Abstract: An assay apparatus used for an immunochromatographic assay, the assay apparatus comprising an illumination unit that has an emission end portion for emitting light that illuminates an observation region including an assay region in which a color development state changes depending on whether a sample is positive or negative, where the illumination unit makes it possible to dispose at least a part of the emission end portion, in a state of being brought into contact, in a position separated from an opening portion on an outer surface of the outer shell of the cartridge in a loaded state, the position being capable of guiding a light incident into the outer shell from the emission end portion to an inner edge of the opening portion by transmitting the incident light through the outer shell.

Abstract: A cartridge has a strip that is provided with the test region and a case in which the strip is accommodated and in which an observation window for observing the test region from an outside is formed in a surface. A emission end portion, through which illumination light for illuminating a test region, is disposed at a position separated from the observation window on a rear surface of the case. A detection unit, that optically detects the color development state of the test region irradiated with the illumination light, is disposed at a position facing the observation window on a surface side of the case. The illumination light is transmitted from the rear surface of the case to an inside of the case, reaches the test region while being diffuse-reflected by an inner surface of the case, and illuminates the test region from the surface side.

Abstract: A fluorescence imaging device includes a microplate that holds a plurality of samples generating fluorescence, a lens assembly, and an imaging unit that collectively images the plurality of samples through the lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a Fresnel lens made of a resin, a second protective plate that protects the surface of the Fresnel lens facing the microplate, a spacer that forms a gap between the Fresnel lens and the protective plate, and a frame by which the Fresnel lens, the second protective plate, and the spacer are sandwiched.

Abstract: A fluorescence imaging device includes a microplate that holds a plurality of samples generating fluorescence, a lens assembly, and an imaging unit that collectively images the plurality of samples through the lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a Fresnel lens made of a resin, a second protective plate that protects the surface of the Fresnel lens facing the microplate, a spacer that forms a gap between the Fresnel lens and the protective plate, and a frame by which the Fresnel lens, the second protective plate, and the spacer are sandwiched.

Abstract: A first resin plate includes a phthalocyanine-based pigment as an organic fluorescent material and is used for shading correction in a case in which infrared excitation light with a center wavelength of 770 nm to 800 nm. A second resin plate includes an anthraquinone-based pigment as the organic fluorescent material and is used for shading correction in a case in which red excitation light with a center wavelength of 650 nm to 690 nm. An acquisition unit acquires a reference image obtained by irradiating the resin plates with the infrared excitation light and the red excitation light, respectively. A correction unit performs shading correction for a fluorescence image on the basis of the reference image.

Abstract: A first resin plate includes a phthalocyanine-based pigment as an organic fluorescent material and is used for shading correction in a case in which infrared excitation light with a center wavelength of 770 nm to 800 nm. A second resin plate includes an anthraquinone-based pigment as the organic fluorescent material and is used for shading correction in a case in which red excitation light with a center wavelength of 650 nm to 690 nm. An acquisition unit acquires a reference image obtained by irradiating the resin plates with the infrared excitation light and the red excitation light, respectively. A correction unit performs shading correction for a fluorescence image on the basis of the reference image.

Abstract: A light source unit has two or more types of emission units which apply excitation light of three colors (blue, green, and red). The emission units share a single circuit board. LEDs of the respective emission units are mounted on the circuit board. An excitation light filter, which limits a wavelength range of light to generate the excitation light, is placed in front of each LED in direction of light emission from the LED. Each emission unit has a mounting area that faces the excitation light filter. Blue light from the LED excites resin contained in the circuit board and causes harmful light. Light shielding sections provided around the mounting area prevent the harmful light from being transmitted to another emission unit through the circuit board. Each light shielding section is composed of through holes.

Abstract: A light source unit has two or more types of emission units which apply excitation light of three colors (blue, green, and red). The emission units share a single circuit board. LEDs of the respective emission units are mounted on the circuit board. An excitation light filter, which limits a wavelength range of light to generate the excitation light, is placed in front of each LED in direction of light emission from the LED. Each emission unit has a mounting area that faces the excitation light filter. Blue light from the LED excites resin contained in the circuit board and causes harmful light. Light shielding sections provided around the mounting area prevent the harmful light from being transmitted to another emission unit through the circuit board. Each light shielding section is composed of through holes.

Abstract: A stable light source device is provided with a light source, a pinhole constricting optical flux emitted from the light source, a first integrating element inside which optical flux from the pinhole is multiply reflected, a light detection sensor monitoring a light amount, a control section controlling the light source on the basis of the light amount monitored by the light detection sensor and making the light amount consistent, an aperture formed in the first integrating element and emitting light outside the first integrating element, a diffusion-transmission member disposed at a light emission side of the aperture, a branching section disposed at a light emission side of the diffusion-transmission member and branching incident light towards plural light emission portions, and neutral density filters provided at the light emission portions, transmitted light amounts thereof respectively differing such that light amounts at the light emission portions are respectively different.

Abstract: A fluorometric assay apparatus comprising an LED light source configured with at least two types of excitation LED that have different principle wavelengths from each other and are disposed in a two dimensional array on a substrate; an imaging lens for imaging a subject; a single excitation filter provided between the LED light source and a subject, the single excitation filter transmitting each of principle wavelength components of the LED light source; and a single detection long pass filter provided between the imaging lens and the subject.

Abstract: A fluorometric assay apparatus comprising an LED light source configured with at least two types of excitation LED that have different principle wavelengths from each other and are disposed in a two dimensional array on a substrate; an imaging lens for imaging a subject; a single excitation filter provided between the LED light source and a subject, the single excitation filter transmitting each of principle wavelength components of the LED light source; and a single detection long pass filter provided between the imaging lens and the subject.

Abstract: A stable light source device is provided with a light source, a pinhole constricting optical flux emitted from the light source, a first integrating element inside which optical flux from the pinhole is multiply reflected, a light detection sensor monitoring a light amount, a control section controlling the light source on the basis of the light amount monitored by the light detection sensor and making the light amount consistent, an aperture formed in the first integrating element and emitting light outside the first integrating element, a diffusion-transmission member disposed at a light emission side of the aperture, a branching section disposed at a light emission side of the diffusion-transmission member and branching incident light towards plural light emission portions, and neutral density filters provided at the light emission portions, transmitted light amounts thereof respectively differing such that light amounts at the light emission portions are respectively different.

Abstract: In a fluorescence detection method: each of one or more biological specimens is irradiated with excitation light while a substrate disk is rotated, where the one or more biological specimens are labeled with a fluorescent material and fixed on the substrate disk. Fluorescence which is emitted from each of the one or more biological specimens is detected when a predetermined time elapses since the biological specimen is irradiated with the excitation light.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus has an organic CMOS image sensor mounted in a base, and a photoreceptive surface of the image sensor is exposed on a top side of the base. A subject is placed directly on the photoreceptive surface, and the subject and the photoreceptive surface are covered up with a cover light-tightly. Thus the image sensor detects only chemiluminescent light from the subject. As for a fluorochrome-labeled subject, the subject placed directly on the photoreceptive surface is irradiated with excitation light from a light source mounted in the cover. The image sensor is provided with a filter for blocking the excitation light from its photoelectric conversion layers, so the image sensor detects only fluorescent rays generated from the excited fluorochrome-labeled subject. The image scanning apparatus needs no redundant space in perpendicular direction to the photoreceptive surface.

Abstract: An imaging section is secured to a casing, and an object is supported on an object support section, which is located within the casing. The object support section is moved within the casing in order for an imaging distance between the imaging section and the object, which has been supported on the object support section, to be altered. Excitation light is irradiated to the object, which has been supported on the object support section, with an excitation light source, which is secured to the object support section. A distribution of illuminances of the excitation light on the object is thus prevented from fluctuating to a fluctuation of the imaging distance.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus has an organic CMOS image sensor mounted in a base, and a photoreceptive surface of the image sensor is exposed on a top side of the base. A subject is placed directly on the photoreceptive surface, and the subject and the photoreceptive surface are covered up with a cover light-tightly. Thus the image sensor detects only chemiluminescent light from the subject. As for a fluorochrome-labeled subject, the subject placed directly on the photoreceptive surface is irradiated with excitation light from a light source mounted in the cover. The image sensor is provided with a filter for blocking the excitation light from its photoelectric conversion layers, so the image sensor detects only fluorescent rays generated from the excited fluorochrome-labeled subject. The image scanning apparatus needs no redundant space in perpendicular direction to the photoreceptive surface.

Abstract: In a fluorescence detection method: each of one or more biological specimens is irradiated with excitation light while a substrate disk is rotated, where the one or more biological specimens are labeled with a fluorescent material and fixed on the substrate disk. Fluorescence which is emitted from each of the one or more biological specimens is detected when a predetermined time elapses since the biological specimen is irradiated with the excitation light.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for correcting influences of a distortion aberration of a lens in an image formed on an image surface by the lens. Distortions of respective portions of the image are corrected according to a distortion aberration characteristic of the lens. The distortion aberration characteristic indicates distortions at respective distances from an optical axis of the lens on the image surface. Then, a value of at least one kind of information belonging to each point of the image in which the distortions are corrected is determined based on values of the at least one kind of information belonging to points around a corresponding point in the image before the correction. Further, the density or brightness values of the predetermined pixels after the correction of the positions may be further corrected in consideration of the change of areas due to the distortion of the image.

Abstract: An image data producing apparatus includes comprising at least one stimulating ray source for emitting a stimulating ray, a stage on which an image carrier including independently formed and two-dimensionally distributed specimen spots, at least some of which contain a fluorescent substance, is to be placed, a two-dimensional area sensor, and a controller for irradiating the image carrier placed on the stage with a stimulating ray emitted from the at least one stimulating ray source, thereby exciting a fluorescent substance contained in the specimens, stopping the irradiation with the stimulating ray and causing the two-dimensional area sensor to photoelectrically detect residual fluorescence emission released from the fluorescent substance contained in the specimens.

Abstract: An imaging section is secured to a casing, and an object is supported on an object support section, which is located within the casing. The object support section is moved within the casing in order for an imaging distance between the imaging section and the object, which has been supported on the object support section, to be altered. Excitation light is irradiated to the object, which has been supported on the object support section, with an excitation light source, which is secured to the object support section. A distribution of illuminances of the excitation light on the object is thus prevented from fluctuating to a fluctuation of the imaging distance.