JP3763884B2 - Dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dispensing device, and more particularly to a dispensing device having a function of optically measuring a sample after suction into a nozzle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The dispensing device is a device for dividing a sample such as blood, for example, and the conventional dispensing device basically does not have a function of measuring the properties of the sample itself. On the other hand, the color of the sample is an important index representing the characteristics of the sample, and there is a demand for automatically measuring the color of the sample.
[0003]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-280814 discloses an apparatus for performing spectroscopic measurement by irradiating light to serum in order to determine the presence or absence of hemolysis, chyle, and yellow bile in the serum after centrifugation. Yes. Then, based on the measurement result, the necessity of dispensing of the sample and biochemical analysis is determined, and the subsequent dispensing and biochemical examination are continued only when the determination result is affirmative. This document also describes spectroscopic measurement of the sample after dispensing.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the device disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-280814, the color of the sample is measured in a sense, but the color measurement is separated from the dispensing operation. The sample color cannot be measured at the same time as dispensing.
[0005]
Various types of specimens, reagents, and the like are handled in the dispensing apparatus, but it is extremely efficient if the color measurement of the dispensing object can be performed simultaneously with the dispensing operation. In particular, if a part of the biochemical analysis can be performed based on the color measurement result, the efficiency of the entire analysis system can be improved.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object thereof is to optically measure the color of a sample in a nozzle at the same time while performing a series of dispensing operations in a dispensing apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a nozzle that is at least partially transparent and sucks and discharges a sample, and includes a nozzle base and a nozzle tip that is detachable with respect to the nozzle base. a nozzle configured in a transport mechanism for transporting said nozzle includes a color measurement portion for measuring a color of the sample in the nozzle optically, the color measurement unit, compared nozzle tip in the nozzle A light emitting unit that emits light, a light receiving unit that receives light from a nozzle chip in the nozzle, and a color determination unit that determines a color of a sample based on a light reception result of the light receiving unit, and the transport mechanism has a mechanism for feeding the nozzle head comprises a mechanism for feeding the nozzle in the vertical direction with respect to the nozzle head, the nozzle head, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is provided, further, the Provided shielding case for accommodating the optical unit and the light receiving section, a state where the nozzle after the sample has been aspirated by the nozzle the nozzle tip lifted upward is inserted through in the shielding case, in that the nozzle pulling state Before the sample is discharged, the color measuring unit measures the color of the sample in the nozzle tip of the nozzle , and the sample color is measured simultaneously with the dispensing operation.
[0008]
According to the above configuration, the color of the sample in the nozzle is measured after the sample is sucked and discharged by the nozzle. That is, by irradiating the nozzle with light and detecting the transmitted light, the color of the sample is determined from the detection result. According to the present invention, since the color of the sample can be measured simultaneously with the dispensing operation, there is no need to transfer the sample for color measurement or to exchange the sample between containers. That is, time and sample waste can be eliminated.
[0009]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, an analysis unit that analyzes the sample based on the measured color of the sample is provided. That is, the measured color is data indicating the property of the sample and may be output itself, but further analysis may be performed based on the data.
[0010]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the color measuring unit includes a light emitting unit that emits light to the nozzle, a light receiving unit that receives light transmitted through the nozzle, and a sample based on a light reception signal of the light receiving unit. A color determination unit for determining the color of the image. Here, the light emitting unit is configured by, for example, an LED or a white light source for each color, and the light receiving unit is configured by a light receiving sensor for each color. In the above configuration, transmitted light is used, but it is possible to measure the color of the sample even using reflected light. Since the amount of suction at the time of sample suction is controlled by the main body of the dispensing apparatus, the accommodation range of the sample in the nozzle can always be grasped, and light is irradiated within that range.
[0011]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are provided in a nozzle head that holds and raises the nozzle, and performs color measurement of the sample after the sample is sucked and before the discharge. According to this configuration, color measurement can be performed when the nozzle is pulled up, and it is not necessary to transport the nozzle specially for color measurement.
[0013]
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the nozzle includes a nozzle base and a nozzle tip having transparency that is detachable from the nozzle base. A nozzle chip used as a disposable is a transparent member controlled at a certain quality, and performs color measurement of a sample by emitting and receiving light on both sides of the chip. Usually, no label or the like is attached to the nozzle tip, and there is no problem in color measurement in that sense.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a dispensing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration thereof.
[0016]
The dispensing device of the present embodiment has a color measuring unit 12 that measures the color of the sample sucked into the nozzle tip 10. The nozzle tip 10 is detachably attached to the metallic nozzle base 14 and is a so-called disposable tip. The nozzle chip 10 is made of, for example, a transparent resin. The nozzle tip 10 and the nozzle base 14 constitute a dispensing nozzle as a single unit.
[0017]
As shown in detail in FIG. 2 later, the nozzle head 16 is supported by an X drive unit 18 and a Y drive unit 20 for carrying it, and is movable in the X direction and the Y direction. The nozzle head 16 is provided with a Z drive unit 22, which carries the nozzle base 14 and holds it up and down. The X driving unit 18, the Y driving unit 20, and the Z driving unit 22 constitute a nozzle transport mechanism 24.
[0018]
A dispensing pump 28 is connected to the nozzle base 14 via an air hose 26, and a sample is sucked and discharged by the action of the dispensing pump 28.
[0019]
The dispensing control unit 30 controls the dispensing pump 28, the nozzle conveying mechanism 24, and the color measuring unit 12, and also controls the conveyance of the rack 34 holding a plurality of test tubes 32.
[0020]
Next, the color measuring unit 12 will be described in detail. In the nozzle head 16, a light emitting unit 36 is fixedly arranged on one side of the raised nozzle chip 10, and a light receiving unit 38 is fixedly arranged on the other side of the nozzle chip 10. A driving signal is supplied to the light emitting unit 36 from the power source 40, and thereby predetermined measuring light is emitted from the light emitting unit 36. The measurement light passes through the nozzle chip 10 and the transmitted light is received by the light receiving unit 38. Various configurations can be adopted as the configuration of the light emitting unit 36 and the light receiving unit 38, and a specific configuration will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0021]
The light receiving signal output from the light receiving unit 38 is amplified by the amplifier 42 and then converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 44. The received light signal converted into the digital signal is sent to the data processing unit 46, and the color of the sample is determined based on the received light signal. Various analyzes on the sample are also performed based on the determined color. The analysis includes analysis of the presence and extent of chyle, hemolysis, jaundice. The analysis result of the data processing unit 46 is displayed on the display 48, and is output to a biochemical analyzer, for example, as necessary. The output path is indicated by reference numeral 100 in FIG.
[0022]
Therefore, according to the dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the color of the sample accommodated in the nozzle tip 10 can be measured simultaneously with dispensing, and various analyzes can be performed based on the measurement results. The scope of the present invention includes not only measuring the color of a sample but also measuring the density of a specific color of the sample. This concentration measurement can be performed optically based on the same principle as described above.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows an example of the nozzle head 16. As described above, the nozzle base 14 is held up and down by the Z drive unit 22 provided in the nozzle head 16. The nozzle tip 10 is detachably attached to the tip of the nozzle base 14. FIG. 2 shows a state where the nozzle tip 10 is pulled upward. The light emitting unit 36, the light receiving unit 38, and a light shielding case 62, which will be described later, are provided in the nozzle head as shown in the figure and are transported therewith. As illustrated, the nozzle chip 10 is inserted through the light shielding case 62 when the nozzle chip 10 is pulled up.
[0024]
In this embodiment, the light emitting unit 36 includes three LEDs 50, 52, and 54 that emit light having different wavelengths. The LED 50 emits red light, the LED 52 emits blue light, and the LED 54 emits green light. Corresponding to these three LEDs, the light receiving section 38 is composed of three light receiving sensors 56, 58 and 60. That is, the light receiving sensor 56 detects red transmitted light, the light receiving sensor 58 detects blue transmitted light, and the light receiving sensor 60 detects green transmitted light. In this embodiment, the three LEDs and the three light receiving sensors are arranged side by side in this manner, but of course, they can be arranged side by side. In that case, the nozzle chip 10 may be controlled to move in the horizontal direction correspondingly. In the present embodiment, three LEDs are used. Of course, light of each wavelength may be selectively received by switching filters using one LED, or a specific wavelength, that is, a specific color. A dedicated LED for measuring the density and the like may be arranged.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the three LEDs and the three light receiving sensors are accommodated in the light shielding case 62 to eliminate the influence of light from the outside. A one-dimensionally arranged CCD or the like can be used as the light receiving unit 38.
[0026]
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the light emitting unit 36. In the example shown in FIG. 3, white light generated by the white light source 64 is irradiated to the diffraction grating (grating) 66, and this diffraction grating 66, only light of a specific wavelength is diffracted and scattered. Light having a specific wavelength may be generated by such a configuration. Alternatively, the light from the white light source 64 may be selectively generated by passing the light from the white light source 64 through the optical filter 68 as shown in FIG. As the white light source 64, a halogen lamp, a deuterium discharge tube, or the like can be used. Incidentally, the light source may be divergently irradiated using a white light source 64, and detection may be performed by separating the light into a plurality of wavelengths in the light receiving unit.
[0027]
In the dispensing apparatus of the present embodiment, color measurement is performed on the sample accommodated in the nozzle tip 10, so that problems such as sample waste and time waste can be solved. Further, the nozzle tip 10 is strictly controlled with a certain quality, and since a label or the like is not usually attached to the nozzle tip, the color measurement of the sample can be performed under favorable conditions. Incidentally, in the present invention, the concept of a sample includes all liquids sucked into nozzles such as specimens and reagents.
[0028]
Next, operation | movement of the dispensing apparatus of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG.
[0029]
In S <b> 101, the nozzle tip 10 is automatically attached to the nozzle base 14. In S102, the nozzle tip 10 is pulled downward from above the test tube 32 containing the sample. In S103, the sample is sucked by the nozzle tip 10 as in the prior art, and in S104, the nozzle tip 10 after the sample suction is pulled upward.
[0030]
In S105, the color of the sample accommodated in the nozzle tip is measured by the measurement light as described above.
[0031]
In S106, in order to subdivide the sucked sample into another container, the nozzle tip 10 is pulled down from above the other container, and in S107, a predetermined amount of sample is discharged into the container. In S108, the nozzle chip 10 after the sample is discharged is pulled upward. In S109, it is determined whether or not to discharge to another container. When discharging to another container, each process from S106 is repeatedly executed.
[0032]
In S100, the nozzle tip 10 that has been dispensed is removed from the nozzle base, and in S111, it is determined whether or not to dispense the next sample. In the case of dispensing, each step from S101 is performed. Is repeatedly executed.
[0033]
On the other hand, the color measurement result executed in S105 is subjected to data analysis in S112, whereby the color of the sample is actually determined. Further, as described above, the presence or absence of chyle, hemolysis, jaundice and the degree thereof are automatically divided based on the determined color. In S113, the analysis result is output.
[0034]
As described above, in this embodiment, color measurement is performed using three different wavelengths. For example, the color of a sample is specified by a combination of absorbances for each wavelength. In that case, for example, a table may be used.
[0035]
Next, a reference example will be described. In the above-described embodiment, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are provided in the nozzle head. Of course, if the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit exist in an area where the nozzle can be transported by the nozzle transport mechanism, the nozzle is similarly formed as described above. It is possible to measure the color of the sample housed inside. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle is moved to the position where the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are provided in S120, color measurement is performed in S121, and the nozzle is further moved to a necessary place in S122. . For example, the steps S120 to S122 are preferably performed while the nozzle is moving from the container that has been sucked to the container that is to be discharged. With such a configuration, no special operation is required for color measurement. There is an advantage that color measurement can be performed without increasing the dispensing time.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the color of the sample can be optically measured simultaneously while performing a series of dispensing operations in the dispensing apparatus. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is no need to transfer a sample for color measurement or to exchange samples between containers, and there is an advantage that time and sample waste can be eliminated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of a nozzle head.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a light emitting unit.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a light emitting unit.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the dispensing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 nozzle chip, 12 color measuring unit, 14 nozzle base, 16 nozzle head, 24 nozzle transport mechanism, 36 light emitting unit, 38 light receiving unit, 46 data processing unit.

Claims (2)

A nozzle that is at least partially transparent and sucks and discharges a sample, and is composed of a nozzle base and a nozzle tip that is detachable with respect to the nozzle base ;
A transport mechanism for transporting the nozzle;
A color measuring unit for optically measuring the color of the sample in the nozzle;
Including
The color measuring unit is
A light emitting unit for irradiating light to a nozzle tip in the nozzle ;
A light receiving portion for receiving light from a nozzle tip in the nozzle ;
A color determination unit for determining the color of the sample based on the light reception result of the light receiving unit;
Including
The transport mechanism is
A mechanism for conveying the nozzle head;
A mechanism for conveying the nozzle in the vertical direction with respect to the nozzle head;
Including
Wherein the nozzle head, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is provided, further, light shielding case for accommodating the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is provided,
After the sample is sucked by the nozzle, the nozzle is lifted upward so that the nozzle chip is inserted through the light shielding case. The color measurement of the sample in the nozzle tip at
A dispensing apparatus that performs color measurement of a sample simultaneously with the dispensing operation. The apparatus of claim 1.
A dispensing apparatus comprising an analysis unit that analyzes a sample based on the measured color of the sample.

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