JP2011191259A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a slight amount of a diluted sample remaining in a diluting reaction cell from being condensed and sticking to an inner wall of the diluting reaction cell. <P>SOLUTION: A diluent is dispensed to a sample dispensed into a reaction cell 10 to prepare the diluted sample. This diluted sample is further dispensed into another reaction cell (to be referred to as a measuring reaction cell 10Y) to prepare a measurement sample. Next, a supplement is supplied into the original reaction cell (to be referred to as the diluting reaction cell 10X) in which the diluted sample has remained. Then, a mixed liquid is discarded from the measuring reaction cell after measurement or the diluting reaction cell not provided for measurement to clean the reaction cell, thereby preventing the diluted sample remaining in the diluting reaction cell from being further diluted and sticking to the inner wall, and readily providing the reaction cell for next sample analysis through cleaning. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that automatically measures a component, an activity value, and the like of a sample by reacting the sample with a reagent.

  The automatic analyzer is a device that mixes a reagent with a sample such as blood or urine and reacts, and automatically analyzes the reaction state of the sample by, for example, spectroscopic analysis. This automatic analyzer is widely used in hospitals and medical examination institutions because it can perform a component analysis of a large number of items for a large number of samples in a short time.

  By the way, there is a strong demand for reducing the amount of a sample to be analyzed by an automatic analyzer recently. The reason is that, of course, you don't want to waste blood that is important to you, but if you have a large amount of sample, you need a lot of reagent to react with that sample. . That is, in the operation of the automatic analyzer, since the ratio of the reagent to the running cost is large, there is a circumstance that it is desired to reduce the amount of the reagent to be used as much as possible in order to reduce the running cost.

  The sample is dispensed into the reaction cell by a predetermined amount, and a predetermined amount of reagent according to the inspection item is dispensed and stirred to react. After the measurement is completed, the reaction cell is washed and reused for the next measurement. Is done. Therefore, in order to obtain an accurate reaction result, it is important that the previously used sample or reagent does not remain in the reaction cell to be used. Therefore, conventionally, the reaction cell after discharging and discarding the used reaction liquid has been sequentially washed a plurality of times using an alkaline detergent, acidic detergent, pure water or the like in a predetermined washing step (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  Recently, after dispensing a sample into a reaction cell, a diluent is injected into the reaction cell to dilute the sample (hereinafter, this diluted sample is referred to as a diluted sample). However, depending on the measurement item, the method of reacting the reagent with this measurement diluted sample by re-dispensing it into another reaction cell (hereinafter referred to as the diluted sample for measurement) will be used. It has been adopted. As an item to be measured by such a method, for example, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is applicable.

  Therefore, for example, when measuring HbA1c in blood, whole blood or blood cells are once dispensed into a reaction cell, and a diluted solution such as pure water is added thereto to prepare a diluted sample (hereinafter, for dilution). (The reaction cell in which the sample is once dispensed is referred to as a dilution preparation reaction cell). Next, a predetermined amount of the diluted sample is dispensed from the dilution preparation reaction cell to another reaction cell to obtain a measurement diluted sample, and the reagent is mixed and reacted with the measurement diluted sample.

JP 2002-90372 A

  By the way, the amount of the diluted sample prepared by adding the diluent to the whole blood or blood cell sample using the above-described dilution preparation reaction cell is about 50 μL. When dispensed into the reaction cell, the diluted sample remaining in the dilution preparation reaction cell becomes a very small amount. The dilution preparation reaction cell continues to be held in the reaction disk as it is during the mixing, reaction, measurement, etc. of the reagent according to a predetermined routine. This time is about 10 minutes, and during that time, moisture evaporates from a small amount of the diluted sample remaining in the dilution preparation reaction cell, and the dilution sample is concentrated, which sticks to the inner wall of the dilution preparation reaction cell. . Therefore, even if the dilution preparation reaction cell is washed in a predetermined washing step, the desired washing effect cannot be obtained, and when this reaction cell is used for the next measurement, the measurement result may be adversely affected.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an automatic analyzer that dispenses and mixes a sample and a reagent into a reaction cell and measures the components of the sample reacted thereby. A diluted sample preparation means for diluting a sample by dispensing a diluent into the sample dispensed in the sample, and a measurement sample to be used for measurement by further dispensing the diluted sample obtained by the diluted sample preparation means to another reaction cell Dispensing means, a replenisher supplying means for supplying a replenisher to the original reaction cell where the diluted sample remains after the diluted sample is dispensed to the other reaction cell by the measurement sample dispensing means, and measurement And a washing means for washing the reaction cell by discarding the mixed solution from the subsequent reaction cell or from the reaction cell that has not been subjected to the measurement.

  According to the present invention, the remaining diluted sample is further diluted by supplying the replenisher to the original reaction cell where the diluted sample remains, so that the remaining diluted sample is concentrated and sticks to the inner wall of the reaction cell. This is prevented, and the subsequent cleaning allows easy analysis of the next sample.

It is the perspective view which showed schematic structure of the automatic analyzer which concerns on this invention. It is the perspective view which showed an example of the washing | cleaning unit with which the automatic analyzer was equipped. It is explanatory drawing shown in order to demonstrate the operation | movement sequence newly performed with the automatic analyzer which concerns on this invention. It is the flowchart shown in order to demonstrate the flow of the whole operation | movement of the automatic analyzer which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the setting screen for setting a replenishment agent etc. for every measurement item.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an automatic analyzer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an automatic analyzer according to the present invention.

  The automatic analyzer includes a reaction disk 11 equipped with a large number of reaction cells 10, a sample disk 12 containing a large number of sample containers 12a, a first reagent container 13, a second reagent container 14, a sample dispensing mechanism 15, and a first reagent. The dispensing mechanism 16, the second reagent dispensing mechanism 17, the first stirring mechanism 18, the second stirring mechanism 19, the cleaning unit 20, the measurement unit 22, and the like, and the operation of each component such as these units and mechanisms are controlled. The analyzer control unit 30 includes a CPU, various memories, and the like. As an option, an electrode 21 can also be arranged.

  The reaction disk 11 is formed in a ring shape and is equipped with a large number of reaction cells 10 in the circumferential direction, and rotates or stops by a predetermined angle according to a program set in the analyzer control unit 30. Perform intermittent rotation. A sample disk 12 containing a large number of sample containers 12a containing samples to be analyzed is arranged near the reaction disk 11. The first reagent storage 13 is arranged concentrically inside the reaction disk 11 and stores a large number of reagent containers 13a containing various reagents. Similarly, a second reagent storage 14 storing a large number of reagent containers 14 a containing other reagents is arranged in the vicinity of the reaction disk 11 at a predetermined interval.

  A sample dispensing mechanism 15 is disposed between the reaction disk 11 and the sample disk 12. The sample dispensing mechanism 15 rotates between the reaction disk 11 and the sample disk 12 so as to draw an arc around the column 15a. A first reagent dispensing mechanism 16 is disposed in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the reaction disk 11, and a second reagent dispensing mechanism 17 is disposed between the reaction disk 11 and the second reagent storage 14. The first reagent dispensing mechanism 16 and the second reagent dispensing mechanism 17 are also arranged between the reaction disk 11 and the first reagent container 13 or between the reaction disk 11 and the second reagent container 14 with the support columns 16a and 17a as axes. Rotate to draw an arc. Further, a first stirring mechanism 18, a second stirring mechanism 19, a cleaning unit 20, and an electrode 21 are disposed near the outer periphery of the reaction disk 11, and a measurement unit 22 is disposed at a predetermined position of the reaction disk 11.

  The sample disk 12 is formed in a disk shape, and the desired one of the sample container 12a is moved to the suction position of the sample dispensing mechanism 15 by rotating around its axis. The sample dispensing mechanism 15 has a needle-like sampling probe 15c (hereinafter simply referred to as probe 15c) on the tip side of a sampling arm 15b (hereinafter simply referred to as arm 15b). Then, by positioning the probe 15c at a predetermined suction position of the sample disk 12 and lowering the support column 15a, the probe 15c is lowered into the sample container 12a to suck a predetermined amount of the sample. Thereafter, the column 15a is raised, the arm 15b is rotated to the reaction disk 11 side, and the sample is discharged into a predetermined reaction cell 10 accommodated in the reaction disk 11.

  Even when the sample is discharged, the sample dispensing mechanism 15 lowers the support column 15a at a predetermined discharge position so that the probe 15c is lowered into the reaction cell 10 and the sample is removed from the probe 15c. Is discharged. Further, a tube is connected to the base of the probe 15c, that is, the arm 15b side. This tube passes through the arm 15b, further passes through the support column 15a, and the other end is connected to a pump (not shown).

  The reaction disk 11 rotates about its axis, and the predetermined reaction cell 10 is moved to the reagent discharge position of the first reagent dispensing mechanism 16 and the second reagent dispensing mechanism 17.

  The first reagent storage 13 and the second reagent storage 14 are both formed in an annular shape and rotate around the axis thereof. Desired reagent containers 13a and 14a stored in the first reagent storage 13 and the second reagent storage 14 are respectively arranged for the first reagent. The injection mechanism 16 and the second reagent dispensing mechanism 17 are moved to the suction position. Similarly to the sample dispensing mechanism 15, the first reagent dispensing mechanism 16 and the second reagent dispensing mechanism 17 have needle-like probes 16c and 17c at the tips of the arms 16b and 17b, respectively. The reagent is aspirated from the predetermined reagent containers 13 a and 14 a of the first reagent storage 13 and the second reagent storage 14 by 17 c, and a predetermined amount is dispensed into the predetermined reaction cell 10 accommodated in the reaction disk 11.

  When the reaction cell 10 reaches the first stirring position and the second stirring position by the rotation operation of the reaction disk 11, the first stirring mechanism 18 and the second stirring mechanism 19 are discharged into the corresponding reaction cell 10. The mixture is mixed with a reagent with a stir bar to promote the reaction. Furthermore, when the reaction cell 10 reaches the position of the measurement unit 22 as the reaction disk 11 rotates, the components of the liquid mixture in the reaction cell 10 are spectrally analyzed by the measurement unit 22. When the reaction cell 10 reaches the position of the cleaning unit 20 after the analysis is completed, the mixed liquid in the reaction cell 10 is first discharged, and the reaction cell 10 is sequentially cleaned by the cleaning unit 20 for analysis of the next sample. Provided.

  The cleaning unit 20 is disposed in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the reaction disk 11, and an example is shown in a perspective view in FIG. That is, the cleaning unit 20 includes a plurality of cleaning devices 201 to 208 positioned immediately above the reaction cell 10 that moves in accordance with the rotation operation of the reaction disk 11. On the other hand, a plurality of stages of cleaning operations are sequentially performed.

  The cleaning unit 20 includes, for example, a first cleaning nozzle 201, a second cleaning nozzle 202, a third cleaning nozzle 203, a fourth cleaning nozzle 204, a fifth cleaning nozzle 205, and a sixth cleaning order in order from the left side of FIG. The cleaning nozzle 206, the suction nozzle 207, and the drying nozzle 208 are arranged side by side, and the reaction cell 10 is positioned in each cleaning nozzle, and thus operates as follows.

  First, when the reaction cell 10 is positioned at the first cleaning nozzle 201, pure water is injected into the reaction cell 10 in which the high-concentration mixed liquid remains, and these are sucked and discharged. This first cleaning nozzle 202 is referred to as a first cleaning line. Next, in the second cleaning nozzle 202, high-pressure and high-temperature steam is discharged into the reaction cell 10 to wash away dirt adhering to the inner wall of the reaction cell 10, and proteins and enzymes contained in the sample remain. If so, these functions are lost. Therefore, the second cleaning nozzle 202 is referred to as a steam cleaning line.

  Subsequently, the third cleaning nozzle 203 discharges and cleans the alkaline detergent into the reaction cell 10 and then sucks and discharges it. Therefore, the third cleaning nozzle 203 is referred to as an alkali cleaning line. Further, the fourth cleaning nozzle 204 discharges and cleans the acidic detergent into the reaction cell 10, and then sucks and discharges it. Therefore, the fourth cleaning nozzle 204 is referred to as an acidic cleaning line. Thereafter, in the fifth cleaning nozzle 205, pure water is discharged into the reaction cell 10 for cleaning, and then this is sucked and discharged. Therefore, the fifth cleaning nozzle 205 is referred to as a pure water cleaning line. Further, since the sixth cleaning nozzle 206 repeats cleaning with pure water, the sixth cleaning nozzle 206 is also referred to as a pure water cleaning line.

  Thereafter, the suction nozzle 207 (suction line) discharges pure water to empty the reaction cell 10, and finally the reaction cell 10 wet with pure water (cleaning liquid) is dried by the drying nozzle 208 (drying line). Let Note that the sixth cleaning nozzle 206 inspects whether or not the cleaning is sufficient by applying light to the reaction cell 10 into which pure water has been injected and measuring the transmittance. As described above, the cleaning unit 20 performs cleaning by sequentially injecting steam, various detergents, and the like into the reaction cell 10 while repeating vertical movement according to the rotation of the reaction disk 11.

  The cleaning unit 20 operates such that each cleaning nozzle performs a predetermined cleaning operation all at once, while repeating vertical movement at a predetermined timing under the control of the analyzer control unit 30. However, the cleaning unit 20 itself is fixed so as to hold the cleaning tools that constitute each cleaning line, and the cleaning tools that constitute each cleaning line are individually controlled by the analyzer control unit 30 to have a predetermined value. The cleaning operation may be performed while repeating the vertical movement at the timing.

  Up to this point, the configuration of the automatic analyzer according to the present invention and the operation that is normally executed have been described. Next, the operation that is newly executed as the automatic analyzer according to the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an operation sequence newly executed by the automatic analyzer according to the present invention. In order to execute a new operation, a diluent such as pure water is not used as a reagent in one of the many reagent containers 13a and 14a stored in the first reagent container 13 and the second reagent container 14. It shall be stored.

  For example, a case where HbA1c in blood is to be measured will be described. In this case, if the concentration of the sample is high, accurate analysis data may not be obtained, so it is necessary to dilute the sample in advance. Therefore, first, as shown in FIG. 3A, whole blood or blood cells are sucked from the sample container 12a accommodated in the sample disk 12 by the probe 15c of the sample dispensing mechanism 15, and this is shown in FIG. 3B. Are once dispensed into the reaction cell 10X of the reaction disk 11 shown in FIG. 1 (for the sake of distinction from the reaction cell 10 used generically, the reference numeral 10X is used for convenience and referred to as a reaction cell for dilution preparation).

  When the dilution creation reaction cell 10X reaches the reagent discharge position of the first reagent dispensing mechanism 16, the probe 16c of the first reagent dispensing mechanism 16 is stored in the first reagent storage 13 and diluted. The reagent is aspirated from the reagent container 13aX (generally used for reference to the reagent container 13a that is generally used to distinguish the reagent container 13aX but not shown), and the diluted liquid is diluted. It is discharged to the preparation reaction cell 10X so that a predetermined dilution rate is obtained. This state is shown in FIG. After that, when the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X reaches the first stirring position, the first stirring mechanism 18 stirs the mixed solution of the sample and dilution liquid in the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X with a stirrer, and a predetermined dilution ratio. A diluted sample of

  Further, when the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X reaches the dispensing position of the sample dispensing mechanism 15, a predetermined amount of the diluted sample is sucked from the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X by the probe 15c, and the adjacent empty reaction cell 10Y ( In order to distinguish it from the reaction cell 10X, the reference numeral 10Y is given for convenience, and it is discharged to the measurement reaction cell) to obtain a diluted sample for measurement. This state is shown in FIG. A first reagent is mixed into the measurement reaction cell 10Y into which the measurement diluted sample has been dispensed by the probe 16c of the first reagent dispensing mechanism 16 (see FIG. 3E), and the second reagent is further dispensed. The second drug is mixed by the probe 17c of the injection mechanism 17 to accelerate the reaction (see FIG. 3 (f)).

  In addition, the whole blood or blood cells are aspirated from the sample container 12a and dispensed into the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X, the amount of the diluted solution discharged into the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X, and measured from the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X. The amount of the diluted sample to be dispensed to the measurement reaction cell 10Y, the amount of the first reagent and the second reagent to be dispensed to the measurement reaction cell 10Y, and the like are strictly managed by the analyzer control unit 30. .

  Thereafter, when the reaction cell 10Y reaches the position of the measurement unit 22 after a predetermined time, the components of the liquid mixture in the reaction cell 10Y are spectrally analyzed by the measurement unit 22 (see FIG. 3G). Note that it takes about 10 minutes from the dispensing of the measurement diluted sample to the spectroscopic analysis. After the spectroscopic analysis is completed, the reaction cell 10Y is washed by the washing unit 20 and used for the analysis of the next sample. It is made.

  On the other hand, when the dilution sample for measurement is dispensed to the reaction cell 10Y, the dilution reagent reaction cell 10X (see FIG. 3C) having the diluted sample remaining is reduced to the second reagent. When the reagent discharge position of the injection mechanism 17 is reached, the probe 17c of the second reagent dispensing mechanism 17 is a reagent container 14aX (generally used for storing a diluent stored in the second reagent storage 14). In order to distinguish it from the reagent container 14a, the reference numeral 14aX is used for the sake of convenience, but it is not shown in the figure.) The diluted solution is sucked from the container, and the diluted solution is discharged to the dilution creation reaction cell 10X ( (See FIG. 3 (h)). Thereafter, when the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X reaches the second stirring position, the mixture of the sample and dilution liquid in the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X is stirred by the second stirring mechanism 19 with a stirrer to further dilute the diluted sample. Dilute.

  As a result, even if it takes about 10 minutes to complete the spectroscopic analysis of the measurement diluted sample in the reaction cell 10Y, the diluted sample in the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X is concentrated and diluted. Sticking to the inner wall is prevented. Therefore, the dilution reaction cell 10X is also cleaned by the subsequent cleaning by the cleaning unit 20, and used for the analysis of the next sample. The diluent stored in the reagent container of the second reagent storage 14 for dilution may be a cleaning agent. In addition to the method using the diluent stored in the reagent container of the second reagent storage 14, the internal water of the second reagent dispensing mechanism 17 is diluted with the probe 17c of the second reagent dispensing mechanism. You may discharge to the cell 10X.

  As described above, in the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, the normally executed operation similar to the conventional one and the newly executed operation are selectively executed. Therefore, in order to make it easy to understand the state of the overall operation, a flowchart is shown in FIG. 4, and the overall operation flow will be described again with reference to FIG.

  First, as step 1, the sample dispensing mechanism 15 sucks the sample from the sample container 12 a accommodated in the sample disk 12 and discharges the sample into the reaction cell 10. At this time, as step 2, an operation sequence to be executed in analyzing the sample is selected. Here, if the analysis item of the sample corresponds to a sequence in which the first reagent and the second reagent are dispensed and reacted with the sample as they are, the process proceeds to step 3 where the reaction cell 10 is dispensed with the first reagent. When positioned at the position, the first reagent is dispensed by the first reagent dispensing mechanism 16, and the inside of the reaction cell 10 is then stirred by the first stirring mechanism 18 at the first stirring position (step 4). .

  Then, the process proceeds to Step 5, and when the reaction cell 10 is positioned at the second reagent dispensing position, the second reagent dispensing mechanism 17 dispenses the second reagent into the reaction cell 10, and then at the second stirring position. The inside of the reaction cell 10 is stirred by the second stirring mechanism 19 (step 6). Thereafter, when the reaction cell 10 reaches the position of the measurement unit 22 at a stage where the reaction between the sample and the reagent is performed after a predetermined time, the components of the liquid mixture in the reaction cell 10 are spectrally analyzed (step 7). After completion of the analysis, when the reaction cell 10 reaches the position of the washing unit 20, the inside of the reaction cell 10 is washed by the washing unit 20 (step 8), and this reaction cell 10 is used for the analysis of the next sample. It becomes.

  On the other hand, if the analysis item of the sample corresponds to a sequence in which the first reagent and the second reagent are dispensed and reacted after further dilution of the sample in step 2, the process proceeds to step 10 and the reaction cell 10 (this reaction cell 10 is referred to as a dilution preparation reaction cell 10X for the sake of convenience) is positioned at the first reagent dispensing position by the first reagent dispensing mechanism 16. The diluted solution is sucked from 13 and dispensed into the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X, and the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X is stirred and diluted by the first stirring mechanism 18 at the first stirring position. A sample is prepared (step 11).

  Next, the process proceeds to step 12, and when the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X reaches the dispensing position of the sample dispensing mechanism 15, the sample dispensing mechanism 15 sucks a predetermined amount of the diluted sample from the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X, The empty reaction cell 10 (this reaction cell 10 is referred to as a measurement reaction cell 10Y for convenience) is discharged as a measurement diluted sample. Thereafter, as Step 13, when the measurement reaction cell 10Y is positioned at the first reagent dispensing position, the first reagent is dispensed by the first reagent dispensing mechanism 16, and then at the first stirring position. The measurement reaction cell 10Y is stirred by the first stirring mechanism 18 (step 14).

  Then, the process proceeds to step 15, and when the measurement reaction cell 10Y is positioned at the second reagent dispensing position, the second reagent is dispensed into the measurement reaction cell 10Y by the second reagent dispensing mechanism 17, and then the second reagent dispensing mechanism 17 The inside of the measurement reaction cell 10Y is stirred by the second stirring mechanism 19 at the two stirring positions (step 16). Thereafter, when the measurement reaction cell 10Y reaches the position of the measurement unit 22 after the reaction between the sample and the reagent is performed after a predetermined time, the components of the liquid mixture in the measurement reaction cell 10Y are spectrally analyzed ( Step 17). After completion of the analysis, the process proceeds to step 8, and when the measurement reaction cell 10Y reaches the position of the cleaning unit 20, the measurement reaction cell 10Y is cleaned by the cleaning unit 20, and this measurement reaction cell 10Y It will be used for analysis.

  In Step 12, when the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X in which the amount of the diluted sample is reduced by being dispensed into the measurement reaction cell 10Y is positioned at the second reagent dispensing position, The reagent dispensing mechanism 17 sucks the diluted solution from the second reagent storage 14, dispenses the diluted solution into the dilution creating reaction cell 10X, and the second stirring mechanism 19 at the second stirring position creates the dilution. The reaction cell 10X is stirred (step 20).

  Therefore, the diluted sample remaining in the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X is further diluted. When the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X reaches the position of the cleaning unit 20 without being subjected to spectroscopic analysis at the position of the measurement unit 22, the inside of the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X is cleaned. This dilution preparation reaction cell 10X is also used for the analysis of the next sample. In this way, by diluting the remaining sample by injecting the diluent into the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X in which the amount of the diluted sample is reduced, the sample is removed before the cleaning unit 20 starts cleaning. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of inconveniences that are stuck in the reaction cell for dilution preparation 10X and the cleaning becomes insufficient. It goes without saying that these series of controls are performed by the analyzer control unit 30.

  Here, in step 19, in order to prevent the diluted sample remaining in the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X from being concentrated, a diluent (also referred to as a replenisher) such as pure water or a cleaning agent that is difficult to condense is injected. The means for setting the type and amount of the replenisher to be injected for reducing the dilution concentration in advance for each item to be measured will be described.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the setting screen. Here, in the case where the measurement item is HbA1c, the replenisher added to the diluted sample remaining in the reaction cell for dilution 10X in step 19 is pure water and diluted. An example is shown in which the total injection amount (total replenishment amount) into the dilution-containing reaction cell 10X including the sample is set to 345 μL. This setting is stored in the analyzer control unit 30, and when the measurement of HbA1c is specified for a certain sample, the diluted sample for measurement is dispensed into the measurement reaction cell 10Y in step 12, and then the dilution is created. According to this setting content, pure water is injected into the diluted sample remaining in the reaction cell 10X, and control is performed to further dilute the total volume in the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X to 345 μL. .

  As a result, the diluted sample remaining in the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X is further diluted, and the diluted sample in the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X is concentrated while the measurement reaction cell 10Y is in the analysis step (for example, about 10 minutes). Prevent sticking to the inner wall.

  Even if the measurement item is HbA1c, the amount of sample used and the dilution factor may vary depending on the type of reagent used. Accordingly, the amount dispensed to the measurement reaction cell 10Y changes, and the amount remaining in the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X also varies. Therefore, an item “type of reagent” is added to the setting screen of FIG. 5, and “type of supplement” and “total supply amount” are associated with each other according to “type of reagent” on the setting screen. As a result, in step 19, it is possible to inject as much diluent and cleaning agent as necessary into the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X, thereby avoiding unnecessary use.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, even if it takes about 10 minutes to complete the spectroscopic analysis of the measurement diluted sample in the measurement reaction cell 10Y, the dilution in the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X takes place. The sample is prevented from concentrating and sticking to the inner wall of the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X, and the subsequent washing unit 20 cleans the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X for use in the analysis of the next sample. be able to.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes within the scope of the gist. For example, the dispensing of the diluted solution into the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X may be performed by either the first reagent dispensing mechanism 16 or the second reagent dispensing mechanism 17 based on the operation sequence of the automatic analyzer. Further, as Step 12 described with reference to FIG. 4, the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X in which the amount of the dilution sample is reduced by dispensing the dilution sample from the dilution preparation reaction cell 10X to the measurement reaction cell 10Y. However, the amount of the diluent further supplied as step 19 may be fixed for all items without being set for each measurement item. Further, instead of setting the amount of diluent to be further supplied in step 19 for each measurement item, the previous measurement result of the sample provider (eg, patient), basic information such as sex, age, and past disease You may make it set according to it.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Reaction cell 11 Reaction disk 12 Sample disk 15 Sample dispensing mechanism 16 1st reagent dispensing mechanism 17 2nd reagent dispensing mechanism 20 Washing unit 22 Measuring unit 30 Analyzer control part

Claims (4)

In an automatic analyzer that dispenses and mixes a sample and a reagent in a reaction cell and measures the components of the sample reacted thereby,
Among the reaction cells, diluted sample preparation means for diluting the sample by dispensing a diluent into the sample dispensed into the first reaction cell;
A sample dispensing means for measurement for dispensing the diluted sample obtained by the diluted sample preparation means to the second reaction cell for measurement;
A replenisher supplying means for supplying a replenisher to the first reaction cell in which the diluted sample remains after the diluted sample is dispensed into the second reaction cell by the measurement sample dispensing means;
A cleaning means for discarding the mixed solution from the second reaction cell after the measurement or the first reaction cell that has not been subjected to the measurement and cleaning the first reaction cell or the second reaction cell;
The automatic analyzer characterized by comprising.   The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the replenisher is a diluent or a detergent.   The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the supply amount of the replenisher to the first reaction cell can be set according to a measurement item.   3. The supply amount of the replenisher to the first reaction cell can be set according to basic information of the subject corresponding to the sample. 4. The automatic analyzer described.

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