JP2000180365A - Image data reading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the condensing efficiency of the light diffused and emitted from an image carrier in an image data reading apparatus. SOLUTION: An interline type CCD 50 fitted with a cooling element spaced apart from a membrane 10 on which a substance originating from a living body labelled by a chemical substance emitting chemoluminescent light C is distributed to be arranged in opposed relation to the membrane 10 and the microlens array 20 provided between the CCD 50 and the membrane 10 in close vicinity to the membrane 10 and directing the chemoluminescent light C emitted from the membrane 10 toward the CCD 50 are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information reading apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement in an apparatus for photoelectrically reading fluorescence or chemiluminescence emitted from an image carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology, a fluorescence detection system using a fluorescent dye as a labeling substance has been known. This system irradiates a sample in which a specific biological substance labeled with a fluorescent dye is distributed with excitation light, and photoelectrically detects fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye excited by the irradiated excitation light, The distribution of a specific biological substance in a sample is read as fluorescence image information, and the gene sequence, gene expression level, metabolism, absorption, excretion pathway and state of the administered substance in experimental mice, protein separation / identification, or molecular weight , Evaluation of characteristics, quantitative analysis, and the like.

[0003] In the same field, as in the above-described fluorescence detection system, a system for photoelectrically detecting chemiluminescence image information representing the distribution of a substance exhibiting chemiluminescence in a sample is also known. In this system, unlike the fluorescence detection system described above, there is no irradiation with excitation light,
Using a chemical substance that emits light by chemically reacting with a specific biological substance, the distribution of the specific biological substance in the sample is read as image information.

An image information reading device used in such a fluorescence detection system or a chemiluminescence detection system is
Fluorescent or chemiluminescent light is photoelectrically detected by a two-dimensional photoelectric reading means (CCD or the like) in which a large number of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged two-dimensionally, which are arranged to face the sample (image carrier).
Generally, between the two-dimensional photoelectric reading means and the sample, a configuration in which a condensing lens for forming an image of the sample on the light receiving surface of the two-dimensional photoelectric reading means is adopted.

[0005]

Since the fluorescent light and the chemiluminescent light read by the image information reading apparatus described above are diffused light, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the fluorescent light and the chemiluminescent light spread from the light emitting position of the sample (image carrier). Emits light. Here, the condensing lens converts the light emitted from the sample, such as fluorescent light, into CC light.
D, etc., but a part of the diffused light is
It is merely focused on a CD or the like, and most of the light emitted from the sample is dissipated without entering the focusing lens.
For this reason, it is desired to improve the light collection efficiency of the dissipated emitted light in order to photoelectrically detect weak emitted light such as fluorescent light with higher sensitivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image information reading apparatus in which the efficiency of condensing emitted light emitted from a sample is further improved. .

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image information reading apparatus in which a microlens array is disposed on an image carrier, and light emitted by diffusing from the image carrier is directed toward the two-dimensional photoelectric reading means. It is a thing.

That is, according to the image information reading apparatus of the present invention, the photoelectric conversion element, which is disposed opposite to the image carrier and spaced apart from the image carrier which emits light of an amount corresponding to the image information carried, has two photoelectric conversion elements. An image information reading apparatus, comprising: two-dimensional photoelectric reading means arranged in a large number in a two-dimensional manner; and a condenser lens for forming an image of the image carrier on a light receiving surface of the two-dimensional photoelectric reading means. A microlens array arranged between a condenser lens and the image carrier and disposed in close proximity to or in contact with the image carrier, for directing the light emitted from the image carrier toward the two-dimensional photoelectric reading unit. It is characterized by having.

Here, it is preferable that the diameter of each of a large number of microlenses constituting the microlens array is 1 mm or less in order to secure the resolution of an image to be obtained. Those having a thickness of about several hundred μm are more preferable. As such a microlens array, for example, a flat microlens array by Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. or the like is suitable.

The two-dimensional photoelectric reading means is a CCD in which solid-state imaging devices are two-dimensionally arranged, and particularly, can detect weak fluorescent light with a wide dynamic range and good linearity. It is also preferable to apply a CCD cooled to a low temperature (for example, an interline CCD having a cooling element).

As the image carrier, a membrane carrier (membrane filter) on which information of a gel carrier on which a biological substance labeled with a chemical substance emitting chemiluminescent light is distributed, a microtiter plate or a slide glass, or a fluorescent dye is used. A gel carrier, a microtiter plate or a slide glass on which a labeled biological substance is distributed, or a membrane carrier (membrane filter) onto which information on the gel carrier is transferred can be used.

When an image carrier in which a biological substance labeled with a fluorescent dye is distributed is applied, it is necessary to further provide an excitation light source for irradiating the image carrier with excitation light in a wavelength band for emitting fluorescence. It is.

It is sufficient that each micro lens constituting the micro lens array has at least a positive refractive power.

[0014]

According to the image information reading apparatus of the present invention, the image carrier is located between the image carrier and the condensing lens for forming the image of the light emitted from the image carrier on the two-dimensional photoelectric reading means. By the microlens array arranged close to or in contact with, the emitted light emitted from this image carrier,
Since the light is directed in the direction of the two-dimensional photoelectric reading means, it is possible to suppress the emission light that is widely diffused from the light emitting point of the image carrier from being dissipated. Therefore, the emitted light can be detected with higher sensitivity than before.

According to the configuration using a single lens instead of using a microlens array, it is necessary to use a lens having a diameter and a thickness corresponding to the size of a subject. Since the aberration at a position farther from the optical axis is larger than that near the optical axis, it is difficult to uniformly detect the amount of light over the entire light receiving surface of the two-dimensional photoelectric reading means, and the size of the lens itself is large. It is also difficult to secure an occupied space inside the building. On the other hand, according to the configuration of the present invention using the microlens array, these disadvantages are eliminated and the configuration is more excellent.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the image information reading apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of an image information reading apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a microlens array used in FIG.

As shown in the partially enlarged view of the microlens array shown in the figure, a large number of minute lenses 21 having a diameter of several tens of μm are densely arranged in one plane.

Further, the illustrated image information reading apparatus is separated from a membrane filter 10 which transfers information of a gel carrier in which a biological substance labeled with a chemical substance emitting chemiluminescent light C is distributed. An interline type CCD 50 with a cooling element, which is disposed to face the lens, a condensing lens 40 for forming an image of the membrane 10 on the light receiving surface of the CCD 50, and between the condensing lens 40 and the membrane 10 A microlens array 20 (see FIG. 2) disposed in close proximity to the membrane 10 for directing the chemiluminescent light C emitted from the membrane 10 in the direction of the CCD 50;
A shutter mechanism 30 is provided between the CCD 50 and the condenser lens 40 for preventing or allowing the chemiluminescent light C emitted from the membrane 10 and passing through the condenser lens 40 to enter the CCD 50.

Next, the operation of the image information reading apparatus will be described.

First, chemiluminescent light C is emitted from a biological substance distributed in the membrane 10 and labeled with a chemical substance. As shown in FIG. 6, the chemiluminescent light C diffuses widely from its emission point. However, in the present embodiment, since the microlens array 20 is provided close to the surface of the membrane 10, the diffused chemiluminescent light C is emitted by the minute microlenses 21 constituting the microlens array 20. It has directivity in the direction of the CCD 50 (diffuses as shown by the broken line in the figure).

The chemiluminescent light C diffused toward the CCD 50 with the directivity as described above,
The light passes through the opened shutter mechanism 30 and is focused on a predetermined position on the light receiving surface of the CCD 50. Similarly, the chemiluminescent light emitted from each part of the membrane 10 is also condensed at a position on the light receiving surface of the CCD 50 corresponding to the light emitting position on the membrane 10, and as a whole on the light receiving surface of the CCD 50, on the membrane 10 A distribution image of the emitted chemiluminescent light C is formed. Note that the chemiluminescent light C
After a lapse of a predetermined time from the formation of the distribution image, the shutter mechanism 30 is closed, and the photographing ends.

Here, due to the action of the microlens array 20, the chemiluminescent light C having higher directivity than the conventional one is incident on the condenser lens 40.
The irradiation amount of the chemiluminescent light is increased as compared with the case of FIG. As a result, the chemiluminescent light C imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD 50
Is larger than the conventional one, and the CCD 50 can photoelectrically convert the chemiluminescent light C with high sensitivity.

The image signal representing the distribution image of the chemiluminescent light C photoelectrically converted by the CCD 50 is subjected to various image processing such as shading correction by an image processing device (not shown), and is used for image quantification.

As described above, according to the image information reading apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the chemiluminescent light C widely diffused from the light emitting point of the membrane 10 from dissipating. C can be detected.

The image information reading apparatus according to the present embodiment
Although the apparatus configured to photoelectrically read the distribution of the chemiluminescent light C that emits light without excitation by the excitation light has been described, the image information reading apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and irradiates the excitation light. It may be configured to read the emitted fluorescent light. That is, as an image carrier, a gel carrier in which a biological substance labeled with a fluorescent dye that emits fluorescence K upon irradiation with predetermined excitation light L is distributed
10 'is applied, the excitation light source 70 for irradiating the gel carrier 10' with the excitation light L and the excitation light L scattered by the gel carrier 10 '
Excitation light cut filter 60 for preventing incidence on CD50
May be employed.

For example, the image information reading apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 employs an LED 70 arranged as an excitation light source so as to uniformly irradiate the entire surface of the gel carrier 10 '. According to this image information reading device, the LED light L emitted from the LED 70 uniformly irradiates the entire surface of the gel carrier 10 ', whereby the biological substance labeled with a fluorescent dye is distributed in the gel carrier 10'. Then, the fluorescent light K is emitted.
This fluorescent light K is given directivity in the direction of the CCD 50 by the minute microlenses 21 constituting the microlens array 20 provided close to the surface of the gel carrier 10 '. Like the chemiluminescent light C in the embodiment, an image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 50 by the condenser lens 40. In the image information reading apparatus of this embodiment, the LED light L, which is the excitation light, is reflected by the surface of the gel carrier 10 'or the like, and a part of the LED light L may enter the condenser lens 40. Since the reflected LED light L is cut by the excitation light cut filter 60, it does not enter the CCD 50.

In this embodiment, an LED is used as the excitation light source. However, a light source that emits excitation light, such as a halogen lamp, a UV lamp, or a laser light source, may be used.

Further, these excitation light sources are provided on the gel carrier 10 '.
On the other hand, it is not limited to the one provided on the same surface side as the CCD 50 or the like. For example, as shown in FIG.
For 0 ', a configuration provided on the side opposite to the CCD 50 or the like may be adopted. However, when such a configuration is adopted, at least the image carrier 10 ′ such as a gel carrier
Must be formed of a material that can transmit the excitation light L emitted from the excitation light source 70.

The excitation light L is not limited to light that irradiates the entire surface of the gel carrier 10 'at a time. That is,
For example, the image information reading apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG.
In the image information reading apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG.
Instead of 70, a laser light source 70 ', an optical system 71 for converting the laser light L emitted from the laser light source 70' into a thin beam light (laser beam) L, and a laser beam L emitted from the optical system 71 And a main scanning unit 72 comprising a polygon mirror and an fθ lens for reflecting the laser beam L in the depth direction shown in the drawing (the direction penetrating the plane of the paper).
Sub-scanning means 73 for moving in the direction
By combining the main scanning of the laser beam L with the main scanning by the main scanning unit 72 and the sub-scanning by the sub-scanning unit 73, the entire surface of the gel carrier 10 'is sequentially irradiated, but the embodiment having such a configuration may be adopted. According to each of these embodiments, the fluorescence K diffused widely from the emission point of the gel carrier 10 ′ can be obtained.
Can be suppressed, and the emitted light K can be detected with higher sensitivity than before.

In the above embodiment, the gel carrier 1
Instead of 0 ', a membrane filter or the like to which the information of the gel carrier 10' has been transferred may be used as the subject.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image information reading apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a microlens array used in the image information reading device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the image information reading apparatus of the present invention (part 1).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the image information reading apparatus of the present invention (part 2).

FIG. 5 is a view showing another embodiment of the image information reading apparatus of the present invention (part 3).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional image information reading apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Membrane 20 Micro lens array 30 Shutter mechanism 40 Condensing lens 50 CCDC Chemiluminescence light

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2G043 AA01 AA06 BA16 EA01 EA06 GA06 GB07 HA01 HA11 KA03 KA09 LA03 NA16 2G054 AB10 CA23 CE02 EA01 EA03 FA12 FA17 FA22 FA32 FA50 GA02 GA05 GB01 GB10 GE01 JA20

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a two-dimensional manner, facing away from the image carrier which emits light of an amount corresponding to the image information carried; An image information reading apparatus comprising: a two-dimensional photoelectric reading unit; and a condensing lens for forming an image of the image carrier on a light receiving surface of the two-dimensional photoelectric reading unit. A microlens array disposed between and adjacent to or in contact with the image carrier for directing the light emitted from the image carrier toward the two-dimensional photoelectric reading unit. Image information reading device. 2. The image information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier is a membrane carrier on which a biological substance labeled with a chemical substance that emits chemiluminescent light is distributed. 3. The light source according to claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the image carrier is fluorescent light, and further comprising an excitation light source for irradiating the image carrier with excitation light in a wavelength band for emitting the fluorescent light. Image information reading device. 4. The image information reading device according to claim 3, wherein the image carrier is a gel carrier or a membrane carrier on which a biological substance labeled with a fluorescent dye is distributed. 5. The image information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of each of a large number of micro lenses constituting the micro lens array is 1 mm or less. 6. The image information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said two-dimensional photoelectric reading means is a cooled CCD.