Optical measurement device for reaction vessel and method therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical measurement device for a reaction vessel, and a method therefor. An object is to measure the optical state within a reaction vessel in an efficient, rapid, and highly reliable manner, without an expansion of the device scale. The configuration includes: a vessel group in which two or more reaction vessels are arranged; a light guide stage having two or more linking portions to which front ends of light guide portions, which have a flexibility, that optically connect with the interior of the linked reaction vessels, are provided; a connecting end arranging body that has an arranging surface that arranges and supports along a predetermined path two or more connecting ends, to which back ends of the light guide portions, in which the front ends thereof are provided to the linking portions, are provided, the connecting ends are provided corresponding to the respective linking portions; a measurement device provided approaching or making contact with the arranging surface that has measuring ends that are successively optically connectable with the respective connecting ends along the predetermined path, and in which light from within the reaction vessels is receivable by means of optical connections between the connecting ends and the measuring ends; and a light guide switching mechanism that relatively moves the respective connecting ends arranged on the connecting end arranging body and the respective measuring ends such that they are successively optically connected.

1 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel comprising:
 a vessel group in which two or more reaction vessels are arranged;   a light guide stage having two or more linking portions to which front ends of one or two or more light guide portions, which have a flexibility, that are directly or indirectly linkable with said respective reaction vessels and optically connect with the interior of the linked reaction vessels, are provided;   a connecting end arranging body that has an arranging surface that arranges and supports along a predetermined path two or more connecting ends, to which back ends of the light guide portions, in which the front ends thereof are provided to the linking portions, are provided, the connecting ends are provided corresponding to the respective linking portions;   a measurement device provided approaching or making contact with said arranging surface that has one or two or more measuring ends that are successively optically connectable with said respective connecting ends along said predetermined path, and in which light based on an optical state within said reaction vessels is receivable by means of optical connections between the connecting ends and the measuring ends; and   a light guide switching mechanism that relatively moves said respective connecting ends arranged on said connecting end arranging body and said respective measuring ends such that they are successively optically connected,   wherein said light guide stage is provided to a nozzle head having a suction-discharge mechanism that performs suction and discharge of gases, and one or two or more nozzles that detachably mount dispensing tips in which the suction and the discharge of liquids is possible by means of the suction-discharge mechanism, and has a nozzle head transfer mechanism that makes the nozzle head relatively movable between said vessel groups.   
     
     
         2 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 1 , in which, at the time light is received by said measurement device, at the very least, a measurement device body excluding said measuring ends is immovably provided with respect to said light guide stage, which is provided with the reaction vessels and the linking portions linked with the same. 
     
     
         3 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 1 , comprising a stage transfer mechanism that relatively moves said light guide stage with respect to said vessel group, such that said linking portions are simultaneously directly or indirectly linked with two or more of said reaction vessels. 
     
     
         4 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein said measurement device has: a plurality of types of specific wavelength measurement devices that are provided with one or two or more measuring ends that are optically connectable with said respective connecting ends, and are able to receive light of specific wavelengths or specific wavelength bands; and a measuring end aligning portion that aligns said plurality of measuring ends such that they are optically connectable with said respective connecting ends along said predetermined path. 
     
     
         5 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel comprising:
 a vessel group in which two or more reaction vessels are arranged;   a light guide stage having two or more linking portions to which front ends of one or two or more light guide portions, which have a flexibility, that are directly or indirectly linkable with said respective reaction vessels and optically connect with the interior of the linked reaction vessels, are provided;   a connecting end arranging body that has an arranging surface that arranges and supports along a predetermined path two or more connecting ends, to which back ends of the light guide portions, in which the front ends thereof are provided to the linking portions, are provided, the connecting ends are provided corresponding to the respective linking portions;   a measurement device provided approaching or making contact with said arranging surface that has one or two or more measuring ends that are successively optically connectable with said respective connecting ends along said predetermined path, and in which light based on an optical state within said reaction vessels is receivable by means of optical connections between the connecting ends and the measuring ends; and   a light guide switching mechanism that relatively moves said respective connecting ends arranged on said connecting end arranging body and said respective measuring ends such that they are successively optically connected,   wherein said vessel group is provided with sealing lids, which have transparency, that are mounted on apertures of one or two or more of said reaction vessels, and seal the reaction vessels, and   wherein said light guide stage is provided with a heating portion that is able to heat said sealing lids.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel comprising:
 a vessel group in which two or more reaction vessels are arranged;   a light guide stage having two or more linking portions to which front ends of one or two or more light guide portions, which have a flexibility, that are directly or indirectly linkable with said respective reaction vessels and optically connect with the interior of the linked reaction vessels, are provided;   a connecting end arranging body that has an arranging surface that arranges and supports along a predetermined path two or more connecting ends, to which back ends of the light guide portions, in which the front ends thereof are provided to the linking portions, are provided, the connecting ends are provided corresponding to the respective linking portions;   a measurement device provided approaching or making contact with said arranging surface that has one or two or more measuring ends that are successively optically connectable with said respective connecting ends along said predetermined path, and in which light based on an optical state within said reaction vessels is receivable by means of optical connections between the connecting ends and the measuring ends; and   a light guide switching mechanism that relatively moves said respective connecting ends arranged on said connecting end arranging body and said respective measuring ends such that they are successively optically connected,   wherein the linking portions are directly or indirectly linked with the aperture of the reaction vessel, and   wherein the optical measurement device is provided with a temperature controller having a temperature source that is provided making contact with or approaching lower side wall sections of said reaction vessels, and a heating portion provided such that it is able to make contact with or approach upper side wall sections of said reaction vessels positioned further on an upper side than the lower side wall sections of said reaction vessels, and that has a heat source that is able to heat the upper side wall sections so that direct or indirect condensation of said linking portions is prevented.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein said nozzle is such that a sealing lid is retainable by mounting, and by detaching the sealing lid, said sealing lid is mountable on an aperture of said reaction vessel. 
     
     
         10 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein front ends of a light guide portion bundle, which comprise a plurality of light guide portions, are provided to said respective linking portions, back ends of a light guide portion bundle of a portion of the light guide portion bundle are provided to first connecting ends of said connecting end arranging body, a portion or all of the remainder of said light guide portion bundle is provided to second connecting ends of said connecting end arranging body, said predetermined path has a first path and a second path, and by means of movement of said connecting end arranging body, first measuring ends provided on said measurement device respectively relatively move along a first path comprising said first connecting ends, and second measuring ends along a second path comprising said second connecting ends. 
     
     
         11 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 10 , wherein said first measuring end optically connects with an irradiation source of said measurement device, said second measuring end connects with a light receiving portion of said measurement device, an end corresponding to said first connecting end and an end corresponding to said second connecting end are arranged such that they are mixed, and said first measuring end is connectable with said first connecting end, and said second measuring end is connectable with said second connecting end. 
     
     
         12 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein said vessel group comprises two or more exclusive regions corresponding to nozzles of respective groups, which comprise one or two or more nozzles, in which nozzles of a single group enter and nozzles of other groups do not enter, and the respective exclusive regions at the very least have at least one of said reaction vessels, one or two or more liquid housing parts that house reaction solutions used in the reactions, and sealing lids that are transportable to said reaction vessels using said nozzles and are able to seal said reaction solutions housed in said reaction vessels, and said light guide stage is extendingly provided across all of said exclusive regions such that linking portions of said light guide stage are associated such that linking portions of a single group, which comprises one or two or more linking portions, enter said respective exclusive regions and linking portions of other groups do not enter. 
     
     
         13 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 12 , that is further provided with a set of traversable nozzles comprising one or two or more nozzles that are movable such that they traverse said respective exclusive regions, and are able to enter the respective exclusive regions. 
     
     
         14 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 13 , wherein inspection information that identifies samples or shows managed sample information and testing content is visibly displayed at said respective exclusive regions, and a digital camera, which obtains image data by imaging the content displayed at said respective exclusive regions, which includes the sample information and the testing content, is provided to said traversable nozzles. 
     
     
         15 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel comprising:
 a nozzle head provided with a suction-discharge mechanism that performs suction and discharge of gases, and one or two or more nozzles that detachably mount dispensing tips in which the suction and the discharge of liquids is possible by means of the suction-discharge mechanism;   a vessel group having at the very least one or two or more liquid housing parts that house reaction solutions used for various reactions, a liquid housing part that houses a magnetic particle suspension in which magnetic particles that are able to capture a target compound are suspended, a liquid housing part that houses a sample, one or two or more liquid housing parts that house a solution for separating and extracting of the target compound, and two or more reaction vessels;   a nozzle head transfer mechanism that makes an interval between said nozzle head and said vessel group relatively movable;   a magnetic force part that is able to adsorb said magnetic particles on an inner wall of dispensing tips mounted on said nozzles;   a light guide stage provided to said nozzle head, and having two or more linking portions to which ends of one or two or more light guide portions, which have a flexibility, that are directly or indirectly linkable with said respective reaction vessels and optically connect with the interior of the linked reaction vessels, are provided;   a connecting end arranging body having an arranging surface that arranges and supports along a predetermined path two or more connecting ends, to which back ends of said light guide portions, in which front ends thereof are provided to the linking portions, are provided, the connecting ends are provided corresponding to the respective linking portions;   a measurement device provided approaching or making contact with said arrangement surface, having one or two or more measuring ends that are successively optically connectable with the respective connecting ends along said predetermined path, that is able to receive light based on an optical state within said reaction vessels by means of optical connections between the connecting ends and the measuring ends; and   a light guide switching mechanism provided along said predetermined path of said connecting end arranging body that relatively moves said respective connecting ends and said respective measuring ends such that they become successively optically connected.   
     
     
         16 . An optical measurement method for a reaction vessel comprising:
 relatively moving a nozzle head having a suction-discharge mechanism that performs suction and discharge of gases, one or more nozzles that detachably mount dispensing tips in which the suction and the discharge of liquids is possible by means of the suction-discharge mechanism, and a light guide stage having two or more linking portions provided with ends of one or two or more light guide portions, which have a flexibility, with respect to two or more reaction vessels that are arranged in a vessel group, by using of a nozzle head transfer mechanism;   simultaneously directly or indirectly linking said reaction vessels and said linking portions and optically connecting the interior of the linked reaction vessels and said light guide portions;   performing temperature control within the reaction vessels;   guiding light from said reaction vessels to a connecting end arranging body having an arranging surface that arranges and supports along a predetermined path two or more connecting ends, to which back ends of said light guide portions, in which front ends thereof are provided to the linking portions, are provided, the connecting ends are provided corresponding to the respective linking portions; and   optically connecting along said predetermined path the one or two or more measuring ends provided to a measurement device, which are provided approaching or in contact with the arranging surface, and the respective connecting ends, by relatively moving them, to thereby make the measurement device receive light based on an optical state within said reaction vessels.   
     
     
         17 . An optical measurement method for a reaction vessel according to  claim 16 , wherein said measurement device has a plurality of types of specific wavelength measurement devices that are able to receive light of specific wavelengths or specific wavelength bands, and the respective specific wavelength measurement devices have at least one measuring end that is successively optically connectable with said connecting ends along said predetermined path, said method further comprising aligning the plurality of measuring ends by a measuring end aligning portion, and successively optically connecting the measuring ends with said connecting ends along said path, to thereby make the respective specific wavelength measurement devices receive light of specific wavelengths or specific wavelength bands based on an optical state within said reaction vessels. 
     
     
         18 . An optical measurement method for a reaction vessel comprising:
 moving a light guide stage having two or more linking portions provided with ends of one or two or more light guide portions, which have a flexibility, with respect to two or more reaction vessels that are arranged in a vessel group;   simultaneously directly or indirectly linking said reaction vessels and said linking portions and optically connecting the interior of the linked reaction vessels and said light guide portions;   performing temperature control within the reaction vessels;   guiding light from said reaction vessels to a connecting end arranging body having an arranging surface that arranges and supports along a predetermined path two or more connecting ends, to which back ends of said light guide portions, in which front ends thereof are provided to the linking portions, are provided, the connecting ends are provided corresponding to the respective linking portions;   optically connecting along said predetermined path the one or two or more measuring ends provided to a measurement device, which are provided approaching or in contact with the arranging surface, and the respective connecting ends, by relatively moving them, to thereby make the measurement device receive light based on an optical state within said reaction vessels, and   further comprising simultaneously mounting two or more sealing lids, which have transparency, that are arranged in said vessel group and are fittable with apertures of said reaction vessels, on reaction vessels, and then moving said light guide stage with respect to the sealing lids of said reaction vessels, so as to link the reaction vessels and said linking portions via the sealing lids.   
     
     
         19 . An optical measurement method for a reaction vessel according to  claim 16 , further comprising pressing or shaking with respect to the sealing lids covering the apertures of said reaction vessels. 
     
     
         20 . An optical measurement method for a reaction vessel according  claim 16 , further comprising heating the sealing lids sealing said reaction vessels through said light guide stage. 
     
     
         21 . An optical measurement method for a reaction vessel comprising:
 moving a light guide stage having two or more linking portions provided with ends of one or two or more light guide portions, which have a flexibility, with respect to two or more reaction vessels that are arranged in a vessel group;   simultaneously directly or indirectly linking said reaction vessels and said linking portions and optically connecting the interior of the linked reaction vessels and said light guide portions;   performing temperature control within the reaction vessels;   guiding light from said reaction vessels to a connecting end arranging body having an arranging surface that arranges and supports along a predetermined path two or more connecting ends, to which back ends of said light guide portions, in which front ends thereof are provided to the linking portions, are provided, the connecting ends are provided corresponding to the respective linking portions; and   optically connecting along said predetermined path the one or two or more measuring ends provided to a measurement device, which are provided approaching or in contact with the arranging surface, and the respective connecting ends, by relatively moving them, to thereby make the measurement device receive light based on an optical state within said reaction vessels, and   further comprising: at the time of directly or indirectly linking an aperture of said reaction vessel and said linking portion and, performing temperature control within the reaction vessels, according to temperature control by a temperature controller, which has a temperature source provided making contact with or approaching lower side wall sections of the reaction vessels, heating upper side wall sections of the reaction vessels, which are positioned further on an upper side than said lower side wall sections, by means of a heat source of a heating portion, which is provided making contact with or approaching the upper side wall sections, and thereby preventing direct or indirect condensation of said linking portions.   
     
     
         22 . An optical measurement method for a reaction vessel comprising:
 detachably mounting dispensing tips on respective nozzles, which are provided to a nozzle head and perform the suction and the discharge of gases;   separating a target compound by using a magnetic force part, a nozzle head transfer mechanism that relatively moves an interval between said nozzle head and a vessel group, a magnetic particle suspension housed within a vessel group, in which magnetic particles that are able to capture a target compound are suspended, a sample, and a solution for separating and extracting of a target compound;   introducing the separated target compound and a reaction solution used for reactions to a plurality of reaction vessels provided to a vessel group;   moving a light guide stage, which has two or more linking portions that are provided to said nozzle head and in which front ends of one or two or more light guide portions are also provided, with respect to the reaction vessels by means of, at the very least, said nozzle head transfer mechanism;   directly or indirectly simultaneously linking said reaction vessels and said linking portions, and optically connecting the interior of the reaction vessels and said light guide portions that are linked;   performing temperature control within the reaction vessels;   guiding light from said reaction vessels to a connecting end arranging body having an arranging surface that arranges and supports along a predetermined path two or more connecting ends, to which back ends of said light guide portions, in which front ends thereof are provided to the linking portions, are provided, the connecting ends are provided corresponding to the respective linking portions; and   successively optically connecting one or two or more measuring ends that are provided to a measurement device, and provided approaching or making contact with the arranging surface, and the connecting ends, along said predetermined path by moving said connecting end arranging body, to thereby make the measurement device receive the light based on an optical state within said reaction vessels.   
     
     
         23 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 5 , comprising a stage transfer mechanism that relatively moves said light guide stage with respect to said vessel group, such that said linking portions are simultaneously directly or indirectly linked with two or more of said reaction vessels. 
     
     
         24 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 5 , wherein said measurement device has: a plurality of types of specific wavelength measurement devices that are provided with one or two or more measuring ends that are optically connectable with said respective connecting ends, and are able to receive light of specific wavelengths or specific wavelength bands; and a measuring end aligning portion that aligns said plurality of measuring ends such that they are optically connectable with said respective connecting ends along said predetermined path. 
     
     
         25 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 1 , said vessel group is provided with sealing lids, which have transparency, that are mounted on apertures of one or two or more of said reaction vessels, and seal the reaction vessels. 
     
     
         26 . An optical measurement method for a reaction vessel according to  claim 18 , wherein said measurement device has a plurality of types of specific wavelength measurement devices that are able to receive light of specific wavelengths or specific wavelength bands, and the respective specific wavelength measurement devices have at least one measuring end that is successively optically connectable with said connecting ends along said predetermined path, said method further comprising aligning the plurality of measuring ends by a measuring end aligning portion, and successively optically connecting the measuring ends with said connecting ends along said path, to thereby make the respective specific wavelength measurement devices receive light of specific wavelengths or specific wavelength bands based on an optical state within said reaction vessels. 
     
     
         27 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 5 , wherein front ends of a light guide portion bundle, which comprise a plurality of light guide portions, are provided to said respective linking portions, back ends of a light guide portion bundle of a portion of the light guide portion bundle are provided to first connecting ends of said connecting end arranging body, a portion or all of the remainder of said light guide portion bundle is provided to second connecting ends of said connecting end arranging body, said predetermined path has a first path and a second path, and by means of movement of said connecting end arranging body, first measuring ends provided on said measurement device respectively relatively move along a first path comprising said first connecting ends, and second measuring ends along a second path comprising said second connecting ends. 
     
     
         28 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 7 , wherein front ends of a light guide portion bundle, which comprise a plurality of light guide portions, are provided to said respective linking portions, back ends of a light guide portion bundle of a portion of the light guide portion bundle are provided to first connecting ends of said connecting end arranging body, a portion or all of the remainder of said light guide portion bundle is provided to second connecting ends of said connecting end arranging body, said predetermined path has a first path and a second path, and by means of movement of said connecting end arranging body, first measuring ends provided on said measurement device respectively relatively move along a first path comprising said first connecting ends, and second measuring ends along a second path comprising said second connecting ends. 
     
     
         29 . An optical measurement method for a reaction vessel according to  claim 18 , further comprising pressing or shaking with respect to the sealing lids covering the apertures of said reaction vessels. 
     
     
         30 . An optical measurement method for a reaction vessel according to  claim 18 , further comprising heating the sealing lids scaling said reaction vessels through said light guide stage. 
     
     
         31 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 7 , comprising a stage transfer mechanism that relatively moves said light guide stage with respect to said vessel group, such that said linking portions are simultaneously directly or indirectly linked with two or more of said reaction vessels. 
     
     
         32 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 7 , wherein said measurement device has: a plurality of types of specific wavelength measurement devices that are provided with one or two or more measuring ends that are optically connectable with said respective connecting ends, and are able to receive light of specific wavelengths or specific wavelength bands; and a measuring end aligning portion that aligns said plurality of measuring ends such that they are optically connectable with said respective connecting ends along said predetermined path. 
     
     
         33 . An optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to  claim 7 , said vessel group is provided with sealing lids, which have transparency, that are mounted on apertures of one or two or more of said reaction vessels, and seal the reaction vessels. 
     
     
         34 . An optical measurement method for a reaction vessel according to  claim 21 , wherein said measurement device has a plurality of types of specific wavelength measurement devices that are able to receive light of specific wavelengths or specific wavelength bands, and the respective specific wavelength measurement devices have at least one measuring end that is successively optically connectable with said connecting ends along said predetermined path, said method further comprising aligning the plurality of measuring ends by a measuring end aligning portion, and successively optically connecting the measuring ends with said connecting ends along said path, to thereby make the respective specific wavelength measurement devices receive light of specific wavelengths or specific wavelength bands based on an optical state within said reaction vessels.