JP2010204129A - Automatic analyzer and rack conveying method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic analyzer, which is applied to an apparatus adapted to convey a rack holding a sample to an analyzing unit to analyze the sample, and which does not complicate the rack conveying system even if the number of analyzing units is one or increased to two or more. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic analyzer includes a rack standby disk which rotates and stops with a plurality of racks on standby. A dedicated rack reciprocating conveying line is provided between each analyzing unit and the rack standby disk. Only a single rack is led to each rack reciprocating conveying line, and the rack is returned to the rack standby disk after a sample extraction process. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for transporting a rack holding a sample to be analyzed and collecting the sample in an analysis unit, and a method for transporting such a rack.

  Analysis results of biological samples such as plasma, serum, and urine provide a lot of information for diagnosing disease states. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-339732 describes an apparatus for automatically analyzing such a biological sample. In this prior art, a plurality of analysis units are arranged along a conveyance line composed of a belt conveyor, a rack supply unit is arranged on one end side of the conveyance line, and a rack recovery unit is arranged on the other end side. The rack holding the sample stops at one or more analysis units via a transport line composed of a belt conveyor, and is then collected by the rack collection unit.

  Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-339732 provides a supply unit for repeatedly supplying a standard solution rack and a control sample rack in addition to a general sample rack supply unit, and these two supply units are provided in a transport line. A configuration for connection is disclosed.

  In addition, JP-A-8-510554 discloses a device for loading a sample carrier onto the conveyor, an unloading device from the conveyor, and a plurality of analysis modules around the loop conveyor. The structure which arrange | positions the turntable which can rotate a some sample carrier between analysis modules is disclosed.

JP-A-10-339732 Japanese National Patent Publication No. 8-510554

  A large number of conveyors commonly used for rack transport to a plurality of analysis units, such as the automatic analyzer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-339732 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-510554. When a single rack is transported, if a failure occurs even at one location on the transport conveyor, the progress of the rack is hindered and the rack transport operation of the entire apparatus cannot be continued.

  Further, in the above-described prior art, when the automatic analyzer has a minimum unit configuration including only one analysis unit, the entire apparatus becomes too large, and when the number of analysis units is increased to include two or more analysis units. The common conveyor must be changed.

  The object of the present invention is to reduce the size of the entire apparatus even when the automatic analyzer is composed of a minimum unit having one analysis unit, so that it is not necessary to change an existing transport system when adding an analysis unit. An automatic analyzer and a rack transport method are provided.

  In the present invention, a rack standby disk that can be rotated and stopped in a state where a plurality of racks holding a sample are in a standby state is provided corresponding to an analysis unit that receives the rack from the rack supply unit and performs analysis processing of the sample. The single rack is transported from the rack standby disk to the sampling position of the analysis unit by the rack reciprocating transport device, and the single sample after the sample for analysis processing is collected at the sampling position of the analysis unit. The processed rack is returned to the rack standby disk by a rack reciprocating conveyance device, and the processed rack on the rack standby disk is carried out toward the rack recovery unit.

  The entire apparatus can be reduced in size, and an automatic analyzer and a rack transport method can be provided that do not require changing an existing transport system when adding an analysis unit.

The top view which shows schematic structure of the automatic analyzer as one Example to which this invention is applied. The perspective view for demonstrating the structure of the rack supply part and rack collection | recovery part vicinity in the automatic analyzer of FIG. The perspective view for demonstrating schematic structure of the rack standby disk vicinity in the automatic analyzer of FIG. The partial top view for demonstrating the relationship between the rack standby disk and the sampling mechanism of an analysis unit. The figure for demonstrating a rack management table. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view near the evaporation protection chamber in the automatic analyzer of FIG. 1. The schematic plan view which shows an example of arrangement | positioning which combined two analysis units. The schematic plan view which shows the other example of arrangement | positioning which combined two analysis units. The schematic plan view which shows an example of the arrangement | positioning which combined three analysis units. The schematic plan view which shows the other example of arrangement | positioning which combined three analysis units.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The automatic analyzer in this embodiment is configured to analyze plasma, serum or urine samples. The automatic analyzer shown in FIG. 1 is a configuration example of a minimum unit in which one rack distribution unit 1 and one analysis unit 2 are combined. As shown in FIG. 7 and thereafter, two units are provided for one rack distribution unit. The above analysis units can be combined. One analysis unit can analyze a plurality of analysis items for each sample to be analyzed.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the rack supply unit 3 and the rack collection unit 4 in the automatic analyzer of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the rack standby disk 5 in the automatic analyzer of FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial plan view for explaining the relationship between the rack standby disk 5 and the sampling mechanism 26 of the analysis unit 2 in the automatic analyzer of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a rack management table in the information storage unit 18. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the relationship between the evaporation protection chamber and the rack standby disk in the automatic analyzer of FIG.

  The rack distribution unit 1 collects the processed rack that has been sampled by the sampling mechanism of the rack supply unit 3 and the analysis unit 2 that can supply the pre-processing rack holding the sample before sampling to the rack standby disk 5. Rack collecting unit 4 for rotating, a rack standby disk 5 which can be rotated to hold a plurality of racks and stop so as to position a desired rack at a desired position. A rack supply line 6 for guiding the rack to the rack recovery line 7 and a rack recovery line 7 for guiding the processed rack from the rack standby disk toward the rack recovery unit 4 are provided.

  The rack 9 is a substantially rectangular box-shaped holding body, and preferably has a plurality of receiving chambers into which a plurality of sample containers can be loaded. A general sample container that contains a general sample such as a patient specimen, a calibrator container that contains a calibrator solution (standard solution) for creating a calibration curve, and a quality control that contains a control specimen that is a sample for quality control. An identification information medium indicating identification information of the stored liquid is provided on the outer wall of a container for cleaning, a cleaning liquid container containing a cleaning liquid containing a special detergent, and the like. Identification information as sample information in the sample container includes a reception number, a reception date, a patient name, a patient number, a sample type, and a requested analysis item. An identification information medium indicating rack identification information is provided in a general rack for patient specimens loaded with various containers, a calibrator rack, an accuracy management rack, a cleaning liquid rack, and the like. The identification information of the rack includes a stored liquid name, a rack number, a manufacturing lot number, and the like. As the identification information medium, a bar code label or a magnetic recording medium is used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rack supply unit 3 and the rack collection unit 4 have push levers 10 and 35 that move the pre-treatment rack one pitch at a time. With respect to the rack transferred to the rack supply line 6, the rack identification information and / or the container identification information (sample identification information) of the container on the rack is read by the barcode reader 17 and transmitted to the control unit 19. In the rack supply unit 3, the rear surface of the last rack of the rack row on the tray 54 that forms an area where a large number of racks are arranged is pushed by the pushing lever 10, so that the row of racks is moved. When it is pushed to the inlet position P1 of the rack supply line 6 and comes into contact with the rack detector 13 provided on the wall at the end, the signal is transmitted to the control unit 19 and the operation of the pushing lever 10 is stopped. The pushing lever 10 is attached to a rotating belt 12a, and the belt 12a is driven by a motor 11a.

  When the post-processing rack sent by the rack collection line 7 reaches the outlet position P4 of the line, the pushing lever 35 waiting on the back surface of the outlet P4 performs a rack pushing operation. The rack collection unit 4 includes a tray 55 having an area for receiving a number of processed racks. The pushing lever 35 is attached to a rotating belt 12b, and the belt 12b is driven by a motor 11b. If several racks already exist on the tray 55, the pushing lever 35 pushes the rack row from the rear by one pitch.

  The movement of the rack between the rack distribution unit 1 and the analysis unit 2 is executed via an analysis side connection line 22 as shown in FIG. The analysis side connection line 22 is dedicated to one analysis unit, and the operation is controlled by the control unit 19 so as to accept only a single rack. A sample collection position A1 of the analysis unit 2 is formed near the tip of the analysis side connection line 22, and a single rack reciprocates between the rack standby disk 5 and the sample collection position A1.

  The operation of the rack standby disk 5 is controlled by the control unit 19 so that a pre-processing rack, a post-processing rack, a control rack, a calibrator rack, a cleaning liquid rack, a remeasurement waiting rack, and the like can be held in a mixed state. As shown in FIG. 3, the rack standby disk 5 includes a plurality of rack receiving portions 57 partitioned by the partition member 20, and each rack receiving portion 57 receives a rack before processing from the rack supply portion 3 side. Pre-processing rack receiving position, post-processing rack unloading position for unloading the retained post-processing rack toward the rack collection unit, and analysis access for unloading the pre-processing rack toward the analysis unit 2 The rotation operation is controlled by the control unit 19 so that the position and the rack insertion / removal position of the measurement unit 65 for the electrolyte analysis item to the sample collection position can be stopped. The access position for analysis also serves as a position for receiving the rack from the sampling position A1. The drive mechanism 21 includes a position sensor for positioning the rack standby disk 5.

  The rack standby disk 5 is rotatably disposed inside the evaporation protection chamber 60. Inside the evaporation protection chamber 60, the humidity of the indoor air is higher than the outside air by the humidifier 36 described later. The humidity in this case is maintained at 80% or more, for example. As can be understood from FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, in the rack supply line 6, the rack standby disk 5 is received by the rack moving claw 14 attached to the belt 16 driven by the motor 15a. It moves to the part 57. In the rack collection line 7, the processed rack is moved from the rack standby disk 5 toward the exit position P4 by the rack moving claw 34 attached to the belt driven by the motor 15b. In the example of FIG. 3, 15 racks can be held on the rack standby disk 5. The side surface of the rack standby disk 5, the partition member 20, the bottom plate of the disk, and the like are formed so that the rack and the rack moving claw can enter and exit. The rack standby disk is driven by the drive mechanism 21 so as to be able to rotate forward and backward.

  In addition to the rack supply line 6 and the rack recovery line 7, the analysis side connection line 22 is also connected to the evaporation protection chamber 60. The movement of the rack between the analysis access position T3 of the rack standby disk 5 and the sampling position A1 on the analysis side connection line 22 is executed by a rack movement claw 23 attached to a belt 25 driven by a motor 24. The These moving operations are controlled by the control unit 19.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the analysis unit 2 includes a reaction disk 27 that repeatedly rotates a predetermined number of rows of reaction vessels 28 arranged in a circle in a predetermined direction and stops. The reaction disk may be rotatable in both forward and reverse directions. In addition, the analysis unit 2 dispenses a reagent disk 50 carrying a plurality of reagent containers 29 containing reagents used for a plurality of analysis items, and dispenses a reagent solution corresponding to the analysis items from the reagent container 29 to the reaction container 28. And a sample sampling mechanism 26 for dispensing a sample according to the analysis item from the sample container 8 held in the rack reaching the sample collection position A1 to the reaction container 28 by a pipette nozzle. The reaction solution produced by mixing the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 28 is measured by a multiwavelength photometer 52 that receives light emitted from the light source 51 and transmitted through the reaction vessel 28, and the measurement data is processed by the control unit 19. Then, the analysis result is displayed on the printer 33 and the screen display device 31.

  When sample containers 8 containing samples such as patient specimens are received by the examination facility, the sample containers are loaded in the rack 9 and sample information and analysis information are input from the operation panel 32 to the control unit 19 by the operator. The The sample information includes at least a sample number and information on items to be analyzed for each sample. The rack supply unit 3 is loaded with specific racks such as an accuracy control rack, a calibrator rack, and a cleaning liquid rack on the front side of the general sample rack. These specific racks are transported to the rack standby disk 5 before the analysis operation of the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. During the conveyance by the rack supply line 6, the identification information of the container and / or the rack is read by the barcode reading device 17 regarding the specific rack and transmitted to the control unit 19. The control unit 19 determines and stores the type of liquid held on the specific rack based on the read information, and uses it for subsequent transport control of the specific rack.

  When the analysis operation by the automatic analyzer is started, the entire plurality of general racks set in the rack supply unit 3 are moved toward the rack supply line by the push lever 10 and the leading rack is detected by the rack detector 13. When it is done, the movement is stopped. The movement direction of the rack 9 in the rack supply line 6 is almost perpendicular to the movement direction in the rack supply unit 3, and the movement direction of the rack in the rack collection line is almost perpendicular to the movement direction in the rack collection unit 4. The rack 9 transported by the rack supply line 6 is read by the bar code reader 17 with the sample identification information or the rack identification information, and is transmitted to the control unit 19. The control unit 19 collates information about each sample to be analyzed, which is input in advance from the operation panel 32 and stored in the information storage unit 18, with the read information, and analyzes the analysis items for each sample with respect to the analysis unit 2. Control to perform the analysis operation according to.

  While the rack moved along the rack supply line 6 by the rack moving claw 14 is transported to the outlet position P2 of the rack supply line 6, the control unit 19 performs the rack standby disk 5 based on the stored information. The rack receiving disk 57 is searched for and stored, and the rack standby disk 5 is rotated so that the empty receiving section is positioned at the loading position T1. The pre-processing rack on the outlet position P2 is carried by the rack moving claw 14 into an empty receiving portion 57 positioned at the opposite loading position T1.

  The plurality of rack receiving portions 57 formed on the rack standby disk 5 are arranged such that the rack entry direction intersects the normal direction and also intersects the direction perpendicular to the normal direction (see FIG. 4). According to such an arrangement of the rack receiving portions, a large number of racks can be accommodated even if the disk has a small diameter. The rack moving pawl 14 that has finished transferring the pre-processing rack to the rack standby disk 5 returns to the standby position at the end of the rack supply line 6 on the inlet position P1 side, and prepares for the transport of the next new rack. If there is an unprocessed rack on the rack standby disk 5 that has been processed, the rack is positioned at the unloading position T2 facing the inlet position P3 of the rack recovery line 7, and the rack moving claw 34 holds the standby rack in the rack standby state. Unload from the disk 5 to the rack collection line 7.

  The pre-processing rack received by the rack standby disk 5 is moved to the analysis access position T3 by the rotation of the rack standby disk 5. The single pre-processing rack stopped at the analysis access position T3 is pulled out from the rack standby disk 5 by the rack moving claw 23, and further moved along the analysis side connection line 22, and the sample on the analysis side connection line 22 is drawn. Guided to collection position A1. As a result, the single rack is placed at a position where the entire length does not interfere with the rotation of the rack standby disk 5, so that the rack standby disk 5 can be obtained while the rack is undergoing the sampling operation at the sampling position A1. Can perform rotation operations for transporting other racks.

  At the sample collection position A1 of the analysis unit 2, sample collection is performed by the sample sampling mechanism 26 having a pipette nozzle that can move in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by a swinging arm. Of the plurality of sample containers 8 held in the rack 9, a sample in the first sample container is first sucked into the pipette nozzle according to the analysis item, and the sucked sample is the reaction container of the reaction disk 27. It is discharged into the 28. If there are a plurality of items to be analyzed for the same sample, the samples in the same sample container are similarly sucked and discharged from different reaction containers. When the sampling of the first sample container is completed, the rack 9 is moved by one position by the rack moving claw 23, and a similar sample sampling operation is performed on the second sample container. Thereafter, the sampling operation by the sampling mechanism 26 is sequentially performed, and when the sampling operation for the last sample container is finished, the single rack is connected to the analysis side so as to return to the rack standby disk 5 by the rack moving claw 23. It is conveyed via line 22. Before the rack reaches the rack standby disk 5, the control unit 19 controls the rotation operation of the rack standby disk so that the empty rack receiving unit 57 is positioned at the analysis access position T3.

  For the rack that has finished the first sample collection loaded in the empty rack receiving portion 57 of the rack standby disk 5 by the operation of the rack moving claw 23, the analysis result regarding each analysis item of the sample collected by the analysis unit 2 is obtained. Until the rack standby disk 5 is on standby. If there is a sample whose analysis result is not expected and needs to be analyzed again, the corresponding rack is repositioned at the analysis access position T3 and is transported to the sample collection position of the analysis unit 2 to collect the necessary sample. Is executed, the analysis and measurement are performed again, and the rack that has finished the collection operation is returned to the rack standby disk.

  When an analysis result indicating that there is no need to repeat the measurement for the rack after the first sampling is obtained, the rack is positioned at the unloading position T2 and is moved toward the rack collection unit 4 by the rack moving claw 34. It is carried out. The rack that has finished sampling again is similarly carried out toward the rack collection unit 4. The rack moving claw 34 conveys the processed rack from the carry-out position T2 to the outlet position P4 of the rack collection line 7. The rack at the exit position P4 is pushed onto the tray 55 of the rack collection unit 4 by the push lever 35 and collected.

  On the other hand, a predetermined amount of reagent corresponding to the analysis item is added by the reagent dispensing mechanism 30 to the reaction container 28 that has received the sample for each analysis item from the sample sampling mechanism 26, and the reaction of the mixed solution of the sample and the reagent is started. The The reaction liquid in the reaction vessel 28 is measured by the multi-wavelength photometer 52 at a wavelength suitable for the measurement of the reaction product, and the concentration in the sample of the item to be analyzed is determined from its absorption characteristics, fluorescence characteristics, luminescence characteristics, etc. The calculated analysis result is output to the screen display device (for example, CRT) 31 and / or the printer 33.

  The control unit 19 controls and manages the conveyance of each rack using a rack management table created based on the information for each rack stored in the information storage unit 18. Here, the rack management table will be described with reference to FIG. In the table of FIG. 5, it is assumed that the rack standby disk 5 is connected to two analysis units through dedicated analysis side connection lines as shown in FIG.

  The presence or absence of a rack in each rack receiving portion (rack position) 57 of the rack standby disk 5 is set to 1 or 0 by the control unit 19 in the rack management table. Also regarding the presence / absence of a rack on the analysis side connection line dedicated to each analysis unit, the control unit sets 1 or 0 in the rack management table. 1 indicates that there is a rack, and 0 indicates that there is no rack. The number of rack receiving units on the rack standby disk 5 is assumed to be 15. However, in the example of FIG. 5, there are 8 racks on the rack standby disk 5, and only one analysis unit is provided. Indicates that there is a rack. That is, it is recognized that there are nine racks in total of the rack standby disk and the analysis side connection line.

  The control unit 19 determines the rack supply timing and the rack from the rack supply unit 3 so that the total number N of racks does not exceed the number of racks that can be held in the rack standby disk 5, that is, the number M of rack receiving units. The rack recovery timing to the recovery unit 4 is determined, and the rack transport is controlled. In other words, the control unit determines whether the total number of racks actually held on the rack standby disk and the number of racks existing in all the dedicated reciprocating conveyance paths is the number of racks that can be held on the rack standby disk. Only when the number is less than the number, the rack transport is controlled so that the rack standby disk receives a new rack from the rack supply unit at the pre-processing rack receiving position.

  In this case, the total number of racks includes an accuracy management rack (control rack) and a calibrator rack that are managed so that they are not collected from the rack standby disk toward the rack collection unit during the analysis operation of the automatic analyzer. Specific racks such as (calibration rack) and cleaning liquid rack are also included. The control unit manages the number of racks so as to secure at least one empty rack position (rack receiving unit) so that an emergency rack can be received by the rack standby disk at any time.

  An emergency rack loaded with a sample container that requires urgent analytical measurement is set so as to interrupt the head of the rack row of the rack supply unit 3 even during sample processing of another rack. The emergency rack is immediately transported to the rack standby disk 5 after reading the sample ID or the rack ID by the bar code reader 17. Based on the read information and the analysis information of the emergency sample stored in advance in the information storage unit 18, the control unit 19 stores in the information storage unit 18 that the sample to be analyzed in the emergency rack is currently on the rack supply line 6. And the subsequent emergency rack transport operation is controlled.

  When the emergency rack is received by the rack standby disk 5, if the sampling process for the previous general sample is being performed at the sampling position A1 of the analysis unit 2, the sampling operation of the general sample is temporarily interrupted. Let That is, the general rack on the sampling position A1 is returned to the rack standby disk so as to be temporarily retracted to the empty rack storage section of the rack standby disk, and then the analysis access for the analysis unit corresponding to the emergency rack is performed. Positioned at position T3. These pieces of position information are stored in the information storage unit. The emergency rack is transported to the sample collection position A1 by the rack moving claw 23 as the rack reciprocating transport means, and the sampling for the emergency analysis item is performed by the sampling mechanism 26.

  The emergency rack that has finished the operation of collecting the emergency sample is returned to the rack standby disk 5 by the rack moving claw 23. Subsequently, the general rack temporarily retracted to the rack standby disk is positioned at the access position for analysis, and the general rack is sampled by the rack moving claw 23 on the analysis side connection line 22 where no rack exists. Return to A1 and restart the sampling operation that was halfway. During this time, the emergency rack is unloaded from the rack standby disk 5 toward the rack collection unit 4 and collected. The general rack whose sampling operation has been completed at the sample collection position A1 is returned to the rack standby disk 5, and if re-measurement is not required, it is positioned at the unloading position T2 and unloaded toward the rack collection unit 4.

  The evaporation protection chamber 60 shown in FIG. 3 is a humidifier for preventing the evaporation of various samples and cleaning liquids held in various racks on the rack standby disk 5 by increasing the humidity of the air in the protection chamber higher than the humidity of the outside air. 36. An example of an evaporative protection chamber provided with a humidifier is shown in FIG. The evaporation protection chamber 60 has a translucent lid 61 that can be opened and closed at the top, and a chamber 62 that is substantially isolated from the outside. In the room 62, the rack standby disk 5 is arranged so as to be rotatable by the drive mechanism 21. The evaporation protection chamber 60 is connected to rack transport paths such as the rack supply line 6, the rack recovery line 7, and the analysis side connection line 22, and a shield that restricts the entry and exit of air is provided at the boundary with them. ing.

  One example of such a shield is an open / close door that is operationally controlled to open when passing through a rack. In this case, the door is slidable in the lateral direction and is slid by the drive mechanism in accordance with the timing of passing the rack. After passing through the rack, the sliding door is closed by the drive mechanism. Another example of the shield is one in which a plurality of strip-shaped flexible synthetic resin sheets are arranged on the boundary. Only the upper end portion of the sheet is fixed, and the lower end and both side ends are set free. When the rack passes through the boundary, the rack itself can push the seat and advance, so that a drive mechanism is not necessary.

A humidifier 36 shown in FIG. 6 includes a water storage tray 37 having an open top, a porous and large evaporation auxiliary member 38 having a lower end immersed in water in the water storage tray, and a fan 39 for blowing air. And a water level sensor 41 for detecting the liquid level in order to adjust the water level. Water from the water tank 63 is supplied to the water storage tray by the liquid feed pump 64 via the electromagnetic valve 42. The operation of the liquid feed pump 64 is controlled according to a detection signal from the water level sensor 41. The evaporation assisting member 38 is a cloth, for example.
Water is sucked up from the water storage tray 37 by capillary action, and the air sent by the fan 39 flows toward the room 62 along the surface of the plurality of cloths stretched. Since the air is humid when it passes through the stretched area of the cloth, the room 62 is supplied with air with increased humidity.

  A humidity sensor 40 is disposed in the room 62 and monitors the humidity in the room 62. When the humidity is equal to or lower than a preset value, the control unit 19 determines that the detection signal from the humidity sensor 40 is equal to or lower than the set value, operates the fan 39, and supplies high humidity air toward the room 62. Control to send in. Further, when the water level becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined value, the control unit 19 opens the electromagnetic valve 42 and drives the liquid feeding pump 64 to supply water to the water storage tray. In this way, since the inside of the room 62 is kept at a high humidity above a certain level, it is possible to reduce the drying of the sample held in each rack installed on the rack standby disk 5, and to prevent the sample from being altered for a long time. Can be kept in.

  On the rack standby disk 5, a specific rack loaded with a container containing a liquid that is repeatedly supplied to the analysis unit whenever necessary, such as a quality control sample, a calibrator, and a cleaning liquid, is constantly held. These racks are placed in the evaporation protection chamber 60 with the caps of the respective containers removed for a long time. However, since the inside of the evaporation protection chamber 60 is kept at a high humidity, it is possible to prevent evaporation of the control specimen and the calibrator, and as a result, it does not need to be altered for a long period of time. Further, since the inside of the evaporation protection chamber 60 is temperature controlled so as to be kept at a temperature lower than room temperature (a constant temperature of 5 to 10 degrees Celsius), further deterioration of the sample or the like can be prevented.

  The configuration of the automatic analyzer in FIG. 1 shows a minimum unit configuration in which one analysis unit 2 is combined with one rack distribution unit 1. In the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. 1, it is easy to add an analysis unit. The dedicated analysis side connection line of the added analysis unit is arranged so as to be able to communicate with the rack standby disk 5, and the rack standby disk 5 is simply controlled so that the rack is stopped at the additional analysis access position. It's okay.

  FIGS. 7 and 8 show examples in which two analysis units 2a and 2b are combined with one rack distribution unit 1, and FIGS. Each example shows a combination of the analysis units 2a, 2b and 2c. In either case, analysis units can be added without adding mechanical changes to the rack distribution unit 1.

  A combination example as shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. The rack transferred from the rack supply unit 3 to the rack supply line 6 is read by the barcode reader 17 for the sample ID or the rack ID, and the control unit 19 collates the relationship between each sample and the requested analysis item, The analysis information is stored in the information storage unit 18. Based on the analysis information stored in the information storage unit 18, the control unit 19 determines to which analysis unit each rack should be transported, and stores the result in the information storage unit 18. When the analysis unit at the transport destination of the rack delivered to the rack standby disk 5 from the rack supply line 6 at the carry-in position T1 is the analysis unit 2b arranged far from the rack standby disk 5, the rack standby disk 5 is rotationally controlled by the control unit 19 so that the rack is positioned at the analysis access position T4 corresponding to the analysis side connection line 22b, which is a dedicated reciprocating conveyance path of the analysis unit 2b.

  Since the analysis side connection line 22b as the rack transport mechanism has the same rack moving claw as shown in FIG. 3, the corresponding single rack is moved to one end side of the analysis side connection line 22b by the rack movement claw. The sample is transported to the sampling position A2 of the analysis unit 2b. The sampling position A2 is on the other end side of the analysis side connection line 22b. The sample to be analyzed by the analysis unit 2b is dispensed from the sample container on the rack to the reaction container on the reaction disk 27b by the pipette nozzle of the sample sampling mechanism 26b at the sample collection position A2. The processed rack that has finished sampling is transported toward the rack standby disk 5 by the original analysis side connection line 22b. The processed rack moved by the rack moving claw to the vacant rack receiving portion 57 on the rack standby disk is positioned at the unloading position T2 by the rotation operation of the rack standby disk 5, and is recovered to the rack recovery portion 4 via the rack recovery line 7. Is done.

  When the pre-processing rack received from the rack supply unit 3 to the rack standby disk 5 is to be analyzed by the other analysis unit 2a, the transfer processing operation is performed as in the example described with reference to FIG. Therefore, the description is omitted here to avoid duplication. The example of FIG. 8 differs from the example of FIG. 7 only in the arrangement direction of the added analysis unit 2b, and the rack transport operation is the same as that of FIG. In the example of FIG. 8, since the analysis unit 2b is arranged rotationally symmetrically with respect to the analysis unit 2a, the dedicated analysis side connection line can be made extremely short.

  Since the analysis processing operations of the two analysis units 2a and 2b are performed independently of each other, it is possible to efficiently measure a wide variety of analysis items as a whole. Further, when the rack is transported from the rack standby disk 5 to the two analysis units, one of the analysis units is transporting the subsequent rack to the other analysis unit while the sample collection processing is being performed on the previous rack. Further, the conveyance is controlled by the control unit 19. Thereby, the sample throughput in each analysis unit is not reduced. In addition, since each analysis unit has a dedicated reciprocating transport device between the common rack standby disk, it becomes difficult for the reciprocating transport device of one of the analysis units to transport the rack due to problems in transport processing. Even in this case, it is possible to continue the entire analysis operation by setting the other analysis unit so that the same analysis items as the one analysis unit can be processed. Thereby, the damage that the whole automatic analyzer cannot be used can be avoided.

  In the examples of FIGS. 9 and 10, the analysis unit 2c is further added to the configuration of the example of FIG. 7 or FIG. The added analysis unit 2c is also provided with a dedicated reciprocating conveyance device, and a rack conveyance process similar to the example described above is performed. The arrangement as shown in FIG. 9 or the arrangement as shown in FIG. 10 is appropriately selected according to the actual floor area available in the inspection facility where the automatic analyzer is installed.

  When a plurality of analysis units are connected to the rack distribution unit as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, one or two of them can be used as analysis units using different analysis methods. For example, in the case of an automatic analyzer having an arrangement configuration as shown in FIG. 9, biochemical analysis units for analyzing biochemical analysis items are arranged in the analysis units 2a and 2b, and immunological analysis items are analyzed in the analysis unit 2c. An immunoassay unit can be arranged.

  In the automatic analyzer including the biochemical analysis unit and the immunological analysis unit, the control unit 19 performs special handling for both analysis racks holding samples to be analyzed for both biochemical analysis items and immunological analysis items. To do. That is, when it is determined that both analysis racks are based on information read by the barcode reader 17, the control unit 19 receives both analysis racks from the rack standby disk 5 of the rack distribution unit 1. Prior to transporting both of the analysis racks toward the biochemical analysis units 2a and 2b, the analysis unit 2c is sampled from the rack standby disk 5 at the analysis access position of the analysis unit 2c for immunological analysis. The sample is transported to a position by a dedicated reciprocating transport device, and a sample for an immunological analysis item is first collected. Thereafter, both analysis racks that have been sampled by the immunological analysis unit are returned to the rack standby disk 5, the rack is positioned at the analysis access position corresponding to the biochemical analysis unit 2 a or 2 b, and the sample is removed from the rack standby disk. Transport to the collection position and collect samples for biochemical analysis items. Thereafter, both analytical racks are returned to the rack standby disk for collection.

  Immunological analysis items are more susceptible to sample-to-sample contamination than biochemical analysis items, but this type of transport control has the negative effect of reducing the accuracy of analysis results for immunological analysis items. Can be reduced.

  According to the embodiment described above, since various arrangement forms can be selected when adding analysis units connected to the rack distribution unit, it is possible to provide an automatic analyzer that can flexibly respond to the needs of the installed inspection facility. .

  One of the features of the automatic analyzer to which the present invention is applied is that the pre-sample processing rack that holds the sample is directed to the analysis unit from the rack supply unit, and the sample is processed by the analysis unit. The present invention relates to a method of transporting the rack so that the rear rack is recovered by the rack recovery unit. Based on the result of reading the identification information of the sample or rack by the reading device, it is determined whether the rack to be read is a general rack holding a general sample or a control rack holding a quality control sample. In this case, the control rack, the pre-processing rack and the post-processing rack are held in a mixed state on a rack standby disk capable of holding a plurality of racks. The general rack is transported from the rack standby disk to the sample collection position of the analysis unit, returned to the rack standby disk after the sample collection process, and then unloaded from the rack standby disk toward the rack recovery unit. However, the control rack is transported from the rack standby disk to the sample collection position of the analysis unit, returned to the rack standby disk after the collection process of the quality control sample, and then waited on the rack standby disk until the next measurement time. .

  With such a configuration, the configuration of the transport system can be simplified, and a specific sample such as a quality control sample that is repeatedly used as needed and a general sample such as a patient sample can be easily managed. In a preferred embodiment, the rack standby disk holds a calibration rack for holding a calibration sample or a cleaning liquid rack for holding a cleaning liquid in addition to a quality control rack, and the analysis unit next requires a calibration sample or a cleaning liquid. Until that time, the calibration rack or the cleaning liquid rack is kept on the rack standby disk.

Other features of the automatic analyzer include an analysis unit that collects a sample from the rack holding the sample container and analyzes an analysis item that is instructed to analyze the collected sample, and before the sample is collected by the analysis unit. A rack distribution unit that supplies the pre-process rack to the analysis unit and collects the post-process rack that has been sampled for the analysis unit, and a reader that reads the identification information of the sample or the rack with respect to the pre-process rack Related to automatic analyzers.
The rack standby disk can wait for the control rack holding the quality control sample, the pre-processing rack, and the post-processing rack in a mixed state, and can receive the pre-processing rack from the rack supply unit. It rotates so as to stop at the receiving position, the access position to the analysis unit, and the post-processing rack unloading position where the post-processing rack can be unloaded toward the rack collection unit. The rack is reciprocated between the access position to the analysis unit and the sample collection position of the analysis unit by the reciprocating transport device. The control unit determines whether the rack to be read is a general rack holding a general sample or a control rack based on information read by the reader, and the rack received at the access position is a general rack. When the rack received at the access position is a control rack, the general rack is unloaded from the rack unloading position after processing. Control the transport of

  By properly arranging the rack standby disk, the entire apparatus can be reduced in size even in the configuration of an automatic analyzer with only one analysis unit. In addition, when adding an analysis unit, the minimum unit configuration can be used as it is.

  In the preferred embodiment, the rack standby disk is located within the rack distribution unit for easier handling. By sharing the pre-processing rack receiving position and the post-processing rack unloading position, the number of transport paths can be reduced. In a particularly desirable mode, the rack standby disk is arranged in an evaporation protection chamber in which the air humidity is kept higher than the outside air. As a result, even if a general sample such as a patient sample is held on the rack standby disk for a long time, drying can be prevented, and a specific sample such as a quality control sample that is repeatedly used can prevent changes in the component concentration due to drying. . The evaporation protection chamber includes a humidifier having a humidity sensor, and the humidifier is controlled to keep the evaporation protection chamber at a predetermined humidity or higher.

  When an emergency rack that holds a sample that requires urgent measurement is received by the rack standby disk, the analysis unit interrupts the processing to the rack during sample collection processing, and the interrupted rack temporarily becomes a rack standby disk. After evacuation, transport the emergency rack from the rack standby disk to the sample collection position of the analysis unit, return the emergency rack to the rack standby disk after sample collection processing, and then transfer the suspended rack from the rack standby disk to the sample collection position of the analysis unit Then, the sampling process for the suspended rack is resumed.

  Another feature of the automatic analyzer relates to the automatic analyzer having a plurality of analysis units. In this case, the rack standby disk is rotated so as to stop at the access position to each of the plurality of analysis units. In the reciprocating conveyance path provided exclusively for each analysis unit, the rack is reciprocated between the access position corresponding to each analysis unit on the rack standby disk and the sample collection position of each analysis unit. The control unit reciprocates only a single rack by each dedicated reciprocating conveyance path, and after the previous rack returns from the sampling position of the analysis unit of the conveyance destination to the rack standby disk, The rack transport is controlled so that the next rack is transported through a dedicated reciprocating transport path.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to increase the number of analysis units without changing a common transport system, and it is not necessary to increase the size of the entire analysis apparatus. Further, the analysis unit to which the rack is to be sent can be easily selected, and an appropriate rack can be quickly provided to the scheduled analysis unit without any confusion.

  In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is a rack in which the total number of racks actually held on the rack standby disk and the number of racks existing in all the dedicated reciprocating conveyance paths can be held on the rack standby disk. Only when the number is smaller than the number, the rack transport is controlled so that a new rack from the rack supply unit can be received by the rack standby disk at the pre-processing rack receiving position. Thereby, confusion on the rack transport process can be avoided.

  When the plurality of analysis units in the automatic analyzer include a biochemical analysis unit that analyzes biochemical analysis items and an immunological analysis unit that analyzes immunological analysis items, the control unit can perform biochemical analysis items and immunological analysis. When both analytical racks holding samples to be analyzed for both items are received by the rack standby disk, the analytical racks are moved from the rack standby disk to the immunological analysis unit before being transported to the biochemical analysis unit. After both analytical racks that have been sampled by the immunological analysis unit are returned to the rack standby disk, both analytical racks are transported from the rack standby disk to the sample collection position of the biochemical analysis unit. In this way, the transport of the rack is controlled. Thereby, the analysis result of the immunological analysis item which is easily influenced by the carry-over between samples can be kept reliable.

  In addition, the control unit places the rack subjected to the sample collection process on the rack standby disk until it is determined whether or not to remeasure based on the analysis result of the sample collected by any of the analysis units. The rack is controlled so that the standby rack is transported again from the rack standby disk to the sample collection position of the corresponding analysis unit when re-measurement is required.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rack distribution unit 3 Rack supply part 4 Rack collection part 5 Rack standby disk 6 Rack supply line 7 Rack collection line 9 Rack

Claims (3)

An analysis unit for analyzing a sample collected from the rack holding the sample;
A rack supply unit for supplying a rack to the analysis unit;
A rack collection unit for collecting racks that have been analyzed by the analysis unit;
A rack receiving position capable of mounting a plurality of racks and receiving a rack from the rack supply unit, an access position to the analysis unit, and a rack unloading position capable of unloading the rack toward the rack recovery unit, Rack standby disks that can be rotated to stop at their respective positions,
A reciprocating conveyance path for reciprocating the rack between an access position of the rack standby disk and a sampling position of the analysis unit;
With
Until it is determined whether or not to remeasure based on the analysis result of the sample collected by the analysis unit, the rack that has undergone the sample collection process is waited on the rack standby disk, and remeasurement is performed. An automatic analyzer comprising a controller for controlling rack transport so that the standby rack is transported again from the rack standby disk to the sample collection position of the analysis unit when necessary. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
A reading device for reading the sample on the rack or the identification information of the rack,
Based on the reading result of the reader, it is determined whether the rack to be read is a general rack that holds a general sample or a control rack that holds a sample for quality control, and the control rack is the rack standby disk. A control unit for controlling to wait on the rack standby disk until the next measurement time after the sample is transported to the sample collection position of the analysis unit and sampled and returned to the rack standby disk Automatic analyzer characterized by. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2,
A calibration rack for holding a calibration sample or a cleaning liquid rack for holding a cleaning liquid is held on the rack standby disk, and the calibration rack or the next time the analysis unit requires the calibration sample or the cleaning liquid. The automatic analyzer is controlled by the control unit so that the cleaning liquid rack stands by on the rack standby disk.

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