JPH103136A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an image reader to be used for a radiographic diagnostic system, an automatic radiographic system and the like, and to read an image with high sensitivity and high accuracy, by selectively actuating a first and a second laser excitation means and selecting a prescribed filter from a filter means. SOLUTION: A first laser exciting light source 1 emits a laser light beam whose wavelength is 633nm or 635nm and a second laser exciting light source 2 emits the laser light beam whose wavelength is 470nm-480nm. When a fluorescent image recorded on a transfer supporting body 14 is read, the type of a fluorescent dye included in the supporting body 14 is inputted to an input means 41 by an operator. When a radiographic image recorded on a stimulable phosphor layer formed on a stimulable phosphor sheet is read, one of the first to the third laser exciting light sources 1-3 is automatically selected by a control unit 40 by inputting that an image carrier is the stimulable phosphor sheet. Then, the image is started to be read.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, and more particularly to a radiation diagnostic system using a stimulable phosphor sheet, an autoradiography system, a detection system using an electron microscope, and a radiation diffraction image. The present invention relates to an image reading device that can be used for a detection system and a fluorescence detection system, and that can read an image with high sensitivity and accuracy and with a simple operation.

[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.

[0006]

In this image reading apparatus, a stimulable phosphor or a fluorescent substance which can be excited by a 635 nm laser beam is excited by a 635 nm laser beam, and can be excited by a 450 nm wavelength light. Exciting the fluorescent substance, the resulting photostimulated light or fluorescence is to be detected by one photomultiplier through a filter that cuts off light having the wavelength of the excitation light,
A solid-state laser excitation light source and an LED are incorporated in the optical head, and the optical head is moved at high speed in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction to scan the image carrier with the excitation light. However, many of the fluorescent materials used to generate fluorescent images in fluorescent detection systems
It is designed to be more easily excited by an argon laser emitting a laser beam with a wavelength of 88 nm, and when it is excited by light with a wavelength of 450 nm, the excitation efficiency is low,
It is difficult to generate sufficient fluorescence, and in this image reading apparatus, in order to increase the intensity of the excitation light and improve the detection sensitivity, a laser excitation light source is used instead of the LED as an excitation light source. However, it is extremely difficult to mount a laser excitation light source on an optical head that is moved at a high speed, and therefore, an LED must be used as the excitation light source, and the intensity of the excitation light is low. Therefore, there is a problem that the amount of emitted fluorescent light is small and the detection sensitivity is reduced.

On the other hand, even in an image reading apparatus provided with an argon laser excitation light source that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 488 nm, as a result of exciting the fluorescent substance, light having a wavelength slightly longer than 488 nm is emitted from the fluorescent substance. For,
When detecting the light emitted from the fluorescent substance, it is difficult to cut off the excitation light, and there has been a problem that the S / N ratio tends to decrease. In this image reading apparatus, the operator himself selects a solid-state laser excitation light source that emits 635-nm laser light or an LED that emits light of 450-nm wavelength according to the type of fluorescent substance forming the image to be read. In order to excite the stimulable phosphor by switching the filter on the front surface of the photomultiplier and using a solid laser excitation light source that emits 635 nm laser light, It is necessary to place a filter that transmits only light and cuts a laser beam of 635 nm in front of the photomultiplier to read an image. However, performing such an operation is troublesome, and it is difficult to perform such an operation.
When reading an image of a fluorescent substance to be excited by light having a wavelength of 380 nm, if the fluorescent substance is erroneously excited by 635 nm laser light, Is wrong, or when reading the image of the fluorescent substance to be excited by the 635 nm laser light, the fluorescent substance is erroneously excited by the 450 nm light, or the fluorescent substance is excited by the 635 nm laser light. However, there is a problem that a desired image cannot be obtained if a filter is selected incorrectly. In particular, autoradiography recorded on a stimulable phosphor layer formed on a stimulable phosphor sheet is not sufficient. When reading the image, mistakenly using 450nm laser light,
When an autoradiographic image is read, a part of the radiation energy stored in the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet is released, so that the 635 nm wavelength is again measured. Even when excited by laser light, it is difficult to accurately read an autoradiographic image, and in some cases, there is a problem that an autoradiographic image cannot be read at all.

Therefore, the present invention can be used for 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 a fluorescence detection system, and has high sensitivity and accuracy. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus capable of reading an image with a simple operation.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is as follows.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first laser excitation light source that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 633 nm or 635 nm;
A second laser excitation light source that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 0 to 480 nm, a laser beam scanning unit that scans the laser beam, and a light detection unit that can photoelectrically detect light emitted from an image carrier that carries an image. And filter means arranged before the light detection means, each having a plurality of filters for selectively transmitting only light in different wavelength ranges, input means capable of inputting an instruction signal, and input to the input means. Control means for selectively operating the first laser excitation light source and the second laser excitation means in accordance with the instruction signal provided, and for selecting a predetermined filter from among the plurality of filters of the filter means. This is achieved by an image reading device provided with the image reading device. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image reading apparatus includes the first laser excitation light source that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 633 nm or 635 nm and the second laser excitation light source that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 470 to 480 nm. Therefore, the radiation stored and recorded in the BaFX (X is a halogen element) -based stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet using the first laser excitation light source. Image and electron beam image and an image of the sample, which is labeled with a fluorescent substance which can be excited by a laser beam having a wavelength of 633 nm or 635 nm, and which is recorded on an image carrier, can be read. It is possible to read the sample image recorded on the image carrier, which is labeled with a fluorescent substance designed to be excitable It made. In addition, the second laser excitation light source is 470 to 480n
m, the excitation light can be easily cut from fluorescence having a wavelength longer than 488 nm emitted from the fluorescent substance, and only the fluorescence can be detected. Since a laser is used as an excitation light source, a fluorescent substance can be excited by high-intensity excitation light to generate a sufficiently large amount of fluorescent light,
Therefore, an image can be read with high sensitivity. An input unit capable of inputting an instruction signal; and selectively operating the first laser excitation light source and the second laser excitation unit according to the instruction signal input to the input unit; Is provided with control means for selecting a predetermined filter from among, for example, by inputting the type of the fluorescent substance to the input means, the fluorescent image of the sample marked by the fluorescent substance and recorded on the image carrier The laser excitation light source necessary to read the image is operated by the control means, and a filter suitable for reading the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance is selected by the control means, and the image is read, or When reading a radiation image or an electron beam image recorded on the stimulable phosphor, the input means inputs an image of a stimulable phosphor sheet. By entering the body type, the control means automatically selects and activates a first laser excitation light source suitable for exciting the stimulable phosphor, and A filter that transmits only the stimulating light emitted from the filter and cuts the excitation light emitted from the first laser excitation light source is selected, and the image can be read. The operation is extremely simple. It is possible to prevent that a desired image cannot be obtained by erroneously selecting a laser excitation light source or a filter, and further, it is possible to record a stimulable phosphor layer formed on a stimulable phosphor sheet. When reading a radiation image or an electron beam image, the second laser excitation light source is mistakenly activated, and one of the radiation energy or the electron beam energy accumulated in the stimulable phosphor layer is read. Would have to release the radiation image or electron beam image, accurately, in some cases, it is possible to eliminate the fear that can not be read at all.

In a preferred embodiment of the first invention, the image carrier scanned by the laser beam emitted from the first laser excitation light source is a carrier carrying an image of a fluorescent substance, or a radiation image of a subject, A laser light emitted from the second laser excitation light source, which is constituted by a stimulable phosphor sheet containing a stimulable phosphor on which an image selected from the group consisting of an autoradiography image, a radiation diffraction image and an electron microscope image is recorded. Is constituted by a carrier carrying an image of a fluorescent substance. In a further preferred embodiment of the first invention, the image reading device further comprises:
A third laser excitation light source that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 40 nm, wherein the control unit is configured to control the first laser excitation light source, the second laser excitation light source, and the second laser excitation light source according to an instruction signal input to the input unit. The third laser excitation light source is selectively operated, and a predetermined filter is selected from the plurality of filters of the filter means. According to a further preferred embodiment of the first invention, the sample can be labeled using a fluorescent substance which can be excited by a laser beam having a wavelength of 530 to 540 nm, and the usefulness of the fluorescence detection system can be improved. Will be possible.

[0011] In a further preferred aspect of the first invention, the image carrier scanned by the laser light emitted from the third laser excitation light source is constituted by a carrier carrying an image of a fluorescent substance. In a further preferred aspect of the first invention, the input means is configured to be able to input at least a type of a fluorescent substance and a type of an image carrier as an instruction signal. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the above object of the present invention also provides
Alternatively, a first laser excitation light source that emits a laser light having a wavelength of 635 nm, a second laser excitation light source that emits a laser light having a wavelength of 470 to 480 nm, laser light scanning means that scans the laser light, and carries an image. A plurality of light detection means capable of photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the image carrier,
A filter unit including a plurality of filters disposed before each of the light detection units and selectively transmitting only light in different wavelength ranges; an input unit capable of inputting an instruction signal; According to the indicated instruction signal,
The first laser excitation light source and the second laser excitation means are selectively operated, and a predetermined light detection means is selected from the plurality of light detection means to correspond to the predetermined light detection means. The present invention is also achieved by an image reading apparatus provided with control means for selecting a predetermined filter from a plurality of filters provided in the filter means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image reading apparatus includes a first laser excitation light source that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 633 nm or 635 nm, and 470 to 480 n.
Since a second laser excitation light source that emits a laser light having a wavelength of m is provided, the first laser excitation light source is used to emit B light contained in the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet.
aFX (X is a halogen element) -based stimulable phosphor, radiation image and electron beam image stored and recorded, and 633n
m or 635 nm, which is labeled with a fluorescent substance which can be excited by a laser beam having a wavelength of 635 nm, can read an image of the sample recorded on an image carrier, and can be excited by an argon laser by a second laser excitation light source. It becomes possible to read the image of the sample, which is labeled with the fluorescent substance and recorded on the image carrier. In addition, since the second laser excitation light source emits laser light having a wavelength of 470 to 480 nm, 488 nm emitted from a fluorescent substance is emitted.
m, the excitation light can be easily cut from the fluorescence having a wavelength longer than m, and only the fluorescence can be detected.
Since a laser is used as the second excitation light source, it is possible to excite the fluorescent substance with high-intensity excitation light to generate a sufficiently large amount of fluorescent light, and thus to read an image with high sensitivity. Becomes possible. Further, the input means capable of inputting an instruction signal, the first laser excitation light source and the second laser excitation means are selectively operated in accordance with the instruction signal input to the input means, and a plurality of light detection means are provided. Since there is provided control means for selecting a predetermined light detection means from among them and selecting a predetermined filter from a plurality of filters provided in the filter means corresponding to the selected light detection means, for example, input means Then, by inputting the type of the fluorescent substance, the laser excitation light source necessary for reading the fluorescent image of the sample, which is labeled with the fluorescent substance and recorded on the image carrier, is operated by the control means, and A light detecting means and a filter suitable for reading the fluorescence emitted from the substance can be selected by the control means to execute reading of the image. Or, when reading a radiation image or an electron beam image recorded on the stimulable phosphor, by inputting the type of image carrier called a stimulable phosphor sheet to the input means, automatically by the control means, A first laser excitation light source suitable for exciting the stimulable phosphor is selected and activated, and light detecting means suitable for detecting the stimulable light emitted from the stimulable phosphor. And a filter that transmits only the stimulating light emitted from the stimulable phosphor and cuts the excitation light emitted from the first laser excitation light source can be selected, so that an image can be read. The operation is extremely simple, and it is possible to prevent that a desired image cannot be obtained by erroneously selecting a laser excitation light source, a light detection unit, or a filter,
Further, when reading a radiation image or an electron beam image recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet, the second laser excitation light source is erroneously activated, and To eliminate the possibility that a part of radiation energy or electron beam energy accumulated in the phosphor layer is released, so that a radiation image or an electron beam image cannot be read at all with high accuracy or in some cases. Becomes possible.

In a preferred embodiment of the second invention, the image carrier scanned by the laser light emitted from the first laser excitation light source is a carrier carrying an image of a fluorescent substance, or a radiation image of a subject, A laser beam emitted from the second laser excitation light source, which is constituted by a stimulable phosphor sheet containing a stimulable phosphor on which an image selected from the group consisting of an autoradiography image, a radiation diffraction image and an electron microscope image is recorded. Is constituted by a carrier carrying an image of a fluorescent substance. In a further preferred embodiment of the second invention, the image reading device further comprises 530 to 540.
a third laser excitation light source that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of nm, wherein the control means responds to an instruction signal input to the input means, wherein the first laser excitation light source, the second laser excitation light source, The third laser excitation light source is selectively operated, and a predetermined light detection unit is selected from the plurality of light detection units, and a plurality of the plurality of filter units corresponding to the predetermined light detection unit are provided. It is configured to select a predetermined filter from the filters. According to a further preferred embodiment of the second invention, it is possible to label a sample using a fluorescent substance which can be excited by a laser beam having a wavelength of 530 to 540 nm, thereby improving the usefulness of the fluorescence detection system. Will be possible.

[0014] In a further preferred aspect of the second invention, the image carrier operated by the laser beam emitted from the third laser excitation light source is constituted by a carrier carrying an image of a fluorescent substance. In a further preferred aspect of the first invention, the input means is configured to be able to input at least a type of a fluorescent substance and a type of an image carrier as an instruction signal. In the present invention, the term "carrying an image of a fluorescent substance" refers to the case where the image of a sample labeled with a fluorescent dye is carried, and the method in which the enzyme is bound to a fluorescent substrate after binding the enzyme to the labeled sample. Contacting to change the fluorescent substrate to a fluorescent substance that emits fluorescence, and carrying an image of the obtained fluorescent substance. In the present invention, the image carrier,
Carrying an image of the labeled sample, from 470 nm to 4
A fluorescent dye that can be excited by a laser beam having a wavelength of 80 nm and used to read an image is 470
There is no particular limitation as long as it is a fluorescent dye that can be excited by a laser having a wavelength of from 480 nm to 480 nm. 4
Examples of fluorescent dyes that can be excited by a laser having a wavelength of 70 to 480 nm include, for example, Fluorescein (CIN)
o. 45350), Fluorescein-X represented by the structural formula (1), YOYO-1 represented by the structural formula (2), and T represented by the structural formula (3)
OTO-1, YO-PRO-1 represented by structural formula (4), structural formula (5)
Cy-3 (registered trademark) represented by the formula: Ni represented by the structural formula (6):
le Red, BCECF represented by the structural formula (7), Rhodamine 6G
(CI No. 45160), Acridine Orange (CI No. 4600)
_{5), SYBR Green (C 2} H 6 OS), Quantum Red, R-Phycoe
rythrin, Red 613, Red 670, Fluor X, Fluorescein
Labeled amidite, FAM, AttoPhos, Bodipy phosphatid
ylcholine, SNAFL, Calcium Green, Fura Red, Fluo
3, AllPro, NBD phosphoethanolamine and the like can be preferably used. Further, in the present invention, a fluorescent dye which carries an image of a labeled sample on an image carrier, is excited by a laser beam having a wavelength of 633 nm or 635 nm, and can be used for reading an image,
There is no particular limitation as long as it is a fluorescent dye that can be excited by a laser having a wavelength of 633 nm or 635 nm. As a fluorescent dye that can be excited by a laser having a wavelength of 633 nm or 635 nm, for example, Cy-5 (registered trademark) represented by the formula (8), Allphycocyanin, or the like can be preferably used. Further, in the present invention,
An image carrier carries an image of the labeled sample, and 530
The fluorescent dye that can be excited by a laser beam having a wavelength of 540 nm to 540 nm and used for reading an image is particularly limited as long as it is a fluorescent dye that can be excited by a laser having a wavelength of 530 to 540 nm. is not. Examples of the fluorescent dye that can be excited by a laser having a wavelength of 530 to 540 nm include Cy-3 (registered trademark) represented by the structural formula (5) and Rhodamine 6G (CI No.
45160), Rhodamine B (CI No. 45170), structural formula
Ethidium Bromide represented by (9), Texas Red represented by structural formula (10), Propidium Iod represented by structural formula (11)
ide, POPO-3 represented by the structural formula (12), Red613, Red6
70, Carboxyrhodamine (R6G), R-Phycoerythrin, Qua
ntum Red, JOE, HEX, Ethidium homodimer, Lissami
Ne rhodamine B peptide and the like can be preferably used.

[0015]

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[0016]

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[0017]

Embedded image

[0018]

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[0019]

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[0020]

Embedded imageIn the present invention, a radiographic image of a subject
Rafie images, radiation diffraction images or electron microscope images
As a stimulable phosphor that can be used to carry
Can store radiation or electron beam energy,
Radiation or electrons excited and accumulated by magnetic waves
Anything that can emit line energy in the form of light
Although not particularly limited, in the visible light wavelength range,
Those that can be excited by light are preferred. Specifically
Is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-55-12145.
Alkaline earth metal fluorohalide-based phosphor (Ba)
_1-x,M ²⁺ _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.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus includes a first laser excitation light source 1 that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 633 nm, a second laser excitation light source 2 that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 532 nm, and a second laser excitation light source that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 473 nm. 3 laser excitation light sources 3. In the present embodiment, the first laser excitation light source 1
The second laser excitation light source 2 and the third laser excitation light source 3 are configured by a second harmonic generation (Second Harmonic Generation) element. When the optical modulator 15 is on, the laser light 4 generated by the first laser excitation light source 1 passes through the optical modulator 15 and then passes through the filter 5 so that the laser light having a wavelength of 633 nm is emitted. The light 4 cuts off a portion of the wavelength range corresponding to the wavelength range of the stimulating light generated when the stimulable phosphor sheet is excited. Further, in the optical path of the laser light 4 emitted from the first laser excitation light source 1,
First dichroic mirrors 6 and 532 that transmit light having a wavelength of 633 nm and reflect light having a wavelength of 532 nm
A second dichroic mirror 7 that transmits light having a wavelength of not less than nm and reflects light having a wavelength of 473 nm is provided. The laser light 4 generated by the first laser excitation light source 1 and passing through the filter 5 is The laser light 4 transmitted through the first dichroic mirror 6 and the second dichroic mirror 7 and generated by the second laser excitation light source 2 is reflected by the first dichroic mirror 6 and has a direction of 90 degrees. After being changed, the laser light 4 transmitted through the second dichroic mirror 7 and emitted from the third laser excitation light source 3 was reflected by the second dichroic mirror 7 and changed its direction by 90 degrees. Later,
The beam enters the beam expander 8. The beam diameter of the laser beam 4 is accurately adjusted by the beam expander 8 and is incident on the polygon mirror 9. The laser light 4 deflected by the polygon mirror 9 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 11 via the fθ lens 10 and one-dimensionally enters the sheet-shaped image carrier unit 12. The fθ lens 10 always scans the image carrier unit 12 with the laser beam 4 in the direction indicated by X in FIG. 1, ie, when scanning in the main scanning direction, at a uniform linear velocity.
This guarantees that a scan is made.

The image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment comprises:
Electrophoretic image of fluorescent dye recorded on gel support or transfer support and radiation image, autoradiography image, radiation diffraction of subject recorded on stimulable phosphor layer provided on stimulable phosphor sheet An image or an electron microscope image is configured to be readable. In FIG. 1, the image carrier unit 12 is composed of a glass plate 13 and a transfer support 14 on which an electrophoretic image of denatured DNA labeled with a fluorescent substance is recorded. An electrophoretic image of the denatured DNA labeled with a fluorescent dye is recorded on the transfer support 14 as follows, for example. That is, first, a plurality of DNA fragments including a DNA fragment consisting of a target gene,
Separation and development by electrophoresis on a gel support medium, and denaturation by alkali treatment to obtain single-stranded DNA. Next, by a known Southern blotting method, the gel support medium and the transfer support 14 are superimposed, and at least a part of the denatured DNA fragment is transferred onto the transfer support, and heated and irradiated with ultraviolet light. Fix it. Next, a probe prepared by labeling DNA or RNA complementary to the DNAs of the three types of target genes with a fluorescent dye and a denatured DNA fragment on the transcription support 14 are hybridized by heating. It forms double-stranded DNA (re-naturation) or DNA-RNA conjugate. In this example,
Since three types of DNA are intended, three types of fluorescent dyes that emit fluorescence with different wavelengths, for example, Flu
Probes are prepared by using orescein, Rhodamine B and Cy-5 to label DNA or RNA complementary to the DNA of the gene of interest, respectively. At this time,
Since the denatured DNA fragment on the transcription support 14 is fixed, D
Only the NA fragment hybridizes and captures 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 gene of interest on the transcription support,
A hybrid is formed with the fluorescently labeled DNA or RNA, and the fluorescent label is added. The thus obtained transfer support 14 is provided with a modified D labeled with a fluorescent dye.
An electrophoretic image of NA is recorded.

When reading a radiation image or an electron beam image recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet, the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 20 is set in place of the image carrier unit 12. You. As shown in FIG. 2, the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 20 has a stimulable phosphor layer 21 containing a stimulable phosphor formed on one surface and a magnetic layer (not shown) on the other surface. ) Is formed of a stimulable phosphor sheet 22 and a support plate 23 made of aluminum or the like on one side of which a rubber-like magnet sheet (not shown) is adhered. The layer and the magnet sheet of the support plate 23 are adhered and integrated. In the present embodiment, the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 contains, for example, positional information of a radiolabeled substance in a gene using the Southern blot hybridization method. Has been recorded. Here, the positional information refers to various types of 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 kinds of information obtained as one or any combination of information including the concentration and distribution of the radioactive labeling substance.

The position information of the radioactive labeling substance in the sample is stored and recorded in the stimulable phosphor layer 21 of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 as follows, for example. First, a plurality of DNA fragments including a DNA fragment comprising a target gene are
Electrophoresis is performed on a gel support medium to separate and develop, and denatured by alkali treatment to obtain single-stranded DNA. 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. DNA formation (re-naturation) or DNA / RNA conjugate. At this time, since the denatured DNA fragment on the transcription support is fixed, only the DNA fragment complementary to the probe DNA or the probe RNA hybridizes and captures the radiolabeled probe. Thereafter, the probe that did not form a hybrid was washed away with an appropriate solution, so that only the DNA fragment having the target gene was transferred to the transfer support on the DNA fragment to which the radiolabel was added.
Alternatively, it forms a hybrid with RNA and is provided with a radioactive label. Thereafter, the dried transfer support and the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 are overlapped for a certain period of time, and by performing an exposure operation, at least a part of the radiation emitted from the radiolabeled substance on the transfer support, The position information of the radioactive labeling substance in the sample which is absorbed by the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is accumulated and recorded in the form of an image in the stimulable phosphor layer 21.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of the image reading apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the image reading device 25 includes a sample stage 26 on which the image carrier unit 12 or the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 20 is set.
The image carrier unit 12 or the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 20 set in 6 is sent by a transfer mechanism (not shown) in the direction indicated by Z in FIG. It is configured to be positioned and receive irradiation of the laser beam 4. The image carrier unit 12 or the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 20 is synchronized with the scanning in the main scanning direction by the laser beam 4.
Is moved by a motor (not shown) in the direction indicated by Y in FIG. 1, that is, in the sub-scanning direction, and the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor layer 21 of the transfer support 14 or the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is moved. Are scanned by the laser light 4. As a result of the irradiation with the laser beam 4, the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14 is excited and emitted by the fluorescent or stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22. The stimulable phosphor emitted by excitation of the stimulable phosphor is incident on the light guide 30 which is disposed close to the transfer support 14 or the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 so as to face the scanning line. .

The light guide 30 has a light-receiving end formed in a straight line, and the light-emitting end thereof has a photoelectric conversion type photodetector 3.
One light receiving surface is arranged in close proximity. Light guide 30
Is made by processing a non-fluorescent glass or the like, and the fluorescent light or stimulating light incident from the light receiving end portion repeats total reflection on its inner surface, passes through the light emitting end portion, and passes through the light emitting end portion.
The shape is determined so that the light is transmitted to the light-receiving surface. Therefore, the stimulable phosphor layer 2 formed on the fluorescent or stimulable phosphor sheet 22 emitted from the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14 in response to the irradiation of the laser beam 4
The stimulated emission emitted from 1 enters the light guide 30 and is received by the photodetector 31 via the exit end while repeating total internal reflection therein. At the front of the light receiving surface of the photodetector 31, a filter member 32 is provided. FIG.
Is a schematic front view of the filter member 32. The filter member 32 has four filters 32a, 32b, 32c, 32c.
d. Filter 32a
Are transferred to the transfer support 14 using the first laser excitation light source 1.
Is a filter used to excite a fluorescent dye contained in and read fluorescence, and has a property of cutting light having a wavelength of 633 nm and transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 633 nm. A filter 32b is used to excite the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14 using the second laser excitation light source 2 and read the fluorescence, and cuts light having a wavelength of 532 nm. 532 nm
It has the property of transmitting light with a longer wavelength than that. Further, the filter 32c excites the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14 using the third laser excitation light source 3,
47 is a filter used when reading fluorescence.
It has a property of cutting light having a wavelength of 3 nm and transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 473 nm. Filter 3
2d, the first laser excitation light source 1 is used to excite the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 This filter is used to read the photo-stimulated light from
It has the property of transmitting only light in the wavelength region of stimulable light emitted from the stimulable phosphor and cutting light having a wavelength of 633 nm. Therefore, these filters 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d are selectively used 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 22 is used. By using this, the photodetector 31 can photoelectrically detect only the light to be detected. Here, the filter member 32 is configured to be rotatable by a motor 33, and a photomultiplier containing a bi-alkali substance based on K ₂ CsSb activated by oxygen and cesium is used as the photodetector 31. I have.

The light photoelectrically detected by the photodetector 31 is converted into an electric signal, and is amplified to an electric signal of a predetermined level by an amplifier 34 having a predetermined amplification factor. 35 is input. The electrical signal is A /
In the D converter 35, 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 36. The line buffer 36 temporarily stores image data for one scanning line. When the image data for one scanning line is stored as described above, the data is transferred to the line buffer 36. The transmission buffer 37 is configured to output the image data to the image processing device 38 when the predetermined amount of image data is stored. . The image data input to the image processing device 38 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 is provided with a control unit 40 and input means 41 including a keyboard and the like. A memory (not shown) of the control unit 40 stores a laser excitation light source to be used according to the type of the fluorescent substance. 1, 2, 3 and the filter 32a to be selected,
32b and 32c are set and stored in advance, and when reading an image recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 22 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, 63 is read.
It is stored that the filter 32d should be selected using the first laser excitation light source 1 that emits laser light having a wavelength of 3 nm. Therefore, when reading the fluorescent image recorded on the transfer support 14, the operator operates the input unit 41.
When the type of the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14 is input, and a radiation image recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is read,
When the operator inputs to the input means 41 that the image carrier is a stimulable phosphor sheet, the control unit 40 automatically causes the first laser excitation light source 1,
While selecting any one of the second laser excitation light source 2 and the third laser excitation light source 3, the filters 32a, 32b,
Image reading is started by selecting one of 32c and 32d. That is, when the type of the fluorescent dye is input to the input unit 41, the control unit 40 responds according to the type of the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14.
By driving the motor 33 to rotate the filter means 32,
Any one of the filters 32a, 32b, and 32c is positioned on the front surface of the photodetector 31, and any one of the first laser excitation light source 1, the second laser excitation light source 2, and the third laser excitation light source 3 is selected. Laser light 4
When the input means 41 inputs that the image carrier is a stimulable phosphor sheet, the control unit 40 drives the motor 33 to rotate the filter means 32, thereby causing the filter 32d to operate. , Photodetector 31
And the first laser excitation light source 1
Is operated to emit the laser beam 4 and start reading an image.

When reading an electrophoretic image of denatured DNA labeled with a fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14, the operator sets the image carrier unit 12 on the sample stage of the image reading device 25 and 12 is moved to the position shown in FIG. The image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment emits a first laser excitation light source 1 that emits a laser beam with a wavelength of 633 nm, a second laser excitation light source 2 that emits a laser beam with a wavelength of 532 nm, and emits a laser beam with a wavelength of 473 nm. A third laser excitation light source 3 is provided, and in this embodiment, the DN of the target gene is
A is labeled with three types of fluorescent dyes, Fluorescein, Rhodamine B and Cy-5, respectively. Here, the wavelength at which Fluorescein can be excited most efficiently is 49
0 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.
nm, DN labeled with Fluorescein
The transfer support 14 is scanned using the third laser excitation light source 3 to detect A, and the second laser excitation light source 2 is used to detect DNA labeled with Rhodamine B. In order to scan the transfer support 14 and detect the DNA labeled with Cy-5, it is efficient to scan the transfer support 14 using the first laser excitation light source 1.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the operator inputs the information to the input means 41 along with the type of the fluorescent dye forming the fluorescent image to be read.
It is configured so that the order of the fluorescent images to be read can be specified, and the operator inputs the
First, the fluorescence image of the DNA labeled with Cy-5 is read, and then the DN labeled with Rhodamine B is read.
When the control unit 40 reads the fluorescent image of A and finally receives an instruction signal to read the fluorescent image of DNA labeled with Fluorescein, the control unit 40 outputs a drive signal to the motor 33, and the filter 32a The filter member 3 is positioned in front of the light receiving surface of the detector 31.
After rotating 2, the first laser excitation light source 1 is operated and the optical modulator 15 is turned on. As a result, the first
A laser light 4 having a wavelength of 633 nm is emitted from the laser excitation light source 1 of the laser light source 1, and the laser light 4 passes through the optical modulator 15,
After passing through the dichroic mirrors 6 and 7, the beam diameter is adjusted accurately by the beam expander 8, and the beam is incident on the polygon mirror 9. The laser light 4 deflected by the polygon mirror 9 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 11 via the fθ lens 10 and enters the transfer support 14. The laser beam 4 is applied on the surface of the transfer support 14 as shown in FIG.
Are scanned in the main scanning direction indicated by X, while the image carrier unit 12 is moved in the sub-scanning direction indicated by Y in FIG.
The entire surface is scanned by the laser beam 4 having a wavelength of m.
As a result, Cy-5 contained in the transfer support 14 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 14 enters the light guide 30 and repeats total reflection on the inner surface of the light guide 30.
The light enters the filter 32a from the emission end. Here, the filter 32a cuts light having a wavelength of 633 nm,
It has the property of transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 33 nm, and the wavelength of the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye is longer than the wavelength of the excitation light. Therefore, only the fluorescence emitted from Cy-5 is detected by the photodetector 31. After being photoelectrically detected by the amplifier 34 and amplified by the amplifier 34 to an electric signal of a predetermined level,
The signal is converted into a digital signal by the D converter 35 with a scale factor suitable for the signal fluctuation width, and the image data for one line is stored in the line buffer 36. When the image data for one line is stored, the image data is output from the line buffer 36 to the transmission buffer 37. The image data obtained by detecting the fluorescence emitted from Cy-5 in this way is output from the transmission buffer 37 to the image processing device 38 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 1 is completed, the control unit 40 turns off the optical modulator 15 to cut off the laser light 4 emitted from the first laser excitation light source 1, and (Not shown), and after returning the image carrier unit 12 to the original position, a drive signal is output to the motor 33 to rotate the filter member 32, and the filter 32b Photodetector 31
And the second laser excitation light source 2 is operated. As a result, the second laser excitation light sources 2 to 5
A laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 32 nm is emitted.
Are reflected by the dichroic mirror 6 and transmitted through the dichroic mirror 7 to form a beam expander 8
Thus, the beam diameter is accurately adjusted, and the beam enters the polygon mirror 9. The laser light 4 deflected by the polygon mirror 9 passes through the fθ lens 10 to the reflecting mirror 11
And is incident on the transfer support 14. The laser beam 4 is scanned on the transfer support 14 in the main scanning direction, while the image carrier unit 12 is moved in the sub-scanning direction, so that the transfer support 14 is scanned by the laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 532 nm. , The entire surface is scanned. as a result,
Rhodamine B contained in the transfer support 14 is excited and emits fluorescence having a peak at a wavelength of 605 nm.

The fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye Rhodamine B contained in the transfer support 14 is
While repeating total internal reflection on the inner surface of the light guide 30, and enters the filter 32b from the exit end.
The filter 32b cuts light having a wavelength of 532 nm, which is excitation light, and has a property of 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 31 and amplified to an electric signal of a predetermined level by the amplifier 34, and then the signal is transmitted by the A / D converter 35. The data is converted into a digital signal with a scale factor suitable for the fluctuation width, and the image data for one line is stored in the line buffer 36. When the image data for one line is stored, the image data is transferred from the line buffer 36 to the transmission buffer 37.
Is output to Thus, the image data obtained by detecting the fluorescence emitted from Rhodamine B is output from the transmission buffer 37 to the image processing device 38,
It is displayed as a visible image on a display means such as an RT. The displayed image includes an image of DNA labeled with Rhodamine B, and the image data generated as described above is stored in image data storage means (not shown) as necessary. Alternatively, it is analyzed by an image analysis device (not shown).

When the excitation by the second laser excitation light source 2 is completed, the control unit 40 outputs a drive signal to a motor (not shown) to drive the image carrier unit 12
After returning to the original position, a drive signal is output to the motor 33 to rotate the filter member 32 so that the filter 32
c is located at the front of the light receiving surface of the photodetector 31, and the third laser excitation light source 3 is operated. As a result, the laser light 4 having a wavelength of 473 nm is emitted from the third laser excitation light source 3, and the laser light 4 is reflected by the dichroic mirror 7, and the beam diameter is adjusted accurately by the beam expander 8. And enters the polygon mirror 9. The laser light 4 deflected by the polygon mirror 9 is
The light is reflected by the reflecting mirror 11 via the fθ lens 10 and is incident on the transfer support 14. The laser beam 4 is scanned on the transfer support 14 in the main scanning direction, while the image carrier unit 12 is moved in the sub-scanning direction, so that the transfer support 14 is scanned by the laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 532 nm. ,
The entire surface is scanned. As a result, Fluorescein contained in the transfer support 14 is excited and emits fluorescence having a peak at a wavelength of 530 nm. In the present embodiment, since the fluorescent dye is excited using the third laser excitation light source 3 that emits the laser light 4 having a wavelength of 473 nm, the intensity of the excitation light is lower than in the case of using an LED. High and therefore sufficiently high amounts of fluorescence can be generated from the fluorescent dye.

The fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye Fluorescein contained in the transfer support 14 is
And the light enters the filter 32b from the exit end while repeating total reflection on the inner surface of the light guide 30. Here, the filter 32b 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. Fluorescein because it is longer than the wavelength
Only the fluorescence emitted from the photodetector 31 is photoelectrically detected by the photodetector 31 and is amplified to an electric signal of a predetermined level by the amplifier 34, and then is adapted to the signal fluctuation width by the A / D converter 35. The data is converted into a digital signal by the scale factor, and the image data for one line is transferred to the line buffer 3.
6 is stored. When the image data for one line is stored, the image data is output from the line buffer 36 to the transmission buffer 37. Thus, the image data obtained by detecting the fluorescence emitted from Fluorescein is output from the transmission buffer 37 to the image processing device 38 and displayed on a display means such as a CRT as a visible image. The image displayed in this way is Fluorescei
n, and the generated image data is stored in image data storage means (not shown) as necessary, or
The image is analyzed by an image analyzer (not shown).

On the other hand, the Southern blot recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is used.
When reading the image of the positional information of the radiolabeled substance in the gene using the hybridization method, the operator first sets the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 20 so that the stimulable phosphor layer 21 faces downward. Next, the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 20 is set on the sample stage 26 of the image reading device 25, and the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 20 is moved to the position of the image carrier unit 12 in FIG. Input to the input means 41.
The control unit 40 outputs a drive signal to the motor 33 in accordance with the instruction signal input to the input means 41, rotates the filter member 32, and
Is located at the front of the light receiving surface of the photodetector 31, and then the first
Of the laser excitation light source 1 and the optical modulator 1
Turn 5 on. As a result, a laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 633 nm is emitted from the first laser excitation light source 1, and the laser beam 4 passes through the optical modulator 15 and passes through the dichroic mirrors 6 and 7, and then the beam expander. 8, the beam diameter is adjusted accurately, and the polygon mirror 9
Incident on. The laser light 4 deflected by the polygon mirror 9 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 11 via the fθ lens 10 and is incident on the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22. The laser light 4 irradiates the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22,
1 is scanned in the main scanning direction indicated by X, and the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 20 is moved in the sub-scanning direction indicated by Y in FIG. The entire surface of the stimulable phosphor layer 21 is scanned by the laser light 4.

Thus, the laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 633 nm
, The stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is excited to emit stimulable light. The stimulable light emitted from the stimulable phosphor enters the light guide 30, and enters the filter 32d from the emission end while repeating total reflection on the inner surface of the light guide 30. Here, since the filter 32d has a property of transmitting only light in the wavelength region of stimulating light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 and cutting light having a wavelength of 633 nm, the stimulating phosphor Only the photostimulated light emitted from the body is photoelectrically detected by the photodetector 31 and amplified to an electric signal of a predetermined level by the amplifier 34, and then the signal fluctuation width is detected by the A / D converter 35. Is converted into a digital signal with a scale factor suitable for the image data, and is sent to an image processing device 38 via a line buffer 36 and a transmission buffer 37. Based on the image data input to the image processing device 38, it is displayed as a visible image on display means such as a CRT. The image data thus generated is stored in an image data storage unit (not shown) as needed, and is analyzed by an image analysis device (not shown).

According to this embodiment, the electrophoretic image of the DNA labeled with the fluorescent dye recorded on the transfer support 14 and the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 are recorded. Both of the electrophoretic images of DNA labeled with the radiolabeled substance can be read by one image reading device, which is efficient. Further, since the fluorescent dye is excited using the third laser excitation light source 3 that emits the laser light 4 having a wavelength of 473 nm, L
The intensity of the excitation light is higher than that of the ED, and therefore, a sufficient amount of fluorescence can be generated. Since the fluorescent dye designed to be efficiently excitable is excited, the filter 32c 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. Further, the first laser excitation light sources 1 and 473 emitting the laser light 4 having a wavelength of 633 nm
In addition to the third laser excitation light source 3 that emits laser light 4 having a wavelength of 532 nm, the second laser excitation light source 2 that emits laser light 4 of 532 nm is provided. The sample can be labeled with a suitable fluorescent dye, and the usefulness of the fluorescence detection system can be improved. By inputting the type of the fluorescent dye to the input means 41, the control unit 40 selects a filter suitable for detecting the fluorescence emitted from the input fluorescent dye among the filters 32a, 32b, and 32c. And after being positioned in front of the photodetector 31, the first laser excitation light source 1 and the second
Out of the laser excitation light source 2 and the third laser excitation light source 3, a laser excitation light source suitable for exciting a fluorescent dye forming a fluorescent image to be read is selected, and a laser beam 4 is emitted. By reading the image or by inputting to the input means 41 that the image carrier is a stimulable phosphor sheet, a filter 32d suitable for detecting photostimulable photoluminescence is selected, and the photodetector 31 After the first laser excitation light source 1 suitable for exciting the stimulable phosphor is selected and the laser light 4 is emitted to read the radiation image, the operation is performed. Is very simple, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 2
When reading a radiation image recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the second stimulable phosphor layer 21, the second laser excitation light source 2 or the third laser excitation light source 3 is mistakenly operated, and It is possible to eliminate a possibility that a part of the radiation energy accumulated in the layer 21 is released, making it difficult to read the radiation image with high accuracy, or in some cases, making it impossible to read the radiation image at all. Will be possible.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an image reading apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, an image reading apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first laser excitation light source 1 and a second laser excitation light source similar to the image reading apparatuses shown in FIGS. A laser excitation light source 2, a third laser excitation light source 3, a filter 5, a first dichroic mirror 6, and a second dichroic mirror 7 are provided. However, in the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, both the image carrier unit 12 and the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 20 are kept stationary, and the mirror 51 and the laser beam 4 having the hole 51a formed in the center are used as the image carrier. By moving the optical head 50 having the convex lens 49 converging thereon, the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor layer 21 of the transfer support 14 or the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is scanned by the laser beam 4. Therefore, a mirror 45 is used instead of the polygon mirror 9. Also, the transfer support 1
4 or the stimulating light from the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is reflected by the mirror 51 on the first laser excitation light source 1,
Second laser excitation light source 2 and third laser excitation light source 3
And is detected by two photomultipliers 54 and 55 having different sensitivity characteristics.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the mirror 51. As shown in FIG. 6, a hole 51a is formed substantially at the center of the mirror 51. The diameter of the hole 51 a is such that the laser light 4 emitted from the first laser excitation light source 1, the second laser excitation light source 2, and the third laser excitation light source 3 can pass therethrough, and the fluorescence from the transfer support 14 or the accumulation The stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is set so as to reflect as much as possible. As shown in FIG.
The laser beam 4 reflected by the laser beam 5 enters the optical head 50, passes through a hole 51 a of a mirror 51 having a hole formed in the center, and is then transferred by a convex lens 52 to the transfer support 14 or the stimulable phosphor sheet 22. To excite the fluorescent dye or stimulable phosphor, and the fluorescent light from the transfer support 14 or the stimulable light from the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is converted into parallel light by the convex lens 52. , Mirror 5
1 and further reflected in two directions by a triangular prism mirror 53 to form a first photomultiplier 54.
And the second photomultiplier 55. The first photomultiplier 54 contains a bi-alkali substance based on K ₂ CsSb activated by oxygen and cesium, and is capable of detecting light having a wavelength of 200 nm to 650 nm with high sensitivity. Photomultiplier 55 comprises a multi-alkali material based on Na ₂ KSb activated by a small amount of cesium,
Light having a wavelength of 200 nm to 850 nm can be detected with high sensitivity. Thus, two photomultipliers 54 having different wavelengths of light that can be detected with high sensitivity,
The first photomultiplier 54 or the second photomultiplier 55 photoelectrically detects according to the wavelength of the light to be detected, and selectively generates the generated electric signal as image data. And the sensitivity of the image reading device can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 5, a first photomultiplier 54 and a second photomultiplier 55
A first filter member 56 and a second filter member 57 are respectively disposed on the front surface of the first filter member 56. The first filter member 56 includes three filters 56a, 56b, 56
It is constituted by a rotatable disk provided with c. The filter 56a is a filter used when the third laser excitation light source 3 is used to excite a fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14 to read fluorescence.
It has the property of cutting light having a wavelength of m and transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 473 nm. The filter 56b uses the second laser excitation light source 2 to excite the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14, and when reading the fluorescent light, it is used in accordance with the wavelength of the fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent dye. It is a filter that cuts light with a wavelength of 532 nm,
It has the property of transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 2 nm. Further, the filter 56 c uses the first laser excitation light source 1 to excite the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, and This filter is used when reading the stimulating light from the phosphor sheet 22. The filter transmits only the light in the wavelength region of the stimulating light emitted from the stimulable phosphor and cuts the light having the wavelength of 633 nm. Has properties. The second filter member 57 is constituted by a rotatable disk provided with two filters 57a and 57b. The filter 57a is a filter that is used when the first laser excitation light source 1 is used to excite the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14 and read the fluorescence, and cuts light having a wavelength of 633 nm. , 633 nm, and has a property of transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 633 nm.
Is used to excite the fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14 to read the fluorescence, according to the wavelength of the fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent dye.
It has a property of cutting light having a wavelength of 32 nm and transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 532 nm. Therefore, the laser excitation light source to be used to excite the fluorescent dye or stimulable phosphor, that is, the type of the fluorescent dye and the type of the image carrier, that is, whether the image carrier is the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 or By selectively using the photomultipliers 54 and 55 and the filters 56a, 56b and 56c and the filters 57a and 57b according to the support 14 or the gel support, it is possible to detect only the light to be detected with high sensitivity. Becomes possible. Here, the first filter member 56 and the second filter member 57 are respectively
The first motor 58 and the second motor 59 are configured to be rotatable.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an optical unit provided with the optical head 50. As shown in FIG. 7, an optical unit 60 includes a substrate 62 movable in a sub-scanning direction indicated by Y in FIG.
A main scanning motor 63 fixed on a substrate 62; and a driving rotating member 65 fixed on an output shaft 64 of the main scanning motor 63.
A driven rotating member 66, a wire 67 wound around the driving rotating member 65 and the driven rotating member 66, and a wire 6
An optical head table 69 having an end fixed and movable in the main scanning direction indicated by X in FIG. Have. Sub-scanning motor 6
1 has an output shaft (not shown) with a threaded rod 7
0 is fixed, and the substrate 57 is moved in the sub-scanning direction according to the rotation of the sub-scanning motor 61. The first photomultiplier 54, the second photomultiplier 55, the first filter member 56, the second filter member 57, the first motor 5
Eighth, the second motor 59 is fixed, respectively.
FIG. 5 shows a case where an image of a fluorescent dye recorded on the transfer support 14 is read. in this way,
When reading the image of the fluorescent dye, the type of the fluorescent dye is input to the input unit 41 by the operator, and the control unit 40 transmits the first laser excitation light source 1, One of the second laser excitation light source 2 and the third laser excitation light source 3 is operated. The laser beam 4 emitted from any one of the first laser excitation light source 1, the second laser excitation light source 2 and the third laser excitation light source 3 and reflected by the mirror 45 has a hole formed in the center. The light passes through the hole 51 and is converged on the surface of the transfer support 14 on the glass plate 13 by the convex lens 52. As a result, the fluorescent dye in the transfer support 14 is excited and emits fluorescence.

The fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent dye in the transfer support 14 is converted into parallel light by a convex lens 52, and then the first laser excitation light source 1 and the second
Are reflected in the opposite direction to the laser excitation light source 2 and the third laser excitation light source 3, and are incident on the triangular prism mirror 53 to be reflected in two directions. Also in this embodiment, the DNA of the gene of interest is provided on the transcription support 14 by three kinds of fluorescent dyes, Fluorescein, Rhodamine B and Cy-5.
Each is labeled and a fluorescence image is recorded. C
When reading the fluorescent images of the DNA of the target gene labeled with y-5, Rhodamine B, and Fluorescein in this order, inputting the reading of the fluorescent images sequentially to the input means 41, The type of the fluorescent dye to be read is sequentially input. When the instruction signal is input to the input unit 41, the control unit 40
In accordance with the instruction signal, a drive signal is output to the second motor 59, and the second filter member 57 is rotated so that the filter 57a is located in front of the light receiving surface of the second photomultiplier 55. After that, the first laser excitation light source 1
And the optical modulator 15 is turned on. As a result, a laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 633 nm is emitted from the first laser excitation light source 1, and the laser beam 4 is
After passing through the dichroic mirrors 6 and 7,
The light is reflected by the mirror 45 and enters the optical head 50. The laser beam 4 incident on the optical head 50 is
The light passes through the first hole 51 a and is converged on the transfer support 14 by the convex lens 52. The optical head 50 is driven by a main scanning motor 63 in FIG. 5 and FIG.
The optical head 5 is moved in the main scanning direction
5 is moved in the sub-scanning direction indicated by Y in FIGS. 5 and 7, the transfer support 14 is moved by the laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 633 nm. The entire surface is scanned. As a result, Cy-5 contained in the transfer support 14 is excited and emits fluorescence having a peak at a wavelength of 667 nm. Fluorescence emitted from Cy-5 contained in the transfer support 14 is reflected by the mirror 51 and is reflected by the triangular prism mirror 5.
The light is reflected in two directions by 3, and is photoelectrically detected by the first photomultiplier 54 and the second photomultiplier 55.

The control unit 40 includes the input means 4
First, when an instruction signal to read an image of Cy-5 which is a fluorescent dye is input, only the electric signal which is photoelectrically detected by the second photomultiplier 55 and generated is The data is sent to a line buffer 36 via an amplifier 34 and an A / D converter 35, and image data for one line is stored in the line buffer 36. When the image data for one line is stored, the image data is output from the line buffer 36 to the transmission buffer 37. The image data obtained by detecting the fluorescence emitted from Cy-5 in this way is output from the transmission buffer 37 to the image processing device 38 and displayed as a visible image on a display means such as a CRT. . The displayed image includes an image of DNA labeled with Cy-5, and the image data generated as described above is stored in image data storage means (not shown) as necessary. Alternatively, the image is analyzed by an image analysis device (not shown). When the excitation by the first laser excitation light source 1 is completed, the control unit 40 turns off the optical modulator 15 and cuts off the laser light 4 emitted from the first laser excitation light source 1,
After outputting a drive signal to the sub-scanning motor 61 and returning the substrate 62 to the original position, outputting a drive signal to the main scanning motor 63 and returning the optical head 50 to the original position , A driving signal is output to the first motor 58, and the first filter member 56 is rotated so that the filter 56b is positioned in front of the light receiving surface of the first photomultiplier 54, and the second The laser excitation light source 2 is operated. As a result, the laser light 4 having a wavelength of 532 nm is emitted from the second laser excitation light source 2, and the laser light 4 is reflected by the dichroic mirror 6, passes through the dichroic mirror 7, is reflected by the mirror 45, The light enters the optical head 50. Laser light 4 incident on optical head 50
Passes through the hole 51 a of the mirror 51 and is converged on the transfer support 14 by the convex lens 52. Optical head 5
5 is moved in the main scanning direction indicated by X in FIGS. 5 and 7 by the main scanning motor 63, and the substrate 62 on which the optical head 50 is mounted is moved by the sub scanning motor 61 in FIGS. In FIG. 7, the transfer support 14 is moved in the sub-scanning direction indicated by Y.
The entire surface is scanned by a laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 2 nm. As a result, Rhodham contained in the transfer support 14 is
Inine B is excited and emits fluorescence having a peak at a wavelength of 605 nm.

The fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent dye Rhodamine B contained in the transfer support 14 is reflected by the mirror 51 and is reflected by the triangular prism mirror 53 in two directions. Photoelectrically detected by the second photomultiplier 55.
After reading the fluorescence image of Cy-5, the control unit 40, when an instruction signal indicating that the fluorescence image of Rhodamine B should be read is input to the input means 41, outputs the first photomultiplier 54. Only the generated electric signal is photoelectrically detected and transmitted to a line buffer 36 via an amplifier 34 and an A / D converter 35, and one line of image data is stored in the line buffer 36. When one line of image data is stored,
The image data is transferred from the line buffer 36 to the transmission buffer 3.
7 is output. Thus, the image data obtained by detecting the fluorescence emitted from Rhodamine B is output from the transmission buffer 37 to the image processing device 38,
It is displayed as a visible image on a display means such as an RT. The displayed image includes an image of DNA labeled with Rhodamine B, and the image data generated as described above is stored in image data storage means (not shown) as necessary, or Is analyzed by an image analysis device (not shown).

When the excitation by the second laser excitation light source 2 is completed, the control unit 40 outputs a drive signal to the sub-scanning motor 61 to return the substrate 62 to the original position, and the main scanning motor 63 After the optical head 50 is returned to the original position, a drive signal is output to the first motor 58 so that the filter 56a
The first filter member 56 is rotated so as to be located at the front of the light receiving surface of the photomultiplier 54, and the third laser excitation light source 2 is operated. As a result, the laser light 4 having a wavelength of 473 nm is emitted from the third laser excitation light source 3, and the laser light 4 is reflected by the dichroic mirror 7, is reflected by the mirror 45, and enters the optical head 50. Laser light 4 incident on optical head 50
Pass through the hole 51 a of the mirror 51 and are converged on the transfer support 14 by the convex lens 52. The optical head 50 is moved in the main scanning direction indicated by X in FIGS. 5 and 7 by the main scanning motor 63, and the substrate 62 on which the optical head 50 is mounted is moved by the sub-scanning motor 61. In FIGS. 5 and 7, the transfer support 14 is moved in the sub-scanning direction indicated by Y.
The entire surface is scanned by the laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 32 nm. As a result, the fluid contained in the transfer
Orescein is excited and emits fluorescence having a peak at a wavelength of 530 nm. In this embodiment, 473
Since the fluorescent dye is excited using the third laser excitation light source 3 that emits a laser beam 4 having a wavelength of
The intensity of the excitation light is higher than in the case where is used, so that a sufficiently high amount of fluorescence can be generated from the fluorescent dye.

The fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent dye Fluorescein contained in the transfer support 14 is reflected by the mirror 51 and is reflected by the triangular prism mirror 53 in two directions, and the first photomultiplier 54 and the The second photomultiplier 55 photoelectrically detects it. When the control unit 40 finally receives an instruction signal for reading an image of a fluorescent dye, Fluorescein, into the input unit 41, the control unit 40 is photoelectrically detected and generated by the first photomultiplier 54. Only the transmitted electric signal is sent to a line buffer 36 via an amplifier 34 and an A / D converter 35, and image data for one line is stored in the line buffer 36. When the image data for one line is stored, the image data is output from the line buffer 36 to the transmission buffer 37. Thus, the image data obtained by detecting the fluorescence emitted from Fluorescein is output from the transmission buffer 37 to the image processing device 38 and displayed as a visible image on a display means such as a CRT. The displayed image is F
It contains an image of DNA labeled with luorescein, and the image data generated as described above is stored in image data storage means (not shown) as necessary,
Alternatively, it is analyzed by an image analysis device (not shown).

On the other hand, when reading a radiation image, an autoradiography image, a radiation diffraction image or an electron microscope image of a subject recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, the Carrier unit 1
2, the stimulable phosphor sheet unit 20 shown in FIG. 2 is set in the image reading device 25. For example, the position information of the radiolabeled substance in the gene using the Southern blot hybridization method is obtained. The stimulable phosphor sheet 22 on which the recorded stimulable phosphor layer 21 is formed is scanned by the laser beam 4. As described above, when reading a radiation image from the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 on which the image of the positional information of the radioactively labeled substance in the sample is recorded, the operator informs the image carrier that the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is used. When input to the input means 41, the control unit 40 outputs a drive signal to the first motor 58, and the first filter 58c is moved to the first photomultiplier 54 so that the first signal is positioned at the front of the light receiving surface. After rotating the filter member 56, the first laser excitation light source 1 is operated and the optical modulator 15 is turned on. As a result, the laser light 4 emitted from the first laser excitation light source 1 passes through the optical modulator 15, passes through the hole 51a formed in the mirror 51 of the optical head 50, and accumulates by the convex lens 52. The surface of the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the phosphor sheet 22 is converged on the surface of the stimulable phosphor layer 21, and the surface of the stimulable phosphor layer 21 is 633 nm in the same manner as the transfer support 14.
Is scanned by the laser light 4 having the wavelength of, and the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer 21 is excited by the laser light 4 to emit stimulable light from the stimulable phosphor. After the stimulating light is converted into parallel light by the convex lens 52, the mirror 5
The first photomultiplier 54 and the second photomultiplier 55 photoelectrically detect the first and second photomultipliers 54 and 55.

When the input means 41 has input that the image carrier is the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, the control unit 40 operates the first photomultiplier 54.
Only the generated electric signal is photoelectrically detected and transmitted to a line buffer 36 via an amplifier 34 and an A / D converter 35, and one line of image data is stored in the line buffer 36. When the image data for one line is stored, the image data is output from the line buffer 36 to the transmission buffer 37. The image data obtained by detecting the stimulating light emitted from the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is transmitted from the transmission buffer 37. ,
The image is output to the image processing device 38 and displayed on a display means such as a CRT as a visible image. The displayed image includes an image of the position information of the radiolabeled substance in the sample,
The image data generated as described above is stored in an image data storage unit (not shown) or analyzed by an image analysis device (not shown) as necessary. According to this embodiment, the electrophoretic image of the DNA labeled with the fluorescent dye recorded on the transfer support 14 and the radioactive label recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 DN labeled with substance
Both electrophoretic images of A can be read by one image reading device, which is efficient. Further, according to this embodiment, the laser light 4 from the first laser excitation light source 1, the second laser excitation light source 2, and the third laser excitation light source 3 is supplied to the hole formed in the mirror 51 of the optical head 50. 51a, and the transfer support 1
4 or converged on the surface of the stimulable phosphor layer 21;
By moving the optical head 50 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, the surface of the transfer support 14 or the stimulable phosphor layer 21 is scanned by the laser light 4 to thereby transfer the transfer support 14 or the stimulable phosphor. The fluorescence or stimulating light emitted from the layer 21 is reflected by a mirror 51 in a direction opposite to the first laser excitation light source 1, the second laser excitation light source 2 and the third laser excitation light source 3, and A first photomultiplier 54 and a second photomultiplier 55
Is photoelectrically detected. Therefore, even if a second harmonic generation element capable of generating high-intensity excitation light is used as the second laser excitation light source 2 and the third laser excitation light source 3 instead of the LED, a simple structure is used. By using the laser beam 4, the surface of the transfer support 14 or the surface of the stimulable phosphor layer 21 can be scanned at high speed, and the detection sensitivity can be greatly improved.
First laser excitation light source 1, 532 nm that emits laser light 4 having a wavelength of 633 nm by one image reading device.
Using a second laser excitation light source 2 that emits a laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 473 nm and a third laser excitation light source 3 that emits a laser beam 4 with a wavelength of 473 nm, a fluorescent dye contained in the transfer support 14 is excited, Since the fluorescent image recorded on the transfer support 14 is read, the laser light 4 having a wavelength of 633 nm is used.
The sample can be labeled with a fluorescent dye which can be excited by the laser light 4 having a wavelength of 532 nm and a fluorescent dye which can be excited by the laser light 4 having a wavelength of 473 nm. The usability can be greatly improved. Further, the third laser excitation light source 3 that emits a laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 473 nm lower than the wavelength of 488 nm of the argon laser is used to excite a fluorescent dye designed to be efficiently excitable by the argon laser. Therefore, the filter 56a can easily cut off the excitation light and detect only the fluorescent light, so that the S / N ratio is improved, and the fluorescent dye or radiation image can be read with high sensitivity. Become. Further, since two photomultipliers 54 and 55 having different wavelengths of light that can be detected with high sensitivity are provided, it is possible to detect fluorescence and photostimulated light with high sensitivity. Further, by inputting the type of the fluorescent dye into the input means 41, the control unit 40
A photomultiplier suitable for detecting the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye is selected from the first photomultiplier 54 and the second photomultiplier 55, and the first filter member 56 or the second filter
Is rotated, and the filters 56a, 5a
6b, 56c or filters 57a, 57b
After a filter suitable for detecting the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye is selected and positioned in front of the first photomultiplier 54 or the second photomultiplier 55, the first laser excitation light source 1, From the second laser excitation light source 2 and the third laser excitation light source 3, a laser excitation light source suitable for exciting a fluorescent dye forming a fluorescent image to be read is selected, and a laser beam 4 is emitted. By reading the fluorescent image, or by inputting to the input means 41 that the image carrier is a stimulable phosphor sheet, the control unit 40 allows the control unit 40 to detect the first photoluminescence. When the photomultiplier 54 is selected, the filter 56 member 56 is rotated, and the filter 56c is moved to the first photomultiplier 54. After being positioned on the surface, the first laser excitation light source 1 suitable for exciting the stimulable phosphor is activated, the laser light 4 is emitted, and the radiation image is read, so that the operation is performed. When reading a radiation image recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, the second laser excitation light source 2 or the third laser Activating the excitation light source 3 causes a part of the radiation energy accumulated in the stimulable phosphor layer 21 to be emitted, making it difficult to read the radiation image with high accuracy or, in some cases, completely. It is possible to eliminate the fear that reading cannot be performed.

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 embodiment, an electrophoretic image of the gene using the Southern blot hybridization method is recorded on the transfer support 14 according to a fluorescence detection system,
In addition, the case where the recording is performed on the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 according to the autoradiography system and the photoelectric conversion is read photoelectrically has been described. Without being limited to reading, for example, a fluorescence detection system is used to separate and identify other images and proteins of the fluorescent substance recorded on the gel support or transfer support, or to evaluate the molecular weight and properties. Image of a fluorescent substance, and an autoradiographic image generated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of a protein and recorded on a stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on a stimulable phosphor sheet 22; In order to separate and identify proteins, or to evaluate molecular weight and characteristics, by gel electrophoresis, the accumulation Recorded autoradiographic image in the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the body sheet 22,
In order to study the metabolism, absorption and excretion pathways and conditions of the administered substance in experimental mice, the stimulable phosphor sheet 2
2 and other autoradiographic images recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 such as the autoradiographic image recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor layer 21. In addition to reading, an electron transmission image or an electron diffraction image of a metal or nonmetal sample generated using an electron microscope and recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is obtained. Widely applicable to reading electron microscope images of body tissues and the like, and radiation diffraction images recorded on a stimulable phosphor layer 21 formed on a stimulable phosphor sheet 22 such as a metal or nonmetal sample. can do.

Further, in the above embodiment, the image reading apparatus is provided with the second laser excitation light source 2 which emits the laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 532 nm, but the second laser excitation light source 2 is not necessarily required. There is no need. Further, in the above embodiment, the first laser excitation light source 1 which is a He-Ne laser light source that emits a laser beam 4 having a wavelength of 633 nm is provided, but instead of the He-Ne laser light source,
A semiconductor laser light source that emits 635 nm laser light 4 may be used. In the above embodiment, a laser light source that emits 633 nm laser light is used as the first laser excitation light source 1, and 532 is used as the second laser excitation light source 2.
A laser light source that emits 473 nm laser light is used as the third laser excitation light source 3 as a laser light source that emits laser light of 473 nm, and the laser light source that emits laser light of 473 nm is used, depending on the type of fluorescent dye or stimulable phosphor to be excited. As the first laser excitation light source 1, a laser light source that emits 635 nm laser light can be used instead of a laser light source that emits 633 nm laser light. As the second laser excitation light source 2, 530 to 530 nm can be used. A laser light source that emits laser light of 540 nm can be used, and a laser light source that emits laser light of 470 to 480 nm can be used as the third laser excitation light source 3, respectively.

Further, in the above embodiment, the light guide 30 is formed by processing a non-fluorescent glass or the like. However, the light guide 30 is not limited to the one made of a non-fluorescent glass, but may be a synthetic light guide. A material formed by processing a transparent thermoplastic resin sheet such as quartz or an acrylic synthetic resin can also be used. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fluorescent dye is excited by the laser light 4 of 532 nm, and the fluorescent light having a peak at 605 nm emitted from the fluorescent dye is emitted from the first photomultiplier. Although the fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent dye which can be excited by the 532 nm laser beam 4 need not be photoelectrically detected by the first photomultiplier 54, the fluorescent light is detected photoelectrically by the prior light 54. If the peak of the wavelength of the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye that can be excited by the laser light 4 is on the longer wavelength side, the second photomultiplier 55 may detect the peak photoelectrically. In addition, it is preferable to configure as such. Further, in the above embodiment, when reading the fluorescent image recorded on the transfer support 14, the type of the fluorescent dye is changed to the radiation recorded on the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22. When reading an image, the fact that the image carrier is a stimulable phosphor sheet is input to the input means 41, respectively, and in the embodiment shown in FIGS. ,
Laser excitation light sources 1, 2, 3, filters 32a, 32b,
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the control unit 40 automatically controls the laser excitation light sources 1, 2, 3, the first photomultiplier 54 or the second photomultiplier 32d. Prior 55,
Filters 56a, 56b, 56c, filters 57a, 5
7b is configured to be selected, but what kind of instruction signal is input to allow the control unit 40 to perform such automatic selection is determined by:
Can be determined arbitrarily, enter the type of fluorescent dye,
The invention is not limited to the one that inputs that the image carrier is a stimulable phosphor sheet.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the laser light 4 emitted from the first laser excitation light source 1, the second laser excitation light source 2 and the third laser excitation light source 3 Passes through a hole 51 a formed in the mirror 51, and is converged by the convex lens 52 onto the surface of the transfer support 14 or the stimulable phosphor layer 21.
The fluorescence or stimulating light emitted from the stimulable phosphor layer 4 or the stimulable phosphor layer 21 is opposite to the first, second and third laser excitation light sources 1, 2 and 3 by the mirror 51. Although it is configured to be reflected in the direction and detected photoelectrically, it is not always necessary to form the hole 51a in the mirror 51, and the laser beam 4 is transmitted through the mirror 51 instead of the hole 51a. If the mirror 51 has a portion through which the laser beam 4 can be transmitted, such as by providing a coating portion to be applied, or by not applying the total reflection coating to the mirror 51 only in the portion through which the laser beam 4 is to be transmitted. Good. Further, in the above embodiment, the image reading apparatus includes the light modulator 15, but the image reading apparatus frequently scans the transfer support 14 line by line using another laser excitation light source. When switching the laser excitation light source, it is desirable to provide the optical modulator 15, but the entire surface of the transfer support 14 is covered with the first laser excitation light source 1, the second laser excitation light source 2, After scanning with any of the third laser excitation light sources 3, the transfer support 14 is scanned using another laser excitation light source.
When it is not necessary to frequently switch the laser excitation light source, as in the case of scanning, the image reading device does not need to include the optical modulator 15.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the triangular prism mirror 53 is used to guide fluorescence or stimulating light to the first photomultiplier 54 and the second photomultiplier 55, and to control the control unit. 4
0 means that only one of the electric signals generated by the first photomultiplier 54 and the second photomultiplier 55 is taken in as image data. A rotatable mirror capable of selectively positioning a stimulating light at a first position for guiding the first photomultiplier 54 and a second position for guiding the stimulating light to the second photomultiplier 55; In accordance with the wavelength of the fluorescence to be detected and the wavelength of the stimulating light, the control unit 40 rotates the mirror to position the mirror at the first position or the second position, and emits the fluorescent light or the stimulating light to the first position. To the second photomultiplier 54 or the second photomultiplier 55 to generate the first photomultiplier 54 or the second photomultiplier 55. In this case, the amount of the detected fluorescence or stimulating light is doubled as compared with the case where the triangular prism mirror 53 is used. ,preferable.

[0054]

According to the present invention, high sensitivity can be used for 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 a fluorescence detection system. And accuracy and simple operation,
An image reading device capable of reading an image can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image reading apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a stimulable phosphor sheet unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an appearance of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a filter member.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an image reading device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a mirror.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an optical unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 first laser excitation light source 2 second laser excitation light source 3 third laser excitation light source 4 laser light 5 optical filter 6 first dichroic mirror 7 second dichroic mirror 8 beam expander 9 polygon mirror 10 fθ lens DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Reflecting mirror 12 Image carrier unit 13 Glass plate 14 Transfer support 15 Optical modulator 20 Storable phosphor sheet unit 21 Stimulable phosphor layer 22 Storable phosphor sheet 23 Support plate 25 Image reading device 26 Sample stage 30 Light Guide 31 Photodetector 32 Filter member 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d Filter 33 Motor 34 Amplifier 35 A / D converter 36 Line buffer 37 Transmission buffer 38 Image processing device 40 Control unit 41 Input means 45 Mirror 50 Optical head 51 Mirror 51a hole 52 convex lens 53 triangular prism mirror 54 first photomultiplier 55 second photomultiplier 56 first filter member 57 second filter member 58 first motor 59 second motor 60 optical unit 61 for sub-scan Motor 62 Substrate 63 Main scanning motor 64 Output shaft of main scanning motor 65 Drive rotating member 66 Follower rotating member 67 Wire 68 Guide rail 69 Optical head table 70 Rod

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A first laser excitation light source that emits a laser light having a wavelength of 633 nm or 635 nm, a second laser excitation light source that emits a laser light having a wavelength of 470 to 480 nm, and a laser light scanning unit that scans the laser light. Light detection means capable of photoelectrically detecting light emitted from an image carrier carrying an image; and a plurality of light detection means arranged in front of the light detection means, each of which selectively transmits only light in a different wavelength range. Filter means having a filter, input means capable of inputting an instruction signal, and selectively operating the first laser excitation light source and the second laser excitation means in accordance with the instruction signal input to the input means. And a control unit for selecting a predetermined filter from the plurality of filters of the filter unit. 2. The image carrier scanned by a laser beam emitted from the first laser excitation light source is a carrier carrying an image of a fluorescent substance, or a radiation image, an autoradiography image, a radiation diffraction image and a radiation image of a subject. An image carrier which is constituted by a stimulable phosphor sheet containing a stimulable phosphor on which an image selected from the group consisting of electron microscope images is recorded, and is scanned by laser light emitted from the second laser excitation light source, 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is constituted by a carrier that carries an image of a substance. And a third laser excitation light source that emits laser light having a wavelength of 530 nm to 540 nm.
The control means selectively operates the first laser excitation light source, the second laser excitation light source, and the third laser excitation light source in accordance with an instruction signal input to the input means, and 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined filter is selected from the plurality of filters. 4. The image reading device according to claim 3, wherein the image carrier scanned by the laser light emitted from the third laser excitation light source is constituted by a carrier carrying an image of a fluorescent substance. apparatus. 5. A first laser excitation light source for emitting a laser beam having a wavelength of 633 nm or 635 nm, a second laser excitation light source for emitting a laser beam having a wavelength of 470 to 480 nm, and a laser beam scanning means for scanning the laser beam. And, a plurality of light detection means capable of photoelectrically detecting light emitted from an image carrier carrying an image, and arranged before each of the light detection means, and selectively selectively only light in a different wavelength range. A filter unit having a plurality of filters to be transmitted, an input unit capable of inputting an instruction signal, and the first laser excitation light source and the second laser excitation unit according to the instruction signal input to the input unit. Is selectively operated, and a predetermined light detecting means is selected from the plurality of light detecting means, and a plurality of light detecting means provided in the filter means corresponding to the predetermined light detecting means are selected. An image reading apparatus, comprising: a control unit for selecting a predetermined filter from a number of filters. 6. An image carrier scanned by a laser beam emitted from the first laser excitation light source is a carrier carrying an image of a fluorescent substance, or a radiation image, an autoradiography image, a radiation diffraction image and a radiation image of a subject. An image carrier which is constituted by a stimulable phosphor sheet containing a stimulable phosphor on which an image selected from the group consisting of electron microscope images is recorded, and is scanned by laser light emitted from the second laser excitation light source, The image reading device according to claim 5, wherein the image reading device is configured by a carrier that carries an image of a substance. 7. A third laser excitation light source which emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 530 to 540 nm, wherein the control means controls the first laser excitation light source according to an instruction signal input to the input means. Selectively operating the second laser excitation light source and the third laser excitation light source, selecting a predetermined light detection means from among the plurality of light detection means, and corresponding to the predetermined light detection means. 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a predetermined filter is selected from a plurality of filters provided in said filter means. 8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image carrier scanned by the laser light emitted from the third laser excitation light source is constituted by a carrier carrying an image of a fluorescent substance. apparatus. 9. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said input means is configured to be able to input at least a type of a fluorescent substance and a type of an image carrier as an instruction signal. An image reading device according to the item.