# US 2019/0170645 A1 · Optical fiber fluorescence detection device

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- Number: US 2019/0170645 A1
- Document ID: US20190170645A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/268,663
- Filed: 2019-02-06
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-19
- Assignees: Enplas Corporation
- Applicants: Enplas Corporation
- Inventors: Ken KITAMOTO; Koichi ONO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170645A1

## CPC

- G01N 21/645: {Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters}
- G01N 21/05: Flow-through cuvettes (G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10)
- G01N 21/6428: {Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" (in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53)}
- G01N 33/02: Food
- G01N 2021/6439: {with indicators, stains, dyes, tags, labels, marks}
- G01N 2021/6482: {Sample cells, cuvettes}
- G01N 2021/6484: {Optical fibres}
- 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

This detection device is provided with: a chip including a detection region for detecting a substance to be detected; a light source which emits excitation light; a detector for detecting the fluorescence emitted from a fluorescent substance which labels the substance to be detected, and which is excited by the excitation light; and an optical fiber which includes a core, and a cladding covering the outer peripheral surface of the core, guides, to the detection region, the excitation light emitted from the light source, and guides, to the detector, the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance. The optical fiber is fixed to the chip directly or via a connector. The excitation light emitted from the light source is guided within the core, and reaches the detection region of the chip. The fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance is guided within the core and the cladding, and reaches the detector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A detection apparatus comprising:
a chip including a detection target region for detecting a detection object substance;
a light source configured to emit excitation light;
a detector configured to detect fluorescence emitted from a fluorescence material labelling the detection object substance and excited with the excitation light; and
an optical fiber including a core and a clad which covers an outer peripheral surface of the core, the optical fiber being configured to guide excitation light emitted from the light source to the detection target region, and guide fluorescence emitted from the fluorescence material to the detector, wherein:
the optical fiber is directly fixed to the chip, or fixed to the chip through a connector;
the excitation light emitted from the light source is guided in the core and reaches the detection target region of the chip; and
the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescence material is guided in the core and the clad and reaches the detector.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a cross-section including an axis of the optical fiber, a cross-sectional width of the core falls within a range of ±10% of a cross-sectional width of the detection target region.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reflection member configured to reflect light inside the optical fiber is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the clad.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at an end portion of the optical fiber on the detection target region side, a tip end portion of the clad protrudes from the end portion of the optical fiber toward the detection target region side relative to a tip end portion of the core.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an outer peripheral surface of the tip end portion of the clad is a curved line protruding outward in a cross-section taken along the axis of the optical fiber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein recesses capable of fitting the tip end portion of the clad is disposed around the object detection region of the chip.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:
the detection target region is a part of a channel which is formed when a groove formed on the chip is sealed with a film; and
the recesses are opposed to each other with the channel therebetween.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is fixed to the chip through the connector.