Chemiluminescence measurement apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11480525-B2
Application number	US-201715637879-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2017
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

Disclosed is a chemiluminescence measurement apparatus that includes: a support member configured to support a cartridge for measuring a test substance contained in a specimen by chemiluminescence measurement; a motor configured to rotate the support member so as to rotate the cartridge such that a process required for the chemiluminescence measurement proceeds in the cartridge; and a light receiver configured to receive light generated by chemiluminescence in the cartridge that is supported by the support member rotated by the motor. The cartridge supported by the support member and a light receiving surface of the light receiver are disposed inside a dark space surrounded by a light-shielding portion, and the motor is disposed outside the dark space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A chemiluminescence measurement apparatus comprising:
an outer casing;
a support member configured to support a cartridge for measuring a test substance contained in a specimen by chemiluminescence measurement, the support member disposed within the outer casing;
a motor configured to rotate the support member so as to rotate the cartridge such that a process required for the chemiluminescence measurement proceeds in the cartridge;
a light receiver configured to receive light generated by chemiluminescence in the cartridge that is supported by the support member rotated by the motor;
a magnet configured to transfer a complex of the test substance and magnetic particles from a chamber of the cartridge through a channel of the cartridge; and
a light-shielding housing configured to surround the cartridge supported by the support member, at least a light receiving surface of the light receiver, and the magnet, wherein
the light-shielding housing forms, at least in part, an internal space having such darkness as to stably detect chemiluminescence,
wherein the light-shielding housing is a separate structure from the outer casing and is mounted within the outer casing, and
wherein the support member, the light receiver, and the magnet are positioned on a first side of the light-shielding housing, and the motor is disposed on a second side of the light-shielding housing such that the motor is within the outer casing and outside the internal space of the light-shielding housing and such that the light-shielding housing is configured to inhibit transfer of heat from the motor into the internal space formed by the light-shielding housing.

2. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pressing portion configured to press a seal of a liquid storage portion of the cartridge, and wherein the support member is positioned so as to oppose the pressing portion across the cartridge.

3. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a drive shaft of the motor; and
a rotation shaft fixed to the support member, wherein
the motor operates to rotate the rotation shaft,
the light-shielding housing has a hole through which the drive shaft of the motor is joined to the rotation shaft, and
the motor is mounted to an outer side surface of the light-shielding housing so as to close the hole.

4. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the support member is provided so as to extend from a rotation shaft side to a position opposing a pressing portion.

5. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising the cartridge, wherein:
the cartridge comprises a chamber in which liquid is stored, and a channel through which the liquid in the chamber is transferred from the chamber,
the chamber is connected to the channel on the rotation shaft side, and
the chamber comprises protrusions that protrude toward the rotation shaft, and that are disposed on both sides which sandwich a connecting position at which the chamber connects to the channel.

6. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the chamber comprises planar wall surfaces that are connected to the protrusions, respectively, and that are disposed on both sides which sandwich the connecting position.

7. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising the cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises:
a chamber comprising a projection that projects toward the rotation shaft, and a channel that is connected to the projection.

8. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a light-shielding elastic member disposed, between the outer side surface of the light-shielding housing and a surface of the motor which opposes the outer side surface, so as to surround the hole, and wherein
the motor is mounted to the outer side surface of the light-shielding housing so as to press the surface of the motor against the light-shielding elastic member.

9. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor operates so as to change a rotation speed of the support member.

10. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light receiver is capable of performing photon counting.

11. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light receiver is a photomultiplier.

12. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a light receiving unit that comprises the light receiver disposed inside the internal space formed by the light-shielding housing.

13. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnet is disposed inside the internal space formed by the light-shielding housing.

14. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
at least one magnet moving motor configured to move the magnet relative to the cartridge in order to transfer the complex from the chamber through the channel, wherein
the at least one magnet moving motor and the magnet are both disposed inside the internal space formed by the light-shielding housing.

15. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising an apparatus body and a light receiving unit, wherein
an outline of each of the motor and the apparatus body is rectangular in a planar view,
the motor is disposed such that a corner of the motor and a corner of the apparatus body are misaligned in the planar view, and
the light receiving unit that comprises the light receiver is disposed in a space between the motor and the corner of the apparatus body in the planar view, and
the magnet and the at least one magnet moving motor are disposed in a space between the motor and another corner of the apparatus body in the planar view.

16. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a ventilator comprising a fan configured to dissipate heat generated from the motor to outside of the apparatus.

17. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the light-shielding housing further comprises:
a first housing formed in the light shielding housing and configured to house a member disposed in the internal space formed by the light shielding housing, wherein the first housing projects toward a motor side of the light-shielding housing, and wherein
the motor is disposed lateral to the first housing so as to form a space between the motor and the first housing.

18. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the light-shielding housing further comprises a second housing formed in the light-shielding housing so as to form a space between the first housing and the second housing, wherein
the motor is disposed between the first housing and the second housing, and
the ventilator is disposed so as to oppose the space between the first housing and the second housing.

19. The chemiluminescence measurement apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light-shielding housing is configured to remain stationary relative to the outer casing, and wherein the motor is configured to rotate the support member so as to rotate the cartridge such that the cartridge rotates relative to the light-shielding housing.

Assignees

• Sysmex Corp

Inventors

• Tomoda Sayuri
• Nose Tomoyuki
• Sasaki Noriaki
• Horii Kazuyoshi

Classifications

• G01N35/00069

  whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk · CPC title

• G01N2201/064

  Stray light conditioning · CPC title

• B01L2400/0683

  mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber · CPC title

• B01L2200/146

  Employing pressure sensors · CPC title

• B01F31/10

  with a mixing receptacle rotating alternately in opposite directions · CPC title