JP3403839B2 - Cartridge container - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge container used for an automatic immunological analyzer such as a chemiluminescence method. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as is well known, an immunoassay based on a chemiluminescence method has the advantages of very high sensitivity and high reliability in measurement, but on the other hand, depending on the measurement items, In many cases, the number of washings, the incubation time, the number of reaction steps, and the like are different, and the flow processing from sample dispensing to measurement was also varied. For this reason, conventionally, a pipette device or the like for dispensing and diluting a sample, dispensing a reagent, and dispensing a washing solution has to be installed in a processing line, and it has to be independently driven and controlled. There have been many problems, such as the apparatus becoming very complicated, and cleaning must be controlled with high precision in order to prevent cross contamination. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to perform operations such as sample dispensing and dilution, reagent dispensing, and washing solution dispensing with a single pipette. An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge container in which contamination can be carried out without worrying, the driving control of the pipette is greatly simplified, and the configuration of the automatic analyzer is also greatly simplified. In order to achieve the above object, a cartridge container according to the present invention has a base and a plurality of holes provided in the base. One of the holes is a hole for optical measurement, and the base has a holding portion for holding a dispensing tip, and the base has information on the cartridge container. A base having a plurality of holes provided in the base, wherein a hole near one end of the base is a hole for optical measurement with light shielding on its wall and bottom, and a hole at the other end. Is characterized in that a holding portion for holding the dispensing tip is provided, and information on the cartridge container is attached to the base portion. Here, the "information on the cartridge container" includes, for example, information for identifying the cartridge container, information for identifying the corresponding item, and information for identifying the specimen. Or by other marks. Also, usually 1
One item corresponds to one cartridge container and one specimen. Hereinafter, in this specification, a “hole” refers to a bottomed one, and a “hole” refers to a bottomless one. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cartridge container 32 according to the present embodiment has a base 56 formed of a transparent material such as glass or plastic, and is formed so as to protrude from one side surface. It has a knob 54, and the base 56 has
For example, eleven holes are provided. Of course, this hole may be formed by attaching a separately molded container to the hole formed in the base 56. [0009] Of the eleven holes, the hole on the side closer to the picking side is a tip sack 55 for holding the dispensing tip 36, and the hole at one end is for measurement for optical measurement. The hole is 32k. This tip sack 55 can be formed by attaching a separately formed one to the base 56, and the disposition position is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Position. The tip sack 55 has a hole formed deeply in accordance with the length of the dispensing tip 36 so that the tip sack 55 can hold the dispensing tip 36. A water-absorbing pad 55a for absorbing the separated liquid is provided. The measurement hole 32J has a light shielding portion 53 for shielding light from the outside by coating a light shielding film on the wall and bottom of the hole, or by forming a light shielding film or a light shielding plate or integrally forming the same. Have been. This is to block light other than light generated by the reaction during optical measurement. Of course, there is a case where it is not necessary to provide light shielding depending on a measuring method such as a transmission measuring method, a spectroscopic measuring method, or a turbidimetric method. Further, light travels through the upper surface of the transparent body from the base side of the main body, in which 11 holes are provided in the area where the barcode 56b is provided, or from the area where the barcode is provided. A light blocking groove 57 is provided near the upper surface of the main body 56 so as not to reach the measurement hole 32J. The other holes 32A to 32I are formed transparent so that the inside can be seen. An upper surface of the base 56 is provided with a holding edge 56a, and the edge 56a is formed on a side plate (not shown) formed in a hole of a rotary stage formed on the automatic analyzer side. And is positioned and held by being fitted into a corresponding groove formed in the groove. The dispensing tip 36 dispenses a required amount of a sample from a sample container in a sample rack, and supplies the cartridge container 32 with a reaction-insoluble magnetic substance solution, a washing liquid, or the like.
It is used to discharge or aspirate enzyme labeling solution, substrate solution, reaction stop solution and the like. The magnet for adsorbing the insoluble magnetic material is
The dispensing tip 36 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the dispensing tip 36 so as to be able to contact and separate therefrom, and the dispensing tip 36 is mounted on a nozzle unit (not shown). When the liquid is sucked into the dispensing tip 36, the magnetic material in the liquid is reliably collected by the magnet. The cartridge container 32 has holes 32A in series.
Not only in the case where ~ 32H is provided but also in a line shape such as a loop shape or a zigzag shape. A sample is coarsely dispensed in advance in the hole 32C, a required amount of the reaction-insoluble magnetic substance liquid is stored in the hole 32D in advance, and a required amount of the reaction-insoluble magnetic material is stored in the hole 32E and the hole 32F. The washing liquid is stored in advance, the required amount of the labeling liquid is stored in advance in the hole 32G, the required amount of the cleaning liquid is stored in the holes 32H and 32I in advance, and
2J is configured so that the substrate solution is dispensed and the luminescence state is measured. The thus configured cartridge container 3
2 is used, for example, as follows. First, a predetermined amount of the sample roughly dispensed into the hole 32C of the cartridge container 32 stopped at the dispensing position is aspirated by the dispensing tip 36 to determine the amount. The dispensing tip 36 into which the roughly dispensed sample has been aspirated is transferred by the XYZ stage, and after discharging the entire amount of the sample aspirated into the reaction insoluble magnetic material liquid in the hole 32D, the sample and the reaction insoluble magnetic material liquid are discharged. The liquid mixture is repeatedly sucked and discharged (pumping) by the dispensing tip 36 to generate a uniform stirring and mixing state of the magnetic material. Then, the dispensing tip 36 is transferred to the position of the tip sack 55, detached from the nozzle unit, and held on the tip sack 55, and then the rotating stage of the automatic analyzer is rotated to a predetermined position. Transferred to position. Then, the nozzle unit is transferred to the position of the tip sack 55 of the first cartridge container 32, and the dispensing tip 36 held in the tip sack is attached thereto.
The mixed liquid held in 2D is sucked by the dispensing tip 36. At this time, when the magnetic substance floating in the mixed solution sucked by the dispensing tip 36 passes through the dispensing tip 36, the magnetic substance is generated by the magnetic force of a magnet disposed outside the dispensing tip 36. Collected on the inner wall. After the magnetic material is collected in this way, the mixed liquid excluding the magnetic material is discharged into the hole 32D and drained, leaving only the magnetic material in the dispensing tip 36. Next, the dispensing tip 36 is sent to the next hole 32E while collecting the magnetic material, and
The cleaning solution in E is sucked. At this time, the magnet moves in a direction away from the dispensing tip 36 to release the magnetic substance from being adsorbed, and therefore, by pumping the cleaning liquid, the entire magnetic substance can be efficiently cleaned. it can.
Of course, cleaning can be performed with the magnetic substance being adsorbed by the magnet. After the pumping is completed, the dispensing tip 36 sucks a predetermined amount of the cleaning liquid in the hole 36E. At this time, the magnet disengages again from the dispensing tip 36.
, And collects all the magnetic substances floating in the suctioned cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid excluding this magnetic substance is discharged and discharged to the hole 32E, and only the magnetic substance remains on the dispensing tip. Next, the dispensing tip 36 is sent to the next hole 32F while collecting the magnetic substance, sucks the cleaning liquid in the hole 32F, and performs the same procedure as that performed in the hole 32E. A cleaning operation and a collection operation of the magnetic material are performed. Next, the dispensing tip 36 is sent to the next hole 32G while collecting the washed magnetic material, and
The labeling liquid in 2G is aspirated. At this time, the magnet moves in a direction away from the dispensing tip 36 to release the magnetic substance from being adsorbed. Therefore, by pumping this labeling liquid, the reaction between the whole magnetic substance and the labeling liquid is made uniform. Can be done. After the pumping is completed and the incubation is completed, the dispensing tip 36 is inserted into the hole 3.
A certain amount of the labeling solution in 2G is aspirated. At this time, the magnet approaches the dispensing tip 36 again and collects all the magnetic substances floating in the sucked label liquid, and the label liquid excluding this magnetic substance is discharged into the hole 32G and discharged. Only the magnetic material remains on the dispensing tip 36. After that, the dispensing tip 36 is sent to the next hole 32H while collecting the magnetic material, sucks the cleaning liquid in the hole 32H, and performs the same procedure as the holes 32E and 32F. After washing and collecting the body, the washing liquid in the next hole 32I is sucked by the same procedure as the washing liquid suction procedure in the hole 32H, and the magnetic substance is washed and collected. Thereafter, the dispensing tip 36 is inserted into the hole 32J.
After a predetermined reaction time (incubation) has elapsed, the substrate liquid previously contained in the hole 32J is sucked. At this time, the magnet moves in a direction away from the tip 36 in the text to release the magnetic material from being attracted, and
By pumping this substrate solution, the reaction between the whole magnetic substance and the substrate solution can be made uniform. When the pumping is completed and the incubation is completed, the dispensing tip 36 is again
It is transferred to and held at the position of the tip sack 55. After a certain period of time, the cartridge container 32
Is rotationally transported so that the measurement hole 32J reaches the measurement home position. Of course, the transfer form of the cartridge container 32 may be either rotary transfer or serial transfer. Here, the certain time is the time required for the first cartridge container 32 to be incubated. At this measurement position, the light emission amount is measured by an optical measuring device corresponding to a measuring method such as PMT. Thereafter, the dispensing tip 36 and the cartridge container 32 are discarded. In this example, the rotary transfer by the rotary stage is performed after the pumping in the hole 32D and before the measurement in the hole 32J. However, the present invention is not limited to this case. Alternatively, it may be rotated and transported at every process. Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the number of times of washing in the cartridge container is set to two times after discharging the reaction insoluble magnetic substance liquid and twice after discharging the labeling liquid has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be any one that can be washed one or more times as needed. In the above embodiment, the dispensing tip 36 and the cartridge container 32 are described as being disposable. However, the dispensing tip 36 and the cartridge container 36 may be cleaned and reused. . Further, in the above embodiment, the dispensing tip 36
Is returned to the chip sack 55 of the cartridge container 32 as an example, but it may be configured to return to the chip rack outside the cartridge container. Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the magnet is disposed on one side of the middle diameter portion of the dispensing tip so as to be able to freely contact and separate is described as an example, but it is arranged on both sides with the middle diameter portion interposed therebetween. Well,
Further, by repeatedly raising and lowering the dispensing tip itself, the collection efficiency of the magnetic material can be further improved. Since the present invention is configured as described above, the operations such as sample dispensing and dilution, reagent dispensing, and washing solution dispensing can be performed with one pipette to perform cross contamination. Since it can be performed without worry, there are many excellent effects such as greatly simplifying the drive control of the pipette and greatly simplifying the configuration of the automatic analyzer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cartridge container. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cartridge container. [Description of Symbols] 32 Cartridge containers 32A to 32H Holes 36 Dispensing tips 55 Chipsacks

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 35/02 G01N 1/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims 1] It has a base and a plurality of holes provided in the base, one of the plurality of holes is a hole for optical measurement, A cartridge container, wherein a holding portion for holding a dispensing tip is provided on the base portion, and information on the cartridge container is attached to the base portion.