JPH01219669A - Detecting method of liquid sample vessel according to assortment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid erroneous transfer of a sample by a method wherein an optical beam for measurement is applied at different heights from a direction intersecting the direction of arrangement of liquid sample vessels, the intensity of transmission thereof is measured and a downward process of a liquid sample partial injection nozzle is controlled. CONSTITUTION:As to a specimen rack 8, detection of transmitted light from light sources 50-53 is conducted in light-sensing elements 55-58 sequentially for partition walls 25-28 and specimen vessel receptacles 20-24, with a code reading element 12 moved. By detecting the transmitted light of the light sources 50-53 in the light- sensing elements 55-58 in this way, the presence or absence of a specimen vessel and the size thereof can be detected easily. Detection signals are delayed by a time required for said rack 8 to be transferred from the code reader 12 to a position 13 of suction and collection of specimen and are sent to specimen partial injection CPU 65 through CPU 64 for controlling an analyzing apparatus. Then the CPU 65 sets a bottom dead center of a sample partial injection nozzle element 15 for the specimen vessel 7 and controls a downward process of the sample partial injection nozzle 15. By this method, a test tube for collection of blood and a specimen cup are subjected to partial injection of specimen in the same specimen rack.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a method for detecting the classification of liquid sample containers. The present invention also relates to a liquid sample dispensing method related to a method for detecting the classification of liquid sample containers, that is, a liquid sample sampling method, and particularly to a liquid sample dispensing method related to a method for detecting the classification of liquid sample containers of an automatic analyzer. Regarding. Further, the present invention provides a turntable capable of intermittent rotational drive and continuous rotational drive, a sample dispensing device, a first sample dispensing device including a first reagent tray, and a second sample dispensing device including a second reagent tray. Regarding the classification detection method of liquid sample containers and related liquid sample dispensing method in an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with an injection device, a washing-dehydration device, and a measuring device, in particular, body fluids such as blood, plasma, serum, lymph fluid, urine, etc. A method for classifying sample containers in an automatic chemical analyzer for liquid samples such as human excreta, gastric juice, pancreatic juice, bile, saliva, secretions such as sweat, ascites, swelling, and puncture fluid such as joint cavity fluid. The present invention relates to a sample dispensing method related thereto.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a liquid sample classification method in an automatic analyzer autosampler for flow injection analysis, gas chromatography analysis, high performance liquid chromatography analysis, etc.

(b) Conventional technology For example, a turntable-type automatic chemical analyzer includes a turntable capable of intermittent rotational drive and continuous rotational drive, a sample dispensing device equipped with a sample rack, and a reagent dispensing device equipped with a reagent tray. , a washing-dehydration device, and a measuring device, reaction containers such as reaction cuvettes are arranged on a turntable, and the turntable is driven to rotate intermittently or continuously according to a preset time program. For example, the sample container is sent to the sample dispensing area, the first sample dispensing area, the stirring area, the second sample dispensing area, the stirring area, the reaction area, and the washing-dehydration area, and the sample dispensing, Dispensing the first reagent, dispensing the second reagent, stirring and mixing the reaction solution, reacting, discharging the reaction solution from the measured sample container,
Subsequent analysis operations such as washing and dehydration are performed, and the absorbance of the components to be analyzed is measured for the sample located in the measurement area.

In such an automatic analyzer, several sample containers containing samples are stored in a container for storing sample containers, such as a sample rack, and moved to a sample collection position, and the sample is collected using a sample dispensing device. The liquid sample is polarized into the analysis container.

However, the samples analyzed by automatic analyzers include samples for normal analysis, samples for quality control, samples for calibration, and samples for emergency analysis.
All the samples are placed in a sample container, housed in a sample rack, and sent to a sample dispensing position, where they are dispensed into analysis containers. Therefore, the sample rack is labeled with the type of sample, such as for normal analysis, quality control, calibration, and emergency analysis, and its serial number so that the sample to be analyzed can be identified.

However, even if the sample type and serial number are attached to the sample rack in this way, the number of received samples rarely matches the multiple of the capacity of the sample rack, and the sample rack of the sample container For convenience of analysis, sample containers are stored separately for each client, so sample containers are not always stored in the storage locations of the sample rack.

If sample containers are placed in the sample rack in this way, it will interfere with the suction collection operation of the liquid sample using the sample dispensing nozzle. A detector for detecting a sample container is provided to read the sample type and serial number of the liquid sample container, and also detect whether or not the sample container is arranged.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Incidentally, in such a conventional liquid sample dispensing device, in order to keep the moving stroke of the sample dispensing nozzle constant, the sample rack is equipped with It accommodates sample containers.

Therefore, for example, it is necessary to transfer the sample from the blood collection container, and analysis errors due to incorrect transfer of the sample cannot be avoided.

Therefore, in order to avoid mistakes in transferring samples, it is desirable to store, for example, test tubes for blood collection in the side sample rack.

However, if the test tube for blood collection is stored in the side sample rack, the control serum used for quality control is expensive, so the use of a sample cup is essential.
A tall test tube for blood collection and a short sample cup are housed in a sample rack, and the sample dispensing nozzle, which has a constant vertical movement, has a lower stopping point, that is, a bottom dead center. This is a problem because it becomes unstable.

On the other hand, liquid sample dispensing nozzles are expensive, and damage to them must be avoided.Moreover, if a liquid sample dispensing nozzle is damaged, repairing it takes a long time even for experienced technicians such as repair personnel. This is a problem because it reduces the efficiency of analysis work.

An object of the present invention is to solve problems associated with arranging sample containers of different heights in a sample rack and problems caused by incorrect placement of sample containers in conventional liquid sample dispensing methods.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a method for not only determining whether a sample container is incorrectly placed, even when sample containers of different heights are placed in a container for storing sample containers such as a sample rack. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting the classification of liquid sample containers without damaging a dispensing nozzle for storage.

That is, the present invention irradiates a container for storing liquid sample containers in which a plurality of liquid sample containers are arranged with measurement light at different heights from a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the liquid sample containers. The present invention also provides a method for detecting the classification of liquid sample containers, characterized in that the transmitted intensity of each measuring light is measured, and the liquid sample containers are classified based on the measurement results of the transmitted intensities.

In the present invention, the container for storing sample containers is, for example, a container for storing sample containers such as a sample rack, and the storage portions of sample containers such as sample cups and test tubes are separated from each other by partition walls, and the sample containers are separated from each other by partition walls. In the present invention, a partition wall is formed for each container and is formed in a line along the moving direction of the container for storing the sample container, for example, in a line along the moving direction. , a through hole for detecting the type of rack, and a through hole for detecting the serial number of the rack are formed.

In the present invention, holes for detecting the size of the sample container are formed at corresponding positions on both side walls of the sample container accommodating portion.゛Detection of the size of the sample container is performed by arranging a plurality of measurement light sources and light receiving sections in the vertical direction. Detection of the size of the sample container involves determining whether or not it matches the already set sample container size, and determining the maximum downward movement of the sample dispensing nozzle during dispensing for the sample container, i.e., the bottom dead center. is done to set. In particular, in the present invention, the sizes of sample containers accommodated in a container for storing sample containers are classified according to the number of arranged detectors, for example, by categorizing them into numbers corresponding to the number of arranged detectors. At the same time, the bottom dead center of the sample dispensing nozzle is set for each class according to the size of the classified sample container.

Therefore, in the present invention, the maximum downward movement distance of the sample dispensing nozzle relative to the sample container during dispensing, that is, the bottom dead center, is set in accordance with the size of the classified sample container.

In the present invention, the size of the sample container is determined by irradiating measurement light through a hole on one side of the container for housing the sample container, and measuring the intensity of the transmitted light through the hole on the other side. is required. In this case, the measurement light is scattered by the sample container wall, so the intensity of the light that has passed through the sample container wall and the light that has passed through the sample container wall without hitting the sample container wall is significantly different. It is possible to easily detect the presence or absence of the substance.

(e) Effect The present invention provides for a container for storing a plurality of liquid sample containers arranged in a manner to be provided with optical cables for measurement at different heights from a direction intersecting the direction in which the liquid sample containers are arranged. irradiation and measure the transmitted intensity to control the downward movement of the liquid sample dispensing nozzle, so even if multiple types of sample containers of different sizes are arranged in a liquid sample container, The class of the classified sample container can be determined from the transmitted intensities of a plurality of measurement lights at different heights of the part.

Therefore, according to the present invention, confirmation of the sample container can be easily controlled according to the detected size of the sample container, and the bottom dead center is set accordingly. The rotation speed of the stepping motor can be easily controlled so that the downward movement stroke of the injection nozzle always does not exceed the maximum downward movement distance of the sample dispensing nozzle with respect to the sample container.

(F) EXAMPLES Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited in any way by the following descriptions and examples.

FIG. 1 is a partial explanatory diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of the analysis method of the present invention using an automatic chemical analyzer, and FIG. 2 shows a sample rack supply section in the embodiment of FIG. It is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the outline, centering on
FIG. 3 is a partial front sectional view of the detection section of FIG. 1. The same reference numerals are used for the same parts in FIGS. 1 to 3. All figures are shown in a simplified manner for convenience of explanation.

In FIG. 1, automatic analyzer=1 includes reaction disk 2.
is provided in the center, and a cuvette rotor 3 is provided outside and above it. A number of reaction cuvettes 4 (some of which are omitted) are arranged on the inner circumference of the cuvette rotor 3 to form a reaction line 5.

In this example, a transport path 9 for a sample rack 8 in which up to five sample containers 7 can be arranged is provided partially adjacent to the sample dispensing section 6 of the cuvette rotor 3. The transport path 9 is formed of a sample rack supply section 10 and an intermittent transfer section 11 for sample racks 8, and the sample rack 8 is placed on the transport path 9 of the supply section 10 and is intermittently fed. Next, it is transferred to the intermittent transfer section 11 and sent intermittently.

In this example, the sample rack supply section 10 is provided with a code reading section 12 for confirming the sample container, and the sample rack 8 is provided with a code reading section 12 for sample container aspiration and collection at a location close to the sample dispensing section 6 of the intermittent transfer section 11 of the sample rack 8. Position 13 is set. The sample dispensing unit 6 is provided with a sample dispenser 14 . The movement path 16 (indicated by a - dotted chain line) of the sample dispensing nozzle section 15 of the sample dispenser 14 includes a sample dispensing nozzle section between the sample aspiration collection position 13 and the sample dispensing position 17. A washing well 18 is provided for cleaning.

The specimen dispenser 14 moves the specimen dispensing nozzle portion 15 to the specimen suction collection position 13 in the specimen dispensing stage. Therefore, the sample dispensing nozzle section 15 is moved downward, and the nozzle section 15 is inserted into the sample container 7 located there, and the sample is aspirated and collected from the sample container 7.Next, the nozzle section 1
5 is moved upward and further moved to the sample dispensing position 17 of the reaction line 5. Then, the sample dispensing nozzle section 15 is moved downward, and the sample collected by the nozzle section 15 is dispensed into the reaction cuvette 4. When the sample dispensing is finished, the sample dispensing nozzle section 15 of the sample dispensing device 14 is moved upward, then moved to the position of the washing well 18, and then lowered to remove the sample dispensing nozzle section 15 with the washing liquid. Wash. The sample dispensing nozzle section 15 that has become clean in this way is moved upward to the sample suction collection position 13,
Move on to the next sample dispensing step.

In this example as well, a reagent dispensing section, a washing section, a measuring section, etc. (none of which are shown) are provided below the intermittent rotation direction 19 of the cuvette rotor 3 with respect to the sample dispenser 14. ing.

In this example, the sample rack 8 is formed with five sample container holders 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 having the same diameter. Five sample container receivers 20 on sample rack 8
24 is partitioned by partition walls 25, 26, 27 and 28, and these partition walls 25 to 28 have, respectively,
Four through holes 29, 30, 31 and 32 are formed.

Since the sample rack 8 is sent in the direction of the arrow 33, the row 29 of through holes provided in the partition wall 25 that is sent to the code reading section 12 first is for reading the rack type of the sample rack 8. The rows of through holes 30 to 32 provided in the subsequent partition walls 22 to 28 are for reading rack numbers.

Holes 36 and 37 for detecting transmitted light, which indicate the size of the sample containers, are formed in both sides 34 and 35 of the sample container holders 20 to 24 of the sample rack 8.

Further, below it, there are holes 38, 39, 4 for position detection so that the positions of the sample container receivers 20 to 24 can be indicated.
0.41 and 112 are provided.

In this example, the sample rack 8 is moved along the transport path 9 in the direction of the arrow 33. This movement of the sample rack 8 is performed by movement of the feeding member 43.

A pushing member 44 that contacts the rear end of the sample rack 8 is provided on the feeding member 43 and extends downward, and a connecting member 44 that connects with the timing belt 45 is provided on the upper part of the pushing member 44 .
6 is provided. This feeding member 43 is supported by a guide shaft 47 so that its movement is performed in a fixed direction.

In this example, the movement of the sample rack 8 is controlled by a sub-central processing unit, that is, a sub-CPU 48, so as to be synchronized with the reading operation of the code reading unit 12.
The timing belt 45 is driven by a stepping motor (not shown), and when the stepping motor is stopped, the parts 20 to 24 of the container receiver or the rows of code through holes 29 to 32 are read by the code reading part 12. An intermittent movement operation controlled by the sub CPU 48 is performed so as to stop at position 49.

In this example, the code reading section 12 includes five light sources 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 and a light receiving section 55.
56, 57, 58 and 59 are provided. light source 50
54 and the light receiving sections 55 to 59, the light sources 50 to 53 and the light receiving sections 55 to 58 correspond to the columns 29 to 32 of the penetrating light for codes, and the type of the sample rack 8 and the serial number of the sample container 7. On the other hand, the light source 54 and the light receiving section 59 correspond to the position detection holes 38 to 42, and confirm the position of the sample container receiver.

The timing belt 45 that moves the sample rack 8 is operated by a stepping motor, and the sub CPU 48 that controls the stepping motor
It is connected to the main central processing unit, that is, the main CPU 60, and receives instructions from the main CPU 60.
It can operate to read the code holes 29 to 32 and the position detection holes 38 to 42 and transfer the detection results to the main CPU 60.

Since this example is configured as described above, the sample rack 8
Two types of sample containers, a sample cup 61 and a blood collection test tube 62, are accommodated in the sample container receivers 20 to 24, and the holes 63 in the code through-hole rows 29 to 32 are filled appropriately, and the sample rack is assembled. The type of specimen and the serial number of the specimen container are encoded and displayed.

The encoded sample rack 8 is placed on the conveyance path 9 of the supply section and sent to the code reading section 12. When the sample container receiver 20 is sent to the code reading position 49,
The size of the sample cup 61 is detected. in this case,
Of the light from the light sources 50 to 54, the light from the light sources 50 and 51 is scattered by the sample cup 61, so the light receiving portion 5
The intensity of the transmitted light received by the light receiving parts 57 and 58 becomes small, but the light from the light sources 52 and 53 passes through without being blocked, so the intensity of the transmitted light received by the light receiving parts 57 and 58 increases. In consideration of such a phenomenon, predetermined threshold values are set in advance for the light receiving sections 55 to 5. Therefore, whether the light receiving sections 55 to 59 have received unobstructed transmitted light can be detected by determining whether or not they have received transmitted light with an intensity exceeding a threshold value. Therefore, in the case of the sample cup 61, the light receiving sections 55 and 56 do not detect transmitted light.

The detection results detected by the light receiving sections 55 to 59 in this way are sent to the sub CPU 48, and further sent to the main CPU 48.
60 and stored. Therefore, sub-CPO48
Advance the timing belt 45 by one pitch and remove the partition wall 2.
5 at the four code reading positions.

The row 29 of code through holes of the partition wall 25 indicates the type of the sample rack 8, and the positions of the filled holes 63 and the positions of the unfilled holes 63 are determined by the light receiving section 55.
-58 light reception relationships are detected, a four-digit code is read, and the type of sample rack is determined and confirmed from this four-digit code.

This confirmed type of signal is also sent from the sub-CP tJ 48 to the main CPU 60 and stored therein.

Next, the sample container receiver 21 is located at the code reading position 49;
is not accommodated, the light from the light sources 50 to 54 is
On the other hand, since the light passes through the light transmitting holes 36 and 37, all of the light receiving sections 55 to 58 receive the transmitted light, and the signal indicating that all of the light receiving sections 55 to 58 have received the light is sent to the sub. It is sent from the CPU 48 to the main CPU 60. On the other hand, in the case of the test tube 62 for blood collection housed in the sample container receiver 23, all the light from the light sources 50 to 54 is scattered by the test tube 62, so the light receiving parts 55 to 58 No transmitted light is received.

Following the sample container receiver 21, the partition wall 26 is located at the code reading position 49. In this case as well, partition wall 2
Filled hole 6 of row 30 of through holes for code 6
3 and the position of the hole 63 that is not filled with the filling material are determined by the light receiving portions 55 to 55 for transmitted light from the light sources 50 to 53.
The serial number of the sample contained in the sample container 7 is confirmed by reading the four-digit code from the light receiving relationship at 58.

In this way, while moving the code reading unit 12 in the sample rack 8, the light sources 50 to 53 are sequentially connected to the partition walls 25 to 28 and the sample container receivers 20 to 24.
Detection of transmitted light is performed by light receiving sections 55 to 58. In this way, by detecting the transmitted light from the light sources 50 to 53 using the light receiving units 55 to 58, the presence or absence and size of the sample container can be easily detected.

In this example, the signals related to the sample container 7 detected in this way are sent from the sub CPU 48 to the main CPU 60, classified and stored.

The main CPU 60 determines whether there is any abnormality between the stored classification signal of the sample rack 8 and other signals of the sample rack 8. At this time, the abnormality includes the presence or absence of a sample container, a mismatch in the size of the sample container with that already set, and the like. If there is an abnormality, the main CPU 60 sends a signal to the operator of the apparatus or makes a decision to continue the analysis.

If there is no abnormality, the main CPU 60 uses the stored classification signal of the sample rack 8 together with other signals of the sample rack 8 to record the progress until the sample rack 8 is sent from the code reading unit 12 to the sample aspiration collection position 13. The analytical device controlling CPU 64 sends this signal to the sample dispensing CPU 65 of the sample dispensing device 14 . Based on this classification signal, the sample dispensing CPU 65 sets the bottom dead center of the sample dispensing nozzle section 15 for the sample container 7 to be aspirated and collected, and controls the stepping motor (not shown) of the sample dispensing nozzle 15.
) to move the sample dispensing nozzle 15 downward to suction and collect the target sample.

(g) Effects of the Invention The present invention provides a container for measuring a plurality of liquid sample containers arranged at different heights from a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the liquid sample containers. Since the downward movement of the liquid sample dispensing nozzle is controlled by irradiating it with an optical cable and measuring its transmitted intensity, it is possible to control the downward movement of the liquid sample dispensing nozzle. For example, it is now possible to dispense samples by placing blood collection test tubes and sample cups in the same sample rack, which was difficult with conventional sample dispensing methods. This reduces the number of sample transfers and avoids transferring the wrong sample, which can improve analysis accuracy.

Moreover, since it is possible to detect a mistake in the installation of the sample container itself, it is possible to improve the accuracy of -m analysis.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial explanatory diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of the analysis method of the present invention using an automatic chemical analyzer, and FIG. 2 shows a sample rack supply section in the embodiment of FIG. It is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the outline, centering on
FIG. 3 is a partial front sectional view of the detection section of FIG. 1. Regarding the symbols in the figure, 1 is an automatic analyzer, 2 is a reaction disk, 3 is a cuvette rotor, 4 is a reaction cuvette,
5 is a reaction line, 6 is a sample dispensing unit, 7 is a sample container, 8 is a sample rack, 9 is a transport path, 10 is a sample rack supply unit, 1
1 is an intermittent transfer unit, 12 is a code reading unit for confirming the sample container, 13 is a sample suction collection position, 14 is a sample dispenser, 1
5 is a sample dispensing nozzle section, 16 is a moving path, 17 is a sample dispensing position, 18 is a washing well for the sample dispensing nozzle section, 19
20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 are sample container holders, 25, 26, 27 and 28 are partition walls,
29.30.31 and 32 are through holes, 33 is an arrow, 34
and 35 are both side parts, 36 and 37 are holes for detecting transmitted light,
38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 are holes for position detection, 4
3 is a feeding member, 44 is a pushing member, 45 is a timing belt, 46 is a connecting member, 47 is a guide shaft, 48 is a sub CPU
, 49 is the reading position, 50.51.52.53 and 5
4 is a light source, 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 are light receiving parts,
60 is a main CPU, 61 is a sample cup, 62 is a test tube for blood collection, 63 is a hole, 64 is a CPU for controlling an analytical device, 65
is the sample dispensing CPU.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A container for storing liquid sample containers in which a plurality of liquid sample containers are arranged is irradiated with measurement light at different heights from a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the liquid sample containers. 1. A method for detecting the classification of a liquid sample container, comprising: measuring the transmitted intensity of light; and classifying the liquid sample container based on the measurement result of the transmitted intensity.