JP2007046953A - Reaction container and analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reaction container constituted so that a liquid is easily introduced into or led out of a fine container, and an analyzer using this reaction container. <P>SOLUTION: In the reaction container 5 for stirring a held liquid by a sonic wave to react it and the analyzer using the reaction container 5, the reaction container 5 is equipped with a surface elastic wave element 22 for emitting the sonic wave and a liquid holding part which has a liquid introducing opening 5f and keeps the length of a liquid introducing direction longer than the wavelength of the sonic wave. The surface elastic wave element 22 is constituted so that the liquid is introduced into the holding part from the opening 5f by the sonic wave or led outside of the holding part from the opening. Further, the holding part includes a photometric region for measuring the optical characteristics of the liquid. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a reaction vessel and an analyzer.

  Conventionally, an analyzer analyzes a reaction solution by stirring and reacting a plurality of different liquids or solvents and a solute in a reaction vessel (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3168886

  By the way, the reaction vessel used in the analyzer is set in a shape having a dimension capable of measuring the optical characteristics of the liquid, and is a liquid introduction direction even in a reaction vessel that stirs the liquid by ultrasonic stirring. The dimension in the depth direction is set sufficiently larger than the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave. At this time, when the amount of the liquid is reduced to a few μL to several tens μL and the reaction container is miniaturized, the reaction container is greatly influenced by the surface tension, and the introduction of the liquid containing the specimen, reagent, washing liquid, etc. Derivation becomes difficult.

  For example, in the reaction vessel 100 with a small volume shown in FIG. 47, the dimension in the depth direction of the holding unit 100a that holds the liquid is increased to secure a region for optical measurement of the liquid. , The upper opening 100b serving as a liquid introduction part or a lead-out part including the cleaning liquid or the like becomes relatively narrow. Therefore, when a liquid is dropped from above the reaction container 100 into the opening 100b, the reaction container 100 is prevented from being injected into the holding unit 100a that holds the liquid by the surface tension, and the liquid L is opened as shown in FIG. It sticks in the vicinity of 100b and closes the opening 100b. For this reason, it becomes difficult for the reaction vessel 100 to put the liquid L into the bottom of the holding unit 100a, and the optical characteristics of the liquid L, for example, absorbance cannot be measured by the light beam BL. In this case, in order to reliably put the liquid to the bottom of the holding unit 100a, spot dispensing can be considered, but in addition to problems such as improvement in positioning accuracy of the dispensing device and miniaturization of the dispensing nozzle, New problems to be solved, such as contamination of the dispensing nozzle, occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a reaction container in which liquid can be easily introduced into or discharged from a micro container and an analyzer using the reaction container.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the reaction container according to claim 1 is a reaction container that reacts by stirring the retained liquid with sound waves, and includes a sound wave generating means that generates sound waves, and a liquid An opening for introducing the liquid, and a liquid holding portion whose length in the liquid introduction direction is longer than the wavelength of the sound wave, and the sound wave generating means holds the liquid from the opening by the sound wave. It introduce | transduces in a part, or guide | leads out from the said holding | maintenance part from the said opening, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The reaction container according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the holding portion further includes a photometric region for measuring optical characteristics of the liquid.

  The reaction vessel according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the photometric region is a region that defines a thickness of the liquid in a direction in which light for measuring an optical characteristic of the liquid is transmitted. To do.

  The reaction container according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the sound wave generating means introduces the liquid into the photometric region.

  The reaction vessel according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the sound wave generating means discharges the liquid moved from the holding portion to the opening from the opening with a larger driving power. To do.

  Further, in the reaction container according to claim 6, in the above invention, the sound wave generating unit includes an incident surface on which light for measuring an optical characteristic of the liquid is incident, among a plurality of surfaces forming the holding unit. It is arranged so as to avoid the outgoing exit surface.

  The reaction container according to claim 7 is the surface acoustic wave device according to the above invention, wherein the sound wave generating means includes a comb-shaped electrode that generates the sound wave and a piezoelectric substrate that propagates the sound wave. Features.

  The reaction container according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the comb-shaped electrode is arranged avoiding the photometric region.

  The reaction container according to claim 9 is characterized in that, in the above-described invention, the reaction container further includes a liquid holding part outside the container, and further includes a conveying means for conveying the liquid from the liquid holding part to the opening by sound waves. And

  The reaction container according to claim 10 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the holding part is formed with an opening for leading out the liquid at a position facing the opening for introducing the liquid.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an analyzer according to claim 11 is an analyzer that analyzes a reaction liquid by stirring and reacting a plurality of different liquids, and the reaction vessel The reaction liquid is analyzed by holding the plurality of different liquids while stirring and reacting them.

  In the reaction container according to the present invention, since the sound wave generating means introduces or leads the liquid to or from the holding part by sound waves, the liquid can be easily introduced into the holding part against the influence of the surface tension even in a micro container, or The analyzer can be easily derived from the holding unit, and the reaction container can be reduced in size. Further, the analyzer has the effect that the apparatus itself can be reduced in size by reducing the size of the mounted reaction container. .

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the reaction container and the analyzer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer according to a first embodiment for performing analysis using the reaction container of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part A of the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the surface acoustic wave device used in the reaction container of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the reaction container according to Embodiment 1 for explaining the introduction of the liquid by the surface acoustic wave device. Note that the drawings used in this specification are made with emphasis on the description of the configuration of the present invention, and the dimensions are not necessarily accurate.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automatic analyzer 1 includes reagent tables 2 and 3, a reaction unit 4, a specimen container transfer mechanism 8, an analysis optical system 12, a cleaning mechanism 13, a control unit 15, and a drive device 20. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reagent tables 2 and 3 hold a plurality of reagent containers 2a and 3a arranged in the circumferential direction, respectively, and are rotated by driving means (not shown) to convey the reagent containers 2a and 3a in the circumferential direction. To do.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reaction unit 4 includes a light shielding member 4a and a cuvette wheel 4b. The light shielding member 4a is disposed on the inner side and the outer side in the radial direction of the cuvette wheel 4b, and a photometric opening 4c is formed at a position intersecting with the analysis optical system 12. The cuvette wheel 4b holds the reaction vessel 5 in a plurality of recesses 4d provided along the circumferential direction, and rotates while keeping the liquid in the reaction vessel 5 at a temperature around body temperature. At this time, the cuvette wheel 4b rotates counterclockwise (1 turn-1 cuvette) / 4 minutes in one cycle and rotates one reaction vessel 5 clockwise in four cycles. Further, the cuvette wheel 4b is electromagnetically shielded between the adjacent recesses 4d. In the reaction container 5, the reagent is dispensed from the reagent containers 2a and 3a of the reagent tables 2 and 3 by the reagent dispensing mechanisms 6 and 7 provided in the vicinity. Here, the reagent dispensing mechanisms 6 and 7 are respectively provided with probes 6b and 7b for dispensing reagents on arms 6a and 7a that rotate in the direction of the arrow in a horizontal plane, and wash the probes 6b and 7b with washing water. It has cleaning means (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reaction vessel 5 is a rectangular tube-like vessel having a holding portion 5a (see FIGS. 4 to 6) for holding a liquid, and includes a surface acoustic wave element 22 on a side wall 5c. The holding portion 5 a is formed such that the length in the vertical direction, which is the liquid introduction direction, is longer than the wavelength of the sound wave generated by the surface acoustic wave element 22. The reaction vessel 5 is made of a material that transmits 80% or more of the light included in the analysis light (340 to 800 nm) emitted from the analysis optical system 12, for example, glass including heat-resistant glass, synthetic resin such as cyclic olefin and polystyrene. used. The reaction vessel 5 is used as a photometric window 5b through which analysis light passes through the lower side of the side wall 5d adjacent to the side wall 5c to which the surface acoustic wave element 22 is attached. Therefore, in the reaction vessel 5, a photometric region for measuring the optical characteristics of the liquid held in the holding portion 5a is formed between the opposed windows 5b. This photometric area defines the thickness of the liquid in the direction in which light for measuring the optical characteristics of the liquid is transmitted, and is the same in the reaction containers of other embodiments described below. The reaction vessel 5 is set in the concave portion 4d of the cuvette wheel 4b with the window 5b facing in the radial direction, and an opening 5f serving as an inlet and outlet is formed in the upper part. In the reaction vessel 5, the surface acoustic wave element 22 is driven by the driving device 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sample container transfer mechanism 8 is a transfer unit that transfers a plurality of racks 10 arranged in the feeder 9 one by one along the arrow direction, and transfers the racks 10 while stepping. The rack 10 holds a plurality of sample containers 10a containing samples. Here, each time the step of the rack 10 transferred by the sample container transfer mechanism 8 stops, the sample container 10a receives the sample by the sample dispensing mechanism 11 having the arm 11a and the probe 11b that rotate in the horizontal direction. Dispense into each reaction vessel 5. For this reason, the specimen dispensing mechanism 11 has a cleaning means for cleaning the probe 11b with cleaning water.

  The analysis optical system 12 emits analysis light (340 to 800 nm) for analyzing the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 5 in which the reagent and the sample have reacted. As shown in FIG. It has a portion 12b and a light receiving portion 12c. The analysis light emitted from the light emitting unit 12a passes through the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 5 and is received by the light receiving unit 12c provided at a position facing the spectroscopic unit 12b. The light receiving unit 12 c is connected to the control unit 15.

  The cleaning mechanism 13 sucks and discharges the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 5 with the nozzle 13a, and then repeatedly injects and sucks a cleaning liquid such as a detergent and cleaning water with the nozzle 13a, thereby performing analysis by the analysis optical system 12. The reaction vessel 5 that has been completed is washed.

  The control unit 15 controls the operation of each unit of the automatic analyzer 1 and also determines the component concentration of the sample based on the absorbance of the liquid sample in the reaction container 5 based on the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit 12a and the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12c. For example, a microcomputer or the like is used. As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 15 is connected to an input unit 16 such as a keyboard and a display unit 17 such as a display panel.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the drive device 20 includes a power transmission body 21 that transmits power to the surface acoustic wave element 22. The power transmission body 21 includes an RF transmission antenna 21a, a drive circuit 21b, and a controller 21c. The RF transmission antenna 21a is disposed to face the surface acoustic wave element 22. The power transmission body 21 transmits power supplied from a high-frequency AC power source of several MHz to several hundred MHz to the surface acoustic wave element 22 as a radio wave from the RF transmission antenna 21a. At this time, the RF transmission antenna 21a is attached to the inner surface of each recess 4d provided in the cuvette wheel 4b. For this reason, for example, the drive device 20 is switched by a switch controlled by the controller 21c so that the supplied power is output from the plurality of RF transmission antennas 21a to a specific RF transmission antenna 21a.

  The surface acoustic wave element 22 is attached to the side wall 5c of the reaction vessel 5 through an acoustic matching layer such as an epoxy resin, and a sound wave that stirs the liquid by sound waves (elastic waves) and introduces or leads the liquid to the holding unit 5a. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a generator 22b and an antenna 22c made of comb electrodes (IDT) are formed on a piezoelectric substrate 22a such as lithium niobate (LiNbO3). At this time, the sound wave generated by the surface acoustic wave element 22 is represented by λ = V / f, where f is the frequency, λ is the wavelength, and V is the velocity of propagation on the piezoelectric substrate 22a. Therefore, for example, when the piezoelectric substrate 22a is made of lithium niobate and is made of a YZ cut, the velocity V = 3488 (m / sec). Therefore, when the frequency of the sound wave is f = 100 MHz, the wavelength of the sound wave is 34. .88 μm. The surface acoustic wave element 22 avoids the incident surface on which the analysis light emitted from the light emitting portion 12a of the analysis optical system 12 is incident, the side wall 5d on which the emission surface is formed, and the side wall facing the side wall 5d. It arrange | positions to the side wall 5c adjacent to these. Further, the surface acoustic wave element 22 has a plurality of comb teeth of the comb-shaped electrode (IDT) constituting the vibrator 22b arranged concentrically with each other, and the centers C (focal points) of the plurality of comb teeth are vertically downward. Thus, the plurality of comb teeth are formed so as to become shorter downward.

  In the automatic analyzer 1 configured as described above, the reagent dispensing mechanisms 6 and 7 sequentially supply the reagents from the reagent containers 2a and 3a to the plurality of reaction containers 5 conveyed along the circumferential direction by the rotating cuvette wheel 4b. Dispense. In the reaction container 5 into which the reagent has been dispensed, the specimen is dispensed sequentially from the plurality of specimen containers 10 a held in the rack 10 by the specimen dispensing mechanism 11. The reaction container 5 into which the reagent and the sample have been dispensed is sequentially stirred by the drive device 20 every time the cuvette wheel 4b is stopped, the reagent and the sample react, and the cuvette wheel 4b rotates again. Cross system 12. At this time, the reaction liquid in the reaction vessel 5 is sidelighted by the light receiving unit 12c, and the component concentration and the like are analyzed by the control unit 15. Then, after the analysis is completed, the reaction vessel 5 is washed by the washing mechanism 13 and then used again for analyzing the specimen.

  At this time, when the volume of the reaction vessel 5 is as small as several μL to several tens μL, the dispensed reagent Lr blocks the opening 5f as shown in FIG. In such a case, the drive device 20 transmits power in a non-contact manner from the RF transmission antenna 21a of the power transmission body 21 to the antenna 22c under the control of the controller 21c. At this time, in the surface acoustic wave element 22, the comb electrodes (IDT) constituting the vibrator 22b formed on the substrate 22a are arranged concentrically with each other so that the center C (focal point) is vertically downward. Yes. Accordingly, the transducer 22b of the surface acoustic wave element 22 emits a sound wave (elastic wave) that converges at the center C (focal point) downward as indicated by a dotted arrow in FIG.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, the sound wave generated by the vibrator 22b leaks obliquely downward as the sound wave Wa from the inner wall surface of the reaction vessel 5 into the reagent Lr. The sound wave Wa leaking in this way generates an acoustic flow and an acoustic radiation pressure that are directed obliquely downward in the reagent Lr. For this reason, the driving device 20 increases the voltage applied to the vibrator 22b by the controller 21c, and hence the driving energy of the vibrator 22b, to be larger than the surface tension of the reagent Lr. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the reagent Lr blocking the opening 5f moves downward on the lower side due to the acoustic flow and acoustic radiation pressure generated by the sound wave Wa, and is entirely conveyed into the holding portion 5a.

  As a result, the reagent Lr that has blocked the opening 5f is finally transferred to the bottom of the holding portion 5a as shown in FIG. The transducer 22b emits sound waves upward, but is opposite to the center (convergence) direction of the arc, so that the sound waves are dissipated by propagation. For this reason, since the sound wave emitted upward from the transducer 22b has a relatively small acoustic energy, only the sound wave emitted downward apparently leaks into the reagent Lr. The sound wave generated by the YZ-cut lithium niobate is an elastic wave composed of a Rayleigh wave and a bulk wave that propagates in the vicinity of the surface of the piezoelectric substrate 22a. In the present embodiment, bulk waves mainly contribute to conveyance and stirring.

  In addition, even when the dispensed specimen blocks the opening 5f, the driving device 20 transmits power to the antenna 22c from the RF transmission antenna 21a of the power transmission body 21 in a non-contact manner under the control of the controller 21c. It is conveyed into the holding part 5a. Then, the reagent and the sample dispensed in the reaction container 5 are again stirred and reacted in the holding unit 5a by the sound wave emitted from the vibrator 22b. At this time, the electric power for stirring may be smaller than the electric power when the liquid is conveyed into the holding unit 5a against the surface tension of the liquid. In the reaction container 5 in which the reagent and the sample are reacted in this manner, the reaction solution is measured by a light beam BL emitted from the analysis optical system 12, as shown in FIG. At this time, the control unit 15 analyzes the component concentration of the reaction liquid based on the optical signal input from the light receiving unit 12c.

  Here, after completion of the analysis, the reaction container is usually washed by the washing mechanism 13 and then used again for analyzing the specimen. However, the reaction vessel 5 having a small volume of several μL to several tens of μL has a larger influence on the surface tension than the reaction vessel having a large capacity because the opening 5f is narrow, and the surface acoustic wave element 22 introduces liquid. It is used for For this reason, the reaction vessel 5 is disposable because it is difficult to discharge liquids such as a reaction solution and a cleaning solution from the holding unit 5a.

  As described above, even if the reaction container 5 of the first embodiment is a micro container, the surface acoustic wave element 22 is driven with electric power exceeding the surface tension, so that liquid can be easily introduced and the reaction container 5 can be miniaturized. Therefore, the automatic analyzer 1 using the reaction vessel 5 can be miniaturized.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the reaction container and the analyzer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Although the surface acoustic wave element is used as the liquid introduction element in the reaction container of the first embodiment, the reaction container according to the second embodiment uses the surface acoustic wave element as the liquid derivation element. Are the same as those in the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the reaction container of the second embodiment showing an enlarged view of part A of the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the reaction vessel holding the reaction waste liquid. FIG. 10 is a front view of the surface acoustic wave device used in the reaction container of the second embodiment. Here, in the reaction container described below, the parts corresponding to the reaction container 5 of Embodiment 1 are denoted by the corresponding reference numerals.

  The reaction vessel 25 has a number of capacities formed such that the length in the vertical direction, which is the liquid introduction direction, of the holding unit 25 a that holds the liquid is longer than the wavelength of the sound wave generated by the surface acoustic wave element 23 of the driving device 20. It is a very small container of μL to several tens of μL. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the reaction vessel 25, a surface acoustic wave element 23 having the same configuration as the surface acoustic wave element 22 is attached to the side wall 25c with a vibrator 23b disposed below. The reaction vessel 25 is made of the same material as the reaction vessel 5, and the lower side of the side wall 25 d adjacent to the side wall 25 c to which the surface acoustic wave element 23 is attached is used as a photometric window 25 b that transmits the analysis light. The reaction vessel 25 is set in the recess 4d of the cuvette wheel 4b with the window 25b facing outward.

  Similar to the surface acoustic wave element 22, the surface acoustic wave element 23 includes a vibrator 23b and an antenna 23c made of comb-shaped electrodes (IDT) on a piezoelectric substrate 23a as shown in FIG. At this time, in the surface acoustic wave element 23, the plurality of comb teeth of the comb-shaped electrode (IDT) constituting the vibrator 23b are arranged concentrically with each other, and the centers C (focal points) of the plurality of comb teeth are vertically upward. A plurality of comb teeth are formed so as to become shorter upward.

  The reaction vessel 25 is set in the concave portion 4d of the cuvette wheel 4b, and the sample and reagent to be dispensed are stirred by the drive device 20 to obtain a reaction solution, and then the reaction drainage after the end of the side light is led out. It is used as follows. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the reaction vessel 25 holds the reaction waste liquid Lw in the holding portion 25a.

  The driving device 20 transmits power from the RF transmission antenna 21a of the power transmission body 21 to the antenna 23c in a non-contact manner under the control of the controller 21c. Then, in the surface acoustic wave element 23, the transducer 23b is disposed below the reaction vessel 25, so that the sound wave generated by the transducer 23b reacts from the inner wall surface of the reaction vessel 25 as shown in FIG. Leaks upward into the drainage liquid Lw as a sound wave Wa. Due to the sound wave Wa leaking obliquely upward, an acoustic flow and an acoustic radiation pressure traveling obliquely upward are generated in the reaction waste liquid Lw retained at the lower portion of the retaining portion 25a.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the reaction waste liquid Lw on the surface acoustic wave element 22 side is moved upward by the acoustic flow and acoustic radiation pressure generated by the sound wave Wa, and the entire reaction waste liquid Lw is moved upward. Begin to. As a result, the reaction waste liquid Lw held in the lower part of the reaction vessel 25 is finally transferred to the upper opening 25f as shown in FIG. However, since the reaction container 25 has a small volume and secures the window 25b in the holding part 25a, and the area of the opening 25f is relatively small, the influence of the surface tension is large, so the opening 25f as the discharge part reacts. It is blocked by the waste liquid Lw and is difficult to be conveyed from the opening 25f.

  For this reason, the drive device 20 increases the voltage applied to the vibrator 22b by the controller 21c, and hence the drive energy of the vibrator 22b, to be larger than the surface tension of the reaction drainage liquid Lw, and conveys it from the opening 25f to the outside. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, the reaction waste liquid Lw blocking the opening 25 f of the reaction vessel 25 is sucked by the suction nozzle 27 from above. In this case, the reaction vessel 25 has a small area of the opening 25f due to a reduction in volume. However, since the suction nozzle 27 only sucks the reaction waste liquid Lw from above and does not insert it into the reaction vessel 25 through the opening 25f, a conventional size nozzle can be used.

  The reaction container 25 having sucked the reaction waste liquid Lw in this way is transported by the cuvette wheel 4b, washed by the washing mechanism 13, and then used again for analyzing the specimen. In the cleaning process, the vibrator 22b is driven with greater power than when the cleaning waste liquid Lc is transferred to the opening 25f under the control of the controller 21c after cleaning and suction. At this time, the vibrator 22b is configured by concentric comb electrodes (IDT). For this reason, even if the high-power sound wave converges on the center C of the arc of the vibrator 22b and the cleaning waste liquid Lc that is sucked and leaked remains, the remaining cleaning waste liquid Lc is scattered by the converged sound wave. For this reason, the reaction vessel 25 is completely discharged with no washing waste liquid Lc, and the inside is dried.

  At this time, when the reaction container 25 continuously drives the vibrator 22b, the cleaning waste liquid Lc is scattered in a mist form. On the other hand, in the reaction vessel 25, when the vibrator 22b is pulse-driven, the cleaning waste liquid Lc is scattered in the form of a droplet Dr as shown in FIG.

  Thus, even if the reaction container 25 of Embodiment 2 is a micro container, the liquid can be easily derived, and the reaction container 25 can be miniaturized, so the automatic analyzer 1 using the reaction container 25 is downsized. Is possible.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the reaction container and the analyzer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the reaction containers of the first and second embodiments, the surface acoustic wave element is used as an element for introducing or discharging liquid. However, the reaction container of the third embodiment has a surface acoustic wave element for introducing liquid and liquid. A surface acoustic wave element for derivation is provided, and the same automatic analyzer 1 as that of the first embodiment is used. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the reaction container according to the third embodiment holding the reaction waste liquid. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the reaction vessel shown in FIG. 15 holding the reaction waste liquid.

  The reaction container 30 is a very small container having a capacity of several μL to several tens of μL. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the surface acoustic wave for liquid discharge is provided on the side wall 30 c constituting the holding unit 30 a that holds the liquid. The element 23 is attached, and the surface acoustic wave element 22 for introducing liquid is attached to the side wall 30e facing the side wall 30c. The reaction vessel 30 is used as a photometric window 30b through which the lower side of the side wall 30d adjacent to the side walls 30c and 30e transmits the analysis light. The reaction vessel 30 is set in the recess 4d of the cuvette wheel 4b with the window 30b facing outward. In this case, the cuvette wheel 4b has an RF transmission antenna 21a that transmits power to the surface acoustic wave element 22 and an RF transmission antenna 21a that transmits power to the surface acoustic wave element 23 on the inner surface of the recess 4d. Attach it to face.

  With this configuration, the reaction vessel 30 introduces the dispensed sample and reagent into the holding unit 30a by the surface acoustic wave element 22 for liquid introduction and stirs the reaction solution. Is measured by the analysis optical system 12, and the reaction drainage liquid is led out from the holding portion 30a by the surface acoustic wave element 23 for liquid lead-out. The reaction container 30 is transported by the cuvette wheel 4b in the automatic analyzer 1, washed by the washing mechanism 13, and then used again for the analysis of the sample. The volume of the reaction container 30 is as small as several μL to several tens μL. Nevertheless, the transfer related to the introduction and withdrawal of the liquid can be performed in one container.

  Here, as long as the liquid can be introduced and led out, the reaction container may include a transport element 24 that transports the liquid to the opening 5f by sound waves, as in the reaction container 5 shown in FIG. Here, in the transport element 24, the piezoelectric substrate 24a is made of 128 ° YX cut lithium niobate. The sound wave generated by the 128 ° Y-X cut lithium niobate is a surface acoustic wave (Rayleigh wave) that propagates in the vicinity of the surface of the piezoelectric substrate 24a. Similarly to the surface acoustic wave elements 22 and 23, the transport element 24 includes a vibrator 24b and an antenna 24c made of comb-shaped electrodes (IDT) formed on a piezoelectric substrate 24a that has been subjected to an incompatibility treatment with respect to a liquid. It is driven by the same drive device as 20. The transport element 24 is arranged horizontally so that one end thereof is in contact with the side wall of the upper portion of the reaction vessel 5 and is flush with the opening 5f, and is attachable to and detachable from the reaction vessel 5. Good.

  Accordingly, when the reaction vessel 5 drops the reagent Lr onto the piezoelectric substrate 24a and drives the transport element 24 by the driving device, the reagent Lr is moved to the opening 5f by the sound wave Wa generated by the vibrator 24b as shown in FIG. It is conveyed. At this time, since the piezoelectric substrate 24a has been subjected to a non-affinity treatment for the liquid, the reagent Lr becomes spherical.

  When the reaction vessel 5 having the reagent Lr transferred to the opening 5f in this way has a very small volume of several μL to several tens of μL, the opening 5f opens to the reagent Lr as shown in FIG. It will be blocked by. For this reason, the drive device 20 transmits electric power in a non-contact manner from the RF transmission antenna 21a of the power transmission body 21 to the antenna 24c under the control of the controller 21c. Then, the sound wave generated by the transducer 24b leaks as a sound wave Wa obliquely downward from the inner wall surface of the reaction vessel 5 into the reagent Lr, as shown in FIG. The sound wave Wa leaking in this way generates an acoustic flow and an acoustic radiation pressure which are directed obliquely downward in the reagent Lr. At this time, the drive device 20 increases the voltage applied to the vibrator 24b by the controller 21c, and hence the drive energy of the vibrator 24b, to be larger than the surface tension of the reagent Lr.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 19, the reagent Lr closing the opening 5f moves downward on the lower side due to the acoustic flow and acoustic radiation pressure generated by the sound wave Wa, and the whole is drawn into the holding portion 5a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 20, the reagent Lr that has blocked the opening 5f is finally moved downward by the acoustic flow and the acoustic radiation pressure, and is introduced into the holding portion 5a.

  In addition, even when the dispensed specimen blocks the opening 5f, the driving device 20 transmits electric power from the RF transmission antenna 21a of the power transmission body 21 to the antenna 24c in a non-contact manner under the control of the controller 21c. It is moved downward and pulled into the holding part 5a. Then, the reagent Lr and the sample dispensed in the reaction vessel 5 react again by being stirred in the holding unit 5a by the sound wave emitted from the vibrator 24b. In the reaction container 5 in which the reagent dispensed in this way and the sample react, the reaction liquid Lra is measured by a light beam BL emitted from the analysis optical system 12, as shown in FIG. At this time, the control unit 15 analyzes the component concentration of the reaction solution based on the optical signal input from the light receiving unit 12c. At this time, as described in the first embodiment, the power for stirring may be smaller than the power for transporting the liquid into the holding unit 5a against the surface tension of the liquid.

  Then, after the analysis, the reaction container 5 is detached from the transport element 24 and removably attached to the outer surface of the side wall 5e via an acoustic matching layer such as water or gel as shown in FIG. Alternatively, in the reaction vessel 5, the vibrator 24b is directed to the reaction waste liquid side, the piezoelectric substrate 24a is in contact with the inner wall, and the vibrator 24b is immersed in the reaction waste liquid Lw. In this state, the transport element 24 is driven by the driving device. Then, in the reaction container 5, the sound wave generated by the vibrator 24b leaks into the reaction waste liquid Lw, and an acoustic flow and an acoustic radiation pressure are generated in the reaction waste liquid Lw. As described with reference to FIGS. The reaction drainage liquid Lw is led out from the holding part 5a by the acoustic flow and the acoustic radiation pressure caused by the element 24. At this time, it goes without saying that the transport element 24 is waterproofed when the vibrator 24b is immersed in the reaction waste liquid Lw. In addition, since the reaction drainage liquid Lw cannot be derived when the transport element 24 is fixed, the reaction vessel 5 is derived by the surface acoustic wave element 23 for liquid discharge attached in advance.

  In addition, the surface acoustic wave elements 22 and 23 are attached to the side walls of the reaction vessels 5, 25, and 30 of the first to third embodiments via the acoustic matching layer. However, if the reaction vessel has a liquid inlet and has a liquid holding portion whose length in the liquid introduction direction is longer than the wavelength of the sound wave, it is not always necessary to attach the surface acoustic wave element. For example, like the reaction vessel 32 shown in FIG. 22, the reaction vessel of the present invention has an opening 32f that serves both as an inlet and an outlet for liquid, holds the holding portion 32a horizontally, and uses the wavelength of the sound wave. The surface acoustic wave element 27 may be inserted and removed from the longer holding portion 32a. At this time, the surface acoustic wave element 27 is configured in the same manner as the surface acoustic wave element 22 and is driven by a driving device having the same configuration as that of the driving device 20 to form the vibrator 27b and the antenna 27c. The surface is treated with a liquid that is incompatible with water and waterproof.

  By configuring the reaction vessel 32 in this way, when introducing the liquid into the holding portion 32a, as shown in FIG. 22, the vibrator 27b is arranged outside and the piezoelectric substrate 27a is inserted into the holding portion 32a. . Next, the liquid L is dispensed on the surface of the piezoelectric substrate 27a on the holding portion 32a side in the vicinity of the vibrator 27b. Next, when the surface acoustic wave element 27 is driven, the liquid L is transported toward the opening 32f along the surface of the piezoelectric substrate 27a by the sound wave Wa generated by the vibrator 27b, and the liquid L is introduced into the holding unit 32a.

  When the dispensed liquid L is introduced into the holding portion 32a in this way, the surface acoustic wave element 27 is pulled out from the holding portion 32a, and then the liquid L is emitted from the analysis optical system 12 as shown in FIG. The light is measured with the luminous flux BL. After the photometry is completed, a cleaning solution is introduced to clean the holding unit 32a.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 24, the vibrator 27b side is inserted into the holding portion 32a, and the surface acoustic wave element 27 is driven. As a result, the sound wave Wa generated by the vibrator 27b leaks into the cleaning drainage liquid Lc and an acoustic flow and acoustic radiation pressure are generated in the cleaning drainage liquid Lc. The cleaning drainage liquid Lc is directed toward the opening 32f by the acoustic flow and acoustic radiation pressure. Then, it is conveyed as indicated by an arrow and is led out from the holding part 32a. At this time, as described in the second embodiment, the cleaning waste liquid Lc overflowing from the opening 32f may be sucked by the suction nozzle. In addition, after the cleaning drainage liquid Lc is sucked by the suction nozzle, the cleaning drainage liquid Lc is put into and out of the holding portion 32a in the cleaning process in the same manner as the liquid introduction / lead-out. Thereafter, the surface acoustic wave element 27 may be driven with a large power so that the cleaning drainage liquid Lc is scattered and discharged from the holding portion 32a, and the inside of the holding portion 32a may be dried. In this case, if the surface acoustic wave element 27 is replaced for each specimen, the reaction container 32 can prevent so-called contamination due to mixing of other specimens.

  In addition, the reaction container of the present invention, like the reaction container 34 shown in FIG. 25, forms a part of the container with the surface-acoustic wave element 27 for introducing liquid, and the surface-acoustic wave element for discharging liquid on the sidewall 34c. 23 may be attached.

  With this configuration, when the liquid is introduced into the holding portion 34a, the reaction vessel 34 distributes the liquid L to the surface of the piezoelectric substrate 27a on the holding portion 34a side in the vicinity of the vibrator 27b, as shown in FIG. Note. Next, when the surface acoustic wave element 27 is driven, the liquid L is conveyed along the surface of the piezoelectric substrate 27a toward the opening 34f by the sound wave Wa generated by the vibrator 27b, and as shown in FIG. 26, the liquid L is transferred from the surface of the piezoelectric substrate 27a. The acoustic wave and acoustic radiation pressure are generated in the liquid L by the sound wave Wa leaking to L, and the liquid L is introduced into the holding portion 34a from the opening 34f by the acoustic stream and acoustic radiation pressure.

  When the liquid L introduced in this way is led out from the holding portion 34a, the surface acoustic wave element 23 is driven instead of the surface acoustic wave element 27. As a result, as shown in FIG. 27, the sound wave Wa generated by the vibrator 23b leaks into the liquid L from the side wall 34c, and an acoustic flow and an acoustic radiation pressure are generated in the liquid L. The liquid L is generated by the acoustic flow and the acoustic radiation pressure. It is conveyed toward the opening 34f as indicated by an arrow, and is led out from the holding portion 34a.

  Thus, even if the reaction container of Embodiment 3 is a micro container, liquid can be easily introduced and discharged, and the reaction container can be miniaturized, so that the automatic analyzer using the reaction container 5 can be miniaturized. It is.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the reaction container and the analyzer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Although the reaction container of Embodiments 1-3 was a container which has a bottom wall, the reaction container of Embodiment 4 is a reaction container without a bottom wall. FIG. 28 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer that performs analysis using the reaction container of the fourth embodiment. 29 is an enlarged perspective view showing the cuvette wheel of the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the reaction container of the fourth embodiment together with the driving device. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the reaction vessel shown in FIG.

  In the automatic analyzer 40, as shown in FIG. 28, a sample table 42, a cuvette wheel 45, a handling mechanism 49, and a reagent table 53 are provided on a work table 41 so as to be separated from each other. The table 53 is provided so as to be rotatable and positionable along the circumferential direction. In the automatic analyzer 40, a sample dispensing mechanism 44 is provided between the sample table 42 and the cuvette wheel 45, and a reagent dispensing mechanism 52 is provided between the cuvette wheel 45 and the reagent table 53. .

  As shown in FIG. 28, the sample table 42 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow by the driving means, and a plurality of storage chambers 42a are provided on the outer periphery at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. In each storage chamber 42a, a sample container 43 storing a sample is detachably stored.

  The sample dispensing mechanism 44 is means for dispensing a sample, and sequentially dispenses samples from a plurality of sample containers 43 of the sample table 42 into the container holes 45a of the cuvette wheel 45 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the cuvette wheel 45 is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving means different from the sample table 42, and a plurality of container holes 45a arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction are provided on the outer periphery. ing. Each container hole 45a is detachably inserted with a reaction container 60 that reacts a sample with a reagent as a stirring container. At this time, each container hole 45 a is formed so that a slight gap (see FIGS. 33 to 35) is formed between the lower part of the inserted reaction container 60 and the dispensing substrate 46. In addition, the cuvette wheel 45 is provided with a dispensing substrate 46 that rotates integrally with the cuvette wheel 45 and supports the reaction vessel 60 inserted into each vessel hole 45a. The surface of the dispensing substrate 46 is subjected to non-affinity treatment for liquids such as specimens and reagents. The cuvette wheel 45 is provided with a light source 47 and a discharge device 51.

  The light source 47 emits analysis light (340 to 800 nm) for analyzing the liquid in the reaction container 60 in which the reagent and the sample have reacted. The light beam for analysis emitted from the light source 47 passes through the liquid in the reaction vessel 60 and is received by the light receiving element 48 provided at a position facing the light source 47. On the other hand, the discharge device 51 includes a discharge nozzle, and sucks the liquid after completion of the reaction from the reaction container 60 by the discharge nozzle and discharges it to a discharge container (not shown). Here, the reaction container 60 that has passed through the discharge device 51 is transferred to a cleaning device (not shown) and washed, and then used again for analysis of a new specimen.

  The reaction container 60 is a very small container having a capacity of several μL to several tens of μL, and is formed from the same material as the reaction container 5, and as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, parallel walls 60 a and parallel walls that are parallel to each other. A holding part 60c that holds liquid is formed by an inclined wall 60b that extends upward adjacent to 60a, a bottomless container in which an outlet 60d is formed at the upper part of the holding part 60c, and an inlet 60e is formed at the lower part It is. The reaction vessel 60 is formed such that the area of the inlet 60e is smaller than the area of the outlet 60d, and the inner surface of the parallel wall 60a and the inclined wall 60b is subjected to affinity processing for liquids such as specimens and reagents. The reaction vessel 60 is used as a window 60f (see FIG. 33) through which the upper side of the parallel wall 60a transmits the analysis light. The reaction container 60 is inserted into the container hole 45a of the cuvette wheel 45 with the parallel wall 60a facing in the radial direction, and the surface acoustic wave element 61 driven by the driving device 70 is provided on the acoustic matching layer on the two inclined walls 60b. Is attached through. Here, the reaction container 60 is set such that the length of the holding portion 60c in the liquid introduction direction is longer than the wavelength of the sound wave emitted by the surface acoustic wave element 61.

  The surface acoustic wave element 61 is configured in the same manner as the surface acoustic wave element 23, and as shown in FIG. 30, a vibrator 61b made of comb-shaped electrodes (IDT) and an antenna 61c are formed on a piezoelectric substrate 61a. At this time, in the surface acoustic wave element 61, a plurality of comb teeth of the comb-shaped electrode (IDT) constituting the vibrator 61b are arranged concentrically with each other, and the centers C (focal points) of the plurality of comb teeth are vertically upward. A plurality of comb teeth are formed so as to become shorter upward.

  The drive device 70 is configured in the same manner as the drive device 20 and has a power transmission body 71 that transmits power to the surface acoustic wave element 61 as shown in FIG. The power transmission body 71 includes an RF transmission antenna 71a, a drive circuit 71b, and a controller 71c. The RF transmission antenna 71 a is individually attached to the inner surfaces of the plurality of container holes 45 a provided in the cuvette wheel 45, and is disposed to face the surface acoustic wave element 61. The power transmission body 71 transmits electric power supplied from a high-frequency AC power source of about several MHz to several hundred MHz to the surface acoustic wave element 61 as a radio wave from the RF transmission antenna 71a. For example, the driving device 70 is switched by a switch controlled by the controller 71c so that the supplied power is output from the plurality of RF transmission antennas 71a to a specific RF transmission antenna 71a.

  The handling mechanism 49 holds the reaction vessel 60 and inserts and pulls it out from each vessel hole 45a provided in the cuvette wheel 45. As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the handling mechanism 49 moves up and down and rotates in the horizontal direction. A chuck 49b for holding the reaction container 60 is attached to the movable arm 49a. The reaction container 60 after completion of the reaction is transported to a cleaning device (not shown) by the handling mechanism 49 after passing through the discharge device.

  The reagent dispensing mechanism 52 is means for dispensing a reagent, and sequentially dispenses the reagent from a predetermined reagent container 14 of the reagent table 53 to the container hole 45a of the cuvette wheel 45 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the reagent table 53 is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving means different from the sample table 42 and the cuvette wheel 45, and a plurality of storage chambers 53a formed in a fan shape are provided along the circumferential direction. ing. In each storage chamber 53a, the reagent container 54 is detachably stored. Each of the plurality of reagent containers 54 is filled with a predetermined reagent corresponding to the inspection item, and a barcode label (not shown) for displaying information on the stored reagent is attached to the outer surface.

  Here, on the outer periphery of the reagent table 53, a reading device 55 that reads information such as the reagent type, lot, and expiration date recorded on the barcode label attached to the reagent container 54 and outputs the information to the control unit 56 is installed. Has been. The control unit 56 is connected to the light receiving element 48, the ejection device 51, the reading device 55, the analysis unit 57, the input unit 58, and the display unit 59. For example, a microcomputer having a storage function for storing the analysis result is used. The The control unit 56 controls the operation of each unit of the automatic analyzer 40 and regulates the analysis work when the reagent lot or expiration date is outside the installation range based on the information read from the barcode label record. Thus, the automatic analyzer 40 is controlled or a warning is issued to the operator.

  The analysis unit 57 is connected to the light receiving element 48 via the control unit 56, analyzes the component concentration of the specimen from the absorbance of the liquid in the reaction container 60 based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element 48, and the analysis result is controlled by the control unit To 56. The input unit 58 is a part that performs an operation of inputting an inspection item or the like to the control unit 56. For example, a keyboard or a mouse is used. The display unit 59 displays analysis contents, alarms, and the like, and a display panel or the like is used.

  In the automatic analyzer 40 configured as described above, the nozzle 52 a of the reagent dispensing mechanism 52 is provided in the reagent table in each container hole 45 a that moves along the circumferential direction by the rotation of the cuvette wheel 45 and the dispensing substrate 46. Reagent Lr is sequentially dispensed from 53 predetermined reagent containers 54 (see FIGS. 29 and 32). Thereby, the reagent Lr dispensed into the container hole 45a is dropped onto the dispensing substrate 46 as shown in FIG. At this time, the reagent dropped on the dispensing substrate 46 forms hemispherical droplets on the dispensing substrate 46 because the dispensing substrate 46 has been subjected to non-affinity treatment. When the reagent is dispensed, the cuvette wheel 45 rotates together with the dispensing substrate 46 so that the container hole 45a into which the reagent is dispensed moves to the vicinity of the sample dispensing mechanism 44, and the sample dispensing mechanism 44 moves to a predetermined level. A sample is dispensed from the sample container 43 into the container hole 45a. At this time, the hemispherical liquid L in which the specimen is dispensed on the reagent exists on the dispensing substrate 46 (see FIG. 33).

  The container hole 45 a into which the reagent and the sample have been dispensed in this way is moved to the vicinity of the handling mechanism 49 by the rotation of the cuvette wheel 45 and the dispensing substrate 46. Then, as shown in FIG. 29, the handling mechanism 49 inserts the grasped reaction container 60 into the container hole 45a into which the reagent and the sample are dispensed from above. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 33, the lower introduction port 60 e of the reaction vessel 60 comes into contact with the hemispherical liquid L. At this time, since the reaction container 60 has a very small volume and the diameter of the holding part 60c is small, a part of the liquid L enters from the introduction port 60e by capillary force.

  After inserting the reaction vessel 60 into the vessel hole 45 a by the handling mechanism 49, the automatic analyzer 40 drives the surface acoustic wave element 61 by the drive device 70. As a result, in the reaction vessel 60, as shown in FIG. 34, the sound wave generated by the vibrator 61b of each surface acoustic wave element 61 leaks into the liquid L as the sound wave Wa, and the liquid L is discharged by the leaked sound wave Wa. It is introduced into the holding part 60c from the introduction port 60e. Then, after the liquid L introduced into the holding unit 60c in this way is conveyed to the window 60f (see FIG. 33) above the holding unit 60c by the sound wave Wa, it is emitted from the light source 47 as shown in FIG. The light is measured by the luminous flux BL. At this time, since the liquid L is introduced from the introduction port 60e against the surface tension, each surface acoustic wave element 61 has energy for conveying the introduced liquid L to the window 60f above the holding portion 60c. It is necessary to drive with larger energy than that.

  After the photometry is completed, the liquid inside the reaction container 60 is sucked and discharged by the discharge nozzle of the discharge device 51. In this case, the reaction container 60 may leave liquid in the holding part 60c. In such a case, the surface acoustic wave element 61 is again driven by the driving device 70. Thereby, in the reaction container 60, the sound wave generated by the vibrator 61b of each surface acoustic wave element 61 leaks into the liquid L as the sound wave Wa. As a result, as shown in FIG. 36, in the reaction vessel 60, the liquid L is moved to the upper part of the holding part 60c by the leaked sound wave Wa, and the upper surface of the liquid L rises from the outlet 60d. The liquid L rising from the outlet 60d is sucked and discharged by the suction nozzle. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 37, the liquid L may be discharged in the form of droplets Dr by the same surface acoustic wave element 61.

  In the case of scattering discharge, the driving device 70 drives the vibrator 61b with a larger power under the control of the controller 71c. The power at this time requires larger energy than when the liquid L is moved to the window 60f or when the upper surface of the liquid L is raised from the outlet 60d. At this time, the vibrator 61b is configured by concentric comb-shaped electrodes (IDT), and a high-power sound wave converges on the center C of the arc of the vibrator 61b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 37, the reaction vessel 60 can dry the inside of the reaction vessel 60 at the center C of the vibrator 61b in the form of a small droplet Dr.

  At this time, when the vibrator 61b is continuously driven, the reaction container 60 can scatter the liquid L in the form of a mist, and when the vibrator 61b is pulse-driven, the liquid L can be scattered in the form of a droplet Dr.

  The reaction container 60 that has discharged the liquid L in this way passes through the discharge device, is then transported to a cleaning device (not shown) by the handling mechanism 49 and is then washed, and is inserted into each container hole 45a by the handling mechanism 49, and again. Used for sample analysis.

  Here, the reaction container according to the fourth embodiment has parallel holding walls 64c that are parallel to each other, as shown in FIG. 38, instead of the inclined wall 60b. You may shape | mold to a prism. When the holding portion 64c is formed into a quadrangular prism in this way, the reaction vessel 64 can easily process the holding portion 64c.

  Thus, even if the reaction container 60 of Embodiment 4 is a micro container, it is easy to introduce a liquid, and the reaction container 60 can be miniaturized. Therefore, the automatic analyzer 40 using the reaction container 60 is downsized. Is possible.

(Embodiment 5)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the reaction container of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Although the reaction vessel of the fourth embodiment is a reaction vessel without a bottom wall, the reaction vessel of the fifth embodiment is a so-called lab-onner in which a liquid holding part is formed by a transparent region of a surface acoustic wave element and a transparent plate. It is a reaction container of a chip (Lab-on-a-chip) type. FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional front view showing the reaction container of the fifth embodiment.

  The reaction vessel 80 forms a holding portion 80 a that holds a liquid by the surface acoustic wave element 81 and the transparent substrate 82 using the same material as in the first to fourth embodiments. The holding unit 80a has a very small capacity of several nL to several tens of μL. Here, the reaction vessel 80 is formed on the surface acoustic wave element 81 and the transparent substrate 82 that form the holding portion 80a so as to facilitate the introduction and derivation of the liquid to and from the holding portion 80a while suppressing the influence of the surface tension. A treatment for imparting affinity to the liquid is preferably performed.

The surface acoustic wave element 81 is a sound wave generating means for introducing or deriving the liquid to or from the holding unit 80a by moving a distance of at least the wavelength of the sound wave by a sound wave (surface acoustic wave). On the piezoelectric substrate 81a, a vibrator 81b made of a comb electrode (IDT) and an antenna 81c are formed. The vibrator 81b is formed such that a plurality of comb teeth forming a comb-shaped electrode (IDT) are arranged concentrically with each other, and the centers (focal points) of the plurality of comb teeth are on the holding portion 80a side. . However, the piezoelectric substrate 81a is subjected to a non-affinity treatment with respect to a liquid such as a specimen or a reagent, and a transparent material such as quartz, lithium niobate (LiNbO ₃ ), lithium tantalate (LiTaO ₃ ) is used. The portion facing the transparent substrate 82 is used as the photometric area Am.

  The transparent substrate 82 is arranged in parallel via the piezoelectric substrate 81 a and the spacer 83. Thereby, in the photometric area Am, the distance between the piezoelectric substrate 81a and the transparent substrate 82 is held constant by the spacer 83, and the liquid in the direction in which the light for measuring the optical characteristics of the liquid held in the holding portion 80a is transmitted. Define the thickness.

  In the reaction vessel 80 configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 39, the reagent Lr is dispensed onto the vibrator 81b or the piezoelectric substrate 81a between the vibrator 81b and the holding portion 80a by the dispensing nozzle 84. To do. At this time, the time when the reagent Lr is dispensed is t1, and the analysis flow in the reaction vessel 80 will be described below with reference to FIG. Next, the surface acoustic wave element 81 is driven, and the reagent Lr is conveyed to the holding portion 80a by the sound wave Wa emitted from the vibrator 81b (time t2). Next, the sample S is dispensed on the vibrator 81b or on the piezoelectric substrate 81a between the vibrator 81b and the holding portion 80a by another dispensing nozzle (time t3). Thereafter, the specimen S is transported to the holding unit 80a by the sound wave Wa emitted from the vibrator 81b (time t4).

  In this way, after the reagent Lr and the sample S are transported to the holding unit 80a, the supplied electric power is increased to drive the surface acoustic wave element 81, and the sound waves having a stronger intensity than when the reagent Lr and the sample are transported. The reagent Lr and the sample S in the holding unit 80a are stirred for a predetermined time (time t5). As a result, the reagent Lr and the sample S react to become a reaction liquid Lra. Thereafter, the reaction liquid Lra is measured with a light beam BL irradiated from the vertical direction of the holding portion 80a, for example, vertically upward as shown in FIG. 39 (time t6).

  After the photometry is completed, the reaction vessel 80 drives the surface acoustic wave element 81 with low power for conveyance, and as shown in FIG. 39, the reaction liquid Lra is moved to the right of the holding portion 80a by the sound wave Wa emitted from the vibrator 81b. Transport and discharge (time t7). After discharging the reaction liquid Lra, the cleaning liquid is dispensed onto the piezoelectric substrate 81a by the cleaning nozzle (time t8). Thereafter, the cleaning liquid is conveyed by the sound wave Wa generated by the vibrator 81b to clean the piezoelectric substrate 81a and the holding portion 80a (time t9). After the cleaning, the vibrator 81b is driven to discharge the cleaning liquid from the holding unit 80a (time t10). After discharging the cleaning liquid, the reagent Lr is again dispensed by the dispensing nozzle 84 (time t11). Thereafter, the reaction vessel 80 analyzes the sample S by repeating the same operation.

  Thus, even if the reaction container 80 of Embodiment 5 is a micro container, liquid can be easily introduced and discharged.

  Here, the reaction container of the fifth embodiment, like a reaction container 85 shown in FIG. 41, is a surface acoustic wave element 86 and a reverse groove-shaped transparent member 87 using the same material as in the first to fourth embodiments. The holding portion 85a for holding the liquid may be formed.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 41, in the surface acoustic wave element 86, the vibrator 86b and the antenna 86c are formed on one side of the piezoelectric substrate 86a near both sides in the longitudinal direction, and the vibrator 86d and the antenna 86e are formed on the other side. ing. In addition, the surface of the piezoelectric substrate 86a is subjected to non-affinity treatment for liquids such as specimens and reagents. On the other hand, the transparent member 87 is disposed between the two antennas 86c and 86e.

  In the reaction container 85, for example, the reagent Lr is dispensed from the reagent nozzle 88 to the vibrator 86b side, and the specimen S is dispensed from the specimen nozzle 89 to the vibrator 86d side. At this time, the time when the reagent Lr and the sample S are dispensed is t1, and the analysis flow in the reaction vessel 85 will be described below with reference to FIG. Next, the transducer 86b and the transducer 86d are individually driven, and the reagent Lr and the sample S are conveyed to the holding unit 85a by the generated sound wave Wa (time t2).

  In this way, after the reagent Lr and the sample S are transported to the holding unit 85a, the surface acoustic wave element 86 is driven by increasing the power supplied to the transducers 86b and 86d, and the reagent Lr and the sample S are transported. The reagent Lr and the sample S in the holding portion 85a are agitated for a predetermined time with a stronger sound wave (time t3). As a result, the reagent Lr and the sample S react to become a reaction liquid Lra. Thereafter, the reaction liquid Lra is measured by irradiating the light beam BL from the vertical direction or the horizontal direction of the holding portion 85a (time t4).

  After the photometry is completed, the reaction vessel 85 drives one of the vibrator 86b or 86d with the low power for transport, and discharges the reaction liquid Lra from the holding portion 85a (time t5). After discharging the reaction liquid, the cleaning liquid is dispensed onto the piezoelectric substrate 85a by the cleaning nozzle (time t6). Thereafter, the cleaning liquid is conveyed by the sound wave Wa generated by the vibrators 86b and 86d to clean the piezoelectric substrate 86a and the holding portion 85a (time t7). After cleaning, the vibrator 86b or 86d is driven to discharge the cleaning liquid from the holding portion 85a (time t8). After discharging the cleaning liquid, the reagent Lr is again dispensed from the reagent nozzle 88, and the specimen S is dispensed from the specimen nozzle 89 (time t9). Thereafter, the reaction vessel 85 analyzes the sample S by repeating the same operation.

  Thus, since the reaction container 85 forms the holding | maintenance part 85a which hold | maintains a liquid with the surface acoustic wave element 86 and the transparent member 87 by four surfaces, it can photometrically measure a reaction liquid from two directions, a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. Can do. For this reason, the reaction vessel 85 is formed on two surfaces by the surface acoustic wave element 81 and the transparent substrate 82 to hold the liquid, and the photometric direction is higher than that of the reaction vessel 80 in which the photometric direction is limited to the vertical direction. The degree of freedom in design of the automatic analyzer using the reaction vessel 85 is increased.

  Further, the reaction vessel holds the liquid by the surface acoustic wave element 91 and the reverse concave groove-shaped transparent member 92 using the same material as in the first to fourth embodiments as in the reaction vessel 90 shown in FIG. The holding portion 90a may be formed.

  At this time, in the surface acoustic wave element 91, as shown in FIG. 43, the vibrator 91b and the antenna 91c are formed on one side of the piezoelectric substrate 91a near both sides in the longitudinal direction, and the vibrator 91d and the antenna 91e are formed on the other side. ing. The piezoelectric substrate 91a has a vibrator 91f and an antenna 91g formed on one side in the vicinity of both sides in the width direction, and a vibrator 91h and an antenna 91i formed on the other side. The surface of the piezoelectric substrate 91a has no affinity for a liquid such as a specimen or a reagent. Sexual treatment is applied. On the other hand, the transparent member 92 is disposed in the center of the piezoelectric substrate 91a, and four legs 92b are provided on the substrate body 92a.

  In the reaction container 90, for example, the reagent Lr is dispensed from the reagent nozzle 93 to the vibrator 91b side, and the specimen S is dispensed from the specimen nozzle 94 to the vibrator 91d side. Then, the vibrator 91b and the vibrator 91d are individually driven, and the reagent Lr and the sample S are conveyed to the holding unit 90a by the generated sound wave Wa. The analysis flow in the reaction vessel 90 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  In this way, after the reagent Lr and the sample S are transported to the holding unit 90a, the surface acoustic wave element 91 is driven by increasing the power supplied to the transducers 91b and 91d, and the reagent Lr and the sample S are transported. The reagent Lr and the specimen S in the holding unit 90a are stirred for a predetermined time by a stronger sound wave and reacted. Thereafter, the reaction solution is photometrically irradiated with the light beam BL from the vertical direction of the holding portion 90a.

  After the photometry is completed, the reaction container 90 drives the vibrator 91f with a low power for conveyance, and discharges the reaction solution from the holding unit 90a. After the reaction liquid is discharged, the cleaning liquid is dispensed on the piezoelectric substrate 91a by the cleaning nozzle, and the cleaning liquid is conveyed by the sound wave Wa emitted from the vibrators 91b, 91d, 91f, thereby cleaning the piezoelectric substrate 91a and the holding unit 90a.

  As described above, the reaction vessel 90 forms four surfaces for introducing or discharging the liquid to the holding portion 90a holding the liquid by the surface acoustic wave element 91 and the transparent member 92, so the liquid held by the holding portion 90a. Since the free interface increases, the liquid stirring efficiency is improved.

  In the embodiments so far, in the case of power supply by the RF transmission antenna, the vibrator and the antenna are formed on the same surface of the piezoelectric substrate. Various modifications are possible as long as power can be supplied to the antenna from the outside. For example, only the vibrator may be formed on the surface close to the liquid, the antenna may be formed on the back surface, and the vibrator and the antenna may be connected by wiring. Further, the vibrator and the antenna may be formed on the same surface on the back surface side of the surface close to or in contact with the liquid. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 44, the surface acoustic wave element 22 provided in the reaction vessel 5 receives electric power from the driving device 20 in contact with the contact pin 21d provided on the inner surface of the concave portion 4d of the cuvette wheel 4b. May be.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 45, the surface acoustic wave element 22 includes a contact pin 21d instead of the antenna 22c among the vibrator 22b and the antenna 22c made of a comb electrode (IDT) formed on the piezoelectric substrate 22a. A contact pad 22d to be contacted is formed.

  In addition, the surface acoustic wave element used in the first to fifth embodiments, for example, the surface acoustic wave element 22, is a comb that constitutes the vibrator 22b so that the sound waves converge at the centers C (focal points) of a plurality of comb teeth. The plurality of comb teeth of the mold electrode (IDT) were arranged concentrically with each other, and the plurality of comb teeth were formed to become shorter downward. However, in the surface acoustic wave element, if the direction of the sound wave acting on the liquid can be set to one direction, like the surface acoustic wave element 28 shown in FIG. 46, the vibrator 28b and the antenna 28c formed on the piezoelectric substrate 28a. Among them, a plurality of comb teeth of the comb electrode (IDT) constituting the vibrator 28b may be formed in parallel to each other.

It is a schematic block diagram of the automatic analyzer concerning Embodiment 1 which performs analysis using the reaction container of this invention. It is the A section enlarged view of the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. 2 is a front view of a surface acoustic wave device used in the reaction container of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the reaction container according to Embodiment 1 for explaining introduction of a liquid by a surface acoustic wave element. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state by which the whole reagent is drawn in in the holding | maintenance part of reaction container by the acoustic flow and acoustic radiation pressure which arise with a sound wave. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state by which all the reagents which block | closed the opening were moved below and were introduce | transduced in the holding | maintenance part. It is a perspective view of the reaction container which shows the state which photometrically measures the reaction liquid with which the reagent and the sample reacted with the light beam. It is a perspective view of the reaction container of Embodiment 2 which expands and shows the A section of the automatic analyzer of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container holding the reaction waste liquid. 6 is a front view of a surface acoustic wave device used in a reaction container according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state which the reaction waste liquid began to move upwards a holding | maintenance part with the acoustic flow and acoustic radiation pressure which arise with a sound wave. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state which the reaction waste liquid which moved upward closed the opening. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state which attracts | sucks the reaction waste liquid which block | closed the opening with a suction nozzle from upper direction. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state which spatters the reaction waste liquid which remained in the opening with the sound wave which the vibrator which drives with big power emits. It is a perspective view of the reaction container of Embodiment 3 holding the reaction waste liquid. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container shown in FIG. 15 holding the reaction waste liquid. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a first modification of the reaction container in the third embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state which the sound wave which the vibrator generate | occur | produced leaks diagonally downwards into the reagent which block | closed the opening. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state by which the whole reagent is drawn in in the holding | maintenance part of reaction container by the acoustic flow and acoustic radiation pressure which arise with a sound wave. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state which all the reagents which block | closed the opening were moved below, and were introduce | transduced in the holding | maintenance part, and the state which measures a reaction liquid with a light beam. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state which attached the conveyance element to the outer surface of the side wall. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a second modification of the reaction container in the third embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state which introduce | transduces a liquid into the holding part of the reaction container of FIG. 22, and measures the liquid of the holding part which pulled out the surface acoustic wave element with a light beam. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state which inserts a surface acoustic wave element into a reaction container in the reverse direction and leads out the liquid of a holding | maintenance part. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a third modification of the reaction container in the third embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which introduce | transduces a liquid into the reaction container of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which guide | induces the introduce | transduced liquid from reaction container. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer that performs analysis using the reaction container of the fourth embodiment. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the cuvette wheel of the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the reaction container of Embodiment 4 with a drive device. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the reagent dripped on a dispensing substrate. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state in which the handling mechanism inserts the reaction container into the container hole of the cuvette wheel, and the lower introduction port contacts the liquid. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a reaction vessel showing a state in which a liquid is introduced from an introduction port into a holding unit by a sound wave that is generated by a surface acoustic wave element and leaks into the liquid. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state which the liquid introduce | transduced into the holding part moves to the photometry area | region of an upper part of a holding part by a sound wave, and measures light with a light beam. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state by which the liquid was moved to the upper part of the holding | maintenance part with the leaked sound wave, and the upper surface of the liquid rose from the outlet. It is sectional drawing of the reaction container which shows the state which disperse | distributes the liquid which moved to the outlet to a small droplet form. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the reaction container in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view showing a reaction vessel of a fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an analysis flow in a reaction container of a fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a first modification of the reaction container in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an analysis flow in a first modification of the reaction container of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a second modification of the reaction container in the fifth embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the drive device which transmits electric power to the surface acoustic wave element provided in the reaction container of this invention in a contact state. FIG. 45 is a front view of the surface acoustic wave device of FIG. 44. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the surface acoustic wave element provided in the reaction container of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the reaction container which reduced the conventional capacity | capacitance.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic analyzer 2, 3 Reagent table 2a, 3a Reagent container 4 Reaction part 4a Light-shielding member 4b Cuvette wheel 4c Opening 4d Recessed part 5 Reaction container 5a Holding part 5b Window 5c, 5d Side wall 5f Opening 6, 7 Reagent dispensing mechanism 6a, 7a arm 6b, 7b probe 8 sample container transfer mechanism 10 rack 10a sample container 11a arm 11b probe 11 sample dispensing mechanism 12 analysis optical system 12a light emitting unit 12b spectroscopic unit 12c light receiving unit 13 washing mechanism 13a nozzle 15 control unit 16 input unit 17 Display unit 20 Drive device 21 Power transmission body 21a RF transmission antenna 21b Drive circuit 21c Controller 21d Contact pin 22, 23 Surface acoustic wave element 22a, 23a Piezoelectric substrate 22b, 23b Vibrator 22c, 23c Antenna 22d Contact pad 24 Transport Element 24a Piezoelectric substrate 24b Vibrator 24c Antenna 25 Reaction vessel 25a Holding part 25b Window 25c, 25d Side wall 25f Opening 27, 28 Surface acoustic wave element 27a, 28a Piezoelectric substrate 27b, 28b Vibrator 27c, 28c Antenna 30 Reaction vessel 30a Holding part 30b Window 30c, 30e Side wall 30d Side wall 32, 34 Reaction vessel 32a, 34a Holding part 32f, 34f Opening 40 Automatic analyzer 41 Work table 42 Sample table 42a Storage chamber 43 Sample container 44 Sample dispensing mechanism 45 Cuvette wheel 45a Container hole 46 Dispensing substrate 47 Light source 48 Light receiving element 49 Handling mechanism 51 Ejector 52 Reagent dispensing mechanism 53 Reagent table 60 Reaction vessel 60a Parallel wall 60b Inclined wall 60c Holding part 60d Deriving port 60e Introducing port 60f Window 61 Surface acoustic wave element 61a Piezoelectric substrate 61b Vibrator 61c Antenna 70 Drive device 71 Power transmission body 71a RF transmission antenna 71b Drive circuit 71c Controller 80 Reaction vessel 80a Holding part 81 Surface acoustic wave element 81a Piezoelectric substrate 81b Vibrator 81c Antenna 82 Transparent substrate 83 Spacer 84 Dispensing nozzle 85 Reaction vessel 85a Holding portion 86a Piezoelectric substrate 86b, 86d Vibrator 86c, 86e Antenna 87 Transparent member 88 Reagent nozzle 89 Sample nozzle 90 Reaction vessel 90a Holding portion 91 Surface acoustic wave element 91a Piezoelectric substrate 91b, 91d Vibration Child 91c, 91e Antenna 91f, 91h Vibrator 91g, 91i Antenna 92 Transparent member 92a Substrate body 92b Leg 93 Reagent nozzle 94 Sample nozzle BL Light flux C Center (focus)
Dr droplet L liquid Lr reagent Lra reaction liquid S specimen Wa sound wave

Claims (11)

A reaction vessel in which the held liquid is reacted by stirring with sound waves,
Sound wave generating means for generating sound waves;
A liquid holding portion having an opening for introducing a liquid, wherein a length of the liquid introduction direction is longer than a wavelength of the sound wave;
With
The reaction vessel characterized in that the sound wave generating means introduces the liquid from the opening into the holding unit or leads the liquid out of the holding unit by the sound wave.   Furthermore, the said holding | maintenance part contains the photometry area | region which measures the optical characteristic of the said liquid, The reaction container of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The reaction container according to claim 2, wherein the photometric region is a region that defines a thickness of the liquid in a direction in which light for measuring an optical characteristic of the liquid is transmitted.   The reaction container according to claim 2, wherein the sound wave generation unit introduces the liquid into the photometric region.   2. The reaction container according to claim 1, wherein the sound wave generation unit discharges the liquid moved from the holding unit to the opening from the opening with a larger driving power.   The sound wave generating means is disposed so as to avoid an incident surface on which light for measuring an optical characteristic of the liquid is incident and an exit surface from which the light is emitted among a plurality of surfaces forming the holding unit. The reaction container according to claim 1.   2. The reaction container according to claim 1, wherein the sound wave generating means is a surface acoustic wave element having a comb-shaped electrode that generates the sound wave and a piezoelectric substrate that propagates the sound wave. 3.   The reaction container according to claim 7, wherein the comb-shaped electrode is disposed so as to avoid the photometric region.   The reaction container according to claim 1, further comprising a transport unit that has a liquid holding unit outside the container and transports the liquid from the liquid holding unit to the opening by sound waves.   The reaction container according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion has an opening for leading the liquid at a position facing the opening for introducing the liquid.   An analyzer for analyzing a reaction solution by stirring and reacting a plurality of different liquids, wherein the plurality of different liquids are held in the reaction vessel according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and stirred. The analysis apparatus characterized in that the reaction solution is analyzed by the reaction.

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