JP2577343B2 - Automatic chemical analyzer - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer having a function of monitoring a sampling state by a suction / discharge nozzle.

[Technical Background of the Invention] In an automatic chemical analyzer, sampling is performed by a suction / discharge nozzle to transfer a sample housed in a sample cup to a reaction tube provided on a reaction line.

In this case, it is effective to detect whether or not the suction / ejection nozzle is appropriately sucking the sample, and to perform the action corresponding to the situation promptly when the suction is not properly sucked, thereby reducing waste of the sample and effectively. Required for obtaining measurement data.

Hereinafter, a conventional example of a sampling unit in an automatic chemical analyzer and a processing procedure thereof, in which a sample suction state of such a suction and discharge nozzle is determined and an error display is added as necessary, will be described.

The conventional sampling unit includes a suction / discharge nozzle for suctioning / discharging a sample collected from a subject or the like housed in a sample cup, and a suction / discharge operation of the suction / discharge nozzle and a connection between the sample cup and a reaction tube on a reaction line. The suction pressure at the time of sucking the sample by the nozzle driving unit and the suction / discharge nozzle is detected, and the value of the suction pressure is in a predetermined range set in advance, that is, a range indicating normality, clogging, and insufficient sample. And a control unit for determining whether or not
The control unit sends necessary control signals to the nozzle drive unit and the analysis and measurement unit of the automatic chemical analyzer according to the determination result to perform the analysis and measurement or to generate an error display or an alarm without performing the measurement. In this case, the determination procedure in the control unit is executed, for example, according to the procedure shown in FIG.

If the control unit determines that the suction pressure value (which is generally proportional to the viscosity of the sample) is within the normal range, the control unit sends a control signal indicating sample discharge to the nozzle driving unit, and the control unit sends a control signal indicating sample discharge to the nozzle discharge unit. At the same time as the sample is discharged to the reaction tube, a control signal indicating the measurement is sent to the analysis and measurement unit at a predetermined timing, and the measurement is performed.

On the other hand, if the suction pressure value is abnormally large and the control unit determines that the suction / discharge nozzle is clogged, an error signal and an alarm signal are respectively provided from the control unit to display means such as a CRT display and alarm means such as a buzzer. Is sent and a control signal indicating the stop of sampling is sent to the nozzle driving unit, whereby the sampling operation of the suction / ejection nozzle is stopped. Then, when processing such as clogging removal or nozzle replacement is performed on the suction / ejection nozzle, the stop state of the sampling is released, but at this time, the measurement item selection information is deleted from the control unit to the analysis measurement unit. A control signal is sent and no measurement is performed in the analysis and measurement section. In this case, only an error message is output as a measurement result.

If the suction pressure value is abnormally small and the control section determines that the suction state at the suction / discharge nozzle is insufficient, the control section outputs an error signal and a warning signal to separately provided display means and alarm means, respectively. It sends an error display and generates an alarm with a buzzer, etc., and sends a control signal to the analysis / measurement unit to delete the measurement item selection information, and outputs only the determination result indicating that the sample is insufficient without performing the measurement. Was.

[Problems of Background Art] In the above-described conventional apparatus, when the normal range of the suction state is set to be narrow in order to increase the sensitivity of normal and abnormal,
Depending on the state of the sample (individual difference, medical condition, etc.), the possibility that the number of samples determined to be out of the normal range and not used for analysis measurement increases. For this reason, the normal range for the operation of the automatic chemical analyzer is set to a certain wide range.

However, in this case, sensitivity will be reduced, and in the transitional period of clogging in the suction / discharge nozzle or when at least a sample for several tests can be drawn instead of a completely empty suction state, actually, Even though the sample is insufficient, there is a possibility that an analytical measurement of the sample is executed without outputting an error display and erroneous measurement data is output.

This means that the accuracy of an automatic chemical analyzer that provides measurement data as diagnostic data is lacking.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and discriminates a suction or discharge state of a suction / discharge nozzle in a sampling unit in accordance with the state of the suction / discharge state. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic chemical analyzer that can facilitate the operation.

[Summary of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, an automatic chemical analyzer according to the present invention comprises an automatic chemical analyzer having a sampling unit for discharging a sample to be subjected to biochemical analysis to a reaction tube of an analysis and measurement unit using a suction and discharge nozzle. In the chemical analyzer, pressure detecting means for detecting a suction pressure of the sample by the suction and discharge nozzle, and determining whether the detected pressure value belongs to a predetermined measurement compatible range, a measurement allowable range or a non-measurement range, When the pressure value is within the measurement allowable range or the non-measurement range, the alarm is issued to control the sample measurement by the analysis / measurement unit when the measurement is within the measurement compatible range or the measurement allowable range. And control means for controlling so as to output.

[Examples of the Invention] Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described in detail.

The apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a number of reaction tubes arranged in a line on a reaction line, and performs a reaction of a sample and a reagent dispensed into these reaction tubes and a photometry process to output measurement data. 1, a sampling unit 2 for dispensing a sample or the like into each reaction tube of the analysis and measurement unit 1, and a sampling unit 2
An A / D (analog-digital) converter 4 for converting output data of the pressure sensor 3 into an A / D value (digital value) and a program for executing a processing procedure as shown in FIG. A determination is made as to whether the digital value from the A / D converter 4 belongs to any of five predetermined determination steps, and a measurement signal is sent to the analysis / measurement unit 1 in accordance with the determination result. Or a non-measurement signal, a signal for error display and a warning signal output separately, and a control unit 5 for controlling the nozzle driving unit of the suction / discharge nozzle 10; A display unit 6 for displaying an error based on the display signal and an alarm unit 7 such as a buzzer for generating an alarm based on an alarm generation signal from the control unit 5 are provided.

A sampling and discharging nozzle 10 configured to suction a sample stored in the sample cup 8 and driven by a nozzle driving unit (not shown) to discharge the sample to each reaction tube of the analysis and measurement unit 1; The suction / discharge nozzle 10 communicates with the suction / discharge nozzle 10 via a first sampling tube 11a, a three-way switching type solenoid valve 12 and a second sampling tube 11b.
A syringe 13 for supplying a discharge pressure, and a suction / discharge nozzle 10 through a pressure transmission tube 14 by switching the electromagnetic valve 12.
And a pressure sensor 3 to which the suction pressure and the discharge pressure are transmitted.
For example, the suction pressure value in the above is sent to the A / D converter 4.

The solenoid valve 12 is attached to the pressure sensor 3 and a fluid silicone is sealed in the pressure transmitting tube 14 to transmit the pressure in the first sampling tube 11a to the pressure sensor 3 via the silicon. In addition, the influence of the pressure sensor 3 does not occur when transmitting the suction pressure and the discharge pressure from the cylinder 13 to the suction / discharge nozzle 10.

The A / D converter 4 is, for example, 8 bits (0 to 255)
And the A / D value is set to 1 for a pressure of 4 g / cm ² detected by the pressure sensor 3. The A / D converter 4 converts the voltage value obtained by the pressure-voltage conversion by the pressure sensor 3 into a digital value (A / D value) and outputs the digital value.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 5 determines five stages of clogging (high pressure abnormality), clogging warning (high pressure warning), normal, and insufficient sample warning (low pressure) according to the sample suction state of the suction / discharge nozzle 10 as shown in FIG. Warning), sample shortage or empty suction (low pressure error) mode, and
The setting range of each mode can be changed at any time by key input from a keyboard or the like (not shown). The following description will be given assuming that the range of the high-pressure abnormality and the low-pressure abnormality is a non-measurement range, the range of the high-pressure warning and the low-pressure warning is a measurement allowable range, and the normal range is a measurement adaptation range.

Next, the operation of the apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 2 and the determination mode shown in FIG.

First, the solenoid valve 12 is connected to the first and second sampling tubes 11a,
11b is connected so as to communicate with each other, and the tip of the suction / discharge nozzle 10 is inserted into the sample cup 8 by the nozzle driving unit to supply suction pressure from the syringe 13 to the suction / discharge nozzle 10. As a result, the first sample is sucked into the suction and discharge nozzle 10. At this time, the electromagnetic valve 12 is switched to guide the suction pressure in the first sampling tube 11a to the pressure sensor 3 via the pressure transmission tube 14, where the pressure-voltage conversion is performed.

The voltage value corresponding to the suction pressure detected by the pressure sensor 3 is sent to the A / D converter 4, where the A
After being converted to the / D value, it is sent to the control unit 5.

When the control unit 5 determines that the A / D value is in the range of a large clogging state, a non-measurement unit signal is sent to the analysis and measurement unit 1 and a sampling stop signal is sent to a nozzle driving unit (not shown). Further, an error display signal is sent to the display means 6, and an alarm generation signal is sent to the alarm means 7, respectively.

As a result, sampling is stopped, an error message is displayed on the display means 6, and a warning is issued from the warning means 7. In this state, if the suction / ejection nozzle 10 is clogged or the nozzle is replaced, the sampling stop state is released, but the measurement in the analysis / measurement unit 1 is not performed, and an error message associated with the sample at this time is displayed. It is output as an untested list or registered in a storage device.

Next, the second sample is sucked by the suction and discharge nozzle 10 in the same manner as described above, and the A / D value corresponding to the suction pressure at this time is sent to the control unit 5.

When the control unit 5 determines that the A / D value is significantly smaller than the case of the first sample and that the sample is insufficient or empty, a non-measurement signal is sent to the analysis and measurement unit 1 and the display means 6 Error indication signal
The alarm generation signal is sent to each of them.

As a result, the display means 6 corresponds to the second sample.
At the same time, an error message is displayed and an alarm is issued from the alarm means 7. In this case, the analysis and measurement unit 1 does not perform measurement, and outputs an error message associated with the second sample as an untested list, as in the case of the first sample.

The A / D value at the time of aspirating the third sample is sent to the control unit 5, and when the control unit 5 determines that the clogging has been warned, an error display signal is sent from the control unit 5 to the display means 6, and the warning means is output. 7, an alarm generation signal is sent, a sample ejection signal is sent to a nozzle driving unit (not shown), and a measurement signal is sent to the analysis and measurement unit 1 at a predetermined timing.

As a result, the measurement for the third sample is performed, an error display indicating a clogging warning is displayed on the display means 7, and a warning is issued from the warning means 7. Then, in this case, the measurement result by the analysis and measurement unit 1 and a warning message are output together.

Further, the A / D value at the time of aspirating the fourth sample is sent to the control unit 5, and when the control unit 5 determines that the state is a sample shortage warning state, the control unit 5 transmits the third sample. As in the case of the sample, an error display signal, an alarm generation signal, a sample ejection signal, and a measurement signal are output, respectively, a measurement is performed on the fourth sample, and a measurement result by the analysis and measurement unit 1 and a warning message are output together. You.

The A / D value at the time of suctioning the fifth sample is sent to the control unit 5, and if the control unit 5 determines that the sample is normal, the control unit 5 sends a sample ejection signal to the nozzle driving unit to analyze the sample ejection signal. While the measurement signal is sent to the measurement unit 1, the error display signal and the alarm generation signal are not output, and as a result, only the measurement result in the analysis measurement unit 1 is output.

In this way, each time a sample is sucked by the suction and discharge nozzle 1, it is determined which one of the five determination steps preset by the control unit 5 the A / D value corresponding to the suction pressure value belongs to, In other words, if it is determined that the sample is in the non-measurement range due to insufficient sample (empty suction), an error message and an error message accompanied by an alarm are output, and the clogging warning and insufficient sample warning are within the measurement allowable range. If it is determined that the measurement data is output with an error display and an alarm is generated, and if it is determined that the measurement is normal, only the measurement data is output. The state is clearly presented to the operator in five stages, and as a result, a fine-grained evaluation of the adoption or non-application of the measurement data based on the determination of the suction state is achieved. The ability.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above,
Various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist.

For example, the discriminating step in the control unit may be a seven-step mode as shown in FIG. 4 in addition to the five-step mode shown in FIG.

That is, a clogging plus α mode is provided between both the clogging and clogging warning modes, and a sample shortage plus α mode is provided between each of the sample shortage warning and the sample shortage (empty suction) mode. In addition, the control signal is sent to the nozzle drive unit to return the sample which may have been sucked by the suction and discharge nozzle to the separately provided sample cup as the sample shortage plus α mode, so that the sample is wasted. It is also possible to add a function that can eliminate the problem.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the suction state is determined based on the pressure at the time of sample suction by the suction and discharge nozzle has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly performed using the pressure at the time of sample discharge.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, appropriate processing can be performed according to the pressure value detected by the pressure detecting means, so that accuracy control of measurement data and simplification of operation of the analysis and measurement unit are achieved. An automatic chemical analyzer that can be designed can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of aspirating a sample by the apparatus, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a five-stage mode of a discriminating step in a control section of the apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a discriminating step in a control section of the apparatus. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a conventional apparatus. 1 ... Analytical measurement section, 2 ... Sample section, 3 ... Pressure sensor, 4 ... A / D converter, 5 ... Control section, 6 ... Display means, 7 ... Alarm means, 10 ... Suction and discharge nozzle.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An automatic chemical analyzer having a sampling unit for discharging a sample to be subjected to a biochemical analysis to a reaction tube of an analysis and measurement unit using a suction and discharge nozzle, a pressure for detecting a suction pressure of the sample by the suction and discharge nozzle. Detecting means for determining whether the detected pressure value belongs to a preset measurement compatible range, measurement allowable range or non-measurement range; And control means for controlling so as to output an alarm relating to the sample suction state of the suction and discharge nozzle when the pressure value is within the measurement allowable range or the non-measurement range. Automatic chemical analyzer.