JP2001337095A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a higher cleaning effect in a cleaning means for a dispensing nozzle and a reaction vessel by improving the cleaning of the dispensing nozzle as supply means of a reagent and a specimen to be analyzed or the reaction vessel for the reaction between the reagent and the specimen in view of the insufficiency thereof that causes contamination and the like and a problem noted in the results in the fields of biochemistry and immunological analyzers. SOLUTION: The apparatus is provided with a cleaning mechanism in which respective cleaning sections are provided with sound wave generation means and retention parts and irradiates cleaning water or a cleaning solution used for cleaning with a sound wave to cause a convection. In the automatic analyzer thus obtained accomplishes the cleaning of the dispensing nozzle and the reaction vessels with the cleaning solution or cleaning water prepared under the convection caused by the irradiation with the sound wave, thereby improving the cleaning effect.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an analyzer for quantitatively analyzing components of a sample to be analyzed by using a reagent, and more particularly to a dispensing nozzle used for dispensing a reagent and a sample, and a dispensing nozzle and a reagent. The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer having a function of washing a reaction vessel to be reacted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automated sample tests for quantitative analysis of components such as blood have been promoted. In such sample tests, serum obtained by separating blood by centrifugation is dispensed into a reaction container by a sampling mechanism. Then, the reagent corresponding to the test item is dispensed into the reaction vessel by another sampling mechanism, mixed, stirred, and reacted in the reaction vessel, and the reaction solution in the reaction vessel is measured for absorbance by a photometer. A sample test is performed. The dispensing nozzle used for dispensing the reagent and the sample, and the reaction container used for mixing, stirring, and reacting the reagent and the sample are washed and used repeatedly. Generally, washing of a dispensing nozzle is a method in which after dispensing a reagent or a specimen, the dispensing nozzle is immersed in a stagnant portion of washing water as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-80057 and rinsed with the washing water. . Further, the washing of the reaction vessel is described in JP-A-5-07213.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-107, a method is used in which the inner wall is washed away by repeatedly performing a suction / discharge operation in which a washing liquid and washing water are stored in a reaction vessel for a certain period of time and then discharged.

[0003]

In the field of biochemistry and immunoanalyzers, if the dispensing nozzle, which is a means for supplying a reagent or a sample to be analyzed, is not sufficiently washed, the amount of suction and the amount of ejection will be reduced. Even if the reaction vessel for reacting the reagent with the sample is not sufficiently washed, contamination or the like will occur, causing a problem in the analysis result.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to establish a washing means having a higher washing effect in a dispensing nozzle and a washing means for a reaction vessel which are washed and used repeatedly.

[0005]

The object of the present invention is to provide a sonic wave generating means and a retaining section in each cleaning section, and to provide a cleaning mechanism for irradiating a cleaning water or a cleaning liquid used for cleaning the retaining section with a sound wave to cause convection. Is achieved by

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic analyzer to which the present invention is applied. A reagent reacts from a plurality of reagent containers 3 provided in the reagent storage unit 2 by the dispensing nozzle 1a, and a sample to be analyzed is reacted from a plurality of sample containers 5 provided in the sample storage unit 4 by the dispensing nozzle 1b. The mixture is dispensed into a plurality of reaction vessels 7 arranged on the disk 6, and mixing, stirring, and reaction of the reagent and the sample are performed in the reaction vessels 7. The reaction container 7 into which the reagent and the sample have been dispensed is transferred to a stirring unit (not shown) in a fixed cycle by the rotation and stop operation of the reaction disk drive unit 8. In the stirring section, a spatula is put into the reaction container 7 into which the reagent and the sample are dispensed, and the spatula is rotated and vibrated to perform stirring. The stirred reagent and sample become a reaction solution in the reaction container 7 and are transferred to an analysis unit (not shown), where the absorbance is measured by a photometer, and a sample test is performed. After the measurement, the reaction vessel 7 is transferred to a cleaning mechanism 11 having a plurality of nozzles and a place where the piezoelectric element 10 is provided in the reaction tank 9, where the cleaning is performed. Such a series of operations is repeatedly performed for each reaction vessel, and the washing of the dispensing nozzle 1a used for dispensing the reagent and the dispensing nozzle 1b used for dispensing the sample are also performed separately. After the injection, cleaning is performed in each nozzle cleaning tank 12 provided with the piezoelectric element 10 and the retaining portion. In the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment, all parts including the above-described parts are controlled by the control unit 21.

Hereinafter, each cleaning section will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a nozzle cleaning tank for cleaning a dispensing nozzle according to the present embodiment. The nozzle cleaning tank 12 has a stagnant portion for washing water 13 into which the tip of the dispensing nozzle 1 is immersed. The water supply valve 14 and the drain valve 15 are opened and closed, and the washing water 13 in the stagnant portion is replaced each time washing is performed. I do. Also,
A piezoelectric element 10 is provided on the side surface of the nozzle cleaning tank 12 at a height equivalent to the level of the cleaning water 13 when the tip of the dispensing nozzle 1 is immersed in the cleaning water 13. The nozzle cleaning tank 12
The piezoelectric element 10 and the piezoelectric element driving circuit 16 for driving the piezoelectric element 10 are provided independently of the cleaning water 13 in the nozzle cleaning tank 12. It is a structure that can be prevented. When a fixed amount of the cleaning water 13 is accumulated in the nozzle cleaning tank 12, the tip of the dispensing nozzle 1 to be cleaned is immersed in the cleaning water 13 and the piezoelectric element drive circuit 16 is operated to generate a sound wave 17
From the piezoelectric element 10 to the dispensing nozzle 1. The radiated sound wave 17 causes the cleaning water 13 stored in the nozzle cleaning tank 12 to generate a convection 18 in the direction of the arrow. The used dispensing nozzle 1 can be easily washed. Subsequently, after irradiating a sound wave 17 for a predetermined time, the drain valve 15 is opened and the cleaning water 13 in the nozzle cleaning tank 12 is opened.
Is completely drained, and the washing water 13 is newly supplied while the drain valve 15 is opened, so that rinsing can be performed at the same position. If the cleaning water 13 is to be reduced or the processing speed is to be improved, the cleaning water 1 accumulated in the nozzle cleaning tank 12 is not required.
While continuing to flow a fixed amount of 3, the dispensing nozzle 1
Rinsing may be performed by moving to a position higher than the water surface of No. 3 and supplying the washing water 13.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a reaction tank for cleaning a reaction vessel according to the present embodiment. In the reaction tank 9, reaction tank water 19 maintained at a constant temperature represented by water is circulated, and the reaction vessel 7 is immersed in the reaction tank water 19. Further, in the reaction tank 9, the piezoelectric element 10 is installed at the same height as the level of the cleaning liquid 20 dispensed into the reaction container 7 when the reaction container 7 is washed. After the component analysis, the reaction solution in the reaction container 7 is discharged by the cleaning mechanism 11, the cleaning solution 20 is dispensed instead, and the piezoelectric element drive circuit 16 is operated to install the reaction solution in the reaction vessel 9. The sound wave 1 is directed from the piezoelectric element 10 to the cleaning liquid 20 in the reaction vessel 7.
7 is irradiated. The radiated sound waves 17 cause the convection of the cleaning liquid 20 in the reaction container 7, so that the contamination remaining in the reaction container 7 can be washed away. After irradiating the sound wave 17 for a predetermined time, the cleaning solution 20 in the reaction vessel 7 is washed with the cleaning mechanism 1.
The washing water 13 is dispensed from the other nozzle of the washing mechanism 11 into the reaction vessel 7 by rotating the reaction disk 6 and the reaction vessel 7 is irradiated with the sound wave 17 in the same manner as described above. A convection is generated in the washing water 13 in the inside, and rinsing is performed.
The inside of the reaction vessel 7 is washed by repeating the suction and discharge operation of collecting and discharging the liquid for a certain period of time.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, since the shape of the dispensing nozzle or the reaction vessel for washing and the washing location are fixed, it is possible to fix it to each washing section to form an integral structure. Irradiation of an appropriate sound wave to the liquid without changing the strength and direction of the sound wave can cause convection and cleaning.

[0010]

In the automatic analyzer, the dispensing nozzle used for supplying the reagent and the sample, and the reaction vessel for mixing, stirring, and reacting the reagent and the sample are washed with a washing solution or a washing liquid which is irradiated with a sound wave to cause convection. Since the cleaning is performed with water, the cleaning effect can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a chemical analyzer to which the invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a nozzle cleaning tank to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a reaction tank to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b: dispensing nozzle, 2: reagent container, 3: reagent storage unit, 4 ... sample container, 5: sample storage unit, 6: reaction disk, 7: reaction container, 8: reaction disk drive unit, 9 ... Reaction tank, 10: piezoelectric element, 11: cleaning mechanism, 12: nozzle cleaning tank, 13: cleaning water, 14: water supply valve, 15: drain valve, 16: piezoelectric element drive circuit, 17: sound wave, 18
... convection, 19 ... reaction tank water, 20 ... washing liquid, 21 ... control part.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takeshi Shibuya 882-mo, Ichiki-shi, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture Within the measuring instruments group of Hitachi, Ltd. F term in the Hitachi Measuring Instruments Group (reference) 2G058 CB04 CD04 CE08 EA02 EA04 ED03 FB03 FB06 FB07 FB15 GA02

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A washing means for washing a dispensing nozzle for dispensing a reagent or a sample to be analyzed and a reaction container containing a reaction solution which is a mixed solution thereof for repeated use, An automatic analyzer in which component analysis is performed by measuring the absorbance of a reaction solution, wherein the washing means is a washing means using convection generated by irradiating a liquid with a sound wave. 2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
A nozzle cleaning tank for cleaning the dispensing nozzle is provided with a stagnant portion and a sound wave generation unit capable of storing cleaning water, and the cleaning water in the stagnation unit is irradiated with sound waves by the sound wave generation unit to generate convection. An automatic analyzer comprising a washing means for washing by immersing a dispensing nozzle in washed water. 3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The reaction vessel into which the reagent and the sample have been dispensed, the reaction vessel immersed in the reaction vessel as a stagnant portion, and irradiates the washing solution dispensed into the reaction vessel from the sound wave generation means provided in the reaction vessel with sound waves, An automatic analyzer comprising a washing means for washing a reaction vessel by causing convection in a washing solution.