JP2009145091A - Autoanalyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an autoanalyzer improved in user's convenience by automatically performing the treatment related to the resumption of analysis such as the filling treatment of a replaced bottle or the like with the completion of bottle replacement as the starting point, in a dispenser type autoanalyzer. <P>SOLUTION: Provided is a bottle replacement data table for reading the presence of the installation of the bottle or the data of expendables by a reading means such as a bar code reader or the like in the case where the expendables such as a diluting liquid and a reagent are replaced to store the installation position of the expendables. In the case where an operator indicates the completion of bottle replacement by a means such as a switch or the like, the data of the replaced bottle is acquired from the bottle replacement data table, and a flow channel to be filled and a syringe to be controlled are further determined from a flow channel data table to perform filling control with respect to the syringe and the flow channel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,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 mechanism for discharging a diluent, a reagent, and the like through a flow path.

  An automatic analyzer that performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological samples such as blood and urine consumes a plurality of consumables such as a diluent and a reagent in performing the analysis.

  The operator usually starts the analysis after loading a consumable item that is sufficiently larger than the daily consumption of the analysis work at the time of start-up, but in the unlikely event that the reagent is insufficient, continuous operation is possible In view of the operation of such automatic analyzers, automatic analyzers that can exchange reagents and the like even during analysis have appeared.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when a reagent is replaced, an automatic analyzer having a function of automatically transitioning to a standby state in which the reagent can be replaced by pressing a reagent replacement interrupt button and notifying an operator Is disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 3597958

  However, it is not a so-called pipetter type dispensing mechanism that is commonly used for different reagents, but diluted by a dispensing mechanism (dispenser type) connected by a dedicated channel from the reagent bottle to the discharge nozzle for each reagent. In an automatic analyzer that dispenses liquids and reagents, in the unlikely event that a diluent or reagent is insufficient, analysis cannot be performed simply by stopping the automatic analyzer and installing a new bottle. In the dispenser method, the diluent and reagent bottles and the nozzles for injecting them into the reaction vessel are connected by a flow path. Therefore, in order to restart the analysis, a new diluent or reagent is added to the flow path. It is necessary to perform a predetermined maintenance process such as filling.

  For this reason, in the process of filling the flow path with the diluent or reagent, the operator needs to memorize which bottle has been replaced and instruct the filling control for the replaced bottle from the operation screen each time. Therefore, not only it takes time to restart the analysis, but there is a possibility that an error in selecting a bottle for performing filling control may occur.

  Further, in the measurement of the electrolyte item, in order to resume the analysis, it is necessary to carry out a process for stabilizing the electrode after the newly installed consumable is filled in the flow path.

  In the dispenser type automatic analyzer, the present invention automatically performs processing related to restarting analysis, such as filling of a replaced bottle, starting from recognition of completion of bottle replacement. The purpose is to provide an automated analyzer that is easy to use.

  The configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object is as follows.

  A plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid to the reaction vessel, a flow path provided for each of the nozzles for supplying the liquid to the plurality of nozzles, and a liquid connected to the flow path and supplied to the flow path In an automatic analyzer comprising a plurality of liquid containers and a plurality of liquid container installation positions at which the plurality of liquid containers are respectively installed, detection means for detecting that the liquid container is installed at the liquid container installation position; An automatic analysis comprising: a control means for controlling the liquid contained in the liquid container in a flow path to which the liquid container is connected when the detection means detects the installation of the liquid container. apparatus.

  The term “liquid” specifically refers to consumables such as reagents, detergents, and internal standard solutions used in automatic analyzers. Although not particularly mentioned above, the apparatus includes pressure change generating means for discharging liquid from the nozzle. The pressure change generating means is, for example, a syringe, a diaphragm, a micro pump, or the like. A part of the flow path is immersed in the liquid contained in the liquid container, and the liquid is sucked from the liquid container. The detection means for detecting that the liquid container has been installed is, for example, a mechanical switch such as a micro switch that is turned on when the liquid container is installed, or the capacitance changes due to the installation of the container. Various types can be used, such as an electrostatic type using a liquid crystal or an optical type (such as a photo interrupter) that recognizes installation by blocking light from a liquid container. Further, in order to determine the type of the installed container, the barcode attached to the container may be read with a barcode reader or the like. Further, instead of an ID tag having a large amount of information such as a barcode, a specific shape may be provided at a specific position of the container, and the type may be recognized by the shape.

  More specifically, for example, the following can also be performed.

  When consumables such as diluents and reagents are replaced, a bottle that stores the information on which consumables are installed at which position by reading the presence / absence of the bottles and information on the consumables using a reading means such as a barcode reader An exchange information table is provided. In addition, a flow path information table storing the connection relation between the bottle installation position and the flow path and the type of the bottle to be installed is provided.

  When the operator instructs the end of bottle replacement by means of a switch or the like, information on the replaced bottle is acquired from the bottle replacement information table, and the flow path to be filled and the syringe to be controlled are determined from the flow path information table.

  Next, filling control is performed on the corresponding syringe and flow path. For consumables for which the filling process has been completed normally, the corresponding information in the bottle replacement information table is cleared, and for consumables that have ended abnormally, the filling process is retried a predetermined number of times after the alarm is output.

  According to the present invention, in the dispenser type automatic analyzer, the process for resuming the analysis, such as the filling process of the replaced bottle, is automatically performed with the recognition of the completion of the bottle replacement as a starting point. Returning to analysis, an easy-to-use automatic analyzer can be provided.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of an automatic analyzer. In FIG. 1, 1-1 is a reaction vessel, and the automatic analyzer is provided with one or a plurality of reaction vessels. The reaction vessel 1-1 is maintained at a predetermined temperature by a heat retention mechanism.

  1-2 is a sample container, and the sample in the sample container 1-2 is appropriately extracted by the pipetting mechanism 1-3 and injected into the reaction container 1-1 at the sample dispensing position. 1-4 is a bottle of diluent or reagent, and includes means for recognizing the type of consumables in the bottle, such as a barcode. The automatic analyzer comprises one or more bottles 1-4. Each diluted solution and reagent are injected into the reaction container 1-1 from the bottle 1-4 by a dispenser type dispensing mechanism. The dispenser type dispensing mechanism is mainly configured by a flow path 1-5, a syringe 1-6, a nozzle 1-7, and a flow path switching valve 1-8. The bottle 1-4 is connected to the syringe 1-6 and the nozzle 1-7 by the flow path 1-5, and the diluent and the reagent are transferred to the bottle 1 by the control of the flow path switching valve 1-8 and the syringe 1-6. -4 to the reaction vessel 1-1. Reference numeral 1-9 denotes a stirring means, which mixes the sample collected in the reaction container 1-1 with a diluent or a reagent.

  Reference numeral 1-10 denotes a measuring means for measuring raw data of a predetermined specimen component from the reaction solution in the reaction container.

  In these controls, a predetermined motor or electromagnetic valve is activated by the control processing unit 1-11.

  When the operator (operator) installs the sample container on a predetermined transport means such as a rack or disk and instructs the start of analysis from the operation screen, the sample in the sample container 1-2 in FIG. 1 can be dispensed by the transport means. It is conveyed to the correct position. Subsequently, according to the analysis parameters stored in the memory in the microcomputer, a predetermined amount is dispensed into the reaction container 1-1 using the nozzle of the sample pipetting mechanism 1-3.

  Next, according to the analysis parameter, the control unit 1-11 supplies the diluent and the reagent to the reaction container 1-1 into which the sample is dispensed from the nozzle 1-7 using the flow path 1-5 and the syringe 1-6. Dispense a predetermined amount according to the instructions.

  Thereafter, the sample, the diluent and the reagent are stirred and mixed by the stirring means 1-9.

  The reaction container 1-1 measures raw data by the measuring means 1-10, and the result is taken into the storage unit 1-12. In the case of biochemical analysis, the absorbance is measured as raw data by a multiwavelength photometer, and in the case of analysis of an electrolyte item, the electromotive force is measured as raw data by an electrode.

  This raw data is converted into concentration data based on a calibration curve created from the absorbance of a standard sample solution measured in advance by an analysis method designated for each item. The measured component concentration data is output to the user interface 1-13.

  In the above measurement principle, the user performs various parameter settings necessary for measurement, sample registration, and confirmation of analysis results on the user interface 1-13.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the control processing unit 1-11 of the automatic analyzer according to the present invention.

  The control processing unit 1-11 includes a bottle replacement information table 2-1 that stores the installation state of consumables at each position and the presence or absence of a filling process, and flow path information that stores the connection relationship between the bottle installation position, the bottle, and the flow path. Table 2-2 is provided.

  For example, when the operator replaces a consumable bottle, the operator reads the barcode of the newly installed consumable bottle with a bar code reader. Thereafter, when the automatic analyzer is installed at a predetermined position, the automatic analyzer recognizes that a new consumable bottle has been installed by a bottle detection means such as the bottle sensor 2-3. At this time, the control processing unit 1-11 stores, in the bottle replacement information table 2-1, the installation state of the position where the consumable bottle is installed as “exchange”. At this time, if there is a contradiction in the position and type of the consumables installed in the bottle replacement information table 2-1, an alarm is output.

  After the necessary consumables are replaced, when the operator presses a button provided on the switch or the operation screen for the purpose of notifying the automatic analyzer of the completion of the bottle replacement, the installation state is displayed in the bottle replacement information table 2-1. Search for consumable bottles that are “replaced” and determine the flow path and syringe connected to the consumable bottle based on the data stored in the flow path information table 2-2 for the corresponding consumable bottle. To do.

  In the flow path information table 2-2, the control processing unit 1-11 sets the filling process to “unimplemented” for the corresponding flow path, and controls the filling process for the syringe that controls the flow path. to start.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 2, when the internal standard solution is replaced at Pos.1, the state is set to “exchange”. When the operator notifies the completion of the bottle replacement, the internal standard solution of Pos.1 is connected to the IS1 flow path and the IS2 flow path in the flow path information table 2-2. The filling process is set as “not implemented”, and the control processing unit 1-11 instructs the syringe 1 and the syringe 4 to control the filling process. Further, according to the progress of the filling process, the pressure of the IS1 flow path and the IS2 flow path is monitored to check whether the filling process is proceeding normally. When the filling process with the syringe 1 and the syringe 4 is successful, the installation state is updated to “installing” in the bottle replacement information table 2-1, and the process is terminated. If the filling process fails, the filling process is stored as “failed” for the corresponding flow path in the flow path information table 2-2, an alarm is notified to the user, and the connection between the bottle and the flow path is confirmed. Recommend.

  If the filling process for each flow path does not interfere with each other, notification of completion of bottle replacement by the operator is not necessarily required, and a new bottle is installed by a bottle detection means such as the bottle sensor 2-3. You may start a filling process at the timing which recognized that.

  In addition, in the case of electrolyte items, not only filling of consumables such as internal standard solution, dilution solution, and reference electrode solution, but also treatment of flowing the internal standard solution to the electrode after the filling process prior to the start of operation is required. For this reason, it is conceivable to implement a control of flowing the internal standard solution to the electrode after recognizing that the filling of the internal standard solution, the diluted solution, and the comparative electrode solution is completed by the bottle replacement information table 2-1. At the same time as controlling the flow of the internal standard solution to the electrode, the electromotive force may be measured by the electrode, and it may be checked that the electromotive force falls within a certain range after a predetermined number of times. If not, there may be a problem with the replaced consumables or a problem with the electrodes, so an alarm is output and the filling process is set to “fail”.

  When the filling process fails due to a problem with the pressure in the flow path or the electromotive force, the control processing unit may retry the filling process until it succeeds within a predetermined number of times. The number of retries is determined by the operator on the screen shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, in an automatic analyzer capable of installing a calibrator at a predetermined position in the apparatus, such as an automatic analyzer including a specimen disk, calibration is performed after the above processing is completed.

  The above processing may be performed during the operation. In this case, after recognizing the consumable bottle, it waits until all the analysis requests being executed are completed, and then performs the filling processing. This can be achieved by returning to operation.

The block diagram which shows the basic outline of the automatic analyzer of this invention. The figure which showed the structure of this invention. Retry count setting screen example.

Explanation of symbols

1-1 Reaction container 1-2 Specimen container 1-3 Specimen pipetting mechanism 1-4 Consumables (diluent or reagent) bottle 1-5 Channel 1-6 Syringe 1-7 Nozzle 1-8 Channel switching valve 1 -9 Stirring mechanism 1-10 Measuring means 1-11 Control processing unit 1-12 Storage unit 1-13 User interface

Claims (6)

A plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid into the reaction vessel;
A flow path provided for each of the nozzles for supplying liquid to the plurality of nozzles;
A plurality of liquid containers connected to the flow path and containing liquid to be supplied to the flow path;
A plurality of liquid container installation positions for respectively installing the plurality of liquid containers;
In an automatic analyzer equipped with
Detecting means for detecting that a liquid container is installed at the liquid container installation position;
Control means for controlling to fill the flow path to which the liquid container is connected with the liquid contained in the liquid container when the detection means detects the installation of the liquid container;
An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising: The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
If the liquid container is changed during operation,
An automatic analyzer comprising control means for controlling to return to an operation after filling of a liquid channel is completed. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2,
An automatic analyzer comprising control means for performing control so that a calibration curve is automatically measured using the liquid after filling the liquid flow path. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2 or 3,
An automatic analyzer comprising control means for controlling to repeatedly fill a flow path a plurality of times and to set the number of repetitions in advance when filling of the liquid into the flow path fails. The automatic analyzer according to claim 4,
The liquid is an internal standard solution for electrolyte item measurement, and after completion of filling the flow path, the electromotive force is measured, and the measured electromotive force is predetermined even after the preset number of repetitions is measured. An automatic analyzer comprising means for outputting an alarm when out of range. In the automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The detection means has a function of determining the type of liquid container,
An automatic analyzer comprising control means for performing control so that the flow path is washed when the detection means determines that a detergent container is installed.

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