Optical measurement device for reaction vessel and method therefor

Abstract

An optical measurement device is provided. The device includes first and second optical fibers; first and second reaction vessels, and a light guide stage coupled to the first and second optical fibers. The light guide stage is driven to simultaneously optically connect the first and second optical fibers with the first and second reaction vessels. The device includes a measurement device for receiving emissions from the first and second reaction vessels, and a connecting end arranging body that supports the first and second optical fibers along a path. The arranging body is driven along the path between a first position, in which the first optical fiber is optically connected with the measurement device so that light is transmittable from the first reaction vessel, and a second position, in which the second optical fiber is optically connected with the measurement device so that light is transmittable from the second reaction vessel.

Claims

1. A method for operating an optical measurement device, comprising: providing a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, wherein the first optical fiber includes opposing first and second ends, and the second optical fiber includes opposing third and fourth ends; providing a first reaction vessel and a second reaction vessel, wherein the first reaction vessel comprises an opening to a first interior, and the second reaction vessel comprises an opening to a second interior; providing a first measurement device for receiving emissions from the first and second reaction vessels, wherein the first measurement device comprises a first photoelectric element and a first inlet optically connected with the first photoelectric element; providing a light guide stage comprising a light guide plate coupled to the first end of the first optical fiber and the third end of the second optical fiber; providing a nozzle head coupled to and movable with the light guide stage, comprising: a suction-discharge mechanism; and a plurality of nozzles connected to the suction-discharge mechanism, each of the plurality of nozzles comprising a detachable dispensing tip, wherein suction and discharge of gases by the suction-discharge mechanism causes suction and discharge of liquids by the plurality of detachable dispensing tips; driving the light guide stage in a vertical direction relative to the openings of the first and second interiors using a stage transfer mechanism; simultaneously optically connecting the first end of the first optical fiber with the first interior of the first reaction vessel, and the third end of the second optical fiber with the second interior of the second reaction vessel; driving a connecting end arranging body along a first predetermined path to a first measurement position using an arranging body transfer mechanism, wherein the connecting end arranging body supports the second end of the first optical fiber and the fourth end of the second optical fiber along the first predetermined path; optically connecting the second end of the first optical fiber with the first photoelectric element via the first inlet so that light based on an optical state within the first reaction vessel is transmitted from the first reaction vessel to the first photoelectric element; driving the connecting end arranging body along the first predetermined path to a second measurement position using the arranging body transfer mechanism; and optically connecting the fourth end of the second optical fiber with the first photoelectric element so that light based on an optical state within the second reaction vessel is transmitted from the second reaction vessel to the first photoelectric element.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a second measurement device including a second photoelectric element and a second inlet optically connected with the second photoelectric element; driving the connecting end arranging body along the first predetermined path to a third measurement position; optically connecting the second end of the first optical fiber with the second photoelectric element via the second inlet so that light based on the optical state within the first reaction vessel is transmitted from the first reaction vessel to the second photoelectric element; driving the connecting end arranging body along the first predetermined path to a fourth measurement position; and optically connecting the fourth end of the second optical fiber with the second photoelectric element via the second inlet so that light based on the optical state within the second reaction vessel is transmitted from the second reaction vessel to the second photoelectric element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein: the first photoelectric element is configured to receive and measure light of a first specific wavelength or wavelength band; the second photoelectric element is configured to receive and measure light of a second specific wavelength or wavelength band; and the first specific wavelength or wavelength band is different from the second specific wavelength or wavelength band.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a third optical fiber and a fourth optical fiber, wherein the third optical fiber includes opposing fifth and sixth ends, and the fourth optical fiber includes opposing seventh and eighth ends; wherein the fifth end of the third optical fiber and the seventh end of the fourth optical fiber are coupled to the light guide plate; and wherein the connecting end arranging body supports the sixth end of the third optical fiber and the eighth end of the fourth optical fiber along a second predetermined path.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: simultaneously optically connecting the fifth end of the third optical fiber with the first interior of the first reaction vessel and the seventh end of the fourth optical fiber with the second interior of the second reaction vessel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first measurement device further comprises a first irradiation source and a first outlet optically connected with the first irradiation source.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: driving the connecting end arranging body along the second predetermined path to a first excitation position; optically connecting the sixth end of the third optical fiber with the first irradiation source via the first outlet so that excitation light is transmitted from the first irradiation source to the first reaction vessel; driving the connecting end arranging body along the second predetermined path to a second excitation position; and optically connecting the eighth end of the fourth optical fiber with the first irradiation source via the first outlet so that excitation light is transmitted from the first irradiation source to the second reaction vessel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein: the first measurement position and the first excitation position coincide with each other so that, when the second end of the first optical fiber is optically connected with the first photoelectric element via the first inlet, the sixth end of the third optical fiber is optically connected with the first irradiation source via the first outlet; and the second measurement position and the second excitation position coincide with each other so that, when the fourth end of the second optical fiber is optically connected with the first photoelectric element via the first inlet, the eighth end of the fourth optical fiber is optically connected with the first irradiation source via the first outlet.

9. An optical measurement device, comprising: a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber having a reaction vessel end and a measurement end; a plurality of reaction vessels, each of the reaction vessels comprising an opening to an interior; a controller; a light guide stage operatively connected to the controller and coupled to the plurality of reaction vessel ends of the optical fibers in a first linear array pattern; a nozzle head coupled to and movable with the light guide stage, comprising: a suction-discharge mechanism; and a plurality of nozzles connected to the suction-discharge mechanism, each of the plurality of nozzles comprising a detachable dispensing tip, wherein suction and discharge of gases by the suction-discharge mechanism causes suction and discharge of liquids by the plurality of detachable dispensing tips; a connecting end arranging body operatively connected to the controller and coupled to the plurality of measurement ends of the optical fibers in a second linear array pattern; a plurality of measurement devices for receiving emissions from the plurality of reaction vessels, each of the measurement devices comprising a photoelectric element and an inlet optically connected with the photoelectric element; wherein the controller is configured to: drive the light guide stage in a first direction relative to the plurality of openings of the reaction vessels using a stage transfer mechanism to simultaneously optically connect the plurality of reaction vessel ends of the optical fibers with the plurality of interiors of the reaction vessels; and drive the connecting end arranging body in a second direction relative to the plurality of inlets of the measurement devices using an arranging body transfer mechanism to sequentially optically connect the plurality of measurement ends of the optical fibers with the plurality of photoelectric elements of the measurement devices such that light based on an optical state associated with each of the plurality of reaction vessels is transmittable from the plurality of reaction vessels to the plurality of photoelectric elements of the measurement devices.

10. The optical measurement device of claim 9, wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

11. The optical measurement device of claim 9, wherein a pitch of the plurality of reaction vessel ends of the optical fibers in the first linear array pattern is greater than a pitch of the plurality of measurement ends of the optical fibers in the second linear array pattern.

12. The optical measurement device of claim 11, wherein a speed of the connecting end arranging body in the second direction relative to the plurality of inlets of the measurement devices is based on at least one of a stable light receivable time, a lifetime of fluorescent light with respect to excitation light irradiation, a number of the plurality of optical fibers, and the pitch of the plurality of measurement ends of the optical fibers in the second linear array pattern.

13. The optical measurement device of claim 9, further comprising: a plurality of transparent sealing lids configured to be coupled to the plurality of nozzles; wherein the controller is further configured to mount each of the plurality of transparent sealing lids on each of the plurality of reaction vessels by detaching the plurality of transparent lids from the plurality of nozzles using a detaching mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an overall block-diagram showing an optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to a first exemplary embodiment.

(3) FIG. 3 is a plan view showing enlarged, a vessel group of the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel shown in FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 4 is a front view and a side view showing enlarged, a nozzle head of the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel shown in FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view as viewed from the front side of the nozzle head shown in FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view showing more specifically, the transfer mechanisms and the suction-discharge mechanism shown in FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing more specifically, the suction-discharge mechanism 53 and the like shown in FIG. 4.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view as viewed from the rear side of the nozzle head shown in FIG. 4.

(9) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the linking portion shown in FIG. 4 is linked with a reaction vessel.

(10) FIG. 10 is a drawing showing the specific wavelength measurement device shown in FIG. 4.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a light guide stage, a connecting end arranging body, and a sealing lid transport mechanism of an optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to a second exemplary embodiment.

(12) FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing the light guide stage shown in FIG. 11 with a portion cut away.

(13) FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the linking portion shown in FIG. 12.

(14) FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the sealing lid shown in FIG. 11.

(15) FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of the sealing lid transporting body shown in FIG. 11.

(16) FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing lid transporting body shown in FIG. 15.

(17) FIG. 17 is a perspective view as viewed from the lower side of the sealing lid transporting body shown in FIG. 15.

(18) FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the positional relationship between the optical fiber ends provided on the linking portions and the reaction vessel.

(19) FIG. 19 is an overall block-diagram showing an optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

(20) FIG. 20 is a side view showing more specifically, the transfer mechanism and the suction-discharge mechanism according to a first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 19.

(21) FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a linking portion according to the first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 19 is linked with a reaction vessel.

(22) FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a linking portion according to a second exemplary embodiment of FIG. 19 is linked with a reaction vessel.

(23) FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a linking portion according to a third exemplary embodiment of FIG. 19 is linked with a reaction vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

(24) Next, an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is not to be interpreted as limiting the present invention unless particularly specified. Furthermore, in the embodiments or in the exemplary embodiments, the same objects are denoted by the same reference symbols, and the descriptions are omitted.

(25) FIG. 1 is shows a block-diagram of an optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

(26) The optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 10 broadly has: a vessel group 20 in which a plurality (twelve in this example) of reaction vessel groups 23i (i=1, . . . , 12, omitted hereunder) are arranged; a nozzle head 50 that has a nozzle arranging portion 70 in which a plurality (twelve in this example) of nozzles 71i that detachably mount dispensing tips are arranged, and a light guide stage 32 that has a plurality (twelve in this example) of linking portions 31i provided with the ends of two or more light guide portions, which have a flexibility, that are directly or indirectly linkable with the apertures of the reaction vessels and optically connect to the linked reaction vessel interior; a measurement device 40 that is provided fixed to the nozzle head 50; a nozzle head transfer mechanism 51 that makes the nozzle head 50 movable in the X axis direction for example; a temperature controller 29 that performs predetermined temperature control with respect to the reaction vessel group 23i of the vessel group; a CPU+program 60 composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, various types of external memory, communication functions such as a LAN, and a program stored in the ROM, and the like; and a control panel 13 having a display portion such as a liquid crystal display, and an operation portion, such as operation keys or a touch panel.

(27) The nozzle head 50 has: a stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35 that makes the light guide stage 32 movable in the Z axis direction with respect to the vessel group 20 independent of the nozzle arrangement portion 70; a nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75 that makes the nozzle arrangement portion 70 movable in the Z axis direction with respect to the vessel group 20 independent of the stage 30; a magnetic force part 57 that, by means of a magnet 571 provided on a narrow diameter portion 211ia of a dispensing tip 211i detachably mounted on the nozzle 71i such that it can approach and separate, is able to apply and remove a magnetic field with respect to the interior; a suction-discharge mechanism 53 that makes the suction and the discharge of liquids with respect to the dispensing tip 211i mounted on the nozzle 71i possible by performing the suction and the discharge of gases with respect to the nozzle 71i; and a punching mechanism 55 which is driven by the suction-discharge mechanism 53, for punching a film that covers the apertures of the liquid housing parts of the vessel group 20 to seal various liquids in advance. The stage transfer mechanism corresponds to the nozzle head transfer mechanism and the stage Z axis transfer mechanism.

(28) The nozzle head 50 further has a connecting end arranging body 30 that arranges and supports a plurality (twelve in this example) of connecting ends 34i, which are provided corresponding to the respective linking portions 31i and are provided with the back ends of optical fibers (bundle) 33i, which represent light guide portions in which the front ends thereof are provided to the linking portions 31i, such that, as an arranging surface, they are integrated along a predetermined path (a linear path along the Y axis direction in this example) provided on a vertical plane at a narrower spacing than the spacing between the linking portions 31i. Furthermore, the connecting end arranging body 30 is provided at a position that is separated from the light guide stage 32 and the reaction vessel group 23i.

(29) The measurement device 40 is able to respectively receive the light of specific wavelengths or specific wavelength bands of six types of fluorescent light, and also has six types of specific wavelength measurement devices 40j (j=1, . . . , 6, omitted hereunder) that are able to irradiate excitation light of six types of specific wavelengths or specific wavelength bands that are irradiated for the emission of light.

(30) The respective specific wavelength measurement devices 40j have measuring ends 44j that are provided approaching or making contact with the arrangement surface, and are successively connectable with the respective connecting ends 34i along the predetermined path (a linear path along the Y axis direction). Furthermore, the respective measuring ends 44j have two ends, namely a first measuring end 42j and a second measuring end 43j arranged along the Y axis direction. The first measuring ends 42j optically connect with an irradiation source provided to the specific wavelength measurement devices 40j. The second measuring ends 43j optically connect with a photoelectric device, such as a photomultiplier tube, provided to the specific wavelength measurement devices 40j.

(31) Furthermore, the nozzle head 50 has an arranging body Y axis transfer mechanism 41, which represents a light guide switching mechanism, that moves the connecting end arranging body 30 along the Y axis direction on the nozzle head 50 such that the respective connecting ends 34i arranged on the connecting end arranging body 30 and the respective measuring ends 44j are successively connected.

(32) Moreover, the light guide stage 32 has a heater 37, which represents the heating portion, for preventing condensation of the ends of the linking portions 31i or the mounted sealing lids 251i, which have transparency, by heating.

(33) The vessel group 20 comprises a plurality (twelve in this example) of exclusive regions 20i, in which one (in this example, one group corresponds to one) nozzle enters and the other nozzles do not enter, that correspond to the respective nozzles. The respective exclusive regions 20i have: a liquid housing part group 27i comprising a plurality of housing parts in which reagent solutions and the like are housed or are housable; a sealing lid housing part 25i in which one or two or more sealing lids 251i, which have transparency, that are detachably mounted on the nozzles are housed or are housable; and housing parts for tips and the like 21i that house, a plurality of dispensing tips 211i that are detachably mounted on the nozzles, and the samples, and the like. The liquid housing part group 27i has, at the very least, one or two or more liquid housing parts that house a magnetic particle suspension, and two or more liquid housing parts that house a solution for separating and extracting used for the separation and the extraction of nucleic acids or the fragments thereof. If necessary, it further has two or more liquid housing parts that house a solution for amplification used for the amplification of nucleic acids, and a liquid housing part that houses a sealing liquid for sealing the solution for amplification housed in a PCR tube 231i, which represents the reaction vessel, within the PCR tube 231i.

(34) It is preferable for the exclusive regions 20i to display a barcode as the sample information and the inspection information for identifying the exclusive regions 20i. Furthermore, the nozzle head 50 is provided with a single traversable nozzle 710 in which liquids are transportable or dispensable by traversing (moving in the Y axis direction) the exclusive regions 20i, and suction and discharge is made to be performed by a traversable nozzle suction-discharge mechanism 17 that is separate from the suction-discharge mechanism 53. Consequently, the solution of DNA and the like housed in a given exclusive region 20i can be dispensed or delivered to the other exclusive regions 20k (k≠i) It is preferable for this movement in the Y axis direction to be also used by the arranging body Y axis transfer mechanism 41.

(35) The CPU+program 60 has, at the very least: a nucleic acid processing control portion 63 that performs instructions for a series of processes, such as extraction and amplification with respect to nucleic acids or the fragments thereof, and sealing of the solution for amplification, with respect to the temperature controller 29, the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51, the tip detaching mechanism 59, the suction-discharge mechanism 53, the magnetic force part 57, and the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75; and a measurement control portion 61 that, after the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51 and the stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35 are controlled such that the linking portions 31i are simultaneously directly or indirectly linked with the apertures of the plurality (twelve in this example) of PCR tubes 231i, instructs a measurement by the measurement devices 40j by controlling the arranging body Y axis transfer mechanism 41 such that the optical fibers (bundle) 33i, which represent the light guide portions of the linking portions 31i, and the first measuring ends 42j and the second measuring ends 43j of the measuring ends 44j of the measurement devices 40j mentioned below are optically connected.

(36) Furthermore, the nucleic acid processing control portion 63 has an extraction control part 65 and a sealing lid control part 67. The nucleic acid processing control portion 63 has the extraction control part 65 that performs instructions with respect to the tip detaching mechanism 59, the suction-discharge mechanism 53, the magnetic force part 57, the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75, the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51, and the stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35, for a series of processes with respect to the nucleic acids or the fragments thereof, and the sealing lid control part 67 that performs instructions with respect to the stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35 and the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51 for a sealing process by the sealing lids.

(37) Hereunder, a more specific first embodiment of the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 10 mentioned above according to an embodiment of the present invention, is described with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 10. FIG. 2 is a see-through perspective view showing an external view of the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(38) FIG. 2A is a drawing showing an external view of the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 10, which has: an enclosure 11 with a size of 500 mm in depth (Y axis direction), 600 mm in width (X axis direction), and 600 mm in height (Z axis direction) for example, in which the vessel group 20, the nozzle head 50, a nozzle head transfer mechanism 51 described in FIG. 1, and a CPU+program 60 are housed in the interior; a control panel 13 provided on the enclosure 11; and a drawer 15 to which a stage is provided.

(39) FIG. 2B is a perspective view that sees through the interior of the enclosure 11, wherein the stage, into which the vessel group 20 is built-in, is able to be drawn out to the exterior by means of the drawer 15, and further, the nozzle head 50 is movably provided in the X axis direction with respect to the vessel group 20 by means of the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51 of FIG. 1.

(40) FIG. 2B is a drawing showing that the nozzle head 50 is largely provided with: various transfer mechanisms 52 having an arranging body Y axis transfer mechanism 41, a stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35, and a nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75; a traversable nozzle suction-discharge mechanism 17; the measuring device 40; a connecting end arranging body 30; an optical fiber (bundle) 33i; and the magnetic force part 57. The traversable nozzle suction-discharge mechanism 17 and the traversable nozzles 710 are supported such that they are movable in the Y axis direction by means of the arranging body Y axis transfer mechanism 41 such that they traverse the exclusive regions 20i.

(41) FIG. 3 is a plan view showing enlarged, the vessel group 20 shown in FIG. 2. The vessel group 20 is one in which twelve exclusive regions 20i (i=1, . . . , 12), wherein the longitudinal direction thereof is along the X axis direction and housing parts are arranged in a single row form, are arranged in parallel along the Y axis direction at a pitch of 18 mm for example. The exclusive regions 20i are separately provided with a cartridge vessel for PCR amplification 201i, a cartridge vessel for nucleic acid extraction 202i, and a cartridge vessel for housing tips 203i. The prevention of cross-contaminations between the exclusive regions 20i is achieved by providing partition walls 2010, 2020, and 2030 on the cartridge vessels 201i, 202i, and 203i of the exclusive regions 20i on the edge of one side along the X axis direction.

(42) The cartridge vessel for PCR amplification 2011 has: the PCR tubes 231i, which represent the reaction vessel that are detachably linked with the twelve linking portions 31i provided to the light guide stage 32, via a single sealing lid 251i which has transparency; the liquid housing parts 271i which house a buffer solution necessary for the PCR reaction; the sealing lid housing parts 25i which house the sealing lids 251i; the housing part for tips and the like 21i that house the tips for punching for punching the film covering the PCR tubes 231i and the liquid housing parts 271i, and the dispensing tips 211i, and barcodes 81i that display the sample information and the inspection information relating to the cartridge vessels for PCR amplification 201i.

(43) The cartridge vessels for nucleic acid extraction 202i has: seven liquid housing parts 272i for example, that house various reagents for nucleic acid extraction; reaction vessels 232i that house the extracted nucleic acids; and barcodes 82i that display various information, such as the sample information and the inspection information, related to the cartridge vessel. The PCR tubes 231i and the reaction vessels 232i are temperature controllable by means of the temperature controller 29.

(44) The cartridge vessels for housing tips 203i has: a tip for punching that is able to punch the film covering the cartridge vessel for nucleic acid extraction 202i; two small-quantity dispensing tips that perform the dispensing of small quantities of liquids; housing parts for tips and the like 21i that house dispensing tips for separations that are able to perform separation by adsorbing magnetic particles on an inner wall by applying and removing a magnetic force from the exterior, and a barcode 83i that displays various information relating to the cartridge vessel 203i.

(45) The capacity of the PCR tube 231i, which represents the reaction vessel, is of the order of approximately 200 μL, and the capacity of the other reaction vessels, liquid housing parts, and tubes is of the order of approximately 2 mL.

(46) The PCR tube 231i is used for the amplification of nucleic acids or the fragments thereof, and temperature control is performed by means of the temperature controller 29 based on a predetermined amplification method, such as a thermal cycle (from 4° C. to 95° C.) for example. The PCR tube 231i is formed with two levels as shown in FIG. 9 for example, and has a narrow-mouthed piping part 233 provided on the lower side in which the solution for amplification 234i is housed, and a wide-mouthed piping part 235i provided on the upper side in which the sealing lid 251i is fittable. The inner diameter of the wide-mouthed piping part 235i is 8 mm for example, and the inner diameter of the aperture of the narrow-mouthed piping part 233i is approximately 5 mm for example. The reaction vessels 232i housed in the reaction tube housing holes are temperature controlled for incubation to a constant temperature of 55° C. for example.

(47) The liquid housing part group 272i houses the solutions for separating and extracting as follows. A first liquid housing part houses 40 μL of Lysis 1, a second liquid housing part houses 200 μL of Lysis 2, a third liquid housing part houses 500 μL of a binding buffer solution, a fourth liquid housing part houses a magnetic particle suspension, a fifth liquid housing part houses 700 μL of a washing liquid 1, a sixth liquid housing part houses 700 μL of a washing liquid 2, a seventh liquid housing part houses 50 μL of distilled water as a dissociation liquid, and an eighth liquid housing part, which is slightly separated, houses 1300 μL of isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) used for the removal of protein and the like, as a portion of the solution for separating and extracting protein. The respective reagents and the like are prepacked as a result of the punchable film covering the respective apertures thereof.

(48) In addition, 1.2 mL of distilled water is housed in a separate distilled water reservoir, and tubes that house suspensions of bacteria, cells, and the like, or samples such as whole blood, are separately prepared for each of the respective exclusive regions 20i.

(49) FIG. 4 is a front view and a side view of the nozzle head 50 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the front side.

(50) The nozzle head 50 is one having: a nozzle arranging portion 70 in which twelve nozzles 71i are arranged; a tip detaching mechanism 59 that is able to detach dispensing tips 211i mounted on the nozzles 71i; a suction-discharge mechanism 53; a magnetic force part 57 having twelve magnets 571 provided such that they are able to approach and separate with respect to the dispensing tips 211i; a light guide stage 32; twelve linking portions 31i provided to the light guide stage 32; a transfer mechanism portion 52 having a nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75 and a stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35; optical fibers (bundles) 33i representing flexible light guide portions that extend to the rear side from the linking portions 31i; a connecting end arranging body 30; the arranging body Y axis transfer mechanism 41; a measuring device 40 having a measuring end 44; a traversable nozzle 710; and a suction-discharge mechanism 17 thereof.

(51) The nozzle arranging portion 70 is provided with a cylinder supporting member 73 that supports twelve cylinders 531i such that they are arranged along the Y axis direction at a predetermined pitch of 18 mm for example. The nozzles 71i are provided on the downward end of the cylinders 531i such that they are communicated with the cylinders 531i.

(52) The tip detaching mechanism 59 is provided with detaching shafts 593 on both sides, and has a tip detaching member 591 that detaches the twelve dispensing tips 211i from the nozzles 71i by sliding in the vertical direction.

(53) As shown specifically in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the tip detaching member 591 is interlocked with the lowering of two tip detaching shafts 593 and detaches the dispensing tips 211i from the nozzles 71i. The tip detaching shaft 593 is elastically supported by the cylinder support member 73 by means of a spring 600 wrapped around the outer periphery such that it is biased in the upward direction, and the upper end thereof is positioned above the upper ends of the cylinders 531i but below the lower limit position of the vertical movement range of the normal suction and discharge of a cylinder drive plate 536 mentioned below. The two tip detaching shafts 593 are pushed in the downward direction by means of the cylinder drive plate 536 exceeding the vertical movement range and being lowered near the upper end of the cylinder 531i, thus lowering the tip detaching member 591. The tip detaching member 591 has twelve holes having an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the nozzles 71i but smaller than the mounting portions 211ic, which represents the largest outer diameter of the dispensing tips 211i, arranged at the pitch mentioned above such that the nozzles 71i pass therethrough.

(54) As shown specifically in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the suction-discharge mechanism 53 has: the cylinders 531i for performing suction and discharge of gases with respect to the dispensing tips 211i which are communicated with the nozzles 71i and mounted on the nozzles 71i, and a piston rod 532 that slides within the cylinders 531i; a drive plate 536 that drives the piston rod 532; a ball screw 533 that threads with the drive plate 536; a nozzle Z axis movable body 535 that, in addition to axially supporting the ball screw 533, is integrally formed with the cylinder support member 73; and a motor 534 mounted on the nozzle Z axis movable body 535 that rotatingly drives the ball screw 533.

(55) The magnetic force part 57 has a magnet 571 that is provided such that it can approach and separate with respect to the narrow diameter portions 211ia of the dispensing tips 211i detachably mounted on the nozzles 71i, and is able to apply and remove a magnetic field in the interior of the dispensing tips 211i.

(56) As shown specifically in FIG. 6, the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75 has: a ball screw 752 that threads with the Z axis movable body 535 and vertically moves the Z axis movable body 535 along the Z direction; a nozzle head substrate 753 that axially supports the ball screw 752, and in addition to axially supporting the magnet 571 on the lower side thereof such that it is movable in the X axis direction, is itself movable in the X axis direction by means of the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51 mentioned below; and a motor 751 provided on the upper side of the nozzle head substrate 753 that rotatingly drives the ball screw 752.

(57) As shown specifically in FIG. 6, the light guide stage 32 comprises a horizontal plate 32a and a vertical plate 32b, which are letter-L shaped plates in cross-section, and is provided with twelve cylinder-shaped linking portions 31i having front ends of optical fibers (bundles) 33i, which are directly or indirectly linkable with the apertures of the PCR tubes 231i and are optically connected with the interior of the linked PCR tubes 231i, protruding in the downward direction from the horizontal plate 32a. Furthermore, a heater 37 that heats the sealing lids 251i mounted on the linking portions 31i and prevents condensation, is built into the bases of the linking portions 31i. The temperature of the heater is set to approximately 105° C. for example. Since the light guide stage 32 is supported by the nozzle head substrate 753 by means of the nozzle head stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35 such that it is movable in the Z axis direction, it is movable in the nozzle X axis direction and Z axis direction.

(58) The stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35 has: a side plate 355 provided on the nozzle head substrate 753; a mount driving band-shaped member 354 that is supported by a timing belt 352 spanning between two sprockets 353 arranged in the vertical direction axially supported by the side plate 355, and vertically moves in the Z axis direction; and a motor attached to the rear side of the nozzle head substrate 753 that rotatingly drives the sprockets 353.

(59) As shown in FIG. 7, the traversable nozzle suction-discharge mechanism 17 is provided with a tip detaching mechanism 592 on the lower side of the suction-discharge mechanism 17 and on the upper side of the nozzle 710. Furthermore, the suction-discharge mechanism 17 is provided with a digital camera 19. The suction-discharge mechanism 17 is movably provided in the Y axis direction by being attached to a timing belt 171 spanning between two sprockets 173 that are rotatingly driven by a motor 172.

(60) FIG. 8 represents two perspective views of the nozzle head according to the first embodiment viewed from the rear side, which show the connection starting position (FIG. 8A) and the connection finishing position (FIG. 8B) at the time the respective connecting ends of the connecting end arranging body 30 and the respective measuring ends are successively optically connected.

(61) There are provided a connecting end arranging body 30 in which the connecting ends 34i provided corresponding to the respective linking portions 31i to which the front ends of the optical fibers (bundles) 33i which pass through the horizontal plate 32a of the light guide stage 32, are provided, and provided with the back ends thereof, are arranged on an arranging surface on a path along a straight line in the Y axis direction, which represents a predetermined path, at a shorter spacing than the spacing of the linking portions 31i; and six measuring ends that are provided in the vicinity of, or making contact with, the arranging surface, and are successively optically connectable with the connecting ends 34i along the straight line. There is also provided a measuring device 40 in which, by means of optical connections between the connecting ends and the measuring ends, the fluorescent light within the PCR tubes 231i, which represents the optical state, is receivable, and excitation light is also able to be irradiated.

(62) Furthermore, the light guide stage 32 has a cylinder-shaped body 311i, which retains the optical fibers (bundles) 33i extending to the rear side from the linking portions 31i such that they pass through the interior in order to prevent folding, protrudingly provided upward from the horizontal plate 32a directly above the linking portions 31i. In the same manner, the connecting end arranging body 30 is also provided with a cylinder-shaped body 301i, which retains the optical fibers (bundles) 33i extending from the connecting ends 34i such that they pass through the interior in order to prevent folding, on the connecting end 34i side.

(63) The arranging body Y axis transfer mechanism 41 that moves the connecting end arranging body 30 in the Y axis direction has: arms 412 and 413 provided to the connecting end arranging body 30; a joining body 411 that joins the arms 412 and 413 and the timing belt; a guide rail 414 that guides the Y axis movement of the joining body 411; and two sprockets spanned by the timing belt and arranged along the Y axis direction.

(64) The measuring device 40 is one that supports the measurement of fluorescent light and comprises six types of specific wavelength measuring devices 40j that are linearly aligned along a straight line in the Y axis direction, which represents the predetermined path, such that they support the measurement of six types of fluorescent light, and they are provided fixed on a substrate of the nozzle head 50, such as the frame that encloses the transfer mechanism portion 52, or a member that supports the same. Therefore, depending on the mechanism provided to the transfer mechanism portion 52, the measuring device 40 does not move.

(65) The measuring device 40 is one in which the measuring ends of the plurality of types (six in this example) of specific wavelength measuring devices 40j (j=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), and therefore, in this case, the specific wavelength measuring devices 40j themselves are aligned in a single row form, and integrally fixed to a member joined with the nozzle head substrate 753 using fixtures 45j. The specific wavelength measuring devices 40j have: measuring ends 44j arranged along a straight line path in the Y axis direction which represents the predetermined path, such that they successively optically connect to the connecting ends 34i; light detectors 46j in which an optical system component having an irradiation source that irradiates excitation light to the PCR tubes 231i and a light receiving portion that receives the fluorescent light generated in the PCR tubes 231i are built-in; and circuit boards 47j. The measuring ends 44j have first measuring ends 42j that optically connect with the irradiation source, and second measuring ends 43j that optically connect with the light receiving portion. Here, the light detectors 46j and the circuit boards 47j correspond to the measuring device main body.

(66) The pitch between the respective connecting ends 34i, assuming a pitch between the linking portions 31i of 18 mm, is 9 mm, which is half thereof. Then, the pitch between the measuring ends 44j is 9 mm or less for example.

(67) There is a case where the first measuring ends 42j and the second measuring ends 43j of the measuring ends 44j of the respective specific wavelength measuring devices 40j are arranged aligned in a lateral direction (Y axis direction) along the straight line of the Y axis direction along the predetermined path, and a case where they are arranged aligned in a longitudinal direction (X axis direction). In the former case, without stopping the emission of the excitation light, the respective measuring devices successively receive light at a timing for receiving light determined based on the speed of the connecting end arranging body, the pitch between the connecting ends, the distance between the first measuring ends and the second measuring ends of the measuring ends, and the pitch between the measuring ends.

(68) On the other hand, in the latter case, as shown in FIG. 8, with respect to the connecting end, a first connecting end and a second connecting end are provided. The first connecting end connects only with the first measuring ends 42j, and the second measuring ends 43j connect only with the second connecting end. The fixed path represents two paths. Furthermore, the optical fibers (bundles) 33i have optical fibers (bundles) 331i for receiving light that have the first connecting end, and optical fibers (bundles) 332i for irradiation that have the second connecting end. In this case, compared to the former case, connection with the linking portions is performed by means of optical fibers in which the irradiation source and the light receiving portion are dedicated, and therefore, the control is simple, and the reliability is high since optical fibers that are respectively suitable for irradiation and receiving light can be used.

(69) The speed of the connecting end arranging body 30 with respect to the measuring ends 44j is determined with consideration of the stable light receivable time, the lifetime of the fluorescent light with respect to excitation light irradiation, the number of connecting ends, the pitch between the connecting ends, and the like (the distance of the predetermined path). In the case of a real-time PCR measurement, it is controlled such that it becomes 100 mm to 500 mm per second for example. In the present embodiment, since the movement is performed by sliding the arranging surface with respect to the measuring ends 44, the incidence of optical noise to the measuring ends 44 can be prevented. Furthermore, the connecting end arranging body 30 moves with respect to the measuring ends intermittently such that it momentarily stops at each pitch advance between the connecting ends or between the measuring ends, or continuously.

(70) FIG. 9A is a drawing showing a state in which the linking portion 31i (here, i=1 for example) that protrudes on the lower side from the horizontal plate 32a of the light guide stage 32 is indirectly linked with the PCR tube 231i via the sealing lid 251i, which has transparency, that is mounted on the aperture of the PCR tube 231i in the exclusive region 20i, and the linking portion 31i is inserted within the indentation of the sealing lid 251i, and the end surface thereof is adhered to the bottom surface of the indentation of the sealing lid 251i. The PCR tube 231i comprises a wide-mouthed piping part 235i and a narrow-mouthed piping part 233i that is communicated with the wide-mouthed piping part 235i and is formed narrower than the wide-mouthed piping part 235i. Furthermore, the narrow-mouthed piping part 233i is dried beforehand, or a liquid state solution for amplification 234i is housed beforehand. Here, the reagent for real-time amplification represents 70 μL of a master mix (SYBR (registered trademark) Green Mix) consisting of enzymes, buffers, primers, and the like.

(71) For the aperture of the wide-mouthed piping part 235i, since the sealing lid 251i that protrudes on the lower side of the sealing lid 251i, which has transparency, is mounted on the reaction vessel, it is mounted to the reaction vessel as a result of a tubular sealing portion 252i, which encloses the center portion of the sealing lid 251i in which light passes through, being fitted. At the time the sealing portion 252i is fitted, it is preferable for the diameter of the optical fibers (bundle) 33i, which represents the light guide portion that passes through the interior of the linking portion 31i, to be the same or larger than the diameter of the aperture of the narrow-mouthed piping part 233i. Consequently, it becomes possible to receive the light from the PCR tube 231i with certainty. The narrow-mouthed piping part 233i is housed within a block for temperature control that is heated or cooled by means of the temperature controller 29.

(72) In this example, the optical fibers (bundle) 33i comprise optical fibers (bundle) for irradiation 332i that are connectable with the second measuring end 43j and optical fibers (bundle) for receiving light 331i that are connectable with the first measuring end 42j.

(73) FIG. 9B is a drawing showing an example in which the optical fibers (bundle) 33i comprise an optical fiber bundle in which an optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of optical fibers for receiving light that are connectable with the second measuring end 43j, and an optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of optical fibers for irradiation that are connectable with the first measuring end 42j, are combined such that they become uniform.

(74) It is preferable for a feeding device for samples and the like to be integrated to the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 10. The feeding device for samples and the like is a device for dispensing and supplying parent samples and the like with respect to the vessel group 20, and the stage in which is integrated the vessel group 20 to which the parent samples and the like have been supplied, is automatically moved to the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel and the like. The feeding device for samples and the like, for example, has a parent vessel group that houses parent samples and the like, a tip detaching mechanism, a suction-discharge mechanism, and a single nozzle that, in addition to the suction and the discharge of gases being performed by means of the mechanisms, is detachably mounted with dispensing tips 211i. Furthermore, it has a nozzle head provided with a mechanism that moves along the Z axis direction with respect to the parent vessel group and the housing part group for tips and the like 21 of the vessel group 20, an X axis movable body provided with a Y axis transfer mechanism that moves the nozzle head in the Y axis direction with respect to the parent vessel group and the like, an X axis transfer mechanism that moves the X axis movable body along the X axis with respect to the parent vessel group and the like, and the parent vessel group. It is preferable for the parent vessel group to have a parent sample housing part group arranged in a 12 row×8 column matrix form that houses the parent samples to be supplied to the housing part group for tips and the like 21 of the vessel group 20, a distilled water and washing liquid group, and a reagent bottle group.

(75) FIG. 10 is a drawing showing a light detector 461 of a single specific wavelength measurement device 401 belonging to the measurement device 40 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(76) The specific wavelength measurement device 461 according to the present exemplary embodiment, in addition to having an optical fiber 469 for excitation light to be outgoing to the PCR tube 231i and an optical fiber 479 for light from the PCR tube 231i to be incoming, has a measuring end 441 provided on the lower ends of a first measuring end 421 of the optical fiber 469 and a second measuring end 431 of the optical fiber 479, an irradiation portion 462 that has a LED 467 that irradiates excitation light through the optical fiber 469 and a filter 468, and a light receiving portion that has an optical fiber 479, a drum lens 478, a filter 477, and a photodiode 472. This example shows a case where the first measuring end 421 and the second measuring end 431 are provided along a direction (X axis direction) perpendicular to the straight line of the Y axis direction, which represents the predetermined path.

(77) Next, a series of processing operations that perform real-time PCR of the nucleic acids of a sample containing bacteria using the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 10 according to the embodiment is described. Step S1 to step S13 below correspond to separation and extraction processing.

(78) In step S1, the drawer 15 of the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 10 shown in FIG. 2 is opened, the vessel group 20 is pulled out, and by utilizing a feeding device for samples and the like, which is provided separately from the vessel group 20, the samples which are subject to testing, various washing liquids, and various reagents, are supplied beforehand, and furthermore, a liquid housing part in which reagents and the like are prepacked is mounted.

(79) In step S2, following returning of the vessel group 20 and closing of the drawer 15, the start of the separation and extraction and amplification processing is instructed by means of the operation of the touch panel of the control panel 13 for example.

(80) In step S3, the extraction control part 65 provided to the nucleic acid processing controller 63 of the CPU+program 60 of the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 10 instructs the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51 and moves the nozzle head 50 in the X axis direction, positions the tip for punching mounted to the nozzle 71i above the first liquid housing part of the liquid housing part group 27i of the vessel group, and punches the film covering the aperture of the liquid housing part by lowering the nozzle by means of the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75, and in the same manner, the other liquid housing parts of the liquid housing part group 27i and the reaction vessel group 23i are successively punched by moving the nozzle head 50 in the X axis direction.

(81) In step S4, the nozzle head 50 is again moved in the X axis direction and moved to the housing part for tips and the like 21i, and the nozzles 71i are lowered by means of the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75, and the dispensing tips 211i are mounted. Next, after being raised by the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75, the dispensing tips 211i are moved along the X axis by means of the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51, and advanced to the eighth liquid housing part of the liquid housing part group 27i. Then a predetermined amount of isopropanol is aspirated from the liquid housing part, and they are again moved along the X axis direction, and predetermined amounts are respectively dispensed into the solution components (NaCl, SDS solutions) housed in the third liquid housing part and the fifth liquid housing part, and the distilled water housed in the sixth liquid housing part, so that 500 μL of a binding buffer solution (NaCl, SDS, isopropanol), 700 μL of a washing liquid 1 (NaCl, SDS, isopropanol), and 700 μL of a washing liquid 2 (water 50%, isopropanol 50%) are respectively prepared as solutions for separating and extracting within the third, the fifth, and the sixth liquid housing parts.

(82) In step S5, following movement to, among the housing parts for tips and the like 21i, the sample tube in which the sample is separately housed, the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i is loweringly inserted using the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75, and, with respect to the suspension of the sample housed in the sample tube, following suspension of the sample within the liquid by repeating the suction and the discharge by raising and lowering the drive plate 536 of the suction-discharge mechanism 53, the sample suspension is aspirated within the dispensing tip 211i. The sample suspension is moved along the X axis by means of the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51 to the first liquid housing part of the liquid housing part group 27i housing the Lysis 1 (enzyme) representing the solution for separating and extracting, and the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i is inserted through the hole in the punched film, and the suction and the discharge is repeated in order to stir the sample suspension and the Lysis 1.

(83) In step S6, the entire amount of the stirred liquid is aspirated by the dispensing tip 211i, and incubation is performed by housing it in the reaction vessel 232i comprising the reaction tubes retained in the housing holes, that is set to 55° C. by means of the constant temperature controller. Consequently, the protein contained in the sample is broken down and made a low molecular weight. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the reaction mixture is left in the reaction tube, the dispensing tip 211i is moved to the second liquid housing part of the liquid housing part group 27i by means of the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51, and the entire amount of the liquid housed within the second liquid housing part is aspirated by using the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75 and the suction-discharge mechanism 53, and it is transferred using the dispensing tip 211i by means of the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51, and the reaction solution is discharged within the third liquid housing part by penetrating the hole in the film and inserting the narrow diameter portion.

(84) In step S7, the binding buffer solution housed within the third liquid housing part, which represents a separation and extraction solution, and the reaction solution are stirred, the solubilized protein is further dehydrated, and the nucleic acids or the fragments thereof are dispersed within the solution.

(85) In step S8, using the dispensing tip 211i, the narrow diameter portion thereof is inserted into the third liquid housing part by passing through the hole in the film, the entire amount is aspirated and the dispensing tip 211i is raised by means of the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75, and the reaction solution is transferred to the fourth liquid housing part, and the magnetic particle suspension housed within the fourth liquid housing part is stirred with the reaction solution. A cation structure in which Na+ ions bind to the hydroxyl groups formed on the surface of the magnetic particles contained within the magnetic particle suspension is formed. Consequently, the negatively charged DNA is captured by the magnetic particles.

(86) In step S9, the magnetic particles are adsorbed on the inner wall of the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i by approaching the magnet 571 of the magnetic force part 57 to the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i. In a state in which the magnetic particles are adsorbed on the inner wall of the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i, the dispensing tip 211i is raised by means of the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75 and moved from the fourth liquid housing part to the fifth liquid housing part using the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51, and the narrow diameter portion 211ia is inserted by passing through the hole in the film.

(87) In a state in which the magnetic force within the narrow diameter portion 211ia is removed by separating the magnet 571 of the magnetic force part 57 from the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i, by repeating the suction and the discharge of the washing liquid 1 (NaCl, SDS, isopropanol) housed in the fifth liquid housing part, the magnetic particles are released from the inner wall, and the protein is washed by stirring within the washing liquid 1. Thereafter, in a state in which the magnetic particles are adsorbed on the inner wall of the narrow diameter portion 211ia as a result of approaching the magnet 571 of the magnetic force part 57 to the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the narrow diameter portion 211ia again, the dispensing tip 211i is, by means of the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75, moved from the fifth liquid housing part to the sixth liquid housing part by means of the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51.

(88) In step S10, the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i is inserted by passing through the hole in the film using the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75. By repeating the suction and the discharge of the washing liquid 2 (isopropanol) housed in the sixth liquid housing part in a state in which the magnetic force within the narrow diameter portion 211ia is removed by separating the magnet 571 of the magnetic force part 57 from the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i, the magnetic particles are stirred within the liquid, the NaCl and the SDS is removed, and the protein is washed. Thereafter, in a state in which the magnetic particles are adsorbed on the inner wall of the narrow diameter portion 211ia by approaching the magnet 571 of the magnetic force part 57 to the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i again, the dispensing tip 211i is, following raising by means of the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75, moved from the sixth liquid housing part to the seventh liquid housing part in which the distilled water is housed, by means of the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51.

(89) In step S11, the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i is lowered through the hole by means of the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75, and by repeating the suction and the discharge of the distilled water at a slow flow rate in a state where the magnetic force is applied within the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i, the washing liquid 2 (isopropanol) is substituted by water and is removed. Thereafter, by stirring the magnetic particles by repeating the suction and the discharge within the distilled water which represents the dissociation liquid, in a state in which the magnet 571 of the magnetic force part 57 is separated from the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i and the magnetic force is removed, the nucleic acids or the fragments thereof retained by the magnetic particles are dissociated (eluted) from the magnetic particles into the liquid. Thereafter, a magnetic field is applied within the narrow diameter portion and the magnetic particles are adsorbed on the inner wall by approaching the magnet 571 to the narrow diameter portion 211ia of the dispensing tip 211i, and the solution containing the extracted nucleic acids, and the like, is made to remain in the eighth liquid housing part. The dispensing tip 211i is moved to the storage part of the housing parts for tips and the like 21i in which the dispensing tip 211i was housed, by means of the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51, and the dispensing tip 211i to which magnetic particles are adsorbed, is detached from the nozzle 71i together with the magnetic particles and dropped into the storage part, using the detaching member 591 of the tip detaching mechanism 59.

(90) The following step S12 to step S15 corresponds to nucleic acid amplification and measurement processing.

(91) In step S12, a new dispensing tip 211i is mounted on the nozzle 71i, the solution housed within the eighth liquid housing part, which contains nucleic acids and the like, is aspirated, and by transferring it to the PCR tube 231i in which the solution for amplification 234i is housed beforehand, and discharging it, it is introduced into the vessel. As a result of moving the nozzle head 50 by means of the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51, the nozzle 71i is moved above the sealing lid housing part 25i of the vessel group 20, which houses the sealing lid 251i. Mounting is performed by lowering using the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75 and fitting the indentation for linking 258i on the upper side of the sealing lid 251 to the lower end of the nozzle 71i. After being raised by the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75, the sealing lid 251 is positioned above the PCR tube 231i using the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51, and by lowering the sealing lid 234i by means of the nozzle Z axis transfer mechanism 75, it is fitted with the aperture of the wide-mouthed piping part 235i of the PCR tube 231i, mountingly sealing it.

(92) In step S13, the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51 is instructed by means of an instruction from the measurement control portion 61, and by moving the nozzle head 50 along the X axis, the linking portion 31i of the light guide stage 32 is positioned above the PCR tube 231i, which is mounted with the sealing lid 251i. Then, by lowering the light guide stage 32 by means of the stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35, the linking portion 31i is inserted into the indentation of the sealing lid 251i, and the lower end thereof is made to make contact with, or adhere to, the bottom surface of the indentation.

(93) In step S14, due to an instruction by the nucleic acid processing controller 63, the temperature controller 29 instructs a temperature control cycle by real-time PCR, such as a cycle in which the PCR tube 231i is heated for five seconds at 96° C. and heated for 15 seconds at 60° C., to be repeated forty nine times for example.

(94) In step S15, when temperature control at each cycle by the nucleic acid processing controller 63 is started, the measurement control portion 61 determines the start of elongation reaction processing at each cycle, and instructs the continuous or intermittent movement of the connecting end arranging body 30 with respect to the measuring ends 44j of the measuring device 40. For the movement speed thereof, it is moved at a speed that is calculated based on the stable light receivable time, the fluorescence lifetime, and the number (twelve in this example) of exclusive regions 20i. Consequently, the receiving of light from all twelve PCR tubes 231i within the stable light receivable time becomes completed.

(95) In step S16, the measurement control portion 61 determines the moment of each optical connection between the optical fibers (bundles) 33i of the linking portions 31i and the first measuring end and the second measuring end of the measuring end 44, and instructs the receiving of light to the measuring device 40 for example.

(96) This measurement is executed with respect to cycles in which exponential amplification is performed, and an amplification curve is obtained based on the measurement, and various analyses are performed based on the amplification curve. At the time of the measurement, the measurement control portion 61 heats the heater 37 built into the light guide stage 32 and prevents the condensation on the sealing lid 251, and a clear measurement can be performed.

(97) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the front side of a nozzle head 500 of an optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and a perspective view showing a portion thereof cut away. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing enlarged, the portion of FIG. 11 shown cut away.

(98) As shown in FIG. 11, in this example, unlike the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel according to the first exemplary embodiment, the PCR tubes 236i, which represent the reaction vessel, have a vessel group in which three or more rows of twelve each are arranged.

(99) There are no large differences with the first exemplary embodiment with respect to the section of the nozzle head 500 related to the dispensing device, which includes the nozzles, and the section related to the traversable nozzle, the transfer mechanisms of the nozzle head, and the arranging body transfer mechanism, and they are omitted from the descriptions. The nozzle head 500 has: a light guide stage 320; twelve linking portions 310i provided on the light guide stage 320; optical fibers (bundle) 33i that extend from the linking portions 310i on the rear side; a connecting end arranging body 300; a measuring device 400 having a measuring end comprising six types of specific wavelength measurement devices that are aligningly mounted on the light guide stage 320; and a sealing lid transport mechanism 125.

(100) The light guide stage 320 according to the second exemplary embodiment has a linking portion arranging body 322, in which two or more (twelve in this example) linking portions 310i that are simultaneously linkable with two or more (twelve in this example) reaction vessels 236i are arranged, that is movable in the horizontal direction (the X axis direction in this example) with respect to the light guide stage 320. Furthermore, by means of the movement of the linking portion arranging body 322, without moving the light guide stage 320, it is linkable with more reaction vessels 236i (three rows of reaction vessels with twelve per row in this example) than the number of reaction vessels (twelve in this example) that are simultaneously linkable by the linking portion arranging body 322.

(101) The light guide stage 320 has a horizontal plate 320a, a vertical plate 320b, and a triangular-shaped support side plate 320c. The horizontal plate 320a of the light guide stage 320, according to the arrangement of the linking portions 310i arranged on the linking portion arranging body 322, is etchingly provided with two or more, or twelve in this example, long holes 321i that correspond to shielding regions.

(102) The measurement device 400 is mounted fixed to the upper edge of the vertical plate 320b of the light guide stage 322. Therefore, since the light guide stage 320 is stationary at the time of receiving light, the measurement device 400 is immovably provided with respect to the reaction vessel and the light guide stage 320.

(103) The optical fibers (bundle) 33i having the end of the linking portion 310i, separate midway into optical fibers for receiving light (bundle) 331i and optical fibers for irradiation (bundle) 332i. The optical fibers for receiving light (bundle) 331i connect to a second connecting end 341i, and the optical fibers for irradiation (bundle) 332i connect to a first connecting end 342i, and are arranged as two paths along the Y axis direction on a downwardly facing horizontal plane, which represents an arranging surface on the lower side of the connecting end arranging body 300. At that time, the spacing between adjacent connecting ends on these respective paths is such that they are integrated at approximately half or one-third of the spacing of the linking portions for example. The first connecting ends 342i are successively connectable with the first measuring ends of the measurement device 400, and the second connecting ends 341i are successively connectable with the second measuring ends.

(104) As shown in FIG. 12 or FIG. 13, the horizontal plate 320a of the light guide stage 320 is laminatingly provided with a thermal insulation plate 323 formed by a resin and the like, a heater 370 provided on the lower side of the thermal insulation plate 323 for preventing condensation of the sealing lids 253i by heating the sealing lids 253i, and a thermally conductive metallic plate 325 provided on the lower side of the heater 370. Reference symbol 238 is a housing hole that houses the reaction vessels 236i and is piercingly provided in the cartridge vessel. Reference symbol 239 represents a liquid surface that is controlled at a fixed height within the reaction vessels 236i. Reference symbol 291 is a temperature controller for PCR.

(105) The long holes 321i that are etchingly provided in the horizontal plate 320a reach the metallic plate 325. Holes 326 that are the same size as the apertures for light transmission are piercingly provided above the apertures of the reaction vessels 236i of the metallic plate 325 of the bottom of the long holes 321i, and are optically communicated with the bottom of the long holes 321i.

(106) The linking portions 310i provided on the linking portion arranging body and the front ends of the optical fibers (bundle) 33i provided in the interior are, as a result of approaching the sealing lids 253i, linked with the reaction vessels 236i.

(107) FIG. 14 is a drawing showing the various sealing lids 254i to 257i according to the second exemplary embodiment, that are mountable on the reaction vessel.

(108) In FIG. 14A, the sealing lid 253i has: a cover plate 251ia that covers the aperture 236ia of the reaction vessel 236i; a central portion 253ic that is formed at the center of the cover plate 253ic and thinner than the periphery, and has an increased light transmittance; and a clamp 253ib comprising a double annular wall that is provided such that it encloses the central portion 253ic and protrudes on the lower side, that represents a mounting portion that is mountable to the outer edge portion 236ib of the aperture of the reaction vessel.

(109) The sealing lid 254i shown in FIG. 14B is formed thick in a convex lens form having a curved surface that expands from a central portion 254ic toward the vessel exterior. Consequently, the light that is generated within the reaction vessel is made to converge at the end of an optical fiber, or the excitation light from the optical fiber is made to converge at the liquid surface and the like, and the light can be efficiently collected.

(110) The sealing lid 255i shown in FIG. 14C is formed in a convex lens form having a curved surface that expands from a central portion 255ic toward the vessel exterior, and consequently, the effects demonstrated in FIG. 14B are achieved.

(111) The sealing lid 256i shown in FIG. 14D is formed thick such that it has a curved surface that expands from a central portion 256ic toward the vessel exterior. Consequently, the effects demonstrated in FIG. 14B are achieved.

(112) The sealing lid 257i shown in FIG. 14E is formed such that it has a curved surface that expands from a central portion 257ic toward the vessel exterior, and consequently, the effects demonstrated in FIG. 14B are achieved.

(113) FIG. 15 shows a sealing lid transporting body 125 according to the second exemplary embodiment.

(114) The sealing lid transporting body 125 is one having: a prismatic substrate 128 that is movable in the X axis direction with respect to the vessel group 20, which has at least three rows of reaction vessels 236i of twelve per row; one or two or more (twelve in this example) grippers 127i arranged on the prismatic substrate 128 according to the arrangement of the reaction vessels that grip the cover plate such that, with respect to the sealing lid 253i (to 256i), the lower side is exposed in a state in which the mounting portion is mountable to the reaction vessel; and a bottom plate 126 that is mounted on the lower side of the prismatic substrate 128.

(115) As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 16 and the perspective view as viewed from the lower side of FIG. 17, the grippers 127i have a cavity 124i that is cut out from the prismatic substrate 128 in an approximate semicircular column shape such that most of the cover plate 253ia of the sealing lid 253i is housable. Furthermore, the bottom plate 126 is provided a semicircular hole shaped notch portion 129i such that the clamp 253ib, which represents the mounting portion of the sealing lid 253i, is exposable on the lower side.

(116) Next, the processing operation using the nozzle head 500 according to the second exemplary embodiment is described.

(117) Among the processes described in the first exemplary embodiment, the separation and extraction process is omitted, and step S′12 to step S′16, which correspond to nucleic amplification and measurement processes, are described.

(118) In step S′12, a new dispensing tip 211i is mounted on the nozzle 71i, the solution containing nucleic acids and the like, which is housed within the eighth liquid housing part is aspirated, transported to the reaction vessel 236i in which the solution for amplification 234i is housed beforehand, and discharged and introduced into the vessel. As a result of moving the nozzle head 500 by means of the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51, the sealing lids 253i from the sealing lid housing part in the sealing lid transporting body 125 in which twelve sealing lids 253i are housed, are simultaneously housed in the cavity 124i of the grippers 127i, and gripped.

(119) Since the sealing lid transporting body 125 gripping the sealing lid 253i is linked with the light guide stage 320, then by using the stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35 and moving it somewhat upwardly together with the stage 320 and then moving it in the X axis direction, and by transporting it to above the reaction vessels 236i and lowering it, the twelve sealing lids 253i are sealed by mounting the clamps 253ib, which are exposed on the lower side from the sealing lid transporting body 125, to the PCR tubes 236i. In the same manner, the rows of the twenty four reaction vessels of the other two rows are successively sealed by the sealing lids.

(120) In step S′13, due to an instruction by the measurement control portion 61, as a result of instructing the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51 and moving the nozzle head 500 along the X axis, the light guide stage 320 is moved such that it covers the thirty six reaction vessels of the three rows, on which the sealing lids are mounted.

(121) In step S′14, due to an instruction by the nucleic acid processing control portion 63, the temperature controller 29 instructs a temperature control cycle by real-time PCR, such as a cycle in which the PCR tubes 231i are heated for five seconds at 96° C. and heated for fifteen seconds at 60° C., to be repeated forty nine times for example.

(122) In step S′15, when temperature control at each cycle is started by the nucleic acid processing control portion 63, the measurement control portion 61 determines the start of the elongation reaction process at each cycle, moves the linking portion arranging body 322 provided on the light guide stage 320 over the light guide stage 320, indirectly links the respective linking portions 310i that are inserted into the long holes 321i provided on the light guide stage 320 via the reaction vessels and the sealing lids 253i, and successively receives the light from the reaction vessels while irradiating excitation light from the measurement device to the interior of the reaction vessels. At the same time, the continuous or intermittent movement of the connecting end arranging body 300 with respect to the respective measuring ends 44j of the measurement device 400 is instructed. The movement speed thereof is such that movement is performed at a speed that is calculated based on the stable light receivable time, the fluorescence lifetime, the number (three rows of twelve reaction vessels per row in this example) of reaction vessels of the exclusive regions 20i that are measurable by the light guide stage 320, and the like. Consequently, by moving the linking portion arranging body 322 over the light guide stage 320 within the stable light receivable time, in this example, measurements can be performed in parallel with respect to thirty six reaction vessels of three rows, with twelve per row.

(123) In step S′16, the measurement control portion 61 determines the moment of the respective optical connections between the optical fibers (bundle) of the linking portions 310i and the first measuring end and the second measuring end of the measuring end 44, and instructs the irradiation of excitation light and the receiving of light to the measurement device 400.

(124) FIG. 18 is a drawing showing an example of the position of the optical fiber front ends for receiving light and for irradiation provided to the linking portion in a case where the linking portion is linked at a location other than the aperture of the reaction vessel 236i. FIG. 18A is a drawing showing a case where the optical fibers (bundle) for receiving light 331i are in the vicinity of the outer bottom portion of the reaction vessel, and the optical fibers (bundle) for irradiation 332i are in the vicinity of the outer wall of the reaction vessel. FIG. 18B is a drawing showing a case where the optical fibers (bundle) for receiving light 331i and the optical fibers (bundle) for irradiation 332i are in the vicinity of the outer wall of the reaction vessel. FIG. 18C is a drawing showing a case where the optical fibers (bundle) for receiving light 331i and the optical fibers (bundle) for irradiation 332i are in the vicinity of the outer bottom portion of the reaction vessel. These are only examples, and cases where they are joined with the reaction vessel by making contact, and the like, in place of being in the vicinity are also possible.

(125) FIG. 19 represents a block-diagram of an optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Since the same reference symbols as the reference symbols used in the first embodiment represent the same objects or similar (only differing by size) objects, the descriptions thereof are omitted.

(126) The optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 110 according to the second embodiment differs from the optical measurement device for a reaction vessel 10 according to the first embodiment in the aspect that the nozzle head 150 thereof has a light guide stage 132 that is different from the light guide stage 32. The light guide stage 132 according to the second embodiment differs from the light guide stage 32 according to the first embodiment in the aspects that it has a plurality (twelve in this example) of linking portions 131i in which the front ends of optical fibers, which represent two or more light guide portions, which have a flexibility, that optically connect with the interior of the PCR tubes 231i, and an optical element for collecting light are provided in the interior, and the heat source of the heater 137, which represents a heating portion for heating the reaction vessels, is provided not to the light guide stage 132, but to the vessel group 120 or the stage.

(127) Further, it differs in the aspects that the sealing lids 251i are transported not by the nozzles 71i but by fitting to the linking portions 131i, and are detached from the linking portions by means of a dedicated sealing lid detaching mechanism 39. Therefore, the sealing lid control portion 167, and therefore, the nucleic acid processing control portion 163 and the CPU+program 160 differ from the device 10 according to the first embodiment.

(128) The vessel group 120 is one in which twelve exclusive regions 120i (i=1, . . . , 12), wherein the longitudinal direction thereof is along the X axis direction and housing parts are arranged in a single row form, are arranged in the Y axis direction for example. The respective exclusive regions 120i have: a reaction vessel group 23i; a liquid housing part group 27i; a sealing lid housing part 25i that houses sealing lids 251i, which have transparency, that are detachably mounted on the linking portions 131i provided to the light guide stage 132; and housing parts for tips and the like 21i.

(129) The reaction vessel 23i, the temperature controller 29, and the heater 137 correspond to the reaction vessel control system 90.

(130) FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view primarily showing, within the nozzle head 150 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the second embodiment, the transfer mechanism and the suction-discharge mechanism.

(131) Here, since the diameter of the linking portion 131i is thicker than the nozzle 71i, the sealing lid 251i to be mounted on the PCR tube is transported by the linking portion 131i. Consequently, by utilizing the transfer mechanism of the magnet 571 of the magnetic force part 57, a sealing lid detaching mechanism 39 is provided that has a comb-shaped detaching member 391 in which a notch portion, which has a semicircular-shaped arch that is approximately equivalent to the diameter of the twelve linking cylinders provided such that they can approach and separate with respect to the linking portion 131i, is arranged. In the present exemplary embodiment, since the detachment of the sealing lids can be performed by utilizing existing mechanisms, the expansion of the device scale, and increases in complexity, can be prevented.

(132) FIG. 21 is a drawing showing a reaction vessel control system 901 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the second embodiment and a state in which, to the apertures of the reaction vessel group, to which the PCR tubes 231i representing a plurality (twelve in this example) of reaction vessels of the reaction vessel control system 901 are provided, the linking portions 131i (here, i=1 for example) protruding on the lower side from the horizontal plate 132a of the light guide stage 132 are indirectly linked with the PCR tubes 231i via the sealing lids 251i, which have transparency, that are mounted on the apertures of the PCR tubes 231i in the exclusive regions 120i. As a result of the linking portions 131i fitting within the indentation for linking 253i of the sealing lids 251i, they are linked with the PCR tubes 231i.

(133) As shown in FIG. 21, the linking portion 1311 is indirectly linked with the PCR tube 231i via the sealing lid 253, and has an approximately cylinder-shaped linking cylinder 131ai that is protrudingly provided further in the downward direction than the horizontal plate 132a of the light guide stage 132. Furthermore, a circular hole 131bi having an aperture of a size corresponding to the liquid surface of the liquid that is housed in the narrow-mouthed piping part is piercingly provided in the center portion of the bottom plate of the linking cylinder 131ai, and the periphery of the bottom plate is provided with a circular edge portion 131di that is protrudingly provided below it. Consequently, the adhesion of the linking portion and the sealing lid is prevented. A spherical ball lens 381i that has a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the linking cylinder is loosely inserted within the linking cylinder 131ai and mounted on the circular hole 131bi. At a predetermined distance above the ball lens 381i, an optical fiber 33i, in which the end is positioned and is covered by a resin-made ferrule 131ci that passes through the horizontal plate 132a and reaches the exterior, is provided. The linking cylinder 131ai, the circular hole 131bi, the ball lens 381i, and the optical fiber 33i bundle are arranged on the same axis in the interior of the linking cylinder 131ai.

(134) As shown in FIG. 21, the reaction vessel control system 901 has: PCR tubes 231i that represent reaction vessels, in which target solutions of DNA having a target base sequence, and the like, are stored and reactions, such as amplification, are performed; a heater 137; and a temperature controller 291i for PCR. The heater 137 is laminatingly provided with a heating block 137c comprising an aluminum plate having a high thermal conductivity, a sheet heater 137a, and a heat insulator 137b. Twelve through holes 137di that house and retain a plurality (twelve in this example) of PCR tubes 231i are piercingly provided in the same heater 137, and the wide-mouthed piping parts 235i are supported by the heating block 137c.

(135) The temperature controller 291 for PCR has: a block for temperature control 292i that makes contact with, and is housable in, the narrow-mouthed piping part 233i of the PCR tube 231i, which represents the reaction vessel; a Peltier element 293i; and a heat sink 294i.

(136) The narrow-mouthed piping part 233i of the PCR tube 231i has a lower side wall section 233ai of the section in which the block for PCR 292i is making contact and is provided. Furthermore, it has an upper side wall section 235ai provided on the upper side leaving a spacing with the lower side wall section 233ai that corresponds to the wall section of the wide-mouthed piping part 235i that makes contact with the block for heating 137c of the heater.

(137) According to the present exemplary embodiment, firstly, by means of an instruction by the sealing lid control portion 167 (the CPU+program 160), the nozzle head transfer mechanism 51 is instructed and following movement of the respective linking portions 131i of the light guide stage 132 to the sealing lid housing parts 25i, the stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35 is instructed and the sealing lids 251i are fitted and mounted to the linking portions 131i. Next, by fitting the apertures of the predetermined PCR tubes 231i with the sealing lids 251i, the linking portions 131i are simultaneously linked with the PCR tubes 231i.

(138) Next, according to the temperature control by the temperature controller 29 as a result of an instruction by the measurement control portion 161, in the case of PCR, by controlling the heater 137 such that the upper side wall section 233bi is heated at a fixed temperature (100° C. for example) that is several degrees, or preferably approximately 5° C., higher than the maximum predetermined temperature (94° C. for example), the sealing lid 251i fitted to the wide-mouthed piping part 235i of the PCR tube 231i is heated, and condensation of the sealing lid can be prevented. At that time, the upper side wall section 235ai is separated by a fixed spacing from the lower side wall section 233ai, in which temperature control is performed, and the upper side wall section 233ai, which has a smaller surface area than the lower side wall section, is heated by bringing the heat source into contact or into its vicinity. Consequently, the effect of heating the upper side walls section 235ai is such that the lower surface of the sealing lid 251i, which is provided at a position near the upper side walls section 235ai, is heated, and condensation can be prevented.

(139) On the other hand, since the linking portion 131i is only making contact with the upper side of the sealing lid 251i via the circular edge portion 131di, the effect of heating is not as much as with respect to the sealing lid 251i. In the same manner, the lower side wall section 233ai is temperature controlled to the predetermined temperature using a Peltier element having a heating and cooling function, and furthermore, measurements are simultaneously performed. After completion of the measurement, then by means of an instruction by the sealing lid control portion 167, the linking portion 131i is made to approach using the detaching member 391, and then by upwardly moving the light guide stage 132 by means of the stage Z axis transfer mechanism 35, the sealing lid 251i is detached from the linking portion and while remaining on the PCR tube 231i, the linking portion is moved and the linking is released.

(140) FIG. 22 is a drawing showing a second exemplary embodiment, and represents a linking portion 131i in which, in place of the ball lens 381i, a drum lens 382i having a lens diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the linking cylinder 131ai is loosely inserted within the linking cylinder 131ai and mounted on the circular hole 131bi, and is provided such that light is collected at the end of the optical fiber 33i.

(141) FIG. 23 is a drawing showing a third exemplary embodiment, and represents a linking portion 131i in which, in place of the ball lens 381i and the like, an aspheric surface lens 383i having a lens diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the linking cylinder 131ai is loosely inserted within the linking cylinder 131ai and mounted on the circular hole 131bi, and is provided such that light is collected at the end of the optical fiber 33i. Reference symbol 391 represents a comb-shaped detaching member of the sealing lid detaching mechanism 39, and shown is a state in which it is in the vicinity of, or making contact with, the linking portion 131i. In this state, by raising the linking portion 131i, the sealing lid 251i engages with the sealing lid detaching member 391 and is detached from the linking portion 131i, but remains still mounted on the PCR tube 231i. Furthermore, the respective lenses 381i to 383i may be made to be loosely mounted within the linking cylinder 131ai by installing a tube-shaped frame from the upper side.

(142) The foregoing exemplary embodiments have been specifically described in order to better understand the present invention, and they are in no way limiting of other embodiments. Therefore, modifications are possible within a scope that does not depart from the gist of the invention. The configurations, shapes, materials, arrangements, and amounts of the nozzles, the dispensing tips, the punching tips, the vessel group, the exclusive regions thereof, the housing parts, the measuring ends, the measurement devices, the specific wavelength measurement devices, the suction-discharge mechanism, the transfer mechanism portion, the magnetic force part, the heating portion, the reaction vessels, the sealing lids, the light guide stage, the linking portions, the light guide portions, the connecting ends, the connecting end arranging body, the linking portion arranging body, the nozzle head, the temperature controller, the nozzle detaching mechanism, and the sealing lid detaching mechanism, and the like, and the utilized reagents and samples are also in no way limited by the examples illustrated in the exemplary embodiments. Furthermore, although the nozzles were made to move with respect to the vessel group, it is possible to also move the vessel group with respect to the nozzles.

(143) Furthermore, in the foregoing descriptions, although the amplification solution was sealed using a sealing lid for the sealing of the reaction vessel for PCR, it may be made such that, in its place or in combination, it is sealed using a sealing liquid, such as mineral oil. Furthermore, in place of punching by mounting a tip for punching on the nozzles, it is possible to use a punching pin that is driven by the suction-discharge mechanism. Moreover, although a real-time PCR measurement was described in the foregoing descriptions, it is in no way limited to this measurement, and it can be applied to other various measurements in which temperature control is performed. In the foregoing descriptions, although a case where the measurement device is provided to a dispensing device was described, it is not necessarily limited to this. Although only an optical system using optical fibers was described, it is possible to also employ an optical system using a lens system in the interior of the measurement device.

(144) Furthermore, the devices described in the respective exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the components that form these devices, or the components that form these components, can be appropriately selected, and can be mutually combined by applying appropriate modifications. The spatial representations within the present application, such as “above”, “below”, “interior”, “exterior”, “X axis”, “Y axis”, and “Z axis” are for illustration only, and are in no way limiting of the specific spatial directions or arrangements of the construction.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(145) The present invention is related to fields in which the processing, testing, and analysis of nucleic acids, which primarily includes DNA, RNA, mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA for example, is required, and is related to industrial fields, agricultural fields such as food, agricultural products, and fishery processing, chemical fields, pharmaceutical fields, health care fields such as hygiene, insurance, diseases, and genetics, and scientific fields such as biochemistry or biology for example. The present invention is, in particular, able to be used in processing and analysis that handles various nucleic acids, and the like, such as PCR and real-time PCR.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(146) 10, 110 Optical measurement device for reaction vessel 20, 120 Vessel group 20i, 120i (i=1, . . . , 12) Exclusive regions 211i (i=1, . . . , 12) Dispensing tips 231i, 236i (i=1, . . . , 12) PCR tubes (reaction vessels) 30, 300 Connecting end arranging body 31i, 131i (i=1, . . . , 12) Linking portions 32, 320, 132 Light guide stage 33i Optical fibers (light guide portions) 40, 400 Measurement device 40j (j=1, . . . , 6) Specific wavelength measurement devices 44 Measuring end 50, 500, 150 Nozzle head 52 Transfer mechanism portion 53 Suction-discharge mechanism 59 Tip detaching mechanism 61, 161 Measurement control portion 70 Nozzle arranging portion 71i (i=1, . . . , 12) Nozzle