JP2011117755A - Autoanalyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relax the restrictions in designing of an apparatus, by improving the flexibility of arranging each of mechanisms for diluting an original specimen. <P>SOLUTION: An autoanalyzer includes a dilution disc in which dilution cells (dilution container) for diluting the original specimen are arranged; an original specimen sampling mechanism (original specimen dispensing mechanism) for dispensing the original specimen to the dilution cell; a dilution solution ejection mechanism (dilution solution dispensing mechanism) for ejecting (dispensing) the dilution solution to the dilution cell in which the original specimen is dispensed; a stirring mechanism for stirring the original specimen and the dilution solution; and a diluted sample sampling mechanism (diluted specimen dispensing mechanism) for dispensing the diluted specimen obtained to a reaction disc (reaction part) by suction. When the dilution disc is moved to each access position of the original specimen sampling mechanism, the dilution solution ejection mechanism, the stirring mechanism and the diluted specimen sampling mechanism, the number of transferred dilution cells from the end of the activity in each mechanism to the next start of the activity has a factor common to the total number of the dilution cells being arranged in the dilution disc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that automatically analyzes components such as blood, and is particularly effective when applied to a dilution process of a parent sample.

  In automatic analyzers for clinical examinations, reduction of the amount of reaction solution is required for the purpose of reducing the running cost of examinations. The amount of the reaction solution is proportional to the amount of the sample used in the analysis, and it is essential to reduce the amount of the sample to reduce the amount of the reaction solution. However, since the current sample sampling technology has a limit on the minimum sampling amount, it is difficult to significantly reduce the amount of the reaction solution. Therefore, a specimen dilution process is generally performed as a specimen micro-sampling technique.

  For sample dilution processing, the parent sample sampling mechanism, the diluent discharge mechanism, the stirring mechanism, and the diluted sample sampling mechanism sequentially access the dilution cell by rotating the dilution disk in which the dilution cells are arranged along the circumferential direction. Then, each operation of parent sample sampling, diluent discharge, stirring, and diluted sample sampling is performed. For example, in Patent Document 1, the number of dilution containers that are sent from the end of operation to the start of the next operation in each mechanism described above, that is, one-step feed, is a common factor for the total number of dilution cells that the dilution disk has. It has been proposed that access to each mechanism is facilitated by setting the number to a number that does not have.

JP-A-8-194004

  However, in the proposal of Patent Document 1, a number that does not have a common factor is sent by one step, and the number is, for example, 11 when the number of dilution containers included in the dilution disk is 40 and 31 when the number is 120. In this way, it is a prime number and is limited to a large number to some extent. Therefore, the access position of each mechanism with respect to the dilution container is extremely limited to only one location, and the arrangement thereof is restricted, which may hinder the space-saving design of the apparatus.

  An object of the present invention is to improve the degree of freedom of arrangement of each mechanism for diluting a parent specimen and relax restrictions on apparatus design.

  The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

  Of the inventions disclosed in the present application, the outline of typical ones will be briefly described as follows.

  The automatic analyzer of the present invention includes a dilution disk in which a plurality of dilution containers for diluting a parent sample with a diluent are arranged along the circumferential direction, a parent sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing the parent sample into the dilution container, A diluent dispensing mechanism that dispenses the diluent into the dilution container into which the parent specimen has been dispensed, and a stirring mechanism that agitates the parent specimen and the diluent dispensed in the dilution container; A diluted sample dispensing mechanism that sucks and dispenses the diluted sample obtained by the stirring into the reaction unit; and a control unit that controls the operation of the dilution disk and the mechanisms, and the control unit includes the dilution disk. Is moved to each access position of the parent sample dispensing mechanism, the diluent dispensing mechanism, the stirring mechanism, and the diluted sample dispensing mechanism, from the end of the operation in each mechanism Before the next operation starts The number of the dilution container to be found with a common factor with the total number of the disposed dilution disks the diluting container.

  The control unit rotates the dilution disk after the diluted sample is aspirated by the diluted sample dispensing mechanism, and the parent sample dispensing mechanism moves the dilution disk next to the dilution container that has aspirated the diluted sample to the next. It is preferable to dispense the parent sample.

  The control means causes the mechanisms to access the dilution containers disposed on the dilution disk at positions separated by the number of arbitrary dilution containers, each of which is the common factor, and rotates the dilution disk. Repeatedly and continuously, each mechanism sequentially performs the operations of dispensing the parent sample, dispensing the diluted solution, stirring the parent sample and the diluted solution, and dispensing the diluted sample. Preferably.

  Preferably, the two dilution disks operating independently are provided.

  It is preferable that the two dilution disks are arranged concentrically with different diameters.

  The control means moves the respective mechanisms so that one of the dilution disks and the other of the dilution disks dispenses the parent sample, dispenses the dilution liquid, and agitate the parent sample and the dilution liquid. It is preferable that the operations of dispensing the diluted specimen are alternately performed.

  The control means holds the diluted sample remaining in the dilution container on the dilution disk until the analysis is completed after the dispensing of the diluted sample and the re-analysis is necessary, and the re-analysis is required. In this case, it is preferable that the dilution container is moved to the access position of the diluted sample dispensing mechanism by the rotation of the dilution disk, and the diluted sample dispensing mechanism performs dispensing of the diluted sample again.

  In the case of an analysis item in which the diluted sample needs to be left for a predetermined time, the control means dispenses a diluted sample obtained by diluting the parent sample from the other parent sample dispensed by the mechanisms during the standing. The diluted sample containing the diluted sample left by rotation of the dilution disk after the elapse of the predetermined time is moved to the access position of the diluted sample dispensing mechanism, and the diluted sample is moved. It is preferable to cause the diluted specimen to be dispensed by a dispensing mechanism.

  Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, effects obtained by typical ones will be briefly described as follows.

  According to the present invention, the number of dilution containers sent from the end of operation in each mechanism for diluting the parent sample to the start of the next operation has a common factor with the total number of dilution containers arranged on the dilution disk. Therefore, the selection range of the arrangement pattern of each mechanism is expanded, and the access position can be easily determined.

  Thereby, the freedom degree of arrangement | positioning of each mechanism improves and the restriction | limiting on an apparatus design can be eased.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the outline of a structure of the automatic analyzer which is one embodiment of this invention. It is the enlarged view to which the dilution disk part of FIG. 1 was expanded. 3 is a table showing the position of the dilution cell and the dilution operation in each cycle with reference to the rotational operation cycle of the reaction disk for each dilution disk in FIG. 3 is a table showing the position of the dilution cell and the dilution operation in each cycle with reference to the rotational operation cycle of the reaction disk for each dilution disk in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof is omitted as much as possible. In the present invention, the former is referred to as a parent sample and the latter is referred to as a diluted sample in order to facilitate discrimination between a sample before dilution and a sample after dilution.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automatic analyzer 1 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to a sample disk 3 on which a parent sample 2 collected in a test tube or the like is installed, a dilution disk 4 that performs a dilution process on the parent sample 2, and reagent bottles 5a and 5b, respectively. A disc-shaped reagent cooler 6a, 6b that stores the reagent and cools it, and a reaction disk (reaction unit) 7 that reacts the diluted specimen with the reagent while rotating at regular intervals.

  Further, as a mechanism for dispensing or stirring samples, etc., in order of use, a parent sample sampling mechanism (parent sample dispensing mechanism) 8, a diluent discharge mechanism (diluent dispensing mechanism) 9, a stirring mechanism 10, and a diluted sample A sampling mechanism (diluted specimen dispensing mechanism) 11, reagent sampling mechanisms 12a and 12b, and cleaning mechanisms 13a and 13b are provided. Furthermore, a computer 14 is provided as a control means for controlling the operation of each unit.

  When analyzing the sample, first, the parent sample 2 of the sample disk 3 is aspirated by the parent sample sampling mechanism 8 and is dispensed by being discharged to a dilution cell (dilution container) 15 arranged on the dilution disk. . Subsequently, the diluent is discharged (dispensed) from the diluent discharge mechanism 9 into the dilution cell 15 into which the parent sample has been dispensed, and the parent sample and the diluent are stirred and mixed by the stirring mechanism 10. The diluted specimen thus obtained is aspirated by the diluted specimen sampling mechanism 11 and dispensed by being discharged to the reaction cells 16 arranged on the reaction disk 7.

  Then, the reagent is sucked and added from the reagent bottles 5a and 5b to the reaction cell 16 into which the diluted sample is dispensed by the reagent sampling mechanisms 12a and 12b, respectively, and the reaction solution containing the diluted sample and the reagent is added in the reaction cell 16. After the reaction, the absorbance is measured with a spectrophotometer 17 installed outside the reaction disk 7. Measurement data composed of the measurement results is taken into the computer 14 and the analysis results are output. After the analysis, the dilution cell 15 is cleaned by the cleaning mechanism 13a or 13b and reused.

  The parent specimen dilution processing method in the dilution disk 4 will be further described. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in which the portion of the dilution disk 4 of FIG. 1 is enlarged. As shown in FIG. 2, in the dilution disk 4, the outer peripheral dilution disk 4a and the inner peripheral dilution disk 4b are arranged concentrically with different diameters and operate independently of each other. Yes.

  In each of the outer peripheral side dilution disk 4a and the inner peripheral side dilution disk 4b, the dilution cells 15 are annularly arranged along the circumferential direction, and in the illustrated example, 60 (30 for each dilution disk) are arranged. Yes.

  The cleaning mechanism 13a, 13b corresponding to each of the parent sample sampling mechanism 8, the diluent discharge mechanism 9, the stirring mechanism 10, the diluted sample sampling mechanism 11, and the dilution disk on the outer peripheral side or the inner peripheral side includes the outer peripheral side dilution disk 4a and Control is performed by the computer 14 shown in FIG. 1 so as to access the inner circumferential side dilution disk 4b at each position shown in FIG. That is, the access positions of the parent specimen dispensing positions 18a and 18b, the diluent discharge positions 19a and 19b, the stirring positions 20a and 20b, the diluted specimen suction positions 21a and 21b, and the three cleaning positions 22a and 22b.

  The dilution disk 4 rotates, and the dilution cell 15 is moved to each position to perform dilution processing of the parent sample. That is, the parent sample dilution process includes the following four operations.

(1) Parent sample sampling operation:
The parent sample 2 is aspirated from the sample disk 3 by the parent sample sampling mechanism 8 and dispensed to the dilution cell 15 on the dilution disk 4.

(2) Dilution liquid discharge operation:
The diluent is discharged from the diluent discharge mechanism 9 into the dilution cell 15 into which the parent sample 2 has been dispensed.

(3) Diluted specimen stirring operation:
Using the stirring mechanism 10, the parent sample 2 and the diluent are stirred and mixed.

(4) Diluted sample sampling operation:
The diluted specimen obtained by stirring is sucked by the diluted specimen sampling mechanism 11 and dispensed to the reaction cell 16 on the reaction disk 7.

  3 and 4 are tables showing the positions of the dilution cells and the dilution operation in each cycle with reference to the rotation operation cycle of the reaction disk for each of the dilution disks 4a and 4b in FIG. The numbers (1-A to 30-A, 1-B to 30-B) in the table indicate the dilution cell numbers of the two dilution disks, and the dilution process is performed at the position within the bold line frame. Here, it is assumed that the analysis of two items of one sample is performed, and the dispensing operation from one diluted sample to the reaction cell is performed twice.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the parent sample sampling operation is performed using the dilution cell (No. 1-A) of the outer peripheral side dilution disk (in the drawing, dilution disk A) in the first cycle. In the second cycle, the outer peripheral dilution disk 4a rotates, and the dilution liquid discharge operation and the stirring operation are sequentially performed on the dilution cell (No. 1-A). In the third to fourth cycles, the outer peripheral dilution disk rotates, and the diluted specimen sampling operation of the dilution cell (No. 1-A) is performed. In the fifth cycle, after the diluted sample sampling operation of the dilution cell (No. 1-A) is completed, the outer peripheral side dilution disk rotates and the next dilution cell (No. 30-A) is used to Perform dilution treatment.

  While the outer peripheral dilution disk is performing the diluted specimen sampling operation in the third to fourth cycles, the inner peripheral dilution disk (dilution disk B in the figure) uses the dilution cell (No. 1-B) and Specimen sampling operation, diluent discharge operation, and stirring operation are performed. After the diluted sample sampling operation of the outer peripheral side dilution disk is completed in the fifth cycle, the diluted sample sampling operation of the dilution cell (No. 1-B) is performed. In the seventh cycle, after the diluted sample sampling operation of the dilution cell (No. 1-B) is completed, the inner peripheral dilution disk rotates, and the next dilution cell (No. 30-B) is used to Dilution treatment is performed.

  In the 5th to 6th cycles, the dilution disk (No. 30-A) is used as the outer peripheral side dilution disk, and the parent sample sampling operation, the diluent discharge operation, and the stirring operation are performed. After the diluted sample sampling operation of the dilution cell (No. 1-B) is completed in the seventh cycle, the diluted sample sampling operation of the dilution cell (30-A) is performed.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, in the dilution process, the number of dilution cells sent from the end of operation in each mechanism to the start of the next operation, that is, the number of dilution cell pitches required for moving the dilution disk between the access positions. Has a common factor with the total number of dilution cells of the dilution disk, as shown below.

For the outer peripheral dilution disc:
(1) Transfer from the parent sample sampling mechanism to the diluent discharge mechanism:
Number of cell pitches = 4 cells (2) Movement from the diluent discharge mechanism to the stirring mechanism:
Number of cell pitches = 5 cells (3) Transfer from a stirring mechanism to a diluted specimen sampling mechanism:
Cell pitch number = 14 cells (4) Transfer of diluted cell used in next dilution process to parent sample sampling mechanism:
Number of cell pitch = 8 cells.

For the inner circumference dilution disc:
(1) Transfer from the parent sample sampling mechanism to the diluent discharge mechanism:
Number of cell pitches = 4 cells (2) Movement from the diluent discharge mechanism to the stirring mechanism:
Number of cell pitches = 5 cells (3) Transfer from a stirring mechanism to a diluted specimen sampling mechanism:
Number of cell pitch = 12 cells (4) Transfer of diluted cell used in next dilution process to parent sample sampling mechanism:
Number of cell pitch = 10 cells.

  As described above, in the automatic analyzer 1, the dilution process is performed with a certain shift while the two dilution disks are repeatedly rotated and stopped under the control of the computer 14 illustrated in FIG. 1. Then, each mechanism for the dilution process is accessed at a position that is the same factor as the total number arranged on the dilution disk with respect to the dilution cell at a position separated by an arbitrary number of dilution cells, and each operation of the dilution process is performed. It is designed to be performed sequentially.

  The diluted cell after the dispensing of the diluted specimen is cleaned by the cleaning mechanisms 13a and 13b shown in FIG. 2 and reused. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cleaning mechanism 13a corresponding to the outer peripheral dilution disk performs the dilution cell cleaning operation of the disk when the parent sample sampling mechanism is accessing the outer peripheral dilution disk. The cleaning mechanism 13b corresponding to the inner peripheral dilution disk performs a dilution cell cleaning operation for the disk when the diluent discharge mechanism is accessing the inner peripheral dilution disk.

  Here, the two dilution disks continuously perform the dilution process while sequentially using the dilution cells adjacent to one cell. However, if one cycle of the rotation operation of the reaction disk is 7 seconds, a specific dilution cell is It takes 700 seconds (100 cycles) from the end of the diluted sample sampling operation until the diluted cell cleaning position is reached. Normally, the time from the end of the diluted sample sampling operation to the output of the analysis result is 600 seconds, so there is a grace period of 100 seconds until the cleaning, and this is the time until it is determined whether reanalysis is necessary due to an analysis failure or the like. Diluted specimens can be retained. When re-analysis is required, the dilution disk is rotated under the control of the computer 14 shown in FIG. 1, and the dilution cell containing the corresponding diluted sample is moved to the diluted sample aspirating position. Specimen sampling operation is performed.

  Further, in the analysis of hemoglobin A1c, it is necessary to leave the diluted sample for a predetermined time after the dilution processing of the parent sample and before the diluted sample sampling operation is performed. Therefore, under the control of the computer 14 shown in FIG. 1, after performing the parent sample sampling operation, the diluent aspirating operation, and the stirring operation, the diluted sample sampling operation is not performed, and the next parent sample dilution process is preferentially performed. . Then, after a predetermined time required for leaving, the dilution disk is rotated, the diluted cell containing the left diluted sample is moved to the diluted sample suction position, and the diluted sample sampling operation is performed.

  As described above, in the automatic analyzer 1 of the present invention, the number of dilution cell pitches required for moving the dilution disk between the access positions may have a factor common to the total number of dilution cells included in the dilution disk. The access position of each mechanism used in can be diversified. In other words, the degree of freedom of arrangement of each mechanism is improved, which is extremely useful from the viewpoint of design such as space saving of the apparatus.

  Also, by diversifying the access position of each mechanism, it becomes possible to reversely rotate the dilution disk, so that the diluted sample can be held for retesting as described above, or the diluted sample can be added as necessary. Other parent specimens can be diluted while being left.

  In addition, since it has two dilution disks that rotate independently, it has only one mechanism for dilution process, and it works with the other dilution disk while performing dilution process with one dilution disk. Dilution processing can be performed continuously while shifting the cycle, the configuration is simplified, and the entire processing time can be shortened.

  Furthermore, since the two dilution disks are arranged with different diameters concentrically on a plane, the apparatus configuration can be further reduced in size.

  As mentioned above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in the present embodiment, a case where two dilution disks are provided has been described, but one dilution disk may be provided.

  In the present embodiment, the number of dilution cells in which dilution disks are arranged is 60 in total, 30 each, but the number may be appropriately increased or decreased. However, in view of the object of the present invention to increase the degree of freedom of arrangement of each mechanism for dilution processing, it is preferable to make the number easy to have many factors.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the unit and the reaction part for holding the specimen are disks, but these may be in the form of a line.

  The present invention is applicable to an automatic analyzer that automatically analyzes components such as blood.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic analyzer 2 Parent sample 3 Sample disk 4 Dilution disk 4a Outer circumference dilution disk 4b Inner circumference dilution disk 5a Reagent bottle 5b Reagent bottle 6a Reagent cooler 6b Reagent cooler 7 Reaction disk (reaction part)
8 Parent specimen sampling mechanism (parent specimen dispensing mechanism)
9 Diluent dispensing mechanism (Diluent dispensing mechanism)
10 Agitating mechanism 11 Diluted specimen sampling mechanism (Diluted specimen dispensing mechanism)
12a Reagent sampling mechanism 12b Reagent sampling mechanism 13a Cleaning mechanism 13b Cleaning mechanism 14 Computer 15 Dilution cell (dilution container)
16 Reaction Cell 17 Spectrophotometer 18a Parent Sample Dispensing Position 18b Parent Sample Dispensing Position 19a Diluent Discharge Position 19b Diluent Discharge Position 20a Stirring Position 20b Stirring Position 21a Diluted Sample Aspirating Position 21b Diluted Sample Aspirating Position 22a Washing Position 22b Washing position

Claims (8)

A dilution disk in which a plurality of dilution containers for diluting a parent sample with a diluent are arranged along the circumferential direction, a parent sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing the parent sample into the dilution container, and the parent sample are dispensed A diluent dispensing mechanism for dispensing the diluent into the dilution container, a stirring mechanism for stirring the parent specimen and the diluent dispensed in the dilution container, and a diluted specimen obtained by the stirring A diluted sample dispensing mechanism that sucks and dispenses the reaction sample into the reaction unit, and a control unit that controls the operation of the dilution disk and each of the mechanisms, and the control unit rotates the dilution disk to provide the parent sample. An automatic analyzer that moves to each access position of the dispensing mechanism, the diluent dispensing mechanism, the stirring mechanism, and the diluted specimen dispensing mechanism,
The automatic analyzer characterized in that the number of the dilution containers sent from the end of the operation of each mechanism to the start of the next operation has a common factor with the total number of the dilution containers arranged on the dilution disk.   2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit rotates the dilution disk after the diluted sample is aspirated by the diluted sample dispensing mechanism, and next to the dilution container that has aspirated the diluted sample. An automatic analyzer characterized in that the next parent sample is dispensed by the parent sample dispensing mechanism.   3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured so that each mechanism has the common factor and the number of arbitrary dilution containers with respect to the dilution containers arranged on the dilution disk. And the rotation and stop of the dilution disk are repeated, and by each of the mechanisms, the parent sample is dispensed, the diluent is dispensed, the parent sample is diluted with the diluent, and the dilution is performed. An automatic analyzer characterized by causing each operation of sample dispensing to be performed sequentially and sequentially.   The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising two dilution disks that operate independently.   5. The automatic analyzer according to claim 4, wherein the two dilution disks are arranged concentrically with different diameters.   6. The automatic analyzer according to claim 4, wherein the control unit moves each of the mechanisms so that the parent sample is dispensed between the one dilution disk and the other dilution disk. The automatic analysis apparatus is characterized in that each of the dispensing, the stirring of the parent sample and the diluent, and the dispensing of the diluted sample are alternately performed.   The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control means is arranged on the dilution disk until the analysis is completed after the dispensing of the diluted sample and it is determined whether reanalysis is necessary. When the diluted sample remaining in the dilution container is held and the re-analysis is necessary, the dilution container is moved to the access position of the diluted sample dispensing mechanism by rotating the dilution disk to An automatic analyzer characterized by causing the diluted specimen to be dispensed again by an injection mechanism.   The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, in the case of an analysis item in which the diluted sample needs to be left for a predetermined time, the control unit performs other operations by each of the mechanisms during the time left. The dilution container containing the diluted sample left after the predetermined time has elapsed by performing each operation from dispensing of the parent sample to dispensing of the diluted sample obtained by diluting the parent sample Is moved to the access position of the diluted sample dispensing mechanism, and the diluted sample dispensing mechanism causes the diluted sample to be dispensed.