JP2000346853A - Automatic analysis device using input signal discrimination circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the stoppage of motor operation with a plurality of detection signal inputs during a single operation by setting a specified parameter in a one-chip microcomputer at the time of initial setting by the use of the microcomputer as a mechanical operation control circuit. SOLUTION: A liquid for measurement in a test tube 13 loaded on a sample disk 14 is dispensed to a reaction vessel 20 loaded on a reaction disk 19 by using a sample dispensing mechanism 17. Then, a reagent in a test bottle 12 loaded on a reagent disk 11 is filled in the reaction vessel 20 by a reagent dispensing mechanism 15, and the two are mixed by using a stirring mechanism 16. The coloring of chemical reaction caused thereby is measured by a luminosity meter 21 consisting of a light source lamp, spectral refraction lattice and light detector. A one-chip microcomputer is used as a control circuit, and a mechanical operation controlling detection signal input is alloted to at least two interrupt input terminals. The priority of detection signals inputted during branch processing of internal program of the microcomputer is detected so as to set the priority of any one of the input terminals higher than the other, and the next operation is determined.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional apparatus, one mechanism operation can be stopped by one detector input signal.
The dispensing nozzle vertical movement mechanism of the biological sample or reagent used in the automatic analyzer detects that the dispensing nozzle has reached the liquid surface of the biological sample or reagent, and the dispensing nozzle vertical operation control circuit detects the input signal. Stop the dispensing nozzle at the appropriate position. While the dispensing nozzle is descending, the tip of the dispensing nozzle contacts a solid substance other than a biological sample or a reagent and periodically monitors the detector signal that detects that the dispensing nozzle has dropped abnormally. When a detector signal for detecting that the dispensing operation has been performed is input, a dispensing nozzle operation stop command can be issued to the dispensing nozzle vertical operation control circuit to stop dispensing nozzle lowering.

In a mechanism for rotating a disk on which a container containing a biological sample or a reagent is placed, at least one detector for detecting a rotational position and one container are used to indicate that the container has reached a predetermined rotational position. There are two detection plates. The detector signal input changes as the detection plate passes through the detector, and the disk rotation operation control circuit stops the disk at a predetermined position by counting the number of changes. If the disk has a disk lid attached to improve the cooling efficiency of biological samples or reagents, a detector that detects that solid material is caught between the lid and the disk during rotation of the disk and that the solid material has been caught When a detector signal is input to periodically monitor the signal and detect that solid matter has been caught, a disk rotation operation stop command can be issued to the disk rotation operation control circuit to stop the disk rotation. it can.

[0004]

In the above prior art, it is detected that the dispensing nozzle is lifted after the tip of the dispensing nozzle comes in contact with the solid substance while the dispensing nozzle is descending, and that the dispensing nozzle is abnormally lowered. It takes time to monitor the detector signal and also to stop the dispensing nozzle lowering operation. If a human hand accidentally comes into contact with the tip of the dispensing nozzle, there is a high possibility that the dispensing nozzle will get stuck in the human hand before the dispensing nozzle lowering mechanism stops. However, since the automatic analyzer mainly deals with a human biological sample, there is a problem that the risk of infection with pathogenic bacteria is increased due to the dispensing nozzle piercing the hand.

In addition, it takes a long time to monitor a detector signal for detecting that a solid substance is caught between the disk and the lid during the rotation of the disk, and to stop the disk rotation operation. It takes. When a person's hand is accidentally entangled between the disc and the lid, it is engulfed deeper and may cause serious injury. Further, when the container containing the biological sample or the reagent is lifted or the like and the container is caught between the disk and the lid, the possibility that the container, the disk and the lid are damaged is increased, and the container is damaged. However, there is a problem that the device cannot be used until the damaged portion is repaired.

A first object of the present invention is to use a one-chip microcomputer for the mechanism operation control circuit and set predetermined parameters in the one-chip microcomputer at the time of initial setting, thereby achieving one-chip microcomputer.
The motor operation can be stopped by at least two detection signal inputs during one operation;
By assigning a priority to the two detection signal inputs, if a detection signal input with a lower priority is input and a detection signal input with a higher priority is input before stopping at a predetermined position, higher priority detection is performed. By stopping immediately by the signal input, the tip of the dispensing nozzle stuck in the hand of a person,
The aim is to reduce the risk of injury or transmission of pathogens through the nozzle. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the possibility that a person's hand is caught between the disc and the lid to cause injury and the disc, the lid, and the container to be damaged.

When the operation of the mechanism is stopped at a predetermined position after the detection signal is input for a predetermined number of times by counting the number of changes of the detection signal input, a detection signal input counter circuit is separately provided in the mechanism control circuit. When the detection signal changes a predetermined number of times, the detection signal is output to the mechanism control circuit, so that a mechanism that stops with one detection signal input and a mechanism that stops with a plurality of detection signal inputs are used. The control circuit is different, the parts cannot be shared, and the cost is high. Further, when the mechanism control method is changed, there is a problem that a complicated operation of changing the mechanism operation control circuit occurs. .

A second object of the present invention is to use a one-chip microcomputer for the mechanism operation control circuit and set predetermined parameters in the one-chip microcomputer at the time of initial setting, so that a detector signal is input to each detection signal input terminal. After that, an input terminal that can be operated and stopped to an appropriate position and an input terminal that can be stopped at a predetermined position by counting the number of changes of the detection signal input to stop the mechanism operation are set, It is an object to standardize and simplify a mechanism operation control circuit and reduce costs.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a one-chip microcomputer is used for a mechanism operation control circuit, and a mechanism operation control detection signal input is allocated to at least two interrupt input terminals of the one-chip microcomputer. Whether the detection signal input during the branch processing of the internal program of the one-chip microcomputer to set the priority of one of the input terminals higher than the other is the detection signal of the higher priority or the detection signal of the lower priority Is determined, and the subsequent operation is determined. When the lower priority detection signal is input and the higher priority detection signal is input before stopping at an appropriate position by this detection signal input, the higher priority detection signal input Stop at an appropriate position. Therefore, even if the detection signal is input later, it is stopped by the detection signal input of the higher priority, the detection signal of the higher priority is input, and the detection signal of the lower priority is input before stopping. When an input is received, a detection signal of a lower priority input later is ignored. In addition, the priority is not fixed for each input terminal of the one-chip microcomputer, and it is possible to set which detector is assigned to which input terminal has higher priority when setting the parameters of the one-chip microcomputer, and change it according to the operation pattern In addition, it is intended to simplify the response when the specification of the detector allocation is changed.

Also, by setting predetermined parameters in the one-chip microcomputer at the time of initial setting, an input terminal can be operated to an appropriate position and stopped after a detector signal is input for each detection signal input terminal. In order to stop the mechanism operation, a program for counting the number of changes in the detection signal input is provided in a program in the one-chip microcomputer to set an input terminal that can be stopped after the detection signal input changes by a predetermined number of times. By doing so, the mechanism operation control circuit is shared and simplified, and the cost is reduced.

A one-chip microcomputer is used for the mechanism operation control circuit, a mechanism operation control detection signal input is assigned to at least two interrupt input terminals of the one-chip microcomputer, and one of the input terminals is set to have a higher priority than the other. For this purpose, a branching process is provided in the internal program of the one-chip microcomputer to determine whether the input detection signal is the detection signal with the higher priority or the detection signal with the lower priority, and the detector assigned to any input terminal receives the input signal. By determining whether or not the operation has been performed, the mechanism operating method can be determined.
Therefore, by detecting the priority of the input signal, the lower priority detection signal is input, and when the higher priority detection signal is input before stopping at an appropriate position by this detection signal input. , Can be stopped at an appropriate position by the detection signal input with the higher priority.

If the detection signal with the higher priority is input and the detection signal with the lower priority is input before stopping, the detection signal with the lower priority input later is input first. Since the detection signal has a high priority, it is ignored and can be prevented from affecting the mechanism operation control.

Further, the priority is not fixed for each input terminal of the one-chip microcomputer, and it is determined whether the detector assigned to which input terminal has a higher priority than the other detector when setting the parameters of the one-chip microcomputer. The priority of the input signal of the detector can be arbitrarily changed according to the operation pattern by setting a process to determine which input terminal has higher priority in the internal program of the one-chip microcomputer. can do.

Also, by setting predetermined parameters in the one-chip microcomputer at the time of initial setting, it is possible to operate to an appropriate position and stop after a single detector signal is input for each detection signal input terminal. An input terminal capable of providing a process for counting the number of changes in the detection signal input in a program inside the one-chip microcomputer to stop the mechanism operation,
By setting an input terminal that can be stopped after the detection signal input has changed a predetermined number of times, the mechanism operation control circuit can be shared and simplified.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The dispensing nozzle vertical movement mechanism and the disk rotation mechanism are used in an analyzer as shown in FIG. The reaction container 2 on the reaction disk 19 using the sample dispensing mechanism 17 to transfer the measurement liquid in the test tube 13 on the sample disk 14
Dispense to 0. Further, the reagent in the reagent bottle 12 mounted on the reagent disk 11 is dispensed by the reagent dispensing mechanism 15 into the reaction vessel 2.
And the mixture is stirred using a stirring mechanism 16. The color of the chemical reaction caused by this can be measured using a light source lamp, a spectral diffraction grating,
Photometry is performed by a photometer 21 composed of a photodetector. After the measurement, the reaction container 20 is washed by the washing mechanism 18 to measure the next sample.

Sample 2 for analysis as shown in FIG.
In a mechanism for sucking the sample 2 from the sample container 13 and dispensing the sample into the reaction container, a syringe for suction and discharge is provided in the dispensing nozzle 23 so that the sample 22 can be sucked and discharged. A liquid level detection circuit for detecting that the tip of the dispensing nozzle 23 has reached the liquid level when the pressure has reached
The dispensing nozzle 23 is provided at one end of the dispensing nozzle 23 as shown in FIG.
A detecting plate 32 for detecting abnormal lowering of the dispensing nozzle 23 when the tip of the dispensing nozzle 23 is lifted by contact with the solid substance;
When the dispensing nozzle 23 is abnormally lowered, the detection plate 32 is made to cross the optical axis of the photo interrupter 33, and it is detected from the change in the output signal of the photo interrupter 33 that the dispensing nozzle 23 is abnormally lowered. The liquid level detection signal and the abnormal drop detection signal are connected to the input terminal of the one-chip microcomputer of the dispensing mechanism up / down operation control circuit.

FIG. 4 shows a determination method by a one-chip microcomputer when a liquid level detection signal and an abnormal lowering detection signal are input. Use a pulse motor for the dispensing nozzle up and down operation,
When at least one of the liquid level detection signal and the abnormal lowering detection signal is detected, the operation control of FIG. 4 is performed by the interrupt processing of the one-chip microcomputer. In this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the two-chip microcomputer can receive two detection signal inputs, and a detection signal input signal terminal having a higher priority is set to L1, and an abnormal fall detection signal is assigned to L1. The other detection signal input terminal is set to L2, and a liquid level detection signal is assigned to L2. First, when the liquid level of the biological sample or the reagent sucked when the dispensing nozzle is lowered is detected, it is set that the detection signal is the lower priority L2. Then, after the liquid level detection signal is input to stop the dispensing nozzle to enter the biological sample or the reagent to an appropriate depth and stop, the dispensing nozzle operates up to the set number of delay pulses.

After the detection signal input is rechecked, the output of the next pulse is repeated until the set number of delay pulses is output. If an abnormal lowering detection signal input assigned to L1 is input during this operation, it is set that the L1 detection signal is input. For example, the dispensing nozzle lowering operation can be stopped without outputting the next pulse by setting the delay pulse when the abnormal lowering detection signal is input to zero. Generally, the liquid level detection circuit is a circuit for converting a change in capacitance between at least one dispensing nozzle and GND (reference potential) into an electric signal, or at least two circuits.
Since the liquid level is detected by a change in electrical resistance between at least two dispensing nozzles as a set of dispensing nozzles, a person's hand or the like accidentally touches the tip of the dispensing nozzle. There is a possibility that the liquid level detection signal may be input before the abnormal lowering detection signal is input, and in this case, the lowering operation of the dispensing nozzle can be stopped before the dispensing nozzle is stuck in a human hand. .

When the delay pulse for detecting abnormal lowering is set to, for example, one pulse, the detector is checked again. If the detecting of abnormal lowering occurs for a short time due to intrusion into an electric circuit such as static electricity, the next pulse output is performed. At this time, the detector stop mode by the abnormal lowering detection can be cleared, and the stop can be performed normally by the liquid level detection signal assigned to L2.

Instead of assigning priorities depending on the input terminals of the one-chip microcomputer, it is also possible to set which input terminal has a higher priority by setting a parameter at the time of initial setting of the one-chip microcomputer. Similar effects can be obtained.

In a system using a plurality of dispensing nozzles, an abnormal descent detector is provided for each dispensing nozzle or for each of a plurality of sets, and the priority order of each detector is set to the same level. It can also be stopped by an early detector signal.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when a disk is rotated by a rotation mechanism for rotating a container installation disk 42 for installing at least two containers 41 containing a biological sample or a reagent, the rotation position is detected and a predetermined position is detected. At least one rotation position detection sensor 43 for stopping at the rotation position is provided for one of the containers 41, at least one detection plate 45 is provided for one container, and the cooling efficiency of the biological sample or the reagent is provided on the disk 42. A lid opening / closing section is provided which can open an area where at least one of the lid 44 and the container 41 for improvement can be replaced. A pair of movable metal plates is provided on a part or all of the lid 44 shown in FIG. 5, a contact detection voltage is applied to the two movable metal plates, and the lid 4 is rotated when the disk 42 rotates.
When a solid material is sandwiched between the disk 4 and the disk 42, the two metal plates are in contact with each other, and it is detected that the solid material is caught between the lid 44 and the disk 42 because the two movable metal plates are electrically connected. I do. The rotation position detection signal and the winding detection signal are connected to the input terminals of the one-chip microcomputer of the disk rotation mechanism control circuit. FIG. 7 shows a determination method in the one-chip microcomputer when the rotation position detection signal and the entanglement detection signal are input. A pulse motor is used for the disk rotation operation, and when at least one of the rotation position detection signal and the entanglement detection signal is detected, the operation control of FIG. 7 is performed by interrupt processing of the one-chip microcomputer.

In this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the one-chip microcomputer can receive two detection signal inputs, and the detection signal input signal terminal having a higher priority is set to L.
The value is set to 1 and a winding detection signal is assigned to L1. The other detection signal input terminal is set to L2, and a rotation position detection signal is assigned to L2. One detection plate is provided for one container, and when the disk rotates by an angle corresponding to one container when the disk is rotated, the rotation position detection signal changes once, and the lower priority L2
Is set. Further, as the disk rotates, the number of rotation position detection signals corresponding to the number of containers changes.
A counter function that counts the number of times the detection signal has changed is set in the one-chip microcomputer in advance, and the number of delay pulses set to stop after rotating the appropriate number of times after the set number of rotation position detection signals change Operate and stop until.

When the rotation position detection signal is input each time until the stop, the detection signal input is re-checked until the number of delay pulses is output each time, and the next pulse is output to output an electric circuit such as static electricity. It prevents intrusion into the system and temporary erroneous detection due to play in the mechanical system. During this operation, if the entanglement detection signal input assigned to L1 is input, it is set that the L1 detection signal with a higher priority is input. For example, by setting the delay pulse when the entrapment detection signal is input to zero, the disk rotation operation can be stopped without outputting the next pulse. In this case, the disk rotation operation can be stopped immediately after a human hand or the like is caught between the disk and the lid. In addition, when the delay pulse for the detection of entrainment is set to, for example, one pulse, the detector is checked again. It is possible to clear the detector stop mode and stop normally with the rotation position detection signal assigned to L2.

As shown in FIG. 8, when a detection signal is input, the input terminal of the input detector is an input terminal that can be operated and stopped at an appropriate position after the input of the detector. Each detection signal input terminal of the one-chip microcomputer so that it can be determined whether the input terminal can stop at a predetermined position after counting the number of changes of the detection signal input and the detection signal has changed by the predetermined number of times. By setting the parameters of the stop mode in, it is not necessary to change the control circuit for each mechanism, the parts can be shared, and the cost can be reduced.

In addition, when either one of the two detection signal inputs is detected and then the other detection signal is input, both detection signals are ANDed in the discrimination processing inside the one-chip microcomputer. By performing the stop processing of the mechanism operation, the stop position accuracy of the mechanism operation can be improved.

[0028]

The present invention has the following effects.

A one-chip microcomputer is used for the mechanism operation control circuit, and the dispensing nozzle is determined by either a signal indicating that the dispensing nozzle has detected the liquid level when the dispensing nozzle is lowered or a signal indicating that the dispensing nozzle has detected an abnormal drop. When stopping the descending operation of
When a priority is set for each detection signal, and a lower priority liquid level detection signal input is received, and a higher priority abnormal descent detection signal is input while trying to stop the descent operation By stopping at the input of the abnormal lowering detection signal, it is possible to reduce the risk that the dispensing nozzle is stuck to a person's hand and is injured or the dispensing nozzle is damaged.

In order to stop a predetermined rotational position while the rotating disk for container storage is rotating, a detecting signal which changes when a detecting plate mounted at each position of each container passes through the detecting device. When the rotation of the rotating disk is stopped by any of the entrapment detection signals that detect that a solid substance is caught between the rotating disk and the lid, priority is set for each detection signal and the lower priority is set. If a high-priority entanglement detection signal is input while trying to stop the disk at a predetermined rotation position by counting the change in the rotation position detection signal, human hands can stop the rotation disk by stopping by the entanglement detection signal input. The risk of injury due to a person's hand being caught between the cover and the lid, or damage to the container or disc can be reduced.

Further, a detection input for performing a stop process with one detection signal input for each input terminal of the one-chip microcomputer and a terminal for performing the stop process when the number of changes of the detection signal are counted by a predetermined number of times are changed. By changing the parameters by setting the parameters to the one-chip microcomputer, the mechanism operation control circuit can be simplified and shared, and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a processing flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a processing flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Monitor, 2 ... Personal computer, 3 ... Keyboard, 4 ... Printer, 5 ... System interface,
6 controller, 7 CPU, 8 memory, 9 motor driver, 11 reagent disk, 12 reagent bottle,
Reference Signs List 13: test tube, 14: sample disk, 15: reagent dispensing mechanism, 16: stirring mechanism, 17: sample dispensing mechanism, 18: washing mechanism, 19: reaction disk, 20: reaction vessel, 21: photometer, 22 ... Sample, 23 ... Dispensing nozzle, 24 ... Motor for dispensing mechanism up and down, 25 ... Motor control circuit, 26 ... Motor drive circuit, 27 ... Detection signal buffer circuit, 21 ... Solid substance, 22 ... Detection of abnormal drop of dispensing nozzle Detection plate, 33: Dispensing nozzle abnormal lowering detection sensor, 41: Container, 42: Rotating disk, 43: Rotation position detection sensor, 44: Disk lid, 45: Rotation position detection detection plate.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A dispensing nozzle for sucking and re-discharging a biological sample or a reagent, a mechanism for moving the dispensing nozzle up and down, a drive circuit for driving the mechanism, and the biological sample sucked when the dispensing nozzle is lowered Or the liquid level of the reagent was detected, and the dispensing nozzle was pushed into the biological sample or the reagent to an appropriate depth and stopped to the vertical mechanism control circuit to stop the liquid level of the biological sample or the reagent. Having a liquid level detection circuit for sending a signal indicating that the dispensing nozzle is not descending when the dispensing nozzle does not descend when the tip of the dispensing nozzle comes into contact with a solid substance when the dispensing nozzle descends. Detect
In order to stop the lowering operation of the dispensing nozzle at an appropriate position,
A dispensing nozzle abnormal lowering detection circuit for sending a signal indicating that the dispensing nozzle has abnormally lowered to the vertical mechanism control circuit, and using a one-chip microcomputer for the dispensing nozzle vertical operation control circuit, A motor rotation signal is output to the dispensing nozzle drive circuit that drives a motor that moves a dispensing nozzle up and down, and one of at least two detection signal inputs of the liquid level detection signal and the dispensing nozzle abnormal lowering detection signal,
Or in an automatic analyzer having a dispensing nozzle up / down mechanism control circuit for stopping the motor rotation signal output for stopping the dispensing nozzle lowering operation by both detection signal inputs, a detection signal input terminal of the one-chip microcomputer The detection signal inputs of the one-chip microcomputer are prioritized with respect to the at least two detection signal inputs assigned to the one-chip microcomputer, and one of the at least two input signals has a detection signal input. When the other detection signal is input before stopping, it is determined which of the two input signals is higher in the detection signal input, and the higher priority detection signal input determines An automatic analyzer having an input signal discriminating circuit, wherein the dispensing nozzle is stopped. 2. At least two cells containing a biological sample or a reagent.
A disk for installing the two containers, a rotating mechanism for rotating the disk, a drive circuit for driving the mechanism, and a signal for sending a signal to the rotating mechanism control circuit that the container has reached a predetermined rotation position. And at least one detecting plate for detecting a rotational position for one of the containers, and a detector for detecting a rotational position when the disk is rotated, and the disk has a cooling efficiency of the biological sample or the reagent. A lid opening / closing part that can open a range in which at least one of the container and the lid for improvement can be replaced, and a solid material is sandwiched between the lid and the disk when the disk rotates, and the solid material is In order to detect that the disc is caught and stop the disc at a predetermined rotation position,
A motor for rotating the disk using a one-chip microcomputer for the disk rotation operation control circuit, wherein the rotation mechanism control circuit has a wrap detection circuit for detecting that solid material has been entangled between the lid and the disk; A signal for motor rotation is output to the disk drive circuit that drives the disk drive, and at least two of a rotation position detection sensor signal for detecting a rotation position by counting the number of changes of the signal of the rotation position detection sensor and the entrainment detection signal. An automatic analyzer that has a disk rotation mechanism control circuit that stops the motor rotation signal output to stop the rotation of the disk by either one of the two detection signal inputs or both of the detection signal inputs; Before the at least two detection signal inputs to be assigned to the detection signal input terminals The detection signal input of the one-chip microcomputer is prioritized, and one of the at least two input signals has a detection signal input. Before stopping at an appropriate position by the detection signal input, the other detection signal input is performed. When there is an input signal, it is determined which of the two input signals is higher in the priority of the detection signal, and the input signal is stopped at an appropriate position by the input of the higher priority detection signal. An automatic analyzer having a signal discriminating circuit. 3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a detection signal input for stopping the operation of the mechanism, an input terminal capable of operating to an appropriate position and stopping the operation of the mechanism, and the operation of the mechanism. An automatic analyzer having an input signal discriminating circuit, wherein an input terminal capable of counting the number of changes of the detection signal input for stopping and stopping at a predetermined position can be set for each detection signal input terminal of the one-chip microcomputer. apparatus. 4. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the at least two input signals are assigned to the at least two input signals assigned to a detection signal input terminal of the one-chip microcomputer. Of the detection signal input of the one-chip microcomputer, the detection signal input of the one-chip microcomputer is ANDed. An automatic analyzer having an input signal discriminating circuit, wherein the automatic signal analyzer stops at an appropriate position. 5. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the at least two input signals are assigned to the at least two detection signal inputs assigned to a detection signal input terminal of the one-chip microcomputer. Of the one-chip microcomputer is ANDed, and the detection signal input of the one-chip microcomputer is ANDed. An automatic analyzer having an input signal discriminating circuit, which stops at an appropriate position.