Optical detection system and PCR instrument

Abstract

The utility model provides an optical detection system and PCR instrument, Y type optical fiber is used for light propagation and includes trunk and first branch and second branch that connect trunk, trunk is used for butt joint consumable hole, the first branch passes through excitation optical fiber hole and butt joint to excitation channel, and the second branch passes through excitation optical fiber hole and butt joint to excitation channel. An excitation assembly used for emitting excitation light to the first branch is arranged in the excitation channel, the second branch penetrates through the emission optical fiber hole and is in butt joint with the emission channel, and an emission assembly used for receiving and detecting fluorescence is arranged in the emission channel. A double-turntable rotary scanning mode is adopted, the excitation turntable is responsible for excitation, the emission turntable is responsible for emission, and the Y-shaped optical fiber is adopted, so that compared with the mode that excitation and emission share one turntable in the prior art, one turntable is additionally arranged, excitation and emission are physically separated, the weight of the rotating discs is reduced, and the cost is reduced. The assembly and debugging of the turntable are simplified, and the construction of a multi-channel multi-sample PCR instrument is facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of PCR instruments, and in particular relates to an optical detection system and a PCR instrument. Background Art

[0002] PCR is a molecular biology technique that amplifies specific DNA fragments in vitro. Its greatest characteristic is its ability to significantly increase the yield of minute amounts of DNA. PCR technology is widely used in molecular biology testing and analysis due to its strong specificity, high sensitivity, low purity requirements, simplicity, and rapidity. Thanks to the miniaturization of light sources and detection components, the optical detection systems of multi-channel, multi-sample PCR instruments are becoming increasingly smaller and easier to assemble, making them easier to integrate with nucleic acid extraction systems.

[0003] The turntable of the optical module of a conventional PCR instrument is equipped with excitation and emission components for multiple channels, as well as circuit boards, shielding covers, and other parts. Therefore, the turntable is relatively heavy. To ensure that the turntable can be driven, the motor must have a relatively large torque. In some PCR instruments, the excitation and emission components of the optical module are integrated by adding dichroic mirrors. The turntable is equipped with optical components related to the excitation and emission of multiple channels. The excitation and emission of each channel are integrated together, and additional dichroic mirrors are added to the rotating disk, making it also relatively heavy. When faced with multiple channels, such as 6 or even 8 channels, the assembly and debugging of the turntable will be more complicated. Utility Model Content

[0004] The main purpose of the utility model is to provide an optical detection system and a PCR instrument, aiming to solve the technical problems in the prior art that the optical detection system of the PCR instrument is complex in structure and inconvenient to assemble and debug.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an optical detection system for a PCR instrument with a consumable hole, wherein the consumable hole is used to accommodate a sample tube, and the optical detection system includes: an excitation module, including an excitation turntable with multiple excitation channels and an excitation fixed disk with multiple excitation fiber holes, the excitation turntable is arranged corresponding to the excitation fixed disk and can rotate relative to the excitation fixed disk; an emission module, including an emission turntable with multiple emission channels and an emission fixed disk with multiple emission fiber holes, the emission turntable is arranged corresponding to the emission fixed disk and can rotate relative to the emission fixed disk; a Y-shaped optical fiber for light propagation and including a trunk and a first branch and a second branch connected to the trunk, the number of the excitation fiber holes and the emission fiber holes are consistent with the number of the Y-shaped optical fibers and are connected one-to-one, the trunk is used to dock with the consumable hole, the first branch passes through the excitation fiber hole and docks to the excitation channel, an excitation component for emitting excitation light to the first branch is provided in the excitation channel, the second branch passes through the emission fiber hole and docks to the emission channel, and an emission component for receiving and detecting fluorescence is provided in the emission channel.

[0006] In an embodiment of the present invention, the excitation component includes an excitation light source, an excitation collimating lens, an excitation bandpass filter and an excitation focusing lens arranged in sequence, and the excitation light source and the excitation bandpass filter in each excitation channel are different.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the excitation light source is a patch LED; and / or the excitation collimating lens and the excitation focusing lens are both glass lenses.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the emission component includes an emission collimating lens, an emission bandpass filter, an emission focusing lens and a detector arranged in sequence along the direction of light propagation, and the emission bandpass filters in each emission channel are different.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the emission collimating lens and the emission focusing lens are both glass lenses; and / or the detector is one of a silicon photodiode and a silicon photomultiplier tube.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the optical detection system includes two rotating driving members, which are respectively connected to the excitation turntable and the emission turntable, and are used to drive the excitation turntable and the emission turntable to rotate synchronously.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the optical detection system includes a rotary drive and a synchronization component, the excitation turntable and the emission turntable are connected by transmission through the synchronization component, and the rotary drive is connected to one of the excitation turntable and the emission turntable.

[0012] The present invention also provides a PCR instrument, which includes a consumables holder with a plurality of consumables holes and the optical detection system as described above.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, a docking hole for the main trunk to pass through is formed on the side wall of the consumable hole.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the PCR instrument further includes a heating module for heating the consumables holder.

[0015] Through the above technical solution, the optical detection system provided by the embodiment of the utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0016] When an optical detection system is used for fluorescence detection, the excitation and emission light paths are changed from sharing a turntable to each occupying a turntable. Y-type optical fibers are used, and only one optical fiber hole is opened for each consumable hole. The trunk of each Y-type optical fiber is connected to the consumable hole one by one, with the first branch connected to the excitation turntable and the second branch connected to the emission turntable. This greatly reduces the difficulty of assembling the PCR instrument and is conducive to the construction of a multi-channel multi-sample PCR instrument. The excitation turntable and the emission turntable can synchronously rotate and scan multiple Y-type optical fibers, each of which is one circle, to ensure that when the excitation light of each excitation channel on the excitation turntable enters the first branch of the Y-type optical fiber, the emission light generated by the sample in the corresponding sample tube is excited and enters the emission component of the corresponding emission channel of the emission turntable from the second branch. The utility model adopts a dual-turntable rotation scanning method, with the excitation turntable responsible for excitation and the emission turntable responsible for emission. At the same time, Y-type optical fibers are used. Compared with the method in the prior art where excitation and emission share a turntable, by adding a turntable and physically separating excitation and emission, the weight of the turntable is reduced, the assembly and debugging of the turntable are simplified, and it is conducive to the construction of a multi-channel multi-sample PCR instrument.

[0017] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail in the subsequent detailed description of the embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings are used to provide an understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the following specific embodiments, they are used to explain the present invention but do not constitute a limitation of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 It is a partial structural diagram of an optical detection system according to one embodiment of the present utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of light transmission of an optical detection system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an excitation component of an optical detection system according to one embodiment of the present utility model;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of an emitting component of an optical detection system according to one embodiment of the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an excitation turntable of an optical detection system according to one embodiment of the present utility model;

[0024] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the emission turntable of the optical detection system according to one embodiment of the present utility model.

[0025] Description of Reference Numerals

[0026] Label Name Label Name

[0027] 100 Optical Detection System 53 Second Branch

[0028] 1 Excitation turntable 6 Excitation components

[0029] 11 Excitation channel 61 Excitation light source

[0030] 2 Excitation fixed plate 62 Excitation collimating lens

[0031] 21 Excitation fiber hole 63 Excitation bandpass filter

[0032] 3 Emission turret 64 Excitation focusing lens

[0033] 31 Launch channel 7 Launch component

[0034] 4 Emission fixing plate 71 Emission collimating lens

[0035] 41 Emission fiber hole 72 Emission bandpass filter

[0036] 5 Y-type optical fiber 73 emission focusing lens

[0037] 51 backbone 74 detector

[0038] 52 First branch 200 sample tube DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The following is a detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to illustrate and explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0040] The optical detection system according to the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the optical detection system 100 is used for a PCR instrument with a consumable hole, which is used to accommodate a sample tube 200. The optical detection system 100 includes an excitation module, an emission module and a Y-shaped optical fiber 5. The excitation module includes an excitation turntable 1 with a plurality of excitation channels 11 and an excitation fixed disk 2 with a plurality of excitation fiber holes 21. The excitation turntable 1 is arranged corresponding to the excitation fixed disk 2 and can rotate relative to the excitation fixed disk 2; the emission module includes an emission turntable 3 with a plurality of emission channels 31 and an emission fixed disk 4 with a plurality of emission fiber holes 41. The emission turntable 3 is arranged corresponding to the emission fixed disk 4 and can rotate relative to the emission fixed disk 4. Rotation; Y-type optical fiber 5, used for light propagation and includes a trunk 51 and a first branch 52 and a second branch 53 connected to the trunk 51. The number of excitation fiber holes 21 and the emission fiber holes 41 are consistent with the number of Y-type optical fibers 5 and are connected one-to-one. The trunk 51 is used to dock the consumable hole. The first branch 52 passes through the excitation fiber hole 21 and docks to the excitation channel 11. The excitation channel 11 is provided with an excitation component 6 for emitting excitation light to the first branch 52. The second branch 53 passes through the emission fiber hole 41 and docks to the emission channel 31. The emission channel 31 is provided with an emission component 7 for receiving and detecting fluorescence.

[0042] It can be understood that the PCR instrument in this embodiment is mainly used for nucleic acid detection, the sample tube 200 is used to accommodate the sample, the length direction of the consumable hole is consistent with the length direction of the sample tube 200, and the trunk 51 can extend into the sample tube 200 in the consumable hole through the side wall of the consumable hole. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the excitation turntable 1 and the emission turntable 3 are both provided with 8 channels. The 8 excitation channels 11 are AF405, Atto425, FAM, VIC, ROX, Cy5, Quasar705, and Cy7 in order from small to large excitation wavelengths. The 8 excitation channels 11 can be evenly arranged in order from small to large excitation wavelengths on the excitation turntable 1, or can be arranged in other ways, such as AF405, FAM, ROX, Quasar705, Atto425, VIC, Cy5, and Cy7, or AF405, VIC, Quasar705, Atto425, ROX, Cy7, FAM, and Cy5, and so on. In this embodiment, the number of excitation fiber holes 21 and emission fiber holes 41 can be 96, and the number of Y-shaped optical fibers 5 is also 96. The optical detection system 100 includes two turntables and 96 Y-shaped optical fibers 5. One turntable is provided with 8 excitation channels 11 with excitation components 6, and the other turntable is provided with 8 emission channels 31 with emission components 7. In other embodiments, the number of excitation fiber holes 21 and emission fiber holes 41 can be set according to actual usage requirements.

[0043] When using the optical detection system 100 of this embodiment for fluorescence detection, the excitation and emission optical paths are changed from sharing a turntable to each occupying a separate turntable. Y-shaped optical fibers 5 are used, with only one fiber hole opened for each consumable hole. The trunk 51 of each Y-shaped optical fiber 5 is connected to each consumable hole one by one, with the first branch 52 connected to the excitation turntable 1 and the second branch 53 connected to the emission turntable 3. This significantly reduces the difficulty of assembling the PCR instrument and facilitates the construction of a multi-channel, multi-sample PCR instrument. The excitation turntable 1 and the emission turntable 3 can synchronously rotate and scan the multiple Y-shaped optical fibers 5, each of which is a full circle. This ensures that when the excitation light from each excitation channel 11 on the excitation turntable 1 enters the first branch 52 of the Y-shaped optical fiber 5, the emission light generated by the sample in the corresponding sample tube 200 enters the emission assembly 7 of the corresponding emission channel 31 of the emission turntable 3 from the second branch 53. This embodiment adopts a dual-turntable rotation scanning method, with the excitation turntable 1 responsible for excitation and the emission turntable 3 responsible for emission. At the same time, a Y-shaped optical fiber 5 is used. Compared with the method in the prior art where excitation and emission share one turntable, by adding a turntable and physically separating excitation and emission, the weight of the turntable is reduced, the assembly and debugging of the turntable are simplified, and it is conducive to the construction of a multi-channel and multi-sample PCR instrument.

[0044] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the excitation assembly 6 includes an excitation light source 61, an excitation collimating lens 62, an excitation bandpass filter 63, and an excitation focusing lens 64, which are arranged in sequence. The excitation light source 61 and the excitation bandpass filter 63 in each excitation channel 11 are different. Through different excitation bandpass filters 63, each excitation channel 11 can pass excitation light of different bandwidths, thereby realizing the propagation of excitation light of corresponding bandwidths in different excitation channels 11. The excitation light source 61 is used to emit excitation light, which can enter the first branch 52 through the excitation collimating lens 62, the excitation bandpass filter 63, and the excitation focusing lens 64 in sequence, and propagate to the sample in the sample tube 200 through the first branch 52. The excitation collimating lens 62 in this embodiment can adopt a plano-convex collimating glass ball lens, which can collimate the excitation light. The collimated excitation light is filtered by the excitation bandpass filter 63 and focused by the excitation focusing lens 64, and can then be accurately incident on the first branch 52.

[0045] Specifically, the excitation light source 61 is a chip LED; and the excitation collimating lens 62 and the excitation focusing lens 64 are both glass lenses. In one embodiment, the excitation collimating lens 62 is a glass lens, and the number of excitation collimating lenses 62 can be two. In another embodiment, the number of excitation collimating lenses 62 is one, and the excitation collimating lens 62 is a TIR lens, which can reduce the assembly process of the optical detection system 100.

[0046] like Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, the emission assembly 7 includes an emission collimating lens 71, an emission bandpass filter 72, an emission focusing lens 73, and a detector 74, which are sequentially arranged along the direction of light propagation. The emission bandpass filters 72 in each emission channel 31 are different. Through different emission bandpass filters 72, each emission channel 31 can pass light of different bandwidths, thereby achieving corresponding detection of different emission channels 31. Fluorescence generated by the sample in the sample tube 200 is incident on the emission collimating lens 71 through the main trunk 51 and the second branch 53, and then passes through the emission bandpass filter 72, the emission focusing lens 73, and finally enters the detector 74, which performs photoelectric conversion on the fluorescence. The emission collimating lens 71 can collimate the fluorescence, the emission bandpass filter 72 can filter the fluorescence, and the emission focusing lens 73 can focus the fluorescence. The cooperation of the emission collimating lens 71, the emission bandpass filter 72, and the emission focusing lens 73 ensures the detection accuracy of the detector 74.

[0047] Specifically, emission collimating lens 71 and emission focusing lens 73 are both glass lenses; and detector 74 is a silicon photodiode or a silicon photomultiplier tube (SiPM or MPPC). Two emission bandpass filters 72 can be used. In one embodiment, emission collimating lens 71 is a TIR lens, which reduces the number of assembly steps for optical detection system 100.

[0048] In one embodiment, the optical detection system 100 includes two rotary drive members, each connected to the excitation turntable 1 and the emission turntable 3, respectively, and configured to drive the excitation turntable 1 and the emission turntable 3 to rotate synchronously. The rotary drive members in this embodiment may be rotary drive motors, which may be mounted on the excitation fixed disk 2 and the emission fixed disk 4. The output shafts of the rotary drive motors connect the excitation turntable 1 and the emission turntable 3, thereby improving the structural compactness of the optical detection system 100 and further reducing its size.

[0049] In another embodiment, the optical detection system 100 includes a rotary drive member and a synchronization assembly. The excitation turntable 1 and the emission turntable 3 are connected by transmission through the synchronization assembly, and the rotary drive member is connected to one of the excitation turntable 1 and the emission turntable 3. The rotary drive member in this embodiment can be a rotary drive motor. The rotary drive member can be connected to the excitation turntable 1. A driving gear ring can be provided on the periphery of the excitation turntable 1. A driven gear ring can be provided on the periphery of the emission turntable 3. The synchronization assembly includes a driving gear ring and a driven gear ring. When the rotary drive member drives the driving gear ring to rotate, the excitation turntable 1 and the emission turntable 3 can achieve synchronous rotation through gear meshing. The structure is simple and easy to assemble.

[0050] The present invention also provides a PCR instrument comprising a consumable holder with multiple consumable wells and the optical detection system 100 described above. The specific structure of the optical detection system 100 is described in the aforementioned embodiments. Because the PCR instrument utilizes all of the technical solutions of all of the aforementioned embodiments, it possesses at least all of the beneficial effects provided by the technical solutions of the aforementioned embodiments, and thus will not be further detailed here. The PCR instrument in this embodiment is primarily used for nucleic acid detection and is capable of detecting samples within a sample tube 200.

[0051] In one embodiment, the side wall of the consumable hole is provided with a docking hole for the trunk 51 to pass through. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the docking hole in this embodiment is arranged near the bottom of the sample tube 200. By arranging the docking hole on the side wall of the consumable hole, the heating cover on the top of the consumable hole is facilitated, and the trunk 51 is connected to the side wall of the consumable hole, which makes it easier to insert the trunk 51. Each sample tube 200 corresponds to only one docking hole, which can facilitate the processing of the consumable seat.

[0052] Specifically, the PCR instrument further includes a heating module for heating the consumable holder. The heating module in this embodiment can adopt a heating device in the prior art, which can heat the sample tube 200 in the consumable hole according to the detection requirements of the PCR instrument, thereby facilitating nucleic acid detection of the PCR instrument.

[0053] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of this utility model, "plurality" means at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0054] In this utility model, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection, electrical connection, or communication; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two elements or interaction between two elements, unless otherwise specified. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0055] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or examples described in this specification and features of different embodiments or examples without contradiction.

[0056] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative and cannot be understood as limitations on the present invention. Ordinary technicians in this field can change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical detection system for a PCR instrument with a consumable hole, wherein the consumable hole is used to accommodate a sample tube (200), characterized in that: The optical detection system (100) comprises: An excitation module comprises an excitation rotating disk (1) with a plurality of excitation channels (11) and an excitation fixed disk (2) with a plurality of excitation optical fiber holes (21), wherein the excitation rotating disk (1) is arranged corresponding to the excitation fixed disk (2) and can rotate relative to the excitation fixed disk (2); The transmitting module comprises a transmitting turntable (3) with a plurality of transmitting channels (31) and a transmitting fixed disk (4) with a plurality of transmitting optical fiber holes (41), wherein the transmitting turntable (3) is arranged corresponding to the transmitting fixed disk (4) and can rotate relative to the transmitting fixed disk (4); A Y-shaped optical fiber (5) is used for light propagation and includes a trunk (51) and a first branch (52) and a second branch (53) connected to the trunk (51). The number of the excitation fiber holes (21) and the emission fiber holes (41) are consistent with the number of the Y-shaped optical fibers (5) and are connected one-to-one. The trunk (51) is used to connect to the consumable hole. The first branch (52) passes through the excitation fiber hole (21) and connects to the excitation channel (11). An excitation component (6) for emitting excitation light to the first branch (52) is provided in the excitation channel (11). The second branch (53) passes through the emission fiber hole (41) and connects to the emission channel (31). An emission component (7) for receiving and detecting fluorescence is provided in the emission channel (31).

2. The optical detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that The excitation component (6) comprises an excitation light source (61), an excitation collimating lens (62), an excitation bandpass filter (63), and an excitation focusing lens (64) arranged in sequence, and the excitation light source (61) and the excitation bandpass filter (63) in each excitation channel (11) are different.

3. The optical detection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The excitation light source (61) is a chip LED; and / or, The excitation collimating lens (62) and the excitation focusing lens (64) are both glass lenses.

4. The optical detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that The emission assembly (7) comprises an emission collimating lens (71), an emission bandpass filter (72), an emission focusing lens (73) and a detector (74) arranged in sequence along the light propagation direction, and the emission bandpass filter (72) in each emission channel (31) is different.

5. The optical detection system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The emission collimating lens (71) and the emission focusing lens (73) are both glass lenses; and / or, The detector (74) is one of a silicon photodiode and a silicon photomultiplier tube.

6. The optical detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The optical detection system (100) comprises two rotating drive members, the two rotating drive members being respectively connected to the excitation turntable (1) and the emission turntable (3), and the rotating drive members being used to drive the excitation turntable (1) and the emission turntable (3) to rotate synchronously.

7. The optical detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The optical detection system (100) comprises a rotary drive member and a synchronization component, the excitation turntable (1) and the emission turntable (3) are connected by transmission via the synchronization component, and the rotary drive member is connected to one of the excitation turntable (1) and the emission turntable (3).

8. A PCR instrument, characterized in that The PCR instrument comprises a consumable holder with a plurality of consumable holes and the optical detection system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The PCR instrument according to claim 8, characterized in that A docking hole for the main trunk (51) to pass through is provided on the side wall of the consumable hole.

10. The PCR instrument according to claim 8, characterized in that The PCR instrument further includes a heating module for heating the consumables seat.

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