JP2007315786A - Autoanalyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an autoanalyzer capable of obtaining photometric data that are different in wavelengths, even if the processing of data detected by a plurality of light detection elements is not performed, at the same time. <P>SOLUTION: The autoanalyzer 1 is constituted so as to make the liquids, held in a plurality of liquid holding containers 5, react with each other to measure the optical characteristics of the reaction liquid for analyzing the reaction liquids and equipped with a first light detecting element 11e for detecting the first luminous flux transmitted through the liquid held in a first container to output the light detecting signal corresponding to the detected quantity of light; a second light detecting element 11f for detecting the second luminous flux transmitted through the liquid held to a second container, when the first luminous flux is not detected by the first light detecting element for outputting a light detection signal, corresponding to the quantity of the detected light; a cuvet wheel 4 for relatively moving a plurality of the containers and the first and second light detecting elements, along the arranging direction of a plurality of the containers; and a measurement circuit 16, connected to the first and second light detecting elements and successively measuring the signals output from the first and second light detecting elements. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer.

  Conventionally, an automatic analyzer separates a light beam emitted from a light source into a light beam having a desired wavelength by a spectroscopic unit. Photometric data of the desired wavelength is obtained by irradiating the reaction vessel with the light beam having the desired wavelength and receiving the light beam transmitted through the reaction liquid held in the reaction vessel with the light receiving element. In order to obtain photometric data of different wavelengths, a spectroscopic device used in such an automatic analyzer is known in which a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged at intervals of an integral multiple of the arrangement interval of reaction vessels (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

No. 06-19079

  By the way, since the spectroscopic device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured such that a plurality of reaction containers simultaneously traverse the light beam, a plurality of transmitted lights that have passed through the plurality of reaction containers are simultaneously incident on corresponding light receiving elements. To do. For this reason, the automatic analyzer using the spectroscopic device of Patent Document 1 has a problem that data processing related to measurement of absorbance based on transmitted light incident on each light receiving element must be performed simultaneously.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of obtaining photometric data having different wavelengths without simultaneously performing data processing received by a plurality of light receiving elements. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the automatic analyzer according to claim 1 reacts the liquid held in a plurality of containers arranged at predetermined intervals and holding the liquid, respectively, Is an automatic analyzer that analyzes the reaction liquid by measuring the optical characteristics of the first light beam, which receives the first light beam transmitted through the liquid held in the first container, and receives a light reception signal corresponding to the received light quantity. When the first light receiving element to be output and the first light receiving element are arranged at different positions, and the first light receiving element is not receiving the first light flux, the first container is A second light receiving element that receives a second light beam transmitted through a liquid held in a different second container and outputs a light reception signal corresponding to the received light quantity; the plurality of containers; and the first and second containers Relative to the light receiving element in the arrangement direction of the plurality of containers. A moving means; and a measurement circuit connected to the first and second light receiving elements and sequentially measuring the intensity of the transmitted light beam from the light receiving signals output from the first and second light receiving elements. Features.

  In the automatic analyzer according to claim 2, in the above invention, the first and second light receiving elements are arranged along an arrangement direction of the plurality of containers at intervals different from the plurality of containers. It is characterized by that.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the automatic analyzer according to claim 3 reacts with each of the liquids arranged in a predetermined interval and held in a plurality of containers holding the liquids. An automatic analyzer for analyzing the reaction liquid by measuring optical characteristics of the reaction liquid, wherein m is a natural number, n is a positive real number, m ≧ 1> n, and the arrangement interval of the plurality of containers is L In this case, the first light receiving element that receives the first light flux that has passed through the liquid held in the first container and outputs a light reception signal corresponding to the received light amount, and the first light receiving element A second light receiving element that is disposed at a different position, receives a second light beam transmitted through a liquid held in a second container different from the first container, and outputs an optical signal corresponding to the received light quantity Are arranged so as to satisfy the relationship P = mL ± nL. That.

  The automatic analyzer according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the first and second light beams have different wavelengths.

  The automatic analyzer according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the moving means moves the plurality of containers relative to the first and second light receiving elements at a constant speed. .

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the automatic analyzer includes a plurality of the measurement circuits.

  The automatic analyzer according to the present invention includes the first container and the second container when the first light receiver does not receive the first light flux that has passed through the liquid held in the first container. Since it has a measurement circuit that sequentially measures the signal output from the second light receiving element that receives the second light flux that has passed through the liquid held in the light and outputs a light reception signal according to the received light quantity. There is no need to simultaneously process data received by a plurality of light receiving elements, and photometric data having different wavelengths can be obtained without simultaneously performing data processing.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the automatic analyzer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the automatic analyzer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the arrangement interval of the reaction containers and the arrangement interval of the light receiving elements.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic analyzer 1 includes reagent tables 2 and 3, a cuvette wheel 4, a specimen container transfer mechanism 8, an analysis optical system 11, a cleaning mechanism 12, a first stirrer 13 and a second stirrer 14, A control unit 15 is provided.

  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. Here, on the outer periphery of the reagent tables 2 and 3, a reading device that reads information such as the type, lot, and expiration date of the reagent recorded on the barcode label attached to the reagent containers 2 a and 3 a and outputs the information to the control unit 15. Is installed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cuvette wheel 4 has a plurality of reaction vessels 5 arranged in the circumferential direction and is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving means different from the reagent tables 2 and 3 to surround the reaction vessel 5. It is a moving means for moving in the direction. 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.

  The reaction vessel 5 is an optically transparent material that transmits 80% or more of the light contained in the analysis light (340 to 800 nm) emitted from the analysis optical system 11, such as glass containing heat-resistant glass, cyclic olefin, and polystyrene. It is a container called a cuvette formed into a square cylinder shape by the like.

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

  The analysis optical system 11 is an optical system that transmits and analyzes the analysis light (340 to 800 nm) through the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 5 in which the reagent and the sample have reacted. As shown in FIGS. 11a, filter plate 11b, optical fibers 11c and 11d, and light receiving elements 11e and 11f. The light source 11a is a white light source such as a halogen lamp. As shown in FIG. 3, the filter plate 11b selectively transmits an optical filter F1 that selectively transmits a light beam having a peak wavelength λ1 (first light beam) and a light beam having a peak wavelength λ2 (second light beam). The optical filter F2 is held. The optical fiber 11c guides the light beam having the peak wavelength λ1 transmitted through the optical filter F1 and irradiates the reaction vessel 5. The optical fiber 11d guides the light beam having the peak wavelength λ2 transmitted through the optical filter F2 and irradiates the reaction vessel 5.

  And the light of wavelength (lambda) 1, (lambda) 2 which permeate | transmitted the liquid sample in the reaction container 5 is light-received at different timing by the light receiving element 11e, 11f provided in the position facing optical fiber 11c, 11d. The light receiving elements 11e and 11f are connected to the measurement circuit 16, and the light receiving element 11e that receives the light beam having the peak wavelength λ1 transmitted through the reaction container 5 is the first light receiving element, and the peak wavelength transmitted through the reaction container 5 The light receiving element 11f that receives the light flux of λ2 is the second light receiving element. As shown in FIG. 2, the arrangement interval P of the light receiving elements 11 e and 11 f is set to L + L / 3, where L is the arrangement interval of the reaction vessels 5. At this time, when m is a natural number, n is a positive real number, and m ≧ 1> n, the arrangement interval P is P = mL ± nL (in the case of FIG. 2, m = 1, n = 1/3). ).

  The cleaning mechanism 12 sucks and discharges the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 5 by the nozzle 12a, and then repeatedly injects and sucks a cleaning liquid such as detergent and cleaning water by the nozzle 12a, thereby performing analysis by the analysis optical system 11. The reaction vessel 5 that has been completed is washed.

  The first stirrer 13 and the second stirrer 14 stir the dispensed specimen and reagent with the stirrers 13a and 14a and cause them to react.

  The control unit 15 includes the reagent tables 2 and 3, the cuvette wheel 4, the reagent dispensing mechanisms 6 and 7, the sample container transfer mechanism 8, the sample dispensing mechanism 10, the analysis optical system 11, the cleaning mechanism 12, the measurement circuit 16, and an input unit. 17 and the display unit 18 and the like, for example, a microcomputer having a storage function for storing the analysis result is used. The control unit 15 obtains the absorbance of the liquid sample in each reaction vessel 5 based on the intensity of the transmitted light beam incident on the light receiving elements 11e and 11f measured by the measurement circuit 16, and analyzes the component concentration and the like of the specimen. The control unit 15 controls the operation of each unit of the automatic analyzer 1 and performs analysis work when the reagent lot is different or when the expiration date is out of date, based on the information read from the barcode label record. The automatic analyzer 1 is controlled so as to stop, or has a function of issuing a warning to the operator.

  The measurement circuit 16 is connected to the analysis optical system 11 and measures the intensity of the transmitted light beam from the light reception signals output from the light receiving elements 11e and 11f. The input unit 17 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 or a mouse is used. The display unit 18 displays analysis contents, analysis results, alarms, or the like, and a display panel or the like is used.

  In the automatic analyzer 1 configured as described above, the reagent dispensing mechanism 6 sequentially dispenses the first reagent from the reagent container 2a to the plurality of reaction containers 5 conveyed along the circumferential direction by the rotating cuvette wheel 4. Note. In the reaction container 5 into which the first reagent has been dispensed, the specimen is sequentially dispensed from the plurality of specimen containers 9 a held in the rack 9 by the specimen dispensing mechanism 10. The reaction container 5 into which the sample has been dispensed is stirred by the first stirring device 13 each time the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped, and the first reagent reacts with the sample. The reaction container 5 in which the first reagent and the sample are stirred is sequentially stirred by the second stirring device 14 when the cuvette wheel 4 is stopped after the second reagent is sequentially dispensed from the reagent container 3a by the reagent dispensing mechanism 7. Further reaction is promoted.

  Next, the reaction vessel 5 passes through the analysis optical system 11 when the cuvette wheel 4 rotates again. At this time, the liquid sample in each reaction vessel 5 transmits light having wavelengths λ1 and λ2 guided by the optical fibers 11c and 11d. The light of the wavelengths λ1 and λ2 that has passed through the liquid sample in each reaction vessel 5 is received by the light receiving elements 11e and 11f at different timings, and the intensity of the transmitted light beam that passes through the reaction vessel 5 measured by the measurement circuit 16 Based on the above, the component concentration and the like are analyzed in the control unit 15. At this time, the control unit 15 stores analysis results such as component concentrations. Thus, after the analysis is completed, the reaction vessel 5 is washed by the washing mechanism 12 and then used again for analyzing the specimen.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, in the automatic analyzer 1, when the arrangement interval of the reaction vessels 5 is L, the arrangement interval P of the light receiving elements 11e and 11f is set to L + L / 3. For this reason, the automatic analyzer 1 causes the luminous flux of the peak wavelength λ1 and the luminous flux of the peak wavelength λ2 transmitted through the liquid sample held in the reaction vessel 5 to be different at different timings as the cuvette wheel 4 rotates in the arrow direction. It enters the light receiving elements 11e and 11f. For example, in FIG. 2, when the reaction vessel 53 crosses between the optical fiber 11c and the light receiving element 11e (corresponding to the time t0 in FIG. 4), the light receiving element 11e receives the light beam having the peak wavelength λ1 transmitted through the reaction vessel 53. Then, the measurement circuit 16 measures the intensity of the transmitted light beam from the light reception signal output from the light receiving element 11e. And the control part 15 calculates | requires a light absorbency from the intensity | strength of transmitted light beam, and analyzes the component density | concentration etc. of a test substance.

  In FIG. 2, when the cuvette wheel 4 further rotates by L / 3, the reaction vessel 52 crosses between the optical fiber 11d and the light receiving element 11f, so that the light beam having the peak wavelength λ2 transmitted through the reaction vessel 52 is reflected by the light receiving element 11f. Is received, and the control unit 15 analyzes the component concentration of the specimen based on the intensity of the transmitted light beam measured by the measurement circuit 16. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, the light receiving elements 11e and 11f receive light beams having peak wavelengths λ1 and λ2 at different timings.

  Therefore, the measurement circuit 16 can obtain photometric data having different wavelengths without simultaneously processing the optical signals received by the light receiving elements 11e and 11f. For this reason, the automatic analyzer 1 obtains the absorbance of the liquid sample in each reaction vessel 5 from the light beams received by the light receiving elements 11e and 11f even if there is only one measuring circuit 16, and analyzes the component concentration of the specimen. can do. In this case, the automatic analyzer 1 maintains the same measurement accuracy as before because the light receiving elements 11e and 11f differ only in the timing at which the light beams are received and the time during which the light beams pass through each reaction vessel 5 is the same as before. can do. Furthermore, since the automatic analyzer 1 receives light beams having wavelengths λ1 and λ2 at different timings, it is not necessary to process these optical signals simultaneously. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange measurement circuits as many as the number of light receiving elements for measurement. And can be provided at low cost.

  Here, in the analysis optical system 11, when m is a natural number, n is a positive real number, and m ≧ 1> n, the arrangement interval P of the light receiving elements 11e and 11f is P = mL ± nL. For example, it is not limited to P = L + L / 3, and the arrangement interval P of the light receiving elements may be wider or narrower than the arrangement interval of the reaction vessels 5. Further, although a plurality of light fluxes having different peak wavelengths are used for measurement, it is also possible to use a light flux having the same peak wavelength and perform a plurality of measurements at the same wavelength.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the automatic analyzer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the analysis optical system of the first embodiment, the light emitted from the light source is guided to the reaction vessel using the optical fiber. However, the analysis optical system of the second embodiment uses a semiconductor light source without using the optical fiber. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the arrangement interval of the reaction containers and the arrangement interval of the light receiving elements in the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment. Here, since the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment described below including the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment and only the configuration of the analysis optical system is different, the analysis optical system 11 will be described. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the analysis optical system 21 of Embodiment 2 includes semiconductor light sources 21a to 21c that output light beams (first to third light beams) having peak wavelengths λ1 to λ3, respectively, and these semiconductor light sources 21a. Light receiving elements (first to third light receiving elements) 21d to 21f disposed at positions facing each other with the reaction container 5 interposed therebetween. Since the analysis optical system 21 uses the semiconductor light sources 21a to 21c, the analysis optical system 21 can be made smaller than the analysis optical system 11 of the first embodiment, and the power consumption can be reduced.

  At this time, in the light receiving elements 21d to 21f, when the arrangement interval of the reaction vessels 5 is L, the arrangement interval P1 between the light receiving elements 21d and 21e is set to LL / 3. However, the arrangement interval P2 between the light receiving element 21e and the light receiving element 21f is set to L (= P2) which is the same as the arrangement interval of the reaction vessels 5. At this time, when m is a natural number, n is a positive real number, and m ≧ 1> n, the arrangement interval P1 between the light receiving element 21d and the light receiving element 21e is P1 = mL ± nL (in the case of FIG. 5, m = 1, n = 1/3).

  When the analysis optical system 21 having such an arrangement is used, the measurement circuit 16 receives signals having peak wavelengths λ2 and λ3 simultaneously from the light receiving element 21e and the light receiving element 21f. For this reason, the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment is used when it is not necessary to simultaneously measure the signal having the peak wavelength λ2 and the signal having the peak wavelength λ3. In this case, the measurement circuit 16 switches to either the signal of the light receiving element 21d or the signal of the light receiving element 21f and performs photometry, and the photometric data of the wavelength (λ1, λ2) or wavelength (λ1, λ3) is used for analyzing the liquid sample. use.

  Therefore, the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment uses the analysis optical system 21 to determine the timing of the light beam received by the light receiving elements 21d and 21e when the photometric data of the wavelengths (λ1, λ2) is necessary. On the other hand, when the photometric data of the wavelengths (λ1, λ3) is necessary, the timing of the light beam received by the light receiving elements 21d, 21f is different. Therefore, the measurement circuit 16 can obtain photometric data having different wavelengths without simultaneously processing the optical signals received by the light receiving elements 21d and 21e or the light receiving elements 21d and 21f. As a result, the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment obtains the absorbance of the liquid sample in each reaction vessel 5 from the light beam received by the light receiving elements 21d to 21f even if there is only one measurement circuit 16, and the components of the specimen. Concentration etc. can be analyzed at low cost. Thus, if a part of the light receiving elements are arranged at an arrangement interval that satisfies the arrangement interval P1, the automatic analyzer can be provided at low cost without reducing the analysis accuracy.

  Here, the analysis optical system 21 is not limited to P1 = L−L / 3 as long as the arrangement interval P1 between the light receiving element 21d and the light receiving element 21e is P1 = mL ± nL.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the automatic analyzer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The analysis optical system of the automatic analyzer according to the first embodiment uses one measurement circuit. On the other hand, the analysis optical system of the automatic analyzer according to the third embodiment uses two measurement circuits according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the arrangement intervals of the reaction containers and the arrangement intervals of the light receiving elements in the automatic analyzer according to the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the analysis optical system of the third embodiment has two sets of the measurement circuit 16 of the first embodiment and a plurality of light receiving elements. The analysis optical system 11 of the first embodiment includes In addition, a light beam having a peak wavelength λ1 (first light beam) and a light beam having a peak wavelength λ2 (second light beam) are guided to the light receiving elements 11e and 11f by two sets of optical fibers 11c and 11d.

  Therefore, the automatic analyzer of the third embodiment uses the analysis optical system shown in FIG. 6 to change the timing of light beams received by the light receiving elements 11e and 11f. Therefore, the automatic analyzer according to the third embodiment can obtain photometric data having different wavelengths without simultaneously processing the optical signals received by the light receiving elements 11e and 11f. Thus, by providing two sets of the measurement circuit 16 and a plurality of light receiving elements, the number of measurements can be increased.

  Here, although the automatic analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment includes the two reagent tables, the reagent table 2 and the reagent table 3, the number of reagent tables may be one. Further, the automatic analyzer of the present invention may have a structure having two or more units with the structure shown in FIG. 1 as one unit.

  Further, the automatic analyzer 1 according to Embodiment 1 moves the plurality of reaction vessels 5 along the arrangement direction of the reaction vessels 5 with respect to the first and second light receiving elements by rotating the cuvette wheel 4. . However, in the automatic analyzer of the present invention, only the first and second light receiving elements, or the cuvette wheel 4 and the first and second light receiving elements are rotated, whereby the plurality of reaction vessels 5 and the first light receiving elements are rotated. The second light receiving element may be relatively moved along the arrangement direction of the reaction vessels 5.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram explaining the arrangement | positioning space | interval of a reaction container and the arrangement | positioning space | interval of a light receiving element. It is a perspective view which shows the filter board of an analysis optical system. It is a signal waveform diagram which shows the timing which two light receiving elements of an analysis optical system receive transmitted light. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining an arrangement interval of reaction containers and an arrangement interval of light receiving elements in the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining an arrangement interval of reaction containers and an arrangement interval of light receiving elements in the automatic analyzer according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic analyzer 2,3 Reagent table 4 Cuvette wheel 5 Reaction container 6,7 Reagent dispensing mechanism 8 Specimen container transfer mechanism 9 Rack 10 Specimen dispensing mechanism 11 Analytical optical system 11e, 11f Light receiving element 12 Washing mechanism 13 First stirring Device 14 Second stirring device 15 Control unit 16 Measurement circuit 17 Input unit 18 Display unit 21 Analysis optical system 21d to 21f Light receiving element

Claims (6)

An automatic analyzer that analyzes the reaction liquid by measuring the optical characteristics of the reaction liquid by reacting each of the liquids held in a plurality of containers that hold the liquid, arranged at predetermined intervals,
A first light receiving element that receives the first light flux transmitted through the liquid held in the first container and outputs a light reception signal according to the received light amount;
When the first light receiving element is disposed at a position different from the first light receiving element and does not receive the first light flux, the first light receiving element is held in a second container different from the first container. A second light receiving element that receives the second light flux that has passed through the liquid and outputs a light reception signal corresponding to the amount of light received;
Moving means for relatively moving the plurality of containers and the first and second light receiving elements along an arrangement direction of the plurality of containers;
A measurement circuit connected to the first and second light receiving elements and sequentially measuring the intensity of the transmitted light flux from the light receiving signals output from the first and second light receiving elements;
An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising:   2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the first and second light receiving elements are arranged along an arrangement direction of the plurality of containers at intervals different from the plurality of containers. An automatic analyzer that analyzes the reaction liquid by measuring the optical characteristics of the reaction liquid by reacting each of the liquids held in a plurality of containers that hold the liquid, arranged at predetermined intervals,
When m is a natural number, n is a positive real number, m ≧ 1> n, and the arrangement interval of the plurality of containers is L, the first light flux transmitted through the liquid held in the first container is received. The first light receiving element that outputs a light reception signal corresponding to the amount of received light and the liquid that is disposed in a position different from the first light receiving element and held in a second container different from the first container The second light receiving element that receives the second light flux that has passed through and outputs an optical signal corresponding to the received light quantity is disposed so as to satisfy the relationship of the interval P = mL ± nL. Analysis equipment.   The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the first and second light beams have different wavelengths.   2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the moving means moves the plurality of containers relative to the first and second light receiving elements at a constant speed.   The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the measurement circuits.

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