JP2008215928A - Autoanalyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an autoanalyzer capable of removing the residue of washing water on a dispensing nozzle by an inexpensive constitution simple in structure. <P>SOLUTION: In the autoanalyzer having the dispensing nozzle, a washing tank for washing the inserted dispensing nozzle, a water supply means containing a water supply nozzle for supplying washing water to the washing tank and a nozzle up-and-down reciprocal moving mechanism for inserting and taking out the dispensing nozzle with respect to the washing tank, a water shaking-off means for imparting water shaking-off vibration to the dispensing nozzle is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of a biological sample such as blood and urine, and more particularly to an automatic analyzer that includes a dispensing nozzle that sucks and discharges a predetermined amount of sample, reagent, and the like.

  The automatic analyzer dispenses biological samples such as blood and urine into the reaction container using the sampling mechanism, and dispenses the reagent corresponding to the test item into the reaction container into which the sample has been dispensed using the pipetting mechanism. The reaction is promoted by stirring inside.

  Thereafter, blood, urine, and the like are inspected by measuring the absorbance of light transmitted through the reaction solution in the reaction vessel with a photometer.

  The sampling mechanism or pipetting mechanism is inserted into a container holding a reagent or specimen so that the dispensing nozzle is immersed in the reagent or specimen, and then the reagent or specimen is sucked into the nozzle using a negative pressure mechanism or the like. It is supposed to be.

  Since this dispensing nozzle is used repeatedly across different reagents and specimens, after dispensing the reagents and specimens into the reaction container, use wash water to prevent the mixing of different reagents and specimens. We wash the outer walls.

  In order to prevent the cleaning water from remaining on the outer wall of the dispensing nozzle after washing, we have devised cleaning of the dispensing nozzle, such as the direction of discharge of the washing water, the discharge time, and the discharge interval. Washing water may remain.

  A method of removing cleaning water remaining with air is known (Patent Document 1). However, a vacuum pump, a solenoid valve, or the like is necessary, which causes a cost increase.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-340913

  In the future, the amount of specimens and reagents will be further reduced in order to reduce the burden on patients and the amount of specimens used for children, elderly people, etc. The trend of dispensing becomes even stronger.

  There is concern that the trace amount of the remaining wash water may be brought into the reagent and the sample and cause a change in concentration due to the dispensing of the trace amount, thereby affecting the analysis result.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of dealing with the above-described problems and removing the remaining washing water on a dispensing nozzle with a simple and inexpensive structure.

  The present invention is characterized in that it includes a water shaking cutting means for applying water shaking vibration to the dispensing nozzle.

  More specifically, the present invention includes a vertical vibration mechanism for vertically shaking the dispensing nozzle and / or a left and right vibration mechanism for vibrating the dispensing nozzle left and right. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, since only the water shaking and vibrating means is provided, the configuration is simple and the cost of the automatic analyzer can be reduced.

  Moreover, since the washing water remaining in the dispensing nozzle is often shaken off, the analysis performance of the automatic analyzer is improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic analyzer to which the present invention is applied.

  This automatic analyzer mainly includes a reaction disk 1, a reagent storage unit 2, a specimen storage unit 3, a reagent dispensing mechanism 4, a sampling mechanism 5, a photometer 6, a reaction tank 7, a cleaning mechanism 8, a cleaning tank 9, and the inside of the apparatus. The control unit 10 is configured.

  On the reaction disk 1, a plurality of reaction containers 11 for mixing and stirring the specimen and the reagent are arranged via a holder 12. The reaction vessel 11 is repeatedly transferred at a constant cycle by the rotation and stop operation of the reaction disk drive unit 13 provided below the reaction disk 1.

  A plurality of reagent containers 14 containing reagents are arranged in the reagent storage unit 2. A plurality of sample containers 15 containing samples are arranged in the sample storage unit 3.

  The reagent dispensing mechanism 4 has a dispensing nozzle 22 that is gripped so as to be suspended from the distal end side of the arm 16. With the reagent dispensing mechanism 4, the dispensing nozzle 22 rotates between the reaction disk 1 and the reagent storage unit 2 to dispense the reagent into the reaction container 11.

  The sampling mechanism 5 has a dispensing nozzle 22 that is gripped so as to be suspended from the distal end side of the arm 16. By the sampling mechanism 5, the dispensing nozzle 22 rotates between the reaction disk 1 and the sample storage unit 3, and the sample is dispensed into the reaction container 11 by the dispensing nozzle 22.

  The photometer 6 measures the absorbance of the stirred sample and reagent, and the sample is analyzed in the signal processing unit.

  In the reaction tank 7, reaction tank water having a constant temperature is circulated. The cleaning mechanism 8 cleans the inside of the reaction container 11 by dispensing the cleaning water 17 or the cleaning liquid into the analyzed reaction container 11 and repeating the suction and discharge.

  The washing tank 9 cleans the dispensing nozzle 22 after dispensing the reagent or sample into the reaction vessel 11.

  The automatic analyzer configured as described above performs analysis in the following procedure.

  The reaction disk 1 in which a plurality of reaction vessels 11 are arranged is rotated and moved to a predetermined position (rotation movement step) by the rotation operation of the reaction disk drive unit 13, and the sample and the reagent are dispensed by the reagent dispensing mechanism 4 and the dispensing nozzle 22 of the sampling mechanism 5. Is quantitatively dispensed into the reaction vessel 11 (dispensing step).

  After dispensing, the dispensing nozzle 22 is transferred to the washing tank 9 (transfer insertion step) by the rotation operation of the reagent dispensing mechanism 4 and the sampling mechanism 5, and washing (washing step) is performed.

  The reaction vessel 11 into which the sample and the reagent are dispensed is transferred to the stirring mechanism by the reaction disk drive unit 13 and mixed and stirred (mixing and stirring step).

  The agitated sample and reagent become a reaction solution, and after being transferred to the photometer 6, the absorbance is measured and the sample is analyzed (analysis step). After the analysis, the reaction container 11 is transferred to the cleaning mechanism 8 to clean the inner surface, and a sample and a reagent are newly dispensed.

  Such a series of operations is repeated for each reaction vessel 11. The automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment has a pump, a syringe, and the like as components in addition to the above-described components, and all operations are controlled by the in-device controller 10.

  Next, the main part of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG.

  First, the water shaking and exciting means shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

  The cleaning water 26 is discharged from the cleaning outlet through the water supply valve 20 into the cleaning tank 9, and the dispensing nozzle 22 used for the specimen or reagent is cleaned.

  Here, in the specimen or reagent dispensing nozzle 22 immediately after cleaning, the cleaning water 26 discharged into the cleaning tank 9 is removed to some extent by natural fall, but the cleaning water 26 cannot be completely removed.

  Therefore, in order to shake off the adhering water, an ultra-small motor 27 such as that used in a mobile phone is mounted in the sample or reagent dispensing nozzle holder 23, and the micro-motor 27 is used to vibrate up and down. A configuration for transmitting to the dispensing nozzle 22 is provided.

  That is, in the dispensing nozzle holding part 23 that suspends and holds the dispensing nozzle 22 at the tip of the arm 16, an ultra-small motor 27 called a micromotor is provided. A vertical vibration transmission unit 28 of the crank mechanism is provided on the rotating shaft of the micro motor 27, and the dispensing nozzle 22 and the micro motor 27 are connected via the vertical vibration transmission unit 28.

  The vertical vibration transmission unit 28 of the crank mechanism serves as a vertical vibration mechanism, and transmits it to the dispensing nozzle 22 instead of the vertical vibration on the rotating shaft of the micro motor 27. Due to this vertical vibration, water droplets adhering to the dispensing nozzle 22 are shaken off.

  The subminiature motor 27 and the vertical vibration transmission unit 28 of the crank mechanism are referred to as a water swing-off vibration means. The water droplets are shaken off by the water shaking and shaking means.

  Immediately after the cleaning of the dispensing nozzle 22, the micro motor 27 mounted in the dispensing nozzle 22 itself or in the dispensing nozzle holder 23 in the cleaning tank 9 in a state where the cleaning water 26 is completely discharged. Is controlled by the in-device control unit 10 so as not to step out, and the micro motor 27 is driven.

  At this time, the dispensing nozzle 22 vibrates up and down by the up-and-down vibration transmitting unit 28 set so that only the up-and-down vibration is transmitted. By this vibration, the cleaning water 26 remaining in the dispensing nozzle 22 is shaken off and removed.

  Further, the micro motor 27 and the vertical vibration transmitting unit 28 can be attached to and integrated with the dispensing nozzle 22 itself.

  In addition, the procedure for washing the dispensing nozzle according to the above embodiment includes (1) an insertion step of inserting the dispensing nozzle into the washing tank in order to wash away the adhering reagent and specimen, and (2) the inserted dispensing nozzle. After performing the washing step for applying washing water, (3) water shaking vibration applying step for applying water shaking vibration to the dispensing nozzle and shaking off remaining water droplets adhering to the dispensing nozzle without dripping. There is a feature in the place to execute.

  By performing such a dispensing nozzle cleaning method, it is possible to shake off all the water droplets adhering to the dispensing nozzle.

  The water shaking and vibrating means of the dispensing nozzle shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

  A configuration in which an ultra-small motor 27 such as that used in a mobile phone is mounted in the sample or reagent dispensing nozzle holding unit 23 and the left-right vibration is transmitted to the dispensing nozzle 22 by the ultra-small motor 27 is provided. I have.

  The left and right vibration transmission unit 29 of the crank mechanism used in this embodiment is a left and right vibration mechanism, and transmits it to the dispensing nozzle 22 instead of the left and right vibration on the rotating shaft of the micro motor 27. Water droplets adhering to the dispensing nozzle 22 are shaken off by this left-right vibration.

  That is, this embodiment is the same as the previous embodiment (the embodiment shown in FIG. 2) except that the dispensing nozzle 22 has a different vibration direction.

  Immediately after the dispensing nozzle 22 is cleaned, the dispensing nozzle 22 itself or the micro motor 27 mounted in the dispensing nozzle holder 23 is removed in the washing tank 21 in which the washing water 26 is completely discharged. The in-device control unit 10 controls so as not to adjust, and the micro motor 27 is driven.

  At this time, the dispensing nozzle 22 vibrates left and right by the left and right vibration transmission unit 29 set so that only the left and right vibration is transmitted. By this vibration, the cleaning water 26 remaining in the dispensing nozzle 22 is shaken off and removed.

  Further, the micro motor 27 and the left and right vibration transmission unit 29 can be attached to the dispensing nozzle 22 itself and integrated.

  In addition, since the dispensing nozzle 22 vibrates up and down / left and right by combining the vertical vibration mechanism shown in FIG. 2 and the left and right vibration mechanism shown in FIG. 3, the shaking off of the cleaning water 26 is further improved. There is expected.

  FIG. 4 illustrates the water shaking and vibrating means of the dispensing nozzle.

This embodiment is characterized in that the nozzle up-and-down reciprocating mechanism provided on the arm 16 is provided with a water shaking and vibration excitation function for applying water shaking and vibration.

  The arm 16 (not shown) is provided with a vertical drive motor 25, a support plate 40, a drive pulley 41, and a driven pulley 42. The drive pulley 41 is supported on the rotary shaft of the vertical drive motor 25. The driven pulley 42 is rotatably supported by the support plate 40.

  The vertical drive belt 24 is hung on the drive pulley 41 and the driven pulley 42. The dispensing nozzle holding unit 23 is supported by the support plate 40 so as to be movable up and down, and is fixed to one side of the vertical drive belt 24.

  Since the nozzle up-and-down reciprocating mechanism is formed in such a configuration, the up-and-down drive belt 24 moves by the rotation of the up-and-down drive motor 25. As the vertical drive belt 24 moves, the dispensing nozzle 22 held by the dispensing nozzle holder 23 moves in and out of the cleaning tank 9.

  In the movement of the dispensing nozzle 22 in and out, the vertical drive motor 25 is operated at a low speed to move the dispensing nozzle 22 in and out.

  In order to remove the cleaning water 26 remaining in the dispensing nozzle 22, the water shaking and vibration excitation function provided in the nozzle vertical reciprocating mechanism is used.

  With the washing water immediately after the dispensing nozzle 22 being completely drained, the controller 10 in the apparatus controls the vertical drive motor 25 so as not to step out of the vertical drive motor 25 and performs normal rotation at high speed. The reversal is driven repeatedly, and the vertical drive belt 24 is reciprocated up and down at high speed.

  By the high-speed vertical reciprocation of the vertical drive belt 24, the water droplets of the cleaning water 26 remaining on the dispensing nozzle 22 are shaken off and dropped, and the cleaning water 26 remaining on the dispensing nozzle 22 can be removed. it can.

  Further, since the vertical drive motor 25 already mounted is used, the cleaning water 26 remaining in the dispensing nozzle 22 can be removed without mounting a dedicated mechanism such as a dedicated vibration generation mechanism or vibration transmission mechanism. .

  Also in the cleaning mechanism 8, similarly to the above, the cleaning mechanism 8 is repeatedly driven at high speed repeatedly while being controlled by the in-device control unit 10 so as not to step out the cleaning mechanism vertical drive motor. Moves up and down.

  Accordingly, the cleaning water remaining in the cleaning mechanism nozzle is shaken off and dropped, and the cleaning water remaining in the cleaning mechanism nozzle can be removed.

  The nozzle up-and-down reciprocating mechanism is similarly provided in the embodiments of FIGS.

  The embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a vertical vibration mechanism or a left and right vibration mechanism, but if necessary, the direction of vibration can be changed only in the vertical direction and the left and right direction by changing the mounting method of the motor. It is also possible to make it oblique.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram showing an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram for vertically vibrating a dispensing nozzle by a micro motor according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram for vibrating a dispensing nozzle left and right with a micro motor according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram for vertically vibrating a dispensing nozzle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reaction disk, 2 ... Reagent storage part, 3 ... Sample storage part, 4 ... Reagent dispensing mechanism, 5 ... Sampling mechanism, 6 ... Photometer, 7 ... Reaction tank, 8 ... Cleaning mechanism, 9 ... Cleaning tank, 10 In-device control unit, 11 ... Reaction container, 12 ... Holder, 13 ... Reaction disk drive unit, 14 ... Reagent container, 15 ... Sample container, 16 ... Arm, 20 ... Water supply valve, 22 ... Dispensing nozzle, 23 ... Minute * Nozzle holding part, 24 ... Vertical drive belt, 25 ... Vertical drive motor, 26 ... Washing water, 27 ... Ultra-small motor, 28 ... Vertical vibration transmission part, 29 ... Left / right vibration transmission part, 40 ... Support plate, 41 ... Drive Pulley, 42 ... driven pulley.

Claims (7)

  An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising a water shaking cutting means for applying water shaking vibration to a dispensing nozzle. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the water shaking and oscillating means includes a vertical vibration mechanism that vertically vibrates the dispensing nozzle and / or a left and right vibration mechanism that horizontally vibrates the dispensing nozzle. A dispensing nozzle, a washing tank for washing the inserted dispensing nozzle, a water supply means including a water supply valve for supplying washing water to the washing tank, and a nozzle up-and-down reciprocation for allowing the dispensing nozzle to enter and exit the washing tank In an automatic analyzer having a moving mechanism,
An automatic analyzer comprising water shaking vibration applying means for applying water shaking vibration to the dispensing nozzle. A dispensing nozzle, a dispensing nozzle holding unit for holding the dispensing nozzle, a washing tank for washing the inserted dispensing nozzle, and a water supply means including a water supply valve for supplying washing water to the washing tank, In an automatic analyzer having a nozzle up-and-down reciprocating mechanism for moving the dispensing nozzle into and out of the washing tank,
An automatic analyzer characterized in that a drive source including a micro motor for applying water shaking vibration to the nozzle vertical reciprocating mechanism is provided in the dispensing nozzle holding part. A dispensing nozzle, a washing tank for washing the inserted dispensing nozzle, a water supply means including a water supply valve for supplying washing water to the washing tank, and a nozzle up-and-down reciprocation for allowing the dispensing nozzle to enter and exit the washing tank In an automatic analyzer having a moving mechanism,
An automatic analyzer characterized by adding a water draining vibration function for imparting water vibration to the nozzle vertical reciprocating mechanism. The automatic analyzer according to claim 5, wherein
The nozzle vertical reciprocating mechanism includes a drive motor,
The drive motor is driven at a low speed in the up-and-down reciprocating movement of the nozzle for moving the dispensing nozzle into and out of the washing tank, and is driven at a high speed in the draining vibration operation function. A dispensing nozzle, a washing tank for washing the inserted dispensing nozzle, a water supply means including a water supply valve for supplying washing water to the washing tank, and a nozzle up-and-down reciprocation for allowing the dispensing nozzle to enter and exit the washing tank In a dispensing nozzle cleaning method of an automatic analyzer having a moving mechanism,
An insertion step of inserting the dispensing nozzle into the washing tank in order to wash away the adhering reagent or specimen;
A washing step of applying washing water to the inserted dispensing nozzle;
A dispensing nozzle cleaning method for an automatic analyzer, comprising: a water shaking vibration applying step of applying water shaking vibration to the dispensing nozzle and shaking off water droplets remaining on the dispensing nozzle without dropping.

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