JPS63165736A - Biochemical analyser - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smoothen the flow of a series of inspections, by making the length of a light path at the time of the measurement of absorbancy variable. CONSTITUTION:The light from a light source 1 is transmitted to an optical fiber 2 to irradiate the specimen 5 in a reaction tube 3 from a light transmitting part 2a. This light passes the light path length L formed by the reaction tube 4 to be incident to a light receiving part 7a while absorbed by a specimen 5 and transmits through an optical fiber 7 to be sent to a light detector 8. The detector 8 converts said light to the analogue signal corresponding to the intensity of the incident light to subject the same to each processing on and after through an A/D converter 9. At this time, when the output signal of the converter 9 is out of a range, CPU 10 sends a control signal to positioning mechanisms 3, 6 on the basis of said signal, and the light transmitting part 2a and the light receiving part 7a are altered to a position P1 to measure the absorbancy of the specimen 5 over a light path length L1. At this time, when the over-range of the output signal of said converter 9 is again generated, CPU 10 again sends the control signal to the mechanism parts 3, 6 to change over the light path length to a light path length L2. As mentioned above, since the optimum light path length corresponding to the specimen is selected, re-measurement or dilution is unnecessary and the smoothening of inspection is achieved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a biochemical analyzer equipped with a photometric system that can vary the optical path length when measuring the absorbance of a sample subjected to a reaction.

(Prior Art) In conventional biochemical analyzers, when measuring the absorbance of a reaction sample, the sample 5 housed in a reaction tube 20 as shown in FIG.
Since the shape of the reaction tube 20 is standardized, the optical path length is constant. For this reason, for the sample 5 with high absorbance, the light from the light source 1 may not reach the photodetector 8 sufficiently, making it impossible to measure the absorbance, or remeasuring or diluting the sample 5 may be necessary. Therefore, there was a problem in that the smooth flow of a series of tests in this device was hindered. It is well known that the absorbance of the sample 5 is generally proportional to the optical path length during photometry.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, in the conventional biochemical analyzer, the optical path length for the sample is constant, which necessitates re-measurement, dilution, etc. There was a problem with the flow being obstructed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a biochemical analyzer having a photometric system that does not require remeasurement or dilution, has a wide measurement range, and can ensure a smooth flow of testing. .

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The biochemical analyzer of the present invention can be applied to a reaction tube in which an arbitrary number of light passage regions with different light passage widths are formed, and a reaction tube containing a sample. The optical system includes a light transmitting/receiving means that is configured to have a light transmitting section and a light receiving section facing each other in each of the light passing regions and whose position can be changed, so as to perform absorbance measurement while varying the optical path length with respect to the sample. This is what I did.

(Function) The function of the device having the above configuration will be explained below. The light transmitting/receiving means transmits and receives light to and from the sample housed in the reaction tube, with its light transmitting section and light receiving section facing a reaction tube in which arbitrary light passing regions with different light passing widths are formed. I do.

At this time, since the facing positions of the pre-delivery light section and the light receiving section with respect to each light passing region can be changed, absorbance measurement can be performed with the most appropriate optical path length corresponding to the magnitude of the absorbance of the sample.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

The device shown in the figure includes an optical system 15 and a photometric data processing section 1.
6.

The optical system 15 includes a light source 1, a first optical fiber 2 having a light transmitting section 2a for transmitting light emitted from the light source 1 to the outside, and a light transmitting section 2a of the first optical fiber 2. A second optical fiber having a first positioning mechanism section 3 that supports the vicinity of the front delivery light section 2a to position the front delivery light section 2a at a predetermined position, and a light receiving section 7a that receives light emitted from the front delivery light section 2a. 7
and a second positioning mechanism section 6 that positions the second optical fiber 7 at a position facing the pre-distribution light section 2a, and a second positioning mechanism section 6 that receives the light transmitted by the second optical fiber 7 and converts it into an electrical signal. It is configured to include a photodetector (for example, a photoelectric conversion element) for conversion, and a reaction tube 4 arranged between the light transmitting section 2a and the light receiving section 7a.

And the above-mentioned 1. The second positioning mechanism parts 3 and 6 position the light transmitting part 2a and the light receiving part 6a in a mutually interlocking state @Po, Pl as shown in FIG.

It is now possible to position at P2. Although details of the first and second positioning mechanism sections 3 and 6 are not shown,
For example, it can be constructed by providing an optical fiber insertion hole in a pair of support plates placed in parallel, and connecting these support plates to a pair of rack and pinion mechanisms that are moved in parallel by motor drive.

In addition, each optical fiber 3 is attached to the pair of support plates described above.
, 7 may be inserted manually.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reaction tube 4 has an internal storage space 4C in which a sample 5 can be stored, and one side wall 4a has a stepwise width of passage of light from the other side wall 4b. Different step portions 4d and 4e are formed to connect this reaction tube 4 to the light transmitting portion 2a.

When placed vertically between the light receiving sections 78, three types of optical path lengths Lo, Ll, and L2 (LO>Ll>12) are formed.

The photometric data 9B and the connecting section 16 include an A/D converter 9 that converts the output signal of the photodetector 8 into a digital signal, control of this A/D converter 9, and the first . CPU 10 that performs positioning control of the second positioning mechanism sections 3 and 6
The conversion result of the A/D converter 9 is transferred to an arithmetic processing section (not shown), a printer, a display section such as a CRT, etc.

Next, the operation of the apparatus having the above configuration will be explained.

First, a sample whose absorbance is to be measured is stored in the storage space 4C of the reaction tube 4, and the reaction tube 4 is placed at the position shown in FIG. Incidentally, at this time, the first and second optical fibers 2,
It is assumed that the light transmitting section 2a and the light receiving section 7a of No. 7 are positioned at a position Po.

When the light source 1 is turned on in this state, the light is transmitted through the first optical fiber 2 and is irradiated onto the sample 5 in the reaction tube 4 from the light transmitting section 2a. Then, this light passes through an optical path length L (I) formed by the reaction tube 4, enters the light receiving section 7a while being partially absorbed by the sample 5, is transmitted through the second optical fiber 7, and is sent to the photodetector 8. Sent.

The photodetector 8 converts the incident light into an analog signal corresponding to the intensity of the light and sends this to the A/D converter 9. A/D
The converter 9 converts this analog signal into a digital signal and uses it for each subsequent process. At this time, if this digital signal is, for example, overranged (the level is higher than a preset range), the CPU 10 Based on this digital signal, the first . Second positioning mechanism section 3
A control signal is sent to the 1st. Second optical fiber 2゜7
The light transmitting section 2a and the light receiving section 7a are simultaneously moved to position @P1. Then, the absorbance of the sample 5 is measured based on the same effect as in the case described above in the state of the optical path length L1.

In this case as well, if an overrange condition occurs, the CPU'IO will be executed once again. A control signal is sent to the second positioning mechanism sections 3 and 6, and the absorbance of the sample 5 is measured with the optical path length switched to 12 in the same manner as in the case described above.

According to this device, when measuring the absorbance of sample 5, the most appropriate optical path length is selected according to the sample, so there is no need for remeasurement or dilution as with conventional devices, and the measurable range This also expands the scope of the test, making it possible to smoothly perform a series of tests.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a case was explained in which three stages of optical path length were provided, but it can also be carried out using a reaction tube that forms optical path lengths of two stages, four stages, five stages, etc.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention detailed above, since the optical path length during absorbance measurement can be varied, there is no need to retest or dilute the sample, the measurable range is expanded, and a series of tests using this device can be performed. A biochemical analyzer capable of smoothing the flow can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a photometry system in a conventional device. 2... First optical fiber, 2a... Light transmitting section, 4...
・Reaction tube, 5...sample, 7...second optical fiber,
7a... Light receiving section, 15... Photometry system.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A reaction tube is provided with an arbitrary number of light passage regions having different light passage widths, and a reaction tube containing a sample is configured such that a light transmitting section and a light receiving section are faced to each of the light passing regions and can be repositioned. 1. A biochemical analysis device comprising an optical system comprising a light transmitting/receiving means, and measuring absorbance while varying the optical path length with respect to the sample.