Optical analysis device, optical analysis method and computer program for optical analysis using single light-emitting particle detection

An optical analysis method of detecting light from a light-emitting particle dispersed and moving at random in a sample solution using an optical system of a confocal microscope or a multiphoton microscope, comprising steps of:

• (a) circulating a position of a light detection region of the optical system along a predetermined route with a cycle time which is shorter than a diffusion time until the light-emitting particle deviates by diffusion from the predetermined route of the light detection region, by moving an optical path of the optical system with a light detection region circulator controlled electronically;
• (b) detecting light from the light detection region with a light detector and generating time series light intensity data with a signal processor during each circulation of the position of the light detection region;
• and
• (c) detecting individually a signal indicating light from each light-emitting particle existing in the predetermined route with the signal processor based on a representative value, the representative value being determined based on light intensity values of the light from each light-emitting particles detected two or more times,
• wherein steps (a) and (b) are repeated two or more times before step (c) and
• wherein step (a) is controlled by a computer programmed to control the circulation of the light detection region.

A computer readable storage device having a computer program product including programmed instructions for optical analysis of detecting light from a light-emitting particle dispersed and moving at random in a sample solution using an optical system of a confocal microscope or a multiphoton microscope, said programmed instructions causing a computer to perform steps comprising:

• (a) circulating a position of a light detection region of the optical system along a predetermined route with a cycle time which is shorter than a diffusion time until the light-emitting particle deviates by diffusion from the predetermined route of the light detection region, by moving the optical path of the optical system with a light detection region circulator controlled electronically;
• (b) detecting light from the light detection region with a light detector and generating time series light intensity data with a signal processor during each circulation of the position of the light detection region;
• and
• (c) detecting individually a signal indicating light from each light-emitting particle existing in the predetermined route with the signal processor based on a representative value, the representative value being determined based on light intensity values of the light from each light-emitting particles detected two or more times,
• wherein steps (a) and (b) are repeated two or more times before step (c) and
• wherein step (a) is controlled by the computer programmed to control the circulation of the light detection region.