JPH01107138A - Removal of biochemical analysis slide - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove a slide one by one with its surface almost horizontal by a method wherein a slide delivery plate is inserted into a slide delivery plate inlet and pushes up a slide to send it out of the slide outlet upward. CONSTITUTION:A slide delivery plate P is moved upward through a slide delivery plate inlet 43 to push up a slide 49A1 which is located at the left end of a slide train 49A and delivers the slide 49A1 from a slide outlet 42 to outside a cartridge case 41. Then, when the slide 49A1 is a slide to be desired 49S, the movement of the plate P is halted. After the plate P is retracted to its position, a slide transfer bar T on the slide train 49 moves to the left and a slide 49A2 is located at the left end below the outlet 42. By repeating said procedure, the plate P can deliver all slides in a slide cartridge 40 from the outlet 42 one by one.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a method for removing slides for biochemical analysis.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for taking out slides for biochemical analysis one by one from a cartridge containing a large number of slides for biochemical analysis.

[Prior Art and its Problems] Conventionally, there has been a demand for simple and rapid quantitative analysis of various components contained in biological body fluids (whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, saliva, etc.).

In particular, in current medical care, importance is placed on clinical chemistry tests that perform quantitative analysis of specific components in biological fluids in order to perform accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. That's why!
It is necessary to quickly perform several clinical chemistry tests, and the above quantitative analysis can be easily carried out at medical institutions, laboratories, etc.
There is a need for an automatic and continuous method and apparatus.

For the above-mentioned quantitative analysis, biochemical analysis methods have been proposed that use, for example, multilayer analysis slides that use spectroscopic measurements and analysis slides that measure ion activity using ion-selective electrodes. , has been put into practice in some areas.

Quantitative analysis using the above-mentioned multilayer analysis slide (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "colorimetric analysis slide") involves placing a small amount of the test liquid on the colorimetric analysis slide, and then holding it at a constant temperature for a predetermined period of time. Incubation), the target component in the test liquid and the reagent in the colorimetric analysis slide undergo a color reaction, and the color density is measured spectrophotometrically to quantitatively analyze the target component.

In addition, analysis slides using ion-selective electrodes (hereinafter referred to as
Quantitative analysis using an ion-selective electrode slide (sometimes referred to as an ion-selective electrode slide) involves applying a test solution and a reference solution to each of the electrically separated ion-selective layers of a sheet-shaped ion-selective electrode, and The ionic activity of the test liquid is measured by measuring the potential difference between the ion selective electrodes while the two liquids are electrically connected to each other.

In order to perform analysis automatically and continuously using these analytical slides, a slide cartridge containing a large number of these analytical slides in a cartridge case is installed in the analyzer, and when performing analytical measurements, the slides are inserted into the cartridge case. It is preferable to send the samples one by one to the analysis area (measurement area) of the apparatus.

The slide cartridge for analysis is loaded into a cold storage provided in the analyzer at the time of analysis measurement.

By the way, in conventional analysis devices, cartridges are loaded into the device in the form of vertically stacked slides, and if you try to accommodate a large number of slides in the cartridge, the cartridge becomes extremely long. There is a problem in that the height of the device must be increased and the device becomes large. Therefore, it is conceivable to load the analytical slide cartridge into the analyzer so that the rows of slides are oriented horizontally, but when the cartridges are loaded in this way, the slides are lined up vertically, making it difficult to arrange the slides one by one. The question is whether to take them out one by one.

[Objective of the Invention] The object of the present invention is to provide a slide cartridge that allows slides to be taken out one by one so that their planes are approximately horizontal even when a slide cartridge is installed in an analyzer so that the rows of slides are oriented horizontally. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for removing slides for chemical analysis.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention provides a slide storage chamber in which a plurality of biochemical analysis slides are stacked and stored, one side wall is provided with a slide outlet, and the opposite side wall is provided with a slide delivery plate inlet/outlet. A slide cartridge for chemical analysis is installed in a biochemical analyzer so that the rows of slides are oriented horizontally and the slide outlet is on the top, and a slide delivery plate is inserted through the slide delivery plate opening and the slide A method for taking out a slide for biochemical analysis, characterized in that the slide is pushed up and sent upward from the slide exit, and the slide is rotated so that it becomes approximately horizontal.

[Detailed description of the invention] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An example of a biochemical analysis slide according to the present invention is a colorimetric analysis slide having a multilayer analysis element, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing one specific example thereof, and FIG. 2 is a specific example of the multilayer analysis element. FIG.

In FIG. 1, a colorimetric analysis slide 10 has a multilayer analysis element 11, an upper slide frame 13 having a liquid sample spotting opening 12, an opening 14 for housing the multilayer analysis element 11, and an upper slide frame 13 having an opening 12 for placing a liquid sample. It is composed of a spacer 15 having a thickness that is approximately equal to or slightly larger than the thickness of the spacer 15, and a lower slide frame 17 having an opening 16 for reflection photometry. The upper slide frame 13, the spacer 15, and the lower slide frame 17 are made of paper, plastic, metal, or the like, and are bonded and fixed by adhesive, heat fusion, or other means. In addition, the spacer 15 and the lower slide frame 17
may be integrally molded.

Upper slide frame 13, spacer 15 and lower slide are stylish! The outer size of 7 is preferably rectangular, particularly square, with sides having a length of about 20 to 30 mm.

In FIG. 2, the multilayer analytical element 11 has a reagent layer 112 laminated on a light-transmitting support 111, and a developing layer 112 on top of the reagent layer 112.
13 are laminated.

In biochemical analysis, a liquid to be tested is spotted on the spreading layer 113, the liquid to be tested spreads in the spreading layer 113, and the component to be analyzed moves to the reagent layer 112 and reacts with the reagent contained in the reagent layer 112. The color density change thus developed is measured by reflection photometry from the support 111 side, and the component to be analyzed in the test liquid is analyzed using the principle of colorimetry. The multilayer analysis element 11 further includes a reflective layer, a light shielding layer, a filtration layer, and a mooring layer (r+4is) as necessary.
Other layers known in the art may also be included, such as t-raLion) layers, water absorption layers, subbing layers, etc. Also,
The developing layer and reagent layer may be a single layer.

The structure of the multilayer analytical element as shown in FIG. 2 is known per se, and in the present invention, the multilayer analytical element may have any structure.

For example, the support 111 is a film made of a material that is transparent to light and impermeable to water; examples of such materials include polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate of bisphenol A, polystyrene, and cellulose ester. Examples include polymers such as cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose acetate propionate, etc. The thickness of the support 111 is approximately 50 μm to approximately 300 μm.
m1 is particularly preferably within the range of 80 to 200 μm, and its shape is approximately 10 to 2.0 mm x approximately 10 to 2.0 mm.
Conveniently, it is a 20 mm square.

The spreading layer 113 spreads the liquid to be inspected that is spot-supplied on its surface at a rate of approximately constant amount per unit area in the lateral (horizontal) direction without substantially unevenly distributing the components contained therein. It has a spreading effect. The expansion layer 113 is
It is composed of paper such as filter paper, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, etc. made from natural fibers, synthetic fibers, etc. Also, the deployment layer 1
13 may be made from a porous material consisting of particulate polymer.

The spreading layer 113 further contains a cellulose derivative, a wood-loving polymer such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyacrylamide, and a nonionic, cationic, anionic, or amphoteric surfactant in order to control the spreading of the test liquid. It can be impregnated with various surfactants and appropriate buffers for stable analysis.

Reagent layer 112 contains a suitable reagent capable of reacting with the analyte to produce a colorimetrically detectable change in color density. The reagent layer 112 is preferably one in which one or more reagents are dispersed in a hydrophilic colloid such as gelatin, gelatin derivative, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, or polyvinylpyrrolidone that acts as a binder.

Another example of the biochemical analysis slide of the present invention is an ion selective electrode slide used for electrolyte measurement etc.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a specific example thereof, and FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view thereof.

3A and 3B, the ion selective electrode slide 30 includes a lower support frame 31, a porous liquid distribution member 32.3.
3. Water-impermeable member 34, ion-selective electrode pair 35, 36, 37 with ion-selective layer facing downward, and upper frame portion 38
It consists of The lower support frame 31 has a horizontal passage 3
11.312, air vent hole 313.314.315.3
16, notches 317 and 318 are provided.

Porous liquid distribution members 32.33 are placed within the horizontal passages 311.312 when assembling this ion-selective electrode slide 30. The water-impermeable member 34 includes a rising passage 341
．． 341', 341'', 342.342', 342
'', descending passage 343, 344, air vent holes 345, 34
6,347,348, and cutout portions 349,350 are provided.

The ion selection electrode pair 35 is a pair of ion selection type 8i351
．． 352, the ion selection electrode pair 36 is comprised of a pair of ion selection electrodes 361.362, and the ion selection electrode pair 37 is comprised of a pair of ion selection electrodes 371.372. The upper part 38 has air vent holes 381, 382, 383, 38.
4, liquid spotting holes 385, 386, porous bridge 387,
A recessed portion 388 is provided.

In such an ion-selective electrode slide 30, for example, the ion-selective electrode pairs 35, 36, and 37 are
”, using a pair of ion-selective electrodes for CI-, a reference solution whose ion activity is known is placed in the liquid spotting hole 385, and a test liquid whose ion activity is unknown is placed in the liquid spotting hole 385. Hole 386
, the reference liquid passes through the descending passage 343 and permeates into the porous liquid distribution member 32, and enters the ascending passage 341, 341'.
, 341" to ion selective electrode 351.361.3
71, the test liquid similarly passes through the descending passage 344 and permeates into the porous liquid distribution member 33, and then passes through the ascending passage 3.
42. Ion selective electrode 352 via 342', 342''
,362.372 is reached. On the other hand, both liquids come into contact near the center of the porous bridge 387. As a result, between the ion selection electrodes 351 and 352, the ion selection electrode 361
and 362, ion selective type 1371 and 372
between the reference solution and the test solution, respectively.
Since a potential difference corresponding to the difference in the ion activity of ``, CI-'' occurs, a potential measuring probe (not shown) is inserted into the notch 317, 318, 349, 350 and brought into contact with each electrode to measure the potential difference. By measuring , the ion activity in the test liquid can be measured based on a calibration curve determined in advance.

Regarding such ion-selective electrode slides, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 155961/1983 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11/1982
This method is disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent No. 157, etc., and is known per se, and can be appropriately selected and adopted in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an example of a biochemical analysis slide cartridge for carrying out the method of the present invention. In the following description, the up, down, left and right directions are the directions in Figure i4. In FIG. 4, the slide cartridge 40
has a slide storage chamber A, and has a slide outlet 42 at the left end of the upper side wall 411 of the slide storage chamber A, which is large enough to allow 49 slides to pass through, and has a slide outlet 42 on the left end of the upper side wall 411 of the slide storage chamber A. A slide feeding plate entrance 43 is provided at a position facing the exit 42, and a slide moving bar entrance 44 is provided on a side wall 413 (bottom wall for the slide row 49A) opposite to the slide exit 42 (on the right side). In the slide storage chamber A of the cartridge case 41,
Horizontal slide row 49A in which slides 49 are stacked
It is constructed by storing. Upper side wall 41 of cartridge case 41! The slide outlet 42 has a surface parallel to the slide outlet 42 at a position close to the slide outlet 42.
A slide guide plate 60 is provided which has a structure in which the portion near 2 is substantially vertical, and curves to the left as it approaches the tip.

Slide 49 is a slide for biochemical analysis as described in FIGS. 1-3. When the slide cartridge 40 is loaded into an analyzer (not shown) for analysis and measurement, the slides are transferred one by one to the analysis area of the analyzer as follows.

On the right side of the slide row 49A, there are
A slide moving bar T, which has a push plate t at its tip and can move the slide row 49A to the left, comes into contact with it and pushes the slide row 49A to the left. The push plate t has a slightly smaller size than the slide 49. The slide delivery plate P provided in the analyzer is moved upward and passed through the slide delivery plate entrance 43 to open the slide row 4.
Push the slide 49A1 on the leftmost side of 9A and move it upward to remove the cartridge case 41 from the slide outlet 42.
push it outside. When a part of the slide 49A1 comes out of the cartridge case 41, the tip of the slide 49A1 comes into contact with the slide guide plate 60, and as the slide 49A1 moves upward, it gradually tilts to the left, and the slide 49A1 comes into contact with the slide guide plate 60.
When all of A1 comes out of the cartridge case, the slide 49A1 naturally falls onto the support stand 56 in the analyzer, and its plane becomes horizontal, becoming the measurement slide S.

The measuring slide S is transferred to the analysis area of the analyzer by suitable means (not shown), for example a moving bar, a clamp, an endless belt, etc. When the slide 49A1 becomes the measuring slide 49S, the six movements of the slide sending plate P are stopped. Next, when the slide delivery plate P is retreated to the position shown in FIG. 4, the slide row 49A is moved to the left by the slide movement bar T, and the slide 49A2 is positioned on the left end surface thereof. And slide 49A2 is
It is located below the slide outlet 42. Next, by repeating the above operations, all the slides 49 in the slide cartridge 40 can be sent out one by one from the slide outlet 42 by the slide delivery plate P. The slide movement bar T may be moved to the left by one slide 49 at a time.

Furthermore, the slide guide plate 60 may have other shapes as long as it has the function of moving the slide as described above.

Also, attach the sliding bar T to the cartridge case 41.
It may be externally mounted on the right side of the slide column 49A using a suitable jig so that the slide row 49A is constantly pressed by an elastic member such as a spring.

Alternatively, a pressing member may be provided inside the cartridge case to press the slide row 49A toward the slide exit side.

The slide cartridge for biochemical analysis of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned specific examples, and may be modified in various ways as long as it satisfies the requirements described in the gist of the invention.

Further, the cartridge case can be manufactured from various thermoplastic resins, for example, and can be made into a two-piece structure, or divided into a lid and a box body, so that the two can be made separately and engaged. It is also possible to form an integral structure in which the two are connected by a hinge.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an example of a biochemical analyzer employing the slide retrieval method of the present invention. In FIG. 5, an analysis area 51 is provided in the center of the biochemical analyzer 50. A cold storage 52 is provided in the lower half of the biochemical analyzer 50, and the cold storage 52 is maintained at a predetermined low temperature and low humidity by a cooling and dehumidifying device (not shown). The slide cartridge 40 for biochemical analysis has a slide outlet 42 in a cold storage Ji[52], a slide outlet 42 in a cold storage slide outlet 53, a slide outlet 43 in a slide outlet plate P, and an inlet/outlet 44 for a slide moving bar T. are aligned and attached to the slide movement bar T, respectively. The sliding bar T is a spring, hydraulic or other suitable mechanism 5.
4 to press the slide to the left, and the slide delivery plate P can be driven in the vertical direction in FIG. 5 by an appropriate mechanism (not shown).

Further, a slide guide plate 60'' whose tip end is curved leftward is provided at a position adjacent to the right side of the slide exit portion 53.

When analyzing a test liquid using the biochemical analyzer shown in FIG. The slide 49 is guided by the guide plate 60° and taken out in the horizontal direction, and is supplied to the analysis area 51.

Thereafter, analysis operations such as spotting, incubation, and measurement of the test liquid are performed in the analysis area 51, and the used slides are put into the disposal section 55.

[Effects of the Invention] The method for taking out slides for biochemical analysis of the present invention allows the slides to be held horizontally without touching the slides, even if the cartridge is loaded into the analyzer so that the rows of slides are oriented horizontally. This has the remarkable effect of being able to be taken out one by one so that it can be stably, smoothly and easily transferred to the analysis area of the analyzer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a colorimetric analysis slide; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a specific example of a multilayer analysis element; Fig. 3A is a specific example of an ion-selective electrode slide. FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view thereof; FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an example of a slide cartridge for biochemical analysis for carrying out the method of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a slide ejection of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a biochemical analyzer employing the method. 10: colorimetric analysis slide, 11: multilayer analysis element, 12: liquid sample spotting opening, 13: upper slide frame, 14: opening, 15 varnish spacer-116: reflection photometry opening, 17: lower slide frame, 111: Light-transparent support, 112: Reagent layer, 113: Development layer, 30: Ion-selective electrode slide, 31: Lower support frame, 32. 33: Porous liquid distribution member, 34: Water-impermeable member, 35 .36.37: Ion selective electrode pair, 38 two upper frames,
40 Ni slide cartridge, 41: Cartridge case, 42 Ni slide outlet, 43 Ni slide delivery plate entrance, 44 Ni slide moving bar entrance, 49 Ni slide, 49 A Ni slide row, A Ni slide storage chamber, P Ni Slide sending plate, T-slide moving bar, 50: Biochemical analyzer, 51: Analysis area, 52: Cold storage,
53: Cold storage slide exit section, 55: Disposal section, 60.60' Nislide guide plate. Patent applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Agent
Patent Attorney Yanagikawa Hata Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 A Figure 51N3 Figure 3B Figure 4 Take 0 Figure 5 p:)Z

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Multiple biochemical analysis slides are stacked and stored in the slide storage chamber, and a slide exit is provided on one side wall.
A slide cartridge for biochemical analysis, which is provided with a plate entrance/exit for slide delivery on the opposite side wall, is attached to a biochemical analysis device so that the row of slides is oriented horizontally and the slide exit is on the top surface, and the slide cartridge A method for taking out a slide for biochemical analysis, characterized in that a slide delivery plate is inserted through a slide entrance and exit, the slide is pushed up and sent upward from a slide exit, and the slide is rotated so that it becomes approximately horizontal. . 2. The slide for biochemical analysis includes at least a developing layer;
2. The method for taking out a slide for biochemical analysis according to claim 1, wherein the slide has a multilayer analysis element including a reagent layer and a light-transmitting support. 3. 2. The method for taking out a slide for biochemical analysis according to claim 1, wherein the slide for biochemical analysis is an analysis slide that includes at least an ion-selective electrode. 4. Claim 1, characterized in that a curved slide guide plate is provided at a position close to the slide outlet of the analyzer at a location where the cartridge is installed, and the slide is rotated by the slide guide plate. A method for removing a slide for biochemical analysis according to any one of items 1 to 3. 5. A curved slide guide plate is provided at a position close to the slide outlet of the cartridge case, and has a surface parallel to the slide outlet, a portion close to the side wall is perpendicular to the side wall surface, and a tip portion is located near the slide outlet. 4. A method for taking out a slide for biochemical analysis according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the slide is rotated by the slide guide plate so as to cover the front side of the slide.