JP3115290U - Immune analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an immunoassay apparatus that uses a disposable dispensing tip or a reaction vessel as a liquid sample sorting, dispensing, and reaction vessel, and is used to convey the dispensing tip or reaction vessel in the XYZ direction. And an immunoassay device provided with a gripping means for improving reliability during transport of the reaction container.
In an immunoassay apparatus comprising a disposable dispensing tip 2 for dispensing and dispensing a liquid sample and a disposable reaction container 4 as a reaction site, and a mechanism for gripping and transporting them. Resistant to the dropping direction of the dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4 by providing a protrusion, which is an elastic body obliquely upward, on the grasped portion side of the grasping portion for holding the dispensing tip 2 or the reaction vessel 4 A gripping means capable of improving the reliability at the time of conveyance is provided by a pair of claws in which the phenomenon occurs.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer, and more particularly to an immunoanalyzer for immunologically and quantitatively analyzing various components contained in body fluids such as blood and urine used in the field of clinical examination.

  There are many immunological analysis items that require high sensitivity, such as infectious disease analysis items, and sample carry-over can be achieved simply by washing the nozzle that separates and dispenses the liquid sample with water or a cleaning agent. That is, since different samples are mixed and contaminated through the sample dispensing nozzle or the like, the influence on the measurement result is great. Therefore, in the case of an immunoanalyzer, analysis is often performed using the disposable dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4 for each specimen.

  For example, the dispensing tip 2 is aligned with the dispensing tip storage container 3 and the disposable dispensing tip 2 is placed, and the reaction container 4 is aligned with the reaction vessel storage container 5 and the disposable reaction container 4 is placed. Is done. From the dispensing tip storage container 3 and the reaction container storage container 5, they are picked up by a pair of claws and transported to a predetermined position. By replacing the disposable dispensing tip 2 and the reaction container 4 for each specimen, specimen carryover can be avoided.

  Even a conventional device of the same type uses the disposable dispensing tip 2 and the reaction vessel 4, and the gripping mechanism of the dispensing tip 2 and the reaction vessel 4 has a structure as described in Patent Document 1, for example. . In other words, the object to be grasped is simply sandwiched between a pair of claws (grips), and is gripped and conveyed only by the friction between the grasping portion and the object to be grasped.

JP 2002-286726 A

  However, in such a system, the gripping force of the object to be gripped is gripping only by the friction between the nail and the gripped part that is actuated by the spring force. However, if it is not possible to smoothly remove the object from the object mounting position, there is a possibility of a mistake in grasping. Further, when the gripping force is improved by increasing the spring force, there is a possibility that the object to be grasped is damaged or the contents are scattered when the object is grasped.

  The purpose of the present invention is to improve the reliability of the dispensing chip 2 and the reaction container 4 when they are transported in an analyzer that uses the disposable dispensing chip 2 or the reaction container 4 as a liquid sample. It is an object of the present invention to provide an analysis apparatus provided with an object moving device.

  The configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object is as follows.

  In an immunoassay apparatus equipped with a disposable dispensing tip 2 for dispensing and dispensing a liquid sample and a disposable reaction container 4 as a reaction field, and holding and transporting them, the dispensing tip 2 And a pair of protrusions 26, which are elastic bodies that are obliquely upward, on the gripped portion side of the gripping portion that grips the reaction container 4, and thus a pair of resistors that cause resistance in the dropping direction of the dispensing tip 2 and the reaction container 4. A gripping means capable of improving the reliability at the time of conveyance is provided.

  According to the present invention, even when the gripping force is not increased to increase the friction between the nail and the gripped part, the gripping part moving mechanism part of the analyzer grips the gripped object and leads to an improvement in reliability. .

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a transport configuration of an analyzer for an immunoassay according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The analyzer is composed of a dispensing mechanism 1 for dispensing and dispensing samples and reagents, a storage position for one structure to simplify the structure, a dispensing position 14 at the place where dispensing is performed, and the dispensing and dispensing of samples and reagents. Dispensing tip 2 used for pouring 2, dispensing tip containing container 3 for containing dispensing tip 2, reaction container containing container 5 for containing reaction vessel 4 used for reaction, temperature control for immune reaction Incubator 6 to be used, dispensing tip 2 and reaction container 4 are used for dispensing tip delivery mechanism 8 for delivering sample and reagent to temporary storage position 7 where they are temporarily placed for dispensing samples and reagents. Dispensing tip 2, recovery mechanism 19 for recovering reaction container 4 used for reaction, suction mechanism 24 for moving the reaction to the measuring section, suction position 17 at the place for suction, etc. . Therefore, in the immunoassay apparatus, it is necessary to transport the disposable dispensing tip 2 and the reaction container 4 to each position such as the dispensing tip 2 and the storage container of the reaction container 4, the dispensing position 14, the incubator 6, the suction position 17, and the recovery mechanism 19. There is.

  As an example, a Y-axis frame 9 attached in the Y-axis direction, a movably attached to the Y-axis frame 9, and a direction perpendicular to the Y-axis frame 9 are attached to the transport mechanism 8 in FIG. An X-axis frame 10 is provided. An X movable table 11 that is movable in the X direction is attached to the X axis frame 10. Further, a pair of claws that are movable in the Z-axis direction are attached to the X movable table 11. That is, the transport mechanism 8 is movable in the three axis directions. The X movable base 11 moves as a moving body including the grip mechanism 12.

  A storage container tray 13 is attached within the movement range of the transport mechanism 8. On the storage container tray 13, the reaction container storage container 5 is arranged. A disposable reaction container 4 is placed in the reaction container storage container 5.

  In addition to the reaction container storage container 5, a plurality of dispensing chip storage containers 3 are arranged on the storage container tray 13. Disposable dispensing tips 2 are placed in the dispensing tip storage container 3.

  A temporary storage position 7 is arranged in the movement range of the transport mechanism 8. The temporary storage position 7 is a common area of the operating range of the dispensing mechanism 1 and the transport mechanism 8, and the grip mechanism 12 attached to the X movable base 11 is moved from the reaction container storage container 5 in the storage container tray 13. The reaction container 4 is picked up, moved in the direction of the temporary storage position 7, and placed in the circular opening at the dispensing position 14. Further, the grip mechanism 12 attached to the X movable base 11 grabs the dispensing tip 2 from the dispensing tip storage container 3 in the storage container tray 13 and moves it toward the temporary storage position 7 to relay it. Place in a circular opening at position 15.

  An incubator 6 is disposed in the moving range of the transport mechanism 8. A reaction vessel opening 16 having an opening similar to the outer shape of the reaction vessel 4 is attached to the upper surface of the incubator 6. Therefore, the reaction container 4 into which the reagent and the sample are dispensed is conveyed to the opening by the conveyance mechanism 8 from the reaction container opening 16 of the incubator 6.

  A suction position 17 is provided in the movement range of the transport mechanism 8. In the incubator 6, the reaction container 4 after a predetermined reaction time has passed is transported to the suction position 17 by the transport mechanism 8, and the reaction liquid is transferred to the measurement unit 27 by the suction mechanism 24.

  The used reaction container 4 remaining in the aspiration position 17 after the aspiration is performed so that the specimen and the reagent are reacted in the reaction container 4 and the specimen in the aspiration position 17 is transferred to the measurement unit 27 is transferred to the transport mechanism 8. Is transferred to the disposal position 25 and discarded.

  As described above, the grip mechanism 12 has the X-axis and Y-axis on the storage container tray 13 on which the reaction container storage container 5 and the dispensing tip storage container 3 are placed, the temporary storage position 7 and the incubator 6. It moves in two axial directions, and further on the reaction container 4 and the dispensing tip 2, on the relay position 15 and the dispensing position 14 in the temporary storage position 7, and on the reaction container opening 16 and the suction position 17 in the incubator 6. The grip mechanism 12 moves up and down and moves in the three-axis direction to transport the dispensing tip 2 and the reaction container 4.

  The operation of the grip mechanism 12 will be described with reference to FIG. When the grip mechanism 12 is positioned on the predetermined dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4, the cam 21 is rotated by the drive source 20 to open the claws 12A and 12B of the grip mechanism 12. In this state, the Z movable table 23 is lowered to a predetermined height by the Z-axis drive source 22, and the claws 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B of the grip mechanism 12 are positioned so as to sandwich the dispensing tip 2 or the head of the reaction container 4. . Thereafter, the cam 21 is rotated again by the drive source 20 to close the claws 12A and 12B of the grip mechanism 12, and the head of the dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4 is sandwiched. Next, the Z movable table 23 is raised, and the dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4 is picked up.

  In this state, the X movable table 11 and the Y movable table 18 are moved, the grasped dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4 is moved to a predetermined position, the Z movable table 23 is lowered at that position, and the drive source 20 The cam 21 is rotated to open the claws 12A and 12B of the grip mechanism 12, and the dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4 is released. After the separation, the Z movable base 23 is raised and returned to a predetermined position, and then the drive source 20 is turned off, and the X movable base 11 and the Y movable base 18 are returned to the predetermined positions. 2 or the operation of transporting the reaction vessel 4 is terminated.

A state in which the grip mechanism 12 to which the present invention is applied holds the reaction vessel 4 will be described with reference to FIG. The claws 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B of the grip mechanism 12 are provided with protrusions 26 that are elastic bodies obliquely upward on the side of the dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4, and the grip mechanism 12 is placed on the predetermined dispensing tip 2 or reaction container 4. When positioned, the claws 12A and 12B are opened. When the Z movable table 23 is lowered to a predetermined height and grips the dispensing tip 2 or the head of the reaction vessel 4, the tip of the protrusion 26, which is an elastic body obliquely upward toward the grasped object, is placed on the dispensing tip 2 or It contacts the side surface of the reaction vessel 4 (FIGS. 3-1 → 3-2 → 3-3). The dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4 is fixed in a state where the protrusions 26, which are elastic bodies provided in the claws 12A and 12B, are inclined toward the gripping portion, and the Z movable table 23 is raised to a predetermined height. At this time, when a downward force is applied to the dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4, the protrusion 26A, which is a slanting upward elastic body of the claws 12A, 12B, applies a force in the moving direction of the claws 12A, 12B. Since the space | interval of the protrusion 26B front-end | tip becomes narrow, grip force improves and resistance with respect to a fall direction increases. As a result, the reliability of the grip mechanism 12 during conveyance is improved.

  Further, in this embodiment, the dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4 is gripped by providing a pair of claws with a leaf spring, but the gripping portion may be constituted by a plurality of claws (see FIG. 4). .

  In the embodiment, the gripping portion includes a leaf spring to grip the dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4, but may be configured by an elastic body and a plurality of needle-like assemblies (see FIG. 5). ).

  In the present embodiment, the dispensing tip 2 or the reaction container 4 is gripped by providing one leaf spring on the claw, but the gripping portion may be constituted by a plurality of leaf springs (see FIG. 6). .

It is a top view of the analyzer conveyance structure for the immunoassay as one embodiment concerning the present invention. FIG. The grip mechanism 12 by one Example of this invention shows the state which hold | grips the reaction container 4 with a pair of protrusion 26. FIG. FIG. 6 is a state diagram in which the grip mechanism 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention grips the reaction vessel 4 with a plurality of protrusions 26. FIG. 3 is a state diagram in which the grip mechanism 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention grips the reaction vessel 4 with a plurality of needle-like assemblies. FIG. 6 is a state diagram in which the grip mechanism 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention grips the reaction container 4 with a plurality of protrusions on one nail.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dispensing mechanism, 2 ... Dispensing tip, 3 ... Dispensing tip storage container, 4 ... Reaction container, 5 ... Reaction container storage container, 6 ... Incubator, 7 ... Temporary storage position, 8 ... Conveyance mechanism, 9 ... Y axis frame, 10 ... X axis frame, 11 ... X movable base, 12 ... grip mechanism, 13 ... storage container tray, 14 ... dispensing position, 15 ... relay position, 16 ... reaction container opening, 17 ... suction Position: 18 ... Y movable base, 19 ... Recovery mechanism, 20 ... Drive source, 21 ... Cam, 22 ... Z-axis drive source, 23 ... Z movable base, 24 ... Suction mechanism, 25 ... Disposal position, 26 ... Protrusion, 27: Measurement unit.

Claims (7)

  In a gripping object moving device including a gripping part that sandwiches a gripping object between a plurality of claw parts and a gripping part moving mechanism that moves the gripping part, a gripping object is placed on a surface of the claw part on the gripping object side. An immunoassay device comprising a grasped object moving device having a protrusion having a tip disposed obliquely upward on the opposite side to the direction in which the is placed.   In a gripping object moving device including a gripping part that sandwiches a gripping object between a plurality of claw parts and a gripping part moving mechanism that moves the gripping part, the gripping object is provided on a surface of the claw part on the gripping object side. An immunoanalyzer comprising a grasped object moving device in which a structure having a low resistance in the object insertion direction and generating resistance in the falling direction of the grasped object is disposed.   The object-moving device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion on the object to be grasped side is formed of an elastic body.   The protrusion according to claim 1, wherein a clearance hole is formed in a sheet metal object, and the remaining part is held as a bent leaf spring and is gripped in a pair.   5. A gripping object moving device according to claim 4, wherein there are a plurality of leaf springs.   The protrusion according to claim 3 is constituted by a plurality of needle-like aggregates. The leaf spring according to claim 4 is gripped by holding a plurality of protrusions on one elastic body.

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