JP2945747B2 - Cleaning equipment for automatic analyzers - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for an automatic analyzer for automatically and chemically analyzing a sample such as blood or urine.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, with the development of diagnostic technology, it has become possible to perform diagnosis very simply and quickly. However,
For this reason, the number of samples and inspection items to be handled are extremely large, and it is practically difficult to process by input.

Under such circumstances, various automatic analyzers have been developed and put into practical use. An example of such an automatic analyzer is shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of a conventionally used automatic analyzer. This device 101
Is a reaction foil 111 for transporting the reaction container 112, a sample dispensing device 113, a reagent dispensing device 114, a stirring device 115, a photometric device 116,
A reaction vessel supply device 117 and a disposal device 118 are provided. The reaction wheel 111 has a plurality of reaction vessel holding portions formed at equal intervals on the same circumference, and rotates intermittently in the direction of the arrow. In the reaction vessel holding portion of the reaction foil 111,
The reaction container 112 is detachably mounted, and is conveyed as the reaction foil 111 rotates. During this transfer, each reaction vessel
At 112, a sample is placed at a predetermined position from a sample container 119 by a sample dispensing device 113 composed of a syringe or the like, and a reagent is placed from a reagent container 120 by a reagent dispensing device 114 also composed of a syringe or the like. Injected. After the sample is injected and the reagent is injected, the inside of the reaction vessel 112 is stirred by the stirring device 115 for a certain period of time. The stirring device 115 performs stirring by vibrating the stirring rod. After that, at a predetermined position, the mixed liquid inside the reaction container 112 is measured by the photometric device 116. The photometric device 116 generally includes a light source, a spectral element such as a filter, and a light receiving element. The reaction container 112 is supplied to the reaction foil 111 by the reaction container supply device 117, and is collected by the disposal device 118 after the analysis.

A problem in the course of proceeding the analysis cycle using such a device is contamination due to contamination of the sample. That is, the outer surface of the sample dispensing device 113 touches the sample when collecting the sample, and the previous sample remains on the outer surface of the sample dispensing device 113 after the sample is injected into the reaction container 112. Therefore, when this sample dispensing device 113 is used as it is for the next sample, the previous sample is mixed with the next sample,
It will be polluted. This is the same for the stirring device 115, and when a plurality of reagents are used, the reagent dispensing device
The same goes for 114.

In order to prevent this foreign substance from being mixed, it is necessary to wash the sample dispensing device, the reagent dispensing device, and the stirring device for each analysis cycle. As such a washing means, there is an apparatus described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-59363. FIG. 11 shows a schematic configuration of this device. This device uses a dispensing probe
29 starts from the sample position. In this position,
The dispensing probe 29 sucks a sample from the sample container 121 by a suction / discharge device (not shown). Next, the dispensing probe 29 moves to the reaction position, and discharges the sample into the reaction container 112. Thereafter, the dispensing probe 29 moves to the cleaning unit container 26. At this time, the pump device 24 sucks the cleaning liquid 21 from the cleaning liquid container 22. The suctioned cleaning liquid 21 is guided to the cleaning unit container 26 through the transfer pipe 23, and is jetted into the container 26 to clean the dispensing probe 29. The polluted cleaning liquid 21 after the cleaning is stored in a waste liquid container 27 as a waste liquid. The washed dispensing probe 29 returns to the sample position again and repeats the same cycle.

FIG. 12 shows the dispensing probe 29 and the pump device 24 described above.
Is shown in a time chart.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned automatic analyzer, analysis of so-called biochemical items for measuring components in blood and measurement of so-called immunity items related to detection of antibodies or antigens are usually performed on the same device.

Since the measurement of the immunity item is generally performed by detecting an agglutination reaction using latex particles, the agglutinated reagent is more likely to remain in the stirring device or the reagent dispensing device than in the case of analyzing the biochemical item. In addition, while analysis of biochemical items mainly measures the amount of components in blood, measurement of immune items requires determination of the presence or absence of antigen-antibody reaction. Washing is more important in the measurement of immunity items.

In the apparatus described in JP-A-57-59363, the discharge time and the discharge amount of the cleaning liquid are fixed at fixed values. For the above-described reasons, the measurement of an immune item in which cleaning is more important. Is set to match. For this reason, when used for the analysis of biochemical items that are relatively easy to remove, the used amount of the cleaning liquid becomes unnecessarily large, so that the cleaning liquid is wasted and the cleaning liquid must be replenished frequently. At the same time, the amount of waste liquid also increases, and treatment of a large amount of polluted liquid is not preferable from the viewpoint of environmental protection. In addition, to increase the cleaning time,
The cycle time becomes longer.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cleaning apparatus for an automatic analyzer, which can reduce the amount of a cleaning liquid to be used to a minimum necessary for obtaining a cleaning effect, thereby minimizing the amount of waste liquid and shortening a cycle time. The purpose is to provide.

[Means for solving the problem]

A cleaning apparatus for an automatic analyzer according to the present invention accommodates a member to be cleaned of the automatic analyzer, and in which a cleaning unit container in which the member to be cleaned is cleaned and a cleaning liquid transferred to the cleaning unit container. A cleaning device for cleaning a member to be cleaned of an automatic analyzer having a pump device, and a transfer pipe for communicating the cleaning device container and the pump device, wherein the cleaning device container and the pump device are used. And a flow controller for controlling the flow rate of the cleaning liquid transferred by the pump device, and communicating with the cleaning unit container and the pump device by the transfer pipe, and the automatic analyzer. An input device for inputting analysis item information of a sample to be analyzed, storing the analysis item information input by the input device, and selecting the cleaning unit from the stored information; An arithmetic unit for performing a predetermined process retrieves the information corresponding to the cleaning member to be accommodated within,
And a controller for receiving the information processed by the arithmetic unit and controlling the flow controller according to the information.

Next, a cleaning device for an automatic analyzer according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning apparatus of the present invention is roughly divided into an operation section 1 and a data processing section 4.
The working unit 1 includes a control device 2 and a cleaning device main body 3,
The data processing unit 4 includes an input device 6 and an arithmetic device 7. In the cleaning device, first, an analysis item of a sample such as blood or urine is input to the arithmetic device 7 by the input device 6.
The information input here is based on the worksheet 5 in which the analysis item information of the sample is described. The input information is stored by the arithmetic unit 7, subjected to arithmetic processing, and transmitted to the control unit 2. The control device 2 that has received the information processed by the arithmetic device 7 controls the cleaning device main body 3 based on the information.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the cleaning device main body 3. The cleaning device main body 3 includes a pump device 24, a flow controller 25, and a cleaning unit container 26 connected via a cleaning liquid transfer pipe 23, and a cleaning liquid container 22 for storing the cleaning liquid 21.
And a waste liquid container 27 for storing a waste liquid. The cleaning liquid 21 sucked from the cleaning liquid container 22 by the pump device 24 is sent to the cleaning unit container 26 through the transfer pipe 23,
It is discharged into the cleaning unit container 26. Inside the washing unit container 26, a member to be washed 29 constituting an automatic analyzer, for example, a sample dispensing probe, a reagent dispensing probe, and a stirring rod are introduced. The member 29 to be washed is provided in the main body of the automatic analyzer, a dispensing container 121 for storing a sample, a reagent, and the like, and / or a reaction container 11 for mixing and stirring the sample and the reagent to perform a reaction.
Moved through 2 and is contaminated with samples, reagents, etc. The member 29 to be cleaned is washed by the cleaning liquid 21 discharged to the container 26 to be cleaned, and then moves to the dispensing container 121 or the reaction container 112 again. The polluted cleaning liquid after the cleaning is accumulated in the waste liquid container 27 from the cleaning unit container 26 as a waste liquid 28. The flow rate controller 25 is provided between the pump device 24 and the washing unit container 26, and according to a command sent from the control device 2,
The flow rate or flow path of the cleaning liquid 21 moving through the transfer pipe 23 is controlled.

When the member to be cleaned 29 is a dispensing probe for a reagent, a sample, or the like, the inner wall thereof can be cleaned using a known device. As such an apparatus, an apparatus that pushes cleaning water from behind a probe is known. When the member to be cleaned 29 is a stirring rod, such a device is not necessary.

Further, the cleaning device for an automatic analyzer of the present invention may be incorporated in the automatic analyzer.

[Action]

The information of the sample analyzed by the automatic analyzer is input from the input device 6 to the arithmetic device 7 based on the worksheet 5 on which the information is described. The arithmetic unit 7 stores the input information, and then takes out information corresponding to the member 29 to be cleaned from the stored information, performs a predetermined process, and executes an optimal cleaning condition, for example, a cleaning liquid. Determine the amount and cleaning time. The determined information is transmitted to the flow rate controller 25 via the control device 2. Flow controller 25
Controls the amount of the cleaning liquid flowing into the cleaning unit container according to the given information. As a result, the cleaning liquid discharged into the cleaning unit container 26 is reduced to the minimum necessary for cleaning, and the cleaning liquid is not wasted.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a specific example of a cleaning apparatus for an automatic analyzer according to the present invention. The cleaning device includes a cleaning unit container 2 connected via a cleaning liquid transfer pipe 23.
6, a computing device 7 having a three-way valve 32 and a pump device 24 and further storing and processing the analysis sample, a keyboard 61 for inputting information of the analysis sample to the computing device 7, and information received from the computing device 7 The control device 2 controls the three-way valve 32 based on the control signal. The member 29 to be washed of the automatic analyzer, for example, a dispensing probe or a stirring rod for a reagent, a sample, or the like, includes a reagent container 34 and / or a reaction container 33 and a washing unit
Reciprocate between 26. The member 29 to be cleaned is a reaction vessel.
When moved from 33 and stored in the washing unit container 26, the pump device 24 starts operating, and the washing liquid 21 is sucked from the washing liquid container 22 and discharged to the washing unit container 26 through the transfer pipe 23. The member 29 to be cleaned stored in the cleaning unit container 26 is cleaned by the discharged cleaning liquid 21. The cleaning liquid polluted by the cleaning of the member to be cleaned 29 is accumulated as a waste liquid 28 in the waste liquid container 27. On the other hand, information on the sample analyzed in the automatic analyzer, for example, information on whether it is an analysis of a biochemical item or an analysis of an immunity item is summarized in the worksheet 5, and the arithmetic unit 7 The information of the keyboard 61
Is input in advance. The arithmetic unit 7 extracts and processes the information corresponding to the member to be cleaned 29 contained in the cleaning unit container 26, and then sends the processed information to the control device 2. The control device 2 controls the three-way valve 32 according to the information received from the arithmetic device 7. The three-way valve 32 is provided between the pump device 24 and the washing unit container 26, and one of its ports is connected to the pump device 24 and the other is connected to the washing unit container 26 via the transfer pipe 23. , And yet another port communicates with the washing liquid container 22 via a transfer tube. The controller 2 controls the flow path of the cleaning liquid 21 by opening and closing the valve of the three-way valve 32 in the direction of the cleaning unit container and the valve in the direction of the cleaning liquid container, thereby controlling the flow rate of the cleaning liquid 21 flowing into the cleaning unit container 26. I do.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a main part of a dispensing probe cleaning device using a three-way valve as a flow controller, similarly to FIG. Here, the driving mechanism of the dispensing probe is also shown. The dispensing probe 48 is supported by an arm 49, and the arm 49 is fixed to a spline shaft 50. The spline shaft 50 is held up and down by a spline bearing 51, and is rotatably fixed to a base 55 by a bearing (not shown). The spline bearing 51 is connected to a rotation motor 54 via a rotation belt 52 and a pair of rotation pulleys 53, and transmits rotation of the rotation motor 54 to a spline shaft 50. Accordingly, with the rotation of the rotary motor 54, the dispensing probe 48 also makes a rotational movement. One hand base
55 is fixed to an upper and lower belt 56, and this upper and lower belt 56
Is mounted on a pair of upper and lower pulleys 57 mounted on a rotating shaft of an upper and lower motor 58. Therefore, the dispensing probe can be moved up and down by rotating the up and down motor. The operation of the device pump 45, the three-way valve 44, and the cleaning unit container 42 connected via the transfer pipe 43 is the same as that of the cleaning device shown in FIG. 3, and the cleaning liquid is sucked from the cleaning liquid container 46 by the pump device 45, The liquid is discharged to the cleaning unit container 42 through the valve 44. The cleaning liquid after the cleaning is accumulated in the waste liquid container 27 as a waste liquid. One of the three-way valve 44 mouth
One is in communication with the washing liquid container 46, and the opening and closing of the three-way valve 44 in the direction of the washing unit container and the opening and closing of the valve in the direction of the washing liquid container are in accordance with information of the arithmetic unit instructed via the control device.

Next, a series of operations of the reagent dispensing probe, including washing using the washing apparatus, will be described with reference to a time chart shown in FIG.

The arithmetic unit 7 of the cleaning device is provided with a keyboard 61
The analysis items and the analysis order of the test sample are input in advance. Here, the analysis of the immunity item requiring a washing time is performed in the first cycle, and the analysis of the biochemical item in which the washing time is relatively short is performed in the second cycle. As shown in FIG. 5, the reagent dispensing probe 48 is initially at the position of the reagent container 47, and first sucks the reagent. Next, the vertical motor 58 rotates to lift the dispensing probe 48 from the reagent container 47, and then the rotary motor 54 rotates to move the dispensing probe 48 onto the reaction container 112 of the reaction foil 111 of the automatic analyzer. Next, the vertical motor 58 is rotated to lower the dispensing probe 48 to a predetermined position, and the sucked reagent is discharged into the reaction container 112. After discharging the reagent, the vertical motor 58 is again rotated to lift the dispensing probe 48 from the reaction container 112, and then the rotary motor 54 is rotated to move the dispensing probe 48 onto the washing unit container 42, and further the vertical motor By rotating 58, the dispensing probe 48 is lowered into the washing section container 42. At this time, the pump device 45 operates and the cleaning liquid is ejected into the cleaning unit container 42,
Wash the dispensing probe 48. In this first cycle, the three-way valve 44 is always open in the direction of the washing container. After a certain period of time, the operation of the pump device 45 ends, and at the same time, the up / down motor 58 rotates, and the dispensing probe is pulled up from the washing unit container 42. Next, the rotation motor 54 is rotated to move the dispensing probe 48 onto a reagent container that stores a reagent for analyzing a biochemical item. Thereafter, the dispensing probe is lowered into the reagent container by rotating the vertical motor 58, and the reagent is aspirated.
Hereinafter, the dispensing probe 48 is moved to the inside of the washing unit container 42 by the same procedure as in the first cycle, and the dispensing probe is washed. In the second cycle, a shorter cleaning time is sufficient than in the first cycle. For this reason, the arithmetic unit 7 judges this and sends an instruction to the control unit 2, and upon receiving this, the control unit 2 switches the discharge direction of the three-way valve 44 from the cleaning unit container direction to the cleaning liquid direction at an appropriate time. Thus, the cleaning liquid discharged from the pump device during the remaining operation time of the pump device 45 returns to the cleaning liquid container 46, and the cleaning liquid is not wasted. Simultaneously with the stop of the pump device 45, the three-way valve 44 is switched again to the cleaning unit container, and the dispensing probe 48 is pulled up from the cleaning unit container 42 by the rotation of the vertical motor 58, and the second cycle ends.

As described above, the description has been given using the reagent dispensing probe. However, even when a sample dispensing probe or a stirring rod is used instead of the reagent dispensing probe, it is possible to effectively use the washing liquid and eliminate wasteful consumption. . As shown by the dotted line in the time chart of the reagent dispensing probe in FIG. 5, the three-way valve was switched during the operation of the pump device to interrupt the flow of the washing liquid into the washing section container, and then the reagent dispensing probe was immediately turned on. They can also be moved. This makes it possible to reduce the cycle time. Further, the input device is not limited to the keyboard, and for example, a combination of a barcode and a barcode reader can be used.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another specific example of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention. This device has the same configuration as the cleaning device shown in FIG. 3 except that a variable gear pump 62 capable of changing the discharge amount using a speed control motor is used instead of the pump device 24. The variable gear pump 62 is also controlled by the control device 2 according to the judgment of the arithmetic device 7.

FIG. 7 is a time chart in the case where the immunity item is analyzed in the first cycle and the biochemical item is analyzed in the second cycle in the same manner as above using this apparatus. Except for the case where the dispensing probe 29 is stopped inside the cleaning unit container 26, the same as the case of FIG. When the dispensing probe 29 is present in the cleaning unit container 26, in the first cycle, the speed of the motor of the variable gear pump 62 is increased to increase the discharge amount of the cleaning liquid, and the probe 29 is discharged with a sufficient amount of the cleaning liquid. Wash. In the second cycle, the speed of the motor of the variable gear pump 62 is reduced to reduce the discharge amount of the cleaning liquid, and the usage amount of the cleaning liquid is kept to a minimum. As described above, by controlling the variable gear pump 62 to change the discharge amount of the cleaning liquid, the three-way valve 32 can control the flow rate only by switching the discharge direction, so that the flow rate can be adjusted more finely.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of still another specific example of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention. This device has the same configuration as the device shown in FIG. 6, and further includes a detergent container 82 having a detergent 81 and a detergent pump 83 for discharging the detergent 81 from the detergent container 82 to the transfer pipe 23. . The detergent 81 sucked from the detergent container 82 by the detergent pump 83 is discharged into the transfer pipe 23 connecting the three-way valve 32 and the washing unit container 26. The detergent pump 83 is controlled by the control device 2 according to the information of the arithmetic device 7.

FIG. 9 is a time chart when the immunity item is analyzed in the first cycle and the biochemical item is analyzed in the second cycle in the same manner as described above using this apparatus. Except for the case where the dispensing probe 29 is stopped inside the cleaning unit container 26, the same as the case of FIG. In the first cycle, the dispensing probe 29 falls into the washing unit container 26, and starts driving the variable gear pump 62 and also starts driving the detergent pump 83 at the same time. As a result, the detergent 81 is discharged into the transfer pipe 23 and mixed with the cleaning liquid 31 in the joint 84, and the obtained mixed solution is discharged into the cleaning unit container 26. Since this mixed solution contains a detergent, the dispensing probe is more strongly stained than when the washing solution is used alone. In the second cycle, the detergent pump 83
Is not performed, and the dispensing probe 29 is washed only with the washing liquid.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the cleaning apparatus for an automatic analyzer of the present invention, the amount of the cleaning liquid used is minimized without impairing the cleaning effect in cleaning the dispensing probe of the automatic analyzer, stirring, etc. Unnecessary consumption and increase in waste liquid can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a schematic configuration of a cleaning apparatus for an automatic analyzer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a cleaning apparatus main body shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cleaning device main body and a drive unit of a dispensing probe in a cleaning device having substantially the same configuration as FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a time chart for explaining the states of the pump device, the three-way valve and the reagent dispensing probe of the cleaning device shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another specific example of the cleaning device of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a time chart for explaining states of a pump device, a three-way valve, and a reagent dispensing probe in the cleaning device shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of still another specific example of the cleaning device of the present invention, and FIG. A pump device in the cleaning device shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a time chart for explaining the states of the one-way valve, the detergent pump and the reagent dispensing probe, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional automatic analyzer, and FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration of a conventional automatic analyzer cleaning device. FIG. FIG. 12 is a time chart showing the state of the cleaning device shown in FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Work part, 2 ... Control device, 3 ... Washing apparatus main body, 4 ... Data processing part, 5 ... Worksheet, 6 ... Input device, 7 ... Computing device, 22, 46 ... Cleaning liquid container, 23, 43 ... transfer pipe, 24, 45 ... pump device, 25 ... flow controller, 26, 42 ... cleaning unit container, 27, 41 ... waste liquid container, 29 ... member to be cleaned, 32, 44 ... three-way valve 48 ... dispensing probe, 49 ... arm, 51 ... spline bearing, 53 ... rotating pulley, 54 ... rotating motor, 57 ... vertical pulley, 58 ... vertical motor, 62: Variable gear pump, 81: Detergent, 82: Detergent container, 83: Detergent pump, 84: Fitting,

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masao Ushikubo 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside O-Limpus Optics Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Mikio Watanabe 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo O-Rimpus Optics (56) References JP-A-2-8746 (JP, A) JP-A-57-59363 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01N 35 / Ten

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cleaning unit container for accommodating a member to be cleaned of an automatic analyzer and in which the member to be cleaned is cleaned, a pump device for transferring a cleaning liquid to the cleaning unit container, A cleaning device for an automatic analyzer for cleaning a member to be cleaned of an automatic analyzer having a cleaning unit container and a transfer pipe for communicating the pump device, the cleaning device being provided between the cleaning unit container and the pump device. A flow controller communicating with the washing unit container and the pump device by the transfer pipe, and adjusting a flow rate of the washing solution transferred by the pump device; and a sample analyzer to be analyzed by the automatic analyzer. An input device for inputting analysis item information; a storage device storing the analysis item information input by the input device; and a washing object stored in the cleaning unit container from the stored information. An automatic device comprising: an arithmetic device that extracts information corresponding to a member and performs a predetermined process; and a control device that receives information processed by the arithmetic device and controls the flow controller according to the information. Cleaning equipment for analyzers. 2. The flow rate controller controls the flow rate of the cleaning liquid by switching a transfer direction of the cleaning liquid between a direction toward the cleaning unit container and a direction toward the cleaning liquid container in which the cleaning liquid is stored. The cleaning device for an automatic analyzer according to claim 1. 3. The cleaning device for an automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said pump device is a pump capable of changing a discharge flow rate of a cleaning solution. 4. A detergent container for storing a detergent, and a transfer pipe provided between the flow controller and the washing unit container, for sucking the detergent from the washing container in accordance with an instruction of the control device. The cleaning device for an automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a detergent pump for discharging the detergent sucked into the inside.