JP2000097945A - Reagent storage chamber of biochemical analysis apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need for setting a shutter-driving mechanism separately to reduce the cost of a reagent storage chamber and to avoid influences of heat generated by a driving part by constituting the chamber so as to open, close a shutter with utilizing a movement operation in the lateral direction of an element take-out means. SOLUTION: The reagent storage chamber 11 has a case main body 12 and a lid body 13. A disc-like suspension body 14 is rotatably supported by a shaft 18 to a bottom wall 17 of the case main body 12. The disc-like suspension body 14 is constituted of three layers of disc members 14a, 14b, 14c. A gear 19 is meshed with a driving gear of a suspension body motor outside the disc member 14c of a lower stage, thereby controlling a rotation stop position of the suspension body 14. An element take-out opening 20 is opened at an element take position by a sucker (element take means) 60 to the bottom wall 17 of the reagent storage 11. A shutter 21 for opening, closing the element take-out opening 20 in a linear motion form is set to be movable to the right and left. The sucker 60 is set on a bracket 47 to be movable up and down, and the bracket 47 is driven by a belt 46 to move to the right and left.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a layer containing a reagent which causes a change in concentration due to a chemical reaction, a biochemical reaction or an immune reaction with a predetermined biochemical substance contained in a sample such as blood or urine. The present invention relates to a reagent storage in a biochemical analyzer for performing biochemical analysis or the like using a dry analytical element, in which a cartridge storing the dry analytical element is stored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the quantitative analysis of the content of a specific chemical component or its activity value, or the content of a formed component in a sample by simply spotting and supplying a small droplet of the sample has been carried out. A multi-layer analysis element (also referred to as a multi-layer analysis element or a multi-layer analysis film) or a pair of ion selective electrodes having an ion selective layer in the outermost layer selectively responding to specific ions. A dry-type electrolyte analysis element provided has been developed and put into practical use. Also, a filter paper type test piece and a single-layer or multi-layer test piece obtained by improving the same have been proposed, and some of them have been put to practical use.

[0003] A plurality of types of dry analytical elements having different characteristics corresponding to the measurement items are prepared, and each type is stored in a cartridge according to the type.

On the other hand, a plurality of cartridges in which a plurality of sheet-shaped dry analytical elements having different measurement items are stacked and stored in advance in a biochemical analyzer are stored and stored in a reagent storage, and the corresponding cartridge is stored based on a command of the measurement item. There is a biochemical analyzer in which a dry analytical element is taken out of a cartridge to be used. For example, in order to take out dry analytical elements one by one sequentially from a large number of stored cartridges corresponding to the measurement items and supply the dry analytical elements to an incubator, the cartridges are ring-shaped on a disk-shaped movable frame provided in a case body of a reagent storage. At least one of the cartridges housed in each of the cartridge housing sections with the rotation of the movable frame is subjected to dry analysis from the cartridge by an element take-out means comprising a suction cup for measurement or the like. There is known a structure in which an element outlet for exposing the element is provided in the case body so that the element can be taken out (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-43).
No. 405).

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a cartridge in which a plurality of sheet-shaped dry analytical elements are stacked and housed, with the lowermost sheet-shaped dry analytical element taken out from the bottom thereof. FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing the structure of a reagent storage in a conventional biochemical analyzer with a part of a lid of the case cut away.

As shown in FIG. 5, the dry analytical elements 1 are stacked and stored in a cartridge 3 for each measurement item, and the cartridge 3 is constituted by a rectangular cylindrical box 31. A first opening 3a through which only one dry analysis element 1 can pass is formed near the lowermost portion of one side surface of the box 31, and a take-out for sucking and holding the element 1 is formed on the bottom of the box 31. A substantially U-shaped second opening 3b into which the suction cup 60 (suction cup) enters is formed.

Further, a first opening 3a of the upper front box 31 is provided.
A vertical rib 3c protrudes from the side surface on which is formed and the side surface opposite thereto, and the vertical rib 3c has a different forming interval and a different forming length on both side surfaces. The cartridge 3 is locked and held in the cartridge accommodating portion N of the frame 14 of the reagent storage 11, and the cartridge insertion direction is prevented from being erroneously recognized. On the side surface of the box 31, a data recording unit 32 is provided by a barcode having cartridge information indicating data and the like regarding the stored dry analytical element 1.

As described above, a large number of dry analysis elements 1 are provided inside.
Are stored in a state of being stacked along two concentric circles on a disk-shaped rotary frame 14 provided in the reagent storage 11 schematically shown in FIG. The cartridge storage unit (nest) N is loaded.

The reagent storage 11 includes a case body 12 forming a bottom wall and a peripheral wall, and a lid 13 for closing the upper surface of the case body 12. The disc-shaped frame 14 is provided on the bottom of the case body 12. Are rotatably supported. And lid 1
In FIG. 3, cartridge insertion openings 15A and 15B for inserting and discharging the cartridge 3 are opened at positions corresponding to the two inner and outer rows of the cartridge storage sections N. The frame 14
Is rotationally controlled by a frame motor (not shown),
An arbitrary one of the cartridge storage portions N is controlled to stop at a position corresponding to the cartridge loading port 15A or 15B. These cartridge loading ports 15A, 15
B is selectively opened by a disk-shaped shutter 16.

The shutter 16 is provided on the lid 13 of the reagent storage 11.
The opening 16a which is rotatably arranged at the lower part of the disk and which matches the inner and outer cartridge loading openings 15A and 15B in one place of the disk.
Is provided. The shutter 16 is driven to rotate by a shutter motor (not shown).
When the opening 16a of the cartridge 6 coincides with one of the cartridge loading ports 15A and 15B and stops, one cartridge accommodating portion N is exposed to the outside from the cartridge loading port 15A or 15B, and the insertion and ejection of the cartridge 3 is performed. It is configured as possible. FIG. 6 shows a state in which both the cartridge loading ports 15A and 15B are closed by the shutter 16.

On the other hand, in order to take out the lowermost dry analysis element 1 from the reagent storage 11 using the suction cups 60 (see FIG. 5) from the cartridges 3 in the respective cartridge storage sections N, the case main body 12 is omitted. The bottom surface of the cartridge 3 is also provided with an element outlet similar to the above-described cartridge loading ports 15A and 15B, which allows any one bottom of the cartridge 3 to be exposed to the outside.
The suction cup 60 is provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction and to be able to move up and down. Further, a shutter similar to the above-described shutter 16 for opening and closing the element outlet is provided.

[0012]

The reagent storage 11 for storing the cartridge 3 containing the dry analytical element 1 on a frame 14 is maintained at a predetermined temperature and humidity to maintain the performance of the reagent. And must be sealed to maintain temperature and humidity. Therefore, the cartridge loading port 15 on the upper surface of the case body 12
Shutters are provided on both the A, 15B and the element outlet on the bottom wall of the case body 12.

For this reason, a mechanism for opening and closing the shutter is required. Conventionally, the shutter opening and closing mechanism is driven using a dedicated motor or a solenoid. However, this shutter opening and closing mechanism and its driving mechanism are costly. In particular, since the shutter drive mechanism for opening and closing the element outlet formed on the bottom wall of the case main body 12 is provided at the lower portion of the case main body 12, heat generated from this drive portion adversely affects the cooling of the reagent storage. There was a problem of having.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention reduces the cost of the apparatus and eliminates the effects of heat by simplifying the opening and closing mechanism of the shutter for opening and closing the element outlet formed on the bottom wall of the case body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a reagent storage which aims at the above.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided a movable frame in which a cartridge accommodating section for accommodating a cartridge accommodating a plurality of dry analysis elements is arranged along the moving direction of the cartridge accommodating section. A case main body that accommodates the movable frame and has an element outlet at the bottom for exposing at least one bottom surface of the cartridge in each cartridge accommodating part with the movement of the movable frame at the bottom; A biochemical analyzer comprising: a shutter that opens and closes; and an element extraction means (for example, a suction cup) movably provided below the case body so as to be able to extract a dry analysis element from the bottom of the cartridge through the element extraction port. In the reagent storage, a shutter is opened and closed by using a lateral movement operation of the element extracting means with respect to the element extracting port. It is characterized in that the configuration was.

The shutter may open and close the element outlet in a linearly movable manner or may open and close the element outlet in a rotary manner.

[0017]

According to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a separate drive mechanism for the shutter for opening and closing the element outlet, so that the cost of the apparatus can be reduced and the influence of heat generated from the drive portion can be avoided. .

In addition, since the shutter is opened and closed in conjunction with the movement of the element take-out means such as the suction cup, there is an advantage that the unique control of the shutter becomes unnecessary.

[0019]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a cross-sectional front view of a first embodiment of a reagent storage of a biochemical analyzer according to the present invention, together with a schematic front view of a sucker (element take-out means) driving mechanism.

In FIG. 1, a reagent storage 11 has a case body 12 forming a bottom wall and a peripheral wall, and a lid 13 for closing the upper surface of the case body 12. A disk-shaped frame 14 similar to that shown in FIG. The case body 12 and the lid 13 are filled with a heat insulating material.

The disc-shaped frame 14 has a three-layer disc member 1.
4a, 14b and 14c, a gear 19 is formed on the outer periphery of the lower disk member 14c.
A drive gear of a frame motor (not shown) is meshed with the frame 14 to control the rotation stop position of the frame 14. In the frame 14, cartridge storage portions N (see FIG. 6) penetrating the three-layered disk members 14a to 14c are aligned and arranged along two large and small concentric circles centered on the rotation center of the frame 14. ing. In each of the cartridge storage sections N, the cartridge 3 is inserted and held from a cartridge loading opening (not shown) formed in the lid 13.

At the bottom wall 17 of the reagent storage 11, an element outlet 20 is opened at a position at which an element is taken out by a suction cup (element take-out means) 60, and a shutter 21 for opening and closing the element outlet 20 in a linearly movable manner is provided. It is provided between the upper and lower plates 17a, 17b of the bottom wall 17 so as to be movable in the left-right direction in FIG. The shutter 21 includes a shutter plate 23 supported on a frame 22, and the shutter plate 23 is separated from the upper plate 17 a of the bottom wall 17 by a spring 24 compressed between the shutter plate 23 and the frame 22.
Is pressed against. A projecting piece 25 is suspended from the frame 22. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the element outlet 20 is closed by a shutter 21.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the driving mechanism 40 of the suction cup 60.

The suction cup drive mechanism 40 is provided with a suction cup 60 shown in FIG.
And a drive mechanism for moving in the left-right direction of FIG.
And a drive mechanism for raising and lowering the zero.

That is, a motor 42 is fixed to the left end of the fixed base 41 extending in the left-right direction, with its rotating shaft 42a being perpendicular to and horizontal to the moving direction of the shutter 21. A pulley 43 fixed to the rotating shaft 42a, a pulley 45 rotatably supported by a shaft 44 fixed to the right end of the fixed base 41 in parallel with the rotating shaft 42a, and a pulley 43 are stretched between the pulleys 43, 45. The belt 46 constitutes a drive mechanism for moving the suction cup 60 in the lateral direction.

The suction cup 60 is mounted on a bracket 47 movable in the left and right direction so as to be able to move up and down.
A connection port 61 for a suction hose is provided in a lower portion of the suction hose.
The bracket 47 is attached to a belt 46 via a connecting plate 48, and has wheels 50 that roll on rails 49 provided in parallel with the fixed base 41. When the motor 42 is turned on, the bracket 47 is Is driven by a belt 46 to move in the left-right direction in FIGS.

A motor 51 having a rotating shaft 51a parallel to the rotating shaft 42a of the motor 42 is fixed on the bracket 47. The motor 51 and its rotating shaft 51a are fixed.
A pulley 52 fixed to the pulley 52 and a belt 54 stretched in a triangular shape between the pulley 52 and upper and lower small-diameter pulleys 53, 53 constitute a drive mechanism for raising and lowering the suction cup 60.

A vertically extending rail 55 is fixed to a vertically arranged plate portion 47a of the bracket 47, and a bracket 56 to which a suction cup 60 is fixed is slid on the rail 55. The bracket 56 is movably held, and the bracket 56 is attached to a vertical portion of the belt 54 via a connecting plate 57. Therefore, when the motor 51 is turned on, the suction cup 60 is driven by the belt 54 together with the bracket 56 to move up and down.

On the upper edge of the plate portion 47a of the bracket 47,
A notch 58 defined by left and right vertical edges 58a and 58b is formed, and a protruding piece 25 suspended from the frame 22 of the shutter 21 is engaged in the notch 58. In the state shown in FIG.
At a position close to the left edge 58a.

Therefore, the element outlet 2 of the reagent storage 11
5 from the bottom of the cartridge 3 at the position corresponding to FIG.
When the motor 42 is driven to move the suction cup 60 together with the bracket 47 rightward from the initial position shown in FIG. 3 engages with the protruding piece 25 of the shutter 21 and moves it to the right, so that the shutter 21 opens as shown in FIG.
The bottom of the cartridge 3 faces the outside, and the suction cup 60 is located directly below the cartridge 3. Therefore, the motor 51 is driven to raise the suction cup 60, and the cartridge 3
The suction cup 60 is caused to enter the cartridge 3 through the second opening 3b (see FIG. 5) to adsorb the lowermost element 1, and then the motor 42 is driven to move the suction cup 60 rightward by a predetermined distance. After moving, the element 1 is pulled out from the first opening 3a, the motor 51 is rotated in the reverse direction to lower the suction cup 60.

Next, the motor 42 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the bracket 47 is returned to the left. As a result, the right edge 58b of the notch 58 engages with the protruding piece 25 of the shutter 21 and moves it to the left, so that the shutter 21 closes, and the suction cup 60 moves together with the bracket 47 in the initial position of FIG. Return to.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the shutter 2 that opens and closes the element outlet 20 by utilizing the lateral movement of the bracket 47 that supports the suction cup 60.
Since the shutter 1 is opened and closed, it is not necessary to separately provide a mechanism for driving the shutter 21. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost of the apparatus and to avoid the influence of heat generated from the driving section.

Further, since the shutter 21 is configured to open and close in conjunction with the movement of the suction cup 60, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to independently control the shutter 21.

In the above-described embodiment, the shutter 21 is configured to open and close the element outlet 20 of the reagent storage 11 by the linear movement thereof. The present invention is also applicable to a reagent storage 11 configured to open and close a mouth.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a main part for explaining the configuration of a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a reagent storage provided with a rotary shutter.

The shutter 65 is provided on the bottom wall 17 of the reagent storage 11.
The disk 66 is provided rotatably. A shaft 67 is fixed to the center of the lower surface of the disk 66, and a gear (pinion) 68 is fixed to a lower end of the shaft 67. Disk 6
An opening 66a that can match an element outlet (not shown) is formed at one portion of the opening 6a.

On the other hand, a movable table 70 movable along the fixed table 69 by a driving means (not shown) is provided on the elongated fixed table 69, and the suction cup 60 is mounted on the movable table 70. Further, a rack 71 that can be engaged with the pinion 68 of the shutter shaft 67 is formed on the movable base 70.

Therefore, in a state where the disk 66 of the shutter 65 closes the element take-out opening (not shown), the moving table 70 moves with the suction cup 60 from the initial position to the fixed table 69 below the cartridge 3. , The rack 71 of the moving table 70 meshes with the pinion 68 of the shutter shaft 67, and rotates the disk 66 of the shutter 65 counterclockwise, for example, by 90 °, whereby the disk 66 is rotated. Opening 66a matches the element outlet,
The shutter 65 is opened, and the removal of the element 1 by the suction cup 60 is permitted.

When the movable table 70 returns to the initial position with the suction cup 60, the disk 66 is rotated clockwise, for example, 90 °, so that the element outlet is closed by the disk 66.

It is apparent that the present embodiment also provides the same effects as those of the first embodiment. The mechanism for rotating the disk 66 of the shutter 65 using the lateral movement of the suction cup 60 is not limited to the illustrated rack and pinion mechanism, but employs various mechanisms for converting linear motion into rotary motion. be able to.

In the above-described embodiment, the reagent storage provided with the rotary disk-shaped frame 14 has been described. However, the frame is not necessarily required to be a disk, and a linearly movable frame may be used. The present invention is also applicable to a reagent storage provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a closed state of a shutter in a first embodiment of a reagent storage of a biochemical analyzer according to the present invention, by a cross-sectional front view of the reagent storage and a front view of a suction cup driving mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the suction cup drive mechanism of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view corresponding to FIG. 1 and showing an open state of a shutter;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of a reagent storage of a biochemical analyzer according to a second embodiment of the present invention for explaining the configuration of the second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where a dry analytical element is taken out of a cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a structure of a reagent storage in a conventional biochemical analyzer with a part of a lid cut away.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dry-type analytical element 3 Cartridge 11 Reagent storage 12 Case main body 14 Disc-shaped frame 20 Element take-out port 21, 65 Shutter 23 Shutter plate 25 Projection piece 40 Suction drive mechanism 42 Motor (for lateral movement of a suction cup) 45 Belt 47 Bracket 51 Motor ( Suction cup lifting and lowering) 54 Belt 60 Suction cup (element take-out means) 66 Disk 68 Pinion 71 Rack

Claims (3)

[Claims] A movable frame in which a cartridge accommodating portion for accommodating a cartridge accommodating a plurality of dry analysis elements having a layer containing a reagent is arranged along a moving direction of the cartridge accommodating portion; A case body accommodating a movable frame, and having at the bottom an element outlet for exposing at least one bottom surface of the cartridge in each cartridge accommodating portion with the movement of the movable frame, the element outlet; A biochemical analysis device comprising: a shutter for opening and closing the cartridge; and an element taking-out means movably provided below the case body to take out the dry analytical element from the bottom of the cartridge through the element taking-out port. In the reagent storage, the shutter is opened and closed by utilizing a lateral movement operation of the element removing means. Reagent storage of biochemical analysis apparatus. 2. The reagent storage according to claim 1, wherein the shutter opens and closes the element outlet in a linearly movable manner. 3. The reagent storage according to claim 1, wherein the shutter opens and closes the element outlet in a rotary manner.