Analytical device

Abstract

To provide an analysis device comprising an LED light source which is suppressed in change in a light emission spectrum and amount of light, and can be prevented from forming dew.SOLUTION: An analysis device comprises: an LED light source (excitation light LED 501, phosphor 502, and an LED package 503) generating light with which a sample is irradiated; an LED packaged-substrate 504 in which the LED light source and a temperature sensor 505 are packaged; a lamp house 508 which surrounds a periphery of the LED-packaged substrate 504, and houses the LED-packaged substrate 504; a Peltier element 506 which absorbs heat of the LED packaged-substrate 504, or discharges the heat to the LED-packaged substrate 504; and a control unit which controls an output of the Peltier element 506 in such a manner that temperature to be measured by the temperature sensor 505 becomes higher than a threshold temperature.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an analytical device that includes an LED light source that generates light that is irradiated onto a sample. [Background technology]

[0002] In analytical devices used to measure the amounts of components contained in samples such as blood or urine, such as proteins, sugars, lipids, enzymes, hormones, inorganic ions, and disease markers, the sample and reagents are dispensed into liquid containers, and the test items are generally analyzed based on changes in optical properties such as absorbance, fluorescence, and emission. In absorbance analysis using an analytical device, light from a light source is irradiated onto the sample or a reaction solution containing a mixture of the sample and reagents, and the amount of transmitted light at one or more measurement wavelengths that passes through the sample or reaction solution is measured using a light-receiving element to calculate absorbance, and the amount of component is determined from the relationship between absorbance and concentration.

[0003] A light source for absorption spectrometry must have a wide emission spectrum to accommodate a wide range of test items, and must also be able to stably generate a certain level of light at the measurement wavelength to enable highly accurate absorbance measurements. For this reason, xenon lamps, halogen lamps, and other light sources have traditionally been used. While these light sources can generate a certain level of light, when used continuously, it takes a relatively long time, about 30 minutes, for the light intensity to stabilize. Furthermore, because of their high light output, they consume a lot of energy and have a limited lifespan. For example, halogen lamps must be replaced every 1,000 hours, which increases the frequency of maintenance required for analytical equipment.

[0004] In recent years, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are expected to have a long lifespan, have been considered as light sources for absorption analysis. For example, in automatic blood analyzers used in clinical testing, different reagents and light wavelengths are used depending on the components to be measured, and the wavelength range is wide, for example, from 340 nm to 800 nm. Therefore, it is difficult to cover the entire wavelength band with a single LED light. Therefore, it is possible to use, for example, multiple LED elements or to use light emitted from a phosphor that converts the excitation light of a blue LED element to emit light in a long wavelength band.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for providing a phosphor on the light flux of an LED chip. The phosphor disclosed in Patent Document 1 contains at least alumina and at least one of Fe, Cr, Bi, Tl, Ce, Tb, Eu, and Mn, and is produced by firing raw materials containing 6.1 to 15.9 wt % sodium in the total raw materials.

[0006] When using an LED as a light source for absorption analysis, there is a concern that the emission spectrum and light intensity may change due to self-heating during lighting and environmental temperature, resulting in a decrease in analytical accuracy. To prevent this, Patent Document 2 uses a temperature control block in which the LED photometer and the reaction cell (a component that stores a sample or reaction solution) are in contact. The use of an LED makes the device more compact, and the LED light-emitting element is fixed to a component with a large heat capacity for preheating and temperature control. This allows the LED element to be maintained at a constant temperature range without being affected by the ambient temperature or self-heating, making it possible to achieve a certain level of light intensity stability.

[0007] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a structure in which the underside of the LED package is connected to a Peltier element or a metal block with good thermal conductivity and an internal flow path in order to cool and maintain a constant temperature of 25±0.1°C. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-87974 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 3964291 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 6637407 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] There are three challenges to overcome in order to achieve the light intensity stability required for absorption analysis using an LED light source:

[0010] (i) In order to suppress changes in the emission spectrum and light intensity due to self-heating of the LED light source when it is turned on and changes due to the ambient temperature, it is necessary to make the area around the LED light source less susceptible to the influence of the ambient temperature. (ii) In addition, it is necessary to maintain a constant temperature of the LED mounting board on which the LED light source is mounted, thereby maintaining a constant temperature of the LED light source. (iii) In addition, to prevent condensation on the LED light source, it is necessary to ensure that the ambient temperature of the LED mounting board and the LED light source does not become too low.

[0011] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an analytical device equipped with an LED light source that can suppress changes in the emission spectrum and light intensity and prevent condensation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The analytical device of the present disclosure includes an LED light source that generates light to be irradiated onto a sample, an LED mounting board on which the LED light source and a temperature sensor are mounted, a lamp house that surrounds the LED mounting board and houses the LED mounting board, a Peltier element that absorbs heat from the LED mounting board or releases heat to the LED mounting board, and a control unit that controls the output of the Peltier element so that the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is higher than a threshold temperature. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress changes in the emission spectrum and light amount of an LED light source and prevent condensation. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become clear in the description of the following embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1A] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an analysis device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 1B] FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of a control circuit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an absorbance measurement unit that performs absorbance analysis in the analyzer of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 3 is an example of a detailed configuration of a light source unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a temperature control method for an LED-mounted board according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of a light source unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of a light source unit according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is an example of a detailed configuration of a light source unit according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a temperature control method for an LED-mounted board according to a fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, it goes without saying that components (including element steps, etc.) are not necessarily essential unless otherwise specified or considered to be clearly essential in principle.

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] Example 1 (Analyzer 100) 1A is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an analyzer using absorbance analysis according to Example 1. The analyzer 100 according to this example configuration includes three types of disks: a sample disk 103, a reagent disk 106, and a reaction disk 109; a dispensing mechanism for moving samples (also called specimens or analytes) and reagents between these disks; a control circuit (control unit) 201 for controlling these; a light quantity measurement circuit 202 for measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution; a data processing unit 203 for processing data measured by the light quantity measurement circuit 202; and an input unit 204 and an output unit 205 that interface with the data processing unit 203. The dispensing mechanism also includes a sample dispensing mechanism 110 and a reagent dispensing mechanism 111.

[0018] The data processing unit 203 has an information recording unit 2031 and an analysis unit 2032. The information recording unit 2031 stores control data, measurement data, data used for data analysis, analysis result data, etc. The data processing unit 203 may be implemented using a computer. The computer includes at least a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the information recording unit 2031. The processing of the analysis unit 2032 may be implemented by storing program codes corresponding to the data processing in the information recording unit 2031 and having the processor execute each program code.

[0019] The input unit 204 and the output unit 205 input and output data to and from the information recording unit 2031. The input unit 204 is an information input device such as a keyboard, a touch panel, or a numeric keypad. The output unit 205 is a device, such as a display, that allows the user of the analysis device to check the analysis results.

[0020] A plurality of sample cups 102, which are containers for holding samples 101, are arranged on the circumference of the sample disk 103. The samples 101 are, for example, blood. A plurality of reagent bottles 105, which are containers for holding reagents 104, are arranged on the circumference of the reagent disk 106. A plurality of reaction cells 108, which are containers for holding reaction solutions 107 in which the samples 101 and reagents 104 are mixed, are arranged on the circumference of the reaction disk 109.

[0021] The sample dispensing mechanism 110 is a mechanism used to transfer a fixed amount of sample 101 from the sample cup 102 to the reaction cell 108. The sample dispensing mechanism 110 includes, for example, a nozzle that dispenses or aspirates a solution, a robot that positions and transports the nozzle to a predetermined position, a pump that dispenses or aspirates a solution from the nozzle, and a flow path that connects the nozzle and the pump.

[0022] The reagent dispensing mechanism 111 is a mechanism used when transferring a fixed amount of reagent 104 from the reagent bottle 105 to the reaction cell 108. The reagent dispensing mechanism 111 also includes, for example, a nozzle that dispenses or aspirates a solution, a robot that positions and transports the nozzle to a predetermined position, a pump that dispenses or aspirates a solution from the nozzle, and a flow path that connects the nozzle and the pump.

[0023] The solution stirring unit 112 is a mechanism that stirs and mixes the sample 101 and the reagent 104 in the reaction cell 108. The reaction cell washing unit 114 is a mechanism that discharges the reaction solution 107 from the reaction cell 108 after the analysis process has been completed, and then washes the reaction cell 108. After the washing process is completed, the next sample 101 is dispensed into the reaction cell 108 by the sample dispensing mechanism 110, and new reagent 104 is dispensed into the reaction cell 108 by the reagent dispensing mechanism 111, and the reaction cell 108 is used for another reaction process.

[0024] In the reaction disk 109, the reaction cell 108 is immersed in constant-temperature circulating water 115 in a constant-temperature water bath in which the temperature and flow rate are controlled. Therefore, the reaction cell 108 and the reaction solution 107 therein are kept at a constant temperature by the control circuit 201 even while being moved by the reaction disk 109. An absorbance measurement unit (absorption photometer) 113 that performs absorbance analysis in the analyzer is arranged on a part of the circumference of the reaction disk 109.

[0025] (Control circuit 201) 1B is a hardware block diagram of the control circuit of Example 1. The control circuit 201 has a processor 2011, a main memory unit 2012, an auxiliary memory unit 2013, an input / output interface 2014, and a bus 2015 that connects the above-mentioned modules.

[0026] The processor 2011 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of each part of the control circuit 201. The processor 2011 is, for example, a CPU, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The processor 2011 deploys programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 2013 in an executable manner in a work area of ​​the main storage unit 2012. The main storage unit 2012 stores programs executed by the processor 2011, data processed by the processor, and the like. The main storage unit 2012 is, for example, a flash memory, a RAM (Random Access Memory), or the like. The auxiliary storage unit 2013 stores various programs and various data. The auxiliary storage unit 2013 stores, for example, an OS (Operating System), various programs such as a temperature control program 2013a, and various data such as a threshold temperature 2013b. The auxiliary storage unit 2013 is a silicon disk including a nonvolatile semiconductor memory (flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM)), a solid state drive device, a hard disk drive (HDD), or the like.

[0027] (Absorbance measurement section 113) 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an absorbance measurement unit that performs absorbance analysis in the analyzer of Example 1. Irradiation light generated from a light source unit 301 for absorbance analysis is emitted along an optical axis 401, and is collected by a collecting lens 403 and irradiated onto a reaction cell 108. At this time, a light source-side slit 402 may be arranged to limit the width of the light emitted from the light source unit 301 in order to make the light intensity distribution within the irradiation surface uniform.

[0028] The light transmitted through the reaction solution 107 in the reaction cell 108 is dispersed by a diffraction grating 3021 in the spectroscope 302 and received by a detector array 3022 equipped with a large number of light receivers. At this time, the light that has not transmitted through the reaction solution 107 becomes noise, so a spectroscope-side slit 404 may be provided to prevent such stray light from entering the spectroscope 302.

[0029] Examples of measurement wavelengths received by the detector array 3022 include 340 nm, 376 nm, 405 nm, 415 nm, 450 nm, 480 nm, 505 nm, 546 nm, 570 nm, 600 nm, 660 nm, 700 nm, 750 nm, and 800 nm. Light reception signals from these photodetectors are transmitted to the information recording unit 2031 of the data processing unit 203 via the light intensity measurement circuit 202.

[0030] The amounts of components such as proteins, sugars, and lipids contained in the sample 101 are calculated according to the following procedure. First, the control circuit 201 instructs the reaction cell cleaning unit 114 to clean the reaction cell 108. Next, the control circuit 201 causes the sample dispensing mechanism 110 to dispense a fixed amount of the sample 101 in the sample cup 102 into the reaction cell 108. Next, the control circuit 201 causes the reagent dispensing mechanism 111 to dispense a fixed amount of the reagent 104 in the reagent bottle 105 into the reaction cell 108.

[0031] When dispensing each solution, the control circuit 201 rotates the sample disk 103, the reagent disk 106, and the reaction disk 109 using the corresponding drive units. At this time, the sample cup 102, the reagent bottle 105, and the reaction cell 108 are positioned at predetermined dispensing positions according to the drive timing of the corresponding dispensing mechanism.

[0032] Next, the control circuit 201 controls the solution stirring unit 112 to stir the sample 101 and reagent 104 dispensed into the reaction cell 108, thereby generating a reaction solution 107. As the reaction disk 109 rotates, the reaction cell 108 containing the reaction solution 107 passes through a measurement position where an absorbance measurement unit 113 is disposed. Every time the reaction cell 108 passes through the measurement position, the amount of light transmitted through the reaction solution 107 contained in that reaction cell 108 is measured by the absorbance measurement unit 113. The measurement data is sequentially output to the information recording unit 2031 and stored as reaction process data.

[0033] During the accumulation of this reaction process data, if necessary, another reagent 104 is additionally dispensed into the reaction cell 108 by the reagent dispensing mechanism 111, stirred by the solution stirring unit 112, and further measured for a certain period of time. As a result, the reaction process data acquired at certain time intervals is stored in the information recording unit 2031.

[0034] (Light source section 301) 3 shows an example of a detailed configuration of the light source unit of Example 1. In the following description, as shown in the drawing, the light emission side is referred to as the "emission side," and the opposite side is referred to as the "rear side." Phosphor 502 is excited by light emitted from excitation light LED 501, and light is emitted from phosphor 502. The excitation light LED 501 and phosphor 502 are mounted in an LED package 503, and the LED package 503 is mounted on an LED mounting substrate 504.

[0035] A temperature sensor 505 is mounted on the LED mounting board 504 together with the LED package 503. The LED mounting board 504 is a metal-based board made of aluminum, copper, or other material with good thermal conductivity. The temperature sensor 505 is, for example, a thermistor, a thermocouple, a resistance temperature detector, or a semiconductor sensor. The heat absorption side of a Peltier element 506 contacts the back surface of the LED mounting board 504. The heat dissipation side of the Peltier element 506 contacts a sub-base 507. The sub-base (holding member) 507 is detachable from a lamp house 508 and holds the LED mounting board 504 and other components. The Peltier element 506 absorbs heat from the LED mounting board 504 or dissipates heat to the LED mounting board 504. The sub-base 507 contacts the inner wall of the lamp house 508. Therefore, the sub-base 507 and the lamp house 508 have the same temperature. The sub-base 507 is preferably made of metal from the viewpoint of thermal conductivity, and aluminum, copper, stainless steel, etc. are possible materials.

[0036] A through-hole 509 is provided on the emission side of the lamp house 508, through which the light emitted from the phosphor 502 passes. An optical system such as a condenser lens 403, a light cut filter, a light source side slit 402, and a spectrometer side slit 404 may be installed in this through-hole 509. With this configuration, the optical system provided in the through-hole 509 improves the airtightness of the air inside the lamp house 508, and also makes it possible to adjust the characteristics of the emitted light.

[0037] The structure of the contact portion between the lamp house 508 and the sub-base 507 will now be described. As shown in Fig. 3, a protrusion 510 that protrudes outward is provided on the outer wall surface of the lamp house 508, and a notch 513 is provided in a position of the flange portion 512 of the sub-base 507 that corresponds to the protrusion 510. The position of the sub-base 507 relative to the lamp house 508 is determined by the protrusion 510 abutting against the notch 513.

[0038] The lamp house 508 is made of a material with good thermal conductivity, such as a metal block, and is provided therein with a flow path 511 for the constant-temperature circulating water 115. This flow path 511 is a thermostatic mechanism for maintaining a constant temperature of the lamp house 508. The constant-temperature circulating water 115 is constant-temperature circulating water that circulates within the constant-temperature water bath of the reaction disk 109 shown in FIG. 1A and is adjusted to, for example, 37±0.1°C. The flow path 511 is made of, for example, stainless steel, and the metal block of the lamp house 508 is made of, for example, copper. The components of the flow path 511 and the lamp house 508 are not limited to those described above, and may be made of other metals, ceramics, resins, or the like as long as corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity are ensured.

[0039] To prevent condensation on the excitation LEDs 501 and phosphors 502, the temperature of the LED mounting substrate 504 is preferably higher than the temperature of the lamp house 508 (close to 37°C of the constant-temperature circulating water in this case), for example, 40°C or higher. Furthermore, to prevent the junction temperature of the excitation LEDs 501 from exceeding the maximum allowable value, the temperature is preferably lower than 60°C, for example. By increasing the airtightness of the lamp house 508, the possibility of condensation is reduced even when the temperature of the LED package 503 is lower than 40°C. However, considering the replaceability of the LED package 503, it is difficult to completely prevent air exchange between the inside and outside of the lamp house 508. Therefore, for general condensation prevention, it is desirable to keep the temperature of the LED mounting substrate 504 higher than the temperature of the lamp house 508. In particular, in an automated analyzer that measures the amounts of components contained in samples such as blood or urine, there is often an abundance of constant-temperature circulating water in a constant-temperature water bath whose temperature and flow rate are controlled, resulting in high humidity. Therefore, keeping the temperature of the LED mounting substrate 504 higher than the temperature of the lamp house 508 is effective in preventing condensation. When the reaction disk rotates, the surrounding air circulates, which can cause the temperature and humidity inside the analyzer to become high.

[0040] (Temperature control method for LED mounting board 504) Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a temperature control method for an LED-mounted substrate according to the first embodiment. To stably obtain the analytical performance of the absorption analysis of the analyzer 100, it is preferable that the amount of light irradiated from the LED package 503 is always constant. As a means for keeping the amount of light constant, according to the configuration of the present disclosure, output control of the Peltier element 506 is performed based on the temperature of the LED-mounted substrate 504 measured by the temperature sensor 505. The processes of steps S403 to S407 in Fig. 4 are performed by the processor 2011 of the control circuit 201 executing the temperature control program 2013a.

[0041] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, in the absorption analysis of the analytical device 100 of FIG. 1A, the user turns on the power of the device (step S401). This energizes the control circuit 201 and other components, and the control circuit 201 and other components start up. The user also turns on the power of the light source unit 301 (step S402). This causes the excitation light LED 501 to emit light. Note that the power of the light source unit 301 may be turned on in conjunction with the power being turned on of the device.

[0042] The activated control circuit 201 acquires temperature data measured by the temperature sensor 505 (step S403). Then, the control circuit 201 controls the output of the Peltier element 506 based on the temperature data acquired from the temperature sensor 505 (step S404). Specifically, the control circuit 201 controls the output of the Peltier element 506 so that the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 505 becomes higher than a threshold temperature Th. This threshold temperature Th is, for example, a threshold temperature 2013b stored in the auxiliary storage unit 2013.

[0043] This threshold temperature Th may be a preset value V, or a value dependent on a set temperature S for adjusting the temperature of the constant temperature circulating water 115 (Th=S (e.g., 37°C)+α (e.g., 13°C)), or a value determined based on a temperature Tw measured by a thermometer that measures the temperature of the constant temperature circulating water 115 (Th=Tw+α), or a value determined based on a temperature Tl measured by a thermometer that measures the temperature of the lamp house 508 (Th=Tl+α). Furthermore, the temperature data used by the control circuit 201 may be not only that measured by the temperature sensor 505 installed in the light source unit 301, but also that measured by another temperature sensor as the device environmental temperature.

[0044] Next, the control circuit 201 controls the operation of the absorbance measurement unit 113 to perform absorbance measurement (step S405). The light quantity measurement circuit 202 stores the light quantity data obtained by this absorbance measurement in the information recording unit 2031. The control circuit 201 then acquires the light quantity data from the information recording unit 2031 and determines whether the light quantity fluctuation falls within a specified range required for absorbance analysis (step S406). If the result of the determination is that the light quantity data does not fall within the specified range of light quantity fluctuation (step S406: No), the control circuit 201 returns to the processing of step S404 and controls the output of the Peltier element 506 based on the temperature data acquired from the temperature sensor 505.

[0045] If the result of the determination is that the light intensity data falls within the specified range of light intensity fluctuation (step S406: Yes), the absorption analysis is started (step S407).

[0046] (Experimental results) A blue LED with a central wavelength of 385 nm was used as the excitation light LED 501, and a white LED (driven at a current of 400 mA) using phosphor 502 excited by the excitation light was used. As in the example configuration of Figure 3, an LED package 503 was mounted on an LED mounting board 504, and a thermistor was used as the temperature sensor 505 to control the output of a Peltier element 506.

[0047] The threshold temperature Th of the thermistor when the Peltier element 506 was in operation was 50.0°C. The LED mounting substrate 504 was an aluminum substrate with pattern wiring formed via an insulating film (resist). When the excitation LED 501 was lit, the temperature fluctuations of the LED mounting substrate 504 were compared between when the Peltier element 506 was in operation and when it was not in operation. As shown in Table 1, the temperature fluctuations were less than 0.01°C when the Peltier element 506 was in operation, whereas the temperature fluctuations were 0.05°C when the Peltier element 506 was not in operation. These results confirmed the effectiveness of operating the Peltier element 506 in maintaining a constant temperature for the LED mounting substrate 504. Furthermore, even when the Peltier element 506 was not in operation, the temperature fluctuations were relatively small at 0.05°C. This suggests that the LEDs are less susceptible to environmental temperature fluctuations outside the lamp house because they are surrounded by the lamp house 508. Since the control temperature of the LED mounting substrate 504 was set to 50.0°C, no condensation was observed on the LED light source.

[0048] [Table 1]

[0049] (Effects of Example 1) By surrounding the periphery of LED mounting board 504 in lamp house 508 and accommodating LED mounting board 504, the area around LED package 503 is less susceptible to the effects of environmental temperature. Furthermore, by controlling the output of Peltier element 506, it is possible to maintain a constant temperature of LED mounting board 504 on which LED package 503 is mounted. As a result, changes in the emission spectrum and light intensity of light emitted from LED package 503 can be suppressed.

[0050] Furthermore, by controlling the output of the Peltier element 506 so that the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 505 becomes higher than the threshold temperature, the amount of saturated water vapor in the lamp house 508 increases. As a result, it is possible to prevent condensation on the LED package 503.

[0051] Furthermore, the temperature of the lamp house 508 can be kept constant by forming a flow path 511 in the lamp house 508 and flowing constant temperature circulating water 115 through the flow path 511. As a result, the inside of the lamp house 508 can be prevented from being affected by the environmental temperature.

[0052] Peltier element 506 is disposed between LED mounting substrate 504 and sub-base 507 that contacts the inner wall of lamp house 508. This allows heat to easily transfer between lamp house 508 and LED mounting substrate 504, making it possible to maintain a constant temperature for LED mounting substrate 504.

[0053] The position of the sub-base 507 relative to the lamp house 508 can be determined by abutting the notch 513 of the sub-base 507 with the protrusion 510 of the lamp house 508. As a result, the position of the LED package 503 held by the sub-base 507 is determined, and the position of the phosphor 502 held by the LED package 503 is also determined, making it easy to determine the optical axis of the emitted light.

[0054] Furthermore, by providing an optical system in the through hole 509 of the lamp house 508, the airtightness of the lamp house 508 is improved.

[0055] Furthermore, by setting the threshold temperature Th to a temperature between 40 and 60° C., which is higher than the temperature of the lamp house 508, it is possible to prevent the excitation light LED 501 and the phosphor 502 from condensing at a temperature lower than the junction temperature of the excitation light LED 501.

[0056] <Example 2> FIG. 5 shows an example of a detailed configuration of a light source unit in Example 2. Example 1 and Example 2 differ in the structure of the contact portion between a lamp house 508 and a sub-base 507. As shown in FIG. 5, in Example 2, a notch 520 is provided on the outer wall surface of the lamp house 508, and a protrusion 521 is provided at a position corresponding to the notch 520 on a flange portion 512 of the sub-base 507. The position of the sub-base 507 relative to the lamp house 508 is determined by the protrusion 521 abutting against the notch 520. The structure other than the above-described contact portion is the same as in Example 1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0057] (Effects of Example 2) The position of the sub-base 507 relative to the lamp house 508 can be determined by abutting the protrusion 521 of the sub-base 507 with the notch 520 of the lamp house 508. As a result, the position of the LED package 503 held by the sub-base 507 is determined, and the position of the phosphor 502 held by the LED package 503 is also determined, making it easy to determine the optical axis of the emitted light.

[0058] Example 3 FIG. 6 shows an example of a detailed configuration of a light source unit according to a third embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the third embodiment differs in that a sub-base 507 includes a heat insulating portion 530. The heat insulating portion 530 is provided between a portion that holds an LED mounting substrate 504 and a portion that contacts a lamp house 508. The heat insulating portion 530 thermally insulates between a portion that contacts the heat absorption side of the LED mounting substrate 504 and the Peltier element 506 and conducts heat, and a portion that contacts the heat dissipation side of the lamp house 508 and the Peltier element 506 and conducts heat. The heat insulating portion 530 is made of a resin with low thermal conductivity. This structure allows the Peltier element 506 to transfer heat from the LED mounting substrate 504 to the inner wall of the lamp house 508 via the sub-base 507. The heat insulating portion 530 blocks heat transfer from a flange portion 512 of the sub-base 507 to the lamp house 508.

[0059] The Peltier element 506 is fixed inside the lamp house 508. The sub-base 507 is configured to be detachable from the lamp house 508 with the Peltier element 506 remaining inside the lamp house 508. As a result, even when, for example, the LED mounting board 504 and the sub-base 507 are removed from the lamp house 508 when the excitation light LED 501 reaches the end of its life, and the LED package 503 or the LED mounting board 504 is replaced, there is no need to remove the Peltier element 506 from inside the lamp house 508. The other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0060] (Effects of Example 3) By bringing the Peltier element 506 into contact with the inner wall of the lamp house 508 and the sub-base 507 and providing the heat insulating section 530 described above, it is possible to efficiently transfer heat between the LED mounting board 504 and the inner wall of the lamp house 508. This makes it easy to keep the temperature of the LED package 503 constant and higher than the threshold temperature.

[0061] Example 4 FIG. 7 shows an example of a detailed configuration of a light source unit according to a fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the rear side of the sub-base 507 does not contact the inner wall of the lamp house 508. In the fourth embodiment, heat is conducted from the LED mounting board 504 to the lamp house 508 via a flange 512 of the sub-base 507. This structure eliminates the need to increase thermal conductivity by bringing the rear side of the sub-base 507 into contact with the inner wall of the lamp house 508. Instead, the LED package 503 and the LED mounting board 504 can be replaced simply by pulling the sub-base 507 toward the flange 512. Furthermore, by providing the sub-base 507 with a heat conduction path 540 made of a highly thermally conductive material such as copper, the heat conduction from the heat dissipation part of the Peltier element 506 to the lamp house 508 is improved, thereby improving the temperature controllability of the Peltier element 506. Other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0062] (Effects of Example 4) The sub-base 507 is attached to the lamp house 508 without coming into contact with the inner wall of the lamp house 508, thereby improving the ease of attachment and detachment of the sub-base 507. Furthermore, by providing the heat conduction path 540, the temperature of the LED mounting board 504 can be easily controlled.

[0063] <Example 5> FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a temperature control method for an LED-mounted substrate according to a fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, the LED-mounted substrate 504 is preheated to shorten the time required for the excitation light LEDs 501 to stabilize after the excitation light LEDs 501 are turned on. As illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 8, in the absorption analysis performed by the analysis device 100 of FIG. 1A, a user turns on the power of the device (step S401). This energizes the control circuit 201 and other components, activating them. Thereafter, the user turns on the power of the light source unit 301 (step S402). In the fifth embodiment, before the user turns on the power of the light source unit 301, the control circuit 201 controls the output of the Peltier element 506 based on temperature data acquired from the temperature sensor 505 to preheat the LED-mounted substrate 504 (step S800). The subsequent processing is similar to that of the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0064] (Effects of Example 5) In the fifth embodiment, by preheating the LED mounting board 504, the output of the Peltier element 506 becomes smaller than when preheating is not performed, and the time until the temperature becomes stable is also shortened.

[0065] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present disclosure, and are not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, or to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 100: analyzer, 101: sample, 102: sample cup, 103: sample disk, 104: reagent, 105: reagent bottle, 106: reagent disk, 107: reaction solution, 108: reaction cell, 109: reaction disk, 110: sample dispensing mechanism, 111: reagent dispensing mechanism, 112: solution stirring unit, 113: absorbance measurement unit, 114: reaction cell cleaning unit, 115: constant temperature circulating water, 201: control circuit, 2011: processor, 2012: main memory unit, 2013: auxiliary memory unit, 2013a: temperature control program, 2013b: threshold temperature, 2014: input / output interface, 2015: bus, 202: light intensity measurement circuit, 203: data processing unit, 2031: information recording unit, 2032: Analysis unit, 204: Input unit, 205: Output unit, 301: Light source unit, 302: Spectrometer, 3021: Diffraction grating, 3022: Detector array, 401: Optical axis, 402: Light source side slit, 403: Condenser lens, 404: Spectrometer side slit, 501: Excitation light LED, 502: Phosphor, 503: LED package, 504: LED mounting board, 505: Temperature sensor, 506: Peltier element, 507: Sub-base, 508: Lamp house, 510, 521: Protrusion, 513, 520: Notch, 511: Flow path, 530: Heat insulation unit, 540: Heat conduction path

Claims

1. An LED light source having an LED that emits light and a phosphor that excites the light emitted from the LED, and irradiating a sample with the light excited by the phosphor; an LED mounting substrate on which the LED light source and the temperature sensor are mounted; a lamp house surrounding the LED mounting substrate and accommodating the LED mounting substrate; a thermostatic mechanism for maintaining a constant temperature of the lamp house; a Peltier element that absorbs heat from the LED mounting substrate or releases heat to the LED mounting substrate; a control unit that controls the output of the Peltier element so that the temperature measured by the temperature sensor becomes higher than a threshold temperature that is higher than the temperature of the lamp house. An analytical device characterized by:

2. The thermostatic mechanism has a flow path provided in the lamp house through which thermostatic water passes to maintain a constant temperature of a reaction cell containing a sample and a reagent. The analytical device according to claim 1 .

3. The Peltier element is disposed between the inner wall of the lamp house and the LED mounting board. The analytical device according to claim 1 .

4. a holding member that is detachable from the lamp house and that holds the LED mounting board; the holding member has a notch, The lamp house has a protrusion that comes into contact with the notch. The analytical device according to claim 1 .

5. a holding member that is detachable from the lamp house and that holds the LED mounting board; the lamp house has a notch, The holding member has a protrusion that comes into contact with the notch. The analytical device according to claim 1 .

6. a holding member that is detachable from the lamp house and that holds the LED mounting board; the Peltier element is brought into contact with the inner wall of the lamp house and the holding member; The holding member has a heat insulating portion provided between a portion that holds the LED mounting board and a portion that comes into contact with the lamp house. The analytical device according to claim 1 .

7. a holding member that is detachable from the lamp house and that holds the LED mounting board; The holding member is attached to the lamp house without contacting the inner wall of the lamp house. The analytical device according to claim 1 .

8. a holding member that is detachable from the lamp house with the Peltier element remaining inside the lamp house and that holds the LED mounting board; The analytical device according to claim 1 .

9. a through hole through which light emitted from the LED light source passes is formed in the lamp house; The through hole is provided with an optical system, and the air inside the lamp house is sealed. The analytical device according to claim 1 .

10. The threshold temperature is determined based on the temperature of the lamp house. The analytical device according to claim 1 .

11. The threshold temperature is between 40 and 60° C. higher than the temperature of the lamp house. The analytical device according to claim 1 .

12. The control unit controls the output of the Peltier element so as to release heat to the LED mounting board before the LED light source emits light. The analytical device according to claim 1 .

13. The sample is contained in a reaction vessel; The reaction vessel and constant temperature circulating water for maintaining the sample in the reaction vessel at a constant temperature are provided. The analytical device according to claim 1 .

14. a reaction disk for mounting at least one reaction vessel on its circumference; a constant temperature water bath for immersing the reaction vessels placed on the reaction disk in the constant temperature circulating water; a control unit that rotates the reaction disk, 14. The analytical device according to claim 13.

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