JP2014182067A - Specimen analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a specimen analyzer capable of performing accurate work when discharging a specimen and sucking a reagent.SOLUTION: The specimen analyzer includes: first drive means that moves a suction pipe in the vertical direction; second drive means that rotates the suction pipe in a plane orthogonal to the vertical direction; third drive means 15 for reciprocating a holder that holds a reagent cartridge 20 having cells, the surfaces of which are sealed by seals and that are used for a specimen analysis, in a normal direction with respect to an arc drawn by the suction pipe; and control means 30 that controls the second drive means such that a turning angle formed between a line L1 formed by connecting the suction pipe and a rotation center O, and a reference line L becomes a first angle α, and lowers the suction pipe to perforate a pressure relief hole 51.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sample analyzer for analyzing a sample using a reagent cartridge having a cell used for sample analysis whose surface is sealed with a seal.

  A reagent cartridge is usually provided with a plurality of cells, and each cell is filled with a reagent used for analysis or is empty. In any case, the surface of the cell is sealed with a seal, and in order to discharge the specimen or suck the reagent, it is necessary to perforate the seal.

  Conventionally, the seal is perforated during the operation of discharging the specimen or sucking the reagent. However, according to this method, the gap between the hole drilled in the seal and the suction tube is often close, and the internal pressure in the reagent cell fluctuates, making it difficult to accurately discharge and suck.

  As a countermeasure against the above, there is known one in which a plurality of holes are formed in a cell seal (see Patent Document 1). However, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of holes are formed in the direction in which cells in the reagent cartridge are arranged. For this reason, it is necessary to enlarge the cells in the cell arrangement direction, and the size of the cells increases and the cell capacity has to be increased. For this reason, there is a problem that the cell capacity increases and the amount of the reagent to be filled increases, resulting in an increase in cost. In addition, it is necessary to lengthen the reagent cartridge, leading to an increase in the size of the reagent cartridge, and there is a problem that not only the storage space for storing the reagent cartridge is increased, but also the apparatus for setting the reagent cartridge is increased in size.

JP 2008-14638 A

  The present invention has been made as a solution to the problems of the conventional sample analyzer as described above, and its purpose is to perform sample analysis capable of performing work accurately in the case of sample discharge or reagent aspiration. Is to provide a device. It is another object of the present invention to prevent an increase in cell capacity, an increase in the number of reagents to be filled, and an increase in cost. It is another object of the present invention to provide a sample analyzer that does not require an increase in the storage space of the reagent cartridge or an increase in the size of the apparatus without increasing the size of the reagent cartridge.

A sample analyzer according to the present invention includes a first driving unit that moves a suction tube up and down in a vertical direction,
Second driving means for rotating the suction pipe in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction;
A third drive means for reciprocating a normal direction with respect to an arc drawn by the suction tube by the rotation of a holder holding a reagent cartridge having a cell used for sample analysis whose surface is sealed with a seal;
The segment extending from the rotation center of the rotation and perpendicular to the normal line is a reference line, and the turning angle formed by the reference line and the line connecting the suction pipe and the rotation center is the first angle. 2, the third driving means is controlled so that the cell of the reagent cartridge is positioned immediately below the suction pipe, and further, the first driving means is controlled to control the suction pipe. And a control means for lowering the pressure hole to form a pressure release hole.

  In the sample analyzer according to the present invention, the control means controls the second driving means so that the turning angle is a second angle different from the first angle, and the cell of the reagent cartridge is aspirated. The third driving means is controlled so as to be positioned directly below the pipe, and further, the first driving means is controlled to lower the suction pipe so as to drill a work hole at a position different from the depressurizing hole. It is characterized by.

  In the sample analyzer according to the present invention, the control unit is configured to puncture the evacuation holes in all the cells before piercing the work holes.

  The sample analyzer according to the present invention is characterized in that the working hole is drilled at the center position of the seal surface of the cell, and the press-out hole is drilled at a position away from the center position of the seal surface of the cell.

  The sample analyzer according to the present invention is characterized in that a working hole is drilled at a position where the second angle is zero degrees.

  In the sample analyzer according to the present invention, the penetration distance to the cell by the suction tube when punching the punch hole is shorter than the penetration distance to the cell by the suction pipe when punching the working hole. .

  The sample analyzer according to the present invention includes a first driving means for moving the suction tube up and down in a vertical direction, a second driving means for rotating the suction tube in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, and a surface sealed with a seal. A third holding means for reciprocally moving a holder for holding a reagent cartridge having a cell used for sample analysis stopped in a normal direction to an arc drawn by the suction tube by the rotation, and extending from a rotation center of the rotation; The second drive means is controlled so that the turning angle formed by the reference line and the line connecting the suction pipe and the rotation center is the first angle with the line segment orthogonal to the normal line as the reference line. The third driving means is controlled so that the cell of the reagent cartridge is positioned directly below the suction pipe, and further, the first driving means is controlled to lower the suction pipe so as to form a depressurization hole. Since the control means for piercing is provided, the piercing can be performed at the position where the rotation of the suction tube and the linear movement of the holder holding the reagent cartridge intersect, and the pressure in the direction intersecting the moving direction of the reagent cartridge It is possible to provide a hole. For this reason, the capacity of the cell is not increased and the amount of reagent to be filled can be reduced, so that the cost is not increased. Furthermore, the reagent cartridge is not enlarged, and the storage space for the reagent cartridge and the size of the apparatus are not required.

  In the sample analyzer according to the present invention, the second driving means is controlled so that the turning angle is a second angle different from the first angle, and the cell of the reagent cartridge is directly below the suction tube. The third driving means is controlled so that it is positioned, and further, the first driving means is controlled to lower the suction pipe so that a work hole is drilled at a position different from the depressurization hole. When punching, there is already a press-out hole, and it becomes possible to perform the work accurately in the case of sample discharge, reagent aspiration, etc. without causing internal pressure fluctuations in the cell.

The perspective view which shows the principal part of embodiment of the sample analyzer which concerns on this invention. The principal part top view which shows the punching operation | movement of the pressure relief hole in embodiment of the sample analyzer which concerns on this invention. The principal part top view which shows the drilling operation | movement of the working hole in embodiment of the sample analyzer which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the reagent cartridge set to embodiment of the sample analyzer which concerns on this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is a perspective view. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement in embodiment of the sample analyzer which concerns on this invention. The principal part sectional drawing which shows the punching operation | movement of the pressure relief hole in embodiment of the sample analyzer which concerns on this invention. The principal part sectional drawing which shows the drilling operation | movement of the working hole in embodiment of the sample analyzer which concerns on this invention. In the reagent cartridge set in the embodiment of the sample analyzer according to the present invention, it is a diagram showing a state after the punching hole and the working hole are drilled, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view Figure.

  Embodiments of a sample analyzer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. A perspective view of a main part of the sample analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and plan views thereof are shown in FIGS. This sample analyzer is provided with an aspiration tube 11 connected to a pump or the like for aspirating / discharging the sample or reagent. The suction tube 11 can be made of a superelastic metal.

  The suction tube 11 is held by an arm, a linear bush, or the like in a state that is long in the vertical direction. The arm, the linear bush, etc. are moved up and down while holding the suction tube 11. The driving source for the vertical movement can be configured by a stepping motor or the like as the first driving means. In addition, several sensors are provided for detecting the position of the suction tube 11 moved up and down.

  The arm, the linear bush, and the like are rotated on a plane orthogonal to the vertical direction while holding the suction pipe 11. For this reason, the suction tube 11 also rotates in the plane. This rotation drive source can be constituted by a stepping motor or the like as the second drive means. Several sensors for detecting the rotated position of the suction tube 11 are provided.

  The sample analyzer is provided with a slide rail 12 extending linearly in the normal direction to the arc drawn by the suction tube 11 by the rotation. A carrier 13 that slides on the slide rail 12 is provided on the slide rail 12. A cell holder 14 for accommodating and holding the reagent cartridge 20 is placed and fixed on the carrier 13. A linear stepping motor 15 is connected to the cell holder 14. The linear stepping motor 15 functions as third driving means for reciprocating the cell holder 14 on the slide rail 12.

  A sensor plate 16 is provided on the carrier 13 via a coupling member. The sensor plate 16 includes a protrusion 16A that is formed in a bowl shape at the tip and protrudes outward. Photosensors 17 and 18 for detecting the protrusion 16A on the sensor plate 16 and detecting the position of the cell holder 14 are provided at predetermined positions through which the protrusion 16A passes. The photo sensor 17 is a sensor for detecting the initial position of the cell holder 14. The photosensor 18 is a sensor for detecting an ejection position with respect to a cell in the reagent cartridge 20 accommodated in the cell holder 14.

  The reagent cartridge 20 includes, for example, four cells 21 to 24 as shown in FIG. The cell 21 of the first tank, the cell 22 of the second tank, the cell 23 of the third tank, and the cell 24 of the fourth tank are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the reagent cartridge 20 and are combined. 20 in the longitudinal direction) is shorter than the length in the vertical direction. Also, as shown in FIG. 4A, the width dimension d1 of the cell 21 of the first tank is different from the width dimension d4 of the cell 24 of the fourth tank. Correspondingly, since the size of the hole portion in which the cell 21 of the first tank and the cell 24 of the fourth tank of the cell holder 14 are stored is set, the left and right sides are stored when the reagent cartridge 20 is stored in the cell holder 14. It is possible to prevent misdirection.

  The cell 21 in the first tank, the cell 22 in the second tank, and the cell 23 in the third tank are each filled with a required amount of reagent, and the cell 24 in the fourth tank is used as a reaction tank. (FIGS. 6 and 7). The cell 21 of the first tank, the cell 22 of the second tank, the cell 23 of the third tank, and the cell 24 of the fourth tank are sealed with a seal 25.

  The reagent cartridge 20 is accommodated in the cell holder 14 as shown in FIG. On both side surfaces of the cell holder 14, at least two holes 1a up and down at positions corresponding to the cell 21 of the first tank, the cell 22 of the second tank, the cell 23 of the third tank, and the cell 24 of the fourth tank, 1b,..., 4a, 4b are formed. In FIG. 1, holes 1a, 1b,..., 4a, 4b on one side surface appear. Corresponding to the height of these holes 1a, 1b,..., 4a, 4b, light emitting elements 28a, 28b are provided on the front side and light receiving elements 29a, 29b are provided on the back side. Yes. Based on the photoelectric conversion signal when the light emitted from the light emitting elements 28a, 28b passes through the cells through the holes 1a, 1b,..., 4a, 4b and is received by the light receiving elements 29a, 29b. Work monitoring and photometric analysis are performed in each cell.

  At the eject position where the cell holder 14 is pushed out to the foremost side on the slide rail 12, the cell holder 14 is moved to the vicinity of a door (not shown) of the housing of the sample analyzer. In this state, the operator can open the door and store and hold the reagent cartridge 20 in the cell holder 14. 2 and 3 is the position outside the casing of the sample analyzer and where the tip of the suction tube 11 is exposed. At this specimen aspirating position P, the operator can hold the specimen container in which the specimen is placed and guide the tip of the aspirating tube 11 exposed from the housing into the specimen container so that the specimen can be aspirated.

  The control means 30 can be configured by a CPU or the like. This control means 30 controls each part by the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 based on the signal from the above-mentioned sensor etc. The operation will be described below with reference to this flowchart. When the power is turned on and the operator presses the injection key, the control means 30 controls the linear stepping motor 15 to move the cell holder 14 forward, position it at the injection position, and open / close the door (S11). The operator prepares an unused reagent cartridge 20, sets it in the cell holder 14 of the sample analyzer, and closes the door.

  Upon detecting the closing of the door, the control means 30 moves the cell holder 14 in which the reagent cartridge 20 is set to the initial position (S12). Next, the control means 30 controls the linear stepping motor 15 to move the cell holder 14 to the pressure release hole position, and controls the stepping motor and the like to rotate the suction pipe 11 to position it above the pressure release hole position (S13). . Next, the suction pipe 11 is lowered and the pressure release hole 51 is formed in the seal 25 in the first cell (cell 21 of the first tank) (S14). At this time, the tip of the suction tube 11 is lowered to a distance that does not reach the reagent as shown in FIG. Thus, the penetration distance to the cell by the suction tube 11 when drilling the punching hole is made shorter than the penetration distance to the cell by the suction pipe 11 when drilling the work hole.

  A plan view of this state is shown in FIG. In this state, a line segment extending from the rotation center O of the rotation and perpendicular to the normal line of the rotation circle is defined as a reference line L, and a turning angle α formed by the reference line L and the line L1 connecting the suction pipe 11 and the rotation center O. Is controlled so as to be at the first angle. In FIG. 2, an angle rotated from the reference line is represented as θ <b> 1 with a line segment connecting the sample suction position P and the rotation center O as a reference.

  Here, when the line L1 overlaps the reference line L, a hole can be drilled by the tip of the suction tube 11 at the center position of the surface of the seal 25 of the cell. When the punching hole is drilled, the line L1 and the reference line L are controlled to have a turning angle α which is the first angle, and the punching hole is drilled at a position deviating from the center position of the seal surface of the cell. Is done.

  Next, the suction pipe 11 is raised, the cell holder 14 is moved forward, the second cell (cell 22 of the second tank) is positioned at the punching position of the pressure release hole, and the suction pipe 11 is lowered to the second position. The pressure release holes 52 are formed in the seals 25 in the cells (second tank cells 22), and the pressure release holes 53 and 54 are similarly formed in the seals 25 in all the cells (S15).

  When the punching holes 51 to 54 have been formed in the seals 25 in all the cells, the control means 30 raises and rotates the suction tube 11 to position it at the sample suction position P, where the suction tube 11 is lowered. The tip is exposed outside the housing of the sample analyzer, and the sample is aspirated (S16). That is, the operator holds the sample container in which the sample is placed, guides the tip of the suction tube 11 exposed from the housing into the sample container, and operates the switch to suck the sample.

  When the sample is aspirated, the control means 30 raises the aspiration tube 11 and rotates it, and the turning angle α formed by the reference line L and the line L1 connecting the aspiration tube 11 and the rotation center O is the second angle. The rotation stepping motor (second driving means) is controlled so that the suction pipe 11 is positioned at the working hole drilling position (S17). This second angle is zero degrees, as shown in the plan view of FIG. In FIG. 3, with reference to a line segment connecting the sample aspiration position P and the rotation center O, an angle rotated from the reference line is represented as θ2.

  When the turning angle α reaches the second angle, the control means 30 stops the rotation of the suction pipe 11 and lowers the suction pipe 11 to open the work hole in the seal 25 in the first cell (cell 21 of the first tank). 41 is perforated (FIG. 3), and the specimen is discharged by lowering as shown in FIG. 7 until the suction tube 11 is immersed in the reagent (S18). As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, a work hole 41 is drilled at the center position of the cell, and work is performed. When the working hole 41 is drilled, the pressure-removing hole 51 has already been drilled, and the specimen can be appropriately discharged without any change in the pressure in the cell.

  Further, the control means 30 performs suction and discharge in the cell 21 of the first tank by the suction tube 11 and agitates, and then sucks the mixed liquid to raise the suction pipe 11, and the cell 24 of the fourth tank The cell holder 14 is moved so that the center is located directly below the suction tube 11, the suction tube 11 is lowered, the work hole 41 is drilled, and dispensed into the reaction tank (S19). Also in the cell 22 of the second tank and the cell 23 of the third tank, the work holes 42 and 43 are perforated and the reagent is sucked, and dispensed into the fourth tank, and the mixed liquid is sucked, discharged, and stirred. Also at this time, the depressurization holes 52, 53, and 54 are already drilled, and the reagent can be appropriately sucked and discharged without any change in the pressure in the cell.

  In the reaction vessel, photometric analysis is performed using the light emitting elements 28a and 28b and the light receiving elements 29a and 29b (S20).

  As a result of the above processing, the press-out holes 51 to 54 and the work holes 41 to 44 are drilled side by side as shown in FIG. That is, the punching holes 51 to 54 are drilled in a line in the longitudinal direction, and the work holes 41 to 44 are also drilled in a line in the longitudinal direction. Pairs (41, 51), (42, 52), (43, 53), and (44, 54) of work holes and press-out holes drilled in each cell are orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (the movement direction of the cell holder 14). Perforated side by side. In the above description, the process of drilling the punch holes in all the cells is preceded, but the punch holes may be punched before the work holes are punched in each cell.

  As described above, the control means 30 extends from the rotation center O to the suction pipe 11 and the rotation center O with the line segment orthogonal to the normal line of the circle formed by the rotation of the suction pipe 11 coincident with the moving direction of the cell holder 14 as the reference line L The stepping motor as the second drive means is controlled so that the turning angle α formed by the line L1 connecting the reference line L and the reference line L becomes the first angle. Further, the control means 30 controls the linear stepping motor 15 as the third driving means so that the cell of the reagent cartridge 20 is positioned immediately below the suction tube 11, and further the stepping motor as the first driving means. The suction tube 11 is lowered by controlling the above and the like, and a pressure release hole is drilled.

  The control means 30 controls the second driving means so that the turning angle is a second angle different from the first angle, and the cell of the reagent cartridge 20 is directly below the suction tube 11. The linear stepping motor 15 as the third driving means is controlled so as to be positioned, and further, the stepping motor as the first driving means is controlled to lower the suction pipe 11 to be different from the pressure release hole. Drill a working hole in position.

  In this manner, a pressure relief hole can be provided, and it is possible to perform an operation accurately in the case of sample discharge or reagent aspiration. Pairs (41, 51), (42, 52), (43, 53), and (44, 54) of work holes and press-out holes drilled in each cell are orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (the movement direction of the cell holder 14). Therefore, the cell capacity is not increased and the amount of reagent to be filled can be reduced, so that the cost is not increased. Furthermore, the reagent cartridge is not increased in size, and the storage space for the reagent cartridge and the size of the apparatus are not required.

21-24 Cell 41-44 Work hole 51-54 Pressure release hole 11 Suction tube 12 Slide rail 13 Carrier 14 Cell holder 15 Linear stepping motor 16 Sensor plates 17, 18 Photo sensor 20 Reagent cartridge 30 Control means

Claims (6)

First driving means for vertically moving the suction pipe vertically;
Second driving means for rotating the suction pipe in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction;
A third drive means for reciprocating a normal direction with respect to an arc drawn by the suction tube by the rotation of a holder holding a reagent cartridge having a cell used for sample analysis whose surface is sealed with a seal;
The segment extending from the rotation center of the rotation and perpendicular to the normal line is a reference line, and the turning angle formed by the reference line and the line connecting the suction pipe and the rotation center is the first angle. 2, the third driving means is controlled so that the cell of the reagent cartridge is positioned immediately below the suction pipe, and further, the first driving means is controlled to control the suction pipe. And a control means for lowering the pressure hole to form a pressure release hole.   The control means controls the second driving means so that the turning angle is a second angle different from the first angle, and the cell of the reagent cartridge is positioned directly below the suction tube. The third driving means is controlled, and further, the first driving means is controlled to lower the suction pipe to drill a work hole at a position different from the pressure release hole. Sample analyzer.   The sample analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the control unit drills the punching holes in all the cells before drilling the working holes.   The sample analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the working hole is drilled at a center position of the sealing surface of the cell, and the punching hole is drilled at a position deviating from the center position of the sealing surface of the cell. .   The sample analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the working hole is drilled at a position where the second angle is zero degrees.   6. The penetration distance to the cell by the suction pipe when drilling the punching hole is shorter than the penetration distance to the cell by the suction pipe when drilling the working hole. The sample analyzer according to item.

Images