JP2003083884A - Automatic regulator of optical measuring member in analytical apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically regulate a center position of beam for measurement in the optical measuring member of the analytical apparatus and a center position of an object to be irradiated such as a filter or a dry analytical element. SOLUTION: In the optical measuring member 1 of the analytical apparatus, the apparatus provides a light source 2 emitting beam B, an object F to be irradiated irradiating beam B, a sensor 9 detecting the amount of the transmitted light or the reflected light from the object F, a shift mechanism 7 shifting the object F or the beam B, a control unit 10 controlling the operation of the mechanism 7 and approaching the center of the beam B and the center of the object F. The control unit 10 stops one of the object F and the beam B at a reference position relative to the other by the mechanism 7. By comparing the amount of the detected light when transferred a predetermined distance at a positive direction from the reference position with the amount of the detected light when transferred a predetermined distance at a negative position, the reference position is amended to a direction so that the former amount and the latter amount are equal. By repeating the amendment, the center position of the beam B and the center position of the object F are approached each other.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, spotting a specimen such as blood or urine on a colorimetric dry analytical element and measuring the change in optical density of the dry analytical element. The present invention relates to an automatic adjustment device for an optical measurement unit in an analyzer such as a biochemical analyzer that measures the concentration of a predetermined biochemical substance in a specimen. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a colorimetric type dry method capable of quantitatively analyzing a specific chemical component or formed component contained in a specimen simply by spotting and feeding a small drop of the specimen. Analytical elements have been developed and put into practical use. A biochemical analyzer using this dry analytical element can be used to analyze a sample easily and quickly, and is therefore preferably used in medical institutions, laboratories and the like. A colorimetric measurement method using a colorimetric type dry analytical element is that a sample is spotted on a dry analytical element and then held at a constant temperature in an incubator for a color reaction (dye generation reaction). And then irradiating the dry analytical element with measurement light containing a wavelength selected in advance by a combination of a predetermined biochemical substance in the specimen and a reagent contained in the dry analytical element, and measuring the optical density thereof, From this optical density,
The concentration of the biochemical substance is obtained using a calibration curve representing the correspondence between the optical density obtained in advance and the substance concentration of the predetermined biochemical substance. In the optical measuring unit for measuring the optical density, a measuring beam having a predetermined wavelength is obtained through a specific filter. Further, the reflection density is measured by irradiating the color beam of the dry analytical element with this measuring beam. By the way, in the optical measuring section of the analyzer as described above, the measuring beam is exactly coincident with the center of the irradiated object such as a filter or a dry analytical element. It is an important matter to perform measurement with high accuracy. For example, a plurality of the filters are attached to a rotating plate, and the rotating plate is rotated by a motor.
Although the filter to be used is stopped at a predetermined position, in order to ensure the accuracy of the stop position, the precision of the mechanical part has been tightened or the center position has been adjusted by adjustment during assembly, but the accuracy is ensured. It was difficult to do. If the stop position accuracy of the filter is low, a part of the light beam is blocked by a part of the rotating plate holding the filter, and the amount of light transmitted through the filter is reduced, or the amount of light shielding is reduced. When the value changes, the amount of light varies, which affects the measurement accuracy. If the filter is enlarged so that the light beam is not blocked, or the beam diameter of the light beam is reduced so that the periphery of the filter is not used,
Optical efficiency is reduced. If the adjustment is made manually so that the above-mentioned problems do not occur, the productivity is lowered. Further, in order to avoid the need for adjustment, it is necessary to increase the component accuracy and assembly accuracy, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost. On the other hand, even when the measuring beam is irradiated to the dry analytical element, the accuracy of stopping the transported dry analytical element at the measuring position with respect to the photometric head affects the measuring accuracy, and it is similarly difficult to ensure the accuracy. Have problems. In view of the above, the present invention is configured to automatically and accurately adjust the center position of the measurement beam light and the center position of the irradiated object such as a filter or a dry analytical element in the optical measuring unit of the analyzer. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic adjustment device for an optical measurement unit in an analyzer. According to an automatic adjustment device for an optical measurement unit in an analyzer of the present invention, a light source for emitting beam light and the beam light are irradiated in the optical measurement unit of the analyzer. An object to be irradiated, a light amount sensor for detecting the amount of transmitted or reflected light from the object to be irradiated, a moving mechanism for moving the irradiated object or beam light, and controlling the operation of the moving mechanism to control the beam A control unit that brings the center of the light and the center of the irradiated body closer, and the control unit stops the other of the irradiated body and the beam light at the reference position by the moving mechanism, and this reference position The amount of light detected when moving a predetermined amount in the plus direction from the amount of light detected when moving a predetermined amount in the minus direction is compared, and the operation of correcting the reference position in the direction in which both amounts of detected light are equal is repeated. Returning, the center positions of the irradiated object and the beam light are brought close to each other. The irradiated object may be transmissive such as a filter or reflective such as a dry analytical element, and the amount of transmitted light or the amount of reflected light is detected by a light amount sensor. In addition, the position of the irradiated object or beam light is adjusted by changing the rotation angle, adjusted by moving in the horizontal or vertical direction, adjusted by moving in both the vertical and horizontal directions, etc. In both cases, the position adjustment is performed based on the detected light amount when moving in the plus direction and the minus direction. According to the present invention as described above, the proximity of the center position of the irradiated object such as a filter or dry analytical element and the center position of the measuring beam can be automatically obtained with high accuracy. The light beam is not partially blocked, the light quantity can be prevented from being lowered, and the light quantity fluctuation is small and good measurement accuracy can be ensured. In addition, since the filter and the like can be effectively used up to the peripheral portion, optical efficiency is improved. Furthermore, manual adjustment is not necessary, and productivity is improved. Sufficient positional accuracy can be obtained without increasing the component accuracy and assembly accuracy, and the cost can be reduced. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic adjustment device for an optical measurement unit in an analyzer according to an embodiment. Although not shown in the figure, the analyzer (biochemical analyzer) is used for a sample such as blood and dry analysis elements and other consumables (nozzle tip, diluting liquid, mixing cup, reference liquid, etc.) necessary for the measurement. A sampler tray to be mounted, a spotting nozzle unit that sucks a sample and places a predetermined amount on a dry analytical element,
Hold the dry analytical element after spotting and keep it constant temperature for a predetermined time,
An incubator for colorimetric measurement is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical measuring unit 1 attached to the incubator is provided with a plurality of measuring beam lights B emitted from a light source 2 having a lamp, a lens and the like on a rotating plate 5. The irradiated filter F (irradiated body) is irradiated and transmitted through the filter F. The rotating plate 5 is connected to a moving mechanism by a motor 7 at the center, and selects the filter F by the rotation of the rotating plate 5 and stops the predetermined filter F according to the center position of the measuring beam B. . A control unit 10 is connected to the motor 7 (moving mechanism), the drive control is performed, and the stop position is automatically adjusted. Further, a part of the measurement beam light B is incident on the light quantity sensor 9 by the beam splitter 8 installed in the optical path of the measurement beam light B that has passed through the filter F, and the light quantity is measured by the light quantity sensor 9. A signal is sent to the control unit 10. These constitute an automatic adjustment device. The measuring beam B transmitted through the filter F is guided to a photometric head by an optical fiber or the like, and irradiated to a dry analysis element on which a sample is spotted to measure the amount of reflected light. The automatic adjustment of the stop position of the rotating plate 5 by the drive control of the motor 7 by the control unit 10 basically stops the filter F at the reference position (temporary center position) with respect to the beam B, and this reference position. Operation for comparing the detected light amount when the filter F is moved a predetermined amount in the plus direction with the detected light amount when the filter F is moved a predetermined amount in the minus direction, and correcting the reference position in the direction in which both detected light amounts are equal. Is repeated to bring the light beam B and the center position of the filter F closer to each other. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing specific adjustment control. First, in step S1, the selected filter F of the rotating plate 5 is stopped at the reference position (temporary center position).
Then, after rotating the rotating plate 5 from this position in the plus direction (forward rotation direction) by a predetermined angle (+ n °) (S2), the light amount measurement by the light amount sensor 9 is performed at this position to obtain the positive rotation direction light amount ADp. (S3). Next, the rotating plate 5 is rotated in the minus direction (negative rotation direction) by an angle (-2n °) twice the angle n °, that is, −n ° from the reference position (S4), and then at this position. The light quantity is measured by the light quantity sensor 9 to obtain the negative rotation direction light quantity ADm (S5). Thereafter, the rotating plate 5 is moved in the plus direction (positive rotation direction) (+ n
(°) Rotate back to the reference position (S6). Next, in step S7, the positive rotation direction light amount ADp and the negative rotation direction light amount ADm are compared to determine whether or not the positive rotation direction light amount ADp is greater than or equal to the negative rotation direction light amount ADm. If this determination is YES and the positive rotation direction light amount ADp is large (ADp ≧ ADm), it is determined in step S8 whether or not the previous time was small (ADp <ADm). Is shifted by a small angle (+ δ °) in the plus direction (positive rotation direction) (S9), the rotating plate 5 is rotated to a new reference position (S10), and the process returns to step S2. When the positive rotation direction light amount ADp is large (ADp ≧ ADm), the processes in steps S2 to S10 are repeated, and the positive rotation direction light amount ADp gradually decreases as the reference position is corrected in the plus direction. On the other hand, the negative rotation direction light amount ADm gradually increases. By repeating the above processing, step S7 is performed.
Is NO and the positive rotation direction light amount ADp is smaller than the negative rotation direction light amount ADm, step S
11, it is determined whether or not the previous time was large (ADp ≧ ADm). In this case, the determination is YES, and the adjustment is terminated. The adjustment process will be described with reference to FIGS. A filter F that performs movement adjustment with reference to the light beam B indicated by a broken line is indicated by a solid line. (a) is the initial position,
In the above case, the filter F with respect to the center position of the beam B
The reference position (temporary center position) is shifted in the minus direction (negative rotation direction). From this state, the amount of light ADp when the filter F is shifted + n ° in the forward rotation direction as shown in FIG.
Becomes larger by the amount of light to be shielded being smaller than the amount of light ADm when the filter F is shifted by −n ° in the negative rotation direction as shown in (c). As a result, the reference position of the filter F is adjusted by a minute angle + δ ° in the plus direction as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the light amount ADp when the filter F is shifted by + n ° in the positive rotation direction as shown in (e), and the light amount AD when the filter F is shifted by −n ° in the negative rotation direction as shown in (f).
m becomes equal, and the center position of both approaches. On the other hand, in the flowchart of FIG. 2, in the state immediately after the start of adjustment, if the determination in step S7 is NO, that is, if the positive rotation direction light amount ADp is smaller than the negative rotation direction light amount ADm (ADp <ADm). In step S11, it is determined whether or not the previous time was large (ADp ≧ ADm). In this case, the NO position is determined so that the reference position of the filter F is set to a small angle (−δ) in the minus direction (negative rotation direction).
(°) is set to be shifted (S12), the rotating plate 5 is rotated to a new reference position (S10), and the process returns to step S2. When the light quantity ADp in the positive rotation direction is small (ADp <ADm), steps S2 to S7 and S
11, S12, and S10 are repeated, and as the reference position is corrected in the minus direction, the light amount ADp in the positive rotation direction
Gradually increases, while the amount of light ADm in the negative rotation direction gradually decreases. By repeating the above processing, step S7 is performed.
Is YES and the positive rotation direction light amount ADp is equal to or greater than the negative rotation direction light amount ADm, step S8 is performed.
Then, it is determined whether or not the previous time was small (ADp <ADm). In this case, the determination is YES, and the adjustment is terminated. According to the above embodiment, the detected light amounts in a state where the filter F is moved by a predetermined amount in the plus direction and the minus direction are compared, and in the direction in which both are equal,
The position is automatically adjusted, and can be easily approached with high accuracy. In the above-described embodiment, the filter F is installed on the rotating plate 5 and rotationally drives the rotating plate 5, but a sliding plate that slides the filter F in the horizontal or vertical direction. Further, they may be arranged in a row in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and the position can be adjusted in the same manner as described above by adjusting the movement of the sliding plate. Further, it may be arranged in a matrix form in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and may be moved and adjusted in the vertical and horizontal directions. Further, the light beam B may be moved. On the other hand, the irradiated object may be a dry analytical element. In this case, the light beam B is reflected by the dry analytical element, and an unused dry analytical element or reference plate is used. Then, the reflected light is measured by a light amount sensor, and the position is adjusted in the same manner as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical measurement unit in an analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing adjustment control. [Explanation of Symbols] 1 Optical measurement unit 2 Light source B Measurement beam light F Filter (irradiated body) 5 Rotating plate 7 Motor (moving mechanism) 9 Light quantity sensor 10 Control unit

Claims (1)

What is claimed is: 1. In an optical measuring unit of an analyzer, a light source for emitting beam light, an irradiated object irradiated with the beam light, and transmitted light or reflected light from the irradiated object A light amount sensor for detecting the amount of light, a moving mechanism for moving the irradiated object or beam light, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the moving mechanism to bring the center of the beam light close to the center of the irradiated object The control unit uses the moving mechanism to stop one of the object to be irradiated and the light beam at the reference position, and detects a detected light amount when moving a predetermined amount in the plus direction from the reference position, and minus Comparing the detected light amount when moved by a predetermined amount in the direction, repeating the operation of correcting the reference position in the direction in which both detected light amounts are equal, and bringing the center position of the irradiated object and the beam light closer Special Automatic adjusting apparatus of the optical measuring unit in the analyzer to.