a is integrally formed on the detection portion 11 on the irradiation surface side irradiated with predetermined light. It is also possible to easily form the convex lens 12b integrally with the detection unit 11 on the opposite side.
[0014]
Also, as in the first chemical micro devices in the present invention, when providing the concave lens 12a on the irradiation surface side of the predetermined light is irradiated, predetermined light spread by the concave lens 12a, the analyte A to the detection unit 11 Even when the number of flow channels to be guided is increased, it is possible to easily irradiate each subject A guided to the detection unit 11 with predetermined light appropriately without moving the light source L. .
[0016]
Furthermore, when the concave lens 12a is provided on the irradiation surface side irradiated with predetermined light and the convex lens 12b is provided on the opposite side to the irradiation surface as in the second chemical microdevice in the present invention , the first chemical In addition to the effect of the micro device, the fluorescence from the subject A excited by predetermined light is collected by the convex lens 12b, and an effect that can be appropriately detected by an optical sensor or the like can be obtained.
[0017]
In the first and second chemical microdevices according to the present invention, the detection unit 11, the concave lens 12a, and the convex lens 12b are made of a plastic material different from the plastic substrate 10 by a one-step two-stage injection molding method. It is also possible.
[0018]
Here, when the detection unit 11, the concave lens 12 a, and the convex lens 12 b are made of a plastic material that is excellent in transparency over a wide range of wavelength ranges and the amount of fluorescent light excited by predetermined light, detection is performed by predetermined light. It is suppressed that the unit 11 and the lens 12 emit light, and only converted light from the subject A is appropriately detected. In addition, as a plastic material with little light emission by predetermined light, for example, a fluorine-based plastic material such as fluorinated polymethyl methacrylate in which hydrogen atoms of polymethyl methacrylate are substituted with fluorine atoms, or a catalyst to be added depending on use conditions In addition, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, or the like using a member that does not emit fluorescence as an additive such as a stabilizer can be used.
[0019]
In the first and second chemical microdevices according to the present invention, portions other than the detection portion 11 in the plastic substrate 10 are made of a heat-resistant plastic material, and thus made of a heat-resistant plastic material. It is also possible to heat the various reagents in the part and react them so that the analyte A made of the reaction product is guided to the detection unit 11. When the parts other than the detection unit 11 are made of heat-resistant plastic in this way, when the reaction is performed by heating, the plastic substrate 10 is less likely to be deformed by heat or attacked by chemicals or the like. . In addition, as said heat resistant plastic material, a polyimide, polybenzimidazole, polyetheretherketone, polysulfone, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene sulfite etc. can be used, for example.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a chemical microdevice according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0021]
In the chemical microdevice according to this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a large number of supply units 14 that supply a sample A to one side of a plastic substrate 10, and the samples supplied to each supply unit 14 Each flow channel 15 that guides A and a collection unit 16 that collects the subject A guided to the detection unit 11 by each flow channel 15 are molded by injection molding, and predetermined light is emitted from the detection unit 11. A concave lens 12a is integrally molded as a lens 12 on the irradiated surface side, and a convex lens 12b is integrally molded as a lens 12 on the opposite side to the irradiated surface.
[0022]
In the chemical microdevice according to this embodiment, the subject A is supplied to each of the supply units 14, and the concave lens 12a and the convex lens 12b are provided as described above through the flow path 15 of each subject A. The light is sequentially guided to the detection unit 11, and predetermined light from the light source L is irradiated onto the subject A guided to the detection unit 11 through the concave lens 12 a provided on the irradiation surface side. The converted light resulting from the interaction with A is condensed by the convex lens 12b provided on the side opposite to the irradiation surface and guided to the optical sensor S provided at an appropriate position. Detection is performed by the sensor S.
[0023]
Here, when the subject A guided to the detection unit 11 as described above is irradiated with predetermined light from the light source L through the concave lens 12a, the predetermined light spreads by the concave lens 12a and is detected. Even when the number of the flow paths 15 in the section 11 is increased, the flow paths 15 that guide the subject A to the detection section 11 are not narrowed or the light sources L are not moved. The predetermined light can be appropriately irradiated to the subject A guided to 15.
[0024]
Further, if the converted light resulting from the interaction between the predetermined light and the subject A is condensed by the convex lens 12b and guided to the optical sensor S as described above, even when the converted light in the subject A is weak. The converted light is appropriately detected by the optical sensor S.
[0025]
In the chemical microdevice in this embodiment, the concave lens 12a is provided on the irradiation surface side irradiated with predetermined light in the detection unit 11 and the convex lens 12b is provided on the opposite side to the irradiation surface. It is also possible to provide only one of the convex lens 12b and the convex lens 12b.
[0026]
In addition, as described above, the detection unit 11, the concave lens 12a, and the convex lens 12b can be made of a plastic material different from that of the plastic substrate 10 by a one-step two-stage injection molding method.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, in the first and second chemical microdevices according to the present invention , the subject in the detection unit is irradiated with predetermined light from the light source, and the converted light due to the interaction with the subject is detected. Since a plastic lens is used, a concave lens is integrally formed on the irradiation surface side of the detection unit irradiated with predetermined light on the plastic substrate, and a convex lens is integrally formed on the opposite side of the irradiation surface. A fine flow path or the like for guiding can be easily provided by injection molding or the like, and the lens can be easily formed integrally, which facilitates the manufacture of the chemical microdevice and reduces the manufacturing cost.
[0028]
Further, as in the first and second chemical microdevices of the present invention, when a concave lens is provided on the irradiation surface side irradiated with predetermined light, the predetermined light spreads by the concave lens and guides the subject to the detection unit. Even when the number of flow paths and the like is increased, it is possible to appropriately irradiate each subject guided to the detection unit with predetermined light without moving the light source. Further, when a convex lens is provided on the side opposite to the irradiation surface irradiated with the predetermined light as in the second chemical microdevice in the present invention, the converted light due to the interaction between the predetermined light and the subject is caused by the convex lens. After being collected, the converted light from the subject is appropriately detected by an optical sensor or the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a conventional chemical microdevice.
FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which a conventional chemical microdevice irradiates a subject with predetermined light in a detection unit and detects converted light due to interaction with the subject.
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a chemical microdevice according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which, in the chemical microdevice of Embodiment 1 described above, the object in the detection unit is irradiated with predetermined light and the converted light due to the interaction with the object is detected. is there.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Plastic board | substrate 11 Detection part 12 Lens 12a Concave lens 12b Convex lens A Subject L Light source

Claims (3)

  The detection unit 11 in the plastic substrate 10 is used to detect light whose light amount and / or wavelength has been converted by the interaction with the subject A by irradiating the subject A with predetermined light from the excitation light source L. A chemical microdevice made of plastic, wherein a concave lens 12a is integrally formed on a detection portion 11 on the irradiation surface side irradiated with predetermined light. The detection unit 11 in the plastic substrate 10 is used to detect light whose light amount and / or wavelength has been converted by the interaction with the subject A by irradiating the subject A with predetermined light from the excitation light source L. In a plastic chemical microdevice, a concave lens 12a is integrally formed with the detection portion 11 on the irradiation surface side irradiated with predetermined light, and a convex lens 12b is integrally formed with the detection portion 11 on the opposite side to the irradiation surface. A chemical microdevice characterized by: The chemical microdevice according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the detection unit 11, the concave lens 12a, and the convex lens 12b is made of a plastic material different from the plastic substrate 10. device.

Images