Cells for biochemical analysis, kit for biochemical analysis, and biochemical analyzer

• US 9,291,548 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Fujimura, Toru, Kuwabara, Kosuke, Ide, Tatsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, SANG H
• Application Number:
  US14/558,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20150086425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/55 Specular reflectivity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/061 Sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/08 Optical fibres; light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings

Abstract

The invention makes it possible to measure binding of a biochemical substance with a high throughput and with high sensitivity using a small cell capable of being filled with a small amount of chemical solution. A space between a first substrate and a second substrate such that probes are immobilized on their mutually facing planes is used as a cell that houses a specimen solution. Light is irradiated from a first substrate side, and reflected light is subjected to spectroscopy. Binding of the target with the probe is detected by a wavelength shift in the refection spectrum.

Claims

1. A detection unit, comprising:

a first member having an opaque substrate and an optical thin film on the substrate, a first site of a surface of the optical thin film having a biochemical substance immobilized thereon;

a second member, a second site of a surface of the second member having the same biochemical substance immobilized thereon as the biochemical substance immobilized on the first site of the surface of the optical thin film; and

an optical detection system having a light guide for guiding irradiation light to the first site and the second site, and a computer unit calculating variation in reflected light therefrom,

wherein the first site of the surface of the optical thin film and the second site of the surface of the second member face each other to form a gap for introducing an aqueous solution into the gap, and

wherein an end of the light guide faces another surface of the second member which is opposite to the surface including the second site.

2. The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the opaque substrate is a silicon substrate.

3. The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the optical thin film is a silicon nitride film.

4. The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the opaque substrate is a silicon substrate.

5. The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the optical thin film is a silicon nitride film.

6. A detection unit, comprising:

a first member having an opaque substrate and an optical thin film on the substrate, a first site of a surface of the optical thin film having a biochemical substance immobilized thereon;

a second member, a second site of a surface of the second member having the same biochemical substance immobilized thereon as the biochemical substance immobilized on the first site of the surface of the optical thin film; and

an optical detection system having a light guide for guiding irradiation light to the first site and the second site, and a spectrometer to measure reflected light therefrom,

wherein the first site of the surface of the optical thin film and the second site of the surface of the second member face each other to form a gap for introducing an aqueous solution therein, and

wherein an end of the light guide faces another surface of the second member which is opposite to the surface including the second site.