JP2007108062A - Agitator, container, and analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an agitator in which it is easy to switch a sound emitting part for sound wave emission to a specific sound emitting part although a plurality of sound emitting parts are provided and its electrical circuit is simply structured, and to provide a container and an analyzer. <P>SOLUTION: This agitator using a sound wave for agitating a liquid held in the container, the container and the analyzer are provided. The agitator 20 is equipped with: a surface acoustic wave element 24 comprising the plurality of sound emitting parts 24b and 24c different in resonance frequencies for outputting sound waves emitted by the emitting parts toward the liquid; and a drive control part 21 for switching the sound emitting part for sound wave emission to the specific sound emitting part among the plurality of sound emitting parts by changing the frequency of a drive signal inputted into the surface acoustic wave element. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a stirrer, a container, and an analyzer that stir a liquid using sound waves.

  Conventionally, as a stirring means for stirring a liquid by sound waves, for example, a chemical analysis in which a sound wave generating means is provided outside a container holding the liquid and the liquid is stirred by generating sound waves from the sound wave generating means toward the container. A stirring means used in the apparatus is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). This stirring means has a plurality of divided electrodes whose piezoelectric elements are individual sound sources, and changes the irradiation position in the vertical direction of the sound wave by switching the divided electrodes that are vibrated at a predetermined frequency by the piezoelectric element driver. (Paragraph number 0020).

Japanese Patent No. 3642713

  By the way, the stirring means disclosed in Patent Document 1 controls the generation position of the sound wave by the piezoelectric element driver selecting a divided electrode to which power is applied from among a plurality of divided electrodes serving as individual sound sources. Therefore, each divided electrode and the piezoelectric element driver are connected by wiring. For this reason, the stirring means of Patent Document 1 is driven by the piezoelectric element driver selecting and driving a specific divided electrode from a plurality of divided electrodes. Since the switch circuit is necessary, there is a problem that the electric circuit becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and even if it has a plurality of sound generation units, it is easy to switch a sound generation unit that emits sound waves to a specific sound generation unit, and the configuration of an electric circuit is simple An object of the present invention is to provide a stirrer, a container, and an analyzer.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a stirring device according to claim 1 is a stirring device that stirs a liquid held in a container using sound waves, and includes a plurality of sound generating units having different resonance frequencies. A sound generation unit that emits sound waves generated by the sound generation unit toward the liquid, and a sound generation unit that generates sound waves by changing the frequency of the drive signal input to the sound generation unit. Drive control means for switching to a specific sounding part of the sounding parts.

  The stirring device according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the drive control means changes the position or number of sound generating parts that generate sound waves in accordance with the frequency of the drive signal.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the stirrer according to the first aspect of the invention, the drive control unit changes the frequency of the drive signal based on the input analysis item of the liquid, the property of the liquid, or information on the liquid amount. It is characterized by making it.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the drive control means controls the order of switching the sound generating section that generates sound waves to the specific sound generating section, thereby causing a series of flows in the liquid. It is made to produce.

  The stirring device according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the series of flows is a rotating flow.

  Further, in the stirring device according to claim 6, in the above invention, the liquid includes at least a first liquid and a second liquid having a smaller amount than the first liquid, and the series of flows includes: The second liquid is a flow that draws the first liquid into the first liquid.

  The stirring device according to claim 7 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the drive control means switches sound generating parts that generate sound waves by driving the plurality of sound generating parts at different timings.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the stirring device according to the above invention, wherein the plurality of sound generating units include a unit that emits sound waves in directions in which emission directions differ by 90 °.

  The stirring device according to claim 9 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the plurality of sound generating portions are characterized in that an emission direction of a sound wave emitted this time is 90 ° different from an emission direction of a sound wave emitted last time. To do.

  The stirring device according to claim 10 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the drive control means simultaneously inputs a drive signal having the same drive frequency to the plurality of sound generating units.

  The stirring device according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is the stirrer according to the present invention, wherein the drive control unit drives the plurality of sound generation units in an order of switching to the specific sound generation unit, and then further changes the order of the change in the switching order. It is characterized by driving a plurality of sound generators.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a container according to claim 12 is a container for holding a liquid that is agitated using sound waves, and has a plurality of sound generating parts having different resonance frequencies. And a sound generation unit that changes a frequency of the drive signal to switch a sound generation unit that generates a sound wave irradiated toward the liquid to a specific sound generation unit among the plurality of sound generation units. And

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an analyzer according to claim 13 analyzes a reaction liquid by stirring and reacting a liquid sample containing a specimen and a reagent held in a container. An analysis apparatus comprising the agitation device.

  The stirring device according to the present invention includes a plurality of sound generating units having different resonance frequencies, and a sound wave generating unit that emits a sound wave generated by the sound generating unit toward a liquid, and a frequency of a drive signal input to the sound wave generating unit. And a drive control means for switching a sound generation unit that generates a sound wave to a specific sound generation unit among the plurality of sound generation units by changing, and the analysis device of the present invention includes the stirring device. Therefore, even if it has a plurality of sound generation units, it is easy to switch the sound generation unit that emits sound waves to a specific sound generation unit, and the configuration of the electric circuit is simplified. Further, the container of the present invention has a plurality of sound generating parts having different resonance frequencies, and the sound generating part that generates the sound wave irradiated toward the liquid by changing the frequency of the drive signal is the sound generating part of the plurality of sound generating parts. Since the sound wave generating means for switching to the specific sounding part is provided, it is easy to switch the sounding part that emits the sound wave to the specific sounding part, and the configuration of the electric circuit is simplified.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 concerning the stirring apparatus, container, and analyzer of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer equipped with a stirring device. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion A of the cuvette wheel constituting the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the cuvette wheel containing the reaction vessel cut horizontally at the position of the wheel electrode. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the stirring device together with a perspective view of the reaction vessel.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automatic analyzer 1 includes reagent tables 2 and 3, a cuvette wheel 4, a specimen container transfer mechanism 8, an analysis optical system 12, a cleaning mechanism 13, a control unit 15, and a stirring 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 a driving unit to convey the reagent containers 2a and 3a in the circumferential direction.

  In the cuvette wheel 4, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of holders 4b for arranging the reaction vessel 5 are formed in the circumferential direction by a plurality of partition plates 4a provided along the circumferential direction, and indicated by arrows by a driving means (not shown). The reaction vessel 5 is transported by being rotated in the direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the cuvette wheel 4 is formed with a photometric hole 4c in a radial direction at a position corresponding to the lower part of each holder 4b, and uses the upper and lower two insertion holes 4d provided in the upper part of the photometric hole 4c. The wheel electrode 4e is attached. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the wheel electrode 4e is bent at one end extending from the insertion hole 4d to come into contact with the outer surface of the cuvette wheel 4, and the other end extended from the insertion hole 4d is similarly bent. The reaction vessel 5 disposed in the vicinity of the inner surface of the holder 4b and held in the holder 4b is held by a spring force. 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. Has cleaning means.

  On the other hand, the reaction vessel 5 is formed of an optically transparent material, and as shown in FIG. 2, the reaction vessel 5 is a rectangular tube-like vessel having a holding portion 5a for holding a liquid, and the surface acoustic wave element 24 is provided on the side wall 5b. An electrode pad 5e connected to each of the pair of input terminals 24d of the surface acoustic wave element 24 is attached. The reaction vessel 5 is made of a material that transmits 80% or more of light contained in analysis light (340 to 800 nm) emitted from an analysis optical system 12 described later, for example, glass including heat-resistant glass, cyclic olefin, polystyrene, or the like. Resin is used. The reaction vessel 5 is used as a photometric window 5c through which a portion surrounded by a dotted line on the lower side adjacent to the portion to which the surface acoustic wave element 24 is attached transmits the analysis light. In use, the reaction vessel 5 is covered with a drip-proof rubber cap 5d and is set in the holder 4b with the surface acoustic wave element 24 facing the partition plate 4a. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the reaction container 5 contacts each wheel pad 4e with each electrode pad 5e. Here, the electrode pad 5 e is configured to be provided integrally with the surface acoustic wave element 24.

  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 controls the components of the specimen 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 is used to analyze the concentration and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 15 is connected to the input unit 16 and the display unit 17. The input unit 16 is a part that performs an operation of inputting an inspection item or the like to the control unit 15, and for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like is used. The input unit 16 is also used for operations such as switching the frequency of a drive signal input to the surface acoustic wave element 24 of the stirring device 20. The display unit 17 displays analysis contents, alarms, and the like, and a display panel or the like is used.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the stirring device 20 includes a drive control unit 21 and a surface acoustic wave element 24. The drive control unit 21 changes the frequency of the drive signal input to the surface acoustic wave element 24 based on information such as the liquid inspection item, the liquid property or the liquid amount input from the input unit 16 via the control unit 15. And a single drive control unit that switches the position of the sound generation unit that generates sound waves. The drive control unit 21 is disposed on the outer periphery of the cuvette wheel 4 so as to face the cuvette wheel 4 (see FIG. 1), and in addition to the brush-like contact 21b (see FIG. 3) provided in the housing 21a, Are provided with a signal generator 22 and a drive control circuit 23. The contact 21b is provided on the housing 21a facing the two wheel electrodes 4e. When the cuvette wheel 4 stops, the contact 21b comes into contact with the corresponding wheel electrode 4e, and the drive control unit 21 and the surface acoustic wave element 24 of the reaction vessel 5 are connected. Electrically connected.

  The signal generator 22 has an oscillation circuit capable of changing the oscillation frequency based on a control signal input from the drive control circuit 23, and generates a high-frequency drive signal of about several MHz to several hundred MHz as a surface acoustic wave element. 24. The drive control circuit 23 uses electronic control means (ECU) incorporating a memory and a timer, and controls the operation of the signal generator 22 based on a control signal input from the input unit 16 via the control unit 15. Thus, the voltage and current of the drive signal output from the signal generator 22 to the surface acoustic wave element 24 are controlled. The drive control circuit 23 controls the operation of the signal generator 22, for example, the characteristics (frequency, intensity, phase, wave characteristics) of the sound wave generated by the surface acoustic wave element 24, and the waveform (sine wave, triangular wave, rectangular shape). Wave, burst wave, etc.) or modulation (amplitude modulation, frequency modulation) or the like. Further, the drive control circuit 23 can change the frequency of the high frequency signal oscillated by the signal generator 22 in accordance with a built-in timer.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the surface acoustic wave element 24, vibrators 24b and 24c made of comb-shaped electrodes (IDT) are arranged at a slight distance on the surface of the piezoelectric substrate 24a. The transducers 24b and 24c are sounding units that convert the drive signal input from the drive control unit 21 into surface acoustic waves (sound waves), and a plurality of fingers constituting the transducers 24b and 24c are in the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric substrate 24a. Are arranged along. In the surface acoustic wave element 24, a pair of input terminals 24d and a single drive control unit 21 are connected by a contact 21b that contacts the wheel electrode 4e. The vibrators 24b and 24c are connected to the input terminal 24d by a bus bar 24e. The surface acoustic wave element 24 is attached to the side wall 5b of the reaction vessel 5 through an acoustic matching layer such as an epoxy resin. Here, the drawings showing the surface acoustic wave elements described below including the surface acoustic wave element 24 shown in FIG. 4 are mainly intended to show the outline of the configuration. The line width or pitch is not necessarily drawn accurately. 2 may be integrally provided on the input terminal 24d, or the input terminal 24d itself may be the electrode pad 5e.

  In the automatic analyzer 1 configured as described above, the reagent dispensing mechanisms 6 and 7 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 4. Dispense sequentially. 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. Whenever the cuvette wheel 4 stops, the contact 21b comes into contact with the wheel electrode 4e, and the drive control unit 21 and the surface acoustic wave element 24 of the reaction vessel 5 are electrically connected. For this reason, in the reaction vessel 5, the dispensed reagent and the specimen are sequentially stirred by the stirring device 20 to react. In the automatic analyzer 1, the amount of the sample is usually smaller than the amount of the reagent, and a small amount of sample dispensed into the reaction vessel 5 is drawn into the large amount of reagent by a series of flows generated in the liquid by stirring. The reaction between the specimen and the reagent is promoted. The reaction solution in which the sample and the reagent have reacted in this way passes through the analysis optical system 12 when the cuvette wheel 4 rotates again, and the light beam LB emitted from the light emitting unit 12a is transmitted as shown in FIG. . At this time, the reaction solution of the reagent and the sample in the reaction container 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, based on the control signal input in advance from the input unit 16 via the control unit 15, the automatic analyzer 1 sends a drive signal from the contact 21b to the input terminal 24d when the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped. input. Thereby, in the surface acoustic wave element 24, the vibrator 24b or the vibrator 24c is driven according to the frequency of the input drive signal, and a surface acoustic wave (sound wave) is induced. The induced surface acoustic wave (sound wave) propagates from the acoustic matching layer into the side wall 5b of the reaction vessel 5, and leaks into the liquid sample having a close acoustic impedance. As a result, two flows are generated in the reaction vessel 5 from the position corresponding to the vibrator 24b or the vibrator 24c in the liquid sample, to the diagonally upward and diagonally downward directions. Stirred by two streams.

  Here, the surface acoustic wave element 24 is designed so that the electrical impedance at the center frequency of each of the vibrators 24b and 24c is 50Ω, which is the same as that of the external electrical system, and is driven at the center frequency. Then, since the impedances of the vibrators 24b and 24c and the external electric system match, the surface acoustic wave element 24 can input drive signals to the vibrators 24b and 24c without electrical reflection.

  In the surface acoustic wave element 24, for example, the center frequencies of the vibrators 24b and 24c are f1 and f2 (f1 <f2), respectively. At this time, the surface acoustic wave element 24 is shown in FIG. 5 as an equivalent circuit when the impedances of the vibrators 24b and 24c are Z1 and Z2, respectively. Therefore, for example, when the drive control unit 21 inputs a drive signal having the frequency f1 to the surface acoustic wave element 24, the vibrator 24b has an impedance of 50Ω, and the vibrator 24c has an impedance ∞. Accordingly, in the surface acoustic wave element 24, as shown in FIG. 6, the vibrator 24c does not exist (insulated state), and only the vibrator 24b is driven by the input drive signal.

  On the other hand, when the drive control unit 21 inputs a drive signal having a frequency f2 to the surface acoustic wave element 24, the vibrator 24b has an impedance of ∞ and the vibrator 24c has an impedance of 50Ω. Accordingly, in the surface acoustic wave element 24, as shown in FIG. 7, the vibrator 24b does not exist (insulated state), and only the vibrator 24c is driven by the input drive signal. When the impedance of the external electrical system is another value, for example, 70Ω, the electrical impedance at the center frequency of the vibrators 24b and 24c may be designed to be 70Ω.

  For this reason, the automatic analyzer 1 switches the drive signal output from the drive control unit 21 to the surface acoustic wave element 24 by an input operation at the input unit 16. For example, when the amount of liquid is small, the automatic analysis device 1 A drive signal is input to the surface acoustic wave element 24. Then, in the automatic analyzer 1, when the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped, the contact 21 b comes into contact with the wheel electrode 4 e, whereby a driving signal having a frequency f 1 is input to the surface acoustic wave element 24.

  As a result, the agitator 20 is sequentially driven by the drive signal having the frequency f1 during the stop time Ts when the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped, as shown in FIG. 8, in the vibrator 24b of the surface acoustic wave element 24. As a result, the surface acoustic wave (sound wave) induced by the vibrator 24b while the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped propagates from the acoustic matching layer into the side wall 5b of the reaction vessel 5, and leaks into the liquid sample having a close acoustic impedance. put out. An acoustic flow is generated by the leaked sound wave, and the dispensed reagent and the specimen are agitated.

  At this time, the vibrator 24b is disposed below the reaction vessel 5 as shown in FIG. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, the sound wave Wa leaking into the liquid sample Ls in the reaction vessel 5 starts from a position corresponding to the vibrator 24b in the liquid sample Ls, and is obliquely upward and downward indicated by arrows. Head in two directions. Therefore, two acoustic flows corresponding to these two directions are generated in the liquid sample Ls held in the reaction vessel 5, and the dispensed reagent and specimen are agitated.

  On the other hand, for example, when the amount of liquid is large, the automatic analyzer 1 sets so that the drive signal of the frequency f1 and the drive signal of the frequency f2 are alternately input by the input operation in the input unit 16. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10, the stirring device 20 causes the frequency f1 and frequency f2 drive signals to alternate to the surface acoustic wave element 24 in a time-sharing manner during the stop time Ts when the wheel electrode 4e with which the contact 21b contacts changes. Is input. Thus, whenever the frequency of the drive signal input to the surface acoustic wave element 24 is changed by the drive control unit 21 every time the cuvette wheel 4 of the automatic analyzer 1 is stopped, the vibrators 24b and 24c that generate sound waves. Switches in a self-selective manner.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the agitation device 20 generates a sound wave Wa1 having the frequency f1 from the vibrator 24b disposed on the lower side of the reaction vessel 5, and a sound wave Wa2 having the frequency f2 from the vibrator 24c disposed on the upper side. However, each leaks into the liquid sample Ls alternately and an acoustic stream is generated. For this reason, the liquid sample Ls held in the reaction vessel 5 is efficiently stirred from the bottom of the reaction vessel 5 to the gas-liquid interface while suppressing waste of energy. Note that the switching time of the frequencies f1 and f2 is not necessarily 1: 1, and may be set or changed as appropriate according to the properties of the specimen or the amount of liquid.

  At this time, the stirring device 20 is in contact with the wheel electrode 4e between a single drive control unit 21 and a set of input terminals 24d, as shown in FIG. 4, regardless of the number of surface acoustic wave elements 24. It is connected by the contact 21b. Further, in the surface acoustic wave element 24, when the drive control unit 21 changes the frequency of the drive signal, the vibrators 24b and 24c that generate sound waves are switched in a self-selective manner. For this reason, the stirring device 20 does not require a switch circuit like the conventional stirring means, and even if the stirring device 20 has a plurality of vibrators 24b and 24c having different resonance frequencies serving as a sounding portion, It is possible to easily switch the transducers 24b and 24c that generate sound waves with a simple configuration to the specific transducers 24b and 24c while suppressing an increase in the number.

  In addition, the stirrer 20 uses the surface acoustic wave element 24 having vibrators having different resonance frequencies depending on the position, thereby connecting the drive control unit 21 and the pair of input terminals 24d, thereby reducing the number of wires. Since the surface acoustic wave element 24 can be attached to a small container, not only the container can be downsized but also the analyzer can be downsized.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the stirring device, container, and analyzer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The stirrer and analyzer according to Embodiment 1 use a reaction vessel having a surface acoustic wave element attached to a side wall. In contrast, the stirrer and analyzer according to Embodiment 2 use a reaction vessel in which a surface acoustic wave element is attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall.

  FIG. 12 shows the structure of the cuvette wheel of the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment, and is an enlarged perspective view showing part A of the cuvette wheel constituting the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the reaction vessel with the cap removed. FIG. 14 is a front view of the surface acoustic wave device attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall of the reaction vessel. Here, since the basic structure of the automatic analyzer and the reaction container described below including the second embodiment is the same as that of the automatic analyzer 1 and the reaction container 5 of the first embodiment, in the following description, The same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the automatic analyzer 1 and the reaction vessel 5 of the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, since a reaction vessel having a surface acoustic wave element attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall is used, the automatic analyzer 1 is different from the first embodiment in the shape of the wheel electrode of the cuvette wheel 4. . In other words, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the wheel electrode 4f has one end that extends from the insertion hole 4d bent, contacts the outer surface of the cuvette wheel 4, and extends from the insertion hole 4d. The end is similarly bent and then extends to the bottom of the holder 4b. Thus, each wheel electrode 4f is connected to a corresponding input terminal 24d of the surface acoustic wave element 24 when the reaction vessel 5 is accommodated in the holder 4b.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the reaction vessel 5 has a surface acoustic wave element 24 attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall. As shown in FIG. 14, the surface acoustic wave element 24 includes a vibrator 24b (center frequency f1) and a vibrator 24c (center frequency f2 (> f1)) connected in series with respect to a pair of input terminals 24d. The two vibrators 24b and the two vibrators 24c are respectively arranged on the diagonal line on the piezoelectric substrate 24a.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15, the stirring device 30 has a drive control unit 21 and a surface acoustic wave element 24, and a drive signal is transmitted from the drive control unit 21 to the surface acoustic wave element 24 via the wheel electrode 4f. Is entered. In the stirring device 30, for example, when the vibrator 24b is driven, the sound wave Wa1 having the frequency f1 leaks from the bottom wall of the reaction vessel 5 into the liquid sample Ls as shown in FIG.

  The automatic analyzer 1 according to the second embodiment uses the stirring device 30 configured as described above. When the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped by the input operation in the input unit 16, the drive signal of the frequency f1 and the frequency f2 The drive signal is set in advance so as to be alternately input to the surface acoustic wave element 24. Thus, as shown in FIG. 16, the stirring device 30 causes the frequency f1 and frequency f2 drive signals to alternate to the surface acoustic wave element 24 in a time-sharing manner every stop time Ts when the wheel electrode 4f with which the contact 21b contacts changes. Is input. As a result, the automatic analyzer 1 switches the transducers 24b and 24c that generate sound waves in a self-selective manner every time the cuvette wheel 4 stops.

  As a result, when the vibrator 24b is driven, the stirring device 30 causes the sound wave having the frequency f1 to leak from the bottom wall of the reaction vessel 5 into the liquid sample Ls as shown in FIG. The acoustic stream SA1 is generated. On the other hand, in the stirring device 30, when the vibrator 24c is driven, as shown in FIG. 18, the sound wave having the frequency f2 leaks from the bottom wall of the reaction vessel 5 into the liquid sample Ls, and an acoustic flow SA2 is generated. At this time, the two vibrators 24b and the two vibrators 24c are arranged on lines intersecting each other on the piezoelectric substrate 24a. For this reason, in the liquid sample Ls held by the reaction vessel 5, sound waves and acoustic streams SA1 and sound waves and acoustic streams SA2 having different generation positions and directions are alternately generated. Thereby, the stirring device 30 can efficiently stir the liquid sample Ls held by the reaction vessel 5. In this case, since the stirring device 30 has the surface acoustic wave element 24 attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall of the reaction vessel 5, a vibrator that is a sound generating unit that generates sound waves regardless of the amount of the liquid sample held by the reaction vessel 5. It can be switched to 24b or the vibrator 24c. Note that the switching time or switching order of the frequencies f1 and f2 may be appropriately set and changed according to the properties of the specimen, the liquid volume, and the like.

  Here, regardless of the number of the surface acoustic wave elements 24, the stirring device 30 is connected between the single drive control unit 21 and the pair of input terminals 24d by the contact 21b that contacts the wheel electrode 4f. Yes. Further, in the surface acoustic wave element 24, when the drive control unit 21 changes the frequency of the drive signal, the vibrators 24b and 24c that generate sound waves are switched in a self-selective manner. For this reason, the stirring device 20 does not require a switch circuit like the conventional stirring means, and even if the stirring device 20 has a plurality of vibrators 24b and 24c having different resonance frequencies serving as a sounding portion, It is possible to easily switch the transducers 24b and 24c that generate sound waves with a simple configuration to the specific transducers 24b and 24c while suppressing an increase in the number.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the stirring device, container, and analyzer of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The stirrer and analyzer according to the first and second embodiments use a reaction vessel equipped with a surface acoustic wave element in which a plurality of fingers constituting the vibrator are all arranged in the same direction. In contrast, the stirrer and analyzer according to the third embodiment use a reaction vessel in which surface acoustic wave elements having finger orientations different by 90 ° between a plurality of vibrators are attached.

  FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the stirring device according to the third embodiment together with a perspective view of the reaction vessel. FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the reaction vessel with the cap removed. FIG. 21 is a front view of a surface acoustic wave device attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall of the reaction vessel.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the stirrer 35 of the third embodiment includes a drive control unit 21 and a surface acoustic wave element 24 attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall of the reaction vessel 5, and is attached to the holder 4 b of the cuvette wheel 4. When the reaction vessel 5 is accommodated, a drive signal is input from the drive controller 21 to the surface acoustic wave element 24 via the wheel electrode 4f.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the reaction vessel 5 has a surface acoustic wave element 24 attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall. As shown in FIG. 21, the surface acoustic wave element 24 includes vibrators 24b and 24c (center frequencies f1 and f2) connected in series and vibrators 24f and 24g (center frequencies f3 and f4 (<f1) connected in series). <F3 <f2)) are connected in parallel to the set of input terminals 24d. At this time, the vibrators 24b and 24f and the vibrators 24c and 24g are 90 ° apart from each other on the plate surface of the piezoelectric substrate 24a.

  The automatic analyzer 1 according to the third embodiment uses the stirring device 35 configured as described above, and when the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped by the input operation in the input unit 16, the driving signals of the frequencies f 1 to f 4 are displayed on the surface. The acoustic wave element 24 is set in advance so that the frequencies f4, f3, f2, and f1 are switched and input in this order. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 22, the agitation device 35 performs the surface acoustic wave while the drive control unit 21 switches the drive signals of the frequencies f1 to f4 at every stop time Ts when the wheel electrode 4f with which the contact 21b contacts changes. It is alternately input to the element 24 in a time division manner. Thereby, the automatic analyzer 1 switches the transducers 24b, 24c, 24f, and 24g that generate sound waves in a self-selective manner every time the cuvette wheel 4 stops.

  Therefore, in the stirring device 35, when the vibrator 24g is driven, as shown in FIG. 23, the sound wave having the frequency f4 leaks from the bottom wall of the reaction vessel 5 into the liquid sample Ls, and the acoustic flow SA4 is generated. . Next, in the agitator 35, when the vibrator 24f is driven, as shown in FIG. 24, the sound wave having the frequency f3 leaks from the bottom wall into the liquid sample Ls, and the acoustic flow SA3 is generated. Next, when the vibrator 24c is driven in the stirring device 35, as shown in FIG. 25, the sound wave having the frequency f2 leaks from the bottom wall into the liquid sample Ls, and the acoustic flow SA2 is generated. Then, in the stirring device 35, when the vibrator 24b is driven, as shown in FIG. 26, the sound wave having the frequency f1 leaks from the bottom wall into the liquid sample Ls, and the acoustic flow SA1 is generated.

  As a result, acoustic streams SA4 to SA1 are generated in order in the liquid sample Ls held by the reaction vessel 5. Among these acoustic streams, acoustic streams SA4a to SA1a having a large flow velocity are connected to form a counterclockwise rotational flow F as shown in FIG. The stirrer 35 can efficiently stir the liquid sample Ls held in the reaction vessel 5 by the rotating flow F. In this case, since the agitation device 35 has the surface acoustic wave element 24 attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall of the reaction vessel 5, the vibrators 24b, 24c, which generate sound waves irrespective of the amount of the liquid sample held by the reaction vessel 5. It is possible to switch to a specific vibrator among 24f and 24g.

  Here, if the stirrer 35 can efficiently stir the liquid sample Ls held in the reaction vessel 5, the order of switching the frequency of the drive signal for driving the surface acoustic wave element 24 by the drive control unit 21 is not necessarily f4. , F3, f2, and f1 in this order, and the arrangement positions of the vibrators 24b, 24c, 24f, and 24g are not limited to the positions shown in FIG. Therefore, after the surface acoustic wave element 24 is driven in the order of the frequencies f4, f3, f2, and f1 by the drive control unit 21, the stirring device 35 is driven in the order of the frequencies f1, f2, f3, and f4 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, it may be driven in another order. When the agitation order is reversed in this way, depending on the analysis target, the direction of the acoustic flow generated in the liquid sample Ls held in the reaction vessel 5 is disturbed, and the agitation effect of the liquid sample Ls is improved.

  In the stirring device 35, the surface acoustic wave element 24 having the vibrators 24b, 24c, 24f, and 24g may be attached to the outer surface of the side wall 5b of the reaction vessel 5, as shown in FIG. In this way, the stirrer 35 is a vibrator that alternately leaks into the liquid sample Ls from the side wall 5b by switching the drive signals of the frequencies f1 to f4 by the drive controller 21 and inputting them to the surface acoustic wave element 24. The swirl F generated by the four types of sound waves Wa based on 24b, 24c, 24f, and 24g can be convection flowing in the vertical direction. For this reason, not only the stirring device 35 but also the design freedom of the automatic analyzer 1 is increased.

  Here, the surface acoustic wave element 24 used in the stirrer according to the first to third embodiments can change the number of vibrators serving as sounding portions to various numbers according to the purpose. For example, FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, three vibrators 24b (center frequency f1) and one vibrator 24c (center frequency f2 (> f1)) connected in series are connected in parallel to a set of input terminals 24d. It is good also as a vibrator. As shown in FIG. 31, two vibrators 24b (center frequency f1) connected in series and two vibrators 24c (center frequency f2) connected in series are parallel to a set of input terminals 24d. It is good also as four connected vibrators.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 32, the surface acoustic wave element 24 changes the center frequency by changing the line width or pitch of a plurality of fingers constituting the vibrator 24b from the lower part to the upper part in the figure. You may comprise so that may become large toward the upper part from a lower part. If comprised in this way, the surface acoustic wave element 24 can switch the position of the sound-emitting part along the piezoelectric substrate 24a to the up-down direction according to the frequency of the input drive signal, and is the single vibrator 24b. There can be a plurality of sound generating parts.

  As shown in FIG. 33, the surface acoustic wave element 24 includes two vibrators 24f and 24g (center frequency f3) connected in series with two vibrators 24b and 24c (center frequencies f1 and f2) connected in series. , F4 (<f1 <f3 <f2)) may be connected in parallel to a set of input terminals 24d. Further, as shown in FIG. 34, the surface acoustic wave element 24 is arranged in series with two vibrators 24b in which one vibrator 24c is placed in series and one vibrator 24b is placed in between. Two vibrators 24c connected to each other may be six vibrators connected in parallel to a set of input terminals 24d. In this case, in the surface acoustic wave element 24, the center frequencies are alternately different between the vibrators 24b and 24c adjacent in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  Here, when a sample is analyzed by an automatic analyzer, the amount of liquid sample including the sample and the reagent is usually different for each examination item. For this reason, the stirring device 20 using the surface acoustic wave element 24 according to the above-described modification can be switched according to the amount of liquid held in the reaction vessel 5. For example, the stirrer 20 using the surface acoustic wave element 24 shown in FIG. 33 drives the surface acoustic wave element 24 at different driving frequencies f1 to f4, thereby changing the height direction position of the emitted sound wave to the reaction vessel 5. Can be switched according to the amount of liquid held.

  That is, the automatic analyzer 1 having such an agitating device 20 has an input operation at the input unit 16 as shown in FIG. 35, for example, when the amount of the liquid sample containing the specimen and the reagent is small. The driving signals of the frequencies f1 and f2 are set in advance so as to be alternately input to the surface acoustic wave device 24 in a time-sharing manner every stop time Ts when the wheel electrode 4f with which the contact 21b contacts is changed. Thereby, every time the cuvette wheel 4 stops, the automatic analyzer 1 drives the vibrators 24b, 24c among the plurality of vibrators 24b, 24c, 24f, 24g. As a result, as shown in FIG. 36, the stirring device 20 causes the sound wave Wa1 having the frequency f1 and the sound wave Wa2 having the frequency f2 to alternately enter the liquid sample Ls from the vibrators 24b and 24c arranged on the lower side of the reaction vessel 5. By the acoustic flow generated by the leakage, the liquid sample Ls held in the reaction vessel 5 can be efficiently stirred while suppressing waste of energy.

  On the other hand, when the amount of liquid is large, it takes time for the flow generated by the sound waves Wa1 and Wa2 to reach the gas-liquid interface, so it is difficult to sufficiently stir the liquid sample Ls in a short time. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 37, the automatic analyzer 1 is set so that the frequency of the drive signal is changed and the drive signals of the frequencies f1 to f4 are alternately input to the surface acoustic wave element 24 in a time-division manner. Thus, the positions of the vibrators 24b, 24c, 24f, and 24g to be driven are switched alternately. As a result, in the automatic analyzer 1, drive signals having frequencies f 1 to f 4 are alternately input to the surface acoustic wave element 24 at every stop time Ts when the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 38, the stirrer 20 is configured so that the sound waves Wa1 and Wa2 of the frequencies f1 and f2 from the vibrators 24b and 24c arranged on the lower side are placed on the upper side into the liquid sample Ls. Since sound waves Wa3 and Wa4 having frequencies f3 and f4 from 24f and 24g alternately leak into the liquid sample Ls, an acoustic flow is generated even near the gas-liquid interface, and the liquid sample Ls held in the reaction vessel 5 is retained. Can be efficiently agitated from the bottom to the gas-liquid interface with less waste of energy.

  At this time, in the automatic analyzer 1, the drive explanation unit 21 changes the frequency of the drive signal based on information such as the analysis item of the liquid, the property of the liquid, the liquid amount, and the like input by the input operation in the input unit 16. For example, when the surface tension of a small amount of sample dispensed into the reaction vessel 5 is smaller than that of a reagent with a large amount, a small amount of sample is oily (low specific gravity), and a large amount of reagent is aqueous (relatively significant). In the case of non-affinity with each other, the specimen and the reagent tend to be in a phase-separated state, and stirring is difficult. In such a case, the automatic analyzer 1 changes the frequencies f3, f4, f1, and f2 in this order by the input operation at the input unit 16, and alternately inputs the drive signals to the surface acoustic wave element 24 in a time division manner. Set as follows.

  As a result, in the automatic analyzer 1, the sound waves Wa3 and Wa4 of the frequencies f3 and f4 from the vibrators 24f and 24g arranged on the upper side of the reaction vessel 5 are contained in the liquid sample Ls every stop time Ts when the cuvette wheel 4 stops. Then, the sound waves Wa1 and Wa2 having the frequencies f1 and f2 leak alternately into the liquid sample Ls from the transducers 24b and 24c arranged on the lower side. For this reason, in the liquid sample Ls in the reaction vessel 5, a series of flows in the vertical direction is generated, and a small amount of sample is drawn into a large amount of reagent, so that the sample and the reagent can be efficiently stirred. it can.

  Here, conversely, for example, when the surface tension of a small amount of sample dispensed into the reaction vessel 5 is larger than that of a reagent with a large amount, or a small amount of sample is oily (low specific gravity) and a large amount of reagent. In the case of non-affinity with each other, such as being water-based (specifically significant), after driving the vibrators 24b and 24c arranged on the lower side of the reaction vessel 5, the vibrators 24f and 24g arranged on the upper side are driven. To drive.

  As described above, the stirrer 35 according to the third embodiment is arranged between the single drive control unit 21 and the set of input terminals 24d as shown in FIG. 19 regardless of the number of the surface acoustic wave elements 24. Are connected by a contact 21b in contact with the wheel electrode 4f. Further, in the surface acoustic wave element 24, when the drive control unit 21 changes the frequency of the drive signal, the vibrators 24b and 24c that generate sound waves are switched in a self-selective manner. For this reason, the stirring device 35, even if it has a plurality of vibrators 24b and 24c having different resonance frequencies as the sound generating portion, coupled with the fact that the switch circuit as in the conventional stirring means is not necessary, It is possible to easily switch the transducers 24b and 24c that generate sound waves with a simple configuration to the specific transducers 24b and 24c while suppressing an increase in the number.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the stirring device, container, and analyzer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The stirrers, containers, and analyzers of Embodiments 1 to 3 use surface acoustic wave elements as sound wave generating means. In contrast, the stirrer, container, and analyzer of the fourth embodiment use a thickness longitudinal vibrator as the sound wave generating means.

  FIG. 39 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a stirring apparatus according to Embodiment 4 together with a cross-sectional view of a reaction vessel. FIG. 40 is a perspective view of a thickness longitudinal vibrator used in the stirring apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 41 is a frequency characteristic diagram of the thickness longitudinal vibrator showing the relationship between the position along the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric substrate and the center frequency.

  As shown in FIG. 39, the reaction vessel 5 according to Embodiment 4 has a thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 attached to the outer surface of the side wall 5b. Further, as shown in FIG. 39, the stirring device 40 according to the fourth embodiment includes the drive control unit 21 and the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44, and when the reaction vessel 5 is accommodated in the holder 4b of the cuvette wheel 4. A drive signal is input from the drive control unit 21 to the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 via the wheel electrode 4f.

  The thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 is attached to the outer surface of the side wall 5b of the reaction vessel 5 through an acoustic matching layer, and as shown in FIGS. 39 and 40, one piezoelectric substrate 44a made of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is provided. A signal line electrode 44b is provided on the surface, and a ground electrode 44c is provided on the other surface. The signal line electrode 44b and the ground electrode 44c are sound generation units that convert electric power transmitted from the drive control unit 21 into surface acoustic waves (sound waves), and sound waves are emitted from the ground electrode 44c. The thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 is formed in a wedge shape in which the other surface is inclined with respect to one surface to which the ground electrode 44c is attached. For this reason, the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 has a relationship between the position along the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric substrate 44a with reference to the points PA and PB shown in FIG. 40 and the center frequency, as shown in FIG. The number of sound generating parts having different resonance frequencies is arrayed in a dot shape along the longitudinal direction.

  Therefore, when the drive device having a different frequency is input to the corresponding signal line electrode 44b and the ground electrode 44c from the drive control unit 21 via the wheel electrode 4f, the stirring device 40 has a center frequency that resonates with the frequency of the input drive signal. A sound wave excited from the ground electrode 44c at the thickness position of the piezoelectric substrate 44a is emitted, and the position of the sounding portion changes along the longitudinal direction.

  The automatic analyzer 1 according to the fourth embodiment uses the stirring device 40 configured as described above, and is driven according to the amount of liquid held in the reaction vessel 5 by an input operation in the input unit 16. When the signal frequency is changed and the amount of liquid is small, for example, a drive signal having a frequency f1 is input to the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44. Then, in the automatic analyzer 1, when the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped, the contact 21 b comes into contact with the wheel electrode 4 e, whereby a drive signal having a frequency f 1 is input to the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44.

  Thus, in the stirring device 40, the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 is driven by the drive signal of the frequency f1 during the stop time Ts when the cuvette wheel 4 stops as shown in FIG. As a result, the surface acoustic wave (sound wave) induced by the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 while the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped propagates from the acoustic matching layer into the side wall 5b of the reaction vessel 5, and in a liquid sample having a close acoustic impedance. Leak into. An acoustic flow is generated by the leaked sound wave, and the dispensed reagent and the specimen are agitated.

  At this time, the position where the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 is excited by the drive signal having the frequency f 1 is positioned below the reaction vessel 5. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 39, the sound wave Wa1 leaking into the liquid sample Ls starts from the lower side of the reaction vessel 5 corresponding to the point PB of the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44, and is obliquely upward and obliquely downward indicated by arrows. Head in two directions. Therefore, two acoustic flows corresponding to these two directions are generated in the liquid sample Ls held in the reaction vessel 5, and the dispensed reagent and specimen are agitated.

  On the other hand, for example, when the amount of liquid is large, the automatic analyzer 1 is set so that the drive signal of the frequency f1 and the drive signal of the frequency f2 (> f1) are alternately input by the input operation in the input unit 16. . Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 43, the stirring device 20 causes the drive signals of the frequency f1 and the frequency f2 to be alternately supplied to the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 in a time-sharing manner every stop time Ts when the wheel electrode 4e with which the contact 21b contacts changes. Is input. Thereby, every time the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped, the automatic analyzer 1 is self-selecting the position where the sound wave is generated between the position corresponding to the point PA of the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 and the position corresponding to the point PB. Alternately.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 39, the stirring device 40 causes the sound wave Wa1 having the frequency f1 and the sound wave Wa2 having the frequency f2 to leak into the liquid sample Ls alternately from the ground electrode 44c of the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44, thereby generating an acoustic stream. Therefore, an effective flow is generated even near the gas-liquid interface, and the liquid sample Ls held in the reaction vessel 5 can be efficiently stirred while suppressing waste of energy.

  At this time, regardless of the number of thickness longitudinal vibrators 44, the stirring device 40 includes a single drive control unit 21, a signal line electrode 44b as a set of input terminals, and a ground electrode 44c, as shown in FIG. Are connected by a contact 21b that contacts the wheel electrode 4e. Further, the thickness vertical vibrator 44 changes the frequency of the drive signal by the drive control unit 21 to switch the position of the ground electrode 44c, which is a sound generation unit that generates sound waves, in a self-selective manner. For this reason, the stirring device 40 is coupled with the fact that a switch circuit like the conventional stirring means is not necessary, and even if the stirring device 40 has a plurality of sound generating portions having different resonance frequencies, the increase in the number of wirings can be suppressed easily. It is possible to easily switch to a specific sound generation unit that generates sound waves with a simple configuration.

  Here, the thickness longitudinal vibrator used in the stirrer 40 of the fourth embodiment changes linearly in the opposite direction along the longitudinal direction, like the thickness longitudinal vibrator 45 shown in FIG. The two piezoelectric substrates 45a and 45d may be configured such that the two piezoelectric substrates 45a and 45d have a common signal line electrode 45b and a ground electrode 45c. As shown in FIG. 45, the thickness longitudinal vibrator 45 configured in this way has linear thicknesses in the longitudinal section along the lines C1-C1 and C2-C2 of the piezoelectric substrates 45a and 45d. Therefore, when a driving signal having the same frequency is input, the position of the sounding portion can be changed according to the driving frequency, and the two portions can be excited simultaneously as the sounding portion.

  Further, in the thickness longitudinal vibrator used in the stirring device 40 of the fourth embodiment, the thickness of the piezoelectric substrate 47a changes stepwise like the thickness longitudinal vibrator 47 shown in FIG. Alternatively, the ground electrode 47c may be formed on the surface where the thickness changes stepwise, and the signal line electrode 47b may be formed on the flat surface. The thickness longitudinal vibrator 47 configured in this way digitally switches the frequency of the sound wave excited according to the drive frequency of the input drive signal according to the thickness of the piezoelectric substrate 47a that changes stepwise. be able to.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 47, the stirring device 40 according to the fourth embodiment is disposed in a thermostatic chamber 49 in which the reaction vessel 5 and the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 are separated to accommodate the liquid L serving as an acoustic matching layer. May be. Here, since the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 has a lower frequency of the sound wave Wa generated than the vibrators 22b and 22c of the surface acoustic wave element 24, the attenuation of the sound wave is small even if it is arranged away from the reaction vessel 5. Therefore, it can be sufficiently used for generating the flow F in the liquid sample Ls. At this time, when the stirrer 40 shown in FIG. 47 is used in an automatic analyzer, constant temperature water can be used as the liquid L as the acoustic matching layer. The thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 is attached to the waterproof case 48 with the signal line electrode 44b facing inward and the ground electrode 44c facing the reaction vessel 5.

  In addition, in each above-mentioned embodiment, although the drive control part 21 was provided only in one place, you may provide in multiple places depending on the stirring use. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the surface acoustic wave element 24 and the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 as sound wave generating means are attached to the outer surface of the reaction vessel 5 so as not to contact the held liquid. ing. However, the surface acoustic wave element 24 is connected to the drive control unit 21 by a set of input terminals 24d, and the thickness longitudinal vibrator 44 is driven and controlled by a ground electrode 44c and a signal line electrode 44b which are a set of input terminals. As long as it is connected to the part 21, it may constitute a part of the reaction vessel 5 and be in contact with the retained liquid.

It is a schematic block diagram of the automatic analyzer which concerns on Embodiment 1 provided with the stirring apparatus. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the A section of the cuvette wheel which comprises the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. It is the cross-sectional top view which cut | disconnected the cuvette wheel which accommodated the reaction container horizontally in the position of a wheel electrode. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the stirring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 with the perspective view of reaction container. FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a surface acoustic wave element constituting the stirring device of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is an equivalent circuit diagram when the surface acoustic wave device of FIG. 5 is driven at a frequency f1. FIG. 6 is an equivalent circuit diagram when the surface acoustic wave device of FIG. 5 is driven at a frequency f2. It is a wave form diagram of a drive signal which drives a vibrator of a surface acoustic wave device with frequency f1 during a stop time of a cuvette wheel. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an acoustic flow generated in a liquid sample in a reaction vessel when a vibrator of a surface acoustic wave element is driven with a drive signal having a frequency f1, together with a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a stirring device with the reaction vessel taken as a cross section. is there. FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram of a drive signal for driving a surface acoustic wave element by switching between frequencies f1 and f2 during a stop time of the cuvette wheel. The acoustic flow generated in the liquid sample in the reaction vessel when the vibrator of the surface acoustic wave device is driven by switching with the drive signals of the frequencies f1 and f2, together with a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the stirring device with the reaction vessel as a section. It is sectional drawing shown. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a structure of a cuvette wheel of an automatic analyzer according to a second embodiment, in which a portion A of the cuvette wheel constituting the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the reaction container which removed the cap. It is a front view of the surface acoustic wave element attached to the bottom wall outer surface of a reaction container. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the stirring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 with the perspective view of reaction container. FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram of a drive signal for driving a surface acoustic wave element by switching between frequencies f1 and f2 during a stop time of the cuvette wheel. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a reaction vessel showing sound waves leaking into a liquid sample in the reaction vessel and an acoustic flow generated by the sound waves when the vibrator of the surface acoustic wave device is driven with a drive signal having a frequency f1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a reaction vessel showing sound waves leaking into a liquid sample in a reaction vessel and an acoustic flow generated by the sound waves when the surface acoustic wave element is driven with a drive signal having a frequency f2. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the stirring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 with the perspective view of reaction container. It is a perspective view of the reaction container which removed the cap. It is a front view of the surface acoustic wave element attached to the bottom wall of the reaction vessel. It is a wave form diagram of a drive signal which changes and drives a vibrator of a surface acoustic wave element in order of frequency f4-f1 during a stop time of a cuvette wheel. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a reaction vessel showing sound waves leaking into a liquid sample in the reaction vessel and an acoustic flow generated by the sound waves when the surface acoustic wave element is driven with a drive signal having a frequency of f4. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a reaction vessel showing sound waves leaking into a liquid sample in a reaction vessel and an acoustic flow generated by the sound waves when a surface acoustic wave element is driven with a drive signal having a frequency f3. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a reaction vessel showing sound waves leaking into a liquid sample in a reaction vessel and an acoustic flow generated by the sound waves when the surface acoustic wave element is driven with a drive signal having a frequency f2. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a reaction vessel showing sound waves leaking into a liquid sample in the reaction vessel and an acoustic flow generated by the sound waves when the vibrator of the surface acoustic wave device is driven with a drive signal having a frequency f1. It is a top view of the reaction container which shows the revolving flow which an acoustic flow with a large flow velocity produces continuously among the acoustic flows which generate | occur | produce in the liquid sample hold | maintained in the reaction container. It is a wave form diagram of a drive signal which changes and drives the vibrator of a surface acoustic wave element in order of frequency f1-f4 during the stop time of a cuvette wheel. It is a perspective view which concerns on the modification of the stirring apparatus which attached the surface acoustic wave element shown with the block diagram which shows schematic structure of a stirring apparatus to the side wall of reaction container. It is a front view which shows the 1st modification of the surface acoustic wave element used with the stirring apparatus of Embodiment 1-3. It is a front view which shows the 2nd modification of the surface acoustic wave element used with the stirring apparatus of Embodiment 1-3. It is a front view which shows the 3rd modification of the surface acoustic wave element used with the stirring apparatus of Embodiment 1-3. It is a front view which shows the 4th modification of the surface acoustic wave element used with the stirring apparatus of Embodiment 1-3. It is a front view which shows the 5th modification of the surface acoustic wave element used with the stirring apparatus of Embodiment 1-3. FIG. 34 is a waveform diagram of drive signals for driving the vibrator of the surface acoustic wave element by switching between frequencies f1 and f2 during the stop time of the cuvette wheel in the stirring device using the surface acoustic wave element of FIG. The acoustic flow generated in the liquid sample in the reaction vessel when the vibrator of the surface acoustic wave device is driven by switching with the drive signals of the frequencies f1 and f2, together with a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the stirring device with the reaction vessel as a section. It is sectional drawing shown. FIG. 34 is a waveform diagram of a drive signal for driving the vibrator of the surface acoustic wave element at frequencies f1 to f4 during the stop time of the cuvette wheel in the stirring device using the surface acoustic wave element of FIG. The acoustic flow generated in the liquid sample in the reaction vessel when the vibrator of the surface acoustic wave element is switched by driving signals of frequencies f1 to f4, together with a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the stirring device with the reaction vessel as a cross section It is sectional drawing shown. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the stirring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4 with sectional drawing of a reaction container. FIG. 40 is a perspective view of a thickness longitudinal vibrator used in the stirring apparatus shown in FIG. 39 according to the fourth embodiment. It is a frequency characteristic figure of the thickness longitudinal vibrator showing the relation between the position along the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric substrate and the center frequency. It is a wave form diagram of a drive signal which drives a thickness longitudinal vibrator with frequency f1 during stop time of a cuvette wheel. It is a wave form diagram of the drive signal which switches and drives a thickness longitudinal vibrator by frequency f1, f2 during the stop time of a cuvette wheel. It is a perspective view which shows the 1st modification of the thickness longitudinal vibrator used with the stirring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. FIG. 45 is a plan view of the thickness longitudinal vibrator shown in FIG. 44. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd modification of the thickness longitudinal vibrator used with the stirring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the modification of the stirring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4 with sectional drawing of a reaction container and a thermostat.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic analyzer 2,3 Reagent table 4 Cuvette wheel 5 Reaction container 5a Holding part 5b Side wall 5c Window 5d Rubber cap 5e Electrode pad 6,7 Reagent dispensing mechanism 8 Specimen container transfer mechanism 9 Feeder 10 Rack 11 Specimen dispensing mechanism 12 Analysis optical system 13 Cleaning mechanism 15 Control unit 16 Input unit 17 Display unit 20 Stirrer 21 Drive control unit 21b Contactor 22 Signal generator 23 Drive control circuit 24 Surface acoustic wave element 24a Piezoelectric substrate 24b, 24c Vibrator 24d Input terminal 24e Bus bar 24f, 24g Vibrator 30, 35 Stirrer 40 Stirrer 44 Thickness longitudinal vibrator 44a Piezoelectric substrate 44b Signal line electrode 44c Ground electrode 45, 47 Thickness longitudinal vibrator 45a, 47a Piezoelectric substrate 45b, 47b Signal line electrode 45c, 47c Ground electrode 49 Thermostatic chamber F Rotating flow L Liquid Ls Liquid sample S1 ~ S4 Acoustic flow Ts Stop time Wa sound wave Wa1, Wa2 sound wave Wa3, Wa4 sound wave

Claims (13)

A stirrer that stirs a liquid held in a container using sound waves,
A plurality of sound generating portions having different resonance frequencies, and a sound wave generating means for emitting sound waves generated by the sound generating portion toward the liquid;
Drive control means for switching the sound generation section for generating sound waves to a specific sound generation section among the plurality of sound generation sections by changing the frequency of the drive signal input to the sound wave generation means;
A stirrer comprising:   The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the drive control unit changes the position or the number of sound generation units that generate sound waves according to the frequency of the drive signal.   The agitation device according to claim 1, wherein the drive control unit changes the frequency of the drive signal based on the input analysis item of the liquid, the property of the liquid, or information on the liquid amount.   2. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the drive control unit generates a series of flows in the liquid by controlling an order of switching a sound generation unit that generates sound waves to the specific sound generation unit.   The stirring apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the series of flows is a swirl flow. The liquid includes at least a first liquid and a smaller amount of the second liquid than the first liquid,
The stirring device according to claim 4, wherein the series of flows is a flow for drawing the second liquid into the first liquid.   The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the drive control unit switches sound generating parts that generate sound waves by driving the plurality of sound generating parts at different timings.   2. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sound generating units include ones that emit sound waves in directions in which emission directions differ by 90 °.   The stirrer according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of sound generation units have an emission direction of a sound wave emitted this time being 90 ° different from an emission direction of a sound wave emitted last time.   The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the drive control means inputs a drive signal having the same drive frequency simultaneously to the plurality of sound generating units.   The drive control unit drives the plurality of sound generation units in an order different from the switching order after driving the plurality of sound generation units in the order of switching to the specific sound generation unit. The stirrer described. A container for holding a liquid to be stirred using sound waves,
A sound generating unit that has a plurality of sound generating units having different resonance frequencies and generates a sound wave irradiated toward the liquid by changing the frequency of the drive signal is a specific sound generating unit among the plurality of sound generating units. A container comprising a sound wave generating means for switching. An analyzer for analyzing a reaction solution by stirring and reacting a liquid sample containing a specimen and a reagent held in a container, comprising the stirring device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. An analysis device characterized by.

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