JP2002090373A - Automatic dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic dispensing device displaying a high dispensation treatment capacity in dispensation of a specimen for online analysis by enhancing the dispensing efficiency of the specimen for on-line analysis. SOLUTION: In the automatic dispensing device having an area preparing a sub-specimen for on-line analysis and an area preparing a sub-specimen for off-line analysis, the area preparing the sub-specimen for off-line analysis is divided into a sub-specimen vessel supply area and a sub-specimen vessel dispensing area, a first handler for handling an empty vessel from the sub-specimen vessel supply area to a labeler sticking a label is installed in the vicinity of the sub-specimen vessel supply area, and a second handler handling a labeled empty vessel from the labeler to the sub-specimen vessel dispensing area is installed in the vicinity of the sub-specimen vessel dispensing area. These handlers are constituted so as to be operated independently and in parallel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing apparatus, and more particularly, to an automatic dispensing apparatus with improved dispensing efficiency of a sample for offline analysis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic dispensing apparatus is an apparatus for dividing a sample into a plurality of containers prior to analysis of the sample (liquid sample). For example, when analyzing a blood sample,
First, a centrifugal separation process is performed by a centrifugal separator, and the serum (parent specimen) after the centrifugation is dispensed into a plurality of containers (child specimen containers) by an automatic dispenser. Thereafter, the analyzer performs a predetermined analysis on each child sample.

[0003] The number of test items for specimens has been increasing in recent years.
Test items for blood samples include biochemical tests, immunological tests,
Protein test, virus test, and the like. Of these, biochemical tests are the most commonly performed, with a frequency of, for example, 80-90%, and biochemical tests are performed on most specimens. On the other hand,
The frequency of other test items other than biochemical tests is 5
About 30%.

[0004] Under the circumstances described above, in a general analysis system, the biochemical test is completely automated. That is, the transport rack on which the sample is automatically placed is transferred from the automatic dispensing device to the analyzer, and subsequently the biochemical test is automatically performed. This is called online analysis. On the other hand, tests other than biochemical tests are performed by manually transferring child samples to individual devices. Alternatively, there is a case where the work is entrusted to an external company, or a case where the inspection is carried out in a specific manner. This is called offline analysis.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a conventional automatic dispensing apparatus. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a parent sample supply stocker.
A transport rack on which, for example, five sample containers are placed is loaded on the parent sample supply stocker 1, and is sequentially sent out to a transport line formed by, for example, a belt conveyor. Reference numeral 2 denotes a child sample supply stocker. A transport rack on which, for example, five empty containers are placed is loaded on the child sample supply stocker 2, and this is also sequentially sent out to a transport line formed by a belt conveyor or the like. These parts are called the sample supply unit 3.

[0006] After the transport rack on which the five sample containers (parent sample containers) are placed is placed on the transport line, it is carried to the position P1 of the on-line analyzer dispensing device 4 and stopped there. The transport rack on which the five empty containers (child sample containers) are placed is transported to the position P2 of the on-line analyzer dispensing device 4 after being placed on the transport line and stopped there.

In the dispensing device 4 for the online analyzer, the first dispensing pipette 5 moves the sample container (parent sample container) at the position P1 from the empty container (child sample container) at the position P2. The dispensing operation is automatically performed, and a child sample for a biochemical test is created. The child specimen made here is
Used exclusively for online analysis. In addition, the disposable tip attached to the first dispensing pipette 5 is replaced with a new disposable tip supplied from the first disposable tip area 6 every time the parent specimen to be dispensed changes, so that contamination of the sample is prevented. Is prevented.

Next, the transport rack on which the five parent sample containers are placed is transported to the position P4 of the dispensing device 7 for the offline analyzer, and stopped. In the dispensing device 7 for the off-line analyzer, first, an empty container (child sample container) supplied from the child sample container supply area / child sample container dispensing area 8 is handled by the handler 9 to the labeler 10. Next, the child sample container is automatically labeled with a child sample barcode label which is automatically issued by the labeler 10, and then again supplied by the same handler 9 to the child sample container supply area / child sample container dispensing area. Returned to 8.

Thereafter, P is dispensed by the second pipetting pipette 11.
The dispensing operation is automatically performed from the parent sample container at the position 4 to the child sample container provided with the barcode label at the position of the child sample container supply area / child sample container dispensing area 8. A child specimen is created for use in a test item other than a biochemical test item. The child specimen made here is
Used exclusively for offline analysis. In addition, the disposable tip attached to the second dispensing pipette 11 is replaced with a new disposable tip supplied from the second disposable tip area 12 every time the parent specimen to be dispensed changes, so that contamination of the sample can be prevented. Is prevented.

[0010] When all the dispensing operations have been completed in this way, the transport rack on which the five parent sample containers are placed becomes:
The parent sample collection stocker 13 is transported by the transport line.
Will be collected. Further, the child sample for online analysis is transported by the transport line while being placed on the transport rack, and sent to the automatic analyzer (not shown) via the child sample outlet 14. Further, the off-line analysis child sample is manually taken out from the child sample container supply area / child sample container dispensing area 8 and provided for offline analysis.

[0011]

However, a conventional automatic dispensing apparatus having such a function of preparing a child sample for online analysis and a function of preparing a child sample for offline analysis,
There was one problem. That is, conventionally, there has been insufficient consideration for improving the processing capacity of the off-line dispensing, and the preparation of off-line analysis child specimens tends to be delayed. Once the preparation of the child samples for offline analysis has been delayed, the transport racks filled with the parent sample containers are congested on the transport line of the dispensing device 7 for offline analyzers, forming a row. The tail end exceeds the position of the parent sample full sensor 15 provided at the position P3 in the middle of the transport line. In this case, the dispensing device 4 for the online analyzer becomes
It is necessary to temporarily stop the dispensing process and wait until the dispensing process of the dispensing device 7 for the offline analyzer progresses to some extent, and the dispensing process speed of the dispenser 4 for the online analyzer is also poor. Could have had an effect.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to improve the dispensing efficiency of an off-line analysis sample, which has conventionally been highly regarded as being insignificant, thereby increasing the on-line analysis sample dispensing efficiency. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic dispensing device capable of exerting dispensing processing ability.

[0013]

In order to achieve this object, an automatic dispensing apparatus according to the present invention has an area for preparing a child sample for online analysis and an area for preparing a child sample for offline analysis. In the automatic dispensing device, the area for creating a child sample for offline analysis is divided into a child sample container supply area and a child sample container dispensing area,
In the vicinity of the child sample container supply area, there is provided a first handler for handling an empty container from the child sample container supply area to the labeler for attaching a label. In the vicinity of the child sample container dispensing area, a labeled empty container is provided. A second handler for handling the container from the labeler to the child sample dispensing area is provided.

Further, the two handlers are characterized in that they can be operated independently and in parallel.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the automatic dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a parent sample supply stocker. A transport rack on which, for example, five sample containers are placed is loaded on the parent sample supply stocker 1, and is sequentially sent out to a transport line formed by, for example, a belt conveyor. Reference numeral 2 denotes a child sample supply stocker. A transport rack on which, for example, five empty containers are placed is loaded on the child sample supply stocker 2, and this is also sequentially sent out to a transport line formed by a belt conveyor or the like. These parts are the sample supply unit 3
It is the part called.

After the transport rack on which the five sample containers (parent sample containers) are placed is placed on the transport line, it is carried to the position P1 of the on-line analyzer 4 and stopped. The transport rack on which the five empty containers (child sample containers) are placed is transported to the position P2 of the on-line analyzer dispensing device 4 after being placed on the transport line and stopped there.

In the dispensing device 4 for the online analyzer, the first dispensing pipette 5 moves the sample container (parent sample container) at the position P1 from the empty container (child sample container) at the position P2. The dispensing operation is automatically performed, and a child sample for a biochemical test is created. The child specimen made here is
Used exclusively for online analysis. In addition, the disposable tip attached to the first dispensing pipette 5 is replaced with a new disposable tip supplied from the first disposable tip area 6 every time the parent specimen to be dispensed changes, so that contamination of the sample is prevented. Is prevented.

Next, the transport rack on which the five parent sample containers are placed is carried to the position P4 of the dispensing device 16 for the offline analyzer, and stopped. In the new off-line analyzer dispensing device 16, the child sample container supply area / child sample container dispensing area, which were integrated in the conventional device, are separately set. Further, two handlers are provided, and these handlers are configured to operate independently and in parallel based on dispensing request information from a control device such as a computer (not shown).

In the dispensing device 16 for the offline analyzer, first, empty containers (child sample containers) supplied from the child sample container supply area 17 are placed in the child sample container supply area 1.
The first handler 18 provided in the vicinity of 7 handles the labeler 10. Next, the child sample container is automatically affixed to the labeler 10 with a bar code label for a child sample that is automatically issued, and then the second handler 20 provided near the child sample container dispensing area 19. ,
Handling is performed from the labeler 10 to the child specimen container dispensing area 19.

Thereafter, P is dispensed by the second dispensing pipette 11.
The dispensing operation is automatically performed from the parent sample container at the position 4 to the child sample container with the bar code label at the position of the child sample container dispensing area 19, except for the biochemical test items. A child specimen is created for the purpose of using the test items of the above. The child sample created here is used exclusively for offline analysis. In addition, the disposable tip attached to the second dispensing pipette 11 is replaced with a new disposable tip supplied from the second disposable tip area 12 every time the parent specimen to be dispensed changes, so that contamination of the sample can be prevented. Is prevented.

When all the dispensing operations have been completed in this way, the transport rack on which the five parent sample containers are placed becomes
The parent sample collection stocker 13 is transported by the transport line.
Will be collected. Further, the child sample for online analysis is transported by the transport line while being placed on the transport rack, and sent to the automatic analyzer (not shown) via the child sample outlet 14. In addition, the child sample for offline analysis is manually taken out from the child sample container dispensing area 19 and provided for offline analysis.

FIGS. 3 to 8 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the two handlers 18 and 20 of the automatic dispensing apparatus according to the present invention in more detail. In the present invention, as already mentioned briefly in FIG. 2, two handlers are provided inside the dispenser 16 for the off-line analyzer, each of which can be operated independently and in parallel. Is the biggest feature.

First, FIG. 3 shows a state in which the first handler 18, the second handler 20, and the second pipetting pipette 11 are at the initial positions in the pipetting device 16 for the offline analyzer. Then, the first handler 18 first goes from this initial position to go to the child sample container supply area 17 to retrieve an empty container (child sample container). FIG. 4 shows this state. Next, the first handler 18
Is empty container (child sample container) from child sample container supply area 17
And put it into the labeler 10. FIG. 5 shows this state. Here, the bar code label for the child sample automatically issued from the labeler 10 is automatically attached to the empty container (child sample container).

After that, the first handler 18 returns to the next empty container (child sample container) in the child sample container supply area 17. At the same time, the second handler 20
Go to the empty container (child sample container) on which the barcode label is automatically attached. FIG. 6 shows this state. The second handler 20 handles the empty container (child sample container) to which the barcode label has been automatically attached, carries the label from the labeler 10 to the child sample container dispensing area 19, and sorts it to the area. At the same time, the first handler 18 handles the next empty container (child sample container) from the child sample container supply area 17 and puts it into the labeler 10. FIG. 7 shows this state.

By repeating the operation in this order, a predetermined number of child sample containers are created for one parent sample.
When a predetermined number of child sample containers have been created, the second handler 20 returns to the initial position and waits, while the second pipetting pipette 11 moves from the parent sample container at the position P4 to the child sample container dispensing area. The parent sample is dispensed toward 19 child sample containers. At the same time, the first handler 18 prepares the child sample container supply area 17 to prepare for dispensing the next parent sample.
Go to get empty container (child sample container). FIG. 8 shows this state.

The disposable tip attached to the second pipetting pipette 11 changes every time the parent sample to be dispensed changes.
Replacement with a new disposable chip supplied from the disposable chip area 12 prevents contamination of the sample.

[0027]

As described above, according to the automatic dispensing device of the present invention, the child sample container supply area / child sample container dispensing area, which was integrated in the conventional device, is separated into separate areas. Two handlers are provided near each area,
These handlers are configured to handle child specimen containers independently and in parallel based on dispensing request information from a control device such as a computer. The dispensing efficiency of the sample has been increased, and as a result, a high dispensing capacity can be exhibited not only in dispensing the sample for offline analysis but also in dispensing the sample for online analysis.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a conventional automatic dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a view showing one embodiment of an automatic dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the automatic dispensing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the automatic dispensing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation of the automatic dispensing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation of the automatic dispensing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the operation of the automatic dispensing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the operation of the automatic dispensing device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... parent sample supply stocker, 2 ... child sample supply stocker,
3 ... Sample supply unit, 4 ... Dispensing device for online analyzer, 5 ... First dispensing pipette, 6 ... First disposable tip area, 7 ... Dispensing for offline analyzer Apparatus, 8: child sample container supply area / child sample container dispensing area, 9: handler, 10: labeler, 11: second dispensing pipette, 1
2 ... second disposable chip area, 13 ... parent sample collection stocker, 14 ... child sample outlet, 15 ... parent sample full sensor, 16 ... dispensing device for offline analyzer, 17 ... Child sample container supply area, 18... First handler, 19... Child sample container dispensing area, 20.

Claims (2)

[Claims] In an automatic dispensing apparatus having an area for preparing a child sample for online analysis and an area for preparing a child sample for offline analysis, an area for preparing a child sample for offline analysis is provided with a child sample container. A first handler for handling an empty container from the child sample container supply area to a labeler for attaching a label is provided in the vicinity of the child sample container supply area. An automatic dispensing apparatus, wherein second handlers are provided in the vicinity of the dispensing area, each for handling an empty container with a label from a labeler to a child specimen dispensing area. 2. An automatic dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said two handlers are independently operable in parallel.