Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi-high-technologies Corporation

Hitachi High-tech Corporation

Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.

Roche Diagnostics Gmbh

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Muneo Maeshima

Satoshi Takahashi

Shigeru Matsui

Kazuo Takeda

Masaya Kojima

Kazumichi Imai

Chihiro Uematsu

Yoshitaka Kodama

Hitoshi Komuro

Akira Masuya

Koji Tomita

Isao Yamazaki

Tomonori Mimura

Tomohiro Shoji

Sakuichiro Adachi

Kyoko Imai

Hiromi Yamashita

Yoshiyuki Okishima

Kenta Imai

Toshiro Saito

Ryuji Tao

Makiko Takahashi

Koshin Hamasaki

Shunichiro Nobuki

Yasunori Shoji

Isao Nemoto

Wataru Matsuo

Toshifumi Honda

Yuta Urano

Ryoji Inaba

Makoto Ohkura

Tomoyuki Sakai

Daizo Tokinaga

Terumi Tamura

Kohshi Maeda

Akira Maekawa

Miho Ozawa

Hirofumi Shimizu

Takuya Matsui

Hiroko Fujita

Yasushi Matsuda

Seiichi Isomae

Takayuki Obara

Shinya Murakami

Kyoko Minowa

Yohei Hanazaki

Hideaki Minekawa

Yoshiko Ishida

The invention provides a technology for promptly determining bacterial identification or an antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In the invention, first, a state where the bacteria are divided is monitored by performing microscopic observation with respect to the shape or the number of bacteria in each of wells of a culture plate for bacterial identification culture or the antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In addition, the shape, the number or the area of the bacteria are interpreted from the image obtained by the microscopic observation whether or not the bacteria proliferate at a stage from an induction phase to a logarithmic phase, and the time-dependent changes thereof are made into a graph. From the graph, it is determined whether or not the bacteria proliferate for each measurement, the determination results are displayed on the screen, and accordingly, the result of the antimicrobial susceptibility is provided every time when the measurement is performed.

Test device

Provided is a test apparatus in which a test for bacterial identification or antimicrobial susceptibility can be promptly determined. A division state of bacteria is monitored by performing microscopic observation of shapes and the number of the bacteria in each of wells in a culture plate for bacterial identification culture or an antimicrobial susceptibility test, and it is determined whether or not the bacteria grow in a stage shifted from an induction phase to a logarithmic phase, with reference to an image obtained through microscopic observation. In addition, determination performed based on turbidity in the related art may be combined with determination performed based on microscopic observation in which change and the like in the shapes of the bacteria are monitored. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a highly accurate test result.

Test apparatus

In the present invention, information is analyzed, the positional relationship of cells/microbes in the optical axis direction is detected, and motility of cells/microbes is evaluated even in an out-of-focus view from an image obtained by a single image capture in an observation view of the cells/microbes. The present invention is provided with an optical system used to measure microparticles present in a sample liquid in a sample container, a drive mechanism for driving the sample container and/or a portion of the optical system in order to three-dimensionally search a bottom surface of the sample container, a control unit for controlling the optical system or the drive mechanism, an image processing unit for dividing an image of microparticles in the sample container at a first time and a second time into an in-focus region and an out-of-focus region and acquiring information relating to the microparticles, and a display unit for displaying the information relating to the microparticles as information representing a temporal change between the first time and the second time.

Observation device

A highly reflective light-guide system has a highly reflective light-guide surface for reflecting light that has been emitted from a sample and has entered from an entry port opposing a window material and propagating the same to an exit port opposing a light reception surface of a photodetector. An optical filter is provided in a space surrounded by the window material, the photodetector, and the highly reflective light-guide system and transmits the signal luminescence to be measured that is emitted from the sample between the window material and photodetector. The optical filter is fixed to the window material or photodetector by an adhesive, and the peripheral shape of the optical filter is smaller than the shape of the inside of a fitting part to which the optical filter is fitted and that is formed on the highly reflective light-guide system.

Detection device for luminescence analysis and automated analyzer

The invention provides a technology for promptly determining bacterial identification or an antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In the invention, first, a state where the bacteria are divided is monitored by performing microscopic observation with respect to the shape or the number of bacteria in each of wells of a culture plate for bacterial identification culture or the antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In addition, the shape, the number or the area of the bacteria are interpreted from the image obtained by the microscopic observation whether or not the bacteria proliferate at a stage from an induction phase to a logarithmic phase, and the time-dependent changes thereof are made into a graph. From the graph, it is determined whether or not the bacteria proliferate for each measurement, the determination results are displayed on the screen, and accordingly, the result of the antimicrobial susceptibility is provided every time when the measurement is performed (FIG.).

This optical analyzing device is provided with a light source, a detector, a substrate having a metal film on at least one surface thereof, and an optical element for introducing a light beam from the light source to the substrate and delivering the light beam from the substrate toward the detector. A plurality of sample regions for holding samples are provided on the metal film; and a portion of the light beam from the light source is irradiated to any one of the sample regions, is reflected, at least once, by the surface of the substrate on the opposite side of the side on which the sample regions are provided, and is not irradiated to a sample region other than the aforementioned sample region in the path thereof until the portion of the light beam is delivered by the optical element.

Optical analyzing device

This sensitivity measuring device is provided with: a stage for placing a sample container; a temperature adjustment device that is provided with an upper heating body and a lower heating body, which are disposed above and below the sample container; and an image pickup device for picking up an image of the sample container, said image pickup device being provided with a lighting apparatus and an image pickup apparatus. Each of the upper heating body and the lower heating body has a structure wherein the temperature of a first region, a peripheral portion, is higher than the temperature of a second region including a center portion.

Sensitivity measuring device and inspection device

An analyzing device of the present invention is provided with a flow chamber that a fluid including magnetic particles associated with a labeling substance flows from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, magnetic trap means to apply a magnetic field for trapping the magnetic particles to the fluid in the flow chamber, a working electrode and a counter electrode to apply a voltage to the magnetic particles trapped by the magnetic trap means, and to emit a luminescence, a light detection element to detect a luminescence derived from the labeling substance on the magnetic particles trapped in the flow chamber, and regulating means to regulate a region that the light detection element detects the luminescence derived from the labeling substance on a part of magnetic particles of them trapped by the magnetic trap means.

Automatic analysis device

A convenient method for nucleic acid analysis is provided, which enables 1000 or more types of nucleic acid to be analyzed collectively with high comprehensiveness and with a dynamic range of at least four digits. In particular, provided is a very effective analytical method especially for untranslated RNAs and microRNAs, of which the types of target nucleic acids is 10000 or lower. Nucleic acids can be analyzed conveniently and rapidly with high comprehensiveness and quantitative performance at single-molecule sensitivity and resolution by following the steps of: preparing a group of target nucleic acid fragments one molecule at a time and hybridizing the nucleic acid molecules, which have known base sequences and have been labeled with the fluorescence substances, with the group of the target nucleic acid fragments to detect the fluorescence substances labeling the hybridized nucleic acid molecules.

Method and apparatus for nucleic acid analysis

To be adapted to various types of latex reagents for detecting scattered light and thereby measuring agglutination reactions with high sensitivity while sufficiently ensuring integration time. To be adapted to various types of latex particles of different particle sizes, a plurality of light receivers are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the direction of cell movement by rotation of a cell disk. To ensure sufficient integration time, the angle between the optical axis of the irradiation light and each of a plurality of optical axes of scattered light viewed from above the cell is made equal to or less than 17.7&#xb0; including a mounting error.

Automatic analyzer

The method for analyzing biomolecules, includes the steps of: immobilizing biomolecules to be analyzed on surfaces of magnetic microparticles; reacting labeled probe molecules with the biomolecules to be analyzed; collecting and immobilizing the microparticles on a support substrate; and measuring a label on the support substrate. Since single-molecule immobilized magnetic microparticles are used in the present invention, the number of biomolecules can be counted, and since hybridization and an antigen-antibody reaction are performed with the microparticles having biomolecules immobilized thereon dispersed, the reaction can be rapidly performed. Further, the type and the abundance of biomolecules of interest can be determined at a single molecular level, so as to evaluate, in particular, the absolute concentration of biomolecules.

Method for analyzing biomolecules and biomolecule analyzer

A nucleic acid extractor reducing the possibility of cross contamination and a gene analysis apparatus having a nucleic acid amplification function and a detection function are provided. The nucleic acid extractor has a kit for nucleic acid extraction using silica-coated magnetic beads under the presence of a chaotropic agent, and includes a magnet coveraccommodating a magnetin the inside and separating the magnetand a reaction container, a wall partcovering the outside of the reaction containerin a state of accommodating at least a portion of the magnet coverin the reaction container, and a upper portioncovering a space above the reaction containerin a state of accommodating at least a portion of the magnet coverin the reaction container. Scattering of liquid and aerosol can be prevented and the possibility of cross contamination can be reduced.

Kit for nucleic acid extraction and a nucleic acid extractor

This invention concerns a sample processing device capable of efficiently recovering biological molecules, such as nucleic acids or proteins. The sample processing device is capable of placing a reaction container having a plurality of reaction sites, and it comprises a nozzle mechanism with a nozzle capable of attaching and removing a dispenser tip for dispensing a solution into the reaction sites of the reaction container and a magnetic tip for generating a magnetic field that allows magnetic beads to migrate to a space among the plurality of reaction sites in the reaction container, and a drive control unit controlling the nozzle mechanism.

Sample processing device, sample processing method, and reaction container used in these device and method

All of bio-related substances, such as cells or bacteria, are placed at single and independent positions. A flow cell according to the present invention is used for analyzing a bio-related substance and includes a flow passageway and an injection opening and a discharge opening that are connected to the flow passageway. The flow passageway is provided with trapping structural members for trapping the bio-related substance. The trapping structural members include a structure forming a dead water region in which the bio-related substance is trapped.

Flow cell, analysis equipment and analysis method using same

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Mito, Japan

Muneo Maeshima