JP2011027663A - Automatic analyzing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small-sized automatic analyzing device having a large number of loaded reagents, and having high processing capacity. <P>SOLUTION: The analyzing device includes a reagent driving disk for installing thereon and conveying to a prescribed position, reagents used for analysis; and a fixed disk. The fixed disk includes a reagent waiting position for allowing a reagent to wait temporarily, and a magnetic particle stirring position for stirring magnetic particles. A part of the reagent waiting position is constituted of a loading system. A reagent moving mechanism for moving the reagent between the reagent driving disk and the fixed disk is constituted, and a reagent position is moved corresponding to an analysis request state. Further, a part of the fixed disk includes a loading system which can load the reagent thereon during operation, and thereby the reagent can be replaced and a cold reserving function can be provided regardless of an operation state of the reagent driving disk. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for performing qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological samples such as blood and urine, and in particular, a reagent container holding mechanism for holding a reagent container used for analysis, and supplying the reagent container to the reagent container holding mechanism The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer equipped with a reagent container supply mechanism.

  Automatic analyzers that automatically analyze biological samples such as blood and output the results are used in large-scale hospitals, small and medium-sized hospitals, and clinics with a large number of patients for efficient analysis at inspection centers that conduct inspections. It is an indispensable device. Such an automatic analyzer is desired to be compact and capable of performing more types of analysis and having a high processing speed.

  In such an automatic analyzer, if there is a shortage of reagents installed in the analyzer during analysis, it is inefficient to stop the analysis and take action, so if a reagent shortage is likely to occur, the operator will be warned to that effect This avoids the situation that the apparatus must be stopped for reagent replacement during the analysis.

  Proceeding further, Patent Document 1 includes first and second reagent container storage means, and when the reagent stored in the first reagent storage means is insufficient, the second reagent container storage means Describes a technique for preventing a reagent shortage from occurring during analysis by automatically supplying a reagent container.

Japanese Patent No. 4033060

  According to the technique of Patent Document 1, a plurality of reagent containers can be stored in the second reagent container storage means. However, from the second reagent container storage means to the first reagent container storage means, Only one reagent container can be transported at a time. Further, in order to hold a plurality of reagent containers in the second reagent container storage means for a long time, it is necessary to provide a cold insulation means, which may increase the size of the apparatus.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer that does not require the provision of another reagent cooling means as described in Patent Document 1 while allowing automatic replacement of reagents during analysis.

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

  Reagent container capable of placing a plurality of reagent containers and transporting the reagent containers to a target position; and a reagent container adjacent to the reagent container transport mechanism and capable of supplying reagent containers to the reagent container transport mechanism An automatic analyzer comprising: a mounting mechanism; and a reagent moving mechanism that moves a reagent from the reagent container mounting mechanism to the reagent transporting mechanism.

  A more preferred embodiment is as follows.

  Although only the reagent drive disk that moves to a position for dispensing and stirring reagents, opening and closing the lid of the reagent container, etc. was provided, it is fixed without a drive system such as a motor in a location adjacent to this reagent drive disk Install a new disk. Further, a magnetic particle stirring mechanism is provided at a position adjacent to the fixed disk. As a result, the fixed disk can realize a reduction in the size of the reagent drive disk by causing a reagent container that is not used temporarily to stand by. In addition, by providing a magnetic particle agitation mechanism at a position adjacent to the fixed disk, magnetic particle agitation can be performed with the fixed disk, so that sufficient agitation time is ensured, without causing problems such as foaming, and evenly. Can be stirred. Furthermore, reagent dispensing can be performed not only on the reagent container on the drive disk but also on the fixed disk, and other reagents can be dispensed to the reagent container on which the magnetic particles are stirred on the fixed disk. Can do.

  Further, a reagent moving mechanism is provided so that the reagent container can move between the reagent driving disk and the fixed disk, and the reagent container can be moved between the reagent driving disk and the fixed disk according to the analysis situation.

  Furthermore, by providing a loading system in a part of the reagent standby disk, it is possible to replace the reagent even when the reagent transport disk is operating, so that not only can the reagent be replaced without reducing the throughput, Since the loading system has a cooling function and is provided in a part of the reagent disk, the loading system can be provided without providing a new space in the other part of the apparatus. In addition, the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

(1) It becomes possible to install many reagents including a waiting reagent.
(2) The number of reagent replacements can be reduced.
(3) It is possible to reduce the size of the reagent disk.
(4) Reagents can be exchanged without reducing the throughput.

The whole block diagram of an automatic analyzer provided with the reagent disk of this invention is shown. A perspective view of a reagent disk is shown. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the reagent disk, particularly with the lid removed. The top view of the reagent disk, particularly with the lid removed. FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of the reagent disk, in particular FIG. 3-2. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a loading system. The schematic of a reagent moving mechanism is shown. The schematic of a reagent moving mechanism is shown. The movement flowchart of a reagent container is shown.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer equipped with a reagent disk of the present invention.

  In the automatic analyzer 101, the sample transport line 114 transports the sample 104 to a sample dispensing position near the sample dispensing mechanism 115.

  The sample dispensing tip / reaction vessel transport mechanism 106 is provided at the upper part of the reaction vessel disposal hole 102, the sample dispensing tip buffer 103, the reaction liquid stirring mechanism 105, the sample dispensing tip / reaction vessel 107, and a part of the incubator disk 108. The range can be moved in the X, Y, and Z axis directions, and the reaction vessel is moved from the sample dispensing tip / reaction vessel 107 to the incubator disk 108, and the sample dispensing tip is moved to the sample dispensing tip buffer 103. . The sample dispensing mechanism 115 moves to the upper part of the sample dispensing chip buffer 103 where the sample dispensing chip is installed, attaches the sample dispensing chip, moves to the upper part of the sample and sucks the sample, and the reaction of the incubator disk 108 It moves to the upper part of the container, discharges the sample, moves to the upper part of the sample dispensing tip / reaction container disposal hole, and discards the sample dispensing tip.

  The incubator disk 108 can hold a plurality of reaction vessels, and these reaction vessels are moved to predetermined positions on the circumference by rotational movement.

  The reagent disk 111 can hold a reagent composed of a plurality of reagent containers containing a magnetic particle solution, and these reaction containers are moved to predetermined positions on the circumference by a rotational motion.

  The reagent dispensing mechanism 109 moves to the upper part of the predetermined reagent in the reagent disk 111, sucks a predetermined amount of reagent, moves to the upper part of the predetermined reaction container in the incubator disk, and discharges the reagent into the reaction container.

  The magnetic particle stirring arm 116 is installed on the reagent disk 111, moves to the upper part of the reagent container containing the magnetic particle solution that needs to be stirred, and lowers and rotates the magnetic particle stirring bar provided in the magnetic particle stirring arm 116. Stir the magnetic particle solution. The magnetic particle agitating arm 116 agitates immediately before dispensing in order to eliminate spontaneous sedimentation in the magnetic particle solution. After the stirring, the magnetic particle stirring arm 116 moves to the upper part of the cleaning tank equipped with the cleaning liquid, and moves down and rotates the magnetic particle stirring bar to clean and remove the magnetic particles adhering to the stirring bar.

  The reaction solution suction nozzle 112 dispenses a sample and a predetermined reagent, sucks the reaction solution in the reaction container after a predetermined reaction time, and sends the solution to the detection unit 113. The detection unit 113 analyzes the reaction solution. The sample dispensing chip / reaction container transport mechanism 106 moves the analyzed reaction container to the upper part of the sample dispensing chip / reaction container disposal hole, and discards the sample dispensing chip.

  These operations are controlled by a host computer (not shown).

  By combining and repeating the above operations, a plurality of items can be efficiently analyzed for a plurality of samples.

  FIG. 2 is an external view of the reagent disk 111 according to the present invention. The reagent disk 111 includes a lid 201 and a jacket 202 having a heat insulating function in order to control the reagent 110 at a constant temperature.

  FIG. 3A is an external view of the reagent disk 111 with the lid 201 removed. The reagent disk 111 includes a reagent driving disk 301 for transporting to a target position, a reagent driving disk driving unit 302 for driving the reagent driving disk 301, a fixed disk 303 for temporarily waiting the reagent 110, and a reagent even during analysis. 110, loading system 304, reagent moving mechanism 305 for moving the reagent 110 from the reagent driving disk 301 to the fixed disk 303 or the loading system 304, and a reagent for reading information on the reagent such as analysis time and items It is composed of a partition plate 307 that partitions between the information reading device 306 and the reagent 110.

  FIG. 3-2 is a top view of FIG. 3-1. The fixed disk 303 includes a reagent standby position 308 and a reagent stirring position 309. Further, a reagent dispensing position 310 exists on the activation of the reagent driving disk 301. The reagent agitation position 309 exists at a position adjacent to the reagent dispensing position 310 and exists on the trajectory of the reagent dispensing mechanism.

  FIG. 3-3 is a perspective view of FIG. 3-2. While the magnetic particles are being stirred by the magnetic particle stirring arm 116 at the reagent stirring position 309, other reagents can be dispensed by the reagent dispensing pipetter 109. Thereby, not only the magnetic particle stirring time can be ensured, but also dispensing and stirring can be performed simultaneously, so that the same item can be analyzed without lowering the throughput. In FIG. 3C, the reagent dispensing position 310 and the reagent stirring position 309 are arranged in a straight line and are at the same position as the operation locus of the reagent dispensing mechanism, but the operation locus of the reagent dispensing mechanism is on the circumference. In some cases, the same can be considered.

  The flow of movement of the reagent container during the stirring of the reagent is as follows.

  From the host computer, the position of the reagent container that requires stirring is detected. If the reagent container is present on the reagent drive disk, it moves to a position adjacent to the reagent agitation position within the operation cycle time, and after moving to the reagent agitation position in the fixed disk by the reagent movement mechanism, The stirring operation is performed with the particle stirring arm.

  If the reagent container is present at the reagent standby position, the availability of the reagent drive disk is confirmed. If there is an empty position on the reagent drive disk, the reagent drive disk moves to a position adjacent to the reagent standby position where the reagent container exists, and after moving to the reagent drive disk by the reagent moving mechanism, as described above. And moved to the reagent stirring position. In addition, when there are no empty positions on the reagent drive disk, the host computer requires a condition such that the frequency of analysis requests is low or no measurement request is entered among the reagent containers installed on the reagent drive disk. Then, a reagent that can be temporarily moved to the reagent standby position is searched, the reagent is moved to the reagent standby position, and then the reagent container necessary for stirring is moved to the reagent drive disk and moved to the reagent stirring position.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the loading system 205. This loading system is a system that operates in the vertical direction with a part of the fixed disk in the inner periphery as the system. For example, when the outer peripheral portion is a fixed disk, a method of pulling the loading system up and down or back and forth can be considered. In addition, since a part of the fixed disk is a loading system, this loading system has a shape that can be replaced by five, so a plurality of shapes that can be replaced can be considered. Cases are also conceivable. The loading system 205 includes an installation unit 401 in which the reagent 117 is installed, a reagent operation unit 402 that can be operated up and down, an indicator 403 that indicates whether or not to replace, a loading system locking mechanism 404, and a locking mechanism that unlocks the loading system. A display lamp 405 is provided for informing that this has been done. As a means for transmitting information on whether or not the reagent can be exchanged when the lock is released, a method of providing a mechanism for the loading system to pop out when the lock mechanism is released may be considered. In addition, the loading system can be manually opened using a gripping part provided in the operating part. For example, a method of automatically moving to the reagent replacement position by providing a driving mechanism in the operating part can be considered.

  Hereinafter, a series of work examples of reagent addition by an operator will be shown.

  First, a series of flows when a new reagent is introduced is shown below. The operator selects a reagent addition / replacement request from the host computer. The host computer determines the operation status of the apparatus, and when it becomes replaceable, the host system releases the lock of the loading system by a lock mechanism and informs that it can be replaced by a display lamp. The operator determines that the exchange is possible based on information from the host computer and the display lamp. After confirming that the reagent can be replaced, the operator opens the loading system, puts the reagent into an empty position, and then closes the loading system. After loading the reagent container, the operator closes the loading system and confirms that the loading system is properly closed by a sensor or the like.

  Next, a series of flow at the time of reagent replacement is shown below. When the operator selects a reagent addition / replacement request from the host computer in the same manner as in the reagent addition operation, the condition of the apparatus is determined, and the locking mechanism of the loading system releases the lock and the replacement is possible. Since the loading system is also used as a fixed disk, there are cases where all reagents are loaded at the time of replacement. At that time, it is displayed so that it can be determined whether or not it can be replaced by an indicator (for example, when red and green lights are provided and red is lit, replacement is not possible, and when green, replacement is possible). Alternatively, there is a method of preventing the reagent container from being removed by providing a lock mechanism so that the non-replaceable reagent container cannot be taken out. The reagent is exchanged, the operator closes the loading system properly, and the host computer confirms that the loading system has been properly closed, and the process ends.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the reagent moving mechanism 206. The reagent moving mechanism 206 includes an arm mechanism 501 that moves the reagent and a drive unit 502 that rotates the arm mechanism 501. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the arm mechanism 501. The arm mechanism 501 includes an arm 503 used for reagent movement, an arm front / rear drive unit 504 that moves the arm back and forth, and an arm rotation drive unit 505 that rotates the arm. The reagent moving mechanism moves the reagent container from the loading system to the reagent driving disk and from the reagent driving disk to the fixed disk. A method for moving the reagent container will be described by way of example from the reagent drive disk to the fixed disk. First, the reagent container to be moved is moved by the reagent driving disk to the same radial position as the fixed disk to be stored. After the movement, the arm mechanism rotates to a position where the reagent container can be moved. Then, the reagent container is gripped by the arm front / rear drive unit and the arm rotation drive unit, the reagent container gripped by the arm front / rear drive unit is moved from the reagent drive disk to the fixed disk, and is gripped by the arm rotation drive unit and the arm front / rear drive unit. The movement ends after moving away from the position. As a method of gripping the reagent container, there is a method of gripping both ends of the reagent container by an actuator such as a motor. In addition, when moving the reagent container, a method of gripping by the actuator, a method of moving the arm by applying an arm to the reagent container, or the like can be considered.

  FIG. 6 shows the flow of reagent movement during analysis in the reagent disk of the present invention. When there is an analysis request process 601 from the operator, a confirmation process 602 is performed as to whether or not there is a reagent to be used for analysis in the reagent drive disk. If the reagent used for the analysis is already loaded, the reagent movement non-execution processing 603 is performed, and the analysis possible processing 609 is performed as it is. If no reagent is mounted on the reagent drive disk, the reagent moves from the fixed disk to the reagent drive disk. At this time, a confirmation process 604 is performed to determine whether or not there is an empty position on the reagent drive disk. If there is an empty position, a process 605 for moving the reagent from the fixed disk to the reagent drive disk by the reagent moving mechanism is performed. If there is no empty position, a process 607 for moving the reagent that can be moved to the reagent standby position to the reagent standby position by the reagent driving disk is performed. Further, a confirmation process 606 of whether there is an empty position on the fixed disk is performed, and if there is no empty position, a movement process 608 to the loading system by the reagent drive disk is performed. After the reagent movement, a reagent 605 is moved to the reagent drive disk by the reagent movement mechanism to move the reagent necessary for the analysis, and the analysis enabling process 609 is registered in the host computer.

  The flow of installing the reagent disk is roughly divided into two parts: (1) after the reagent is introduced and before the start of analysis, and (2) reagent replacement due to lack of reagents and expiration.

  (1) The operation flow after the introduction of reagents and before the start of analysis is shown below. An example is described from the time the reagent is added to the time before the analysis is started. When the reagent is loaded from the loading system and the host computer confirms that the loading system has been closed properly, the reagent is locked by the lock mechanism and the reagent information of the reagent mounted on the reagent information reader provided on the disk Read. An identifier in which information such as a measurement item is written is affixed to the reagent container. Examples of the identifier include a barcode and RFID. When the reagent is read and read correctly, the reagent information is registered and moved to the reagent drive disk by the reagent moving mechanism. The host computer recognizes in which position of the reagent drive disk the moved reagent is loaded and registers the information. After the movement, processing necessary for analysis such as calibration is performed, and then the reagent becomes usable, and the host computer registers it as a reagent that can be used for analysis.

  (2) An example of the operation flow of reagent replacement due to reagent shortage and expiration is shown below. The host computer measures the amount of the reagent, and the expiration date is included in the reagent information registered by the loading system, and the host computer performs processing for determining whether or not the reagent can be used. If the above situation occurs, the host computer issues an alarm to the operator notifying that replacement is necessary, and at the same time, the reagent container moves from the reagent drive disk to the loading system. Then, it is transported to the loading system by the reagent moving mechanism. At this time, the host computer confirms the reagent loading information of the loading system. Now, if the loading system can load a plurality of reagents and there is one empty position, the reagent container is moved to that position. If there is no empty position in the loading system, it moves to the fixed disk and waits until an empty position is generated at the loading position. Thereafter, if an empty position is created in the loading position, the reagent container is moved to the loading position by the reagent driving disk and the reagent moving mechanism. After moving the reagent container, the host computer informs the operator that it can be replaced.

101 Automatic analyzer 102 Sample dispensing tip / reaction vessel waste hole 103 Sample dispensing tip buffer 104 Sample 105 Reaction liquid stirring mechanism 106 Sample dispensing tip / reaction vessel transport mechanism 107 Sample dispensing tip / reaction vessel 108 Incubator disk 109 Reagent Dispensing pipettor 110 Reagent 111 Reagent disk 112 Reaction liquid suction nozzle 113 Detection unit 114 Sample transport line 115 Sample dispensing pipettor 116 Magnetic particle stirring arm 201 Lid 202 Jacket 301 Reagent drive disk 302 Reagent drive disk drive 303 Fixed disk 304 Loading system 305 Reagent moving mechanism 306 Reagent information reading device 307 Partition plate 308 Reagent standby position 309 Reagent stirring position 310 Reagent dispensing position 401 Reagent installation unit 402 Reagent operation unit 4 3 Indicator 404 Locking mechanism 405 of loading system Display lamp 501 Arm mechanism 502 Drive unit 503 Arm 504 Arm front / rear drive unit 505 Arm rotation drive unit 601 Analysis request processing 602 Check whether there is a reagent used for analysis in the reagent drive disk Process 603 Reagent transfer non-execution process 604 Check process whether or not there is an empty position on the reagent drive disk 605 Transfer process from the fixed disk to the reagent drive disk by the reagent moving mechanism 606 Whether or not there is an empty position on the fixed disk Confirmation process 607 Movement process to reagent standby position by reagent driving disk 608 Movement process to loading system by reagent driving disk 609 Analysis possible process

Claims (11)

A reagent container transport mechanism capable of placing a plurality of reagent containers and transporting the reagent containers to a target position;
A reagent container mounting mechanism adjacent to the reagent container transport mechanism and capable of supplying a reagent container to the reagent container transport mechanism;
A reagent moving mechanism for moving a reagent from the reagent container mounting mechanism to the reagent conveying mechanism;
An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising: The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the reagent container transport mechanism is a reagent disk mechanism capable of arranging reagent containers side by side on a circumference. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2,
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the reagent container mounting mechanism is arranged concentrically with the reagent disk mechanism. The automatic analyzer according to claim 3,
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the reagent container transport mechanism and the reagent container mounting mechanism are arranged in a housing of the same reagent cooling unit. The automatic analyzer according to claim 4,
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the reagent container mounting mechanism includes a reagent stirring mechanism for stirring the reagent in the reagent container mounted on the reagent container mounting mechanism. The automatic analyzer according to claim 5, wherein
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the reagent stirring mechanism is capable of stirring operation independently of the operation of the reagent disk mechanism. The automatic analyzer according to claim 5, wherein
The reagent agitation mechanism is provided adjacent to the reagent dispensing position for aspirating the reagent from the reagent container on the reagent disk and on the movement path of the nozzle of the reagent dispensing mechanism for aspirating the reagent from the reagent dispensing position. An automatic analyzer characterized in that The automatic analyzer according to claim 3,
The reagent moving mechanism includes a mechanism for rotating about the same center as the reagent disk, and a mechanism for moving a grip portion for gripping the reagent container in a radial direction of the reagent disk. apparatus. The automatic analyzer according to claim 4,
2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the reagent container placement mechanism includes a reagent container take-out mechanism, a part of which moves upward and takes out the placed reagent outside the housing of the reagent cooling unit. The automatic analyzer according to claim 9, wherein
The reagent container take-out mechanism is
It is provided with at least one of means for notifying that reagent replacement is possible, means for notifying that a newly introduced reagent container has been correctly inserted, and means for reading reagent information provided in the reagent container. Automatic analyzer. The automatic analyzer according to claim 9, wherein
An automatic analyzer comprising a discarding section for discarding a reagent container that needs to be replaced, and a waste reagent container transporting mechanism for transporting the reagent container to be discarded to the discarding section.

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