JP3141576U - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

【Task】
In an automatic analyzer that performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological samples such as blood and urine, the safety of the automatic analyzer is improved while suppressing a decrease in specimen processing speed.
[Solution]
The automatic analyzer having the reagent dispensing mechanism 24 and the cover 22 includes the sensor 23a that detects opening and closing of the cover 22, so that the analysis is not started unless the cover 22 is closed, and the cover 22 is being analyzed. When the is opened, the dispensing mechanism 24 is temporarily stopped, and after confirming that the cover 22 is closed, the analysis is resumed automatically or with the intention of the user.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that analyzes biological samples such as blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, and more particularly to an automatic analyzer provided with a safety cover.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional automatic analyzer is composed of a whole volume 1, a sample supply / recovery unit 2, an analysis unit 4 for measuring biochemical items, and a sample transport line 5. The sample supply / recovery unit 2 is provided with a sample rack 6 in which a sample to be measured is dispensed into a container and a rack that has been analyzed. The sample rack 6 is sent to the analysis unit 4 on the transport line 5. In addition, a sample is sucked by the dispensing probe 7 from the sample rack 6a sent to the analysis unit 4, and a reaction container for analysis installed in such a manner as to follow the outer periphery of the cylindrical reagent disk 9 in which the reagent container 8 is installed. 11 is dispensed. Further, an appropriate amount of reagent is aspirated from the reagent container installed in the reagent disk 9 by the reagent probe 10a that dispenses the reagent, and dispensed into the reaction container 11 in which the specimen has been dispensed in advance.

  Normally, these components are fitted with a cover 100 shown in FIG. 3 so that the user does not touch the apparatus during analysis work, maintenance / installation work, and the apparatus is not damaged, and the worker is not injured.

  Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the reagent disk 9 on which the reagent container is installed is provided with a lid for maintaining the temperature and humidity in the cabinet, and when the lid is open, the temperature and Since the humidity changes, the user is informed of the state by a sensor that detects opening and closing, and generally has a function of preventing reagent deterioration.

Japanese Patent No. 3808895

  By the way, in the above-mentioned automatic analyzer, the cover 100 which covers an operation part is generally provided as shown in FIG. 1 for the purpose of protecting a user and an apparatus, avoiding a contact with an apparatus and a user. . In particular, the operating part during the analysis operation, for example, the sample probe 17a for dispensing the sample, has been operated with an increase in the processing speed of the automatic analyzer, and it is safe that the cover is closed during the operation of the apparatus. In addition, it is indispensable for the purpose of equipment maintenance.

  Further, in the above automatic analyzer, when the cover is opened despite the operation of the apparatus, the drive mechanism of the apparatus stops abnormally due to contact between the apparatus and the user or an obstacle, for example, a stepping motor The analysis work requested in advance is interrupted due to step-out. After such an abnormal stop, it takes extra time to return the apparatus to a state where it can be analyzed and to resume the analysis, which causes a problem that the processing speed of the apparatus decreases.

  An automatic analyzer according to a first device is a reagent in which a container for storing a sample or specimen, a rack for mounting the container for storing the sample, an arm for dispensing the sample or specimen, and a plurality of reagent containers are arranged. In an automatic analyzer including a disk, an analysis container for dispensing the sample and the reagent, and a line mechanism for transporting the rack, a cover for avoiding contact between the mechanism and a user, and an open / closed state of the cover The number of requested items after restarting the analysis is as follows: a sensor for detecting detection, a mechanism for interrupting / starting the analysis according to the open / closed state of the cover, and a reagent and sample lost due to the analysis being interrupted by opening / closing the cover. On the other hand, the present invention is characterized in that a safety device including an interface for notifying the user of the fact of the shortage is provided in case of shortage.

  The automatic analyzer according to a second device is characterized in that, in the first device, a half-opening that is an intermediate between a fully open state and a closed state is possible with respect to a housing to which the cover is fixed. .

  The automatic analyzer according to the third device is the same as that of the second device, but the reagents and samples lost due to the safety device being interrupted by the opening and closing of the cover are insufficient for the number of requested items after the analysis is resumed. In some cases, in addition to notifying the user of the shortage, after the replenishment by the user, the remaining amount is automatically checked, the analysis work is resumed, and the sample and reagent are not replenished In this case, it is characterized by automatically skipping the shortage analysis.

  The automatic analyzer according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the same as in the third aspect of the invention, but the reagents and samples lost due to the analysis of the safety device being interrupted by opening and closing the cover are not insufficient with respect to the number of requested items after restarting the analysis. In some cases, the analysis work is resumed after the corresponding cover is closed and safety is ensured.

  An automatic analyzer according to a fifth device is a reagent in which a container for storing a sample or specimen, a rack for mounting the container for storing the sample, an arm for dispensing the sample or specimen, and a plurality of reagent containers are arranged. In an automatic analyzer including a disk, an analysis container for dispensing the sample and the reagent, and a line mechanism for transporting the rack, the mechanism is divided for each mechanism region to avoid contact between the mechanism and a user. A plurality of covers, a sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the cover, a mechanism for interrupting / starting the analysis according to the open / closed state of the cover, and a reagent and sample lost due to the analysis being interrupted by opening / closing the cover Is equipped with a safety device consisting of an interface that notifies the user of the fact of the shortage when the number of requested items after the restart of analysis is insufficient. To.

  By providing the above means, when the mechanism cover is opened and closed while the automatic analyzer is in operation, the user is in contact with the mechanism, the user is injured or infected by contact with the droplets of the specimen, reagent, etc. It is possible to prevent breakage, and to reduce analysis throughput and reagent and specimen loss due to an emergency stop of the apparatus.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an automatic analyzer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an automatic analyzer 1 that automatically performs component analysis of a sample such as serum or urine will be described as an example. The automatic analyzer includes an analysis unit 1a and an input / output device 1b from which a user inputs an inspection request and outputs a result.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the analyzer 1a of the automatic analyzer includes a sampler 12 that inputs and collects a sample, an analyzer 14 that analyzes the request, and a transport unit 15 that delivers the sample between them. Composed. However, the sample input / recovery unit 12, the analysis unit 14, and the transport unit 15 each have one configuration, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the analysis unit 14 has various configurations depending on the processing speed and analysis items. Therefore, the type and number are selected as necessary.

  The sample 21 is transported by a sample rack 16 containing a plurality of containers into which the sample is dispensed, stopped at the dispensing position 16a in the analysis unit, a suitable amount is sucked from the sample probe 17a, and a reagent is installed. It is discharged into each reaction container 20 arranged on the disk 19. Next, a desired reagent is aspirated from the reagent container on the reagent disk 19 by the reagent probe 10a, and is discharged into the reaction container 20 from which the sample has been discharged in advance, and the concentration is measured.

  Here, a sampler cover 101 is attached to the sampler 12, an analysis unit cover 103 is attached to the analysis unit 14, and a transfer unit cover 104 is attached to the transfer unit 15. Each cover is attached during sample loading / recovery and installation / maintenance of each part. After being opened and closed at the time of analysis preparation, it cannot normally be opened until the apparatus stops at the end of the analysis.

  Each cover has the effect of preventing injuries, infections, and device failures caused by contact between the device and the user, and device management that prevents accidents by grasping the open / closed state of the device and controlling the operating state is desired. .

  Therefore, the operation method of the automatic analyzer 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Before starting the analysis, the state of the cover is confirmed. If there is an open cover, the analysis is not started, and at the same time a warning is displayed on the input / output screen 1b. Thereafter, the sensor confirms that the cover has been closed by the user, and the analysis is started.

  If the cover is opened during the analysis, the mechanism operation is immediately stopped to ensure safety. At this time, the apparatus enters an analysis standby state, and then the interrupted analysis is resumed after the sensor confirms that the cover has been closed by the user. At this time, the analysis may be resumed automatically, or the user can input a restart instruction after notifying the user that the analysis can be resumed on the input / output screen 1b of the apparatus.

  At this time, when the period of time interrupted by the analysis becomes longer than a certain length, the active state of the reagent or specimen dispensed into the reaction container 20 changes, and the reaction process of the specimen and reagent cannot be managed accurately. The reagent or specimen cannot be reused for analysis. As a result, if the minimum required amount of reagents / samples is installed in the apparatus for the initially requested number of analyses, it is conceivable that the number of reagents / samples that can be used after the restart of analysis is insufficient.

  Therefore, when the cover is closed and the analysis can be resumed, a warning is displayed on the input / output screen 1b if the amount of the reagent / sample installed in the apparatus is insufficient. In response to the warning, the user either stops the analysis or re-adds the analysis after supplementing the reagents / samples to make up for the shortage, or does not analyze the requested items that cannot be analyzed due to the shortage of the remaining amount. You can choose to resume only items that can be analyzed.

  In the above description, an embodiment related to opening and closing the cover when there is one cover for one apparatus has been described. However, in an actual apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, a sampler cover 101, an analysis section cover 103, a transport section cover 104, In many cases, a separate cover is provided for each mechanism such as the specimen dispensing mechanism cover 105. The division of the cover is not limited to that described in the present embodiment, and can be adjusted according to the size of the apparatus and the apparatus configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a sensor 23a that detects the open / close state of the sample dispensing mechanism cover 21 and a control unit 26 that urgently stops the drive unit 25 when the cover is opened during analysis are provided. The open / close state of the cover is displayed on the input / output screen 28, and the target cover that causes the device to stop when the cover is opened can be identified. However, it is not necessary to detect the opening / closing of all the covers. For example, it may be specified in a place where there is a safety problem, and the presence / absence of a sensor and the presence / absence of an operation control unit may be examined.

  Further, the position of the sensor is not limited and may be a position where the open / closed state of the cover 21 can be detected. The sensor for realizing the detection means is not limited to a photo interrupter, and an optimum sensor can be selected from a displacement sensor, a pressure sensor, and the like. A switch may be used for convenience.

  By dividing the cover for each mechanism, the following effects occur.

  The extracted time chart of FIG. 7 shows the dispensing operation of the sample probe 7, the dispensing operation of the first reagent probe 10a, and the dispensing operation of the second reagent probe 10b. In the normal operation, the operation order is a dispensing cascade composed of the sample dispensing by the sample probe 7, the first reagent dispensing by the first reagent probe 10a, and the second reagent dispensing by the second reagent probe 10b. . Here, in the sample and reagent dispensing for one analysis request, the analyzes 301a and 302a correspond as a set of mechanism operations. The same applies to 301b and 302b in FIG. 8 and 301c and 302c in FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows the analysis processing operation that is continuously performed while the cover is closed during the analysis, and FIGS. 8 and 9 show the analysis processing operation when the cover is opened at timing A. .

  FIG. 8 shows a case where the cover is opened at the timing A and each mechanism including the mechanism with the cover closed is urgently stopped simultaneously. In the analysis 301b, the sample and the first reagent are dispensed. In the analysis 302b, the sample is dispensed. In analysis 301a and 302c, analysis data cannot be obtained, and since it deviates from reaction conditions such as time and temperature when analysis is resumed, it cannot be used as it is.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the cover is opened, not all the mechanisms are urgently stopped, but only the mechanism covered with the cover is stopped, and the others continue to operate. For example, as an example, the effect when only the sample dispensing probe cover 105 of the sample dispensing probe 7 is opened at timing A will be described with reference to FIG. The sample dispensing operation after the timing A is stopped, but the analysis 301c and the analysis 302c can be completed by continuing the first reagent dispensing operation and the second reagent dispensing operation. By limiting the mechanism for emergency stop when the cover is opened in this way, it is possible to reduce the loss of the sample / reagent due to the interruption of the analysis and to suppress the decrease in the processing speed.

  In addition, as in the case above, reagents and specimens that are being analyzed are not necessarily lost. If the analysis operation is interrupted by opening the cover so that the reaction solution of the sample and reagent does not fall out of the analysis environment, the analysis is automatically performed by the control unit when the cover is closed and the analysis is restarted. Analysis can continue. At the same time, the control unit can synchronize the operation of each mechanism after resuming the analysis and return it to normal.

The figure which shows the external appearance of an automatic analyzer. The figure which shows the mechanism of an automatic analyzer. The figure which shows the cover mechanism of an automatic analyzer. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of this invention. The 3rd page figure of the automatic analyzer of this invention. The figure which shows the lid opening sensor of this invention. The figure which shows the timing chart of operation | movement of this invention. The figure which shows the timing chart of operation | movement of this invention. The figure which shows the timing chart of operation | movement of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Sample supply / collection unit 2
4 Analyzing unit 5 Sample transport line 6 Sample rack 7 Dispensing probe 8 Reagent container 9 Reagent disk 11 Reaction container 100 Cover

Claims (5)

A container for containing a sample or specimen;
A rack for mounting a container containing the sample;
An arm for dispensing the sample or specimen;
A reagent disk for arranging a plurality of reagent containers;
An analytical container for dispensing the sample and reagents;
In an automatic analyzer equipped with a line mechanism for transporting the rack,
A cover for avoiding contact between the mechanism and the user;
A sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the cover;
A mechanism for interrupting and starting the analysis according to the open / closed state of the cover;
Provided with a safety device consisting of an interface for notifying the user of the shortage of reagents and specimens lost due to the analysis being interrupted by opening and closing the cover when the number of requested items after the restart of analysis is insufficient Automatic analyzer.   The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the cover can be opened halfway between a completely open state and a closed state with respect to a housing which is a fixing destination.   The safety device is to notify the user of the fact that the reagent and sample lost due to the analysis being interrupted by opening and closing the cover are insufficient with respect to the number of requested items after the analysis is resumed. In addition, after the replenishment by the user is performed, the remaining amount is automatically confirmed and the analysis work is restarted. If the sample and reagent are not replenished, the analysis for insufficient remaining amount is automatically skipped. Item 3. The automatic analyzer according to Item 2.   If the reagents and specimens lost due to the analysis being interrupted by opening and closing the cover are not insufficient with respect to the number of requested items after the analysis is resumed, the safety device is closed to ensure safety. The automatic analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the analysis operation is resumed after the operation. A container for containing a sample or specimen;
A rack for mounting a container containing the sample;
An arm for dispensing the sample or specimen;
A reagent disk for arranging a plurality of reagent containers;
An analytical container for dispensing the sample and reagents;
In an automatic analyzer equipped with a line mechanism for transporting the rack,
In order to avoid contact between the mechanism and the user, a plurality of covers divided for each mechanism area;
A sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the cover;
A mechanism for interrupting and starting the analysis according to the open / closed state of the cover;
Provided with a safety device consisting of an interface for notifying the user of the shortage of reagents and specimens lost due to the analysis being interrupted by opening and closing the cover when the number of requested items after the restart of analysis is insufficient Automatic analyzer.

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