JP2009092432A - Automatic analyzer, and reaction method for cleaning container of automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic analyzer, capable of realizing miniaturization of the analyzer with a simple constitution, and a method for cleaning the reaction container of the automatic analyzer. <P>SOLUTION: A reagent stored in a reagent container held by a reagent container holder provided in the automatic analyzer, which is a reagent to be dispensed first into the reaction container after being cleaned, is applied as a cleaning liquid for cleaning the reaction container after reaction. When cleaning the reaction container, first of all, the reaction liquid in the reaction container is sucked, and the cleaning liquid is dispensed into the reaction container, and then the dispensed cleaning liquid is sucked. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that analyzes a component of a specimen by causing a specimen and a reagent to react in a reaction container and optically measuring the result of the reaction, and a reaction container cleaning method for the automatic analyzer.

  Conventionally, in an automatic analyzer that analyzes a sample component by reacting a sample and a reagent in a reaction vessel and optically measuring the result of this reaction, the reaction vessel after the measurement of the reaction solution is completed. When washing, pure water such as ion-exchanged water or distilled water is generally used as the washing liquid (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-40931 A

  However, the above-described conventional technology requires a large and complicated configuration using a cleaning liquid storage tank in addition to a cleaning liquid dispensing mechanism including a nozzle and a syringe pump, and is intended to reduce the size of the apparatus. It was an obstacle.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer and a reaction vessel cleaning method for the automatic analyzer that can realize downsizing of the apparatus with a simple configuration.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an automatic analyzer according to the present invention reacts a sample and a reagent in a reaction container, and optically measures the result of the reaction, thereby measuring the sample. In an automatic analyzer for analyzing components, a cleaning liquid dispensing means for dispensing a cleaning liquid for cleaning the reaction container into the reaction container, and a reagent container for storing a reagent to be applied according to the contents of the analysis are held. A reagent container holder, and the cleaning liquid is a reagent that is first dispensed into the reaction container when the analysis is performed using the washed reaction container, and the reagent container holder holds the reagent container Is a reagent to be accommodated.

  Further, the automatic analyzer according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the washing liquid dispensing means dispenses the reagent as the washing liquid dispensed into the reaction container into the reaction container after washing. To do.

  The reaction container cleaning method for an automatic analyzer according to the present invention includes: an automatic analyzer that analyzes a sample component by reacting a sample and a reagent in a reaction container and optically measuring a result of the reaction. In the reaction container cleaning method of the automatic analyzer for cleaning the reaction container, a reaction liquid suction step for sucking a reaction liquid of the specimen and the reagent contained in the reaction container; and the reaction liquid in the reaction liquid suction step A reagent that is first dispensed into the reaction container when the analysis is performed using the reaction container after washing with respect to the aspirated reaction container, and that is contained in the reagent container held by the automatic analyzer. A cleaning liquid dispensing process for dispensing as a cleaning liquid, and a cleaning liquid suction process for sucking the cleaning liquid dispensed in the cleaning liquid dispensing process from the reaction vessel.

  According to the present invention, the reagent contained in the reagent container held by the reagent container holder, which is a reagent first discharged to the reaction container when the analysis is performed using the washed reaction container, is used as the cleaning liquid for the reaction container. In order to apply, a large-scale and complicated configuration for storing and supplying the cleaning liquid to the reaction vessel as in the past is not necessary. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus with a simple configuration.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the drawings referred to in the following description are merely schematic, and when the same object is shown in different drawings, dimensions, scales, and the like may be different.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a main part of the automatic analyzer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The automatic analyzer 1 shown in FIG. 1 dispenses a specimen (sample) such as blood or body fluid and a reagent according to a test item of the specimen into predetermined reaction containers, respectively, and converts the reaction liquid in the reaction container. A measurement unit 101 that performs optical measurement, and a data processing unit 201 that controls the automatic analyzer 1 including the measurement unit 101 and analyzes a measurement result in the measurement unit 101, and these two units Is a device that automatically and continuously performs biochemical analysis of a plurality of specimens by cooperating with each other. The “liquid” here includes a liquid containing a small amount of a solid component.

  The measurement unit 101 includes a rack sampler 11 that houses and sequentially transfers a plurality of racks 41 on which a predetermined number of sample containers 31 are mounted, and a reagent container holder that holds a plurality of reagent containers 32 so as to be rotatable along a circumference. 12, a reaction container holder 13 that holds a plurality of reaction containers 33 in a rotatable manner along a circumference different from the circumference described above, and a specimen accommodated in a specimen container 31 on the rack sampler 11. A specimen dispensing unit 14 for dispensing into the upper reaction container 33, a reagent dispensing unit 15 for dispensing the reagent contained in the reagent container 32 on the reagent container holder 12 into the reaction container 33 on the reaction container holder 13, Light is irradiated to the stirring unit 16 that stirs the liquid inside the reaction vessel 33 held by the reaction vessel holder 13 and the reaction vessel 33 held by the reaction vessel holder 13, and the reaction light out of the emitted light is reflected. The photometric unit 17 that optically measures the light transmitted through the container 33, the reaction container cleaning unit 18 that cleans the reaction container 33 held by the reaction container holder 13, and the reagent container 32 on the reagent container holder 12. And a cleaning liquid dispensing unit 19 that dispenses the reagent as a cleaning liquid into the reaction vessel 33.

  The reagent container holder 12 has a function of keeping the inside cold at a constant temperature. Thereby, deterioration and denaturation of the reagent stored in the reagent container 32 held by the reagent container holder 12 can be suppressed.

  The inside of the reaction vessel holder 13 is kept at a temperature of about 37 ° C. For this reason, the reaction vessel 33 held by the reaction vessel holder 13 is in substantially the same temperature environment as the inside of the human body.

  The sample dispensing unit 14 includes a thin tubular nozzle 141 that performs suction and discharge of the sample, an arm 142 that supports the nozzle 141, and a nozzle cleaning unit 143 that cleans the nozzle 141, and is realized using a syringe or the like. The sample is aspirated and discharged by the suction / discharge mechanism. The arm 142 moves up and down in the vertical direction and rotates in the horizontal direction under the control of the data processing unit 201. The sample dispensing unit 14 sucks the sample from the sample container 31 held by the rack sampler 11 and then discharges the sucked sample to the reaction container 33 stationary at the sample discharge position A on the reaction container holder 13.

  Similar to the sample dispensing unit 14, the reagent dispensing unit 15 includes a nozzle 151, an arm 152, and a nozzle cleaning unit 153, and performs suction and discharge of the reagent by a predetermined suction / discharge mechanism. The arm 152 moves up and down in the vertical direction and rotates in the horizontal direction under the control of the data processing unit 201. The reagent dispensing unit 15 sucks the reagent from the reagent container 32 held by the reagent container holder 12 and then discharges the sucked reagent to the reaction container 33 stationary at the reagent discharge position B on the reaction container holder 13. .

  As with the reagent dispensing unit 15, the cleaning liquid dispensing unit 19 includes a nozzle 191, an arm 192, and a nozzle cleaning unit 193, and sucks and discharges the cleaning liquid (reagent) by a predetermined suction / discharge mechanism. The arm 192 moves up and down in the vertical direction and rotates in the horizontal direction under the control of the data processing unit 201. The cleaning liquid dispensing unit 19 sucks the reagent from the reagent container 32 held by the reagent container holder 12 and then places the sucked reagent on the reaction container holder 13 where the reaction container cleaning unit 18 is provided. It discharges to the reaction container 33 which is stationary at the cleaning liquid discharge position C.

  The measurement unit 101 can further include a sample container holder with a cold insulation function for holding a sample container for storing an emergency sample and a sample container for storing a sample for accuracy control.

  Next, the configuration of the data processing unit 201 will be described. The data processing unit 201 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The data processing unit 201 receives an input of information including information necessary for analyzing the components of the sample, an operation instruction signal of the automatic analyzer 1, and the measurement in the measurement unit 101. A data generation unit 22 that generates sample analysis data based on the result, a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device or printer, an output unit 23 that outputs various types of information including sample analysis data, and sample analysis data The storage unit 24 that stores various information and the control unit 25 that controls the automatic analyzer 1 are realized by a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

  The data generation unit 22 performs an analysis operation on the measurement result received from the photometry unit 17 of the measurement unit 101. In this analytical calculation, the absorbance of the liquid in the reaction vessel 33 is calculated based on the measurement result sent from the photometry unit 17, and the reaction vessel is calculated using the absorbance calculation result and various information such as calibration curves and analysis parameters. Analyzing data for each specimen is generated by quantitatively determining the liquid components in the inside 33.

  In addition to the analysis data generated by the data generation unit 22, the storage unit 24 includes test items, sample information, reagent types, sample and reagent dispensing amounts, sample and reagent expiration dates, and calibration curves used for analysis. Memorize parameters required for analysis.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the reaction container cleaning method of the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment. First, the suction nozzle 181 included in the reaction container cleaning unit 18 sucks the reaction liquid M of the sample and the reagent inside the reaction container 33 (step (I)). Thereafter, the reaction container 33 from which the reaction liquid M has been sucked moves to the cleaning liquid discharge position C as the reaction container holder 13 rotates.

  The cleaning liquid dispensing unit 19 sucks a predetermined reagent Rg in the reagent container 32 held by the reagent container holder 12 and then uses the reagent Rg as a cleaning liquid to the reaction container 33 stationary at the cleaning liquid discharge position C. Discharge (step (II)). The reagent Rg used as the washing liquid is a reagent (first reagent) that is first dispensed into the reaction container 33 when the next analysis is performed using the washed reaction container 33 (step (IV) described later). reference). Thereafter, the reaction container 33 into which the reagent Rg as the cleaning liquid has been dispensed moves to a position where the suction nozzle 182 included in the reaction container cleaning unit 18 sucks the cleaning liquid as the reaction container holder 13 rotates.

  Subsequently, the suction nozzle 182 sucks the cleaning liquid (reagent Rg) stored in the reaction vessel 33 located immediately below (step (III)). Thereby, the cleaning process of the reaction vessel 33 is completed.

  It should be noted that a stirring rod is provided at an appropriate position in the reaction vessel cleaning section 18 so that the inside of the reaction vessel 33 is placed between the step (II) for discharging the cleaning liquid (reagent Rg) and the step (III) for sucking the cleaning liquid. You may make it perform the process of stirring.

  The reaction vessel 33 that has been cleaned in the above steps (I) to (III) is transferred to the reagent discharge position B by the rotation of the reaction vessel holder 13. The reagent dispensing unit 15 discharges the reagent Rg used as the cleaning liquid in the step (II) as the first reagent to the reaction vessel 33 stationary at the reagent discharge position B (step (IV)).

  The analysis operation of the specimen following this step (IV) is the same as the analysis operation in a normal automatic analyzer. That is, after this step (IV), the measurement unit 101 performs “sample dispensing” → “stirring” → “measurement” → “second reagent dispensing” → “stirring” → “measurement”, and the measurement result is obtained. Transmit to the data processing unit 201. Further, the measurement unit 101 cleans the reaction vessel 33 at the end of a series of analysis operations. In this washing step, the reagent first dispensed into the reaction vessel 33 in the next analysis is used as a washing solution.

  In the data processing unit 201 that has received the measurement result by the measurement unit 101, the data generation unit 22 performs an analysis operation based on the received measurement result. Thereafter, the output unit 23 outputs the analysis data obtained by the analysis calculation, while the storage unit 24 stores and stores the analysis data.

  According to Embodiment 1 of the present invention described above, a reagent container holder holds a reagent that is first discharged into a reaction container when an analysis is performed using the cleaned reaction container as a cleaning liquid for the reaction container. Since the reagent contained in the reagent container is applied, a large and complicated configuration for storing the cleaning liquid and supplying it to the reaction container as in the prior art is not required. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus with a simple configuration.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, since the cleaning liquid for cleaning the reaction container is the first cleaning liquid discharged to the reaction container in the analysis after cleaning, the inside of the reaction container is completely removed during the cleaning. There is no need to dry. For this reason, a mechanism for drying the reaction vessel is not required, and the configuration of the reaction vessel washing unit can be simplified. In addition, the number of steps when washing the reaction container can be reduced, and the reaction container can be washed more quickly.

  Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, since the device configuration is simplified, the cost can be reduced. In particular, when the cost required for the reagent including the amount used as the cleaning liquid can be kept lower than the cost required for the conventional reagent and pure water (cleaning liquid), the cost can be further reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the measurement unit of the automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the measurement unit 102 of the automatic analyzer 2 shown in the figure, parts having the same functional configuration as the measurement unit 101 of the automatic analyzer 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. The configuration of the data processing unit of the automatic analyzer 2 is the same as that of the data processing unit 201 of the automatic analyzer 1.

  The reagent container holder 51 of the measurement unit 102 holds a plurality of reagent containers 34 arranged in a matrix and stationary.

  The reagent dispensing unit 52 holds a narrow tubular nozzle 521 for aspirating and discharging a reagent, a nozzle mounting arm 522 for attaching and supporting the nozzle 521, and a nozzle mounting arm 522 that can extend and contract along the longitudinal direction. A rotation arm 523 that can rotate around the base end and move up and down, and a nozzle cleaning unit 524 that cleans the nozzle 521 are included.

  The reagent dispensing unit 52 performs an operation appropriately combining the rotation and vertical movement of the rotation arm 523 and the expansion and contraction of the nozzle mounting arm 522 with respect to the rotation arm 523, whereby all the reagent containers 34 held by the reagent container holder 51. The reagent can be aspirated from. The reagent dispensing section 52 discharges the reagent sucked from the reagent container 34 held by the reagent container holder 51 to the reaction container 33 stationary at the reagent discharge position B, while at the cleaning liquid discharge position C of the reaction container cleaning section 18. Discharge into the stationary reaction vessel 33. In this sense, the reagent dispensing unit 52 is a cleaning liquid dispensing means for redispensing the reagent used as the cleaning liquid for the reaction container 33 into the reaction container 33 when performing analysis using the washed reaction container 33. It has a function.

  According to Embodiment 2 of the present invention described above, a reagent container holder holds a reagent that is first discharged into a reaction container when an analysis is performed using the cleaned reaction container as a cleaning liquid for the reaction container. Since the reagent contained in the reagent container is applied, a large and complicated configuration for storing the cleaning liquid and supplying it to the reaction container as in the prior art is not required. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus with a simple configuration. In particular, in the case of the second embodiment, since the reagent dispensing unit and the cleaning liquid dispensing unit are the same, it is possible to further reduce the size of the apparatus.

  Further, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the configuration for drying the reaction vessel is not necessary, and the configuration of the reaction vessel cleaning unit can be simplified. In addition, the number of steps when washing the reaction container can be reduced, and the reaction container can be washed more quickly.

  Note that the shape of the arm in the reagent dispensing unit is not limited to that described above, and for example, the two arms may be connected so that the nozzle mounting arm can rotate with respect to the rotating arm.

  Further, instead of the rack sampler 11, a sample container holder for holding a plurality of sample containers 31 arranged in a matrix may be provided, and a sample dispensing unit having the same configuration as the reagent dispensing unit 52 may be provided.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the measurement unit of the automatic analyzer according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The measurement unit 103 of the automatic analyzer 3 shown in the same figure includes a rack sampler 61 that houses and sequentially transfers a plurality of racks 41 on which a predetermined number of sample containers 31 are mounted, and a plurality of reagent containers 35 (see FIG. 4). In FIG. 4, a reagent container holder 62 that holds the coils arranged in a rotatable manner along the circumference of the circle P1 and a circumference different from the circle described above (see FIG. 4). Reaction vessel holder 63 arranged and held along the circumference of the circle P2, and a sample dispensing unit for dispensing the sample contained in the sample vessel 31 on the rack sampler 61 into the reaction vessel 36 on the reaction vessel holder 63. 64, the stirring unit 65 that stirs the liquid inside the reaction vessel 36 held by the reaction vessel holder 63, and the reaction vessel 36 held by the reaction vessel holder 63 are irradiated with light, and the reaction vessel 36 out of the irradiated light. It includes a photometry section 66 to measure the transmitted light optically, and the reaction container washing unit 67 the reaction vessel holder 63 to clean the reaction vessel 36 for holding the.

  In FIG. 4, a circle P <b> 1 that forms the transfer locus of the reagent container 35 and a circle P <b> 2 that forms the transfer locus of the reaction container 36 intersect when one circle is projected onto a plane through which the other circle passes. Hereinafter, the positions corresponding to the two intersections of the circle P1 and the circle P2 on the plane described above are referred to as positions D and E.

  The sample dispensing unit 64 includes a thin tubular nozzle 641 that sucks and discharges a sample, an arm 642 that supports the nozzle 641, and a nozzle cleaning unit 643 that cleans the nozzle 641, and is realized using a syringe or the like. The sample is aspirated and discharged by the suction / discharge mechanism. The arm 642 moves up and down in the vertical direction and rotates in the horizontal direction under the control of the control unit 25 of the data processing unit 201. The sample dispensing unit 64 sucks the sample from the sample container 31 held by the rack sampler 61 and then discharges the sucked sample to the reaction container 36 that is stationary at the sample discharge position F on the reaction container holder 63.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the reagent container 35. The reagent container 35 has a bottomed hollow prism shape and contains the reagent Rg, and has a main body 351 that can be fitted to the reagent container holder 62, a protrusion 352 that protrudes from the bottom surface of the main body 351, A piston 353 that generates a discharge pressure with respect to the reagent Rg contained in the main body 351 and a piston 353 that is attached so as to penetrate from the bottom surface of the main body 351 to the protruding portion 352, with the tip pointing downward and the outside of the reagent container holder 62. And a tubular nozzle 354 exposed to the surface.

  The piston 353 moves forward and backward by driving the piston drive unit 68. The movement amount of the piston 353 is controlled by the control unit 25 of the data processing unit 201. When the piston 353 moves downward, an amount of reagent Rg corresponding to the amount of movement is discharged through the nozzle 354 to the reaction vessel 36 located immediately below. The piston driving unit 68 is provided only at the positions D and E.

  Next, a reaction container cleaning method performed by the automatic analyzer 3 having the above configuration will be described. First, the reaction container cleaning unit 67 sucks the reaction liquid M of the sample and the reagent inside the reaction container 36 (corresponding to step (I) in FIG. 2). Thereafter, the reaction container 33 from which the reaction liquid M has been sucked moves to the position D or E as the cleaning liquid discharge position as the reaction container holder 63 rotates.

  The reagent container 35 that is stationary at the position D or E discharges the reagent Rg as a cleaning liquid to the reaction container 36 located immediately below it (corresponding to step (II) in FIG. 2). The reagent Rg used as the cleaning liquid in this step is first divided into the reaction container 36 in the analysis operation after the reaction container 36 is washed among the reagents contained in the plurality of reagent containers 35 held by the reagent container holder 62. Reagent to be poured. Thereafter, the reaction container 36 from which the cleaning liquid (reagent Rg) has been discharged moves to a predetermined position of the reaction container cleaning unit 67 as the reaction container holder 63 rotates.

  Thereafter, the reaction container cleaning section 67 sucks the cleaning liquid stored in the reaction container 36 (corresponding to step (III) in FIG. 2). Thereby, the cleaning process of the reaction vessel 36 is completed.

  When performing an analysis using the reaction vessel 36 after washing, the reaction vessel 36 is first moved to the position D or E by the rotation of the reaction vessel holder 63, while containing the reagent Rg used as a washing liquid for the reaction vessel 36. The reagent container 35 to be moved moves immediately above the reaction container 36 by the rotation of the reagent container holder 62. Subsequently, the reagent container 35 positioned at the position D or E discharges a predetermined amount of the reagent Rg to the reaction container 36 positioned immediately below (corresponding to step (IV) in FIG. 2). Thus, the positions D and E are also reagent dispensing positions.

  In the third embodiment, the piston 353, the nozzle 354, and the piston drive unit 68 have at least a part of a function as a cleaning liquid dispensing unit that dispenses a reagent as a cleaning liquid. This washing liquid dispensing means also has a function of dispensing the reagent to the reaction vessel 33 when analyzing the components of the specimen.

  Hereinafter, an example of the analysis operation for the reaction container 36 into which the reagent Rg has been dispensed will be described. When the reaction container 36 into which the reagent Rg as the first reagent has been dispensed reaches the sample discharge position F by the rotation of the reaction container holder 63, the sample dispensing unit 64 dispenses a predetermined sample into the reaction container 36.

  Thereafter, the reaction container 36 into which the specimen has been dispensed is transferred to the stirring unit 65 by the rotation operation of the reaction container holder 63. In the stirring part 65, the liquid mixture of the specimen and the first reagent stored in the reaction container 36 is stirred.

  The photometry unit 66 measures the absorbance of the mixed solution when the reaction vessel 36 containing the mixed solution after stirring the specimen and the first reagent passes along with the rotation of the reaction vessel holder 63, and the measurement result as data. Transmit to the processing unit 201. In the data processing unit 201 that has received the measurement result from the photometry unit 66, the data generation unit 22 performs an analysis calculation based on the received measurement result, and outputs the calculation result in the output unit 23 while storing it in the storage unit 24. To do.

  Subsequently, when the reaction container 36 reaches the position D or E by the rotation of the reaction container holder 63, the reagent container 35 positioned above the second container discharges the second reagent that reacts with the sample second according to the test item. To do. Prior to this discharge operation, the reagent container holder 62 rotates the reagent container 35 containing the second reagent discharged to the reaction container 36 to the position D or E where the reaction container 36 to be dispensed is stationary. I do.

  The reaction container 36 from which the second reagent has been discharged is transferred to the stirring unit 65 by the rotation operation of the reaction container holder 63. The stirring unit 65 stirs the mixed solution of the specimen and the first and second reagents stored in the reaction container 36.

  The photometry unit 66 measures the absorbance of the reaction liquid when the reaction container 36 containing the reaction liquid, which is a mixed liquid after stirring the specimen and the first and second reagents, passes as the reaction container holder 63 rotates. Then, the measurement result is transmitted to the data processing unit 201. The processing of the data processing unit 201 that has received the measurement result of the photometry unit 66 is the same as described above.

  Thereafter, the measurement unit 103 cleans the reaction vessel 36 for which measurement has been completed. In this cleaning, the reagent that is first dispensed into the reaction vessel 36 in the next analysis is applied as a cleaning solution. Thus, a series of analysis operations for one reaction vessel 36 is completed.

  According to the third embodiment of the present invention described above, a reagent container holder holds a reagent that is first discharged into a reaction container when an analysis is performed using the cleaned reaction container as a cleaning liquid for the reaction container. Since the reagent contained in the reagent container is applied, a large and complicated configuration for storing the cleaning liquid and supplying it to the reaction container as in the prior art is not required. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus with a simple configuration. In particular, in the case of the third embodiment, the reagent dispensing unit and the cleaning liquid dispensing unit are the same, and the reaction container holder and the reagent container holder are arranged in the vertical direction and are stationary at the reagent discharge position. Since the reagent is discharged from the container to the reaction container located immediately below, it is possible to further reduce the size of the apparatus.

  Further, according to the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, the configuration for drying the reaction container is not required, and the configuration of the reaction container cleaning unit can be simplified. In addition, the number of steps when washing the reaction container can be reduced, and the reaction container can be washed more quickly.

  Furthermore, according to the third embodiment, since the liquid is directly discharged from the reagent container, different reagents are not dispensed by a common nozzle, and contamination between reagents can be more reliably prevented. it can.

  It is also possible to provide another reagent container holder on the inner peripheral side of the reagent container holder 62. In this case, the transfer path of the reagent container in the inner-side reagent container holder is a circle that is concentric with the circle P1 and smaller in diameter than the circle P1, and this circle intersects the circle P2 on the same plane. Thereby, the dispensing mechanism similar to the reagent container holder 62 can be provided.

  So far, the first to third embodiments have been described in detail as the best mode for carrying out the present invention, but the present invention should not be limited by these embodiments. That is, 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. Is possible.

It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the principal part of the automatic analyzer which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the reaction container washing | cleaning method of the automatic analyzer which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the principal part of the measurement unit of the automatic analyzer which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the principal part of the measurement unit of the automatic analyzer which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the reagent container which the automatic analyzer which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention hold | maintains.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 3 Automatic analyzer 11, 61 Rack sampler 12, 51, 62 Reagent container holder 13, 63 Reaction container holder 14, 64 Sample dispensing unit 15, 52 Reagent dispensing unit 16, 65 Agitation unit 17, 66 Photometry Units 18, 67 Reaction vessel cleaning unit 19 Cleaning liquid dispensing unit 21 Input unit 22 Data generation unit 23 Output unit 24 Storage unit 25 Control unit 31 Sample container 32, 34, 35 Reagent container 33, 36 Reaction container 41 Rack 51 Reagent container holder 68 Piston drive unit 101, 102, 103 Measuring unit 141, 151, 191, 354, 521, 641 Nozzle 142, 152, 192, 642 Arm 143, 153, 193, 524, 643 Nozzle cleaning unit 181, 182 Suction nozzle 201 Data processing unit 351 Main unit 352 Protruding part 353 Fixie 522 nozzle mounting arm 523 rotates arm M reaction Rg reagent

Claims (3)

In an automatic analyzer that analyzes a sample component by reacting a sample and a reagent in a reaction vessel and optically measuring a result of the reaction,
A cleaning liquid dispensing means for dispensing a cleaning liquid for cleaning the reaction container into the reaction container;
A reagent container holder for holding a reagent container containing a reagent to be applied according to the contents of the analysis;
With
The cleaning liquid is a reagent initially dispensed into the reaction container when the analysis is performed using the washed reaction container, and is a reagent contained in the reagent container held by the reagent container holder. A featured automatic analyzer. The cleaning liquid dispensing means includes
2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the reagent as the washing liquid dispensed into the reaction container is dispensed into the reaction container after washing. A reaction container cleaning method for an automatic analyzer in which an automatic analyzer that analyzes a component of the sample by reacting a sample and a reagent in a reaction container and optically measuring a result of the reaction cleans the reaction container In
A reaction liquid suction step for sucking a reaction liquid of the specimen and the reagent contained in the reaction container;
The reagent that is first dispensed into the reaction container when the analysis is performed using the reaction container after washing with respect to the reaction container in which the reaction liquid is sucked in the reaction liquid suction step, and the automatic analyzer A cleaning liquid dispensing step of dispensing the reagent contained in the reagent container held by the liquid as a cleaning liquid;
A cleaning liquid suction step for sucking the cleaning liquid dispensed in the cleaning liquid dispensing step from the reaction vessel;
A reaction container cleaning method for an automatic analyzer characterized by comprising:

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