JP3106351B2 - Analysis equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an analyzer for analyzing predetermined components using light, and more particularly to an analyzer suitable for quantifying the concentrations of various components contained in urine and blood.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional analyzer. The analyzer 1 includes a moving device 20 for moving a test piece 4 introduced from a test piece introducing unit (not shown) at predetermined time intervals, and a transport device for feeding the test piece 4 moved by the moving device 20 at a pitch. 30 and an optical device 40 that is provided above a predetermined position of a transport path by the transport device 30 and analyzes the test piece 4 using light.

[0003] The moving device 20 includes a plurality of rails 21 provided in parallel with the transport path, and a movable member 22 movable along the transport path. In this moving device 20, the test piece 4 introduced from the test piece introduction part is placed so as to bridge between the rail portions 21, and the test piece 4 is moved by the moving member 22.
Is moved to the transport device 30 by the movement.

The transfer device 30 is provided with a pair of supports 31, 31 arranged in parallel with each other, and arranged in parallel with each other adjacent to the inside of each of the supports 31, 31. Transport members 32, 32. The transport member 32 has a plurality of pins 34 protruding upward from the upper surface of the elongated rail member 33, and the test piece 4 is provided between the adjacent pins 34 of each transport member 32. In the state where the respective ends are placed and the upper surface of the rail member 33 is located substantially on the same plane as the upper surface of the support table 31, a distance corresponding to the distance between the adjacent pins 34, 34 is set. The test piece 4 is fed as one pitch.

When the test piece 4 is transported by one pitch, the transport members 32, 32 are moved down by a distance substantially corresponding to the height of the pin 34, and then the transport path is moved by one pitch. Move upstream. At this time, the moving device 22
In the above, the test piece 4 to be transported next is
0 is moved to the upstream side. Each of the transport members 32,
The reference numeral 32 moves upward by the distance moved downward to place the end of the test piece 4 between the adjacent pins 34, 34 located at the most upstream part of the transport member 32, respectively. On the other hand, the test piece 4 which has reached the position corresponding to the installation position of the optical device 40 has a predetermined component concentration or the like determined, and this operation is performed every time the test piece 4 is pitch-fed.

[0006]

In the analyzer 1, the pitch of the test piece 4 in the transfer device 30 is carried out every very short time, for example, every 10 seconds. In other words, the test piece 4 is analyzed, for example, every 10 seconds. However, since the test piece 4 is usually placed on the rail 21 of the moving device 20 from the test piece introduction section, the operator operates the test piece 4 at least one time.
It must be placed every short time, such as every 0 seconds. In practice, the operation is performed by the moving member 22 of the moving device 20.
Due to factors such as the moving time of the vehicle, the operation must be performed at a more limited timing, and the operation must be performed with this timing in mind. This timing may be displayed by, for example, a lamp, but for the operator to operate according to the display of the lamp, etc., the operator feels uncomfortable that the operation is being used by the analyzer 1, and the operator may feel discomfort. There is a feeling of oppression that the user has to be rushed to the display and perform an operation.

[0007] When the analyzer 1 is for quantifying the concentration of a predetermined component in urine, this operation is performed after the test piece 4 is immersed in urine contained in a predetermined container. It must be made. For this reason, the analysis is not performed in accordance with the pace of the operator, but the operation side performs operations such as preparation and placement of the test piece 4 in accordance with the pace of the extremely high-speed analyzer 1, which is extremely frequent. Work.

In addition, in the analyzer 1, even when the test piece 4 is not placed at a predetermined timing, the portion where the test piece 4 should be placed is determined by the optical device. If the test position is reached, the analysis is meaninglessly performed even though the test piece 4 does not exist.

The present invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to analyze a test piece according to the operation side pace, not the analysis apparatus side pace. And

[0010]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following technical means.

That is, according to the present invention, there is provided a moving device for sliding a test piece introduced from a test piece introduction section by a user's manual operation along a predetermined transport path.
The test piece that has been slid by the moving device
And a transport device for further transporting this to the analysis site,
An optical device for analyzing the test piece that has reached the analysis site using light, and the moving device includes one end face of the test piece and
Can move and move in parallel to the transport path.
An analyzer comprising a moving member , wherein a hand of a user is removed from the test piece introduction section by the test piece introduction section.
Is provided with detection means for detecting that the said movement
The device detects that the detection means has removed the user's hand.
At the same time that the moving member
Start moving and slide the test piece
While that is configured, the optical device, the sensing means is driven after detecting that the hand of the user has been removed during the predetermined period of time, the analysis of the test piece located in the analysis region during this Characterized in that it is made to do
An analyzer is provided.

Preferably, the counting is started at the same time when the user's hand is removed from the test piece introduction portion or when a predetermined time has elapsed, and when the count value reaches the predetermined value, the optical device is driven. Then, the test piece is analyzed.

[0013]

The analyzer according to the present invention introduces a test piece from a test piece introduction part at a predetermined timing as in the conventional apparatus, and does not analyze the test piece according to this timing. The operation side detects that the test piece has been introduced, and analyzes the test piece detected after a lapse of a predetermined time. In other words, the analyzer performs analysis when it is detected that a test piece has been introduced, and the timing of introduction or analysis of a test piece is not specified by the analyzer, but the analysis is performed. Timing is defined by the operator. Therefore, unlike the conventional analyzer, it is not necessary to operate in accordance with the display of a lamp or the like, and the user can perform the analysis operation at his own pace without feeling discomfort or oppression that is used in the analyzer. . Further, since the apparatus having the above configuration is configured to detect the introduced test piece and analyze the test piece in synchronization with the detected test piece, it is unnecessary even though the test piece does not exist at the analysis site. The problem of being analyzed in a short time is eliminated.

[0015] Incidentally, in the above detection hand stage, for example an infrared sensor using a pyroelectric element, such as a photo interrupter is used with a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

[0016]

Preferably, the transport device further comprises one or a plurality of belt drive mechanisms in which one or a plurality of belts are installed between two rollers in parallel with the transport path. It is configured to transfer while maintaining the mounted predetermined posture.

When a test piece is analyzed by the analyzer, it is desired that the test piece that has reached the analysis site be kept in a predetermined posture with respect to the optical device in order to obtain a good analysis result. . In the above configuration, the test piece introduced from the test piece introduction unit is brought into a predetermined posture by the moving device, is moved to the transport device in this state, and has a predetermined posture on the belt of the transport device. Is transported in a state where is maintained. For this reason, the test piece that has reached the analysis site on the transport path defined by the transport device is in a well-positioned state and can perform desired analysis.

Further, according to the above configuration, the test piece is moved by moving the moving member after the user's hand is removed. Therefore, when the test piece is introduced from the test piece introduction section, the user's hand is removed. Is not removed, and the moving member does not move carelessly even though the test piece is not securely introduced.

Preferably, the test piece further comprises:
In order to analyze a plurality of types of components, a plurality of test paper strips each of which can be analyzed in the longitudinal direction of the test piece are used, and a biological sample or the like is attached to each test strip of the test piece. The liquid sample is impregnated to analyze a plurality of types of components.

Preferably, the test piece is transported in a posture in which a longitudinal direction of the test piece crosses the transport path substantially perpendicularly, and the optical device transports the test piece reaching a predetermined analysis site by the optical path. The optical device that scans in a direction that intersects with the transport path at a predetermined angle is scanned by scanning in a direction that intersects the test strip with the test strip. Thus, the test piece may be analyzed while being transported.

That is, the analyzer having the above configuration is an analyzer capable of quantifying the concentration of a plurality of components in a biological liquid sample such as urine, blood, and saliva using one test piece. In this case, the test piece may be stopped when the test piece reaches a predetermined analysis site, and the optical device may be configured to perform analysis by scanning in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport path, Further, the analysis may be performed by scanning the optical device at a predetermined angle with the transport path while the test piece is transported, that is, scanning the transport device in an oblique direction in plan view of the transport device. When analysis is performed by obliquely scanning the optical device, the analysis can be performed without interrupting the transport of the test pieces by the transport device, so that a large number of test pieces can be efficiently analyzed. Further, when the transfer of the test piece is performed continuously without interruption, the configuration and mechanism of the above-described transfer device become simpler than the device for transferring the test piece by pitch feed, and the cost of the transfer device is reduced. Reduction can be achieved.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an example of the analyzer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the analyzer 5, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the analyzer 5. is there. In this embodiment, an analyzer that can quantify the concentrations of a plurality of components in urine using one test piece 4 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the analyzer 5 includes a moving device 60 that slides the test piece 4 introduced from the test piece introducing section 8 along the transport path.
A transport device 7 on which the test piece 4 slid by the moving device 60 is transferred and further transported to the analysis site; and an optical device 40 installed above the analysis site. It is configured.

As shown in FIG. 3, when a user inserts a hand into the test piece introducing section 8 to place the test piece 4 at a predetermined position of the moving device 60, the hand is removed. A detecting means 80 for detecting the fact is provided. In addition,
The detecting means 80 is realized by, for example, an infrared sensor using a pyroelectric element or the like, a photo interrupter including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and the like.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3,
The moving device 60 includes three rail portions 62, 62, 63 extending in a direction parallel to the transport path of the test piece 4, and a movable member 61 capable of reciprocating in a direction parallel to the transport path. It is configured. The upper surface of each of the rails 62, 62 located on both sides in the width direction with respect to the transport direction is a horizontal plane, and the test piece is bridged on these horizontal planes and between the rails 62, 62. The test piece 4 introduced from the introduction unit 8 is placed. In the moving member 61, a plurality of grooves 65 extending in the up-down direction is formed in the upright surface 64 on the downstream side, and a notch 66 is formed so as to straddle the lower central position, that is, the rail portion 63 located in the center. Have been. The rails 62, 6
The test piece 4 placed on 2 is slid while one side surface thereof is in contact with the upright surface 64 of the moving member 61, that is, in a predetermined posture. At this time, since the plurality of grooves 65 are formed in the upright surface 64, excess urine attached to the test piece 4 is removed along the plurality of grooves 65 by capillary action. The moving member 61
Is reciprocated by a cylinder force (not shown) or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the transport device 7 includes a pair of belt drive mechanisms 70 in which a belt 72 is installed between two rollers 71, 71 in parallel with the transport path. The belt driving mechanisms 70, 70 are arranged on both sides of each other so as to be parallel to each other. The belt drive mechanism 70 includes two rollers 71, 71 having a circular shape in a plan view and having a concave circumferential surface formed with an annular groove 73. The belt 72 having a loop shape is The rollers 71, 71 are constructed so as to be engaged with the annular grooves 73, 73 of the rollers 71, 71. The roller 71 on the upstream side of the belt drive mechanism 70 is
In the side view, approximately half of the upstream side overlaps with the rail portion 62 of the moving device 60, and the rollers 71,
The upper end of 71 is arranged so as to be substantially the same height as the upper surface of the rail 62. That is, the test piece 4 moved by the moving device 60 is configured to be smoothly transferred onto the belt 72 of the transport device 7. Each of the rollers 71, 71 is rotatably supported by a housing or a support bracket (not shown).
At least one of the rollers 71, 71 is driven by a driving force of a motor (not shown) or the like in FIG.
It is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by. That is, the belt 72 is driven by the rotation of the roller 71, and the test piece 4 placed so as to bridge between the belts 72, 72 of the belt driving mechanisms 70, 70 is conveyed. It is configured. The transport of the test piece 4 by the transport device 7 may be intermittent or continuous, but is continuous in consideration of the structure of the transport device 7 and ease of control. More preferred.

The optical device 40 analyzes the test piece 4 while scanning in a direction intersecting the transport path. The transport of the test piece 4 by the transport device 7 is intermittent, that is, the test piece 4 is analyzed. In the case where the scanning stops when 4 reaches the analysis site, the scanning is performed so as to intersect the transport path substantially vertically,
When the transport of the test piece 4 is continuous, the test piece 4 intersects the transport path at a predetermined angle, that is, the arrow C in FIG.
It is configured to scan diagonally as shown by. The analysis by the optical device 40 employs, for example, a so-called integrating sphere method. In this integrating sphere method, the test piece 4 is placed in an integrating sphere whose inner surface is covered with a powder of magnesium oxide or the like, irradiated with light, and is obtained from reflected light of a sample reflecting inside the integrating sphere. This is a method of quantifying the component concentration based on the reflected reflectance.

The operation of the analyzer 5 having the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. For convenience, the test piece 4 to be analyzed by the analyzer 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 1, the test piece 4 has a longitudinal base film 41 formed of, for example, a resin.
A plurality of test paper strips 42 colored by a predetermined component on 1
Are adhered in the longitudinal direction.

First, the test piece 4 is placed from the test piece introduction portion 8 so as to bridge between the rail portions 62 of the moving device 60. At this time, the operator's hand is detected by the detecting means 80 provided in the test piece introduction section 8. When the hand is removed, the time starts counting and the moving member 61 is moved. Move to the position indicated by the virtual line in the figure. That is, the analyzer 5 is configured such that the moving member 61 does not move every fixed time, but moves each time the test piece 4 is placed. As described above, since the moving member 61 moves to move the test piece 4 after the user's hand is removed, the user's hand is removed when the test piece 4 is introduced from the test piece introduction unit 8. Although the test piece 4 has not been securely introduced, the moving member 61 does not accidentally move even though the test piece 4 has not been securely introduced. Note that the above-described counting is started at the same time as the hand of the operator is removed, but after a lapse of a predetermined time from the removal of the hand, for example, simultaneously with the start of the movement of the moving member 61 or the slide of the test piece 4. It may be at the same time as the end of the movement. The movement of the moving member 61 may be started at the same time as the removal of the hand of the operator, or may be performed after a lapse of a predetermined time from the removal of the hand.

When the moving member 61 moves, one side surface of the test piece 4 is pushed by the upright surface 64 of the moving member 61 in accordance with the movement, and the test piece 4 moves on the rail portions 62, 62. It can be slid. Since the moving member 61 moves while maintaining the upright surface 64 substantially perpendicular to the transport path, the test piece 4 is also slid in a posture in which the longitudinal direction is substantially perpendicular to the transport path. Can be

As described above, since the plurality of grooves 65 extending in the vertical direction are formed on the upright surface of the moving member 61, excess urine attached to the test piece 4 during this sliding movement is removed, and The moving member 61 is removed downward along the groove 65. As a result, surplus urine is removed from the surface of the moving member 61 and the rail portions 62, 62, 63.
Is prevented from adhering to the upper surface of the test piece 4.
The surplus urine is devised so as not to affect the analysis result of the test piece 4 to be analyzed next.

In the analyzer 5 having the above configuration, the test piece 4 is not introduced from the test piece introduction unit 8 at a predetermined timing as in the conventional apparatus, but the test piece 4 is introduced by the operation side. Since the test piece is detected and moved, the timing at which the test piece 4 is to be introduced is not specified by the analyzer 5 but is specified by the operation side. Therefore, unlike the conventional analyzer, it is not necessary to operate in accordance with the display of a lamp or the like, and the user can perform the analysis operation at his own pace without feeling discomfort or oppression that is used in the analyzer. .

The rail member 62,
Specimen 4 moved to the downstream end of 62, 63
Is transferred so as to bridge between the belts 72 of the transport device 7. As described above, each of the rollers 71, 71 positioned on the upstream side in the transport direction is configured such that approximately half of the upstream side overlaps with the rail portion 62 of the moving device 60 in a side view, and the upper ends of the rollers 71, 71 The test piece 4 moved by the moving device 60 is smoothly transferred onto the belt 72 of the transport device 7 because the portion is disposed so as to be substantially the same height as the upper surface of the rail portion 62. . Of course, the test piece 4 thus transferred on the belt 72 of the transport device 7 is transferred while maintaining the posture slid by the moving member 6 of the moving device 60.

The test piece 4 transferred onto each of the belts 72, 72 of the transport device 7 is transported in a posture in which the longitudinal direction crosses the transport path substantially perpendicularly. In the present embodiment, This conveyance is performed continuously and at a constant speed. The test piece 4 transported to a predetermined portion, that is, a portion to be analyzed by the optical device 40, is analyzed by the optical device 40 for each test strip 42.
In the present invention, the test piece 4 reaches the analysis site when the count value started after the user's hand is removed from the test piece introduction unit 8 by the detection means 80 becomes a constant value. On the other hand, the optical device 40 also analyzes the test piece 4 located at the analysis site when the count value becomes a constant value.

Specifically, in order to analyze each test strip 42 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the test strip 4 in a state where the test strip 4 is transported, the optical device 40 is provided with a predetermined distance with respect to the transport path. , Ie, the arrow C in FIG.
Each test strip 42 is analyzed while scanning in the oblique direction indicated by. Of course, the speed component of the optical device 40 in the direction of the transport path coincides with the moving speed of each of the belts 72.

According to the analyzer 5 having the above-described configuration, the introduced test piece 4 is detected and the test piece 4 is analyzed in synchronization with the detection, so that the test piece 4 However, it is possible to solve a problem that unnecessary analysis is performed even though the file does not exist. In addition, as described above, the test piece 4 that has reached the analysis site maintains a predetermined posture, that is, is in a well-positioned state, so that a good analysis result can be obtained. Further, the time required for the moving movement of the test piece 4 by the moving member 61 of the moving device 60 is constant for each test piece 4 and the transfer of the test piece 4 by the transfer device 7 is constant speed. The time required from the introduction of the specimen 4 to the arrival at the analysis site is constant for each test specimen 4. For this reason, the reaction can be performed with substantially the same reaction time for each test piece 4, and a good analysis result can be obtained by avoiding a measurement error or the like caused by a variation in the reaction time for each test piece 4. .

In the present embodiment, the counting is started after the test piece 4 is introduced, and the optical device 40 is driven when the counted value reaches a predetermined value. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A sensing means constituted by an infrared sensor using a pyroelectric element or the like or a photointerrupter having a light emitting element and a light receiving element is provided at or near the analysis site, and the test piece 4 is sensed by this sensing means. In such a case, the optical device 40 may be driven. Also in this case, the timing at which the test piece 4 reaches the analysis site after being introduced is matched with the timing at which the optical device 40 is driven.
The operation and effect of the above-described embodiment can be enjoyed.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes can be made. For example,
The transport device 7 is not limited to the belt drive mechanism 70 but may be another mechanism, and the configuration of the belt drive mechanism 70 is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

In this embodiment, the analyzer 5 for quantifying the concentration of a predetermined component in urine has been described.
It goes without saying that an apparatus for quantifying the concentration of a predetermined component in a biological sample such as blood or saliva is also applicable to the present invention.

In addition, the optical device 40 is not limited to the one based on the integrating sphere method, but may be another method.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part showing an example of an analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the analyzer.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the analyzer.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing an example of an analyzer according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 4 test piece 5 analyzer 7 transport device 8 test piece introduction unit 40 optical device 42 test strip 60 moving device 71 roller (of belt drive mechanism) 72 belt (of belt drive mechanism) 80 detecting means

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Ken Kishimoto 57 Kyoto Higashikujo Nishiakeda-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto, Japan (56) References JP-A-6-130067 (JP, A) JP-A Heisei 7-333174 (JP, A) JP-A-3-186762 (JP, A) JP-A-62-181165 (JP, A) JP-A-1-267143 (JP, A) JP-B-54-30315 (JP, A) B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 33/52 G01N 21/78 G01N 35/00-35/04 G01N 31/22

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A manual operation by a user from a test piece introduction section.
Slides the introduced test specimen along the specified transport path
A moving device to be moved and a slide by the moving device
A transport device for transferring the moved test piece and further transporting it to an analysis site; and an optical device for analyzing the test piece that has reached the analysis site by using light , wherein the moving device
Can come into contact with one end face of the test piece and
An analyzer comprising a moving member that moves in parallel to a path, wherein a hand of a user is placed on the test piece introduction section from the test piece introduction section.
Detecting means for detecting the removal is provided, and in the moving device , the detecting means removes the hand of the user.
At the same time as detecting the
The moving member starts moving and slides the test piece
While the optical device is configured to
The detection means is driven after a lapse of a predetermined time after detecting that the user's hand has been removed, and at this time, the test piece located at the analysis site is analyzed. Analysis equipment. Hand 2. A use for user starts counting the time elapsed simultaneously, or a predetermined time when removed from the test strip introduction, the optical device is driven when the count value reaches a predetermined value The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the test piece is analyzed. 3. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device includes one or a plurality of belt driving mechanisms in which one or a plurality of belts are provided between two rollers in parallel with the transfer path. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the analyzer is configured to transfer the mounted test piece while maintaining a predetermined posture. 4. As the test piece, a test piece is used in which a plurality of test paper strips capable of analyzing each component are adhered in the longitudinal direction of the test piece so that a plurality of types of components can be analyzed. The analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the analyzer is configured to impregnate a liquid sample such as a biological sample into each test strip to analyze a plurality of types of components. 5. The test piece is transported in a posture in which a longitudinal direction thereof intersects a vertical transport path substantially perpendicularly, and the optical device intersects the test piece that has reached an analysis site with the transport path. The analyzer according to claim 4, wherein each test strip of the test strip is analyzed by operating in the direction. 6. The test strip of the test strip is analyzed while the test strip is being conveyed by the optical device that scans in a direction intersecting the conveyance path at a predetermined angle. The analyzer according to claim 5.