JPH0239725B2 - FUKUSUCHANNERUBUNKOKODOSOKUTEISOCHI - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multi-channel spectrophotometric measuring device for simultaneously analyzing a large number of specimens with different test items in the field of automatic biochemical analysis.

Recently, the importance of clinical testing has increased, and due to the rapid increase in the number of specimens, the demand for labor-saving and simultaneous analysis of multiple items has increased.
Various methods have been developed, for example,
The multi-channel dual-wavelength spectrophotometer disclosed in No. -122474 is quite widely used. The above device focuses the transmitted light from a large number of sample cells (flow cells in this case) arranged in the X-axis direction onto a single long slit in the same X-axis direction, and then uses a diffraction grating to analyze the light. The light is projected onto a wavelength splitting optical system arranged so that the spectral band of the separated light transmitted through each cell becomes a spectrum dispersed in the Y-axis direction, and has a light receiving part for the spectrum of the monochromatic light. However, this light receiving section has a detection section consisting of two or more detection elements arranged in the Y-axis direction, and each detection section is arranged in a plate shape in the X-axis direction corresponding to the appearance position of each spectral band. It is something that This configuration makes it easy to select and combine the reference wavelength and sample wavelength, which are determined by the test item of the specimen, and allows simultaneous analysis of many specimens.However, since the flow cell is arranged perpendicular to the irradiation optical axis, it is In order to maintain the necessary optical path length, the diameter of the flow cell cannot be made too thin, and the position of the flow cell is limited to a certain position in the optical system, so for example, a container for a sample in which a reagent is dispensed and reacted with a sample is used. Therefore, the sample suction channel that sequentially introduces the sample into the flow cell cannot be shortened from a certain length, and extra samples are required to eliminate these carryovers, resulting in the problem that analysis cannot be performed with a small amount of sample.

This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned current situation, and is intended to solve the problems of conventional multi-channel spectrometers such as those disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 53-122474. In other words, by making the input end of an optical fiber movable on the monochromatic light spectrum imaging plane of the wavelength dispersive optical system of the conventional device, light of any wavelength is extracted, and this optical fiber can be used to capture light at any location, such as a reacted sample. By transmitting the above light to the position of the flow cell installed directly above the sample container containing the
First, it is easy to select the wavelength, and secondly, by directing the light incident into the flow cell in the direction of the sample flow path, the flow cell can be made thinner and smaller.Furthermore, the flow path for introducing the sample into the flow cell can be shortened. This provides a convenient device that can analyze even the largest number of samples.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a meridional view of a dispersive optical system SL seen from the front of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a spherical cutaway view of the same dispersive optical system SL seen from the top of the apparatus.
1 is a white light source, 2 is a spherical lens, 3 is a cylindrical lens, 4 is an entrance slit, and the above is an optical system for condensing light from the light source. The entrance slit No. 4 may be a horizontally long slit corresponding to the width W of the luminous flux in Fig. 2, but in order to prevent stray light, it may be a hole-shaped slit arranged in a line in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) as shown in the figure. It is assumed that 4M forms a mask. 5 and 7 are spherical mirrors, 6 is a dispersion element such as a diffraction grating or prism, and 8 is an optical fiber fixing plate provided on the monochromatic light spectrum imaging plane, which is made of a magnetic material and has a plurality of holes 8H. 9 indicates the light incident end side of the optical fiber, and its tip 9i
For example, since a ferrite magnet 10 is attached to it, it can be easily moved to any desired position. FIG. 3 shows an example of the optical fiber fixing plate 8, with eight rows in the Y-axis direction and nine rows in the X-axis direction.
Rows of holes 8H are provided, each row in the Y-axis direction is divided by the mask 4M of the slit 4, and the X-axis direction corresponds to the same wavelength of the appearing spectrum.
The eight rows in the Y-axis direction correspond to approximately every 50 μm of wavelengths from 700 nm to 340 nm, for example. By using such an optical fiber fixing plate 8, automatic analysis of easily 20 channels can be performed.
Add several more columns, for example 670, 628, 574, etc.
An intermediate wavelength such as 415 nm may also be used. FIG. 4 shows that arbitrary monochromatic light transmitted by the optical fiber 9 is incident on the flow cell 11,
It is a block diagram of the detection part which detects the transmitted light intensity. Reference numeral 12 denotes a converging fiber lens made of a glass material, generally called a self-ox lens or rod lens, provided at the output end 9o of the optical fiber 9, and by providing this, the focal length of the output light and the diameter of the converging spot can be freely adjusted. It can be set to Furthermore, the optical fiber 9 shown in FIG.
By providing the lens 12 at the input end of the optical fiber 9, the outer diameter d of the optical fiber 9 can be reduced, flexibility can be improved, and the device can be manufactured easily. A reaction tube 13 is conveyed by a conveyor (not shown) directly below the flow cell 11 when the reaction of the sample S is completed, and the sample S is sucked up into the flow cell 11. Since the suction tube 14 can be made extremely short in this way, the inner wall of the tube can be sufficiently cleaned with a very small amount of sample, and this is a characteristic that only a small amount of sample is required for analysis. The flow cell 11 has a shape with a length in the optical axis direction as shown in the figure, so the optical path length is approximately 10 mm and the diameter is 1.5 to 2 mm.
Small diameter ones can be used. Reference numeral 15 denotes a photodetecting element such as a photodiode, which is connected to the flow cell 1.
Detect the light intensity of the sample transmitted light within 1. One wavelength
In the case of dual-wavelength or multi-wavelength single-beam photometry, only 15 detection elements are required, but in the case of double-beam photometry, a half mirror 16 is provided between the optical fiber output end 9o and the flow cell, and a half mirror 16 is provided between the optical fiber output end 9o and the flow cell. 2 is detected by one photodetecting element 17. With this configuration, changes in the light transmission characteristics of the optical fiber 9 can be corrected and measurement accuracy can be improved. The above-mentioned half mirror may be simply glass. FIG. 5 shows a plurality of monochromatic lights Lλ ₁ , Lλ ₂ , and
Lλ ₃ ... is shown in Figure 3 as the optical fiber fixing plate 8.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a wavelength selector section into which a sample is alternatively incident after being taken out from above. Now Lλ ₁ , Lλ ₂ ,
The monochromatic lights Lλ ₃ . sector 18
is rotated or reciprocated by a mechanism not shown, and only the light of one of the three wavelengths (the figure shows the case of Lλ ₁ ) is transmitted through the hole 18H and through the condenser lens 19. book optical fiber 9
Light is projected onto the incident end of D. The configuration after the output end of the optical fiber 9D is the same as that shown in FIG. 4. The self-oxygen lens 12 at the output end may not be provided in some cases. In this way, by making Lλ ₂ and Lλ ₃ enter the flow cell 11 one after another and detecting the transmitted light intensity, multi-wavelength photometry can be performed using any combination of wavelengths. The configuration shown in Figure 5 corresponds to one flow cell, and if the device is provided with the same number of columns with different wavelengths in the Y-axis direction as shown in Figure 3, sample information for that number of flow cells can be obtained simultaneously. . This multi-wavelength photometry method is suitable for obtaining specimen information such as hemolysis, turbidity, and hyperbilirubin.

The above is an embodiment of the present invention, and each element of a multi-channel spectrophotometry device has been explained, but it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a single-wavelength spectrometer using any wavelength. Furthermore, this invention is not limited to the illustrations and explanations;
For example, the optical fiber fixing plate can be made into a transparent plate by devising a means for fixing the optical fiber entrance end, and the wavelength can be completely selected.

Since this invention is constructed as described above, it can be used in conjunction with conventional general biochemical analyzers as well as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
This eliminates the drawbacks and problems of multi-channel dual-wavelength spectrophotometers such as No. 122474. In other words, by improving the conventional rear spectroscopy method to a front spectroscopy method by using optical fibers, the relative positional relationship between the spectral imaging plane of the wavelength dispersion optical system and the sample and the cell can be adjusted freely, making it possible to downsize the flow cell. In addition, it is a convenient device that shortens the sample introduction channel to the flow cell, allows measurement with multiple channels without carryover even with a small amount of sample, and can freely use single or double beams from one wavelength to multiple wavelengths. We were able to provide the following.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a meridional view of the optical system of a multi-channel spectrophotometer as an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a spherical cutaway view of the optical system, and Fig. 3 is a monochromatic light spectrum imaging plane. Optical fiber fixing plate 1
An example diagram, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the optical fiber output end of the above device, the flow cell, and the detection element for double beam photometry, and FIG. 5 is the configuration of the wavelength selection sector section when the above device is used for multi-wavelength photometry. It is a diagram. SL...Wavelength dispersion optical system, 1...White light source,
2, 3... Condensing lens, 4... Entrance slit (with stray light prevention mask), 5, 7... Spherical mirror, 6... Dispersion element, 8... Monochromatic light spectrum imaging surface (optical fiber fixing plate), 8H... Hole of optical fiber fixing plate, 9... Optical fiber, 9i... Incoming end of optical fiber, 9o... Outgoing end of optical fiber, 11
... Sample cell (flow cell), 12 ... Self-cleaning lens, 14 ... Half mirror, 15, 17
...Photodetector, 18...Wavelength selector, S...Sample.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. White light from a light source is separated through one long slit in the X direction, so that the separated spectral band becomes a spectrum of monochromatic light dispersed in the Y direction perpendicular to the slit. The light is projected onto the arranged X/Y two-dimensional wavelength dispersion irradiation optical surface, and the input end of the optical fiber is provided at the wavelength selection position in the Y direction and the multiple division positions in the X direction of the spectral imaging surface, and the monochromatic light of the selected wavelength is emitted. The monochromatic light is taken out from a selected position on the X and Y planes, and a sample cell/detector is provided opposite the output end of the optical fiber to detect the intensity of the monochromatic light transmitted through the sample cell. A multi-channel spectrophotometric measurement device. 2. A multi-channel spectrophotometry device according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength dispersion irradiation optical surface is a plate with a plurality of holes, and the incident end of an optical fiber is attached to these holes. 3. A multi-channel spectrophotometric measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a self-ox lens is provided at the end of an optical fiber. 4. A multi-channel spectrophotometry device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is configured to perform double beam photometry by providing a half mirror between the output end of the optical fiber and the sample cell. . 5. Claims 1 to 4 are provided with a wavelength selector that selectively inputs the emitted light from a plurality of optical fibers having different wavelengths into one optical fiber, thereby performing multi-wavelength photometry. The multi-channel spectrophotometer according to any one of the above. 6. The multi-channel spectrophotometry device according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein a mask for preventing stray light is attached to the slit of the wavelength dispersion optical system.