JP2007225339A - Analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an analyzer capable of reducing the amount of the specimen dispensed in a reaction container without lowering the treatment capacity of analytical treatment and the precision of analytical treatment. <P>SOLUTION: The analyzer for analyzing a liquid samples on the basis of the quantity of the light transmitted through the liquid samples in the reaction container 7 is equipped with a container holder 62 for moving and stopping the reaction containers 7 which houses a plurality of liquid samples, a photometric stage 111 having a light source 112 for emitting light and a photodiode array 117 for detecting the light emitted from the light source 112 to be transmitted through the liquid samples fixed and arranged thereto and independently performing the movement and stop along the positions of the respective reaction containers 7 separately from the container holder 62 and a control part 16 for performing the movement control of the photometric stage 111 corresponding to the movement and stop of the container holder 62 to measure the quantities of the lights transmitted through a plurality of the liquid samples. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an analyzer having light emitting means for emitting light and light receiving means for receiving light emitted from the light emitting means and transmitted through a sample, and analyzing the sample based on the amount of light received by the light receiving means.

  Conventionally, an analyzer that automatically and continuously performs various chemical analyzes on liquids such as blood and urine has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In such an analyzer, a plurality of reaction containers are annularly arranged on a rotary table, and the reaction container is rotated by rotating the rotary table, whereby a sample dispensing device and a reagent dispenser arranged along the rotary table are arranged. Transport to each of the pouring device, stirring device, measuring device and cleaning device. Here, the sample dispensing process to the reaction container by the sample dispensing apparatus, the reagent dispensing process to the reaction container by the reagent dispensing apparatus, the stirring process of the liquid in the reaction container by the stirring apparatus, and the washing process of the reaction container, After the reaction container is transported to each apparatus to be processed by the rotation of the turntable, the reaction container is stopped by stopping the rotation of the turntable. On the other hand, the measurement process for the sample in the reaction container by the measuring device is performed while the sample dispensing process, the reagent dispensing process, the stirring process, and the washing process are completed and transported to the apparatus that performs the next process. Is called. The measuring device includes a light emitting unit that emits light and a light receiving unit that receives light. The light emitting unit emits light to a reaction vessel that passes through, and the light receiving unit receives light that has passed through the reaction vessel that passes through. To do. The analyzer performs chemical analysis processing such as concentration analysis of a predetermined substance in the sample in the reaction container based on the amount of received light.

JP-A-5-164663

  In the conventional analyzer, the sample dispensing process, the reagent dispensing process, the stirring process, and the washing process for the reaction container are performed, for example, while the reaction container is stationary for about 4 seconds. On the other hand, the measurement process is performed on all the reaction apparatuses that pass through the measurement unit during about 1 second, which is the movement time of the reaction container. Here, in order to reduce the burden on the human body, a reduction in the amount of sample taken from the human body is required, and there is a need for an analyzer that can perform highly accurate analysis processing even with a small amount of sample. Yes. However, in the conventional analyzer, when the amount of the sample dispensed into the reaction container is reduced and the reaction container width is narrowed, the passing time passing through the measurement unit is reduced. As a result, the conventional analyzer has a problem that the analysis time cannot be realized because the measurement time also decreases as the passage time passing through the measurement unit decreases. Moreover, in the conventional analyzer, when the passage speed passing through the measurement unit is slowed down and the measurement time of the measurement unit is lengthened in order to realize high accuracy in the analyzer, the moving speed of the reaction vessel is lowered and the analysis is performed. There was a problem that the processing capacity of the processing could not be kept high.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described drawbacks of the prior art, and enables a reduction in the amount of sample dispensed into a reaction container without degrading the processing capability of analytical processing and the processing accuracy of analytical processing. An object is to provide an analyzer.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes an analyzer for analyzing the sample based on the amount of light transmitted through the container holding the sample, and containing a plurality of the containers. A container moving mechanism for moving and stopping the container, and a light emitting means and a light receiving means for receiving the light emitted from the light emitting means and transmitted through the container are fixedly arranged, and the movement and stop independent of the container moving mechanism. The light emitting means and the optical measurement moving mechanism of the light receiving means are provided.

  In the analyzer according to the present invention, in the above invention, the optical measurement moving mechanism is moved when the container moving mechanism is stopped, and is moved relative to each container accommodated in the container moving mechanism. While measuring the amount of light transmitted through each container.

  The analyzer according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the first condensing means for condensing the light emitted from the light emitting means at a predetermined position in the container, and the light transmitted through the container. And a second light collecting means for collecting light with respect to the light receiving means.

  Moreover, the analysis apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the optical measurement moving mechanism includes the first condensing unit and the second condensing unit.

  Moreover, the analysis apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the container moving mechanism includes the first light collecting means and the second light collecting means.

  Moreover, the analysis apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described invention, the container is provided with the first light collecting means and the second light collecting means.

  Moreover, the analyzer according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, an aperture is provided between the light emitting means and the first light collecting means and at a focal position of the first light collecting means. And

  Moreover, the analyzer according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, a plurality of optical pairs having the light emitting means and the light receiving means corresponding to the light emitting means are arranged.

  In the analyzer according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the light emitting means of the optical pair emits light of different wavelength bands.

  In the analyzer according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the first condensing unit and the second condensing unit include a decentered optical system.

  According to the analyzer of the present invention, a container moving mechanism that moves and stops a container that stores a plurality of the samples, a light emitting unit that emits the light, and a light emitted from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the sample are received. A light receiving means that is fixedly disposed, and an optical measurement moving mechanism that enables movement and stop independent of the container moving mechanism is provided, and the time limit for photometric processing is relaxed, so that the processing of the analysis process The amount of specimen dispensed into the reaction container can be reduced without degrading the capacity and processing accuracy of the analysis process.

  Embodiments of an analyzer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In the description of the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Furthermore, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the relationship between the thickness and width of each part is different from the actual one. Also in the drawings, there are included portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios.

(Embodiment 1)
First, the analyzer according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the analyzer according to the first embodiment, while the reaction container is stationary, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are integrated to perform relative movement with respect to each reaction container to perform measurement.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an analyzer according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment includes a sample table 3, a sample dispensing mechanism 5, a reaction table 6, a stirring unit 8, a photometric unit 10, a cleaning device 11, a reagent dispensing mechanism 12, The work table 2 provided with the reagent table 13 and the reading device 15, a control unit 16, an analysis unit 17, an input unit 18, and a display unit 19 are provided. In the analyzer 1, a sample table 3, a reaction table 6, and a reagent table 13 are provided on a work table 2 so as to be spaced apart from each other and to be rotated and positioned in a circumferential direction. Further, the analyzer 1 is provided with a sample dispensing mechanism 5 between the sample table 3 and the reaction table 6, and a reagent dispensing mechanism 12 is provided between the reaction table 6 and the reagent table 13. In addition, the control unit 16 controls each component of the analyzer 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sample table 3 is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving means (not shown), and a plurality of storage chambers 3a are provided on the outer periphery at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. In each storage chamber 3a, a sample container 4 storing a sample is detachably stored. The sample dispensing mechanism 5 is means for dispensing a sample into a reaction container 7 to be described later. The sample dispensing mechanism 5 sequentially dispenses a sample from a plurality of sample containers 4 in the sample table 3 into the reaction container 7.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reaction table 6 is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving means (not shown), and a plurality of storage chambers arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction are provided on the outer periphery. . In each storage chamber, a reaction container 7 for reacting a specimen with a reagent is detachably stored. Further, the reaction table 6 is provided with a stirring unit 8, a photometric unit 10 and a cleaning device 11. The stirring unit 8 stirs the specimen and the reagent dispensed in the reaction container 7.

  The photometry unit 10 emits analysis light (340 to 800 nm) for analyzing the liquid sample in the reaction container 7 in which the reagent and the sample have reacted, receives light transmitted through the liquid sample in the reaction container 7, The received light amount is output to the control unit 16.

  The cleaning device 11 includes a discharge nozzle (not shown). The liquid sample after completion of the reaction is sucked from the reaction container 7 by the discharge nozzle and discharged to a discharge container (not shown). And the washing | cleaning apparatus 11 wash | cleans the reaction container 7 from which the liquid sample was discharged | emitted, and can use it again for the analysis of a new specimen.

  On the outer periphery of the reagent table 13, a reading device 15 that reads information such as the reagent type, lot, and expiration date recorded on the barcode label attached to the reagent container 14 and outputs the information to the control unit 16 is installed.

  The control unit 16 includes a sample table 3, a sample dispensing mechanism 5, a reaction table 6, a stirring unit 8, a photometric unit 10, a cleaning device 11, a reagent dispensing mechanism 12, a reagent table 13, a reading device 15, an analysis unit 17, and an input. Each process or operation of the unit 18 and the display unit 19 is controlled. The control unit 16 performs predetermined input / output control on information input / output to / from the photometry unit 10, the reading device 15, the analysis unit 17, the input unit 18, and the display unit 19, and performs predetermined information processing on the information. I do. The control unit 16 performs a light emission process for the light source 112 of the photometric unit 10 to be described later, a light receiving process for the photodiode array 117, and a movement process for the photometric unit table 118 for moving the light source 112 and the photodiode array 117 relative to the reaction vessel 7. Control.

  In the analyzer 1 configured as described above, the sample dispensing mechanism 5 moves the sample from the plurality of sample containers 4 of the sample table 3 into the reaction container 7 conveyed along the circumferential direction by the rotating reaction table 6. Are dispensed sequentially. The reaction container 7 into which the sample has been dispensed is transported to the vicinity of the reagent dispensing mechanism 12 by the reaction table 6, and the reagent is dispensed from a predetermined reagent container 14. Then, the reaction container 7 into which the reagent has been dispensed is transported to the stirring unit 8 by the reaction table 6, and the reagent and the sample are stirred and reacted by the stirring process of the stirring unit 8. Then, the reaction container 7 in which the reagent and the sample are stirred is transported to the photometric unit 10 by the reaction table 6, and the amount of received light is measured by the photometric unit 10. Based on the amount of received light, the analysis unit 17 analyzes the component and concentration of the specimen. Then, after the analysis is completed, the reaction vessel 7 is used for analysis of the specimen again after the cleaning device 11 discharges and cleans the liquid sample after completion of the reaction. The sample dispensing process for the reaction container 7 by the sample dispensing mechanism 5, the reagent dispensing process by the reagent dispensing mechanism 12, the stirring process by the stirring unit 8, and the cleaning process by the cleaning device 11 stop the movement of the reaction table 6, The reaction is performed with the reaction vessel 7 stationary.

  Furthermore, in the analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment, the sample dispensing process by the sample dispensing mechanism 5, the reagent dispensing process by the reagent dispensing mechanism 12, the stirring process by the stirring unit 8, and the cleaning process by the cleaning device 11 When the reaction vessel 7 is stationary, measurement processing by the photometry unit 10 is performed. The photometric unit 10 is movable along the arrangement of the reaction containers 7, and this movement is controlled independently of the rotational movement of the reaction table 6.

  Specifically, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 2, when performing a moving process in which the reaction table 6 stops every ¼ (90 degrees) rotation, the control unit 16 stops the reaction table 6 for 4 seconds. When the reaction vessel 7 is stationary for 4 seconds, the sample dispensing process, the reagent dispensing process, the agitation process, and the washing process are performed, and the photometry unit 10 is rotated on the reaction table 6 while being reversely rotated 1/4. Photometric processing is performed on a quarter of the reaction vessels 7 out of the arranged reaction vessels 7. Thereafter, the control unit 16 rotates the reaction table 6 by ¼ rotation in one second and moves the photometry unit 10 by ¼ reverse rotation to move to the initial position. Thereafter, as described above, the control unit 16 causes the sample dispensing process, the reagent dispensing process, the stirring process, and the washing process to be performed when the reaction container is stationary for 4 seconds, and the photometric unit 10 is set to the reaction table 6. Then, the photometry process is performed on the reagent in each stationary reaction vessel while rotating counterclockwise relatively, and the process of rotating the reaction table 6 and the photometry unit 10 by 1/4 is repeated. The rotation direction of the photometry unit 10 may be the reverse direction of the rotation shown in FIG. That is, the photometry unit 10 is rotated forward 1/4 in the same direction as the rotation direction of the reaction table 6 when the reaction table 6 is stationary, and in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the reaction table 6 when the reaction table 6 is rotated 1/4. You may make it make 1/4 reverse rotation. In addition, the photometry unit 10 is capable of rotating around the entire circumference so as not to interfere with each process of the sample dispensing mechanism 5, the reagent dispensing mechanism 12, the stirring unit 8, and the cleaning device 11, and is a reaction table. In the case where 6 is also stopped every rotation, the photometric process may be performed on all reaction vessels 7 while rotating the photometric unit 10 once when the reaction table 6 is stopped. In short, when the reaction table 6 is stopped in accordance with the rotational movement amount of the reaction table 6, the photometry unit 10 is moved relative to the reaction table 6 by the rotational movement amount of the reaction table to perform the photometric processing. That's fine. Of course, photometric processing may be performed including when the reaction table 6 is rotated.

  Next, the photometric unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the photometry unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 and a partial configuration of the reaction table 6 that passes through the photometry unit 10. In FIG. 3, for ease of explanation, constituent parts provided in the photometry unit 10 are indicated by solid lines. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of the photometry unit 10 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reaction table 6 has a container holder 62 formed in an annular shape, and each container holder 62 can store the reaction containers 7 detachably at equal intervals. The container holder 62 is accommodated. As shown in FIG. 4, a constant temperature liquid 65 for holding the liquid sample in the reaction container 7 at a constant temperature is held at the bottom of the container holder 62, and the temperature of the liquid sample in the reaction container 7 is maintained. Prevents change. The container holder 62 is provided with a region through which light passes in correspondence with a passage path of light emitted from the light source 112 described later. Light incident on the reaction container 7 and light transmitted through the reaction container 7 are provided. Can be emitted.

  The photometry unit 10 includes a measurement unit table 118 that is concentric with the reaction table 6 and rotates independently from the reaction table 6, and a measurement unit stage 111 fixedly arranged on the measurement table 118. On 111, a measurement optical system having a light source 112, lenses 113 and 114, a slit 115, a concave grating 116, and a photodiode array 117 is fixedly arranged. Here, a space through which the container holder 62 passes is formed between the lenses 113 and 114.

  The light source 112 emits light having a wavelength range of 340 to 800 nm. The lens 113 condenses the light emitted from the light source 112 on the liquid sample in the reaction container 7. The lens 114, the slit 115, and the concave grating 116 collect the light that has passed through the liquid sample in the reaction container 7 on the photodiode array 117. The lens 114 collects the light transmitted through the sample in the reaction vessel 7 and enters the slit 115. The slit 115 stops the light incident from the lens 114 and enters the concave grating 116. The concave grating 116 splits incident light and reflects and outputs light in a predetermined wavelength region on the photodiode array 117. The photodiode array 117 receives light of a predetermined wavelength range reflected from the concave grating 116 by each of the arranged photodiodes, measures the received light amount of a plurality of desired wavelength lights within the predetermined wavelength range, and controls the measurement result. To the unit 16.

  As described above, the reaction table 6 in which the container holder 62 is arranged and the photometry unit table 118 in which the photometry unit stage 111 is arranged can be moved independently of each other, and while the reaction table 6 is stopped, The photometry process is performed on the sample in each reaction vessel 7 which is rotated by the photometry unit table 118 and stopped by the measurement optical system. In the first embodiment described above, the photometry unit table 118 can be rotated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the measurement unit table 118 is fixed and the measurement unit stage 111 moves independently of the measurement table 118. You may be able to do it. In this case, a guide for moving the measurement unit stage 111 may be provided on the measurement unit table 118. Alternatively, the measurement unit table 118 and the reaction table 6 may be integrated. The point is that the measuring unit stage 111 may perform independent relative movement with respect to each reaction vessel of the reaction table 6.

  On the other hand, in the analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment, the control unit 16, the photometric unit stage 111, and the photometric unit table 118 are arranged such that the position of the sample in the reaction vessel 7 while the reaction vessel 7 is stationary. The light source 112, the lenses 113 and 114, the slit 115, the concave grating 116, and the photodiode array 117 are integrally moved relative to each other to perform photometric processing of each sample. As a result, compared with the conventional analyzer, the analyzer 1 performs photometric processing on the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 7 by the photometric unit 10 as sample dispensing processing, reagent dispensing processing, stirring processing, and washing processing. Is completed, and it is not necessary to carry out during the short time when each reaction container 7 is conveyed to the apparatus which performs the next process.

  The analyzer 1 can also perform a photometric process by the photometric unit 10 during a sample dispensing process, a reagent dispensing process, a stirring process, and a washing process that are performed while being stationary for about 4 seconds, for example. Compared with a conventional analyzer that has been performing photometry processing for about one second, which is the time, about four times as long as the photometry processing time can be secured. For this reason, the analyzer 1 can narrow the reaction vessel width to about 1/4 even when the same photometric time as in the prior art is secured. Therefore, the analyzer 1 can make it possible to reduce the amount of specimen dispensed into the reaction container. Moreover, since the analyzer 1 can ensure sufficient photometry time, it is also possible to maintain the accuracy of the analyzer. Furthermore, since the analyzer 1 performs the measurement process while the reaction vessel 7 is stationary, it is not necessary to change the moving speed of the reaction vessel, and the analysis processing capacity can be maintained.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment has a parabolic mirrors 113 a and 113 b that are off-axis parabolic mirrors instead of the lens 113 and a non-axial off-axis instead of the lens 114. Parabolic mirrors 113c and 113d, which are object mirrors, may be provided. An off-axis parabolic mirror is a concave mirror that forms part of a rotating paraboloid. The analyzer 1 uses the decentered optical system that uses two off-axis paraboloidal mirrors for the first condensing means and the second condensing means, thereby providing a highly accurate measurement result that suppresses the influence of chromatic aberration. Obtainable. In addition, since the analyzing apparatus 1 uses the off-axis parabolic mirror, the spherical aberration is almost eliminated, so that a very small light beam system can be incident on the reaction vessel 7. As a result, in the analyzer 1, the width of the reaction vessel 7 can be further narrowed, and the amount of sample can be further reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, measurement for a plurality of predetermined wavelengths is performed with a simple configuration. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of the analyzer according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the analyzer 201 according to the second embodiment is controlled in place of the work table 202 including the photometry unit 210 instead of the photometry unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the control unit 16 shown in FIG. Part 216. The control unit 216 has the same function as the control unit 16.

  As shown in FIG. 7, on the photometric stage 211 constituting the photometric unit 210, LEDs 212a to 212d, lenses 213a to 213d, 214a to 214d are respectively associated with the positions of the reaction vessels 7a to 7d arranged adjacent to each other. A plurality of photometric units 220a to 220d composed of photodiodes 217a to 217d are fixedly arranged.

  The photometric units 220a to 220d emit light having predetermined wavelengths λa to λd from the LEDs 212a to 212d, respectively, and the lenses 213a to 213d emit light emitted from the LEDs 212a to 212d to the respective liquid samples in the reaction vessels 7a to 7d. And concentrate. The lenses 214a to 214d condense the light transmitted through the liquid samples in the reaction vessels 7a to 7d onto the photodiodes 217a to 217d, and the photodiodes 217a to 217d respectively collect the wavelengths collected by the lenses 214a to 214d. The light of λa to λd is received, and the amount of received light of the wavelengths λa to λd is output to the control unit 216. Here, each of the photodiodes 217a to 217d only needs to have a function of receiving at least light of wavelengths λa to λd.

  Here, when viewed from the reaction vessels 7a to 7d, the liquid samples in the reaction vessels 7a to 7d are placed in the order of the wavelengths λa to λd or in the order of the wavelengths λd to λa by the relative movement of the photometric units 220a to 220d. Light enters and the light is measured in a pipeline manner.

  In the second embodiment, although a plurality of photometric units 220a to 220d are arranged, each measuring unit 220a to 220d does not require the slit 115 or the concave grating 116 and only needs one photodiode 217a to 217d. With a simple configuration, it is possible to perform photometric processing on light having a plurality of wavelengths λa to λd.

  In addition, since the analysis apparatus 201 uses the LEDs 212a to 212d that generate less heat as a light source, the influence on the liquid sample temperature in the reaction vessel 7 is small, and the distance between the LED 212 and the reaction vessel 7 can be shortened. For this reason, in the analyzer 201, the lens diameters of the lenses 213a to 213d can be reduced, and the photometric unit 210 can be reduced in size. Further, since the LED 212, the lenses 213 and 214, and the photodiode 214 are small and lightweight, the moving process by the photometric table 118 can be facilitated.

  In the second embodiment, the distances between the LEDs 212a to 213d and the lenses 213a to 213d and the distances between the lenses 214a to 214d and the photodiodes 217a to 217d are made to correspond to the wavelengths of light emitted from the LEDs 212a to 213d. As a result, chromatic aberration can be corrected, and analysis processing with higher accuracy is possible.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, a lens for condensing light emitted from the LED and a lens for condensing light transmitted through the liquid sample in the reaction container are provided on the container holder side. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of the analyzer according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the analyzer 301 according to the third embodiment includes a photometric unit 310 instead of the photometric unit 10 shown in FIG. 1, and also includes a reaction table 360 instead of the reaction table 6 shown in FIG. A work table 302 and a control unit 316 are provided instead of the control unit 16 shown in FIG. The control unit 316 has the same function as the control unit 16.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the photometry unit 310 includes a plurality of photometry units 320 a to 320 d integrally provided with corresponding LEDs 212 a to 212 d, stops 319 a to 319 d, and photodiodes 217 a to 217 d, respectively. Is provided. Similar to the photometric unit stage 111 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the photometric unit stage 311 has a structure that sandwiches the container holder 362 in the radial direction, and can move independently of the container holder 362. The diaphragms 319a to 319d are disposed at the front focal position of the lens 363, and form a telecentric optical system in which chief rays in the reaction vessel 7 are always parallel even if the LEDs 212a to 212d are misaligned. The optical path length is made equal to improve the photometric accuracy.

  The analyzer 301 according to the third embodiment has a relative relationship with respect to the reaction vessel 7 of the photometric unit 320 when the reaction vessel 7 that performs the sample dispensing process, the reagent dispensing process, the stirring process, and the washing process for the reaction container is stationary. Since the movement process and the photometric process associated with this movement are performed, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. In particular, in the third embodiment, since the optical system mounted on the photometric unit stage 311 is reduced, the configuration of the photometric unit 310 is simplified, and the burden on the movement process of the photometric unit stage 311 can be reduced. Furthermore, since the apertures 319a to 319d are provided so as to form a telecentric optical system, highly accurate photometric processing can be performed.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, diaphragms 319a to 319d may be provided on the container holder 362 side. In this case, the LEDs 212a to 212d and the photodiodes 217a to 217d move with the movement of the photometry unit stage 311. Since the telecentric optical system is formed by the stops 319a to 319d on the container holder 362 side, it is shown in FIG. As described above, the principal rays la and lb passing through the sample in the reaction vessel 7 are translated and always parallel, and the optical path lengths passing through the sample are equal. As a result, a highly accurate received light amount can be acquired and a highly accurate analysis process can be performed without being affected by variations in the received light amount caused by changes in the optical path length.

  Further, in this case, the photometric unit stage 311 only needs to move the LEDs 212a to 212d and the photodiodes 217a to 217d, so that the burden of the moving process of the photometric unit stage 311 can be further reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, lenses 363 and 364 may be provided in the reaction vessel 367. In this case, as in the case shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the LEDs 212a to 212d, the photodiodes 217a to 217d, and the diaphragms 319a to 319d move with the movement of the photometry unit stage 311. In addition, the diaphragms 319a to 319d are arranged at the front focal position of the lens 363 and form a telecentric optical system, so that highly accurate analysis processing can be performed. Further, since the photometric unit stage 311 only needs to move the LEDs 212a to 212d, the photodiodes 217a to 217d, and the apertures 319a to 319d, it is possible to reduce the burden of the moving process of the photometric unit stage 311. In this case, since the lenses 363 and 364 are provided in the reaction container, the container holder 62 without the lens may be used.

  In the first to third embodiments, the lenses 113, 114, 213 a to 213 d, 214 a to 214 d, 363, and 364 are described as convex lenses in the drawings. Good. In this case, since the influence of spherical aberration can be reduced, a very small light beam system can be incident on the reaction vessel 7. As a result, in the analyzers 1, 201, and 301, the width of the reaction vessel 7 can be further narrowed, and the amount of specimen can be further reduced.

  In the second and third embodiments, the case where four sets of photometric units each having the corresponding LED, lens, and photodiode have been described, but it is needless to say that the number is not limited to four. In the second and third embodiments, a single photometric unit having a corresponding LED, lens, and photodiode may be provided, and measurement for one type of light having a predetermined wavelength may be performed. Moreover, although the case where LED212a-212d light-emits each light of a different wavelength was demonstrated, not only this but light of the same wavelength is light-emitted, and the preliminary measurement for supplementing the acquisition of the time dependence of a light reception amount, or measurement deficiency May be performed.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an analyzer according to a first embodiment. It is a time chart which shows an example of the movement control process of the reaction table and photometry part by the control part shown in FIG. It is the top view which showed typically the structure of the passage part in the photometry part in the photometry part and reaction table shown in FIG. It is the XX sectional view taken on the line in FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of a passage portion in a photometry unit 10 in a photometry unit and a reaction table that is a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an analyzer according to a second embodiment. It is the top view which showed typically the structure of the passage part in the photometry part in the photometry part and reaction table shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an analyzer according to a third embodiment. It is the top view which showed typically the structure of the passage part in the photometry part in the photometry part and reaction table shown in FIG. It is the YY sectional view taken on the line in FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a partial configuration of a photometry unit and a reaction table, which is a modified example of the third embodiment. It is the YY sectional view taken on the line in FIG. It is a figure which shows the optical axis change accompanying the movement of LED of the photometry part which is a modification of Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a partial configuration of a photometry unit and a reaction table that are modifications of the third embodiment. It is the YY sectional view taken on the line in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 201, 301 Analyzing device 2, 202, 302 Work table 3 Specimen table 3a Storage chamber 4 Specimen container 5 Specimen dispensing mechanism 6, 360 Reaction table 7, 7a-7e, 367 Reaction container 8 Stirrer 10, 210, 310 Photometry unit 11 Cleaning device 12 Reagent dispensing mechanism 13 Reagent table 13a Storage chamber 14 Reagent container 15 Reading device 16 Control unit 17 Analysis unit 18 Input unit 19 Display unit 62, 362 Container holder 65 Constant temperature liquid 111, 211, 311 Photometry unit stage 112 Light source 113, 114, 213a to 213d, 214a to 214d, 363, 364 Lens 113a, 113b, 114a, 114b Parabolic mirror 115 Slit 116 Concave grating 117 Photodiode array 118 Photometry unit stage 212a to 212d LED
217a to 217d Photodiode 220a to 220d, 320a to 320d Photometric unit 319a to 319d Aperture

Claims (10)

In the analyzer for analyzing the sample based on the amount of light transmitted through the container holding the sample,
A container moving mechanism for storing a plurality of the containers and moving and stopping the containers;
A light emitting means and a light receiving means for receiving light emitted from the light emitting means and transmitted through the container are fixedly arranged, and the light emitting means and the optical of the light receiving means that can be moved and stopped independently of the container moving mechanism. A measurement moving mechanism;
An analyzer characterized by comprising:   The optical measurement moving mechanism is moved when the container moving mechanism is stopped, and measures the amount of light transmitted through each container while moving relative to each container accommodated in the container moving mechanism. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the analyzer is characterized in that: First light collecting means for collecting light emitted from the light emitting means at a predetermined position in the container;
A second light collecting means for collecting light transmitted through the container with respect to the light receiving means;
The analyzer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:   The analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the first light collecting means and the second light collecting means are provided in the optical measurement moving mechanism.   The analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the container moving mechanism includes the first light collecting means and the second light collecting means.   The analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the container includes the first condensing unit and the second condensing unit.   7. The diaphragm according to claim 3, wherein a diaphragm is provided between the light emitting unit and the first light collecting unit and at a focal position of the first light collecting unit. Analysis equipment.   The analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a plurality of optical pairs each having the light emitting means and the light receiving means corresponding to the light emitting means are arranged.   9. The analyzer according to claim 8, wherein the light emitting means of the optical pair emits light of different wavelength bands.   The analyzer according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the first condensing unit and the second condensing unit have a decentered optical system.

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