JP2725858B2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for analyzing components such as serum and urine, and more particularly to a support mechanism for a cuvette containing a sample and a reagent.

[Conventional technology]

In an automatic analyzer for analyzing components such as serum and urine, a method of stirring a reaction solution in a cuvette containing a sample and a reagent involves inserting a stirring rod into the reaction solution and rotating the rod. Generally adopted.

However, according to this method, since a variety of reaction liquids are stirred with one stirring rod, there is a problem of cross-contamination between the reaction liquids.

As a solution to the above problem,
No. -18120 discloses a technique of rotating the cuvette and stirring the reaction solution in the cuvette, which generally uses a cuvette holding member having a cylindrical hole for receiving the cuvette. It is.

However, in the above-described prior art, that is, in the prior art in which the cuvette rotates and stirs the reaction solution in the cuvette, scratches are generated on the cuvette surface due to rotational friction between the cuvette and the cuvette holding member, and further, the cuvette is held. There is no knowledge of the occurrence of wear of the members, and a scratch on the surface of the cuvette immediately gives an error to the analytical data in the case of direct photometry.

In contrast, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-174866 discloses that the cuvette is eccentrically rotated when the cuvette is eccentrically rotated in an automatic analyzer that supports the upper and lower portions of the cuvette and stirs the reaction solution by rotating the cuvette. A technique is disclosed in which the cuvette is raised to be in a rotation-free state.Accordingly, scratches on the cuvette surface due to rotational friction between the cuvette and the cuvette holding member, and further, abrasion of the cuvette holding member can be eliminated. it can.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, it is very important to measure the absorbance of the reaction solution before and after stirring the reaction solution, that is, to compare and measure the light transmittance before and after adding the reagent to the sample in the cuvette.
In other words, it is very important that the cuvette is fixed with good reproducibility before and after the addition of the reagent, that is, before and after the rotation and stirring.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the problem of cross-contamination between reaction solutions, and furthermore, it is possible to eliminate the occurrence of scratches on the cuvette surface due to the rotational friction between the cuvette and the cuvette holding member, and the occurrence of abrasion of the cuvette holding member. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic analyzer in which the measurement accuracy is further improved as compared with the prior art.

[Means for solving the problem]

The object is to support the upper and lower portions of a cuvette containing a sample and a reagent, and to a cuvette lower supporting member that supports the lower portion of the cuvette, the cuvette is eccentrically rotated and the cuvette is stirred prior to stirring the reaction solution. In an automatic analyzer provided with a lifting means for raising the rotation to a rotation-free state, the cuvette is configured to receive photometry by a photometer and stirring by a stirring mechanism in a state where the cuvette is immersed in constant temperature water of a constant temperature bath. A projection is provided on the side surface, and the reaction disk for transferring the cuvette is provided with a cuvette side support holder for supporting the side surface of the cuvette.The cuvette side support holder is provided on the cuvette side surface when measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution. Form a split groove that fits and locks with the projected projection and is eccentric with respect to the center axis of the cuvette. A sharp projection is provided on the outer bottom of the cuvette, and a concave portion that supports the sharp projection on the outer bottom of the cuvette is provided on the upper surface of the lower cuvette supporting member that supports the lower portion of the cuvette, and is formed on the upper surface of the lower cuvette supporting member. The cuvette that has become free to rotate by raising the cuvette lower support member in a state where the recessed portion pivotally supports the sharp protrusion provided on the outer bottom of the cuvette, and detaching the side protrusion of the cuvette from the split groove of the cuvette side support holder. Is rotated by the driving force of the stepping motor transmitted through the cuvette upper support member to expand the sales of the reaction solution, and the reaction disk is held in a state where the side projections of the cuvette are engaged with the split grooves of the cuvette side support holder. This is achieved by rotating the cuvette so that the cuvette is moved and measured across the light flux of the photometer.

[Action]

The cuvette is subjected to photometry by a photometer and stirring by a stirring mechanism while being immersed in constant temperature water in a constant temperature bath.

The cuvette lower support member is lifted while the concave portion formed on the upper surface of the cuvette lower support member supports the sharp protrusion provided on the outer bottom of the cuvette, and the side protrusion of the cuvette is detached from the split groove of the cuvette side support holder. Let
The rotation-free cuvette is rotated for stirring the reaction solution by the driving force of the stepping motor transmitted through the cuvette upper support member.

The reaction disk is rotated in a state where the side projection of the cuvette is engaged with the split groove of the cuvette side support holder, and the cuvette is transferred and measured so as to cross the light flux of the photometer.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to one embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of an automatic analyzer.

In FIG. 5, a sampling mechanism 2
, When a certain amount of the sample is dispensed into the cuvette 3,
Subsequently, the reagent 6 is added into the cuvette 3 via the reagent dispensing mechanism 7 to start the reaction. The cuvette 3 is immersed in constant temperature water 5 in a constant temperature bath 4 so that the reaction is performed at a constant temperature. The cuvettes 3 are arranged on a large number of reaction disks 11 so that a large number of specimens can be analyzed at the same time. The stirring of the sample and the reagent is performed by the stirring mechanism 10 as described later. When the reaction is started in the cuvette 3, the absorbance of the reaction solution changes. The change in the absorbance is measured by the photometer 9 and data is sequentially output. The cuvette 3 after the measurement is discarded by the cuvette attaching / detaching device 8,
Instead, a new cuvette 3 is automatically loaded into the reaction disk 11.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a main part of the device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1 and 2 show a state in which photometry is possible, that is, a state in which the cuvette 3 is pressed into the cuvette side support holder 12. The photometry is performed at the moment when the cuvette 3 crosses the optical axis of the photometer 9 by rotating the reaction disk 11.

The cuvette 3 and the cuvette side support holder 12
If the two are not securely fixed, the photometric accuracy decreases. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the cuvette side support holder 12 is formed in a thin ring shape, and a split groove 16 is provided in the holder. On the other hand, the cuvette 3 has a cylindrical portion that is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the ring of the cuvette side support holder 12, and is further provided with a projection 17 that fits into the split groove 16.
This stops the cuvette 3 from rotating. That is, the cuvette 3 is securely fixed to the reaction disk 11 by press-fitting the cylindrical portion of the cuvette 3 into the ring-shaped portion of the cuvette side support holder 12.

FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a state during stirring of the reaction solution.

In FIG. 4, when the bellows-shaped cuvette lower support member 15 having the concave portion 19 at the upper part, that is, the concave portion 19 that supports the sharp projection 18 provided on the outer bottom of the cuvette 3, rises, the cuvette 3 is lifted. When the cuvette 3 is lifted in this manner, the cuvette upper end cylindrical portion that has been pressed into the cuvette side support holder 12 is released from the thin ring-shaped portion of the holder 12, and the cuvette 3 is in a free state. Then, the upper end opening of the cuvette 3 is pressed against the cuvette upper support member 13, that is, the cuvette upper support member 13 attached to the shaft tip of a stepping motor 14 which is a stirring motor. The cuvette upper support member 13 is formed in a quadrangular pyramid shape as shown in FIG. 1, and the opening of the cuvette 3 is also formed in a quadrangular pyramid shape as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. Since the cuvette 3 is formed, if the stepping motor 14 is turned while the opening of the cuvette 3 is engaged with the upper cuvette support member 13, the cuvette 3 can rotate. Is stirred.

After stirring the reaction solution, the stepping motor 14 is lowered,
When the cuvette upper support member 13 attached to the tip of the shaft of the stepping motor 14 and the cuvette 3 engaged with the support member 13 are lowered, the cylindrical portion provided at the upper end of the cuvette 3 is re-established. Pressed into the thin ring-shaped part of the cuvette side support holder 12,
Finally, since the upper edge of the holder 12 and the lower edge of the cylindrical portion of the cuvette 3 are in contact with each other, when the stepping motor 14 is rotated in this state, the projection 17 (see FIG. 1) provided on the side surface of the cuvette 3 When the projection 17 reaches the position of the split groove 16 (see FIG. 3) provided on the side surface of the twelve, the projection 17 returns into the split groove 16.

In short, according to the present embodiment, there is no problem of cross-contamination between the reaction solutions, and when the cuvette is eccentrically rotated, the cuvette is raised to be in a rotation-free state, and the cuvette and the cuvette holding member are caused to rotate freely. In this kind of apparatus that can eliminate the occurrence of scratches on the cuvette surface and the occurrence of wear of the cuvette holding member, the reaction of the reaction solution is always performed because the cuvette 3 is immersed in the constant temperature water 5 in the constant temperature bath 4. It is performed at a constant temperature and does not cause variation in measurement accuracy.
When stirring the reaction solution, the cuvette lower support member 15 in the constant temperature water 5 does not need to be rotated, and the cuvette lower support member 15 only moves up and down.
The structure of 15 is simple, and 5
It is not necessary to adopt a structure that scatters water, and there is no need for a drip-proof means.

Further, according to the present invention, the side projection 17 of the cuvette 3 engages with the split groove 16 of the cuvette side support holder 12 even when the cuvette 3 on the reaction disk 11 can be made free to rotate when the reaction solution is stirred. In this state, the reaction disk 11 is rotated and the cuvette 3 is moved and measured so as to cross the light beam of the photometer 9.
The light flux passage surface of the cuvette 3 during photometry can always be the same, and the reliability of measurement can be increased.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a sharp projection 18 eccentric to the center axis of the cuvette 3 is provided on the outer bottom of the cuvette 3, and a cuvette lower support member 15 for supporting the lower portion of the cuvette 3 is provided. If a concave portion 19 that supports the tip projection 18 is provided, the eccentric rotation of the cuvette 3 is easily performed, and a strong accelerating vibration is given to the reaction solution, so that a high stirring effect can be obtained.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, there is no problem of cross-contamination between reaction solutions, and when the cuvette is eccentrically rotated, the cuvette is raised to be in a rotation-free state, and the cuvette and the cuvette holding member are rotated on the cuvette surface by rotational friction. In this type of device that can eliminate the occurrence of scratches and further the abrasion of the cuvette holding member, the reaction of the reaction solution is always performed at a constant temperature because the cuvette is immersed in constant temperature water in a constant temperature bath. It does not cause a variation in accuracy, and does not rotate the cuvette lower support member in the constant temperature water during the stirring of the reaction solution, and the cuvette lower support member only moves up and down. The structure is simple and there is no need to adopt a structure that scatters constant temperature water around when stirring the reaction solution. It does not require.

Further, according to the present invention, when stirring the reaction liquid, the cuvette on the reaction disk can be rotated freely, but the reaction is performed in a state where the side projection of the cuvette is engaged with the split groove of the cuvette side support holder. Since the disk is rotated and the cuvette is transferred and measured so as to cross the light beam of the photometer, the light passage surface of the cuvette at the time of the transfer and light measurement can always be the same, and the reliability of measurement can be increased. it can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a main part of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the connection between the cuvette 3 and the cuvette side support holder 12, FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a state when the reaction solution is stirred, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of the automatic analyzer. It is. 3 ... cuvette, 4 ... constant temperature bath, 5 ... constant temperature water, 9 ...
… Photometer, 10… stirring mechanism, 11… reaction disk, 12…
... cuvette side support holder, 13 ... cuvette upper support member, 14 ... stepping motor, 15 ... cuvette lower support member, 16 ... split groove, 17 ... protrusion, 18 ... sharp protrusion, 19 ... recess.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cuvette lower supporting member that supports the upper and lower portions of a cuvette containing a sample and a reagent and supports the lower portion of the cuvette, before the cuvette is eccentrically rotated and the reaction liquid is stirred before the cuvette is stirred. Wherein the cuvette is configured to receive photometry by a photometer and stirring by a stirring mechanism in a state where the cuvette is immersed in constant temperature water of a constant temperature bath, wherein the cuvette is A projection is provided on the side surface of the cuvette, and a reaction disk for transferring the cuvette is provided with a cuvette side support holder for supporting the side surface of the cuvette.The cuvette side support holder has a cuvette side surface for measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution. A split groove that fits and locks with the provided projection is formed, and it is deviated from the center axis of the cuvette. A sharp projection is provided on the outer bottom of the cuvette, and a concave portion that supports the sharp projection on the outer bottom of the cuvette is formed on the upper surface of the lower cuvette supporting member that supports the lower portion of the cuvette. The cuvette that has become free to rotate by raising the cuvette lower support member in a state where the recessed portion pivotally supports the sharp protrusion provided on the outer bottom of the cuvette, and detaching the side protrusion of the cuvette from the split groove of the cuvette side support holder. Is rotated for stirring the reaction liquid by the driving force of the stepping motor transmitted via the cuvette upper support member, and the reaction disk is held in a state where the side projection of the cuvette is engaged with the split groove of the cuvette side support holder. The automatic analyzer is characterized in that the cuvette is rotated and transported and photometrically moved across the luminous flux of the photometer. Place.