Lightguide Aggregate Inspection Device for Reaction Spot Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lightguide inspection devices require a large number of expensive photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and optical fibers, leading to increased complexity and cost, especially when measuring multiple probe arrays or reaction containers, as they need to sequentially guide light to PMTs, which is time-consuming and requires a switching mechanism, complicating the processing and device structure.
Innovation Solution
A lightguide aggregate inspection device with a reaction spot array, a light-receiving element array, and multiple lightguide paths that allow concurrent processing and measurement by guiding light to light-receiving regions on a light-receiving surface, reducing the need for multiple PMTs and optical fibers, and enabling efficient inspection of multiple reaction spots with a compact device structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large number of optical fibers and PMTs are used to measure multiple probe arrays or reaction containers concurrently, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple lightguide paths are merged into a single integrated optical system that directs light from multiple reaction spots through a single PMT for detection. This combining approach maintains the ability to measure multiple probe arrays concurrently while eliminating the need for multiple separate PMTs and optical fibers, thus reducing device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
A single PMT is designed to perform multiple measurement functions by receiving light signals from multiple different reaction spots through the integrated lightguide paths. This multi-functional approach allows one component to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized components, reducing both device complexity and overall system cost.
2Device complexity
If sequential light guiding to PMTs is performed for multiple reaction spots, then device structure is simplified, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated lightguide paths enable continuous simultaneous light collection from multiple reaction spots and direct all signals to the single PMT for concurrent detection. This continuous parallel action eliminates the time losses associated with sequential switching while maintaining a simplified device structure without requiring complex switching mechanisms.
3Productivity
If multiple PMTs and optical fibers are used for concurrent measurement, then measurement speed is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple expensive PMTs, the system creates optical copies or replicas of the light signals from multiple reaction spots by directing them through separate lightguide paths that converge at a single PMT. This copying approach maintains measurement speed by preserving all light signals simultaneously while dramatically reducing the number of expensive detector components needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device allows for quick and efficient inspection of multiple probe arrays and reaction containers by aggregating light through a lightguide path, reducing the number of lightguide paths and light-receiving elements, simplifying the device structure, and eliminating the need for complex switching mechanisms, thereby enhancing processing reliability and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
multiple lightguide paths provided to correspond to the reaction spot array elements, and each having a measurement end provided to be close to or in contact with, or to be movable close to or into contact with 1 of the reaction spots, and a connection end provided to be close to or in contact with the light-receiving region
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a lightguide aggregate inspection device and an inspection method of the same, and the purpose is to quickly and efficiently perform inspections for multiple reaction spots. The lightguide aggregate inspection device includes a reaction spot array including multiple reaction spot array elements having at least one reaction spot, a light-receiving element array having a light-receiving surface provided with multiple light-receiving regions each having at least one light-receiving element corresponding to each of the reaction spot array elements, and receiving light obtained based on an optical state resulting from reaction in each of the reaction spots, multiple lightguide paths provided to correspond to the reaction spot array elements, and each having a measurement end provided to be close to or in contact with, or to be movable close to or into contact with 1 reaction spot, and a connection end provided to be close to or in contact with the light-receiving region, a digital data conversion unit configured to convert, at a prescribed period, image region data obtained from the light-receiving elements corresponding to the light-receiving regions, into digital data, and a storage means configured to sequentially store the data.