JPS5917772B2 - densitometer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electrophoresis device, particularly an electrophoresis device that uses a cellulose acetate membrane as a support for a buffer solution and analyzes serum proteins. This relates to a densitometer that performs.

Cellulose acetate electrophoresis devices have the following advantages: the adsorption of analytes and dyes is small; the adsorption of samples is minimal, so there is little sample loss; even minute amounts of analytes can be analyzed5; and there is little tailing during electrophoresis. Therefore, it has advantages such as clear separation and advantageous quantification.We have developed an automatic electrophoresis device that can perform such cellulose acetate electrophoresis simultaneously on a large number of samples. ing.

This automatic electrophoresis device consists of a part for cutting a rolled support into a predetermined length, a part for wetting this support with a buffer solution, a part for applying a serum sample to the support, and a part for applying a serum sample to the support. It includes an electrophoresis section for fractionating serum applied to the body, a section for staining the support after electrophoresis, and a densitometer section for decolorizing the stained support and measuring the density of the image. It is something that can be achieved. The support used in such an electrophoresis device expands and contracts during each treatment step, but the amount of expansion and contraction depends on the restraint state in each treatment step, the type of support, and the amount of expansion and contraction. There are also slight differences between the support rods.

For this reason, it is measured with a densitometer. Variations in dimensions between image-colored pads, etc. are unavoidable. ■5 Furthermore, when using an automatic electrophoresis device for electrophoresis measurement of a special sample, there are cases where only the concentration measurement step, that is, only the densitometer section is used, without using the entire process, and the rest is done manually. In this case, the application interval will be different from when the entire process is performed automatically.

In other words, since the coating position is first marked on the support, the sample is applied there, and then the sample is wetted with the buffer, the mark spacing becomes longer than the intended spacing that was originally marked, and when it is done fully automatically. The application interval is different. When measuring the concentration of a colored sample pad with a 35 densitometer, it is necessary to measure the central part of the colored band of the sample.

In the densitometry of an automatic electrophoresis device, bands of the support are sent one after another and the density of the colored bands in the image is measured for the parts that are sent. In this case, due to the above-mentioned variation in the dimensions of the support, a mismatch between the colored band pitch and the feed lip pitch may occur, and it may become impossible to measure the central portion of the colored band.

This problem is particularly important when a strip-shaped support is used and a large number of specimens are lined up and coated in the longitudinal direction, since errors will accumulate for the specimens at the rear. In conventional densitometers, up to 20 samples are coated at regular intervals on a support with a length of about 2007 m, and then processed by sandwiching the sample between glass plates, which matches the densitometer feed pitch marked on the glass plate. By aligning the position of the specimen with the mark, the central area of the colored pad of the specimen can be determined.

The feeding pitch of the support is fixed, and the above-mentioned variation in sample pitch can be avoided by adjusting the sample application interval or by aligning the mark and sample position at the center of the glass plate to eliminate variations on both sides. By sorting them out, we tried to reduce the error caused by accumulation. However, this method has the disadvantage that the central position of the sample colored band and the measurement position cannot be avoided. An object of the present invention is to automatically correct the variation in sample colored band pitch due to the above-mentioned variation in support dimensions by measuring the length of the support, so that the central part of the sample colored band can always be accurately measured. The object of the present invention is to provide a densitometer that allows

The present invention relates to a concentration measuring device for measuring the concentration of samples on a tape or card-like support that are sent sequentially.
Measuring the length of the tape or card for each predetermined length, detecting the amount of expansion or contraction of the tape or card,
The present invention is characterized in that the support feed pitch is corrected based on the detected amount of elongation or shrinkage, so that measurement at a specified position of the sample is always performed accurately. The invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which a specimen is coated on a support, which is measured by 1U of densitometer.

The support SVc is coated with n specimens, and after various processing steps are completed and the density measurement using a densitomenometer is performed, central portions 2-1 to 2 of the specimen colored bands 1-1 to 1-n are formed.
-n pitch sends the P1 support in the direction of arrow 3, from the front end 4 of the support to the central part 2-1 of the first specimen coloring pad.
The distance from the rear end 5 of the support to the final sample center 2-n is Lb. That is, if the total length of the support is L, then The measuring section first scans the central portion 2-1 of the first sample colored band in the direction of arrow 3'' to measure the density and measure the density pattern of the sample colored band 1-1.

Next, the support is fed in the direction of arrow 3 by a pitch P, and the second
The central part of the colored band of the specimen 2-2 is placed on the 1 constant scanning line and scanned and measured. Next, pitch the support again.
3, and measure in the same manner. The above process is repeated n times to measure the density of each colored band on one support. Support body total length L and each dimension Lf. Lb. As mentioned above, P has variations for each support. However, the support is cut to a certain length L5, and then the sample is applied using an automatic applicator, and the distance L'f from the front end of the support to the center of the first colored band is the nth. It is easy to control the distance L''b from the center of the colored band to the rear end of the support and the pitch P' between the centers of the colored bands to a constant value when applying the sample, and by doing so, , even if the total length of the support changes with each subsequent process, the expansion and contraction of each support is in the length direction (feeding direction) Fl
Since C can be considered to be uniform, each dimension ratio, Lf/L. Lb
/L. P/L can be kept constant. Therefore, in the densitometer of the present invention, the total length of each support at one fixed stage of concentration Vc is measured, and the feed lip pitch for each support is corrected based on the measured value.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a densitometer according to the present invention.

After completing each processing step, the support body sent in the direction of the arrow 6 is transported by feeding rollers 8 and 9VC rotated by a motor 7.
Therefore, the support length measuring section 10VC is sent. The support length measuring unit 10 is configured to output a high level signal on line 12VC from the time when the front end 4 (FIG. 1) of the support is subjected to force until the rear end 5 (FIG. 1) of the support passes. , the total length L of the support is measured based on this signal. When applying the sample to the support, as described above, the support length L' and each dimension L
'F, L'B, P' are constant, so naturally L'VL'', L
"VL', P"/L" is constant.

Let these values be Kf, Kb, and Kp. Depending on the subsequent processing steps, the length L of the support upon arrival at the densitometer section, each dimension Lf, Lb, P, and the dimensions L'', L''F at the time of sample application.
, L″B, P″, but since these changes are uniform for one support, Lf/L, Lb/L,
The value of P/L is always constant, and LVL=Kf(-L″f
/1″), Lb/L=Kb(=Ub/L●, P/L=K
p(=P!/[). Therefore, it always becomes. The signal obtained by the length measurement section 10 is supplied to the poison U control section 11VC through the line 12, and the dimensions of each section are determined using the relationship of formula (1), and the signal is sent based on this to drive the mono 7. .

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the control section 11.

Line 12 connects to gate 13 and one shot 14. Gate 13 is connected to counter 15, and while a high level signal is applied to line 12, gate 13 is open;
The signal of the oscillator 16 connected to the gate 13VC is sent to the counter 1.
15. The support of the gate 13 is the length measuring section 10.
Since the number counted by the counter 15 is proportional to and represents the length of the support, the number counted by the counter 15 is proportional to and represents the length of the support. The output terminal of the counter 15 is connected to an arithmetic unit 17, and the input of the arithmetic unit 17 is further connected to a memory 18 and a memory 19. The ratios Kf=L″f/L″ and Kp=P″/L″ are stored in advance in the memories 18 and 19, respectively. When the high level signal from the length measuring section 10 ends, the one shot 14 generates a length measurement end signal at the falling edge, and supplies this signal to the arithmetic control section 20. Upon receiving the length measurement completion signal, the calculation control unit 20 issues a command to the calculation unit 17 to calculate the distance Lf from the front end of the support to the center of the first specimen colored band and the pitch P between the central parts of the specimen colored bands. , (1), and the respective values are latched in registers 21 and 22VC. Since the value of Lb is not particularly necessary, it is not determined. While the dimensions of each part of the support are being measured in this manner, the support is fed by rollers 23 and 24, and when the front end of the support reaches the support position detection section 27, the detection section 27 issues a timer start signal.

From that point on, the timer operates and outputs a timer output for a predetermined period of time, and the rollers 25 and 26 feed the support while the timer output is being output. The operation time of the timer is
The setting is made to coincide with the time when the front end of the support is sent from the detection section 27 to the center of the light receiving element 28 for agricultural measurement, so that the front end of the support has exactly reached the measurement position when the timer output falls. do. At that point, when the timer output falls, a signal representing Lf latched in the register/21f1C is taken out, the support is sent this length Lf, and if stopped there, the first specimen colored band is exactly reached. Since the central part is at the measurement position, the central part of the first specimen colored band is scanned and measured. After the first specimen force order is determined, the signal representing the pitch P between the centers of the specimen latched in the register 22 is taken out, the support is fed by the length of this pitch P, and the support is stopped there for measurement. repeat what you do. By doing so, measurement of the central portion of each sample colored band is realized. Thereafter, after repeating the same operation of feeding the support by pitch P and measuring it n times, the rollers 29 to
The support measured by 32 is sent out. In order to feed the support by each length according to the count number representing each length latched in the register, the feed motor 7 may be constituted by a pulse motor, for example, and the pulse motor is operated by the latched count number. What is necessary is just to configure it so that it is driven.

In this example, the concentration of each specimen is measured in a clarifying liquid.

For this purpose, the measurement unit 28 is provided in the clarifying liquid 34 and passes through a transparent glass plate 35 provided at the bottom of the clarifying liquid tank 33.
It is designed to be measured. The measuring optical system 36 uses a pinion and rattle driven by a scanning motor 38 controlled by a scanning starvation section 37vc to move the central part of the sample colored band at the measurement position to the arrow 3'' in FIG. The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example, but for example, a synchronous motor is used instead of a pulse motor as the feed motor 7, and this is rotated at a predetermined number of rotations. The motor may be driven for a time proportional to the count latched in the registers 21 and 22. Also, from the length measurement of the support S, each dimension Lf'', P
Various other methods can be considered for calculating the length and feeding the length corresponding to these methods. Furthermore, in this example, the length of the card-shaped supports was measured and the feed pitch was corrected for each card support. If you attach a mark for length correction with a length of , set the distance between this mark and the application position, and use the mark for length correction in the same way as on both ends of the card in the above-mentioned embodiment. , a similar configuration can be applied to a tape-shaped support. In this case, by narrowing the interval between the length correction marks, for example, by providing a pair of length correction marks with each colored band in between,
Feed pitch can be corrected accurately. According to the present invention, the support can be sent to the measuring section at a feed pitch that automatically corrects variations and dispersion in the length of the support due to each process, so the central part of the colored band of the specimen can always be scanned and measured. be able to.

Therefore, accurate measurements can be made and operation is easy.
Further, according to the present invention, it is easy to change the set values of each dimension ratio (Kf, Kpf), so there is flexibility even when the sample application pitch, etc. is changed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows the object to be measured by the densitometer of the present invention.
A line diagram showing a colored band generated on a support body, FIG. 2 is a line diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a line diagram showing the configuration of an example of the transmission pitch correction circuit of the present invention. It is. S...Support, 1-1 to 1-n...1...Colored band, 7...Support sent mono, 10...
...Length measuring device, 11...Transmission pitch correction damping device, 15...Counter, 17...
- Arithmetic unit, 18, 19... Memory, 20... 1... Arithmetic control unit, 21, 22... Regis Shio, 2
8... Light receiving element for measurement, 36... Optical system for measurement.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a concentration measuring device that measures the concentration of samples on a tape or card-like support that are sent sequentially, the length of the tape or card is measured for each predetermined length. By detecting the amount of elongation or shrinkage of the tape or card and correcting the support feed pitch based on the detected amount of elongation or shrinkage, it is configured to always accurately measure the specified position of the sample. A densitometer that is characterized by: 2. A mechanism for measuring the lengths of strip-like supports arranged sequentially when viewing a large number of samples in the longitudinal direction, and based on the measured lengths, measuring the distance from the front end of the supports to the first sample and 2. The densitometer according to claim 1, further comprising: a mechanism for calculating the pitch between the samples; and a mechanism for controlling the support feeding mechanism based on these calculated values.