JP2006119067A - Dispensing apparatus and analyzer with same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To moderate an increase in a manufacturing cost, and reduce an harmful effect due to a fluctuation of the quantity of a discharged liquid in a pump unit. <P>SOLUTION: A dispensing apparatus comprises a pump mechanism 54 for having a piston 54B moved relative to a syringe 54A; a motor 55 for applying a drive force so as to move the piston 54B, a control means for controlling the motor 55; and a calculation means for calculating the quantity of a control required for the motor 55 for sucking/discharging the target quantity of the liquid in response to a relative position of the piston 54B to the syringe 54A when the target quantity of the liquid is discharged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a liquid (for example, a sample) to an object (for example, a reagent part of an analysis tool), and an analyzer equipped with the dispensing device.

  An analyzer is configured to analyze a specific component in a sample by using a test piece provided with one or a plurality of reagent pads and grasping the degree of coloration on the reagent pads. is there. Such an analyzer is configured to include a dispensing device for spotting a sample on a reagent pad.

  As the dispensing device, for example, a device provided with a pump unit for generating a suction force and a discharge force by moving a piston relative to a syringe is employed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1-3). . In the dispensing device, a tip is attached to the syringe of the pump unit to suck and discharge the sample, or the syringe of the pump unit is connected to the nozzle and the tip is attached to the nozzle to Some are configured to perform suction and discharge. In any configuration, the amount of sample sucked into the dispensing device and the amount of sample discharged from the dispensing device are adjusted by selecting the relative movement distance of the piston with respect to the syringe. The movement of the piston relative to the syringe is performed, for example, by inputting a driving force from a pulse motor or a linear motor to the piston.

  On the other hand, some analyzers are small and relatively simple and inexpensive. In such an analyzer, a pump mechanism that has a simple configuration and can be obtained at low cost is employed in consideration of cost. As an example, there is a pump unit 52 shown in FIG. 3 of the present application.

  The pump unit 52 moves the piston 54B relative to the syringe 54A to vary the pressure inside the tip attached to the syringe 54A (or the tip attached to the nozzle connected to the syringe 54A), The sample is sucked in the chip or is discharged from the chip. The piston 54B is connected to the motor drive unit 55A via the linear motion shaft 55B, and is moved relative to the syringe 54A by moving the linear motion shaft 55B up and down relative to the motor drive unit 55A. It is configured.

  The above-described pump unit 52 has a simple configuration and can be obtained at a low cost. However, since the configuration is simple, the linear motion shaft 55B is easily rattled. For this reason, in the pump unit 52, shaft blur occurs when the linear motion shaft 55B is moved. Shaking of the linear motion shaft 55B appears as variations in the travel distance of the linear motion shaft 55B, and as a result, variations in the travel distance of the piston 54B relative to the syringe 54A. That is, in the same pump unit 52, the discharge amount varies due to the discharge timing (relative position of the piston 54B with respect to the syringe 54A) (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Therefore, in the same analyzer, when using a test piece having a plurality of reagent pads, the amount of spotting varies among the reagent pads. As a result, the reliability of the measured value differs for each reagent pad.

  Further, in the different pump units 52, the backlash of the linear motion shaft 55B differs depending on the dimensional error of the parts themselves or the assembly error of the parts. For this reason, a characteristic unique to the variation in the discharge amount occurs between the different pump units 52. As a result, the measurement sensitivity varies among different analyzers due to variations in the specific discharge amount of the pump unit 52.

  In order to solve such a problem, it is only necessary to prevent shaft blurring when the linear motion shaft 55B is moved. However, in order to suppress axial blurring of the linear motion shaft 55B, the device configuration becomes complicated, and the cost of the dispensing device increases.

JP-A-5-256857 JP 2002-364526 A JP 2004-170077 A

  The present invention reduces the influence (for example, measurement error caused by the pump mechanism when the pump mechanism is incorporated in the analyzer) caused by the variation in the discharge liquid amount in the pump unit without increasing the manufacturing cost. The challenge is to do.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, by moving the piston relative to the syringe, the pump mechanism for enabling selection of the state of sucking the liquid and the state of discharging the liquid, and the syringe described above A motor for applying a driving force to move relative to the piston; a control means for controlling the motor; and a control amount for the motor necessary for discharging a target amount of liquid. The calculating means is configured to calculate the control amount in accordance with a relative position of the piston with respect to the syringe when the target amount of liquid is discharged. There is provided a dispensing device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an analyzer configured to analyze a sample using an analysis tool, wherein a liquid is obtained by moving a piston relative to a syringe by a driving force from a motor. In an analyzer comprising a dispensing device configured to suck and discharge and used to supply a sample to the analysis tool, a control means for controlling the motor, and a target amount of liquid Calculating means for calculating a control amount for the motor necessary for discharging the gas, and the calculating means calculates the control amount in accordance with a relative position of the piston with respect to the syringe. An analyzer is provided that is configured to do so.

  The dispensing apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores, for example, a relationship between a relative movement distance of the piston with respect to the syringe calculated from a relative position of the piston with respect to the syringe and a discharge amount of the liquid corresponding to the relative movement distance. Configured as In this case, the calculation means is configured to calculate a control amount for the motor according to the relationship based on the relative position and the target value when the target value of the liquid discharge amount is determined.

  The motor is configured, for example, as having a linear shaft that is connected to a piston and linearly moves by a distance corresponding to the number of drive pulses supplied from the outside. In this case, the calculation means is configured to calculate the control amount as the number of drive pulses supplied to the motor. On the other hand, the control means is configured to input drive pulses to the motor by the number of drive pulses calculated by the calculation means when discharging a target amount of liquid.

  For example, the storage means uses the relative position of the piston relative to the syringe when a target amount of liquid is sucked as a reference point, and the integrated value of the number of drive pulses input to the motor integrated with the reference point as a zero count; The relationship between the amount of liquid ejected when one drive pulse is input to the motor is stored.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an analyzer configured to analyze a sample based on a response amount from an analysis tool, wherein a piston is moved relative to a syringe by a driving force from a motor. A control means for controlling the motor in an analyzer comprising a dispensing device that is configured to aspirate and discharge a liquid and used to supply a sample to the analysis tool; Calculation means for performing calculation necessary for analyzing the sample based on a response from the analysis tool, and the calculation means is calculated from the relative position of the piston with respect to the syringe. In view of the relative movement distance of the piston with respect to the above, there is provided an analyzer characterized in that it is configured to perform calculations necessary for the analysis of the sample.

  The analyzer according to the third aspect of the present invention includes, for example, a first relational expression or a first correspondence table showing a relationship between a response amount from an analysis tool and a concentration of a specific component in a sample, and a relative position of a piston with respect to a syringe. The apparatus further includes storage means for storing a second relational expression or a second correspondence table indicating a relationship between the relative movement distance of the piston with respect to the calculated syringe and the discharge amount of the liquid with respect to the relative movement distance. In this case, the calculation means is configured to calculate the concentration of the specific component based on the first relational expression or the first correspondence table and the second relational expression or the second correspondence table.

  In the dispensing device of the analyzer according to the third aspect of the present invention, the motor includes a linear motion shaft that is connected to the piston and linearly moves by a distance corresponding to the number of drive pulses supplied from the outside. Configured as In this case, the storage means uses the relative position of the piston relative to the syringe when the target amount of liquid is sucked as a reference point, and the integrated value of the number of drive pulses input to the motor integrated with the reference point as zero count, The relationship between the amount of liquid ejected when one drive pulse is input to the motor is stored. On the other hand, the calculation means calculates the amount of liquid to be discharged from the current position of the piston with respect to the syringe and the number of drive pulses input to the motor, and the liquid calculated as the amount of liquid to be discharged. The density of the specific component is calculated in consideration of an error amount with respect to the discharge amount.

  For example, the dispensing device is connected to a syringe and includes a nozzle for sucking and discharging a liquid. In this case, the nozzle sucks liquid at the nozzle by selecting a state in which the gas can be sucked into the syringe and a state in which the gas inside the syringe can be discharged by moving the piston relative to the syringe. And a state in which the liquid is discharged can be selected.

  The analysis apparatus is configured to use an analysis tool including one or more reagent parts that react with a specific component in the sample and color. In this case, the analyzer is configured to further include a photometric means for measuring the degree of coloration in one or more reagent parts.

  The analyzer 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is configured to analyze the concentration of a specific component in blood using the test pieces 20 and 21, and includes a housing 3, a test piece mounting table 4, a minute piece. A pouring device 5 and a photometric device 6 are provided.

  The housing 3 defines the external shape of the analyzer 1 and accommodates various elements. The housing 3 has openings 30 and 31 and a pair of guide protrusions 32.

  The opening 30 is for allowing a part of the test piece mounting table 4 to protrude outside the housing 3, and is provided on the front surface 33 of the housing 3. The opening 30 is configured to be selected between an open state and a closed state by the lid 34. In the state where the opening 30 is opened, the inside and outside of the housing 3 communicate with each other, the state in which the test piece mounting table 4 is accommodated in the housing 3, and the majority of the test piece mounting table 4 is the housing. And a state in which first and plural second slits 41 and 42, which will be described later, are exposed, are selectable.

  The opening 31 is used when the rack 35 is taken in and out of the housing 3. The opening 31 is provided on the side surface 36 of the housing 3, and an open state and a closed state are selected by the rack 35. Here, the rack 35 is for holding the chip 58 and a container (not shown) containing the sample, and for holding the used chip 58.

  The pair of guide convex portions 32 are for engaging with a pair of guide concave portions 43 of the test piece mounting table 4 described later, and for defining a moving path of the test piece mounting table 4. These guide protrusions 32 are provided at intervals in the D1 and D2 directions and extend in the D3 and D4 directions, although they are not clearly shown in the drawing.

  The housing 3 is further provided with an operation panel 37 and a display 38. The operation panel 37 is provided with various operation buttons 37 </ b> A for setting measurement conditions or defining the operation of the analyzer 1. The display 38 displays measurement results, operation results of the operation buttons 37A, and the like.

  The test piece mounting table 4 is for mounting the test pieces 20 and 21 and for moving the test pieces 20 and 21 to a target position. The test specimen mounting table 4 can reciprocate in the directions D3 and D4 between the first and second stop positions with respect to the housing 3. The first stop position is a position for placing the test pieces 20 and 21 on the test piece mounting table 4 or removing the test pieces 20 and 21 from the test piece mounting table 4. This is the position where the first and second slits 41 and 42 are exposed to the outside of the housing 3. The second stop position is a position for measuring the degree of coloration of the reagent pads 20A, 21A, and is a position where the reagent pads 20A, 21A face a light emitting element 61 of the photometric device 6 described later. In addition to the first and second stop positions, the test piece mounting table 4 is divided with respect to the third stop position between the first and second stop positions, that is, the reagent pads 20A and 21A of the test pieces 20 and 21. The pouring device 5 can be used to stop at a position for spotting a sample.

  Such a test piece mounting table 4 includes a first slit 41, a plurality (three in this embodiment) of second slits 42, a pair of guide recesses 43, and a gear portion 44.

  The first slit 41 is for holding the test piece 20 for multi-component measurement, and is formed so as to extend in the D1 and D2 directions of the housing 3. The test piece 20 for multi-component measurement is provided with a plurality (five in this embodiment) of reagent pads 20A. Each of the reagent pads 20A carries a reagent that reacts with a specific component such as glucose, albumin, calcium, etc., for example. On the other hand, each 2nd slit 42 is for hold | maintaining the test piece 21 for single component measurement, and is formed so that it may extend in the D3, D4 direction of the housing | casing 3. FIG. The test piece 21 for single component measurement is provided with one reagent pad 21A. The reagent pad 21A carries a reagent that reacts with a specific component such as glucose, albumin, calcium, etc., for example.

  The pair of guide concave portions 43 are for engaging with the pair of guide convex portions 32 provided in the housing 3. That is, the test piece mounting table 4 is configured to be moved in the D3 and D4 directions along the pair of guide convex portions 32 by engaging each guide concave portion 43 with the corresponding guide convex portion 32. .

  The gear part 44 is a part for inputting the rotational driving force of the motor 45 to the test piece mounting table 4. The gear portion 44 has a plurality of teeth (not shown) for engaging with a gear 47 fixed to the output shaft 46 of the motor 45. Therefore, the test piece mounting table 4 is moved in the D3 direction or the D4 direction with respect to the housing 3 in accordance with the rotation direction of the output shaft 46 of the motor 45. Thereby, the test piece mounting table 4 can be reciprocated in the directions D3 and D4.

  The dispensing device 5 shown in FIG. 2 is for sucking a sample such as blood and spotting the sample on the reagent pads 20A and 21A of the test pieces 20 and 21. The dispensing device 5 has a configuration in which a pump unit 52 is connected to a nozzle 50 via a flexible tube 51.

  The pump unit 52 is for applying a suction force or a discharge force to the nozzle 50. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 (a) and 4 (b), the pump unit 52 has a configuration in which a pump mechanism 54 and a pulse motor 55 are fixed to a support plate 53. The pump mechanism 54 and the pulse motor 55 are connected by a guide block 56.

  The support plate 53 has an upright wall 53A for fixing the pump mechanism portion 54 and a horizontal wall 53B for fixing the pulse motor 55, and is fixed to the side wall 39 of the housing 3 at the upright wall 53A. ing. The support plate 53 is provided with a slit 53C that continues from the horizontal wall 53B to the standing wall 53A. The slit 53C allows the linear motion shaft 55B of the pulse motor 55 to be inserted in a portion provided in the horizontal wall 53B, and allows a later-described guide block 56 to move in a portion provided in the standing wall 53A.

  The pump mechanism unit 54 is for causing pressure fluctuations in the nozzle 50, and has a configuration in which a piston 54B is inserted into the syringe 54A so as to be movable relative to the syringe 54A. The syringe 54 </ b> A is fixed to the standing wall 53 </ b> A of the support plate 53. The piston 54B is connected to a linear motion shaft 55B of a pulse motor 55 described later via a guide block 56. The guide block 56 has a lower end portion of the linear motion shaft 55B of the pulse motor 55 and an upper end portion of the piston 54B fixed thereto, and is engaged with a portion of the slit 53C provided on the standing wall 53A. .

  The pulse motor 55 is for generating power for moving the piston 53 up and down, and has a motor drive portion 55A and a linear motion shaft 55B screwed at the center of the motor drive portion 55A. The pulse motor 55 is configured such that the linear motion shaft 55B moves up and down by applying a rotational force to the linear motion shaft 55B by the motor drive section 55A. The linear motion shaft 55B is connected to the piston 54B via the guide block 56 as described above. Therefore, when the linear motion shaft 55B is moved up and down, the piston 54B moves up and down in conjunction with the movement of the linear motion shaft 55B. Thereby, the pump mechanism part 54 can produce a pressure fluctuation inside the nozzle 50 (refer FIG. 2).

  The guide block 56 is for connecting the piston 54B of the pump mechanism 54 and the linear motion shaft 55B of the pulse motor 55, and for restricting the vertical movement of the linear motion shaft 55B. The guide block 56 has an engaging portion 56A and a protruding portion 56B. The engaging portion 56 </ b> A is for engaging with a portion of the standing wall 53 </ b> A in the slit 53 </ b> C of the support plate 53. That is, the guide block 56 is configured such that the moving direction thereof is restricted when the engaging portion 56A is engaged with the slit 53C. The protruding portion 56 </ b> B is for detection by a sensor 57 provided on the standing wall 53 </ b> A of the support plate 53. The sensor 57 is used to prevent the piston 54B from being moved downward more than necessary. That is, when it is confirmed that the protruding portion 56B is detected by the sensor 57, the control unit 72 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, stops the input of the driving pulse to the motor driving unit 55A and the piston 54B moves downward. Stop.

  The nozzle 50 shown in FIG. 2 is used with a tip 58 attached to the tip, and is movable in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. The nozzle 50 can select a state where air can be sucked by power from the pump unit 52 and a state where air can be discharged. That is, in the nozzle 50, an operation capable of sucking air with the tip 58 attached is performed, whereby the sample can be sucked to hold the sample inside the tip 58, while the air can be discharged. By doing so, the sample held on the chip 58 can be discharged.

  Here, the suction amount and the discharge amount of the sample in the nozzle 50 are the sizes of the power applied from the pump unit 52, that is, as expected from FIGS. 3, 4 (a) and 4 (b). Depends on the relative travel distance of the piston 54B relative to 54A. The moving distance of the piston 54B depends on the moving distance of the linear motion shaft 55B of the pulse motor 55, that is, the number of driving pulses input to the motor driving unit 55A. As will be described later, the number of drive pulses input to the motor drive unit 55A is controlled by the control unit 72.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the photometric device 6 is for grasping the coloration state of the reagent pads 20A and 21A (see FIG. 1) of the test pieces 20 and 21. This photometric device 6 has a light emitting element 61 and a light receiving element 62 fixed to a holder 60. The light emitting element 61 is for irradiating light to the reagent pads 20A and 21A (see FIG. 1) of the test pieces 20 and 21, and is composed of, for example, an LED lamp. On the other hand, the light receiving element 62 is for receiving reflected light from the reagent pads 20A and 21A (see FIG. 1), and is configured by, for example, a photodiode. In this photometric device 6, the reagent pad 20A, 21A (the reagent pad 20A, 21A (see FIG. 1) is made to face the light emitting element 61 by moving the test piece mounting table 4 in the D3 direction. (See FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the analysis apparatus 1 further includes a storage unit 70, a calculation unit 71, and a control unit 72 in addition to the above-described elements.

  The storage unit 70 stores a program necessary for operating specific elements (for example, the nozzle 50, the test piece mounting table 4, the pump unit 52, or the photometric device 6 (see FIG. 2)), and operates the specific elements. This is for temporarily storing information necessary for the operation and signals transmitted from specific elements (for example, the sensor 57, the light receiving element 62, or the calculation unit 71).

  In the storage unit 70, the calculation unit 71 further stores information necessary for calculating the concentration of the specific component in the sample. More specifically, the storage unit 70 measures the amount of light received by the light receiving element 62 (amount of reflection at the reagent pads 20A and 21A (see FIG. 1)) and the measurement target in the reagent pads 20A and 21A (see FIG. 1). A plurality of calibration curves showing the relationship between the concentration of the specific component and the relationship between the relative movement distance of the piston 54B (see FIG. 3) with respect to the syringe 54A and the liquid discharge amount corresponding to the relative movement distance. Stores correlation formulas or correspondence tables. A plurality of calibration curves are stored in the number corresponding to the measurement items in the test pieces 20 and 21 as a relationship when a specific amount (for example, 4 μL) of the sample is spotted on the reagent pads 20A and 21A (see FIG. 1). ing. Of course, the storage unit 70 may store the relationship between the amount of received light and the density in the form of a correspondence table instead of the calibration curve.

  The calculation unit 71 calculates the control amount of the control target of the control unit 72 and applies the received light amount at the light receiving element 62 to the calibration curve (correspondence table) stored in the storage unit 70, thereby determining the concentration of the specific component. It is to calculate. As will be described later, the calculation unit 71 calculates the concentration of the specific component in consideration of the deviation of the amount of the spotted sample with respect to the reagent pads 20A and 21A (see FIG. 1) as necessary.

  As described above, the control unit 72 is for controlling the operation of specific elements (for example, the nozzle 50, the test piece mounting table 4, the pump unit 52, or the photometric device 6 (see FIG. 2)).

  The memory | storage part 70, the calculating part 71, and the control part 72 can be comprised combining CPU, ROM, and RAM, for example.

  Here, the relationship between the relative movement distance of the piston 54B with respect to the syringe 54A and the discharge amount of the liquid corresponding to the relative movement distance will be described. As shown in FIG. 6 as an example, the discharge amount at the nozzle 50 (the amount of spotting on the reagent pads 20A and 21A) is not constant but varies. In the illustrated example, the nozzle 50 is configured to eject a theoretical amount of 0.04 μL of droplets per drive pulse. In the illustrated example, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, when the piston is moved by an amount corresponding to 100 pulses and 150 pulses from a certain reference point (for example, a state where the sample is sucked by 40 μL), Samples of 4.36 μL (theoretical value is 4.00 μL) and 6.24 μL (theoretical value is 6.00 μL) are discharged from the nozzles, respectively, and include errors of + 9% and + 4%, respectively. Further, when the piston is moved by an amount corresponding to 101 to 200 pulses (100 pulses) and 151 to 250 pulses (100 pulses) counted from the reference point, the discharge amount is 3.68 μL (theoretical). The value is 4.00 μL (error −8%)) and the discharge amount is 3.80 μL (theoretical value is 4.00 μL (error −5%)).

  Such variation is caused by shaft blurring of the linear motion shaft 55B when the motor drive unit 55A is driven, as described in the prior art, and shows similar variations between different pump units 52. Instead, each pump unit 52 has its own variation. Therefore, the relationship between the relative movement distance of the piston 54B and the discharge amount at the nozzle 50 needs to be examined in advance for each dispensing device 5 (analyzer 1), and the storage unit 70 is determined according to the result. On the other hand, the relationship between the relative movement distance of the piston 54B and the discharge amount at the nozzle 50 is stored as a correlation equation or a correspondence table.

  More specifically, first, the reference position of the piston 54B in the target dispensing device 5 (analyzer 1) is set. The reference point is selected from a position at which the nozzle 50 can suck a larger amount of the sample than the total amount of spotting required for one measurement. For example, when a sample is spotted on a maximum of nine reagent pads 20A and 21A in a single measurement and 4 μL is spotted on each reagent pad 20A and 21A, the total spotted amount is 36 μL. . In this case, since it is necessary to suck a sample of 36 μL or more at the nozzle 50, the reference position of the piston 54B is set as a position when a sample of 40 μL is sucked, for example, an amount larger than 36 μL. The

  Next, one drive pulse is input to the motor drive unit 55A to move the piston 54B, and the amount of the sample discharged from the nozzle 50 at that time is measured. When such drive pulse input (movement of the piston 54B) and measurement of the discharge amount are repeated, a graph as shown in FIG. 6 or a correspondence table corresponding to the graph is obtained. From the graph or the correspondence table thus obtained, it is possible to grasp how far the piston 54B is from the reference position by counting the number of drive pulses input to the motor drive unit 55A. Furthermore, it is possible to grasp how much sample is discharged from the nozzle 50 when the piston is moved by an amount corresponding to one drive pulse from the current position of the piston 54B. In other words, regardless of the position of the piston 54B, it is possible to grasp the discharge amount from the nozzle 50 when the piston 54B is moved by one drive pulse from that position. From this knowledge, the following two pieces of information can be obtained.

  The first information is how many pulses the number of drive pulses necessary to discharge a target amount of sample from the nozzle 50 is from the current position of the piston 54B. That is, if the discharge amount from the nozzle 50 when the piston 54B is moved from the current position of the piston 54B by an amount corresponding to one drive pulse can be grasped, the discharge amount per drive pulse is determined from the current position of the piston 54B. It is possible to calculate the number of drive pulses where the integrated value is closest to the target amount. Such calculation can be executed in the calculation unit 71 by storing a program necessary for calculation in the storage unit 70.

  According to the first information, when the motor drive unit 55A is driven by the control unit 72 according to the number of drive pulses calculated by the calculation unit 71, the amount of sample discharged from the nozzle 50 is reduced to all the reagent pads 20A, In 21A, the target amount can be approached. Thereby, variation in the amount of spotting between the reagent pads 20A and 21A can be suppressed, and measurement errors caused by the variation in the amount of spotting can be suppressed. In addition, the relationship between the movement distance of the piston 54B and the discharge amount from the nozzle 50 is examined for each dispensing device 5 (analyzer 1), and the variation in the discharge amount for each dispensing device 5 (analyzer 1). Can be suppressed. Thereby, variation in measurement sensitivity between different analyzers 1 can be suppressed.

  On the other hand, the second information is how much sample is discharged from the nozzle 50 if a specific number of drive pulses are input to the motor drive unit 55A and the current position of the piston 54B is calculated. I can grasp it. That is, if the discharge amount from the nozzle 50 when the piston 54B is moved from the current position of the piston 54B by an amount corresponding to one drive pulse can be grasped, the discharge amount per drive pulse is determined from the current position of the piston 54B. It is possible to grasp how much the integrated value becomes after the specific number of driving pulses are input to the motor driving unit 55A. Thereby, even when the amount of the sample discharged from the nozzle 50 deviates from the target amount and includes an error, the error amount can be grasped. If the error amount of the sample discharge amount (dotted amount) can be grasped, the concentration of the specific component in the sample can be calculated in consideration of the error amount. That is, for example, after correcting the amount of light received by the light receiving element 62 of the photometric device 6 according to the amount of error from the target amount, the concentration calculation of a specific component in the sample can be performed based on the amount of correction. For example, when the amount of spotted sample is 10% greater than the target amount, a correction amount obtained by subtracting 10% of the amount of light received by the light receiving element 62 of the photometric device 6 is calculated, and then the identification in the sample is based on the correction amount The concentration calculation of the component can be performed. Such an error amount and correction amount of the discharge amount (dotted amount) can be executed by the calculation unit 71 by storing a program necessary for the calculation in the storage unit 70.

  According to the second information, even if there is a variation in the amount of spotting on the reagent pads 20A, 21A, an appropriate concentration calculation can be performed while allowing the variation. In addition, since the relationship between the movement distance of the piston 54B and the discharge amount from the nozzle 50 is calculated for each dispensing device 5 (analyzer 1), it is different as in the case of the first information described above. Variations in measurement sensitivity between the analyzers 1 can be suppressed.

  Next, a sample analysis operation using the analyzer 1 will be described.

  When analyzing the sample using the analyzer 1, first, the test pieces 20 and 21 are set on the test piece mounting table 4. The set of the test pieces 20 and 21 moves the test piece mounting table 4 to the front side of the housing 3 to stop the test piece mounting table 4 at the first stop position, and each of the first slit 41 and the second slit 42. Is performed in a state where is exposed. This state is automatically achieved, for example, by pressing a predetermined operation button 37A or by opening the lid 34. Further, when the test pieces 20 and 21 are set on the test piece mounting table 4, the lid 34 is closed after the test piece mounting table 4 is moved into the housing 3. The movement of the test specimen mounting table 4 to the inside of the housing 3 is automatically achieved by, for example, pressing a predetermined operation button 37A or closing the lid 34.

  Here, the test pieces 20 and 21 to be set on the test piece mounting table 4 are selected according to the type of the specific component to be measured. As described above, when measuring a plurality of specific components, the test piece 20 for multi-component measurement is set in the first slit 41 of the test piece mounting table 4. On the other hand, when the measurement is performed only for a specific component that cannot be handled by the test piece 20 for multi-component measurement, or for one specific component that can be measured by the test piece 20 for multi-component measurement, The component measurement test pieces 21 are individually set in the second slits 42.

  When the setting of the test pieces 20 and 21 is completed as described above, for example, the concentration of the specific component in the sample is automatically measured. The measurement in the analyzer 1 is performed based on the photometric result after the sample is spotted on the reagent pads 20A and 21A and the color of the reagent pads 20A and 21A is measured.

  The sample is spotted on the reagent pad 21 </ b> A by bringing the test piece mounting 4 into a state where it is stopped at the third stop position, sucking the sample by the dispensing device 5, and then discharging it.

  More specifically, when the sample is suctioned by the dispensing device 5, the control unit 72 first moves the nozzle 50 above the tip 58 held by the rack 35 and then moves the nozzle 50 downward. Then, the tip 58 is attached to the nozzle 50. Next, the control unit 72 moves the nozzle 50 above a container (not shown) holding the sample held in the rack 35 and then moves the nozzle 50 downward, and inputs a target number of drive pulses to the pulse motor 55. The piston 54B is moved up. As a result, a negative pressure is generated inside the chip 58 and the sample is sucked into the chip 58. On the other hand, when the sample is discharged by the dispensing device 5, the control unit 72 moves the nozzle 50 so that the tip of the nozzle 50 faces the target reagent pads 20A and 21A, and then the pulse motor 55. The piston 54B is moved downward by inputting a target number of drive pulses. As a result, the sample is discharged from the inside of the chip 58 by an amount corresponding to the moving amount of the piston 54B, and is spotted on the intended reagent pads 20A and 21A. Such sample spotting is performed by the number of reagent pads 20A and 21A to be spotted while moving the nozzle 50.

  Note that the number of drive pulses to be input to the pulse motor 55 at the time of sample discharge may be set in advance, and as described above, a target amount of sample is calculated by the calculation unit 71 according to the position of the piston 54B. After calculating the optimum number of drive pulses for ejection, the calculated value may be adopted. When the preset number of drive pulses is input to the pulse motor 55 as in the former case, the calculation unit 71 is configured to input the preset number of drive pulses to the pulse motor 55 as described above. A discharge amount from the nozzle 50 and, in turn, an error amount from a target amount (theoretical discharge amount) are calculated.

  When performing the photometric measurement of the colored state in the reagent pads 20A and 21A, the control unit 72 sets the test piece mounting table 4 to the second stop position and operates the photometric device 6. In the photometric device 6, light is irradiated from the light emitting elements 61 to the corresponding reagent pads 20A and 21A, while the light receiving elements 62 receive the light reflected by the reagent pads 20A and 21A.

  The calculation of the concentration of the specific component in the sample is performed by applying the amount of light received by each light receiving element 62 to the calibration curve (correspondence table) in the calculation unit 71. However, when a preset number of drive pulses are input to the pulse motor 55, the light receiving amount at each light receiving element 62 is corrected by the calculation unit 71 based on the previously calculated error amount. The concentration calculation is performed by applying the correction amount to the calibration curve (correspondence table) described above.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration adopted in the above-described embodiment. That is, the dispensing device 5 is configured such that the nozzle 50 is connected to the pump unit 52, but the tip is attached to the syringe of the pump unit, the sample is held on the tip, and the sample held on the tip is held. May be configured to be discharged. In this case, the pump unit is configured to be movable in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Moreover, what was comprised so that a piston may be moved by a linear motor as a pump unit is also employable.

  The present invention is not limited to an analyzer configured to analyze a sample using a test piece, but may be an analysis tool having other configurations (for example, a sample configured to react a sample and a reagent in a liquid phase). ) Can also be applied to an analyzer configured to analyze a sample. The control unit, calculation unit, and storage unit may be provided separately for the dispensing device and for operating elements other than the dispensing device. You may make it use together.

  Moreover, the dispensing device 5 of the present invention is not limited to the analyzer, and can be used for other purposes. In this case, the dispensing device is configured to include a control unit, a calculation unit, and a storage unit having the above-described functions.

It is a whole perspective view which shows an example of the analyzer which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the II-II line of FIG. It is a front view for demonstrating the pump unit in the analyzer shown in FIG. (A) is the front view which fractured | ruptured and showed the pump unit shown in FIG. 3, (b) is sectional drawing which follows the IVb-IVb line. It is a block diagram of the analyzer shown in FIG. The relationship between the number of pulses (piston travel distance) input to the pulse motor of the dispensing device in the analyzer shown in FIG. 1 and the amount of sample discharged from the nozzle (the amount of spotting on the reagent pad). It is a graph which shows an example. 7 is a table showing an example of an error in discharge amount (dotted amount) in the relationship shown in FIG. 6.

Explanation of symbols

1 Analyzer 20, 21 Test piece (analytical tool)
20A, 21A (test piece) reagent pad (reagent part of analytical tool)
5 Dispensing device 50 (Dispensing device) Nozzle 52 (Dispensing device) Pump unit 54 (Dispensing device) Pump mechanism portion 54A (Pump mechanism portion) Syringe 54B (Pump mechanism portion) Piston 55 Pulse motor (motor)
55B Linear motion shaft (of pulse motor) 6 Photometric device (photometric means)
70 storage unit (storage means)
71 Calculation unit (calculation means)
72 Control unit (control means)

Claims (14)

By moving the piston relative to the syringe, a pump mechanism for enabling selection of a state of sucking liquid and a state of discharging liquid, and a drive for moving the syringe relative to the piston Dispensation provided with a motor for applying force, a control means for controlling the motor, and a calculation means for calculating a control amount for the motor required to discharge a target amount of liquid In the device
The dispensing device is configured to calculate the control amount in accordance with a relative position of the piston with respect to the syringe when the target amount of liquid is discharged. A storage means for storing a relationship between a relative movement distance of the piston relative to the syringe calculated from a relative position of the piston with respect to the syringe and a discharge amount of the liquid corresponding to the relative movement distance;
The calculation means is configured to calculate a control amount for the motor according to the relationship based on the relative position and the target value when a target value of the liquid discharge amount is determined. Item 2. The dispensing device according to Item 1. The motor includes a linear motion shaft that is connected to the piston and linearly moves a distance corresponding to the number of drive pulses provided from the outside, and
The calculation means is configured to calculate the control amount as the number of drive pulses provided to the motor,
The dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the control means is configured to cause the motor to input drive pulses by the number of drive pulses calculated by the calculation means when discharging a target amount of liquid. .   The storage means uses the relative position of the piston relative to the syringe when a target amount of liquid is sucked as a reference point, and an integrated value of the number of drive pulses input to the motor integrated with the reference point as a zero count; The dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a relationship between the amount of liquid ejected when one drive pulse is input to the motor is stored. It is connected to the syringe and has a nozzle for sucking and discharging liquid,
In the nozzle, a state in which the gas can be sucked into the syringe and a state in which the gas in the syringe can be discharged by selecting the piston relative to the syringe is selected, and the nozzle is liquid. The dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a state in which the liquid is sucked and a state in which the liquid is discharged are selected. An analyzer configured to analyze a sample using an analysis tool,
The liquid is sucked and discharged by moving the piston relative to the syringe by the driving force from the motor, and provided with a dispensing device used for supplying the sample to the analysis tool. In the analyzer
A control means for controlling the motor; and a calculation means for calculating a control amount for the motor necessary for discharging a target amount of liquid; and
The analyzer is configured to calculate the control amount in accordance with a relative position of the piston with respect to the syringe. A storage means for storing a relationship between a relative movement distance of the piston with respect to the syringe calculated from a relative position of the piston with respect to the syringe and a discharge amount of the liquid with respect to the relative movement distance;
The calculation means is configured to calculate a control amount for the motor according to the relationship based on the relative position and the target value when a target value of the liquid discharge amount is determined. Item 7. The analyzer according to Item 6. The motor includes a linear motion shaft that is connected to the piston and linearly moves a distance corresponding to the number of drive pulses provided from the outside, and
The calculation means is configured to calculate the control amount as the number of drive pulses provided to the motor,
The analyzer according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to input drive pulses to the motor by the number of drive pulses calculated by the calculation unit when discharging a target amount of liquid.   The storage means uses the relative position of the piston relative to the syringe when a target amount of liquid is sucked as a reference point, and an integrated value of the number of drive pulses input to the motor integrated with the reference point as a zero count; The analyzer according to claim 8, wherein a relationship between the amount of liquid ejected when one drive pulse is input to the motor is stored. An analyzer configured to analyze a sample based on a response amount from an analysis tool,
The liquid is sucked and discharged by moving the piston relative to the syringe by the driving force from the motor, and the dispensing device is used to supply the sample to the analysis tool. In the analyzer
A control means for controlling the motor; and a calculation means for performing a calculation necessary for analyzing the sample based on a response from the analysis tool; and
The calculation means is configured to perform a calculation necessary for analyzing a sample in consideration of a relative movement distance of the piston with respect to the syringe calculated from a relative position of the piston with respect to the syringe. ,Analysis equipment. The first relational expression or first correspondence table showing the relationship between the response amount from the analytical tool and the concentration of the specific component in the sample, and the relative movement distance of the piston relative to the syringe calculated from the relative position of the piston relative to the syringe And a storage means for storing a second relational expression or a second correspondence table indicating the relationship between the relative movement distance and the discharge amount of the liquid.
The said calculating means is comprised so that the density | concentration of the said specific component may be calculated based on the said 1st relational expression or a 1st correspondence table, and the said 2nd relational expression or a 2nd correspondence table. Analysis equipment. The motor includes a linear motion shaft that is connected to the piston and linearly moves a distance corresponding to the number of drive pulses provided from the outside, and
The storage means has a relative position of the piston with respect to the syringe when a target amount of liquid is sucked as a reference point, and an integrated value of the number of drive pulses input to the motor integrated with the reference point as a zero count; , Storing the relationship with the amount of liquid ejected when one drive pulse is input to the motor,
The calculation means calculates the amount of liquid to be discharged from the current position of the piston with respect to the syringe and the number of drive pulses input to the motor, and the amount of liquid to be discharged is calculated. The analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the analyzer is configured to calculate the concentration of the specific component in consideration of an error amount with respect to the discharge amount. The dispensing device is connected to the syringe and includes a nozzle for sucking and discharging liquid.
In the nozzle, a state in which the gas can be sucked into the syringe and a state in which the gas in the syringe can be discharged by selecting the piston relative to the syringe is selected, and the nozzle is liquid. The analyzer according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein a state in which the liquid is sucked and a state in which the liquid is discharged are selected. The analysis tool is configured to use one having one or more reagent parts that react with a specific component in the sample and color, and
The analyzer according to any one of claims 6 to 13, further comprising photometric means for measuring the degree of coloration in the one or more reagent parts.

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