JP2013231701A - Autoanalyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve analyzing performance by keeping conditions of a reagent in a sample storage cabinet excellent by determining whether stirring is necessary for each reagent container and performing control to carry out stirring as necessary.SOLUTION: An autoanalyzer includes: a controller 20 which controls operations of a reagent container transport mechanism 14, a reagent storage cabinet 15, and the like; an arithmetic section which computes a transport amount of a reagent container 16 in the reagent storage cabinet 15 for each of all the reagent containers 16; and a determination section which compares a cumulative transport amount of each reagent container 16 with upper- and lower-limit values of transportation amounts. Each time an analyte is fed to the autoanalyzer and transported to a suction position by rotating the reagent storage cabinet 15, the controller 20 computes and cumulates a transport amount. Further, cumulative transport amounts of all the reagent containers 16 on the reagent storage cabinet 15 are periodically compared with the upper- and lower-limit values. When a cumulative transport amount is equal to or less than the lower-limit value, the reagent container transport mechanism 14 is controlled so as to stir the analyte in the reagent storage container 16. When it is equal to or more than the upper-limit value, over-stirring is determined, and in other states, nothing is carried out.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of a sample such as blood and urine.

  In an automatic sample analyzer, a reagent container holding unit for holding a reagent container holding a reagent, and a reagent being aspirated from the reagent container held in the reagent container holding part are configured to be horizontally rotatable around a rotation axis. A reagent aspirating part, an analysis part for analyzing a measurement sample prepared from the reagent aspirated by the reagent aspirating part and a sample, a driving part for rotating the reagent container holding part around the rotation axis, and a reagent container When aspirating the reagent, the reagent container holding part is rotated in one direction to position the reagent container at the reagent aspirating position by the reagent aspirating part. When the reagent is not aspirated, the reagent container is held while alternately repeating acceleration and deceleration. Some have a drive control unit that controls the drive unit so as to rotate the unit in one direction (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-75422 A

  In an automated analyzer that performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological samples (specimens) such as blood and urine, in order to analyze multiple analysis items, a reagent corresponding to each analysis item is placed in a reagent container, and the reagent container is used as a reagent. Install in storage. Thereafter, the reagent storage is operated during analysis, the reagent container is moved to the reagent suction position, and the reagent is sucked by the reagent nozzle. These operations are performed for each analysis item.

  In such an automatic analyzer, a reagent in a reagent container is partially taken out and used for analysis, but in order to obtain a stable analysis result, the components of the reagent are required to be uniform in the container. . However, due to precipitation due to gravity, condensation due to intermolecular force, and the like, distribution occurs in the constituent components of the reagent in the container over time.

  Here, in the automatic analyzer, a certain amount of reagent stirring effect can be obtained by moving and stopping the reagent storage during the analysis. However, some types of reagents do not have sufficient stirring effects. For this reason, if the components of the reagent are used for analysis in a state where the components are distributed, the components of the reagent are non-uniform, resulting in variations in the measurement results, which may affect the analysis performance.

  The present invention determines whether or not stirring is required for each reagent container according to the type of reagent stored in the reagent storage, and controls to perform stirring as necessary, so that the inside of the reagent storage Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of maintaining good reagent conditions and improving analysis performance.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a reagent storage for installing a plurality of reagent containers, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the reagent storage, wherein the control unit is provided in the reagent storage. A calculation unit that calculates the transfer amount of the reagent container for every reagent container in the reagent storage, and a cumulative value of the transfer amount for each reagent container calculated by the calculation unit for all the reagent containers in the reagent storage Transfer amount storage unit for each reagent container, threshold storage unit for storing a lower limit value of the transfer amount corresponding to the reagent type in the reagent container, and transfer amount for each reagent container stored in the transfer amount storage unit And a determination unit that determines whether or not stirring of the reagent container in the reagent storage is insufficient, by comparing the accumulated value of the value and the lower limit value stored in the threshold storage unit. .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not stirring is required for each reagent container according to the type of reagent stored in the reagent storage. For example, it is possible to return the components in the reagent container to a homogeneous state by controlling the reagent stirring operation to be performed only on the reagent for which the stirring effect due to the movement of the reagent storage for a certain period is insufficient. Therefore, the condition of the reagent in the reagent storage can be kept good, and the analysis performance can be improved.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of 1st Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the reagent container conveyance mechanism in 1st Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention shown in FIG. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of control of the controller which comprises 1st Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the reagent information memorize | stored in the controller in 1st Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention shown in FIG. It is a flowchart figure of the transfer amount calculation process in the reagent storage in 1st Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention shown in FIG. It is a flowchart figure of the judgment processing of the necessity of reagent stirring in 1st Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention shown in FIG. It is a characteristic view explaining the relationship between the cumulative transfer amount with respect to a certain reagent and reagent stirring check time in 1st Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention shown in FIG. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of control of the controller which comprises 2nd Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention. It is the schematic of the stirring operation parameter according to the reagent residual amount in 2nd Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention. It is a flowchart figure of the determination process of the stirring operation pattern according to the reagent residual amount in 2nd Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention.

  Embodiments of an automatic analyzer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of a reagent container transport mechanism in the first embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration, FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the control configuration of the controller constituting the first embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is the present invention shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the reagent information memorize | stored in the controller in 1st Embodiment of this automatic analyzer, FIG. 5 is transfer in the reagent storage in 1st Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of quantity calculation processing, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of determination processing for determining whether reagent agitation is necessary in the first embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is the present invention shown in FIG. In the first embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention Is a characteristic diagram for explaining the relationship between the cumulative transfer amount and the reagent stirrers check time for a reagent.

  In FIG. 1, the automatic analyzer includes a rack transport line 3, a sample dispensing probe 4, a reaction disk 9, a reagent dispensing probe 11, 13, a reagent container transport mechanism 14, a reagent storage 15, a reagent container inlet 18, and a controller. 20 or the like.

  The rack transport line 3 is a line for moving the sample rack 1 on which the sample container 2 is placed. The rack transport line 3 is installed near a reaction disk 9 described later. The sample container 2 is a container that contains a specimen such as blood or urine. The sample container 2 is held in the sample rack 1.

  The sample dispensing probe 4 is installed between the rack transport line 3 and the reaction disk 9, and is movable in the rotation (rotation between the planes in FIG. 1) and the vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the plane in FIG. 1). It has become. The specimen dispensing probe 4 is connected to a sample pump (not shown). The sample dispensing probe 4 aspirates a desired amount of sample from the sample container 2 on the sample rack 1 and discharges it into the reaction container 5 on the reaction disk 9.

The reagent storage 15 has a multiple concentric structure in which a plurality of reagent containers 16 can be placed on the circumference thereof in order to store the reagent containers 16 in which the reagents corresponding to the measurement items are sealed. Each reagent container 16 contains a maximum of three types of reagents.
Rails 25 and 26 are arranged on the reagent storage 15. The rail 25 is provided with a reagent dispensing probe 11 movable in the three-axis direction with the rail, a reagent unsealing mechanism 12 for unsealing the reagent container, and a reagent container loaded in the reagent container loading port 18. A reagent container transport mechanism 14 is installed. A reagent dispensing probe 13 is installed on the rail 26.

  These reagent dispensing probes 11 and 13 are each connected to a reagent pump (not shown). The reagent dispensing probes 11 and 13 suck a desired amount of reagent from the reagent container 16 on the reagent storage 15 and discharge it into the reaction container 5 on the reaction disk 9.

  The reaction disk 9 is installed on the housing 21. Reaction vessels 5 are arranged on the circumference of the reaction disk 9. Further, around the reaction disk 9, stirring mechanisms 6 and 7, a light source and detection optical device 10, and a container cleaning mechanism 8 are arranged. The sample discharged from the sample dispensing probe 4 and the reagent discharged from the reagent dispensing probes 11 and 13 are mixed in the reaction container 5 on the reaction disk 9 and stirred by the stirring mechanisms 6 and 7. It is produced in the reaction solution. This reaction solution is measured for the component concentration in the sample by the light source and the detection optical device 10. The container cleaning mechanism 8 cleans the reaction container 5 after the measurement.

  The reagent container inlet 18 is a place where the reagent container 16 is inserted into the apparatus. A reagent barcode reader 17 for reading the barcode information written on the reagent container 16 is installed near the reagent container inlet 18. After the reagent information is read by the reagent barcode reader 17, the reagent container 16 installed in the reagent container inlet 18 is transported to the reagent storage 15 by the reagent container transport mechanism 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reagent container transport mechanism 14 includes a reagent container hanging part 14c for holding the reagent container 16 along the linear guide 14a1 together with the vertical drive part 14b mounted on the linear guide 14b1. Are configured to move horizontally. A vertical drive unit 14b is mounted on the linear guide 14a1 of the horizontal drive unit 14a. Further, the vertical drive unit 14b is configured to move the reagent container hanging part 14c up and down along the linear guide 14b1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 20 substantially includes a CPU 20a, a storage unit 20b, and an input / output unit 20c.

The CPU 20a includes a calculation unit 20a1 and a determination unit 20a2. The CPU 20 a calculates the component concentration in the sample from the measurement results of the light source and the detection optical device 10 and outputs the calculation result to the display 22. In addition, the CPU 20a performs the sample dispensing probe 4, the reaction disk 9, the light source and detection optical device 10, the reagent dispensing probes 11, 13, the reagent container transport mechanism 14, the reagent storage 15, and a sample not explicitly shown in FIG. Signals for controlling the operations of the operation pump, reagent pump, cleaning pump, etc. are calculated and output to the respective devices via the input / output unit 20c.
The calculation unit 20 a 1 calculates the transfer amount of the reagent container 16 in the reagent storage 15 for every reagent container 16 in the reagent storage 15. The transfer amount of the reagent container 16 in the reagent storage 15 is a transport speed when the reagent storage 15 transports the reagent container 15 to the reagent suction position, and is represented by a rotation radius r × a rotation angle w. The calculation unit 20a1 calculates this transfer amount for all the reagent containers in the reagent storage 15 every time the reagent storage 15 transports the reagent container 16 to the reagent suction position.
The determination unit 20a2 includes a cumulative transfer amount for each reagent container 16 stored in a reagent container information storage unit 20b3 in a storage unit 20b described later and a transfer amount stored in a reagent type information storage unit 20b2 in a storage unit 20b described later. By comparing with the lower limit value, it is determined whether or not stirring of the reagent container 16 in the reagent storage 15 is insufficient. Further, the cumulative transfer amount for each reagent container 16 is compared with the transfer amount upper limit value stored in the reagent type information storage unit 20b2 in the storage unit 20b, and the reagent container 16 in the reagent storage 15 is excessively stirred. Determine if there is.
When the determination unit 20a2 determines that the reagent container 16 is insufficiently stirred, it outputs a signal to the reagent container transport mechanism 14 so as to stir the reagent container 16. In addition, when the reagent container 16 is used for measurement in a state where stirring is not performed even though it is determined that stirring is necessary, or when stirring is determined to be excessive, it is used for measurement. In order to notify that the abnormality has occurred and to notify this abnormality, an alarm (display signal) for notifying the operator that a reagent with insufficient stirring or excessive stirring has been used for measurement is output to the display 22. indicate.

  The storage unit 20b includes an analysis parameter storage unit 20b1, a reagent type information storage unit 20b2, and a reagent container information storage unit 20b3.

The analysis parameter storage unit 20b1 stores an analysis parameter 201 as shown in FIG. This analysis parameter 201 is a parameter indicating analysis conditions and the like necessary for executing the requested analysis item when an analysis is requested by the operator, and has at least an analysis item code managed for each analysis item. doing. Using this analysis item code as key information, the measurement item requested by the operator and the analysis parameter stored in the analysis parameter storage unit 20b1 are linked. In addition, the analysis parameter 201 includes information such as a measurement wavelength used when analyzing an analysis item, a reagent code of a reagent necessary for analysis, and a dispensing amount of a reagent necessary for analysis. In FIG. 4, the mark ● indicates key information.
For each type of reagent stored in the reagent storage 15, the reagent type information 202 as shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the reagent type information storage unit 20b2, and the reagent container information 203 is stored in the reagent container information storage unit 20b3. ing.
The reagent type information 202 stored in the reagent type information storage unit 20b2 includes a reagent code determined for each reagent type, a stirring check time that is a parameter that determines whether or not the reagent is stirred, and a transfer amount upper limit value per stirring check time. And information such as a transfer amount lower limit value and a reagent remaining amount threshold value. Among these, if the reagent code is used as key information, it is possible to retrieve a parameter indicating whether or not the reagent having the reagent code needs to be stirred. Further, stirring operation parameters defining the movement amount and speed in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction of the horizontal direction drive unit 14a of the reagent container transport mechanism 14 are stored for each reagent type according to the reagent type. The lower limit value of the transfer amount and the upper limit value of the transfer amount are values defined as the optimum amount of stirring according to the characteristics of each reagent type (properties such as ease of separation of components and ease of foaming), and stirring check time It is a threshold value for judging whether appropriate stirring was performed with respect to this reagent by comparing with the cumulative value of the actual transfer amount between. The transfer amount lower limit value and the transfer amount upper limit value are previously investigated for each reagent type.
The reagent container information 203 stored in the reagent container information storage unit 20b3 includes a reagent code determined for each reagent type, a reagent manufacturing lot number, a sequence number, a remaining reagent amount for each reagent container, a cumulative transfer amount, and a final agitation. These are information such as the check time, the installation position number of the reagent container 16, and the agitation status for storing whether the agitation is necessary or not. The sequence number is a number that is different for each reagent container 16, and can be distinguished for each reagent container 16. Using the reagent code, reagent production rod number, and sequence number as key information, even when multiple reagent containers containing the same type of reagent are stored in the reagent storage, the reagent container is uniquely identified. Can be identified. The accumulated transfer amount is obtained by adding the transfer amount for each reagent container 16 calculated by the CPU 21 a every time the reagent storage 15 is moved, and is stored for all the reagent containers 16 in the reagent storage 15. .
In the present embodiment, the reagent container information storage unit 20b3 functions as a transfer amount storage unit, and the reagent type information storage unit 20b2 functions as a threshold storage unit.

  Next, the operation of the above-described first embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, a sample analysis operation will be described.
The sample rack 1 put into the automatic analyzer is drawn into the housing 21 having the reaction disk 9 by the rack transport line 3.
While being held in the sample rack 1, a predetermined amount of the sample positioned at the sample aspirating position is aspirated by the sample dispensing probe 4 and dispensed into the reaction container 5 at the sample dispensing position on the reaction disk 9. .
The reaction container 5 into which the sample is dispensed is moved to the first reagent dispensing position by the rotation of the reaction disk 9. At the same time, the reagent storage 15 is rotated to move the reagent container 16 to the suction position of the first reagent dispensing probe 11, and the first reagent is sucked by the reagent dispensing probe 11 and dispensed into the reaction container 5.
The reaction vessel 5 into which the first reagent has been dispensed is moved to the stirring position, where the sample and the first reagent are stirred by the stirring mechanism 6.
Further, when it is necessary to add the second reagent, the reaction vessel 5 is moved to the second reagent dispensing position. At the same time, the reagent storage 15 is rotated to move the reagent container 16 to the suction position of the second reagent dispensing probe 13, and the second reagent is sucked by the reagent dispensing probe 13 and dispensed into the reaction container 5.
The dispensed reaction container 5 is moved to the stirring position, and the sample, the first reagent, and the second reagent in the reaction container 5 are stirred by the stirring mechanism 7 to generate a reaction solution.
The reaction vessel 5 containing the reaction solution is moved to the position of the light source and the detection optical device 10, the light from the light source is allowed to pass through the reaction vessel 5, and the passed light is detected by the detection optical device. The change in absorbance in the analysis process is measured over time, and the analysis result of the biochemical analysis item is calculated from the obtained reaction curve and output.

  Details of the control operation for determining whether or not reagent agitation is necessary during this analysis operation will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  First, when a sample for which analysis has been requested is loaded in the sample rack 1 and loaded into the automatic analyzer, the controller 20 sets the analysis parameter 201 using the analysis item code of the analysis item requested for that sample as key information. Search and obtain the analysis conditions necessary to perform the requested analysis.

  Next, the controller 20 searches the reagent container information 203 stored in the storage unit 20b to determine whether or not a reagent necessary for executing the analysis request is present in the reagent storage 15. For example, based on the reagent code information in the previously referenced analysis parameter, a search is made as to whether a reagent container 16 having the same reagent code as that reagent code exists in the reagent storage 15. When there are a plurality of reagent containers 16 having the same reagent code, the reagent container 16 to be used is specified with reference to the reagent remaining amount information in the reagent container information 203 and the reagent availability information.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the controller 20 rotates the reagent storage 15 to transfer the reagent container 16 specified for dispensing the reagent to the reagent suction position (step S501).

  Next, the controller 20 determines whether or not the reagent container 16 is stored in each reagent container storage space of the reagent storage 15, and proceeds to step S503 when stored, and when not stored. The process proceeds to step S506 (step S502).

  Thereafter, the controller 20 determines whether the reagent container 16 is installed on the inner periphery or the outer periphery of the reagent storage 15 from the installation position number of the reagent container information 203. If it is the inner periphery, the process proceeds to step S504. If it is the outer periphery, the process proceeds to step S505 (step S503). This is because the reagent storage 15 is a multiple concentric reagent disk type as shown in FIG. 1, and therefore, when the reagent container 16 is transported to a specific reagent suction position, the reagent container on the inner peripheral side in the reagent storage 15 is installed. This is because the transfer speed of the reagent container installation position on the outer peripheral side with respect to the position is high due to the long moving distance, which is taken into consideration.

  If the inner circumference is determined in step S503, the controller 20 calculates the transfer amount obtained from the radius r1 of the inner circumference and the rotation angle by the transfer of the reagent storage 15 in the CPU 20a, and stores the reagent container information 203 in the storage unit 20b. The cumulative transfer amount is added (step S504).

  If it is determined in step S503 that the circumference is the outer circumference, the controller 20 calculates the transfer amount obtained from the radius r2 of the outer circumference and the rotation angle by the transfer of the reagent storage 15 in the CPU 20a, and the cumulative transfer of the reagent container information 203 in the storage unit 20b. Add to the quantity (step S505).

  Next, the controller 20 checks whether or not the calculation processing of steps S502 to S505 has been performed on all the reagent container storage positions of the reagent storage 15, and ends the processing if it has been calculated. If there is 16, the process returns to step S502 (step S506).

  The processing of steps S501 to S506 is performed every time the reagent container 16 is transferred to the reagent suction position by rotating the reagent storage 15, and the transfer amount stored in the reagent container information storage unit 20b3 of the storage unit 20b of the controller 20 is set. Add and accumulate.

  The controller 20 periodically compares the accumulated transfer amount with the transfer amount lower limit value and the transfer amount upper limit value for all the reagent containers 16 on the reagent storage 15. Details will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the controller 20 determines whether or not the reagent container 16 exists at a certain position in the reagent storage 15, and if it exists, the process proceeds to step S603, and if not, the process proceeds to step S610 (step S601). ).

  If it is determined in step S601 that a reagent container exists, the controller 20 determines that the difference between the current time and the final stirring check time stored in the reagent container information storage unit 20b3 is the stirring check time stored in the reagent type information storage unit 20b2. Judge whether or not. When the difference between the current time and the final agitation check time exceeds the agitation check time, the process proceeds to step S603 to perform the agitation check. If it is less than the stirring check time, it is determined that sufficient time has not yet passed to perform the stirring check, and the process proceeds to step S610 (step S602).

  Next, the controller 20 compares the current accumulated transfer amount and the transfer amount lower limit value. If the accumulated transfer amount is less than or equal to the transfer amount lower limit value, the process proceeds to step S607. If the accumulated transfer amount is greater than the transfer amount lower limit value, the process proceeds to step S604. The process proceeds (step S603).

  When the accumulated transfer amount is larger than the lower limit value of the transfer amount, the controller 20 compares the accumulated transfer amount with the upper limit value of the transfer amount (step S604), and when the accumulated transfer amount is less than the upper limit value of the transfer amount, the process proceeds to step S605. If the transfer amount is not less than the upper limit value, the process proceeds to step S606.

  When the accumulated transfer amount is less than the transfer amount upper limit value in step S604, the controller 20 sets the agitation state to “no agitation” (step S605).

  If the accumulated transfer amount is equal to or greater than the transfer amount upper limit value in step S604, the controller 20 sets the agitation status to “excess agitation” (step S606).

  When it is determined in step S603 that the accumulated transfer amount is equal to or less than the lower limit value of the transfer amount, the controller 20 sets the agitation state to “needs agitation” and sends an agitation signal to the reagent container transport mechanism 14 to agitate the reagent container 16. Output (step S607).

An example of comparison between the accumulated transfer amount, the transfer amount lower limit value, and the transfer amount upper limit value in steps S603 and S604 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the stirring check times T1, T2, and T3 stored in the reagent type information 202, the controller 20 adds the cumulative transfer amount added according to the flowchart of steps S501 to S507 in FIG. Compare with the upper limit value and check whether stirring is necessary.
First, the stirring check is performed at the timing after the stirring check time T1 has elapsed from the start of measurement. Since the cumulative transfer amount A at the stirring check time T1 is below the lower limit of the transfer amount, it is considered that stirring is necessary because of insufficient stirring. Since the accumulated transfer amount B at the next check time T2 exceeds the upper limit of the transfer amount, it is considered that there is a possibility of foaming due to excessive stirring. Since the cumulative transfer amount C at the next check time T3 is between the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the transfer amount, it is considered that the stirring is sufficient.

  Returning to FIG. 6, when the stirring check (steps S603 to S607) is completed for the reagent container 16, the controller 20 updates the final stirring check time to the current time and stores it in the reagent container information storage unit 20b3 ( Step S608).

  Thereafter, the controller 20 resets the accumulated transfer amount to 0 and updates the reagent container information storage unit 20b3 (step S609).

  Thereafter, the controller 20 checks whether or not the check processing in steps S602 to S609 has been performed on all reagent container storage positions in the reagent storage 15, and if checked, ends the processing, and the reagent containers 16 that are not checked. If there is, the process returns to step S601 (step S610).

The controller 20 plans and implements a reagent agitation operation for the reagent container 16 that is determined as “necessity of agitation” in step S607. This stirring operation is actually performed at an arbitrary timing after the stirring operation is planned, but immediately after receiving the stirring execution signal or immediately before it is decided to use it, the automatic analyzer What is necessary is just to carry out suitably according to the analysis work situation.
However, when planning a reagent agitation operation, if a measurement that uses a reagent that requires “Agitation Required” has already been planned, or the reagent agitation operation has a higher priority than the reagent agitation operation, the reagent agitation operation is delayed. In such a case, there is a risk that the measurement may be performed using the reagent in the “stirring required” state before the reagent stirring operation. For this reason, control is performed so that the stirring status of the reagent is referred to when dispensing the reagent, and if the stirring status is “needs stirring”, it is determined as abnormal, and an insufficient stirring alarm is output. Displayed on the display 22 or an alarm indicating insufficient reagent agitation is added to the measurement result displayed on the display 22 to alert the operator.

  Similarly, if the agitation status is “excessive agitation” at the time of reagent dispensing, the controller 20 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the reagent container 16 that has been determined to be “excessive agitation” in step S606. An alarm of caution is output and displayed on the display 22, or an alarm of warning of reagent foaming is output to the measurement result displayed on the display 22 to alert the operator.

  Next, an actual stirring operation in the reagent container transport mechanism 14 will be described.

  First, the reagent container 16 is rotated and the reagent container 16 that is agitated to the removal position of the reagent container 16 is transferred. At the same time, the horizontal drive unit 14a is driven to move the reagent container transport mechanism 14 to the reagent container take-out position. Next, the reagent container 16 to be stirred by inserting the suspension claw 14 c 1 of the reagent container suspension part 14 c into the claw hanging hole of the reagent container 16 by driving the vertical movement drive part 14 b is taken out from the reagent storage 15. Thereafter, the reagent is agitated by driving the horizontal direction drive unit 14a in accordance with the agitation operation parameter input from the controller 20 and performing reciprocation in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. After performing this reagent agitation operation, the agitation status of the reagent container information 203 for the reagent is updated to “no agitation required”, and the reagent container 16 is returned to the reagent storage 15 to end the agitation operation.

  According to the first embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention described above, the cumulative transfer amount for each reagent container 16 is compared with the transfer amount lower limit value to determine whether the stirring is insufficient, and the stirring is insufficient. Control is performed so that the reagent container 16 determined to be stirring is stirred. Therefore, in order to control the reagent container 16 containing a reagent having an insufficient stirring effect based on the movement of the reagent storage 15 within a certain period of time to perform the reagent stirring operation, The state of the reagent in which the components are distributed can be returned to a homogeneous state by the stirring operation, and the condition of the reagent in the reagent storage 15 can be kept good. Therefore, the possibility of being used for analysis in a non-homogeneous state can be greatly suppressed, component analysis in a stable sample can be performed, and analysis performance can be improved. In addition, it is possible to prevent unnecessary stirring operation and to improve the throughput.

  In addition, when it is used for measurement in a state where stirring is not carried out even though it is determined that stirring is necessary, in order to control to output an alarm indicating that the reagent has been used with insufficient reagent stirring, It is possible to easily grasp whether there is a problem in the accuracy of the measurement result. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine the necessity for re-examination, to improve the analysis accuracy, and to further improve the analysis performance.

Furthermore, the presence or absence of bubbling of the reagent can be considered by comparing the cumulative transfer amount for each reagent container 16 with the upper limit value of the transfer amount to determine whether or not the stirring is excessive. For example, in an automatic analyzer that uses a liquid level detection mechanism to aspirate a reagent in a stirring method by rotating or moving a reagent storage where all reagents installed in the reagent storage are stirred There is a problem that the detection accuracy of the liquid level is lowered due to foaming, the amount of aspirated reagent is not stable, and a desired analysis result cannot be obtained. However, if it is known in advance that there is foaming as in this embodiment, the liquid level can be detected in consideration of foaming, and the problem that the amount of aspirated reagent becomes unstable can be suppressed. It is also possible to prevent a possibility that the measurement result is not obtained and the measurement result is affected.
In addition, when the reagent container 16 is used for measurement even though it is determined that the agitation is excessive, an alarm is given to alert the reagent bubble to the measurement result, and there is a problem in the accuracy of the measurement result. It is possible to easily grasp whether or not there is, and it is possible to easily determine the necessity of re-examination, so that the analysis performance can be further improved.

  Further, by agitating the reagent container 16 by the reagent container transport mechanism 14, the above control can be realized without having to provide a new agitating mechanism only by updating the control of the controller 20, and the control of the present invention can be implemented. Becomes easy.

  For a reagent container 16 whose agitation status is “requires agitation” or “excess agitation”, when there are a plurality of reagent containers 16 of the same reagent type in the reagent storage 15, the agitation status is “no agitation”. It is possible to control to continue the measurement by using the reagent container 16 with priority.

<Second Embodiment>
A second embodiment of the automatic analyzer according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining the control configuration of the controller constituting the second embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is the remaining amount of reagent in the second embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the stirring operation pattern determination process according to the reagent remaining amount in the second embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention.

  The second embodiment of the automatic analyzer has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment of the automatic analyzer except for the configuration of the controller 20, and details thereof will be omitted.

  In FIG. 8, the controller 20 according to the second embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention includes a CPU 20a, a storage unit 20b, and an input / output unit 20c.

  The CPU 20a determines a stirring operation according to the remaining amount of reagent stored in the reagent container information 20b3 in addition to the calculation unit 20a1 and the determination unit 20a2, and outputs a signal to the reagent container transport mechanism 14 to perform the determined operation. It has the determination part 20a3.

  The storage unit 20b includes an analysis parameter storage unit 20b1, a reagent type information storage unit 20b2, and a reagent container information storage unit 20b3. Among these, the reagent container information 203 stored in the reagent container information storage unit 20b3 is a reagent for each reagent container 16. The remaining amount is stored. Further, the reagent type information storage unit 20b2 stores reagent agitation operation parameters for each of the remaining reagent threshold values X and Y as shown in FIG. These operating parameters are defined to stir more when the remaining amount of reagent is larger and stir less when the remaining amount of reagent is small. Further, the reagent remaining amount threshold values X and Y are stored as reagent type information 202 in the reagent type information storage unit 20b2. In the present embodiment, the reagent container information storage unit 20b3 functions as a transfer amount storage unit and a remaining amount storage unit, and the reagent type information storage unit 20b2 functions as a threshold storage unit.

  The controller 20 in the second embodiment of such an automatic analyzer performs control that further considers the remaining amount of reagent in addition to the same control as the controller 20 of the first embodiment of the automatic analyzer. Details of the control will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The controller 20 performs the reagent dispensing operation during the processing of steps S501 to S506 (see FIG. 5) in which the reagent container 16 specified for dispensing the reagent is transferred to the reagent suction position by rotating the reagent storage 15. Each time the test is performed, the remaining amount of the reagent remaining in the reagent container for each reagent container 16 is calculated by the equation of (reagent dispensing number) × (one reagent dispensing amount) in the CPU 20a. The calculated reagent remaining amount is stored in the reagent container information storage unit 20b3 in the storage unit 20b, and the reagent remaining amount in the reagent container information 203 is updated.

  In FIG. 6, after the stirring state is set to “stirring required” in step S <b> 607 and the stirring execution signal is output to the reagent container transport mechanism 14 by the controller 20, the stirring operation pattern based on the remaining amount of reagent as shown in FIG. 10. Perform the judgment process.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10, the controller 20 acquires information on the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container 16 from the reagent container information 203 (step S901).

  Thereafter, the controller 20 compares the acquired reagent remaining amount information with the reagent remaining amount threshold values X and Y of the reagent type information 202. If the reagent remaining amount is larger than the threshold value Y, the controller 20 proceeds to step S903. If it is Y or less, the process proceeds to step S904, and if it is less than the threshold value X, the process proceeds to step S905 (step S902).

  From the comparison result in step S902, the controller 20 selects a corresponding operation pattern in the operation determination unit 20a3 in the CPU 20a. Specifically, the operation pattern 1 (step S903) when the reagent remaining amount is greater than the threshold Y, the operation pattern 2 (step S904) if it is greater than or equal to the threshold X and less than Y, and the operation pattern 3 (step S905) is selected, each agitation operation parameter is called from the reagent type information 202, a signal is output to the reagent container transport mechanism 14, and agitation is performed according to each agitation operation.

  Also in the second embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention, substantially the same effect as that of the first embodiment of the automatic analyzer described above can be obtained. That is, the components of the reagent in the reagent container 16 can be returned to a homogeneous state by the stirring operation, the condition of the reagent in the reagent storage 15 can be kept good, and can be used for analysis in a non-homogeneous state. Can be greatly suppressed. In addition, unnecessary stirring operation can be prevented and throughput can be improved.

  Further, the controller 20 stores the reagent remaining amount for each reagent container 16 and determines the stirring operation according to the reagent remaining amount, so that excessive stirring is performed when the reagent remaining amount is low (the problem of foaming). And when the remaining amount of the reagent is large, it is possible to prevent insufficient stirring (a problem that the unevenness of the components cannot be solved), and the stirring operation according to the state of the reagent in the reagent container 16 Can be determined and executed. Therefore, the condition of the reagent in the reagent storage 15 can be kept better, and the analysis performance can be further improved.

  The reagent remaining amount is calculated by (reagent dispensing number) × (one reagent dispensing amount). However, the method for detecting the reagent remaining amount is not limited to this, and a reagent liquid level detection mechanism is provided. The remaining amount can be calculated using the detection value of the liquid level of the detection mechanism.

<Third Embodiment>
A third embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention will be described.

  The third embodiment of the automatic analyzer is substantially the same configuration and control as the first embodiment of the automatic analyzer except for the control after referring to the stirring state of the reagent at the time of reagent dispensing in the controller 20, Details are omitted.

The controller 20 according to the third embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention refers to the stirring status of the reagent type information 202 stored in the reagent type information storage unit 20b2 when the reagent is dispensed. When “stirring is required”, an alarm indicating insufficient stirring is output, and control is performed so that use of the reagent for measurement is stopped until stirring is actually performed. For example, when searching whether the reagent necessary for executing the analysis request exists in the reagent storage 15, the “stirring required” reagent is excluded or the reagent storage 15 is rotated. For example, the reagent is not transferred to the reagent aspirating position and the reagent dispensing probes 11 and 13 are not aspirated.
Similarly, if the agitation status is “excessive agitation” at the time of dispensing the reagent, an alarm for warning of reagent foaming is output, and control is performed so that use of the reagent for measurement is stopped until the foaming stops. As a method of containing this foaming, there are a method of retreating to a retreat site provided in the frame 21 for a certain time, a method of moving the foamed reagent container 16 to a place where the foaming of the reagent storage 15 is difficult to foam, and the like.

  Also in the third embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention, substantially the same effect as in the first embodiment of the automatic analyzer described above can be obtained.

  Furthermore, when the controller 20 determines that the reagent container 16 needs to be stirred, the controller 20 controls to stop using the reagent in the reagent container 16, thereby stirring the effect of the movement of the reagent storage 15 for a certain period. Thus, it is possible to prevent the reagent container 16 containing a reagent having insufficient resistance from being used until the reagent stirring operation is performed. Therefore, the possibility of being used for analysis in a non-homogeneous state can be strongly suppressed, component analysis in a stable sample can be performed, and analysis performance can be further improved.

  In addition, when the controller 20 determines that the reagent container 16 is excessively stirred, the controller 20 controls to stop using the reagent in the reagent container 16, thereby stirring the effect of the movement of the reagent storage 15 for a certain period. By controlling to wait for the bubbling to stop without performing the reagent agitation operation, the reagent with excess can prevent unnecessary decrease in throughput and keep the reagent condition in good condition. .

<Others>
In addition, this invention is not restricted to said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and application are possible.

  For example, it is desirable that the transfer amount calculated by the CPU 20a of the controller 20 is a value at which the stirring effect is brought about by the movement of the reagent storage 15, and in addition to the transfer speed described in the above embodiment, the number of transfers per specified time Or a value obtained from acceleration / deceleration of the transfer operation.

  In addition, as a method of moving the reagent container 16 to the dispensing probes 11 and 13, the method of rotating the reagent container 16 together with the reagent storage 15 installed on the circumference is given as an example. It is also possible to move by movement. The shape of the reagent storage 15 is not limited to a multiple concentric circle, and may be a circle or a rectangle.

  Furthermore, the lower limit value and the upper limit value of the transfer amount for each reagent can be set by an operator, and information set in advance for each reagent is stored in a barcode attached to the reagent container 16 and the barcode is stored. A method of reading by a reader or a method of acquiring from a network can be used.

  As a means for stirring the reagent container 16 that is determined to be stirred by the controller 20, the reagent container 16 is taken out from the reagent storage 15 by the reagent container transport mechanism 14 and stirred by moving the reagent container 16 left and right or rotating. However, the details of the stirring operation are not limited to this, and a separate container holding actuator for stirring can be provided, and the container can be moved and stirred by this actuator. It is also possible to stir with this stirring bar by separately providing a bar.

  Further, in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6, control is performed so that the calculation and check of the next reagent container is performed after the calculation and check of a certain reagent container. It is also possible to perform processing so that the process proceeds to the next step after being performed on the reagent container 16.

1 ... Sample rack,
2 ... Sample container
3 ... Rack transport line,
4 ... Sample dispensing probe,
5 ... reaction vessel,
6, 7 ... stirring mechanism,
8 ... Cleaning mechanism,
9 ... Reaction disk,
10: Light source and detection optical device,
11, 13 ... Reagent dispensing probe,
12 ... Reagent opening mechanism,
14 ... Reagent container transport mechanism,
15 ... Reagent storage,
16 ... Reagent container 17 ... Reagent barcode reader,
18 ... Reagent container inlet,
20 ... Controller,
20a ... CPU,
20a1 ... arithmetic unit,
20a2 ... judgment part,
20a3 ... operation determining unit,
20b ... storage unit,
20b1 ... analysis parameter storage unit,
20b2 ... Reagent type information storage unit,
20b3: Reagent container information storage unit,
21 ... Case,
22: Display.

Claims (9)

A reagent storage for installing a plurality of reagent containers;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the reagent storage,
The controller is
A calculation unit that calculates the transfer amount of the reagent container in the reagent storage for every reagent container in the reagent storage; and
A transfer amount storage unit for storing a cumulative value of the transfer amount for each reagent container calculated by the calculation unit for every reagent container in the reagent storage;
A threshold storage unit for storing a transfer amount lower limit value according to the reagent type in the reagent container;
The cumulative value of the transfer amount for each reagent container stored in the transfer amount storage unit is compared with the transfer amount lower limit value stored in the threshold storage unit, and the reagent container in the reagent storage is not sufficiently stirred. An automatic analyzer characterized by having a determination unit for determining whether or not the The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
A stirring section for stirring the reagent container;
An automatic analyzer further comprising: a control unit that outputs a signal to the stirring unit so as to stir the reagent container that is determined to be insufficiently stirred by the determination unit. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2,
The controller is
A remaining amount storage unit for storing the remaining amount of reagent for each reagent container;
An automatic analyzer further comprising: an operation determining unit that determines an agitation operation according to the reagent remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage unit and outputs an agitation execution signal to the reagent container. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
The controller is
A threshold storage unit for storing a transfer amount upper limit value according to the reagent type in the reagent container;
Judgment of comparing whether or not the agitation of the reagent container in the reagent storage is excessive by comparing the accumulated value of the transfer amount for each reagent container stored in the transfer amount storage unit with the upper limit value of the transfer amount And further comprising
An automatic analyzer characterized by that. The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The controller is
When the reagent container is used for measurement in a state where stirring is not performed even though the determination unit determines that stirring is necessary, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and this abnormality is output as a display signal. Automatic analyzer to do. The automatic analyzer according to claim 4,
The controller is
When the reagent container is used for measurement even though the determination unit determines that stirring is excessive, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and this abnormality is output as a display signal. The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The controller is
When the determination unit determines that the reagent container needs to be stirred, the reagent dispensing operation is controlled to stop the use of the reagent in the reagent container until stirring. The automatic analyzer according to claim 4,
The controller is
An automatic analyzer that controls the reagent dispensing operation to stop using the reagent in the reagent container when the determination unit determines that the reagent container is excessively stirred. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2 or 3,
A slot for charging the reagent container;
An automatic analyzer further comprising: a transport unit that stirs the reagent container while transporting the reagent container charged from the input port to the reagent storage.

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