JP2001289864A - Automatic analyzer and method for cleaning reaction tube - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the accumulation of dirt in a reaction tube when the tube is continuously used. SOLUTION: When cleaning cycle time which is longer than normal cleaning cycle time is set through an operating section 21, a control section 24 calculates suction waiting time by subtracting the normal cleaning cycle time from the set cleaning cycle time and controls the calculated data by storing the data in a memory 22. When an end-of-measurement detecting section 23 detects the end of measurement, for example, one-day measurement, the control section 24 controls a cleaning unit 12 to suck a detergent (and pure water) discharged into each reaction tube when the suction waiting time has elapsed after the detergent is discharged based on the data about the suction waiting time stored in the memory 22. Consequently, since the detergent, etc., discharged in each reaction tube can be kept in the tube for the suction waiting time, a high cleaning effect can be obtained and the accumulation of dirt in the reaction tube can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for automatically analyzing the components of a test sample and a method for cleaning a reaction tube suitable for use in the automatic analyzer. The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for improving a cleaning effect and a method for cleaning a reaction tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional automatic analyzer, a test sample typified by, for example, blood, urine, or the like is placed together with a reagent in a reaction tube 4.
The components are analyzed by optical measurement such as a reaction rate method. It is necessary to wash the reaction tube by draining the reaction solution (mixture of the test sample and the reagent) which has been measured. For this reason, the conventional automatic analyzer is provided with a washing unit, and is configured to wash a reaction tube containing a measured reaction solution as described below.

That is, in the washing unit, first, a high-concentration suction nozzle is inserted into a reaction tube and a waste liquid pump is driven to suck the measured reaction liquid through the high-concentration suction nozzle to discharge the liquid outside the apparatus.

Next, a washing nozzle is inserted into the drained reaction tube, an alkaline diluent is discharged into the reaction tube through the washing nozzle, and a vacuum pump is driven to suck the alkaline diluent. And drain.

Next, a washing nozzle is inserted into the reaction tube in which the alkaline diluent has been drained, an acidic detergent is discharged into the reaction tube via the washing nozzle, and a vacuum pump is driven to suck the acidic detergent. And drain.

Next, pure water is discharged through a plurality of stages of pure water washing nozzles to the reaction tube in which the acidic detergent has been drained, and a vacuum pump is driven to suck the washing solution. The operation of draining is repeatedly performed a plurality of times.

Finally, a drying nozzle is inserted into the reaction tube in which the washing liquid has been drained, and the remaining water in the reaction tube is sucked through the drying nozzle to complete a series of washing steps.

[0008] Such a washing operation is performed by, for example, a single-multi type automatic analyzer for measuring a plurality of items based on the reaction solution in one reaction tube. The measurement is performed in parallel with the measurement operation, such as washing the reaction tube already measured during the measurement. Since the cleaning is performed using an alkaline diluent and an acidic detergent, the reaction tube can be efficiently cleaned in a short time.

[0009]

However, the conventional automatic analyzer can reduce the cleaning time by cleaning the reaction tube using an alkaline diluent and an acidic detergent. However, as described above, since the cleaning operation is performed in parallel with the measurement operation, the time that can be allocated to the cleaning of each reaction tube is a very short time of only a few seconds. For this reason, there is a concern that dirt remains in the reaction tube even after washing, and the dirt is accumulated for many years. Then, the accumulated dirt may cause sudden data abnormalities or variations in measurement data due to adhesion of bubbles or the like.

This problem is expected to be improved by increasing the number of washing nozzles. However, if the number of washing nozzles is increased,
The configuration of the automatic analyzer becomes complicated, and the amount of detergent and pure water used is doubled, which is not preferable.

Therefore, it is preferable to periodically wash the reaction tubes manually so that dirt does not accumulate in the reaction tubes. In this manual washing, hundreds of reaction tubes are all removed from the apparatus, and these are removed. After immersing in a detergent, each one is washed with a brush or the like. For this reason, it is not possible to force the user to perform the hand washing, and after all, it is necessary to take measures at a service level in which a service person goes to perform the hand washing.

However, recent reaction tubes have been miniaturized to, for example, 5 mm × 4 mm square in order to reduce the amount of test samples and reagents, and are not of a size or structure that can be easily washed by hand. Need attention. In addition, since the method of accumulating dirt in the reaction tube differs depending on the number of samples processed by the automatic analyzer, the timing of hand washing differs for each device, and the operation results and the like are checked in advance for each device. It is necessary to perform hand washing at the optimal timing every time. For this reason, realization of this hand washing service is difficult and not practical.

Although it is conceivable to irradiate the reaction tube with ultrasonic waves for cleaning, if the reaction tube is irradiated with strong ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic waves will cause fine scratches on the surface of the reaction tube, and The reaction tube gradually becomes cloudy due to countless scratches. When such scratches occur, the refractive index and transmittance of light at the time of light measurement change, which hinders accurate measurement. Therefore, it is not suitable to use ultrasonic waves for cleaning the reaction tube.

[0014] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and enables automatic cleaning of a reaction tube without damaging the reaction tube and leaving no dirt, thereby eliminating the need for manual cleaning. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer and a method for cleaning a reaction tube that can always keep the reaction tube in a state where accurate measurement is possible.

[0015]

The automatic analyzer according to the present invention comprises, as means for solving the above-mentioned problems, washing means for discharging washing water to the reaction tube and sucking the washing water in the reaction tube. A washing cycle time setting means for setting a washing cycle time based on a reference washing cycle time of the reaction tube; a washing cycle time set by the washing cycle time setting means; and a washing cycle of the reference reaction tube. Suction time setting means for setting the time from when the washing water is discharged to the reaction tube until suction based on the time, measurement end detecting means for detecting the end of measurement of the test sample, and measurement end detection After completion of the measurement detected by the means, predetermined washing water is discharged into the reaction tube, and after a lapse of time set by the suction time setting means from the discharge, the discharged cleaning water is discharged. And a control means for controlling said cleaning means to draw water.

The automatic analyzer according to the present invention has the following features.
When the user sets the cleaning cycle time based on the normal (reference) cleaning cycle time via the cleaning cycle time setting means, the suction time setting means sets the cleaning cycle time set by the cleaning cycle time setting means. And the time from when the washing water is discharged to the reaction tube until it is sucked is set based on the reference washing cycle time. Then, when the measurement end detecting means detects the end of the measurement of the test sample, for example, at the end of the measurement in one day or at the end of the measurement in the morning, the control means supplies predetermined reaction water to the reaction tube. The cleaning means is controlled so that the discharged cleaning water is sucked after the discharge and after the time set by the suction time setting means from the discharge.

[0017] Thus, the reaction tube can be intensively washed by using the idle time during which no measurement is performed, and the washing water discharged into the reaction tube is kept in the reaction tube for a longer time than usual. Since it is possible to keep the cleaning effect, the cleaning effect can be improved, and the inconvenience of accumulation of dirt in the reaction tube can be prevented.

Further, the method for cleaning a reaction tube according to the present invention comprises:
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a cleaning cycle time longer than a reference cleaning cycle time is set, and the reference cleaning cycle time is subtracted from the set cleaning cycle time. The washing water in the reaction tube is sucked after a lapse of the subtraction result from the discharge to the tube.

Thus, the cleaning water discharged into the reaction tube can be kept in the reaction tube for a longer time than usual, so that the cleaning effect can be improved and dirt accumulates in the reaction tube. Inconvenience can be prevented.

Further, the method for cleaning a reaction tube according to the present invention comprises:
In order to solve the above-described problem, a cleaning cycle time longer than a reference cleaning cycle time is set, the reference cleaning cycle time is subtracted from the set cleaning cycle time, and measurement of a test sample is performed. After the end, predetermined washing water is discharged into the reaction tube, and after a lapse of the subtraction result from the discharge, the washing water in the reaction tube is sucked.

Thus, the reaction tube can be intensively washed by using the idle time during which no measurement is performed, and the washing water discharged into the reaction tube is kept in the reaction tube for a longer time than usual. Since it is possible to keep the cleaning effect, the cleaning effect can be improved, and the inconvenience of accumulation of dirt in the reaction tube can be prevented.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, the configuration of an automatic analyzer according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of the automatic analyzer according to the first embodiment. The automatic analyzer includes reagent containers 2 and 3 in which reagent racks 1 each containing a plurality of reagent bottles containing reagents reacting with various components of a test sample can be installed, and a plurality of reaction tubes 4 on a circumference. The apparatus has a reaction disk 5 arranged therein and a disk sampler 6 in which a test sample container 17 containing a test sample is set.

The reagent storages 2 and 3, the reaction disk 5 and the disk sampler 6 are each rotated by a driving device. The reagent required for the measurement is a reagent bottle 7 stored in the reagent rack 1 of the reagent storage 2 or the reagent storage 3.
Is dispensed to the reaction tube 4 on the reaction disk 5 using the dispensing arm 8 or the dispensing arm 9, respectively.

The test sample contained in the test sample container 17 arranged on the disk sampler 6 is sampled by the sampling probe 16 of the sampling arm 10.
It is dispensed to the reaction tube 4 on the reaction disk 5. The reaction tube 4 into which the test sample and the reagent have been dispensed moves to the stirring position by the rotation of the reaction disk 5, and the test sample and the reagent are stirred by the stirring unit 11 to form a mixed liquid (reaction liquid). .
After that, the photometric system 13 moves the reaction tube 4 to the photometric position.
Is irradiated with light to measure the change in the absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction tube 4 to analyze the components of the test sample. When the analysis is completed, the reaction solution in the reaction tube 4 is discarded, and then the reaction tube 4 is cleaned by the cleaning unit 12.

Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a control flow of the cleaning unit 12. As shown in FIG. The automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment performs the reaction tube 4 in parallel with the measurement operation.
Cleaning mode for normal cleaning (normal cleaning mode)
In addition, a “day wash mode” in which all the reaction tubes 4 are washed after completion of a day's measurement and a “weekend wash mode” in which all the reaction tubes 4 are washed every week are provided.

In this embodiment, the description will be made on the assumption that a mode for washing the reaction tubes 4 at the end of a day or at the end of a week is provided.
A technical idea according to the present invention is to clean a reaction tube using an idle time (waiting time) for measurement. Therefore, the “end of the day” or “end of the week” is an example of the “free time of measurement”, for example, using the free time between the end of measurement in the morning and the start of measurement in the afternoon. It is of course understood that a washing mode using other idle time may be provided, for example, to wash the reaction tube 4 or to wash the reaction tube 4 every 3 or 10 days. I want to.

The operation unit 21 shown in FIG. 2 is an operation unit provided on the console of the automatic analyzer.
The user operates the operation unit 21 to set the above-described washing mode, and set the time (washing cycle time) for washing one reaction tube 4 in the set washing mode. .

The automatic analyzer is provided with the operation unit 2
1, a memory 22 for storing cleaning mode data indicating the cleaning mode set by the operation unit 21, cleaning cycle time data indicating the cleaning cycle time, and the like; a measurement end detecting unit 23 for detecting the end of the measurement; The control unit 2 that controls the cleaning unit 12 based on the cleaning mode data and the cleaning cycle time data stored in the memory 22 when the completion of the measurement is detected by the completion detecting unit 23.
And 4.

Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a washing system including the washing unit 12 in the automatic analyzer. In FIG. 3, the cleaning system of the automatic analyzer is
An alkaline detergent bottle 30 containing an undiluted solution of an alkaline detergent, and an acidic detergent bottle 3 containing an undiluted solution of an acidic detergent
1 and an alkaline detergent solution contained in the alkaline detergent bottle 30 and pure water are mixed to form alkaline detergent water, and an acidic detergent solution contained in the acidic detergent bottle 31 is mixed with pure water. And a detergent pump 32 for forming an acidic detergent water.

In this cleaning system, the flow of the alkaline detergent solution, the acidic detergent solution, and the alkaline detergent water and the acidic detergent water formed by the detergent pump 32 is controlled by the control unit 24 shown in FIG. The electromagnetic valves 33 and 34 are provided. The electromagnetic valves 33, 33 shown in FIG.
The symbol “NO (normally open)” attached to 34 or the like indicates that the electromagnetic valve is an electromagnetic valve that is open when not energized and is closed when energized, and “NC (NC) The symbol “normally closed” indicates that the solenoid valve is a closed state when not energized and is opened when energized, and “COM”
(Common hole) "indicates that the electromagnetic valve is a common valve.

The cleaning unit 12 discharges and sucks high-concentration water to and from the reaction tube 4, and the second cleaning nozzle unit 35 discharges and sucks alkaline detergent water to and from the reaction tube 4. Cleaning nozzle unit 36 and reaction tube 4
A third cleaning nozzle unit 37 for discharging and sucking acidic detergent water to the reaction tube, and a fourth and fifth cleaning nozzle units 38 and 39 for discharging and sucking pure water to the reaction tube 4.
And a suction nozzle unit 40 for sucking the residual water in the reaction tube 4 and a drying nozzle unit 41 for drying the inside of the reaction tube 4 from which the residual water has been sucked.

Each of the nozzle units 35 to 41 has a vertical mechanism 35a to 41a, respectively.
Is configured to control the raising and lowering of each of the nozzle units 35 to 41 via the vertical mechanisms 35a to 41a.

The first cleaning nozzle unit 35 and the fourth
The fifth cleaning nozzle units 38 and 39 include branch pipes 42 and
Each of the nozzle units 35 and 3 is connected via an electromagnetic valve 43.
8, 39 are connected to a bellows pump 44 for cleaning for supplying pure water.

Further, the first cleaning nozzle unit 35
The high-concentration waste water bellows pumps 45 and 46 are connected to the high-concentration waste liquid bellows pumps 45 and 46, and the high-concentration water waste liquid discharged into the reaction tube 4 through the cleaning bellows pump 44 is sucked by the high-concentration waste liquid bellows pumps 45 and 46. And drain it.

The fourth and fifth cleaning nozzle units 3
Numerals 8 and 39 are connected to vacuum pumps 49 and 50 (VP) via branch pipes 47 and 48, respectively, and drain pure water wastewater discharged into the reaction pipe 4 via the cleaning bellows pump 44. The vacuum pumps 49 and 50 suck and drain the liquid.

The second cleaning nozzle unit 36 is connected to the detergent pump 32 via a branch pipe 51 and an electromagnetic valve 33, and a vacuum pump 50 via a branch pipe 48.
The alkaline detergent water discharged into the reaction tube 4 via the detergent pump 32 is sucked by the vacuum pump 50 to be drained.

Similarly, the third cleaning nozzle unit 37
Is connected to the detergent pump 32 via a branch pipe 51 and an electromagnetic valve 34, and is connected to a vacuum pump 50 via a branch pipe 48, and is discharged into the reaction tube 4 via the detergent pump 32. The acidic detergent water is supplied to the vacuum pump 50
To suck and drain the liquid.

The suction nozzle unit 40 is connected to a vacuum pump 50 via a branch pipe 48, and the residual water in the reaction tube 4 is sucked by the vacuum pump 50 to be drained.

The drying nozzle unit 41 is connected to a vacuum pump 53 via an electromagnetic valve 52 and also to a vacuum pump 54.
The inside of the reaction tube 4 is dried by 3,54.

Each of the reaction tubes 4 is controlled to move from the first cleaning nozzle unit 35 to the drying nozzle unit 41 in order, so that “high-concentration water discharge” → “high-concentration water suction” → "Discharge of alkaline detergent water" → "Suction of alkaline detergent water" → "Discharge of acidic detergent water" → "Suction of acidic detergent water" → "First discharge of pure water" → "First pure water" Each of the washing steps is performed in the order of “suction of water” → “second discharge of pure water” → “second suction of pure water” → “suction of residual water” → “drying” I have.

Next, the control flow of the "collective cleaning" in the automatic analyzer of this embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of control of each part at the time of this "collective cleaning". FIG. 5 is a diagram showing discharge and suction of a detergent (alkaline detergent water or acidic detergent water) controlled based on a cleaning cycle time set by a user. 6 is a time chart showing the timing of FIG.

First, in order to execute the "collective cleaning", the user operates the operation unit 21 shown in FIG. 2 to set the cleaning mode, and to set the time required for cleaning one of the reaction tubes 4 with the detergent (the nozzle is moved down). It is necessary to set the time from the discharge of the detergent under control to the time when the waste liquid is discharged and the nozzle is controlled to be raised = washing cycle time), and the number of washings (washing count) of each reaction tube 4 and the like. As described above, the automatic analyzer according to this embodiment includes a “day wash mode” in which all the reaction tubes 4 are washed together at the end of the day as “collective washing”, and all the reaction tubes every week. "Weekend wash mode" for cleaning the tubes 4 at once
Is provided.

When the user selects the “day wash mode” or the “weekend wash mode”, the control unit 24 controls the memory 22 to store the cleaning mode data indicating the selected cleaning mode in the memory 22. Also,
When the user sets the cleaning cycle time and the cleaning count, the control unit 24 stores the corresponding cleaning cycle time data and cleaning count data in the memory 22.
To control the storage.

Since the purpose of performing the collective cleaning is to clean dirt adhering to the reaction tube 4, a normal cleaning cycle time performed in parallel with the measurement operation is, for example, "4.5 seconds". In such a case, it is preferable to set the cleaning cycle time in the collective cleaning to be longer than the normal cleaning cycle time, for example, to set “6 seconds”.

The automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment executes the collective cleaning of the reaction tube 4 by operating according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 based on the stored items stored in the memory 22.

That is, the measurement end detecting section 23 shown in FIG.
Monitors the current time with, for example, a timer, and monitors the operating state with flag information from the measurement system. In step S1 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
The measurement end detection unit 23 determines whether or not the automatic analyzer is currently performing a normal measurement operation based on the current time by the timer and the operating state of the measurement unit.
If the measurement end detection unit 23 determines that the normal measurement operation has now been completed in the automatic analyzer (No), the control unit 24 proceeds to step S2. If it is determined that the normal measurement operation is currently being performed in the automatic analyzer (Yes), the process proceeds to step S13,
The measurement operation is continuously controlled without executing the routine shown in the flowchart of FIG.

Next, when the process proceeds to step S2, the control unit 24
Calculates the waiting time (suction waiting time) until the detergent water discharged into the reaction tube 4 is sucked and drained (suction waiting time), and the process proceeds to step S3. Specifically, the normal cleaning cycle time of the reaction tube 4 is, for example, “4.5 seconds”, and the cleaning cycle time set by the user for this collective cleaning is, for example, “6”.
In the case of “second”, the control unit 24 subtracts the normal cleaning cycle time from the cleaning cycle time set by the user for the collective cleaning, and calculates the suction waiting time (Td).
(Td = 6 seconds−4.5 seconds = 1.5 seconds).

Next, after calculating the suction waiting time (Td) and proceeding to step S3, the control unit 24 moves the cleaning nozzle units 35 to 41, the reaction disk 5 and the like to the initial position (home position: Home). The movement is controlled and the process proceeds to step S4, where the first cycle cleaning operation in the collective cleaning is started. In this example, the “wash count” is set to, for example, “2”, and the description will be made on the assumption that each reaction tube 4 is washed twice (two cycles).

When the cleaning operation is started, the control unit 24
In step S5, temporary cleaning is performed by lowering the first cleaning nozzle unit 35 into the reaction tube 4 through the vertical mechanism 35a shown in FIG. 3 to discharge and suction high-concentration water. After the 35 is controlled to rise from the inside of the reaction tube 4, the second cleaning nozzle unit 36 is controlled to descend via the vertical mechanism 36 a, and the process proceeds to step S 6. In step S6, the control unit 24 controls the second cleaning nozzle unit 36 so as to discharge the alkaline detergent water formed by the detergent pump 32 into the reaction tube 4, and at the timing when the alkaline detergent water is discharged. The counting of the elapsed time is started, and the process proceeds to step S7.

As described above, the suction waiting time in this example is, for example, 1.5 seconds.
In step S7, it is determined whether 1.5 seconds have elapsed since the alkaline detergent water was discharged into the reaction tube 4 (whether the suction waiting time has elapsed). If the suction waiting time has not elapsed (in the case of No), the process waits in a state where the inside of the reaction tube 4 is filled with the alkaline detergent water until the suction waiting time elapses. Proceed to step S8.

In step S8, since the suction waiting time has elapsed, the control unit 24 controls the second cleaning nozzle unit 36 and the vacuum pump 50 so as to suction the alkaline detergent water in the reaction tube 4, and proceeds to step S9. move on. Thereby, the alkaline detergent water in the reaction tube 4 is drained by the vacuum pump 50 through the branch tube 48.

In step S9, the controller 24 controls the raising and lowering mechanism 36a to raise the second cleaning nozzle unit 36 from the inside of the reaction tube 4 in which the waste liquid of the alkaline detergent water has been discharged, and proceeds to step S10.

From step S5 to step S9
The respective timings from the downward control to the upward control of the second cleaning nozzle unit 36 in FIG. 5 are as shown in FIG. That is, at time t1 in FIG.
If the cleaning nozzle unit 36 is controlled to descend,
Discharge control of the alkaline detergent water into the reaction tube 4 is performed between the time t2 and the time t3 after the descending control, and the time t at which the suction waiting time Td of 1.5 seconds elapses from the discharge of the alkaline detergent water.
Between time 4 and time t5, the alkaline detergent water in the reaction tube 4 is sucked and drained, and at time t6 after the drainage, the second cleaning nozzle unit 36 is controlled to rise. The period from time t1 to time t6, which is from the lowering control to the raising control of the second cleaning nozzle unit 36, is the cleaning cycle time in the collective cleaning.

Next, in step S10, the control unit 24
However, while lowering the fourth cleaning nozzle unit 38 via the vertical mechanism 38a shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning bellows pump 44 is driven, and the reaction tube 4 which has completed the detergent washing with the alkaline detergent water is The bellows pump for washing 4
The discharge control of the pure water from No. 4 is performed. And the vacuum pump 49
Is suction-driven to control the suction of the pure water in the reaction tube 4 to drain it. Thus, the first cleaning step with pure water is completed.

When the first cleaning step with pure water is completed, the control unit 24 controls the fifth cleaning nozzle unit 39 to descend through the vertical mechanism 39a, and controls the bellows pump 44 for cleaning. To control the discharge of pure water from the cleaning bellows pump 44 to the reaction tube 4 after the first pure water cleaning step. Then, the vacuum pump 49 is driven to suck and the pure water in the reaction tube 4 is suction-controlled to be drained. This completes the second cleaning step with pure water. That is, in the automatic analyzer of the present embodiment, the cleaning of the reaction tube 4 with pure water is performed twice consecutively so that the detergent is not left in the reaction tube 4.

Further, when the second cleaning step with pure water is completed, the control unit 24 controls the suction nozzle unit 40 to descend through the up-down mechanism 40a, and drives the vacuum pump 50 to suction the liquid. The remaining water in the reaction tube 4 after the second cleaning step with pure water is suction-controlled to be drained.

In step S10, two such cleaning steps with pure water and a suction step of the residual water by the suction nozzle unit 40 are executed. When these steps are completed, the reaction is performed. The washing process of the tube 4 with the alkaline detergent water (and pure water) is completed.

Here, from step S5 to step S5
In 10, the description has been made assuming that the reaction tube 4 is washed with alkaline detergent water (and pure water). However, the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment uses this alkaline detergent to obtain a high detergent washing effect. In addition to detergent cleaning with water, detergent cleaning with acidic cleaning water is also performed. For this reason, in the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment, after the above-described detergent cleaning with the alkaline detergent water is completed, the third cleaning nozzle 37 is controlled to descend to supply the acidic detergent water formed by the detergent pump 32 to the reaction tube 4. After the elapse of the suction waiting time, the vacuum pump 50 is driven to suction to suck out the acidic detergent water in the reaction tube 4 and drain it. After the waste liquid, the third cleaning nozzle 37 is controlled to rise, and the above-described two cleaning steps with pure water and the residual water suction step are performed.

Accordingly, the flow chart of FIG. 4 is designed so that the process proceeds to step S11 after the first detergent washing, that is, the detergent washing with alkaline detergent water, the two washing steps with pure water, and the residual water suction process are completed. However, in actual operation, it is understood that the detergent cleaning with the acidic detergent water is performed in a series of steps after the detergent cleaning with the alkaline detergent water, and the process proceeds to step S11 after the detergent cleaning with the acidic detergent water is completed. (It should be understood that each routine from step S5 to step S10 is executed by detergent cleaning with alkaline detergent water and detergent cleaning with acidic detergent water.)

Next, in the automatic analyzer of this embodiment, the washing steps from step S5 to step S10 are sequentially performed on each reaction tube 4 in a sequential manner. The unit 24 determines in step S
From 5, the number of reaction tubes 4 that have been (finished) in the washing step of step S <b> 10 is counted.

In step S11, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the washing process from step S5 to step S10 has been performed on all the reaction tubes 4 of the automatic analyzer based on the count value. If the answer is Yes, the process proceeds to step S12. If the result is No, the process returns to step S5.
From 5 onward, the cleaning step of step S10 is performed.

Specifically, assuming that, for example, 165 reaction tubes 4 are set in the automatic analyzer of the present embodiment, the control unit 24 proceeds from step S5 to step S10.
Each time the cleaning step is completed, the count value is incremented by one. In this case, the process returns to step S5 until the count value of “165” is detected, and the cleaning process from step S5 to step S10 is continuously controlled, and the process proceeds to step S12 at the timing when the count value of “165” is detected. It will be.

Next, in the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment, the number of times of washing (washing count) of each reaction tube 4 is set in advance as described above. The number of times of washing is counted as one when the series of washing steps of all the reaction tubes 4 are completed. That is, if 165 reaction tubes 4 are set in the automatic analyzer of this embodiment, for example, the counting is performed as one count when all the 165 reaction tubes 4 are washed.

In step S12, the control unit 12 compares the number of cleanings preset by the user with the actual number of cleanings, and determines whether the actual number of cleanings matches the number of cleanings preset by the user. Is determined.

That is, if the number of washings set in advance by the user is, for example, “3”, it is determined whether or not the number of washings of all the 165 reaction tubes 4 is “3”. If the actual number of times of cleaning is less than the number of times of cleaning set by the user (in the case of No), the process returns to step S5, and the above-mentioned “discharge of alkaline detergent water” → “suction of alkaline detergent water” → "Discharge of acidic detergent water" → "Suction of acidic detergent water" → "First discharge of pure water" → "First suction of pure water" → "Second discharge of pure water" → When each of the washing steps of “second suction of pure water” → “suction of residual water” is performed, and the actual number of washings is equal to the number of washings preset by the user, (Ye
The cleaning is terminated (if s).

Thus, all the reaction tubes 4 can be washed by the number of times set by the user. When the cycle time of one reaction tube 4 is set to, for example, “6 seconds”, one washing of 165 reaction tubes 4 is completed in about 16 minutes.

For example, when the “day wash mode” is selected, one day's dirt can be thoroughly cleaned after completion of one day's inspection to prepare for the next inspection. When the “weekend wash mode” is selected, one week of dirt in all the reaction tubes 4 can be cleaned and cleaned for the next inspection after the inspection is completed. In these cases, since it is not necessary to prepare for the measurement, it is common to have a mode such as filling the cell with pure water after the end of the cleaning mode.

As is clear from the above description, the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment is capable of performing the reaction tube 4 in parallel with the measurement operation.
Cleaning mode for normal cleaning (normal cleaning mode)
In addition to the above, a washing mode (collective washing mode) for washing all the reaction tubes 4 at once, such as a “day wash mode” or a “weekend wash mode”, is provided. Alternatively, at the end of the week or the like, all the reaction tubes 4 can be washed together and cleanly.

Further, in the collective cleaning mode, the cleaning cycle is set longer than in the normal cleaning mode. Therefore, in the normal cleaning mode, dirt adhered to the reaction tube 4 without being completely cleaned must be cleaned. Can be. For this reason, dirt remains in the reaction tube, and the inconvenience that the remaining dirt is accumulated can be prevented.
It is possible to prevent inconveniences such as a sudden data abnormality or a variation in measured data due to the remaining dirt.

In addition, since the inconvenience of accumulation of dirt on the reaction tubes 4 can be prevented, a maintenance service for manually cleaning all the reaction tubes 4 by a serviceman by hand can be dispensed with. The service period can be extended.) For this reason, the labor for manually cleaning all the reaction tubes 4 can be omitted or reduced.

Further, since the present invention can be realized without changing the hardware, for example, by increasing the number of washing nozzles, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that the configuration of the automatic analyzer becomes complicated. In addition, by increasing the number of stages of the cleaning nozzle, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of doubling the amount of detergent or pure water used.

Further, since ultrasonic waves are not used for cleaning, the refractive index and transmittance of light at the time of optical measurement change due to minute scratches generated on the surface of the reaction tube by ultrasonic waves, and accurate measurement is performed. The reaction tube can be kept in a state where accurate light measurement can always be performed.

When a detergent water such as an alkaline detergent water or an acidic detergent water is discharged, suction is performed after the suction wait time. The concept of the suction wait time is, for example, pure water other than detergent. The present invention may be applied to the case where water or the like is discharged (the suction may be performed after a suction waiting time when pure water or the like other than the detergent is discharged).

Further, the detergent cleaning with the alkaline detergent water and the acidic detergent water is performed for the number of cleanings set by the user. This is because, for example, the detergent is used in the first cleaning process and the second cleaning process is performed. Thereafter, cleaning may be performed only with pure water without using a detergent. In this case, in the washing process after the second washing process, the detergent washing with the alkaline detergent water and the acidic detergent water from the second washing nozzle unit 36 and the third washing nozzle unit 37 shown in FIG. 3 is not performed. Therefore, the used detergent can be saved.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be modified in accordance with the design and the like within a range not departing from the technical idea of the present invention. Of course, various changes are possible.

[0077]

The automatic analyzer and the method for cleaning a reaction tube according to the present invention can improve the cleaning effect in the automatic cleaning of the reaction tube. For this reason, the troublesome work of periodically manually cleaning a large number of reaction tubes can be eliminated. Also, it is possible to prevent accumulation of dirt in the reaction tube, and to keep the reaction tube in a state where accurate measurement is always possible, thereby preventing a problem such as a sudden data abnormality or a variation in measurement data. Can be.

Further, since it is possible to realize the structure simply and at low cost by simple control of the cleaning means, it is possible to prevent the disadvantage that the structure of the apparatus becomes complicated by increasing the number of cleaning nozzles and the cost is increased. . Furthermore, since no ultrasonic wave is used for cleaning, the reaction tube can be cleaned without damaging it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment to which an automatic analyzer and a method for cleaning a reaction tube according to the present invention are applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a cleaning control system provided in the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a cleaning system provided in the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a cleaning operation of the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a time chart for explaining a cleaning operation of the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reagent rack, 2 ... Reagent storage, 3 ... Reagent storage, 4 ... Reaction tube, 5 ... Reaction disk, 6 ... Disk sampler, 7 ... Reagent bottle, 8 ... Dispensing arm, 9 ... Dispensing arm, 10 ... Disk Dispensing arm for sampler, 11: stirring unit, 1
2: Cleaning unit, 13: Photometry system, 14: Probe, 1
5 ... probe, 16 ... sampling probe, 17 ... test sample container, 21 ... operation unit, 22 ... memory, 23 ... measurement end detection unit, 24 ... control unit, 30 ... alkali detergent bottle, 31 ... acid detergent bottle, 32 … Detergent pump, 35…
First cleaning nozzle unit, 36: second cleaning nozzle unit, 37: third cleaning nozzle unit, 38: fourth
Cleaning nozzle unit, 39: fifth cleaning nozzle unit, 40: suction nozzle unit, 41: drying nozzle unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A washing means for discharging washing water to a reaction tube and sucking washing water in the reaction tube, and a washing cycle time setting means for setting a washing cycle time based on a reference washing cycle time of the reaction tube. Based on the cleaning cycle time set by the cleaning cycle time setting means and the reference cleaning cycle time of the reaction tube, a time period from when the cleaning water is discharged to the reaction tube until it is sucked is set. Suction time setting means, measurement end detection means for detecting the end of measurement of the test sample, and after the end of the measurement detected by the measurement end detection means, discharges a predetermined washing water to the reaction tube, from the discharge Control means for controlling the cleaning means so as to suck the discharged cleaning water after a lapse of time set by the suction time setting means. Analyzer. 2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the time set by the washing cycle time setting means is longer than the reference washing cycle time of the reaction tube. 3. The control unit controls the cleaning unit such that a cleaning process from discharging predetermined cleaning water to a reaction tube to sucking the cleaning water is performed on each reaction tube. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A cleaning frequency setting means for setting the number of times of performing the cleaning step, wherein the control means performs the cleaning step for the number of times set by the cleaning frequency setting means for each reaction tube. 4. The automatic analyzer according to claim 3, wherein said cleaning means is controlled. 5. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning water is detergent cleaning water or pure water. 6. A cleaning cycle time longer than a reference cleaning cycle time is set, the reference cleaning cycle time is subtracted from the set cleaning cycle time, and predetermined cleaning water is discharged to the reaction tube. Cleaning the reaction tube after a lapse of time, which is the result of the subtraction. 7. A cleaning cycle time longer than a reference cleaning cycle time is set, and the reference cleaning cycle time is subtracted from the set cleaning cycle time. Washing the reaction water in the reaction tube after a lapse of time, which is the result of the subtraction, from the discharge.