JP2845248B2 - Blood coagulation measuring device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a blood coagulation measuring apparatus for automatically measuring the coagulation ability of a blood sample, such as a blood coagulation screening test and identification or quantification of abnormalities of coagulation factors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, the principle of a conventional blood coagulation measurement will be described. Coagulation test items for blood samples
Five typical items are PT item (prothrombin time), APTT item (activated partial thromboplastin time), Fib item (fibrinogen), T item (thrombotest), H item (hepaplastin test), and the like. At the same time or in any combination.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an optical detection method for measuring the coagulation ability of a blood sample as a change in scattered light intensity. In this method, a blood sample such as plasma is placed in a transparent reaction vessel, and then a dedicated reagent corresponding to each test item is injected to optically detect turbidity changes, for example, when fibrinogen is converted to fibrin. Is what you do. Light emitted from a light source such as a light-emitting diode enters a reaction vessel, and scattered light generated by blood coagulation is converted into an electric signal by a light-receiving element such as a photodiode, and scattered by a display device such as a display meter via an amplifier. Displays the change in light intensity. FIG.
The relationship between the state of the blood coagulation reaction and the signal of the scattered light intensity is shown in FIG. Generally, the scattered light intensity does not change much immediately after injection of the reagent (STEP 1), but gradually increases after a predetermined time has elapsed (STEPs 2 to 3), and saturates to a constant signal level before the end of the coagulation reaction (STEP 4). The turbidity of the blood sample changes as the coagulation reaction progresses, and the intensity of the scattered light changes over time.Therefore, the time from the start of the coagulation reaction until reaching the predetermined scattered light level is defined as `` coagulation time ''. Thus, the detection signal is digitized. FIG. 6 shows an example of the definition of the “clotting time”, wherein the scattered light intensity before the injection of the reagent is 0% and the scattered light intensity after the completion of the coagulation reaction is 1%.
Scattered light intensity is 5% from the start of reagent injection.
The time until reaching 0% is defined as "clotting time".

Conventionally, there have been proposed some blood coagulation measuring apparatuses for automatically performing a coagulation test on a large number of blood samples by utilizing such a principle of blood coagulation measurement.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a conventional blood coagulation measuring device. Reaction vessels such as cuvettes are conveyed in a line on a conveying means such as a belt conveyor. When the reaction container reaches a predetermined position, a predetermined amount of blood sample is injected by the sample injection means, and when it is transported and reaches another predetermined position, a predetermined amount of reagent is injected by the reagent injection means, and the blood coagulation reaction starts. I do. The reaction vessel is
Immediately after the injection of the reagent, the blood sample is transported to a position provided with an optical measurement unit for measuring the coagulation ability of the blood sample, and stopped until the measurement is completed. The scattered light intensity signal corresponding to the change in turbidity of the blood sample is sampled at fixed time intervals, converted into a digital value by an A / D converter, and stored in a memory or the like.
On the other hand, an arithmetic unit such as a CPU performs signal analysis and determines that the scattered light intensity signal has reached a predetermined saturation level. Containers are discarded in storage containers. When the measurement for one reaction vessel is completed, a new reaction vessel is transported in the order of sample injection, reagent injection, and optical measurement. By repeating such a procedure, a large amount of blood sample is automatically measured.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of a conventional blood coagulation measuring device. In this apparatus, a plurality of reagents corresponding to a plurality of test items are prepared.
2, 3, 4... Indicate sample numbers, and letters A, B, C indicate test items. For example, the sample number 1 is stored in the reaction vessel 1B.
Means that the sample and the reagent corresponding to the test item B are injected, and the sample corresponding to the sample number 3 and the reagent corresponding to the test item C are injected into the reaction container 3C.

The reaction vessel such as a cuvette is the same as that shown in FIG.
As in the case of the blood coagulation measuring device of the above, they are arranged in a line in order on a conveying means such as a belt conveyor, and are conveyed in the order of sample injection, reagent injection, and optical measurement. The difference from the blood coagulation measuring apparatus of FIG. 7 is that a plurality of reagents are selected as instructed in advance by a computer program or the like and injected into each reaction vessel, and the scattered light from the reaction vessel is detected. Is that a plurality of optical measuring units are provided at different positions. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously measure the number of reaction vessels as many as the number of optical measurement units, and the processing speed for automatically measuring a large number of blood samples has been increased to some extent.

[0008]

However, in the conventional blood coagulation measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 7, since the reaction vessels are transported one by one in the order of sample injection, reagent injection, and optical measurement, optical measurement is performed. Until the coagulation reaction was completed, it was impossible to start measurement in another reaction vessel, and it was difficult to increase the processing speed of the apparatus. In addition, since the time required for the coagulation reaction to end is widely distributed due to individual differences in blood samples, when a reaction vessel requiring a long time measurement enters optical measurement, the next blood sample measurement is accumulated. There was a problem that it was late.

The conventional blood coagulation measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 8 can simultaneously measure a plurality of reaction vessels. For example, in the figure, the reaction vessels 2A, 2C,
Since the measurement of 3A has been completed, although the coagulation reaction has not yet been completed and the reaction vessels 1A, 1B, 1C, and 2B are being measured, despite the fact that they are to be discarded and the measurement of the next blood sample is to be started, Due to the presence, the reaction vessels 2A, 2C, 3A cannot be disposed of. For this reason, there has been a problem that the overall processing speed is limited by the one having a slow coagulation reaction time among a plurality of reaction vessels which are in simultaneous measurement.

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention speeds up the overall processing speed by individually discharging the reaction vessels for which the coagulation reaction has been completed and the measurement has been completed, and separately supplying new reaction vessels. It is an object of the present invention to provide a blood coagulation measuring device that can be used.

To achieve the above object, a blood coagulation measuring apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of reaction vessels for reacting a blood sample and a reagent, and a sample injection means for injecting a predetermined amount of a blood sample into the reaction container. A reaction table provided with reagent injecting means for injecting a predetermined amount of reagent into the reaction vessel, a coagulation measuring means for loading the reaction vessel, and measuring a coagulation ability of a blood sample for each reaction vessel; Loading into the reaction table
Loading / discharging means for discharging, moving means for repeatedly moving the reaction table to a reaction vessel loading / discharging position, measurement from the reaction table regardless of the order of loading the unused reaction vessel into the reaction table and injecting the sample. A control unit for instructing the termination of the discharge of the reaction vessel.

[0012]

According to the above construction, a reaction table provided with a plurality of coagulation measuring means is provided, and the reaction table is repeatedly moved to a predetermined position to individually load or discharge the reaction vessels on the reaction table. The reaction vessel having completed the measurement is immediately discharged, and another empty reaction vessel can be supplied to the empty space. Therefore, after the measurement of one reaction vessel is completed, the measurement of the next reaction vessel can be started immediately.

Further, even if a reaction vessel requiring a long measurement time appears due to individual differences in blood samples, coagulation measuring means different from the reaction vessel can be effectively used.
Long-term measurements can be made for a particular reaction vessel. Accordingly, the overall processing speed is not limited by the one having a slow coagulation reaction time among a plurality of reaction vessels in the simultaneous measurement.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of one embodiment of a blood coagulation measuring device according to the present invention. A sample container 31 in which a blood sample such as plasma is stored is placed on the sampler 13, while a reagent container 32 in which a reagent corresponding to the test item is stored is placed on the reagent tray 12. These blood samples and reagents are kept cool at a temperature of 5 ° C. to 10 ° C. to prevent deterioration.

The reaction table 11 is loaded with a plurality of reaction vessels 34 such as cuvettes, and is provided with a coagulation measuring means (not shown) for measuring the coagulation ability of the blood sample for each reaction vessel. The coagulation measuring means preferably employs an optical detection method for measuring the coagulation ability of a blood sample as a change in scattered light intensity as shown in FIG. The reaction table 11 linearly moves along a linear guide 41 such as a rail by a linear drive mechanism (not shown) such as a chain or a ball screw, and repeatedly moves to a predetermined position in accordance with an instruction of a program incorporated in the apparatus control unit. It is possible.

Hereinafter, the operation of the blood coagulation measuring apparatus 10 will be described according to the measuring procedure. A plurality of new reaction vessels 33 are prepared in line with the reaction vessel supply unit 20, and the reaction vessels 33 are transported one by one by the reaction vessel loading means 16, and the reaction table 11 is moved. The upper part of the reaction vessel is charged to the non-existent part.

Next, after the sample injecting means 15 such as a pipettor aspirates a predetermined amount of blood sample from the sample container 31, the reaction table 11 and the sample injecting means 15 move, and a new reaction container 34 on the reaction table 11 is moved. Then, the nozzle of the sample injection means 15 is stopped, and the aspirated blood sample is injected into the reaction container 34. And a reagent injection means 14 such as a dispenser.
However, after a predetermined amount of the reagent is aspirated from the reagent container 32, the reaction table 11 and the reagent injecting unit 14 move, and the reagent injecting unit 1 is inserted into the reaction container 34 into which the blood sample has been previously injected.
The nozzle 4 stops, and the sucked reagent is injected into the reaction container 34.

Simultaneously with the injection of the reagent, the coagulation measuring means for the reaction vessel 34 starts the measurement. In the above-described optical detection method, it is necessary to measure the scattered light intensity before the injection of the reagent and after the end of the coagulation reaction. Therefore, the reaction vessel 34 is in a state of being loaded on the reaction table 11 until the end of the coagulation reaction. The reaction table 11 is maintained at a constant temperature so that the temperature at which the blood coagulation reaction is promoted is about 37 ° C.

On the other hand, the reaction vessel having undergone the measurement is discharged from the position of the reaction vessel discharge means 17 by moving the reaction table 11. The discharged reaction container is conveyed and introduced into the discharge port 18 and stored in the reaction container storage unit 21. It should be noted that a new reaction vessel is loaded in an empty place of the reaction table 11.

Next, focusing on the movement of the reaction table 11, the movement of the reaction vessel and the like will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of one embodiment of the blood coagulation measuring device according to the present invention, and FIG.
Indicates the operation state in a stepwise manner. Note that the number 1,
2, 3, 4... Indicate sample numbers, and letters A, B, C indicate test items.

In FIG. 2, a plurality of cuvettes, which are reaction vessels, are placed on the reaction table. A blood sample is injected into the second cuvette from the left, and a blood sample and blood sample are injected into the third cuvette from the left. Reagents are injected and all other cuvettes are in a new state.

In FIG. 3a, 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B,
Blood samples and reagents of 3C and 4A are injected, and each coagulation measuring means performs measurement.

In FIG. 3B, since the measurement of the cuvette containing the 2A blood sample and the reagent has been completed, the reaction table moves and stops at the cuvette discharge position, and the 2A cuvette is discharged.

In FIG. 3C, after a new cuvette is supplied to the discharged place, the reaction table is sequentially moved to inject the blood sample of the sample number 4 and the reagent of the test item B, and wait at the right end.

In FIG. 3D, since the measurement of the cuvette containing the 2C blood sample and the reagent has been completed, the reaction table moves and stops at the cuvette discharge position, and the 2C cuvette is discharged.

In FIG. 3E, after a new cuvette is supplied to the discharged place, the reaction table is sequentially moved to inject the blood sample of the sample number 4 and the reagent of the test item C, and wait at the right end. Hereinafter, such a procedure is repeated to automatically measure a large amount of blood sample.

[0027]

As described above in detail, the blood coagulation measuring apparatus of the present invention has a reaction table provided with a plurality of coagulation measuring means, and the reaction table repeatedly moves to a predetermined position, thereby making it possible to display the blood on the reaction table. It is possible to load or discharge the individual reaction vessels individually, so that the measurement of the next reaction vessel can be started immediately after the measurement of one reaction vessel is completed, thereby greatly improving the overall processing capacity. Can be.

Further, even if a reaction vessel requiring a long measurement time appears due to individual differences in blood samples, it is possible to effectively utilize a coagulation measuring means different from the reaction vessel.
For a specific reaction vessel, accurate measurement can be performed over a long time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of a blood coagulation measuring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of one embodiment of a blood coagulation measuring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state of an embodiment of the blood coagulation measuring device according to the present invention in a stepwise manner.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an optical detection method for measuring the coagulation ability of a blood sample as a change in scattered light intensity.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a state of a blood coagulation reaction and a signal of scattered light intensity.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a definition of “clotting time”.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a conventional blood coagulation measuring device.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of a conventional blood coagulation measuring device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 blood coagulation measuring apparatus 11 reaction table 12 reagent tray 13 sampler 14 reagent injection means 15 sample injection means 16 reaction vessel loading means 17 reaction vessel discharge means 18 outlet 20 reaction vessel supply section 21 reaction vessel storage section 22 data input means 23 display Apparatus 31 Sample container 32 Reagent container 33, 34, 35 Reaction container 41 Linear guide

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of reaction containers for reacting a blood sample and a reagent, a sample injection means for injecting a predetermined amount of a blood sample into the reaction container, and a reagent injection for injecting a predetermined amount of a reagent into the reaction container. Means, a reaction table equipped with the reaction vessel, and a coagulation measuring means for measuring the coagulation ability of the blood sample for each reaction vessel; and loading the reaction vessel into the reaction table.
Loading / discharging means for discharging, moving means for repeatedly moving the reaction table to a reaction vessel loading / discharging position, measurement from the reaction table regardless of the order of loading the unused reaction vessel into the reaction table and injecting the sample. A blood coagulation measuring device comprising: a control unit for instructing the termination of the discharge of the reaction container.