Assay apparatus and sensor holding method
First Claim
1. An assay apparatus in which a sensor unit is used, said sensor unit including an optical block having a sensing surface, disposed on an upper surface thereof, for detecting reaction of a sample, and a flow cell, secured to said upper surface, having a flow channel for flow of sample fluid containing said sample to said sensing surface, wherein light is applied to said optical block and received upon reflection thereon, for optically measuring reaction of said sample on said sensing surface, said assay apparatus comprising:
- an assay stage, having a stage surface for contacting a lower surface of said optical block, for supporting said sensor unit removably;
an optical block retaining mechanism for retaining said sensor unit in a predetermined orientation on said stage surface by engagement with said optical block;
said optical block retaining mechanism including a holder, shiftable between a retaining position and an initial position, for, when in said retaining position, pushing said lower surface of said optical block on said stage surface, and for, when in said initial position, releasing said optical block from retention on said stage surface, said holder exerting force of pushing to said optical block in a first direction which is upright relative to said stage surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor unit is retained on an assay stage of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay apparatus. The sensor unit includes a prism having a sensing surface, disposed on an upper surface thereof, for detecting reaction of a sample. A flow cell is secured to the upper surface, and has a flow channel for flow of sample fluid containing the sample to the sensing surface. The sensor unit is set removably on the assay apparatus for optically measuring reaction of the sample. In sensor holding, the sensor unit is set on a stage surface of the assay stage by directing down the prism. In a pushing step, a lower surface of the prism is pushed on the stage surface in a first direction upright relative to the stage surface. Two holders push an upper face of the first and second ridges of the prism in the first direction.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An assay apparatus in which a sensor unit is used, said sensor unit including an optical block having a sensing surface, disposed on an upper surface thereof, for detecting reaction of a sample, and a flow cell, secured to said upper surface, having a flow channel for flow of sample fluid containing said sample to said sensing surface, wherein light is applied to said optical block and received upon reflection thereon, for optically measuring reaction of said sample on said sensing surface, said assay apparatus comprising:
-
an assay stage, having a stage surface for contacting a lower surface of said optical block, for supporting said sensor unit removably; an optical block retaining mechanism for retaining said sensor unit in a predetermined orientation on said stage surface by engagement with said optical block; said optical block retaining mechanism including a holder, shiftable between a retaining position and an initial position, for, when in said retaining position, pushing said lower surface of said optical block on said stage surface, and for, when in said initial position, releasing said optical block from retention on said stage surface, said holder exerting force of pushing to said optical block in a first direction which is upright relative to said stage surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A sensor holding method of retaining a sensor unit on an assay stage of an assay apparatus, said sensor unit including an optical block having a sensing surface, disposed on an upper surface thereof, for detecting reaction of a sample, and a flow cell, secured to said upper surface, having a flow channel for flow of sample fluid containing said sample to said sensing surface, said sensor unit being set removably on said assay apparatus for optically measuring reaction of said sample, said sensor holding method comprising:
-
a setting step of setting said sensor unit on a stage surface of said assay stage by directing down said optical block; and a pushing step of pushing a lower surface of said optical block on said stage surface in a first direction which is upright relative to said stage surface.
-
Specification