Fluorescence immunoassay analyzer

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluorescence immunoassay analyzer which comprises a test module, the test module comprises a light path base, an ultraviolet light path channel and a fluorescence light path channel which are integrally formed, a plano-convex cylindrical mirror and a convex lens are fixedly mounted on the light path base respectively, and the included angle between the center line of the plano-convex cylindrical mirror and the center line of the convex lens ranges from 20 degrees to 70 degrees. One end of the ultraviolet light path channel is fixedly installed on the light path base and enables the ultraviolet light path channel and the plano-convex cylindrical mirror to be communicated through a light path, the other end of the ultraviolet light path channel is fixedly connected to the ultraviolet light source, and one end of the fluorescent light path channel is fixedly installed on the light path base and enables the fluorescent light path channel and the convex lens to be communicated through a light path. The other end of the fluorescent light path channel is fixedly connected to a photoelectric detector, and ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet lamp passes through the ultraviolet light path channel, is focused by the plano-convex cylindrical mirror and then irradiates a detection line on the detection card. The detection module is simple in structure, the number of required optical components is small, and the cost is low.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of in vitro diagnostic equipment, and in particular relates to a multi-channel high-speed fluorescent immunoassay analyzer. Background Art

[0002] Fluorescence immunoassay technology is a method that combines the specificity of immunological reactions with the sensitivity of fluorescence technology. Fluorescence immunoassay analyzers are based on the principle of immunochromatography. A light source of a specific wavelength is irradiated on the test area of ​​the test card. After being excited, the fluorescent markers in the test area emit light of a different wavelength from the light of the light source and are captured by the photoelectric sensing device to form a current signal. The magnitude of the current is related to the concentration of the analyte in the sample, thereby achieving qualitative or quantitative analysis of the analyte in the sample.

[0003] Fluorescence immunoassay can be used for ordinary fluorescence detection and time-resolved fluorescence determination. Existing fluorescence immunoassays have the following shortcomings. 1. The optoelectronic module structure of the test module is complex, and a large number of optical lenses are required. Each optical lens is first assembled to different components and then assembled twice or even three times. Not only are the assembly steps cumbersome, but the errors generated by each assembly will form a cumulative effect with each other, and the assembly error is magnified several times. Therefore, in order to control the assembly error, the prior art has very high requirements for the accuracy of each assembly, which increases the production cost. 2. The prior art requires a large number of optical lenses, which increases the cost. 3. The light spot of the prior art light source irradiated on the detection line of the detection card is several times the width of the detection line, and the light spot is not concentrated enough, so it is easy to produce a more serious halo marginal effect, which ultimately leads to a reduction in the accuracy of the test result. The present invention was produced under such a background. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent immunoassay analyzer, which includes a novel test module, which not only greatly reduces the cost of the analyzer, but also has a simple and reliable structure and high detection accuracy.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: the fluorescent immunoassay analyzer of the present invention includes a shell and a detection component in the shell, the shell includes an insertion port for inserting the detection card into the analyzer for detection, the detection component includes a transmission module, a test module and an exit module, the transmission module includes a circular turntable, a plurality of test channels are provided on the turntable, each test channel can be inserted with a detection card, the circular turntable transmits the inserted detection card to the position required by the test module after completing the immune reaction, the test module is used to test the detection line on the detection card and output the detection result, the exit module is used to exit the detection card from the test channel after the test is completed, the test module includes an integrally formed optical path base, an ultraviolet optical path channel and a fluorescent optical path channel, a plano-convex cylindrical mirror and a convex lens are fixedly mounted on the optical path base, and the plano-convex cylindrical mirror and a convex lens are fixedly mounted on the optical path base. The angle between the center lines of the mirror and the convex lens is between twenty and seventy degrees, one end of the ultraviolet light path channel is fixedly mounted on the light path base and the ultraviolet light path channel is optically connected to the plano-convex cylindrical mirror, the other end of the ultraviolet light path channel is fixedly connected to the ultraviolet lamp light source, one end of the fluorescent light path channel is fixedly mounted on the light path base and the fluorescent light path channel is optically connected to the convex lens, the other end of the fluorescent light path channel is fixedly connected to the photoelectric detector, the ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet lamp passes through the ultraviolet light path channel and is focused by the plano-convex cylindrical mirror and then irradiated on the detection line on the detection card, the ultraviolet lamp extinguishes after irradiating the detection line for a preset time, the detection line on the detection card is excited by the ultraviolet light and emits fluorescence, the fluorescence irradiates the convex lens on the light path base and enters the fluorescent light path channel after being focused by the convex lens, and then is received by the photoelectric detector and converted into an electrical signal.

[0006] As a further improvement of the present invention, an aperture is provided under the plano-convex cylindrical mirror on the optical path base, and the aperture includes a rectangular hole smaller than the plano-convex cylindrical mirror. The aperture blocks a part of the ultraviolet light passing through the plano-convex cylindrical mirror but allows another part of the ultraviolet light to pass through.

[0007] As a further improvement of the present invention, the ultraviolet rays irradiated through the aperture form a rectangular light spot with a width between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm on the detection line of the detection card.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, the light spot excites the fluorescent microspheres on the detection line to emit fluorescence.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, after the ultraviolet lamp is turned off, the fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent microspheres is focused by a convex lens and passes through the fluorescent light path channel, and then is received by a photoelectric detector and generates a signal.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, no lens is arranged between the ultraviolet lamp and the plano-convex cylindrical mirror.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, no lens is arranged between the convex lens and the photodetector.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the wavelength of the ultraviolet light is 620nm.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, the wavelength of the fluorescence excited by ultraviolet light is 380 nm.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, the shortest distance between the detection line on the detection card and the convex lens is greater than twice the focal length of the convex lens, and the shortest distance between the photoelectric detector and the convex lens is greater than one times the focal length of the convex lens but less than twice the focal length of the convex lens.

[0015] The present invention has the following beneficial effects: the fluorescent immunoassay analyzer of the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art: 1. The detection module structure is simple, the number of optical components required is small, and the cost is low; 2. All optical components are uniformly installed on an integrally formed base, and each optical component only needs to be installed once, which overcomes the cumulative effect of installation errors caused by multiple installations, so the installation accuracy requirements are low and the installation cost is reduced; 3. A shielding block is arranged behind the optical component to shield a part of the ultraviolet light gathered by the optical component, effectively reducing the width of the light spot, making the light spot more concentrated, thereby greatly reducing the halo effect and improving the detection accuracy; 4. The relationship between the object distance and the image distance is scientifically designed, which not only ensures the effective irradiation of light, but also makes the detection module structure compact, avoiding making the analyzer too large. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional appearance schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the detection component of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the present invention after removing the upper shell and some components.

[0019] Figure 4 It is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the test module and the detection card of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the ultraviolet light source of the present invention irradiating the plano-convex cylindrical mirror and then irradiating the upper detection line of the detection card.

[0021] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the fluorescence emitted by the detection line on the detection card of the present invention after being excited by ultraviolet light, irradiating the convex lens and then irradiating the photoelectric detector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0023] Terminology explanation: PD: Photodetector, used to convert light signals into electrical signals. Its working principle is: when photons hit the photosensitive area in the PD, the photoelectric effect causes electrons to be excited and separated from atoms, thereby forming a current and generating electrical signals, thereby realizing the function of converting light signals into electrical signals. The PD used in the present invention is a commercially common model and can be easily purchased on the market.

[0024] like Figure 1-Figure 6 The fluorescent immunoassay analyzer 1 (hereinafter referred to as the analyzer) shown in the figure comprises a base 10, an upper shell 20 matched with the base, and a detection component 30 (such as Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the base and the upper shell are combined into a shell 40, and the detection assembly is fixed inside the shell. The upper shell 20 includes an insertion port 210, a display screen 220, and a printing port 230. A collection box 110 is provided on one side of the base 10 for collecting the detection cards 120 ( Figure 3 In a preferred embodiment, the collection box 110 is assembled to the base 10 or the detection assembly 30 in the form of a drawer, and can be pulled out from the base or the detection assembly.

[0025] Figure 2-Figure 3 The structure and working mode of the detection component 30 are shown. The detection component 30 includes a transmission module 310, a test module 380 and an exit module 350. The transmission module is used to transmit the detection card 120 from the insertion port 210 to the detection position (not marked), and then transmit the detection card to the card exit position (not marked) after the detection is completed. The test module 380 uses a photoelectric conversion module to identify the signal (i.e., the detection line) displayed by the detection card 120 after the detection is fully completed, and then outputs the detection result to the display screen. The exit module 350 is used to exit the detection card after the detection is completed to the collection box 110, and then treat it as biological waste for environmental protection.

[0026] like Figure 2As shown, the transmission module 310 includes a circular turntable 311, which is driven by a first stepper motor 312 to rotate around its central axis (not shown). A plurality of test channels 313 are provided on the turntable, which are respectively used to place and fix the detection card 120. The number of the test channels is preferably two, three, four, five, six, eight, ten, etc., and is preferably evenly distributed in a star shape on the turntable so that the angles between two adjacent test channels are equal. A door 314 is provided above the turntable 311, and the door 314 can reciprocate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the central axis of the turntable to open or close the door. When the door is open, there is just an empty test channel (referred to as the "first test channel") located at the insertion port 210. At this time, the first test card can be inserted, and then the door is closed, the turntable rotates, and the first test card is sent to a certain position for incubation, and then the second test channel is transferred to the insertion port, the door is opened, and after the second test card is inserted, the door is closed again, the turntable rotates, and the second test card is sent to a certain position for incubation (the ambient temperature is room temperature or within a specified temperature range), and then the third test channel is transferred to the insertion port, the door is opened, and after the third test card is inserted, the door is closed, and the operation is repeated until all test channels are placed and fixed with test cards. The test card 120 adopts fluorescent immunochromatography technology, combining traditional colloidal gold immunochromatography technology with immunofluorescence technology, which has the advantages of convenience, speed and low cost of traditional colloidal gold immunochromatography technology, and has the advantages of high detection sensitivity, high detection accuracy and quantitative detection of immunofluorescence technology. The basic principle of immunofluorescence technology is antigen-antibody reaction, that is, the specific binding of antigen and antibody is used to determine the content of antigen or antibody in the sample. In immunofluorescence testing, known antigens or antibodies are labeled with fluorescent substances (usually fluorescent microspheres), which are then combined with the corresponding antibodies or antigens in the sample to be tested to form a fluorescently labeled antigen-antibody complex (the complex is focused on the test strip to form a test line). The test card includes a test line, and the fluorescent immunoassay analyzer tests the test line on the test card and gives the test results. During the test, the test card is inserted into the analyzer, and the fluorescent signal on the completed test line is converted into an electrical signal through the photoelectric conversion module. The electrical signal is then converted into a corresponding concentration value according to the calibration curve, and displayed on the analyzer display in a clinically significant numerical value and unit, thereby completing the entire test.

[0027] The structure of the detection card 120 and the test strip thereof does not belong to the content of the present invention and need not be described here in detail.

[0028] Test Module like Figure 4As shown, the test module 380 includes an integrated optical path base 381, an ultraviolet optical path channel 382 and a fluorescent optical path channel 383. A plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384 and a biconvex convex lens 385 with equal curvature are fixedly installed on the optical path base, and the angle a between the center lines of the plano-convex cylindrical mirror and the convex lens is between 20 degrees and 70 degrees. The plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384 and the convex lens 385 are fixedly installed on the integrated optical path base to improve the installation accuracy of the plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384 and the convex lens 385. One end of the ultraviolet optical path channel 382 is fixedly installed on the optical path base 381 and the optical path between the ultraviolet optical path channel 382 and the plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384 is connected. The other end of the ultraviolet optical path channel is fixedly connected to the ultraviolet light source 386. One end of the fluorescent optical path channel 383 is fixedly installed on the optical path base 381 and the optical path between the fluorescent optical path channel 383 and the convex lens 385 is connected. The other end of the fluorescent light path channel 383 is fixedly connected to a photodetector (PD) 387. The ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet lamp 386 passes through the ultraviolet light path channel 382, ​​is focused by the plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384, and then irradiates the detection line 121 on the detection card 120. In actual operation, the ultraviolet lamp irradiates the detection line for a preset time and then turns off. The fluorescent microspheres on the detection line 121 on the detection card are excited by the ultraviolet light and emit fluorescence. The fluorescence irradiates the convex lens 385 on the optical path base 381 and enters the fluorescent light path channel 383 after being focused by the convex lens. Then, it is received by the PD 387 and generates an electrical signal. The electrical signal is converted into a digital signal and output to the display 220 of the detector, and can be printed out by the printer port 230.

[0029] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the optical path base 381 is provided with an aperture 388 below the plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384, and the aperture is provided with a light shielding block 389 behind the plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384. The light shielding block 389 preferably blocks half of the plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384 (it can also block 1 / 4 to 3 / 4 in other embodiments), thereby forming a rectangular hole or a semicircular hole 390 with a size smaller than the plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384 behind the plano-convex cylindrical mirror. Therefore, the aperture 388 blocks a part of the ultraviolet light passing through the plano-convex cylindrical mirror and only allows a part of the ultraviolet light to pass through, forming a narrow rectangular light spot on the detection line 121 of the test strip. Figure 5In the embodiment shown, only half of the light spot is formed, and the other half is blocked by the light shielding block 389. In this embodiment, the ultraviolet rays passing through the aperture form a rectangular light spot with a width between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm on the detection line of the detection card. The width of this light spot is slightly larger than the width of the detection line, thereby ensuring that the entire detection line 121 can be irradiated by ultraviolet light, and minimizing the interference caused by the halo effect caused by the excessive size of the light spot, thereby improving the accuracy of the detection result.

[0030] See also Figure 4 As shown, the working process of the test module 380 is as follows. The ultraviolet lamp 386 emits ultraviolet light, which passes through the ultraviolet light path channel 382 and is focused by the plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384 to form a narrow rectangular light spot that shines on the detection line 121 on the detection card 120. The light spot excites the fluorescent microspheres on the detection line to emit fluorescence. Then the ultraviolet lamp is turned off, and the fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent microspheres is focused by the convex lens 385 and passes through the fluorescent light path channel 383, and then shines on the PD 387. The PD generates an electrical signal after receiving the ultraviolet light. The more fluorescent microspheres accumulated on the detection line, the stronger the intensity of the fluorescence, and the stronger the electrical signal generated by the PD. Therefore, there is a corresponding relationship between the electrical signal generated by the PD and the number of fluorescent microspheres, and the number of fluorescent microspheres accumulated on the detection line of the detection card is related to the content of the object to be detected in the sample, so that the content of the object to be detected in the sample can be measured based on the electrical signal generated by the PD. In other words, the present invention converts the fluorescent signal on the test line that completes the test into an electrical signal through a photoelectric conversion module, and then converts the electrical signal into a corresponding concentration value according to a calibration curve, and displays it on the analyzer display screen in a clinically significant numerical value and unit, thereby completing all tests. In one embodiment, no lens is provided between the ultraviolet lamp 386 and the plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384, thereby reducing the cost of the test module. In another embodiment, no lens is provided between the convex lens 385 and the PD 387, thereby further reducing the cost of the test module. In a preferred embodiment, the wavelength of the ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet lamp is 620nm. In another preferred embodiment, the wavelength of the fluorescence excited by the ultraviolet light is 380nm.

[0031] like Figure 5 As shown, the shortest distance between the UV lamp 386 and the plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384 is greater than three times the focal length of the plano-convex cylindrical mirror (3f), and the shortest distance between the detection line 121 and the plano-convex cylindrical mirror 384 is greater than one times the focal length of the convex cylindrical mirror (1f) but less than two times the focal length (2f). Figure 6 As shown, the shortest distance between the detection line 121 on the detection card and the convex lens 385 is greater than twice the focal length (2f) of the convex lens, and the shortest distance between PD 387 and the convex lens is greater than one times the focal length (1f) of the convex lens but less than twice the focal length (2f) of the convex lens.

Claims

1. A fluorescent immunoassay analyzer, characterized in that: The fluorescent immunoassay analyzer includes a shell and a detection component in the shell. The shell includes an insertion port for inserting a detection card into the analyzer for detection. The detection component includes a transmission module, a test module and an exit module. The transmission module includes a circular turntable. A plurality of test channels are provided on the turntable. Each test channel can be inserted with a detection card. The circular turntable transmits the inserted detection card to the position required by the test module after completing the immune reaction. The test module is used to test the detection line on the detection card and output the detection result. The exit module is used to exit the detection card from the test channel after the test is completed. The test module includes an integrally formed optical path base, an ultraviolet optical path channel and a fluorescent optical path channel. A plano-convex cylindrical mirror and a convex lens are respectively fixedly mounted on the optical path base. The angle between the center lines of the plano-convex cylindrical mirror and the convex lens is ? Between twenty and seventy degrees, one end of the ultraviolet light path channel is fixedly mounted on the light path base and the ultraviolet light path channel is optically connected to the plano-convex cylindrical mirror, the other end of the ultraviolet light path channel is fixedly connected to the ultraviolet lamp light source, one end of the fluorescent light path channel is fixedly mounted on the light path base and the fluorescent light path channel is optically connected to the convex lens, the other end of the fluorescent light path channel is fixedly connected to the photoelectric detector, the ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet lamp passes through the ultraviolet light path channel and is focused by the plano-convex cylindrical mirror and then irradiated on the detection line on the detection card, the ultraviolet lamp irradiates the detection line for a preset time and then goes out, the detection line on the detection card is excited by the ultraviolet light and emits fluorescence, the fluorescence irradiates the convex lens on the light path base and enters the fluorescent light path channel after being focused by the convex lens, and then is received by the photoelectric detector and converted into an electrical signal.

2. The fluorescent immunoassay analyzer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical path base is provided with an aperture below the plano-convex cylindrical mirror. The aperture includes a rectangular hole smaller than the plano-convex cylindrical mirror. The aperture blocks a part of the ultraviolet light passing through the plano-convex cylindrical mirror but allows another part of the ultraviolet light to pass through.

3. The fluorescent immunoassay analyzer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The ultraviolet rays passing through the aperture irradiate on the detection line of the detection card to form a rectangular light spot with a width between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm.

4. The fluorescent immunoassay analyzer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The light spot excites the fluorescent microspheres on the detection line to emit fluorescence.

5. The fluorescent immunoassay analyzer according to claim 4, characterized in that: After the ultraviolet lamp is turned off, the fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent microspheres is focused by the convex lens and passes through the fluorescent light path channel, and then is received by the photodetector and generates a signal.

6. The fluorescent immunoassay analyzer according to claim 1, characterized in that: No lens is arranged between the ultraviolet lamp and the plano-convex cylindrical mirror.

7. The fluorescent immunoassay analyzer according to claim 1, characterized in that: No lens is arranged between the convex lens and the photodetector.

8. The fluorescent immunoassay analyzer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wavelength of ultraviolet light is 620nm.

9. The fluorescent immunoassay analyzer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wavelength of fluorescence excited by ultraviolet light is 380nm.

10. The fluorescent immunoassay analyzer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shortest distance between the detection line on the detection card and the convex lens is greater than twice the focal length of the convex lens, and the shortest distance between the photoelectric detector and the convex lens is greater than one time the focal length of the convex lens but less than twice the focal length of the convex lens.

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