JPWO2013088913A1 - Analysis device, microchannel sheet and strip - Google Patents

Abstract

The analysis apparatus 1 includes a supply tray 11 that accommodates the microchannel sheets 40 having a plurality of microchannels 42 in a stacked state, and a transport device 20 that transports the microchannel sheets 40 in the supply tray 11 one by one. A pipette 12a for injecting a reagent into the microchannel 42 of the microchannel sheet 40, a dispensing head 12 having a pipette 12a for injecting a specimen into the microchannel 42, and a downstream side of the dispensing head 12, A light irradiation device 15 that irradiates light to the microchannel 42 of the microchannel sheet 40 and a light that is provided on the downstream side of the dispensing head 12 and that emits light from the microchannel 42 by the light irradiated by the light irradiation device 15. An optical reading device 16 for reading, and a section from the dispensing head 12 to the light irradiation device and the optical reading device is in a state where the microchannel sheet is horizontal. It is sent.

Description

  The present invention relates to an analysis apparatus that performs biochemical analysis and the like, and also relates to a microchannel sheet and a band-like body used in the analysis apparatus.

In recent years, sample analysis using micro-channels has been performed, and by injecting a sample into the micro-channel and irradiating the micro-channel with light, the characteristics of even a small amount of sample can be sufficiently obtained. Can be analyzed.
Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe a microchannel chip in which a microchannel is formed on a substrate such as a glass substrate.
On the other hand, Patent Document 3 describes a micro-channel device in which a plurality of micro-channels are formed on a flexible belt-like body composed of a plurality of layers.

JP 2006-153823 A JP 2007-51964 A JP 2004-163427 A

In the microchannel chip as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the shape of the microchannel can be maintained with a desired dimensional accuracy by the rigidity of the substrate and other layers forming the microchannel. On the other hand, the microchannel chip must be replaced for each inspection, and the inspection work efficiency is not good. For this reason, cost also becomes high.
Patent Document 3 describes a microchannel device in which flexible members are stacked and a large number of independent channels are continuously formed. However, in the thing of patent document 3, since the microchannel device is cut | disconnected and used, it is hard to say that the working efficiency at the time of a test | inspection is high like patent document 1,2. When a diagnosis using a micro-channel chip is to be performed for a mass screening or the like, the work efficiency of conventional analyzers is poor, so an analyzer that can perform a large amount of tests quickly is desired. In addition, since the microchannel device is made of a flexible material, there is a demand for an apparatus that can maintain the desired shape of the microchannel during inspection / measurement in order to suppress a decrease in analysis accuracy.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems in the prior art, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to suppress the deformation of the microchannel, to suppress the degradation of the analysis accuracy, and The purpose is to enable a large amount of inspections quickly and to improve the work efficiency of the inspections.

  The invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-described problems is a plurality of sheets having a plurality of laminated flexible sheets and a plurality of microchannels formed inside the laminate of the flexible sheets. A supply tray for storing the microchannel sheets in a stacked state, a transport device for transporting the microchannel sheets stored in the supply tray one by one, and the microchannel sheet transported by the transport device A pipette for injecting a reagent into the microchannel, a dispensing head having a pipette for injecting a specimen into the microchannel, and the microstream provided on the downstream side of the dispensing head and transported by the transporting device A light irradiation device for irradiating light to the micro flow path of the road sheet; and the micro flow path sheet provided on the downstream side of the dispensing head and transported by the transport device. An optical reading device that reads light emitted from a predetermined portion of the microchannel by the light irradiated by the light irradiation device to the microchannel, and at least the light irradiation device from the dispensing head and The section up to the optical reader is an analyzer characterized in that the microchannel sheet is conveyed in a horizontal state.

  In the invention according to claim 2, in the microchannel sheet, a plurality of rows of microchannels are formed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and the conveying direction by the conveying device, and the dispensing head and the light The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of irradiation devices and the optical reading device are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction by the conveyance device.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dispensing head, the light irradiation device, and the optical reading device are arranged apart from each other by an interval between adjacent micro flow paths in the transport direction. This is an analysis device.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the analyzer according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the dispensing head, the light irradiation device, and the optical reading device are arranged to be shifted in the transport direction.

  The invention according to claim 5 is further provided with a discharge tray provided downstream of the light irradiation device and the optical reading device and accommodating the microchannel sheet transported by the transport device. It is an analyzer as described in any one.

  The invention according to claim 6 includes a plurality of laminated flexible sheets and a plurality of microchannels formed inside the laminate of the flexible sheets, and any one of claims 1 to 5. A microchannel sheet used in the analysis device according to the item, wherein the microchannels are arranged in a lattice shape along a conveyance direction of the analysis device by the conveyance device and a direction orthogonal thereto. It is.

  The invention according to claim 7 includes a plurality of laminated flexible sheets and a plurality of micro flow channels formed inside the laminate of the flexible sheets, and any one of claims 1 to 5. It is a microphone flow path sheet used for the analysis device according to the item, wherein the micro flow paths are arranged in a staggered manner.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the microchannel sheet according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a groove or a slit is formed between the adjacent microchannels.

  The invention according to claim 9 is provided with a plurality of positioning holes formed in the laminate of the flexible sheets and arranged in a transport direction by the transport device of the analyzer. It is a microchannel sheet as described in above.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of microchannel sheets according to any one of the sixth to ninth aspects are connected in the conveyance direction of the analytical device by the conveyance device, and the first to fifth aspects. In the strip | belt-shaped body used for the analyzer as described in any one of these, the strip | belt-shaped body accommodated in the said supply tray in the state folded back between the said microchannel sheet | seats, and bend | folded in the shape of a crookedness. It is.

According to the present invention, since a plurality of microchannel sheets are stacked on the supply tray, bending of these microchannel sheets can be prevented. Furthermore, since the microchannel sheet is conveyed in a horizontal state in the section from the dispensing head to the light irradiation device and the optical reading device, deformation of the microchannel can be suppressed, and degradation in analysis accuracy can be suppressed. it can.
A plurality of microchannel sheets are conveyed one by one by a conveying device, and these microchannel sheets can be continuously inspected and measured optically by a light irradiation device and an optical reader. High measurement efficiency.
Since a plurality of microchannels are formed in the microchannel sheet, the work efficiency of inspection and measurement is high.

It is the schematic which showed the internal structure of the analyzer. It is a perspective view of a microchannel sheet. It is a schematic sectional drawing of a microchannel sheet. It is a schematic sectional drawing of a microchannel sheet. It is a schematic sectional drawing of a microchannel sheet. It is a perspective view of the principal part of an analyzer, and a microchannel sheet. It is the top view which showed the relative relationship between the position of a microchannel sheet | seat, and the position of a dispensing head, a light irradiation apparatus, and an optical reader. It is the top view which showed the relative relationship between the position of a microchannel sheet | seat, and the position of a dispensing head, a light irradiation apparatus, and an optical reader. It is the top view which showed the relative relationship between the position of a microchannel sheet | seat, and the position of a dispensing head, a light irradiation apparatus, and an optical reader. It is the top view which showed the relative relationship between the position of a microchannel sheet | seat, and the position of a dispensing head, a light irradiation apparatus, and an optical reader. It is the top view which showed the relative relationship between the position of a microchannel sheet | seat, and the position of a dispensing head, a light irradiation apparatus, and an optical reader. It is a perspective view of a microchannel sheet. It is the top view which showed the relative relationship between the position of a microchannel sheet | seat, and the position of a dispensing head, a light irradiation apparatus, and an optical reader. It is the top view which showed the relative relationship between the position of a microchannel sheet | seat, and the position of a dispensing head, a light irradiation apparatus, and an optical reader. It is sectional drawing of a strip | belt shaped object. It is sectional drawing of a strip | belt shaped object. It is sectional drawing of a strip | belt shaped object. It is sectional drawing of a strip | belt shaped object. It is the schematic which showed the internal structure of the analyzer. It is the schematic which showed the internal structure of the analyzer. It is the schematic which showed the internal structure of the analyzer. It is the schematic which showed the internal structure of the analyzer.

  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated using drawing. However, the embodiments described below are given various technically preferable limitations for carrying out the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

  FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the analyzer 1. The analyzer 1 includes a supply tray 11, a dispensing head 12, a micro pump 13, a heater 14, a light irradiation device 15, an optical reading device 16, a discharge tray 17, a main body 18, a transport device 20, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the supply tray 11, the main body 18, and the discharge tray 17 are arranged side by side, the supply tray 11 is attached to the side surface or front surface of the main body 18, and the side surface or main body that faces the side surface to which the supply tray 11 is attached. A discharge tray 17 is attached to the rear surface of 18. The supply tray 11 and the discharge tray 17 can be detached from the main body 18. The operations of the transport device 20, the dispensing head 12, the micro pump 13, the heater 14, the light irradiation device 15, the optical reading device 16, and the like are controlled by a control unit (not shown).

  A plurality of microchannel sheets 40 are accommodated in the supply tray 11 in a stacked state.

  The transport device 20 passes a plurality of microchannel sheets 40 stacked on the supply tray 11 one by one through the dispensing head 12, the micropump 13, the heater 14, the light irradiation device 15, and the optical reading device 16. Then, it is conveyed toward the discharge tray 17. The inspected micro flow path sheets 40 conveyed by the conveyance device 20 are accommodated in the discharge tray 17 and stacked in order.

The transport device 20 includes a supply unit 21 and a plurality of transport rollers 22.
The supply unit 21 is provided on the supply tray 21. Although not shown in the drawing, an elastic body such as a spring is provided on the bottom surface of the supply tray 11, the microchannel sheet 40 is placed on the elastic body, and the microchannel sheet 40 is pushed up by the elastic body. And is brought into contact with the supply unit 21. The supply unit 21 takes out a plurality of microchannel sheets 40 stacked on the supply tray 11 one by one from the top, and sends them out to the main body 18 (particularly, the conveyance roller 22).

  A drive source such as a motor may be provided in the supply tray 11 and the bottom surface of the supply tray 11 may be moved up and down by the drive source. In this case, at the time of use, the bottom surface of the supply tray 11 is raised by the drive source, and the uppermost microchannel sheet 40 among the plurality of microchannel sheets 40 stacked on the bottom surface of the supply tray 11 contacts the supply unit 21. Touched. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of microchannel sheets 40 are sucked in order from the top, and the microchannel sheets 40 adsorbed by the suction are supplied to the main body 18 (particularly, the transport roller 222) by the supply unit 21. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of transport rollers 22 are provided on the main body 18. These transport rollers 22 are arranged along the transport path. The conveyance roller 22 intermittently conveys the micro flow path sheet 40 sent out by the supply unit 21 in the direction of the discharge tray 17. That is, the conveyance roller 22 stops conveying the microchannel sheet 40 every time the microchannel sheet 40 is conveyed by a predetermined distance.

  In the main body 18, a dispensing head 12, a micropump 13, a heater 14, a light irradiation device 15, and an optical reading device 16 are provided. On the upper side of the transport path, a dispensing head 12, a micro pump 13, and a light irradiation device 15 are arranged in order from the upstream. Below the transport path, a heater 14 and an optical reading device 16 are arranged in order from the upstream. The optical reading device 16 is arranged below the light irradiation device 15, and the optical reading device 16 and the light irradiation device 15 are arranged to face each other up and down across the conveyance path. As shown in the drawing, at least in a section from the dispensing head 12 to the light irradiation device 15 and the optical reading device 16, a plurality of transport rollers 22 are arranged along a horizontal plane, and in this section, the microchannel sheet 40 is in a horizontal state. It is designed to be transported by By configuring in this way, it is possible to suppress the bending of each microchannel 40 at the time of inspection / measurement, the shape of the microchannel 40 is maintained in a desired shape, and the degradation of analysis accuracy can be suppressed. .

  The dispensing head 12 is lifted and lowered by the first lifting device, the micropump 13 is lifted and lowered by the second lifting device, and the heater 14 is lifted and lowered by the third lifting device. When the dispensing head 12 is lowered by the first elevating device, the dispensing head 12 is connected to the injection site of each microchannel formed in the microchannel sheet 40, and the specimen, reagent, and the like are delivered by the dispensing head 12. Injected. When the micropump 13 is lowered by the second elevating device, the micropump 13 is connected to the microchannel sheet 40, and processing such as movement and mixing of reagents and specimens inside the microchannel sheet 40 is performed by the micropump 13. Done. Further, when the heater 14 is raised by the third elevating device, the heater 14 approaches or contacts the microchannel sheet 40, and power is supplied to the heater 14 as necessary. Is heated. When heating is not required, at least power is not supplied to the heater.

  The timing at which the dispensing head 12 is raised after being lowered is synchronized with the timing at which the conveyance of the microchannel sheet 40 by the conveyance roller 22 is intermittently stopped. The same applies to the timing when the micropump 13 is raised after being lowered. Further, the timing when the heater 14 is lowered after being raised is the same. Note that two or three of the dispensing head 12, the micro pump 13, and the heater 14 may be lifted and lowered integrally by a single lifting device.

  The microchannel sheet 40 will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the microchannel sheet 40. As shown in FIG. 2, the microchannel sheet 40 includes a plurality of flexible sheets 41 that are laminated and bonded to each other, and a plurality of microstreams formed inside the laminate of the flexible sheets 41. And a path 42. For example, the number of the flexible sheets 41 is two, a plurality of recesses are formed at the joining interface of one flexible sheet 41, and these recesses are covered by the other flexible sheet 41. As a result, a plurality of microchannels 42 are formed. Alternatively, the number of the flexible sheets 41 is three, a plurality of slits pass through the intermediate flexible sheet 41, and the intermediate flexible sheet 41 is sandwiched between the two flexible sheets 41. The slits are capped from both sides by two flexible sheets 41 to form a plurality of microchannels 42.

  The flexible sheet 41 that is a constituent element of the microchannel sheet 40 is made of a translucent material, and light passes through the microchannel sheet 40. The flexible sheet 41 on the surface is formed with a plurality of connection holes 42 a communicating with the microchannel 42. There are a plurality of connection holes 42 a per microchannel 42.

  In FIG. 2, a plurality of microchannels 42 are arranged in a lattice pattern. In FIG. 2, the microchannels 42 are arranged in six columns vertically and three columns horizontally, and the intervals between the microchannels 42 in the vertical direction are equal. The intervals between the microchannels 42 in the horizontal direction are also equal. A plurality of positioning holes 43 pass through the laminate of the flexible sheets 41, and the positioning holes 43 are arranged in a lattice pattern and are arranged between the microchannels 42. Specifically, the positioning holes 43 and the micro flow paths 42 are alternately arranged in the vertical direction. As used herein, the vertical direction refers to the direction in which the microchannel sheet 40 is conveyed, and the horizontal direction refers to the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. The number of positioning holes 43 and microchannels 42 provided in one microchannel sheet 40 is not limited to this.

  It is preferable that at least one flexible sheet of the microchannel sheet 40 has a groove formed between the microchannels 42. For example, as shown in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 3A and 3B, when two flexible sheets 41 are laminated, a groove 41 a is provided between the microchannels 42 in the upper flexible sheet 41. It may be formed (see FIG. 3A), or the groove 41a may be formed between the microchannels 42 (see FIG. 3B) in the flexible sheet 41 in which the lower microchannels are formed. Good. As another example, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 4, when three flexible sheets 41 are laminated, grooves 41 a are formed in the upper and middle flexible sheets 41 of each microchannel 42. By forming in between, the adjacent micro flow path 42 is partitioned. The grooves 41a may be formed in the intermediate and lower flexible sheets 41. By forming a groove between the adjacent microchannels 42 in this way, when the microchannel 42 in use for inspection is heated, heat to the adjacent microchannel 42 that is not used for inspection Conduction can be suppressed. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 4, although it demonstrated by the example which formed the groove | channel, the slit which penetrated the lamination | stacking part (laminated body of the flexible sheet | seat 41) in the range which does not isolate | separate each microchannel 42 was shown. If formed appropriately, the heat conduction can be further suppressed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the groove | channel does not need to be formed between the microchannels 42. FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the main part of the analyzer 1 together with the microchannel sheet 40. As shown in FIG. 5, the number of the dispensing head 12, the light irradiation device 15, and the optical reading device 16 is plural. Although not shown in FIG. 5, the number of micropumps 13 and heaters 14 is also plural.

  Each dispensing head 12 is provided with a plurality of pipettes (nozzles) 12a. One of these pipettes 12a is a pipette for injecting a specimen, and the other is a pipette for injecting a reagent or the like.

  The plurality of dispensing heads 12 are arranged obliquely with respect to the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the microchannel sheet 40. The same applies to the plurality of light irradiation devices 15, the optical reading device 16, and the heater 14. The number of microchannels 42 formed in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the microchannel sheet 40 is the number of the dispensing heads 12, the light irradiation devices 15, and the optical readers 16 arranged in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. However, it is possible to shorten the interval between the dispensing heads 12 in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the micro flow path sheet 40 by arranging the large dispensing heads in the conveying direction without arranging them in parallel. The length of the analyzer 1 in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the road sheet 40 can be reduced. This also has the effect that the microchannels 42 can be densely arranged at smaller intervals in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the microchannel sheet 40.

  As shown in the plan view of FIG. 6A and the plan view of FIG. 6B, the plurality of dispensing heads 12, the light irradiation device 15, the optical reading device 16, and the heater 14 are orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the microchannel sheet 40. It may be arranged linearly along the direction. Further, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 7A, the plan view of FIG. 7B, and the plan view of FIG. 7C, a plurality of dispensing heads 12, a light irradiation device 15, an optical reading device 16, and a heater 14 are arranged in a zigzag manner. Also good. 6A and 6B, the relative relationship between the position of the microchannel sheet 40 and the positions of the dispensing head 12, the light irradiation device 15, and the optical reading device 16 when the dispensing head 12 is lowered and raised is shown. Show. That is, the microchannel sheet 40 is conveyed to the position shown in FIG. 6A and is temporarily stopped at that position, and then the microchannel sheet 40 is conveyed from the position shown in FIG. 6A to the position shown in FIG. Is temporarily stopped. 7A, 7B and 7C, the positions of the microchannel sheet 40 and the positions of the dispensing head 12, the light irradiation device 15 and the optical reader 16 when the dispensing head 12 is lowered and raised. Show relative relationships. That is, the microchannel sheet 40 is conveyed to the position shown in FIG. 7A and is temporarily stopped at that position, and then the microchannel sheet 40 is conveyed from the position shown in FIG. 7A to the position shown in FIG. Then, the microchannel sheet 40 is conveyed from the position shown in FIG. 7B to the position shown in FIG. 7C and is temporarily stopped at that position. While the microchannel sheet 40 is temporarily stopped (see FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, and 7C), the dispensing head 12 and the micropump 13 are lowered, and then the injection and flow of the specimen and the reagent are performed. Are measured by the dispensing head 12 and the micropump 13, and optical measurement is performed by the light irradiation device 15 and the optical reader 16, and then the dispensing head 12 and the micropump 13 are raised.

  As shown in FIG. 5, positioning pins 19 are provided on the downstream side of the respective dispensing heads 12. The positioning pin 19 is provided on the lower side of the conveyance path and moves up and down. The timing when the dispensing head 12 is raised after being lowered and the timing when it is lowered after the positioning pin 19 is raised are synchronized with the timing when the conveyance of the micro-channel sheet 40 by the conveyance roller 22 is stopped intermittently. To do. When the positioning pin 19 rises, the positioning pin 19 is inserted into the positioning hole 43 of the microchannel sheet 40, so that the position of each microchannel 42 of the microchannel sheet 40, the dispensing head 12, and the light irradiation device 15 The relative positional relationship of the optical reader 16 can be made appropriate.

  The microchannel sheet 40 is intermittently conveyed by the conveyance roller 22, but the conveyance distance per time is preferably equal to the interval between the microchannels 42 adjacent in the vertical direction (conveyance direction). It is preferable that the interval between the dispensing head 12 and the light irradiation device 15 disposed downstream thereof is equal to the conveyance distance per intermittent conveyance. By arranging in this way, the micro flow channel 42 located on the downstream side performs light irradiation by the light irradiation device 15 and reading of light emitted from a predetermined portion by the optical reading device 16, while adjoining the upstream micro flow channel. It is possible to inject the reagent and the specimen from the dispensing head 12 to 42, thereby improving the examination / measurement work efficiency.

Subsequently, the operation of the analyzer 1 will be described.
One of the plurality of microchannel sheets 40 stacked on the supply tray 11 is taken out by the supply unit 21, and the microchannel sheet 40 is sent out to the conveying roller 22 by the supply unit 21.
Thereafter, the transport roller 22 operates intermittently, and the micro flow path sheet 40 is intermittently transported by the transport roller 22.

  The operation of the analyzer 1 when the microchannel sheet 40 is being conveyed intermittently will be specifically described.

  When the micro flow path sheet 40 is transported by the transport roller 22 by a predetermined distance (equal to the interval between the micro flow paths 42 adjacent in the longitudinal direction (transport direction)), the micro flow path 42 is moved to the dispensing head 12 and the micro pump. 13 and above the heater 14 (see FIGS. 6A and 7A). Then, the transport roller 22 is temporarily stopped, and the transport of the microchannel sheet 40 is temporarily stopped.

  Next, the positioning pin 19 rises and the positioning pin 19 is inserted into the positioning hole 43. Thereby, the position of the microchannel sheet 40 is determined and the posture of the microchannel sheet 40 is stabilized. At this time and when the subsequent conveyance is stopped, it is preferable to suck the microchannel sheet 40 by suction or the like. Thereby, the posture is further stabilized.

  Next, the dispensing head 12 and the micropump 13 are lowered, and the heater 14 is raised. When the dispensing head 12 is lowered, the pipette 12 a of the dispensing head 12 is connected to the connection hole 42 a of the microchannel sheet 40. When the micropump 13 is lowered, the suction port (or discharge port) of the micropump 13 is connected to the connection hole 42a. The heater 14 rises and approaches or contacts the microchannel sheet 40.

  Then, the sample or reagent is injected into the microchannel 42 through the connection hole 42 a by the pipette 12 a, and the sample, reagent, or the like injected into the microchannel 42 flows through the microchannel 42 by the micropump 13. Thereby, a reagent, a sample, and the like are mixed. Moreover, the micro flow path 42 is heated by the heater 14 as needed.

  Next, the dispensing head 12 and the micropump 13 are raised, and the heater 14 and the positioning pin 19 are lowered.

  Next, when the micro flow path sheet 40 is transported by the transport roller 22 by a predetermined distance (equal to the interval between the micro flow paths 42 adjacent in the vertical direction (transport direction)), the micro flow into which the sample or reagent has been injected. The path 42 is located below the light irradiation device 15 and above the optical reading device 16 (see FIGS. 6B and 7B). At this time, as described above, the micro flow path 42 adjacent to the upstream side where the sample and the reagent are not yet injected is located below the dispensing head 12 and the micro pump 13 and above the heater 14. Then, the transport roller 22 is temporarily stopped, and the transport of the microchannel sheet 40 is temporarily stopped.

  Next, the light irradiation device 15 is turned on, and the light irradiation device 15 irradiates the microchannel 42 with light (for example, excitation light such as ultraviolet rays). When light emitted from the light irradiation device 15 enters a measurement target in the microchannel 42 (for example, a mixture of a specimen and a reagent), light from the measurement target (for example, light emitted from the light irradiation device 15) Fluorescence with different wavelength bands). The optical reader 16 receives light emitted from the microchannel 42 (specifically, the measurement object), reads the light, and analysis based on the light is performed by the computer of the analyzer 1. The measurement principle and analysis principle of light are not particularly limited. For example, the optical reading device 16 may read reflected light reflected by the micro flow path 42 (more specifically, the measurement object in the micro flow path 42). In this case, the optical reading device 16 and the light irradiation device 15 are provided on the same side with respect to the transported microchannel sheet 40.

  When the optical measurement is performed by the light irradiation device 15 and the optical reading device 16, as described above, the positioning pin 19 and the heater 14 are raised, the dispensing head 12 and the micropump 13 are lowered, and the upstream. A specimen or reagent is injected into the microchannel 42 adjacent to the side, and the injected specimen or reagent is flowed and mixed.

  As described above, the operations of the dispensing head 12, the micropump 13, the heater 14, the light irradiation device 15, the optical reading device 16, and the positioning pins 19 are repeated when the microchannel sheet 40 is conveyed intermittently. Thus, when the measurement / analysis for all the microchannels 42 is completed, the microchannel sheet 40 is carried out to the discharge tray 17 by the conveying roller 22. Then, the next microchannel sheet 40 is taken out from the supply tray 11 by the supply unit 21 and the analyzer 1 performs the same operation.

  On the discharge tray 17, the measured and analyzed micro flow path sheets 40 are stacked. The discharge tray 17 can be detached from the main body 18, and it becomes easy to discard the measured / analyzed microchannel sheet 40 stored in the discharge tray 17.

  The analyzer 1 can be applied to a micro-TAS (Micro-Total Analysis Systems) analyzer.

  According to the analyzer 1 and the microchannel sheet 40 as described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.

(1) If the analyzer 1 as described above is used, point of care testing (POCT) can be performed with high efficiency. That is, the microchannel sheet 40 is transported along the transport path by the transport device 20, and the dispensing head 12, the micropump 13, the heater 14, the light irradiation device 15, and the optical reading device 16 are arranged along the transport path. Therefore, inspection and measurement can be performed continuously and intermittently.

(2) Since a plurality of micro-channel sheets 40 are sequentially transported by the transport device 20 and optical inspection / measurement is performed by the light irradiation device 15 and the optical reader 16, work efficiency of inspection / measurement is high. .

(3) A plurality of microchannels 42 are formed in each microchannel sheet 40, and optical inspection and measurement are sequentially performed on the microchannels 42 by the light irradiation device 15 and the optical reader 16. Therefore, the inspection and measurement work efficiency is high.

(4) Since the number of the dispensing heads 12 is two or more, the specimen and the reagent can be injected into the plurality of microchannels 42 at the same time. Since the number of the micropumps 13 is two or more, it is possible to simultaneously flow and mix the specimens and reagents with respect to the plurality of microchannels 42. Since the number of the light irradiation devices 15 is two or more and the number of the optical reading devices 16 is two or more, measurement and analysis can be performed simultaneously. Therefore, the inspection efficiency is improved.
Further, when the dispensing head 12, the light irradiation device 15, and the optical reading device 16 are arranged apart from each other by the interval between the micro flow channels 42 adjacent to each other in the transport direction, the light irradiation device is used in the micro flow channel 42 located on the downstream side. 15 and the optical reader 16, while the light is read from a predetermined part, the reagent is injected from the dispensing head 12 and the sample is injected into the upstream microchannel 42 adjacent to the downstream microchannel 42. This can be performed, and the work efficiency of inspection and measurement is further improved.
Moreover, the length of the analyzer 1 in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the microchannel sheet 40 can be reduced by disposing the dispensing head 12, the light irradiation device 15, and the optical reading device 16 in the conveyance direction. The analyzer 1 can be downsized. In other words, the microchannels 42 can be densely arranged at smaller intervals along the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the microchannel sheet 40.

(5) Since only a plurality of microchannel sheets 40 are stacked on the supply tray 11, the microchannel sheet 40 is not bent or bent, and deformation of the microchannel 42 can be suppressed. . Therefore, accurate inspection / measurement can be performed.

(6) Since the conveyance path from the supply tray 11 to the light irradiation device 15 and the optical reading device 16 is linear in a side view, the microchannel sheet 40 is not greatly bent during conveyance. Therefore, deformation of the microchannel 42 can be suppressed, and accurate inspection / measurement can be performed.

(7) Since the groove 41a is formed between the adjacent microchannels 42 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), heat conduction between the adjacent microchannels 42 can be suppressed. In addition, since light leakage between the adjacent microchannels 42 can be prevented by the groove 41a, optical inspection / measurement by the light irradiation device 15 and the optical reading device 16 becomes accurate.

(8) Since the positioning hole 43 is formed in the microchannel sheet 40 and the positioning pin 19 is inserted into the positioning hole 43, the positioning of the microchannel sheet 40 is accurate. In particular, the position control of the microchannel sheet 40 is more accurate than when the position of the microchannel sheet 40 is obtained based on the alignment mark and the reading camera.

(9) The supply tray 11 is detachable from the main body 18. Therefore, it is easy to replenish the supply tray 11 with the microchannel sheet 40. By attaching the supply tray 11 supplemented with the microchannel sheet 40 to the main body 18, the inspection can be automatically continued.

  The embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Hereinafter, some modified examples will be described. The modifications described below are the same as those in the above-described embodiment except for the changes. Moreover, you may combine the modified example demonstrated below as much as possible.

[Modification 1]
As shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of microchannels 42 may be arranged in a staggered manner. Here, these microchannels 42 are equally divided into a plurality of groups 44, and the microchannels 42 are gathered close together in each group 44.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the number of dispensing heads 12 is the same as the number of microchannels 42 in one set of groups 44. The same applies to the number of micropumps 13, heaters 14, light irradiation devices 15, and optical reading devices 16.

  These dispensing heads 12 are arranged in the same manner as the arrangement of the microchannels 42 in one set of groups 44. That is, the dispensing heads 12 are arranged in a staggered or zigzag manner. The same applies to the arrangement of the micropump 13, the heater 14, the light irradiation device 15, and the optical reading device 16. In the dispensing head 12, since the micropump 13, the heater 14, the light irradiation device 15, and the optical reading device 16 are arranged in a zigzag or zigzag manner, the length of the analyzer 1 in the horizontal direction (direction perpendicular to the transport direction) is long. The thickness can be reduced. Therefore, the analyzer 1 becomes compact.

  The group composed of the plurality of light irradiation devices 15 is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction of the group composed of the plurality of dispensing heads 12. It is preferable that the interval between the group composed of the plurality of light irradiation devices 15 and the group composed of the plurality of dispensing heads 12 is equal to the interval between the adjacent groups 44. The interval between adjacent groups 44 is equal to the transport distance per intermittent transport. Therefore, the distance that the conveyance roller 22 conveys the micro-channel sheet 40 at a time is equal to the interval between the adjacent groups 44 (see FIGS. 9A and 9B). 9A and 9B, the relative relationship between the position of the microchannel sheet 40 and the positions of the dispensing head 12, the light irradiation device 15, and the optical reading device 16 when the dispensing head 12 is lowered and raised is shown. Show. That is, the microchannel sheet 40 is conveyed to the position shown in FIG. 9A and is temporarily stopped at that position, and then the microchannel sheet 40 is conveyed from the position shown in FIG. 9A to the position shown in FIG. Is temporarily stopped. While the microchannel sheet 40 is temporarily stopped (see FIGS. 9A and 9B), the dispensing head 12 and the micropump 13 are lowered, and then the injection and flow of the specimen and the reagent are performed in the dispensing head 12 and the micropump 13. And the optical measurement is performed by the light irradiation device 15 and the optical reader 16, and then the dispensing head 12 and the micropump 13 are raised.

[Modification 2]
As shown in the cross-sectional views shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B or the cross-sectional views shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a plurality of microchannel sheets 40 as shown in FIGS. 6A, 7A, and 9A are arranged in a row in the vertical direction. These microchannel sheets 40 may be arranged in a strip shape by being connected by a connecting portion 45. Hereinafter, what the microchannel sheet | seat 40 is connected in strip shape is called strip | belt-shaped body (web).

  As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the lower flexible sheet 41 is continuous in a band shape, and the intermediate and upper flexible sheets 41 are divided for each microchannel sheet 40. A portion between the adjacent micro-channel sheets 40 in the lower-layer flexible sheet 41 is a connecting portion 45, and a groove 46 is formed between the adjacent intermediate-layer / upper-layer flexible sheets 41.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the lowermost layer and the middle layer flexible sheet 41 are continuous in a band shape, and the upper layer flexible sheet 41 is divided for each microchannel sheet 40. A portion between the adjacent micro-channel sheets 40 in the lower-layer / middle-layer flexible sheet 41 is a connecting portion 45, and a groove 46 is formed between the adjacent upper-layer flexible sheets 41.

  In either case of FIG. 10A or FIG. 11A, the micro flow path 42 is formed at the bonding interface between the intermediate flexible sheet 41 and the upper flexible sheet 41. That is, a recess is formed in the intermediate flexible sheet 41, and the upper flexible sheet 41 is stacked and joined to the intermediate flexible sheet 41, so that the recess is formed by the upper flexible sheet 41. The microchannel 42 is formed by being covered.

  As shown in FIG. 10B or FIG. 11B, the belt-like body is folded back at the connecting portion 45, and as shown in FIG. Therefore, a plurality of micro flow path sheets 40 are stacked.

  When a plurality of microchannel sheets 40 are connected, the belt-like body in the supply tray 11 is pulled out to the main body 18 by the transport roller 22 of the transport device 20 even if the transport device 20 does not have the supply unit 21. The belt-like body in the main body 18 is carried out to the discharge tray 17. In this case, it is preferable that a cutter is provided between the main body 18 and the discharge tray 17. By providing the cutter, the strip can be cut at an arbitrary position, and only the portion used for inspection and measurement can be discarded.

[Modification 3]
The analyzer shown in FIG. 13 is configured such that the supply unit 21 of the transport device 20 takes out a plurality of microchannel sheets 40 stacked on the supply tray 11 one by one from the bottom and sends them to the transport roller 22. It is a thing.

[Modification 4]
The analyzer shown in FIG. 14 is configured such that the supply tray 11 and the discharge tray 17 are attached to the inside of the main body 18, and the supply tray 11 and the discharge tray 17 are pulled out from the main body 18. The supply tray 11 is provided above the discharge tray 17. The transport rollers 22 are arranged along the U-shape from the supply tray 11 to the discharge tray 17, and the transport path is U-shaped when viewed from the side. In the area where the inspection / measurement is performed, the conveyance path is linear in a side view, and the inspection / measurement area is bent in a U shape and discharged to the discharge tray 17.

[Modification 5]
The analyzer shown in FIG. 15 is configured such that the supply tray 11 and the discharge tray 17 are attached to the inside of the main body 18, and the supply tray 11 and the discharge tray 17 are pulled out from the main body 18.

The conveyance device 20 includes a supply unit 23, a plurality of conveyance rollers 24, a switchback mechanism 25, and a plurality of conveyance rollers 28.
The supply unit 23 takes out the plurality of micro flow path sheets 40 stacked on the supply tray 11 one by one from the top, and sends them out to the transport roller 24.

  The plurality of transport rollers 24 are arranged from the supply tray 11 to the switchback mechanism 25. The dispensing head 12, the micropump 13, the heater 14, the light irradiation device 15, and the optical reading device 16 are arranged along a conveyance path constituted by these conveyance rollers 24. The conveyance roller 24 intermittently conveys the micro flow path sheet 40 sent out by the supply unit 23 to the switchback mechanism 25 while performing inspection and measurement.

  The switchback mechanism 25 changes the direction of the micro flow path sheet 40 conveyed by the conveyance roller 24. The switchback mechanism 25 includes a conveyance path conversion guide unit 26 and a plurality of forward and reverse rotation rollers 27. The forward / reverse rotating roller 27 is arranged at a place where the arrangement of the conveying rollers 24 is extended. The conveyance path conversion guide part 26 is provided so as to be able to swing up and down between the upstream conveyance roller 24 and the forward / reverse rotation roller 27, and is urged upward by a spring.

  The conveyance path conversion guide unit 26 guides the micro flow path sheet 40 conveyed by the conveyance roller 24 to the forward / reverse rotation roller 27 and guides the micro flow path sheet 40 guided by the normal / reverse rotation roller 27 to the conveyance roller 28. To do. In other words, the micro-channel sheet 40 conveyed by the conveying roller 24 is pushed downward against the spring by the micro-channel sheet 40, so that the micro-channel sheet 40 is guided to the forward / reverse rotation roller 27, When the entire flow path sheet 40 is retracted to the forward / reverse rotation roller 27, the transport path conversion guide portion 26 is swung up by a spring, and when the forward / reverse rotation roller 27 is reversed, the micro flow path sheet 40 is transported path conversion Guided by the guide unit 26 to the conveying roller 28.

  The plurality of transport rollers 28 are arranged from the switchback mechanism 25 to the discharge tray 17. The conveyance roller 28 conveys the micro flow path sheet 40 whose traveling direction has been changed by the switchback mechanism 25 to the discharge tray 17.

  The present invention can be used in an apparatus for performing sample analysis using a microchannel.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Analysis apparatus 11 Supply tray 12 Dispensing head 12a Pipette 15 Light irradiation apparatus 16 Optical reader 17 Discharge tray 20 Conveyance apparatus 40 Microchannel sheet 41 Flexible sheet 41a Groove 42 Microchannel

Claims (10)

A supply tray for storing a plurality of micro-channel sheets having a plurality of laminated sheets and a plurality of micro-channel sheets formed inside the laminate of the flexible sheets,
A transport device for transporting the microchannel sheets stored in the supply tray one by one;
A pipette for injecting a reagent into the microchannel of the microchannel sheet transported by the transport device and a dispensing head having a pipette for injecting a sample into the microchannel;
A light irradiation device that is provided on the downstream side of the dispensing head and that irradiates light to the microchannel of the microchannel sheet that is transported by the transport device;
Light emitted from a predetermined part of the microchannel by light irradiated by the light irradiation device to the microchannel of the microchannel sheet of the microchannel sheet which is provided on the downstream side of the dispensing head and is transported by the transport device An optical reader for reading light,
At least in a section from the dispensing head to the light irradiation device and the optical reader, the microchannel sheet is conveyed in a horizontal state. In the microchannel sheet, a plurality of microchannels are formed in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction and the transport direction by the transport device,
The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the dispensing heads, the light irradiation device, and the optical reading device are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction by the conveyance device.   The analyzer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dispensing head, the light irradiation device, and the optical reading device are arranged apart by an interval between adjacent microchannels in the transport direction.   The analyzer according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the dispensing head, the light irradiation device, and the optical reading device are arranged to be shifted in the transport direction.   The analysis according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a discharge tray that is provided downstream of the light irradiation device and the optical reading device and accommodates the microchannel sheet conveyed by the conveyance device. apparatus. A plurality of laminated flexible sheets and a plurality of microchannels formed inside the laminate of the flexible sheets are used in the analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A microphone flow path sheet,
A microchannel sheet in which the microchannels are arranged in a grid pattern along a transport direction of the analyzer of the transport device and a direction orthogonal thereto. A plurality of laminated flexible sheets and a plurality of microchannels formed inside the laminate of the flexible sheets are used in the analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A microphone flow path sheet,
A microchannel sheet in which the microchannels are arranged in a staggered pattern.   The microchannel sheet according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a groove or a slit is formed between the adjacent microchannels.   The microchannel sheet according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a plurality of positioning holes formed in the laminate of the flexible sheets and arranged in a transport direction of the transport device of the analyzer. The plurality of microchannel sheets according to any one of claims 6 to 9 are connected in a transport direction of the analyzer by the transport device, and according to any one of claims 1 to 5. In strips used in analyzers,
A belt-like body accommodated in the supply tray in a state in which the belt-like body is folded between the micro-channel sheets and folded in a twisted manner.

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