JP2000180368A - Chemical analyser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately measure a sample even if an air bubble is generated in the vicinity of the surface of the soln. to be measured within a reaction container in a chemical analyser and to miniaturize the chemical analyser. SOLUTION: A chemical analyser has a reaction turntable 302 holding a plurality of reaction containers 301 on its circumference to rotate, a sample turntable 306 holding sample cups 305 on its circumference to rotate and a reagent turntable 310 holding reagent bottles 309 on its circumference to rotate and the sample in each sample cup 305 and the reagent in each reagent bottle 309 are supplied to each reaction container 301 by an automatic sample pipetting mechanism 304 and an automatic reagent pipetting mechanism 308 to prepare a soln. to be measured and, after this soln. to be measured is stirred, it is irradiated with the light from a light source and the light transmitted through the soln. to be measured is detected by a colorimetric measuring device 314 to measure the physical properties of the soln. to be measured. A shading plate 101 is arranged between the reaction containers 301 and the colorimetric measuring device 314.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a chemical analyzer for analyzing components contained in a liquid, and more particularly to a so-called automatic analyzer for automatically analyzing chemical components contained in human blood or urine. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a chemical analyzer, there is a chemical analyzer described in US Pat. No. 4,451,433.
This device consists of a colorimetric measurement unit for analyzing and quantifying proteins and ions in blood and components in urine, and an ion analysis unit for analyzing ions in blood. Therefore, a large-sized apparatus has a processing speed of 9000 tests or more. Especially in the colorimetric measurement section, in order to increase the processing speed, a large number of reaction vessels are provided on the circumference of the turntable on the upper surface of the main body of the chemical analyzer, and the samples are sequentially mixed, reacted and measured by the overlap processing. System.

The main components of this apparatus are an automatic sample / reagent supply mechanism for supplying a sample and a reagent to a reaction vessel, and an automatic stirring mechanism for agitating a sample / reagent (ie, a solution to be measured) in the reaction vessel. , A colorimetric measurement unit for measuring the physical properties of the solution to be measured during or after the reaction, an automatic cleaning mechanism for aspirating and discharging the solution for which the measurement has been completed, and for cleaning the reaction vessel. And the like for controlling the control. In the colorimetric measurement section, the white light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the solution to be measured held in the reaction vessel, and then guided to the spectrometer, and the light intensity value measured for a specific wavelength is compared with the light intensity measured in advance for the solution having the reference concentration. The chemical components in the solution to be measured are analyzed by calculating the absorbance in comparison with the values.

[0004]

In the field of chemical / medical analysis, the miniaturization of liquids such as samples (specimens) and reagents has become a major technical problem. In other words, as the number of analysis items increases, the amount of a sample that can be divided into a single item has become small, and the amount of a sample that is precious and DNA analysis cannot be prepared in large quantities has been considered to be a high level of analysis that has been conventionally used for advanced analysis. Analyzes with samples and reagents are becoming routine. In addition, as the contents of analysis become more sophisticated, expensive reagents are generally used, and there is a demand for reducing the amount of reagents in terms of running costs.

In the above prior art, in order to analyze a chemical component in a solution to be measured held in a container, white light is transmitted through the solution to be measured and then guided to a spectroscope to measure a light having a specific wavelength. The chemical component in the solution to be measured was analyzed by calculating the absorbance by comparing the intensity value with the light intensity value measured in advance for the solution of the reference concentration. At this time, bubbles generated near the surface of the solution to be measured, which is a mixture of the sample and the reagent, held in the reaction vessel due to the discharge of the liquid by the automatic sample / reagent supply mechanism and the stirring of the solution by the automatic stirring mechanism are generated in the solution. The transmitted light may be scattered or a part of the light may be blocked. In such a case, the amount of light guided to the spectrometer changes, and accurate measurement of the sample cannot be performed. In order to eliminate the measurement error due to the bubbles, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-224031 discloses the same sample (sample).
Is measured in multiple containers and the same number of measuring systems.If each measured value matches within the set range, the measured value is displayed, and if they do not match, a display indicating re-measurement is displayed. A method is shown for distinguishing between air bubbles and air bubbles. However, in this method, when air bubbles are mixed into a plurality of cells, the measurement is not effectively performed, and the efficiency of the measurement operation may be reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a chemical analysis device,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a means capable of accurately measuring a sample regardless of the presence or absence of bubbles generated near the surface of a solution to be measured held in a reaction container. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a chemical analyzer.

[0007]

The former object is to provide an automatic sample / reagent supply mechanism for supplying a sample / reagent to a reaction vessel to form a solution to be measured, and to stir the solution to be measured in the reaction vessel. A stirring means, a light source for irradiating the solution to be measured with light, a colorimetric measuring means for receiving the light transmitted through the solution to be measured and measuring the light intensity thereof, and Cleaning means for cleaning the reaction vessel by suction and discharge,
By providing a light-shielding unit that shields a part of the light irradiated on the solution to be measured from the light source or a part of the light transmitted through the solution to be measured, or a light-shielding unit that shields a part of the light from the light source. This is achieved by providing a bubble detecting means for detecting bubbles generated near the surface of the solution to be measured inside the reaction vessel and a light shielding means driving means for controlling the position of the light shielding means by a signal from the bubble detecting means.

[0008] The latter object is to provide a turntable in which a plurality of reaction vessels each having an opening at the top are arranged on a circumference, and a sample for a plurality of sample vessels containing samples arranged on the circumference. A turntable, a reagent turntable in which a plurality of reagent containers containing reagents are arranged on a circumference, sample supply means for supplying a sample in the sample container from an upper opening of the reaction container, and the reagent Reagent supply means for supplying the reagent in the container from the upper opening of the reaction vessel, stirring means for stirring the solution to be measured in the reaction vessel which is a mixture of the sample and the reagent, and A colorimetric measuring means for measuring the physical properties of the solution to be measured by using light transmitted from the light source to the solution to be measured from a light source, and aspirating and discharging the solution to be measured after the measurement. And a washing means for washing the reaction vessel by using a light source to shield part of the light emitted from the light source to the solution to be measured or part of the light transmitted through the solution to be measured. By providing a light-shielding unit, or a light-shielding unit that shields a part of light emitted from the light source to the solution to be measured or a part of light transmitted through the solution to be measured, and a surface of the solution to be measured inside the reaction vessel. This is achieved by providing a bubble detecting means for detecting the position of a bubble generated in the vicinity and a light shielding means driving means for controlling the position of an area to be shielded by the light shielding means by a signal from the bubble detecting means.

[0009]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the chemical analyzer according to the present embodiment. The illustrated scientific analyzer is
A reaction turntable 302 for fixing a plurality of reaction vessels 301 having an opening at the top thereof in a circumferential arrangement, and a table driving unit 3 for rotating and driving the reaction turntable 302.
03 and a plurality of sample cups 30 holding a sample.
5, a sample driving table 306 for rotating and fixing the sample turntable 306, and a plurality of reagent bottles 309 holding reagents arranged and fixed on the circumference. A turntable 310, a table driving unit 311 that rotationally drives the reagent turntable 310, and a sample cup 30.
5 is an automatic sample pipetting mechanism 304 which is a sample supply means for supplying the sample in the sample 5 to the reaction container 301 from the upper opening thereof, and a reagent supply means for supplying the reagent in the reagent bottle 309 to the reaction container 301 from the upper opening thereof. Automatic reagent pipetting mechanism 308 and reaction vessel 30
A stirrer 312, which is a stirrer for stirring the solution to be measured, which is a mixture of the sample and the reagent in 1, into a uniform mixed state, and a driver 31 for controlling the drive of the stirrer 312
3, a bath 401 disposed below the reaction turntable 302 and immersed in constant temperature water 402 enclosing the reaction vessel 301, and provided at a position on the downstream side of the stirring device 312 in the circumferential direction outside the reaction turntable 302. And a colorimetric measuring device 314 which is a colorimetric measuring means for measuring the physical properties of the solution to be measured reacted in the reaction vessel 301 with light, and on the opposite side of the colorimetric measuring device 314 and the reaction vessel 301. The light source 601 is provided to irradiate the solution to be measured in the reaction vessel 301 with light for measurement, and the light shielding means is arranged between the reaction vessel 301 and the colorimetric measurement device 314 to block a part of the light. Light shielding plate 101 and reaction turntable 30
2, a cleaning mechanism 315 which is a cleaning means provided at a downstream position in the circumferential direction, a stirring device 316 provided at the same position as the cleaning mechanism 315, a driver 317 for controlling the driving of the stirring device 316, and And a control unit 318 which is control means for controlling the device via a control signal line.

The control unit 318 includes a table driving unit 303,
307, 311, automatic sample pipetting mechanism 30
4. Automatic reagent pipetting mechanism 308, driver 31
3, 317, the colorimeter 314, the light source 601, and the cleaning mechanism 315 are controlled so as to perform required operations in a predetermined order and at a predetermined timing.

The automatic sample / reagent supply mechanism is constituted by the automatic sample / pipetting mechanism 304 and the automatic reagent / pipetting mechanism 308. The colorimeter 314
A spectroscopic device that disperses the received light, and an operation that measures the light intensity value for a specific wavelength that has been separated, compares the obtained light intensity value with the light intensity value measured in advance for a solution having a reference concentration, and calculates the absorbance. Unit.

The reaction turntable 302 is a table drive unit 30 including a motor, a rotating shaft, and the like (not shown).
3 and rotates in a circumferential direction according to a predetermined sequence having a cycle of one round and one reaction vessel.
On the other hand, the sample turntable 306 is driven to rotate by the table driving unit 307, and the sample automatic pipetting mechanism 304 rotates the sample turntable 306 according to a predetermined sequence and sends the sample cup 305 sent to a fixed position. Is supplied to a predetermined reaction vessel 301.

The reagent turntable 310 is driven to rotate by the table driving unit 311. The automatic reagent pipetting mechanism 308 is sent to a fixed position together with the rotation of the reagent turntable 310 in accordance with a predetermined sequence. The reagent in the reagent bottle 309 is supplied to the reaction container 301. Automatic reagent pipetting mechanism 3
08 is provided with a stirrer 312 and a driver 313 for controlling the drive of the stirrer 312 at the position where the reagent is discharged into the reaction vessel 301. The measurement solution is stirred to obtain a uniform mixed state. Further, all the reaction vessels 301 are immersed in constant temperature water 402 in a bathtub 401 in order to promote the chemical reaction of the solution to be measured, and the reaction vessels 301 move in the constant temperature water 402.

At another position in the circumferential direction of the reaction turntable 302, a colorimetric measuring device 314 for measuring physical properties of the solution to be measured reacted in the reaction vessel 301 with light is provided. At another position, a cleaning mechanism 315 for sucking the solution to be measured in the reaction container 301, discharging the cleaning liquid, and cleaning the reaction container 301 that has moved to that position is provided. At the same position as the cleaning mechanism 315, a stirring device 316 for stirring the cleaning liquid in the container by convection to enhance the cleaning effect and a driver 317 for controlling the driving of the stirring device 316 are provided.

A reaction turntable 302, table driving units 303, 307 and 311, an automatic sample pipetting mechanism 304, an automatic reagent pipetting mechanism 308,
Two agitating device drivers 313 and 317, cleaning mechanism 3
15. The colorimetric measurement device 314 is connected to the control unit 18 via a control signal line, and automatically analyzes and samples the sample according to a predetermined sequence (program).
Measure.

In a chemical analyzer, a technique for accurately dispensing a small amount of a sample or a reagent by a predetermined amount is one of the factors that determine the performance of the device. For this reason, the automatic sample pipetting mechanism 304 and the automatic reagent pipetting mechanism 308 are technical elements corresponding to a small amount of dispensed amount, and are indispensable. However, the automatic sample pipetting mechanism 304 and the automatic reagent pipetting mechanism 308 sometimes generate bubbles near the surface of the solution to be measured in the reaction vessel 301 when each of them discharges the sample or the reagent to be dispensed. In addition, when the stirring device 312 stirs the solution to be measured, bubbles may be generated near the surface of the solution to be measured. These bubbles generated near the surface of the solution to be measured irradiate the solution to be measured and scatter or block a part of the measuring light passing therethrough, thereby increasing the concentration value of the output sample and causing a measurement error. There was a problem that occurred. In the chemical analyzer according to the present invention described with reference to FIG.
An apparatus is configured to solve this problem, and this will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic arrangement of the reaction vessel 301, the light source 601, the light-shielding plate 101, and the colorimeter 314 of the chemical analyzer shown in FIG. In FIG. 2A, white light emitted from the light source 601 is converted into parallel light by a lens (not shown).
The light passes through the reaction vessel 301 containing the solution to be measured in a substantially parallel light state. At this time, the surface of the solution to be measured or the wall surface of the reaction vessel in the reaction vessel 301, particularly, the portion where the surface of the solution to be measured contacts the wall surface of the reaction vessel 301,
In many cases, bubbles 201 are localized in a portion where the bottom surface and the side surface contact each other due to a difference in surface tension between the two. In this embodiment, in order to prevent light from being scattered by these bubbles or from being incident on the colorimetric measurement device 314 with a part of the light being blocked, the surface of the solution to be measured where the bubbles are often localized and the reaction vessel A light-shielding plate 10 that blocks light transmitted through a portion where the wall surface 301 is in contact or a portion where the bottom surface and the side surface of the reaction vessel 301 are in contact.
2 (however, in FIG. 2A, the light-shielding plate 101 is shown removed from the reaction vessel 301 for the sake of explanation). Then, the measurement value of the colorimeter 314 is corrected according to the opening area of the light-shielding plate 101, so that the measurement error due to the bubbles 201 is eliminated.
In FIG. 2, the light shielding plate 101 is disposed between the reaction container 301 and the colorimetric measurement device 314.
And the light source 601. In that case, if the light shielding plate 101 is installed at a position close to the reaction vessel 301, unnecessary light incidence can be avoided.

The light-shielding plate 101 can be formed by drawing on the side wall surface of the reaction vessel 301, so that the cost for constructing the apparatus can be reduced and the reliability of the apparatus can be reduced because there are no movable parts. Will be higher. The effect is the same whether the light shielding plate 101 is installed on the side wall of the light source 601 of the reaction vessel 301 or on the side wall of the colorimeter 314. Also,
The shape of the opening (portion through which light passes) of the light-shielding plate 101 is not only the diamond shape shown in FIG. 2B, but also the light transmitted through the portion where the probability that bubbles exist is statistically high. Device 31
The same effect can be obtained even if the shape is determined for the purpose of preventing the light from being incident on the light source 4.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a method of measuring the position of bubbles existing in the solution to be measured in the reaction vessel 301 in advance, and positioning the light shielding plate based on the measured position of the bubbles. An apparatus for performing this method includes a linear light emitting source 501 disposed in front of the light source 601 and the colorimetric measuring device 314 (upstream in the rotational direction of the reaction turntable 302), and the reaction vessel 301 while keeping this light linear. A lens (not shown) for irradiating the light-a with the line sensor 503 disposed opposite to the reaction vessel 301-a, a bubble detection circuit 504 connected to the line sensor 503, and control by the bubble detection circuit 504; And a correction device for correcting the output of the colorimetric measurement device 314 using the output of the bubble detection circuit 504 as an input. 507.

In the case of FIG. 3, the light shielding plate 506 is
And the reaction vessel 301-b. The linear light source 501, a lens (not shown), the line sensor 503, and the bubble detection circuit 504 constitute bubble detection means. The light-shielding plate driving driver and the bubble detecting means are controlled by the control unit 318 so as to operate in synchronization with the movement of the reaction vessel.

The reaction vessel 301-a repeatedly rotates and stops, but the linear light source 501 and the reaction vessel 301-a are rotated.
It moves at a constant speed just in front of the line sensor 503 facing it across the line a. At this time, the light irradiated on the reaction vessel 301-a via the above-mentioned lens is a linear light in the vertical direction including the liquid surface and the bottom surface of the solution to be measured. Reaction vessel 30
The intensity distribution of light transmitted through 1-a in the vertical direction of the reaction container 301-a is measured by the line sensor 503. The result of the measurement is used for the bubble detection circuit 504.
The process shown in FIG. That is, the output signal of the line sensor 503 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter (the result is shown in FIG. 5A), and then differentiated in the depth direction of the reaction vessel 301-a by the differentiating circuit (result). Is shown in FIG. 5B), and the reaction vessel 301 is further differentiated by a differentiation circuit.
-A is differentiated in the depth direction (the result is shown in FIG.
Shown).

5 (a) to 5 (c), if the output signal of the line sensor 503 shown in FIG. 5 (a) does not contain any bubbles (distribution indicated by a solid line), It is difficult to judge the case (distribution indicated by the dashed line). However, from the result of FIG. 5 (b) and 5 (c) in the same distribution), and when there are more than two inflection points, bubbles are present (in the distribution shown by a broken line in FIG. 5 (b)). , And FIG. 5C). Here, the intensity distribution such as the solid line and the wavy line shown in FIG. 5A occurs because the ratio of the refractive index to the solution to be measured is about 1.3 on the surface of the solution to be measured or the surface of bubbles. This is because the light transmitted through the reaction vessel 301-a does not reach the line sensor 503 and is irregularly reflected because the refractive index of the measurement solution is high. In FIG. 4, if the output signal of the line sensor 503 has two inflection points and no bubbles exist, the subsequent processing is terminated.

When there are more than two inflection points, the result of the first-order differential processing of the output signal of the line sensor 503 shown in FIG. By specifying the location where the output signal of (1) produces a constant luminance gradient upward in the depth direction of the reaction vessel 301-a), the location where bubbles are present (in other words, the "location where no bubbles are present") is determined. Can be identified. After the location where the bubble exists (therefore, the location where the bubble does not exist) is specified, this information (the position information in the depth direction of the reaction vessel 301-a) is temporarily stored in the memory of the bubble detection circuit 504. Then, the reaction vessel 301-a rotates and moves, and the reaction vessel 301-b in FIG.
When moving at a constant speed just before the colorimetric measuring device 314 at the position, the contents of the memory storing the position information of the previous bubble are read, and this information is sent to the light shielding plate drive driver 505. Then, based on this information, the light shielding plate driving driver 505 drives the light shielding plate 506 out of the white light emitted from the light source 601 and transmitted through the reaction container 301-b.
Positioning is performed so that light impinging on bubbles existing near the surface of the solution to be measured in 01-b (in the depth direction of the reaction vessel 301-b) is blocked.

On the other hand, the contents of the memory storing the position information of the bubbles are also sent to a correcting device 507 for correcting the output value of the colorimetric measuring device 314, and the output of the colorimetric measuring device 314 is also input to the correcting device 507. You. Then, in the correction device 507, the output value of the colorimetric measurement device 314 is
6 corrects the detection value by the amount that the white light emitted from the light source 601 blocks the light transmitted through the reaction vessel 301-b, and the result is used as the measurement value of the solution to be measured held in the reaction vessel 301-b. Output.

According to the present embodiment, accurate sample measurement is possible even when the position and size of bubbles generated near the surface of the solution to be measured cannot be statistically captured. This is effective when performing many test items and using various test reagents.

The light shielding plate 506 and the light shielding plate driving driver 505 are both connected to the reaction vessel 301-b and the colorimetric measuring device 31.
4, among the white light emitted from the light source 601 and transmitted through the reaction vessel 301-b, the light scattered or partially blocked by bubbles near the surface of the measurement solution is a colorimeter. The same effect can be obtained even if the light is controlled so as not to enter the 314.

By the way, in order to reduce the size of the entire chemical analyzer, the number (diameter) of the table can be reduced by reducing the number of the reaction vessels 301 mounted on the reaction turntable 302 at a time, thereby achieving miniaturization. Can be
It is not preferable because the measurement throughput is reduced. Until now, the liquid was held in the reaction vessel 301 so that bubbles generated near the surface of the liquid held in the reaction vessel 301 would not scatter light guided to the colorimetric measurement device 314 or block part of the light. By increasing the volume of the liquid, the light guided to the colorimeter 314 is kept away from the surface of the liquid held in the reaction vessel 301. As a result, the volume of each reaction vessel 301 had to be increased, and as a result, the size (diameter) of the reaction turntable 302 was increased. Then, in order to correspond to the increased volume of the reaction vessel 301, the amount of the sample and the reagent is large, and the sample cup 305 and the reagent bottle 309 are also of large size. For this reason, the sample turntable 3
04 and the size (diameter) of the reagent turntable 310
, Which has hindered miniaturization of the entire chemical analyzer.

According to the present embodiment, accurate sample measurement can be performed irrespective of bubbles generated near the surface of the solution to be measured held in the reaction vessel 301. The volume of the reaction vessel 301 can be reduced by making it coincide with the held surface of the solution to be measured, so that at least the size (diameter) of the reaction turntable 302 can be reduced. Therefore, the size of the entire chemical analyzer can be reduced while maintaining the throughput of the chemical analyzer. Accordingly, the amounts of the sample and the reagent necessary for the reaction can be reduced, and the size (diameter) of the sample turntable 304 and the reagent turntable 310 can be reduced. The size of the entire analyzer can be further reduced.

The reaction vessel 301 is connected to the line sensor 50.
When moving at a constant speed just before 3, the reaction vessel 301
The intensity distribution of the light transmitted through -a is continuously measured two or more times by the line sensor 503, and the light having the lowest bubble position (in the depth direction of the reaction vessel 301-a) among the measurement results is shielded. By positioning the plate 506, the reaction vessel 30
It is possible to correct a measurement error caused by bubbles adhering to the wall of the first device.

At this time, if the data continuously measured by the line sensor 503 is differentiated with respect to the moving direction of the reaction vessel 301 and the absolute value of the result is statistically processed, it is determined whether the stirring by the stirring device 312 is sufficient. Can be determined, which has the effect of further improving the measurement accuracy of the chemical analyzer.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the light shielding plate. The difference between this embodiment and the light shielding plate driving driver 505 shown in FIG. 3 and the light shielding plate 506 or the light shielding plate 101 shown in FIG. Is a positioning method. The light-shielding plate 102 in the present embodiment uses the white light emitted from the light source
Rotational movement is performed to change the amount of light that passes through 01-b, and the rotation angle is proportional to the amount of light that is blocked. Then, immediately after the light shielding plate 102, the stray light preventing plate 10
3 is installed to block light leaking from the periphery of the light shielding plate 102. In this embodiment, the colorimetric measurement device 314 is limited to one having a high light response speed, but the time for positioning the light shielding plate 102 can be shortened, and the measurement throughput of the chemical analyzer can be improved. . In addition, since the light-shielding plate positioning operation is a rotational movement of the light-shielding plate 102, there is a feature that the life of the device can be extended.

[0032]

As described above, according to the chemical analyzer of the present invention, accurate sample measurement can be performed regardless of the presence or absence of bubbles generated near the surface of the solution to be measured held in the reaction vessel. In addition, the size of the chemical analyzer itself can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a chemical analyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing details of a part of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another configuration example of the portion shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process flow of a bubble detection circuit in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram explaining the principle of the processing procedure shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the light shielding plate in the embodiment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101, 102 Light shielding plate 103 Stray light prevention plate 201 Bubbles 301, 301-a, 301-b Reaction container 302 Reaction turntable 303 Table driving unit 304 Sample automatic pipetting mechanism 305 Sample cup 306 Sample turntable 307 Table driving unit 308 Reagent automatic pipetting mechanism 309 Reagent bottle 310 Reagent turntable 311 Table drive unit 312 Stirrer 313 Driver 314 Colorimeter 315 Washing mechanism 316 Stirrer 317 Driver 318 Control unit 401 Bath 402 Constant temperature water 501 Linear light source 502 Lens 503 Line sensor 504 Bubble detection circuit 505 Light shield driver 506 Light shield 507 Corrector 601 Light source

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court II (Reference) G01N 35/00 G01N 35/00 Z (72) Inventor Takao Terayama 882 Ma, Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Measurement by Hitachi, Ltd. 2G020 AA04 BA02 BA14 CA02 CB04 CB24 CB43 CC01 CD03 CD13 CD22 CD34 CD38 2G045 AA13 AA16 BB14 CA25 CB03 FA11 FB11 FB13 GC12 HA05 JA07 JA08 JA09 2G054 AA07 AB07 CE01 EA01 FA01 DA04 DC07 GA10 HA04 HB03 2G058 BB15 CB04 CD04 CE08 EA02 EA04 ED03 FA02 FB03 GA02 GE01 HA00

Claims (8)

[Claims] An automatic sample / reagent supply mechanism for supplying a sample / reagent to a reaction vessel to form a solution to be measured; a stirring means for stirring the solution to be measured in the reaction vessel; A light source for irradiating the solution to be measured, a colorimetric measuring means for receiving the light transmitted through the solution to be measured and measuring the light intensity thereof, and aspirating and discharging the solution to be measured after the measurement to clean the reaction vessel. And a light-shielding means for shielding a part of light emitted from the light source to the solution to be measured or a part of light transmitted through the solution to be measured. And a chemical analyzer. 2. A turntable in which a plurality of reaction vessels are arranged on a circumference, a sample turntable in which a plurality of sample vessels containing samples are arranged on a circumference, and a plurality of reagents containing reagents. A reagent turntable in which containers are arranged on a circumference, sample supply means for supplying a sample in the sample container from an upper opening of the reaction container, and a reagent in the reagent container in an upper opening of the reaction container A reagent supply unit supplied from the unit, a stirring unit for stirring the solution to be measured in the reaction vessel, and a physical property of the solution to be measured during or after the reaction is irradiated from the light source to the solution to be measured. A chemical analyzer comprising a colorimetric measuring means for measuring using light transmitted through the solution to be measured and a washing means for aspirating and discharging the solution to be measured after the measurement and washing the reaction vessel. And a light-shielding means for shielding a part of light emitted from the light source to the solution to be measured or a part of light transmitted through the solution to be measured. 3. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the light-shielding means for shielding a part of the light includes light applied to a portion of the solution to be measured where bubbles are present, or light in the solution to be measured. A chemical analyzer which is arranged so as to block light transmitted through a portion where bubbles exist. 4. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the shape and the position of the light shielding means for shielding a part of the light do not change. 5. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a bubble detecting means for detecting a position of a bubble generated near a surface of the solution to be measured inside the reaction vessel, and an output of the bubble detecting means. Light-shielding means driving means for controlling the position of the light-shielding means for shielding a part of the light as input, and control means for controlling the movement of the reaction vessel and the operation of the bubble detecting means and the light-shielding means driving means. A chemical analyzer characterized by the above-mentioned. 6. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a light shielding means for shielding a part of light is provided on a surface of the reaction vessel. 7. The chemical analyzer according to claim 5, wherein the air bubble detector detects the reaction container to be detected once. 8. The chemical analyzer according to claim 5, wherein the bubble detector detects the reaction container to be detected twice or more.