JP2009058322A - Liquid vessel and automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic analyzer and a method for preventing a reagent from being vaporized and contaminated by an external environment without adding a mechanism in a reagent vessel for accommodating the reagent required for several analyses. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid vessel includes a membraneous or sheetlike liquid vaporization preventing member floating at a liquid level of the reagent within the vessel and having an opening. The automatic analyzer has the liquid vessel, and comprises a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the predetermined quantity of the liquid accommodated in the liquid vessel through the opening of the membraneous or sheetlike liquid vaporization preventing member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer and a liquid container used therefor, and more particularly, to a liquid container that can be expected to prevent evaporation of contained liquid and an automatic analyzer using the same.

  Most of the clinical chemistry analyzes that analyze components such as inorganic ions, proteins, nitrogen-containing components, sugars, lipids, enzymes, hormones, drugs, tumor markers, etc. in biological samples such as blood and urine are analyzed by automated analyzers. Yes. Of these automatic analyzers, the majority of devices other than those using monotest type (disposable type for each test) or dry film, etc., repeatedly collect necessary reagents each time they are used from the container containing the reagents. The method of injecting and using is taken.

  Usually, the reagent container is stored in a cool box or the like having a predetermined temperature in the apparatus in order to prevent the deterioration of the reagent component with the container lid removed. However, since the reagent in the container is always in an open (opened) state, it is always exposed to the risk of contamination, and is also exposed to the risk of changes in concentration and composition over time due to evaporation. For example, there is a risk that the inside of the cool box is condensed by keeping it cool to prevent deterioration, and water droplets in the reagent container are dropped and mixed. Further, depending on the humidity in the vicinity of the reagent container, the reagent in the container evaporates and its concentration changes. In particular, the influence is a problem in immunization items that require a higher sensitivity and lower measurement control concentration than biochemical items. Conventionally, with respect to these problems, the reagent container is covered and a lid opening / closing mechanism is provided on the apparatus side so that the lid is opened and closed each time a necessary reagent is dispensed. For example, the automatic analyzer described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that a cover plate made of an elastic material is pressed against the opening of the reagent container by the force of a spring and sealed. Moreover, in the method of patent document 2, it has an elastic body with a slit in the cap body of the reagent container, and when the reagent is dispensed from above, the slit opens to release the pressure. The slit is returned to its original position. Proposal has been made of a means for preventing evaporation at the time of dispensing of the reagent without the need for removing the cap. Furthermore, as another example of preventing evaporation without providing a mechanical mechanism, there is an example of a reagent-containing container described in Patent Document 3. In this example, the liquid surface of the reagent is covered with a liquid having a specific gravity lower than that of the reagent to prevent evaporation.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-2628 JP 2005-324832 A JP 2000-137032 A

  Adding the mechanical lid opening / closing mechanism shown in the above-mentioned prior art to the device side makes the structure of the opening / closing mechanism itself extremely complicated, ensuring the operation of the opening / closing mechanism, securing the space in the device for installing the mechanism, Affects device manufacturing costs. In addition, a lid and a reagent container that are mechanically openable and closable are required, which affects the manufacturing cost. On the other hand, when the reagent probe is opened by a slit and the reagent is aspirated and dispensed by the reagent probe, when the reagent probe descends to the reagent container, the reagent accidentally contacts the slit and the reagent is contaminated. There is a risk of doing. In addition, many of the reagent probes are added with a liquid level detection function that moves down until the liquid level is detected and prevents the reagent from entering the reagent more than necessary, but the liquid level detection function works when it touches the slit, It may cause malfunction. Silicon oil, liquid paraffin, etc. that are not mixed with the reagent have been proposed for the method of covering with a reagent with a low specific gravity. . In addition, when aspirating with a reagent probe, in addition to the reagent being aspirated, discharged into the reaction container or measurement container and mixed into the reaction solution, it may cause an error in the amount of reagent dispensed or the reagent probe may be clogged. There is a risk of waking up.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to prevent evaporation of the reagent contained in the reagent container and contamination from the external environment without installing a special mechanism such as a complicated lid opening / closing mechanism. Further, it is to prevent deterioration of reagent components such as oxidation by minimizing contact with air. It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic analyzer and method that can detect the liquid level without causing contamination of the reagent, and that does not cause data failure due to contamination and evaporation of the reagent. Still another object of the present invention is to eliminate the problem of an increase in space due to the installation of the mechanism, to make the mechanism and software complicated, and to analyze without increasing the manufacturing cost and running cost on both the apparatus side and the container side as much as possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic analysis apparatus and method suitable for the purpose.

  In the present invention, a thin-film sheet or a thin plate having a hole is floated on the liquid level of the reagent contained in the container, and the evaporation of the reagent is prevented by covering the liquid level. The thin film or thin plate has a hole or opening having the diameter of the reagent probe, through which the reagent probe sucks the reagent. It is desirable that the opening be close to the diameter of the reagent probe and be in a size range that does not contact the reagent probe. In addition, the reagent aspiration does not have to be a pipetting type probe, and can be performed by a dispenser type dispensing method by inserting a tube through the opening.

  In the method of the present invention, since the thin sheet or thin plate floats on the reagent, the thin sheet or thin plate also moves as the reagent liquid level in the reagent container is lowered by using the reagent. To do. As a result, even if the amount of reagent changes, the contact area with air does not change, and evaporation can be minimized. Moreover, deterioration of the reagent component due to air oxidation may be prevented, and the usage period of the reagent after opening may be prolonged. Moreover, even when water droplets or fine foreign matter or the like condensed in the reagent cooler is dropped, mixing is prevented because it is covered with a thin film sheet or thin plate. The effects are the same for both the pipetting method and the dispenser method. Furthermore, in the case of a pipetting type reagent probe, the reagent probe does not contact the opening of the sheet, so that the liquid level detection function can operate normally, and data defects due to contamination can be avoided. Further, by realizing evaporation prevention without providing a special mechanism, there is an advantage that the cost for manufacturing the apparatus, the running cost of the apparatus, and the addition of a special space can be eliminated.

  Prevention of evaporation of the reagent contained in the reagent container was realized without providing complicated mechanisms and software for both the reagent container and the analyzer.

  FIG. 1 shows an operation principle diagram of a single multi-type automatic analyzer. In the figure, reference numeral 3 denotes a reaction disk. On the outer periphery of the reaction disk 3, for example, a large number of reaction containers (measurement containers) 4 such as 120 are provided. Further, the entire reaction disk 3 is held at a predetermined temperature by a thermostatic chamber 9.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a sample disk mechanism, in which a large number of sample containers 25 are arranged. The sample in the sample container 25 is appropriately extracted by the sample probe 27 of the serum sampling mechanism 2 and injected into a predetermined reaction container. Reference numeral 5 denotes a reagent disk mechanism. This mechanism 5 includes a large number of reagent containers 6. The mechanism 5 is provided with a reagent pipetting mechanism 7. Reference numeral 10 denotes a multi-wavelength photometer, and 26 denotes a light source. Between the multi-wavelength photometer 10 and the light source 26, a reaction disk 3 that accommodates a measurement target is disposed. Reference numeral 11 denotes a reaction vessel cleaning mechanism.

  19 is a microcomputer, 23 is an interface, 18 is a Log converter and A / D converter, 17 is a reagent pipettor, 16 is a washing water pump, and 15 is a serum pipettor. Reference numeral 20 denotes a printer, 21 denotes a CRT, 22 denotes a hard disk as a storage device, and 24 denotes an operation panel.

  In the above configuration, the operator inputs analysis request information using the operation panel 24. The input analysis request information is stored in a memory in the microcomputer 19. The sample placed in the sample container 25 and set at a predetermined position of the sample disk mechanism 1 is analyzed by the serum pipettor 15 and the sample probe 27 of the serum sampling mechanism 2 in accordance with the analysis request information stored in the memory of the microcomputer 19. A predetermined amount is dispensed into the reaction vessel 4.

  The reaction disk 3 in which 120 reaction vessels 4 are installed rotates once for each machine cycle (20 seconds) and one reaction vessel (121 pieces). A predetermined reagent container 6 is selected from the reagent containers arranged in the reagent disk mechanism 5 in the reaction container 4 into which the sample is dispensed according to the stored analysis request information, and the reagent probe of the reagent pipetting mechanism 7 is selected. 28 is used to dispense a predetermined amount into the reaction vessel 4 by the reagent pipettor 17. The mixture is stirred and mixed by the stirring rod 29 of the stirring mechanism 8. The reaction vessel 4 is held at a constant temperature by a thermostatic chamber 9, and a reaction is performed. The reaction process is measured by the multi-wavelength photometer 10 at regular intervals, and the absorbance of the mixed solution is measured using two set wavelengths. A signal representing the measured absorbance is taken into the microcomputer 19 via the logarithmic converter and A / D converter 18 and the interface 23.

  The absorbed absorbance signal is converted into a concentration value and stored in the hard disk 22 or output to the printer 20. In addition, inspection data can be displayed on the CRT 21.

  After completion of the measurement, the reaction vessel 4 is washed by the washing mechanism 11. That is, the reaction liquid is first sucked by the suction nozzle 12 and then the cleaning agent 13 is injected by the injection nozzle 14. Next, distilled water sent from the washing water pump 16 is injected and sucked. By repeating the injection and suction of distilled water several times, water cleaning (water rinsing) is performed, and the cleaning is completed. The washed reaction vessel is used for the next analysis. The reagent container 6 has a shape in which a thin sheet or thin plate 31 having a partial opening 30 as shown in FIG. 2 floats on the reagent liquid surface. The reagent probe 28 sucks the reagent through the opening 30. The thin sheet or thin plate 31 needs to be configured such that it floats on the liquid surface, such as a Teflon (registered trademark) sheet, a silicon film, or a foamed polystyrene material, and does not get mixed into the reagent due to liquid shaking. In addition, since the opening is not touched, the liquid level detection function added to the reagent probe 28 operates normally and detects the reagent liquid level. As the reagent decreases, the thin film sheet 31 also moves while covering the liquid surface, so that contact with air is prevented to a minimum, and evaporation of the reagent and contamination from the external environment can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to prevent component deterioration due to air oxidation and to prolong the usage period of the reagent after opening. Further, since there is almost no portion that comes into contact with air, it is possible to prevent foaming caused by liquid level fluctuations caused by rotation and stop of the reagent disk in which the reagent container is housed. In addition to misdetecting the liquid level, the bubbles can cause errors in the dispensing amount. Moreover, the position of the opening part of a thin film sheet does not need to be a center, and a shape does not ask | require.

  The method of dispensing the reagent from the reagent container is not limited to the reagent probe, and a dispenser method may be used. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the reagent tube 32 is inserted and dispensed through an opening opened in advance in a thin film sheet or a thin plate. Once the tube is inserted, it is not necessary to contact the container until the reagent runs out or the reagent is replaced, so that it is possible to provide a complete cap 33 on the reagent container. A thin film sheet or a thin plate function as an inner lid, and can further reduce contact with air. Therefore, it is possible to prevent evaporation and deterioration of components. In the case of the dispenser method, even if the opening is not open, it is possible if the tube can be inserted in the gap with the inner wall of the reagent container.

  When the reagent is dispensed by the pipetting method using the reagent probe, as shown in FIG. 4, a thin film or a thin plate having an opening floating on the liquid surface of the reagent is mechanically pushed down by the thin film push-down bar 34, The reagent 35 that overflows from the opening to the top may be dispensed by suction.

  When filling the container with the reagent, the thin film sheet may be floated on the reagent after injecting the reagent into the empty container, or the thin film sheet is put in the empty container in advance, and then the reagent is put on the sheet from the top. It may be injected. In this case, after filling the liquid, the thin film sheet floats on the liquid surface, and the liquid naturally moves from the opening to the lower part of the sheet above the sheet.

  It can be used in chemical analysis devices, immunoanalyzers, and automatic analyzers that react by dispensing reagents contained in reagent containers for sample component analysis.

The operation | movement principle diagram of the automatic analyzer which shows one Example based on this invention. 1 shows a reagent sorting system 1 from a reagent container according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reagent sorting method 2 from a reagent container showing an embodiment according to the present invention. Reagent sorting system 3 from a reagent container showing an embodiment according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sample disk mechanism 2 Serum sampling mechanism 3 Reaction disk 4 Reaction container 5 Reagent disk mechanism 6 Reagent container 7 Reagent pipetting mechanism 8 Stirring mechanism 9 Thermostat 10 Multiwavelength photometer 11 Washing mechanism (nozzle arm)
12 Suction nozzle 13 Cleaning agent 14 Detergent injection nozzle 15 Serum pipettor 16 Washing water pump 17 Reagent pipetter 18 Log converter and A / D converter 19 Microcomputer 20 Printer 21 CRT
22 Hard disk 23 Interface 24 Operation panel 25 Sample container 26 Light source 27 Sample probe 28 Reagent probe 29 Stirring rod 30 Opening 31 Thin film sheet 32 Reagent tube 33 Reagent container cap 34 Thin film push-down bar

Claims (4)

  A liquid container comprising a thin-film or thin-plate-shaped liquid evaporation preventing member having an opening and floating on a liquid surface of a reagent in the container. The liquid container according to claim 1,
A liquid container, wherein the liquid is a reagent.   A liquid container according to claim 1 or 2 is mounted, and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a predetermined amount of the liquid contained in the liquid container through the opening of the thin film or thin plate-like liquid evaporation preventing member is provided. Automatic analyzer characterized by The automatic analyzer according to claim 3,
When the dispensing mechanism dispenses the liquid contained in the liquid container, the dispensing mechanism is provided with a pushing-down means for mechanically pushing down the thin film or the thin plate, and the thin film or the thin plate is prevented from evaporating by the pushing means. An automatic analyzer configured to aspirate and dispense the reagent overflowing from the opening when the member is pushed down.

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