Detection device

A detection device that detects presence or an amount of a substance to be detected using an enhanced electric field based on surface plasmon resonance, the detection device comprising:

• a chip optical signal detection unit configured to detect reflected light or transmitted light generated in the detection chip held by the chip holder when the detection chip is irradiated with the excitation light;
• a chip position detection unit configured to detect a position of the detection chip according to an output value of the chip optical signal detection unit;
• a detected chip position adjustment unit configured to move the detection chip to a measurement position on the basis of a detection chip position detected by the chip position detection unit;
• a chip holder configured to hold a detection chip having a metal film and a capturing body for capturing a substance to be detected which is immobilized on the metal film;
• a light projecting unit configured to irradiate the metal film of the detection chip held by the chip holder with excitation light to generate the surface plasmon resonance;
• and
• a detection unit configured to detect light that is derived from the presence or the amount of the substance to be detected, and is generated by occurrence of the surface plasmon resonance as a result of irradiation of the metal film with the excitation light, wherein
• the light projecting unit includes:
• a light source that emits the excitation light;
• a diaphragm for regulating a light flux emitted from the light source;
• and
• a conjugate optical system that optically conjugates an opening portion of the diaphragm and a region of the metal film irradiated with the excitation light.

A detection method for detecting presence or an amount of a substance to be detected using an enhanced electric field based on surface plasmon resonance, the detection method comprising:

• preparing a detection device, the detection device including:
• a chip holder configured to hold a detection chip having a metal film and a capturing body for capturing a substance to be detected which is immobilized on the metal film;
• a light projecting unit configured to irradiate the metal film of the detection chip held by the chip holder with excitation light to generate the surface plasmon resonance;
• a detection unit configured to detect light that is derived from the presence or the amount of the substance to be detected, and is generated by occurrence of the surface plasmon resonance as a result of irradiation of the metal film with the excitation light;
• a chip optical signal detection unit configured to detect reflected light or transmitted light generated in the detection chip held by the chip holder when the detection chip is irradiated with the excitation light;
• a chip position detection unit configured to detect a position of the detection chip according to an output value of the chip optical signal detection unit;
• and
• a detected chip position adjustment unit configured to move the detection chip to a measurement position on the basis of a detection chip position detected by the chip position detection unit, wherein
• the light projecting unit includes:
• a light source that emits the excitation light;
• a diaphragm for regulating a light flux emitted from the light source;
• and
• a conjugate optical system that optically conjugates an opening portion of the diaphragm and a region of the metal film irradiated with the excitation light,
• detecting reflected light or transmitted light of the excitation light with which the detection chip held by the chip holder is irradiated to obtain position information of the detection chip;
• and
• adjusting a position of the detection chip on the basis of the position information of the detection chip.