# US 12,222,288 B2 · Biological component measurement apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,288 B2 - Document ID: US12222288B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/790,508 - Filed: 2020-03-04 - Published: 2023-02-16 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-04 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Yuki Tsuda; Koichi Akiyama; Shusaku Hayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222288B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/171: {with calorimetric detection, e.g. with thermal lens detection} - G01N 21/63: optically excited - G01N 21/35: using infrared light (G01N21/39 takes precedence) - G01N 21/41: Refractivity; Phase-affecting properties, e.g. optical path length (G01N21/21 takes precedence) - G01N 21/4133: {Refractometers, e.g. differential} - G01N 2021/1725: {Modulation of properties by light, e.g. photoreflectance} - G01N 2021/1731: {Temperature modulation} - G01N 2021/4153: {Measuring the deflection of light in refractometers} - 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) ## Abstract A biological component measurement apparatus includes an optical medium, a high thermal conductive film, an excitation light source, a probe light source, and a light position detector. The high thermal conductive film is higher in thermal conductivity than the optical medium, and is provided on a sample placement surface of the optical medium. The high thermal conductive film spreads heat generated from the sample irradiated with excitation light more in a first direction than in a second direction. The first direction is a traveling direction of probe light in plan view of the sample placement surface. The second direction is a direction orthogonal to the first direction in plan view of the sample placement surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A biological component measurement apparatus comprising: an optical medium including a sample placement surface; a high thermal conductive film provided on the sample placement surface, the high thermal conductive film being higher in thermal conductivity than the optical medium; an excitation light source to emit, toward a sample placed on the sample placement surface and the high thermal conductive film, excitation light that travels through the optical medium; a probe light source to emit probe light that travels through the optical medium; and a light position detector to detect a position of the probe light outgoing from the optical medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in plan view of the sample placement surface, an optical path of the probe light in the optical medium overlaps an irradiation part of the sample placement surface irradiated with the excitation light, the high thermal conductive film spreads heat generated from the sample irradiated with the excitation light more in a first direction than in a second direction, the first direction is a traveling direction of the probe light in the plan view of the sample placement surface, and the second direction is a direction orthogonal to the first direction in the plan view of the sample placement surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in the plan view of the sample placement surface, the high thermal conductive film overlaps the probe light in the first direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a length of the high thermal conductive film in the second direction is greater than a width of the probe light. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in the plan view of the sample placement surface, the high thermal conductive film has a strip shape with long sides extending in the first direction and short sides extending in the second direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in the plan view of the sample placement surface, the high thermal conductive film extends across the irradiation part in the first direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a length of the high thermal conductive film in the second direction decreases toward the irradiation part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least one opening is provided in a part of the high thermal conductive film that overlaps the irradiation part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the high thermal conductive film includes a plurality of high thermal conductive film parts, and the plurality of high thermal conductive film parts are separated from the irradiation part in the first direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in the plan view of the sample placement surface, the high thermal conductive film is disposed asymmetrically with respect to the irradiation part in the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in the plan view of the sample placement surface, the high thermal conductive film is separated from an entirety of the irradiation part in the first direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an anti-reflection film provided on a distal surface of the high thermal conductive film from the optical medium. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the anti-reflection film is formed of zinc selenide, zinc sulfide, calcium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, potassium bromide, or sodium chloride. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive film is formed of silicon or germanium. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high thermal conductive film is formed of metal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a displacement amount calculation circuit, wherein the light position detector outputs, to the displacement amount calculation circuit, a first position of the probe light when the sample is not irradiated with the excitation light and a second position of the probe light when the sample is irradiated with the excitation light, and the displacement amount calculation circuit calculates a displacement amount of the probe light corresponding to a distance between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a biological component measurement circuit to measure a biological component in the sample or on a surface of the sample based on the displacement amount. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The biological component measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the excitation light is infrared light having a wavelength greater than or equal to 3 μm and less than or equal to 20 μm.