TW202204869A - Light guide module and biological detection equipment using the light guide module - Google Patents

Abstract

A light guide module and a biological detection equipment using the light guide module are provided. The biological detection equipment includes a main body and a detection device. The detection device includes a detection engine and a light guide module. The detection engine includes an exciting light source configured to provide exciting light to the light guide module. The light guide module includes a lower light guide portion, an upper light guide portion and an electric heating sheet. The lower light guide portion includes plural lower light guide channels passing through the lower light guide portion. The upper light guide portion is disposed on the lower light guide portion. The upper light guide portion includes plural upper light guide channels passing through the upper light guide portion and aligned with the lower light guide channels to form plural main light guide channels. The electric heating sheet is disposed between the upper light guide portion and the lower light guide portion. The electric heating sheet has at least one gap. The gap is aligned with the main light guide channels to allow the main light guide channels to pass through the gap.

Description

Light guide module and biological detection equipment using the light guide module

The present invention relates to a light guide module and a biological detection device using the light guide module. In particular, it relates to a light guide module with a temperature control function and a biological detection device using the light guide module.

Fluorescence imaging techniques are often used to detect components in biological samples, such as human or animal blood, urine, or saliva samples, in order to characterize such samples in certain aspects (eg, diseases). Fluorescence imaging techniques often fail to produce valid detection results due to the low availability of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In order to increase the available amount of DNA, a DNA fragment amplification reaction (hereinafter referred to as DNA amplification reaction) is usually performed first, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or isothermal amplification. to increase the available amount of DNA, and then excite the sample with laser light, so that the components in the sample can be analyzed by fluorescent reaction.

One aspect of the present invention provides a light guide module and a biological detection device using the light guide module. The biological detection equipment can be used to perform biological detection methods, such as the polymerase chain reaction/isothermal nucleic acid amplification reaction described above, to detect and analyze samples.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the aforementioned light guide module includes a lower light guide portion, an upper light guide portion, and an electric heating sheet. The lower light guide portion includes a plurality of lower light guide channels, wherein the lower light guide channels pass through the lower light guide portion. The upper light-guiding part is arranged on the lower light-guiding part, wherein the upper light-guiding part includes a plurality of upper light-guiding channels, the upper light-guiding channel penetrates the upper light-guiding part, and is aligned with the lower light-guiding channel to form a plurality of leading light-guiding channels light channel. The electric heating sheet is arranged between the upper light guide part and the lower light guide part, wherein the electric heating sheet has at least one gap, and the gap is aligned with the main light channel, so that the main light channel passes through the gap of the electric heating plate.

In some embodiments, the lower light guide portion and the upper light guide portion are glass, and the lower light guide channel and the upper light guide channel are light guide structures engraved inside the glass.

In some embodiments, the lower light guide portion includes a plurality of first light guide columns, and the first light guide columns are disposed in the plurality of first through holes of the lower light guide portion to form a lower light guide channel. The upper light guide portion includes a plurality of second light guide columns, and the second light guide columns are arranged in the plurality of second through holes of the upper light guide portion to form an upper light guide channel.

In some embodiments, the upper light guide portion and the lower light guide portion are aluminum alloys.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the aforementioned biological detection apparatus includes a body and a detection device. The body has an accommodating space for accommodating the carrying tray. The detection device is arranged in the accommodating space. The detection device includes a light guide module and a detection source. The light guide module is used for receiving the excitation light and projecting the excitation light to at least one target container in the experimental container. The light guide module includes a lower light guide part, an upper light guide part and an electric heating sheet. The lower light guide portion includes a plurality of lower light guide channels, wherein the lower light guide channels pass through the lower light guide portion. The upper light-guiding part is arranged on the lower light-guiding part, wherein the upper light-guiding part includes a plurality of upper light-guiding channels, the upper light-guiding channel penetrates the upper light-guiding part, and is aligned with the lower light-guiding channel to form a plurality of leading light-guiding channels Optical channel to conduct excitation light to the target container. The electric heating sheet is arranged between the upper light guide part and the lower light guiding part to heat the target container, wherein the electric heating sheet has at least one gap, and the gap is aligned with the main light channel, so that the main light channel passes through the gap of the electric heating plate. The detection source includes an excitation light source, wherein the excitation light source is used to provide the aforementioned excitation light to the light guide module.

In some embodiments, the lower light guide portion and the upper light guide portion are glass, and the lower light guide channel and the upper light guide channel are light guide structures engraved inside the glass.

In some embodiments, the lower light guide portion includes a plurality of first light guide columns, and the first light guide columns are disposed in the plurality of first through holes of the lower light guide portion to form a lower light guide channel. The upper light guide portion includes a plurality of second light guide columns, and the second light guide columns are arranged in the plurality of second through holes of the upper light guide portion to form an upper light guide channel.

In some embodiments, the upper light guide portion and the lower light guide portion are aluminum alloys.

In some embodiments, the detection source further includes an image capture device, which is used to capture the image of the target container through the light guide module.

In some embodiments, the detection source further includes an optical detection device, which is used for capturing the fluorescent signal excited by the target container through the light guide module.

In order to make the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the following embodiments are given and described in detail with the accompanying drawings as follows.

The terms "first", "second", .

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a biological detection apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The biological detection device 100 includes a main body 110 , a track device 120 , a detection device 130 and a sliding cover 140 . The body 110 has a side wall 112 which defines an accommodating space CA for accommodating the carrier disk SP. The carrier plate SP is used for carrying the experimental container TU, such as a test tube containing DNA samples. After the carrier plate SP is placed in the accommodating space CA, the sliding cover 140 can seal the accommodating space CA, so as to perform DNA amplification reaction and DNA detection. In this embodiment, the carrying tray SP has 6×8 through holes to carry 48 experimental containers TU, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. In other embodiments of the present invention, the carrier tray SP may have 4 or a multiple of 4 through-holes to carry 4 or a multiple of 4 experimental containers. For example, the carrier tray SP may have 12×8 through holes to carry 96 experimental containers TU.

In this embodiment, the detection device 130 is a movable detection device, which can detect 1×8 experimental containers TU. For example, the track device 120 is arranged on the side wall 112, and the detection device 130 is arranged on the track device 120, so that the detection device 130 can move along the direction of the plane of the carrier disk SP through the track device 120, and each detection can detect 1X8 experimental container TU for detection. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. In other embodiments of the present invention, the detection device 130 can detect 3×8 experimental containers TU. Alternatively, the track device 120 can be omitted, so the detection device 130 is designed to have a larger size to cover all the experimental containers TU for detection.

Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3 . FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the detection of the experimental container TU by the detection device 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the detection source 150 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The detection device 130 includes a detection source 150 and a light guide module 160 . The detection source 150 is used to detect the experimental container TU through the light guide module 160 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the detection source 150 can be, for example, the device disclosed in ROC Patent No. I577484. Specifically, the detection source 150 includes an excitation light source 151 , a spectroscopic unit 152 , a zoom lens group 153 , a vision module unit 154 and a control unit 155 . The vision module unit 154 includes an imaging lens group 154a and an image capturing device 154b. The imaging lens group 154a is disposed between the light splitting unit 152 and the image capturing device 154b to facilitate light imaging, and the image capturing device 154b is used for capturing the image.

The excitation light source 151 is used to provide the excitation light LA, and the beam splitting unit 152 is disposed on the conduction path of the excitation light LA, so that the excitation light LA can be transmitted to the variable zoom lens group 153 through the beam splitting unit 152 . In this embodiment, the excitation light source 151 may be, for example, a laser light source, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. The control unit 155 is electrically connected to the zoom lens group 153 to adjust the focal length of the zoom lens group 153 and project the excitation light LA to the light guide module 160 . Then, the light guide module 160 projects the excitation light LA to the experimental container TU to excite the sample therein.

Specifically, when the detection device 130 detects the experimental container TU, the detection device 130 will move to the top of the experimental container TU to be detected (hereinafter referred to as the target container) according to the setting of the user, and then the detection source 150 will emit excitation The light LA is sent to the light guide module 160, and the excitation light LA is projected to the target container through the light guide module 160 to excite the sample therein. Then, the fluorescent reaction of the target container can be transmitted back to the image capturing device 154b of the detection source 150 through the light guide module 160 . In this way, the user can know the fluorescent reaction state of the target container. In one embodiment, the image capturing device 154b can be replaced by an optical sensing element, such as a photodiode (Photodiode) or a photomultiplier (Photomultiplier; PMT), to read the fluorescent signal.

In addition, the detection source 150 of this embodiment includes a filter 156, which is disposed between the imaging lens group 154a and the image capturing device 154b. Since the light entering the imaging lens group 154a includes the excitation light LA and the fluorescent signal excited by the experimental container TU, the filter 156 is used in this embodiment to exclude the light other than the fluorescent signal, so that the image capture device 154b can capture the light. Take the fluorescent signal. In this embodiment, the filter 156 is an optical device that allows light of a specific wavelength (eg, fluorescent light) to pass through, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

Returning to FIG. 2 , the biological detection device 100 of this embodiment includes a heating module 170 , which can be combined with the light guide module 160 to realize a temperature control function. The heating module 170 is disposed below the carrier plate SP to heat and control the temperature of the bottom of the experimental container TU, so as to facilitate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or isothermal amplification reaction (isothermal amplification reaction) ). In this embodiment, the heating module 170 has a plurality of heating holes 170H whose shapes match the bottom of the experimental container TU, so that the heating holes 170H can directly contact the bottom of the experimental container TU for heating. Similarly, the light guide module 160 also has a heating hole 160H, the shape of which matches the upper cover CAP of the experimental container TU, so that the light guide module 160 can contact the upper cover CAP of the experimental container TU through the heating hole 160H to provide heat preservation Function. It is worth mentioning that, similar to the detection device 130, the heating module 170 can also be designed to be movable to heat the target container.

Please refer to FIG. 4 , which is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of the light guide module 160 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The light guide module 160 includes an upper light guide portion 162 , a lower light guide portion 164 and an electric heating sheet 166 . The upper light guide portion 162 is disposed on the lower light guide portion 164 and includes a plurality of upper light guide channels 162a. The upper light guide channel 162 a penetrates the upper light guide portion 162 . The lower light guide portion 164 has a plurality of lower light guide channels 164 a and penetrates through the lower light guide portion 164 . Wherein, the upper light guiding channel 162a is aligned with the lower light guiding channel 164a to form the main light guiding channel 168 . In this way, the excitation light LA can be conducted to the experimental container TU below the light guide module 160 through the main light channel 168 .

In this embodiment, the upper light guide channels 162a of the upper light guide portion 162 have a smaller distance D1 when they are close to the upper surface, and have a larger distance D2 when they are close to the lower surface. In this way, the upper light guide channels 162 a are densely arranged on the upper surface of the upper light guide portion 162 , so that the upper light guide portion 162 can efficiently receive the excitation light LA and conduct it to the lower light guide portion 164 .

The heating sheet 166 is disposed between the upper light guide portion 162 and the lower light guide portion 164 to provide a heating function to heat the light guide module 160 . For example, when the experimental container TU under the light guide module 160 needs to be kept warm, the electric heating sheet 166 will heat the upper light guide part 162 and the lower light guide part 164, so that the temperature of the light guide module 160 can be increased, and the experiment The container TU produces the effect of heat preservation. As shown in FIG. 5 , the heating plate 166 has at least one gap 166H, and the gap 166H is aligned with the main light channel 168 , so that the main light channel 168 can use the gap 166H to pass through the heating plate 166 without being disturbed by the heating plate 166 .

In an embodiment of the present invention, the upper light guide channel 162a and the lower light guide channel 164a are light guide structures formed by engraving the upper light guide portion 162 and the lower light guide portion. For example, the upper light guide portion 162 and the lower light guide portion 164 are made of heat-insulating glass, and the upper light guide channel 162a and the lower light guide portion 164 as shown in FIG. 4 can be formed in the upper light guide portion 162 and the lower light guide portion 164 through laser engraving technology Lower light guide channel 164a.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the upper light guide channel 162a and the lower light guide channel 164a are made of metal. Through holes are formed in the upper light guide channel 162a and the lower light guide channel 164a, and light guide rods are inserted into the through holes, the upper light guide channel 162a and the lower light guide channel 164a as shown in FIG. 4 can also be formed. The metal material can be, for example, an aluminum alloy, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above with examples, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the appended patent application.

100: Testing equipment 110: Ontology 112: Sidewall 120: Track Device 130: Detection device 140: Slider 150: Detection source 151: Excitation light source 152: Spectroscopic unit 153: Zoom lens group 154: Vision Module Unit 154a: Imaging mirror group 154b: Optical detection device 155: Control unit 156: Filter 160: Light guide module 160H: Heating hole 162: Upper light guide 162a: Upper light guide channel 164: Lower light guide 164a: Lower light guide channel 166: Heater 166H: Clearance 168: Dominant light channel 170: Temperature control module 170H: Heating hole CA: Accommodating space CAP: top cover D1: Spacing D2: Spacing LA: excitation light MD: Mobile detection device SP: carrier plate TU: Experimental Container

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a biological detection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the detection of the experimental container by the detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection source according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a light guide module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of an electric heating sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

without

160: Light guide module

160H: Heating hole

162: Upper light guide

162a: Upper light guide channel

164: Lower light guide

164a: Lower light guide channel

166: Heater

168: Dominant light channel

D1: Spacing

D2: Spacing

LA: excitation light

Claims (10)

A light guide module, suitable for a biological detection device, wherein the light guide module comprises: a lower light guide part, comprising a plurality of lower light guide channels, wherein the lower light guide channels run through the lower light guide part; an upper light guide part disposed on the lower light guide part, wherein the upper light guide part includes a plurality of upper light guide channels, the upper light guide channels penetrate the upper light guide part, and are connected with the lower light guide channels aligned to form a plurality of dominant light channels; and An electric heating sheet is disposed between the upper light guide portion and the lower light guide portion, wherein the electric heating sheet has at least one gap, and the at least one gap is aligned with the main light channels, so that the main light channels pass through passing through the at least one gap of the heater. The light guide module according to claim 1, wherein the lower light guide portion and the upper light guide portion are glass, and the lower light guide channels and the upper light guide channels are light guide structures carved inside the glass . The light guide module according to claim 1, wherein: The lower light guide portion includes a plurality of first light guide columns, and the first light guide columns are disposed in a plurality of first through holes of the lower light guide portion to form the lower light guide channels; The upper light guide portion includes a plurality of second light guide columns, and the second light guide columns are disposed in a plurality of second through holes of the upper light guide portion to form the upper light guide channels. The light guide module according to claim 1, wherein the upper light guide portion and the lower light guide portion are aluminum alloys. A biological detection device for detecting a plurality of experimental containers on a carrier plate, wherein the biological detection device comprises: a body with an accommodating space for accommodating the carrying tray; A detection device, disposed in the accommodating space, wherein the detection device includes: A light guide module for receiving an excitation light and projecting the excitation light to at least one target container among the experimental containers, wherein the light guide module includes: a lower light guide part, comprising a plurality of lower light guide channels, wherein the lower light guide channels run through the lower light guide part; an upper light guide part disposed on the lower light guide part, wherein the upper light guide part includes a plurality of upper light guide channels, the upper light guide channels penetrate the upper light guide part, and are connected with the lower light guide channels aligning to form a plurality of primary light channels to conduct the excitation light to the at least one target container; and An electric heating sheet is disposed between the upper light guide portion and the lower light guide portion to heat the at least one target container, wherein the electric heating sheet has at least one gap, and the at least one gap is aligned with the main light channels , so that the main light channels pass through the at least one gap of the heater; A detection source includes an excitation light source, wherein the excitation light source is used to provide the excitation light to the light guide module. The biological detection device according to claim 5, wherein the lower light guide part and the upper light guide part are glass, and the lower light guide channels and the upper light guide channels are light guide structures carved inside the glass. The biological detection device of claim 5, wherein: The lower light guide portion includes a plurality of first light guide columns, and the first light guide columns are disposed in a plurality of first through holes of the lower light guide portion to form the lower light guide channels; The upper light guide portion includes a plurality of second light guide columns, and the second light guide columns are disposed in a plurality of second through holes of the upper light guide portion to form the upper light guide channels. The biological detection device according to claim 5, wherein the upper light guide portion and the lower light guide portion are aluminum alloys. The biological detection device of claim 5, wherein the detection source further comprises an image capturing device for capturing the image of the at least one target container through the light guide module. The biological detection device according to claim 5, wherein the detection source further comprises an optical detection device for capturing the fluorescent signal excited by the at least one target container through the light guide module.

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