WO2022065908A1

WO2022065908A1 - Optical signal detection device

Info

Publication number: WO2022065908A1
Application number: PCT/KR2021/013027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jin Won Kim; Jin Seok Noh; Soon Joo Hwang; Dong Woo Kang; Sang Min Kim; Seung Min Baik
Original assignee: Seegene, Inc.
Priority date: 2020-09-25
Filing date: 2021-09-24
Publication date: 2022-03-31
Also published as: KR20230042345A

Abstract

An optical signal detection device according to the present disclosure independently secures an excitation light path for each sample area by forming a plurality of blocking units in the excitation light path irradiated from a light source unit, thereby preventing interference between excitation lights, and blocks light from the outside and prevents noise other than the emission light by including light blocking housing for accurately detecting the emission light emitting from the sample to which the excitation light is irradiated, thereby double blocking a light irradiating area and a light emitting area.

Description

OPTICAL SIGNAL DETECTION DEVICE

The disclosure relates to an optical signal detection device including a light blocking housing for blocking light from the outside, and a blocking module for blocking mutual interference between lights irradiated to a sample inside the light blocking housing.

Nucleic acid amplification reaction well known as polynucleotide chain reaction (PCR) includes repeated cycles of doube-stranded DNA denaturation, annealing of the oligonucleotide primers to DNA templates, and extension/elongation of the primers with the DNA polymerase (Mullis et al., U.S. Patent Nos. 4,683,195, 4,683,202, and 4,800,159; Saiki et al., (1985) Science 230, 1350-1354). DNA denaturation is performed at about 95 ℃, and anealing and primer elongation are performed at a lower temperature ranging frm 55 ℃ to 75 ℃.

The light source emits excitation light to the sample, and the fluorescent material included in the sample excited by an excitation light emits fluorescence. In such a fluorescence detection device, it is necessary to more efficiently and accurately provide the excitation light to a plurality of samples including a plurality of different optically labeled fluorescent materials.

In a high-throughput device that simultaneously detects the same target nucleic acid in a plurality of samples, the excitation light is irradiated to the plurality of the samples in various ways, and emission light is emitted in response thereto.

For example, the plurality of the light sources may be configured to irradiate light to a sample holder in which the plurality of the samples are accommodated. The sample holder is divided into a plurality of sample areas, and each of the plurality of light sources emits the excitation light to the samples by irradiating light to each corresponding sample area. In this case, cross-talk may occur between adjacent sample areas between the excitation lights respectively irradiated to the plurality of the sample areas. Also, when the sample areas are divided into a plurality, it may be difficult to secure an interval between the adjacent sample areas.

As a result, the excitation light irradiated to the specific sample area may interfere with the excitation light irradiated to another adjacent sample area, or a portion of the excitation light of the specific sample area may be irradiated to another adjacent sample area.

Likewise, the plurality of detectors may be configured to detect fluorescence signals emitted from samples in the plurality of sample areas. In this case, in the plurality of sample areas, each fluorescence signal must be accurately transmitted to a specific detector so that each fluorescence signal for each sample area may be accurately detected by the corresponding detector. The cross-talk may occur between the adjacent sample areas between emission lights respectively emitted from the plurality of the sample areas. Emission light emitted from the sample area may interfere with emission light emitted to another adjacent sample areas, or a portion of the emission light from the specific sample area may be detected by a detector other than the corresponding detector, and the periphery of the detector may not be completely shielded from the outside. In this case, external light may be detected as noise.

As such, in the fluorescence detection method, in order for the light source and the detector to more efficiently irradiate and detect light, light from the outside must be completely blocked. In addition, the light inside the light source and the detector are located must not be transmitted to the outside. Therefore, it is necessary to completely shield the light source and the detector to block the light from the outside.

The present inventors have made intensive researchs to develop a novel optical signal detection technology which stably maintain an excitation light path until the excitation light from the light source unit reaches each sample in the sample holder, and simultaneously irradiate the correct excitation light to accurately detect the emission light emitted in response thereto. As a result, the present inventors found that a individual light source unit is allocated to each sample area with respect to the sample holder divided into a plurality of sample areas, a plurality of blocking units along a path of the excitation light irradiated from each light source unit is disposed to block interference between the excitation lights, and simultaneously there is shielded a detection unit that detects the emission light emitted from a sample together with the light source unit and the plurality of blocking units to reduce interference due to external light noise.

In this background, the present disclosure is to provide the optical signal detection device inclduing a plurality of blocking units in a path of the excitation light irradiated from the light source unit to independently secure excitation light paths for each sample area, and a light blocking housing for accurately detecting the emission light emitted from the sample which the excitation light is irradiated.

According to the embodiment, the present invention provides an optical signal detection device analyzing a plurality of samples accommodated in a sample holder divided into a plurality of sample areas, comprising: a light source module including a plurality of light source units configured to irradiate light to the plurality of sample areas and a plurality of filter units configured to filter the light emitted from the light source unit wherein each light source unit of the plurality of light source units is configured to irradiate light to different sample areas; a detection module comprising a plurality of detection units configured to detect emission light emitted from the plurality of the sample areas and a plurality of detection filter units configured to filter the emission light emitted from the plurality of sample areas; a blocking module comprising a plurality of blocking units disposed in each sample area according to a path of excitation light irradiated to each of the plurality of sample areas and a path of emission light emitted from each of the plurality of sample areas; and a light blocking housing inclusing the light source module, the detection module, and the blocking module to block external light.

As an example, each of the plurality of blocking units comprises an light entrance opening opened in a direction in which the excitation light irradiated from each of the light source units is entered.

As an example, each of the plurality of blocking units comprises an light exit opening for exiting the excitation light entred through the light entrance opening to each of the sample areas.

As an example, wherein each of the plurality of blocking units comprises an inner passage defined by the path of the excitation light from the light entrance opening to the exit opening.

As an example, the plurality of filter units are positioned between the plurality of light source units and the plurality of blocking units,and each of the plurality of filter units is positioned over the light entrance opening and is configured to be movable so that it may be positioned over other light entrance openings by moving between the light entrance openings.

As an example, one individual light source unit is allocated to each of the plurality of sample areas.

As an example, each of the plurality of blocking units comprises an light exit opening for providing emission light emitted from each of the sample areas to the detection unit.

As an example, the light exit opening is configured in a path through which the emission light emitted from each sample area is transmitted to the detection module.

As an example, the filter unit is positioned between the light exit opening and the detection unit, and each of the plurality of filter units is positioned over the light exit opening and is configured to be movable so that it may be positioned over other light exit openings by moving between the light exit openings.

As an example, one individual detection unit is allocated to each of the plurality of sample areas.

As an example, the light blocking housing comprises a hole through which the excitation light excited to the plurality of sample areas and the emission light emitted from the plurality of sample areas pass.

As an example, the light blocking housing is positioned above the sample holder.

The optical signal detection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure forms a blocking module including a plurality of blocking units along the path of the excitation light irradiated from the plurality of light source units. Therefore, in the optical signal detection device in which light is irradiated from the plurality of light source units at the same time, individual blocking units are allocated to each of the plurality of light source units, so that the excitation light from each light source may independently secure an optical path, thereby providing stably and accurately excitation light to the sample without mutual interference between the excitation lights.

The optical signal detection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure forms a light blocking housing that shields the light source module, the blocking module, and the detection module inside the case to block light from the outside, thereby completely blocking light from the outside and preventing the interference of the emission light emitted from the sample to perform efficiently and accurately optical signal detection

FIG.1 is a perspective view of an optical signal detection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG.2 is a side view of an optical signal detection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS.3A and 3B are perspective views of a blocking module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG.4 is a perspective view of the light blocking housing in which the blocking module is transparent in the optical signal detection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings. In designating elements of the drawings by reference numerals, the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals although they are shown in different drawings. Further, in the following description of the present disclosure, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted in the situation in which the subject matter of the present disclosure may be rendered rather unclear thereby.

In addition, terms, such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) or the like may be used herein when describing components of the present disclosure. Each of these terminologies is not used to define an essence, order or sequence of a corresponding component but used merely to distinguish the corresponding component from other component(s). In the case that it is described that a certain structural element "is connected to", "is coupled to", or "is in contact with" another structural element, it should be interpreted that another structural element may "be connected to", "be coupled to", or "be in contact with" the structural elements as well as that the certain structural element is directly connected to or is in direct contact with another structural element.

FIG.1 is a perspective view of an optical signal detection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The optical signal detection device 10 refers to a device that detects an optical signal generated from a sample.

The optical signal generated in the sample may be, for example, an optical signal that is generated depending on the properties of the target analyte, such as activity, amount, or presence (or absence), specifically presence (or absence). The size or change of the optical signal serves as an indicator qualitatively or quantitatively indicating the property of the target analyte, specifically the presence or absence of the target analyte. The target analyte may be, for example, a target nucleic acid sequence or a target nucleic acid molecule including the same. Accordingly, the optical signal detection device according to an embodiment may be a target nucleic acid sequence detection device.

Referring to FIG. 1, the optical signal detection device 10 includes a light source module 100, a detection module 200, a blocking module 300, a light blocking housing 400, and a sample holder 500. The optical signal detection device 10 may further include a beam splitter 350 and a hot lead 360.

The light source module 100 supplies an appropriate optical stimulus to the sample, and the detection module 200 detects an optical signal generated from the sample in response thereto.

The optical signal may be a luminescenct signal, a phosphorescenct signal, a chemiluminescenct signal, a fluorescent signal, a polarized fluorescent signal, or other colored signal. The optical signal may be an optical signal generated in response to an optical stimulus applied to the sample.

The light source module 100 includes a plurality of light source units 110a to 110d to irradiate light to a plurality of sample areas 510a to 510d, and a plurality of of filter units 120a to 120d to filter the light emitted from the light source units 110a to 110d.

The plurality of the light source units 110a to 110d may be light source units that emit light having the same wavelength properties. This means, for example, that the plurality of the light source units 110a to 110d emit light of the same wavelength range, and that the same amount of light emitted for each wavelength range. The same wavelength properties are meant to include substantially the same wavelength properties as well as exactly the same wavelength properties. The

light source units

110a and 110b that emit light having substantially the same wavelength properties means the light source units that when the light generated from the two light source units is irradiated on the same optical label through the same filter, the same type of emission light is generated from the optical label with the same amount of light. Specifically, the fact that the plurality of the light source units 110a to 110d have substantially the same wavelength properties means that the amount of light or the deviation of the wavelength range of the plurality of the light source units 110a to 110d is within 20%, 15%, or 10%.

The light source unit of the plurality of the light source units 110a to 110d may include one or more light source elements. The number of light source elements included in the light source unit of the present invention may be, for example, one. In this case, one light source element may be one light source unit. The light source unit may include two light elements. In this case, two light source element may be one light source unit. The number of light source elements included in the light source unit is not limited to one embodiment. Alternatively, the light source unit may include 1000, 500, 100, 50, 40, 30, 20 or less light source elements.

Each light source unit of the plurality of light source units 110a to 110d is configured to irradiate light to different sample areas 510a to 510d, and each light source unit is allocated to a specified sample area.

In other words, there is one individual light source unit for each sample area, and each of the plurality of sample areas of the sample holder 500 is an area divided by an excitation light irradiation area for each light source unit.

In the present disclosure, the light source module 100 may include a plurality of light source units including a first light source unit 110a and a second light source unit 110b. Alternatively, in the present disclosure, the light source module 100 may include a plurality of light source units including a first light source unit, a second light source unit, a third light source unit, and a fourth light source unit. Alternatively, in the present disclosure, the light source module 110 may include 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 or less light source units.

The light source module 100 including a plurality of such light source units may include a light source unit support (not shown). The plurality of light source units 110a to 110d may be disposed on the light source unit support. One or more light source units may be fixed to the light source unit support. The shape of the light source unit support may be circular, but is not limited thereto, and may have various shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, and a square.

In the present disclosure, the light source module 100 may include one light source unit support. Alternatively, the light source module 100 may include two light source unit supports. Alternatively, the light source module 100 may include four light source unit supports. Alternatively, the light source module 100 may include 10 or less light source unit supports.

The light source module 100 emits light to excite an optical label included in the sample. The light source module 100 includes the plurality of light source units 110a to 110d. Light emitted by the light source unit 110 may be referred to an excitation light. The light emitted by the sample may be referred to an emission light. The path of the excitation light emitted from eact light source unit 110a to 110d may be referred to an excitation path. The path of the emission light emitted from the sample may be referred to an emission path.

The light source unit 110 may include a light source element. One light source unit 110 may include one or more light source elements. In one example, the light source element may be a light emitting diode (LED) including an organic LED, an inorganic LED, and a quantum dot LED, and a laser unit including a tunable laser, a He-Ne laser, and an Ar laser. According to one embodiment, the light source element 215 may be the LED.

The filter unit 120 filters light emitted from the light source unit 110 so that light in a specific wavelength range reaches the sample. The filter unit 120 includes a plurality of filter units 120a~120d. The filter unit 120 includes one or more filters.

The light source module 100 in the present disclosure may include one or more filter unit 120. In addition, the light source module 100 in the present disclosure may include two

filter units

120a and 120b. In addition, the light source module 100 in the present disclosure may include four filter units 120a to 120d.

Each of the filter units 120a to 120d includes a filter. Each of the filter units 120a to 120d includes a filter that passes light in a wavelength range capable of excitation of at least one of the optical labels. The filter included in the filter unit 120 may be a bandpass filter. The bandpass filter refers to a filter that selectively transmits light in a predetermined wavelength range. The wavelength range of light passing through the bandpass filter is referred to as a passband of the filter. The passband may be displayed in the form of a wavelength range. A filter including a specific passband means a filter that passes light having a wavelength included in the specific passband. For example, the first filter unit 120a may be a filter of a first passband, and the second filter unit 120b may be a filter of a second passband. Each of the first passband and the second passband may include a wavelength range of light capable of exciting a specific optical label.

The specific type of the optical label is as described above. In particular, the optical label may be an optical label selected from the group consisting of FAM, CAL, Fluor Red 610, HEX, Quasar 670, and Quasar 705.

The first filter unit 120a and the second filter unit 120b may pass light capable of exciting different optical labels. Accordingly, according to an embodiment, the passbands of the first filter unit 120a and the second filter unit 120b may not overlap each other. The filter units included in the filter module 300 may be disposed to selectively excite different optical labels. Accordingly, according to an embodiment, the passbands of the filter units included in the light source module 100 may be different from each other.

The filter module 120 is configured to be movable so that each of the filter units 120a to 120d may selectively filter light emitted from the light source unit 110. To this end, the optical signal detection device 10 may include a filter support 121. The plurality of filter units 120a to 120d may be disposed on the filter support 121. The plurality of filter units 120a to 120d may be fixed to the filter support 121. In one embodiment, the filter support 121 is configured to be movable. The filter units 120a to 120d fixed to the filter support 121 are moved by the movement of the filter support 121.

The shape of the filter support 121 is not limited thereto, and may have various shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, and a square.

According to one embodiment, the optical signal detection device 10 may include a moving portion capable of moving the plurality of the plurality of filter units 120a to 120d. The filter support 121 may be configured to be movable by the moving portion. The moving portion may be, for example, a motor. The motor may be, for example, an AC motor, a DC motor, a step motor, a servo motor, or a linear motor, and preferably a step motor.

The mover may move the filter support 121 through a connection shaft 115, for example. The movement may be, for example, a rotation movement that rotates about the connection shaft 115. For example, the connection shaft 115 for transmitting the power of the motor to the filter support 121 may be configured to connect the motor and the filter support 121. Both ends of the connection shaft 115 may be directly connected to the filter support 121 and the motor to transmit power. Alternatively, one end of the connection shaft 115 may be connected to the filter support 121, and the other end may be indirectly connected to the motor through other power transmission means such as gears, belts, and pulleys.

The beam splitter 350 reflects and transmits light entered from the light source unit 110. Light transmitted through the beam splitter 350 reaches the sample holder 500. The beam splitter 350 reflects and transmits light emitted from the sample. The beam splitter 350 may be configured such that light reflected by the beam splitter 350 reaches the detection module 200.

The detection module 200 detects a signal. Specifically, the detection module 200 detects fluorescence signal, which is an optical signal generated from samples. The detection module 200 detects an optical signal by generating an electric signal according to the intensity of the optical signal.

The detection module 200 includes a plurality of detection units 210a to 210d and the plurality of sample areas 510a to 510d configured to detect the emission light emitted from the plurality of sample areas 510a to 510d and a plurality of detection filter units 2120a to 2120d for filtering the emission light. The detection unit 210 includes a detector for detecting light.

The detection module 200 may include a detection unit 210 and a detection filter unit 220. The detection unit 210 may be a plurality of detection units.

Each detection unit of the plurality of detection units 210a to 210d may include one or more detectors. The number of detectors included in the detection unit 210 of the present disclosure may be, for example, one. In this case, one detector may be one detection unit. Alternatively, the detection unit of the present disclosure may include two detectors. In this case, two detectors may be one detection unit. However, the number of detectors included in the detection unit 210 of the present disclosure is not limited to one embodiment. The detection unit 210 of the present disclosure may include 1000, 500, 100, 50, 40, 30, 20 or less detectors.

Each detection unit of the plurality of detection units 210a to 210d may be disposed to detect light emitted from different sample areas.

The detection filter unit 220 may be disposed in front of the detection unit 210. The detection filter unit 220 may include a detection filter, and the detection filter disposed in front of the detection unit 210 may be changed according to the wavelength of the emission light. The detection filter of the detection module 200 is a filter for selectively passing the emission light emitted from the optical label included in the sample. If the detector detects light in a wavelength range other than the emission light from the optical label included in the sample, the optical signal may not be accurately detected. The detection filter of the present disclosure allows the target to be accurately detected by selectively passing the emission light emitted from the optical label.

The detection unit 210 may include a detector. The detector is configured to detect the emission light emitted from the optical label included in the sample. The detector may detect the amount of light for each wavelength by dividing the wavelength of light, or detect the total amount of light regardless of the wavelength. Specifically, the detector may use, for example, a photodiode, a photodiode array, a photo multiplier tube (PMT), a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, an avalanche photodiode (APD), or the like.

The detector is configured to detect the emission light emitted from the optical label included in the sample.

Specifically, the detector may be configured toward the sample holder 500 so that the emission light generated from the sample may directly reach the detector, or the emission light can reach the detector through a reflector or optical fiber. It may be configured toward a reflector or an optical fiber so thatthe detector may be configured toward the beam splitter 350 through which the emission light is reflected as in the case of FIG. 1.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the detector may be a plurality of detectors. In this case, each of the plurality of detectors may be configured to detect the emission light generated in a predetermined area of the sample holder 500. For example, the first detector is configured to detect the emission light emitted from the first sample area 510a of the sample holder 500, and the second detector is configured to detect the emission light from the second sample area 510b of the sample holder 500. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure may detect a plurality of signals in the first sample area 510a of the sample holder 500, and may also be detected a plurality of signals in the second sample area 510b of the sample holder 500. Alternatively, a plurality of detectors may be configured in one detection module 200 to detect the emission light emitted from different sample areas, respectively.

The sample holder 500 accommodates a sample. The sample of the present disclosure comprises all substances capable of being accommodated in the optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure and becoming subject to the optical signal detection reaction.

The sample holder 500 may be configured to directly accommodate a plurality of samples or configured to accommodate a reaction vessel containing samples. The reaction vessel of the present invention includes a reaction vessel capable of holding one sample. In addition, the reaction vessel of the present disclosure includes a reaction vessel capable of containing a plurality of samples separately.

The sample holder 500 may be a conductive material. When the sample holder 500 contacts the reaction vessels, heat may be transferred from the sample holder 500 to the reaction vessel. For example, the sample holder 500 may be made of a metal such as aluminum, gold, silver, nickel, or copper. Alternatively, a separate configuration other than the sample holder 500 may directly supply energy to the reaction vessel to control the temperature of the samples in the reaction vessel. In this case, the sample holder 500 accommodates the reaction vessels, but may be configured not to transfer heat to the reaction vessel.

An example of the sample holder 500 is a thermal block. The thermal block may include a plurality of holes or wells, and reaction vessels may be positioned in the holes or wells.

Another example of the sample holder 500 is a heating plate. The heating plate is a form in which a thin metal is brought into contact with a plate containing a sample. It may be operated by heating the plate by passing an electric current through a thin metal.

Another example of the sample holder 500 is an accommodating portion capable of accommodating one or more chips or cartridges. An example of the cartridge is a fluid cartridge comprising a flow channel.

The sample holder 500 may be configured to accommodate a plurality of samples, and a reaction for detection such as a nucleic acid amplification reaction may occur by controlling the temperature of the plurality of the samples. For example, when the sample holder 500 is a thermal block in which a plurality of wells are configured, the sample holder 500 is composed of one thermal block, and all wells of the thermal block may be not configured to be thermally independent from each other. In this case, the temperatures of all wells in which samples are accommodated in the sample holder 500 are the same, and the temperature of the accommodated samples may not be adjusted according to different protocols.

As another example, the sample holder 500 may be configured to control a temperature of some of the samples accommodated in the sample holder 500 according to different protocols. In other words, the sample holder 500 may include two or more thermally independent reaction regions. Each reaction region may be thermally independent. No heat is transferred from one reaction region to another. For example, there may be an insulating material or air gap between the reaction regions. The temperature of each of the reaction regions may be controlled independently. For each of the reaction regions, a reaction protocol including reaction temperature and time may be individually set, and each of the reaction regions may perform a reaction according to an independent reaction protocol. Since the reaction proceeds in the reaction regions according to an independent protocol, the light detection time points in the reaction regions are independent of each other.

In an embodiment, each of the plurality of sample areas 510a to 510d refer to an area on the sample holder 500 where an optical signal detection reaction is performed by the same light source unit 110. In other words, the sample area 510 of the present disclosure refers to a group of reaction sites in which the optical signal detection reaction proceeds by the same light source unit among thea plurality of reaction sites included in the sample holder 500. In other words, the sample area 510 is an area divided by irradiation area of the excitation light of the light source unit 110.

The sample holder 500 positions the sample at a predetermined position so that the optical stimulus arrives at the sample and the optical signal generated from the sample arrives at the detection module 200. In addition, the sample holder 500 may perform a process for detecting the optical signal from the sample, such as temperature control of the sample, if necessary.

When the sample holder 500 includes two or more thermally independent reaction regions, each sample area 510 is not defined over two or more reaction regions but is included in one reaction region or may be defined to be the same area as one reaction region. When the sample area 510 is defined as described above, the optical signal detection may be performed by the light source unit and the filter unit different from each other in the two or more thermally independent reaction regions in which the light detection time points are independent from each other. According to an embodiment, the sample holder 500 may include two or more reaction regions thermally independent from each other, and each of the sample areas 510a to 510d may be defined to be included in any one of the two or more reaction regions thermally independent from each other.

FIG.1 shows an example in which the sample holder 500 is divided into four

sample areas

510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d, but the sample holder and the sample area are not limited thereto. The sample holder 500 may be, for example, a sample holder including 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24 sample areas.

According to one embodiment, the number of reaction sites included in each of the sample areas 510 may be the same. In other words, the sample areas 510 may have the same number of samples that may be accommodated in each sample area. For example, each sample area 510 may include 16 reaction sites. The number of reaction sites that may be included in each sample area 510, that is, the number of samples that may be accommodated in each sample area is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or more, and 1000, 900, 800, 700, 600, 500, 400, 384, 300, 200, 100, 96, 48, 32, 24, 16 or less. Each light source unit of the plurality of the

light source units

110a, 110b, 110c and 110d is arranged to irradiate light to different sample areas.

According to one embodiment, the light source module may be configured that the plurality of the light source units 110a to 110d included in the light source module are disposed to irradiate light to different sample areas. In other words, according to the present disclosure, one individual light source unit is allocated to each of the plurality of sample areas 510a to 510d. Allocating one individual light source unit means that each light source unit is disposed in a fixed position.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the positions of the plurality of light source units 110a to 110d may be synchronously changed by rotation of a means such as a wheel (not shown). For example, when the wheel includes four light source units and rotates, the first light source unit 110a may move to the position of the second light source unit 110b, and the second light source unit 110b may move to the position of the second light source unit 110b, the second light source unit 110b may move to the position of the third light source unit 110c, the third light source unit 110c may move to the position of the fourth light source unit 110d, and the fourth light source unit 110d may move to the position of the first light source unit 110a.

In the optical signal detecting device 10 according to the present disclosure, all the reaction sites of the sample holder 500 are not supplied with light by the same single light source unit, but the divided reaction site of the sample holder 500 is supplied light with a plurality of light source units.

Referring to FIG. 1, the first light source unit 110a of the plurality of sample areas is configured to irradiate light to the first sample area 510a of the plurality of sample areas, and the second light source The unit 110b is configured to irradiate light to the second sample area 510b. In addition, the third light source unit 110c is configured to radiate light to the third sample area 510c, and the fourth light source unit 110d is configured to radiate light to the fourth sample area 510d. In other words, it is configured so that only a individual light source unit irradiates light to each of the plurality of

sample areas

510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d, and does not irradiate light to other sample areas. However, it is only one embodiment that one light source unit is configured to irradiate light to one sample area, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

One light source unit 110a may irradiate light to the two

sample areas

510a and 510b or more. In this case, the first light source unit 110a is an individual unit specified to irradiate light to the first sample area 510a, the second sample area 510b or more sample areas.

As such, when each of the plurality of

light source units

110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d irradiates light to each of the plurality of

sample areas

510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d, it difficult to always maintain the same optical path with respect to a specific sample area, which may cause errors. Also, when a plurality of light source units simultaneously irradiate light to the plurality of sample areas, a cross-talk problem may occur. For example, when each of the plurality of light source units 110 irradiates light to different sample areas, excitation lights may be mixed between the adjacent sample areas, or interference between the excitation lights may occur, and a predetermined sample may be generated. Light may be irradiated to a sample area other than the area. In this case, the light to be provided to a specific sample area crosstalks with the light irradiated to another area, so that the light may be not accurately provided to the samples located in the predetermined sample area, and an accuracy of the optical detection signal generated in response to the light stimulus may not be guaranteed.

As a result, the blocking module 300 may include a plurality of blocking units 310a to 310d disposed in each of the

sample areas

510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d along the path of the excitation light irradiated to each of the sample areas 510a to 510d and the path of the emission light emitted from each of the sample areas 510a to 510d.

The blocking module 300 according to the present disclosure is configured to be positioned based on the path of the excitation light for each of different sample areas, when each of the plurality of light source units 110a to 110d irradiates light to different sample areas, so as to prevent the cross-talk areas from occurring since the excitation lights are mixed between the adjacent sample.

FIG.2 is a side view of the optical signal detection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, the an optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure may be configured that the excitation light 50 irradiated to the sample from the light source module 100 and the emission light 60 emitted to the detection module 200 pass through each of the inner spaces 340a and 340b in each blocking

unit

310a and 310b of the blocking module 300.

In this case, the excitation light 50 and the emission light 60 may pass through the same path in some section of each of the inner spaces 340a and 340b. Since the emission light 60 is emitted only when the excitation light 50 is irradiated, the two paths of the excitation light 50 and the emission light 60 may not overlap with each other but pass through the same path. When light is irradiated to the sample area 510, the emission light is emitted from the reaction site of the sample area 510 to which the light is irradiated in response thereto. Therefore, if the beam splitter 350 is disposed into the inner space 340 of the blocking unit 310, the path of the emission light before the emission light is refracted by the beam splitter 350 and the path of the excitation light until the excitation light is irradiated to the sample may be the same. In this case, the latter may be the path of the excitation light after the excitation light passes through the beam spliter 350.

As described above, in the present disclosure, the path of the excitation light may refer to a path through which excitation light irradiated from the light source unit 110 and reaching the sample area 510 passes, and the path of emission light may refer to a path through which the emission light emitted from the sample area 510 onto which the excitation light is irradiated and reaching the detection unit 210 passes.

FIG.3A is a perspective view of a blocking module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The blocking module 300 according to the present disclosure may include four blocking

units

310a, 310b, 310c, and 310d as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3B, the blocking module 300 may include six blocking

units

310a, 310b, 310c, 310d, 310e, and 310f. The blocking module 300 shown in the FIGS is only an example and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. According to an embodiment, the number of the blocking units may be at least 1 or at least 6 or more.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3A, each of the plurality of blocking units 310a to 310d of the present disclosure includes an light entrance opening 315 opened in the direction in which the excitation light irradiated from each light source unit 110a to 110d is entered. In addition, each of the plurality of blocking units 310a to 310d includes an an light exit opening 320 through which the excitation light entered through the light entrance opening 315 is emitted to each of the sample areas 510a to 510d.

Each of the plurality of blocking units 310a to 310d includes an inner passage 340 defined by the path of the excitation light from the light entrance opening 315 to the light exit opening 320.

FIG. 3B is a diagram in which each of a plurality of blocking units 310 is disposed for each sample area 510 in the optical signal detaction device 10 of the present disclosure along an excitation light path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the blocking module 300 includes, for example, six blocking units 310, it may mean that different excitation lights from six different light source units 110 are irradiated to the sample areas divided into six areas, respectively. In the optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure, six light source units 110 accurately provide the excitation lights to a sample areas 510 divided into six areas through six blocking units 310, but it is only an example, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. According to an embodiment, the number of the blocking units 310 may be at least 1 or at least 6 or more.

As described above, when each of the plurality of blocking units 310 is allocated one by one according to each path of the excitation lights irradiated to each sample area, an independent path is secured for each excitation light, so that interference between the excitation lights may be blocked and the crosstalk may not occur. As a result, the predetermined excitation light is accurately transmitted to the samples positioned in each sample area, thereby enabling efficient optical signal detection.

Referring back to FIG. 1, a plurality of filter units 120a to 120d may be positioned between the plurality of light source units 110a to 110d and the plurality of blocking units 310a to 310d.

As described above, the filter module 120 filters light emitted from the light source unit 110. The filtration may mean selectively passing light in a specific wavelength range among the light emitted from the light source unit or selectively blocking light in a specific wavelength range. The "selectively passing light" may mean passing 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% or more of the amount of light in the desired wavelength range. The "selectively blocking light" may mean blocking without passing 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% or more of the amount of light in the target wavelength range.

The filter module 120 selectively passes light of a specific wavelength range among the light emitted from the light source unit to irradiate the sample. As a result, only a specific optical label among the optical labels included in the sample generates an optical signal.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the plurality of filter units 120a to 120d according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is located on the light entrance opening 315, and is configured to be movable so that it may move between the

light entrance openings

315a, 315b, 315c, and 315d, which is the light entrance opening 315 unit, and be positioned over other light entrance openings.

To this end, the optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure may include a filter support 121. The plurality of filter units 120 may be disposed on the filter support 121. The filter units 121 are fixed to the filter support 121 so that movement between the

light entrance openings

315a, 315b, 315c, and 315d is possible. In one embodiment, the filter support 121 is configured to be movable. The plurality of filter units 120 fixed to the filter support 121 move by the movement of the filter support 121.

The mover or the moving portion may move the filter support 121 through the connecting shaft 115, for example. The movement may be, for example, a rotational movement that rotates about the connecting shaft 115.

When the filter support 121 is rotated to move the filter units 120, all the filter units 120 may be positioned alternately once in each light source unit from the first light source unit 110a to the fourth light source unit 110d.

For example, the first filter unit 120a is configured to be movable so as to selectively filter the light emitted from the first light source unit 120a or the second light source unit 120b. In other words, the filter units 120 of the present disclosure are configured to move between the light source units 110. The movement method is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, rotation movement.

In the present disclosure, since the blocking unit 310 is configured along the path of the excitation light irradiated for each light source unit 110a to 110d, the plurality of filter units 120a to 120d positioned between the plurality of light source units 110a to 110d and the plurality of blocking units 310a to 310d are diposed to correspond to the blocking units 310, respectively.

In more detail, the plurality of filter units 120a to 120d are disposed to correspond to the

light entrance openings

315a, 315b, 315c, and 315d of each of the plurality of blocking units 310a to 310d to correspond to each

light source unit

110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d and provides filtered light to the corresponding light entrance opening 315 .

For example, when the first filter unit 120a among the plurality of filter units 120 is positioned in the path of the excitation light of the first light source unit 110a, the excitation light of the first light source unit 110a filtered by the first filter unit 120a is provided to the first light entrance opening 315a.

The second filter unit 120b is configured to be positioned in the path of the excitation light of the second light source unit 110a, the excitation light of the second light source unit 110b filtered by the second filter unit 120b is provided to the second light entrance opening 315b.

The third filter unit 120c is configured to be positioned in the path of the excitation light of the third light source unit 110c, the excitation light of the third light source unit 110c filtered by the third filter unit 120c is provided to the third light entrance opening 315c.

The fourth filter unit 120d is configured to be positioned in the path of the excitation light of the fourth light source unit 110d, the excitation light of the fourth light source unit 110d filtered by the fourth filter unit 120d is provided to the fourth light entrance opening 315d.

The plurality of filter units 120 are configured to rotate between the plurality of light entrance openings 315 in units of the light entrance openings. Accordingly, the first filter unit 120a positioned at the first light entrance opening 315a may move to a place where the second light entrance opening 315b is positioned. Sequentially, the second filter unit 120b may be moved to the third light entrance opening 315c, the third filter unit 120c may be moved to the fourth light entrance opening 315d, and the fourth filter unit 120d may be moved to the first light entrance opening 315c.

When the filter support 121 is rotated to move the filter units 120, all the

filter units

120a, 120b, 120c, 120d may be disposed alternately once in each light entrance opening 315a to 315d from the first light entrance opening 315a to the fourth light entrance opening 315d. The excitation light corresponding to the wavelength region of each filter unit 120 may be sequentially irradiated to each sample area by the above-mentioned synchronous movement. In other words, in accordance with the movement of the plurality of

filter units

120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d, each

filter unit

120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d is positioned alternately once between the respective

light entrance openings

315a, 315b, 315c, and 315d, while light of a specific wavelength region is light entrance through each of the

light entrance openings

315a, 315b, 315c, and 315d, and is provided to each of the blocking

units

310a, 310b, 310c, and 310d.

In this way, the light entered through each of the

light entrance openings

315a, 315b, 315c, and 315d passes through the inner passage 340 of the area through which the light passes so that the light passes in each of the blocking

units

310a, 310b, 310c, and 310d, and is emitted to each sample area 510 through the emission

light exit openings

320a, 320b, 320c, and 320d.

According to the present disclosure, the sample area 510 may include four or

more reaction regions

510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d that are thermally independent from each other, and each reaction region may be defined as a different sample area. Specifically, the first reaction region 510a defined as the first sample area performs an optical signal detection reaction by the first light source unit 110a, and the second reaction region 510b defined as the second sample area performs the optical signal detection reaction by the second light source unit 110b. Accordingly, even when each of the reaction regions performs a reaction according to an independent protocol, since the light source units are allocated independently, the optical signal detection is possible in an optimal reaction time for each other.

As an example, the optical signal dectetion device according to one embodiment may include the sample holder 500 including reaction regions arranged in 8 X 12, and a total of six sample areas are defined by dividing the reaction region arranged in the 4 X 4 into one sample area in the sample holder 500. The optical signal dectetion device 10 may also include the light source module including six light source units disposed in each sample area. In addition, it may be a device in which two filter modules including four filter units are configured in order to dispose the filter units in the optical paths of the six light source units.

The sample holder 500 of the present disclosure includes the plurality of

sample areas

510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d, and an optical signal emitted from a sample positioned in each of the

sample areas

510a, 510b, 510c, 510d is detected through the detection module 200.

The detection module 200 according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of filter units 220 and a plurality of detection units 210. The detection unit 210 detects the optical signal by generating an electrical signal according to the intensity of the optical signal. Like the light source unit 110, the detection unit 210 may be disposed at a fixed position to maintain an accurate optical path with respect to the sample holder 500.

In an embodiment, each of the detection units 210a, 210b, 210c, and 210d includes a detector, and may be disposed to detect the light emitted from each of the

sample areas

510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d.

The filter unit 220 may be disposed in front of the detection unit 210. The filter unit 220 may include a detection filter, and the detection filter disposed in front of the detection unit 210 may be changed depending on the wavelength of the emission light. The detection filter of the filter unit 220 is a detection filter for selectively passing the emission light emitted from the optical label included in the sample. When the detection unit 210 detects light in a wavelength region other than the emission light emitted from the optical label included in the sample, the optical signal cannot be accurately detected. The detection filter of the present disclosure allows the target to be accurately detected by selectively passing the emission light emitted from the optical label.

The detection unit 210 is configured to detect the emission light emitted from the optical label included in the sample. The detection unit 210 may detect the amount of light for each wavelength by classifying the wavelength of the light, or detect the total amount of light regardless of the wavelength. Specifically, the detection unit 210, may used a dection device such as a photodiode, a photodiode array, a photo multiplier tube (PMT), a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, an avalanche photodiode (APD), etc.

The detection unit 210 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be a plurality of detection units 210a to 210d. In this case, each of the plurality of detection units 210a to 210d may be configured to detect light emitted from a predetermined area of the sample holder 500. The first detection unit 210a among the plurality of detection units 210a to 210d is configured to detect the emission light emitted from the first sample area 510a among the plurality of sample areas of the sample holder 500, and the second detection unit 210b may be configured to detect the emission light emitted from the second sample area 510b of the sample holder 500. The optical signal detection device 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may detect a plurality of signals in the first sample area 510a of the sample holder 500, and may detect a second signal in the sample holder 500. A plurality of signals may also be detected in the sample area 510b.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the detection unit 210 may be configured to be positioned in the path of the emission light generated from the sample holder 500. Specifically, the detection unit 210 may be configured toward the sample holder 500 so that the emission light generated from the sample may directly reach the detection unit 210. The detection unit 210 may be also configured toward a reflector or an optical fiber so that the the light emitted through the reflector or the optical fiber reach the detector. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the detection unit 210 may be configured toward the beam splitter 350 through which the emission light is reflected.

Referring to FIG. 2, the beam splitter 350 is configured in the inner space 340 in the blocking unit 310 of the present disclosure. The path of the emission light may be refracted by the beam splitter 350 so that the emission light emitted from the sample area 510 may reach the detection module 200. When the detection module 200 is in a straight path of the emission optical path, the optical signal may be received without the use of the beam splitter 350.

In the present disclosure, each of the plurality of blocking

units

310a, 310b, 310c, and 310d includes the light exit opening 330 for providing the emission light emitting from each

sample area

510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d to the detection module 200 so that the emission light may reach the detection module 200 regardless of the presence or absence of the beam splitter 350. The light exit opening 330 is configured in a transmission path through which the emission light emitted from each of the

sample areas

510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d is transmitted to the detection module 200. The light exit opening 330 is provided in plurality 330a to 330d, and is positioned to correspond to each of the plurality of blocking units 310a to 310d.

The emission light reaches the detection module 200 from each of the

sample areas

510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d through its own path of the emission light, and in particular, the path of the light emission that reaches the detection module 200 in a straight line may be divided into the transmission path. For example, when the path of the emission light is refracted by the beam splitter 350 so that the emission light may reach the detection module 200, a path after refracting may be divided into the transmission path, and when the detection module 200 is placed in a straight path of the path of the light emittion, the entire path of the emission light may be recognized as the transmission path.

As a result, in the optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure, the paths of emission lights emitted from each

sample area

510a, 510b, 510c, 510d are confiruged between each

sample area

510a, 510b, 510c, 510d and the detection module 200, respectively, and in particular, the straight path of the emission light toward the detection module 200 in the path of the emission light may be referred to as the transmission path. The light exit opening 330 is configured on the transmission path, and the light emitted from each of the blocking

units

310a, 310b, 310c, and 310d is transmitted to the detection module 200 through the light exit opening 330.

The light exit opening 330 according to the present disclosure is configured to correspond to the detection unit 210. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light exit opening 330 may be configured on a side surface of each blocking unit, respectively. This means that the detection unit 210 is positioned over the side of each blocking

unit

310a, 310b, 310c and 310d. Since the detection unit 210 detects the emission light emitted through the light exit opening 330, when the light exit opening 330 is configured on the side of each blocking unit, the detection unit may be located at a position (on a straight line) corresponding thereto. However, the position of the light exit opening 330 of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to being configured on the side surface of the blocking unit, and the detection unit is disposed according to a position capable of receiving light emitted through the light exit opening 330.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the filter unit 220 is positioned between the light exit opening 330 and the detection unit 210 in the path of the emission light as in the path of the excitation light. The filter unit 220 is configured to be movable through the light exit opening 330.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of filter units 220a to 220d is located on each light exit opening 330, and is configured to be movable so that it may be positioned over another light exit opening by moving between the light exit openings 330 in unit of the light exit opening 330. In this case, another opening may be an adjacent opening which shares the plurality of filter units 220a to 220d. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first light exit opening 330a and the second light exit opening 330b are adjacent to each other and share a plurality of filter units 220a to 220d. The third light exit opening 330c and the fourth light exit opening 330d are adjacent to each other and share the plurality of filter units 220e to 220h.

To this end, the filter unit 220 of the optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure may include the filter support 215. The plurality of filter units 220 may be disposed on the filter support 215. The filter units 220 are fixed to the filter support 215 so that they may move between adjacent light exit openings. In one embodiment, the filter support 215 is configured to be movable. The filter support 215 may be configured to be movable by the mover or the moving portion (not shown).

The filter units 220 fixed to the filter support 215 move by the movement of the filter support 215.

The mover may move the filter support 215 through the connecting shaft 225, for example. The movement may be, for example, a rotational movement that rotates about the connecting shaft 225. For example, a connecting shaft 215 for transmitting the power of the motor to the filter support 215 may be configured to connect the motor and the filter support 215. Both ends of the connecting shaft 215 may be directly connected to the filter support 215 and the motor to transmit power. Alternatively, one end of the connecting shaft 225 may be connected to the filter support 225, and the other end may be indirectly connected to the motor through other motors such as gears, belts, and pulleys.

When the filter support 215 is rotated and the filter units 220 are moved, the plurality of filter units 220 disposed on the filter support 215 may be placed alternately once in each of the detection unit 210 correspondingly located on different light exit opening.

For example, when the first filter unit 220a is in a position capable of filtering the light emitted from the sample area 510 received through the first light exit opening 330a, the second filter unit 210b is configured so as to be in a position capable of filtering the light emitted from the sample area 510 received through the second light exit opening 330d.

As such, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of filter units of the present invention may be disposed on the filter support 215 so that at least two or more filter units 220a to 220d may be simutanuouly positioned in different light exit openings 330 from each other. Through this arrangement, the optical sighan detection device 10 of the present disclosure may simultaneously detect light filtered in two or more sample areas in a specific wavelength region.

In optical sighan detection device 10 of the present disclosure, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one individual detection unit is allocated to each of the plurality of

sample areas

510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d.

As described above, the optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure blocks mutual interference between excitation lights irradiated to the sample through the blocking module 300.

In addition to the interference of the excitation light, the optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure may include the light source module 100 for providing the excitation light, the detection module 200 for detecting the emission light emitted while the sample reacts through the excitation light, the blocking module 300 configured along the path for each excitation light and the light blocking housing 400 blocking an external light.

As a result, the light blocking housing 400 according to the present disclosure blocks the external light by inclusing the light source module 100, the detection module 200, and the blocking module 300.

The light blocking housing 400 of the present disclosure filters the light irradiated from the light source unit to prevent the light source module 100 irradiating the light to the sample area from interference by the external light, and protect the blocking unit through which the excitation light passes from external light, and accurately detect the emission light emitted from the sample area 510 without interference from the external light. To this end, the light blocking housing 400 may inlcude the structure that surrounds the outside of the light source module 100, the detection module 200 and the blocking module 300.

This light blocking housing 400 interlocks with the blocking module 300 to block the interference of the excitation light and the emission light, so that the excitation light and emission light are minimized to be leaked to the outside or interfered with by external light, thereby increasing the accuracy and reliability of optical signal detection. The material of the light blocking housing 400 and the blocking module 300 may be an opaque material through which light cannot pass.

The light blocking housing 400 according to the present disclosure includes a hole 410 through which the excitation light excited to the plurality of sample areas 510 and the emission light emitted from the plurality of sample areas 510 pass.

The hole 410 according to the present disclosure may be aligned with a hot lid that provides heat and pressure to the reaction vessel of the sample holder 500. The hole 410 is aligned with the lower portion of each blocking unit 310 and open toward the sample holder 500 so that the excitation light for each blocking unit 310 of the blocking module 300 may be transmitted to each sample area. In this case, the hot lead may be positioned between the hole 410 and the sample holder 500.

The hot lead is configured to coincide with the open lower portion of the light blocking housing 400 and the lower portion of the blocking module 300 so that light is entered toward the sample holder 500, and the lower portion of the light blocking housing 400 and the lower portion of the blocking module 400 are maintained in alignment during the light from the sample holder 500 is emistted.

The optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure may be cofigured that each of the light source units irradiate the excitation light to the sample area that is a part of the sample holder to measure the optical signal. The optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure is required to secure the stable path of the excitation light and provide the accurate excitation light to the sample while simultaneously detecting the emission light emitted from the sample without signal deviation.

As in the optical signal detection device 10 of the present disclosure, when individual excitation lights are simultaneously irradiated to a plurality of sample areas, the excitation lights may interfere and collide with each other, so that the excitation light provided to each sample area may be deformed. In the detection module that detects the emission light emitted from the sample in response to the provision of the excitation light, if the emission light as well as the light from the outside is not completely blocked, the external light may interfere with the emission light or cause noise of the light detection. Due to this, the light detection performance may be affected, and it may be difficult to accurately detect the emission light. Therefore, in the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 4, the blocking module 300 and the light blocking housing 400 are configured to double, so that the excitation light from the light source module 100 and the emission light emitted from the sample area may be shielded at the same time.

The shape of the light blocking housing 400 may be a rectangular shape as shown in the drawing, but is not limited thereto if it includes a structure which may be sealed in all directions of the blocking module 300, the light source module 100, the detection module 200.

As a result, the light source module 100 located inside the light blocking housing 400 may be also located on the blocking module 300 and the sample holder 500 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but it is ne limited to its position if the path of the excitation light may be independently secured through the blocking module 300, and the excitation light may be irradiated to each sample area of the sample holder 500.

The detection module 200 is also positioned to correspond to the light exit opening 330 like the light source module 100, so that the emission light emitted from each sample area of the sample holder 500 may be detected.

The blocking module 300 may be located below the light source module 100 and above the sample holder 500, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but it is not limited thereot if it may be disposed on the path of the excitation light irradiated from the light source module 100 and provide the excitation light to the sample area and provide the emission light emitted from the sample area to the detection module 200.

In addition, the terms such as "include", "consist of" or "have" described above mean that the corresponding component may be included unless otherwise stated, excluding other components such that they should be interpreted as being able to further include other components. All terms, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, unless otherwise defined. Generally used terms, such as terms defined in the dictionary, should be interpreted as being consistent with the meaning in the context of the related technology, and are not interpreted as ideal or excessively formal meanings unless explicitly defined in the present invention.

The examples described herein may be expanded to individual elements and concepts described herein, independently from other concepts, ideas, or systems and may be combined with elements cited anywhere in the present invention. Although some examples have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the concept is not limited to such examples. Thus, the scope of the concept is intended to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Further, specific features described individually or as some examples may be combined with other features described individually or other examples although not specifically mentioned for the specific features. Thus, the absence of a description of such combination should not be interpreted as excluding such combination from the scope of the present invention.

While embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be easily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the scope of the disclosure is not limited thereto. Thus, the scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

[CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS]

This application claims priority from Korean patent Application No. 10-2020-0124884, filed on September 25, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Claims

An optical signal detection device analyzing a plurality of samples accommodated in a sample holder divided into a plurality of sample areas, comprising:

a light source module comprising a plurality of light source units configured to irradiate light to the plurality of sample areas and a plurality of filter units configured to filter the light emitted from the light source unit; wherein each light source unit of the plurality of light source units is configured to irradiate light to different sample areas,

a detection module comprising a plurality of detection units configured to detect emission light emitted from the plurality of the sample areas and a plurality of detection filter units configured to filter the emission light emitted from the plurality of sample areas;

a blocking module comprising a plurality of blocking units disposed in each sample area according to a path of excitation light irradiated to each of the plurality of sample areas and a path of emission light emitted from each of the plurality of sample areas; and

a light blocking housing inclusing the light source module, the detection module, and the blocking module to block external light.
The optical signal detection device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of blocking units comprises an light entrance opening opened in a direction in which the excitation light irradiated from each of the light source units is entered.
The optical signal detection device according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of blocking units comprises an light exit opening for exiting the excitation light entered through the light entrance opening to each of the sample areas.
The optical signal detection device according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of blocking units comprises an inner passage defined by the path of the excitation light from the light entrance opening to the light exit opening.
The optical signal detection device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of filter units are positioned between the plurality of light source units and the plurality of blocking units, and

each of the plurality of filter units is positioned over the light entrance opening and is configured to be movable so that it may be positioned over other light entrance openings by moving between the light entrance openings.
The optical signal detection device according to claim 1, wherein one individual light source unit is allocated to each of the plurality of sample areas.
The optical signal detection device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of blocking units comprises an light exit opening for providing emission light emitted from each of the sample areas to the detection unit.
The optical signal detection device according to claim 7, wherein the light exit opening is configured in a path through which the emission light emitted from each sample area is transmitted to the detection module.
The optical signal detection device according to claim 8, wherein the filter unit is positioned between the light exit opening and the detection unit, and

each of the plurality of filter units is positioned over the light exit opening and is configured to be movable so that it may be positioned over other openings by moving between the light exit openings.
The optical signal detection device according to claim 1, wherein one individual detection unit is allocated to each of the plurality of sample areas.
The optical signal detection device according to claim 1, wherein the light blocking housing comprises a hole through which the excitation light excited to the plurality of sample areas and the emission light emitted from the plurality of sample areas pass.
The optical signal detection device according to claim 1, wherein the light blocking housing is positioned over the sample holder.