JP2003302412A - Sample analyzer, liquid suction device therefor, and pipette washer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely and qualitatively determine the amount of sample. <P>SOLUTION: The sample analyzer comprises a pipette having a suction port at the end thereof, a determination part sucking a sample through the pipette and determining, a supplying part supplying the sample to the pipette, an analyzing part analyzing the determined sample, and a control part controlling the determination part and the supplying part, and the control part controls the supplying part to fill the pipette with liquid before the sample is sucked. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample analyzer for analyzing a sample such as blood and urine and a pipette washing device used in the device, and more particularly to a compact and versatile sample analyzer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As prior art related to the present invention,
The following are known. The reaction container disk has a shape in which the circumference of the reaction table is evenly divided into multiple parts, a plurality of reaction containers held by the reaction container disk, and each reaction container up to the sample dispensing device, reagent dispensing position, and optical measurement position. A small automatic analyzer comprising a means for transferring, a means for sucking and dispensing a required amount of sample into a reaction container, and a means for optically measuring a sample in the reaction container (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-94842). (See the official gazette).

A pipette in which the tip of a hollow pipe is sealed with a sealing member, and a suction port is provided on the side surface of the tip (see, for example, US Pat. No. 5,969,272).

Washing having a through passage through which a pipette having a suction port at its tip is inserted, a supply passage for supplying a washing liquid to the through passage, and a discharge passage for discharging a cleaning waste liquid from the through passage. A pipette cleaning device provided with a member (see, for example, US Pat. No. 5,592,959).

[0005]

Conventionally, various blood analyzers for performing sample analysis, for example, blood analysis have been proposed. However, many blood analyzers in recent years process a large number of samples in a short time. In order to do this, the equipment is becoming larger and faster, and since the operation is complicated, it is necessary to have a specialized worker permanently installed, and it is not necessary to do so many blood tests in regional hospitals and individuals. At present, hospitals request blood tests from specialized blood test centers.
Therefore, when there is an urgent need, there is a problem that the test result cannot be obtained immediately, and there has been a demand for the appearance of an automatic blood analyzer which is smaller in size, simple in operation, and high in analysis accuracy. This request is not limited to blood analyzers, and, for example, there are similar requests for urine analyzers. By the way, in such a sample analyzer, from the viewpoint of downsizing the device and simplifying the structure, a liquid sample is sucked by a suction device such as a syringe pump through a pipette, and a quantification is performed by the suction amount. , So-called AD method (Autodilution syste
It is preferable to adopt m). However, in this method, when the pipette is inserted into the liquid sample, the liquid sample enters from the suction port of the pipette along with the insertion operation, and when aspirating, the suction amount increases by the amount of the penetration, causing an error in quantification and There is a problem that high analysis cannot be performed. There is also a problem that an error occurs in the quantification depending on whether or not the liquid container holding the liquid sample has a cap.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and in the sample analyzer, the handling is simplified to the extent that it can be used by a doctor or a nurse so that it can be easily transported to the site of diagnosis / treatment. It is an object to reduce the size and weight, to suppress noise and reduce noise, and to make the maintenance and inspection safe and easy, in particular, to obtain highly accurate analysis results.

[0007]

In order to solve at least one of the above problems, the present invention provides a pipette having a suction port at its tip, a quantification part for aspirating and quantifying a sample through the pipette, and a pipette. A supply unit for supplying a liquid to the liquid, an analysis unit for analyzing a quantified sample, and a control unit for controlling the quantification unit and the supply unit, and the control unit supplies the liquid to the suction port of the pipette before aspirating the sample. The present invention provides a sample analyzer that controls so as to satisfy the above condition. According to this invention,
Since the suction port of the pipette is filled with the liquid before the sample is sucked, even if the pipette is inserted into the sample, the sample does not enter the suction port before the suction, and high-precision quantification is possible.

Further, the sample analyzer further comprises a cleaning spitz for cleaning the pipette, and a suction port of the pipette is provided on a side surface of the tip, and the cleaning spitz communicates with the through hole for penetrating the pipette and the through hole. The cleaning spit has a cleaning liquid supply passage for supplying a cleaning liquid and a cleaning liquid discharge passage for discharging the cleaning liquid in communication with the through hole.The cleaning spitz has a suction port axis of the pipette and an inlet shaft of the cleaning liquid discharge path of the pipette. You may arrange | position so that it may make an angle larger than 90 degrees seeing from an axial direction. According to this, even if the pipette is cleaned by the cleaning spitz before the suction operation of the pipette, the negative pressure from the cleaning liquid discharge passage does not affect the suction port, so that the liquid that previously fills the suction port of the pipette is discharged. It will not be pulled out to the road. Therefore, since the suction port is kept filled with the liquid, accurate quantification can be performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a pipette having a suction port on a side surface of a tip, a suction unit for sucking a liquid through the pipette, and a cleaning spitz for cleaning the pipette are provided, and the cleaning spitz penetrates the pipette. Through-holes,
The cleaning spit has a cleaning liquid supply passage communicating with the through hole to supply the cleaning liquid and a cleaning liquid discharge passage communicating with the through hole to discharge the cleaning liquid. The liquid suction device is provided such that the shaft and the shaft form an angle of more than 90 degrees when viewed from the axial direction of the pipette. It is preferable that the liquid suction device further includes a liquid supply unit that supplies liquid to the pipette, and the liquid supply unit fills the suction port of the pipette with liquid before the pipette sucks the sample.

Further, the present invention is provided with a cleaning spitz for cleaning a pipette having a suction port on the side surface of the distal end, wherein the cleaning spitz has a through hole for penetrating the pipette and a cleaning liquid supply passage communicating with the through hole and supplying a cleaning liquid. And a cleaning liquid discharge passage communicating with the through hole to discharge the cleaning liquid. In the cleaning spitz, the axis of the suction port of the pipette and the axis of the inlet of the cleaning liquid discharge passage are 90 degrees when viewed from the axial direction of the pipette. The present invention provides a pipette cleaning device arranged so as to form a larger angle.

Further, according to the present invention, a pipette having a suction port at its tip, a suction unit for sucking the first liquid via the pipette, and a supply unit for supplying the second liquid to the pipette,
The control unit controls the suction unit and the supply unit, and the control unit controls the supply unit to move the second liquid to the suction port of the pipette before the first liquid is sucked.
The present invention provides a liquid suction device that controls so as to fill the liquid. In this liquid suction device, a cleaning spitz for cleaning the pipette is further provided, and a suction port of the pipette is provided on the tip side surface, and the cleaning spitz is a cleaning liquid for supplying a cleaning liquid through the through hole for penetrating the pipette It has a supply path and a cleaning solution discharge path that communicates with the through hole and discharges the cleaning solution.The cleaning spitz has a pipette suction port axis and a cleaning solution discharge path inlet axis as viewed from the pipette axial direction. It may be arranged so as to form an angle larger than 90 degrees.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A blood analyzer will be described below as an example of a sample analyzer. The blood analyzer according to the present invention is preferably automated. "Automatic" means that if the user sets one sample container in the device, all the components of the blood sample in the sample container will be automatically detected after that, the value of the analysis item will be calculated, and the calculation result will be output. Is said to be done. This blood analyzer targets blood of mammals including humans. As the analysis (measurement / analysis) items, in the case of human blood, red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin amount (H
GB), hematocrit value (HCT), platelet count (PL
T), mean red blood cell volume (MCV), mean red blood cell hemoglobin amount (MCH) and mean red blood cell pigment concentration (MCH)
C) etc. are mentioned.

The measuring principle used is RBC.
And PLT measurement are sheath flow electric resistance method, WBC
It is preferable to use an electric resistance method for the measurement of and the colorimetric method for the measurement of HGB. The blood sample to be analyzed is collected from a subject and stored in a sample container (collection tube). In that case, whole blood may be used, or it may be diluted to a predetermined concentration in advance. Especially when collecting from children,
Since the collected amount is small, it is diluted in advance to a specified concentration, for example 26 times.

As a sample container (blood collection tube) that can be used in this blood analyzer, an outer diameter of 12 is commonly used.
Examples include a vacuum blood collection tube having a length of ˜15 mm and a total length of 85 mm or less (one whose mouth is sealed with a rubber cap), an open blood collection tube (one whose mouth is open), and various micro blood collection tubes having an outer diameter of 9 to 11 mm. The amount of blood sample required is, for example, 10 to 15 μL for a whole blood sample and 250 to 350 μL for a diluted sample.

This blood analyzer can be composed of a main body and a container storage unit, the main body is housed in a housing, and the container storage unit is preferably detachably mounted on the side surface of the housing. The main body can be provided with a display unit on the front upper part of the housing, and an LCD (liquid crystal display panel) for displaying analysis results and a touch panel for inputting analysis conditions can be integrally provided on the display unit. Not only is the operability improved, but their installation space can be saved.

Further, inside the housing, a sample setting unit for a user to insert and install a sample container, a detection unit for quantitatively and diluting a sample from the sample container to detect a blood component,
A fluid control unit that includes a fluid control device that controls the fluid required for quantification / dilution of the detection unit, an electric control board unit that accommodates electrical components that electrically drive and controls the detection unit, the fluid control unit, and the display unit, input It is possible to accommodate a power supply unit that converts an AC voltage from the commercial power supply into a low DC voltage, a printer unit that prints out the analysis result, and the like.

It is preferable that these parts are appropriately arranged in consideration of the ease of operation and maintenance, the presence or absence of heat generation, and the like. For example, by disposing the sample setting section near the front surface of the housing, by providing an opening / closing door (sample setting panel) on the front surface of the housing, the user can easily insert the sample container into the internal sample setting section through the door. It is convenient because it can be set and the set sample container is protected by the door.

In the sample setting section, a sample rack having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the sample container and accommodating the lower end of the sample container and a side surface of the contained sample container are elastically sandwiched from both sides to form the sample container. A sample container setting device including first and second elastic members that are held coaxially with the sample rack is provided. Therefore, even if sample containers (blood collection tubes) having different outer diameters are used, the sample containers are automatically positioned so as to be coaxial with the sample racks, which facilitates the installation work of the sample containers.

The sample container setting device may further include a support member that supports the first elastic member and is movable in a direction away from the second elastic member, and the support member includes the first elastic member and the second elastic member. It may be supported by a support shaft so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle in a direction away from the elastic member.

The bottom of the sample rack may be rotatably supported by the support shaft and may rotate in the same direction as the support member by interlocking with the support member. A biasing member that biases the support member in a direction in which the first elastic member moves away from the second elastic member, and a locking member that removably locks to the support member against the biasing force may be provided.

As described above, the sample container setting device is provided in the housing of the blood analyzer, the supporting member is a door for opening and closing the housing, the biasing member biases the door in the opening direction, and the locking member is It is preferably provided outside the housing.

Further, if the detecting portion is arranged as a unit inside the right or left side surface of the housing, for example, maintenance and inspection can be performed simply by removing one side plate of the housing, which is convenient. is there. It is preferable that the detection unit includes a pipette driving device, a mix chamber, a detector, and the like in order to quantify a blood sample from a sample container with a pipette, appropriately dilute it, and perform detection and measurement of a blood component appropriately. As the pipette used here, a pipette having a sharp tip, which is generally referred to as a piercer or a needle, provided in a sample container with a cap can be preferably used.

Therefore, the detection unit includes a pipette holding unit that holds a pipette, a pipette horizontal drive unit that horizontally supports the pipette holding unit so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and a horizontal movement unit.
The pipette holding unit includes a main arm for fixing the pipette holding unit to be detachable in the horizontal direction, a guide arm extending horizontally from the main arm, and a pipette vertical drive unit for vertically moving the main arm and the guide arm. Includes a pipette drive device that vertically moves by the main arm when it is fixed to the main arm, and vertically moves by engaging with the guide arm when it is separated from the main arm.

In this case, when the pipette holder moves vertically by the main arm, the pipette sucks the sample from the sample container, and when the pipette holder engages with the guide arm and moves vertically, the pipette is dispensed to the mix chamber and the detector.・ By aspirating, the large vertical pipette movement force required to pierce the capped sample container with the pipette is transmitted from the main arm to the pipette, and is required for the open mix chamber and detector. Is less than 1/10 of that and transmitted from the guide arm to the pipette. Therefore, the rigidity of the guide arm and its related mechanism can be made extremely smaller than that of the main arm and its related mechanism, and accordingly, the mechanical strength of the pipette drive device can be reduced, and the structure can be simplified and the device weight can be reduced.

Further, in this pipette drive device,
The pipette holder may have a protrusion, and the main arm may have a recess into which the protrusion is fitted in the horizontal direction. The pipette holding portion may include a roller that engages with the guide arm and moves along the guide arm.

Further, the pipette horizontal driving unit may include a pipette vertical sliding unit which supports the pipette holding unit so as to be vertically slidable. Furthermore, in such a configuration,
It is preferable that the sample is sucked from the sample container when the pipette holder is lowered by the main arm, and the sample is discharged when the pipette holder is moved away from the main arm. In this case, the sample container may be a container with a cap.

When the pipette vertical drive unit has a stepping motor as a drive source, the drive current supplied to the stepping motor during vertical movement of the pipette holding unit is fixed to the main arm by the pipette holding unit for the above reason. It is preferable that the moving time is set to be larger than the moving time by engaging the guide arm.

In connection with the above-mentioned sample setting section and detection section, the sample container setting device includes a sample rack that accommodates sample containers and is movably supported, and a pipette vertical drive unit that inserts a pipette into the sample containers. It is preferable to provide a lock member that mechanically blocks the movement of the sample rack in conjunction with the pipette insertion operation of. According to such a configuration, even if the sample rack is configured to move in conjunction with the door of the housing, for example, the movement is blocked, so that the pipette and the sample container are prevented from being damaged.

Further, a support shaft for rotatably supporting the sample rack in a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the sample rack, a rotating member supported by the support shaft for rotating the sample rack, and a pipette vertical drive unit are provided. It has a main arm that supports and vertically moves the pipette, and the lock member consists of a lock rod that hangs from the main arm in parallel with the pipette. When the pipette is inserted into the sample container, the lock rod is locked on the rotating member. It may be inserted into the hole to prevent the turning operation of the turning member. The sample container installation device may be provided in the housing, the housing may be provided with a door, and the door may be the rotating member. Further, a push button for spring-biasing the door in the opening direction to detachably lock the door to open and close the door may be provided on the housing surface.

Further, the pipette drive device of the detection unit includes a pipette vertical sliding unit having a holding unit for holding a pipette and a support body for slidably supporting the pipette holding unit in a vertical direction, and a pipette vertical sliding unit. A pipette horizontal drive unit that is replaceably mounted and a stopper member that is mounted on the pipette vertical sliding unit at the time of replacement and that disables vertical sliding of the pipette are provided. As a result, if the pipette becomes inconvenient, the pipette will not move if the pipette vertical sliding portion is newly replaced, so that the pipette can be safely replaced.

The stopper member may be detachably engaged with the pipette holding portion and the support body, respectively. Further, the pipette vertical sliding unit is provided with a cleaning unit for cleaning the pipette, and when the pipette tip is accommodated inside the cleaning unit when the stopper member is attached to the pipette vertical sliding unit, The replacement work will be even safer.

Next, regarding the fluid control unit, if the fluid control unit is disposed inside the side surface opposite to the detection unit, that is, back to back with the detection unit, the other side plate of the housing is simply removed.
This is convenient because maintenance and inspection can be performed. Also, since electromagnetic valves and various pumps provided in the fluid control unit become noise sources, by paying attention to noise reduction of each component, the noise of the entire fluid control unit is suppressed to 45 dB or less including the sudden sound. can do. In particular, in this blood analyzer, a pressure device such as an external compressor is not used as a drive source of the fluid circuit for easy handling, and instead, a negative pressure pump is provided in the housing. Since this negative pressure pump acts as a negative pressure source for the entire fluid circuit, it is frequently used, and it is necessary to pay particular attention to noise reduction.

Therefore, the fluid control unit includes an air pump having an intake port and a discharge port, a sealing cover having first and second through-holes for covering the air pump, and a first penetrating from outside the sealing cover. By experimentally determining the size of the muffler exhaust tube by using a negative pressure pump equipped with an intake tube connected to the intake port through the mouth and a muffler exhaust tube connected to the second through hole and extending to the outside. , It aims for effective noise reduction. Further, it is preferable from the viewpoint of noise reduction to further include an elastic support base that supports the air pump.

In this blood analyzer, in a fluid circuit including a sample container for storing a blood sample, a detector for detecting a blood component using a measurement sample, and a drainage chamber for storing drainage, a drainage chamber is provided. The negative pressure pump can be used to apply a negative pressure to the device to aspirate residual sample from at least one of the sample container and the detector. Here, the sample container is a container for accommodating a blood sample or a mixed solution of a blood sample and a diluent or reagent, and may be configured integrally with the detector.

Further, in a fluid circuit including a detector for detecting a blood component using a blood sample, a washing liquid storage section connected to the detector, and a drainage chamber for storing drainage, a negative pressure is applied to the drainage chamber. The above-mentioned negative pressure pump can be used to apply the voltage to draw the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid storage section through the detector.

A sensor for detecting the negative pressure applied to the drainage chamber and a control unit for controlling the negative pressure pump so that the negative pressure falls within a predetermined pressure range may be further provided. The predetermined pressure range is preferably set to 100 to 300 mmHg.

Since the power source section contains many heat-generating components such as transistors and diodes, it is arranged at the top of the housing, and if a ventilator (ventilation hole) is provided in the housing for natural cooling, it will be used for forced air cooling. A fan etc. is not required, and noise and space can be saved. Further, by arranging it at the uppermost part, it is possible to avoid adverse effects of heat generation on other parts.

Further, it is convenient if the container housing unit is installed on the side surface of the main body housing so that the container can be easily replaced and connected to the main body. In addition, it is preferable that the container storage unit stores at least two containers that respectively store the diluent and the hemolytic agent used in the main body, and a container that stores the waste liquid discharged from the main body.

Embodiments The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. This does not limit the invention.
1 is a front perspective view of a blood analyzer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof. As shown in these drawings, the apparatus main body 1 is housed in a housing 2, a display unit 3 is provided on the upper front surface thereof, and a sample set panel 4 that opens and closes when a sample container is inserted and installed in the lower right of the front surface, and a sample set panel A push button 5 for opening 4 is provided.

Inside the right side plate of the housing 2, a sample setting section 6 for inserting and installing a sample container, and a detecting section 7 for detecting and detecting a sample component by quantifying and diluting a sample from the sample container.
And are provided.

On the inside of the left side plate of the housing 2, there is a fluid control unit 8 for collectively accommodating a fluid device for controlling a fluid required for the fixed amount / dilution of the detection unit 7, that is, valves and pumps. It is provided. Inside the back plate of the housing 2, there is provided an electric control board section 9 for accommodating a board on which a detection section 7, a fluid control section 8 and an electric control component for electrically driving and controlling the display section 3 are mounted.

Inside the top plate of the housing 2, there are provided a power source section 10 for converting an input commercial AC voltage into a DC voltage and a printer section 11 for printing out an analysis result. The left and right side plates, the back plate and the top plate are detachably fastened with screws so that maintenance can be easily performed for each part.

Further, the power source unit 10 including the heat generating component is provided at the uppermost portion in the housing 2, and the portions surrounding the power source unit 10 of the housing 2 are provided with ventilators (ventilation holes) 12 and 13 as shown in FIG. Has been. Therefore, the air heated by the power supply unit 10 does not affect the other components of the analyzer thermally, and the ventilator 12,
It is discharged from 13, and natural air cooling is performed. That is, the power supply unit 10 does not need a forced air cooling unit such as a cooling fan, and thus is compact and quiet.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, on the left side surface of the main body 1, containers 201 and 2 respectively containing a diluting liquid and a hemolyzing agent.
02 and the container 203 for storing the drainage are combined and stored.

Configuration and Operation of Sample Setting Section FIG. 4 is a front view showing the configuration of the sample setting section 6. As shown in the figure, the sample set panel 4 is supported by a support shaft 14 so as to be rotatable in the arrow S direction, and is biased in the arrow S direction by a spring (not shown). Sample set panel 4
A push button 5 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 15 above the and is urged by a spring 16 in the arrow T direction.

The claw 17 provided on the upper end of the sample set panel 4 is locked to the lower end of the push button 5 to prevent the sample set panel 4 from opening in the direction of arrow S. The sample set panel 4 is provided with a sample rack 18 for accommodating and supporting the lower end of the sample container, and two clamping claws 19 for sandwiching and positioning the sample container 19 are provided above the sample rack 18.
a and 19b are provided, and the base ends of the sandwiching claws 19a and 19b are fixed to the distal end of a projecting piece 20 that horizontally projects from the sample set panel 4 and the support plate 21.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 respectively show the holding claws 19a and 19a.
It is the front view and side view of b. Holding claws 19a, 19b
Has a V-shaped notch 22 at its tip, has a bent portion 23 bent at an angle θ = 30 degrees, and is arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the sample rack 18 as shown in FIG. The sample container SP1 installed in the sample rack 18 is elastically clamped from both sides.

The sandwiching claws 19a and 19b are formed of elastic plates (for example, polyacetal resin plates having a plate thickness of 0.8 mm), and even if sample containers SP1 having different outer diameters (for example, 12 to 15 mm) are installed, the angle of the bent portion 23 is set. θ is elastically changed to absorb the change in the outer diameter, and the sample container SP1 is always held coaxially on the sample rack 18.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state in which the small sample container SP2 for micro blood collection is installed in the sample rack 18. In this case, the sample container SP2 has an outer diameter and a height of the sample container S.
Since it is smaller than P1, it is inserted into the sample rack 18 via the adapter AD to supplement it.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the sample setting section 6
Is a sensor (photointerrupter) J1 for detecting opening / closing of the sample set panel 4, a sensor (limit switch) J2 for detecting whether or not the sample container is installed in the sample rack 18, and whether or not an adapter AD is used. A sensor (limit switch) J3 for detecting is provided.

In such a structure, when the user pushes the upper end of the push button 5, the push button 5 slightly rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow T in FIG. 4, and the lower end of the push button 5 is disengaged from the claw 17. As a result, the sample set panel 4 rotates in the direction of arrow S about the support shaft 14 and opens until the projecting piece 4a of the sample set panel 4 is locked to the support plate 21 as shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
P1 is inserted into the sample rack 18.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the sample setting panel 4 is closed, the claw 17 is locked to the lower end of the push button 5 and the closed state is maintained. At this time, the sample container SP1
Is clamped from both sides by the clamping claws 19a and 19b, and is held coaxially with the sample rack 18. The push button 5 has a large surface area (60 mm × 70 mm) and can be operated by the user with the hand holding the sample container.

Structure and Operation of Detecting Unit The sample unit 7 is a pipette horizontal drive unit 20 as shown in FIG.
0, a pipette vertical sliding unit 300, a pipette vertical drive unit 400, a mix chamber 70, and a detector 50.

Pipette Horizontal Drive Unit FIG. 13 is a front view of the pipette horizontal drive unit 200. As shown in the figure, the driven pulley 202 and the drive pulley 203 are rotatably installed in the support plate 201.
A timing belt 204 is stretched between No. 2 and No. 203. The drive pulley 203 is driven by a pipette front-back motor (stepping motor) 205 provided on the back surface of the support plate 201. A guide rail 206 is horizontally provided above the support plate 201, and a guide shaft 207 is horizontally provided below the support plate 201. The vertically movable horizontal moving plate 208 has a guide rail 206 at the upper end.
The connecting member 21 that is fitted into the sliding member 209 and is fitted at its lower end to the sliding member 209 that slides on the guide shaft 207 and projects to the back surface.
It is connected to the timing belt 204 by 0. The horizontal moving plate 208 has screw holes 211 and 212 for fixing the pipette vertical sliding portion 300. With such a configuration, the horizontal moving plate 208 can be moved in the horizontal direction by driving the motor 205. Further, the support plate 201 is provided with a pipette front position sensor (photointerrupter) J5 for detecting the position of the horizontal moving plate 208.

Pipette Vertical Sliding Portion FIG. 14 is a front view of the pipette vertical sliding portion 300, and FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. As shown in these drawings, the pipette vertical sliding unit 300 includes a guide shaft 302 vertically supported by a support 301 and a pipette holding unit 303 that vertically holds a pipette PT and slides on the guide shaft 302. Prepare The support body 301 has a vertically elongated guide groove 304, and a guide rod 305 that horizontally projects from the pipette holding portion 303 is inserted into the guide groove 304 and guided, and the pipette holding portion 303 is stably guided in a vertical guide shaft. It can slide on 302. Further, the support 301 is provided with notches 306 and 307 through which fixing screws are passed when fixed to the horizontal moving plate 208 shown in FIG.

Further, the pipette holding section 303 is provided with a guide roller 308, the guide roller 308 engages with a guide arm (described later) of the pipette vertical drive section 400, and the pipette holding section 303 moves vertically in conjunction with the guide arm. It is designed to move up and down.

Further, below the support 301, spits (pipette cleaning device) S for penetrating the pipette PT to wash the outer wall and the inner wall of the pipette PT are provided, and the pipette holding portion 303 is provided in the support 301. The sharp tip of the pipette PT is hidden in the spitz S when it is at the uppermost position (position in FIG. 14).

The liquid supply / drainage nipples 309, 310, 311 fixed below the support 301 are connected to the proximal end of the pipette PT and the Spitz S via tubes 312, 313, 314, respectively.

A screw 315 screwed to the pipette holding portion 303 and a screw 316 screwed to the protrusion 317 of the support 301 are provided to fix a plate-shaped spacer 318 as shown in FIG. ing. The spacer 318 fixed as shown in FIG.
Is fixed to the uppermost part of the support 301 to prevent the sharp tip of the pipette PT from coming out of the Spitz S.

Therefore, the pipette vertical sliding portion 300 is mounted on the horizontal moving plate 208 shown in FIG. 13 with the spacer 318 attached, and the screw 319 is inserted into the screw holes 211 and 212 through the notches 306 and 307. , 320 (Fig. 1
After being fixed in 7), the spacers 318 are removed by loosening the screws 315 and 316. As a result, the pipette vertical sliding unit 300 is safely mounted on the pipette horizontal drive unit 200, and the operator is not hurt by the tip of the pipette PT. Further, when a problem such as clogging of the pipette PT occurs, the entire pipette vertical sliding portion 300 is replaced, but in that case as well, the spacer 318 is used to facilitate the replacement work. Done.

FIG. 17 shows the pipette horizontal drive unit 200.
FIG. 18 is a left side view showing a state in which the pipette vertical sliding portion 300 is mounted on the pipette vertical sliding portion 300. As shown in these drawings, the pipette vertical sliding portion 300 has a pipette holding portion 303.
The end portion 303a of the has a cruciform cross-section and can be fitted into the main arm (described later) of the pipette vertical drive unit 400.

Pipette Vertical Drive Unit FIG. 19 is a left side view of the pipette vertical drive unit 400, and FIG.
FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. As shown in FIG. 19, the pipette vertical drive unit 400 includes a main arm 401 which is elongated and extends horizontally, and a screw shaft 402 which penetrates the main arm 401 in an orthogonal direction and is rotatably supported by a support plate 412.
A nut 403 engaged with the screw shaft 402 by a screw and fixed to the main arm 401, and a support plate 412 parallel to the screw shaft 402.
Slide rail 404a installed in the main arm 40
1. A sliding member 404b provided at the left end of 1 for slidably engaging a slide rail 404a to guide the main arm 401 in the vertical direction, and a pipette vertical motor (stepping motor) 405 fixed to a support plate 412. Equipped with.

Pulleys 406 and 407 are fixed to the upper end of the screw shaft 402 and the output shaft of the motor 405, and a timing belt 408 is stretched between them. Therefore,
By driving the motor 405, the main arm 401 can move vertically in the vertical direction. A pipette upper position sensor J4 for detecting that the main arm 401 has reached the uppermost portion is provided on the support plate 412.

A guide arm 409 is horizontally fixed to the right end of the main arm 401, and the pipette vertical sliding portion 300 is provided.
18 is engaged with the guide roller 308 (FIG. 18). The main arm 401 has a recess 410 having a cross-shaped cross section on the surface facing the cross-shaped end 303a (FIGS. 17 and 18) of the pipette holding section 303, and as shown in FIG. The 303a is fitted into the recess 410 with a proper clearance so as to be detachable from the arrow X direction. In this case, the force of the vertical movement of the main arm is directly transmitted to the pipette holding section 303. Further, a lock bar 411 is provided at the center of the main arm 401 so as to pass through in the vertical direction and engage with the main arm 401 at the bent portion at the upper end. In this embodiment, the main arm 401 has a cross section of 2
The guide arm 409 is made of an aluminum alloy (A5052) having a length of 0 mm × 26 mm and a length of 108 mm, and the guide arm 409 has a length of 180 mm bent in a U-shaped cross section using a steel plate (SECC) having a plate thickness of 0.5 mm.

Pipette horizontal drive unit and pipette vertical sliding unit
When the blood sample is quantified from the sample container SP1 installed on the sample rack 18 of the sample setting unit 6, the pipette front-back motor 205 is driven to move the pipette holding unit as shown in FIG. The end portion 303a of 303 is provided with the concave portion 4 of the main arm 401.
The pipette up / down motor 405 is driven to raise the main arm 401 until the pipette upper position sensor J4 operates as shown in FIG. By fitting the end portion 303a into the recess 410, the screw shaft 402, the pipette PT, and the sample container SP1 have their centers on the same plane, and the moment of the screw shaft 402 with respect to the pipette PT is minimized. When the pipette PT is lowered by 405, the torque of the motor 405 is most efficiently converted into the descending force of the pipette PT.

Then, by driving the motor 405, FIG.
22, the pipette PT is lowered through the through-hole 26a of the stopper 26 for preventing the sample container from rising, and the pipette PT reaches almost the bottom of the sample container SP1 as shown in FIG. At this time, when the sample container SP1 is a vacuum blood collection tube with a rubber cap, the rubber cap needs to be pierced by the tip of the pipette PT, and accordingly, when the pipette PT descends, a larger input current than usual to the motor 405 is input. Is supplied from a drive circuit section (described later) to obtain a large output torque.

When the pipette PT descends, as shown in FIG. 22, the lock rod 411 is locked in the locking hole 25 provided in the projecting piece 24 projecting to the inside of the sample setting panel 4, and the sample setting panel is set. 4 is opened carelessly and pipette P
The T and the sample container SP1 are prevented from being damaged. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, when the small sample container SP2 is installed in the sample rack 18 via the adapter AD,
Since the sample adapter detection sensor J3 operates, the control unit 5
00 adjusts the descending distance of the pipette PT so that the tip of the pipette PT reaches almost the bottom of the small sample container SP2.

When the blood sample collection is completed, the pipette P
T returns to the position of FIG. When the pipette PT is pulled out from the sample container SP1, a rubber cap may be attached to the pipette PT and rise with the pipette PT. In this case, the stopper 26 prevents the rise.

When the pipette PT returns to the position shown in FIG. 21, the pipette holding motor 303 is driven so that the end portion 303a of the pipette holding portion 303 is pulled out from the recess 410 of the main arm 401 in the direction opposite to the arrow X in FIG. After
The pipette PT is moved onto the mix chamber 70 and the detector 50 while rotating the guide roller 308 on the inner surface of the guide arm 409. Then, the driving force of the pipette up / down motor 405 is changed by the driving of the main arm 4
01, the guide arm 409, and the guide roller 308 to be transmitted to the pipette holding portion 303, whereby the pipette PT performs the descending operation and the subsequent ascending / descending operation.

Structure of Detector FIG. 23 is a front view of a notched portion of the detector 50, and FIG. 24 is a side view of the notched portion thereof. The detector 50 is made of translucent polysulfone resin, and as shown in these figures, the first, second, and third accommodating portions 51 for accommodating the measurement liquid,
52 and 53 are provided. The upper part of the first accommodating part 51 is open to the atmosphere, and the first accommodating part 51 and the third accommodating part 53 communicate with each other.

A circular disc 54 for an orifice made of ruby is attached to the partition wall between the first accommodating portion 51 and the second accommodating portion 52, and an orifice 55 having a diameter of 80 μm is bored in the circular disc 54. Further, the second accommodating portion 52 is provided with a jet nozzle 56, and the jet nozzle 56 has a nozzle support member 57 so that the tip thereof faces the orifice 55 through the second accommodating portion 52.
And the first electrode 58, and its rear end communicates with the liquid supply nipple 59. The first electrode 58 is made of stainless steel and is exposed inside the second accommodation portion 52.

The detector 50 has nozzles 60, 6 for supplying the diluent and the hemolytic agent to the first container 51, respectively.
1, nipples 63 and 64 for supplying and discharging liquid to the second accommodating portion 52, respectively, and a draining nipple 65 and a bubble discharging nipple 66 provided at the bottom of the third accommodating portion 53.

As shown in FIG. 24, the detector 50 has a first
It is provided with a platinum electrode 67 protruding into the housing portion 51, a light emitting diode 68 and a photodiode 69 provided so as to sandwich the third housing portion 53 from both sides. Light having a wavelength of 555 nm is emitted from the light emitting diode 68, and the intensity of the light transmitted through the third housing portion 53 is the photodiode 6.
9 is detected. The light emitting diode 68 and the photodiode 69 have a hemoglobin amount (HG
Used for measurement of B).

As will be described later, the white blood cell measurement sample is adjusted in the first and third accommodating parts 51 and 53, and the first and second accommodating parts are adjusted.
The white blood cell count, the platelet count, and the red blood cell count are detected in the storage units 51 and 52.

Structure of Mix Chamber FIG. 25 is a sectional view of the mix chamber 70, which is provided with a container 71 for mixing a blood sample. Housing section 71
The upper part is open to the atmosphere, and the nipple 72 for supplying the diluent is
And a nipple 73 for discharging the mixed liquid, a nipple 74 for discharging the residual liquid in the containing portion 71, and air bubbles (air) for stirring the liquid in the containing portion 71 A nipple 75 is provided for this purpose.

Pipettes and Spitz (pipette cleaning equipment
Configuration and Operation Figure location) 38 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pipette PT. Pipette PT
Is made of a stainless steel pipe, and has a suction channel 501 coaxial therewith. The tip is sharply cut at an angle of α = 30 degrees, and when the sample container SP1 has a cap, the cap is pierced. In addition, the suction channel 5
01 has a suction port 502 whose tip is sealed by a sealing member 503 made of stainless steel and which has an opening on a side surface and which has an axis orthogonal to the axis of the pipette PT. 26 is a plan view of the Spitz S, FIG. 27 is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.
32 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG. As shown in these figures, a pipette P is provided at the center of the Spitz body 80.
A pipette through hole 81 is provided to vertically penetrate T from the inlet 81a to the outlet 81b, and the pipette through hole 81 has a circular cross section.

The pipette through hole 81 is composed of a pipette guide hole 82, a first through hole 83, and a second through hole 84 which are serially and coaxially connected in series from the inlet 81a to the outlet 81b. The pipette guide hole 82 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pipette PT, and guides the pipette PT so that the axial center of the pipette PT coincides with the axial centers of the first and second through holes 83 and 84.

On the other hand, the first and second through holes 83, 84
Constitutes a pipette cleaning hole for cleaning the pipette. The inner wall of the first through hole 83 has a first opening 85a on the inlet side.
Has a second opening 85b on the outlet side, and the inner wall of the second through hole 84 has a third opening 85c.

The main body 80 includes a ventilation passage 86a for opening the first opening 85a to the atmosphere (outside the main body 80) and a second opening 85a.
cleaning liquid discharge passage 8 for communicating b with the cleaning liquid discharge nipple 87
7a and a cleaning liquid supply passage 88a that communicates the third opening 85c with the cleaning liquid supply nipple 88.

Here, the inner diameters D1, D2 and D3 of the pipette guide hole 82, the first through hole 83 and the second through hole 84 are 105%, 115% and 200% of the outer diameter of the pipette PT, respectively.
Set to%. For example, the outer diameter of the pipette PT is 2.0
In the case of mm, D1 = 2.1 mm, D2 = 2.3 mm,
D3 = 4.0 mm.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 34, the pipette PT penetrates the pipette through hole 81 from top to bottom, and the cleaning liquid (diluting liquid in this embodiment) passes through the nipple 88 and the second through hole 8.
When the cleaning liquid is supplied to the nozzle 4 and sucked from the nipple 87, the cleaning liquid flows into the first through hole 83 from the second through hole 84 while uniformly contacting the outer peripheral wall of the pipette PT, and is discharged from the nipple 87.

Therefore, when the pipette PT moves up in this state, that is, when it moves in the direction of the arrow Z, the blood sample and the like adhering to the outside (peripheral wall) of the pipette PT is washed off by the washing liquid and discharged. become.

At this time, part of the cleaning liquid adheres to the pipette PT as the pipette PT moves upward, and the second opening 85b
Since the cleaning liquid moves above the first through hole 8
3 may remain on top of However, the first through hole 8
By the action of the first opening 85a provided in No. 3, the upper part of the first through hole 83 becomes atmospheric pressure, so that the cleaning liquid flows to the second opening 85b due to the pressure difference between the first opening 85a and the second opening 85b. It is pulled back and discharged to the nipple 87 through the second opening 85b. Therefore, the cleaning liquid flowing from the second through hole 84 into the first through hole 83 can effectively clean the outside of the pipette PT without remaining on the upper portion of the first through hole 83.

As shown in FIG. 36, the pipette PT
When the cleaning liquid is supplied from the proximal end of the pipette PT to the suction port 502 of the distal end with the distal end of the pipette PT stopped in the first through hole 83 and the negative pressure applied from the nipple 87, the suction flow channel 501 of the pipette PT is closed. The passing cleaning liquid is discharged from the suction port 502 of the pipette PT and at the same time, is sucked into the nipple 87 through the second opening 85b and is not discharged toward the second through hole 84. In this way, the inside of the pipette PT, that is, the inner walls of the suction channel 501 and the suction port 502 are cleaned. Here, FIG. 37 shows the positional relationship of the spitz body 80 with respect to the pipette PT as seen from the axis of the pipette PT. As shown in the figure, the shaft of the suction port 502 and the cleaning liquid discharge path 87a
The pipette PT and the Spitz main body 80 are arranged so that the angle θ formed by the axis of the opening 85b of the above is greater than 90 degrees. This is because the following phenomenon has been experimentally found. (1) If θ ≦ 90 °, the suction channel 5 of the pipette PT
01 and the suction port 502 are preliminarily filled with a diluting liquid (described later) when the outside or inside of the pipette PT is washed, and the drawing liquid is drawn out by the negative pressure action of the washing liquid discharge passage 87a.
There is a void in the suction port 502. Therefore, when a blood sample is aspirated via the pipette PT and quantified as described below,
The blood sample invades into the empty space of the suction port 502 before the aspiration, and the blood sample is aspirated by the invasion amount at the time of aspiration, which causes an error in the quantification. (2) When θ> 90 °, the negative pressure of the cleaning liquid discharge path 87a does not directly affect the suction port 502, and there is no void in the suction port 502 even if the outside or inside of the pipette PT is washed. Accurate quantification can be performed.

FIG. 33 is a view corresponding to FIG. 27 showing the structure of a spitz body 80a as a modified example of the spitz body 80. The main body 80a includes a pipette guide hole 8 in which pipette through holes 81 are coaxially connected in series in order from the inlet to the outlet.
2 and first, second, and third through holes 83a, 89, 84.

That is, the first and second through holes 83a and 8
9 corresponds to the first through hole 83 in FIG. 27 and corresponds to the third through hole 8
4 corresponds to the second through hole 84 in FIG. And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the inner diameter of the second through hole 89 is almost the same as the pipette guide hole 82, and the inner diameter of the first through hole 83a is the second.
It is larger than the through hole 89 and is set to be substantially the same as the third through hole 84.

The other structure of the spitz body 80a is the same as that of the spitz body 80 (FIG. 27), and the washing operation for the pipette PT can be performed similarly to the spitz body 80.

Structure and Action of Negative Pressure Pump FIG. 28 is a front view of a notched part showing the structure of a negative pressure pump P1 (described later) installed in the fluid control unit 8 (FIG. 1). The air pump 90 is mounted on a rubber pedestal 91 and is sealed by a resin case 92. Air pump 90
The suction tube 93 is pulled out from the upper through hole of the case 92, and the open end of the exhaust tube 94 of the air pump 90 is fixed inside the case 92. And
A nipple 95 is provided in another through hole in the upper part of the case 92, and a muffler exhaust tube 96 is connected to the nipple 95.

With such a configuration, the air pump 90
Vibration of the air pump 90 is absorbed by the rubber pedestal 91.
The generated sound is shielded by the closed case 90, and the exhaust sound is silenced by the silencing exhaust hose 96. Therefore, the negative pressure pump P1 is efficiently silenced. Where the tube 9
The inner diameter and the length of 6 are properly set by experimentally examining the silencing effect. In this embodiment, a direct current air pump having a rated voltage of 12 VDC and a rated discharge rate of 2 L / min is used as the air pump 90, and the tube 96 has an outer diameter of 6.5.
A silicon tube having a diameter of 3 mm, an inner diameter of 3 mm, and a length of 300 mm is used.

Configuration of Fluid Circuit and Electric Circuit FIG. 29 is a system diagram showing a fluid circuit of an embodiment of the present invention. In this fluid circuit, fluid devices are connected by a liquid sending tube. The fluid circuit supplies a hemolyzing agent to the detector 50 from a syringe pump SR1 for measuring a sample from a pipette PT, a diluting solution container 201 for supplying a diluting liquid to the mix chamber 70 and the detector 50, and a hemolytic agent container 203 for supplying a hemolyzing agent. Syringe pump SR3, drain chamber WC that stores drainage from mix chamber 70 and detector 50, negative pressure pump P1 that applies negative pressure to drain chamber WC, drain from drain chamber WC to drain container 202 A drainage pump P2 for discharging the liquid, an air pump P3 for supplying stirring air to the mix chamber 70 and the detector 50, electromagnetic valves SV1 to SV4, SV7 to SV14, SV16, V1 for opening and closing the flow paths of the fluid circuit.
7, SV20 to SV25 are provided. The syringe pump SR1 is a syringe pump motor STM4, and the syringe pumps SR2 and SR3 are a syringe pump motor ST.
Driven by M5. Syringe pump motor STM
4, a stepping motor can be used for STM5. Also, Cellpack (manufactured by Sysmex Co., Ltd.) is used as the diluting solution, and Stomatolyzer W is used as the hemolytic agent.
H (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation) is preferably used.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention. The power supply unit 10 converts the voltage received from the commercial AC power supply into a DC voltage (for example, 12V) and supplies the DC voltage to the control unit 500 and the driving unit 501. Control unit 500 is CP
The microcomputer includes U, ROM, and RAM, and the drive circuit unit 501 includes a driver circuit and an I / O port.

The drive circuit section 501 includes a panel opening / closing sensor J
1, sample detection sensor J2, sample adapter detection sensor J
3, Pipette upper position sensor J4, Pipette front position sensor J5, Pressure sensor J6 for detecting negative pressure in the drainage chamber WC, Float switch J7 for detecting the amount of stored liquid in the drainage chamber WC, Light emitting diode 68 is turned on Respective output signals from the resistance detection unit 503 that detects the change in impedance between the electrodes 58 and 67 by passing a direct current constant between the hemoglobin detection unit 502 and the electrodes 58 and 67 that receives the output of the photodiode 69. Is A / D converted and output to the control unit 500.

The control section 500 receives the output signal from the drive circuit section 501 and the output signal from the touch panel of the display section 3, and processes these signals by a predetermined processing program. Then, based on the processing result, the control unit 500
Is a driving circuit section 501, a pipette vertical motor 405, a pipette front and rear motor 205, a syringe pump motor ST
M4, Syringe pump motor STM5, Negative pressure pump P
1, drainage pump P2, air pump P3, electromagnetic valve SV
1 to SV25 are driven, the liquid crystal display of the display unit 3 is caused to display, and the printer unit 11 is made to print out.

Analysis operation of blood analyzer The analysis operation of the blood analyzer shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 31, first, when the power of the blood analyzer is turned on (step S1) and the measurement preparation time required for various measurement preparations including the preliminary cleaning step has elapsed (step S2), the liquid crystal display of the display unit 3 is displayed. The word "standby" is displayed on 3a. Therefore, the user sets the sample container to the sample setting section 6
(FIG. 4) (step S4). If the sample in the installed sample container is a whole blood sample, the user can
The operation of selecting the "whole blood mode" is performed on the touch panel 3b, and if the sample is a diluted sample, the operation of selecting the "dilution mode" is performed (step S5).

Then, the start button on the touch panel 3b is pressed (step S6). In this case, in step S4, if the sample container SP1 or SP2 is not installed and / or the sample set panel 4 is not closed, the sensors J1 and J2 detect it, so the apparatus does not start. When the sample container SP1 or SP2 is installed and the sample set panel 4 is closed, the operation of the device is started, and when the "whole blood mode" is selected (step S7), the number of red blood cells from whole blood An (RBC) measurement sample and a white blood cell count (WBC) measurement sample are prepared (steps S8 and S9).

WBC and HGB (amount of hemoglobin) were measured using the WBC measurement sample prepared in step S9 (step S10), and the measured WBC and HGB were measured.
Is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3a (step S1)
1). Next, RBC measurement is performed using the RBC measurement sample prepared in step S8, PLT (platelet count), hematocrit value (HCT), and other analysis items are calculated, and RBC measurement values are calculated. The analyzed items are displayed on the liquid crystal display (steps S13, S
14).

Here, WBC, RBC, and PLT are calculated by counting impedance change pulses between the electrodes 58 and 67 of the detector 50, and HGB is the photodiode 6
Absorbance (blank value) and H of diluted solution obtained from 8
It is calculated by comparing the absorbances of GB measurement samples. Further, the HCT is calculated from the peak value of the change pulse of the impedance between the electrodes 58 and 67, and the MCV (average red blood cell volume), MCH (average red blood cell hemoglobin amount), and MC
HC (mean red blood cell hemoglobin concentration) is calculated by the following equation. MCV = (HCT) / (RBC) MCH = (HGB) / (RBC) MCHC = (HGB) / (HCT)

Next, the fluid circuit cleaning step is performed, and when the cleaning step is completed (step S15), the routine returns to step S3, and "standby" is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3a in preparation for the next sample measurement. . If the "dilution mode" is selected in step S7, RBC and WBC measurement samples are prepared from the diluted blood (steps S16 and S17). In this case, since the specimen sample is already diluted blood, it is diluted in consideration of its dilution ratio to obtain a blood sample having the same dilution ratio as in the whole blood mode.

Next, the processing steps in steps S8 to S15 will be described in detail based on the fluid system diagram shown in FIG. All valves in the fluid circuit are normally closed, normally closed type valves.

Preliminary Washing Step (Step S2) (1) The pipette PT is moved to the upper part of the sample rack 18 and lowered as shown in FIG. 22 (at this point, the sample container SP1 is not installed in the sample setting section 6). ). (2) The valves SV9 and SV25 are opened, and the diluent is supplied from the syringe pump SR2 to the cleaning spitz S and discharged to the drain chamber WC. At the same time, the pipette PT is pulled up as shown in FIG. 34, and when the tip of the pipette PT reaches the position shown in FIG. 35, the pipette PT is stopped. This completes the washing of the outside of the pipette PT. (3) Next, with the valves SV9 and SV25 open,
The pipette PT is slightly lowered to the position of FIG. 36, the valves SV4 and SV10 are opened, and the diluent is supplied from the syringe pump SR2 to the pipette PT. At the same time, the diluted liquid discharged from the suction hole 502 of the pipette PT is discharged into the discharge chamber WC to wash the inside of the pipette PT. (4) Next, when the valves SV4 and SV10 are closed, the flow of the diluting liquid from the suction port 502 of the pipette PT to the second opening 85b is stopped, and the inner washing is completed. At this time, the suction channel 501 and the suction port 502 are filled with the diluent. On the other hand, since the flow of the diluent from the third opening 85c to the second opening 85b is continuing, the valves SV9 and SV are next.
When 25 is closed, the flow is stopped, and the suction port 502 of the pipette PT is kept filled with the diluent.

Preparation of RBC Measurement Sample (Step S8) (1) Negative pressure is applied from the negative pressure pump P1 to the drainage chamber WC, and the valves SV16 and SV20 are opened to allow the detector 50 and the mix chamber 70 to remain. The liquid is discharged, and then the valves SV16 and SV20 are closed. (2) The valve SV22 is opened, the syringe pump SR2 is caused to perform a suction operation, the diluent 201 is sucked into the syringe pump SR2 from the container 201 containing the diluent, and the valve SV22 is closed.

(3) Lower the pipette PT to move the sample container S
Insert into P1. Then, the valves SV10 and SV8 are opened and the syringe pump SR1 is caused to perform a suction operation, whereby the pipette PT sucks a predetermined amount (10 μL) of the blood sample. Then, the valves SV10 and SV8 are closed. (4) Next, the pipette PT is pulled up. During this pulling up operation, the valves SV9 and SV25 are opened, and the diluent is supplied from the syringe pump SR2 to the cleaning spitz S and discharged to the drainage chamber WC to clean the outside of the pipette PT. Then, the valves SV9 and SV25 are closed.

(5) The valve SV14 is opened, and the syringe pump SR2 is caused to perform a discharge operation to supply a predetermined amount (1.3 mL) of the diluent to the mix chamber 70. Then, the valve SV14 is closed. (6) The pipette PT is moved right above the mix chamber 70 and then lowered. Then, 10 μL of the blood sample sucked into the pipette PT is transferred to the valve SV10,
SV4 is opened, and the syringe pump SR2 is caused to perform a discharging operation, whereby the mixture is injected into the mix chamber 70. As a result, 1.3 mL of the diluted sample, which is one-stage diluted to 130 times, is prepared in the mix chamber 70. afterwards,
The valves SV10 and SV4 are closed.

(7) After performing the operations (2) to (4) in the preliminary cleaning step, SV4 and SV10 are opened, and the syringe SR2 performs a suction operation by a predetermined amount, so that the suction port of the pipette PT is approximately 10 μL air gap (air layer)
make. Then, SV4 and SV10 are closed. (8) The valve SV12 is opened and the air pump P3 is driven to supply air to the mix chamber 70, and the diluted sample in the mix chamber 70 is agitated by air bubbles.
Then, the air pump P3 is stopped and the valve SV12 is closed. (9) The pipette PT is again lowered into the mix chamber 70, the valves SV10 and SV4 are opened, and the syringe pump SR2 is caused to perform a suction operation, whereby the pipette P is removed.
Aspirate the 1-step diluted sample by a predetermined amount (0.59 mL) of T. Then, the valves SV10 and SV4 are closed.

(10) While the outside of the pipette PT is being washed as in (2) of the preliminary washing step, the pipette PT is pulled up. (11) Open the valve SV20. Then, by applying a negative pressure from the negative pressure pump P1 to the drainage chamber WC, all the residual sample in the mix chamber 70 is discharged to the drainage chamber WC. Then, the valve SV20 is closed. (12) Open the valve SV14, and syringe pump SR2
After the diluent is supplied to the mix chamber 70 from the syringe pump SR2 by performing the discharging operation, the valve SV14 is closed. Then, the above (11) is executed. This cleans the mix chamber 70.

(13) The valve SV14 is opened, and the syringe pump SR2 is caused to perform a discharge operation, thereby supplying a predetermined amount of the diluent to the mix chamber 70 from the syringe pump SR2, and pre-dispensing with the diluent. Then, the valve S14 is closed. (14) Lower the pipette PT to the valves SV10, S
By opening V4 and causing the syringe pump SR2 to perform a discharge operation, 0.5.mL of 0.59 mL of the one-step diluted sample held by the pipette PT in the mix chamber 70 is suctioned.
Dispense only 2 mL. And the valves SV10, S
Close V4. Next, the pipette PT is pulled up. During the pulling up, the outside of the pipette PT is cleaned as described above.

(15) The valve SV13 is opened to cause the syringe pump SR2 to perform a discharge operation, and the syringe pump SR2
The diluent is supplied to the mix chamber 70 from
Make double dilutions. Then, the valve SV13 is closed. At this time, stirring with bubbles is performed as described above.
Through the above steps, the red blood cell measurement sample is prepared in the mix chamber 70.

Preparation of Sample for WBC Measurement (Step S9) (1) The valve SV13 is opened, and the syringe pump SR2 is caused to perform a discharge operation, so that the diluent 50 is added to the detector 50.
Supply only 5 mL (pre-dispensing). And the valve SV1
Close 3. (2) The pipette PT is moved to the position above the detector 50 and then lowered, the valves SV10 and SV4 are opened, and the syringe pump SR2 is caused to perform a discharge operation.
Dispense 0.39 mL of the 1-step diluted sample from T to the detector 50. Then, the valves SV10 and SV4 are closed.

(3) The valve SV24 is opened and the syringe pump SR3 is caused to perform a suction operation, whereby the hemolysis container 20
The hemolytic agent is sucked from 3 into the syringe pump SR3. Then, the valve 24 is closed. (4) The valve SV23 is opened, and the syringe pump SR3 is caused to perform a discharge operation, thereby supplying 0.5 mL of the hemolytic agent to the detector 50 and closing the valve SV23. As a result, the detector 50 contains 0.39 mL of the diluting solution and 0.5
1mL diluted sample of mL and 0.5mL of hemolytic agent
0 in the first and third housings 51, 53.

(5) Raise the pipette PT, and at the same time, perform the pipette PT in the same manner as in (2) to (4) of the preliminary washing step.
Clean the outside as well as the inside. here,
The suction port 502 of the pipette PT is kept filled with the diluting liquid. (6) The valve SV11 is opened, the air pump P3 is operated to supply air to the detector 50 to stir with air bubbles, and the air pump P3 is stopped and the valve SV11 is closed. This completes the preparation of the WBC measurement sample in the detector 50.

Measurement of WBC and HGB (step S1
0) (1) Open valves SV21 and SV18. Then, by applying a negative pressure from the negative pressure pump P1 to the drainage chamber WC, the diluent is flown from the diluent container 201 into the drainage chamber WC via the second container portion 52 of the detector 50, and the second container. The portion 52 is washed and the diluent is supplied to the second container portion
House inside. Then, the valves SV21 and SV18 are closed.

(2) The detector 5 is opened by opening the valve SV17 and performing the suction operation by the syringe pump SR2.
The white blood cell measurement sample accommodated in the first and third accommodating portions 52 within 0 is caused to flow into the second accommodating portion 52 via the orifice 55 (about 10 seconds). And the valve S
Close V17. At this time, the change in impedance between the electrodes 58 and 67 is detected by the resistance detection unit 503.
The control unit 500 determines the white blood cell count (WB
Calculate C). (3) At the same time, the control unit calculates the hemoglobin amount (HGB) based on the transmitted light intensity detected by the photodiode 69 by causing the light emitting diode 68 to emit light. In addition, HG
B blank measurement (Measurement of transmitted light intensity of diluted solution only)
Is performed in advance immediately after the end of step (1) at the time of preparing the WBC measurement sample.

Measurement of RBC (Step S12) (1) Open the valve SV16 and apply a negative pressure from the negative pressure pump P1 to the drainage chamber WC to detect the detector 5
The residual liquid in 0 is discharged to the drainage chamber WC. Then, the valve SV16 is closed. (2) The valve SV13 is opened and the syringe pump SR2 is caused to perform a discharge operation, thereby supplying the diluent to the first and third storage portions 51 and 53 of the detector 50. Then, the valve SV13 is closed.

(3) Open the valves SV21 and SV18,
By applying a negative pressure from the negative pressure pump P1 to the drainage chamber WC, the diluent is supplied from the diluent container 201 to the second container 52 of the detector 50 to wash the second container 52. Then, the valves SV21 and SV18 are closed. (4) Open the valves SV1 and SV3 to open the syringe pump S
By causing R2 to perform a suction operation, the red blood cell measurement sample in the mix chamber 70 is stored in the charging line CL. Then, the valves SV1 and SV3 are closed. (5) By opening the valve SV17 and causing the syringe pump SR2 to perform a discharge operation, the diluent flows from the third container 52 of the detector 50 into the first container 51 via the orifice 55.

(6) In the meantime, the valve SV7 is opened and the syringe pump SR1 is caused to perform a discharge operation, whereby the red blood cell measurement sample stored in the charging line CL is jetted from the jet nozzle 56 to the orifice 55.
The red blood cell measurement sample ejected from the jet nozzle 56 is
It is wrapped with the diluent in (5) above and passes through the orifice 55 as a sheath flow (about 10 seconds). And
The valves SV17 and SV7 are closed. (7) The control unit 500 controls the red blood cell count (RBC), platelet count (PLT), hematocrit (HCT), and other items based on the impedance change between the electrodes 58 and 67 that occurs when this sheath flow passes through the orifice 55. To calculate.

Cleaning Step (Step S15) (1) The valves SV20 and SV16 are opened. Then, by applying the negative pressure from the negative pressure pump P1 to the drainage chamber WC, the residual liquid in the mix chamber 70 and the detector 50 is discharged to the drainage chamber WC, and the valves SV20,
Close SV16. (2) The valves SV14 and SV13 are opened, and the syringe pump SR2 is caused to perform a discharge operation, thereby supplying the diluent to the mix chamber 70 and the detector 50. Then, the valves SV14 and SV13 are closed. (3) Open the valves SV1 and SV2. Then, by applying a negative pressure from the negative pressure pump P1 to the drainage chamber WC, the diluent is discharged from the mix chamber 70 to the drainage chamber via the charging line CL. Then, the valves SV1 and SV2 are closed.

This is the end of the cleaning process. The negative pressure in the drainage chamber WC is monitored by the pressure sensor J6, and the negative pressure pump P is set so that it is always in the predetermined pressure range of 100 to 300 mmHg, preferably 150 to 200 mmHg.
1 is driven. When the amount of drainage stored in the drainage chamber WC reaches a predetermined amount, it is detected by the float switch J7, the drainage pump P2 is driven, and the drainage is drained to the drainage container 202.

[0118]

According to the present invention, since the pipette washing suction port is filled with the liquid before the sample is sucked, the sample does not enter the suction port when the pipette is inserted into the sample, and the sample is accurately sampled. Aspiration can be quantified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container storage unit attached to the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a sample setting unit of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a sandwiching claw of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a holding claw of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a sandwiching claw of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of the sample setting section of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view of the sample setting section of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view of the sample setting section of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the detection unit of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a pipette horizontal drive unit of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a pipette vertical sliding portion of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a front view of a pipette vertical sliding portion of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a front view of essential parts of a pipette vertical sliding portion and a pipette horizontal driving portion according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a left side view of essential parts of a pipette vertical sliding portion and a pipette horizontal driving portion according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a left side view of the pipette vertical drive unit according to the present invention.

20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

FIG. 21 is an operation explanatory view of the pipette vertical drive unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an operation explanatory view of the pipette vertical drive unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a cutaway front view of a main part of the detector according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a cutaway side view of a main part of the detector according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of a mix chamber according to the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the Spitz body according to the present invention.

27 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.

FIG. 28 is a sectional view of a negative pressure pump according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a system diagram of a fluid circuit of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the operation of the blood analyzer according to the present invention.

32 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG.

33 is a view, corresponding to FIG. 27, showing a modified example of the Spitz main body shown in FIG. 26.

FIG. 34 is an operation explanatory view of the Spitz main body shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 35 is an operation explanatory view of the Spitz main body shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 36 is an operation explanatory view of the Spitz main body shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the Spitz main body shown in FIG. 26 with respect to the pipette.

FIG. 38 is a vertical sectional view of a pipette according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

PT: Pipette 80: Spitz body 81: Pipette through hole 81a: entrance 81b: Exit 82: Pipette guide hole 83: First through hole 84: Second through hole 85a: First opening 85b: Second opening 85c: Third opening 86a: Ventilation path 87: Cleaning liquid discharge nipple 87a: Cleaning liquid discharge path 88: Cleaning liquid supply nipple 88a: Cleaning liquid supply path 501: Suction channel 502: Suction port 503: sealing member

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2G052 AA30 AD26 AD46 CA03 CA04                       CA13 CA20 CA21 CA23 CA28                       CA35 DA02 DA32 DA33 FB02                       FB09 FC05 FC11 FC15 FD01                       GA12 GA23 HA12 HA18 HB10                       HC04 HC07 HC08 HC10 HC25                       HC32 JA09                 2G058 BA01 CA02 CB03 CC05 CC14                       CC17 CC18 CE02 CF09 EA02                       EA05 EA08 EA12 EB01 EB21                       EC01 ED02 ED07 ED12 ED25                       FA01 FA05 FB05 FB14 GA02                       GA11 GD06 GE02 GE04 HA01

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A pipette having a suction port at its tip, a quantification part for sucking and quantifying a sample through the pipette, a supply part for supplying a liquid to the pipette, an analysis part for analyzing the quantified sample, and a quantification part. And a control unit that controls the supply unit,
The control unit is a sample analyzer that controls the supply unit to fill the suction port of the pipette with liquid before the sample is sucked. 2. A cleaning liquid supply device further comprising a cleaning spitz for cleaning the pipette, wherein a suction port of the pipette is provided on a side surface of the tip, and the cleaning spitz has a through hole for penetrating the pipette and a cleaning liquid supply for communicating the cleaning liquid with the through hole. The cleaning spitz has a passage and a cleaning liquid discharge passage communicating with the through hole to discharge the cleaning liquid. The cleaning spitz has a suction port axis of the pipette and an inlet axis of the cleaning liquid discharge passage as viewed from the axial direction of the pipette. The sample analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the sample analyzer is arranged so as to form an angle larger than a degree. 3. A pipette having a suction port on the side of the tip,
The cleaning unit includes a suction unit for sucking the liquid through the pipette and a cleaning spitz for cleaning the pipette. The cleaning spitz has a through hole for penetrating the pipette, a cleaning liquid supply path communicating with the through hole for supplying a cleaning liquid, and a penetrating hole. The cleaning spit has a washing liquid discharge passage communicating with the hole for discharging the washing liquid, and the washing spitz has an axis of the suction port of the pipette and an axis of the inlet of the washing liquid discharge passage formed at an angle larger than 90 degrees when viewed from the pipette axial direction. A liquid suction device arranged so as to form 4. A liquid supply unit for supplying a liquid to the pipette, wherein the liquid supply unit previously fills the suction port of the pipette with the liquid before the pipette sucks the sample.
The liquid suction device described. 5. A cleaning spitz for cleaning a pipette having a suction port on a side surface of a tip, the cleaning spitz having a through hole for penetrating the pipette, a cleaning liquid supply path communicating with the through hole for supplying a cleaning liquid, and a through hole. And a cleaning liquid discharge passage for discharging the cleaning liquid. The cleaning spitz has an axis of the suction port of the pipette and an axis of the inlet of the cleaning liquid discharge passage at an angle larger than 90 degrees when viewed from the axial direction of the pipette. A pipette cleaning device that is arranged in an eggplant. 6. A pipette having a suction port at its tip, a suction unit for sucking a first liquid through the pipette, a supply unit for supplying a second liquid to the pipette, and a suction unit and a supply unit are controlled. A liquid suction device that controls the supply unit to fill the suction port of the pipette with the second liquid before sucking the first liquid. 7. A cleaning spitz for cleaning a pipette is further provided, wherein a suction port of the pipette is provided on a tip side surface, and the cleaning spitz has a through hole for penetrating the pipette and a cleaning liquid supply which communicates with the through hole to supply a cleaning liquid. The cleaning spitz has a passage and a cleaning liquid discharge passage communicating with the through hole to discharge the cleaning liquid. The cleaning spitz has a suction port axis of the pipette and an inlet axis of the cleaning liquid discharge passage as viewed from the axial direction of the pipette. The liquid suction device according to claim 6, wherein the liquid suction device is arranged so as to form an angle larger than a degree.