JP2596029B2 - Chemical analysis method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a chemical analysis method, and particularly to a liquid sample, in particular, bodily fluids such as blood, plasma, serum, and lymph, excretions such as urine, gastric juice, The present invention relates to a chemical analysis method for a specimen such as a pancreatic juice, a secretion fluid such as bile, saliva, and sweat, and a puncture fluid such as ascites, pleural effusion, and joint fluid by an automatic chemical analyzer. The present invention also relates to an automatic chemical analyzer including a sample dispensing device, a reagent dispensing device, a washing device, and an absorbance measuring device, and more particularly, to an automatic chemical analyzer capable of selectively performing sample dispensing and reagent dispensing on a reaction container. It relates to a chemical analyzer.

(B) Conventional technology A turntable type automatic chemical analyzer is a sample dispensing apparatus and a reagent, each of which is provided with a turntable capable of intermittent rotation drive and continuous rotation drive, and one dispensing nozzle around the turntable. A dispensing device, a washing device for simultaneously operating a plurality of washing nozzles, and a measuring device are provided.A turntable is provided with reaction vessels such as reaction cuvettes to form a reaction line, and the turntable is set in advance. According to the time program, for example, by intermittent rotation drive, when the turntable is stopped, the sample dispensing area, the reagent dispensing area, the stirring area, the reaction vessel located in the analysis work area such as the reaction area and the washing area, A predetermined amount of the sample is dispensed by the sample dispenser, a predetermined amount of the reagent is dispensed by the reagent dispenser, and the reaction mixture is stirred and mixed by the reaction device. In addition to performing the analysis work such as discharging the reaction solution already measured by the washing device, followed by washing and draining or drying, for the sample located in the measurement area, the absorbance of the analysis item component is measured by the measurement device, and then the turnover is performed. By rotating the table intermittently, all the reaction vessels including the unmeasured, measured and new reaction vessels are respectively sent to the next stop positions, and the respective reaction vessels stopped in the analysis work area. , Sample dispensing, reagent dispensing, stirring,
Analyzing work such as reaction and washing.

In such an automatic chemical analyzer, by driving the turntable, the reaction vessels are sequentially cleaned in the cleaning area and repeatedly used, and the analysis operation in each analysis work area is continuously performed, thereby increasing the number of times. The analysis on the sample is performed continuously.

In the washing area of such a turntable type automatic chemical analyzer, for example, the completed liquid was discharged from the sample container sent to the washing area after the completion of the measurement, and the post-reacted liquid was discharged. Injecting the washing solution into the reaction vessel, discharging the washing solution from the reaction vessel into which the washing solution has been injected, injecting the washing water into the reaction vessel from which the washing solution has been discharged, discharging the injected washing water from the reaction vessel, and washing water An operation such as draining of water adhering to the reaction vessel from which water has been discharged and discharge of adhering water are performed.

Since all of these washing operations in the washing area are performed at the same time when the turntable is stopped and by suction or discharge of the liquid by the plurality of nozzles, the nozzles performing these multiple washing operations are simplified. Each of them is fixed to one nozzle moving device connected to a driving device such as a stepping motor so as to be simultaneously operated by a mechanism, and is configured to be operated in unison by driving of the driving device.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention By the way, in such an automatic chemical analyzer, in order to circulate and reuse the reaction vessel, for example, each analysis operation is completed within one cycle of the turntable, and So that the time required for the analysis operation, including the time required for each dispensing, the predetermined time, the reaction time of the analysis item, and the cleaning time of the reaction vessel, is set within one circulation time of the turntable. Need to fit. Therefore, the number of reaction vessels used in the automatic chemical analyzer is determined by a value obtained by dividing the time required for the analysis operation by the intermittent drive time for one pitch of the intermittent drive of the turntable.

For example, if the intermittent drive of the turntable is performed at 12 seconds / 1 cycle, the reaction time is 12 minutes, and the washing time is 120 seconds / 10 cycles, the required number of reaction vessels is 70.

As described above, when performing analysis on analysis items having different reaction times, the number of reaction vessels used in the automatic chemical analyzer is determined according to the time required for the analysis operation of the analysis item having the longest reaction time. So the number of reaction vessels is
The number of analysis items increases in accordance with the length of the reaction time, and accordingly, the turntable on which the reaction container is arranged has a large diameter, which causes a problem in that the size of the apparatus is increased.

As described above, when analysis is performed for analysis items having different reaction times by the random access single multi method, for example, an analysis item having a reaction time of 5 minutes and a reaction time of 10 minutes are used.
For analysis items that have a reaction time of 5 minutes to be analyzed together for minutes analysis items, the reaction vessel is left on an automated chemical analyzer for an extra time, eg, 5 minutes. This causes a waste of time, which is a problem.

In addition, when the cycle time of the reaction vessel is a 12-minute turntable, it is difficult to analyze a reaction time of an analysis item of 15 minutes, an analysis item of 20 minutes or more.
It is desired to solve the problem without wasting time.

An object of the present invention is to solve a problem based on a difference in reaction time of an analysis item in a conventional automatic chemical analyzer.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems An object of the present invention is to provide a chemical analysis method and an automatic chemical analyzer using a plurality of reaction vessels that are less affected by the reaction time of an analysis item.

The present invention is to move a plurality of reaction vessels intermittently,
Stop the sample dispensing position, reagent dispensing position, measurement position, reaction solution discharge position, washing liquid injecting and discharging position, washing water injecting and discharging position, and draining and drying positions in order, and perform this intermittent movement. In the stop phase, the sample is dispensed at the sample dispensing position, a reagent is dispensed to the dispensed sample at the reagent dispensing position to cause a reaction, and the reaction product is measured at the measurement position. Then, the reaction solution is discharged at the discharge position of the reaction solution, and the cleaning solution is injected and discharged into the reaction container at the cleaning liquid injection and discharge positions, and the reaction container is washed with the cleaning water at the cleaning water injection and discharge positions. In a chemical analysis method in which the inside of a reaction vessel is cleaned by drying at a draining and drying position and circulating to a sample dispensing position, and a plurality of analysis samples having different analysis times are continuously analyzed, Analysis term to be analyzed The multiple reaction vessels are moved intermittently from the reagent dispensing position to the draining and drying positions in a time shorter than the longest reaction time in the above, and the reaction vessels for the analysis items for which the reaction time has not ended are intermittently moved. At the discharge position of the reaction solution and the pouring and discharging positions of the cleaning solution, the pouring and discharging positions of the cleaning water, and the draining and drying positions, selectively stopping the individual cleaning operations of the respective positions without performing the respective cleaning operations, and For the reaction container of the analysis item in which the reaction is continued and the reaction time, which is intermittently sent after the reaction container, has ended, the reaction liquid is discharged and the cleaning liquid is injected and the cleaning liquid is injected at the discharge and cleaning liquid injection and discharge positions. Injection and discharge of washing water, injecting and discharging of washing water in the city, and draining and drying in the draining and drying positions. The present invention is characterized by a chemical analysis method, and the present invention provides a reaction line in which a plurality of reaction vessels are arranged, and a sample dispenser, a reagent dispenser, a reaction device, and a reaction solution along the reaction line. Discharge nozzle,
In an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a washing liquid injecting and discharging nozzle, a washing water injecting and discharging nozzle, and a draining and drying nozzle in that order, discharging the reaction liquid and injecting the cleaning liquid connected to a discharge pump and a cleaning liquid supply pump through an on-off valve. The washing water injecting and discharging nozzles connected to the discharge nozzle, the discharge pump and the cleaning liquid supply pump via the on-off valve, and the draining and drying nozzles connected to the discharge pump via the on-off valve move for each cleaning unit of the reaction vessel. Possibly, an automatic chemical analyzer characterized by being mounted on separate nozzle supports.

In the present invention, a plurality of reaction vessels are arranged to form a reaction line, moved in the order of a sample dispensing position, a reagent dispensing position, a measuring position, and a washing position, and are used in a circulating manner. The washing at the washing position is selectively performed according to the size of the reaction time of the analysis item. In this case, in the intermittent rotation of the turntable, the reagent dispensing position, for example, the movement time from the first reagent dispensing position to the washing position, that is, the reaction container of the analysis item whose reaction time is shorter than the set predetermined time is , The reaction container whose analysis time is longer than the predetermined time passes through the washing container without being washed at the washing position, and the analysis reaction is continued as it is.

Therefore, according to the present invention, for each of the reaction vessels washed at the washing position, the sample is dispensed at the sample dispensing position as before, and then the reagent is dispensed at the reagent dispensing position to cause a reaction, The measurement is performed on the reaction product at the measurement position. On the other hand, in the case of the rate method, for the analysis container that has passed without being washed at the washing position, the measurement is continuously continued, the sample is not performed at the sample dispensing position, and the analysis is performed at the reagent dispensing position. Reagent dispensing is performed selectively as needed.

On the other hand, the absorbance measuring device for the analysis item component is provided so as to be able to measure the absorbance of the reaction container that is stopped in the measurement area in the stopped state, and when the cuvette rotor is stopped, for example, the entire analysis work area or the washing is performed. It is provided so that the absorbance can be measured for the contents of the cuvette located in the measurement area while moving the absorbance measurement area such as the analysis work area other than the area.

In the present invention, in the washing device of the automatic chemical analyzer, a washing means is appropriately selected according to the difficulty of washing the sample, the reaction solution, or the like, or according to a washing method. A plurality of cleaning nozzles such as a suction nozzle, a cleaning liquid injection nozzle, a washed cleaning liquid discharge nozzle, a cleaning water injection nozzle, a washed cleaning water discharge nozzle, a draining nozzle, an attached water discharge nozzle, and a drying nozzle can be provided.

These cleaning nozzles are divided into cleaning units and supported by a nozzle support device.

In the present invention, for example, one or more washing nozzles are provided for each discharge operation of a measured reaction solution, injection of a washing solution, discharge of a washing solution, injection of washing water, discharge of washing water, and draining and / or drying analysis operations. One set of one injection nozzle and one discharge nozzle may be attached to one nozzle support device for each cleaning liquid, and each may be configured as a cleaning unit.

Naturally, the measured reaction liquid discharge nozzle, cleaning liquid injection nozzle, washed cleaning liquid discharge nozzle, cleaning water injection nozzle,
Washing nozzles such as the washed washing water discharge nozzle, draining nozzle, attached water discharge nozzle, and dry gas blowing nozzle
It can be omitted as appropriate according to the properties of the sample, the reaction solution, and the like.

Therefore, the contents of these washing units can be appropriately selected according to the properties of the sample, the reaction solution, and the like.For example, when the sample and the reaction solution can be easily washed with the washing water, the washing solution injection nozzle and Since it is possible to omit the washed washing liquid discharge nozzle and the like, two nozzles, one nozzle for the water injection system and one nozzle for the drainage system, are attached to the support device to constitute a washing nozzle of one washing unit, One or more washing nozzles of this washing unit are provided, and subsequently, one or more washing nozzles for drainage configured by attaching a nozzle having a sponge at the tip to a nozzle support device are arranged. it can.

In addition, when injection and discharge can be performed by one nozzle, a single nozzle can be supported by a nozzle support device to be a cleaning nozzle of one cleaning unit. In this case, one of the three nozzles of the measured reaction liquid discharge nozzle, the cleaning liquid injection nozzle, and the cleaning liquid discharge nozzle can be shared.
Similarly, one washing unit can be constituted by using both the washing water injection nozzle and the washed washing water discharge nozzle, and also using the draining nozzle and the attached water discharging nozzle.

In the present invention, each of the nozzle support devices can be individually provided with a drive device. In this case, a dedicated control device can be provided for each of these drive devices so that they can be individually controlled. For example, an analysis item whose reaction time exceeds a predetermined time can be selected, and the main CPU can send a signal to the sub CPU to stop the operation of the nozzle support device.

In the present invention, each of the cleaning nozzles is connected to an operation source via a dedicated pipe line having an on-off valve. In this case, the operation source is, for example, a cleaning liquid supply source, a cleaning water supply source, a dry air supply source, a discharge pump, or the like. The supply source and the on-off valve provided in the pipeline each include a control device having a sub CPU connected to the main CPU so as to be able to respond to a command from the main CPU so that automatic control is easily performed. Thus, it is preferably formed so that computer control is possible.

When the cleaning nozzle is attached to the operating member, the cleaning nozzle can be individually fixed to an independently provided operating member. In this case, each operating member is formed so as to be freely movable in a vertical direction and / or a horizontal direction, and a driving device such as a stepping motor or a synchronous motor is connected to a driving device via a motion transmission mechanism or the like so that automation is easy. Preferably they are linked.

(E) Action The present invention relates to a chemical analysis method in which a plurality of reaction vessels are moved in the order of a sample dispensing position, a reagent dispensing position, a measuring position, and a washing position to perform measurement. Since the cleaning is selectively performed depending on the size of the reaction time of the analysis item, the cleaning vessel is not selectively cleaned at the cleaning position for the reaction container of the analysis item having a reaction time longer than a predetermined time. The reaction can be continued as it is. Therefore, even if the analysis of the analysis items of various reaction times is performed by arranging a plurality of reaction vessels in a reaction line and performing a random access single-multi system, the circulation time is effectively used as the analysis time without waste. be able to.

Further, in the present invention, since the plurality of washing nozzles in the automatic analyzer are grouped for each washing unit and are supported by the washing nozzle support device, they are moved to the washing area by the intermittent drive of the turntable. The reaction vessel can be selectively washed according to the reaction time of the analysis item according to a preset program.

Therefore, according to the present invention, for example, a reaction container having an analysis item having a reaction time longer than a predetermined time is selectively cleaned at the cleaning position when the cleaning container reaches the cleaning position for the second time, for example. , It can be prevented from being selectively washed at the washing position. On the other hand, the reaction container of the analysis item whose reaction time is shorter than the predetermined time is washed every time when it reaches the washing position.

Therefore, according to the present invention, even when analyzing an analysis item having a reaction time longer than a predetermined time, the analysis can be performed using the same number of reaction vessels as when analyzing an analysis item having a short reaction time.

Further, according to the present invention, when circulating the reaction container in a time shorter than the reagent dispensing time of the longest analysis item until all reagent dispensing ends, a small number of reagent dispensers, for example, With two reagent dispensers, reagent dispensing can be performed for an analysis item having a large number of reagent dispensing times, for example, three or more reagent dispensing times.

(F) Example Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by the following description and examples.

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial plan view of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention, which is simplified for convenience of explanation.

In FIG. 1, a reaction disk 2 is provided at the center of the automatic analyzer 1, and a cuvette rotor 3 is provided above and outside the reaction disk. The cuvette rotor 3 has
A number of cuvettes 4 (partially omitted) are arranged on the inner circumference to form a reaction line 5.

Around the cuvette rotor 3, there is provided a sample dispensing sampling table 7 in which a number of sample cups 6 are arranged, and a sample dispenser 8 is provided at a position close to the sample dispensing table. The sample dispenser 8 reciprocates the nozzle unit 9 between the sample collection position 11 and the sample dispensing position 12 along the one-dot chain line 10 in the figure, and dispenses the sample to the cuvette 4.

A reagent table 15 for dispensing reagents, in which a large number of reagent containers 14 are arranged, is provided around the lower part of the intermittent rotation direction 13 (arrow) of the cuvette rotor 3. A dispenser 16 is provided. Reagent dispenser 16
Moves the nozzle section 17 along the dashed line 18
And the reagent dispensing position 20 reciprocates to dispens the reagent into the cuvette 4.

Further, in the present example, cuvette washing positions 21 and 22 and a draining position 23 are provided further down in the intermittent rotation direction 13 of the cuvette rotor 3.

At the cuvette washing position 21, the cuvette 4 sent to the cuvette 4 is discharged with the reaction liquid of its contents, and injected and discharged with the washing liquid.
Is performed.

At the cuvette cleaning position 21, a drain nozzle 24 for discharging the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid of the contents and a cleaning liquid injection nozzle 25 for injecting the cleaning liquid are supported by a nozzle support device 27 connected to a moving device 26.

Further, at the cuvette washing position 22, the cuvette 4 sent to the washing position 22 is injected and discharged with a washing liquid to wash the cuvette 4.

The cuvette cleaning position 22 includes a cleaning liquid injection nozzle 28 for injecting the cleaning liquid and a cleaning liquid discharge nozzle for discharging the cleaning liquid.
29 is supported by a nozzle supporting device 31 connected to the moving device 30.

In the cuvette draining position 23, the draining position 23
Is removed from the cuvette 4 sent to the cuvette 4 and the liquid remaining on the wall is removed and the cuvette 4 is cleaned.

The cuvette draining position 23 is provided with a draining discharge nozzle 32 having a draining block attached to the tip thereof.
Are supported by a nozzle support device 34 connected to the nozzle.

The moving devices 26, 30, and 33 are vertically moving devices (not shown) so that the nozzles respectively supported by the nozzle supporting devices 27, 31, and 34 can be moved in and out of the cuvette 4.
It has.

In this example, the drain nozzle 24 is
Via a line 36 and a line 37, it is connected to a discharge pump 38.

The cleaning liquid injection nozzle 25 is connected to a cleaning liquid supply pump 42 connected to a cleaning liquid reservoir (not shown) via a pipe 39, an opening / closing valve 40 and a pipe 41.

The cleaning liquid injection nozzle 28 and the cleaning liquid discharge nozzle 29 provided at the cuvette cleaning position 22 have the same structure as the drain nozzle 24 and the cleaning liquid injection nozzle 25, and are sent from the cleaning position 21 to the cleaning position 22. The cuvette 4 is washed by repeatedly injecting and discharging the washing liquid from the cuvette 4 thus obtained.

The cleaning liquid injection nozzle 28 is connected to a cleaning liquid supply pump 42 via a pipe 43, an opening / closing valve 44 and a pipe 45, and the cleaning liquid discharging nozzle 29 is connected to a pipe 46, an opening / closing valve 47 and a pipe 48.
, And connected to the cleaning liquid discharge pump 38.

The draining discharge nozzle 32 is used for the cuvette 4 after cleaning.
Drains and discharges the cleaning droplets remaining in the
A draining discharge nozzle 32 equipped with a draining block at the tip,
The cuvette 4 is put in and out of the cuvette 4, drains as much water as possible on the wall surface of the cuvette, and sucks and discharges the water from the drainage discharge nozzle 32. The draining discharge nozzle 32 is connected to a cleaning liquid discharge pump 38 via a pipe 49, an opening / closing valve 50 and a pipe 51.

In this example, the reaction disk 2 is provided with a thermostatic bath that is capable of adjusting the reaction temperature and having a window that can be measured.
52 is provided, and an absorbance measuring device 53 for an analysis item component, which includes a light source unit and a light receiving unit (both not shown), is movably provided.

In the present example, the cuvette rotor 3 rotates intermittently in the direction indicated by the arrow 13 for one pitch in a fixed cycle and stops every time the cuvette rotor 3 stops. The cuvette 4 is moved to measure the absorbance of all the cuvettes 4 arranged in the cuvette rotor 3, and the measurement can be performed by the rate separation method and the end point method (the absorbance measuring device is not stopped), similarly to the conventional device. .

The cuvette 4 sent to the sample dispensing position 12 by the intermittent feeding of the cuvette rotor 3
During the suspension period, the sample is dispensed from the sample cup 6 at the sample collection position 11 by the sample dispenser 8. The cuvette 4 into which the sample has been dispensed intermittently follows the arrow 13 along the reaction line 5.
Is sent to the reagent dispensing position 20 and the reagent in the reagent container 14 at the reagent collecting position 19 is dispensed to the cuvette 4 by the reagent dispenser 16. While the cuvette rotor 3 is stopped, the absorbance measuring device 53 for the analysis item component rotates (for the cuvette that maintains the measurement, photometry is continued at any position around the reaction line), and the analysis item component is measured. For each cuvette 4 located in the absorbance measurement area 54, the absorbance at the absorbance measurement wavelength of the analysis item component is measured.

After this measurement, the cuvette 4 is sent to the washing position 21, where the moving device 26 is operated to lower the nozzle support device 27, and the cuvette 4 is placed in the cuvette 4 for cleaning the cuvette supported by the nozzle support device 27. Of the cleaning liquid injection nozzle 25 (not shown).

Next, the open / close valve 36 connected to the drainage nozzle 24 for washing the cuvette is opened, and the reaction solution in the cuvette 4 is sucked from the nozzle 24. When the suction of the reaction solution is completed, the opening / closing valve 36 is closed, then the opening / closing valve 40 is opened, and the cleaning liquid is injected into the cuvette 4 from the nozzle 25. After the cleaning liquid has been injected, the on-off valve 40 is closed, and the on-off valve
Open 36 to aspirate the cleaning solution. By repeating a series of cleaning operations of the injection and discharge of the cleaning liquid, the cuvette 4 is removed.
Wash inside.

The cuvette that has been washed at the washing position 21 is sent to the washing position 22 by intermittent movement of the cuvette rotor 2.
Then, the moving device 30 is operated to lower the nozzle support device 31, and the cleaning liquid injection nozzle 28 and the cleaning liquid discharge nozzle 29 for cleaning the cuvette supported by the nozzle support device 31 are inserted into the cuvette 4.

Next, the cleaning liquid injection nozzle 28 for cleaning the cuvette is used.
The cleaning liquid injection nozzle 28 is connected to the cleaning liquid supply pump 42, and the cleaning liquid injection nozzle 28
Then, the washing liquid is poured into the cuvette 4. When the injection of the cleaning liquid is completed, the opening and closing valve 44 is closed, and then the opening and closing valve 47 is opened, and the cleaning liquid discharge nozzle 29 is connected to the discharge pump 38 to discharge the cleaning liquid in the cuvette 4. After the cleaning liquid has been discharged, the opening and closing valve 47 is closed, and the opening and closing valve 40 is
Is opened, and the cleaning liquid is injected into the cuvette 4 from the cleaning liquid injection nozzle 28. By repeating a series of cleaning operations such as injection and discharge of the cleaning liquid, the inside of the cuvette 4 is more reliably cleaned.

As described above, the cuvette 4 which has been washed is sent to the draining position 23 by intermittent movement of the cuvette rotor 3, where the moving device 33 is operated to activate the nozzle supporting device 34.
Is lowered, and the nozzle supporting device 34 is inserted into the cuvette 4.
Drainage nozzle for cleaning cuvettes supported by
Insert 32.

Next, the nozzle support device 34 is moved up and down,
A residual block of the cleaning liquid adhering to the wall surface of the cuvette 4 is wiped off and collected at the bottom of the cuvette 4 by a drain block (not shown) at the tip of the drain nozzle 32.

In this way, the liquid droplets collected at the bottom of the cuvette 4 are opened and closed by opening the opening / closing valve 50 connected to the draining discharge nozzle 32, the nozzle 32 is communicated with the discharge pump 38, and sucked and discharged from the drainage discharge nozzle 32. . After that, the opening / closing valve 50 is closed, the draining discharge nozzle 32 is taken out of the cuvette 4, and a series of washing operations is completed.

After the series of washing operations, the cuvette 4 is sent to the sample dispensing position 12 by intermittent movement of the cuvette rotor 3, a new sample is dispensed, and the analysis of the new sample is started.

On the other hand, since the analysis of the cuvette 4 of the analysis item having a long reaction time has not been completed yet, even if the cuvette 4 is sent to the washing positions 21 and 22 and the draining position 23, the moving devices 26, 30 And 33 are not activated by a command from a command device such as a computer. Therefore, with respect to the cuvette 4 for which the reaction time has not yet ended, the insertion of the various nozzles 24, 25, 28, 29 and 32 for cleaning the cuvettes at the respective cleaning positions 21, 22 and 23 is not performed, and the cleaning and draining are performed. No operation is performed.

Further, in this example, for the cuvette 4 for which the reaction has not yet been completed, the sample is re-added at the sample dispensing position and the second or the second reagent is dispensed at the reagent dispensing position according to the analysis operation of the analysis item. A subsequent reagent dispensing operation such as the third reagent can also be selectively performed.

Therefore, the analysis of the cuvette 4 of the analysis item with a long reaction time is continued even after the cuvette rotor 3 makes one cycle, unlike the analysis items of other analysis items with a short analysis time.

The conditions according to the analysis items in this example will be described.

 Table 1 shows various analysis modes.

The horizontal columns of Table 1 show the number of cuvette 4 tours required for each mode. The vertical column shows the type of each analysis mode and the content of analysis.

(Notes) * 1: Mode in which the reaction time is long after the addition of the second reagent * 2: Mode in which the reaction time is long after the addition of the first reagent * 3: Mode in which the sample is added again 1. Minutes (Breakdown: sample reagent dispensing time is 0.5 minutes, reaction time is 5 minutes,
The cleaning time is set to 0.5 minutes. ).

Further, in the automatic chemical analyzer of this example, it is set that 0.5 minutes, a reaction time of 5 minutes, and a washing and draining time of 0.5 minutes are required to dispense the sample and the reagent into the cuvette 4. That is, it is set so that the cuvette 4 requires a total of 6 minutes to make one round on the reaction line 5.

The mode A is a case where a so-called one-reagent system requires less than 5 minutes after reaction. In the mode of A, the cuvette 4 is 1
The analysis can be completed during the tour.

The mode B is a one-reagent system like the mode A, but is an analysis item requiring a reaction time of 5 minutes or more, and is an example requiring a maximum of 11 minutes. In the case of mode B,
For the cuvette 4, the first round of washing and draining is not performed, and the cleaning and draining of the cuvette 4 is performed when the cuvette 4 reaches the second cleaning position. Further, since the absorbance measurement device 53 performs measurement at regular intervals, measurement data for 11 minutes can be obtained.

The mode C is a so-called two-reagent system, in which the first-time washing and draining operations are not performed, and the second-time reagent dispensing position is used.
The second reagent is dispensed, and the progress of the reaction can be monitored.

The mode of D and E is a two-reagent system like the mode of C, but is an analysis item having a long reaction time.
In the modes E and E, the cuvette 4 makes three rounds on the reaction line 5.

The mode of F is a so-called three-reagent system, which is performed by making three rounds and passing the reagent dispensing position three times.

The mode of G is similar to the mode of A, but when the sensitivity is detected to be insufficient according to the analysis result of the first round, the cuvette is made another round to dispense the same sample again at the sample dispensing position. This is the case where the sensitivity is increased to perform more accurate measurement.

Table 2 shows an example of analysis focusing on one cuvette in the reaction line when the analysis items of the various modes described above are analyzed by the random access method.

In the first round, the analysis items in the mode A are analyzed. In the second and third rounds, the analysis items in the mode C are analyzed. In the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively. The analysis items in the mode A are analyzed respectively, and the analysis items in the mode F are analyzed in the sixth to eighth rounds, and the analysis items in the D mode are analyzed in the next ninth to eleventh rounds. Is analyzed, and in the following rounds 12 and 13, the analysis items in the mode B are analyzed. Therefore, in the example shown in Table 2, a total of five modes are analyzed for the analysis items having different reaction times by the twelfth cycle.

On the other hand, for comparison with this example, Table 3 shows an example in which measurement is performed in the same order on the analysis items in the same mode as in Table 2 using the conventional apparatus (Table 2 shows the conventional apparatus. The analysis of the modes of D, E and F cannot be performed because it has only the analytical ability to the eye, but in this table,
For comparison, it is created assuming that it has the analysis capability up to the third round. ).

As shown in Table 3, it is impossible to analyze the analysis items in the mode longer than F. However, B, which has a longer reaction time than the analysis item of mode A,
The analysis on the analysis items in the C, D and F modes is
There is considerable waste of time in the cuvettes in mode A to perform with the analysis of the analysis items in mode A. In addition, the cuvettes in the modes B and C waste 6 minutes per cycle.

Moreover, the conventional apparatus has a mechanism for cleaning all the cuvettes that have come to the cleaning position. Therefore, in order to be able to analyze the analysis items in the F mode of the reaction time of 17 minutes, the cuvette is cycled. It is necessary to make the time to be performed about three times as long as the mode of A. So, for example,
Since the number of cuvettes is increased by that amount, the diameter of the cuvette rotor is increased compared to this example, and a high-speed measuring device is required because the number of photometric points in one cycle of the measuring device increases. Inevitably increases the size and cost of the device. In addition, in order to enable the dispensing of many reagents such as the third reagent or the fourth reagent, it is necessary to provide a reagent dispensing device around the reaction line 5 in a number corresponding to the dispensing. And expensive.

Further, when the same analysis as shown in Table 2 is performed with this conventional apparatus, it takes 2 hours and 6 minutes for 7 rounds, but in this example, it takes 1 hour and 18 minutes for 13 rounds. ,
The time for one round is about three times that of the present example. Therefore, the analysis time of seven rounds in the conventional apparatus is the same as that in the case of performing the analysis time of 21 rounds in the present example, and the present example has less waste of time and superior processing capacity than the conventional apparatus. I have.

Further, in the conventional apparatus, re-analysis performed by increasing sensitivity by re-adding a sample, dispensing of a third reagent, dispensing of a fourth reagent, and the like are performed.
For example, long reaction time measurement, which requires dispensing of many reagents, becomes increasingly difficult.

(G) Effects of the Invention The present invention provides a chemical analysis method in which a plurality of reaction vessels are moved in the order of a sample dispensing position, a reagent dispensing position, a measuring position, and a washing position to perform a reaction at the washing position. Cleaning of containers is not performed selectively if the reaction time of the analysis item is not completed, so that analysis can be performed without wasting time compared to conventional analysis methods. Therefore, a plurality of analysis items having different reaction times can be analyzed in a short time.

The present invention provides, in an automatic chemical analyzer, cleaning nozzles are grouped for each cleaning unit, and separately for each unit,
Since it is attached to the washing support device, unlike the conventional automatic chemical analyzer, it is possible to wash individually, and it is possible to selectively wash or not to wash.

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of reaction vessels such as cuvettes is increased even when analysis is performed on an analysis item having a long reaction time as a result of performing selective cleaning in accordance with the required reaction time. Since the automatic chemical analysis can be performed without difficulty, the diameter of the turntable does not increase as compared with the conventional automatic chemical analyzer, and the size of the automatic chemical analyzer can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, unlike a conventional automatic chemical analyzer, even if an analysis sample of an analysis item having a longer reaction time and an analysis sample of an analysis item having a shorter reaction time are analyzed together by an automatic chemical analyzer, the Analysis of a sample of an analysis item with a short time can be efficiently performed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the processing capacity can be increased and the number of reaction vessels used can be reduced as compared with the conventional automatic chemical analyzer, which is economical.

Further, according to the present invention, the reanalysis when a good analytical value cannot be obtained due to insufficient sensitivity can be further dispensed with the same sample without washing the reaction vessel to increase the sensitivity. The analysis sample and the analysis reagent are not wasted as compared with the method and the apparatus of the above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial plan view of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention, which is simplified for convenience of explanation. As for the reference numerals in the figure, 1 is an automatic analyzer, 2 is a reaction disk, 3 is a cuvette rotor, 4 is a cuvette, 5 is a reaction line, 6 is a sample cup, 7 is a sampling table, 8 is a sample dispenser, 9 Is a nozzle portion, 10 is a reciprocating movement path of the nozzle portion, 11 is a sample collection position, 12 is a sample dispensing position,
13 is an intermittent rotation direction, 14 is a reagent container, 15 is a reagent table, 16 is a reagent dispenser, 17 is a nozzle part, 18 is a reciprocating movement path of the nozzle part, 19 is a reagent collecting position, and 20 is a reagent dispensing. position,
21 and 22 are cuvette cleaning positions, 23 is a cuvette draining position, 24 is a drainage nozzle, 25 is a cleaning liquid injection nozzle, 26 is a moving device, 27 is a nozzle support device, 28 is a cleaning liquid injection nozzle,
29 is a cleaning liquid discharge nozzle, 30 is a moving device, 31 is a nozzle support device, 32 is a draining discharge nozzle, 33 is a moving device, 34 is a nozzle support device, 35 is a pipeline, 36 is an open / close valve, 37 is a pipeline, 38
Is a discharge pump, 39 is a pipeline, 40 is an on-off valve, 41 is a pipeline,
42 is a cleaning liquid supply pump, 43 is a pipeline, 44 is an on-off valve, 45
Is a pipe, 46 is a pipe, 47 is an open / close valve, 48 is a pipe, 49 is a pipe, 50 is an open / close valve, 51 is a pipe, 52 is a thermostat, 53 is an absorbance measuring device, and 54 is an absorbance measurement area. It is.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] Claims: 1. A method comprising: intermittently moving a plurality of reaction vessels;
Stop the sample dispensing position, reagent dispensing position, measurement position, reaction solution discharge position, washing liquid injecting and discharging position, washing water injecting and discharging position, and draining and drying positions in order, and perform this intermittent movement. In the stop phase, the sample is dispensed at the sample dispensing position, a reagent is dispensed to the dispensed sample at the reagent dispensing position to cause a reaction, and the reaction product is measured at the measurement position. Then, the reaction solution is discharged at the discharge position of the reaction solution, and the cleaning solution is injected and discharged into the reaction container at the cleaning liquid injection and discharge positions, and the reaction container is washed with the cleaning water at the cleaning water injection and discharge positions. In a chemical analysis method in which the inside of a reaction vessel is cleaned by drying at a draining and drying position and circulating to a sample dispensing position, and a plurality of analysis samples having different analysis times are continuously analyzed, Analysis term to be analyzed The multiple reaction vessels are moved intermittently from the reagent dispensing position to the draining and drying positions in a time shorter than the longest reaction time in the above, and the reaction vessels for the analysis items for which the reaction time has not ended are intermittently moved. At the discharge position of the reaction solution and the pouring and discharging positions of the cleaning solution, the pouring and discharging positions of the cleaning water, and the draining and drying positions, selectively stopping the individual cleaning operations of the respective positions without performing the respective cleaning operations, and For the reaction container of the analysis item in which the reaction is continued and the reaction time, which is intermittently sent after the reaction container, has ended, the reaction liquid is discharged and the cleaning liquid is injected and the cleaning liquid is injected at the discharge and cleaning liquid injection and discharge positions. The washing water is injected and discharged at the washing water injecting and discharging positions, and the draining and drying are performed at the draining and drying positions. Chemical analysis method comprising. 2. A reaction line in which a plurality of reaction vessels are arranged, a sample dispenser, a reagent dispenser, a reaction device, a reaction solution discharge nozzle, a washing solution injection and discharge nozzle along the reaction line. In an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a washing water injecting / discharging nozzle, and a draining / drying nozzle in that order, discharging of a reaction liquid connected to a discharge pump and a cleaning liquid supply pump via an on-off valve, and a cleaning liquid injecting / discharging nozzle, a discharge pump The washing water injecting and discharging nozzles connected to the cleaning liquid supply pump via an on-off valve, and the draining and drying nozzles connected to the discharge pump via an on-off valve are movable separately for each cleaning unit of the reaction vessel. An automatic chemical analyzer attached to a nozzle support device.