JPS6135333A - Flow cell for photometry - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve convergence efficiency and measurement accuracy by using a distributed index lens and photodetecting sideway scattered light directly from nearby a flowing part. CONSTITUTION:The flow cell consists of the 1st two optical blocks 11a and 11b having a through hole 10 respectively, the 2nd two plate type optical blocks 12a and 12b of the same material, and two cylindrical distributed index lenses 13a and 13b. The 2nd optical blocks 12a and 12b are sandwiched between the 1st optical blocks 11a and 11b and a flowing hole 2 is formed between those; and the distributed index lenses 13a and 13b are inserted into through holes 10 of the 1st optical blocks 11a and 11b and the whole is fixed by melt-sticking or adhesion. At this time, end surfaces of the lenses 13a and 13b are inscribed with the 2nd optical blocks 12a and 12b and contact the flowing part 2 to form part of the flow cell body. For the purpose, the flow cell body and optical elements are united together to improve photometry accuracy and perform efficient convergence.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a photometric device that is used in a flow cytometer or the like and integrates a flow cell body and a photometric optical element for observing a sample while waving the sample, such as blood cells. It is related to flow cells.

A flow cytometer is a device that elucidates the properties and structure of cells by irradiating a rapidly flowing cell suspension solution with, for example, a laser beam and detecting a photoelectric signal from the scattered light. It is being used in fields such as oncology and genetics.

The conventional flow cell used in this flow cytometer is
The flow cell body and the photometric optical system are separated. For example, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a flow cell main body 1, and FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram in which a photometric optical system is combined with the flow cell main body. The sample S is located at the center of the flow cell main body l, for example, at 707.
Flowing through the flow section 2 having a minute rectangular cross section of LmX20ILm, parallel light from a laser light source (not shown) is focused on the sample S in the flow section 2 via the lens 3. Distribution department 2
The forward scattered light in the direction of traveling straight is focused on the photoelectric detector 5 via the lens 4, and information on the size of the specimen S is obtained. On the other hand, the light scattered laterally in the right angle direction is reflected by the lens 6
is detected by the photoelectric detector 7, and information on the internal state of the specimen S can be obtained. In addition, in the case of a fluorescently labeled specimen S, it passes through a barrier filter (not shown) through a lens 8,
Photometry is possible by combining the detectors 9.

In this case, the sideward scattered light is extremely weak and has a narrow exit solid angle compared to the forward scattered light, so the photoelectric detector 7.9 is equipped with a photomultiplier such as a multi-photoplier. is used. Here, in order to improve the detection accuracy of side scattered light, it is necessary to obtain even more sufficient photoelectric output, and for this purpose, the output of the laser light source must be increased, or the lens 6.8 must be placed in the flow section 2. Side scattered light must be efficiently collected in close proximity. However, the former requires a large output of the laser light source, and the latter is structurally difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a photometric flow cell that uses a gradient index lens to directly receive side scattered light from the vicinity of a flow section, and has good light collection efficiency and photometric accuracy. be.

The gist of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is to include two first blocks each having at least one through hole, and a block sandwiched between these first blocks through which a sample passes together with the first blocks. It consists of two second optical blocks made of transparent bodies that form a flow section, and a gradient index lens that is inserted into a through hole of the first block and whose tip faces the flow section. This is a photometric flow cell characterized by being constructed by joining together the following members.

The present invention will be explained in detail based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and below. Note that the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate the same or equivalent members, positions, etc.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the photometric flow cell, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view thereof, showing two first optical blocks lla and ll made of, for example, glass and each having a through hole 10.
b, and two second plate-shaped optical blocks 12 made of the same material.
a, 12b, and is also called a GRIN type lens or SELFOC lens (trade name), for example, a diameter of 1.
Two cylindrical gradient index lenses 1 of 0 to 1.8 mm
It consists of 3a and 13b.

The second optical blocks 12a, 12b are sandwiched between the first optical blocks lla, llb, and assembled so as to form the communication hole 2 between them, and the refraction is made into the through hole 10 of the first optical block lla, llb. Rate distribution lens 1
3a and 13b are inserted, respectively, and the whole is fixed by welding or gluing. At this time, the gradient index lens 13a
.

The end surface of 13b is inscribed in the second optical blocks 12a, 12b and forms a part of the flow cell main body in a state facing the flow section 2.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the image forming effect of the gradient index lens 13. The gradient index lens 13 converges light regularly in pitch units while passing through the lens 13 in its longitudinal direction. It has the characteristic of repeating divergence. In other words, when the lens 13 is cut along the a-b plane, parallel light on the incident surface converges on the exit surface, when cut on the a-0 plane, the parallel light becomes parallel light, and on the a-d plane, parallel light becomes convergent light. In the b-c plane, convergent light becomes parallel light, and in the b-d plane, convergent light becomes convergent light. In this way, the imaging state can be changed in units of the pitch of the lens 13.

In the case of this embodiment, the gradient index lenses 13a, 13
b is used by cutting one end face along the b plane to face the flow section 2, and cutting the other end face between cd, and as shown in FIG. A detector 7.9 is arranged.

Here, the laser light enters from the second block 12a via the lens 3, irradiates the sample S in the flow section 2, and transmits the forward scattered light to the second block 12b, the lens 4, and the detector 5. To detect. In addition, the side scattered light can be directly extracted from the circulating light 2 by the gradient index lenses 13a and 13b, and the light convergence can be particularly improved.

The gradient index lenses 13a and 13b may be cut at other positions; for example, lenses cut along the b-c plane may be used. In addition, the gradient index lenses 13a, 13
At the condensing point b, the input end of an optical fiber may be arranged to transmit light to a remote photoelectric detector without directly disposing the photoelectric detector 7.9.

Further, in the embodiment, two first optical blocks ll
Although the through holes 10 are provided in both a and llb, if side scattered light is to be detected only on one side, the through holes 10 may be formed only in one first optical block. Furthermore, the first optical blocks 11a and 11b do not necessarily have to be transparent, and it is sufficient that they do not interfere with the input and output of laser light.

As described above, the photometric flow cell according to the present invention can achieve improved photometric accuracy, increased efficiency of light collection, and ease of optical adjustment by integrating the flow cell main body and the optical element.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional flow cell main body, Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram during conventional photometry, Fig. 3 and the following show an embodiment of a photometric flow cell according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a cross section thereof. 4 is an exploded perspective view, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of image formation of the gradient index lens, and FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram during photometry. Symbol l is the flow cell main body, 2 is the flow section, 3.4 is the lens, 5.7.9 is the photoelectric detector, 10 is the through hole, lla, l
lb is a first optical block, 12a and 12b are second optical blocks, 13a and 13b are gradient index lenses, and S
is the specimen. Patent applicant: Canon Co., Ltd. Figure 3 and Figure 11 (] 1^878 opening RGI-35333 (4)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Two first blocks each having at least one through hole, and a transparent material sandwiched between these first blocks to form a flow section through which a specimen passes together with the first blocks. It consists of two second optical blocks made of a body, and a gradient index lens inserted into a through hole of the first block and with its tip facing the communication part, and these members are joined. A photometric flow cell characterized by the following configuration. 2. The photometric flow cell according to claim 1, wherein the two first blocks are both provided with through holes.