A device using a continuously usable fluorescent thin film sensor and its application

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for continuously using a fluorescent thin film sensor, which includes a fluid pump, a fluorescence detection unit, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, an electric control slide rail, a plurality of connection devices, and a plurality of fluorescent thin film capillaries. The plurality of fluorescent thin film capillaries are sequentially connected in series through alternating connection with the plurality of connection devices. The fluid pump is arranged at the fluid outlet and provides negative pressure. The electric control slide rail is laid along the arrangement direction of the fluorescent thin film capillaries. The fluorescence detection unit is installed on the electric control slide rail and can reciprocate along the electric control slide rail. The light emitting module of the fluorescence detection unit faces the fluorescent thin film capillaries. The fluid inlet can introduce the fluid to be detected into any of the fluorescent thin film capillaries through the connection device. In addition, it also includes a method for detecting a fluorescent thin film using the above device. Thereby, the replacement frequency of the solid fluorescent sensitive material can be greatly reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of fluorescence sensors, and particularly relates to a device for continuously using a fluorescence thin film sensor and its application. Background Art

[0002] Fluorescent sensors have the advantages of high sensitivity, high selectivity, small size, low cost, etc., and have become a widely used sensor design principle in recent years. The core principle is to design fluorescent materials with specific selectivity. When these materials come into contact with the target substance, specific fluorescence spectral changes can occur. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether there is a target detection substance by monitoring the spectral changes of the fluorescent material. When the substance to be detected is a fluid, in order to improve the response speed and detection efficiency, solid fluorescent materials are often used for detection. In order to further improve the sensitivity, the detection material is often nanometerized by means of materials engineering to provide a higher specific surface area to facilitate contact with the fluid.

[0003] Attached Figure 1 The working principle of fluorescent sensors is provided. For the target substance in the fluid to be monitored, the common methods of contacting the sensitive material with the fluid are as follows: The method of applying a fluorescent sensitive film flat and then flowing the fluid vertically will cause the fluid to be blocked after encountering the film, and the flow direction in each direction is uncertain, thus reducing the repeatability. The method of applying a fluorescent sensitive film flat and then flowing the fluid horizontally will cause the fluid on one side not to be utilized. The method of applying the fluorescent sensitive material on the inner wall of a thin tube or capillary and then flowing the fluid through the capillary has many advantages. Firstly, the tube is very thin, so that the fluid can fully contact the side walls in all directions, and due to the limiting effect of the tube, the fluid has a clear flow direction and flow rate, making the sensor have better reproducibility.

[0004] However, the fluorescence intensity and sensitivity of the fluorescence-sensitive material decay relatively quickly with the usage time. There are multiple reasons for this, which are difficult to avoid in actual use. First, certain fluorescence materials change the spectrum through chemical reactions. Therefore, the sensitivity of the materials that have been used for a period of time will gradually decrease until they completely fail, so they need to be replaced. Second, since an excitation light is required to make the material enter the excited state during the use of the fluorescence sensor, the electrons of the excited-state molecules are at a high energy level and are prone to interact with substances such as water and oxygen in the fluid, thus deteriorating and resulting in a decrease in sensitivity. Third, during multiple detection processes, solid dust particles from the air or liquid often come into contact with the surface of the sensing material along with the fluid and then produce irreversible adsorption, reducing the sensitivity. This sensitivity decay effect is particularly obvious in applications where the vapor of a solid substance is detected after being vaporized by methods such as heating. Therefore, although the lifespan of the material can be improved from aspects such as material design, excitation light selection, and optimization of the working mode of the fluorescence detection device, the need for frequent replacement of the sensor element still exists, and manual replacement brings inconvenience in fields that require long-term detection. Using a mechanical structure to simulate human actions to replace the fluorescence-sensitive material or its carrier requires relatively complex equipment and a large equipment volume. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a device and its application for continuously using a fluorescence thin-film sensor, which can greatly reduce the replacement frequency of the solid fluorescence-sensitive material and has high practical value for application fields that require long-term monitoring using fluorescence materials.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: A device for continuously using a fluorescence thin-film sensor, comprising a fluid pump, a fluorescence detection unit, an electric control slide rail, a plurality of connection devices, and a plurality of fluorescence thin-film tubes. The plurality of fluorescence thin-film tubes are alternately distributed with the plurality of connection devices and are connected in series in sequence to form a fluorescence thin-film tube group. One end of the fluorescence thin-film tube group is provided with a fluid outlet and a fluid inlet is provided therein. The fluid pump is arranged at the fluid outlet and provides negative pressure. The electric control slide rail is laid along the arrangement direction of the fluorescence thin-film tubes. The fluorescence detection unit is installed on the electric control slide rail and can reciprocate along the electric control slide rail. The light-emitting module of the fluorescence detection unit faces the fluorescence thin-film tubes.

[0007] The device of the continuously usable fluorescence thin film sensor provided by the present invention adopts a series connection mode of multiple fluorescence thin film capillaries. When performing fluid detection, the fluid is controlled to first enter the fluorescence thin film capillary close to the fluid pump through the fluid inlet for detection. When the detection sensitivity of the fluorescence thin film capillary close to the fluid pump decreases or needs to be replaced, it is only necessary to change the series-connected fluorescence thin film capillary through which the fluid inlet passes to the next fluorescence thin film capillary away from the fluid pump for detection. The fluorescence detection unit moves along the electric control slide rail to the corresponding fluorescence thin film capillary for fluorescence detection. When all the series-connected fluorescence thin film capillaries are completely used up and lose their use value, the whole series-connected multiple fluorescence thin film capillaries are replaced. The beneficial effect of the above solution is that the fluid is driven by the negative pressure end of the fluid pump, so that the fluid moves along the shortest path to the fluid pump, so that the fluid only passes through the fluorescence thin film capillary being used and the fluorescence thin film capillary that has been discarded, and the fluid does not flow through the unused fluorescence thin film capillary. By adopting the device of the continuously usable fluorescence thin film sensor, the purpose of greatly reducing the replacement frequency of the sensitive element is finally achieved.

[0008] On the basis of the above technical solution, the present invention can also have the following further specific selections or optimized selections.

[0009] Specifically, fluid inlets are provided at the other end of the fluorescence thin film capillary group and on each of the connecting devices. The multiple fluid inlets are commonly connected to a fluid pipeline, and electromagnetic valves are provided at the fluid inlets.

[0010] Specifically, the connecting device is a three-way fluid passage. The first and second passages of the three-way fluid passage are respectively connected to two adjacent fluorescence thin film capillaries, and the third passage of the three-way gas passage constitutes the fluid inlet of the connecting device. The above device can control the fluid introduced through the fluid inlet to enter any fluorescence thin film capillary by opening and closing the electromagnetic valve. When working, the electromagnetic valve corresponding to the sensitive element capillary in the use state is opened, and other electromagnetic valves are closed.

[0011] Specifically, a filter membrane is provided at the inlet of the fluid pump. The fluid pump is used to drive the flow direction of the fluid to be detected into the fluorescence thin film capillary, and its negative pressure end is connected to the fluorescence thin film sensor device.

[0012] Specifically, the fluorescence detection unit includes an excitation light module, a dichroic mirror, and a fluorescence detector. The laser light-emitting module emits excitation light to the fluorescent thin film capillary through the dichroic mirror, and the fluorescence detector is used to receive the fluorescence generated by the fluorescent thin film capillary. Specifically, the excitation light module is an LED light source or a laser light source, and the fluorescence detector is a light intensity detector or a fluorescence spectrometer. The excitation light is reflected by the dichroic mirror and enters the fluorescent thin film capillary, and the sensitive material film inside generates fluorescence. The fluorescence detector continuously monitors the fluorescence signal to determine the change in the fluorescence signal.

[0013] Specifically, the fluorescent thin film capillary is a thin tube with a fluorescent sensitive material film coated on the inner wall, and the thin tube is a glass tube, a quartz tube, or a plastic tube. Specifically, the fluorescent sensitive material is a nanomaterial. Optionally, the fluorescent sensitive material is a zero-dimensional nanomaterial (all three dimensions are at the nanometer level), a one-dimensional nanomaterial (two dimensions are at the nanometer level, such as nanowires, nanofiber meshes, etc.), or a two-dimensional nanomaterial (one dimension is at the nanometer level, such as nanosheets, nanofilms, etc.).

[0014] Specifically, an elastic sealing gasket is provided at the connection between the connecting device and the fluorescent thin film capillary. The elastic sealing gasket can be, for example, a silicone gasket, a rubber gasket, a Teflon gasket, etc. The above setting seals the outside of the fluorescent thin film capillary. The inner diameter of the flow passage of the connecting device is not greater than the inner diameter of the flow passage of the fluorescent thin film capillary, so that the two ends of the connecting device have a physical structure that blocks the optical waveguide generated inside the fluorescent thin film capillary after being irradiated by the excitation light module and then prevents the excitation light from spreading across the connecting device. An optional solution is that the wall thickness of the contact surface between the sensitive element capillary of the connecting device is not less than the single-side wall thickness of the sensitive element capillary, so as to isolate the optical waveguide in the capillary wall from crossing the connecting device and allowing the excitation light to enter the unused fluorescent thin film capillary.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a method for detecting a fluorescent thin film using the above device of the continuously reusable fluorescent thin film sensor.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The device of the continuously reusable fluorescent thin film sensor provided by the present invention improves the detection life of the fluorescent thin film sensor by connecting multiple fluorescent thin film capillaries in series, avoiding the inconvenience caused by frequent replacement of a single component. In the design, the fluorescent thin film capillaries are used sequentially step by step, with few movable structures, sharing a fluorescence detection unit, a fluid pump, and a fluid passage. The fluid passage does not affect the unused fluorescent thin film capillaries, thus solving the problem of cross-contamination of the shared fluid passage. By isolating multiple fluorescent thin film capillaries through the connecting device, the problem of the reduction in the life of the unused sensitive elements caused by the excitation light waveguide is avoided, improving the stability of the entire system. Description of the Drawings

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the working principle of an existing fluorescent thin-film sensor;

[0018] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the device structure of a continuously usable fluorescent thin-film sensor provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] 1. Fluid pump; 2. Fluid outlet; 3. Connecting device; 4. Fluorescence detection unit; 5. Fluorescent thin-film capillary; 6. Solenoid valve; 8. Electric control slide rail. Specific embodiments

[0020] To better understand the present invention, the content of the present invention will be further clarified below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but the content of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0021] The present invention provides a device for a continuously usable fluorescent thin-film sensor, including a fluid pump 1, a fluorescence detection unit 4, an electric control slide rail 8, a plurality of connecting devices 3 and a plurality of fluorescent thin-film capillaries 5. The plurality of fluorescent thin-film capillaries 5 are alternately distributed with the plurality of connecting devices 3 and sequentially connected in series to form a fluorescent thin-film capillary tube group. One end of the fluorescent thin-film capillary tube group is provided with a fluid outlet 2 and has a fluid inlet therein. The fluid pump 1 is arranged at the fluid outlet 2 and provides negative pressure. The electric control slide rail 8 is laid along the arrangement direction of the fluorescent thin-film capillary 5. The fluorescence detection unit 4 is installed on the electric control slide rail 8 and can reciprocate along the electric control slide rail 8. The excitation light module of the fluorescence detection unit 4 faces the fluorescent thin-film capillary 5.

[0022] For the device of the continuously usable fluorescent thin-film sensor provided by the present invention, which adopts the method of connecting a plurality of fluorescent thin-film capillaries 5 in series, when performing fluid detection, the fluid is controlled to first enter the fluorescent thin-film capillary 5 closest to the fluid pump 1 through the fluid inlet for detection. When the detection sensitivity of the fluorescent thin-film capillary 5 closest to the fluid pump 1 decreases or needs to be replaced, only the series-connected fluorescent thin-film capillary 5 through which the fluid inlet passes needs to be changed to the next fluorescent thin-film capillary 5 away from the fluid pump for detection. The fluorescence detection unit 4 moves along the electric control slide rail 8 to the corresponding fluorescent thin-film capillary 5 for fluorescence detection. When all the series-connected fluorescent thin-film capillaries 5 are completely used up and lose their use value, the whole series-connected plurality of fluorescent thin-film capillaries are replaced. The beneficial effect of the above solution is that the fluid is driven by the negative pressure end of the fluid pump 1, so that the fluid moves along the shortest path to the fluid pump, so that the fluid only passes through the fluorescent thin-film capillary being used and the fluorescent thin-film capillary that has been discarded, and the fluid does not flow through the unused fluorescent thin-film capillary. By adopting the device of the continuously usable fluorescent thin-film sensor, the purpose of greatly reducing the replacement frequency of sensitive elements is finally achieved.

[0023] Specifically, fluid inlets are provided at the other end of the fluorescent thin film capillary tube group and on each of the connecting devices 3. A plurality of the fluid inlets are commonly connected to a fluid pipeline, and electromagnetic valves 6 are provided at the fluid inlets.

[0024] Specifically, the connecting device 3 is a three-way fluid passage. The first and second passages of the three-way fluid passage are respectively connected to two adjacent fluorescent thin film capillaries 5, and the third passage of the three-way gas passage constitutes the fluid inlet of the connecting device 3. The above device can control the fluid introduced through the fluid inlet to enter any one of the fluorescent thin film capillaries 5 by opening and closing the electromagnetic valve 6. When working, the electromagnetic valve corresponding to the sensitive element capillary tube in the use state is opened, and other electromagnetic valves are closed.

[0025] Specifically, a filter membrane is provided at the inlet of the fluid pump 1. The fluid pump 1 is used to drive the flow direction of the fluid to be detected into the fluorescent thin film capillary tube, and its negative pressure end is connected to the fluorescent thin film sensor device.

[0026] Specifically, the fluorescence detection unit 4 includes an excitation light module, a dichroic mirror, and a fluorescence detector. The laser light emitting module emits excitation light to the fluorescent thin film capillary tube through the dichroic mirror, and the fluorescence detector is used to receive the fluorescence generated by the fluorescent thin film capillary tube. Specifically, the excitation light module is an LED light source or a laser light source, and the fluorescence detector is a light intensity detector or a fluorescence spectrometer. The excitation light is reflected by the dichroic mirror and enters the fluorescent thin film capillary tube, and the sensitive material film inside generates fluorescence. The fluorescence detector continuously monitors the fluorescence signal to determine the change in the fluorescence signal.

[0027] Specifically, the fluorescent thin film capillary tube 5 is a capillary tube with a fluorescent sensitive material film coated on the inner wall. The capillary tube is a glass tube, a quartz tube, or a plastic tube. Specifically, the fluorescent sensitive material is a nanomaterial. Optionally, the fluorescent sensitive material is a zero-dimensional nanomaterial (all three dimensions are at the nanometer level), a one-dimensional nanomaterial (two dimensions are at the nanometer level, such as nanowires, nanofiber meshes, etc.), or a two-dimensional nanomaterial (one dimension is at the nanometer level, such as nanosheets, nanofilms, etc.).

[0028] Specifically, an elastic sealing gasket is provided at the connection between the connecting device 3 and the fluorescent thin film capillary tube 5. The elastic sealing gasket can be, for example, a silica gel ring, a rubber ring, a Teflon ring, etc. The above setting seals the outside of the fluorescent thin film capillary tube. The two ends of the connecting device have a physical structure that blocks the light waveguide generated inside the fluorescent thin film capillary tube after being irradiated by the excitation light module and then prevents the excitation light from spreading across the connecting device. An optional solution is that the wall thickness of the contact surface of the sensitive element capillary tube of the connecting device is not less than the single-side wall thickness of the sensitive element capillary tube to isolate the light waveguide in the capillary wall from crossing the connecting device and allowing the excitation light to enter the unused fluorescent thin film capillary tube.

[0029] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a method for detecting a fluorescent thin film using the above-described device for continuously using a fluorescent thin film sensor.

[0030] Example:

[0031] As Figure 2 shown, the present invention provides a device for continuously using a fluorescent thin film sensor, which achieves the purpose of significantly reducing the replacement frequency of sensitive elements by using a method of connecting multiple fluorescent thin film capillaries 5 in series. The detection path consists of a fluid pump 1, a fluorescent thin film capillary 5, a three-way fluid connection device 3, a solenoid valve 6, and a common inlet. When the sensitivity of a certain fluorescent thin film capillary 5 close to the fluid pump 1 decreases and needs to be discarded, the fluorescence detection unit 4 moves to the position of the next fluorescent thin film capillary 5 on the electric control slide rail 8, the solenoid valve 6 corresponding to this fluorescent thin film capillary 5 is opened, and the remaining solenoid valves 6 are closed, so that the fluid only enters the new fluorescent thin film capillary 5 through this solenoid valve 6. In addition, the inlet of the three-way fluid connection device 3 has functions such as passing fluid, fixing the fluorescent thin film capillary 5, connecting the solenoid valve 6, ensuring the seal of the fluorescent thin film capillary 5, and isolating the excitation optical waveguide in the fluorescent thin film capillary 5. The fluorescent thin film capillaries 5 are used in the order from the end close to the fluid pump 1 to the end far from the fluid pump 1. The fluid is driven by the fluid pump in a negative pressure manner. The unused fluorescent thin film capillaries 5 will not have fluid flowing through, and the three-way fluid connection device 3 with a three-way fluid path structure avoids the excitation light from entering the adjacent unused fluorescent thin film capillaries 5 by blocking the sensitive element capillaries, thereby ensuring that their sensitivity is not affected before use. This design ensures that the flow rate of each fluorescent thin film capillary 5 is consistent, thus ensuring the consistency of the detection effect. When in use, the fluid outlet 2, the connection device 3, and the fluorescent thin film capillary 5 are replaced as a single replacement unit, and the switch state of the solenoid valve 6 and the position of the fluorescence detection unit 4 are set to the initial values.

[0032] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for continuously using a fluorescent thin film sensor, characterized in that, It includes a fluid pump (1), a fluorescence detection unit (4), an electronically controlled slide rail (8), a plurality of connection devices (3) and a plurality of fluorescence thin film capillaries (5). The plurality of fluorescence thin film capillaries (5) are alternately distributed with the plurality of connection devices (3) and connected in series in sequence to form a fluorescence thin film capillary tube group. One end of the fluorescence thin film capillary tube group is provided with a fluid outlet (2) and has a fluid inlet therein. The fluid pump (1) is arranged at the fluid outlet (2) and provides negative pressure. The electronically controlled slide rail (8) is laid along the arrangement direction of the fluorescence thin film capillary (5). The fluorescence detection unit (4) is installed on the electronically controlled slide rail (8) and can reciprocate along the electronically controlled slide rail (8). The excitation light module of the fluorescence detection unit (4) faces the fluorescence thin film capillary (5); the other end of the fluorescence thin film capillary tube group and each of the connection devices (3) are provided with fluid inlets. The plurality of fluid inlets are commonly connected to a fluid pipeline, and electromagnetic valves (6) are provided at each of the fluid inlets; the connection device (3) is a three-way fluid passage. The first and second passages of the three-way fluid passage are respectively connected to two adjacent fluorescence thin film capillaries (5), and the third passage of the three-way fluid passage constitutes the fluid inlet of the connection device (3); both ends of the connection device (3) have a physical structure that blocks the fluorescence thin film capillary (5) from generating an optical waveguide inside after being irradiated by the excitation light module and then transmitting the excitation light across the connection device (3); the wall thickness of the contact surface of the fluorescence thin film capillary (5) of the connection device (3) is greater than the wall thickness of the fluorescence thin film capillary (5) to isolate the optical waveguide in the capillary wall from crossing the connection device (3) and allowing the excitation light to enter the unused fluorescence thin film capillary (5); the inner diameter of the flow passage of the connection device (3) is smaller than the inner diameter of the flow passage of the fluorescence thin film capillary (5); when the sensitivity of the fluorescence thin film capillary (5) close to the fluid pump (1) decreases and needs to be abandoned, the fluorescence detection unit (4) moves to the position of the next fluorescence thin film capillary (5) on the electronically controlled slide rail (8), the electromagnetic valve (6) corresponding to this fluorescence thin film capillary (5) is opened, and the rest of the electromagnetic valves (6) are closed, so that the fluid only enters the new fluorescence thin film capillary (5) through this electromagnetic valve (6).

2. The device for continuously using a fluorescent thin film sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: A filter membrane is provided at the inlet of the fluid pump (1).

3. The device for continuously using a fluorescent thin film sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fluorescence detection unit (4) includes an excitation light module, a dichroic mirror and a fluorescence detector. The excitation light module emits excitation light to the fluorescence thin film capillary through the dichroic mirror, and the fluorescence detector is used to receive the change in the fluorescence signal generated by the fluorescence thin film capillary.

4. The device for continuously using a fluorescent thin film sensor according to claim 3, characterized in that: The excitation light module is an LED light source or a laser light source.

5. The device for continuously using the fluorescent thin film sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fluorescence thin film capillary (5) is a capillary tube with a fluorescence-sensitive material film coated on the inner wall, and the fluorescence-sensitive material is a nanomaterial.

6. The device for continuously using a fluorescent thin film sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: An elastic sealing gasket is provided at the connection between the connection device (3) and the fluorescence thin film capillary (5).

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