JP2005099046A - Automatic analysis apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize agitation for an object of analysis by an automatic analysis apparatus including a sample and a reagent poured in a reaction vessel, without contact with the sample and reagent in the reaction vessel, by irradiating it with sound waves, and enable effective agitation for every object of analysis. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic analysis apparatus, which comprises analyzing means for analyzing a physical property of a sample from an object of analysis including the sample and a reagent poured in the reaction vessel 21, has an agitation mechanism 7 disposed outside the reaction vessel 21 to agitate the sample and reagent poured in the reaction vessel 21 by irradiating the reaction vessel 21 with sound waves. The irradiation position and irradiation intensity of sound waves are controlled in dependence on every object of analysis. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer, and more particularly to stirring for mixing a sample and a reagent injected into a container.

  Conventionally, as a chemical analyzer, for example, a chemical analyzer that performs chemical analysis by measuring the absorbance of a reaction solution obtained by mixing a desired reagent with a sample such as serum and reacting the sample is known. Yes.

  This type of chemical analyzer includes a mechanism for injecting the sample and reagent into the reaction vessel, a mechanism for stirring the sample and reagent in the reaction vessel, a mechanism for analyzing the physical properties of the sample during or after the reaction, etc. In particular, the mechanism for stirring the sample and reagent in the reaction vessel lowers the spatula, screw, etc. below the liquid level in the reaction vessel, and a motor connected to the root of the spatula, screw, etc. By driving and rotating / vibrating, the sample and the reagent are stirred so as to be mixed uniformly.

  By the way, in the field of analyzers, the miniaturization of samples and reagents has become a major technical issue. In other words, as the number of analysis items increases, the amount of sample that can be divided into a single item has become small, and DNA analysis that is precious and cannot be prepared in large quantities has been regarded as advanced analysis. Analysis of very small samples is becoming routine. In addition, as the analysis content becomes more sophisticated, expensive reagents are generally used, and from the viewpoint of cost, there is a demand for a minute amount of reagents. Such miniaturization of samples and reagents is one factor that promotes miniaturization of reaction vessels.

  However, in the prior art, the sample and the reagent injected into the reaction vessel are mechanically stirred by a spatula, a screw or the like, so that the sample and the reagent are made smaller (smaller reaction vessel). Currently, it is difficult to reduce the size of spats and screws.

  In addition, in conventional mechanical stirring using a spatula, a screw, etc., the agitated material adheres to the spatula, the screw, etc., is taken out of the reaction vessel, or is washed water that has washed the spatula, the screw, etc. after stirring. However, it adheres to the spatula or screw and is brought into the reaction vessel. Therefore, if the spatula, screw, etc. are left as they are, and only the reaction vessel is made as small as possible, there is a problem that the amount of the object to be stirred and the amount of the washing water brought in increase, affecting the analysis result.

  In order to cope with such a problem, a non-contact stirring means is devised that irradiates a sound wave from the outside of the reaction container toward the reaction container and performs stirring without contact with an object to be stirred inside the container. . When mechanically stirring with a spatula or a screw, a certain amount of the object to be stirred was required, but by using sound waves, the object to be stirred was caused by its own flow induced by the sound waves. Since it will stir itself and even a small amount of agitated material can be mixed well, the amount of sample and reagent is sufficient for the analysis, and it is possible to reduce the size of the reaction vessel .

  Furthermore, when using this non-contact stirring means, the liquid level height of the object to be stirred in different reaction vessels and the mechanical properties of the object to be stirred such as viscosity, density, and surface tension can be further increased. Effective stirring is possible.

  An object of the present invention is to irradiate the sample and the reagent in the reaction container in a non-contact manner by irradiating a sound wave with stirring performed when the sample and the reagent injected into the reaction container are to be analyzed in the automatic analyzer. It is to realize effective stirring for each analysis target.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
An automatic analyzer equipped with an analysis means for analyzing the physical properties of a sample using a sample and a reagent injected into a reaction vessel as analysis targets,
A sound wave generating means provided outside the reaction vessel and irradiating a sound wave toward the reaction vessel;
There is provided an automatic analyzer characterized by comprising a control means for controlling the irradiation position and irradiation intensity of the sound wave by the sound wave generation means for each analysis target.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the sample and the reagent injected into the reaction container are subjected to agitation when the sample and the reagent injected into the analysis target are irradiated with sound waves, so that the sample and the reagent in the reaction container are not in contact with each other. In addition, effective stirring can be performed for each analysis target.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view around a stirring mechanism provided in the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic analyzer according to this embodiment mainly includes a sample disk 1, a reagent disk 2, a reaction disk 3, a reaction tank 4, a sampling mechanism 5, a pipetting mechanism 6, a stirring mechanism 7, and a photometric mechanism. 8, a cleaning mechanism 9, a display unit 10, an input unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.

  In FIG. 1, a plurality of sample containers 16 in which collected samples are placed are arranged on the sample disk 1 in a fixed manner on the circumference of a circular disk 17. A drive mechanism composed of a shaft or the like rotates in the circumferential direction so as to be positioned.

  In FIG. 1, a plurality of reagent bottles 18 containing reagents for mixing and reacting with a sample are fixed and arranged on the circumference of a circular disk 19 in the reagent disk 2. The surroundings are a temperature controlled cool box 20. The circular disk 19 is rotated in the circumferential direction so as to be positioned by a drive mechanism including a motor, a rotating shaft, and the like (not shown).

  In FIG. 1, a plurality of reaction vessel holders 22 holding reaction vessels 21 for containing samples and reagents are attached to the reaction disk 3, and the circumferential rotation and stop are fixed by a drive mechanism 23. By repeating the cycle, the reaction vessel 21 is intermittently transferred.

  Moreover, in FIG. 1, the reaction tank 4 is installed along the movement locus | trajectory of the reaction container 21, and in order to accelerate | stimulate the chemical reaction of a sample and a reagent, for example, in the reaction container 21 by the temperature-controlled constant temperature water. It is a thermostatic bath that controls the reaction solution at a constant temperature. The reaction vessel 21 moves in the reaction tank 4.

  In FIG. 1, the sampling mechanism 5 includes a probe 24, an arm 26 attached to the support shaft 25, and a drive mechanism that enables reciprocation between the sample disk 1 and the reaction disk 3 about the support shaft 25. The sample in the sample container 16 that is transferred to a fixed position along with the rotation of the sample disk 1 is supplied to the reaction container 21 in accordance with a predetermined sequence. Similarly, the pipetting mechanism 6 includes a probe 27, an arm 29 attached to the support shaft 28, and a drive mechanism that enables reciprocation between the reagent disk 2 and the reaction disk 3 about the support shaft 28. The reagent in the reagent bottle 18 that is configured and is transferred to a fixed position along with the rotation of the reagent disk 2 is supplied to the reaction container 21 in accordance with a predetermined sequence. Each of the sample container 16 and the reagent bottle 18 contains different types of samples and reagents, and a necessary amount is supplied to the reaction container 21.

  In FIG. 1, the stirring mechanism 7 irradiates sound waves from the side surface of the reaction vessel 21 that has been transferred to that position (stirring position), thereby stirring and mixing the sample and reagent in the reaction vessel 21. A contact stirring mechanism, which is a fixed portion 31 fixed at a position where the sound wave can be irradiated from the side surface of the reaction vessel 21 at the stirring position, a piezoelectric element driver 14 for driving the piezoelectric element (30 in FIG. 2), and a stirring mechanism controller 15 is also configured. The stirring mechanism controller 15 is connected to the control unit 13 and drives the piezoelectric element driver 14 and controls the entire stirring mechanism 7.

  In the stirring mechanism 7, as shown in FIG. 2, a piezoelectric element 30 serving as a sound source is provided in the fixed portion 31 such that one surface thereof is immersed in the constant temperature water in the reaction tank 4. The piezoelectric element 30 has a plurality of electrodes 32 and is configured to be vibrated at a predetermined frequency by the piezoelectric element driver 14 and to change the irradiation position of the sound wave by the vibrated electrode 32.

  In FIG. 2, a reaction vessel 21 into which a sample and a reagent have been injected is fixed to the reaction disk 3 by a reaction vessel holder 22, and is immersed in a reaction tank 4 containing constant temperature water as the reaction disk 3 rotates in the circumferential direction. Move with. When the piezoelectric element 30 is transferred to the stirring position and stopped, the piezoelectric element 30 is vibrated at a predetermined frequency by the piezoelectric element driver 14. The vibration generated by exciting the piezoelectric element 30 propagates as a sound wave in the constant temperature water of the reaction tank 4 and reaches the side surface of the reaction vessel 21. This sound wave passes through the wall surface of the reaction vessel 21 and reaches the sample and reagent, which are the objects to be stirred inside. The transmitted vibration wave acts on the gas-liquid sea surface of the object to be stirred, causing a swirling flow. This swirl flow promotes the movement of the sample, and the sample and the reagent are agitated without inserting a spatula or a screw into the reaction vessel 21.

  In order to sharpen the irradiation intensity, an acoustic lens may be provided in the radiation direction of the vibration wave of the piezoelectric element 30. Since this acoustic lens has an action of converging vibration waves, it is particularly effective when rapid stirring is desired.

  Returning to FIG. 1, although not shown, the photometric mechanism 8 includes a light source, a photometer, a lens, and a photometric signal processing unit, and measures the absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction vessel 21. The physical properties of the sample are measured with light. The cleaning mechanism 9 includes a plurality of nozzles 33 and a vertical drive mechanism 34, and sucks the reaction liquid in the reaction vessel 21, discharges the cleaning liquid, and the reaction that has been transferred to that position (cleaning position). The container 21 is washed.

  In FIG. 1, the display unit 10 displays various screens such as analysis items and analysis results, and the input unit 11 inputs various information such as analysis items. The storage unit 12 stores various information such as a predetermined sequence (program) and analysis items for controlling each mechanism.

  In addition to the above description, the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment includes a syringe, a pump, and the like as components, and all of them are controlled by the control unit 13 according to a sequence stored in the storage unit 12. The

  The operation of the automatic analyzer configured as described above will be described below.

  First, when the reaction container 21 cleaned by the cleaning mechanism 9 is transferred to the sample injection position by driving the reaction disk 3, the sample disk 1 rotates and the sample container 16 containing the sample is transferred to the sampling position. . Similarly, the reagent disk 2 also transfers the desired reagent bottle 18 to the pipetting position.

  Subsequently, the sampling mechanism 5 operates, and the sample is injected from the sample container 16 transferred to the sampling position into the reaction container 21 transferred to the sample injection position using the probe 24. The reaction container 21 into which the sample has been injected is transferred to the reagent injection position, and is transferred to the reagent injection position from the reagent bottle 18 that has been transferred to the pipetting position on the reagent disk 2 by the operation of the pipetting mechanism 6. The reagent is injected into the reaction container 21.

  Thereafter, the reaction vessel 21 is transferred to the stirring position, and the sample and the reagent are stirred by the stirring mechanism 7.

  When the reaction vessel 21 passes between the light source and the photometer, the absorbance of the reaction solution after the stirring is completed is measured by the photometric mechanism 8. This measurement is performed for several cycles, and the reaction vessel 21 that has been measured is washed by the washing mechanism 9.

  Such a series of operations is executed for each reaction vessel 21, and analysis is performed by the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment.

  Now, points that characterize the present embodiment in the stirring by the stirring mechanism 7 will be described.

In the present embodiment, the stirring mechanism 7 performs the following two preparations according to the instruction of the control unit 13 until the reaction vessel 21 is transferred to the stirring position.
(1) Determine the irradiation position of the sound wave.
(2) The irradiation intensity of sound waves is determined.

  In the first preparation, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, a table in which analysis items and irradiation positions are associated with each other is stored in the storage unit 12, and the irradiation positions corresponding to the analysis items are determined from this table. This can be achieved by searching. Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B, a table in which necessary sample amounts and reagent amounts are associated with each analysis item is stored in the storage unit 12, and the sample amounts and reagents corresponding to the analysis items are stored. The amount may be searched from this table, the liquid level in the reaction vessel 21 of the agitated object (sample and reagent) may be calculated, and the irradiation position may be determined from the calculated liquid level.

  In the second preparation, for example, as shown in FIG. 3C, a table in which analysis items and irradiation intensities are associated is stored in the storage unit 12, and the irradiation intensities corresponding to the analysis items are calculated from the table. This can be achieved by searching. In particular, since it is desirable to change the irradiation intensity according to the reagent, for example, as shown in FIG. 3D, a table in which the irradiation intensity of the sound wave is associated with each piece of information regarding the reagent is stored in the storage unit 12. In addition, the irradiation intensity corresponding to the reagent to be used may be searched from this table.

  For the irradiation position and irradiation intensity, a plurality of predetermined specified values are prepared as parameters, and the optimum one of these parameters is determined by the mechanical properties such as the viscosity and surface tension of the object to be stirred. It can be selected in consideration of the characteristics and described in the table. In particular, it is desirable that the parameter relating to the irradiation intensity is a combined parameter including not only the frequency and voltage but also the irradiation time.

  These tables are stored in the storage unit 12 in advance by an operator's manual or automatic reading.

  By performing the above two preparations, the stirring mechanism 7 can perform effective stirring according to the analysis item.

  That is, when the reaction vessel 21 is transferred to the stirring position and stopped, the stirring mechanism controller 15 irradiates the irradiation position determined in the first preparation via the piezoelectric element driver 14 according to the instruction of the control unit 13. For such an electrode 32, the piezoelectric element 30 is controlled so that the sound wave irradiated by the electrode 32 has the irradiation intensity determined in the second preparation. In this way, according to the analysis item, the sound field is irradiated to the air field liquid surface of the object to be stirred having different heights, and the intensity of the irradiated sound wave is also the viscosity and surface tension of the object to be stirred. Since the mechanical properties are selected, effective stirring is performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the irradiation intensity is determined using the table stored in the storage unit 12, but as another embodiment, information recorded in the reagent bottle 18 is used. Is also possible.

  This can be realized, for example, by affixing a barcode indicating the irradiation intensity of sound waves to each reagent bottle 18 and installing a barcode reader for reading the barcode near the reagent disk 2. Here again, as described above, for the irradiation intensity, a plurality of predetermined specified values are prepared as parameters, and the optimum one of these parameters is determined by dynamics such as viscosity and surface tension of the object to be stirred. It can be selected in consideration of specific characteristics and pasted as a barcode. Similarly to the above, it is desirable that the parameter relating to the irradiation intensity is a combined parameter including not only the frequency and voltage but also the irradiation time.

  In this way, it is only necessary to affix the same barcode to a reagent with the same irradiation intensity, and it is also possible to handle the reagents affixed with the same barcode together, so the amount of information can be reduced, and the storage unit 12 and the control part 13 can be reduced.

  Furthermore, as another embodiment, it is possible to use information input from the input unit 11 by the operator instead of the information given to the reagent bottle 18.

  Also in this case, similarly to the above, the irradiation intensity is prepared with a plurality of predetermined values as parameters, and the optimum of these parameters is the viscosity, surface tension, etc. of the object to be stirred. It is possible to allow the operator to select in consideration of mechanical characteristics. Similarly to the above, it is desirable that the parameter relating to the irradiation intensity is a combined parameter including not only the frequency and voltage but also the irradiation time. The combined parameter can be selected by the operator as one parameter. In this way, the operator is not forced to perform complicated work.

  In the above-described embodiment, the stirring position is one, but it is possible to provide two or more depending on the scale of the apparatus. For example, the piezoelectric element 30 may be provided at the bottom of the reaction vessel 4 so that sound waves are generated simultaneously from both the side and the bottom toward the side and the bottom of the reaction vessel 21, respectively. Also, for example, when there are analysis items that require two or more types of reagents and there are two or more reagent injection positions, stirring is performed each time a reagent is injected at each reagent injection position. In addition, two or more stirring positions may be provided.

The perspective view which shows the structure of the automatic analyzer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view around the stirring mechanism with which the automatic analyzer which concerns on embodiment of this invention is equipped. Explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the various tables which concern on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sample disk, 2 ... Reagent disk, 3 ... Reaction disk, 4 ... Reaction tank, 5 ... Sampling mechanism, 6 ... Pipetting mechanism, 7 ... Agitation mechanism, 8 ... Photometry mechanism, 9 ... Cleaning mechanism, 10 ... Display part 11 ... Input unit, 12 ... Storage unit, 13 ... Control unit, 14 ... Piezoelectric element driver, 15 ... Agitating mechanism controller, 16 ... Sample container, 17, 19 ... Circular disc, 18 ... Reagent bottle, 20 ... Cool storage, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Reaction container, 22 ... Reaction container holder, 23 ... Drive mechanism, 24, 27 ... Probe, 25, 28 ... Bearing shaft, 26, 29 ... Arm, 30 ... Piezoelectric element, 31 ... Fixed part, 32 ... Electrode, 33 ... nozzle, 34 ... vertical drive mechanism.

Claims (8)

An automatic analyzer equipped with an analysis means for analyzing the physical properties of a sample using a sample and a reagent injected into a reaction vessel as analysis targets,
A sound wave generating means provided outside the reaction vessel and irradiating a sound wave toward the reaction vessel;
An automatic analyzer comprising a control unit for controlling the irradiation position and irradiation intensity of a sound wave by the sound wave generation unit for each analysis target. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
For each analysis item, a storage unit that stores the sound wave irradiation position in association with each other is provided.
An automatic analyzer that determines the irradiation position according to the analysis item for the analysis target with reference to the storage content of the storage means. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
For each analysis item, a storage means for storing the necessary sample amount and reagent amount in association with each other is provided.
The control means includes
Referring to the stored contents of the storage means, the liquid level in the reaction container of the sample and the reagent is calculated according to the analysis item for the analysis target, and the irradiation position is determined from the calculated liquid level. An automatic analyzer characterized by that. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
Receiving means for receiving an instruction of a sound wave irradiation position by the sound wave generating means, the control means,
An automatic analyzer that determines an irradiation position in accordance with an instruction received by the receiving means. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
For each analysis item, it comprises a storage means for storing the irradiation intensity of sound waves in association with each other, and the control means comprises
An automatic analyzer that determines the irradiation intensity according to the analysis item for the analysis target with reference to the storage content of the storage means. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
For each piece of information related to the reagent, a storage unit is provided that stores the irradiation intensity of sound waves in association with each other.
The control means includes
An automatic analyzer characterized by determining the irradiation intensity according to the reagent to be analyzed with reference to the stored contents of the storage means. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
A reading means for reading information indicating the irradiation intensity of sound waves recorded in the reagent container in which the reagent before being injected into the reaction container is placed,
The control means includes
An automatic analyzer that determines the irradiation intensity according to the reagent to be analyzed in accordance with the content read by the reading means. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
Receiving means for receiving an instruction of the irradiation intensity of the sound wave by the sound wave generating means, the control means,
An automatic analyzer characterized by determining an irradiation intensity according to an instruction received by the receiving means.

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