JP2006300802A - Analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an analyzer having a temperature control function keeping a temperature of a specimen in an analytical disk. <P>SOLUTION: Hot wind diffused from a heater unit comprising a heater 5, a heat sink 16 and a fan 17, flows from an outer circumferential side of the analytical disk toward an analytical disk mounting face of a tray, as shown by an arrow mark, a flowing direction thereof is changed to a side face direction of the analytical disk along a tray sloped face, one part of the wind flows to a reverse face side of the analytical disk through an slope in a tray front side, and one part of the wind flows to a surface side of the analytical disk. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an analyzer for rotating a disk in which a liquid sample is injected into a flow path formed therein, and analyzing the components of the liquid sample using optical means, and more specifically, to the disk. The present invention relates to a temperature adjustment technique for keeping the temperature of a liquid sample constant in an analyzer.

  A conventional analyzer using an analysis disk will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an analysis apparatus using a conventional analysis disk, and shows a state after the analysis disk 1 is set in the analysis apparatus.

  The analysis disk 1 is a transparent disk having a semi-reflective film. By irradiating the analysis disk 1 with a laser from the optical pickup 2, the reflected light is reflected by the optical pickup 2 and the transmitted light is transmitted to the upper part of the analysis disk 1. It can be detected by the arranged detector 3.

  In the semi-reflective film, encryption information is recorded in the same manner as a normal optical disk, and a liquid sample is developed in the channel 101 inside the analysis disk 1.

  A motor 4 for rotating the analysis disk 1 is attached to the analyzer, and the optical pickup 2 is attached so as to be driven in the radial direction of the analysis disk.

  The liquid sample in the analysis disk 1 is extracted by rotating the analysis disk 1 with a motor 4 and extracting components necessary for the analysis by centrifugal separation.

  Thereafter, the extracted components are carried to the analysis region while making full use of centrifugal force and capillary action, and the analysis region is referred to by referring to the encrypted position information obtained by detecting the reflected light of the laser irradiated by the optical pickup 2 Is moved to a detectable position and transmitted light that has passed through the analysis region is detected by the detector 3 (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Among those to be analyzed by the above analysis method, a liquid sample and a reagent are mixed, and a color reaction that occurs in the course of the chemical reaction is detected by a laser that irradiates from an optical pickup 2 and a detector 3 that receives transmitted light. There is a method of performing analysis in a liquid sample.

  In this analysis, the rate of chemical reaction may depend on temperature, and it is important to keep the temperature of the reagent and the liquid sample constant during mixing.

  For example, if the ambient temperature changes during the chemical reaction after the reagent and liquid sample are mixed, and the temperature of the mixed liquid varies, the reaction rate will vary and the chemical change cannot be accurately captured. .

  Therefore, a conventional analyzer has been proposed that includes a heating means in order to keep the temperature constant (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  The heating means of the analyzer described in Patent Document 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the heating means of a conventional analyzer.

  In FIG. 13 (b), a heater 5 as a heating means and a thermostatic block 6 heated by the heater 5 are attached to a base 7.

  On the other hand, the liquid sample is put in the analysis container 8 and attached to the turntable 9.

  The height of the analysis container 8 is higher than that of the turntable 9, and the analysis container 8 protrudes downward when attached to the turntable 9.

  The thermostatic block 6 is provided with a cylindrical analysis container insertion hole 601 so that the protruding portion of the analysis container 8 is accommodated in the analysis container insertion hole 601.

  Since the rotary table 9 rotates during the analysis, the analysis container 8 also rotates in the analysis container insertion hole 601 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.

  The analysis container insertion hole 601 is provided with the photodetector 10, and when the analysis container crosses the photodetector, the liquid sample is analyzed by detecting the light absorption amount, the scattered light amount, and the like. It becomes.

  In the analyzer configured as described above, the temperature of the liquid sample is adjusted by adjusting the temperature of the constant temperature block 6.

  If the temperature of the entire thermostatic block is constant, the temperature of the air in the analysis container insertion hole 601 becomes the same temperature, and the temperature of the liquid sample in the analysis container that moves in the analysis container insertion hole 601 is also the same. It becomes temperature.

  As another heating means, a configuration in which a heater unit that generates hot air is arranged on the disk surface and the hot air is blown against the disk surface is conceivable.

As a conventional method, although it is not an analyzer, in order to improve the finished dimensional accuracy in the pasting of the optical disc formed by laminating two discs, while blowing hot air on the optical disc after molding There is one in which the temperature drop of the substrate to an atmospheric temperature is caused to gradually act by slow cooling (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent No. 3364719 JP 2004-101292 A JP 2001-052379 A

  However, when applying the heating means as in the analyzer described in Patent Document 2 to the analyzer described in Patent Document 1, as an application example, a constant temperature block is provided at a position close to the front and back surfaces of the analysis disk, A configuration in which the temperature of the region sandwiched between the thermostatic blocks is made constant is conceivable, but there are many parts near the analysis disk 1 such as the optical pickup 2 and the detector 3, and the region where the thermostatic block 6 can be installed is It will be limited.

  For this reason, the ambient temperature of the analysis disk 1 is uneven in the air temperature at locations where the constant temperature block is not disposed and locations where the constant temperature block is not disposed.

  When a contact-type temperature sensor is used for temperature detection during temperature control, the temperature of the thermostatic block or the temperature of the air is detected. However, when the temperature of the thermostatic block is detected and controlled, the temperature of the thermostatic block is detected. Although the temperature is constant, since the air temperature is uneven, the temperature of the constant temperature block and the temperature of the liquid sample are not the same, and control is difficult.

  Also, when the control is performed by detecting the temperature of the air, the temperature of the air at the detected position is not the same as the temperature of the liquid sample, and the control is difficult.

  When a non-contact temperature sensor is used for temperature detection during temperature control, the temperature of the analytical disc surface on the radius to be detected can be detected and controlled, but when a liquid sample is transferred using capillary action In order to avoid applying extra force such as centrifugal force to the liquid sample, the analysis disk may stop rotating in the middle of the analysis. The disc surface temperature also becomes uneven.

  Further, when the temperature control means in the apparatus described in Patent Document 3 is provided, it can be easily carried out for a single disk. The place where the wind is blown is limited.

  In particular, the heating means is disposed on the back side of the analysis disk so that the optical pickup 2 is disposed at a position close to the disk surface in order to focus on the disk surface, and a tray for transporting the analysis disk is also provided. Because it is difficult.

  Heating components such as the motor for rotating the analysis disk and optical pickup are concentrated on the back side of the analysis disk. If there is no air flow on the back side, locally generated heat will remain at that position. As a result, it causes temperature variations on the front and back surfaces of the analysis disk.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, an analyzer according to the present invention is an analyzer that analyzes a sample contained in a disk installed in a container by rotating the disk. An intake port for intake, a first flow path on the upper side of the disk through which air sucked from the intake port flows, a second flow path on the lower side of the disk through which air sucked from the intake port flows, and the first An exhaust port for discharging the air flowing through the flow path and the air flowing through the second flow path to the outside of the container is provided.

  Further, the intake port or the exhaust port is provided at a position facing the outer peripheral portion of the disk of the container.

  Further, the intake port includes a first intake port through which air flowing through the first flow path is sucked, and a second intake port through which air flowing through the second flow path is sucked. It is characterized by that.

  Furthermore, the intake port or the exhaust port is formed on a disk mounting surface of a tray that conveys the disk into the container.

  Further, the tray is provided with an inclination for guiding air from the intake port toward the center of the disk.

  Further, the exhaust port provided at a position near the disk insertion port of the analyzer and the intake port provided at a position far from the disk insertion port of the analyzer are flush with the disk. It is provided on the side.

  Further, the intake port provided at a position near the disk insertion port of the analyzer and the exhaust port provided at a position far from the disk insertion port of the analyzer are flush with the disk. It is provided on the side.

  Further, the intake port is provided at a position facing the center of the disk.

  Further, the turntable on which the rotating disk is placed is provided with a vent hole penetrating from the disk surface side to the disk back surface side.

  Furthermore, the shape of the member forming the flow path cross section of the vent hole is formed as an impeller shape.

  Further, the disk is provided with a vent hole penetrating from the upper side of the disk to the lower side of the disk.

  According to the analyzer of the present invention, the hot air flows also on the back surface of the analysis disk, there is no difference in air temperature between the front surface side and the back surface side of the analysis disk, and the temperature of the liquid sample in the analysis disk is accurately determined. Can be controlled.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the analyzer of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
The analyzer according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the overall configuration of the analyzer will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an analysis apparatus extracted from the analysis apparatus with the analysis disk mounted on the analysis disk rotation mechanism, optical reading mechanism, heater unit, and tray.

  In FIG. 1, a traverse base 11 is provided with a motor 4 having a turntable 12 for mounting and rotating an analysis disk 1 and an optical pickup 2 having an optical system such as a laser and a lens. It is attached via a rail 13.

  The optical pickup 2 can be driven in the radial direction of the analysis disk 1 by a drive system including a traverse motor.

  The analysis disk 1 is composed of a polycarbonate and a metal thin film, and includes a base disk on which information that can be read by an optical pickup is recorded, an upper cover on which an injection port is formed, adhesion between the upper cover and the base disk, and formation of a flow path. It is comprised by the target contact bonding layer.

  As an operation procedure until the analysis disk 1 is set in the analyzer, first, a certain amount of liquid sample is injected from the injection port on the analysis disk 1 using a specific injection tool or syringe.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the analysis disk transport tray 14 in the analyzer is opened, the analysis disk 1 is placed on the analysis disk transport tray 14, and the analysis disk transport tray is placed. 14 is closed.

  The analysis disk transport tray 14 moves into the analyzer, and at the same time, the analysis disk 1 is transported into the analyzer.

  The analysis disk 1 conveyed to the inside of the analyzer is positioned by the turntable 12 shown in FIG. 1, and is sandwiched by the magnetic force between the clamper 15 having a magnet and the turntable 12 having a magnetic member, and the motor 4 It becomes possible to rotate around the center of the disk diameter by the driving force of.

  Thereafter, the analysis disk 1 is rotated and necessary components in the liquid sample are extracted by centrifugal separation, and then the extracted components are conveyed to the analysis region while making full use of centrifugal force and capillary action.

  Then, the optical pickup 2 is moved to a position where the analysis region can be detected with reference to the encrypted position information obtained by detecting the reflected light of the laser, and the transmitted light of the laser is arranged on the upper portion of the analysis disk 1 By detecting with the detected detector 3, the color reaction by mixing of the extracted component and the reagent is analyzed.

  Next, temperature control of the analyzer will be described.

  Since the reaction rate of the color reaction between the extracted component and the reagent varies depending on the ambient temperature, the temperature must be kept constant at the latest before mixing the extracted component and the reagent.

  In this analyzer, the temperature control is started when the analysis disk is rotated after the analysis disk 1 is transported into the analyzer.

  The temperature control in this analyzer is performed by a heater unit including a heater 5, a heat sink 16, and a fan 17 as main components. When voltage is applied to the heater 5, heat is transmitted to the heat sink 16, and the fan 17 is transferred to the heat sink 16. By blowing forced convection from the heat sink 16, the heat of the heat sink 16 becomes warm air.

  A material having good thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper is used for the heat sink 16, and the heater 5 is used for transferring heat to the heat sink 16, so that a planar heating element such as a polyimide heater having a small heat capacity is preferably used.

  The hot air generated in the heater unit is blown out from the outlet and sent to the room in which the analysis disk 1 is rotating, and is used to keep the temperature of the analysis disk 1 constant.

  The blowout port 18 is disposed on the front side of the apparatus, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the blowout port 18 is disposed at a position where the hot air on the outer peripheral side of the analysis disk 1 does not directly hit.

  4A and 4B are perspective views illustrating the shape of the tray, where FIG. 4A shows only the tray, FIG. 4B shows the position of the outlet 18, and also shows the state in which the disc is mounted. Yes.

  The tray for insertion / discharge of the analysis disk is configured with a slope as shown in part A of FIG. 4 (a) in the front and a wall as shown in part B in FIG. 4 (a). The forward inclination is configured such that the apex of the inclination is the center of the disc, and the rear wall is provided outside the fan suction port.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fan 17 uses a fan in which the intake surface and the outlet are perpendicular to each other, and on the rear side of the apparatus, the center of the fan is located at the outermost position of the analysis disk indicated by the dotted line. Two are arranged in such a direction that the intake surface faces the analysis disk 1 side and the exhaust surface faces the heat sink 16 side.

  In the analyzer configured as described above, the hot air blown out from the heater unit flows from the outer peripheral side of the analysis disk toward the analysis disk mounting surface of the tray as shown by the arrow in FIG. Along the inclined surface, the flow direction is changed to the side direction of the analysis disk, and one of the hot air flows through the inclination in front of the tray to the back side of the analysis disk, and the other flows to the front side of the analysis disk. .

  The warm air passing through the back side of the analysis disk changes direction along the wall behind the tray at the position B in FIG. 4 and is sucked in by the suction port of the fan 17 and also passes through the analysis disk surface. In the vicinity of the fan 17, the air is sucked in at the suction port of the fan 17, warmed again, and blown out from the blowout port 18.

  The temperature of the hot air is controlled by detecting the temperature of the disk surface for analysis.

  Thermopile 19 that is a non-contact temperature sensor is used for temperature detection on the surface of the analysis disk, and the detection area of thermopile 19 is related to the reaction area of the analysis disk (area where the reagent and the sample are mixed and the reaction is performed). Placed in.

  The temperature difference between the front and back surfaces of the analysis disk is reduced by the flow of warm air on the back surface, and the temperature of the reaction region inside the analysis disk is also equal to the temperature of the temperature surface detected by the thermopile 19. Can be considered.

  In this embodiment, the configuration of the heater unit is a sheet heating element + heat sink. However, instead of the sheet heating element + heat sink, a heating wire may be used, and hot air is generated similarly. Can do.

  In addition, when there is no difference between the upper limit of the operating environment temperature and the control temperature and the internal heat generation by the components around the analysis disk is large, if the Peltier element is used instead of the planar heating element, the inside of the apparatus is Since it can be cooled, it is possible to prevent a problem that the control temperature becomes overheated and cannot be controlled.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the fan in which the intake surface and the outlet are in the vertical direction is used, but a sirocco fan 20 may be used as shown in FIG.

  A sirocco fan has a higher static pressure and an excellent suction force than an axial fan, and is suitable when the space of a flow path through which hot air flows is limited.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a normal DC fan in which the intake direction and the exhaust direction are on the axis may be used.

  6 and 7 are configured to increase in the height direction. However, since the air blown from the fan directly hits the heat sink, the efficiency of changing the heat of the heat sink into hot air increases.

The selection of the fan may be determined depending on the required air volume and the size that can be arranged.
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 8 shows a configuration diagram of the analyzer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is similar to the configuration of the first embodiment, but is different in that the hot air blowing port is divided into a blowing port 181 that blows out to the disk surface side and a blowing port 182 that blows out to the disk back side.

  The hot air blown out from the heater unit is divided into a hot air flowing toward the disk surface at the air outlet and flowing toward the disk surface, and a hot air flowing toward the back surface of the disk and flowing through the back surface as indicated by an arrow. .

  As in the first embodiment, the warm air passing through the back side of the analysis disk changes its direction along the wall behind the tray and is sucked in by the suction port of the fan 17 and also passes through the analysis disk surface. In the vicinity of the fan 17, the air is sucked in from the suction port of the fan 17, and is blown out from a blowout port 181 that is heated again and blown to the disk surface side, and a blowout port 182 that blows out from the disk back side.

The temperature of the front and back surfaces of the analysis disk is the same as the warm air flows on the back surface, and the temperature of the reaction region inside the analysis disk is also equal to the temperature of the temperature surface detected by the thermopile 19. Can be considered.
(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 9 shows a configuration diagram of the analyzer according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is similar to the configuration of the first embodiment, except that a hot air outlet is provided at the center position on the analysis disk surface side, and a vent is provided on the turntable from the surface to the analysis disk back side. It is different.

  In FIG. 9, the hot air blown from the hot air outlet is blown toward the center of the analysis disk surface.

  Then, one of the hot air blown out from the blowout port passes through the turntable, and flows to the back side of the analysis disk, and the other flows to the front side of the analysis disk.

  With this configuration, warm air also flows on the back surface of the analysis disk, and temperature control can be performed without a temperature difference between the front and back surfaces of the analysis disk.

  Since the warm air also flows on the back surface, temperature control can be performed without a temperature difference between the front surface side and the back surface side of the disk for analysis.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, if the shape of the wall of the vent hole is formed like an impeller of a spiral pump, warm air will flow smoothly in the direction of the disk back surface.

  In the present embodiment, the air vent is provided in the turntable. However, the same effect can be obtained by providing the analysis disk with a through hole 102 as shown in FIG. 11 instead of the air vent.

Thus, the present invention relates to temperature control of an analyzer for analyzing a liquid sample held inside by rotating a disk, and is useful for medical analyzers, water quality analyzers, etc. It can be applied to an apparatus for analyzing a liquid that needs to be constant.

Configuration diagram of analyzer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention 1 is an external view of an analyzer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The block diagram of the heater unit in Embodiment 1 of this invention The perspective view of the tray in Embodiment 1 of this invention Configuration diagram around tray in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The block diagram of the heater unit modification of Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram of the heater unit modification of Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram of the heater unit modification of Embodiment 1 of this invention Configuration diagram of analyzer according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Configuration diagram of analyzer in embodiment 3 of the present invention The block diagram of the turntable in Embodiment 3 of this invention Sectional view showing the BB cross section The block diagram of the analyzer modified example in Embodiment 3 of this invention Configuration diagram of a conventional analyzer using a disk for analysis Sectional view showing the AA cross section Configuration diagram showing heating means of a conventional analyzer

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Analysis disk 101 Flow path 102 Through-hole 2 Optical pick-up 3 Detector 4 Motor 5 Heater 6 Constant temperature block 601 Analysis container insertion hole 7 Base 8 Analysis container 9 Rotating table 10 Photo detector 11 Traverse base 12 Turntable 13 Rail 14 Disc tray for analysis 15 Clamper 16 Heat sink 17 Fan 18 Blowout port 181 Blowout port blown out to the front side 182 Blowout port blown out to the back side 19 Thermopile 20 Sirocco fan 21 DC fan

Claims (11)

In an analyzer for analyzing a sample housed in a disk installed in a container by rotating the disk, an air inlet for sucking air into the container, and air that is sucked from the air inlet flows. The first flow path on the upper side of the disk, the second flow path on the lower side of the disk through which the air sucked from the intake port flows, the air flowing through the first flow path, and the air flowing through the second flow path are And an exhaust port for discharging outside the container. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the intake port or the exhaust port is provided at a position facing an outer peripheral portion of the disk of the container. The intake port includes a first intake port through which air flowing through the first flow path is sucked, and a second intake port through which air flowing through the second flow path is sucked. The analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the analyzer is characterized in that: The analyzer according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the intake port or the exhaust port is formed on a disk mounting surface of a tray that conveys the disk into the container. The analyzer according to claim 4, wherein the tray is provided with an inclination for guiding air from the intake port toward the center of the disk. The exhaust port provided at a position near the disk insertion port of the analyzer and the intake port provided at a position far from the disk insertion port of the analyzer are on the same surface side with respect to the disk. The analyzer according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the analyzer is provided. The intake port provided at a position near the disk insertion port of the analyzer and the exhaust port provided at a position far from the disk insertion port of the analyzer are on the same surface side with respect to the disk. The analyzer according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the analyzer is provided. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet is provided at a position facing the center of the disk. The analyzer according to claim 8, wherein a vent hole penetrating from the disk surface side to the disk back surface side is provided in a turntable on which the rotating disk is placed. The analyzer according to claim 9, wherein the shape of the member forming the flow path cross section of the vent hole is formed as an impeller shape. 9. The analyzer according to claim 8, wherein the disk is provided with a vent hole penetrating from the upper side of the disk to the lower side of the disk.

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