JP2002267664A - Measuring apparatus for immunochromatographic test piece - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a measuring apparatus for an immunochromatographic test piece, with which the degree of the coloration of the immunochromatographic test piece can be measured with satisfactory accuracy without making the apparatus large. SOLUTION: The measuring apparatus 1 is constituted of a base part 10, a lid part 30 and a measuring optical system 40. The optical system 40 includes an irradiation optical system 50 by which the test piece 3 is irradiated with measuring light and a detection optical system 60 which detects transmitted light from the test piece 3 irradiated with the measuring light. The optical system 50 is arranged and installed at the base part 10, and it comprises a light emitting element 51 and a light guide part 52. The optical system 60 is arranged and installed at the lid part 30, and it has a linear image sensor 61 and a fiber optical plate 62. The light incident face of the optical plate 62 adheres to, or comes close to, the test piece 3 at an immunochromatographic test instrument 2 placed on a mounting part 12 for the test instrument when the mounting part 12 is covered with the lid part 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring an immunochromatographic (immunochromatographic) test strip.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Immunochromatographic analysis will be described. In an immunochromatographic test strip, an antibody (or antigen) which causes an antigen-antibody reaction with an antigen (or antibody) in a specimen (sample) is used.
Is applied in advance to a specific position of the immunochromatographic test strip in a band shape. After applying the sample to the immunochromatographic test strip, the developing solution elutes the antigen (or antibody) in the sample and permeates the test strip, and the antibody (or antigen) applied to the immunochromatographic test strip At this point, the antigen (or antibody) in the sample is trapped by the antigen-antibody reaction. Since this trapped amount is the total amount of the antigen (or antibody) in the sample, if the antigen (or antibody) in the sample is labeled with a dye, the antigen (or antibody) can be determined by optical measurement such as absorbance. The total amount can be measured. The immunochromatographic analysis method is a method capable of quantifying a trace amount as compared with the ordinary color test method.

[0003] As an apparatus for measuring the concentration of a specific substance in a specimen from the immunochromatographic test strip after the specimen has developed and developed a color, there is, for example, a measuring apparatus described in JP-A-7-5110. The measuring device described in JP-A-7-5110 irradiates light from an LED onto an immunochromatographic test strip, detects light reflected by the immunochromatographic test strip with a CCD color image sensor, and measures the degree of coloration. Is to recognize.

[0004]

In the measuring device described in JP-A-7-5110, the light reflected by the immunochromatographic test strip is detected by a CCD color image sensor, so that the surface of the immunochromatographic test strip is detected. The change (coloration) of the specimen at the time is measured. However, the change of the specimen occurs not only on the surface of the immunochromatographic test strip but also inside the immunochromatographic test strip. For this reason, if the light reflected by the immunochromatographic test strip is detected by the CCD color image sensor as in the measuring device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-5110, the specimen inside the immunochromatographic test strip cannot be detected. The change cannot be measured, and it becomes difficult to accurately measure the degree of coloration.

In the measuring device described in JP-A-7-5110, an immunochromatographic test strip and a CCD
Between the color image sensor and the color image sensor, there is provided a lens for imaging light from the immunochromatographic test piece on the CCD color image sensor.
There is a problem that the distance to the CD color image sensor becomes longer and the measuring device becomes larger.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is an immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus capable of accurately measuring the degree of coloration of an immunochromatographic test piece without increasing the size of the apparatus. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

An apparatus for measuring an immunochromatographic test strip according to the present invention comprises an irradiation optical system for irradiating the immunochromatographic test strip with measurement light, and a light transmitted from the immunochromatographic test strip by irradiation of the measurement light. A detection optical system, which detects an image, the detection optical system has an image sensor, and a light guide member for guiding the transmitted light from the immunochromatographic test piece to the image sensor, and the light guide member is The light incident surface is arranged in close contact with or close to the immunochromatographic test piece.

In the immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus according to the present invention, since the imaging element of the detection optical system receives the transmitted light of the measuring light applied to the immunochromatographic test strip from the irradiation optical system, the immunochromatographic test strip is measured. It is possible to measure not only the change (coloration) of the sample on the surface of the sample but also the change of the sample inside the immunochromatographic test strip. This allows
The degree of coloration of the immunochromatographic test strip can be accurately measured. In addition, the light guide member that guides the transmitted light from the immunochromatographic test piece to the image sensor has a light incident surface of the light guide member that is disposed in close contact with or close to the immunochromatographic test piece. The distance from the immunochromatographic test strip to the imaging device is shorter than that of a conventional measuring device having the same, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the device. Further, since the distance is short, the light amount of the light source included in the irradiation optical system can be reduced, so that power consumption is reduced and heat generation is suppressed.

A base having a test tool mounting portion on which an immunochromatographic test device holding an immunochromatographic test piece can be mounted, and a base portion swingably connected to the base portion;
And a cover for covering the test tool mounting portion. The irradiation optical system is preferably provided on the base, and the detection optical system is preferably provided on the cover. With such a configuration, a configuration in which the immunochromatographic test utensil can be easily mounted on the measurement device can be realized simply and at low cost. Further, disturbance light entering the detection optical system from outside the measuring device can be shielded by the base portion and the lid portion.

The light incident surface of the light guide member is in close contact with the immunochromatographic test piece of the immunochromatographic test tool mounted on the test tool mount by covering the test tool mount with the lid. Alternatively, it is preferable to be close. With this configuration, it is possible to easily realize a configuration in which the light guide member can be disposed such that the light incident surface of the light guide member is in close contact with or close to the immunochromatographic test strip.

It is preferable that the base is provided with a take-out mechanism for engaging with the immunochromatographic test utensil and taking out the immunochromatographic test utensil placed on the test utensil mount. With this configuration, it is possible to simply and inexpensively realize a configuration in which the immunochromatographic test utensil can be easily removed from the measurement device.

Preferably, the imaging device is a linear image sensor, and the light guide member is a fiber optical plate. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize an inexpensive and small-sized measuring device.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description, the same elements or elements having the same functions will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

An apparatus for measuring an immunochromatographic test strip according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 1
1 is an overall perspective view showing the configuration of the immunochromatographic test strip measuring device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the configuration of the immunochromatographic test strip measuring device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the lid included in the immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the immunochromatographic test strip according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical and horizontal cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a base unit included in the measurement device, and FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a configuration of the immunochromatography test strip measurement device according to the present embodiment. FIG.

[0015] As shown in FIG.
It is generally composed of a base 10, a lid 30, and a measurement optical system 40. The lid 30 is swingably connected to the base 10 by the shaft 11. Lid 3
The base unit 10 and the base unit 10 are made of a light-shielding material (for example, black-colored ABS resin, black-colored epoxy resin, or the like).
It prevents external disturbance light from entering.

The base 10 is provided with an immunochromatographic test device 2
And a test tool mounting part 12 on which a test tool can be mounted.
2, a holding piece 13 for holding the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 placed on the test implement 2, and a takeout mechanism 1 for taking out the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 placed on the test implement mounting unit 12.
4 is provided. The test tool mounting part 12 is
It is arranged at a substantially central portion of a surface portion facing the lid portion 30. Further, the test tool mounting part 12 is formed in a concave shape so as to be able to accommodate the immunochromatographic test tool 2, and the immunochromatographic test tool 2 is formed on the bottom part 12 of the test tool mounting part 12.
a. The test tool mounting part 12 includes:
When the lid 30 is closed, it is covered by the lid 30.

The holding piece 13 has a substantially U-shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, and has a base portion 10 (lid portion 3).
0 (a surface portion opposing 0). Holding piece 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes an immunochromatographic test device 2 in which the test device
When placed on the (bottom part), the end of the holding piece 13 abuts on the end of the immunochromatographic test tool 2 and bends to oppose the holding piece 13 of the test tool mounting portion 12. An urging force is generated so as to press the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 against the surface portion 12b. The urging force causes the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 to be held by the test utensil placement unit 12.

The take-out mechanism 14 has an eject button 15 and an eject lever 16 as shown in FIGS. The eject button 15 has one end protruding from a surface of the base 10 facing the lid 30, and the other end in contact with the eject lever 16. One end of the eject lever 16 is in contact with the other end of the eject button 15, and the other end is provided so as to be in contact with the bottom of the immunochromatographic test tool 2 mounted on the test tool mounting unit 12. In addition, the eject lever 16 is provided on the swing shaft 1 located between one end and the other end with respect to the base portion 10.
It is supported so as to be able to swing around 7.

In the take-out mechanism 14 configured as described above, when the user places the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 on the test utensil mount 12, the bottom of the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 causes the eject lever 16 to move. The other end is pushed down, and the eject lever 16 swings counterclockwise in FIG. With the swing of the eject lever 16, one end of the eject lever 16 pushes up the eject button 15, and one end of the eject button 15 projects from the base 10 (the state shown in FIG. 2).

On the other hand, when the user presses the eject button 15, the eject button 15 pushes down one end of the eject lever 16, and the eject lever 16
Swings clockwise in FIG. With the swing of the eject lever 16, the other end of the eject lever 16 is connected to the hole 12 formed in the bottom surface 12 a of the test tool mounting portion 12.
c, abuts on the bottom of the immunochromatographic test utensil 2,
Push up the immunochromatographic test utensil 2. In this manner, the other end of the eject lever 16 pushes the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 from below, so that the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 placed and held on the test utensil mounting part 12 can be taken out (see FIG. (The state shown in FIG. 6).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the base unit 10 has a cover 30 with the cover 30 closed (the cover 30 covers the test tool mounting unit 12). A lock mechanism 18 for locking the base unit 10 to the base unit 10 is provided. One end of the lock mechanism 18 is
The push button 19 has a push button 19 protruding from the side surface of the push button 0 and a hook 20 provided at the other end of the push button 19. The urging force (not shown) is applied to the push button portion 19 by an urging means (not shown) in a direction opposite to the direction in which the user presses the eject button 15 (to the left in FIG. 2).
The hook portion 20 is configured to be able to engage with the receiving portion 31 fixed to the lid portion 30. The receiving portion 31 has one end fixed to the lid portion 30 and the other end protruding from a lower surface portion of the lid portion 30 (a surface portion facing the base portion 10). The other end of the receiving portion 31 has a hole 3
2 are provided.

The lock mechanism 1 constructed as described above
8, when the user presses the lid 30, the other end of the receiving portion 31 is moved to the receiving portion 31 of the base 10.
Through the hole 21 formed at a position corresponding to (the other end), the light enters the base 10 and engages with the hook 20.
As a result, the lid 30 is locked to the base 10 in a closed state (a state in which the test tool mounting part 12 is covered) (a state shown in FIG. 2).

On the other hand, when the user presses the push button 19 against the urging force of the urging means, the hook 20 moves to the left in FIG. Is canceled. As a result, the lid 30 is attached to the base 10
Is released, and the lid 30 can be opened (the state shown in FIG. 6).

Next, the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 will be described. The immunochromatographic test utensil 2 has an immunochromatographic test piece 3 and a casing 4 having a rectangular shape in a plan view, as shown in FIGS. Immunochromatographic test strip 3
Is made of a material such as nitrocellulose membrane or filter paper and has a rectangular shape. The immunochromatographic test strip 3 is held in a casing 4, and a sample spotting window (not shown) is provided on the casing 4 along the long side direction.
And an observation window (including a control window) 5. The immunochromatographic test strip 3 is
It has a sample spotting unit provided at a position corresponding to the sample spotting window, and a detection unit provided at a position corresponding to the observation window 5. The detection section is coated with and immobilized with each antibody (or antigen) that reacts with the antigen (or antibody) in the sample, and has a line shape (or band shape). Note that, in the present embodiment, the observation window 5 has a size of 4 mm × 8 mm.

The sample is dropped on the sample spotting portion of the immunochromatographic test strip 3 from the sample spotting window. The antigen (or antibody) in the sample binds to the labeling dye, and the conjugate of the antigen (or antibody) in the sample and the labeling dye and the unreacted labeling dye move in the long side direction of the immunochromatographic test strip 3. Now, it is assumed that an antigen is contained in the sample, and the antigen reacts with the detection unit with an antigen-antibody. As the specimen moves, the antigen in the specimen reacts specifically with the antibody immobilized on the detection part, and a linear pattern colored by the label dye is formed in the reacted detection part. This colored line-shaped pattern is formed to extend in a direction (for example, a direction perpendicular to) the direction of movement of the antigen (or antibody) in the specimen in the immunochromatographic test strip 3 and to be observed from the observation window 5. can do. In addition, the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 is configured so that the long side direction of the immunochromatographic test piece 3 is the longitudinal direction of the measuring device 1.
Placed on

Next, the measuring optical system 40 will be described.
The measurement optical system 40 includes an irradiation optical system 50 for irradiating the immunochromatographic test strip 3 with measurement light, and a detection optical system 60 for detecting transmitted light from the immunochromatography test strip 3 by irradiation of the measurement light. The irradiation optical system 50 is disposed on the base unit 10 and includes a light emitting element 51 as a light source and a light guide unit 52. Further, the detection optical system 60 is provided on the lid 30 and includes a linear image sensor 61 as an image sensor and a fiber optical plate 62 as a light guide member.

The light emitting element 51 has an LED in which the emission wavelength range is a wavelength range that is absorbed by the color of the linear pattern formed by the antigen-antibody reaction, and is transmitted by other colors.
Is used. For example, in the measuring apparatus 1 for measuring the immunochromatographic test strip 3 (immunochromatographic test utensil 2) in which the linear pattern formed by the antigen-antibody reaction is colored red, a blue LED is used as the light emitting element 51. Further, in the measuring device 1 for measuring the immunochromatographic test piece 3 in which the linear pattern formed by the antigen-antibody reaction is colored blue, the red LE
D is used. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the light emitting element 51 includes a substrate 53 on which a circuit for driving the light emitting element 51 is formed.
Are fixed in a state where they are electrically connected to each other, and are disposed in the base portion 10.

The light guide section 52 is for diffusing the light output from the light emitting element 51 and guiding it to the immunochromatographic test piece 3 (immunochromatographic test tool 2). It has an emission surface. The light emitting element 51 described above is arranged on the light incident surface side of the light guide section 52. In addition, an immunochromatographic test piece 3 (casing 4) is arranged on the light emitting surface side of the light guide section 52, and more specifically, the immunochromatographic test piece 3 (casing 4).
The light guide section 52 is arranged such that the observation window 5 of the casing 4 overlaps the light exit surface of the light guide section 52.
Are arranged so as to face the light emission surface. Light guide section 52
Has a size of 4 mm × 8 mm, which is equivalent to the size of the observation window 5.

The light guide 52 is fixed together with the substrate to the bottom surface 12a of the test tool mounting portion 12.
A hole 12 d having the same size as the light exit surface of the light guide 52 is formed in the bottom surface 12 a of the test tool mounting portion 12. The portion of the light guide portion 52 on the light emission surface side is inserted into the hole portion 12d.
Is fixed to the bottom surface portion 12a of the test device mounting portion 12, and the light emitting surface of the light guide portion 52 and the upper surface of the bottom portion 12a of the test device mounting portion 12 have the same height. As a result, the casing 4 of the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 provided on the test utensil mounting portion 12 can be brought into contact with the light emitting surface of the light guide portion 52, and the light emitting element 51
Can be efficiently irradiated to the immunochromatographic test piece 3 (casing 4). In addition, since the light guide unit 52 diffuses the light output from the light emitting element 51 and guides the light to the immunochromatographic test piece 3, it is possible to make the light applied to the immunochromatographic test piece 3 (casing 4) substantially uniform. it can. Thereby, the detection of the linear pattern in the immunochromatographic test strip 3 can be performed more reliably. Further, the optical axis of the light output from the light emitting element 51 is bent at a predetermined angle (for example, 90 °) by the light guide section 52, so that the size of the base section 10 in the height direction can be reduced. It becomes possible.

Linear image sensor (linear array CC)
The D image sensor 61 has a light receiving surface extending in a one-dimensional direction, and a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged on the light receiving surface in a one-dimensional direction. This linear image sensor 6
1 detects the transmitted light of the immunochromatographic test strip 3. The pixel size of the linear image sensor 61 used in the present embodiment is set to 14 μm.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the linear image sensor 61 is fixed in a state where it is electrically connected to the substrate 63 on which the signal readout circuit is formed, and is disposed in the lid 30. Have been. The substrate 63 is fixed to the lid 30 with screws or the like. In a state where the linear image sensor 61 is fixed to the substrate 63 and disposed on the cover 30, the direction in which the light receiving surface of the linear image sensor 61 extends is the longitudinal direction of the measurement device 1, and the antigen in the sample is (Or an antibody) and the moving direction of the conjugate of the labeling dye and the unreacted labeling dye.

The fiber optical plate 62 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a light entrance surface and a light exit surface both having a rectangular shape of about 3 mm × 6 mm. The height of the fiber optical plate 62 is set to about 4 mm. The fiber optical plate 62 includes a core made of a core glass material, a clad core glass made of a clad glass material, and a light absorber made of a light absorbing glass material.

The linear image sensor 61 is provided with a light shielding cover 64. The light shielding cover 64 is for preventing light other than the light emitted from the fiber optical plate 62 from being incident on the light receiving surface of the linear image sensor 61. The light-shielding cover 64 is provided with a protruding portion 65 protruding from the lower surface of the lid portion 30 toward the base portion 10 and having an inclination angle corresponding to the tapered edge portion 5 a of the observation window 5. . A fiber optical plate 62 can be inserted into the protruding portion 65 of the light shielding cover 64 at a position facing the light receiving surface of the linear image sensor 61, and the fiber optical plate 62 is positioned with respect to the light receiving surface of the linear image sensor 61. Are formed.

The fiber optical plate 62 has a through hole 66
Is fixed to the light-shielding cover 64 (the protruding portion 65) in a state where it is inserted into the light-emitting device. The length of the through hole 66 is set to a value equivalent to the height of the fiber optic plate 62,
5 and the light incident surface of the fiber optical plate 62 are located at substantially the same height. As a result, the light incident surface of the fiber optical plate 62 is
Are located closer to the base portion 10 than the lower surface portion. Further, a concave portion 62a corresponding to the shape of a partition for forming a control window is formed in a portion of the fiber optical plate 62 on the light incident surface side.

Since the projection 65 of the light-shielding cover 64 has an inclination angle corresponding to the tapered edge 5a of the observation window 5, when the lid 30 is closed,
The state is entered into the observation window 5. Projection 6
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light incident surface of the fiber optical plate 62 located at the end on the base part 10 side of the immunochromatographic test 5 is mounted and held on the test tool mounting part 12. The tool 2 is arranged in close contact with or close to the immunochromatographic test strip 3. Thus, in the measuring device 1 of the present embodiment, the lid 30 is closed,
When the test device mounting portion 12 is covered by the lid portion 30, the light incident surface of the fiber optic plate 62 is placed on the test device mounting portion 12, and the immunochromatography of the immunochromatographic test device 2 is held. It comes into close contact with or close to the test piece 3.

Instead of using the fiber optic plate 62 as the light guide member, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of thin plates (for example, about 0.1 mm thick) of glass or transparent resin 71 (for example, , About 60) may be used to form a light guide path. Each glass or transparent resin 71 has a trapezoidal shape,
The length of the side on the light incident surface (immunochromatographic test piece 3) side is 3
mm, and the length of the side on the light emitting surface (linear image sensor 61) side is set to about 1 mm.

Next, a method for determining the concentration of a sample will be described. First, the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 is mounted and held on the test utensil mounting unit 12 of the measuring apparatus 1, and the lid 30 is closed. Subsequently, with the lid 30 closed, the measuring light from the light emitting element 51 is irradiated to the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 (immunochromatographic test strip 3), and the linear image sensor 61 is used to measure the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 (immunochromatographic test). The transmitted light of the piece 3) is detected. Then, based on the output signal from the linear image sensor 61, the absorbance of the linear pattern formed by coloring is obtained. More specifically, an absorption profile of light transmitted through the immunochromatographic test strip 3 is created based on the output signal intensity from the linear image sensor 61 and the position of the light receiving element (channel) of the linear image sensor 61. At this time, since the lid 30 is closed, light from the outside of the measuring device 1 is prevented from entering the linear image sensor 61, the fiber optical plate 62, and the like as disturbance light, and the transmitted light of the immunochromatographic test strip 3 is prevented. The shape of the light absorption profile is not destroyed. Further, since the light incident surface of the fiber optical plate 62 is in close contact with or close to the immunochromatographic test piece 3, the measurement light enters the fiber optical plate 62 without dimming, and is transmitted through the immunochromatographic test piece 3. There is no unevenness in the light absorption profile.

The output signal intensity at the position corresponding to the non-colored portion of the immunochromatographic test strip 3 in the created absorption profile, and the output signal intensity at the position corresponding to the colored portion (linear pattern) The absorbance is calculated based on the intensity. The absorbance is, for example, the difference between the output signal intensity at the position corresponding to the non-colored portion and the output signal intensity at the position corresponding to the colored portion, the output signal intensity at the position corresponding to the non-colored portion. It can be calculated by dividing by. When the absorbance is calculated, the total amount (concentration) of the antibody or antigen contained in the sample is determined from the absorbance with reference to a previously prepared calibration characteristic line.

As described above, in the measuring apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the linear image sensor 61 transmits the measurement light transmitted from the light emitting element 51 to the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 (immunochromatographic test piece 3). Therefore, not only the change (coloration) of the sample on the surface of the immunochromatographic test strip 3 but also the change in the sample inside the immunochromatographic test strip 3 can be measured. Thereby, the degree of coloration of the immunochromatographic test strip 3 can be accurately measured. Further, a fiber optical plate 62 for guiding transmitted light from the immunochromatographic test piece 3 to the linear image sensor 61
Since the light incident surface of the fiber optical plate 62 is disposed in close contact with or close to the immunochromatographic test piece 3, the immunochromatographic test piece 3 is compared with a conventional measuring apparatus having a lens in the detection optical system 60. To linear image sensor 6
The distance to 1 can be shortened, and an increase in the size of the device can be suppressed. Further, since the distance is short, the light amount of the light emitting element 51 included in the irradiation optical system 50 can be reduced, so that power consumption is reduced and heat generation is suppressed.

Further, in the measuring device 1, a base 10 having a test tool mounting portion 12 on which the immunochromatographic test tool 2 can be mounted, and a base 10 swingably connected to the base 10, And a cover 30 for covering the tool mounting portion 12. The irradiation optical system 50 (the light emitting element 51, the light guide 52, etc.) is provided on the base 10 and the detection optical system 6 is provided.
0 (fiber optical plate 62, linear image sensor 61, etc.)
Therefore, a configuration in which the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 can be easily mounted can be realized simply and at low cost. Also,
The base unit 10 and the cover unit 30 can shield disturbance light that enters the detection optical system 60 from outside the measurement device 1.

In the measuring device 1, the light incident surface of the fiber optical plate 62 is placed on the test device mounting portion 12 by covering the test device mounting portion 12 with the lid 30. Since the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 is closely attached to or close to the immunochromatographic test piece 3, the fiber optical plate 62 can be disposed so that the light incident surface of the fiber optical plate 62 is in close contact with or close to the immunochromatographic test piece 3. The configuration can be easily realized.

In the measuring device 1, the base 1
0 is provided with a take-out mechanism 14 for engaging with the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 and taking out the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 placed on the test utensil mounting unit 12. A configuration in which the chromatographic test utensil 2 can be easily taken out can be realized simply and at low cost.

In the measuring device 1, the imaging device is the linear image sensor 61 and the light guide member is the fiber optic plate 62. Therefore, the measuring device 1 can be realized at a low cost and small size. .

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the above-mentioned numerical values and the like can be changed and set as appropriate. In the present embodiment, the cover 30
Are pivotally connected to the base 10 by the shaft 11, but the connection structure between the lid 30 and the base 10 is not limited to this. For example, after a plurality of lock mechanisms 18 are provided, and a lid 30 that is formed separately from the base
May be configured to connect the lid 30 and the base 10.

Further, in the present embodiment, the test device mounting portion 12 is provided on the base portion 10 side. However, the test device mounting portion 12 is provided on the lid portion 30 side. Is also good. In this case, in a state where the immunochromatographic test utensil 2 is mounted on the test utensil mount 12 provided on the lid 30, the light incident surface of the fiber optic plate 62 is used for the immunochromatographic test It comes into close contact with or close to the piece 3.

[0046]

As described above in detail, according to the immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus of the present invention, the degree of coloration of the immunochromatographic test strip can be accurately measured without increasing the size of the apparatus. It is possible to provide an immunochromatographic test strip measuring device capable of performing the above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a configuration of an immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing the configuration of an immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a lid included in the immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a lid included in the immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a cover part opened.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a modification of the light guide member included in the immunochromatographic test strip measuring device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Measuring apparatus, 2 ... Immunochromatography test tool, 3 ... Immunochromatography test piece, 5 ... Observation window, 10 ... Base part, 11 ... Shaft part, 12 ... Test tool mounting part, 14 ... Take-out mechanism part, 18 ... Lock mechanism, 30 lid, 40 measurement optical system, 50 irradiation optical system, 51 light emitting element, 52
Light guide unit, 60: detection optical system, 61: linear image sensor, 62: fiber optical plate, 64: light shielding cover.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) G01N 33/543 521 G01N 33/543 521 F term (reference) 2G042 AA01 CB03 FA11 FB02 FB07 HA07 2G045 AA40 FA12 FA13 FA25 FA26 FB03 FB06 FB07 FB11 FB17 GC10 GC12 HA10 JA01 JA07 2G054 AA02 AB04 CE01 CE02 EA04 EA06 EB01 EB04 EB12 FA13 FA15 FA16 FA27 FA32 FA33 FA34 FA38 FA39 FB02 FB03 FB04 GA01 GA05 GA07 GB01 GE06 GE07 A08 DD09 EE01 FF01 FF08 GG02 HH02 JJ17 KK04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An irradiation optical system for irradiating an immunochromatographic test strip with measurement light, and a detection optical system for detecting light transmitted from the immunochromatographic test strip by irradiation of the measurement light, wherein the detection The optical system has an image sensor and a light guide member for guiding the transmitted light from the immunochromatographic test piece to the image sensor, and the light guide member has a light incident surface on which the immunochromatographic test is performed. An immunochromatographic test strip measuring device, which is disposed in close contact with or close to a strip. 2. A test device comprising: a base portion having a test device mounting portion on which an immunochromatographic test device holding the immunochromatographic test piece can be mounted; and a swingably connected to the base portion; A cover for covering the mounting portion, wherein the irradiation optical system is provided on the base, and the detection optical system is provided on the cover. Item 2. An apparatus for measuring an immunochromatographic test strip according to Item 1. 3. The light entrance surface of the light guide member, wherein the test device mounting portion is covered with the lid portion, so that the immunochromatographic test device is mounted on the test device mounting portion. The immunochromatographic test strip measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the immunochromatographic test strip is in close contact with or close to the immunochromatographic test strip. 4. A take-out mechanism for engaging the immunochromatographic test device and taking out the immunochromatographic test device placed on the test device mounting portion is provided on the base portion. The immunochromatographic test strip measuring device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: 5. The immunochromatography test according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup device is a linear image sensor, and the light guide member is a fiber optic plate. Piece measuring device.