JPH103000A - Stimulable phosphor sheet unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reading accuracy of radiation or electron beam image by providing a stimulable phosphor sheet having a magnetic layer and stimulable phosphor layer and a support plate having a magnet and forming a stimulable phosphor sheet unit combining the sheet and the support plate with a magnetic force of the magnet layer and the magnet. SOLUTION: A stimulable phosphor sheet 2 has a support plate 3 forming a stimulable phosphor layer 5. In a recess 7 on the support plate 3, a rubber type magnet sheet 8 is applied. A magnetic layer 6 and the magnet sheet 8 are contacted by their surfaces and the sheet 2 contacted by the magnetic force is fixed and combined in the recess 7 of the support plate 3. The stimulable phosphor layer 5 on the sheet 2 is set in an image reader and scanned with laser light to stimulate the stimulable phosphor contained in the layer 5. As the stimulated light is photoelectrically detected with a photodetector as a result, electrophoresis image of DNA marked with fluorescent pigment or radioactive marker material is read with the image reader, and therefore the improvement of the reading accuracy becomes possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stimulable phosphor sheet unit having a stimulable phosphor layer, and more particularly to a radiation diagnostic system, an autoradiography system, and a detection system using an electron microscope. The present invention relates to a stimulable phosphor sheet unit capable of reading an image with high accuracy by an image reading device usable for a radiation diffraction image detection system and a fluorescence detection system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When irradiated with radiation, the energy of the radiation is absorbed, accumulated, recorded, and then excited using electromagnetic waves in a specific wavelength range. A stimulable phosphor layer formed on a stimulable phosphor sheet by using a stimulable phosphor having a characteristic of emitting a stimulable amount of radiated light as a radiation detection material, and storing energy of the radiation transmitted through a subject. In the stimulable phosphor contained in, accumulated, recorded, afterwards, by electromagnetic waves, the stimulable phosphor layer was scanned to excite the stimulable phosphor, emitted from the stimulable phosphor Radiation configured to photoelectrically detect the photostimulated emission, generate a digital image signal, perform image processing, and generate a radiation image on a display unit such as a CRT or a recording material such as a photographic film. Known diagnostic system That (for example, JP-A-55-12
Nos. 429, 55-116340 and 55-
163472, 56-11395, 5
No. 6-104645. ). In addition, a similar stimulable phosphor is used as a radiation detection material, and a substance to which a radioactive label is added is administered to an organism, and then the organism or a part of the tissue of the organism is used as a sample. Sample
The radiation energy is accumulated and recorded on the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer by overlapping the stimulable phosphor layer with the stimulable phosphor sheet on which the stimulable phosphor layer is formed for a certain period of time.
Thereafter, the stimulable phosphor layer is scanned by an electromagnetic wave to excite the stimulable phosphor, and the stimulable phosphor emitted from the stimulable phosphor is photoelectrically detected, and a digital image signal is generated. An autoradiography system configured to generate and perform image processing to generate an image on a display means such as a CRT or a recording material such as a photographic film is known (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. No. 60784, Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-60782, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-3952, etc.).

Further, when irradiated with an electron beam or radiation, the energy of the electron beam or radiation is absorbed,
After accumulating, recording, and then exciting with electromagnetic waves in a specific wavelength range, a stimulable phosphor having the property of emitting a quantity of stimulating light in accordance with the amount of irradiated electron beam or radiation energy is generated. Used as an electron beam or radiation detection material, irradiates a metal or non-metallic sample with an electron beam, detects the diffraction image or transmission image of the sample, etc., analyzes the element, analyzes the composition of the sample, analyzes the structure of the sample, etc. Or by irradiating a biological tissue with an electron beam to detect an image of the biological tissue by an electron microscope, irradiating the sample with radiation, detecting the obtained radiation diffraction image, A radiation diffraction image detection system for performing structural analysis and the like is known (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-517).
No. 38, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-93538, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
No. 9-15843). A system that uses these stimulable phosphor sheets as an image detection material, unlike the case of using photographic film, not only does not require chemical processing called development processing, but also performs image processing on the obtained image data. Has the advantage that an image can be reproduced as desired or quantitative analysis can be performed by a computer.

[0004] On the other hand, a fluorescence detection system using a fluorescent substance as a labeling substance instead of a radioactive labeling substance in an autoradiography system is known. According to this system, by reading the fluorescence image, the gene sequence, the expression level of the gene, the metabolism, absorption, and excretion pathways and states of the administered substance in the experimental mouse, the state of the protein, the separation and identification of the protein, or the molecular weight and characteristics Evaluation can be performed.For example, after adding a fluorescent dye to a solution containing a plurality of DNA fragments to be electrophoresed, the plurality of DNA fragments are electrophoresed on a gel support, or the fluorescent dye is After a plurality of DNA fragments are electrophoresed on the gel support, or a plurality of DNA fragments are electrophoresed on the gel support, the gel support is converted to a solution containing a fluorescent dye. An image is generated by labeling the electrophoresed DNA fragment by immersion or the like, exciting a fluorescent dye with excitation light, and detecting the generated fluorescence. And detect the DNA distribution of, or a plurality of DNA fragments, on a gel support by means of electrophoresis, denaturing the DNA (Denatura
option) and then, by Southern blotting,
A denatured DNA fragment is hybridized with a probe prepared by transferring at least a part of the denatured DNA fragment on a transfer support such as nitrocellulose and labeling DNA or RNA complementary to the target DNA with a fluorescent dye. Let
DN complementary to probe DNA or probe RNA
By selectively labeling only the A fragment, exciting the fluorescent dye with excitation light, and detecting the generated fluorescence, an image is generated, and the distribution of the target DNA on the transfer support can be detected. can do. Furthermore, DNA complementary to DNA containing the gene of interest labeled with a labeling substance
A probe is prepared, hybridized with the DNA on the transcription support, and the enzyme is bound to a complementary DNA labeled with a labeling substance, and then contacted with a fluorescent substrate to cause the fluorescent substrate to emit fluorescence. Generates an image by detecting the generated fluorescent substance by exciting the generated fluorescent substance with excitation light and detecting the generated fluorescence by the excitation light, and detecting the distribution of the target DNA on the transfer support. Can also. This fluorescence detection system, without using radioactive materials,
There is an advantage that a gene sequence or the like can be easily detected.

For this reason, an image reading apparatus which includes an argon laser excitation light source which emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 488 nm and which can be used in a fluorescence detection system has been proposed. However, a radiation diagnostic system, an autoradiography system, a detection system using an electron microscope, and a radiation diffraction image detection system using the stimulable phosphor sheet as an image detection material, also a fluorescence detection system,
In any case, as a result of scanning an image carrier such as a stimulable phosphor sheet carrying an image, a gel support or a transfer support with excitation light, light emitted from the image carrier is detected, an image is generated, and diagnosis or the like is performed. Because it performs detection and the like, it is convenient and preferable that the image reading device is configured to be usable in any of these systems. Therefore, a solid-state laser excitation light source that emits 635 nm laser light capable of exciting a BaFX (X is a halogen) -based stimulable phosphor is provided, and can be used in an autoradiography system and used in a fluorescence detection system. There has been proposed an image reading device that includes an LED that emits light having a wavelength of 450 nm that can excite light and can also be used in a fluorescence detection system.

In the fluorescence detection system, since the image carrier is constituted by a gel support or a transfer support and the thickness thereof is not constant, the image reading device used in the fluorescence detection system is provided on a transparent glass plate. An image carrier such as a gel support or a transfer support is placed, and is excited by a laser beam from below to generate fluorescence, and is configured to photoelectrically detect the fluorescence generated from the image carrier. In this image reading device, the stimulable phosphor sheet is also placed on a transparent glass plate,
It is configured to emit laser light from below.

[0007]

However, when the stimulable phosphor is excited by placing the stimulable phosphor sheet on a transparent glass plate and irradiating the stimulable phosphor with a laser beam from below. There is a problem that a flare occurs in the read image due to a difference in refractive index between the glass plate and the glass plate. Accordingly, the present invention provides a radiation diagnostic system using a stimulable phosphor sheet, an autoradiography system, a detection system using an electron microscope, a radiation diffraction image detection system, and an image reading device that can be used for a fluorescence detection system with high accuracy. It is an object of the present invention to provide a stimulable phosphor sheet unit capable of reading a radiation image and an electron beam image.

[0008]

The object of the present invention is to provide a stimulable phosphor sheet having a magnetic layer on one surface and a stimulable phosphor layer on the other surface, and a support plate having a magnet on one surface. This is achieved by a stimulable phosphor sheet unit in which the stimulable phosphor sheet and the support plate are integrated by the magnetic force between the magnetic layer and the magnet. According to the present invention, since the stimulable phosphor sheet and the support plate are integrated, even when the stimulable phosphor layer is scanned from below by a laser beam, the stimulable phosphor sheet is made of glass. There is no need to place the stimulable phosphor layer on the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet so that the stimulable phosphor layer is downwardly directed, and the stimulable phosphor layer is placed from below by a laser. By scanning with light, the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer is excited, and a radiation image or an electron beam image recorded on the stimulable phosphor can be read. Reads radiation images and electron beam images with high accuracy by using an image reader that can be used for an autoradiography system, a detection system using an electron microscope, a radiation diffraction image detection system, and a fluorescence detection system. Door is possible. Also, since the stimulable phosphor sheet is only fixed to the support plate by magnetic force during scanning with laser light, when recording a radiation image or an electron beam image on the stimulable phosphor layer, By removing the stimulable phosphor sheet from the support plate and recording a radiation image or an electron beam image in exactly the same manner as in the related art, the handling is simple.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
The storage phosphor sheet includes a plastic support,
The magnetic layer is formed on one surface of the plastic support.
Wherein the stimulable phosphor layer is provided in addition to the plastic support.
Formed on the surface. In the present invention, the stimulable phosphor layer
Included in the subject's radiation image, autoradiography
Record images, radiation diffraction images or electron microscope images
Stimulable phosphors that can be used for
It can store the energy of radiation or electron beam,
Therefore, the radiation or electron beam
Any energy that can emit energy in the form of light, especially
Although it is not limited to light in the visible light wavelength range,
And those which can be excited. Specifically, even if
For example, the alkali disclosed in JP-A-55-12145 is disclosed.
Lithium metal fluoride halide-based phosphor (Ba
_1-x,M²⁺ _x) FX: yA (where M²⁺Is Mg, Ca,
At least one selected from the group consisting of Sr, Zn and Cd
Is also a kind of alkaline earth metal element, X is Cl, Br and
At least one halogen selected from the group consisting of I,
A is Eu, Tb, Ce, Tm, Dy, Pr, Ho, N
at least one selected from the group consisting of d, Yb and Er
A kind of trivalent metal element, x is 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.6, y is 0 ≦ y
≦ 0.2. ), JP-A-2-276997.
Disclosed alkaline earth metal fluoride halide-based phosphor
SrFX: Z (where X is Cl, Br and I)
At least one halogen selected from the group
Or Ce. ), JP-A-59-56479.
-Activated composite halide phosphor disclosed in US
BaFX xNaX ': aEu²⁺(Where X and
X 'is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I.
X is 0 <x ≦
2, a is 0 <a ≦ 0.2. ), JP-A-58-69
No. 281 cerium-activated trivalent metal oxy
MOX: xCe (here, M
Are Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho,
Selected from the group consisting of Er, Tm, Yb and Bi.
At least one kind of trivalent metal element, X is one of Br and I
X is 0 <x <0.1
You. ), JP-A-60-101179 and JP-A-60-101179.
-90288 disclosed cerium-activated rare earth
LnOX: xCe which is a xyhalogen-based phosphor (here
Ln is selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Gd and Lu.
At least one rare earth element, X is Cl, Br or
At least one halogen selected from the group consisting of
X is 0 <x ≦ 0.1. ) And JP-A-59
-Activated composite disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 75200
Halogen-based phosphor M^IIFX ・ aM^IX'bM^'IIX
^'' _Two・ CM^IIIX^''' _ThreeXA: yEu²⁺(Where M
^IIIs a small number selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr and Ca
At least a kind of alkaline earth metal element, M^IIs Li, N
a selected from the group consisting of a, K, Rb and Cs
And a kind of alkali metal element, M '^IIIs Be and Mg
At least one divalent metal element selected from the group consisting of
Elementary, M^IIIIs a group consisting of Al, Ga, In and Tl
At least one trivalent metal element selected, A is small
And X is Cl, Br and I.
At least one halogen selected from the group consisting of
^''And X^'''Is a group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I
At least one halogen selected from the group consisting of
≦ a ≦ 2, b is 0 ≦ b ≦ 10 ^-2, C is 0 ≦ c ≦ 10
^-2And a + b + c ≧ 10^-2Where x is 0 <x
With ≦ 0.5, y is 0 <y ≦ 0.2. ) But preferred
It can be used properly.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a stimulable phosphor sheet unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view seen from below, and FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stimulable phosphor sheet 2 and a support plate 3 made of aluminum. The body sheet 2 includes a plastic support 4. A stimulable phosphor layer 5 is formed on one surface of the plastic support 4, and a magnetic layer 6 is formed on the other surface. As shown in FIG. 3, a recess 7 for receiving the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is formed in the support plate 3, and a rubber-like magnet sheet 8 is adhered to the surface of the recess 7. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnetic layer 6 of the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 and the rubber-like magnet sheet 8 of the support plate 3 are brought into surface contact with each other. The phosphor sheet 2 is fixed and integrated in the concave portion 7 of the support plate 3.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an image reading apparatus for reading an image recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 of the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 4 includes an electrophoretic image of a fluorescent dye recorded on a gel support or a transfer support and an object recorded on a stimulable phosphor layer provided on a stimulable phosphor sheet. It is configured to be able to read a radiation image, an autoradiography image, a radiation diffraction image, or an electron microscope image. As shown in FIG. 4, the image reading apparatus includes a first laser excitation light source 11 that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 633 nm, a second laser excitation light source 12 that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 532 nm, and 473 nm.
And a third laser excitation light source 13 that emits laser light having a wavelength of In this example, the first laser excitation light source 11
The second laser excitation light source 12 and the third laser excitation light source 13 are composed of a second harmonic generation (Second Harmonic Generation) element. The laser light 14 generated by the first laser excitation light source 11 passes through the filter 15, and is irradiated with the laser light 14 having a wavelength of 633 nm to excite the stimulable phosphor sheet. The part of the wavelength band corresponding to the band is cut. Further, in the optical path of the laser light 14 emitted from the first laser excitation light source 11, the first dichroic mirror 16 that transmits light having a wavelength of 633 nm and reflects light having a wavelength of 532 nm is provided with light having a wavelength of 532 nm or more. And a second dichroic mirror 17 for transmitting light having a wavelength of 473 nm is provided. The laser light 14 generated by the first laser excitation light source 11 and passing through the filter 15 is converted into a first dichroic mirror. The laser light 14 transmitted through the second dichroic mirror 16 and transmitted from the second dichroic mirror 17 is generated by the second laser excitation light source 12.
6, the direction of the laser light is changed by 90 degrees, and then transmitted through the second dichroic mirror 17. The laser light 14 generated from the third laser excitation light source 13 is reflected by the second dichroic mirror 17. Then, after their directions are changed by 90 degrees, they are respectively incident on the beam expander 18. The beam diameter of the laser light 14 is accurately adjusted by the beam expander 18, and the laser light 14 enters the polygon mirror 19. Polygon mirror 1
The laser beam 14 deflected by 9 is reflected by a reflecting mirror 21 via an fθ lens 20 and one-dimensionally enters a sheet-shaped image carrier unit 22. lens 20 is moved by the laser beam 14 on the image carrier unit 22 in the direction indicated by X in FIG.
This guarantees that scanning is always performed at a uniform linear velocity when scanning in the main scanning direction.

In FIG. 4, the image carrier unit 22
Is composed of a glass plate 23 and a transfer support 24 on which an electrophoretic image of denatured DNA labeled with a fluorescent dye is recorded. An electrophoretic image of denatured DNA labeled with a fluorescent dye is, for example,
It is recorded on the transfer support 24 as follows. That is, first, a plurality of DNA fragments including a DNA fragment comprising a target gene are separated and developed by electrophoresis on a gel supporting medium, and denatured by alkali treatment to obtain a single-stranded DNA fragment. DNA. Next, the gel support medium and the transfer support 24 are overlapped with each other by a known Southern blotting method, and at least a part of the denatured DNA fragment is transferred onto the transfer support 14. Fix it. Next, DN complementary to the DNAs of the three target genes
The probe prepared by labeling A or RNA with a fluorescent dye and the denatured DNA fragment on the transcription support 24 are hybridized by heating to form double-stranded DNA (re-naturation) or DNA. Performs RNA conjugate formation. In this example, three types of DNAs are targeted. Therefore, using three types of fluorescent dyes that emit fluorescence with different wavelengths, for example, using Fluorescein, Rhodamine B, and Cy-5, each of the target genes can be used. DN
A probe is prepared by labeling DNA or RNA complementary to A. At this time, the modified D on the transfer support 24
Since the NA fragment is immobilized, only the DNA fragment complementary to the probe DNA or probe RNA will hybridize and capture the fluorescently labeled probe. Thereafter, by washing away the probe that did not form a hybrid with an appropriate solution, only the DNA fragment having the target gene forms a hybrid with the fluorescently labeled DNA or RNA on the transcription support, A fluorescent label is provided. Thus, the obtained transfer support 24 is
An electrophoretic image of the denatured DNA labeled with the fluorescent dye is recorded.

When reading a radiation image or an electron beam image recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2, instead of the image carrier unit 22,
The stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 is set. In the present embodiment, the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 includes, for example, a Southern blot
Positional information of the radiolabeled substance in the gene using the hybridization method is recorded. Here, the position information refers to various information centered on the position of the radiolabeled substance or the aggregate thereof in the sample, for example, the position and shape of the aggregate of the radiolabeled substance present in the sample,
It means various types of information obtained as one or any combination of information including the concentration, distribution, and the like of the radiolabeled substance at that position. The position information of the radioactively labeled substance in the sample is stored and recorded in the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 as follows, for example. First, a plurality of DNA fragments including a DNA fragment comprising a target gene are separated and developed by performing electrophoresis on a gel supporting medium, and denatured (de-naturation) by alkali treatment to obtain a single-stranded DNA fragment. DN
A. Next, the gel support medium and a transfer support such as a nitrocellulose filter are superimposed by a known Southern blotting method, and at least a part of the denatured DNA fragment is transferred onto the transfer support, followed by heating treatment and Fix by UV irradiation. Next, the probe prepared by a method such as radiolabeling DNA or RNA complementary to the DNA of the gene of interest and the denatured DNA fragment on the transcription support are hybridized by heating treatment to obtain a double-stranded DNA. Renaturation or DNA-RNA conjugate formation. At this time, since the denatured DNA fragment on the transcription support is fixed, D DNA complementary to the probe DNA or probe RNA is used.
Only the NA fragment hybridizes and captures the radiolabeled probe. Thereafter, by washing away the probe that did not form a hybrid with an appropriate solution,
On the transcription support, only the DNA fragment having the gene of interest forms a hybrid with the radiolabeled DNA or RNA, and is radiolabeled. afterwards,
By exposing the dried transfer support and the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 to each other for a predetermined time and performing an exposure operation, at least a part of the radiation emitted from the radiolabeled substance on the transfer support is accumulated. The position information of the radioactively labeled substance in the sample absorbed by the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the phosphor sheet 2 is accumulated and recorded in the form of an image in the stimulable phosphor layer 5.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of the image reading apparatus. As shown in FIG. 5, the image reading device 35 includes a sample stage 36 on which the image carrier unit 22 or the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 is set, and the image carrier unit 22 has the glass plate 23 downward. The stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 is
With the stimulable phosphor layer 5 down, the sample stage 36
Is set to The image carrier unit 22 or the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 set on the sample stage 36 is sent by a transfer mechanism (not shown) in a direction indicated by Z in FIG. And is configured to receive the irradiation of the laser beam 14. In synchronization with the scanning in the main scanning direction by the laser beam 14, the image carrier unit 22 or the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 is driven by a motor (not shown) in the direction indicated by Y in FIG. The entire surface of the transfer support 24 or the stimulable phosphor layer 5 of the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is moved by the laser beam 14 in the scanning direction. As a result of the irradiation with the laser beam 14, the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 24 is excited and emitted by the fluorescent dye or the fluorescent dye contained in the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2. The stimulable phosphor emitted and excited by the stimulable phosphor is
The light is incident on a light guide 40 which is disposed in close proximity to the transfer support 24 or a scanning line on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2.

The light guide 40 has a light-receiving end formed in a straight line, and an emission end thereof disposed close to a light-receiving surface of a photoelectric conversion type photodetector 41 such as a photomultiplier. I have. The light guide 40 is made by processing a non-fluorescent glass or the like, and the fluorescent light or stimulating light incident from the light receiving end repeats total reflection on the inner surface thereof, passes through the light emitting end, and passes through the light detecting end. The shape is determined so that the light is transmitted to the light receiving surface 41. Therefore, in response to the irradiation of the laser beam 14, the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 24 or the stimulable phosphor emitted from the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is used. Is incident on the light guide 40 and is received by the photodetector 41 via the emission end while repeating total internal reflection. A filter member 4 is provided in front of the light receiving surface of the photodetector 41.
2 are provided. FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the filter member 42. The filter member 42 includes four filters 42.
a, 42b, 42c, and 42d. The filter 42a includes the first laser excitation light source 1
1 is a filter used to excite the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 24 and read out the fluorescence, cuts light having a wavelength of 633 nm, and transmits light having a wavelength longer than 633 nm. The filter 42b is a filter that is used when the second laser excitation light source 12 is used to excite a fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 24 and read out fluorescence. It has the property of cutting light having a wavelength of 532 nm and transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 532 nm. Further, the filter 42c is
A filter used when the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 24 is excited by using the third laser excitation light source 13 and the fluorescence is read out. It has the property of transmitting long wavelength light. The filter 42d excites the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 by using the first laser excitation light source 11, and generates the stimulable phosphor. This filter is used when reading the stimulating light from the body sheet 2, and transmits only light in the wavelength region of the stimulating light emitted from the stimulable phosphor and cuts light having a wavelength of 633 nm. have. Therefore, depending on the laser excitation light source to be used, that is, the type of the fluorescent dye and the type of the image carrier, that is, whether or not the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is used, these filters 42a, 42b, 42
c, 42d, the photodetector 4
1 can photoelectrically detect only the light to be detected. Here, the filter member 42 is configured to be rotatable by a motor 43.

The light photoelectrically detected by the photodetector 41 is converted into an electric signal, and is amplified by an amplifier 44 having a predetermined amplification factor into an electric signal of a predetermined level. 45 is input. The electrical signal is A /
In the D converter 45, the digital signal is converted into a digital signal with a scale factor suitable for the signal fluctuation width, and is input to the line buffer 46. The line buffer 46 temporarily stores the image data of one scanning line. When the image data of one scanning line is stored as described above, the data is transferred to the line buffer 46. The transmission buffer 47 is configured to output the image data to the image processing device 48 when the predetermined amount of image data is stored. . The image data input to the image processing device 48 is stored in an image data storage unit (not shown), read out from the image data storage unit, subjected to image processing as necessary, and processed by a CRT (not shown). ) Is displayed as a visible image on display means such as
Further, the image is analyzed by an image analysis device (not shown). Further, the image reading apparatus includes an input unit 51 including a control unit 50 and a keyboard, and an operator inputs the type of the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 24 to the input unit 51, or By inputting the type of the image carrier from which the image is to be read, the control unit 50 automatically causes the first
To select one of the laser excitation light source 11, the second laser excitation light source 12, the third laser excitation light source 13, and one of the filters 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d to start reading an image. Is configured.
That is, when the type of the fluorescent dye is input to the input unit 51, the control unit 50 drives the motor 43 in accordance with the type of the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 24, and controls the filter unit 42. Rotate the filter 42
a, 42b, or 42c is positioned on the front surface of the photodetector 41, and the first laser excitation light source 11, the second laser excitation light source 12, and the third laser excitation light source 1
3 is selectively driven to emit the laser beam 14, and when a stimulable phosphor sheet is input as an image carrier to the input means 51, the control unit 50 controls the motor 43 to operate. By driving, the filter means 42 is rotated, the filter 42d is positioned on the front of the photodetector 41, and the first laser excitation light source 11 is driven to emit the laser light 14 to start reading the image. It is configured to be.

When reading an electrophoretic image of denatured DNA labeled with a fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 24, the operator sets the image carrier unit 22 on the sample stage of the image reading device 35, The unit 22 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 4, and the type of the fluorescent dye used to label the probe is input to the input unit 51. The image reading device is
A first laser excitation light source 11 emitting a laser of 633 nm wavelength, a second laser excitation light source 12 emitting a laser of 532 nm wavelength, and a third laser excitation light source 13 emitting a laser of 473 nm wavelength are provided. In the example, the DNA of the gene of interest contains three types of fluorescent dyes F
Labeled with luorescein, Rhodamine B and Cy-5, respectively. Here, the wavelength at which Fluorescein can be most efficiently excited is 490 nm, the wavelength at which Rhodamine B can be most efficiently excited is 534 nm, and the wavelength at which Cy-5 can be most efficiently excited is 650 nm.
In order to detect DNA labeled with n
In order to detect the DNA labeled with Rhodamine B by scanning the transfer support 24 using the laser excitation light source 13, the transfer support 24 is scanned using the second laser excitation light source 12, and Cy- In order to detect the DNA labeled with 5, it is efficient to scan the transfer support 24 using the first laser excitation light source 11.

Therefore, the image reading apparatus is configured so that the operator can specify the method of excitation by the laser beam 14 using the input means 51. The fluorescence image of the DNA labeled with -5 was read and then Rhodamine
The control unit 50 outputs a drive signal to the motor 43 when an instruction signal for reading a fluorescence image of DNA labeled with e B and finally reading a fluorescence image of DNA labeled with Fluorescein is input. hand,
After rotating the filter member so that the filter a is located in front of the light receiving surface of the photodetector 41, the first laser excitation light source 11 is operated. As a result, the laser light 1 having a wavelength of 633 nm is emitted from the first laser excitation light source 11.
4 is emitted, the laser beam 14 passes through the dichroic mirrors 16 and 17, the beam diameter of which is adjusted accurately by the beam expander 18, and the polygon mirror 1
9 is incident. The laser light 14 deflected by the polygon mirror 19 passes through the fθ lens 20 to the reflecting mirror 21
And is incident on the transfer support 24. The laser beam 14 is scanned over the surface of the transfer support 24 in the main scanning direction indicated by X in FIG. 4, while the image carrier unit 22 is moved in the sub-scanning direction indicated by Y in FIG. Therefore, the entire surface of the transfer support 24 is scanned by the laser beam 14 having a wavelength of 633 nm. As a result, Cy-5 contained in the transfer support 24 is excited and emits fluorescence having a peak at a wavelength of 667 nm.

The fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent dye Cy-5 contained in the transfer support 24 enters the light guide 40 and repeats total internal reflection on the inner surface of the light guide 40.
The light enters the filter 42a from the emission end. Here, the filter 42a cuts light having a wavelength of 633 nm,
It has the property of transmitting light with a wavelength longer than 33 nm, and the wavelength of the fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent dye is longer than the wavelength of the excitation light. Therefore, only the fluorescent light emitted from Cy-5 is detected by the photodetector 41. , After being photoelectrically detected and amplified by the amplifier 44 to an electric signal of a predetermined level,
The data is converted into a digital signal by the D converter 45 with a scale factor suitable for the signal fluctuation width, and one line of image data is stored in the line buffer 46. When one line of image data is stored, the image data is output from the line buffer 46 to the transmission buffer 47. The image data obtained by detecting the fluorescence emitted from Cy-5 is output from the transmission buffer 47 to the image processing device 48 and displayed as a visible image on a display means such as a CRT. . The displayed image is Cy-5
And the image data generated as described above is stored in image data storage means (not shown) as necessary, or
The image is analyzed by an image analyzer (not shown).

When the excitation by the first laser excitation light source 11 is completed, the control unit 50 outputs a drive signal to a motor (not shown) to drive the image carrier unit 22
After returning to the original position, a drive signal is output to the motor 43 to rotate the filter member 42, and the filter 42b
Is located at the front of the light receiving surface of the photodetector 41 and the second laser excitation light source 12 is operated. As a result, a laser beam 14 having a wavelength of 532 nm is emitted from the second laser excitation light source 12, and the laser beam 14 is converted to a dichroic mirror 16.
After being reflected by the dichroic mirror 17, the beam diameter is accurately adjusted by the beam expander 18, and is incident on the polygon mirror 19. The laser light 14 deflected by the polygon mirror 19 has f
is reflected by the reflecting mirror 21 via the θ lens 20,
The light is incident on the transfer support 24. The laser beam 14 is scanned on the transfer support 24 in the main scanning direction, while the image carrier unit 22 is moved in the sub-scanning direction, so that the transfer support 24 is scanned by the laser beam 14 having a wavelength of 532 nm. , The entire surface is scanned. As a result, the transfer support 24
Is excited, and fluorescence having a peak at a wavelength of 605 nm is emitted.

The fluorescence emitted from Rhodamine B, which is a fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 24,
While repeating total internal reflection on the inner surface of the light guide 40, and enters the filter 42b from its exit end.
The filter 42b has a property of cutting off light having a wavelength of 532 nm, which is excitation light, and transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 532 nm. The wavelength of the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye is greater than the wavelength of the excitation light. Due to the length, only the fluorescence emitted from Rhodamine B is photoelectrically detected by the photodetector 41 and amplified by the amplifier 44 to an electric signal of a predetermined level. The image data is converted into a digital signal with a scale factor suitable for the fluctuation range, and the image data for one line is stored in the line buffer 46. When the image data for one line is stored, the image data is transferred from the line buffer 46 to the transmission buffer 47.
Is output to Thus, image data obtained by detecting the fluorescence emitted from Rhodamine B is output from the transmission buffer 47 to the image processing device 48,
It is displayed as a visible image on a display means such as an RT.
The displayed image is a DN labeled with RhodamineB.
The image data including the image A is stored in the image data storage unit (not shown) as necessary, or is stored in the image analysis device (not shown). Is parsed.

Thus, the second laser excitation light source 1
2 is completed, the control unit 50
Outputs a drive signal to a motor (not shown) to return the image carrier unit 22 to the original position, and then outputs a drive signal to the motor 43 to rotate the filter member 42, The filter 42c is located in front of the light receiving surface of the photodetector 41, and the third laser excitation light source 13 is operated.
As a result, the laser light 14 having a wavelength of 473 nm is emitted from the third laser excitation light source 13, and the laser light 14 is reflected by the dichroic mirror 17, and the beam diameter is adjusted accurately by the beam expander 18. Then, the light enters the polygon mirror 19. Polygon mirror 1
9 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 21 via the fθ lens 20, and is transferred to the transfer support 24.
Incident on top. The laser beam 14 travels on the transfer support 24,
It is scanned in the main scanning direction while the image carrier unit 22
Is moved in the sub-scanning direction, so that the transfer support 24
The entire surface is scanned by the laser beam 14 having a wavelength of 532 nm. As a result, it is included in the transfer support 24.
Fluorescein is excited and emits fluorescence having a peak at a wavelength of 530 nm. In this example, since the fluorescent dye is excited using the third laser excitation light source 13 that emits the laser light 14 having a wavelength of 473 nm, the intensity of the excitation light is higher than in the case of using an LED, Therefore, a sufficiently high amount of fluorescence can be generated from the fluorescent dye. The fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye Fluorescein contained in the transfer support 24 is
The light enters the filter 42b from the exit end while repeating total reflection on the inner surface of the light guide 40.
Here, the filter 42b has a property of cutting off light having a wavelength of 473 nm, which is excitation light, and transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 473 nm. The wavelength of the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye depends on the excitation light. Fluorescei because it is longer than the wavelength
Only the fluorescence emitted from n is photoelectrically detected by the photodetector 41, amplified to an electric signal of a predetermined level by the amplifier 44, and then suitable for the signal fluctuation width by the A / D converter 45. The image data is converted into a digital signal at the scale factor thus set, and the image data for one line is stored in the line buffer 46. When one line of image data is stored, the image data is output from the line buffer 46 to the transmission buffer 47.

The image data obtained by detecting the fluorescence emitted from Fluorescein is output from the transmission buffer 47 to the image processing device 48,
It is displayed as a visible image on display means such as T.
The image displayed in this manner includes an image of DNA labeled with Fluorescein. As described above, the generated image data is stored in an image data storage unit (not shown) as necessary. It is stored or analyzed by an image analysis device (not shown). On the other hand, when reading the image of the positional information of the radiolabeled substance in the gene using the Southern blot hybridization method recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2, The operator first sets the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 on the sample stage 36 of the image reading device 35 such that the stimulable phosphor layer 5 faces downward, and the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 is The image carrier unit 22 is moved to the position of FIG. 4 and the fact that the image carrier is the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is input to the input means 51. The control unit 50 controls the motor 4 according to the instruction signal input to the input means 51.
A drive signal is output to 3 and the filter member 42 is rotated to position the filter 42d in front of the light receiving surface of the photodetector 41, and then the first laser excitation light source 11 is operated. As a result, the first laser excitation light sources 11 to 633n
A laser beam 14 having a wavelength of m is emitted.
After passing through the dichroic mirrors 16 and 17, the beam diameter is accurately adjusted by a beam expander 18, and the beam enters a polygon mirror 19. The laser light 14 deflected by the polygon mirror 19 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 21 via the fθ lens 20 and is incident on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2. The laser light 14 scans the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 in the main scanning direction indicated by X in FIG. 4, and the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 4, the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is scanned by the laser light.

Thus, the laser beam 1 having a wavelength of 633 nm
When scanning is performed by 4, the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is excited to emit stimulable light. The stimulable light emitted from the stimulable phosphor enters the light guide 40 and enters the filter 42d from the emission end while repeating total reflection on the inner surface of the light guide 40. Here, the filter 42d has a property of transmitting only light in the wavelength region of stimulating light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 and cutting light having a wavelength of 633 nm. Only photostimulated light emitted from the body is photoelectrically detected by the photodetector 41 and the amplifier 4
After being amplified to an electric signal of a predetermined level by 4,
The signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 45 at a scale factor suitable for the signal fluctuation width, and is sent to the image processing device 48 via the line buffer 46 and the transmission buffer 47. Based on the image data input to the image processing device 48, it is displayed as a visible image on display means such as a CRT. The image data generated in this way is
If necessary, the image data is stored in an image data storage unit (not shown), and is analyzed by an image analysis device (not shown).

According to this embodiment, the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 includes the magnetic layer 6 and the support plate 3 includes the magnet sheet 8. The stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is attached to the support plate 3 by magnetic force. The stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 is fixed and integrated to form the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1, and the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is set downward in the image reading device 35. The stimulable phosphor layer 5 is directly scanned by the laser beam 14 from below, and the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer 5 is excited. As a result, the stimulable phosphor emits light. The stimulated photostimulation is photoelectrically detected by the photodetector 41 without passing through the glass plate 23. Therefore, the electrophoretic image and accumulation of DNA labeled with the fluorescent dye recorded on the transfer support 24 are obtained. Phosphor sheet 2
An image reading device 35 configured to be able to read both electrophoretic images of DNA labeled with a radioactive labeling substance recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed in
It is possible to accurately read an electrophoretic image of DNA labeled with a radioactive labeling substance recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 of the stimulable phosphor sheet 2. Also, 47
Since the fluorescent dye is excited using the third laser excitation light source 13 that emits the laser light 14 having a wavelength of 3 nm, the LED is
The intensity of the excitation light is higher than that of the laser light, so that a sufficient amount of fluorescence can be generated. Further, the laser light 14 of 473 nm lower than the wavelength of 488 nm of the argon laser is Since the fluorescent dye designed to be efficiently excitable is excited, the filter 42c can easily cut off the excitation light and detect only the fluorescence, thereby improving the S / N ratio. It is possible to read a fluorescent dye or radiation image with high sensitivity. Furthermore, the first laser excitation light sources 11 and 4 that emit laser light 14 having a wavelength of 633 nm
Since the second laser excitation light source 12 emitting the 532 nm laser light 14 is provided in addition to the third laser excitation light source 13 emitting the 73 nm laser light 14, 532
The sample can be labeled using a fluorescent dye that can be excited by the laser light 14 having a wavelength of nm, and the usefulness of the fluorescence detection system can be improved. By inputting the type of the fluorescent dye to the input means 51, the control unit 50 allows the filters 42a and 42a to be input.
b, 42c, a filter suitable for detecting the fluorescence emitted from the input fluorescent dye is selected, and after being positioned in front of the photodetector 41, the first laser excitation light source 11, the second Out of the laser excitation light source 12 and the third laser excitation light source 13, a laser excitation light source suitable for exciting a fluorescent dye forming a fluorescent image to be read is selected, and a laser beam 14 is emitted to emit a fluorescent light. An image is read, or, by inputting that the image carrier is a stimulable phosphor sheet to the input means 51, a filter 42d suitable for detecting photostimulable light is selected,
After being positioned in front of the photodetector 41, a first laser excitation light source 11 suitable for exciting the stimulable phosphor is selected, a laser beam 14 is emitted, and a radiation image is read. Therefore, the operation is extremely simple, and when reading the radiation image recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2,
Activating the second laser excitation light source 12 or the third laser excitation light source 13 to release a part of the radiation energy accumulated in the stimulable phosphor layer 5, thereby reading a radiation image with high accuracy. This makes it possible to eliminate the possibility that the reading becomes difficult or, in some cases, the reading becomes impossible.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that it is a thing. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an electrophoretic image of a gene using the Southern blot hybridization method is recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 and is recorded on the photostimulable phosphor layer 5. Although the description has been added for the case where the image is read, the present invention is not limited to the case where the radiation image is read from the stimulable phosphor layer 5 of the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 on which such an image is recorded. Autoradiographic images generated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) of proteins and recorded on a stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on a stimulable phosphor sheet 2; separation of proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis In order to perform identification, identification, or evaluation of molecular weight and characteristics, etc., auto-recording is performed on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2. Autoradio recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 in order to study the geographic image, the metabolism, absorption and excretion pathways and conditions of the administered substance in the experimental mouse. In addition to reading other autoradiographic images recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 such as a graphic image, the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is generated using an electron microscope. Electron beam transmission image and electron beam diffraction image of a metal or non-metal sample recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the substrate, electron microscope image of biological tissue, etc., and accumulation of metal or non-metal sample The present invention can be widely applied to reading of a radiation diffraction image or the like recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 5 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2.

In the above embodiment, the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 1 includes the support plate 3 made of aluminum. However, the material of the support plate 3 is not limited to aluminum. 3 may be formed of another metal or plastic. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the rubber plate-like magnet sheet 8 is adhered to the support plate 3. However, the magnetic layer 6 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is attracted by magnetic force, and It is sufficient that the phosphor sheet 2 can be integrally fixed to the support plate 3, and a magnet can be embedded in the support plate 3 without sticking the rubber-like magnet sheet 8. Further, in FIG. 4, the image reading apparatus includes the second laser excitation light source 12 that emits the laser light 14 having a wavelength of 532 nm, but the second laser excitation light source 12 is not necessarily required. Further, the image reading device 35 shown in FIG. 4 is a first He—Ne laser light source that emits a laser beam 14 having a wavelength of 633 nm.
Although the laser excitation light source 11 is provided, a semiconductor laser light source that emits a laser beam 14 of 635 nm may be used instead of the He-Ne laser light source.

The image reading device 3 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a laser light source that emits 633 nm laser light as the first laser excitation light source 11, a laser light source that emits 532 nm laser light as the second laser excitation light source 12, and a third laser excitation light source 13 A laser light source that emits 473 nm laser light is used, but the first laser excitation light source 11 is 633 nm depending on the type of the fluorescent dye or stimulable phosphor to be excited.
A laser light source that emits 635 nm laser light can be used instead of the laser light source that emits laser light of the second type.
530 to 560n as the laser excitation light source 12
As the third laser excitation light source 13, a laser light source that emits a laser beam of 470 to 480 nm can be used, respectively. Further, in the above embodiment, the light guide 30 is formed by processing non-fluorescent glass or the like, but the light guide 30 is not limited to the one made of non-fluorescent glass, but may be made of synthetic quartz, A sheet made by processing a transparent thermoplastic resin sheet such as an acrylic synthetic resin can also be used. Further, the image reading device 3 shown in FIG.
5 inputs the type of fluorescent dye and whether the image carrier is a stimulable phosphor sheet to the input means 51, and the control unit 50 automatically causes the laser excitation light source 1
1, 12, 13 and filters 42a, 42b, 42
The control unit 50 is configured to select the laser excitation light sources 11, 12, 13 and the filters 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d by inputting any instruction signal. This can be arbitrarily determined, and is not limited to the type of fluorescent dye and whether or not the image carrier is a stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0029]

According to the present invention, a radiation diagnostic system using a stimulable phosphor sheet, an autoradiography system, a detection system using an electron microscope, a radiation diffraction image detection system, and an image reading apparatus usable in a fluorescence detection system. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a stimulable phosphor sheet unit capable of reading a radiation image and an electron beam image with high accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a stimulable phosphor sheet unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a stimulable phosphor sheet unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below.

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a stimulable phosphor sheet unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an image reading device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of a filter member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 stimulable phosphor sheet unit 2 stimulable phosphor sheet 3 support plate 4 plastic support 5 stimulable phosphor layer 6 magnetic layer 7 recess 8 magnet sheet 11 first laser excitation light source 12 second laser excitation light source 13 Third laser excitation light source 14 Laser light 15 Optical filter 16 First dichroic mirror 17 Second dichroic mirror 18 Beam expander 19 Polygon mirror 20 fθ lens 21 Reflecting mirror 22 Image carrier unit 23 Glass plate 24 Transfer support 20 Storage phosphor sheet unit 21 Stimulable phosphor layer 22 Storage phosphor sheet 35 Image reading device 36 Sample stage 40 Light guide 41 Photodetector 42 Filter member 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d Filter 43 Motor 44 Amplifier 45A / D converter 4 6 line buffer 47 transmission buffer 48 image processing device 50 control unit 51 input means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A stimulable phosphor sheet having a magnetic layer on one surface and a stimulable phosphor layer on another surface, and a support plate having a magnet on one surface, wherein the magnetic layer and the magnet are The stimulable phosphor sheet unit, wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet and the support plate are integrated by a magnetic force therebetween. 2. The stimulable phosphor sheet includes a plastic support, the magnetic layer is formed on one surface of the plastic support, and the stimulable phosphor layer is formed on another surface of the plastic support. The stimulable phosphor sheet unit according to claim 1, wherein: