Electrophoresis system, electrophoresis data processing device, and electrophoresis data processing method

Abstract

This electrophoresis system is characterized by including: a compression range setting unit (105) which, in order to perform appropriate compression of fluorescence signal data, distinguishes between and detects fluorescence signals attributable to an analysis target and fluorescence signals attributable to factors other than the analysis target, for fluorescence signals included in the fluorescence signal data, and sets a compression range for a frame of the fluorescence signal data on the basis of the detection result; a compression rate calculating unit (106) that calculates a compression rate on the basis of the maximum value of the fluorescence signal intensity included in the compression range and the maximum value of the signal intensity that can be used in a secondary analysis; and a compressing unit (107) that generates fluorescence signal compressed data by compressing the fluorescence signal data on the basis of the compression rate, and outputs the generated fluorescence signal compressed data.

Description

Electrophoresis system, electrophoresis data processing device, and electrophoresis data processing method

[0001] The present invention relates to techniques for an electrophoresis system, an electrophoresis data processing device, and an electrophoresis data processing method.

[0002] Multi-capillary electrophoresis systems are widely used in the analysis of biological samples. A multi-capillary electrophoresis system involves filling multiple capillaries with electrophoretic separation media, such as an electrolyte solution, a polymer gel, or an electrolyte solution containing a polymer, and performing parallel electrophoretic analysis. The targets of electrophoresis range from low molecular weight molecules to high molecular weight molecules such as proteins and DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).

[0003] In particular, in the detection of DNA, excitation light is irradiated onto a sample in which DNA has been fluorescently labeled, and the fluorescent signal emitted by the fluorescent label is detected. The detected fluorescent signal is then used to analyze the DNA's base sequence and length. The fluorescent signal is detected by an image sensor, such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor. The multi-capillary electrophoresis system then detects the signal intensity for each wavelength based on the detected fluorescent signal.

[0004] In a multi-capillary electrophoresis system, signal intensity varies depending on the concentration of the sample. Therefore, it is important to improve the detection sensitivity of the image sensor to detect weak signals, while it is also important to expand the dynamic range to detect strong signals.

[0005] Binning, which virtually combines the multiple light-receiving surfaces (corresponding to pixels) that make up the image sensor and treats them as a single pixel, is known as a means of expanding the dynamic range of an image sensor. There are two types of binning: hardware binning and software binning. Compared to hardware binning, software binning can handle higher fluorescence levels.

[0006] Regarding such binning, Patent Document 1 states that "if the fluorescence signal intensity acquired by executing the hardware binning exceeds a first threshold, the fluorescence detection device switches to the software binning to acquire the fluorescence signal intensity, and if the fluorescence signal intensity acquired by executing the software binning is equal to or less than the first threshold, the fluorescence detection device switches to the hardware binning to acquire the fluorescence signal intensity" (see claim 2).

[0007] The multi-capillary electrophoresis system also outputs the generated data as a file called a primary analysis file. Secondary analysis involves analyzing the base sequence and length of nucleic acids from the data in the output primary analysis file. Secondary analysis is performed by inputting the primary analysis file output by the multi-capillary electrophoresis system into secondary analysis software for performing secondary analysis. This allows the base sequence and length of DNA to be analyzed.

[0008] The range of signal intensities that can be input to secondary analysis software is fixed, whereas the range of signal intensities that can be output by a multi-capillary electrophoresis system is wider than the range of signal intensities that can be input to secondary analysis software.

[0009] For this reason, it is common to compress the fluorescence signal data output from a multi-capillary electrophoresis system at a fixed compression rate so that the data fits within a range of values ​​that can be input into secondary analysis software. Non-Patent Document 1 states, "The CCD detector and computer software in the ABI Genetic Analyzers use a 2-byte system for data storage, which enables fluorescence values ​​to be encoded with 16 bits (each bit holding a value of 0 or 1). This 2-byte storage format enables the data collection software to provide a range of 0 to 65,535 in decimal (base-10) digits, or 0000000000000000 to 1111111111111111 in binary (base-2) digits. If both positive and negative values ​​are permitted, then the maxima of a 2-byte storage system are +32,767 and -32,767."

[0010] In the analysis using the multi-capillary electrophoresis system, a reagent called a primer is used for amplifying DNA. Because the primer is added in excess compared to the DNA to be analyzed, the signal intensity due to the primer is greater than the signal intensity due to the DNA. Furthermore, because the primer is shorter than the DNA to be analyzed, it is detected earlier than the DNA to be analyzed.

[0011] Furthermore, when software binning is performed, the signal intensity of the primary analysis file may be significantly greater than the range of signal intensities that can be input into the secondary analysis software due to the influence of fluorescent signals caused by the primers. The signal intensity of the primary analysis file may be compressed so that it can be used in the secondary analysis software, but the compression rate in the signal intensity direction may become so large that information on the DNA to be analyzed with a small signal intensity may be lost.

[0012] Furthermore, data point selection is one method for compressing data size along the time axis. Patent Document 2 describes a "method for clutter rejection, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a first set of data points from a set of data points filtered using an initial threshold criterion; selecting a plurality of overlapping subsets of data points from the first set of data points; applying a plurality of linear mappings to the data points of the plurality of overlapping subsets; determining a plurality of error values ​​from applying the plurality of linear mappings to the data points of the plurality of overlapping subsets; and selecting a first final subset of overlapping data points with the smallest error value from the first set of data points, wherein the first final subset of overlapping data points has data points that fall within a standardized range and outlier data points have been removed" (see claim 9).

[0013] JP 2015-49179 A JP 2003-500662 A

[0014] John M. Butler, “Advanced Topics in FORENSIC DNA TYPING:INTERPRETATION”, p32

[0015] Patent Document 1 describes a fluorescence detector that performs software binning, but does not describe how to convert the large signal intensity obtained by software binning into a range of values ​​that can be input into secondary analysis software.

[0016] Furthermore, Non-Patent Document 1 describes that the signal intensity that can be acquired by a CCD image sensor is "0" to "65,535," and that software converts this to a value range of "-32,767" to "32,767." However, as mentioned above, when software binning is performed, the signal intensity that can be acquired increases, and therefore the compression ratio in the signal intensity direction increases. This may result in the loss of DNA information with a small signal intensity to be analyzed. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize (optimize) the compression ratio in the signal intensity direction. Non-Patent Document 1 does not describe a compression method when software binning is performed.

[0017] Furthermore, one method for minimizing the compression rate in the signal intensity direction is to select data points to be analyzed. Patent Document 2 describes a method for reducing data points by removing clutter, but does not describe a method for removing fluorescence caused by primers that increase signal intensity in data output by a multi-capillary electrophoresis system.

[0018] In a multi-capillary electrophoresis system, if software binning is performed and the fluorescent signals caused by the primers are not removed, the signal intensity increases due to the influence of the primers, and the compression ratio increases excessively. In this case, the compression ratio in the signal intensity direction increases, and there is a risk that information on the DNA to be analyzed with a small signal intensity will be lost.

[0019] The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to perform appropriate compression of fluorescent signal data.

[0020] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electrophoresis apparatus comprising: a software binning processing unit that acquires from the electrophoresis apparatus an analyte sample signal, which is a signal related to an analyte sample that has been subjected to hardware binning, and a matrix standard signal, which is a signal related to a matrix standard that has been subjected to hardware binning, and performs software binning on the analyte sample signal and the matrix standard signal; a fluorescence signal data generation unit that generates fluorescence signal data, which is data related to fluorescence signal intensity for each frame, based on the analyte sample signal that has been subjected to the software binning and the matrix standard signal that has been subjected to the software binning; a compression range setting unit that distinguishes between first fluorescence signals attributable to the analyte and second fluorescence signals attributable to something other than the analyte and sets a compression range for the frame of the fluorescence signal data based on the detection results; a compression rate calculation unit that calculates a compression rate based on the maximum value of the fluorescence signal intensity included in the compression range and the maximum value of signal intensity that can be used in secondary analysis; and a compression unit that compresses the fluorescence signal data based on the compression rate, to generate compressed fluorescence signal data, and output the generated compressed fluorescence signal data. Other solutions will be described as appropriate in the embodiments.

[0021] According to the present invention, appropriate compression of fluorescent signal data can be performed.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an electrophoresis system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a fluorescence detection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a CCD image sensor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a CCD image sensor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a processing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a processing device. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of converting spectrally dispersed fluorescence into a digital signal. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of converting spectrally dispersed fluorescence into a digital signal. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of converting spectrally dispersed fluorescence into a digital signal. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of converting spectrally dispersed fluorescence into a digital signal. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the procedure of compression processing performed by the compression unit in the 1-1 embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophoretic image. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophoretic image. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophoretic image. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophoretic image. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophoretic image. A diagram showing the configuration of a processing device in the 2-1 embodiment. A flowchart showing the procedure of compression range determination processing performed by the compression range setting unit in the 2-1 embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophoretic image. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophoretic image. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophoretic image. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophoretic image. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophoretic image. A diagram showing an example of a secondary analysis screen displayed in this embodiment.

[0023] Next, a mode for carrying out the present invention (referred to as an "embodiment") will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. In all the drawings for explaining the embodiment, the same parts are generally designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0024] <First Embodiment> <1-1 Embodiment> [System Configuration] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an example configuration of an electrophoresis system 1 according to 1-1 embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the electrophoresis system 1 includes a processing device 10 that is an electrophoresis data processing device, an electrophoresis device 20, and an external memory 30. The external memory 30 is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, an external HD (Hard Disk), or the like.

[0025] (Electrophoresis Apparatus 20) The electrophoresis apparatus 20 is a multi-capillary electrophoresis apparatus, and includes a pump unit 21, a high-voltage power supply 22, a thermostatic bath 23, a fluorescence detection apparatus 200, and a capillary array 240. The electrophoresis apparatus 20 also includes a sample tray 250 and a transporter 260.

[0026] The sample tray 250 contains a plurality of sample containers 251. Each sample container 251 contains a sample to be measured, which is DNA labeled with a fluorescent label. Each sample container 251 contains a different sample.

[0027] The transporter 260 transports the sample tray 250 so that each sample container 251 is positioned at the tip of the capillary 241 .

[0028] The capillary array 240 is made up of a plurality of capillaries 241. Each capillary 241 is hollow. Each capillary 241 is inserted into a sample container 251.

[0029] The thermostatic bath 23 maintains a constant temperature inside the capillary array 240. The pump unit 21 injects an electrophoretic medium M (e.g., a polymer) into each capillary 241. As a result, the inside of each capillary 241 is filled with the electrophoretic medium M.

[0030] A high-voltage power supply 22 applies a high voltage to both ends of each capillary 241 filled with an electrophoresis medium M. A fluorescence detection position 24 is provided on a path along which the sample is electrophoresed. At the fluorescence detection position 24, excitation light R1 (see FIG. 2) is irradiated onto the sample.

[0031] The sample is electrophoresed by the application of voltage from the high-voltage power supply 22 and moves inside the capillary 241. In FIG. 1, the direction of sample movement is indicated by an arrow. The sample that has moved inside the capillary 241 is irradiated with excitation light R1 (see FIG. 2) at the fluorescence detection position 24 and emits fluorescence R2 (see FIG. 2). The sample is then discharged into the discharge container 25. The fluorescence detection device 200 detects the fluorescence R2 emitted from the sample at the fluorescence detection position 24. The detailed configuration of the fluorescence detection device 200 will be described later. By having such a configuration in the electrophoresis device 20, samples that have been electrophoresed inside multiple capillaries 241 can be measured simultaneously.

[0032] In this embodiment, the sample passing through the inside of the capillary 241 is assumed to be a DNA fragment to which a fluorescent label has been added, but a sample other than a DNA fragment may also be used.

[0033] 1 shows an outline of the processing device 10. The processing device 10 includes a signal integration unit 101, which is a software binning processing unit, a fluorescence calibration unit 102, a color conversion unit 104, a compression range setting unit 105, a compression ratio calculation unit 106, and a compression unit 107. The detailed configuration of the processing device 10 will be described later.

[0034] (External Memory 30) The processing performed on the external memory 30 will be described later.

[0035] (Fluorescence detection device 200) Figure 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the fluorescence detection device 200 in the 1-1 embodiment. As shown in Figure 2, the fluorescence detection device 200 has an excitation light source 201, a shutter 202, and an excitation light lens 203. The fluorescence detection device 200 also has an optical filter 204, a fluorescence lens 205, a diffraction grating 206, and a CCD image sensor 210. The fluorescence detection device 200 also has a control device 220 and a conversion device 230.

[0036] The excitation light source 201 continuously emits excitation light R1. The excitation light source 201 is provided so that the emitted excitation light R1 irradiates all of the capillaries 241 in the capillary array 240 passing through the fluorescence detection position 24. The shutter 202 repeatedly opens and closes at predetermined intervals. That is, when the shutter 202 is open, the excitation light R1 emitted from the excitation light source 201 irradiates the capillaries 241. When the shutter 202 is closed, irradiation of the excitation light R1 onto the capillaries 241 is blocked. The period from when the shutter 202 is closed to when the shutter 202 is opened and then closed again is called a frame.

[0037] The excitation light lens 203 collects the excitation light R1 that has passed through the shutter 202. The excitation light R1 collected by the excitation light lens 203 is irradiated toward the fluorescence detection position 24.

[0038] As described above, DNA fragments to which fluorescent labels have been added are used as samples passing through the inside of each capillary 241. The fluorescent labels added to the DNA fragments undergoing electrophoresis inside each capillary 241 are excited by irradiation with excitation light R1 and emit fluorescence R2.

[0039] The optical filter 204 cuts out all light other than the fluorescence R2 emitted from the fluorescent label. For example, a color filter is used as the optical filter 204. The fluorescent lens 205 collects the fluorescence R2 that has passed through the optical filter 204. The diffraction grating 206 separates the fluorescence R2 collected by the fluorescent lens 205 into wavelengths. The CCD image sensor 210 receives the fluorescence R2 dispersed by the diffraction grating 206 and outputs an electric charge according to the intensity of the fluorescence R2.

[0040] The control device 220 instructs the CCD image sensor 210 to output a charge based on the fluorescent light R2.

[0041] The conversion device 230 includes a charge conversion section 231 and a digital conversion section 232 that is an ADC (Analog Digital Converter).

[0042] The charge conversion unit 231 converts the charges output from the CCD image sensor 210 into a voltage and outputs the converted voltage as an analog signal. The digital conversion unit 232 converts the analog signal output from the charge conversion unit 231 into a digital signal. The digital conversion unit 232 then outputs the converted digital signal to the processing device 10.

[0043] Next, sample measurement will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 . First, a sample is placed in a sample container 251. Then, a high voltage is applied to both ends of each capillary 241 by the high-voltage power supply 22, causing the sample to move from the sample container 251 into the capillary 241. As a result, the sample moves through the capillary 241 toward the discharge container 25 via the fluorescence detection position 24 (arrows in FIG. 1 : electrophoresis). When the sample is electrophoresed, the migration speed varies depending on the base length of the DNA fragment serving as the sample, and DNA fragments with shorter base lengths arrive at the fluorescence detection position 24 in order. Excitation light R1 is emitted from an excitation light source 201, passes through a shutter 202, and is focused by an excitation light lens 203. The sample that has arrived at the fluorescence detection position 24 is irradiated with excitation light R1. Fluorescent labels attached to the DNA fragments are excited by the excitation light R1 and emit fluorescence R2. The fluorescence R2 passes through an optical filter 204, is collected by a fluorescent lens 205, and is separated into wavelengths by a diffraction grating 206.

[0044] (CCD Image Sensor 210) FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the CCD image sensor 210 in the first embodiment. See FIG. 2 as appropriate. As shown in FIG. 3, the CCD image sensor 210 includes a light-receiving unit 211, a horizontal register unit 212, and a summing gate 213. The light-receiving unit 211 includes a plurality of light-receiving elements 211A arranged in a grid pattern. Each light-receiving element 211A has a surface that receives the fluorescence R2 dispersed by the diffraction grating 206 into wavelengths. That is, the light-receiving element 211A receives light obtained by dispersing the fluorescence R2 emitted from the capillary 241 included in the electrophoresis system 1 by the diffraction grating 206. Upon receiving the fluorescence R2, the light-receiving element 211A accumulates a signal charge corresponding to the intensity of the fluorescence R2. The light-receiving unit 211 is also connected to the control device 220 via a pulse line L1. The signal charges accumulated in the respective light receiving elements 211A constituting the light receiving section 211 are output in response to an instruction from the control device 220 via the pulse line L1. Details of the output of the signal charges by the light receiving elements 211A will be described later.

[0045] The horizontal register section 212 has a plurality of horizontal registers 212A. The horizontal registers 212A vertically integrate the signal charges accumulated in the light-receiving elements 211A. In this embodiment, the direction from the light-receiving elements 211A toward the horizontal registers 212A is defined as the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the direction from the horizontal register section 212 toward the summing gate 213 is defined as the horizontal direction. The horizontal register section 212 is connected to the control device 220 via a pulse line L2. Each horizontal register 212A constituting the horizontal register section 212 outputs a signal charge in response to an instruction from the control device 220 via the pulse line L2. Details of the output of the signal charges by the horizontal registers 212A will be described later.

[0046] The summing gate 213 further accumulates the signal charges accumulated by the horizontal register unit 212. The summing gate 213 is connected to the control device 220 via a pulse line L3. The summing gate 213 outputs the accumulated signal charges in response to an instruction from the control device 220 via the pulse line L3.

[0047] The CCD image sensor 210 can be of any of the following types: frame transfer type, full frame transfer type, interline transfer type, and frame interline transfer type. When the frame transfer type, interline transfer type, or frame interline transfer type is used, there is no need to provide the shutter 202 (see FIG. 2). When the full frame transfer type is used, it becomes possible to detect a minute signal by increasing the number and area of ​​the light receiving elements 211A.

[0048] Furthermore, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor may be used to detect the fluorescence R2 (see FIG. 2) instead of the CCD image sensor 210. When a CMOS image sensor is used, it becomes possible to directly acquire digital signals from the respective light receiving elements 211A.

[0049] [Configuration of Processing Device 10] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the processing device 10 according to embodiment 1-1. Figs. 1 and 2 will be referenced as appropriate. The processing device 10 has a signal integration unit 101, a fluorescence calibration unit 102, a pseudo-inverse matrix generation unit 103, and a color conversion unit 104. The processing device 10 also has a compression range setting unit 105, a compression ratio calculation unit 106, and a compression unit 107. As described above, the signal integration unit 101 constitutes a software binning processing unit. The fluorescence calibration unit 102, the pseudo-inverse matrix generation unit 103, and the color conversion unit 104 constitute a fluorescence signal data generation unit.

[0050] In the electrophoresis system 1, a matrix standard D20 is used in addition to the sample to be analyzed (hereinafter referred to as the sample to be analyzed D10) to obtain the signal intensity of the sample to be analyzed. The matrix standard D20 is a sample for fluorescence calibration. As described above, in this embodiment, the sample to be analyzed D10 is a mixture of fluorescently labeled DNA fragments and primers. The primers are reagents used for DNA amplification and are added to the sample to be analyzed D10.

[0051] The electrophoresis device 20 outputs an analysis sample signal D11, which is a digital signal (signal) of the analysis sample D10, from the analysis sample D10 using the method shown in Figures 6 to 11. The output analysis sample signal D11 is composed of signal intensities for each bin B. The output analysis sample signal D11 is input to the signal integrator 101 of the processing device 10. The analysis sample signal D11 is a signal for the analysis sample D10 that has been subjected to hardware binning.

[0052] The electrophoresis device 20 also measures the matrix standard D20 separately from the analysis target sample D10. The electrophoresis device 20 then outputs a matrix standard signal D21, which is a digital signal of the matrix standard D20, using the method shown in FIGS. 6 to 11. The output matrix standard signal D21 is composed of signal intensities for each bin B. The output matrix standard signal D21 is input to the signal integrating unit 101 of the processing device 10. The analysis target sample D10 and the matrix standard D20 are measured separately. The matrix standard signal D21 is a signal related to the matrix standard D20 that has been subjected to hardware binning.

[0053] In this manner, the signal integrating unit 101 acquires the analysis sample signal D11 and the matrix standard signal D21 from the electrophoresis device 20.

[0054] The signal integrator 101 integrates the input analysis sample signal D11, which is a digital signal related to bin B of the analysis sample D10, for each bin B. Through this integration, the signal integrator performs software binning. Software binning, which will be described later, is performed by further binning the results of hardware binning performed by the horizontal register unit 212 and summing gate 213 shown in FIG. 3 . The signal integrator 101 then outputs an analysis sample integrated signal D12, which is the result of integrating the analysis sample signal D11 for each bin B, to the color converter 104. The signal integrator 101 also integrates the input matrix standard signal D21, which is a digital signal related to bin B of the matrix standard D20, for each bin B. The signal integrator 101 then outputs a matrix standard integrated signal D22, which is the result of integrating the matrix standard signal D21 for each bin B, to the fluorescence calibration unit 102. That is, the signal integrating unit 101 performs software binning on the matrix standard signal D21.

[0055] In this way, the signal integrating section 101 performs software binning on the analysis target sample signal D11 and the matrix standard signal D21.

[0056] The fluorescence calibration unit 102 normalizes the matrix standard integrated signal D22 output from the signal integration unit 101 for each frame so that the maximum signal intensity becomes "1", and outputs the normalized signal to the pseudo-inverse matrix generation unit 103. The matrix standard integrated signal D22 normalized by the fluorescence calibration unit 102 is referred to as fluorescence spectrum data D23.

[0057] Next, upon acquiring the fluorescence spectrum data D23 output from the fluorescence calibration unit 102, the pseudo-inverse matrix generation unit 103 generates a pseudo-inverse matrix D24 of the fluorescence spectrum data D23. The generated pseudo-inverse matrix D24 is output to the color conversion unit 104.

[0058] The color conversion unit 104 then acquires the analysis target sample integrated signal D12 from the signal integration unit 101, and acquires the pseudo-inverse matrix D24 from the pseudo-inverse matrix generation unit 103. Next, the color conversion unit 104 multiplies the analysis target sample integrated signal D12 acquired from the signal integration unit 101 by the acquired pseudo-inverse matrix D24. This generates fluorescence signal data D25. The color conversion unit 104 outputs the generated fluorescence signal data D25 to the compression range setting unit 105, the compression rate calculation unit 106, and the compression unit 107.

[0059] The fluorescence calibration unit 102, pseudo-inverse matrix generation unit 103, and color conversion unit 104 generate fluorescence signal data D25, which is data relating to the fluorescence signal intensity for each frame, based on the analysis sample signal D11 that has been subjected to software binning and the matrix standard signal D21 that has been subjected to software binning.

[0060] Upon receiving the fluorescent signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104, the compression range setting unit 105 generates an electrophoretic image EP (see FIG. 16 ). The compression range setting unit 105 then sets a compression range H (see FIG. 20 ) based on the generated electrophoretic image EP. The method for setting the compression range H will be described later. The compression range setting unit 105 then outputs the set compression range H to the compression rate calculation unit 106 and the compression unit 107.

[0061] The compression rate calculation unit 106 acquires the compression range H from the compression range setting unit 105, and also acquires the fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104. The compression rate calculation unit 106 then calculates the compression rate D27 of the fluorescence signal data D25 based on the acquired compression range H and the fluorescence signal data D25. The method by which the compression rate calculation unit 106 calculates the compression rate D27 will be described later. The compression rate calculation unit 106 outputs the calculated compression rate D27 to the compression unit 107, the external memory 30, etc.

[0062] The compression unit 107 acquires the compression rate D27 from the compression rate calculation unit 106, as well as the fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 and the compression range H from the compression range setting unit 105. The compression unit 107 then compresses the fluorescence signal data D25 based on the compression range H and the compression rate D27 to generate compressed fluorescence signal data D28. The method for generating the compressed fluorescence signal data D28 will be described later. The compression unit 107 outputs the compressed fluorescence signal data D28 to the external memory 30 or the like.

[0063] [Hardware Configuration] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the processing device 10. As shown in Fig. 5, the processing device 10 includes a memory 151, an arithmetic unit 152, a storage device 153, an input device 154, an output device 155, and a communication device 156. The memory 151 is configured with a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like. The arithmetic unit 152 is configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), or the like. The storage device 153 is configured with a HD (Hard Disk), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like. The input device 154 is configured with a keyboard, buttons, or the like. The output device 155 is configured with a display or the like. Note that the input device 154 and the output device 155 may be integrated into one device such as a touch panel display.

[0064] Then, the program stored in the storage device 153 is loaded into the memory 151. The loaded program is then executed by the arithmetic unit 152. This embodies the signal integration unit 101, fluorescence calibration unit 102, pseudo-inverse matrix generation unit 103, color conversion unit 104, compression range setting unit 105, compression ratio calculation unit 106, and compression unit 107 shown in FIG.

[0065] The processing device 10 and the electrophoresis device 20 may be integrated into one device, or may be separate devices. When the processing device 10 and the electrophoresis device 20 are integrated into one device, the control device 220 and the conversion device 230 shown in FIG. 2 may be mounted on the processing device 10.

[0066] (Hardware Binning) Figures 6 to 10 are diagrams for explaining the operation of converting the dispersed fluorescence R2 (see Figure 2) into a digital signal. Figure 2 will be referred to as appropriate. In addition, in Figures 6 to 8 (and also in Figure 3), the dashed lines shown on the light-receiving elements 211A indicate bins B. Bins B will be described later, and are formed by grouping multiple light-receiving elements 211A together, and are regarded as a single light-receiving element 211A in a pseudo-manner.

[0067] First, assume that the fluorescence R2 separated into wavelengths as shown in Fig. 2 is received by the light-receiving elements 211A of the electrophoresis device 20, and signal charges are accumulated as shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, the patterns shown on the light-receiving elements 211A indicate the signal charges accumulated in each light-receiving element 211A.

[0068] The control device 220 applies a pulse to the pulse line L1 to vertically transfer the signal charge accumulated in each of the light receiving elements 211A. When a pulse is applied to the pulse line L1, the signal charge accumulated in each of the light receiving elements 211A is vertically transferred one light receiving element at a time.

[0069] 7. The charges accumulated in the vertically rearmost light receiving element 211A are transferred to the horizontal register 212A, so that the signal charges accumulated at the positions shown in FIG.

[0070] Next, the control device 220 applies a pulse to the pulse line L1 again to transfer the signal charges accumulated in each of the light receiving elements 211A in the vertical direction. When a pulse is applied to the pulse line L1, the signal charges accumulated in the light receiving elements 211A are transferred vertically and sequentially.

[0071] Furthermore, the signal charge accumulated in the vertically rearmost light-receiving element 211A is transferred to the horizontal register 212A. As a result, each horizontal register 212A accumulates the signal charge transferred last time and the signal charge transferred this time. As a result, the signal charges accumulated at the positions shown in FIG. 7 are transferred to the positions shown in FIG. 8.

[0072] The control device 220 then applies a pulse to the pulse line L1 to vertically transfer the signal charges accumulated in each of the light-receiving elements 211A. When a pulse is applied to the pulse line L1, the signal charges accumulated in each of the light-receiving elements 211A are transferred vertically and sequentially, one light-receiving element at a time.

[0073] Furthermore, the signal charge accumulated in the vertically rearmost light-receiving element 211A is transferred to the horizontal register 212A. As a result, each horizontal register 212A accumulates the signal charge transferred two times previously, the signal charge transferred previously, and the signal charge transferred this time. In other words, each time a pulse is applied to the pulse line L1, the signal charge accumulated in the light-receiving element 211A is sequentially transferred to the horizontal register 212A. In the example shown in this embodiment, a pulse is applied to the pulse line L1 a total of three times, causing signal charge to be accumulated in the horizontal register 212A as shown in FIG. 9 .

[0074] Next, the control device 220 applies a pulse to the pulse line L2 to transfer the signal charges stored in the horizontal register 212A in the horizontal direction. When a pulse is applied to the pulse line L2, the signal charges stored in each horizontal register 212A are transferred horizontally and sequentially. The timing at which the pulse is applied to the pulse line L2 will be described later.

[0075] Furthermore, the signal charges stored in the horizontal register 212A at the end of the horizontal direction are transferred to the summing gate 213. As a result, the signal charges are transferred to the position shown in FIG.

[0076] Thereafter, the control device 220 applies a pulse to the summing gate 213 via the pulse line L3, causing the summing gate 213 to output the signal charge to the conversion device 230 (see FIG. 3).

[0077] [Timing of Pulse Application] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing timing of pulse application by the control device 220. Fig. 11 shows, from the top of the page, the timing of pulses applied to the light receiving unit 211, the timing of pulses applied to the horizontal register unit 212, and the timing of pulses applied to the summing gate 213.

[0078] 6 to 10, the signal charges corresponding to the multiple light receiving elements 211A are accumulated in the summing gate 213, so that they can be treated as a single light receiving element 211A in a pseudo manner. Treating multiple light receiving elements 211A as a single light receiving element 211A in this manner is called hardware binning. The pseudo-combined light receiving elements 211A are called bin B (see FIG. 3).

[0079] In the examples shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 , a total of three light-receiving elements 211A (three in the vertical direction and one in the horizontal direction) are hardware-binned into one bin B. For each light-receiving element 211A corresponding to a bin B, signal charges are accumulated in the horizontal register 212A and summing gate 213. That is, in the examples shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 , as shown in FIG. 11 , a pulse is applied three times in succession to the light-receiving element 211, and then a pulse is applied once to the horizontal register 212. Then, a pulse is applied once to the summing gate 213. The bin B generated by this hardware binning is the bin B shown in FIG. 3 . Note that the area subjected to hardware binning does not need to be limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 . By changing (variable) the area subjected to hardware binning, the sensitivity of the CCD image sensor 210 can be changed. In other words, the size of the bin B is variable. That is, the size of the bin B can be changed for each electrophoresis.

[0080] 11 , one set (period T) is made up of three pulses to the light receiving section 211, one pulse to the horizontal register section 212, and one pulse to the summing gate 213, and this type of set is performed multiple times. The set is repeated until all of the signal charges accumulated in the light receiving section 211 are transferred to the summing gate 213.

[0081] These operations are performed in synchronization with the timing at which the shutter 202 is opened. As described above, the period T from when the shutter 202 is closed to when it is opened and then when it is closed again is called a frame. The shutter 202 is closed while the signal charge is being transferred from the light-receiving elements 211A to the processing device 10. When the signal charge accumulated in all the light-receiving elements 211A has been transferred to the summing gate 213, the shutter 202 can be opened.

[0082] 3 again, the signal charges accumulated in the summing gate 213 are converted by the charge conversion unit 231 into a voltage corresponding to the number of signal charges transferred from the summing gate 213. As a result, the charge conversion unit 231 outputs the converted voltage as an analog signal to the digital conversion unit 232. That is, in the set (period T) shown in FIG. 11 , the charge conversion unit 231 to which the signal charges have finally been transferred from the summing gate 213 outputs a voltage corresponding to the amount of transferred signal charge as an analog signal.

[0083] The analog signal output from the charge conversion unit 231 is converted into a digital signal by the digital conversion unit 232. The converted digital signal is output to the processing device 10, the external memory 30, etc. In this embodiment, hereinafter, the digital signal will be referred to as a "signal" as appropriate, and the digital signal intensity, which is the intensity of the digital signal, will be referred to as a "signal intensity" as appropriate.

[0084] In addition, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the digital conversion unit 232 converts the analog signal value when the summing gate 213 is saturated into a digital signal value of "65535" (ADU).

[0085] (Software Binning) FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the generation of soft bins C. FIG. 12 illustrates the generation of soft bins C by integrating digital signals for each bin B in one frame. The signal integration unit 101 integrates the digital signals for the input bins B, thereby treating multiple bins B as a single bin B in a pseudo-like manner. Treating multiple bins B as a single bin B in this manner is referred to as software binning. Furthermore, the pseudo-combined bins B are referred to as soft bins C. FIG. 14 is a table illustrating examples of bins B that make up a soft bin C. Note that the software binning area is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 12 and 14 . Changing (variable) the software binning area allows the sensitivity of the CCD image sensor 210 to be changed. In other words, the size of the soft bin C is variable.

[0086] FIG. 12 shows that soft bins C1 to C20 (C) are generated by performing software binning on 12 of 240 bins B1 to B240 (B) output as a result of hardware binning. The value "30000" shown for each bin B is the signal strength output from that bin B. In the example shown in FIG. 12, a uniform signal strength of "30000" is output from each bin B. The value "360000" shown for each soft bin C is the signal strength output from that bin C. In this embodiment, one soft bin C is formed from 12 bins B, so the signal strength output from each soft bin C is "30000 x 12 = 360000."

[0087] FIG. 13 shows an example of the configuration of a generalized bin B and soft bin C. FIG. 14 shows an example of the correspondence between the soft bin C and the bin B. Generally, one bin B can be considered to be composed of m light-receiving elements 211A in the vertical direction and n light-receiving elements 211A in the horizontal direction. The definitions of the vertical and horizontal directions in FIG. 13 are the same as those in FIG. 3. That is, in the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 to 11, the bin B is composed of m=3 and n=1. The bins B1 to BN shown in FIG. 13 do not overlap with each other. The size of the bin B can be changed by changing the timing at which the control device 220 applies pulses.

[0088] Generally, a soft bin C can be considered to be composed of k bins B in the horizontal direction. That is, in the examples shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, the soft bin C is composed of k=12. The soft bins C1 to CL shown in FIG. 13 do not overlap with each other. Note that, as in FIG. 12, FIG. 14 shows that soft bins C1 to C20 (C) are generated by performing software binning on 240 bins B1 to B240 (B), 12 at a time.

[0089] 15 to 18, a description will be given of the procedure for processing electrophoresis data in the first embodiment, which is performed by the compression range setting unit 105, the compression ratio calculation unit 106, and the compression unit 107. The processes shown in Figs. 15, 17, and 18 may be performed each time electrophoresis is performed, or may be performed collectively after all electrophoresis runs are completed.

[0090] (Compression Range Determination Process) Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the compression range determination process, which is the compression range setting step performed by the compression range setting unit 105 in the first-first embodiment. Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophoretic image EP. Refer to Fig. 4 as appropriate. The compression range determination process aims to separate the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers from the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA in order to appropriately compress the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA.

[0091] First, the compression range setting unit 105 acquires fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S101). In step S101, the compression range setting unit 105 acquires fluorescence signal data D25 for all frames. Note that in subsequent processes similar to step S101, fluorescence signal data D25 for all frames is also acquired. Furthermore, the fluorescence signal data D25 is the result of software binning.

[0092] Next, the compression range setting unit 105 draws (generates) an electrophoretic image EP (see FIG. 16 ) of the fluorescence signal data D25 (S102). The electrophoretic image EP is a graph of the fluorescence signal data D25. As shown in FIG. 16 , the compression range setting unit 105 draws a graph of the fluorescence signal data D25, with the horizontal axis representing the frame number and the vertical axis representing the fluorescence signal intensity for that frame. Note that the frame number is a number assigned to each frame in order of earliest time. This graph, with the horizontal axis representing the frame number and the vertical axis representing the fluorescence signal intensity for that frame, is referred to as an electrophoretic image EP. Note that the electrophoretic image EP is drawn for each electrophoresis. Furthermore, in the electrophoretic image EP, the signal intensity of the fluorescence signal data D25 is constant when the CCD image sensor 210 is not irradiated with fluorescence R. The signal intensity of the fluorescence signal data D25 is referred to as the fluorescence signal intensity. Incidentally, because the fluorescent signal intensity may become a negative value due to the influence of noise, etc., a predetermined value is generally added to the calculated fluorescent signal intensity. Therefore, even when the CCD image sensor 210 is not irradiated with fluorescent light R, the fluorescent signal intensity generally has a predetermined value.

[0093] On the other hand, when strong fluorescence R2 is irradiated onto the CCD image sensor 210, the fluorescence signal intensity, which is the signal intensity of the fluorescence signal data D25, becomes stronger. Furthermore, fluorescence R2 is irradiated onto the CCD image sensor 210 over multiple frames. Therefore, the electrophoretic image EP has different fluorescence signal intensities for each frame number. As a result, the electrophoretic image EP includes multiple mountain-shaped shapes, as shown in FIG. 16. Each mountain-shaped shape is referred to as a fluorescence signal P. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 16, in this embodiment, the electrophoretic image EP has frame numbers from "1" to "5000."

[0094] Returning to the description of FIG. 15 , reference will be made hereafter to FIG. 16 as appropriate. Next, the compression range setting unit 105 selects one of the fluorescent signals P contained in the generated electrophoretic image EP. In this case, the compression range setting unit 105 searches the electrophoretic image EP shown in FIG. 16 from frame number "1" to "5000" and acquires a range of frame numbers where the fluorescent signal intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The compression range setting unit 105 selects, as one fluorescent signal P, the fluorescent signal intensity corresponding to this range of frame numbers.

[0095] The compression range setting unit 105 then determines whether the width (frame number) of the selected fluorescent signal P is equal to or greater than a first threshold (S103). The first threshold is set to a value that is sufficiently smaller than the width of the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers and sufficiently larger than the width of the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA to be analyzed. Because the primers are added in excess compared to the DNA to be analyzed, the fluorescent signal intensity is high. In other words, the width of the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers is larger than the width of the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA.

[0096] In other words, the width of the fluorescent signal P known to be caused by the primer is set in advance as the first threshold. In this embodiment, "50" frames are set as the first threshold. The width of the fluorescent signal P is defined by the start frame number and end frame number of the fluorescent signal P. The start frame number is defined as the first frame number at which the value of the fluorescent signal P is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The end frame number is defined as the frame number after the start frame number at which the value of the fluorescent signal P is equal to or less than a predetermined value. However, the value of the first threshold is not limited to "50". The full width at half maximum may also be used as the width of the fluorescent signal P. Using the full width at half maximum makes it possible to reduce the influence of the baseline.

[0097] If the width of the fluorescent signal P is equal to or greater than the first threshold (S103 → Yes), the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether the area of ​​the fluorescent signal P is equal to or greater than a second threshold (S104). The second threshold is set to a value that is sufficiently smaller than the area of ​​the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers and sufficiently larger than the area of ​​the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA to be analyzed. This is because, for the reasons described above, the area of ​​the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers is larger than the area of ​​the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA.

[0098] That is, the area of ​​the fluorescent signal P that is known to be caused by the primer is set in advance as the second threshold value. In this embodiment, it is assumed that "10000000" is set as the second threshold value.

[0099] If the area of ​​the fluorescent signal P is equal to or greater than the second threshold (S104 → Yes), the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether the end frame number of the fluorescent signal P is less than a third threshold (S105). The third threshold is set to a value that is sufficiently greater than the end frame number of the fluorescent signal P caused by the primer and sufficiently smaller than the end frame number of the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA to be analyzed. In other words, the end frame number of the fluorescent signal P known to be caused by the primer is set in advance as the third threshold. This is because the fluorescent signal P caused by the primer is characterized as being detected before the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA. In this embodiment, the frame number "2500" is set as the third threshold.

[0100] If the end frame number of the fluorescent signal P is less than the third threshold (S105→Yes), the compression range setting unit 105 determines that the target fluorescent signal P is a primer-derived fluorescent signal P. Then, the compression range setting unit 105 assigns a non-analysis marker JN (see FIG. 19 ) to the target fluorescent signal P (S106).

[0101] Furthermore, if the width of the fluorescent signal P is less than the first threshold value in step S103 (S103→No), the compression range setting unit 105 determines that the target fluorescent signal P is a fluorescent signal P derived from the target DNA. Then, the compression range setting unit 105 assigns the target DNA marker JY (see FIG. 19 ) to the target fluorescent signal P (S107).

[0102] Furthermore, if the area of ​​the fluorescent signal P is less than the second threshold value in step S104 (S104→No), the compression range setting unit 105 determines that the target fluorescent signal P is a fluorescent signal P derived from the DNA to be analyzed. Then, the compression range setting unit 105 assigns the target marker JY (see FIG. 19 ) to the target fluorescent signal P (S107).

[0103] Similarly, in step S105, if the end frame number of the fluorescent signal P is equal to or greater than the third threshold (S105→No), the compression range setting unit 105 determines that this fluorescent signal P is a fluorescent signal P resulting from the DNA being analyzed.The compression range setting unit 105 then assigns the marker JY (see FIG. 19) to the fluorescent signal P being analyzed (S107).

[0104] The fluorescent signal P to which the analyte marker JY is attached is the first fluorescent signal attributable to the analyte. That is, in the 1-1 embodiment, the fluorescent signal P derived from the DNA to be analyzed is the first fluorescent signal. Furthermore, the fluorescent signal P to which the non-analyte marker JN is attached is the second fluorescent signal attributable to something other than the analyte. That is, in the 1-1 embodiment, the fluorescent signal P derived from the primer is the second fluorescent signal.

[0105] In this way, the compression range setting unit 105 separates (distinguishes and detects) all fluorescent signals P in the electrophoretic image EP into fluorescent signals P caused by the DNA being analyzed and fluorescent signals P caused by primers not being analyzed.

[0106] After steps S106 and S107 have been performed, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether or not processing has been completed for all of the fluorescence signals P (S108). Whether or not processing has been completed for all of the fluorescence signals P is determined as follows: That is, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether or not a fluorescence signal P is detected from the fluorescence signal P for which processing has been completed until the last frame number of the electrophoretic image EP (see FIG. 16 ).

[0107] If processing has not been completed for all fluorescent signals P (S108→No), the compression range setting unit 105 repeats the processing from step S103 onwards. If processing has been completed for all frames (S108→Yes), the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether or not a fluorescent signal P not to be analyzed has been detected (S109). That is, in step S109, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether or not a fluorescent signal P to which a marker JN not to be analyzed has been added has been detected.

[0108] If a fluorescent signal P not to be analyzed is detected (S109 → Yes), the compression range setting unit 105 sets a compression range H (S110). In step S110, the compression range setting unit 105 selects the last fluorescent signal P (e.g., the one with the highest starting frame number) from among the fluorescent signals P labeled with the non-analytical marker JN. The compression range setting unit 105 then acquires the end frame number for the selected fluorescent signal P. For example, if the selected fluorescent signal P exists with frame numbers from "1500" to "2000," the compression range setting unit 105 acquires "2000," which is the end frame number for the selected fluorescent signal P. The compression range setting unit 105 then sets all frame numbers from the next frame number onward as the compression range H. For example, consider a case where the electrophoretic image EP has frame numbers from "1" to "5000," as shown in FIG. 16 . The last frame number for the selected fluorescent signal P is "2000." Therefore, the frame number of the frame next to that frame is "2001." In step S110, the compression range setting unit 105 sets all frame numbers from "2001" onwards, that is, "2001" to "5000," as the compression range H. The processing of step S110 will be described in detail later.

[0109] Furthermore, if no fluorescent signal P bearing a marker JN not to be analyzed is included in step S109 (S109→No), the compression range setting unit 105 sets all frames as the compression range H (S111). For example, if the electrophoretic image EP has frame numbers from "1" to "5000" as shown in Fig. 16, the compression range setting unit 105 sets the range from "1" to "5000" as the compression range H.

[0110] In this way, the compression range setting unit 105 distinguishes between the fluorescence signal P caused by the DNA to be analyzed and the fluorescence signal P caused by the primers when detecting the fluorescence signals included in the fluorescence signal data D25. Then, the compression range setting unit 105 sets a compression range H for the frame of the fluorescence signal data D25 based on the detection results.

[0111] Then, the compression range setting unit 105 outputs the compression range H set in steps S110 and S111 to the compression ratio calculation unit 106 and the compression unit 107 (S112).

[0112] In the first embodiment, an example was shown in which the constants were set as the first threshold value of "50," the second threshold value of "100000," and the third threshold value of "2500," but these values ​​are not limited to these. The first threshold value, the second threshold value, and the third threshold value are set as appropriate based on the primers used in electrophoresis, the DNA fragments, etc. By setting the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and the third threshold value as appropriate based on the primers used in electrophoresis, the DNA fragments, etc., it is possible to appropriately distinguish between the analysis target and non-analysis target regardless of the electrophoresis conditions.

[0113] 15, the width of the fluorescent signal P is determined in step S103, the area of ​​the fluorescent signal P in step S104, and the timing at which the fluorescent signal P was detected in step S105. Based on these determinations, the compression range setting unit 105 classifies the fluorescent signal P as either a fluorescent signal P caused by the analyte (DNA) or a fluorescent signal P caused by a primer. However, this is not limiting, and the fluorescent signal P may be classified based on at least one determination of steps S103 to S105.

[0114] In this way, the compression range setting unit 105 distinguishes between the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers and the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA to be analyzed, among the fluorescent signals P included in the fluorescent signal data D25, and performs this detection based on at least one of the width and area of ​​the fluorescent signal P and the last frame (end frame number) that includes the fluorescent signal P.

[0115] (Compression Ratio Calculation Process) FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the compression ratio calculation process, which is the compression ratio calculation step performed by the compression ratio calculation unit 106 in the first embodiment. Refer to FIG. 4 as appropriate. First, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires the fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S201). Next, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires the compression range H from the compression range setting unit 105 (S202). Next, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 renders (generates) an electrophoresis image EP (see FIG. 16 ) of the fluorescence signal data D25. Then, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires a maximum signal intensity value D26, which is the maximum fluorescence signal intensity, from the fluorescence signal data D25 included in the compression range H (S203). Specific processing of step S203 will be described later. The maximum signal intensity value D26 is the maximum fluorescence signal intensity from the fluorescence signal data D25 included in the compression range H. That is, the maximum signal intensity D26 is the maximum value of the fluorescent signal intensity included in the compression range H.

[0116] Next, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 calculates a compression ratio D27 from the maximum signal strength value D26 and the upper limit of the value output by the compression unit 107 (S204). The compression ratio D27 is calculated as the upper limit of the value output by the compression unit 107 divided by the value of the maximum signal strength value D26. In this embodiment, the description will be given assuming that the upper limit of the value output by the compression unit 107 is "32767." The upper limit of the value output by the compression unit 107 is a value determined by secondary analysis. Specifically, the upper limit of the value output by the compression unit 107 is the maximum value (upper limit) of the signal strength that can be used in secondary analysis. Incidentally, secondary analysis is an analysis performed by the processing device 10 using data. The upper limit of the value output by the compression unit 107 is not limited to "32767."

[0117] In this way, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 calculates the compression ratio D27 based on the maximum signal intensity D26 of the fluorescent light signal intensity included in the compression range H and the maximum signal intensity that can be used in the secondary analysis.

[0118] Then, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 outputs the calculated compression ratio D27 to the compression unit 107 and the external memory 30 (S205).

[0119] The specific processing contents of FIG. 17 will be described later.

[0120] (Compression Process) FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the compression process, which is the compression step performed by the compression unit 107 in the first embodiment. Refer to FIG. 4 as appropriate. First, the compression unit 107 acquires the fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S301). Next, the compression unit 107 acquires the compression range H from the compression range setting unit 105 (S302). Subsequently, the compression unit 107 acquires the compression rate D27 from the compression rate calculation unit 106 (S303). The compression unit 107 then selects one frame constituting the acquired fluorescence signal data D25. The compression unit 107 then determines whether the selected frame is included in the compression range H (S304). The frame selection is preferably performed in ascending order of frame number.

[0121] If the frame is within compression range H (S304→Yes), the compression unit 107 multiplies the fluorescence signal intensity of the fluorescence signal data D25 corresponding to the frame being processed by the compression rate D27 (S305).

[0122] If the selected frame is not included in the compression range H (S304→No), the compression unit 107 determines whether the fluorescent light signal intensity of the selected frame is greater than "32767" (S306).

[0123] If the fluorescent signal intensity exceeds "32767" (S306 → Yes), the compression unit 107 sets the fluorescent signal intensity of the frame being processed to "32767" (S307). In other words, if the fluorescent signal intensity is greater than "32767" in an area outside the compression range H, the compression unit 107 rounds down the fluorescent signal intensity to "32767" (this does not mean that compression is performed).

[0124] If the fluorescent light signal intensity is equal to or less than "32767" (S306→No), the fluorescent light signal intensity of the frame being processed is left unchanged (S308).

[0125] After the processes of steps S305 to S308 have been performed, the compression unit 107 determines whether or not the processes of steps S304 to S308 have been completed for all frames (S309). If the processes of steps S304 to S308 have not been completed for all frames (S309→No), the compression unit 107 returns to the process of step S304. Then, the compression unit 107 performs the processes of steps S304 to S308 for the next frame.

[0126] If the processing of steps S304 to S308 has been completed for all frames (S309 → Yes), the compression unit 107 proceeds to the processing of step S310. In step S310, the compression unit 107 outputs the fluorescence signal data D25 that has been processed in steps S304 to S308 to the external memory 30 as compressed fluorescence signal data D28 (S310). Note that in this embodiment, the output target of step S310 is the external memory 30, but the compressed fluorescence signal data D28 may also be output directly to a computer that performs secondary analysis via a network, etc.

[0127] In this way, the compression unit 107 compresses the fluorescent signal data D25 based on the compression rate D27 to generate compressed fluorescent signal data D28 and outputs the generated compressed fluorescent signal data D28. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 4, the compression unit 107 outputs the analysis sample signal D11 and the compression rate D27 in addition to the compressed fluorescent signal data D28.

[0128] [Operation] Next, the operation of the 1-1 embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 19 to 21. Electrophoretic images EP1 and EP2 (EP) of a sample D10 to be analyzed are shown in Figures 19 to 21. The sample D10 to be analyzed contains a fluorescent signal P due to the DNA to be analyzed and a fluorescent signal P due to primers not to be analyzed.

[0129] 19 to 21 are diagrams showing examples of electrophoretic images EP. The first threshold is used in step S103 of FIG. 15, and in the example shown in FIG. 19, it is assumed that "50" frames are set as the first threshold. The second threshold is used in step S104 of FIG. 15, and in the example shown in FIG. 19, it is assumed that "10000000" is set as the second threshold, as described above. The third threshold is used in step S105 of FIG. 15, and in the example shown in FIG. 19, it is assumed that "2500" frames is set as the third threshold, as described above.

[0130] (Actions of the Compression Range Setting Unit 105) First, the actions of the compression range setting unit 105 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 15, 19, and 20. In the following text, the step numbers are those used in FIG. 15. As described above, the compression range setting unit 105 acquires the fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S101). Assume that the compression range setting unit 105 renders the electrophoretic image EP1 (EP) shown in FIG. 19 in step S102. In FIG. 19, the numbers shown at the bottom indicate frame numbers. For example, the fluorescence signal P1 (P) exists between frame numbers "300" and "800." The same is true for the other fluorescence signals P2 to P7 (P). Furthermore, frame number "5000" is the last frame number in the electrophoretic image EP1 (i.e., the fluorescence signal data D25).

[0131] 19, the area of ​​fluorescence signal P1 is "100,000,000," the area of ​​fluorescence signal P2 is "90,000,000," and the area of ​​fluorescence signal P3 is "70,000,000." The area of ​​fluorescence signal P4 is "2,500,000," and the area of ​​fluorescence signal P5 is "1,000,000." Furthermore, the area of ​​fluorescence signal P6 is "3,000,000," and the area of ​​fluorescence signal P7 is "500,000."

[0132] The compression range setting unit 105 then searches through these fluorescence signals P, starting from frame number "1," and processes the first detected fluorescence signal P1.

[0133] 19, the fluorescence signal P1 has a start frame number of "300" and an end frame number of "800," so the frame width of the fluorescence signal P1 is "500" frames. Therefore, the frame width of the fluorescence signal P1 is equal to or greater than the first threshold value ("50" frames in this embodiment). Therefore, the determination in step S103 is "Yes," and the compression range setting unit 105 proceeds to step S104.

[0134] Next, in step S104, processing is performed based on the area of ​​the fluorescence signal P1. As described above, the area of ​​the fluorescence signal P1 is assumed to be "100000000." Then, the fluorescence signal P1 is equal to or greater than the second threshold value ("10000000" in this embodiment). Therefore, "Yes" is determined in step S104, and the compression range setting unit 105 proceeds to step S105.

[0135] Next, in step S105, processing is performed based on the end frame number of the fluorescent signal P1. The end frame number of the fluorescent signal P1 is frame 800, which is less than the third threshold (frame 2500 in this embodiment). As described above, the primers are electrophoresed manually, so the time (i.e., frame number) up to which the primer signal will be detected is known. In addition, it is known that the primers will reach the fluorescence detection position 24 before the DNA. The third threshold is set in advance based on this information.

[0136] Therefore, the determination in step S105 is "Yes," and the compression range setting unit 105 proceeds to step S106. In step S106, the compression range setting unit 105 assigns a non-analysis target mark JN to the fluorescent signal P1 (to be detected as a second fluorescent signal), as shown in FIG.

[0137] Next, in step S108, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether the processing for fluorescence signal P1 has been completed for all fluorescence signals P. The electrophoretic image EP1 in Figure 19 does not include only fluorescence signal P1 as a fluorescence signal P. Therefore, the determination in step S108 is "No," and the compression range setting unit 105 repeats the processing from step S103 onwards for fluorescence signal P2.

[0138] 19, the fluorescent signals P2 and P3, like the fluorescent signal P1, are given a non-analyte marker JN in step S106 as shown in FIG. 19 (and are detected separately as a second fluorescent signal).

[0139] After the process of assigning the non-analysis marker JN to fluorescent signal P3 has been performed, in step S108, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether the process has been completed for all fluorescent signals P. As shown in Figure 19, the fluorescent signals P contained in electrophoretic image EP1 are not all fluorescent signals P1 to P3. Therefore, the determination in step S108 is "No," and the compression range setting unit 105 repeats the process from step S103 onwards for fluorescent signal P4.

[0140] 19, the fluorescence signal P4 has a start frame number of "2700" and an end frame number of "2720." Therefore, the frame width of the fluorescence signal P4 is "20," which is less than the first threshold ("50" frames in this embodiment). Therefore, step S103 returns "No," and the compression range setting unit 105 proceeds to step S107, where it assigns the analysis target marker JY to the fluorescence signal P4 (which is detected as a distinct first fluorescence signal), as shown in FIG.

[0141] Next, in step S108, compression range setting unit 105 determines whether processing has been completed for all fluorescence signals P contained in electrophoretic image EP1 by processing fluorescence signals P1 to P4. The fluorescence signals P contained in electrophoretic image EP1 in Figure 19 are not all fluorescence signals P1 to P4. Therefore, the determination in step S108 is "No," and compression range setting unit 105 repeats the processing from step S103 onwards for fluorescence signal P5.

[0142] Referring to FIG. 19, the fluorescent signals P5 to P7 are given the analyte mark JY in step S106, similar to the fluorescent signal P4 (and are detected as a first fluorescent signal).

[0143] Next, in step S108, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether or not processing of all fluorescence signals P has been completed for fluorescence signals P1 to P7. Fluorescence signals P1 to P7 are all fluorescence signals P contained in the electrophoretic image EP1 in Figure 19. Therefore, the determination in step S108 is "Yes," and the compression range setting unit 105 proceeds to step S109.

[0144] In step S109, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether or not there is a fluorescent signal P to which a marker JN not targeted for analysis is attached. Based on the explanation so far, the electrophoretic image EP1 in Figure 19 includes fluorescent signals P1 to P3 not targeted for analysis. Therefore, the determination in step S109 is "Yes," and the compression range setting unit 105 proceeds to step S110.

[0145] In step S110, a compression range H is determined. As described with reference to FIG. 19 , the fluorescent signals P to which the marker JN not to be analyzed was assigned in step S106 are fluorescent signals P1 to P3. Therefore, the last fluorescent signal P to which the marker JN not to be analyzed is assigned is fluorescent signal P3. As shown in FIG. 19 , the ending frame number of fluorescent signal P3 is "2000" (the frame in which the second fluorescent signal is detected). Therefore, the compression range setting unit 105 sets the compression range H from frame number "2001" next to frame number "2000" (the frame after the frame in which the second fluorescent signal is detected) to the last frame number "5000" in the electrophoretic image EP1 shown in FIG. 19 . Through the above processing, the compression range H is determined as shown in FIG. 20 .

[0146] In this way, the compression range setting unit 105 sets the compression range H from the frame after the frame in which the fluorescent signal P caused by the primer is detected.

[0147] In step S110, the compression range setting unit 105 may set the compression range H based on the fluorescent signal P to which the marker JY to be analyzed has been added. In this case, the first fluorescent signal P to which the marker JY to be analyzed has been added is fluorescent signal P4. As shown in FIG. 19, the starting frame number of fluorescent signal P4 is "2700." Therefore, the compression range setting unit 105 sets the compression range H from frame number "2700" to the last frame number "5000" in the electrophoretic image EP1 shown in FIG. 19.

[0148] The set compression range H is set for a frame of fluorescent signal data D25 based on the results of detection of fluorescent signals P4 to P7 (first fluorescent signals) caused by the DNA to be analyzed and fluorescent signals P1 to P3 (second fluorescent signals) caused by the primers.

[0149] Then, in step S112, the compression range setting unit 105 outputs the set compression range H to the compression ratio calculation unit 106 and the compression unit 107.

[0150] In this way, the compression range setting unit 105 performs processing that utilizes the characteristics of the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers (fluorescent signals P1 to P3 in the example shown in FIG. 19). The characteristics of the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers are that it has a wider frame width, a larger area, and is detected at an earlier frame number than the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA to be analyzed. This makes it possible to distinguish between the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers and the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA to be analyzed, and to set the compression range H.

[0151] (Actions of Compression Ratio Calculation Unit 106) Next, the actions of the compression ratio calculation unit 106 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 17, and 20. In the following text, the step numbers are the step numbers used in FIG. 17. The compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S201). Next, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires the compression range H from the compression range setting unit 105 (S202). As shown in FIG. 20, in the example shown in this embodiment, the compression range H is frame numbers "2001" to "5000." In this way, through steps S201 and S202, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires the fluorescence signal data D25 and compression range H shown in FIG. 20. In step S203, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires the maximum value of the fluorescence signal intensity (maximum signal intensity D26) of the fluorescence signal data D25 included in the compression range H. From FIG. 20, the maximum signal intensity D26 of the fluorescent light signal intensity in frame numbers "2001" to "5000" is "360000."

[0152] Next, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 calculates the compression ratio D27 in step S204. As described above, the maximum signal strength value D26 is "360000," and the upper limit of the value output by the compression unit 107 is "32767." Therefore, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 calculates the compression ratio D27 as "0.091" by dividing (32767 / 360000).

[0153] (Operation by Compression Unit 107) Next, the operation by the compression unit 107 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 18, and 21. In the following description, the step numbers are those used in FIG. 18. Note that in FIGS. 20 and 21, "2000" and "2001" written with leading lines on the horizontal axis at the bottom of the page are frame numbers. The compression unit 107 acquires fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S301). Next, the compression unit 107 acquires the compression range H from the compression range setting unit 105 (S302). In this way, the fluorescence signal data D25 and compression range H shown in FIG. 20 are acquired through steps S301 and S302. As shown in FIG. 20, in the example shown in this embodiment, the compression range H is frame numbers "2001" to "5000." Next, the compression unit 107 acquires the compression rate D27 from the compression rate calculation unit 106 (S303). As described above, in the example shown in this embodiment, the compression ratio D27 is 0.091. Then, in step S304, the compression unit 107 determines whether the frame to be processed is included in the compression range H.

[0154] For example, referring to FIG. 20 , the frames corresponding to frame numbers "3800" to "3820" that make up fluorescence signal P6 are included in compression range H. Therefore, step S304 returns "Yes," and the compression unit 107 proceeds to step S305. In step S305, the compression unit 107 multiplies the fluorescence signal intensity of the frame being processed by the compression rate D27. For example, among frame numbers "3800" to "3820," the fluorescence signal intensity of the frame corresponding to maximum signal intensity D26 is "360000." Therefore, when the compression unit 107 multiplies the fluorescence signal intensity of this frame by the compression rate D27 of "0.091," the fluorescence signal intensity of the frame being processed is compressed to "360000 × 0.091 = 32767." For each frame included in compression range H, the compression unit 107 multiplies the fluorescence signal intensity by "0.091."

[0155] On the other hand, frames corresponding to frame numbers "300" to "800" that make up the fluorescence signal P1 are not included in the compression range H. Therefore, "No" is determined in step S304, and the compression unit 107 proceeds to step S306. Then, in step S306, the compression unit 107 determines whether the fluorescence signal intensity of the frame being processed is greater than "32767." For frames having a fluorescence signal intensity greater than "32767," the compression unit 107 rounds the fluorescence signal intensity down to "32767" (S307). As described above, no compression is performed in step S307. Furthermore, for frames having a fluorescence signal intensity equal to or less than "32767," the compression unit 107 leaves the fluorescence signal intensity unchanged (S308). The compression unit 107 performs the processes of steps S306 to S308 for each frame of the electrophoretic image EP (fluorescence signal data D25) that is outside the compression range H.

[0156] The processes of steps S304 to S308 are performed for each frame constituting the fluorescence signal data D25. As a result, an electrophoretic image EP2 corresponding to the compressed fluorescence signal data D28, as shown in FIG. 21, is generated. In FIG. 21, dashed line V1 indicates the value equivalent to the maximum signal intensity D26 in FIG. 20 (the fluorescence signal intensity of the compressed fluorescence signal P6). As shown in FIG. 21, within compression range H, the fluorescence signal data D25 is compressed so that the value equivalent to the maximum signal intensity D26 in FIG. 20 becomes the maximum signal intensity usable in secondary analysis. In this embodiment, the maximum signal intensity usable in secondary analysis is "32676." In other words, dashed line V1 corresponds to the maximum signal intensity usable in secondary analysis. For the region outside compression range H, the compression unit 107 performs the processes of steps S306 to S308. As a result, the fluorescence signal P shown in fluorescence signals P1 to P3 has a shape in which the portion above "32676" is missing.

[0157] [Effects] Patent Document 1 describes a method for switching between hardware binning and software binning, but does not describe a means for enabling values ​​output by the electrophoresis system 1 to be used in secondary analysis.

[0158] However, according to the first embodiment, if the value of the fluorescence signal data D25 exceeds "32767," which is the fluorescence signal intensity that can be used in secondary analysis, the fluorescence signal intensity is processed to be "32767." This makes it possible to make the fluorescence signal intensity of all frames of the compressed fluorescence signal data D28 to be output equal to or less than "32767." This makes secondary analysis possible.

[0159] Furthermore, according to the 1-1 embodiment, the fluorescence signal data D25 is compressed in accordance with the fluorescence signal P resulting from the DNA being analyzed. This makes it possible to minimize the compression rate D27. By minimizing the compression rate D27, it is possible to maintain a small fluorescence signal P. Minimizing the compression rate D27 means that the minimum compression rate D27 is calculated.

[0160] Non-Patent Document 1 describes compressing data at a fixed compression rate D27 so that values ​​that can be output by the electrophoresis system 1 fall within the range of values ​​that can be input to secondary analysis software. However, the data output by the electrophoresis system 1 includes a fluorescent signal P from a reagent called a primer, which is used to amplify DNA. As described above, the primer is added in excess compared to the DNA to be analyzed, resulting in a high fluorescent signal intensity. Furthermore, because the primer is shorter than the DNA to be analyzed, it is detected earlier than the DNA to be analyzed.

[0161] When software binning is performed, the fluorescent signal intensity acquired by the electrophoresis system 1 becomes significantly larger than the range of values ​​that can be input to the secondary analysis software due to the influence of the fluorescent signal P resulting from the primers. Therefore, when compression is performed at the fixed compression ratio D27 described in Non-Patent Document 1, the compression ratio D27 in the direction of the fluorescent signal intensity becomes large, and the information on the DNA to be analyzed that has a very small fluorescent signal intensity may become small.

[0162] As described in the first embodiment, the digital conversion unit 232 converts the analog signal value when the summing gate 213 is saturated to a digital signal value of "65535" (ADU). The signal integration unit 101 then performs software binning according to FIG. 14. In this case, the maximum fluorescent signal intensity output after software binning is "65535 x 12 = 786420." Incidentally, "12" is the number of bins B (see FIG. 3) when software binning is performed according to FIG. 14. If the upper limit value that can be input into the secondary analysis software is "32767," the compression ratio D27 is "32767 / 786420 = 0.042." In this case, if the compression ratio D27 is too large, it may be impossible to maintain the minute fluorescent signal P resulting from DNA. In other words, the fluorescent signal P resulting from DNA becomes too small, making secondary analysis difficult.

[0163] Patent Document 2 describes the selection and processing of data points for experimental data. The selection of data points can be considered as the selection of the horizontal axis when the experimental data is graphed. Patent Document 2 also describes the deletion of data points and the normalization of the vertical axis (processing of the vertical axis) when the experimental data is graphed, based on the selection of data points.

[0164] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes a method for reducing data points by removing clutter, but does not describe a method for removing fluorescence caused by primers that increases signal intensity in the data output by the electrophoresis system 1.

[0165] In contrast, the first embodiment relates to the selection of the analysis range based on the primers specific to electrophoresis (selection of the horizontal axis) and the compression of the data in the analysis range (processing of the vertical axis). However, according to the first embodiment, the compression ratio D27 can be minimized by separating the fluorescent signal P due to the primers from the fluorescent signal P due to the DNA to be analyzed.

[0166] Below, a comparison is made between the technology described in Patent Document 2 and the content described in Embodiment 1-1. First, regarding the selection of the horizontal axis, in Patent Document 2, the horizontal axis of a graph related to experimental data is selected by deleting data points. Then, in Patent Document 2, the spectrum at each data point (a graph in which the horizontal axis is wavelength and the vertical axis is signal intensity) is compared with a specific shape, and data of data points that do not match the specific shape are deleted. In contrast, in Embodiment 1-1, the horizontal axis is selected by setting the range used in the analysis (compression range H). Specifically, in Embodiment 1-1, the range used in the secondary analysis (compression range H) is determined from the characteristics of fluorescent signals that are unique to primers, a pretreatment in electrophoresis.

[0167] Next, with regard to processing of the vertical axis, Patent Document 2 aims to make it easier to view on a GUI. Patent Document 2 achieves this processing by normalizing (not necessarily compressing) the vertical axis of the graph. Because normalization is performed in Patent Document 2, information on the signal intensity ratio between signal peaks is lost. In contrast, in Embodiment 1-1, the purpose of processing (compressing) the vertical axis is to fit values ​​within a range that can be used in secondary analysis without losing information on minute signals, such as the fluorescent signal P caused by DNA. In Embodiment 1-1, the maximum signal intensity D26 for the range to be analyzed (compression range H) is compressed to a value that can be used in secondary analysis. Because the entire fluorescent signal data D25 is compressed uniformly, information on the fluorescent signal intensity ratio between peaks of the fluorescent signal P can be maintained. This is because the fluorescent signal intensity ratio is important in secondary analysis.

[0168] As described above, the technology described in Patent Document 2 and the content described in Embodiment 1-1 are completely different.

[0169] Furthermore, there are many other techniques related to data compression for constraining data values ​​to a certain value or less, in addition to Patent Documents 1 and 2 and Non-Patent Document 1. However, selecting a range (compression range H) for calculating the compression ratio D27 on the horizontal axis of the electrophoretic image EP as in the first-1 embodiment has not been possible until now.

[0170] In other words, the compression range setting unit 105 can distinguish between the fluorescent signal P attributable to the primers and the fluorescent signal P attributable to the DNA to be analyzed. The compression range setting unit 105 sets the compression range H, and the compression ratio calculation unit 106 sets the compression ratio D27 according to the compression range H. This allows the compression ratio calculation unit 106 to minimize the compression ratio D27. In the electrophoretic image EP1 shown in FIG. 20, the fluorescent signal intensity of the fluorescent signals P1 to P3 attributable to the primers is "786420," which is far greater than the fluorescent signal intensity of the fluorescent signals P4 to P7 attributable to the DNA. Even in such a case, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 obtains the maximum signal intensity D26 based on the fluorescent signal P6 attributable to the DNA to be analyzed, and calculates the compression ratio D27 based on this maximum signal intensity D26. In this way, an appropriate compression ratio D27 can be calculated. In the example shown in this embodiment, the compression rate D27 is "0.091," which is smaller than the compression rate D27 of "0.042" in accordance with Non-Patent Document 1. This prevents the fluorescent signals P4 to P7 caused by DNA from becoming excessively small in the compressed fluorescent signal data D28 to be passed to the secondary analysis, facilitating the secondary analysis.

[0171] Thus, according to the first embodiment, even when the primers of the analysis sample D10 are mixed in, the compression ratio D27 can be minimized based on the characteristics of the fluorescence signal P resulting from the DNA being analyzed. While maintaining a minute signal such as the fluorescence signal P resulting from DNA, the fluorescence signal data D25 can be compressed to a range of values ​​that can be input into the secondary analysis software.

[0172] Furthermore, the method described in embodiment 1-1 can be realized by modifying the program of the processing device 10. In other words, the method described in embodiment 1-1 can be realized without modifying the hardware configuration of the electrophoresis device 20 or the processing device 10. Therefore, the method described in embodiment 1-1 can be realized without modifying the configuration of the electrophoresis device 20, thereby enabling cost savings. Furthermore, embodiment 1-1 enables appropriate compression of the fluorescence signal data D25 without losing the dynamic range characteristics achieved by hardware binning and software binning.

[0173] Next, output to the external memory 30 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12, 20, and 14. The electrophoretic image EP of the analysis sample D10 generated in step S102 of FIG. 15 in this embodiment is assumed to be the electrophoretic image EP1 shown in FIG. 19. Furthermore, it is assumed that software binning, as shown in FIG. 12, has been performed on the analysis sample signal D11 in bin B in the frame in which the maximum signal intensity D26 of the fluorescence signal P6 in FIG. 20 was acquired. In the example shown in FIG. 20, the frame in which the maximum signal intensity D26 was acquired is the frame with frame number "3810." Furthermore, it is assumed that software binning is performed according to FIG. 14.

[0174] 12, assume that the analysis sample signal D11 in each bin B is uniformly "30000." When this is software binned, the maximum signal intensity of the analysis sample integrated signal D12 in software bin C becomes "360000" (30000 x 12).

[0175] 18 performed by the compression unit 107, the value of the compressed fluorescent signal data D28 is 32767. The analysis sample signal D11, the compressed fluorescent signal data D28 according to this embodiment, and the compression ratio D27 (0.091 in this embodiment) are also output to the external memory 30.

[0176] Furthermore, the user can compare the value of the analysis sample signal D11 for a particular frame with the value of the compressed fluorescent signal data D28 for that frame and the compression rate D27. The value of the analysis sample signal D11 for a particular frame is, for example, "360000" as shown in FIG. 12. The value of the compressed fluorescent signal data D28 for that frame is, for example, "32767" as shown in FIG. 12. By comparing these, the user can determine whether or not the compression processing in the first embodiment has been performed.

[0177] According to the first embodiment, the fluorescent signal intensity of the fluorescent signal data D25 can be kept within the range of values ​​that can be input into the secondary analysis software. In this case, the compression rate D27 is determined based on the maximum signal intensity value D26 of the fluorescent signal P within the compression range H and the upper limit value used in the secondary analysis software. This allows the primary analysis file output by the electrophoresis system 1 to be appropriately analyzed by the secondary analysis software. The primary analysis file is data output by the processing device 10.

[0178] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the fluorescent signal P is separated into those to be analyzed and those not to be analyzed, and only the fluorescent signal P within the range to be analyzed is compressed. This prevents the compression ratio D27 from becoming too high, and makes it possible to maintain the information of the minute fluorescent signal P.

[0179] The compression range setting unit 105 detects the type of the fluorescent signal P based on at least one of the width, area, and the last frame (end frame number) containing the fluorescent signal P. The types are the fluorescent signal P resulting from the DNA to be analyzed, and the fluorescent signal P resulting from the primer. In this way, it is possible to distinguish between the fluorescent signal P resulting from the DNA to be analyzed and the fluorescent signal P resulting from the primer.

[0180] 1-2 Embodiment Next, a 1-2 embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23. FIGS. 22 and 23 are diagrams showing examples of electrophoretic images EP. In the 1-1 embodiment, a method for processing electrophoretic data for an electrophoretic image EP that includes a fluorescent signal P attributable to a primer was described. In contrast, the 1-2 embodiment describes a method for processing electrophoretic data for an electrophoretic image EP (fluorescent signal data D25) that does not include a fluorescent signal P attributable to a primer. The 1-2 embodiment demonstrates that the processing shown in the 1-1 embodiment can also be applied to fluorescent signal data D25 that does not include a primer. The system configuration and operation of the 1-2 embodiment are similar to those of the 1-1 embodiment. Therefore, the system configuration and operation (flowchart) of the 1-2 embodiment will not be illustrated.

[0181] [Operation] A case will be described in which the electrophoretic image EP drawn in step S102 of Fig. 15 is the electrophoretic image EP3 shown in Fig. 22. Note that Fig. 22 shows the electrophoretic image EP3 (EP) of the analysis target sample D10. The analysis target sample D10 contains only the fluorescent signal P due to the DNA to be analyzed, and does not contain the fluorescent signal P due to primers not to be analyzed. The first threshold, second threshold, and third threshold are the same as those in the first-1 embodiment.

[0182] (Action by Compression Range Setting Unit 105) The action by the compression range setting unit 105 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 15, and 22. In the following description, the step numbers are those used in FIG. 15. The compression range setting unit 105 acquires fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S101). The electrophoretic image EP3 (EP) drawn by the compression range setting unit 105 in step S102 is shown in FIG. 22. As shown in FIG. 22, the electrophoretic image EP3 includes seven fluorescence signals P (P8 to P14).

[0183] In Figure 22, the numbers written with leading lines on the horizontal axis at the bottom of the page indicate frame numbers. The electrophoretic image EP3 shown in Figure 22 has frame numbers ranging from "0" to "5000." Fluorescence signal P8 is present in frame numbers "300" to "320" and has an area of ​​"30,000,000." Fluorescence signal P9 is present in frame numbers "1100" to "1130" and has an area of ​​"2,000,000." Fluorescence signal P10 is present in frame numbers "2000" to "2020" and has an area of ​​"800,000." Fluorescence signal P11 is present in frame numbers "2700" to "2720" and has an area of ​​"2,500,000." Fluorescence signal P12 is present in frame numbers "3175" to "3200" and has an area of ​​"1,000,000." Fluorescence signal P13 is present between frame numbers "3800" and "3820" and has an area of ​​"3000000." Fluorescence signal P14 is present between frame numbers "4300" and "4320" and has an area of ​​"500000."

[0184] The compression range setting unit 105 then searches among these fluorescent signals P, starting from frame number "1," and processes the first detected fluorescent signal P8.

[0185] 22, the fluorescence signal P8 has a start frame number of "300" and an end frame number of "320," resulting in a frame width of "20" frames. Therefore, the frame width of the fluorescence signal P8 is less than the first threshold ("50" frames in this embodiment). Therefore, "No" is determined in step S103, and the compression range setting unit 105 proceeds to step S107. In step S107, the compression range setting unit 105 assigns the analysis target marker JY to the fluorescence signal P8, as shown in FIG. 22 (detecting it as a first fluorescence signal).

[0186] Subsequently, in step S108, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether or not the processing for all of the fluorescence signals P has been completed by processing the fluorescence signal P8.

[0187] 22, fluorescent signal P8 is not all of the fluorescent signal P shown in electrophoretic image EP3. Therefore, "No" is determined in step S108, and compression range setting unit 105 performs the processes from step S103 onward on the next fluorescent signal P9.

[0188] Referring to FIG. 22, in step S106, the compression range setting unit 105 assigns the analysis target marker JY to the fluorescence signals P9 to P14, in the same manner as for the fluorescence signal P8 (detecting them as distinct first fluorescence signals).

[0189] Next, in step S108, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether or not processing of all fluorescence signals P has been completed for fluorescence signal P14. The electrophoretic image EP3 in Figure 22 includes all fluorescence signals P8 to P14. Therefore, the determination in step S108 is "Yes," and the compression range setting unit 105 proceeds to step S109.

[0190] In step S109, it is determined whether or not there are any fluorescence signals P that are not the subject of analysis. All of the fluorescence signals P contained in the electrophoretic image EP3 in Fig. 22 are fluorescence signals P that are the subject of analysis, and no fluorescence signals P that are not the subject of analysis are included. Therefore, the determination in step S109 is "No," and the compression range setting unit 105 proceeds to step S111.

[0191] In step S111, the compression range H is determined. As described above, in the example shown in the first and second embodiments, all frames are set as the compression range H because the example does not include any fluorescence signals P that are not the analysis target. Therefore, the compression range setting unit 105 sets frame numbers "1" to "5000" of the electrophoretic image EP3 as the compression range H.

[0192] Subsequently, in step S112 , the compression range setting unit 105 outputs the set compression range H to the compression ratio calculation unit 106 and the compression unit 107 .

[0193] In this way, the compression range setting unit 105 can set the compression range H even for the fluorescence signal data D25 that does not include the fluorescence signal P that is not the analysis target and is caused by the primer.

[0194] (Action by Compression Ratio Calculation Unit 106) Next, the action by the compression ratio calculation unit 106 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 17, and 22. In the following description, the step numbers are the step numbers used in FIG. 17. The compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S201). Next, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires the compression range H from the compression range setting unit 105 (S202). In the first-second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, the compression range H is frame numbers "1" to "5000." In step S203, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires the maximum signal intensity D26 of the fluorescence signal data D25 included in the compression range H. As shown in FIG. 22, the maximum signal intensity D26 of the fluorescence signal data D25 included in frame numbers "1" to "5000" is "360000."

[0195] Next, in step S204, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 calculates the compression ratio D27. As described above, the maximum signal strength value D26 is "360000," and the upper limit of the value output by the compression unit 107 is "32767," the same as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 calculates "32767 / 360000=0.091" as the compression ratio D27.

[0196] (Action by Compression Unit 107) Next, the action by the compression unit 107 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 18, 22, and 23. In the following text, the step numbers are the step numbers used in FIG. 18. The compression unit 107 acquires fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S301). Then, the compression unit 107 acquires the compression range H from the compression range setting unit 105 (S302). In the first and second embodiments, as described above, the compression range H is frame numbers "1" to "5000." Next, the compression unit 107 acquires the compression ratio D27 from the compression ratio calculation unit 106 (S303). In the first and second embodiments, the compression ratio D27 is "0.091" as described above.

[0197] The compression unit 107 then selects frames in ascending order of frame number, and in step S304 determines whether the frame to be processed is included in compression range H. Referring to FIG. 22 , all of the frames that make up fluorescence signals P8 to P14 are included in compression range H. Therefore, the compression unit 107 determines "Yes" in step S304 for all of fluorescence signals P8 to P14. The compression unit 107 then proceeds to step S305, where it multiplies the fluorescence signal intensity of the frame to be processed by the compression rate D27 (S305). As a result, the fluorescence signal intensity of the frame corresponding to maximum signal intensity D26 is compressed to "32767" by "360000 x 0.091".

[0198] The processing of step S305 generates the electrophoretic image EP4 (EP) shown in Fig. 23. Then, in step S310, the compression unit 107 outputs the electrophoretic image EP4 shown in Fig. 23 as compressed fluorescent signal data D28. Note that in Fig. 21, dashed line V2 indicates a value equivalent to the maximum signal intensity D26 in Fig. 22 (fluorescence signal intensity of fluorescent signal P13). Then, as shown in Fig. 23, the fluorescent signal data D25 is compressed so that the value equivalent to the maximum signal intensity D26 in Fig. 22 becomes the maximum signal intensity usable in secondary analysis ("32676" in this embodiment). In other words, dashed line V2 corresponds to the maximum signal intensity usable in secondary analysis.

[0199] In this way, the processing device 10 can perform compression processing by the processing shown in the first embodiment even on an electrophoretic image EP (fluorescence signal data D25) that does not contain a fluorescence signal P due to primers.

[0200] [Effects] In addition to the effects of embodiment 1-1, embodiment 1-2 can achieve the same effects as embodiment 1-1 even when the fluorescent signal data D25 does not include a fluorescent signal P due to a primer. In other words, even when the fluorescent signal data D25 does not include a fluorescent signal P due to a primer, by minimizing the compression ratio D27, it is possible to maintain the small signal while compressing it to a range of values ​​that can be input into the secondary analysis software.

[0201] 25 to 30, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the compression range H is determined by separating the fluorescent signals P based on the characteristics of the fluorescent signals P that are not the target of analysis and are caused by the primers. In the second embodiment, the compression range H is determined based on the characteristics of the fluorescent signals P and the characteristics of the size standard.

[0202] <Embodiment 2-1> [System Configuration] Figure 24 is a diagram showing the configuration of a processing device 10 according to embodiment 2-1. In Figure 24, the configuration differs from that shown in Figure 4 in that the analysis target sample D10a is a mixture of DNA to be analyzed, primers, and size standards. Also, in the processing device 10 shown in Figure 24, the method of setting the compression range H in the compression range setting unit 105 differs from that of the first embodiment. Other configurations are the same as those in Figure 4.

[0203] The size standard is a sample (DNA) having a known base length and containing multiple fluorescent signals P. The size standard allows the base length of the DNA to be analyzed to be known. The number of fluorescent signals P resulting from the size standard is also known. The size standard is mixed with the sample D10a to be analyzed. In other words, the sample D10a to be analyzed in the second embodiment contains the size standard. The range of base lengths of the DNA containing the size standard is set wider than the range of base lengths including the DNA to be analyzed. In other words, the fluorescent signals P resulting from the size standard are detected in a wider range than the fluorescent signals P resulting from the DNA to be analyzed.

[0204] Furthermore, the frame number at which the fluorescent signal P due to the size standard is detected is larger (detected later) than the frame number at which the fluorescent signal P due to the primer is detected. Furthermore, a dye of a different color from the DNA to be analyzed is used for the size standard.

[0205] [Operation] The processing steps of the electrophoresis data processing method in the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 25. (Compression Range H Determination Processing) Fig. 25 is a flowchart showing the steps of the compression range determination processing, which is the compression range setting step performed by the compression range setting unit 105 in the second embodiment. Refer to Fig. 4 as appropriate. First, the compression range setting unit 105 acquires the fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S401). In step S401, the compression range setting unit 105 acquires the fluorescence signal data D25 for all frames.

[0206] Next, the compression range setting unit 105 renders (generates) an electrophoretic image EP (see FIG. 16) of the fluorescent signal data D25 (S402). As in the first embodiment, an electrophoretic image EP is generated for each electrophoresis.

[0207] Next, the compression range setting unit 105 selects one of the fluorescent signals P contained in the generated electrophoretic image EP. The method for selecting the fluorescent signal P is the same as in the first embodiment. Then, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether the color of the selected fluorescent signal P is the color used for the size standard (the color of the size standard) (S403). The color of the size standard is the color of the dye used in the size standard. As described above, dyes of different colors are used for the size standard and the DNA to be analyzed. Therefore, the compression range setting unit 105 can distinguish the fluorescent signal P caused by the size standard from the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA to be analyzed by color.

[0208] Whether or not the color is the color of the size standard is determined based on the color information in the fluorescent signal P.

[0209] If the fluorescent signal P is not the color of the size standard (S403→No), the compression range setting unit 105 selects the next fluorescent signal P (S404) and performs the processes from step S403 onwards.

[0210] If the fluorescent signal P is the color of the size standard (S403 → Yes), the compression range setting unit 105 assigns the size standard mark JS ( FIG. 26 ) to the fluorescent signal P (S405). In other words, the compression range setting unit 105 assigns the mark JS to the fluorescent signal P determined to be caused by the size standard.

[0211] This means that the fluorescent signal P not bearing the size standard mark JS has been detected as a fluorescent signal P derived from the DNA being analyzed. The fluorescent signal P not bearing the size standard mark JS is a first fluorescent signal derived from the DNA being analyzed. In other words, in the 2-1 embodiment, the fluorescent signal P derived from the DNA being analyzed is the first fluorescent signal. Furthermore, this means that the fluorescent signal P bearing the size standard mark JS has been detected as a fluorescent signal P derived from the size standard. The fluorescent signal P bearing the size standard mark JS is a second fluorescent signal derived from something other than the DNA being analyzed. In other words, in the 2-1 embodiment, the fluorescent signal P derived from the size standard is the second fluorescent signal. In this way, the compression range setting unit 105 detects the fluorescent signal P derived from the size standard as the second fluorescent signal.

[0212] In this way, in the second embodiment, the compression range setting unit 105 distinguishes and detects the fluorescent signal P derived from the DNA to be analyzed and the fluorescent signal P derived from the size standard based on the color information of the fluorescent signal P.

[0213] Next, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether or not processing has been completed for all of the fluorescent signals P in the electrophoretic image EP (S406).

[0214] If processing has not been completed for all of the fluorescent light signals P (S406→No), the compression range setting unit 105 selects the next fluorescent light signal P (S407) and performs the processing from step S403 onwards.

[0215] If processing has been completed for all of the fluorescence signals P (S406 → Yes), the compression range setting unit 105 assigns numbers to the fluorescence signals P to which the size standard marks JS have been assigned (S408). At this time, the compression range setting unit 105 assigns numbers starting from "1" to the fluorescence signals P to which the size standard marks JS have been assigned in order of increasing frame number.

[0216] Next, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether the maximum value of the numbers assigned in step S408 is the same as the number specified as the size standard (maximum value of number = predetermined number: S409). In other words, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether the maximum value of the numbers assigned in step S408 exceeds the number specified as the size standard.

[0217] If the maximum value of the assigned numbers is the same as the number specified as the size standards (S409 → Yes), the compression range setting unit 105 proceeds to step S410. If the maximum value of the assigned numbers is not the same as the number specified as the size standards (S409 → No), the compression range setting unit 105 deletes the mark JS (S411). At this time, the compression range setting unit 105 deletes the size standard mark JS for the fluorescence signals P that have been assigned numbers greater than the specified number. The compression range setting unit 105 then proceeds to step S410. Note that the number of fluorescence signals P to which the size standard mark JS has been assigned will never be less than the specified number of size standards.

[0218] In step S410, the compression range setting unit 105 sets a compression range H. In step S410, the compression range setting unit 105 obtains the start frame number of the fluorescent signal P with the smallest frame number among the fluorescent signals P to which the size standard mark JS has been added. This start frame number is referred to as the minimum frame number. Then, the compression range setting unit 105 obtains the end frame number of the fluorescent signal P with the largest frame number among the fluorescent signals P to which the size standard mark JS has been added. This end frame number is referred to as the maximum frame number. The compression range setting unit 105 sets the range from the minimum frame number to the maximum frame number as the compression range H.

[0219] In this way, in the 2-1 embodiment, the frame range in which the fluorescent signal P (second fluorescent signal) to which the size standard mark JS is attached is detected is set as the compression range H.

[0220] Then, the compression range setting unit 105 outputs the compression range H set in step S410 to the compression ratio calculation unit 106 and the compression unit 107 (S412).

[0221] A specific example of the process shown in FIG. 25 will be described later.

[0222] (Compression ratio calculation process and compression process) In the 2-1 embodiment, the procedure of the compression ratio calculation process performed by the compression ratio calculation unit 106 is similar to the process shown in Fig. 17, so illustration and description thereof will be omitted in the 2-1 embodiment. Also, the procedure of the compression process performed by the compression unit 107 in the 2-1 embodiment is similar to the process shown in Fig. 18, so description thereof will be omitted in the 2-1 embodiment.

[0223] In the compression process in the 2-1 embodiment, the fluorescent signal P due to the size standard does not need to be compressed, unlike the fluorescent signal P due to the primer. This is because the fluorescent signal P due to the size standard is smaller than the fluorescent signal P due to DNA. In other words, the fluorescent signal P due to the size standard can be kept within the range of values ​​output by the compression unit 107 without compression, as long as care is taken in the amount added to the analysis sample D10a.

[0224] If the fluorescent signal P resulting from the size standard is compressed, the fluorescent signal intensity of the fluorescent signal P resulting from the size standard will be reduced. In this case, the user may not be able to recognize the fluorescent signal P resulting from the size standard. This may lead the user to mistakenly believe that the size standard is not included.

[0225] If the fluorescent signal P of the size standard is not compressed, the fluorescent signal intensity displayed for the fluorescent signal P resulting from the size standard will not be reduced, thereby eliminating the risk of the user mistakenly determining that the size standard is not included.

[0226] [Operation] Next, the operation of the 2-1 embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 18 and FIGS. 25 to 28. FIGS. 26 to 28 are diagrams showing examples of electrophoretic images EP. Note that FIGS. 26 to 28 show electrophoretic images EP5 and EP6 (EP) of the analysis sample D10a. In the second embodiment (2-1 embodiment and 2-2 embodiment), the fluorescent signal P resulting from the size standard is assumed to be composed of four fluorescent signals P. Note that the fluorescent signal P resulting from the size standard is not limited to being composed of four fluorescent signals P. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 26 to 28, in the electrophoretic image EP, the fluorescent signal P having the color of the size standard is displayed with a dashed line.

[0227] In the second-first embodiment, the electrophoretic image EP5 shown in Fig. 26 includes fluorescent signals P (P18, P20, P22) attributable to the DNA being analyzed. The electrophoretic image EP5 also includes fluorescent signals P (P15, P16) attributable to primers not being analyzed, and fluorescent signals P (P17, P19, P21, P23) attributable to size standards. The following describes the case where the electrophoretic image EP generated in step S402 of Fig. 25 is the electrophoretic image EP5 shown in Fig. 26.

[0228] (Actions of Compression Range Setting Unit 105) The actions of the compression range setting unit 105 will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 27. Note that in the following description, the step numbers are those used in FIG. 25. First, the compression range setting unit 105 acquires fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S401). FIG. 26 shows the electrophoretic image EP5 drawn by the compression range setting unit 105 in step S402. The compression range setting unit 105 then selects one of the fluorescence signals P contained in the generated electrophoretic image EP. That is, the compression range setting unit 105 searches these fluorescence signals P starting from frame number "1" and processes the first detected fluorescence signal P15. The compression range setting unit 105 then determines whether the color of the selected fluorescence signal P is the color used in the size standard (the color of the size standard) (S403).

[0229] 26, the first selected fluorescent signal P15 is not the color of the size standard. Therefore, the determination in step S403 is "No." Then, in step S404, the compression range setting unit 105 selects the next fluorescent signal P16 (S404) and performs the processes from step S403 onward.

[0230] 26, the fluorescent signal P16 next to the fluorescent signal P15 has the color of the size standard. Therefore, the determination in step S403 is "Yes," and the compression range setting unit 105 assigns the size standard mark JS to the fluorescent signal P16, as shown in FIG. 26 (S405). As mentioned above, the fluorescent signal P16 is the fluorescent signal P resulting from the primer. However, because the color of this fluorescent signal P16 is the same as that of the size standard, it was mistakenly recognized as the fluorescent signal P resulting from the size standard. Correction of this erroneous recognition will be described later.

[0231] Next, in step S406, it is determined whether or not processing has been completed for all fluorescence signals P by processing fluorescence signal P16. Electrophoretic image EP5 in Figure 26 does not include all fluorescence signals P15 and P16. Therefore, the determination in step S406 is "No," and compression range setting unit 105 selects the next fluorescence signal P17 (S407) and performs processing from step S403 onwards.

[0232] The same process is repeated for the fluorescent signals P17 to P23 shown in Fig. 26. As a result, the size standard mark JS is not added to the fluorescent signals P15, P18, P20, and P22 (they are detected as the first fluorescent signals), while the size standard mark JS is added to the fluorescent signals P16, P17, P19, P21, and P23 (they are detected as the second fluorescent signals).

[0233] After that, since processing has been completed for all of the fluorescent light signals P, the compression range setting unit 105 determines "Yes" in step S406.

[0234] The compression range setting unit 105 then assigns numbers to the fluorescence signals P to which the size standard marks JS have been assigned, in order from the largest frame number (S408). As a result, as shown in FIG. 26, the fluorescence signal P23 is assigned the size standard number "1" (JS1 in FIG. 26). The fluorescence signal P21 is assigned the size standard number "2" (JS2 in FIG. 26). The fluorescence signal P19 is assigned the number "3" (JS3 in FIG. 26), and the fluorescence signal P17 is assigned the number "4" (JS4 in FIG. 26). Similarly, the fluorescence signal P16 is assigned the size standard number "5" (JS5 in FIG. 26).

[0235] Next, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether the maximum value of the numbers assigned in step S408 is the same as the specified number of size standards (S409). The maximum value of the numbers assigned in step S408 is "5" (symbol JS5). On the other hand, the specified number of size standards is four. Therefore, the maximum value of the assigned numbers is not the same as the specified number of size standards. Therefore, the compression range setting unit 105 determines "No" in step S409.

[0236] The compression range setting unit 105 then deletes the size standard mark JS from any fluorescence signal P assigned a number greater than the specified number for the size standard (S411). The fluorescence signal P16 in FIG. 27 is assigned a number "5" (JS5), which is greater than the specified number of size standards, "4." Therefore, the compression range setting unit 105 deletes the size standard mark JS assigned to the fluorescence signal P16. The compression range setting unit 105 then proceeds to step S410. In this way, the fluorescence signal P16, which has been mistakenly recognized as a fluorescence signal P resulting from a size standard, is removed from the fluorescence signal P resulting from a size standard.

[0237] In the second embodiment, in step S408, the compression range setting unit 105 assigns numbers to the fluorescence signals P to which the size standard marks JS have been assigned, in order from the largest frame number to the largest. However, this is not limiting, and the compression range setting unit 105 may assign numbers to the fluorescence signals P to which the size standard marks JS have been assigned, in order from the smallest frame number (the corresponding frame number). In this case, in step S411, the compression range setting unit 105 calculates the difference between the number of detected fluorescence signals P having the color of the size standard and the specified number of size standards. Then, the compression range setting unit 105 deletes the size standard marks JS, in order from the smallest number, by the difference value.

[0238] If step S411 determines that the number of fluorescence signals P to which a mark JS has been assigned exceeds the number of size standards being used, the compression range setting unit 105 deletes the marks JS assigned to the fluorescence signals P. In this case, the compression range setting unit 105 deletes the excess marks JS assigned to the fluorescence signals P, starting from the fluorescence signals P to which a mark JS has been assigned, in the fluorescence signal data D25, starting from the fluorescence signals P with the smallest corresponding frame numbers.

[0239] Referring to the electrophoretic image EP5 shown in FIG. 27 , among the fluorescent signals P marked with the size standard marker JS, the fluorescent signal P with the smallest frame number is fluorescent signal P17, which is marked with the number "4" (JS4). Furthermore, among the fluorescent signals P marked with the size standard marker S, the fluorescent signal P with the largest frame number is fluorescent signal P23, which is marked with the number "1" (JS1). Therefore, the compression range setting unit 105 acquires frame number "2000," which is the start frame number of fluorescent signal P17, as the smallest frame number. Furthermore, the compression range setting unit 105 acquires the end frame number of fluorescent signal P23, which is marked with the largest frame number among the fluorescent signals P marked with the size standard marker JS, as the largest frame number. In FIG. 27 , the end frame number of fluorescent signal P23, which is marked with the largest frame number, is frame number "4500." Then, the compression range setting unit 105 sets the range from the minimum frame number to the maximum frame number as the compression range H (S410). In the example shown in Fig. 27, frame numbers "2000" to "4500" are set as the compression range H.

[0240] In FIG. 27, the size standard mark JS has been deleted from the fluorescent signal P16, and therefore the mark JS and the symbol JS5 are omitted.

[0241] In FIG. 27, the numerical values ​​"300," "800," "2000," "4000," "4020," and "5000" written with leading lines on the horizontal axis at the bottom of the page are frame numbers.

[0242] In this way, the compression range setting unit 105 sets, as the compression range H, the frame range in which the fluorescent signal P to which the size standard mark JS is attached is detected.

[0243] Thereafter, the compression range setting unit 105 outputs the compression range H (frame numbers "2000" to "4500" in the example shown in FIG. 27) to the compression ratio calculation unit 106 and the compression unit 107 (step S412).

[0244] In this way, the compression range setting unit 105 sets the compression range H by utilizing the characteristic that the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers is detected earlier than the DNA to be analyzed and the size standards. Furthermore, the compression range setting unit 105 sets the compression range H by utilizing the characteristics of the fluorescent signal P caused by the size standards. As described above, the characteristics of the fluorescent signal P caused by the size standards used are as follows: (1) The number of fluorescent signals P caused by the size standards is known. (2) The fluorescent signal P caused by the size standards is detected in a wider range than the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA to be analyzed. (3) The fluorescent signal P caused by the size standards is detected later than the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers.

[0245] In the second embodiment, by utilizing the above features (1) to (3), it is possible to distinguish between the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers and the fluorescent signal P caused by the DNA to be analyzed, and to set the compression range H. Based on the above property (3), the range in which the fluorescent signal P caused by the size standard is detected is set as the compression range H, and the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers is excluded from the compression range H.

[0246] (Action by Compression Ratio Calculation Unit 106) In the 2-1 embodiment, the action by the compression ratio calculation unit 106 is the same as in the 1-1 embodiment. Therefore, illustration and description of the action by the compression ratio calculation unit 106 in the 2-1 embodiment will be omitted. In the 2-1 embodiment as well, the compression ratio D27 is calculated to be "0.091".

[0247] (Action by Compression Unit 107) Next, the action by the compression unit 107 will be described with reference to Figs. 18, 27, and 28. Note that in the following description, the step numbers are the step numbers used in Fig. 18. First, the compression unit 107 acquires fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S301). Next, the compression unit 107 acquires the compression range H from the compression range setting unit 105 (S302). It is assumed that the fluorescence signal data D25 and compression range H shown in Fig. 27 are acquired by steps S301 and S303. In the 2-1 embodiment, frame numbers "2000" to "4500" are set as compression range H, as shown in Fig. 27.

[0248] Next, the compression unit 107 acquires the compression ratio D27 from the compression ratio calculation unit 106 (S303). As described above, in the second embodiment, the compression ratio D27 is 0.091. Then, in step S304, the compression unit 107 determines whether the frame to be processed is included in the compression range H.

[0249] For example, referring to Figure 27, frame numbers "4000" to "4020" that make up fluorescence signal P22 are included in compression range H. Therefore, if the frame to be processed is included in frame numbers "4000" to "4020," the compression unit 107 determines "Yes" in step S304 of Figure 16. The compression unit 107 then proceeds to the processing of step S305 of Figure 16. In step S305, the compression unit 107 multiplies the fluorescence signal intensity of the frame to be processed by the compression rate D27. For example, among frame numbers "4000" to "4020," the fluorescence signal intensity of the frame that corresponds to maximum signal intensity value D26 is "360000." Therefore, when the compression unit 107 multiplies the fluorescent light signal intensity of this frame by the compression rate D27, ie, "0.091," the fluorescent light signal intensity of the frame being processed is compressed to "360000 x 0.091 = 32767."

[0250] On the other hand, frame numbers "300" to "800" that make up the fluorescence signal P15 are not included in the compression range H. Therefore, "No" is determined in step S304 of FIG. 16 , and the compression unit 107 proceeds to step S306 of FIG. 16 . Then, in step S306, the compression unit 107 determines whether the fluorescence signal intensity of the frame being processed is greater than "32767." For frames with a fluorescence signal intensity greater than "32767," the compression unit 107 rounds the fluorescence signal intensity down to "32767" (S307). As described above, no compression is performed in step S307. Furthermore, for frames with a fluorescence signal intensity equal to or less than "32767," the compression unit 107 leaves the fluorescence signal intensity unchanged (S308). The compression unit 107 performs the processes of steps S306 to S308 for each frame of the electrophoretic image EP (fluorescence signal data D25) that is outside the compression range H.

[0251] Then, the processes of steps S305, S307, and S308 are performed, and in step S310, the electrophoretic image EP6 (EP) shown in FIG. 28 is output as compressed fluorescent signal data D28. In FIG. 28, dashed line V3 indicates the value equivalent to maximum signal intensity D26 in FIG. 27 (fluorescence signal intensity of fluorescent signal P22). The fluorescent signal data D25 is compressed so that the value equivalent to maximum signal intensity D26 in FIG. 28 becomes the maximum signal intensity usable in secondary analysis ("32676" in this embodiment). In other words, dashed line V3 corresponds to the maximum signal intensity usable in secondary analysis. In addition, the numerical values ​​"2000" and "4500" indicated with leading lines on the horizontal axis below the page in FIG. 28 are frame numbers.

[0252] The processes of steps S304 to S308 are performed for each frame constituting the fluorescence signal data D25. As a result, an electrophoretic image EP2 corresponding to the compressed fluorescence signal data D28, as shown in FIG. 28, is generated. In FIG. 28, the dashed line V3 indicates the value equivalent to the maximum signal intensity D26 in FIG. 27 (the fluorescence signal intensity of the compressed fluorescence signal P6). As shown in FIG. 21, within compression range H, the fluorescence signal data D25 is compressed so that the value equivalent to the maximum signal intensity D26 in FIG. 20 becomes the maximum signal intensity usable in secondary analysis. In this embodiment, the maximum signal intensity usable in secondary analysis is "32676." For regions outside compression range H, the compression unit 107 performs the processes of steps S306 to S308. As a result, the fluorescence signal P shown in fluorescence signals P15 and P16 has a shape in which the portion above "32676" is missing.

[0253] [Effects] In addition to the effects of Embodiment 1-1, Embodiment 2-1 utilizes the features of the size standard, which allows the fluorescence signal data D25 to be compressed to a range of values ​​that can be input into secondary analysis software, while maintaining minute signals by minimizing the compression ratio D27, even when a size standard is used.

[0254] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the fluorescent signal P resulting from the DNA to be analyzed and the fluorescent signal P resulting from the size standard are detected separately based on the color information of the fluorescent signal P. In this way, it becomes possible to easily distinguish between the fluorescent signal P resulting from the DNA to be analyzed and the fluorescent signal P resulting from the size standard.

[0255] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether the number of fluorescent signals P to which the size standard mark JS is assigned exceeds the number of size standards being used. The compression range setting unit 105 then deletes the excess marks JS assigned to the fluorescent signals P in the fluorescent signal data D25, starting from the fluorescent signals P with the smaller corresponding frame numbers. Because the color is the same as the size standard, a fluorescent signal P actually resulting from a primer may be erroneously detected as a fluorescent signal P resulting from a size standard. Even in such cases, the erroneous detection can be corrected by performing the processing described above.

[0256] 2-2 Embodiment Next, a 2-2 embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 25, 29, and 30. FIGS. 29 and 30 are diagrams showing examples of electrophoretic images EP. In the 2-1 embodiment, the characteristics of the fluorescent signal P caused by the size standard are utilized. This explains a data processing method for the electrophoretic image EP (fluorescent signal data D25) that includes the fluorescent signal P caused by the primers.

[0257] In contrast, in the second embodiment, similar to the second embodiment, the characteristics of the fluorescent signal P that constitutes the size standard are utilized. However, the second embodiment describes a method of processing electrophoretic data for an electrophoretic image EP (fluorescent signal data D25) that does not include fluorescent signal P resulting from primers.

[0258] In the second embodiment, the system configuration and operation are the same as those in the second embodiment, and therefore illustration and description of the system configuration and operation in the second embodiment will be omitted.

[0259] [Operation] In the second-second embodiment, a case will be described in which the electrophoretic image EP drawn in step S402 of FIG. 25 is the electrophoretic image EP7 (EP) shown in FIG. 29. Note that FIG. 29 shows the electrophoretic image EP7 of the analysis sample D10. The fluorescent signal data D25 includes the fluorescent signal P attributable to the DNA to be analyzed and the fluorescent signal P attributable to the size standard. On the other hand, the fluorescent signal data D25 does not include the fluorescent signal P attributable to primers not to be analyzed. Note that in the second-second embodiment, the size standard is composed of four fluorescent signals P. Furthermore, in the electrophoretic image EP7, the color of the fluorescent signal P attributable to the size standard is displayed as a dashed line.

[0260] In FIG. 29, the numerical values ​​"2000," "4000," "4030," and "4500" written with leading lines on the horizontal axis at the bottom of the page indicate frame numbers.

[0261] (Action by Compression Range Setting Unit 105) The action by the compression range setting unit 105 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 29. In the following description, step numbers refer to the step numbers shown in FIG. 25. First, the compression range setting unit 105 acquires fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S401). FIG. 29 shows an electrophoretic image EP7 drawn by the compression range setting unit 105 in step S402. As shown in FIG. 29, the electrophoretic image EP7 includes seven fluorescence signals P. The compression range setting unit 105 then searches among these fluorescence signals P, starting with frame number "1," and processes the first detected fluorescence signal P24. This fluorescence signal P24 is the color of the size standard. Therefore, "Yes" is determined in step S403, and the compression range setting unit 105 assigns the size standard mark JS to the fluorescence signal P24 (S405).

[0262] Next, in step S406, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether processing has been completed for all fluorescence signals P by processing fluorescence signal P24. The electrophoretic image EP7 in FIG. 29 does not include all fluorescence signals P24. Therefore, the compression range setting unit 105 determines "No" in step S406. Then, the compression range setting unit 105 selects the next detected fluorescence signal P25 (S407) and performs the processing from step S403 onwards.

[0263] 29, fluorescent signal P25 is not the color of the size standard. Therefore, the compression range setting unit 105 determines "No" in step S403. Then, the compression range setting unit 105 selects fluorescent signal P26, which is detected next, in step S404 (S404), and performs the processes from step S403 onward.

[0264] The same processing as that for the fluorescent signals P24 and P25 is then repeated for the fluorescent signals P26 to P30. As a result, the size standard mark JS is not added to the fluorescent signals P25, P27, and P29 (they are detected as the first fluorescent signals), while the size standard mark JS is added to the fluorescent signals P24, P26, P28, and P30 (they are detected as the second fluorescent signals).

[0265] Thereafter, when the processing for the fluorescent light signal P30 is completed, the processing of step S405 has been completed for all the fluorescent light signals P, and therefore the compression range setting unit 105 determines "Yes" in step S406.

[0266] The compression range setting unit 105 then assigns numbers to the fluorescence signals P to which the size standard marks JS have been assigned, in order from the largest frame number (S408). As a result, as shown in Figure 29, the number "1" (JS1) is assigned to fluorescence signal P30. Similarly, the number "2" (JS2) is assigned to fluorescence signal P28, the number "3" (JS3) is assigned to fluorescence signal P26, and the number "4" (JS4) is assigned to fluorescence signal P24.

[0267] Next, the compression range setting unit 105 determines whether the maximum value of the numbers assigned in step S408 is the same as the specified number of size standards (S409). In this embodiment, the maximum value of the numbers assigned in step S408 is "4". On the other hand, the specified number of size standards is four. Therefore, the compression range setting unit 105 determines "Yes" in step S409 and proceeds to step S410.

[0268] 29, of the fluorescence signals P marked with the size standard mark JS, the fluorescence signal P with the smallest frame number is fluorescence signal P24, which is assigned the number "4" (JS4). Furthermore, of the fluorescence signals P marked with the size standard mark S, the fluorescence signal P with the largest frame number is fluorescence signal P30, which is assigned the number "1" (JS1). Therefore, the compression range setting unit 105 refers to frame number "2000," which is the starting frame number of fluorescence signal P24, as the minimum frame number. Furthermore, frame number "4500," which is the ending frame number of fluorescence signal P30, as the maximum frame number. The compression range setting unit 105 then sets the range from the minimum frame number to the maximum frame number as the compression range H (S410).

[0269] In this way, the compression range setting unit 105 sets, as the compression range H, the frame range in which the fluorescent signal P to which the size standard mark JS is attached is detected.

[0270] Thereafter, the compression range setting unit 105 outputs the compression range H set in step S410. In the second-2 embodiment, the compression range setting unit 105 outputs frame number "2000" to frame number "4500" as the compression range H to the compression ratio calculation unit 106 and the compression unit 107.

[0271] (Action by Compression Ratio Calculation Unit 106) Next, the action by the compression ratio calculation unit 106 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 29. In the following description, the step numbers refer to the step numbers shown in FIG. 17. First, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires the fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S201). Next, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires the compression range H from the compression range setting unit 105 (S202). As described above, in Embodiment 2-2, the compression range H is frame numbers "2000" to "5000." In step S203, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 acquires the maximum signal intensity D26 of the fluorescence signal data D25 included in compression range H. As shown in FIG. 29, the maximum signal intensity D26 of the fluorescence signal data D25 included in frame numbers "1" to "5000" is "360000."

[0272] Next, the compression ratio calculation unit 106 calculates the compression ratio D27 in step S204. As described above, the maximum signal strength value D26 is "360000," and the upper limit of the value output by the compression unit 107 is "32767." Therefore, the compression ratio D27 is calculated as "32767 / 360000=0.091."

[0273] (Action by Compression Unit 107) Next, the action by the compression unit 107 will be described with reference to FIGS. 18, 29, and 30. In the following description, the step numbers are the step numbers shown in FIG. 18. First, the compression unit 107 acquires fluorescence signal data D25 from the color conversion unit 104 (S301). Next, the compression unit 107 acquires the compression range H from the compression range setting unit 105 (S302). As described above, in Embodiment 2-2, the compression range H is frame numbers "2000" to "5000". Next, the compression unit 107 acquires the compression ratio D27 from the compression ratio calculation unit 106 (S303). As described above, in Embodiment 2-2, the compression ratio D27 is set to "0.091".

[0274] In step S304 of Fig. 18, the compression unit 107 determines whether the frame to be processed is included in compression range H. Referring to Fig. 29, all of the frames that make up fluorescence signals P24 to P30 are included in compression range H. Therefore, the compression unit 107 determines "Yes" in step S304 for all of the frames that make up fluorescence signals P24 to P30. The compression unit 107 then proceeds to step S305, where it multiplies the fluorescence signal intensity of the frame to be processed by the compression rate D27 (S305). As a result, the fluorescence signal intensity of the frame corresponding to maximum signal intensity D26 is compressed to "32767" by "360000 x 0.091".

[0275] Through the processing of step S305, the compression unit 107 generates the electrophoretic image EP8 shown in Fig. 30 as compressed fluorescent signal data D28. Then, in step S310, the compression unit 107 outputs the generated compressed fluorescent signal data D28. Note that in Fig. 30, dashed line V4 indicates a value equivalent to the maximum signal intensity D26 in Fig. 29 (fluorescence signal intensity of fluorescent signal P29). As shown in Fig. 30, the fluorescent signal data D25 is compressed so that the value equivalent to the maximum signal intensity D26 in Fig. 29 becomes the maximum signal intensity usable in secondary analysis ("32676" in this embodiment). In other words, dashed line V4 corresponds to the maximum signal intensity usable in secondary analysis.

[0276] In FIG. 30, the numbers "2000" and "4500" written with leading lines on the horizontal axis at the bottom of the page are frame numbers.

[0277] As described above, according to the 2-2 embodiment, the electrophoretic image EP that does not contain the fluorescent signal P due to the primer can also be compressed by the same process as in the 2-1 embodiment.

[0278] [Effects] According to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, the compression ratio D27 can be minimized even when the electrophoresis does not include a fluorescent signal due to the primers. This makes it possible to compress the fluorescent signal data D25 to a range of values ​​that can be input into the secondary analysis software while maintaining a small signal such as the fluorescent signal P due to DNA.

[0279] <<Example of Secondary Analysis Screen 300>> FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of the secondary analysis screen 300 displayed in this embodiment. The secondary analysis screen 300 shown in FIG. 31 is displayed by the secondary analysis software on an output device of a computer running the secondary analysis software when secondary analysis is performed. The output device that outputs the secondary analysis screen 300 shown in FIG. 31 may or may not be the output device 155 shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 31, an image of the compressed fluorescent signal data D28 is displayed on the secondary analysis screen 300. While FIG. 31 displays the image of the compressed fluorescent signal data D28 shown in FIG. 21, the images of the compressed fluorescent signal data D28 shown in FIGS. 23, 28, and 30 may also be displayed. The user performs secondary analysis by referring to the fluorescent signals P25, P27, and P29 derived from DNA displayed on the secondary analysis screen 300.

[0280] In this secondary analysis screen 300, DNA-derived fluorescent signals P25, P27, and P29, which have weak fluorescent signal intensities compared to the primer-derived fluorescent signals P1 to P3, are displayed at appropriate sizes, allowing the user to perform appropriate secondary analysis.

[0281] The present invention 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 invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible 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.

[0282] In this embodiment, the fluorescence signal data D25 is compressed within compression range H, and the area outside of compression range H is not compressed. However, this is not a limitation, and the fluorescence signal data D25 may be compressed uniformly at a compression rate D27.

[0283] Furthermore, some or all of the above-described components, functions, signal processing unit 101 to compression unit 107, storage device 153, etc. may be implemented in hardware, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits. As shown in FIG. 5 , the above-described components, functions, etc. may be implemented in software by a processor such as a CPU interpreting and executing programs that implement the respective functions. Information such as programs, tables, and files that implement the respective functions can be stored on a hard disk or in a storage device such as memory 151, an SSD, or a recording medium such as an IC (Integrated Circuit) card, an SD (Secure Digital) card, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). Furthermore, in each embodiment, control lines and information lines are shown that are considered necessary for explanation, and not all control lines and information lines are necessarily shown in the actual product. In reality, it is safe to assume that almost all components are interconnected.

[0284] 1 Electrophoresis system 10 Processing device (electrophoresis data processing device) 20 Electrophoresis device 30 External memory 101 Signal integration unit (software binning processing unit) 102 Fluorescence calibration unit (fluorescence signal data generation unit) 103 Pseudo-inverse matrix generation unit (fluorescence signal data generation unit) 104 Color conversion unit (fluorescence signal data generation unit) 105 Compression range setting unit 106 Compression rate calculation unit 107 Compression unit 155 Output device 211 Light receiving unit 211A Light receiving element 212 Horizontal register unit 212A Horizontal register 213 Summing gate 300 Secondary analysis screen B, B1 to BN Bins C, C1 to CL Soft bins D10 Sample to be analyzed (primers mixed) D10a Sample to be analyzed (primers and size standards mixed) D11 Sample signal to be analyzed D12 Analysis sample integrated signal D25 Fluorescence signal data D26 Maximum signal intensity (maximum value of fluorescence signal intensity included in the compression range) D27 Compression ratio D28 Fluorescence signal compression data EP, EP1 to EP8 Electropherogram H Compression range JN Mark JS, JS1 to JS5 Mark (mark given to fluorescence signals determined to be second fluorescence signals) JY, JN Mark P Fluorescence signal P1 to P3 Fluorescence signals (second fluorescence signals) P4 to P14 Fluorescence signals (first fluorescence signals) P15, P16 Fluorescence signals P17, P19, P21, P23, P24, P26, P28, P30 Fluorescence signals (second fluorescence signals) P18, P20, P22, P25, P27, P29 Fluorescence signals (first fluorescence signals) V1 to V4: Broken lines (corresponding to the maximum signal strength that can be used in secondary analysis) S101 to S112: Compression range setting process (compression range setting step) S201 to S205: Compression ratio calculation process (compression ratio calculation step) S301 to S310: Compression process (compression step) S401 to S412: Compression range setting process (compression range setting step)

Claims

1. An electrophoresis system comprising: an electrophoresis device; a software binning processing unit that acquires from the electrophoresis device an analyte sample signal, which is a signal related to a sample to be analyzed that has been subjected to hardware binning, and a matrix standard signal, which is a signal related to a matrix standard that has been subjected to hardware binning, and performs software binning on the sample signal to be analyzed and the matrix standard signal; a fluorescence signal data generation unit that generates fluorescence signal data, which is data related to the fluorescence signal intensity for each frame, based on the sample signal to be analyzed that has been subjected to the software binning and the matrix standard signal that has been subjected to the software binning; a compression range setting unit that distinguishes between a first fluorescence signal attributable to the analyte and a second fluorescence signal attributable to something other than the analyte and detects, for fluorescence signals included in the fluorescence signal data, a first fluorescence signal attributable to the analyte and a second fluorescence signal attributable to something other than the analyte, and sets a compression range for the frames of the fluorescence signal data based on a result of the detection; a compression ratio calculation unit that calculates a compression ratio based on a maximum value of the fluorescence signal intensity included in the compression range and a maximum value of signal intensity that can be used in a secondary analysis; and a compression unit that compresses the fluorescence signal data based on the compression ratio, to generate compressed fluorescent signal data, and output the generated compressed fluorescent signal data.

2. The electrophoresis system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second fluorescent signal is a fluorescent signal caused by a primer, and the compression range setting unit sets the compression range from a frame subsequent to the frame in which the second fluorescent signal is detected.

3. The electrophoresis system according to claim 2, characterized in that the compression range setting unit distinguishes and detects the second fluorescent signal caused by the primer and the first fluorescent signal based on at least one of the width, area, and the last frame including the fluorescent signal of the fluorescent signal included in the fluorescent signal data.

4. The electrophoresis system according to claim 1, characterized in that the compression range setting unit detects a fluorescent signal caused by a size standard as the second fluorescent signal, and sets a frame range in which the second fluorescent signal is detected as the compression range.

5. The electrophoresis system according to claim 4, characterized in that the compression range setting unit detects the first fluorescent signal and the second fluorescent signal by distinguishing them based on color information of the fluorescent signals.

6. The electrophoresis system according to claim 5, wherein the compression range setting unit: assigns a mark to the fluorescent signal determined to be the second fluorescent signal; and if the number of the fluorescent signals to which the marks have been assigned exceeds the number of the size standards being used, deletes the excess marks assigned to the fluorescent signals in the fluorescent signal data, starting from the fluorescent signals to which the marks have been assigned, beginning with the smaller corresponding frame numbers; and sets the frame range in which the fluorescent signals to which the marks have been assigned are detected as the compression range.

7. The electrophoresis system according to claim 1, wherein the compression unit outputs the analysis sample signal and the compression ratio in addition to the compressed fluorescent signal data.

8. An electrophoresis data processing device comprising: a software binning processing unit that acquires from an electrophoresis device an analyte sample signal, which is a signal related to an analyte sample that has been subjected to hardware binning, and a matrix standard signal, which is a signal related to a matrix standard that has been subjected to hardware binning, and performs software binning on the analyte sample signal and the matrix standard signal; a fluorescence signal data generation unit that generates fluorescence signal data, which is data related to the fluorescence signal intensity for each frame, based on the analyte sample signal that has been subjected to the software binning and the matrix standard signal that has been subjected to the software binning; a compression range setting unit that distinguishes between a first fluorescence signal attributable to the analyte and a second fluorescence signal attributable to something other than the analyte and detects, for fluorescence signals included in the fluorescence signal data, a first fluorescence signal attributable to the analyte and a second fluorescence signal attributable to something other than the analyte, and sets a compression range for the frames of the fluorescence signal data based on the detection result; a compression ratio calculation unit that calculates a compression ratio based on a maximum value of the fluorescence signal intensity included in the compression range and a maximum value of signal intensity that can be used in secondary analysis; and a compression unit that compresses the fluorescence signal data based on the compression ratio, to generate fluorescent signal compressed data, and output the generated fluorescent signal compressed data.

9. An electrophoresis system that acquires from an electrophoresis device an analyte sample signal, which is a signal related to an analyte sample that has been subjected to hardware binning, and a matrix standard signal, which is a signal related to a matrix standard that has been subjected to hardware binning, and generates fluorescent signal data, which is data related to fluorescent signal intensity for each frame, based on the analyte sample signal that has been subjected to software binning for the analyte sample signal and the matrix standard signal, and that has been subjected to software binning, and executes the following electrophoresis data processing method: