# US 12,007,317 B2 · Microscopic object collection system and microscopic object collection method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,317 B2 - Document ID: US12007317B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/606,183 - Filed: 2020-04-22 - Published: 2022-06-09 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-25 - Assignees: University Public Corporation Osaka; Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Applicants: University Public Corporation Osaka; Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Takuya Iida; Shiho Tokonami; Hiroki Ishikawa; Tsutomu Yamasaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007317B2 ## CPC - G01N 1/4022: {by thermal techniques; Phase changes} - B01J 19/00: Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus - C12M 1/26: Inoculator or sampler - G01N 1/10: in the liquid or fluent state {(burettes, pipettes B01L3/02; sampling of ground water E02D1/06; metering by volume of fluids or fluent solid material G01F11/00, G01F13/00)} - G01N 1/44: Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat - H01S 5/022: Mountings; Housings - G01N 2001/1025: {Liquid suspensions; Slurries; Mud; Sludge} - G01N 2001/4027: {evaporation leaving a concentrated sample} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - H01S: DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL ## Abstract A laser module includes a plurality of light emission regions and the plurality of light emission regions emit a plurality of laser beams. An optical waveguide and a lens condense the plurality of laser beams to an identical focal point. An adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust relative positional relation between the sample stage and a condenser lens (the optical waveguide and the lens). A controller is configured to switch between a single-point irradiation mode and a multi-point irradiation mode. The single-point irradiation mode refers to a mode in which the adjustment mechanism is controlled such that the focal point of the plurality of laser beams falls on the thin film. The multi-point irradiation mode refers to a mode in which the adjustment mechanism is controlled such that the focal point does not fall on the thin film. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microscopic object collection system that collects a plurality of microscopic objects dispersed in a liquid, the microscopic object collection system comprising: a holder configured to hold a substrate provided with a photothermal conversion region; a laser beam source including a plurality of light emission regions, the plurality of light emission regions emitting a plurality of laser beams; a condenser lens that condenses the plurality of laser beams to an identical focal point; an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust relative positional relation between the holder and the condenser lens; and a controller that controls the adjustment mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to switch between a single-point irradiation mode and a multi-point irradiation mode, the single-point irradiation mode and the multi-point irradiation mode each being a mode for irradiating the photothermal conversion region with at least one of the plurality of laser beams, the single-point irradiation mode is a mode in which the adjustment mechanism is controlled such that the focal point of the plurality of laser beams falls on the photothermal conversion region, and the multi-point irradiation mode is a mode in which the adjustment mechanism is controlled such that at least some of the plurality of laser beams pass through the photothermal conversion region while the focal point does not fall on the photothermal conversion region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microscopic object collection system according to claim 1, wherein in the multi-point irradiation mode, the controller sets an interval between the plurality of laser beams emitted to the photothermal conversion region by controlling the adjustment mechanism to adjust a distance between the condenser lens and the photothermal conversion region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microscopic object collection system according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam source is vertical cavity surface emitting laser. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microscopic object collection system according to claim 1, wherein the condenser lens includes a graded-index optical fiber and a plano convex lens, and the optical fiber includes one end that covers the plurality of light emission regions and the other end joined to a planar side of the plano convex lens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The microscopic object collection system according to claim 1, wherein when the multi-point irradiation mode is selected under a condition that the liquid is prepared on the photothermal conversion region, the controller controls the adjustment mechanism to produce convection over the photothermal conversion region toward (i) a plurality of air bubbles and (ii) a gap between a plurality of air bubbles by emission of the plurality of laser beams, and to collect the plurality of microscopic objects in the gap. ### Claim 6 A microscopic object collection method of collecting a plurality of microscopic objects dispersed in a liquid, the microscopic object collection method comprising: preparing the liquid on a photothermal conversion region provided in a substrate; adjusting relative positional relation between a condenser lens that condenses a plurality of laser beams to an identical focal point and the photothermal conversion region, the adjusting relative positional relation including selectively setting a first state and a second state, the first state being a state in which the relative positional relation is adjusted such that the focal point of the plurality of laser beams falls on the photothermal conversion region, the second state being a state in which the relative positional relation is adjusted such that at least some of the plurality of laser beams pass through the photothermal conversion region while the focal point does not fall on the photothermal conversion region; producing convection over the photothermal conversion region toward (i) a plurality of air bubbles and (ii) a gap between a plurality of air bubbles by emission of the plurality of laser beams when the second state is selected; and collecting the plurality of microscopic objects in the gap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The microscopic object collection method according to claim 6, wherein in the substrate, a plurality of pores in which the plurality of microscopic objects are caught and a plurality of partition walls each serving as a partition between adjacent pores of the plurality of pores are provided, and the photothermal conversion region is provided to cover at least one of the plurality of pores and the plurality of partition walls.