WO2017056592A1 - Fluorescence detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention easily detects allergen-containing substances having different sizes. A fluorescence detector (1) is provided with a branching unit (4) that causes allergen-containing substances that have been suctioned to be branched into different branch paths (5) which conform to the sizes of the allergen-containing substances. At least two of the branch paths (5) are provided with a detector (6) that radiates excitation light into the branch paths (5) and thereby detects fluorescent light emitted by the allergen-containing substances in the branch paths (5).

Description

Fluorescence detection device

The present invention relates to a fluorescence detection apparatus for detecting fluorescence emitted from an allergen-containing substance.

In recent years, allergies caused by pollen and ticks have become a problem. For example, hay fever, which is one of allergies, is caused by an allergen, a protein contained in pollen particles. Since there are many patients who develop hay fever in Japan, the amount of pollen scattered every day is measured and published especially at the time when pollen is scattered.

As a conventional method for measuring the amount of pollen scattered, there is a method using a Durham type pollen collector. However, in the method using the Durham type pollen collector, the measurement takes time, and the error increases because it is performed visually. As a method for shortening the measurement time, there is a method in which the pollen taken in by sucking air is irradiated with excitation light, and the amount of pollen is calculated based on the detected fluorescence. In addition to the amount of pollen scattered, there is also a method for specifying the type of pollen that is scattered based on the detected fluorescence, as in Patent Document 1 below. In addition, air is sucked, and whether or not the substance is pollen is calculated based on the particle size, shape, polarization degree, etc. of the substance contained in the sucked air, and the amount of pollen in the air is calculated. There is a way. In the following Patent Document 2, a laser beam is irradiated on the sucked substance, and whether or not the substance is pollen is identified based on the particle size and the degree of polarization of the substance. These methods are used as means for specifying information (amount, type, etc.) regarding pollen particles (that is, pollen itself).

On the other hand, since the allergen contained in the pollen particles has a smaller particle size in the air, the onset of pollen asthma caused by the allergen having a small particle size has recently been reported. For example, in the case of cedar pollen, allergens having a particle size range of several μm or 1.1 μm or less (hereinafter referred to as microallergens) are present in a high proportion in the air, and there are more microallergens in urban areas than in mountainous areas. It has been reported.

As an example of allergies other than hay fever, mite allergy can be mentioned. Allergens that cause tick allergies (mite allergens) include mites themselves and mite feces. The mites have a size of about 100 μm to 200 μm, the mite feces have a size of about 40 μm to 100 μm, and the particle size is larger than the allergen contained in the above-mentioned pollen particles. However, it is known that mite carcasses and mite feces are finely decomposed into powder by drying, and the particle size is reduced to several μm or less (that is, it becomes a microallergen).

As a method for specifying an index value (concentration, etc.) indicating the amount of allergen and microallergen, those using an ELISA method and those using a surface plasmon resonance (hereinafter, SPR) method are used. However, these methods have a problem that measurement takes time and cost.

Japanese Patent Publication “Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-242065 (published on September 7, 2001)” Japanese Patent Publication “Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-216133 (published on September 18, 2008)”

From the above, in recent years, it is required to easily specify not only pollen particles but also information on allergens and microallergens contained in pollen. However, the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not detect allergens or microallergens.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a fluorescence detection apparatus that can easily detect each of allergen-containing substances having different sizes.

In order to solve the above problems, a fluorescence detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a fluorescence detection device that detects fluorescence emitted from an allergen-containing substance in aspirated air that includes an allergen that is a causative agent of allergy. A branching part for branching the allergen-containing substance in the flow path of the sucked air into different branching path parts corresponding to the size of the allergen-containing substance, and irradiating the branching path part with excitation light And the detection part which detects the fluorescence which the said allergen containing substance in this branch path part emits is provided in at least two of the said branch path parts.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that each of allergen-containing substances having different sizes can be easily detected.

It is a figure which shows an example of a principal part structure of the fluorescence detector which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the cedar pollen which kept spherical shape. It is a figure which shows the ruptured cedar pollen. It is a figure which shows the fluorescence characteristic of a cedar pollen when irradiated with the excitation light of a wavelength of 360 nm. It is a figure which shows the detail of the detection part shown in FIG. It is the schematic of the reflection type | mold fluorescence measuring apparatus used for the measurement of the fluorescence intensity of pollen. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the number of cedar pollen and fluorescence intensity. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the density | concentration of the protein containing the allergen derived from a cedar pollen, and fluorescence intensity. It is a figure which shows an example of a principal part structure of the fluorescence detector which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the fluorescence characteristic of the protein containing the allergen derived from a Obata taxa pollen when irradiated with the excitation light of a wavelength of 440 nm. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the density | concentration of the protein containing the allergen derived from Oobakusa pollen, and fluorescence intensity. It is a figure which shows an example of a principal part structure of the fluorescence detector which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the fluorescence characteristic of the protein containing the allergen derived from a house dust mite when irradiated with the excitation light of a wavelength of 360 nm. It is a figure which shows the fluorescence characteristic of the protein containing the allergen derived from a cedar pollen, and the protein containing the allergen derived from cypress pollen, (a) is a figure which shows the fluorescence characteristic when irradiated with the excitation light of 360 nm, (b ) Is a diagram showing fluorescence characteristics when irradiated with excitation light of 440 nm. It is a figure which shows an example of a principal part structure of the fluorescence detector which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a principal part structure of the fluorescence detector which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the density | concentration of the protein containing the allergen derived from a cedar pollen before a heating, and a fluorescence intensity. It is a figure which shows an example of a principal part structure of the fluorescence detector which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the detail of the detection part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the light transmission characteristic of the filter provided in the light-receiving part of the fluorescence detector shown in FIG.

Embodiment 1
One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Fluorescence detector 1)
First, the configuration of the main part of the fluorescence detector 1 (fluorescence detection device) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the fluorescence detector 1.

The fluorescence detector 1 is a device that detects fluorescence emitted from a substance containing an allergen causing substance (allergen) (hereinafter, allergen-containing substance). Specifically, the fluorescence detector 1 according to the present embodiment includes pollen that contains spherical pollen (that is, an allergen-containing substance, hereinafter simply referred to as “pollen”) and allergen contained in the air. A plurality of types of proteins (ie, allergen-containing substances, hereinafter, allergen-containing proteins) are aspirated. Since the pollen and the allergen-containing protein emit fluorescence of a predetermined wavelength when irradiated with excitation light, the fluorescence detector 1 detects the fluorescence, thereby indicating an index value indicating the amount of pollen, and the pollen-derived allergen-containing protein. An index value indicating the quantity is specified. In the present embodiment, cedar pollen is described as an example, but the pollen that is the detection target of the fluorescence detector 1 is not limited to cedar pollen, and the allergen-containing protein is also limited to the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen. Not. Moreover, allergen-causing substances are not limited to pollen and pollen-derived allergen-containing proteins. For example, it may be a protein containing mites and mite allergens. In the present embodiment, the number of pollen is specified as an index value indicating the amount of pollen, and the concentration of the allergen-containing protein in a predetermined solution is specified as the index value indicating the amount of allergen-containing protein. Is not limited to this example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fluorescence detector 1 includes a suction unit 2, a path unit 3, branching units 4a and 4b, branch path units 5a, 5b and 5c, detection units 6a and 6b, a calculation unit 7 (first identification Part) and a storage unit 8. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between the branch portions 4a and 4b, the branch path portions 5a, 5b and 5c, and the detection portions 6a and 6b, “branch portion 4”, “branch path portion 5”, and “detection portion”, respectively. 6 (detection unit) ".

Here, with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, pollen and pollen-derived allergen-containing protein will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing cedar pollen maintaining a spherical shape. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the ruptured cedar pollen.

Pollen such as cedar pollen is spherical immediately after being released from the plant as shown in FIG. However, it is known that pollen ruptures as shown in FIG. 3 when wet by rain or when it comes into contact with environmental substances such as PM2.5 and yellow sand. In addition, the pollen shown in FIG. 3 is immersed in sodium bicarbonate water and ruptured. When pollen ruptures in this way, allergen-containing proteins that are present inside the pollen are released. Since this allergen-containing protein is pulverized in the air and has a smaller particle diameter, causing pollen asthma and the like, it is necessary to detect not only the pollen in the air but also the amount of the allergen-containing protein.

(Suction unit 2 and path unit 3)
The suction unit 2 sucks a plurality of substances contained in the air into the fluorescence detector 1 by sucking the air around the fluorescence detector 1. The configuration of the suction unit 2 is not particularly limited as long as suction can be performed at a predetermined suction speed or air can be sucked by a predetermined suction amount. The path unit 3 is a path through which a plurality of substances sucked by the suction unit 2 pass, and is, for example, a pipe. Further, the path unit 3 branches into a plurality of branch path units 5.

(Branch part 4)
The branch part 4 branches a plurality of substances in the air flow path sucked by the suction part 2 into different branch path parts 5 according to the size of the substance. A specific example of the branching unit 4 is a virtual impactor. A virtual impactor is based on the principle that when a substance accelerates or decelerates in a gas flow, or changes direction, the substance deviates from the gas streamline due to the inertia of the substance. Depending on the route. Note that the branching section 4 is not limited to a virtual impactor as long as a plurality of substances can be branched into different branch path sections 5 according to the size of the substances.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fluorescence detector 1 includes two branch portions 4 (a branch portion 4a and a branch portion 4b). The branch part 4a sends a substance having a particle size of about allergen-containing protein (for example, less than 10 μm) to the branch path part 5a. Moreover, the branch part 4b sends a substance having a particle size of about pollen (for example, less than 30 μm) to the branch path part 5b, and sends a substance having a particle size larger than the pollen (for example, 30 μm or more) to the branch path part 5c. The particle size in parentheses is an example, and is not limited to the above example.

(Branch path part 5)
The branch path unit 5 is a path branched from the path unit 3. The fluorescence detector 1 is provided with three branch path parts 5 (branch path parts 5a, 5b, 5c), and a substance having a particle size of about allergen-containing protein passes through the branch path part 5a. In addition, a substance having a particle size of about pollen passes through the branch path portion 5b. In addition, a substance having a particle size larger than pollen passes through the branch path portion 5c. In addition, the detection part 6 is not provided in the branch path | route part 5c. That is, the substance having a particle size larger than the pollen is discharged from the fluorescence detector 1 via the branch path portion 5c on the assumption that the allergen-containing substance is not included. On the other hand, the detection part 6a and the detection part 6b are provided in the branch path part 5a and the branch path part 5b, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the branch path unit 5 is configured to discharge the finally passed substance to the outside, but is not limited to this structure, and collects the substance inside the fluorescence detector 1. It may be a configuration. Moreover, the structure which provides a filter in the suction part 2 instead of providing the branch path | route part 5c, and adsorb | sucks the substance with a particle size larger than pollen to the said filter may be sufficient.

(Detector 6)
The detection unit 6 irradiates the passing substance with excitation light, and detects fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing substance. Information based on the detected fluorescence (specifically, fluorescence intensity for each wavelength, hereinafter simply referred to as “fluorescence intensity”) and identification information for identifying the detection unit 6a and the detection unit 6b are output to the calculation unit 7. To do. Among the substances that pass through the branch path part 5, the allergen-containing substance emits fluorescence of a predetermined wavelength when irradiated with excitation light, and therefore, an inorganic substance that does not emit fluorescence such as sand dust that passes through the branch path part 5 is distinguished from the allergen-containing substance. be able to. The fluorescence detector 1 includes two detection units 6 (detection unit 6a and detection unit 6b). The detection unit 6a is provided in the branch path unit 5a and includes an irradiation unit 61a, a light receiving unit 62a, and a control unit 63a. Moreover, the detection part 6b is provided in the branch path | route part 5b, and includes the irradiation part 61b, the light-receiving part 62b, and the control part 63b. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the irradiation units 61a and 61b, the light receiving units 62a and 62b, and the control units 63a and 63b, they are referred to as “irradiation unit 61”, “light receiving unit 62”, and “control unit 63”, respectively. To do.

The irradiation unit 61 is a light source that irradiates a substance passing through the branch path unit 5 with excitation light. Note that it is preferable to use an LED (light emitting diode) as the irradiation unit 61. A laser may be used as the irradiation unit 61. However, when a laser is used, there are problems such as an increase in the size of the device and an increase in the manufacturing cost of the device. The light receiving unit 62 is a light receiving element that receives fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing material among the materials that pass through the branch path unit 5. In addition, when using LED as the irradiation part 61, since LED has low output intensity compared with a laser, it is preferable to use the highly sensitive light-receiving part 62. FIG. However, since the influence of noise increases as sensitivity increases, the detection unit 6 including the light receiving unit 62 is preferably configured to block light from the outside in order to prevent noise due to ambient light. Further, by linking the irradiating unit 61 and the light receiving unit 62, the fluorescence intensity of the fluorescence received by the light receiving unit 62 when the irradiating unit 61 radiates the excitation light and the irradiation unit 61 does not irradiate the excitation light. There is also a method of reducing noise by performing calculation using the fluorescence intensity of the fluorescence received by the light receiving unit 62 (for example, taking the difference between the two fluorescence intensities). The control unit 63 controls driving of the irradiation unit 61 and the light receiving unit 62. Specifically, when the substance passes through the branch path unit 5 (for example, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the suction unit 2 started suction), the control unit 63 drives the irradiation unit 61 to generate excitation light. Is emitted and the light receiving unit 62 is driven to receive the fluorescence.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing fluorescence characteristics of cedar pollen when irradiated with excitation light having a wavelength of 360 nm, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing details of the detection unit 6a shown in FIG. In addition, the horizontal axis of the graph shown in FIG. 4 shows the wavelength (wavelength) of fluorescence, and the vertical axis | shaft shows the intensity | strength (Intensity) of fluorescence. Further, the vertical axis and the horizontal axis in FIGS. 10 and 13 described later are the same as those in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, cedar pollen emits fluorescence having a peak wavelength of 460 nm when irradiated with light of 360 nm (ultraviolet light). For this reason, the irradiation part 61 is comprised so that 360-nm light may be irradiated, and the light-receiving part 62 is comprised so that 460-nm light may be received. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the irradiating unit 61a selectively transmits light having a wavelength of 400 nm or less (blocks light having a wavelength longer than 400 nm), and a short pass filter 65a (first light blocking member). It has. The light receiving unit 62a includes a band pass filter 66a (second light shielding member) that selectively transmits light having a wavelength of 450 nm to 500 nm (shields light other than this wavelength band). The short-pass filter 65a can suppress the amount of fluorescence generated from substances (for example, other organic substances) other than the pollen and protein to be detected. In addition, since the bandpass filter 66a can prevent excitation light from entering the light receiving unit 62 and causing noise, the amount of cedar pollen and the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen can be detected more accurately. it can. In addition, although the structure of the detection part 6a is shown in FIG. 5, it is the same structure also about the detection part 6b.

In addition, although the control part 63 is provided for every detection part 6 in FIG. 1, the structure which controls the irradiation part 61 and the light-receiving part 62 which are contained in the some detection part 6 by one control part 63 may be sufficient. The detection unit 6 may further include an amplification unit that amplifies the fluorescence intensity of the fluorescence received by the light receiving unit.

(Calculation unit 7)
The calculation unit 7 specifies an index value indicating the amount of allergen-containing substance (specifically, allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen) passing through the branch path unit 5a based on the fluorescence intensity acquired from the detection unit 6a. Moreover, the calculating part 7 specifies the index value which shows the quantity of the allergen containing substance (specifically cedar pollen) which passes the branch path | route part 5b based on the fluorescence intensity acquired from the detection part 6b. As described above, since the detection units 6a and 6b output the detection values together with the respective identification information to the calculation unit 7, the calculation unit 7 determines whether the detection unit 6a or the detection unit 6b is based on the identification information. Specify whether the fluorescence intensity has been acquired. Next, the calculation unit 7 specifies the maximum value from the fluorescence intensity acquired by the detection unit 6 during a predetermined period (a period during which a predetermined amount of air passes through the branch path unit 5). Then, a calibration curve corresponding to the detection unit 6 that has output the fluorescence intensity is read from a calibration curve database 81 (hereinafter referred to as a calibration curve DB 81) stored in the storage unit 8, and the calibration curve and the specified maximum value are read out. The index value is specified. Note that it is not essential to use the maximum value of the fluorescence intensity, and an average value, a mode value, an integrated value within a predetermined time, or the like may be used.

More specifically, when the calculation unit 7 specifies that the detection unit 6 that outputs the fluorescence intensity is the detection unit 6a, the calculation unit 7 specifies the index value of the allergen-containing protein derived from the cedar pollen from the calibration curve DB 81. Read the calibration curve. On the other hand, if the detection unit 6b is identified, a calibration curve for identifying the index value of cedar pollen is read from the calibration curve DB 81. That is, the calculation unit 7 specifies whether the allergen-containing substance is cedar pollen or an allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen, depending on whether the fluorescence intensity is acquired from the detection unit 6a or the detection unit 6b. . In other words, the calculation unit 7 specifies an index value indicating the amount of the allergen-containing substance by a method according to the branch path unit 5.

Further, the calculation unit 7 may output the specified index value to an output unit (not shown). The configuration of the output unit is not particularly limited as long as it can output the index value. For example, it may be a display unit such as a liquid crystal display, an audio output unit such as a speaker, or a print output such as a printer. These output units may be included in the fluorescence detector 1 or may be included in another device that can communicate with the fluorescence detector 1. If another device is provided, the index value may be transmitted to the device and output. The calculation unit 7 stores the specified index value in the storage unit 8 in association with information indicating whether it is cedar pollen or a cedar pollen-derived allergen-containing protein and information indicating the specified date and time. Also good. The user may be configured to output the stored index value from the output unit using an operation unit (not shown).

The calculation unit 7 may be provided in the fluorescence detector 1 as shown in FIG. 1 or may be provided in a device outside the fluorescence detector 1. In the latter case, the fluorescence detector 1 may be provided with a communication unit (not shown), and the fluorescence intensity is transmitted to an external device (index value calculation device) via the communication unit to calculate the index value. Good. Further, the user may input the fluorescence intensity detected by the fluorescence detector 1 to the index value calculation device via a recording medium or manually.

(Storage unit 8)
The storage unit 8 stores various data handled by the fluorescence detector 1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the calibration curve DB 81 described above is stored. The calibration curve DB 81 is data indicating the calibration curve (correlation between the fluorescence intensity and the index value) of each target allergen-containing substance whose index value is specified by the fluorescence detector 1, for example, by substituting the fluorescence intensity. This is a database including mathematical formulas for which index values are calculated. The calibration curve DB 81 of this embodiment includes a calibration curve of cedar pollen and a calibration curve of allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen. The storage unit 8 may be provided in the fluorescence detector 1 as shown in FIG. 1 or may be provided outside the fluorescence detector 1. In the latter case, the fluorescence detector 1 may be provided with a communication unit (not shown), and necessary data may be acquired from the external storage unit 8 via the communication unit. Further, for example, a database such as a calibration curve DB 81 may be stored in a device such as a server on the cloud, and data necessary for calculating the index value may be acquired from the device. When the calculation unit 7 and the storage unit 8 are provided outside the fluorescence detector 1, the device including the calculation unit 7 and the device including the storage unit 8 may be the same device or different devices. There may be.

(Example of creating a calibration curve)
Here, an example of preparing a calibration curve of cedar pollen and a calibration curve of an allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a reflection type fluorescence measuring apparatus 20 used for measuring the fluorescence intensity of pollen, FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of cedar pollen and the fluorescence intensity, and FIG. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the density | concentration of allergen containing protein derived from pollen, and fluorescence intensity. Note that the calibration curve creation method described here is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this method.

First, an example of creating a calibration curve for cedar pollen will be described. In order to measure the fluorescence intensity of cedar pollen, a reflection type fluorescence measuring apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 6 was used. The reflection type fluorescence measuring apparatus 20 includes an excitation light source 21 that emits excitation light and a light receiving unit 22 that receives fluorescence. The reflection type fluorescence measuring apparatus 20 optimizes the angle of the excitation light source 21, the angle of the light receiving unit 22, the height of the excitation light source 21, and the height of the light receiving unit 22 so that the fluorescence intensity of the object is maximized. Yes. As the excitation light source 21, an LED that emits excitation light of 365 nm is used. In addition, an ultraviolet transmission filter having a half-value width of 30 nm centered on 365 nm is provided on the front surface of the excitation light source. Thereby, the light of 400 nm or more emitted from the LED is cut so that extra light other than the light necessary for the cedar pollen to emit fluorescence does not enter the light receiving unit 22.

Further, a sample of the object (hereinafter referred to as cedar pollen) A shown in FIG. 6 was prepared as follows. First, weigh 1 mg of cedar pollen, add ultrapure water to prevent pollen rupture, and step by step so that the pollen concentration becomes 2 ng / μL, 20 ng / μL, 60 ng / μL, 100 ng / μL. An ultrapure aqueous solution (hereinafter, solution) was prepared. Next, 10 μL of the adjusted solution was dropped on a slide glass for holding the sample, and the slide glass on which the solution was dropped was allowed to stand and dried in consideration of use in actual air. As a result, four cedar pollen A samples respectively corresponding to the solutions of the above four concentrations were prepared. Thereafter, the fluorescence intensity of each sample was measured using the reflection type fluorescence measuring apparatus 20.

Moreover, the number of pollen was visually measured for each sample using an optical microscope (not shown). As a result, the number of pollen in each sample adjusted to have a pollen concentration of 2 ng / μL, 20 ng / μL, 60 ng / μL, and 100 ng / μL was 12, 41, 109, and 159, respectively.

Based on the above results, a graph of the relationship between the number of cedar pollen and the fluorescence intensity shown in FIG. 7 was prepared. Note that the unit of fluorescence intensity “(au)” in FIG. 7 is an arbitrary unit, and the value detected by the reflection type fluorescence measuring apparatus 20 is used as it is for the value of fluorescence intensity in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, there is a correlation between the number of cedar pollen and the fluorescence intensity, and it can be seen that the amount (number) of cedar pollen corresponding to the fluorescence intensity can be specified by using this calibration curve. The calculation unit 7 specifies the index value (number) of cedar pollen that has passed through the branching path unit 5b from the maximum value of the fluorescence intensity of the specified cedar pollen using the calibration curve (the mathematical formula showing the illustrated graph). .

Subsequently, an example of preparing a calibration curve for an allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen will be described. A sample of the allergen-containing protein for measuring the fluorescence intensity using the reflection type fluorescence measuring device 20 was prepared as follows. First, about 0.04 g of cedar pollen was weighed and 1000 μL of protein extract was added. Thereafter, the protein was stored at 4 ° C., and the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen was extracted over 12 hours. The protein extract is a solution for rupturing cedar pollen to extract protein contained in cedar pollen.

The solution from which the allergen-containing protein was extracted (cedar pollen concentration 40 μg / μL) was diluted with a buffer solution, and solutions with dilution ratios of 1000 times, 2000 times, 3000 times, 5000 times, 6000 times, and 7000 times were prepared. Thereafter, centrifugation was performed at 14000 rpm for 2 minutes. Next, 10 μL of the supernatant of the adjusted solution was dropped on a slide glass for holding the sample, and the slide glass on which the solution was dropped was allowed to stand and dried in consideration of use in actual air. As a result, six samples (allergen-containing protein samples) respectively corresponding to the solutions of the above six concentrations were prepared.

Thereafter, the fluorescence intensity of each sample was measured using the reflection-type fluorescence measuring device 20, and the amount of allergen-containing protein was specified using SPR. In addition, the amount of allergen-containing protein in each sample was divided by the liquid amount (10 μL) of each sample, and the concentration (pg / μL) of allergen-containing protein in each sample was calculated. And based on this result, the graph which shows the relationship between the density | concentration of the allergen containing protein derived from a cedar pollen, and fluorescence intensity shown in FIG. 8 was created. As shown in FIG. 8, there is a correlation between the concentration of the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen and the fluorescence intensity. For this reason, it turns out that the density | concentration of the allergen containing protein derived from a cedar pollen according to fluorescence intensity can be specified by using this calibration curve. The calculation unit 7 uses the calibration curve (the mathematical formula showing the illustrated graph) to determine the allergen-containing cedar pollen that has passed through the branching path unit 5a from the maximum fluorescence intensity of the identified allergen-containing protein derived from the cedar pollen. The protein index value (concentration of allergen-containing protein in the solution) is specified. If the value of the allergen-containing protein concentration is large, it can be considered that the amount of allergen is large. Therefore, the user can estimate the allergen amount by checking the index value of the allergen-containing protein.

As described above, the fluorescence detector 1 sends a substance of the size of the allergen derived from cedar pollen to the branch path part 5a among the plurality of types of sucked substances, and irradiates the excitation light with the detection part 6a. Fluorescence of allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen is received. In addition, the fluorescence detector 1 sends a substance having a size of about a cedar pollen to the branch path part 5b, irradiates excitation light at the detection part 6b, and receives the fluorescence of the cedar pollen. Further, the calculation unit 7 of the fluorescence detector 1 acquires the fluorescence intensity from the detection unit 6, and from the calibration curve DB 81 of the storage unit 8 according to which of the detection unit 6a and the detection unit 6b the fluorescence intensity is acquired. Then, the calibration curve of allergen-containing protein or the calibration curve of cedar pollen is read out. Then, the amount of allergen-containing substance (allergen-containing protein or cedar pollen derived from cedar pollen) is specified using the maximum value specified from the fluorescence intensity and the read calibration curve.

From the above, the fluorescence detector 1 can detect not only pollen but also the amount of pollen-derived allergen-containing protein. Moreover, since the fluorescence detector 1 sends the allergen-containing protein and the pollen to different branching path portions 5 and irradiates them with excitation light, each of the pollen and the allergen-containing protein can be accurately detected. Therefore, in a situation where the amount of floating pollen is small but the amount of allergen-containing protein is large, the user can be made aware that the amount of allergen-containing protein is large.

[Embodiment 2]
The following will describe another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the fluorescence detector 1a according to the present embodiment. In addition to cedar pollen, there are multiple types of pollen that cause hay fever, such as cypress pollen, ragweed pollen, and rice pollen, and the pollen scattered varies depending on the season and region. Moreover, the excitation wavelength and fluorescence wavelength of each pollen are different.

Therefore, the fluorescence detector 1a according to this embodiment includes a plurality of detection units 6a (specifically, detection units) having different allergens (specifically, allergen-containing protein types) to be detected in the branch path unit 5a. N parts 6a1 to 6an). Similarly, the branch path unit 5b includes a plurality of detection units 6b (specifically, n detection units 6b1 to 6bn) having different detection target allergens (specifically, types of pollen). Specifically, in each detection unit 6, the irradiation unit 61 (not shown) emits excitation light in a wavelength band that excites the allergen to be detected, and the light receiving unit 62 (not shown) The allergens receive fluorescence in the wavelength band emitted by irradiation with the excitation light. Therefore, at least one of the excitation light wavelength band and the receivable fluorescence wavelength band in each detection unit 6 is the excitation light wavelength band and the light reception in the irradiation unit 61 and the light reception unit 62 included in the other detection units 6. It is different from the possible fluorescence wavelength band. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the detection units 6a1 to 6an and the detection units 6b1 to 6bn, they are described as “detection unit 6”. Further, when it is not necessary to distinguish the detection units 6a1 to 6an, it is described as “detection unit 6a”, and when it is not necessary to distinguish the detection units 6b1 to 6bn, it is described as “detection unit 6b”.

Moreover, the control part 63 (not shown) of each detection part 6 is an irradiation part, when a substance passes the branch path part 5 (for example, when predetermined time passes since the suction part 2 started suction). 61 is driven to emit excitation light, and the light receiving unit 62 is driven to receive fluorescence.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the fluorescence characteristics of the allergen-containing protein derived from the grass pollen when irradiated with excitation light having a wavelength of 440 nm. As shown in FIG. 10, allergen-containing protein derived from the grass plant pollen emits fluorescence having a peak wavelength of 515 nm when irradiated with light of 440 nm. For this reason, the irradiation part 61 in the detection part 6a for detecting the fluorescence of the allergen-containing protein derived from the plant moth pollen is configured to emit light of 440 nm, and the light receiving part 62 receives light of 515 nm. Is configured to do. The same applies to the detection unit 6b for detecting the giant grass pollen.

The calibration curve DB 81 according to this embodiment stores a calibration curve of pollen (a cedar pollen calibration curve and another pollen calibration curve) that is a detection target of each detection unit 6b. In addition, a calibration curve of pollen-derived allergen-containing protein that is a detection target of each detection unit 6a (a calibration curve of allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen and a calibration curve of allergen-containing protein derived from other pollen) is also stored. That is, the calibration curve DB 81 includes calibration curves of a plurality of allergen-containing substances, information for identifying each allergen-containing substance (for example, “cedar pollen”, “allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen”, etc.), and the detection unit 6. It is stored in association with identification information to be identified. FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between fluorescence intensity and allergen-containing protein derived from giant grass pollen, which is an example of such a calibration curve. Oo-Takusa pollen is pollen that is scattered at a different time from cedar pollen and mainly causes autumn hay fever. As shown in FIG. 11, there is a correlation between the concentration of the allergen-containing protein derived from the grasshopper pollen and the fluorescence intensity. For this reason, it can be seen that by using this calibration curve, the concentration of allergen-containing protein derived from the grasshopper pollen corresponding to the fluorescence intensity can be specified.

Note that a calibration curve for allergen-containing protein derived from the grass plant pollen was prepared as follows. First, about 0.01 g of Oobakutakusa pollen was weighed and 2000 μL of protein extract was added. Thereafter, the protein was stored at 4 ° C., and the protein containing the giant grass pollen allergen was extracted over 18 hours.

The solution from which the allergen-containing protein was extracted (Oobakusa pollen concentration 5 μg / μL) was diluted with a buffer solution, and solutions with dilution ratios of 1000 times, 2000 times, 3000 times, 5000 times, 6000 times, and 7000 times were prepared. Thereafter, centrifugation was performed at 14000 rpm for 2 minutes. Next, 10 μL of the supernatant of the adjusted solution was dropped on a slide glass for holding the sample, and the slide glass on which the solution was dropped was allowed to stand and dried in consideration of use in actual air. As a result, six samples (allergen-containing protein samples) respectively corresponding to the solutions of the above six concentrations were prepared.

Thereafter, the fluorescence intensity of each sample was measured using the reflection-type fluorescence measuring device 20, and the amount of allergen-containing protein was specified using SPR. Further, the amount of allergen-containing protein in each sample was divided by the liquid volume (10 μL) of each sample to calculate the concentration (pg / μL) of allergen-containing protein in each sample. Based on this result, FIG. The graph which shows the relationship between the density | concentration of the allergen containing protein derived from the grasshopper pollen and fluorescence intensity shown in FIG.

The calculation unit 7 according to the present embodiment reads a calibration curve from the calibration curve DB 81 according to the identification information acquired from the detection unit 6. As described above, in the calibration curve DB 81, the identification information of the detection unit 6 that detects the allergen-containing substance and the calibration curve are associated with each of the plurality of types of allergen-containing substances. Therefore, it can be said that the calculation unit 7 according to the present embodiment specifies not only the pollen or the allergen-containing protein but also the type of the pollen or the allergen-containing protein based on the identification information.

From the above, the fluorescence detector 1a can identify the index values indicating the amounts of the multiple types of pollen and the allergen-containing protein derived from the multiple types of pollen. For example, the detection unit 6a1 illustrated in FIG. 9 sets the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen as the detection target, and the detection unit 6a2 sets the allergen-containing protein derived from the giant grass pollen as the detection target. Moreover, the detection part 6b1 makes cedar pollen a detection object, and the detection part 6b2 makes a giant obetor pollen a detection object. This eliminates the need to install different fluorescence detectors depending on the season and region. For example, according to the above-described fluorescence detector 1a, the same fluorescence detector 1a is used in spring and autumn, and the pollen itself and the index value indicating the amount of allergen-containing protein are specified for the cedar pollen and the giant grasshopper pollen. be able to.

(Modification of Embodiment 2)
Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the fluorescence detector 1b according to the present modification. As shown in FIG. 12, the detection unit 6a according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of irradiation units 61a (specifically, n irradiation units 61a1 to 61an). Similarly, the detection unit 6b includes a plurality of irradiation units 61b (specifically, n irradiation units 61b1 to 61bn). Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the irradiation units 61a1 to 61an and the detection units 61b1 to 61bn, they are referred to as “irradiation unit 61”.

The control unit 63 according to the present embodiment drives each irradiation unit 61 at different timings, and each irradiation unit 61 emits excitation light in a wavelength band that excites the allergen-containing substance to be detected. The light receiving unit 62 according to the present embodiment receives fluorescence (that is, light in a wide wavelength band) emitted from a plurality of allergen-containing substances to be detected. Thereby, the fluorescence emitted from a plurality of types of allergen-containing substances can be detected by one light receiving unit 62. Therefore, a plurality of types of allergen-containing substances can be detected by a smaller number of light receiving units 62 and control units 63 than in the fluorescence detector 1a. This also makes it possible to downsize and simplify the apparatus as compared with the fluorescence detector 1a. In FIG. 12, the irradiation unit 61 a and the irradiation unit 61 b are described side by side, but this is for easy understanding that the detection unit 6 includes a plurality of irradiation units 61. The arrangement of 61 is not limited to the example of FIG. Moreover, it is preferable that the irradiation part 61 is arrange | positioned so that the distance of each irradiation part 61 and the light-receiving part 62 may become substantially the same. In this case, for example, the irradiation units 61 are arranged in an array.

In addition, the detection unit 6 according to this modification outputs, to the calculation unit 7, irradiation unit identification information that identifies the irradiation unit 61 that has irradiated the excitation light that has caused the fluorescence, together with the fluorescence intensity. In addition, the calibration curve DB 81 according to this variation includes information for identifying allergen-containing substances (for example, “cedar pollen”, “allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen”, etc.), and a calibration curve for allergen-containing substances. It is stored in association with identification information.

As a method for specifying the allergen-containing substance executed by the calculation unit 7, the light emitted from the allergen-containing substance when the irradiation units 61 are sequentially driven is sequentially received by the light receiving unit 62, and the cause of the fluorescence having the maximum fluorescence intensity Fluorescence intensity of each fluorescence (that is, a plurality of fluorescence generated by different excitation lights) that identifies the allergen-containing substance from the irradiation part identification information of the irradiation part 61 that has been irradiated with the excitation light or that is received by the light receiving part 62 It is conceivable that the allergen-containing substance is specified from the ratio.

After specifying the allergen-containing substance, the calculation unit 7 reads a calibration curve associated with the irradiation unit identification information of the irradiation unit 61 that has irradiated the excitation light that caused the fluorescence with the maximum fluorescence intensity. Then, an index value indicating the amount of the allergen-containing substance (the specified pollen-derived allergen-containing protein or the specified pollen) is specified using the specified fluorescence intensity and the read calibration curve.

Note that the fluorescence detector 1a and the fluorescence detector 1b may be configured to detect not only pollen but also mites and mite-derived allergen-containing proteins. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the fluorescence characteristics of an allergen-containing protein derived from a dust mite. As shown in FIG. 13, the allergen-containing protein derived from a mushroom mite emits fluorescence having a peak wavelength of 440 nm when irradiated with ultraviolet light (specifically, light of 360 nm). In addition, fluorescence of yellow to green (specifically, 550 to 580 nm) is emitted by irradiation with visible light (specifically, light having a wavelength of 400 to 490 nm). The same applies to the fluorescence characteristics of the dust mite itself. The fluorescence detector 1a includes a branching path part 5 (for example, a branching path part 5d and de (not shown)) different from the branching path parts 5 to 5c, and sends a substance having a particle size about the size of a mushroom mite to the branching path part 5d. A branching part 4d and a branching part 4e that sends a substance having a particle size of about the size of the allergen-containing protein from the mushroom mite to the branching path part 5e, and the irradiation part that emits the excitation light described above is provided in the branching path parts 5d and 5e. 61 and the detection unit 6 including the light receiving unit 62 that receives the fluorescence as described above can detect a dust mite and an allergen-containing protein derived from a dust mite. In addition, the fluorescence detector 1b includes the irradiation unit 61 that emits the above-described excitation light in the detection unit 6, thereby detecting the dust mite and the allergen-containing protein derived from the dust mite.

In the above-described example, the leopard mite was taken as an example, but other types of mites and mite-derived allergen-containing proteins may be detected. In this case, the detection part 6 according to the fluorescence characteristic of the tick to detect and the allergen containing protein derived from a tick should just be provided.

[Embodiment 3]
The following will describe still another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the fluorescence characteristics of an allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen and an allergen-containing protein derived from cypress pollen, (a) is a diagram showing the fluorescence characteristics when irradiated with excitation light of 360 nm, (B) is a figure which shows the fluorescence characteristic when 440 nm excitation light is irradiated. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the fluorescence detector 1c according to the present embodiment. In addition, “pollen fluorescence” described in FIGS. 14A and 14B indicates fluorescence of pollen-derived allergen-containing protein.

Embodiment 2 has described the configuration in which the detection unit 6 is provided for each allergen-containing substance to be detected. However, there is a possibility that another allergen-containing substance fluoresces with excitation light for exciting one allergen-containing substance.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, when an allergen-containing protein derived from cypress pollen is irradiated with excitation light (360 nm) that excites an allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen, the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen is irradiated. It emits weaker fluorescence than when Therefore, when both the allergen-containing protein derived from cypress pollen and the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen are scattered, the cedar pollen is irradiated with excitation light for detection of the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen. Not only allergen-containing proteins derived but also allergen-containing proteins derived from cypress pollen emit fluorescence.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen is irradiated with excitation light (440 nm) that excites the allergen-containing protein derived from cypress pollen, the allergen-containing protein derived from cypress pollen is irradiated. It emits weaker fluorescence than when Therefore, when both the allergen-containing protein derived from cypress pollen and the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen are scattered, even when irradiated with excitation light for detection of the allergen-containing protein derived from cypress pollen, Not only allergen-containing proteins derived from cypress pollen but also allergen-containing proteins derived from cedar pollen emit fluorescence.

In other words, the allergen-containing substance that is different from the detection target allergen-containing substance fluoresces with the excitation light emitted from the detection unit 6 that targets the allergen-containing substance as a detection target. (For example, cypress pollen is identified as cedar pollen).

Therefore, in the fluorescence detector 1c according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the storage unit 8c stores a spectrum database 82 (hereinafter, spectrum DB 82). The spectrum DB 82 identifies the fluorescence spectra of a plurality of allergen-containing substances, information for identifying each allergen-containing substance (for example, “cedar pollen”, “allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen”, etc.), and identification for identifying the detection unit 6. It is a database that is stored in association with information. For example, the identification information of the detection unit 6a1 is associated with a name indicating an allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen and an allergen-containing protein derived from cypress pollen and a spectrum illustrated in FIG. In addition, the identification information of the detection unit 6a2 is associated with a name indicating the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen and the allergen-containing protein derived from cypress pollen and the spectrum illustrated in FIG.

When the calculation unit 7c acquires the identification information and the fluorescence intensity from the detection unit 6, the calculation unit 7c reads the fluorescence spectrum of the allergen-containing substance specified by the identification information from the spectrum DB 82. Then, by calculating the ratio of the maximum values of the plurality of acquired fluorescence intensities (for example, the maximum value of the fluorescence intensity acquired from the detection unit 6a1 and the maximum value of the fluorescence intensity acquired from the detection unit 6a2), the branch path unit The main component of the allergen-containing substance that has passed 5 is specified. For example, when the maximum value of the fluorescence intensity acquired from the detection unit 6a1 is about 1.4 times the maximum value of the fluorescence intensity acquired from the detection unit 6a2, the calculation unit 7c, the main component of the allergen-containing substance is Identified as an allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen. On the other hand, when the maximum value of the fluorescence intensity acquired from the detection unit 6a1 is about 0.7 times the maximum value of the fluorescence intensity acquired from the detection unit 6a2, the calculation unit 7c, the main component of the allergen-containing substance is: Identified as an allergen-containing protein derived from cypress pollen.

Note that it is not essential to use the maximum value of the fluorescence intensity, and an average value or a mode value may be used. The calculation unit 7 c may specify an index value indicating the amount of each allergen-containing substance that has passed through the branch path unit 5. When the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen is described as an example, the calculation unit 7c calculates the allergen derived from cedar pollen out of the allergen-containing substances that have passed through the branching path unit 5, based on the calculated ratio of the maximum fluorescence intensity. Calculate the percentage of protein contained. And the index value which shows the quantity of the allergen containing protein derived from a cedar pollen is specified using the said ratio and the calibration curve of the allergen containing protein derived from the cedar pollen read from calibration curve DB81.

[Embodiment 4]
Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the fluorescence detector 1d according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the fluorescence detector 1d further includes a heating part 9a for heating the allergen-containing substance in the branch path part 5a and a heating part 9b for heating the allergen-containing substance in the branch path part 5b. Yes. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the heating unit 9a and the heating unit 9b, the heating unit 9a is referred to as “heating unit 9”. The configuration of the heating unit 9 is not particularly limited as long as the allergen-containing substance at the time of irradiation with excitation light or immediately before the irradiation of excitation light can be heated to a predetermined temperature (preferably 100 to 200 ° C. as described later). . In the illustrated example, the heating unit 9 is disposed immediately before the irradiation unit 61 in order to heat the allergen-containing substance immediately before the excitation light irradiation.

The reason why the fluorescence detector 1d heats the allergen-containing substance will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a graph showing the relationship between the concentration of the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen and the fluorescence intensity before and after heating. It is known that the fluorescence intensity of a fluorescent substance is amplified by applying heat at the time of excitation light irradiation or immediately before excitation light irradiation. In particular, when heat of 100 to 200 ° C. is applied to the fluorescent material, the fluorescence intensity is amplified by several to several tens of times the fluorescence intensity measured without applying heat. As shown in FIG. 17, the fluorescence intensity of the allergen-containing protein is also amplified by heating for the allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen.

As described above, since the fluorescence intensity changes due to heating, the calibration curve DB 81 according to the present embodiment stores the calibration curve of the cedar pollen and the allergen-containing protein derived from the cedar pollen according to the degree of heating by the heating unit 9. is doing. Thereby, in the fluorescence detector 1d, an index value indicating the amount of cedar pollen or an allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen can be specified.

As described above, the fluorescence detector 1d according to the present embodiment includes the heating unit 9 that heats the allergen-containing substance that passes through the branch path unit 5. As a result, the fluorescence intensity of the allergen-containing substance is amplified, so that a smaller amount of pollen and allergen-containing protein can be detected (lowering the detection limit). Note that the configuration of the present embodiment may be applied to other embodiments. That is, the heating unit 9 can be applied to the configurations of any of the embodiments described above and below.

[Embodiment 5]
The following will describe still another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of a fluorescence detector 1e according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention, and FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating details of the detection unit 6a1 of the fluorescence detector 1e. These are figures which show the light transmission characteristic of each filter provided in the light-receiving part 64. FIG. As shown in FIG. 18, the fluorescence detector 1e according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of detection units 6 (in each of the branch path unit 5a and the branch path unit 5b, similarly to the fluorescence detector 1a described in the second embodiment. 6a1-6an, 6b1-6bn). Although details will be described below, the fluorescence detector 1e is different from the fluorescence detector 1a in the configuration of the detection unit.

The detection unit 6 of the fluorescence detector 1e will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 19A, the detection unit 6a1 includes three light receiving units 64a1, a light receiving unit 64a2, and a light receiving unit 64a3. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the light receiving unit 64a1, the light receiving unit 64a2, and the light receiving unit 64a3, they are referred to as “light receiving unit 64”. The light receiving unit 64 may be a light receiving element such as a photodiode. FIG. 19 shows the configuration of the detection unit 6a1, but the detection units 6a2 to 6an and 6b1 to 6bn have the same configuration.

Further, as shown in FIG. 19A, the light receiving unit 64a1, the light receiving unit 64a2, and the light receiving unit 64a3 include a B filter 67a1, a G filter 67a2, and an R filter 67a3 (optical elements), respectively.

These three types of filters will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating the light transmission characteristics of each filter provided in the light receiving unit 64. As shown in FIG. 20, the B filter 67a1 selectively transmits blue light (specifically, 400 to 500 nm), the G filter 67a2 selectively transmits green light (specifically, 500 to 600 nm), The R filter 67a3 selectively transmits red light (specifically, 600 to 700 nm).

As described above, the light receiving unit 64a1 including the B filter 67a1 receives the transmitted light of the B filter 67a1, that is, the blue component light, included in the fluorescence emitted by the allergic substance, and outputs the fluorescence intensity. Similarly, the light receiving unit 64a2 including the G filter 67a2 outputs the fluorescence intensity of the green component light included in the fluorescence emitted from the allergic substance, and the light receiving unit 64a3 including the R filter 67a3 is the red component included in the fluorescence emitted from the allergic substance. The fluorescence intensity of light is output. Then, each of these fluorescence intensities is output to the calculation unit 7e (second specifying unit).

Note that the detection unit 6a1 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 19A as long as it can separate fluorescence for each color component and detect the fluorescence intensity of each color component. For example, as shown in FIG. 19B, an image sensor 69a is provided instead of the plurality of light receiving portions 64a, and the image sensor 69a is provided with a color filter 68a (optical element) instead of the filter. There may be. The image sensor 69a may be, for example, a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS). FIG. 19C is a view of the color filter 68a as viewed from above (fluorescence transmission direction). As shown in FIG. 19C, the color filter 68a has a B filter region that selectively transmits blue light, a G filter region that selectively transmits green light, and an R filter region that selectively transmits red light. is doing. Each region corresponds to each pixel of the image sensor 69a. The transmission characteristics of each region are the same as those of the above-described filters. That is, the fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing substance is decomposed into a blue component, a green component, and a red component by the color filter 68a, and enters each different region (each pixel) of the image sensor 69a. Then, the imaging element 69a specifies the intensities of the blue component, the green component, and the red component for the light received in each region. Specifically, each intensity of the blue component, the green component, and the red component is specified by averaging light incident on the B filter region, the G filter region, and the R filter region. Then, the image sensor 69a outputs the intensities of the fluorescent blue component, green component, and red component to the computing unit 7e. The detection units 6a2 to 6an and 6b1 to 6bn may have the same configuration. In addition, the identification method of each intensity | strength of the blue component of a fluorescence, a green component, and a red component is not limited to said example. For example, the light incident on the B filter region, the G filter region, and the R filter region may be integrated.

As described above, the detection unit 6a1 outputs the intensities of the blue, green, and red components of the fluorescence and the identification information of the detection unit 6a1 to the calculation unit 7e. The calculation unit 7e calculates the gradation value of each component based on the acquired intensity of each component, and sets it as a gradation signal having the R value, the G value, and the B value as elements. Specifically, the fluorescence received by the light receiving unit 62 is converted into an electrical signal and output to the computing unit 7e. The computing unit 7e converts the electrical signal into a gradation value by performing A / D conversion of the electrical signal, that is, processing for converting an analog signal into a digital signal. Note that the A / D conversion range depends on the magnitude of the fluorescence intensity. Note that A / D conversion may be performed after the electric signal is amplified by an amplifier. In this case, the range of A / D conversion is determined based on the range of values that can be taken after amplification. Then, HSV conversion is performed on the gradation signal. Specifically, in the HSV conversion, parameters (calculated values, H value, S value, and V value, respectively) indicating the hue, saturation, and brightness of the fluorescence are calculated from the calculated gradation signal.

For example, the H value, the S value, and the V value are calculated using the following calculation formula. First, the maximum value (MAX) and the minimum value (MIN) of the gradation signal are defined as follows.
MAX = max (R, G, B)
MIN = min (R, G, B)
Here, max (R, G, B) is the maximum value among the R value, G value, and B value, and min (R, G, B) is the minimum value among the R value, G value, and B value. It is.

Then, the H value, S value, and V value are calculated as follows. Note that the calculation formula of the H value differs depending on whether the minimum value is an R value, a G value, or a B value. In addition, when there are two minimum values, any one of two calculation formulas corresponding to the two values may be used.
When MIN = B, H = 60 × {(GR) / (MAX−MIN)} + 60
When MIN = R, H = 60 × {(BG) / (MAX−MIN)} + 180
When MIN = G H = 60 × {(RB) / (MAX−MIN)} + 300
H = undefined when MIN = MAX
S = MAX-MIN
V = MAX
In addition, the storage unit 8e of the fluorescence detector 1e according to the present embodiment newly stores an HSV space database 83 (hereinafter, HSV space DB 83). The HSV space DB 83 uses the H value, S value, and V value calculated from the fluorescence intensities of a plurality of allergen-containing substances as information for identifying each allergen-containing substance (for example, “cedar pollen” or “allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen”). Etc.), and a database stored in association with identification information for identifying the detection unit 6.

The calculation unit 7e reads the H value, S value, and V value of the allergen-containing substance specified by the identification information acquired from the detection unit 6 from the HSV space DB 83. Then, it is determined whether or not the calculated H value, S value, and V value match the read H value, S value, and V value. Note that the determination may not be a determination as to whether or not they completely match, and may be configured to determine whether or not each value is included in a predetermined range. And when it determines with the calculating part 7e being in agreement, the calibration curve of the said allergen containing substance is read from calibration curve DB81, and the index value which shows the quantity of an allergen containing substance is specified. Then, the calculation unit 7e generates display data based on the specified index value and causes the display unit 10 to display the display data.

The display unit 10 is a display device that displays an image, for example, a liquid crystal display. Specifically, the display unit 10 is controlled by the calculation unit 7e and displays display data generated by the calculation unit 7e. The display data is an image for notifying the user of the amount of the allergen-containing substance.

In addition, even when it determines with the calculating part 7e not being in agreement, the structure which specifies the kind of allergen containing substance may be sufficient. For example, the H value, S value, and V value stored in the HSV space DB 83 are associated with the H value, S value, and V value of another allergen-containing substance that has been excited by light of the same wavelength. And when it determines with the calculating part 7e not being the fluorescence which the allergen containing substance specified by identification information emitted, with reference to HSV space DB83, the H value of another associated allergen containing substance, S value, The V value is read and compared with the calculated H value, S value, and V value. And when it determines with it being the fluorescence which the allergen containing material which the read H value, S value, and V value show, the calibration curve of the said allergen containing material is read from calibration curve DB81.

Further, the fluorescence detector 1e according to the present embodiment may be configured such that only the HSV space DB 83 is stored in the storage unit 8e, and only the type of the allergen-containing substance is specified by the above-described processing.

Also, the conversion formula for performing HSV conversion is not limited to the above example. In addition, the fluorescence detector 1e according to the present embodiment may identify the type of the allergen-containing substance by comparing R value, G value, and B value without performing HSV conversion. In this case, instead of the HSV space DB 83, R values, G values, and B values calculated from the fluorescence intensities of a plurality of allergen-containing substances are used to identify each allergen-containing substance (for example, “cedar pollen” or “cedar pollen-derived” And the like are stored in the storage unit 8e. The fluorescence intensity may be converted to a value different from the H value, S value, and V value by a conversion method other than HSV conversion. In this case, in the storage unit 8e, the value calculated from the fluorescence intensities of a plurality of allergen-containing substances is used to identify each allergen-containing substance (for example, “cedar pollen” “cedar pollen-derived allergen-containing protein”). And a database stored in association with identification information for identifying the detection unit 6 is stored.

As described above, the fluorescence detector 1e decomposes the fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing substance into a plurality of components. Further, parameters indicating the hue, saturation, and brightness of the fluorescence are calculated based on the intensities of the plurality of components, and compared with the parameters of each allergen-containing substance stored in the HSV space DB 83. Thereby, the kind of allergen containing substance can be specified more correctly. In addition, the allergen-containing substance and the other fluorescent substance can be more clearly distinguished. Note that the configuration of the present embodiment may be applied to other embodiments.

[Modification]
The fluorescence detectors 1, 1a to 1e described in the first to sixth embodiments may be provided in a cleaner, an air cleaner, or an air conditioner (so-called air conditioner). The vacuum cleaner, the air cleaner, and the air conditioner may be configured to change the suction force based on an index value indicating the detected amount of the allergen-containing substance. Moreover, when the said vacuum cleaner is a fully automatic vacuum cleaner (self-propelled cleaner), you may control so that a location with a high index value may pass many times. In the case of an air cleaner, the operating time may be changed based on the index value (more specifically, the operating time may be lengthened according to the size of the index value).

An index value indicating the amount of pollen-derived allergen-containing protein in the room and the decomposition of mite carcasses and feces by providing the fluorescence detectors 1, 1a to 1e in vacuum cleaners, air cleaners, and air conditioners. Can be accurately identified, and control according to the index value can be performed. Allergen-containing substances such as pollen-derived allergen-containing substances, dead mite bodies, and those obtained by decomposition of feces have a small particle size and easily re-scatter into the air. When 1a to 1e are provided, an index value indicating the amount of the allergen-containing substance having a small particle diameter existing in the room can be specified more accurately, and the air cleaner can be controlled according to the index value.

In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the detection unit 6b that detects pollen and the detection unit 6a that detects the allergen-containing protein derived from the pollen include an irradiation unit 61 that emits light in the same wavelength band, and In the above description, the light receiving unit 62 that receives light in the same wavelength band is provided. For example, the irradiation unit 61b that irradiates light to cedar pollen and the irradiation unit 61a that irradiates light to an allergen-containing protein derived from cedar pollen emit light in the same wavelength band. The light receiving unit 62b that receives the fluorescence emitted from the cedar pollen and the light receiving unit 62a that receives the fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing protein derived from the cedar pollen are configured to receive light in the same wavelength band.

However, the fluorescence detectors 1, 1a to 1e according to the present invention are not limited to this example. That is, the wavelength band of the light emitted from the irradiation unit 61 and the wavelength band of the light received by the light receiving unit 62 are the characteristics of the substance to be detected (the wavelength of the light exciting the substance and the fluorescence emitted by the substance). It may be determined according to the characteristics). Therefore, depending on the substance, the wavelength band of the light emitted from the irradiation unit 61a may be different from the wavelength band of the light emitted from the irradiation unit 61b. Similarly, the wavelength band of light received by the light receiving unit 62a may be different from the wavelength band of light received by the light receiving unit 62b. Here, the pollen and the pollen-derived allergen-containing protein have been described as examples. However, the detection unit 6 that detects mites and the detection unit that detects mite-derived allergen-containing proteins described in the second embodiment. The same applies to 6.

[Example of software implementation]
The control blocks (particularly the control unit 63 and the arithmetic unit 7) of the fluorescence detector 1 and 1a to 1e may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or a CPU It may be realized by software using (Central Processing Unit).

In the latter case, the fluorescence detectors 1 and 1a to 1e are a CPU that executes instructions of a program that is software for realizing each function, and a ROM in which the program and various data are recorded so as to be readable by a computer (or CPU). (Read Only Memory) or a storage device (these are referred to as “recording media”), a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the program, and the like. And the objective of this invention is achieved when a computer (or CPU) reads the said program from the said recording medium and runs it. As the recording medium, a “non-temporary tangible medium” such as a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. The program may be supplied to the computer via an arbitrary transmission medium (such as a communication network or a broadcast wave) that can transmit the program. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

[Summary]
A fluorescence detection apparatus (fluorescence detector 1) according to aspect 1 of the present invention is a fluorescence detection apparatus that detects fluorescence emitted from an allergen-containing substance in the aspirated air, which includes an allergen that is a causative substance of allergy. A branch portion (branch portion 4) for branching the allergen-containing substance into different branch path portions (branch path portion 5) according to the size of the allergen-containing substance, and excitation light in the branch path portion The detection part (detection part 6) which detects the fluorescence which the said allergen containing substance in this branch path part emits is provided in at least two of the said branch path parts.

According to the above configuration, the allergen-containing substance that has been sucked is branched into different branching path portions corresponding to the size of the causative substance, and the allergen-containing substance that passes through at least two branching path parts among the branching path parts. Then, the excitation light is irradiated and the generated fluorescence is detected. Thereby, the fluorescence of the allergen-containing substances having different sizes is detected by the detection units provided in the different branch paths. Therefore, each of the allergen-containing substances having different sizes can be easily detected.

The fluorescence detection device according to aspect 2 of the present invention shows the type of the allergen-containing substance and the amount of the allergen-containing substance in a manner according to the branch path part provided with the detection part in the aspect 1. A first specifying unit (calculation unit 7) that specifies at least one of the index values may be further provided.

According to the above configuration, at least one of the type of the allergen-containing substance and the index value indicating the amount of the allergen-containing substance is specified by a method corresponding to the branch path part provided with the detection unit. Thereby, at least one of the above-mentioned kind and the above-mentioned index value can be specified by the method according to the allergen-containing substance sent to the different branch path parts. Therefore, it is possible to accurately specify at least one of the type and the index value.

For example, when specifying the index value of a cedar pollen and a protein containing an allergen derived from cedar pollen, the index value is determined using a calibration curve of cedar pollen for the fluorescence detected in the branch path part through which the pollen passes. For the fluorescence detected at the branching path portion through which the protein containing the allergen derived from cedar pollen passes, the index value is specified using a calibration curve of the protein containing the allergen derived from cedar pollen. Thereby, each can be correctly specified about the said index value of the protein containing the cedar pollen and the allergen derived from a cedar pollen.

In the fluorescence detection device according to aspect 3 of the present invention, in the aspect 1 or 2, the detection unit may include a plurality of irradiation units (irradiation units 61) that emit the excitation light in different wavelength bands.

According to the above configuration, since the detection unit includes a plurality of irradiation units that emit excitation light of different wavelength bands, even when a plurality of types of allergen-containing substances pass through one branch path unit, Fluorescence can be generated in all the plurality of allergen-containing substances. Thereby, the fluorescence of each of a plurality of types of allergen-containing substances having the same size can be detected.

In the fluorescence detection device according to aspect 4 of the present invention, in the above aspect 1 or 2, even if at least one of the branch path parts is provided with a plurality of the detection parts with different allergen-containing substances to be detected. Good.

According to the above configuration, since at least one branch path unit is provided with a plurality of detection units each having a different allergen-containing substance to be detected, the fluorescence of each of a plurality of types of allergen-containing substances having the same size can be obtained. Can be detected. In addition, since there are a plurality of detection units, and each detection unit detects fluorescence emitted by different allergen-containing substances, it is possible to simultaneously detect fluorescence of a plurality of types of allergen-containing substances having the same size.

The fluorescence detection apparatus according to Aspect 5 of the present invention is the fluorescence detection device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, wherein the allergen-containing substance provided in the branch path portion provided with the detection unit is sent to the branch path portion. You may further provide the heating part (heating part 9) heated just before the irradiation of the said excitation light, or at the time of irradiation.

According to the above configuration, the allergen-containing substance is heated immediately before the excitation light irradiation or at the time of excitation light irradiation. Since the fluorescence intensity of a substance that emits fluorescence, such as an allergen-containing substance, is enhanced by heating, the fluorescence can be detected even by a small amount of allergen-containing substance by heating the allergen-containing substance.

In the fluorescence detection device according to aspect 6 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 5, the detection unit irradiates the allergen-containing substance with the excitation light (irradiation unit 61), and the allergen-containing material. A light-receiving unit (light-receiving unit 62) that receives fluorescence emitted from the substance, and the irradiation unit includes a first light-blocking member (short-pass filter 65a) that blocks light in a wavelength band that can be received by the light-receiving unit. May be.

According to said structure, since the irradiation part is equipped with the 1st light shielding member which light-shields the light of the wavelength band which a light-receiving part can receive, the wavelength band which the light-receiving part irradiated by the irradiation part can receive Is not received by the light receiving unit. Therefore, it can prevent that the light irradiated by the irradiation part turns into the noise of the fluorescence which the allergen containing substance emitted.

In the fluorescence detection device according to aspect 7 of the present invention, in any of the above aspects 1 to 6, the detection unit includes an irradiation unit (irradiation unit 61) that irradiates the allergen-containing substance with the excitation light, and the allergen-containing material. A light-receiving unit (light-receiving unit 62) that receives fluorescence emitted from the substance, and the light-receiving unit may include a second light-blocking member (band-pass filter 66a) that blocks light in the wavelength band of the excitation light. .

According to the above configuration, since the light receiving unit includes the second light blocking member that blocks light in the wavelength band of the excitation light, the excitation light is not received by the light receiving unit. Therefore, it can prevent that excitation light becomes the noise of the fluorescence which the allergen containing substance emitted.

The fluorescence detection device according to aspect 8 of the present invention is the fluorescence detection apparatus according to any one of aspects 1 to 7, wherein the detection unit includes a plurality of light reception units (light reception units 64) that receive fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing substance, You may provide the some optical element (B filter 67a1, G filter 67a2, R filter 67a3) which radiate | emits the light of a respectively different wavelength band contained in the said fluorescence to each of the said some light-receiving part.

According to the above configuration, the plurality of optical elements emit light of different wavelength bands included in the fluorescence to each of the plurality of light receiving units. Thereby, the fluorescence detection apparatus can acquire the data which decomposed | disassembled the fluorescence which the allergen containing substance emitted into the light of a different wavelength band. Therefore, it is possible to specify the index value indicating the type and amount of the allergen-containing substance more accurately.

In the fluorescence detection device according to aspect 9 of the present invention, in any one of the aspects 1 to 7, the detection unit includes a light receiving unit (light receiving unit 64) that receives fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing substance, and the fluorescence The optical element (color filter 68a) which radiate | emits the light of a different wavelength band contained in each to a respectively different area | region of a light-receiving part may be provided.

According to the above configuration, the optical element emits light of different wavelength bands included in the fluorescence to different regions of the light receiving unit. Thereby, the fluorescence detection apparatus can acquire the data which decomposed | disassembled the fluorescence which the allergen containing substance emitted into the light of a different wavelength band. Therefore, it is possible to specify the index value indicating the type and amount of the allergen-containing substance more accurately.

The fluorescence detection device according to aspect 10 of the present invention, in the above-described aspect 8 or 9, calculates a calculated value different from the intensity from the intensity of light in each wavelength band, and calculates the calculated value from a plurality of pre-calculated values. You may further provide the 2nd specific | specification part (calculation part 7e) which specifies the kind of the said allergen containing substance by comparing with the said calculated value of the said allergen containing substance.

According to the above configuration, by calculating a calculated value different from the intensity from the intensity of light in each wavelength band, and comparing the calculated value with a plurality of the allergen-containing substances calculated in advance, the allergen-containing Since the type of substance is specified, there is a possibility that the type of allergen-containing substance can be specified when it is difficult to specify the type of allergen-containing substance from the fluorescence intensity.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, a new technical feature can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment.

1, 1a ~ 1e Fluorescence detector (Fluorescence detection device)
4 Branching part 5 Branching path part 6 Detection part (detection part)
7 Calculation part (first specific part)
7e arithmetic unit (second specific unit)
9 Heating unit 61 Irradiation unit 62, 64 Light receiving unit 65a Short pass filter (first light shielding member)
66a Band pass filter (second light shielding member)
67a1 B filter (optical element)
67a2 G filter (optical element)
67a3 R filter (optical element)
68a Color filter (optical element)

Claims (10)

1. A fluorescence detection device that detects fluorescence emitted from an allergen-containing substance in the aspirated air, including allergens that cause allergies,
   A branching part for branching the allergen-containing substance in the flow path of the sucked air into different branching path parts according to the size of the allergen-containing substance;
   Fluorescence detection characterized in that at least two of the branch path portions are provided with a detection section for detecting fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing substance in the branch path portion by irradiating the branch path portion with excitation light. apparatus.
2. A first specifying unit that specifies at least one of the type of the allergen-containing substance and the index value indicating the amount of the allergen-containing substance in a manner corresponding to the branch path part provided with the detection unit; The fluorescence detection apparatus according to claim 1.
3. The fluorescence detection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection unit includes a plurality of irradiation units that emit the excitation light in different wavelength bands.
4. 3. The fluorescence detection according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the branch path parts is provided with a plurality of the detection parts different from each other in allergen-containing substances to be detected. apparatus.
5. The heating device is further provided with a heating unit that is provided in the branch path unit provided with the detection unit and that heats the allergen-containing substance sent to the branch path unit immediately before or during irradiation of the excitation light. The fluorescence detection apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 4.
6. The detection unit includes an irradiation unit that irradiates the allergen-containing substance with the excitation light, and a light-receiving unit that receives fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing substance,
   6. The fluorescence detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation unit includes a first light blocking member that blocks light in a wavelength band that can be received by the light receiving unit.
7. The detection unit includes an irradiation unit that irradiates the allergen-containing substance with the excitation light, and a light-receiving unit that receives fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing substance,
   The fluorescence detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving unit includes a second light blocking member that blocks light in a wavelength band of the excitation light.
8. The detection unit includes a plurality of light receiving units that receive fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing substance, and a plurality of optical elements that emit light of different wavelength bands included in the fluorescence to each of the plurality of light receiving units. 8. The fluorescence detection apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:
9. The detection unit includes a light receiving unit that receives fluorescence emitted from the allergen-containing substance, and an optical element that emits light of different wavelength bands included in the fluorescence to different regions of the light receiving unit. The fluorescence detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein
10. A calculated value different from the intensity is calculated from the intensity of light in each wavelength band, and the calculated value is compared with the calculated values of a plurality of the allergen-containing substances calculated in advance. The fluorescence detection apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a second specifying unit that specifies a type.

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