JPH067918B2 - Chemical reactor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention is not only widely used in the field of chemical industry such as biotechnology, biochemistry, but also for research of biochemistry including microorganisms, clinical examination, etc. It relates to a chemical reaction device suitable for conducting a large number of chemical reaction tests,
In particular, the present invention relates to a chemical reaction device capable of performing a reaction test simply and efficiently by performing a chemical reaction in a capillary tube.

PRIOR ART Methods and devices for performing chemical reactions using large numbers and quantitatively small test volumes have a number of technological advances, mainly in the area of clinical diagnostics using immunochemical reactions. As one of them, there is a method of immobilizing an immunoreactive substance on spherical beads such as small plastics.

Further, there are JP-A-61-114731 and JP-A-61-114732 which the inventors have already made. The reaction vessel used when using the apparatus in the above invention uses a test tube, and by tilting and rotating the test tube, the reaction time can be significantly shortened. It is suitable for the purpose of automatic high-speed processing.

There are also techniques and devices that use capillaries in carrying out immune reactions. For example, there is one described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-501521. However, the device according to the present invention mounts a plurality of capillaries vertically around the turntable and carries out an immune reaction in the capillaries.

According to this device, since the reaction is fast in the capillary tube, a stirring device is not required, and there is an advantage that the device is simple and downsized.

Also, in the case where the patient's blood is mainly used as a sample such as an immune reaction, many items must be tested from a fixed amount of blood, so the amount of blood that can be used per item is gradually decreasing. However, the above-mentioned one in which the reaction is carried out in a capillary tube has an advantage that a smaller amount of sample is required as compared with the conventional one.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the method using small plastic beads, the operation of immobilizing the immunoreactive substance on the surface of the beads themselves is suitable for mass production. The operation of performing an immune reaction, for example, the operation of putting beads into a test tube, the operation of taking out beads and washing them, the operation of putting beads into a test tube again and adding a reagent, etc. is complicated, and there is also an automated mechanism suitable for it. Various types have been devised, but they have drawbacks such as the necessity of adopting a complicated mechanism. Further, the reaction requires a long time, which is not suitable for processing a large number of samples at high speed.

JP-A-61-114731 and JP-A-61-114732
According to the device according to the invention described above, a test tube having an immunoreactive substance immobilized on the inner surface is used instead of the bead, and the reaction time can be remarkably shortened by tilting and rotating the test tube. It is most suitable for the purpose of high-speed automatic processing of a large number of specimens as compared with the method described above.

However, the operation of immobilizing the immunoreactive substance on the inner surface of the test tube is considerably complicated as compared with the case of using the surface of the beads, and the manufacturing cost of the reagent becomes expensive. That is, in the case of a test tube, it is necessary to inject a certain amount of a solution of an immunoreactive substance into the test tube, leave it for a certain period of time, remove the liquid inside, wash and dry. On the other hand, when beads are used, it is sufficient to add a large number of beads to the solution of the immunoreactive substance, and subsequent washing and drying are very easy and suitable for mass production. That is, the bead method is inconvenient for the user when performing a clinical test, but is easy to manufacture. The test tube method is the opposite of being convenient for the user but tedious to manufacture.

The operation of immobilizing the immunoreactive substance on the inner surface of the capillary tube is significantly easier than that of the test tube. That is, as in the case of beads, if the capillaries are collectively immersed in the solution of the immunoreactive substance in the longitudinal direction, the solution easily fills the capillaries from the lower part, leaves it for a certain time at a certain temperature, then takes it out, wash and dry it. do it. The immunoreactive substance is also immobilized on the outer surface of the capillary, but when the immunoreaction is performed using this tube, only the inner surface is used, so that the reaction does not occur at all.

Further, in the case of a capillary tube, the diameter is smaller than that of a test tube, so the amount ratio of the immobilized immunological substance to the sample liquid is large, so the reaction is remarkably fast, and it is not necessary to rotate and accelerate the reaction like the test tube method. . Therefore, if a device that can perform automated operation in a large amount surely and easily using a capillary tube appears,
Since the capillaries themselves are also small, the machines will be small, and automation should enable rapid mass processing.

The device described in JP-A-58-501521 uses a capillary tube, and the method itself for immobilizing various chemical substances on the inner surface of the capillary tube is a well-known fact. This is based on a combination method of immobilizing a substance on the inner surface of a capillary tube and sequentially performing an immune reaction using an automated machine.

However, according to the above-mentioned device described in the above publication, various operations are performed while the capillary tube is always kept vertical. Therefore, if the reagent solution to be added to the capillary tube is increased, the surface tension in the capillary tube holds the weight of the solution. As a result, a part of the liquid will flow out from the inside of the tube, making it impossible to carry out an accurate chemical reaction.

When the capillary tube is made of a non-water-repellent material such as glass, when the lower end of the capillary tube comes into contact with the water surface, water is sucked up into the tube by the capillary phenomenon and rises. The height of this rise is inversely proportional to the inner diameter of the tube, and according to the experiments conducted by the present inventors, it is as shown in the table below.

As described above, there is a limit to the length in which the capillary can be made vertical and the liquid can be completely filled and held in the capillary as shown in the above table. Therefore, the capillaries which can be used in the device described in the above publication must be very short.

The method of injecting a sample solution or a reagent solution into a vertically installed capillary tube in this device is a liquid held in a cup provided at the top of the capillary tube through a small hole provided at the bottom,
This is done by bringing a capillary tube into contact with the small hole.

Also in this case, if the capillary tube is too long, the liquid is retained only below the capillary tube. Further, when the amount of the liquid held in the cup is larger than the volume of the capillary even if the capillary is short, the droplet drops from the lower portion of the capillary or is suspended as a droplet in the lower portion of the capillary. For this reason, the amount of liquid to be charged into the measurement system becomes inaccurate, and in order to prevent this, an accurate micro pump must be prepared separately. Therefore, it is difficult to realize the simplicity of using a capillary tube as a substitute for a micro pump as claimed in the above publication. Moreover, since extremely short capillaries must be used, the mechanism for handling the capillaries must be complicated. Further, according to the above-mentioned device, since the capillaries are vertically attached to the periphery of the rotary table which is the conveying means, a special device is required for the attachment, and the attachment and detachment operations are troublesome. It was supposed to be. The present inventors have devised a device based on a completely new idea as a device that truly takes advantage of the above advantages when using a capillary tube.

The present invention eliminates such conventional drawbacks, does not need a stirring device, and does not need a measuring device for reagents, etc., and has a simple structure and always has a fixed amount of reagents, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a chemical reaction device which can be subjected to a chemical reaction to perform an accurate chemical reaction and which can be easily handled such as attaching and detaching a capillary tube.

[Means for Solving Problems] A chemical reaction device according to the present invention (first invention) for solving the above problems includes a plurality of capillaries, and a carrier for carrying the capillaries while keeping them substantially horizontal. And a container for accommodating a reagent solution, etc., which is arranged along the side portion of the transfer means so that a liquid drop of the reagent solution or the like is suspended at the lower end and is filled with the reagent solution or the like to be supplied into the capillary tube. Having a supply means such as a test solution,
While one of the plurality of capillaries is being conveyed by the conveying means, one end of each of the capillaries touches a liquid droplet suspended at the lower end of the sample container for accommodating the sample solution, etc. It is characterized in that it is supplied.

A second invention relating to the present invention is the chemical reaction device of the first invention, further comprising a measuring means for measuring the result of the chemical reaction.

[Operation] The capillary is always kept in a substantially horizontal posture by the conveying means, and one end of the capillary comes into contact with the liquid droplet suspended from the lower end of the sample liquid container of the sample liquid supply means.
The test solution or the like is supplied into the capillary due to the capillary phenomenon. When the test solution or the like touches the end of the capillary, it is filled in the capillary instantaneously due to the capillary phenomenon. Since the capillaries are held almost horizontally, the surface tension that keeps the liquid in the capillaries is stronger than the force that causes the liquid in the capillaries to drop from the pipe due to gravity. It becomes stable in a state where it is filled over the entire length, and a fixed amount (that is, the same amount as the inner volume of the capillary) of the test solution or the like is always supplied and filled in the capillary.

Therefore, the amount of the reagent solution or the like provided for the chemical reaction is always a constant amount without using a metering pump or the like, and an accurate chemical reaction can be performed.

Further, since the capillary tube is held and conveyed by the conveying means while maintaining a horizontal posture, it is possible to convey the capillary tube only by placing it on the conveying means, and the device for holding or removing the capillary tube in the conveying means is extremely simple. Can be adapted.

[Embodiment] An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an immune reaction device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of the apparatus of this embodiment with a part thereof omitted.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a belt conveyer which is a means for conveying the capillary tube 2. The belt conveyer 1 has a drive shaft 12 driven by a motor 11 with a reduction gear and a driven shaft 13 rotatably supported by the main body of the device at both ends. For each of these axes 12,
An endless conveyor belt 1 made of, for example, a material such as polyurethane resin is provided between the pulleys 14 and 15 attached to the belt 13, respectively.
6 is hung in parallel.

The speed reducer-equipped motor 11 rotates the drive shaft 12 such that the upper side of the parallel-carrying conveyor belt 16 is on the tension side. In FIG. 1, the drive shaft 12 is rotated clockwise. Further, the rotation of the speed reducer motor 11 may be a slow constant speed rotation or an intermittent rotation by microprocessor control or the like, and the position of the conveyor belt 16 is detected by a detection means such as an optical sensor. The rotation of the motor 11 may be controlled.

The conveyor belt 16 is provided such that its upper surface is substantially horizontal, and grooves 17 for holding the capillaries 2 are parallel to each other at regular intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the conveyor belt 16 in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction. Is formed. The number of the grooves 17 can be set according to the purpose of use and the like, but from the viewpoint of operability and the like, it is desirable to be 30 to 200 or so. If a timing belt having irregularities formed on the inner peripheral surface of the belt is used as the conveyor belt 16 so as to engage with a pulley having irregularities, slippage between the conveyor belt and the pulley does not occur and the conveyor belt 16
The traveling speed of is more stable. Also, the groove 17
May have any shape as long as it can stably hold the capillary tube 2, such as forming grooves by vertically arranging a large number of comb teeth on the belt.

Above the vicinity of the end of the belt conveyor 1 on the driven shaft 13 side, a hopper 18 for supplying the capillary tube 2 to the conveyor belt 16 is provided. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the vicinity of the hopper 18. The capillary tube 2 is made of glass or polyethylene or other plastic and has, for example, an inner diameter of 1 to 1.5 mm and a total length of 5 to 8 cm, and both ends thereof are formed with openings. The capillary tube 2 has an immunoreactive substance such as an antibody attached and fixed to its inner surface by dipping or another method before being put into the hopper 18, and falls from the hopper 18 by gravity, and the belt moves as the conveyor belt 16 moves. One is supplied into each groove 17 on the upper surface and is held in the groove 17,
It is placed on and transported.

Therefore, no special device, operation or the like is required to mount the capillary tube 2 on the belt conveyor 1 which is the transporting means.

A case 19 for accommodating the processed capillaries is provided below the end of the belt conveyor 1 on the side of the drive shaft 12. The processed capillaries fall from the right end of the conveyor belt 16. Then, they are sequentially stored in the case 19. Therefore, removing the capillary tube 2 from the belt conveyor 1 does not require any special device or operation.

Reference numeral 3 is a means for supplying reagents or the like, which is provided along the belt conveyor 1 and supplies the test sample liquid and the immunoassay drug solution into the capillaries 2. In the present embodiment, the reagent, etc. supplying means 3 is provided in each capillary 2. A test sample liquid supply unit 20 that sequentially supplies different test sample liquids, a test sample liquid cleaning unit 30 that cleans the inside of the capillary 2 after a predetermined time to remove the test sample liquid that has finished the reaction,
Next, an enzyme-labeled antibody solution supply unit 40 that supplies an immunoassay reagent solution such as an enzyme-labeled antibody solution into the capillary tube 2, and a reagent that removes unbound enzyme-labeled antibody solution by washing the inside of the capillary tube 2 after a predetermined time. The washing unit 50 and the enzyme substrate solution are transferred to the capillary tube 2.
The substrate liquid supply unit 60 for supplying the liquid crystal to the substrate is sequentially provided along the conveyor belt 16.

The test sample liquid supply unit 20 includes, for example, a plurality of test sample liquid storage cylinders 2 in which a test sample liquid such as blood, urine, or saliva is stored in a feeder 21 that operates in conjunction with the belt conveyor 1.
2 is attached. At the lower end of the accommodating cylinder 22, the test sample liquid forms water droplets and is suspended, and when the test sample liquid comes into contact with the end part of the capillary tube 2, it is instantaneously filled in the capillary tube 2 by a capillary phenomenon. Further, in the present invention, since the capillary tube 2 is held substantially horizontally, the surface tension for retaining the solution in the tube is stronger than the force for the solution in the capillary tube 2 to drop from the tube by gravity. ,
The test sample liquid is stable in a state of being filled over the entire length of the capillary tube 2, and by making the amount of the test sample liquid suspended at the lower end of the housing cylinder 22 larger than the inner volume of the capillary tube 2,
A constant amount (that is, the same amount as the inner volume of the capillary) of the test sample liquid is always supplied and filled in the capillary tube 2.

The test sample liquid cleaning unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 schematically showing a cross section thereof. One side of the conveyor belt 16 has a suction tube 3 connected to a suction device (not shown).
1 are provided in close proximity so as not to contact the capillary tube 2. By making them non-contact in this manner, impurities and the like do not adhere to the capillaries, and an accurate reaction can be obtained. On the other side of the conveyor belt 16, a cleaning liquid storage cylinder 32 in which the cleaning liquid is stored is provided, and the cleaning liquid forms water droplets at the lower end of the storage cylinder 32, and the water droplets form the end portion of the capillary tube 2. When they come into contact with each other, the washing liquid is filled in the capillary tube 2 by the capillary phenomenon.

The aspirator is controlled by, for example, a microprocessor and operates in conjunction with the movement of the belt conveyor 1, and after the test sample liquid is filled in the capillary tube 2 through the test sample liquid storage cylinder 22, After a lapse of a certain time (for example, after 10 minutes), the liquid is sucked and removed, and the washing liquid is sucked continuously or intermittently for a certain time through the capillary 2 to wash the inside of the capillary 2.

In the enzyme-labeled antibody liquid supply unit 40, the cleaning liquid storage cylinder 3 is provided.
An enzyme-labeled antibody solution containing cylinder 42 similar to that in 2 is provided on the conveyor belt 1.
An enzyme-labeled antibody solution is filled into the capillary 2 after washing, which is provided on one side of the capillary 6, by capillarity. Then, the enzyme-labeled antibody solution becomes stable in a state of being filled over the entire length of the capillary tube 2, and a fixed amount (that is, the same amount as the inner volume of the capillary tube) of the enzyme-labeled antibody solution is constantly supplied and filled in the capillary tube 2.

The reagent cleaning unit 50 has the same structure as the test sample liquid cleaning unit 30, and after the enzyme labeled antibody solution is filled in the capillary tube 2 through the enzyme labeled antibody solution containing cylinder 42, after a certain period of time, The liquid is sucked and removed, and the inside of the capillary tube 2 is washed.

The substrate liquid supply unit 60 is the enzyme-labeled antibody liquid supply unit 4 described above.
The capillary tube 2 is filled with the enzyme substrate solution by the same structure as 0, and in this case also, a constant amount (that is, the same amount as the inner volume of the capillary tube) of the enzyme substrate solution is always supplied and filled in the capillary tube 2. To be done.

Reference numeral 7 is a measuring means provided near the right end of the belt conveyor so as to cover the conveyor belt 16 and measures the optical concentration of the reaction liquid in the capillary tube 2. As the measuring means, for example, a spectrophotometer or a fluorescence photometer can be used. Then, the antigen concentration in the test sample liquid is calculated from the optical concentration of the reaction liquid by a microcomputer or the like. 72 is a display for digitally displaying the result.

In measuring the optical density of the reaction solution, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, an optical fiber 7 having a thin emission end is formed.
1 is inserted into the end of the capillary tube 2 to emit light,
You may make it detect the light which passed through along the whole length. In this way, when the optical fiber output end is put into the end of the capillary to emit light, all the emitted light passes while being reflected by the inner peripheral wall of the capillary, and extra light that passes inside the material of the capillary is mixed. Since it does not, accurate measurement can be performed. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the detected light is
The capillary tube 2 held horizontally on the conveyor belt 16 may pass vertically.

Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case where the CEA concentration in the test sample liquid is measured by the enzyme immunoassay method for CEA (Carutino Embryonic Antigen).

An anti-CEA antibody was used as an immunoreactive substance to be attached to the capillaries, an enzyme-labeled anti-CEA antibody was used as an enzyme-labeled antibody, hydrogen peroxide was used as a substrate, orthophenylenediamine was used as a color former, and peroxidase was used as a labeling enzyme.

The capillary 2 has an anti-CEA antibody attached to the inner surface of the hopper 18.
Put many inside. In addition, each test sample liquid storage cylinder 22
The sample liquid to be tested is put in each of them and attached to the feeding device 21 of the sample liquid supply unit 20 in advance.

When the belt conveyor 1 is operated, the capillaries 2 drop from the hopper 18 as the conveyor belt 16 moves, and the capillaries 2 are held in the groove 17 of the belt one by one substantially horizontally and in parallel with each other. It is carried on the belt 16.

Then, in the test sample liquid supply unit 20, the capillary 2 is filled with the test sample liquid, an immune reaction is performed, and CE contained in the liquid is obtained.
A is bound to the anti-CEA antibody deposited in the capillary tube 2.

The transport belt 16 moves slowly, during which an immune reaction progresses in the capillary tube 2, and after a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, 10 minutes) from filling the test sample fluid, the inside of the capillary tube 2 is washed in the test sample fluid washing section 30. CEA bound to anti-CEA antibody
All liquids except for are discharged.

Next, in the enzyme-labeled antibody solution supply unit 40, the capillary tube 2
The enzyme-labeled anti-CEA antibody is filled in the tube, and the enzyme-labeled CEA antibody is fixed in the tube in a so-called sandwich manner through the CEA fixed in the tube. Then, after the lapse of the predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes), the enzyme-labeled antibody solution washing unit 50
In, the inside of the capillary tube 2 is washed, and all the enzyme-labeled antibody solution not fixed in the tube is discharged.

Then, in the enzyme substrate solution supply unit 60, a mixed solution of hydrogen peroxide solution and orthophenylenediamine is filled in the capillary tube 2 and decomposed from hydrogen peroxide by the enzyme (peroxidase) of the enzyme-labeled antibody fixed in the tube. Oxygen reacts with ortho-phenylenediamine and the liquid develops color.

During the above reaction step, the capillary tube 2 is always held in a substantially horizontal posture, so that the capillary tube 2 is stably held in the groove 17 of the conveyor belt. Reagents and the like are filled and held by the capillary phenomenon over the entire length of the tube, and do not spill out of the tube. Therefore, the amount of reagents and the like used in the reaction is always the same as the internal volume of the capillary tube, and an accurate reaction can be performed without providing any measuring device.

The capillary tube 2 in which the liquid in the tube has developed color reaches the measuring means 7 after a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, 10 minutes), and the result of the reaction is read by a colorimeter or the like, and the value is read by a microcomputer or the like. It is calculated and digitally displayed on the display 72, for example.

The capillary tube 2 for which all the processing has been completed is the conveyor belt 1.
6 is dropped from the right end portion of 6 and sequentially stored in the case 19.

Furthermore, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case where the AFP concentration in the test sample liquid is measured by the enzyme immunoassay method for AFP (α-fetoprotein).

An anti-AFP antibody was used as an immunoreactive substance to be attached to the capillaries, an enzyme-labeled anti-AFD antibody was used as an enzyme-labeled antibody, hydrogen peroxide was used as an enzyme substrate, orthophenylenediamine was used as a coloring agent, and peroxidase was used as a labeling enzyme.

An anti-AFP antibody is attached to the inner surface of the capillary tube 2, the inner surface of the capillary tube 2 is further coated with an enzyme-labeled antibody, and freeze-dried. Further, the test sample liquids are put into the respective test sample liquid storage cylinders 22, and the test sample liquid supply unit 2 is provided.
It is attached to the feeding device 21 of 0.

When the belt conveyor 1 is operated, the capillaries 2 drop from the hopper 18 as the conveyor belt 16 moves, and the capillaries 2 are held in the groove 17 of the belt one by one substantially horizontally and in parallel with each other. It is carried on the belt 16.

Then, the test sample liquid supply unit 20 fills the capillary 2 with the test sample liquid, and an immune reaction is performed.

The transport belt 16 moves slowly, and in the meantime, in the capillary tube 2, the reaction between the anti-AFP antibody attached to the inner surface and the AFP existing in the test sample liquid, and further the anti-A attached to the inner surface.
The immune reaction between the AFP that has reacted with the FD antibody and the enzyme-labeled anti-AFP antibody proceeds, and after a lapse of a predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes) from the filling of the test sample liquid, the inside of the capillary tube 2 is washed in the reagent washing section 50 and the inside surface is washed. AFP bound to the attached anti-AFP antibody and enzyme-labeled anti-A bound via this AFP
All liquids not involved in the reaction other than FP antibody are discharged.

Since the reactions up to this point are performed at once, the test sample washing section 30 and the enzyme-labeled antibody solution supply section 40 remain stopped.

Then, in the enzyme substrate solution supply unit 60, a mixed solution of hydrogen peroxide solution and orthophenylenediamine is filled in the capillary tube 2 and decomposed from hydrogen peroxide by the enzyme (peroxidase) of the enzyme-labeled antibody fixed in the tube. The enzyme reacts with ortho-phenylenediamine and the liquid develops color.

Next, the capillary tube 2 in which the liquid in the tube has developed color reaches the measuring means 7 after a predetermined time has passed (for example, after 10 minutes), the reaction result is read by a colorimeter, and the value is calculated by a microcomputer or the like. For example, it is digitally displayed on the display 72.

Then, the capillary tube 2 for which all the processing has been completed is the conveyor belt 16
It is dropped from the right end portion of and is sequentially stored in the case 19.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show examples in which the shape of the belt conveyer, which is the conveying means, is changed, and when measuring the optical density of the reaction solution in the measuring means 7, the measuring light beam is emitted in the vertical direction of the device ( In the case of firing in the Y direction), a hole 118 for allowing the measuring light beam to pass through is formed at the bottom of the groove 117 of the conveyor belt 116 as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the capillary tube 2 may be placed on a pair of conveyor belts 216 that are provided in parallel with each other with a space therebetween, and the measuring light beam may pass between the belts.

In the above embodiment, the capillaries were independently supplied one by one. However, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of capillaries 2 are arranged in parallel and bonded to, for example, a sheet 4 made of paper or plastic or other means. You may attach and connect with. By doing so, various displays and recordings can be written on the back surface of the sheet 4, which is convenient in practice. Reference numeral 5 is a hole formed so that the measuring light beam passes therethrough.

Further, although the belt conveyer is used as the conveying means in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a donut-shaped disk 301 for rotating the conveying means is used. Form and groove 31 on its upper surface
7 may be formed radially and a capillary tube may be mounted there. Also in this case, it is convenient for various controls that the capillaries 2 are held by the conveying means at equal intervals (that is, at the same angle), and as in the case of FIG. 7, a plurality of capillaries are radially arranged on the sheet in advance. You may attach it to. Further, the chemical reaction device of the present invention is, for example, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG.
It is possible to use other various types of transfer devices such as holding and transferring the capillary tube 2 in the groove 417 of the circular rotary body 401 which has the groove 417 formed in the peripheral portion and rotates about the horizontal axis.

Further, although the above-mentioned embodiment shows the one in which the present invention is applied to the immunoreactor, the present invention includes one applied to various other chemical reaction devices as described in [Industrial application]. It is a waste.

[Effect of the Invention] According to the chemical reaction device of the present invention, one end of each capillary tube touches a droplet of a test solution or the like suspended at the lower end of a cylindrical container for containing the test solution or the like while the capillary tube is held horizontally and conveyed. By
Since the reagent solution and the like are sequentially supplied into each capillary tube by the capillarity, the reagent solution and the like can be supplied into each capillary tube with an extremely simple structure in which the transport means moves the capillary tube. The amount of the reagent solution or the like supplied and filled in the capillary tube for the reaction is always constant, and an extremely accurate chemical reaction can be performed without using any measuring device. Therefore, the device is simplified and the manufacturing cost is low, and it is easy for anyone to use and maintain, and furthermore, the device for holding or removing the capillary tube from the conveying means is very simple, It is possible to obtain a chemical reaction device that is suitable for automatically performing a chemical reaction, simple, and easy to use, since it has effects such that its operation is easy and that which is easy to use is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a device of an embodiment of the present invention with a part omitted, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device near a hopper, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an example of a light emitting part used in the measuring means, FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial perspective views showing examples of different shapes of the belt conveyor, and FIG. 7 shows a plurality of capillaries. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a connected state, FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing another embodiment of the conveying means,
FIG. 9 is a front view of a further different embodiment of the conveying means,
FIG. 0 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 11 is a schematic view of another example of the light emitting portion used in the measuring means, (a) is a front sectional view,
(B) is a side sectional view thereof. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Belt conveyor (conveying means), 2 ... Capillary tube, 3 ... Reagent supplying means, 7 ... Measuring means, 16 ... Conveying belt, 17
... Grooves, 20 ... Test sample liquid supply section, 30 ... Test sample solution cleaning section, 40 ... Enzyme antibody solution supply section, 50 ... Reagent cleaning section, 60
... Substrate liquid supply unit, 116 ... Conveyor belt, 117 ... Groove, 2
16 ... Conveyor belt, 301 ... Disc, 317 ... Groove, 401
… Rotators, 417… grooves.

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of capillaries, a transport means for holding and transporting these capillaries in a substantially horizontal direction, a reagent solution or the like to be supplied into the capillaries, and a droplet of the reagent solution or the like is suspended at the lower end. As described above, it has a reagent solution supply means including a reagent solution containing cylinder arranged along the side of the carrier means, and one end of each capillary tube is in the middle of being transported by the carrier means. A chemical reaction device characterized in that a reagent solution or the like is sequentially supplied into each of the capillaries by capillarity by touching a liquid droplet suspended at the lower end of the reagent solution containing cylinder. 2. The chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of capillaries are held by the conveying means in parallel with each other. 3. The chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of capillaries are radially held by the conveying means. 4. The chemical reaction device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the plurality of capillaries are held by the conveying means at regular intervals. 5. The chemical reaction device according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the capillary tubes are connected in advance. 6. The chemical reaction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the conveying means is a belt conveyor, and a groove for holding a capillary tube is formed in the belt. 7. The conveying means is a circular rotary member having a groove formed in a peripheral portion thereof, and a capillary tube is held in the groove for conveyance, and the conveying means is any one of claims 1 to 4. The chemical reaction device according to the section. 8. The chemistry according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the amount of liquid droplets suspended at the lower end of the sample liquid container is larger than the inner volume of the capillary tube. Reactor. 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the reagent solution supplying means includes a cleaning means for discharging the reagent solution supplied into the capillary tube to clean the inside of the capillary tube. The chemical reaction device according to the item. 10. The chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cleaning means includes suction means for sucking and discharging the reagent solution or the like in the capillary tube without coming into contact with the capillary tube. 11. The chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a cleaning liquid supply means on the opposite side of the capillary in which the suction means is installed in the cleaning means. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein an immunoreactive substance is previously attached to the inner surface of the capillary tube, and the reagent supply means supplies the sample and the reagent into the capillary tube at a predetermined time interval. The chemical reaction device according to any one of 1. 13. A plurality of capillaries, a transport means for holding and transporting these capillaries in a substantially horizontal manner, a reagent solution or the like to be supplied into the capillary tube, and a droplet of the reagent solution or the like is suspended at the lower end. As described above, a reagent solution supply means including a reagent solution containing cylinder arranged along the side portion of the carrier means is provided, and one end of each capillary tube is transferred while the plurality of capillary tubes are carried by the carrier means. By touching the liquid droplets suspended at the lower end of the reagent solution storage cylinder, the reagent solution is sequentially supplied into each of the capillaries by capillary action, and the result of the chemical reaction in the capillaries is measured. A chemical reaction device provided with measuring means for 14. The chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the measuring means includes an optical density measuring means for measuring an optical density of the reaction liquid in the capillary tube. 15. The optical density measuring means has an optical fiber having a thin emission end portion and inserted into an end portion of a capillary tube, and the optical density is emitted from the optical fiber and passes through the capillary tube along the entire length. Alternatively, the chemical reaction device according to claim 14, which detects scattered light. 16. The chemical reaction apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the optical density measuring means detects the transmitted light in which the measuring light beam crosses the capillary in the vertical direction or the scattered light at that time. 17. The method according to claim 13, wherein an immunoreactive substance is previously attached to the inner surface of the capillary, and the reagent supplying means supplies the sample and the reagent into the capillary at a predetermined time interval. The chemical reaction device according to any one of 1.