JPH1123533A - Light scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply and accurately measure the distribution along the electric field direction of an electrophoretic material by assembling a counter electrode, a reference electrode, and electric field generating electrodes for causing electrophoresis in a sensor cassette for use. SOLUTION: A sensor cassette 4 is set on a sensor cassette reception section 15, then the door of a cassette insertion port is closed. Contact probes 54-58 in a measuring device body are set to the released state separated from the contact sections 38c-42c of a working electrode 38, counter electrode 39, reference electrode 40, and electrophoretic electrodes 41, 42 of the sensor cassette 4. A switch is operated to move a slide base, the contact probes 54-58 are brought into contact with the contact sections 38c-42c of the working electrode 38, counter electrode 39, reference electrode 40, and electrophoretic electrode 41, 42 of the sensor cassette 4 at the prescribed contact pressure respectively into the measurable state. The speed of the electrophoretic colloidal grains electrophoretically migrating in the electric field is measured by analysing the images before and after electrophoresis. The result is processed by a computer, and is displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring apparatus capable of measuring the distribution of an electrophoretic substance such as colloid particles along an electric field.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of measuring the concentration of an electrophoretic substance along an electric field, there is a fluorescence method using fluorescent light emission by ultraviolet rays. However, accuracy of one-dimensional concentration measurement is limited. In addition, the pH distribution with respect to the potential gradient is unknown, and qualitative rather than quantitative measurement is mainly used.

In recent years, research and development of an apparatus for two-dimensionally measuring the concentration of a substance (eg, ions) dissolved in a liquid or a liquid impregnated in the substance have been carried out.
One of the methods for measuring the two-dimensional distribution is LAPS.
(Light-Addressable Potent
There is an electrochemical image measurement device including an iometric sensor. Such a device, for example,
Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 33 (19
94) As described in pp L394-L397, a semiconductor substrate on which a sensor surface responsive to ions or the like is formed is scanned with appropriate light, and a photocurrent induced in the semiconductor substrate by this scan is extracted. Measurement can be performed.

[0004] The concentration distribution of the dissolved substance is measured by inserting or contacting the sensor section of the device directly with the target substance to be measured. The obtained data is output as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional density distribution image by computer processing. Not only the concentration distribution at a certain time but also the state of the change can be tracked in real time. An image obtained in real time can be easily compared with an electromagnetic wave image obtained by visual observation, a CCD camera, or the like.

The applicant of the present application has filed an invention on the above-described optical scanning type two-dimensional density distribution measuring apparatus and a technique related thereto with Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 7-39114 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
213580) and many other patent applications.

However, the conventional optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring apparatus described above does not have a positive / negative DC electrode for electrophoresis, a control device or software, and requires an electrophoretic apparatus to be installed outside for measurement. Instead, the measurement is susceptible to external noise, which may hinder the measurement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and is intended to measure not only two-dimensional concentration of a solution or the like but also simple and accurate distribution of an electrophoretic substance along an electric field direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical scanning type two-dimensional density distribution measuring device which can perform the above-mentioned.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an optical scanning type two-dimensional density distribution measuring apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a sensor sandwiched between a sensor holder and a sensor cover; A sensor cassette incorporating an ohmic contact for taking out an electrode, a counter electrode, a reference electrode, and an electrode for generating an electric field for causing electrophoresis, and a sensor cassette provided in the main body of the measuring apparatus, wherein the sensor cassette is detachably set. And a contact probe unit provided in the measuring device main body so as to be able to approach and separate from the electrodes incorporated in the sensor cassette.

In the optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring apparatus having the above-described configuration, not only the two-dimensional concentration distribution of the solution but also the distribution of the electrophoretic substance along the electric field direction can be easily measured. Now, unknown electrophoretic substances can be measured.

Since the sensor is incorporated in the cassette, the sensor can be easily attached to and detached from the measuring apparatus main body. In addition, since the structure of the sensor cassette holding the sensor is simple, even if a failure occurs in the sensor, the inspection and replacement can be easily performed, and the parts around the sensor can be reused. It is environmentally friendly.

Further, since the signal is taken out by the contact probe, the signal can be taken out stably and stable measurement can be carried out.

In the optical scanning type two-dimensional density distribution measuring device having the above-described configuration, an erroneous setting preventing portion for the sensor cassette receiving portion may be formed on the outer periphery of the sensor cassette. While the guide portion is provided, a guided portion guided by the guide portion may be formed in the sensor cassette. With this configuration, the sensor cassette can be reliably set in the sensor cassette receiving portion. In particular, in the latter case, the sensor cassette can be automatically loaded into the sensor cassette receiving portion. .

Further, when all of a working electrode, a counter electrode, a reference electrode, and an electrode for generating an electric field for generating electrophoresis connected to the ohmic contact are collectively provided on one side of a cell on the upper surface of the sensor, a corresponding electrode is provided. The configuration and control of the contact probe section to be performed are simplified.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show one embodiment of the present invention. First, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a measuring device main body, and a front plate 3 of a case 2 thereof.
Is provided with a cassette insertion / extraction opening 5 for inserting and removing the sensor cassette 4 (its configuration will be described in detail later). It has a size enough to enter, and is provided with a door 6 for opening and closing it.
As will be described later, the door 6 is configured so that the laser beam 78 does not leak to the outside from the location where the laser beam 78 is used. It is configured to be in an open or closed state. Reference numeral 8a denotes an optical microscope extending from the upper part of the case 2 to the lower part thereof so as to face the sensor cassette 4 set at a predetermined position in the case 2, and 8b denotes an observation image input device such as a CCD camera. is there.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a control / image processing device which controls the measuring device main body 1, processes a signal transmitted from it, and displays and records the result, and is, for example, a computer having an image processing function. . This computer 9 performs processes such as control and various calculations,
A main body 10 for storing data and processing results, for example, a display device 11 composed of a color display, an input keyboard 12,
It consists of a mouse 13 and the like, and is connected to the measuring device main body 1 by a signal cable 14.

Next, the configuration of the measuring apparatus main body 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the optical scanning type two-dimensional density distribution measuring device of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 15 denotes a sensor cassette receiving portion in which the sensor cassette 4 can be detachably set; Are electrodes 38, 39, 4 formed on the sensor cassette 4 set in the sensor cassette receiving portion 15.
The contact probe unit is provided so as to be able to freely contact and separate from 0, 41, and 42 (described later). The sensor cassette receiving portion 15 and the contact probe portion 16 are provided in the measuring device main body 1. The detailed configuration and arrangement thereof will be described later in detail.

First, the configuration of the sensor cassette 4 will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numerals 17 and 18 denote a sensor holder and a holder cover having a rectangular shape in plan view, between which an ohmic contact 36, a sensor 30, and a packing 34, which will be described later, are sandwiched in this order. 3).

Each of the sensor holder 17 and the holder cover 18 is made of an insulating material having an appropriate thickness, for example, a synthetic resin.
One corner has a diagonally cut portion 19, while one corresponding corner 19a is
The sensor cassette 4 is formed in a shape different from that of the sensor cassette 9 so as to prevent the sensor cassette 4 from being erroneously set in the sensor cassette receiving portion 15. , 21 are provided. These through holes 20 and 21 have substantially the same size as the sensor 30. The outer dimensions of the sensor holder 17 and the holder cover 18 in plan view do not necessarily have to be equal.

Around the lower end of the through hole 20 of the sensor holder 17, the ohmic contact 36 and the sensor 3
Counterbore surface 20a for holding the seal 0 and the packing 34
Is formed around the lower end side of the through hole 21 of the holder cover 18 so as to correspond to the counterbore surface 20a (see FIG. 3).

The sensor holder 17 has a through hole 20.
Four screw holes 23 for screwing the screws 22 are formed on the outside of the sensor cassette, and four screw holes 23 are formed at positions corresponding to the guide pins 51 (see FIG. 2) provided in the sensor cassette receiving portion 15. A hole (guided portion) 24 is provided therethrough. On the other hand, the holder cover 18 is provided with a hole 25 for inserting the screw 22 at a position corresponding to the screw hole 23, and four grooves 26, 27, 28, on one side 21 b side of the through hole 21. 29 are juxtaposed at appropriate intervals. That is, the grooves 26 and 27 are located in the middle of the side 21b, and the grooves 28 and 29 are located so as to sandwich the other grooves 26 and 27.
It is formed so as to straddle c and 21d.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a sensor having a square shape in a plan view, and is formed so that its outer shape substantially matches the shape and dimensions of the spot facing surface 20a and the protruding flat surface 21a. This sensor 30
As shown in FIG. 7, a semiconductor substrate 3 made of silicon or the like having a thickness smaller than the measurement resolution (for example, 100 μm or less).
1, an SiO ₂ layer 32 on the upper surface, and Si ₃ N as a sensor
_{The four} layers 33 are sequentially formed by a method such as thermal oxidation or CVD, and are formed so as to respond to hydrogen ions.

Numeral 34 is a packing having a rectangular shape in a plan view, the outer shape of which substantially matches the shape and size of the spot facing surface 20a and the protruding surface 21a, and a hole 35 in the center which matches the shape and size of the through holes 20, 21. ing. The packing 34 is made of, for example, silicon rubber.

Reference numeral 36 denotes an electrode for extracting a current signal provided so as to contact the semiconductor substrate 31 of the sensor 30. As shown in FIGS.
a, a hole 37 substantially conforming to the shape and dimensions of the protruding flat surface 21a and having, in the center thereof, conforming to the shape and dimensions of the through holes 20, 21
And a protruding piece 38 serving as a working electrode from an appropriate location around the same. This protruding piece 38 is formed by bending a strip-shaped portion so that both ends are parallel to each other in different directions, and is connected to the ohmic contact 36.
A portion 38a bent upward at a right angle and a portion 38b connected to the portion 38a and horizontally bent therefrom.
And a portion 38c which is connected to the portion, is bent upward at a right angle, and contacts a contact probe 54 described later. The ohmic contact 36 and the working electrode 38 connected to the ohmic contact 36 are made of a metal plate of silver or platinum having an appropriate thickness, and the portion 38c is plated with, for example, gold to prevent oxidation and reduce contact resistance. Note that part 3
8c may be bent downward at a right angle.

Reference numerals 39 and 40 are counter electrodes and reference electrodes. As shown in FIG. 4, they are formed in a U-shape so that they can be mounted in two grooves 26 and 27 formed on one side 21b of the through hole 21 of the holder cover 18. Is formed. That is, the counter electrode 39 and the reference electrode 40 are made of a suitably thick metal plate such as silver or platinum, and are bent so that both ends of the strip-shaped plate are parallel in the same direction. That is, the counter electrode 39 and the reference electrode 40 have one bent portion 39a, 40a along a part of the inner wall forming the through hole 21 and the horizontal portions 39b, 40b are fitted into the grooves 26, 27.
The other bent portions 39c and 40c are formed so as to be attached to the grooves 26 and 27, respectively, along the outer surface of the holder cover 18. This counter electrode 39 and reference electrode 4
The portion 39 where the 0 contact probes 55 and 56 abut.
The outer surfaces of c and 40c are plated with, for example, gold to prevent oxidation and reduce contact resistance.

Reference numerals 41 and 42 denote electrodes for generating an electric field for causing electrophoresis (hereinafter simply referred to as electrodes for electrophoresis).
And vertical portions 41a and 42a along the side wall of the through hole 21;
It comprises horizontal portions 41b and 42b fitted into the grooves 28 and 29, and portions 41c and 42c along the outer portion of the sensor holder 17. The electrodes 41, 42 for electrophoresis are made of a metal plate of silver or platinum having an appropriate thickness, and the outer surfaces of the portions 41c, 42c with which the contact probes 57, 58 abut are, for example, gold-plated to prevent oxidation and reduce contact resistance. Is given.

Reference numeral 43 denotes an electrode press for fixing the counter electrode 39, the reference electrode 40, and the electrodes 41 and 42 for electrophoresis in the grooves 26 to 29, respectively, and is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. Fit into grooves 26-29,
Each of the electrodes 39 to 42 is configured to be firmly fixed.

To assemble the sensor cassette 4,
After the ohmic contact 36, the sensor 30, and the packing 34 are stacked in this order on the counterbore surface 20 a of the sensor holder 17, the holder cover 18 is put on the upper surface of the sensor holder 17 and tightened with the screw 22.
Are kept watertight. Then, the electrodes 39 to 42 are mounted on the grooves 26 to 29 formed in the holder cover 18, and the electrodes 39 to 42 are fixed by the electrode holder 43. by this,
Sensor cassette 4 having cell 44 on the upper surface of sensor 30
(See FIGS. 2 and 3). Note that the sensor holder 17 and the holder cover 18 may be connected to each other by screwing or by fitting, or any other means as long as they can be separated from each other.

As understood from the above description,
In the sensor cassette 4, since the holder cover 18 is only screwed to the sensor holder 17, the members 36, 30, 34 sandwiched between the two members 17, 18 by loosening the screws 22. Can be easily removed, and the electrodes 39 to 42 provided on the holder cover 18 can also be easily removed by removing the electrode retainer 43. These members can be replaced or reused. be able to.

Next, the configuration of the sensor cassette receiving portion 15 for holding the sensor cassette 4 having the above configuration will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the sensor cassette receiver 15 is formed as a part of the XY stage 45, as shown in FIGS. And, on the XY stage 45,
The contact probe section 16 and a moving mechanism 47 for moving the contact probe section 16 so as to linearly move forward and backward in the horizontal direction.
(To be described later) is mounted, and the XY stage 45 is controlled by a signal from a scanning control device 48 (see FIG. 7) as a whole. It is configured to be able to move in the Y direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface) orthogonal to this.

The sensor cassette receiving portion 15 has
As shown in FIG. 2, in order to mount and hold the sensor cassette 4 on its upper surface, a concave portion 49 slightly larger than the outer shape of the sensor cassette 4 and having a predetermined depth is formed, and guide pins 50 as guide portions are formed at four corners thereof. And an erroneous setting prevention part 51 corresponding to the erroneous setting prevention part 19a formed on each of the sensor holder 17 and the holder cover 18 is formed. A through hole 52 having a size corresponding to the entire surface of the sensor 30 is formed substantially at the center of the concave portion 49.

Next, the configuration of the contact probe section 16 and the probe moving mechanism 47 for linearly reciprocating the contact probe section 16 in the horizontal direction will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5 to 7. 5 and 6, reference numeral 53 denotes a contact probe cartridge made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and a working electrode 38 provided on the holder cover 18;
Contact probes 54, 55, 56, 57 attached so as to be able to contact with the counter electrode 39, the reference electrode 40, and the contact portions 38c, 39c, 40c, 41c, 42c of the electrophoresis electrodes 41, 42 with appropriate contact pressures. , 58
And a connector 59 connected to these and having a corresponding receptacle.

A plug 60 is detachably connected to the connector 59. The plug 60 has cables 61, 62,
63, 64 and 65 are connected, and these cables 61 to
The other end of 65 is connected to a control box 79 described later. More specifically, the cables 62 and 63 respectively corresponding to the counter electrode 39 and the reference electrode 40 are connected to the potentiostat 80 in the control box 79, and the cables 61 corresponding to the working electrode 38 connected to the ohmic contact 36.
Is connected to a potentiostat 80 via a current-voltage converter 81 and an operational amplifier circuit 82 in a control box 79.
And the cables 64 and 65 corresponding to the electrophoresis electrodes 41 and 42 are connected to a constant current DC power supply 84 described later.

The contact probe cartridge 53
As shown in FIG. 6, the contact probe section 16 is fixed to a slide base 67 linearly reciprocating in the directions of arrows A and B along a pair of guide members 66 by, for example, screws.

The moving mechanism 47 for linearly moving the slide base 67 forward or backward moves the rotary motion linearly between the output shaft 68a of the motor 68 and the slide base 67 as shown in FIGS. A motion conversion mechanism 69 for converting into motion is provided. That is, the motion converting mechanism 69 includes, for example, a crank disk 70 fixed to the output shaft 68 a, a pin 71 erected at an eccentric position of the disk 70, the eccentric pin 71 and the slide base 67.
And a connecting rod 74 connecting between a pin 73 erected on a bracket 72 provided on the erected member 67a.

In the state shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, when the motor 68 is rotated in a predetermined direction by operating, for example, a measurement start switch 75a provided on the measuring apparatus main body 1, the rotational movement is converted to a movement conversion mechanism. The motion is converted into a linear motion via 69, and the slide base 67 is linearly moved in the direction of arrow A. Thereby, the slide base 67
Contact probe cartridge 5 provided above
3 moves toward the sensor cassette receiving portion 15, and the contact probes 54 to 58 provided in the contact probe cartridge 53 have the working electrode 38 and the counter electrode 3 on the sensor cassette 4 side set in the sensor cassette receiving portion 15.
9. The contact portions 38c, 39c, 40c, 41c and 42c of the reference electrode 40 and the electrolysis DC electrodes 41 and 42 are respectively brought into contact with a predetermined contact pressure, and the state is maintained. That is, the measurement is possible, and the measurement is started.

In the above-mentioned measurable state, when the measurement end switch 75b provided on the measuring device main body 1 is operated to rotate the motor 68 in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction,
The slide base 67 moves in the direction of arrow B, and the contact probes 54 to 58 separate from the contact portions 38c to 42c,
It returns to the release state shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. FIG.
In the figures, reference numerals 76a and 76b denote position detecting devices of the slide base 67 for maintaining the measurable state or the released state, respectively. The above paragraphs 0035 and 0
The operation described in 036 may be automatically controlled from the computer 9 in synchronization with the measurement start / stop.

5 and 7, reference numeral 77 denotes a laser light source for irradiating the semiconductor substrate 31 of the sensor 30 of the sensor cassette 4 set in the sensor cassette receiving portion 15 with laser light 78 as probe light. so,
The XY stage 45 is provided below the XY stage 45 and emits intermittent light by a control signal of the computer 9 via an interface board 83 described later.
5 is configured to irradiate the semiconductor substrate 31 of the sensor 30 scanned in the two-dimensional direction with probe light 78 adjusted to have an optimum beam diameter.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 79 denotes a control box provided in the measuring apparatus main body 1, and the control box 79
1, a potentiostat 80 for applying an appropriate bias voltage, a current-voltage converter 81 for converting a current signal extracted from a working electrode 38 connected to an ohmic contact 36 formed on the semiconductor substrate 31 into a voltage signal, An operational amplifier circuit 82 to which a signal from the voltage converter 81 is input, and exchange signals with the operational amplifier circuit 82;
It comprises a scanning control device 48, a laser light source 77, and an interface board 83 that outputs control signals to an electrophoresis control device 84 described later.

Further, in FIG. 7, reference numeral 84 denotes an electrophoresis control device including a constant voltage DC power supply for applying a constant voltage DC voltage to the electrophoresis electrodes 41 and 42. Reference numeral 85 denotes an observation image input device for inputting signals from the optical microscope 8a and the CCD camera 8b to the computer 9.

The case where the distribution of colloidal particles as an electrophoretic substance along the direction of the electric field is measured using the optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring apparatus having the above configuration will be described.
A sample solution 86 containing colloid particles in the cell 44 of the sensor cassette 4 assembled as shown in FIGS.
(See FIG. 7). Thus, the solution 86 comes into contact with the sensor surface 33 of the sensor 30, and the solution 86 comes into contact with the counter electrode 39 and the reference electrode 40.

Next, the cassette insertion / removal opening 5
, The sensor cassette 4 containing the solution 86 is set in the sensor cassette receiving portion 15 in the measuring device main body 1. These operations are manually performed by an operator (measurement staff). In this case, since the erroneous setting preventing portion 19a for the sensor cassette receiving portion 15 is formed on the outer periphery of the sensor cassette 4, the orientation of the sensor cassette 4 can be confirmed in advance before the sensor cassette 4 is inserted into the cassette insertion slot 5. Since the pins 50 are erected on the sensor cassette receiving portion 15, the pins can be correctly and easily set on the sensor cassette receiving portion 15 of the sensor cassette 4.

As described above, the sensor cassette receiving section 1
After the sensor cassette 4 is set in the cassette 5, the door 6 of the cassette insertion slot 5 is closed. In this state, the inside of the measuring device main body 1 is in a state as shown in FIG.
The counter electrode 39, the reference electrode 40, and the contact portions 38c, 39c, 40c, 41c, 42c of the electrophoresis electrodes 41, 42 are released from the contact portions 38c, 39c, 40c, 41c, 42c. Therefore, by operating the switch 75a, the slide base 45 moves by a predetermined distance in the direction of arrow A, and the contact probes 54 to 58 move the working electrode 38, the counter electrode 39, and the reference electrode 4 of the sensor cassette 4.
0, contact portions 38c and 39 of the electrodes 41 and 42 for electrophoresis
c, 40c, 41c, and 42c are brought into contact with a predetermined contact pressure, respectively, to be in a measurable state.

First, the potential distribution of the solution 86 before measurement is examined. That is, while the bias voltage is applied by the potentiostat 80, the probe light 78 is
By irradiating while sequentially scanning in the direction, a current signal corresponding to the potential at each position can be taken out, and the position signal (X, Y) and the current amount are processed by the computer 9 to indicate the pH concentration. Two-dimensional image information can be obtained. This two-dimensional image information is displayed as a two-dimensional image on the screen of the display device 11 of the computer 9 and stored in a memory as needed.

The application of the bias voltage by the potentiostat 80 is stopped, an electric field is applied to the solution 86 by the electrodes 41 and 42 for electrophoresis, and the electrophoresis of the colloid particles in the solution 86 is started. After 10 seconds), the application of the electric field is stopped and the electrophoresis of the colloid particles is stopped.

A bias voltage is applied by the potentiostat 80.

The potential distribution of the colloid particles after electrophoresis is measured.

Colloidal particles B electrophoresing in an electric field
Is measured by analyzing images before and after electrophoresis.

The potential distribution image is processed by the computer 9, and extrapolation of the isoelectric point is performed based on the moving speed of the colloid particles in the solution 86 by electrophoresis and the applied electric field.
The prediction of the zeta potential and the zeta potential distribution are calculated, and the result is displayed on the display device 11.

In the above state, the electrophoresis controller 84
A predetermined DC voltage is applied to the electrophoresis electrodes 41 and 42 by
That is, a positive DC voltage is applied to the electrode 41 and a negative DC voltage is applied to the electrode 42. As a result, a predetermined DC voltage is applied to the solution 86. In this state, a DC voltage from the potentiostat 80 is applied between the reference electrode 40 and the ohmic contact 36 so that a predetermined bias voltage is applied to the semiconductor substrate 31 so that a depletion layer is generated in the semiconductor substrate 31. Apply. In this state, the probe light 78 is applied to the semiconductor substrate 31 at a constant period (for example, 5 kHz).
The AC light current is generated in the semiconductor substrate 31 by irradiating the semiconductor substrate 31 intermittently. The intermittent irradiation of the probe light 78 is performed by inputting a control signal of the computer 9 through the interface board 83. The photocurrent is a value reflecting the pH of the solution in contact with the sensor 30 at a point facing the irradiation point of the semiconductor substrate 31. By measuring the value, it is possible to know the pH value at this portion. Can be.

Then, the XY control is performed by the scanning control device 48.
By moving the stage 45 in the X and Y directions, the semiconductor substrate 31 is irradiated with the probe light 78 so as to be scanned in a two-dimensional direction, and the position signal (X, Y) in the solution 86 and the position are changed. A two-dimensional image representing pH is displayed on the screen of the display device 11 based on the observed AC photocurrent value.

A predetermined DC voltage is applied to the electrophoresis electrodes 41 and 42 to cause the colloidal particles of the solution 86 to electrophorese and observe the state of distribution in the direction of the electric field with the optical microscope 8a and the CCD camera 8b. The image may be input to the computer 9 via the observation image input device 85, and may be displayed on the display device 11 while being superimposed on the two-dimensional distribution image of pH.

As described above, the optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring apparatus of the present invention can perform distribution measurement and image processing of the electrophoretic substance along the electric field direction. Therefore, the behavior of the electrophoretic substance can be observed, and the calculation and measurement results of the concentration amount can be displayed as an image.

The optical scanning type two-dimensional density distribution measuring device can be used even when a predetermined DC voltage is not applied to the electrophoresis electrodes 41 and 42 by the electrophoresis controller 84. That is, a sample such as a solution or a gel is stored in the cell 44, and the pH can be measured.

Further, in the optical scanning type two-dimensional density distribution measuring device, the measuring part comprises a sensor cassette receiving portion 15 and a contact probe portion 16 on the measuring device main body 1 side.
The sensor cassette 4 is configured to be detachable from the measuring device main body 1, and the sensor 30 is incorporated in the sensor cassette 4, so that the sensor 30 can be easily attached to and detached from the measuring device main body 1. . And the sensor 30
Is simple in structure of the sensor cassette 4 for holding
When a failure occurs in the sensor 30, the inspection and replacement can be easily performed, and the parts around the sensor can be reused, which is a so-called environmentally friendly configuration.

Further, since the signal is taken out by the contact probe section 16 which can be freely attached to and detached from the sensor cassette 4, the signal can be taken out stably and the stable measurement can be carried out. .

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented in various modifications. For example, instead of scanning the XY stage 45 in two-dimensional directions (X and Y directions), The laser light source 77 may be provided with a light irradiating section scanning device to scan the laser light source 77 in the X and Y directions. Equipment,
The probe light 78 may be scanned in the X and Y directions. In any of these cases, there is no need to move the sensor cassette receiving portion 15, the contact probe portion 16, and the moving device 47 two-dimensionally, and the configuration is simplified accordingly.

Further, in the optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring apparatus according to the above embodiment, five electrodes of the working electrode 38, the counter electrode 39, the reference electrode 40, and the electrophoresis electrodes 41 and 42 are connected to the cell on the sensor upper surface. The working electrode 38, the counter electrode 39, and the reference electrode 40 are provided on one side of the cell 44 as shown in FIG. The electrodes 41 and 42 may be provided so as to respectively correspond to the sides corresponding to the sides.

[0058]

According to the optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring apparatus of the present invention, the concentration and distribution of the electrophoretic substance along the electric field direction can be reliably measured, and the measurement result can be displayed as an image. it can.

The sensor can be held stably and easily exchanged, and a signal can be stably taken out. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring device having a practical structure and excellent in usability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an optical scanning type two-dimensional density distribution measuring device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a sensor cassette and a sensor cassette receiving portion.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the sensor cassette.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor cassette.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of main components provided on the measurement device main body side.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the main components.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another configuration example of the sensor cassette and the sensor cassette receiving portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Measuring device main body, 4 ... Sensor cassette, 15 ... Sensor cassette receiving part, 16 ... Contact probe part, 17 ...
Sensor holder, 18: Holder cover, 19a: erroneous setting prevention part, 24: Guided part, 30: Sensor, 36: Ohmic contact, 38: Working electrode, 39: Counter electrode, 40 ...
Reference electrodes, 41, 42: Electrophoresis electrode, 50: Guide part.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sensor sandwiched between a sensor holder and a sensor cover, an ohmic contact for extracting a photocurrent from the sensor, a counter electrode, a reference electrode, and an electric field for generating an electrophoresis. A sensor cassette in which electrodes are incorporated, a sensor cassette receiver provided in the measuring device main body, in which the sensor cassette is detachably set, and a sensor cassette which is detachable from the electrodes incorporated in the sensor cassette. An optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring device comprising a contact probe provided in the measuring device main body. 2. The sensor cassette according to claim 1, wherein an erroneous setting preventing portion for the sensor cassette receiving portion is formed on an outer periphery of the sensor cassette.
2. The optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measuring device according to 1. 3. The optical scanning type two-dimensional density distribution measurement according to claim 1, wherein a guide portion is provided in the sensor cassette receiving portion, and a guided portion guided by the guide portion is formed in the sensor cassette. apparatus. 4. A working electrode connected to an ohmic contact,
The optical scanning type two-dimensional concentration distribution measurement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a counter electrode, a reference electrode, and an electric field generating electrode for causing electrophoresis are collectively provided on one side of the cell on the sensor upper surface. apparatus.