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EP-4739999-A1 - OPTICAL SIGNAL DETECTION DEVICE

EP4739999A1EP 4739999 A1EP4739999 A1EP 4739999A1EP-4739999-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an optical signal detection device for analyzing a sample in a reaction vessel provided in a thermal cycler. The optical signal detection device comprises: a light source unit including a light source for generating an excitation light; a body portion coupled to the light source unit and having a plurality of passages formed therethrough; and an emission light detector provided at a side of the body portion and detects emission light emitted from the sample. According to the present disclosure, crosstalk of an optical signal generated in a sample is minimized to accurately and quickly detect the optical signal, maintenance and replacement of a beamsplitter are facilitated, and a plurality of lenses and filters may be accurately and easily arranged, fixed, or replaced.

Inventors

  • YUK, NAM SU
  • Mok, Young Jae
  • KANG, JUN HEE
  • KIM, SE YOUNG
  • HWANG, SOON JOO

Assignees

  • Seegene, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240705

Claims (20)

  1. An optical signal detection device for analyzing a sample in a reaction vessel provided in a thermal cycler, the device comprising: a light source unit comprising a light source for generating an excitation light; a body portion coupled to the light source unit and having a plurality of passages formed therethrough; and an emission light detector provided at a side of the body portion, for detecting an emission light emitted from the sample, wherein a plurality of recesses, in which the reaction vessel is disposed, are provided below the body portion, wherein a distance between two adjacent said recesses is formed to be spaced apart by a first distance, and a distance between respective end portions of two adjacent said passages is formed to be spaced apart by a second distance, and the second distance is larger than the first distance.
  2. The optical signal detection device of claim 1, wherein the body portion moves according to a predetermined pattern with respect to a reaction portion that comprises the plurality of recesses.
  3. The optical signal detection device of claim 1, wherein the second distance is a multiple of the first distance.
  4. The optical signal detection device of claim 1, wherein light of different wavelengths is aligned and irradiated to different recesses through the plurality of passages.
  5. The optical signal detection device of claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises a housing through which the plurality of passages are formed, wherein the plurality of passages comprise a plurality of first passages passing through the housing in a first direction and a plurality of second passages passing through the housing in a second direction, wherein the second passages are formed to match and intersect respective said first passages, wherein an opening is formed at an end portion of each of the plurality of first passages to face a reaction portion comprising the plurality of recesses, wherein a distance between two adjacent said openings is formed to be spaced apart by the second distance.
  6. The optical signal detection device of claim 5, wherein a slot communicating with a plurality of spaces where the plurality of first passages and the plurality of second passages intersect is further formed inside the housing.
  7. The optical signal detection device of claim 6, wherein a beamsplitter is provided through the slot in each of the spaces where the plurality of first passages and the plurality of second passages intersect.
  8. The optical signal detection device of claim 5, wherein an excitation lens-filter unit comprising an excitation filter and an excitation lens is provided in the first passage, and an emission lens-filter unit comprising an emission filter and an emission lens is provided in the second passage.
  9. The optical signal detection device of claim 8, wherein a first stepped part protruding inward is formed in the first passage, such that the excitation lens-filter unit is caught by the first stepped part, and a second stepped part protruding inward is formed in the second passage, such that the emission lens-filter unit is caught by the second stepped part.
  10. The optical signal detection device of claim 5, wherein the body portion comprises two housings, and the two housings are a first housing and a second housing which are symmetrical to each other and are separable from each other.
  11. The optical signal detection device of claim 10, further comprising a frame unit connecting the first housing and the second housing, wherein the frame unit comprises a lower frame coupled to lower portions of the first and second housings, and a support coupled to opposing side surfaces of the first and second housings.
  12. The optical signal detection device of claim 11, wherein the support protrudes upward from the lower frame.
  13. The optical signal detection device of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second housings further comprises a condensing lens unit comprising a condensing lens positioned on a same vertical line as each of the plurality of first passages, and wherein the condensing lens unit is positioned between the first and second housings and the lower frame.
  14. The optical signal detection device of claim 11, further comprising: an excitation light detector for detecting a part of the excitation light passing through each of the plurality of first passages.
  15. The optical signal detection device of claim 14, wherein the excitation light detector is provided between the opposing side surfaces of the first and second housings.
  16. The optical signal detection device of claim 14, wherein the excitation light detector is provided on both sides of a feedback control board supported by the support so as to be aligned with each of the second passages.
  17. The optical signal detection device of claim 14, wherein the light source unit comprises a plurality of light sources, and each of the excitation light detectors is configured to monitor an operating state of a designated light source.
  18. The optical signal detection device of claim 17, wherein the light source unit further comprises a light source control board for controlling the light source, wherein the light source control board controls a light output value of each of the light sources according to a signal transmitted from each of the excitation light detectors.
  19. The optical signal detection device of claim 18, wherein, when at least some of the signals generated from the excitation light detector deviate from a preset parameter, the movement of the body portion is stopped.
  20. The optical signal detection device of claim 1, wherein the second distance is at least 18 mm.

Description

OPTICAL SIGNAL DETECTION DEVICE The present disclosure relates to an optical signal detection device for detecting a nucleic acid reaction. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most widely used nucleic acid amplification reaction, and includes the processes of denaturation of double-stranded DNA, annealing of oligonucleotide primers to a DNA template, and repeated cycles of primer extension by DNA polymerase (Mullis et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4, 683, 195, 4, 683, 202, and 4, 800, 159; Saiki et al., (1985) Science 230, 1350-1354). The denaturation of the DNA proceeds at about 95 degrees, and the annealing and primer extension proceeds at a temperature lower than 95 degrees, within 55 to 75 degrees. A light source emits excitation light to the samples, and a fluorescent material included in the samples excited by the excitation light emits fluorescence. A detector is configured to detect emission light emitted from the fluorescent material to analyze the amplification reaction. In such a fluorescence detection type device, it is necessary to accurately provide excitation light to a sample and accurately provide emission light to a detector. The emission light emitted from the sample is guided by a beamsplitter to the detector. The excitation light emitted from the light source passes through the beamsplitter and is provided to the sample, and the emission light emitted from the sample is reflected by the beamsplitter and provided to the detector. A nucleic acid analysis system capable of performing nucleic acid analysis on a plurality of samples in real-time is being used in the form of one fluorescence detection module having the above-described configuration. In general, in order to perform nucleic acid analysis on a plurality of samples in real-time, a plurality of light sources and a plurality of filters are provided in one fluorescence detection module. In this case, the plurality of filters used are for detecting a specific wavelength band of the fluorescent material included in the sample. However, since the plurality of filters have wavelength bands adjacent to each other, when excitation light is irradiated to a plurality of samples at the same time, crosstalk due to fluorescent signals of adjacent bands is generated, and thus it is difficult to accurately measure experimental results. In consideration of the influence of crosstalk, conventionally, apparatuses have been developed with methods of correcting crosstalk signals software-wise or methods of sequentially exciting and scanning samples such that fluorescent signals in adjacent bands are not simultaneously emitted hardware-wise. There is a limitation in increasing the accuracy of the detection signal by correcting the crosstalk signals using a computer, and a method of detecting by sequentially scanning samples one by one in hardware has a disadvantage in that the scan time inevitably increases as the number of samples increases. In addition to the crosstalk, there are various other factors that affect the accurate detection of the fluorescence signal emitted from the sample, but the related arts have structures that make it difficult to identify and respond to such factors. In order to accurately and rapidly detect an optical signal generated in a sample by using a fluorescence detection device, it is necessary to check whether light is normally irradiated from a light source at a preset timing and whether light is accurately irradiated to a preset region or a sample. In addition, various components (e.g., a lens, a filter, a beamsplitter, etc.) on an optical path must be accurately arranged, and furthermore, whether the detector itself can detect a constant value under the same condition, that is, the reliability of the detector is also important. In addition, fine misalignment or breakage of any one of the various components on the optical path, particularly the position of the beamsplitter, may cause failure and malfunction of the optical module. In this case, it takes a lot of time and technical skills to replace or repair the entire optical module. In addition, fine misalignment or breakage of any one position of a plurality of lenses or filters may cause failure of the optical module and malfunction or inaccuracy detection results. Even in this case, it is necessary to replace the entire optical module, or a lot of time and technical skills are required to repair it. Therefore, there is a need for an optical module that can accurately and rapidly detect an optical signal generated in a sample by minimizing crosstalk using a fluorescence detection device, facilitate maintenance and replacement of a beamsplitter, precisely and easily arrange and fix a plurality of lenses and filters, and facilitate replacement. Patent No. KR 2014-0002241 A and Patent No. KR 10-0601964 B1 are examples of prior art. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for descri