JP2865814B2 - Automatic chemical analyzer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Purpose of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer that performs analysis of a desired sample using a plurality of analysis modules.

(Prior Art) For example, serum collected from the human body is used as a sample (sample) and reacted with a desired reagent corresponding to an analysis item.
There is known an automatic chemical analyzer in which the concentration of a specific component in the reaction solution is measured by, for example, a colorimetric method to analyze a desired item. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a random access type analyzer as a conventional example of such an automatic chemical analyzer, in which a constant temperature water 26 in a constant temperature bath 25 is intermittently moved in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving source (not shown). Reaction vessel 27
(27a, 27b, 27c,...) Are arranged in plurality. A sampling probe 13 is arranged at a position A around the thermostat 25, a reagent probe 12 is arranged at a position B, and a stirrer 28 is arranged at a position C. A photometric system 29 is provided at an intermediate position of the movement path of the reaction vessel 27, and the reaction vessel 27 crosses the optical path l from the light source 30 so that the absorbance of the reaction solution can be measured by the detector 31. ing.

A sample to be analyzed by the sampling probe 13 is dispensed from a sample container (not shown) into the reaction container 27 facing the position A while each reaction container 27 is stopped.
A reagent that reacts with the sample by the reagent probe 12 is dispensed from a reagent container (not shown) into the reaction container 27 facing the position. In the reaction vessel 27 facing the position C, the sample and the reagent are stirred by the stirrer 28, and the reaction vessel 27 moved to the photometric system 29 in this way is analyzed for the desired item by measuring the absorbance. Will be performed.

In order to flexibly cope with the diversification of measurement items in such an analyzer, a plurality of analysis processing systems, that is, analysis modules are prepared as shown in FIG. As described above, in an analyzer having a plurality of analysis modules, it is necessary to frequently replenish reagents to individual analysis modules and to replace them as the analysis processing capacity is improved. For this purpose, it is important to always manage and maintain the necessary amount and type of reagents.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In such an analyzer having a plurality of analysis modules, it is difficult to smoothly replenish or replace reagents corresponding to each analysis module. There have been cases where the processing capacity of the module cannot be fully exhibited.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide an automatic chemical analyzer that does not require replenishment or replacement of reagents for individual analysis modules.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for dispensing a sample and a reagent into a reaction vessel and analyzing the sample according to a preselected analysis item. In an automatic chemical analyzer having a plurality of analysis modules, a reagent module for supplying a reagent through a transport path to a plurality of analysis modules and a plurality of analysis modules And a control unit for controlling the supply of the reagent or the sample to a required analysis module by using the common transport path to supply the sample.

(Operation) By communicating a plurality of analysis modules with a reagent module and a sample module via a common transport path, it is possible to arbitrarily replenish or exchange reagents for necessary ones of the plurality of analysis modules. it can. Therefore, it is not necessary to replenish or replace the reagent for each module, so that it is possible to flexibly cope with diversification of measurement items.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic chemical analyzer according to the present invention. Reference numerals 1 to 4 each represent a random access type analysis module, for example, using four analysis modules. Reference numeral 5 denotes a reagent module for storing and adjusting various reagents to be reacted with a sample according to an analysis item;
Reference numeral 7 denotes a supply module for supplying and adjusting various samples to be analyzed by the sample module. Reference numeral 7 denotes a transport path which is composed of a belt or the like and transfers necessary reagents and samples from the reagent module 5 and the sample module 6 to the target analysis modules 1 to 4. Reference numeral 8 denotes an ID reading device for reading an ID from a reagent or a sample passing through the transport path 7 by an ID reading device.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reagent is contained in a reagent container 18, and the reagent container 18 is detachably inserted into a reagent container holder 18A. The reagent ID storage unit 2 is located on the side of the reagent container holder 18A.
1 is provided. The sample is stored in a sample container 19, and the sample container 19 is detachably inserted into a sample container holder 20. A sample ID storage unit 22 is provided on a side surface of the sample container holder 20.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a control device which is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), controls the whole operation, and performs necessary control operations according to the reading result of the ID reading device 8. For example, the control device 9 controls the reagent module 5 to instruct the replenishment and replacement of the necessary analysis module with respect to the analysis module and control the arrangement of measurement items. The control device 9 controls the sample module 6 to supply an analysis sample to a necessary analysis module or supply a standard sample for device calibration, a sample for quality control, and the like.

FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration of a main part of the analyzer of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1. For example, a configuration in which a reagent and a sample are supplied to the analysis module 1 from the reagent module 5 and the sample module 6, respectively. Is shown. A reagent section 10 is provided in the analysis module 1, and a reagent required for analysis is supplied from the reagent module 5 via the transport path 7, so that the reagent container 10 can be set together with the reagent container holder 18A. The reagent section 10 is formed in a disk shape as shown in the figure, and a reagent is held in a reagent container holder 18A through an opening 10A.
Each can be attached and detached. The disk-shaped reagent section 10 is rotatable. When replacing the reagent, the reagent container holder 18A is pushed out of the center of the disk into the transfer path 7 by a lever (not shown), and the disk can be rotated when the lever returns to near the center of the disk again. It is configured as follows.
Similarly, a reaction section 11 is provided, in which a plurality of reaction vessels 11A are arranged, and a sample to be analyzed is placed in a sample module 6.
Is supplied via the transport path 7 so that it can be accommodated. The reaction unit 11 has a function of performing analysis processing equivalent to that of the analyzer shown in FIG. 4, for example.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a reagent probe which performs a swinging motion as shown by an arrow in the drawing, so that a desired reagent is dispensed from the reagent container 18 of the reagent section 10 and dispensed to the reaction vessel 11A of the reaction section 11. 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a sampling probe that performs a swinging motion as shown by the arrow in the drawing to take a sample from the sample container 19 in the sample container holder 20 that has moved along the transport path 7 and divide it into the reaction container 11A of the reaction unit 11. Work to pour. Reference numeral 14 denotes a reagent exchange mechanism for exchanging the reagent supplied to the reagent section 10 together with the reagent container holder 18A as necessary. The reagent exchange is performed through the opening 10A of the reagent section 10. Reference numeral 15 denotes a sample stopper for stopping the sample container holder 20 at a position before the sampling probe 13, and reference numeral 16 denotes a reagent stopper for stopping the reagent container holder 18A at the reagent supply position or the replacement position. Reference numeral 17 denotes a reagent container holder 18A or a sample container holder 20 which has moved through the transport path 7 by a stopper sending mechanism.
Is pushed out to the return path 7A by the delivery mechanism 17A.

 Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

First, a sample container 19 containing a desired sample from the sample module 6 under the control of the control device 9 is supplied to the transport path 7 for each sample container holder 20, and the sample ID is read by the ID reading device 8.
After the sample ID is read from the storage unit 22, when the sample sampling position of the required analysis module is reached, the sample stopper
Stopped by 15. Then sampling probe 13
As a result, a sample is dispensed from the sample container 19 and dispensed to the reaction container 11A of the reaction section 11. When the sample sampling is completed, the sample stopper 15 is retracted, and the sample container holder 20 is transported first. If the sample container holder 20 reaches an unnecessary analysis module, the holder 20 passes through this analysis module to the next analysis module under the control of the controller 9, and when the required analysis module is reached, Such a sampling operation is performed.

Next, the reagent container 18 containing the desired reagent from the reagent module 5 based on the control of the controller 9 is placed in the reagent container holder 18A.
Is supplied to the transport path 7 and the ID reading device 8 outputs
After the reagent ID is read from the storage unit 21, if the reagent ID corresponds to the analysis module that has arrived, the reagent is stopped by the reagent stopper 16. Subsequently, the reagent container holder 18A is passed through the opening 10A by the reagent exchange mechanism 14.
Is set in the reagent section 10 for each. That is, similarly to the sampling of the sample, the desired reagent is supplied only to the necessary analysis module under the control of the control device 9. If replacement is necessary, the reagent container holder 18 is pulled out by the reagent replacement mechanism 14 while being stopped by the reagent stopper 16. Then, the substitute reagent container holder 18A is set.
When the sample container holder 20 is located at the reagent stopper 15, the reagent replacing mechanism 14 also has a stopper mechanism that works so as not to send out the reagent container holder 18A first.

The reagent container holder 18A drawn out for replacement is in the transport path 7
To the return transport path 7A by the stopper transport mechanism 17.
Is returned to the reagent module 5 via the

According to the present embodiment, when the reagent container holder 18A containing the reagent is set in the reagent unit 10, the reagent ID storage unit 21 is provided in the reagent container holder 18A, and the reagent ID is stored in the reagent container holder 18A.
By reading with the D reading device 8, the reagent can be supplied only to the necessary analysis module. This eliminates the need for replenishment or replacement of reagents for individual analysis modules as in the related art, so that the processing capacity of each analysis module is not reduced, and it is possible to flexibly cope with diversification of measurement items. Accordingly, maintenance and management of reagents in each analysis module are not required, and centralized management becomes possible.

In this embodiment, the example in which the reagent is supplied after the sample is supplied has been described, but the order may be any order. Also, the number of analysis modules can be arbitrarily set.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of analysis modules, a reagent module, and a sample module are connected via a common transport path. It can be supplied and the replenishment and replacement of the reagent can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a layout diagram showing a specific configuration of a main part of the embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a conventional analyzer. 1 to 4: Analysis module, 5: Reagent module, 6: Sample module, 7: Transport path, 7A: Return transport path, 8: ID reader, 9: Control device (CPU), 10 … Reagent part, 11… Reaction part, 14… Reagent replacement mechanism, 17… Stopper delivery mechanism, 18A …… Reagent container holder, 20 …… Sample container holder, 21 …… Reagent ID storage part, 22 …… Sample ID storage unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-60-115867 (JP, A) JP-A-63-141457 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01N 35/00-35/10

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An automatic chemical analyzer having a plurality of analysis modules for dispensing a sample and a reagent into a reaction container and performing an analysis process on the sample according to a preselected analysis item,
A reagent module for supplying a reagent to a required one of a plurality of analysis modules via a transport path, and a sample for supplying a sample to the required one of a plurality of analysis modules using the transport path in common An automatic chemical analyzer comprising: a module; and control means for controlling the supply of the reagent or the sample to a required analysis module.