Detection device

• US 8,970,839 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Yamada, Kohei, Hano, Yoshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Tri T
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERRELL II, WILLIE C
• Application Number:
  US13/441,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20120257198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 356/301, 356/436, 356/437, 356440-442, 356/445
• US Class Current: 356/301
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/658 enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons

Abstract

A detection device includes an optical device, a suction section adapted to suck the fluid sample in the optical device, a light source adapted to irradiate the optical device with light, a light detection section adapted to detect light emitted from the optical device, and a control section adapted to perform drive control on the suction section. The optical device emits light reflecting the fluid sample to be adsorbed. The control section sets a suction flow velocity of the fluid sample on the optical device to V1 in a first mode including a period of performing detection by the light detection section, sets the suction flow velocity of the fluid sample on the optical device to V2 (V2>V1) in a second mode, and switches between the first mode and the second mode based on a signal from the light detection section.

Claims

1. A detection device comprising:

an optical device, wherein the optical device emits light based on an inspection target material that exists within a fluid sample, wherein the inspection target material is adsorbed onto a surface of the optical device;

a suction section adapted to suck the fluid sample in the optical device;

a light source adapted to irradiate the optical device with light;

a light detection section adapted to detect light emitted from the optical device; and

a control section adapted to perform drive control on the suction section,

wherein the control section sets a suction flow velocity of the fluid sample in the optical device to V1 in a first mode including a period of performing detection by the light detection section, sets the suction flow velocity of the fluid sample on the optical device to V2, where V2>

V1, in a second mode, and switches between the first mode and the second mode based on a signal from the light detection section,

wherein the emitted light is a Raman scattering light of the inspection target material within the fluid sample,

the light detection section detects the Raman scattering light of the inspection target material,

the control section performs switching from the first mode to the second mode in response to a level of the signal from the light detection section exceeding a first threshold level,

the control section performs switching from the second mode to the first mode in response to the level of the signal from the light detection section falling below a second threshold level lower than the first threshold level,

the first mode is an adsorption mode wherein an external force generated by the suction section is less than an adsorption force between the inspection target material and the surface of the optical device, and

the second mode is a break away mode in which the external force generated by the suction section is greater than the adsorption force between the inspection target material and the surface of the optical device.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein

the optical device is provided with a metal nanostructure having projections in a range of 1 through 1000 nm.

3. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein

the suction section includes a negative pressure generation section, and

the control section performs adjustment control of a drive condition of the negative pressure generation section.

4. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein

the control section turns off the negative pressure generation section in the first mode.

5. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a supply section adapted to supply the optical device with a reference sample in the first mode,

wherein the light detection section detects a signal reflecting the reference sample at a wavelength different from that of the inspection target material within the fluid sample, and

the control section performs switching from the first mode to the second mode in response to a level of the signal reflecting the reference sample exceeding a third threshold level despite the signal reflecting the inspection target material is lower than the first threshold level.

6. The detection device according to claim 5, wherein

the control section performs switching from the second mode to the first mode in response to a level of the signal reflecting the reference sample falling below a fourth threshold level lower than the third threshold level despite the level of the signal reflecting the inspection target material is higher than the second threshold level.

7. The detection device according to claim 5, wherein

the supply section supplies a constant amount of the reference sample during the first mode.

8. The detection device according to claim 5, wherein

the reference sample is a molecule including at least one of a hetero ring, a benzene ring, a COOH group, an OH group, a CHO group, an S atom, and an N atom.

9. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein

the control section performs switching in order of the second mode, the first mode, and the second mode.