JP2012141253A - Autoanalyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reproducibility of a measurement result by stabilizing a blank measurement value, in an autoanalyzer for analyzing biological samples such as blood, urine or the like.SOLUTION: The autoanalyzer comprises: a reaction vessel where a sample and a reagent are reacted; and a photometer for measuring change in color of reaction liquid put in the reaction vessel. The autoanalyzer also comprises: a blank liquid supplying mechanism for supplying blank liquid for performing blank measurement in the reaction vessel, to the reaction vessel before measuring the sample by the photometer; and a blank liquid heating mechanism for heating the blank liquid supplied from the blank liquid supplying mechanism.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for analyzing biological samples such as blood and urine, and in particular, adopts a method for measuring a liquid (blank solution) that does not contain a sample or a reagent when calculating a measurement value. The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer.

  Among automatic analyzers, what is called a biochemical analyzer uses a reagent that changes color by reacting with the component to be measured in the sample, and quantitatively measures the change in color based on the change in absorbance at multiple wavelengths. Yes. In such a measurement method, the absorbance (blank value) measured by dispensing blank water (non-colored liquid) such as water or physiological saline into the reaction container before the start of analysis is measured by the reaction containing the reaction solution. It is common to correct variations caused by differences in the state of individual reaction vessels in the measured value by subtracting from the absorbance of the vessel. The blank measurement technique is described in Patent Document 1, for example.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-102245

  In the automatic analyzer, the change in absorbance of the reaction solution is measured while the reaction solution in the reaction vessel is controlled at a constant temperature such as 37.0 ± 0.1 ° C. to improve the reproducibility of the analysis results. ing. Specifically, a method of immersing the reaction vessel in a liquid having a large heat capacity such as water or silicon oil and providing a mechanism for maintaining the liquid at a constant temperature, or circulating air maintained at a constant temperature is employed. Yes.

  The reaction vessel is made of transparent glass or plastic to measure the color change. When a blank liquid whose temperature is not controlled is poured into a reaction vessel maintained at a constant temperature, it takes a certain time until the temperature of the blank liquid reaches a constant temperature. When the time from injection to measurement is short, the temperature of the blank liquid does not reach a certain value, and the measured blank value may change depending on the temperature of the blank water. The measurement result measured using the blank value Could also become unstable. For this reason, it is necessary to ensure the time from blank liquid injection to measurement so that the blank value measurement is performed after reaching a certain temperature regardless of the blank liquid injected at any temperature.

  On the other hand, in order to improve the processing capacity of the automatic analyzer, it is necessary to shorten the time from when a measurement request is input to the automatic analyzer until the measurement result is output, and there is a demand for shortening the measurement time of the blank value.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer that can be expected to improve the reproducibility of the measurement result and the apparatus processing capability by stabilizing the blank measurement value and shortening the blank value measurement time.

  The configuration of the present invention for solving the above-described problems is as follows.

  In an automatic analyzer comprising a reaction vessel for reacting a sample and a reagent, and a photometer for measuring a color change of a reaction solution contained in the reaction vessel, before measuring the sample with the photometer, A blank liquid supply mechanism for supplying a blank liquid for performing blank measurement in the reaction container to the reaction container and a blank liquid heating mechanism for heating the blank liquid supplied from the blank liquid supply mechanism are provided. Automatic analyzer.

  The reaction vessel generally has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, but may have any shape as long as the reaction solution can be retained. The reaction vessel is generally formed of a transparent material so that the change in the color of the reaction solution can be measured, but basically only the portion that transmits the measurement light has translucency. Just do it. A photometer is a light source of an incandescent bulb such as a halogen lamp, and a diffraction grating (prism) that splits transmitted light into a plurality of wavelengths such as 12 wavelengths and 16 wavelengths in order to measure color change. It is generally composed of a photometer (photodiode or the like) that measures the intensity, but any device that can measure a color change may be used. Blank measurement is a process in which a transparent (non-colored) liquid, water, physiological saline, or the like is basically placed in a reaction vessel and the amount of transmitted light is measured. Since the blank liquid is not colored, the absorbance in the visible light region should be zero, but the absorbance may change if the reaction vessel is dirty. By subtracting from the absorbance measured in the reaction solution using the measurement value in the blank measurement as a reference, the change in absorbance in the reaction solution alone can be separated.

  It is a feature of the present invention to provide a mechanism for heating such a blank solution before supplying it to the reaction vessel. Various methods can be employed for the heating method. For example, when there is a tank for storing the blank liquid, the blank liquid can be heated by heating the entire tank. Moreover, when there exists a flow path which supplies blank water to a reaction container from a tank, it can also heat in the middle of the flow path. The latter method has the advantage that the heating mechanism can be made compact.

  Moreover, blank water can also be used as washing water for the reaction vessel. A heat exchanger is installed in the middle of the flow path for supplying blank water and washing water to the reaction vessel from the tank or supply source that supplies blank water and washing water, and both the blank water and washing water are heated. For example, the cleaning effect can be improved by heating the cleaning water.

  As a heating method, an electric heater can be used. However, in the case of an automatic analyzer using a hot water circulation type thermostatic chamber, a heat exchanger is provided in a part of the circulating hot water piping, By heating blank water and washing water, it becomes possible to make an energy-saving and compact device.

  By stabilizing the blank measurement value, an automatic analyzer that can be expected to improve the reproducibility of the measurement result can be provided.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the automatic analyzer to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the temperature control mechanism to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the washing | cleaning-liquid supply mechanism to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the blank water supply mechanism to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic diagram of the heat exchanger concerning Example 5 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram of the heat exchanger concerning Example 6 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram of the heat exchanger concerning Example 7 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  The configuration of the automatic analyzer according to the present invention is shown in FIG. The automatic analyzer 10 includes a sample disk 11a, a reagent disk 12a, a reaction disk 13a, a sample dispensing mechanism 11c, and a reagent dispensing mechanism 12c. A plurality of sample containers 11b can be set on the sample disk, and a plurality of reagent containers 12b can be set on the reagent disk 12a. A plurality of reaction vessels 13b can be set on the reaction disk 13a, and a reaction result detection mechanism 14, a blank water supply mechanism 15, a reaction vessel cleaning mechanism 16, a temperature control mechanism 17, and a reaction tank 18 are provided.

  A part of the flow path of the blank water supply mechanism 15 is in thermal contact with a part of the flow path of the temperature control mechanism 17 by the heat exchanger 19. Further, a part of the flow path of the reaction vessel cleaning mechanism 16 is in thermal contact with a part of the flow path of the temperature control mechanism 17 by the heat exchanger 19.

  By rotating the sample disk 11a, a predetermined sample container 11b can be accessed from the sample dispensing mechanism 11c. Due to the rotation of the reagent disk 12a, a predetermined reagent container 12b can be accessed from the reagent dispensing mechanism 12c. By rotating the reaction disk 13a, the predetermined reaction container 13b can be accessed from any of the sample dispensing mechanism 11c, the reagent dispensing mechanism 12c, the reaction result detecting mechanism 14, the blank water supply mechanism 15, and the reaction container cleaning mechanism 16. It has become.

  Before the sample measurement, blank water such as water or physiological saline is supplied to the predetermined reaction container 13b by the blank water supply mechanism, and the blank value of the reaction container 13b is measured by the reaction result detection mechanism.

  The sample is dispensed from the predetermined sample container 11b to the predetermined reaction container 13b by the sample dispensing mechanism 11c, and the reagent is dispensed from the predetermined reagent container 12b by the reagent dispensing mechanism 12c. The sample and the reagent are stirred and mixed in the predetermined reaction vessel 13b, and the sample and the reagent react. The reaction result is detected by the reaction result detection mechanism 14 as a change in absorbance of the reaction solution. Thereafter, the reaction vessel 13b is washed by the reaction vessel washing mechanism 16 and can be reused.

  FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the temperature control mechanism 17 according to the present invention. The temperature control mechanism 17 includes a heat medium container 170a, a heat medium 170b, a pump 170c, and a circulation channel 171. The circulation channel includes a circulation pump 171a, a cooler 171b, a heater 171c, a temperature sensor 171d, a reaction tank 18, and a heat exchanger 19. The heat medium 170b is periodically sent to the circulation channel 171 by the pump 170c. The heat medium 170b sent to the circulation channel 171 circulates through the cooler 171b, the heater 171c, the temperature sensor 171d, the reaction tank 18, and the heat exchanger 19 by the circulation pump 171a. The temperature of the heat medium 170b is controlled to a constant temperature by a cooler 171b, a heater 171c, and a temperature sensor 171d. Water, oil (silicon oil), air, or the like is used for the heat medium 170b. Further, the temperature of the reaction vessel 13b is in thermal contact with the heat medium 170b and is controlled to a constant temperature.

  It is conceivable that the temperature of the heat medium 170a becomes lower than the set temperature by passing through the heat exchanger 19. When the heat medium 170b having a temperature equal to or lower than the set temperature flows into the reaction tank 18, the analysis result is affected. Therefore, it is necessary to design the flow path so that the heat medium 170b flows into the heat exchanger 19 after passing through the reaction tank 18. is there. The flow path shown in FIG. 2 (a) has the advantage of having a simple structure and excellent operability.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the circulation channel 171 may branch a part of the channel and separate the reaction tank 18 and the heat exchanger 19. In the flow path of FIG. 2 (b), the flow rate distribution can be changed by changing the tube diameter ratio of the reaction tank 18 side flow path and the heat exchanger 19 side flow path. For example, for a heat exchanger for heating a cleaning liquid that is used in large quantities, the pipe diameter can be increased to increase the amount of heat applied. Moreover, the pressure loss of the fluid can be reduced as compared with the flow path of FIG. 2A, and a pump having a lower head than the flow path of FIG. 2A can be used.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the reaction vessel cleaning mechanism 16 according to the present invention. The reaction container cleaning mechanism 16 includes a cleaning liquid container 16a containing a cleaning liquid 16b, a pump 16c, a heat exchanger 19, a valve 16d, a cleaning nozzle 16e, and a cleaning nozzle lifting mechanism 16f. The cleaning nozzle 16e can be moved up and down by a cleaning nozzle lifting mechanism 16f. A cleaning nozzle 16e is inserted into the reaction vessel 13b that is accessible from the reaction vessel cleaning mechanism 16 by the rotation of the reaction disk 13a by the cleaning nozzle lifting / lowering mechanism 16f. Thereafter, the cleaning liquid 16b is supplied from the cleaning liquid container 16a to the reaction container 13b via the pump 16c, the heat exchanger 19, the valve 16d, and the cleaning nozzle 16e. The cleaning liquid 16b exchanges heat with the heat medium 17b of the temperature control mechanism 17 in the heat exchanger 19, and the temperature is raised to a predetermined temperature and kept constant. The heat exchanger 19 is the same as the heat exchanger of the temperature control mechanism 17.

  The heat exchanger 19 needs to be installed closer to the cleaning liquid container 16a than the valve 16d. If the heat exchanger 19 is installed closer to the cleaning nozzle 16e than the valve 16d, the cleaning liquid 16b in the flow path between the valve 16d and the cleaning nozzle 16e thermally expands and drops from the cleaning nozzle 16e at a timing other than the intended timing, and enters the reaction vessel 13b. Contamination and analysis results may be affected.

  In order to suppress a temperature drop after heating in the heat exchanger 19 until it is discharged from the cleaning nozzle 16e, the flow path between the valve 16d and the cleaning nozzle 16e and a part of the flow path of the temperature control mechanism 17 are the same heat insulation. Keep it in the wood.

  According to the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid 16b can be heated and kept at a constant temperature with a simple mechanism without newly installing a heater or a temperature sensor.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the blank water supply mechanism 15 according to the present invention. The blank water supply mechanism 15 includes a blank water container 15a containing blank water 15b, a pump 15c, a heat exchanger 19, a valve 15d, a blank water nozzle 15e, and a blank water nozzle lifting mechanism 15f. The blank water nozzle 15e can be moved up and down by a blank water nozzle lifting mechanism 15f. The blank water nozzle 15e is inserted into the reaction vessel 13b that is accessible from the blank water supply mechanism 15 by the rotation of the reaction disk 13a by the blank water nozzle lifting mechanism 15f. Thereafter, the blank water 15b is supplied from the blank water container 15a to the reaction container 13b via the pump 15c, the heat exchanger 19, the valve 15d, and the blank water nozzle 15e. Water or physiological saline is used for the blank water 15b. The blank water 15b exchanges heat with the heat medium 17b of the temperature control mechanism 17 in the heat exchanger 19, and the temperature is raised to a predetermined temperature and kept constant. The heat exchanger 19 is the same as the heat exchanger in the temperature control mechanism.

  The heat exchanger 19 needs to be installed closer to the blank water container 15a than the valve 15d. When the heat exchanger 19 is installed closer to the blank water nozzle 15e than the valve 15d, the blank water 15b in the flow path between the valve 15d and the blank water nozzle 15e is thermally expanded and dripped from the blank water nozzle 15e at a timing other than the intended timing. There is a possibility of mixing into the reaction vessel 13b and affecting the analysis result.

  According to the present embodiment, the blank water 15b can be heated and maintained at a constant temperature with a simple mechanism without newly installing a heater or a temperature sensor.

  When the blank water 15b and the cleaning liquid 16b are heated by the same heat exchanger 19 as shown in FIG. 1, the heating is performed by providing a plurality of heating channels in one heat exchanger. The blank water and the cleaning liquid may be combined with the same liquid such as pure water, for example. In this case, only one heating channel may be used, and after passing through the heating channel, the blank water channel The flow path can be branched into the cleaning liquid flow path, and each can be discharged into a predetermined reaction vessel.

  In FIG. 1, the same heat exchanger 19 is used to heat the blank water 15b and the cleaning liquid 16b. However, a plurality of heat exchangers are installed, and the blank water 15b and the cleaning liquid 16b are added using different heat exchangers. You can warm it.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the heat exchanger 19 in which the flow paths of the blank water 15b and / or the cleaning liquid 16b are arranged in the heat medium 170b flow path. Blank water 15b and / or cleaning liquid 16b or both are flowed constantly or intermittently through the inner flow path 191a, and the heat medium 170b is flowed through the outer flow path 191b constantly. The channel 191a and the channel 191b are in thermal contact with each other at a partition wall 191c, and heat exchange is performed here. A material having high thermal conductivity such as metal is used for the partition wall 191c.

  In FIG. 5, a structure with a single inner flow path 191 a is illustrated, but a plurality of inner flow paths can be installed to heat a plurality of liquids with the same heat exchanger 19. As a result, for example, the same heat exchanger 19 is provided with a heating channel for the blank water 15b and a heating channel for the cleaning liquid 16b, and the blank water 15b and the cleaning liquid 16b are formed with one heat exchanger. Both of them can be heated.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the heat exchanger 19 in which the flow paths of the blank water 15b and / or the cleaning liquid 16b are arranged outside the heat medium 170b flow path. Blank water 15b and / or cleaning liquid 16b, or both, are allowed to flow constantly or intermittently through the outer flow path 192a, and the heat medium 170b is flowed constantly through the inner flow path 192b. The flow path 192a, the flow path 192b, and the partition 192c are in thermal contact, and heat exchange is performed here. A material having high thermal conductivity such as metal is used for the partition 192c. A material having low thermal conductivity is used for the outer wall of the flow path 192b or a heat insulating material is wound around the outer wall of the flow path 192b so that the heated blank water 15b and / or the cleaning liquid 16b are not cooled.

  In the structure of FIG. 6, since the heating part wetted area where the inner flow path 192b through which the liquid to be heated such as the blank water 15b and the cleaning liquid 16b passes and the outer flow path 192a as the heat source are in contact with each other is large. Compared to this structure, the amount of heated liquid that can be heated per unit time is large. Therefore, it is suitable for heating a liquid with a high frequency of use and amount.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the heat exchanger 19 in which the flow path of the blank water 15b and / or the cleaning liquid 16b is aligned with the flow path of the heat medium 170b. Blank water 15b and / or cleaning liquid 16b or both are flowed constantly or intermittently through the flow path 193a, and a heat medium is flowed through the internal flow path 193b constantly. The channel 193a and the channel 193b are in thermal contact.

  The structure of FIG. 7 has a simple flow path and excellent operability. Moreover, there is no connection between the flow paths, and there is little risk of liquid leakage. In FIG. 7, there are two flow paths, but heat exchange may be performed along a plurality of flow paths.

  5 to 7, the flow path 191a, the flow path 191b, the flow path 192a, the flow path 192b, the flow path 193a, and the flow path 193b are shown in a straight line, but may be bent such as by being wound in a coil shape. . By adopting the structure of FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, since there are only a circulating water channel wall and a washing water channel wall or a blank water channel wall between the liquid to be heated and the heat source, heat loss is low and efficient. It has the advantage that it can be temperature controlled.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Automatic analyzer 11a Sample disk 11b Sample container 11c Sample dispensing mechanism 12a Reagent disk 12b Reagent container 12c Reagent dispensing mechanism 13a Reaction disk 13b Reaction container 14 Reaction result detection mechanism 15 Blank water supply mechanism 15a Blank water container 15b Blank water 15c , 16c, 170c Pump 15d, 16d Valve 15e Blank water nozzle 15f Blank water nozzle elevator 16 Reaction container cleaning mechanism 16a Cleaning liquid container 16b Cleaning liquid 16e Cleaning nozzle 16f Cleaning nozzle elevator 17 Temperature control mechanism 170a Heat medium container 170b Heat medium 171 Circulation channel 171a Circulation pump 171b Cooler 171c Heater 171d Temperature sensor 18 Reaction tank 19 Heat exchanger 191a, 192b Inner flow path 191b, 192a Outer flow path 191c, 192c Partition wall 193a No. Water-washing solution flow path 193b heat medium passage

Claims (4)

A reaction vessel for reacting the sample and the reagent;
A photometer for measuring the color change of the reaction solution contained in the reaction vessel;
In an automatic analyzer equipped with
A blank provided with a blank liquid supply mechanism for supplying a blank liquid for performing a blank measurement with the reaction container to the reaction container before the sample is measured with the photometer, and supplied from the blank liquid supply mechanism An automatic analyzer comprising a blank liquid heating mechanism for heating a liquid. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
Furthermore, a constant temperature mechanism for keeping the reaction vessel at a predetermined temperature is provided,
And the said blank liquid heating mechanism heats the said blank liquid at the temperature comparable as the heat retention temperature of this constant temperature mechanism, The automatic analyzer characterized by the above-mentioned. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2,
The thermostatic chamber circulates a fluid kept at a predetermined temperature,
An automatic analyzer comprising a heat exchanger for heating the blank liquid with a fluid circulated in the thermostat. The automatic analyzer according to claim 3,
The blank analyzer is supplied from the same supply source as the washing water for washing the reaction vessel, and the heat exchanger also warms the washing water.

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