JP2007322327A - Dispenser and autoanalyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dispenser capable of properly holding the monitoring precision of dispensing operation, and an autoanalyzer equipped with the dispenser. <P>SOLUTION: The dispenser is equipped with a hollow probe, a pressure-producing means for producing pressure that is the pressure applied to the probe, in order to suck or discharge liquid and added, via a predetermined pressure-transmitting liquid, the pressure sensor provided in the vicinity of the base end part of the probe and detecting the pressure applied to the probe via the pressure-transmitting liquid and a liquid-temperature adjusting means for making the liquid temperature of the pressure-transmitting liquid and the temperature in the vicinity of the pressure sensor to be almost identical. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dispensing device that sucks and discharges liquid, and an automatic analyzer that includes the dispensing device and analyzes a sample.

  In automatic analyzers that analyze biochemically or immunologically for samples such as blood and body fluids, a dispensing mechanism realized by using components such as probes and syringes to dispense samples and reagents containing specimens It has. In this dispensing mechanism, a predetermined liquid injected into the pipe transmits a pressure to suck or discharge a sample or a reagent.

  Conventionally, in order to monitor whether or not the dispensing operation of the sample or reagent in the dispensing mechanism described above has been performed reliably, a pressure sensor has been provided in the flow path in the pipe of the dispensing mechanism, and suction is performed due to pressure fluctuations in the pipe. And a technique for determining whether or not the discharge has been performed properly is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Special Table 2000-513109

  Usually, an automatic analyzer is installed in a place where the room temperature is controlled, and is often used in a constant room temperature environment. However, since the liquid temperature of the pressure transmission liquid used in the dispensing mechanism of the automatic analyzer is not controlled, for example, when the pressure transmission liquid is newly introduced from the outside in the cold season, the new liquid is introduced. In some cases, the temperature of the liquid for pressure transmission was significantly different from room temperature. In this case, because the pressure sensor has temperature characteristics, the measurement value of the pressure sensor may fluctuate from the actual value, which may affect the monitoring accuracy of the dispensing operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing device and an automatic analyzer that can keep the accuracy of monitoring of dispensing operation properly.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a dispensing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a hollow probe and a pressure applied to the probe for sucking or discharging a liquid, and is a predetermined amount. Pressure generating means for generating a pressure applied via the pressure transmission liquid, and a pressure sensor provided near the base end of the probe for detecting the pressure applied to the probe via the pressure transmission liquid; And a liquid temperature adjusting means for making the liquid temperature of the pressure transmitting liquid substantially the same as the temperature in the vicinity of the pressure sensor.

  The liquid in the present invention includes a liquid in which a small amount of a solid component is mixed, such as a sample for analysis such as blood and body fluid.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the liquid temperature adjusting means adjusts the liquid temperature of the pressure transmitting liquid before reaching the probe and the pressure sensor. .

  The invention according to claim 3 is the control according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature in the vicinity of the pressure sensor and the operation control of the dispensing device including suction and discharge of the liquid are performed. Means for setting the liquid temperature of the pressure transmitting liquid to be adjusted by the liquid temperature adjusting means based on the measurement result of the temperature measuring means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the liquid temperature adjusting means includes an aluminum block or a heater.

  The invention according to claim 5 is an automatic analyzer that includes a sample dispensing mechanism that dispenses a sample into a predetermined reaction container and a reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent into the reaction container, and analyzes the sample. The sample dispensing mechanism and the reagent dispensing mechanism are the dispensing apparatuses according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

  According to the present invention, a hollow probe, pressure generating means for generating a pressure applied to the probe for sucking or discharging a liquid and applied via a predetermined pressure transmitting liquid, and the probe A pressure sensor that detects a pressure applied to the probe via the pressure transmission liquid, and a temperature of the pressure transmission liquid is substantially the same as a temperature in the vicinity of the pressure sensor. By providing the liquid temperature adjusting means, it is possible to provide a dispensing device and an automatic analyzer that can keep the accuracy of monitoring the dispensing operation properly.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a top view showing a configuration of a main part of an automatic analyzer equipped with a dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automatic analyzer 1 shown in FIG. 1 biochemically analyzes the components of a sample including a specimen, dispenses the sample and the reagent into a predetermined reaction container, and optically reacts the reaction occurring in the reaction container. The analysis of the sample is automatically performed by measuring.

  The automatic analyzer 1 includes a sample transfer unit 11 that stores and sequentially transfers a plurality of racks 112 on which sample containers 111 that store samples such as blood and body fluid are mounted, and sample containers that store emergency samples and various samples. A sample table 12 that holds 121, a reaction table 13 that holds a reaction container 131 into which a sample and a reagent are dispensed, and a reagent table 14 that holds a reagent container 141 that stores various reagents are provided.

  The sample table 12, the reaction table 13, and the reagent table 14 are rotatable about a vertical line passing through the center of each table as a rotation axis by driving a stepping motor. An openable / closable cover is provided above each table, and a thermostatic bath is provided below each table (not shown). As a result, the container that comes inside the cover when the cover is closed can be kept at a constant temperature, and evaporation or denaturation of the sample or reagent stored in the container inside the cover can be suppressed.

  Further, in addition to the above various tables, the automatic analyzer 1 stirs the inside of the reaction vessel 131 to promote the reaction between the sample in the reaction vessel 131 and the reagent and a predetermined light for the reaction vessel 131. The photometric unit 16 that receives the light that has passed through the reaction vessel 131 and measures the intensity of the light, and the reaction vessel 131 that has been measured by the photometric unit 16 are cleaned. A cleaning unit 17 is provided. Among these, the photometry unit 16 receives a light source that emits white light, a spectroscopic optical system that splits the white light that has been emitted from the light source and transmitted through the reaction vessel 131, and light that has been dispersed by the spectroscopic optical system. And a light receiving element for converting it into an electrical signal.

  Furthermore, the automatic analyzer 1 serves as a dispensing device for dispensing a sample or a reagent into the reaction container 131, a sample dispensing mechanism 18 for dispensing a sample contained in the sample container 111 or the sample container 121 into the reaction container 131, A reagent dispensing mechanism 19 that dispenses the reagent contained in the reagent container 141 into the reaction container 131 is provided. In the following description, the sample dispensing mechanism 18 will be described in detail as a dispensing apparatus according to this embodiment, but the reagent dispensing mechanism 19 has the same configuration and operation as the sample dispensing mechanism 18 as a matter of course. is there.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a sample dispensing mechanism 18 which is a dispensing apparatus according to this embodiment. The sample dispensing mechanism 18 shown in the figure has a hollow probe 181 having a tapered tip 181a for sucking and discharging the sample, and the vertical movement of the probe 181 and a predetermined vertical axis. A probe driving unit 182 that rotates, a tube 31 that forms a flow path of the cleaning liquid 30 that is a pressure transmission liquid for transmitting pressure to the probe 181, and a base end of the probe 181 are provided near the base end of the cleaning liquid 30. A pressure sensor 183 that detects a pressure applied to the probe 181 via the pressure sensor and generates an electrical signal (analog signal) corresponding to the detection result, and amplifies the electrical signal sent from the pressure sensor 183 to perform A / D conversion. And a signal processing unit 184 that performs the following. Among these, the washing | cleaning liquid 30 consists of incompressible fluids, such as ion-exchange water, distilled water, deaeration water, a detergent liquid, or a buffer solution.

  In addition, the sample dispensing mechanism 18 includes a syringe 185 that is a pressure generating unit that generates a pressure that is applied to the probe 181 to suck or discharge the sample and that is applied via the cleaning liquid 30. The syringe 185 includes a cylinder 185a and a piston 185b, and the piston 185b is appropriately moved by the piston driving unit 186, thereby changing the pressure applied to the cleaning liquid 30 inside the cylinder 185a. The syringe 185 and the probe 181 are connected via the tube 31, and the pressure generated by the syringe 185 is transmitted to the probe 181 by the cleaning liquid 30.

  Further, the sample dispensing mechanism 18 includes a tube 32 that is another flow path whose end is connected to the syringe 185. The tube 32 is sequentially provided with a liquid temperature adjusting unit 187 for adjusting the temperature of the cleaning liquid 30, an injection valve 188 for controlling the flow of the cleaning liquid 30, and a pump 189. The end of the tube 32 that is different from the side connected to the syringe 185 reaches the liquid container 190 that contains the cleaning liquid 30.

  The liquid temperature adjusting unit 187 is realized using an aluminum block having high specific heat and good thermal conductivity. Since such an aluminum block is substantially equal to the ambient temperature (room temperature), the liquid temperature of the cleaning liquid 30 flowing inside the tube 32 passing through the liquid temperature adjusting unit 187 is substantially the same as the temperature (room temperature) in the vicinity of the pressure sensor 183. Can be. In this sense, the contact area between the aluminum block and the tube 32 may be made as large as possible in order to quickly bring the temperature of the cleaning liquid 30 close to room temperature. In addition to the aluminum block, it is of course possible to use a block made of a material having high specific heat and good thermal conductivity.

  The operation including suction and discharge of the sample in the sample dispensing mechanism 18 controls the overall operation of the automatic analyzer 1 and also performs various operations including analysis operations based on the measurement results of the photometry unit 16. Controlled by. The control unit 21 is realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) having control and calculation functions.

  The sample dispensing mechanism 18 having the above configuration opens the injection valve 188 and sucks the cleaning liquid 30 by the pump 189 before the sample is sucked or discharged, and the probe 181, the syringe 185, and the tubes 31 and 32 are washed with the cleaning liquid. After filling with 30, the injection valve 188 is closed and the operation of the pump 189 is terminated. Thereafter, when aspirating or discharging the sample, the piston 185b of the syringe 185 is moved under the control of the control unit 21, so that an appropriate suction pressure or pressure is applied to the tip 181a of the probe 181 via the cleaning liquid 30. Apply discharge pressure. At the tip 181a of the probe 181, an air layer is interposed between the cleaning liquid 30 and the sample to be sucked or discharged. For this reason, when the sample is sucked or discharged, the sample is not mixed with the cleaning liquid 30.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the characteristics of the pressure waveform detected by the pressure sensor 183 when the sample dispensing mechanism 18 discharges the sample. In the figure, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents pressure. A curve 41 shown in FIG. 3 shows a case where the liquid temperature of the cleaning liquid 30 is about the same as the room temperature and a normal discharge operation is performed. P ₀ in the figure gives a pressure threshold value. When a pressure larger than the threshold value P ₀ is detected, the control unit 21 determines that a normal discharge operation has been performed.

On the other hand, FIG. 4 schematically shows the pressure waveform detected by the pressure sensor 183 when the liquid temperature of the cleaning liquid 30 is significantly lower than the room temperature, but the discharge operation of the sample dispensing mechanism 18 is normal. It is explanatory drawing shown in. In the curve 51 shown in the figure, the pressure value when the sample is discharged is smaller than the threshold value P ₀ , and the value tends to gradually decrease. In this case, the control unit 21 determines that the discharge operation is abnormal. That is, the pressure sensor 183 cannot accurately detect the pressure applied to the probe 181 during the discharge operation of the sample dispensing mechanism 18 due to the influence of the temperature of the cleaning liquid 30.

  In this embodiment, when the pressure waveform when the sample dispensing mechanism 18 discharges the sample shows a waveform like a curve 51, that is, the liquid temperature of the cleaning liquid 30 is significantly lower than the room temperature. Even in this case, since the liquid temperature adjusting unit 187 raises the liquid temperature of the cleaning liquid 30 to the same level as the room temperature, the liquid temperature of the cleaning liquid 30 flowing inside the pressure sensor 183 is substantially the same as the room temperature. Therefore, as long as the discharge operation of the sample dispensing mechanism 18 is normal, the pressure waveform detected by the pressure sensor 183 becomes the curve 41 at the normal time, and the accuracy of monitoring the dispensing operation can be kept appropriate.

  Note that the pressure sensor 183 also monitors the suction operation of the sample, but in this case as well, the accuracy of the monitoring of the suction operation can be maintained within an appropriate range as in the case of the sample discharge described above.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, a hollow probe, and a syringe that generates a pressure that is applied to the probe to suck or discharge the liquid and that is applied via a predetermined cleaning liquid A pressure sensor that is provided near the base end of the probe and detects a pressure applied to the probe via the cleaning liquid; and a liquid temperature at which the liquid temperature of the cleaning liquid is substantially the same as the temperature in the vicinity of the pressure sensor. By providing the adjustment unit, it is possible to provide a dispensing device that can appropriately maintain the accuracy of monitoring of the dispensing operation, and an automatic analyzer including the dispensing device.

  Up to this point, the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described in detail. However, the present invention should not be limited only by the single embodiment. For example, the liquid temperature adjusting unit 187 may be realized by an aluminum block constant temperature layer including an aluminum block and a Beltier element, or may be realized by a heater for heating. Further, the liquid temperature adjusting unit 187 may be configured by interposing a plurality of aluminum block constant temperature layers and heaters at appropriate positions of the tube.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a sample dispensing mechanism as a dispensing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the sample dispensing mechanism 18-2 shown in the figure, the liquid temperature adjusting unit 187 is realized by an aluminum block constant temperature layer or a heater, and the temperature at which the temperature in the vicinity of the pressure sensor 183 is measured as compared with the sample dispensing mechanism 18. A measurement unit 191 is newly provided. In this sample dispensing mechanism 18-2, the control unit 21 controls the operation of the liquid temperature adjusting unit 187 based on the temperature measured by the temperature measuring unit 191, and performs settings for optimizing the liquid temperature of the cleaning liquid 30. Do. Thereby, it becomes possible to maintain the precision of monitoring of dispensing operation | movement appropriately like the said one Embodiment.

  In the above description, the case where the present invention is applied to an automatic analyzer that performs biochemical analysis of sample components has been described. However, the present invention is applied to an automatic analyzer that performs immunological analysis of sample components. Can also be applied.

  Thus, the present invention can include various embodiments and the like not described herein, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the technical idea specified by the claims. It is possible to apply.

It is a top view which shows the structure of the automatic analyzer principal part which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the dispensing apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the pressure waveform at the time of the liquid discharge which a pressure sensor detects (at the time of normal). It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the pressure waveform (at the time of abnormality) at the time of the liquid discharge which a pressure sensor detects. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the dispensing apparatus which concerns on another embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic analyzer 11 Sample transfer part 12 Sample table 13 Reaction table 14 Reagent table 15 Stirring part 16 Photometry part 17 Washing part 18, 18-2 Sample dispensing mechanism (dispensing apparatus)
19 Reagent dispensing mechanism (dispensing device)
21 Control unit 30 Cleaning liquid (pressure transmission liquid)
31, 32 Tube 41, 51 Curve 111 Sample container 112 Rack 121 Sample container 131 Reaction container 141 Reagent container 181, 191 Probe 181a Tip section 182 Probe drive section 183 Pressure sensor 184 Signal processing section 185 Syringe 185a Cylinder 185b Piston 186 Piston drive section 187 Liquid temperature adjustment unit 188 Injection valve 189 Pump 190 Liquid container 191 Temperature measurement unit

Claims (5)

A hollow probe,
Pressure generating means for generating a pressure applied to the probe for sucking or discharging the liquid and applied via a predetermined pressure transmission liquid;
A pressure sensor provided near the proximal end of the probe and detecting a pressure applied to the probe via the pressure transmission liquid;
A liquid temperature adjusting means for making the liquid temperature of the pressure transmitting liquid substantially the same as the temperature in the vicinity of the pressure sensor;
A dispensing device characterized by comprising:   The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid temperature adjusting means adjusts the liquid temperature of the pressure transmitting liquid before reaching the probe and the pressure sensor. Temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature in the vicinity of the pressure sensor;
Control means for controlling the operation of the dispensing device including suction and discharge of liquid;
Further comprising
3. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets a liquid temperature of the pressure transmission liquid that is adjusted by the liquid temperature adjusting unit based on a measurement result of the temperature measuring unit. .   The dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid temperature adjusting means includes an aluminum block or a heater. In an automatic analyzer for analyzing a sample, comprising a sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing a sample into a predetermined reaction container, and a reagent dispensing mechanism for dispensing a reagent into the reaction container,
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the sample dispensing mechanism and the reagent dispensing mechanism are the dispensing apparatuses according to claim 1.

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