JP5242537B2 - Reagent container and reagent container tube - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reagent container into which a reagent for reacting a sample to be analyzed by an automatic analyzer and a reagent container tube.

  In the automatic analyzer, the reagent container containing the reagent is placed in the apparatus in advance, the reagent dispensing nozzle provided in the automatic analyzer automatically accesses the reagent container, and the reagent sucked from the reagent container enters the sample. The reaction is dispensed into a reaction vessel, and the reaction solution is analyzed and measured.

  The upper part of the reagent container usually has an upper opening of about 5 mm to 30 mm so that the reagent dispensing nozzle can be accessed. If the reagent container is left open for a long period of time, the reagent in the reagent container may be concentrated due to the influence of water evaporation or the like, and as a result, a correct analysis result may not be obtained.

  The simplest means for suppressing water evaporation is to cover the upper opening of the container, that is, to cover it, and there is an automatic analyzer equipped with a mechanism for automatically opening and closing the container. However, it is not only costly to have a mechanism that automatically opens and closes the plug, but it also requires a certain amount of time to open and close the plug, which hinders high-speed automatic analysis processing. There is a disadvantage, and the mechanism that automatically opens and closes the valve is provided only when there is an extra advantage to compensate for these disadvantages.

  As a relatively inexpensive and simple means, a tube (chimney) is inserted into the upper opening of the reagent container to reduce the amount of moisture evaporation by reducing the contact area between the reagent and the outside air. This moisture evaporation suppression is described in the following patent documents.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-111657 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-21568

  In the above patent document, the diameter (internal passage cross-sectional area) of the tube (chimney) inserted into the reagent container is uniform in the length direction, or has a tapered structure that decreases from the top to the bottom of the reagent container. Yes.

  The reagent dispensing nozzle descends until it reaches the reagent liquid surface while passing through the chimney inserted and attached to the upper opening of the reagent container. After the reagent is aspirated, the reagent nozzle is raised and moved to a predetermined position (reaction vessel), and then the reagent is discharged.

  In a chimney with a tapered structure where the diameter (internal passage cross-sectional area) decreases from the top opening to the bottom of the reagent container, the reagent dispensing nozzle and the chimney should be in contact with each other at the narrow bottom, even if the chimney is not in contact with the wide chimney. (See FIG. 2 (1)).

  In case of contact, the following problems are considered. One is wear or mechanical deformation of each of the chimney and reagent dispensing nozzles. One is mutual contamination. Then, when raising the lowered reagent dispensing nozzle, the chimney or the reagent container is lifted by contact friction or the like. In addition, secondary damage from these may be considered.

  When the chimney has a uniform diameter, the possibility of occurrence of the above problem is low (see Fig. 2 (2)), but in order to reduce the dead volume, the system is used by tilting the reagent container. If this happens, the same risk can be considered (see Fig. 2 (3)).

  For the above problems, measures such as using a highly wear-resistant material for the chimney, cleaning all areas at risk of contact with the chimney in the reagent dispensing nozzle, and installing a chimney lifting prevention mechanism are conceivable. However, both are expensive.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a reagent container and a reagent container tube that can suppress the amount of water evaporation and are unlikely to come into contact with a reagent dispensing nozzle that has been a source of cost increase. To do.

  The present invention is a reagent container including a tube inserted from an upper opening, wherein the inner passage cross-sectional area of the tube is larger on the lower end side than on the upper end side.

  According to the present invention, the inner passage cross-sectional area of the tubular body is made larger on the lower end side than on the upper end side, so that contact with the reagent dispensing nozzle, which has been a cost increase, is difficult to occur, and the amount of moisture evaporation is suppressed. Can provide a reagent container and a reagent container tube that are inferior to conventional tube bodies.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a reagent container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the comparative example given in order to compare with this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the evaporation amount suppression principle which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a reagent container according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is a figure which concerns on Example 3 of this invention, and shows a reagent container and a tubular body. It is a figure which concerns on Example 4 of this invention and shows a tubular body. It is a figure which concerns on Example 5 of this invention, and shows a tubular body. It is a figure which concerns on the Example of this invention and shows the outline | summary of an automatic analyzer. It is a figure which concerns on Example 6 of this invention, and shows a tubular body. It is a figure which concerns on Example 7 of this invention, and shows a reagent container and a tubular body. It is a figure which concerns on Example 8 of this invention, and shows a reagent container and a tubular body. It is a figure which concerns on Example 9 of this invention, and shows a reagent container and a tubular body.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the outline of the automatic analyzer will be described with reference to FIG.

  The automatic analyzer includes a specimen disk 101 for setting a specimen in the apparatus, a specimen dispensing apparatus 102 for dispensing the specimen, a reaction cell 103 as a reaction container, and a reaction disk 104 as a holder thereof. . Furthermore, a reagent disk 105 for setting a reagent according to a measurement item, a reagent dispensing mechanism 106 for dispensing the reagent, a stirring mechanism 107 for stirring the sample dispensed into the reaction cell and the reagent, A photometer 108 for colorimetric analysis of the reaction solution, a washing mechanism 109 for sucking the reaction solution after the analysis is completed and washing the reaction cell, and a control unit thereof are provided.

  Reagent containers are difficult or impossible to control if they are different for each analysis item, so it is necessary to unify the containers to a controllable level. In the unified reagent container, if the water evaporation amount is not required to be suppressed, the reagent vessel is left as it is. If the water evaporation amount is required to be suppressed, the reagent container is incorporated with a tube body (hereinafter referred to as chimney) to be described later. If it is set on the disk, the amount of moisture evaporation can be suppressed without any special changes to the automatic analyzer.

  The suppression of the amount of moisture evaporation will be described.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 (Example 1), when the dispensing nozzle is inserted into and removed from the tube 3 (chimney) inserted in the reagent container 1 in order to suppress the water evaporation amount of the reagent 2. The tubular body (chimney) has a feature that the inner passage cross-sectional area on the lower end side is made larger than the inner passage cross-sectional area on the upper end side so that contact does not occur, and the pipe body (chimney) is expanded toward the lower end side.

  The structure of the lower end side (invention) and the taper (conventional example) will be described from the viewpoint of suppressing water evaporation.

  In general, in the form shown in FIG. 3A in which a liquid is contained in a reagent container having a uniform cross-sectional area, the following equation is established.

P = p ₂ −p ₁ = (wRT / M) · (L / DA) Equation 1
here,
P: Equilibrium vapor pressure difference p ₁ : Equilibrium vapor pressure near the reagent liquid surface p ₂ : Equilibrium vapor pressure at the opening of the container w: Evaporation amount of water per unit time R: Gas constant T: Temperature M: Molecular weight L: Tube length D: Diffusion coefficient A: Cross-sectional area of reagent container For simplicity, the liquid temperature and the outside air temperature are assumed to be equal, and the air flow rate is assumed to be zero.

When Equation 1 is transformed,
w = (PM / RT) · (DA / L) Equation 2
Therefore, it can be seen that the water evaporation amount w per unit time is proportional to the container cross-sectional area A and inversely proportional to the tube length L.

In the reagent container having an opening as shown in FIG. 3 (2), divided into the main body portion and the upper opening of the reagent container, the cross-sectional area of the main body portion A _1, the cross-sectional area of the upper opening A _2, the body portion L ₁ to a length of the reagent liquid surface of _the length of the opening and L _2, the reagent liquid surface near the mouth lower, when the equilibrium vapor pressure at the mouth upper and p _1, p _2, p ₃ respectively , Equation 3 and Equation 4 hold.

P ₁ = p ₂ −p ₁ = (wRT / M) · (L ₁ / DA ₁ ) Formula 3
_{P 2 = p 3 -p 2 =} (wRT / M) · (L 2 / DA 2) Equation 4
When Formula 3 and Formula 4 are added, P = P ₂ + P ₁ = p ₃ −p ₁ = (wRT / M) · (1 / D) · [(L ₂ / A ₂ )
+ (L ₁ / A ₁ )] Formula 5
It becomes. Here, p ₃ is the vapor pressure of the outside air, p ₁ is the vapor pressure of the liquid at that temperature, and the water evaporation amount w per unit time can be obtained from the following equation 6.

w = (PM / RT) · D / [(L ₂ / A ₂ ) + (L ₁ / A ₁ )] Equation 6
By inserting the cross-sectional area A ₂ equal pipe openings (chimney), because the outside air contact area of the liquid is equal to A _2, the unit time per water evaporation amount when inserting the pipe (chimney) w _chimney ,
w _chimney = (PM / RT) · (DA ₂ / L _all ) Equation 7
It becomes. Here, it is assumed that L _all = L ₁ + L ₂ and the thickness of the chimney to be inserted is zero.

From the above, before and after inserting the chimney,
w _diff = w−w _chimney = (PM / RT) · D · [1 / (L ₂ / A ₂ + L ₁ / A ₁ ) − (A ₂ / L _all )] Equation 8
Only has the effect of suppressing moisture evaporation.

  It can be seen from Equation 7 that the evaporation amount is proportional to the outside air contact area of the liquid and inversely proportional to the distance from the upper end of the tube (chimney) to the reagent liquid surface, and the conventional tapered tube (chimney) evaporates moisture. It can be said that it is preferable from the viewpoint of suppressing the amount.

  On the other hand, as described above, the tapered structure has a risk of contact between the dispensing nozzle and the pipe body (chimney), and the diameter of the pipe body (chimney) is widened to solve the contact. Even in that case, it will be shown below that there is no significant influence on the moisture evaporation suppression effect.

From Equation 8, if A ₁ >> A ₂ , the value of w _diff does not change greatly even if the value of A ₂ is increased. On the other hand, when the values of A ₁ and A ₂ are close, since the value of w _diff is small in the first place, the water evaporation amount suppression effect due to the insertion of the tube (chimney) cannot be expected so much, and another water evaporation amount suppression means is applied. Should.

From the above, it can be seen that if A ₁ >> A ₂ , the water evaporation amount suppression by inserting the tubular body (chimney) is sufficiently effective, and even a divergent structure is not a big problem.
From Equation 7, if w _chimney is constant,
^{_{L = CA 2 = C · d}} 2/4 Equation 9
It can be written as Here, C is a proportionality constant, and d is the diameter of the tube (chimney) when the opening of the reagent container and the tube (chimney) are circles.

  L, which is the distance between the reagent liquid surface and the container opening, increases as the liquid is consumed, but if the tube (chimney) diameter is increased according to Equation 9, the effect of making the rate of change in water evaporation constant is also expected. it can. Since the moisture evaporation amount suppressing effect can be made the same even when the reagent is filled in a large amount and when it is filled in a small amount, there is no change in the concentration of the reagent, leading to stable use.

  Next, the solution of the problem that occurs when the tubular body (chimney) has a divergent structure will be described. A tube (chimney) having a divergent structure is difficult to insert into a reagent container, and a solution to this problem will be described with respect to Example 2 shown in FIG.

  The tube (chimney) 3 shown in FIG. 4 has a maximum outer diameter that is the same as or smaller than the inner diameter of the upper opening of the reagent container 1. The same diameter or below is a dimension that allows the tube body (chimney) 3 to be inserted into the upper opening and that there is no gap between the outer periphery of the tube (chimney) 3 and the inner periphery of the upper opening. Say relationship.

  The outer diameter of the reagent dispensing nozzle is usually about 1 mm to 3 mm, and considering the cumulative tolerance and movement error of the reagent dispensing mechanism, the size of the upper opening of the reagent container 1 is larger than 5 mm to 10 mm or more. It is desirable that it is. Therefore, when the upper opening of the original reagent container 1 is as large as 30 mm, for example, the maximum outer diameter of the tube (chimney) 3 is set to 30 mm, and the inner passage of the tube (chimney) 3 corresponding to the upper opening side is set. It is conceivable that the inner diameter is 10 mm and the inner diameter at the lowermost end is 28 mm.

  In FIG. 4, a flange 20 is provided on the upper portion of the tube body (chimney) 3 so that the tube body (chimney) 3 does not fall into the reagent container 1. Any structure other than the flange may be used as long as the position can be maintained without dropping into the tubular body (chimney) 3. Also in the following examples, the presence or absence of the flange does not matter unless the flange has a function other than the fall prevention.

  Moreover, since the tubular body (chimney) 3 in FIG. 4 has the same outer diameter from the upper end side to the lower end side, the inner diameter of the internal passage becomes smaller on the upper end side. In a tubular body (chimney) used for a reagent container having a small diameter of the upper opening, there is a possibility that the reagent dispensing nozzle may contact or hit the upper surface side periphery of the internal passage.

  Therefore, in order to create a divergent structure in which the lower end is enlarged while the inner diameter of the internal passage is maintained at the same size as the upper opening of the reagent container, the tube (chimney) is made elastic and the tube (chimney) is inserted. In this case, it is conceivable to shrink the lower end.

  For example, in the shape of the tubular body (chimney) shown in FIG. If the lower end is shrunk so as to be folded, it can be inserted from the upper opening of the reagent container, and can be restored to its original shape by being opened by rubber elasticity after being inserted into the reagent container.

  The material may be not only rubber but also synthetic resin (plastic). In particular, polyethylene and polypropylene are not only chemically stable, but can be realized at low cost, and are optimal as a material for a tubular body (chimney). However, great elasticity and resilience like rubber cannot be expected, so the shape needs to be devised.

  A tubular body (chimney) 3 shown in FIG. 5 (Example 3) will be described.

  FIG. 5 (1) shows a tubular body (chimney) 3 having a slit 4 in the longitudinal direction, which is compressed by elastic deformation by the slit to reduce the lower end diameter. In this state, the upper opening of the reagent container 1 is opened. It can be inserted (FIG. 5 (2)).

  One or a plurality of slits 4 may be used, but the surface area removed by the slits 4 is preferably as small as possible. This is because when the reagent liquid level is lowered by dispensing and the reagent liquid level reaches the slit 4 portion, air exchange proceeds from this gap, and the water evaporation amount suppressing effect is reduced.

  FIG. 6 (Embodiment 4) shows a tubular body (chimney) 3 having a bellows structure with folds 5 in the longitudinal direction. Similar to the slit type described above, the lower end diameter is reduced by being elastically deformed by a fold (fold) so that it can be inserted into the upper opening of the reagent container 1.

  FIG. 7 (Example 5) shows a tubular body (chimney) 3 according to another bellows type. The tubular body (chimney) 3 has a fold 5 formed over its entire length, and has an operation flange 6 at the upper end. The operation flange 6 is toggled while the outer peripheral side is warped upward or downward. Therefore, the operation flange 6 is switched between the state in which the outer peripheral side is warped upward (FIG. 7 (1)) and the state in which the outer periphery is warped downward (FIG. 7 (2)), and becomes stable in either state. ing.

  When the operation flange 6 is lowered so as to bend downward, the bellows is folded and the lower end diameter is reduced, and when the operation flange 6 is raised so as to be warped upward, the bellows is opened.

  When the tube body (chimney) 3 is inserted manually, it is not very preferable to touch the lower end portion of the tube body (chimney) 3 to be in contact with the reagent by hand. There are techniques such as working with gloves, but by adopting a bellows type structure with an operation flange 6, the pipe body (chimney) can be attached without touching the wetted part (lower end) directly. Work can be done.

  Further, since the tubular body (chimney) has a divergent structure, the effect of preventing the tubular body (chimney) from being lifted can be obtained.

  If the material of the tube (chimney) is made of a material with a low specific gravity such as polyethylene or polypropylene, it may rise due to the buoyancy acting on the tube (chimney), especially with a reagent with a large specific gravity There is a risk that the tube (chimney) that has floated and the reagent dispensing nozzle come into contact with each other. If the outer diameter of the tube (chimney) is larger than the upper opening of the reagent container, the tube (chimney) is caught and can be prevented from rising.

  A tubular body (chimney) 3 shown in FIG. 9 (Example 6) has a shape that gradually increases in diameter as it goes down. The different diameter stages are three stages, but two stages or four stages or more are also possible. Further, it can be formed of rubber or flexible synthetic resin so as to be elastically deformed, or can be provided with slits or wrinkles.

  10 (Embodiment 7), FIG. 11 (Embodiment 8), and FIG. 12 (Embodiment 9) relate to prevention of the tube (chimney) 3 from coming off.

  The tubular body (chimney) 3 shown in (1) of FIG. 10 (Example 7) has an engaging protrusion 60 on the outer periphery. The engaging protrusion 60 is provided at a mid-level height of the tubular body (chimney) 3. A flange 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the tubular body (chimney) 3 to prevent the fall.

  The tube (chimney) 3 is inserted into the upper opening of the reagent container 1 shown in (2) of FIG. The inserted tube body (chimney) 3 is mounted in the reagent container as shown in (3) of FIG. The engagement protrusion 60 engages with the inner lower edge of the upper opening to prevent the tubular body (chimney) 3 from coming off.

  Since the tube body (chimney) 3 has the engagement protrusion 60, the tube body (chimney) 3 is inserted by pressing strongly against the upper opening of the reagent container 1. Even if the tube body (chimney) 3 is urged and inserted, it is stopped by the flange 20, and the tube body (chimney) 3 is prevented from falling into the reagent container 1.

  A tubular body (chimney) 3 shown in FIG. 11 (Embodiment 8) (1) has an outer cylinder 70 at the upper end. The outer cylinder 70 has an internal thread on the inner periphery. As shown in (2) of FIG. 11, the reagent container 1 has an open cylindrical portion 71 having an upper opening. The container lid 72 is a lid of the opening cylinder part 71 ((3) of FIG. 11).

  The opening cylinder part 71 has an external thread on the outer periphery. The container lid 72 has a female screw that is screwed into the male screw of the opening cylinder portion 71. The female screw of the outer cylinder 70 is also screwed into the male screw of the opening cylinder part 71.

  As shown in FIG. 11 (4), the container lid 72 is removed from the reagent container 1, and the tube (chimney) 3 is attached to the reagent container 1. Then, the outer cylinder 70 of the tubular body (chimney) 3 is screwed into the opening cylinder portion 71 and fixed. With this fixing, the tubular body (chimney) 3 is prevented from being detached from the reagent container 1.

  The tubular body (chimney) 3 shown in FIG. 12 (Example 9) (1) has a male screw on the outer periphery. As shown in (2) of FIG. 12, the reagent container 1 has an opening cylinder portion 80 having an upper opening at the center. The opening cylinder part 80 has a male screw on the outer periphery and a female screw on the inner periphery. The container lid 81 is a lid of the opening cylinder part 80, and has an internal thread which is threadedly engaged with the male screw of the opening cylinder part 80 on the inner periphery thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (3), the container lid 81 is removed from the reagent container 1. Then, the tube body (chimney) 3 is attached to the reagent container 1 ((4) in FIG. 12), and the tube body (chimney) 3 is screwed into the open cylinder 80 and fixed. With this fixing, the tubular body (chimney) 3 is prevented from being detached from the reagent container 1.

  In addition, since the container lid 81 can be screwed into the opening cylinder 80 from above the tube (chimney) 3 is attached to the opening cylinder 80, the tube lid (chimney) 3 is closed by the container lid 81. Easy to handle without removing.

1 ... Reagent container 2 ... Reagent (liquid)
3 ... Tube (chimney)
4 ... Slit 5 ... Hida
6 ... Operation flange 20 ... Flange 101 ... Sample disc 102 ... Sample dispensing device 103 ... Reaction cell 104 ... Reaction disc 105 ... Reagent disc 106 ... Reagent dispensing device 107 ... Stirring mechanism 108 ... Photometer 109 ... Cleaning mechanism

Claims (6)

A reagent container comprising a tube inserted from an upper opening,
Internal cross-sectional area of the pipe body rather large, lower side than the upper end, and, the tubular body is made of an elastic body, the insertion portion to be inserted into the reagent container from the upper opening the upper opening The inserted portion has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter, and is inserted into the upper opening by contracting and deforming without a slit due to its own elasticity, and has an expanded structure by elastic recovery inside the reagent container. A reagent container characterized by The reagent container according to claim 1, wherein
The reagent container according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the internal passage of the tube gradually increases from the upper end side toward the lower end side. The reagent container according to claim 1, wherein
Reagent container, wherein the inner diameter d of the internal passage of the tubular body, to satisfy the relationship of L = C · (d 2/ 4) between the distance L from the upper end to the reagent liquid surface in the reagent container .
However, C is a proportionality constant. The reagent container according to claim 1 , wherein
A reagent container having a ridge extending in a longitudinal direction for imparting the elasticity to the tube body. A reagent container comprising a tube inserted from an upper opening,
The internal passage cross-sectional area of the tubular body is larger on the lower end side than the upper end side,
The tubular body has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the upper opening, and the tubular body has a ridge formed over the entire length in the longitudinal direction , and the outer peripheral side warps upward or warps downward at the upper end. It has an operating flange that toggles,
The operation flange is warped downward and is shrunk so that the lower end side of the tube body is tapered, and the tube body is inserted into the opening from the tapered lower end side so that the tube body enters to the back of the reagent container. Then, the operation flange is warped upward, and the lower end side of the tubular body is expanded to exhibit a diameter expansion structure . A reagent container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A reagent container characterized in that the material forming the tube is polyethylene or polypropylene.

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