JP2007322246A - Autoanalyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an autoanalyzer capable of measuring the optical characteristics of a liquid sample with high reliability even when a light source large in output variation is used. <P>SOLUTION: The autoanalyzer for measuring the optical characteristics of the liquid held in a container is equipped with a photometric sensor 11c for measuring the luminous flux emitted from the light source 11a and the cuvet wheel 4 arranged between the light source and the photometric sensor and having a holding part 4a for holding the container 5 and the light path 4b formed to a part different from the holding part to guide the luminous flux to the photometric sensor. The measured value of the luminous flux passing through the light path measured by the photometric sensor is used to correct the measured value of the luminous flux, which is transmitted through the liquid holding container, measured by the photometric sensor by a correction circuit 15b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer.

  Conventionally, automatic analyzers determine component concentrations and the like by measuring optical characteristics of a liquid sample held in a container. For this reason, the automatic analyzer performs a so-called cell blank measurement for the purpose of maintaining measurement accuracy (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this measurement, the automatic analyzer of Patent Document 1 measures the amount of light that passes through a container holding a predetermined liquid, for example, purified water, and uses the measured value as the origin absorbance of each container.

JP 2000-65744 A

  However, when using a light source with a large output fluctuation that causes the output to fluctuate for each measurement, the autoanalyzer changes the origin absorbance for each container. There was a problem of being lowered. In addition, since some of the containers are used for correction, there is a problem that the control of the containers becomes complicated and the processing capacity of the automatic analyzer is reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is an automatic analysis capable of measuring the optical characteristics of a liquid sample with high reliability even when a light source having a large output fluctuation is used. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an automatic analyzer according to claim 1 is an automatic analyzer for measuring optical characteristics of a liquid held in a container, and includes a light beam emitted from a light source. A photometric means for photometric measurement, a holding part for holding the container, and a light path for guiding the luminous flux to the photometric means, which are arranged between the light source and the photometric means. And a container holding member.

  The automatic analyzer according to a second aspect of the present invention is the automatic analyzer according to the second aspect, wherein the container holding the liquid measured by the photometric means using the measured value of the light beam passing through the optical path measured by the photometric means. A correction circuit for correcting the measured value of the transmitted light beam is provided.

  Further, in the automatic analyzer according to claim 3, in the above invention, the container holding member has a plurality of holding parts for individually holding and arranging the containers, and the optical path is provided between the holding parts. It is provided.

  The automatic analyzer according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the optical path of the container holding member is arranged along an arrangement direction of the plurality of holding parts.

  The automatic analyzer according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the container holding member moves relative to the light source.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the automatic analyzer according to the above invention, wherein the photometric means measures the light beam passing through the optical path immediately before or immediately after measuring the light beam transmitted through the container holding the liquid. Features.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the transmittance of the light beam that has passed through the optical path is 100%.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, an automatic analyzer according to claim 8 is an automatic analyzer for measuring optical characteristics of a liquid held in a container, and is emitted from a light source. A photometric means for photometric measurement of the luminous flux, a holding part for holding the container, and a light flux passing through an optical path existing before or after the container held by the holding part, between the light source and the photometric means And a correction circuit for correcting the measured value of the light beam transmitted through the container holding the liquid.

  The automatic analyzer according to the present invention is formed in a portion different from the photometric means for measuring the luminous flux emitted from the light source, the holding part for holding the container, and the holding part that is disposed between the light source and the photometric means. And a container holding member having an optical path for guiding the luminous flux to the photometric means, and using the measured value of the luminous flux passing through the optical path measured by the photometric means, the liquid measured by the photometric means is held by a correction circuit. Since the measured value of the light beam transmitted through the container is corrected, the optical characteristic of the liquid sample can be measured with high reliability even when a light source with large output fluctuation is used. Play.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an 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 showing the relationship between the holding part of the cuvette wheel and the optical path together with a block diagram of the photometric sensor and the control part.

  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, each of the reagent tables 2 and 3 includes a plurality of reagent containers 2a for the first reagent and a plurality of reagent containers 3a for the second reagent arranged in the circumferential direction. The reagent containers 2a and 3a are rotated by driving means. Transport in the circumferential direction. Each of the plurality of reagent containers 2a and 3a is filled with a predetermined reagent corresponding to the inspection item, and an identification code label (not shown) for displaying information such as the type, lot, and expiration date of the stored reagent on the outer surface. It is affixed. Here, on the outer periphery of the reagent tables 2 and 3, a reading device that reads the reagent information recorded on the identification code label attached to the reagent containers 2 a and 3 a and outputs it 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 rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving means different from the driving means for driving the reagent tables 2 and 3. It is a moving means for moving the reaction vessel 5 in the circumferential direction. The cuvette wheel 4 is disposed between the light source 11a and the photometric sensor 11c, and has a holding part 4a that holds the reaction vessel 5 and an optical path 4b that includes a circular opening that guides the luminous flux emitted from the light source 11a to the photometric sensor 11c. is doing. The holding portions 4a are arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the cuvette wheel 4, and an optical path 4b extending in the radial direction is formed between the adjacent holding portions 4a. Accordingly, in the cuvette wheel 4, a plurality of optical paths 4b arranged along the arrangement direction of the plurality of holding units 4a are alternately formed between the plurality of holding units 4a.

  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. 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.

  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 for performing analysis by transmitting 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 FIG. And an optical filter 11b and a photometric sensor 11c. The light source 11a emits light of a predetermined wavelength, but the amount of emitted light may vary from reaction vessel 5 to another. The optical filter 11b is an optical filter that selectively transmits a light beam having a peak at a predetermined wavelength. The photometric sensor 11 c is a photometric unit that measures a light beam emitted from the light source, and outputs an optical signal corresponding to the photometric amount to the control unit 15. Here, the optical path 4b is a hole formed in the cuvette wheel 4, and there is nothing inside. For this reason, the light beam passing through the optical path 4b and measured by the photometric sensor 11c is a light beam having a transmittance of 100%.

  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 stirring devices 13 and 14, A microcomputer or the like that is connected to the input unit 16 and the display unit 17 and has a calculation function, a storage function, a control function, a timekeeping function, and the like is used. The control unit 15 controls the operation of each of the above units and performs analysis work when the reagent lots are different or the expiration date is out of date based on information read from the identification code label affixed to the reagent containers 2a and 3a. The automatic analyzer 1 is controlled so as to stop or an alarm is issued to the operator.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control unit 15 includes a photometry circuit 15a and a correction circuit 15b. The photometry circuit 15a measures the light quantity of the light beam that has passed through the optical path 4b or the light beam that has passed through the reaction vessel 5 holding the liquid based on the optical signal output from the photometry sensor 11c, and outputs the measurement result to the correction circuit 15b. To do. The correction circuit 15b includes a storage circuit 15c and an arithmetic circuit 15d. The storage circuit 15c stores the amount of light passing through the optical path 4b measured by the photometry circuit 15a and the amount of light transmitted through the reaction vessel 5. The arithmetic circuit 15d calculates the absorbance of the liquid sample held in the reaction vessel 5 from the amount of light stored in the storage circuit 15c. The arithmetic circuit 15d analyzes the component concentration of the liquid sample held in the reaction vessel 5 from the calculated absorbance.

  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 display unit 17 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.

  The cuvette wheel 4 moves relative to the light source 11 a, and the reaction vessel 5 and the optical path 4 b pass through the analysis optical system 11. Thereby, the light quantity which the photometry circuit 15a permeate | transmitted the reaction container 5 and the light quantity which passed the optical path 4b are measured from the optical signal which the photometry sensor 11c output. At this time, the arithmetic circuit 15d analyzes the component concentration and the like of the liquid sample based on the light amount measured by the photometry circuit 15a. At this time, the storage circuit 15c stores the analysis result such as the component concentration calculated by the arithmetic circuit 15d. 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.

  At this time, in the automatic analyzer 1, an optical path 4 b is formed between the holding portions 4 a of the cuvette wheel 4. For this reason, in the automatic analyzer 1, optical signals relating to the light beam that has passed through the reaction vessel 5 and the light beam that has passed through the optical path 4b are alternately input to the photometric circuit 15a from the photometric sensor 11c. An analysis procedure of the automatic analyzer 1 will be described. First, the reaction vessel 5 holding cleaning water serving as a reference for absorbance measurement is placed on one holding portion 4a of the cuvette wheel 4, and the amount of light beam transmitted through the reaction vessel 5 is measured as shown in FIG. The measured light quantity is defined as a reference light quantity (I0). Further, before or after the measurement of the reference light quantity (I0), as shown in FIG. 3, the light quantity that has passed through the optical path 4b is measured, and this is used as the reference light source light quantity (S0).

  Next, the amount of light that has passed through the reaction vessel 5 holding the liquid sample is measured to obtain an actually measured amount of light (Ix). However, the light source 11a needs to correct the measured actual light amount (Ix) when the emitted light amount is likely to fluctuate. For this reason, the amount of light that has passed through the optical path 4b is measured before or after the measurement of the actually measured light amount (Ix), and this is used as the actually measured light source light amount (Sx). Then, since the change rate of the light source light amount with respect to the light source light amount at the time of measuring the reference light amount is Sx / S0, the corrected actually measured light amount (I) obtained by correcting the change in the light source light amount is Ix / (Sx / S0). Become.

  Therefore, the absorbance E of the liquid sample is E = log (I0 / Ix), and the absorbance E when the amount of change in the light source amount is corrected is E = log (I0 / I). Since the corrected actually measured light quantity (I) is Ix / (Sx / S0) in this case, the absorbance is obtained by E = log (I0 / Ix) × (Sx / S0). That is, the automatic analyzer 1 stores the measured reference light amount (I0), reference light source light amount (S0), measured light amount (Ix), and measured light source light amount (Sx) in the storage circuit 15c, and reacts by the arithmetic circuit 15d. The absorbance of the liquid sample held in the container 5 is calculated, and the component concentration and the like are analyzed. After obtaining the analysis result such as the component concentration in this way, the correction circuit 15b outputs the analysis result to the display unit 17 and displays it on the display panel or the like. Thus, since the automatic analyzer 1 includes the correction circuit 15b having the storage circuit 15c and the arithmetic circuit 15d, even if the output fluctuation of the light source 11a is large, the influence of the output fluctuation is avoided and the liquid sample is not changed. Optical properties can be measured with high reliability.

  Further, since the holding portions 4a and the optical paths 4b are alternately arranged, the actually measured light source amount (Sx) can be automatically acquired as the cuvette wheel 4 rotates. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a new configuration (such as a changeover switch) for acquiring the actually measured light source amount (Sx), and the actually measured light source amount (Sx) can be acquired with a simple device configuration. Further, since the control and measurement sequence can be made the same regardless of the position of the cuvette wheel 4, the control of the automatic analyzer 1 is simplified. Furthermore, since reference light can be acquired without reducing the number of reaction containers 5 that can be used, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the processing capacity of the automatic analyzer 1.

  In addition, the holding | maintenance part 4a which does not hold | maintain the reaction container 5 is arrange | positioned by arranging the holding | maintenance part 4a which does not form the optical path 4b, and hold | maintains the reaction container 5 and the holding | maintenance part 4a which does not hold | maintain the reaction container 5 alternately. It may be used instead. In this case, since it is not necessary to provide the optical path 4b in the cuvette wheel 4, the automatic analyzer 1 can be configured easily.

  However, in the first embodiment, the holding units 4a and the optical paths 4b are alternately arranged. However, if the measured light source light quantity (Sx) can be measured in the vicinity of measuring the actually measured light quantity (Ix), they are alternately arranged. There is no need. For this reason, the automatic analyzer 1 avoids the influence of the output fluctuation of the light source 11a and has high reliability of the optical characteristics of the liquid sample even when the optical path 4b is arranged every two holding parts 4a, for example. The effect that it can measure under the nature can be exhibited.

  In the first embodiment, the absorbance is corrected using the actually measured light source light amount (Sx) measured either before or after measuring the actually measured light amount (Ix). On the other hand, the arithmetic circuit 15d may be configured to calculate the average value of the actually measured light source light amount (Sx) before and after the measurement of the actually measured light amount (Ix), and the absorbance may be corrected using the average value.

(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 automatic analyzer of the first embodiment, the holding unit that holds the reaction vessel and the optical path that guides the light flux to the photometric sensor are provided in the cuvette wheel. However, the automatic analyzer of the second embodiment holds the reaction vessel. The holding part is provided on the cuvette wheel, and the optical path for guiding the light beam to the photometric sensor is provided in a collective container in which a plurality of reaction containers are integrated. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the collecting container and the cuvette wheel in the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment. Here, since the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the structure of the cuvette wheel, the same components are described using the same reference numerals.

  The automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment uses a cuvette wheel 21 shown in FIG. 4 in place of the cuvette wheel 4. The cuvette wheel 21 is a ring-shaped container holding member that is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving unit that is different from the driving unit that drives the reagent tables 2 and 3, and holds the collecting container 25 along the circumferential direction of the main body 21 a. Holding parts 21b for holding are provided at predetermined intervals.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the assembly container 25 is an integrated unit in which the upper parts of a plurality of reaction containers are connected, and the upper parts of the plurality of containers 25 a configured similarly to the reaction container 5 are between the plurality of containers 25 a. The flanges 25b are integrally connected with a predetermined interval. In each container 25a, reagents and specimens are dispensed by the reagent dispensing mechanisms 6 and 7 and the specimen dispensing mechanism 10.

  Therefore, in the collecting container 25, when each container 25a is inserted into the corresponding holding portion 21b from above and set on the cuvette wheel 21, the light beam emitted by the light source 11a is emitted between the adjacent containers 25a as shown in FIG. A passing optical path PL is formed. In this case, if the container 25a is not inserted into the holding portion 21b, the space formed below the holding portion 21b where the container 25a is not inserted can also be used as the optical path PL through which the light beam passes.

  In the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment, the photometric circuit 15a measures the amount of light transmitted through the container 25a and the amount of light transmitted through the optical path PL from the optical signal output from the photometric sensor 11c. Then, the arithmetic circuit 15d analyzes the component concentration of the liquid sample based on the light quantity measured by the photometry circuit 15a.

  In these photometry, the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment relates to the reference light amount (in the same manner as the automatic analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment) with respect to each container 25a holding the liquid sample containing the reagent and the specimen and the optical path PL. The photometry circuit 15a measures the I0), the reference light source quantity (S0), the measured light quantity (Ix), and the measured light source quantity (Sx). Then, the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment calculates the absorbance of the liquid sample in which the change amount of the light source light amount is corrected by the correction circuit 15b based on these values, and analyzes the component concentration and the like. After obtaining the analysis result such as the component concentration in this way, the correction circuit 15b outputs the analysis result to the display unit 17 and displays it on the display panel or the like. As described above, since the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment includes the correction circuit 15b including the storage circuit 15c and the arithmetic circuit 15d, even if the output fluctuation of the light source 11a is large, the influence of the output fluctuation is avoided. Thus, the optical characteristics of the liquid sample held in each container 25a of the collecting container 25 can be measured with high reliability.

  In the second embodiment, the collective container 25 in which a plurality of containers 25a are integrated is used. However, it is not necessarily integrated, and a flange that supports a container inserted into the holding portion 21b in place of the collective container 25. One container having the following may be used.

  Although the automatic analyzer of the present invention has been described with respect to the case where the reagent dispensing mechanism 6 and the reagent dispensing mechanism 7 are provided, the number of reagent dispensing mechanisms may be one. Moreover, the automatic analyzer of the present invention may be configured by combining a plurality of units with the automatic analyzer 1 as one unit.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the holding | maintenance part of a cuvette wheel, and an optical path with the block diagram of a photometry sensor and a control part. In FIG. 2, it is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that the light beam which the light source emitted passes the optical path of a cuvette wheel. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a part of a collecting container and a cuvette wheel in the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment. It is a front view which shows the state which set the collection container of FIG. 4 to the cuvette wheel.

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 11a Light source 11c Photometric sensor 12 Washing mechanism 13 First stirring Device 14 Second stirring device 15 Control unit 15a Photometric circuit 15b Correction circuit 16 Input unit 17 Display unit 21 Cuvette wheel 25 Collecting container

Claims (8)

An automatic analyzer for measuring the optical properties of a liquid held in a container,
A photometric means for measuring the luminous flux emitted from the light source;
A container holding member that is disposed between the light source and the photometric means, has a light path that guides the light flux to the photometric means, and is formed in a portion different from the holding part that holds the container and the holding part;
An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising:   And a correction circuit for correcting the measured value of the light beam transmitted through the container holding the liquid measured by the photometric means using the measured value of the light beam passing through the optical path measured by the photometric means. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1.   2. The automatic analysis according to claim 1, wherein the container holding member has a plurality of holding parts that hold and arrange the containers individually, and the optical path is provided between the holding parts. apparatus.   The automatic analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the optical path of the container holding member is arranged along an arrangement direction of the plurality of holding parts.   The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the container holding member moves relative to the light source.   2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the photometric unit measures a light beam passing through the optical path immediately before or immediately after measuring a light beam transmitted through the container holding a liquid.   The automatic analyzer according to claim 6, wherein the transmittance of the light beam that has passed through the optical path is 100%. An automatic analyzer for measuring the optical properties of a liquid held in a container,
A photometric means for measuring the luminous flux emitted from the light source;
A holding part that is arranged between the light source and the photometric means and holds the container;
A correction circuit that corrects the measurement value of the light beam that has passed through the container holding the liquid, using the measurement value of the light beam that passes through the optical path existing before or after the container held by the holding unit;
An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising:

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