JP3164406B2 - Selective liquid dispensing device and selective liquid dispensing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample dispensing apparatus used for an automatic chemical analyzer for performing a predetermined test by sucking and discharging a sample such as blood and urine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a dispensing mode of a sample or a reagent, there is a pipetting method in which a predetermined amount of a sample or a reagent is suctioned from a nozzle and a predetermined amount is discharged from the sucked nozzle to another container, for example, a reaction container. In addition, when dispensing a predetermined amount of a sample or a reagent, there is a dilution dispensing method in which a diluent or the like is suctioned from a tank or the like from another syringe connected to the nozzle, and the diluent is dispensed simultaneously with discharge of the sample.

In general, as a method for dispensing a sample or a reagent, there is a method (1) in which a dispenser is separately provided for each dispensing system and the dispensing system is controlled separately. For example,
FIG. 3 shows a case where a single nozzle 50 is used, samples and containers are arranged in a line, and dispensed one by one via syringes 51 and 52 one by one. 53 is a diluent container. FIG. 4 shows a case where a plurality of nozzles 50 and 54 are provided.
A case where a plurality of reagents are simultaneously dispensed via 2, 55 and 56 is shown.

(2) Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the syringes 51 and 55 and the syringes 52 and 56 connected to the respective nozzles 50 and 54 are controlled by the same drive system, and all the nozzles 50 and 54 are controlled. Is a method in which the same dispensing is performed simultaneously, and a plurality of reagents are dispensed simultaneously as in the case of FIG. In general, the above two methods limit the application, such as performing only dilution and dispensing for each nozzle, or performing only pipetting, and constitute separate dispensing systems according to the dispensing form of each nozzle. ing.

(3) Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-760, one reagent metering syringe is connected to a plurality of nozzles via a flow path switch, and any one of them is connected. There is a method of selectively switching nozzles for use.

[0006]

However, the prior art shown in FIG. 4 is generally limited to applications such as performing only dilution and dispensing for each nozzle or performing only pipetting, for each nozzle. The dispensing is performed by separate dispensing systems in accordance with the dispensing mode of the nozzle, and is merely a plurality of dispensing systems shown in FIG. Therefore, as many driving systems as the number of syringes are required, which causes a problem that power consumption increases in configuring the device and the device is enlarged. In addition, a plurality of drive systems must be controlled simultaneously and individually, resulting in a problem that control is complicated.

Although the drive system shown in FIG. 5 does not need to be provided for each syringe, there is a problem that all reagent nozzles can only dispense simultaneously in the same dispensing mode. In the method described in (3), an appropriate number of nozzles among a plurality of nozzles can be selectively used, but the same predetermined amount of reagent can always be dispensed, and cannot be used in different dispensing modes. There is a problem that. Further, each time the number of nozzles to be selected is changed, the load applied to the common syringe changes, and the durability of the pump and the syringe deteriorates.

[0008] The present invention is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to select a desired number of nozzles from a plurality of nozzles while driving a plurality of syringes by the same drive system, and / or It is an object of the present invention to provide a selective liquid dispensing device and a selective liquid dispensing method that can be used selectively and in separate dispensing forms for each.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first syringe and a second syringe for sucking and discharging a liquid.
The syringe is connected to driving means and driven simultaneously, and the first
Connecting a syringe to one end of each of the first flow path and the second flow path;
The second syringe is connected to the other end of the second flow path and one end of the third flow path via a three-way valve, and the other end of the first flow path is common to the first and second syringes. Connected to a dispensing nozzle, the other end of the third flow path is connected to a common liquid container for the first and second syringes, and one end of a branch flow path is connected to the first syringe. The other end of the branch flow path is connected to the liquid storage portion, and the three-way valve is selectively connected by the control means so as to connect the first syringe to either the first flow path side or the branch flow path side. A selective liquid dispensing device is provided in which the number of dispensing nozzles is smaller than the number of syringes and at least two syringes are connected to the dispensing nozzles. Further, a selective liquid dispensing device in which at least two syringes have different suction and discharge capacities was used. A selective liquid dispensing device in which the branch channel is in communication with the diluent tank. Further, a selective liquid including a plurality of syringes for sucking and discharging liquid, common driving means for simultaneously driving the syringe, and a first flow path connecting a part of the syringe and a common dispensing nozzle. Using a dispensing device, by selectively transmitting suction / discharge pressure by a syringe connected to the dispensing nozzle to a branch flow path different from the dispensing nozzle, a combination of a syringe that operates on the dispensing nozzle is changed. A selective liquid dispensing method to be changed was used. Further, a selective liquid dispensing method of selecting at least one from syringes having different suction and discharge capacities was adopted.

[0010]

[Function] As described above, a circulation channel (return channel) is provided in the dispensing system.
In addition, since a driving system for simultaneously driving a plurality of syringes is provided, the nozzles can be selectively used, and each nozzle can be used in a different dispensing mode.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a selective liquid dispensing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Dispensing nozzle 1,
2 is two in this embodiment, but can be arbitrarily set according to the reaction item. Channel 3 connected to dispensing nozzle 1
Is connected to the syringe 5 via the three-way valve 4,
It is connected to a diluent container 7 via a three-way valve 4 and a pipe 6. The flow path 8 connected to the dispensing nozzle 2 is connected to the syringe 10 via the three-way valve 9 and the three-way valve 9
And a pipe 11 connected to the diluent container 7.

The flow path 12 connected to the syringe 5 is
The syringe 14 and the diluent container 7 are connected via a three-way valve 13. In addition, a flow path 15 connected to the syringe 10
Is a syringe 17 and a diluent container 7 via a three-way valve 16.
Connected to The syringes 5 and 10 are driven by a drive motor 18, and the syringes 14 and 17 are driven by a drive motor 19. The drive motors 18 and 19 may be connected to a control means (not shown) to be driven individually or simultaneously. The syringes 5 and 10 are for small-volume pipetting, and the syringes 14 and 17 are for large-volume dilution and dispensing. The pipes 6 and 11 are circulating waterways (return waterways). Also, 3
For the direction valves 4 and 9, the nozzles 1 and 2 are normally closed (NC), the syringes 5 and 10 are common (C.),
The pipes 6 and 11 are normally open (NO). Further, the three-way valves 13, 16 are connected to the syringes 5, 10,
The side is normally closed (NC), syringe 14, 1
7 is common (C.) and the diluent container 7 is normally open (NO). Also, individual three-way valves 4,
The valve operating unit 31 provided with 9, 13, and 16 has a structure of an electromagnetic valve or a torsion cock.
It can be switched electrically or mechanically. The valve opening / closing control unit 32 acts on the valve operating unit 31 to operate the valve operating unit 3.
1 is a combination according to a command signal of the valve opening / closing control unit 32,
The three-way valves 4, 9, 13, 16 are opened and closed.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, a container row (not shown) containing a test solution to be suctioned is moved below the dispensing nozzles 1 and 2, or the dispensing nozzles 1 and 2 are moved to the positions of the container rows. . Next, the dispensing nozzles 1 and 2 or the container is lowered or raised, and the dispensing nozzles 1 and 2 are inserted into the test solution in the container. In this case, when it is desired to aspirate the test solution only with the dispensing nozzle 1, the N.V. C. May be switched to open to operate the drive motor 18.
At this time, since the drive motor 18 also operates the syringe 10, the diluent is sucked into the syringe 10 from the pipe 11 side.

After the test solution is sucked by the dispensing nozzle 1, the dispensing nozzles 1 and 2 are raised or the container is lowered to separate the dispensing nozzles 1 and 2 from the test solution and perform dispensing. The dispensing nozzles 1 and 2 are moved onto the container to be dispensed, or the container to be dispensed is moved below the dispensing nozzles 1 and 2 to be in a dispensable state. Next, the driving motor 19 is operated to suck the diluent into the syringes 14 and 17. After sucking the diluent, the N.V. C.
Is opened to drive the drive motors 18 and 19 to dispense the test solution and the diluent from the dispensing nozzle 1.

The test solution does not reach each syringe even if it is sucked. In other words, since it does not reach the three-way valves 4 and 9, it does not reach each syringe or the diluent container 7 and is not contaminated by the test solution. In addition, in the state before the sample (reagent) is aspirated, from the three-way valves 4 and 9 to the inside of each syringe and to the diluent container 7, all of the diluent such as water, physiological saline, and buffer is used. It is satisfied and adopts a system that improves dispensing accuracy than using air pressure.

The diluted liquid sucked into the syringe 10 returns to the diluent container 7 through the pipe 11, and the diluted liquid sucked into the syringe 17 is supplied to the N.V. O. It returns to the diluent container 7 through the piping on the side. In this way, while a plurality of syringes are controlled by the same drive motor, dilution dispensing can be performed by selectively using the dispensing nozzle.
Further, a series of dispensing operations performed in the analysis process, such as one dispensing nozzle for a sample and the other for a reagent, can be operated by a common drive system.

When continuously dispensing a reagent of another kind or a reagent for each item or a reaction solution for measurement (a mixed solution of reagents) or temporarily suspending the apparatus, the diluent in the diluent container is used. From the dispensing nozzle, or by inserting the dispensing nozzle into a separately prepared cleaning cup and sucking and discharging, so that when the type is switched or at rest, the dispensing nozzle and the pipe (at least (Including the suction area). As described above, in the present embodiment, the sample dispensing has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention is also applicable to dispensing of a reagent and dispensing of a reaction solution to be transferred to a measurement cell. The same).

In this embodiment, it is needless to say that dispensing can be performed in many combinations by increasing the number of dispensing nozzles to three or more. In this case, not only simply increasing the number of syringes (small volume, large volume) corresponding to the number of dispensing nozzles, but also, for example, discharging a large amount of diluent in a stepwise manner, and conversely sucking and discharging a small amount of a sample or the like. The size and number of syringes can be changed for each injection nozzle. At this time, since a stepwise dilution line can be dispensed and discharged from each nozzle by an equal amount, this is also an effective method for various activity tests.

Next, a case where pipetting and dilution / dispensing are properly used for each dispensing nozzle will be described. First, the dispensing nozzles 1 and 2 are inserted into the test solution in the container as described above. In this case, each of the three-way valves 4 and 9 has an N.V. C. Is switched to open, the drive motor 18 is operated, and the dispensing nozzles 1 and 2 aspirate the test solution. Next, the dispensing nozzle is relatively moved to the container to be dispensed to make dispensable, and the drive motor 19 is driven to suck the diluent from the diluent container 7 into the syringes 14 and 17. After sucking the diluting liquid, the driving motor 18 is operated to discharge the test liquid from the dispensing nozzle.
Here, when it is desired to perform dilution dispensing only from the dispensing nozzle 2, the N.V. C.
Is switched to open, and the drive motor 19 is operated to dispense the diluent.

In this case, the three-way valve 13 relating to the dispensing nozzle 1 that does not need to be diluted is provided by the N.V. C. Is not switched to open, the diluent sucked into the syringe 14 is supplied to the N.C. O. It is returned to the diluent container 7 through the piping on the side. In this manner, pipetting or dilution / dispensing can be simultaneously and selectively performed by the plurality of dispensing nozzles. Therefore, among the plurality of dispensing nozzles, a specific dispensing nozzle can perform only dilution dispensing, and the other dispensing nozzles can perform pipetting.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a selective liquid dispensing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Dispensing nozzle 20 is in flow channel 2
1 and a syringe 23 via a three-way valve 22, and a syringe 25 and a diluent container 26 via three-way valves 22 and 24. 3 above
Among the three-way valves 22, the three-way valve 22 has a common (C.) on the dispensing nozzle 20 side, a normally open (NO) side connected to the syringe 23, and a normally closed (N.C.) side connected to the three-way valve 24. )). The three-way valve 24 is normally closed on the side connected to the three-way valve 22 (N.
C. ), The side connected to the syringe 25 is common (C.),
The side connected to the diluent container 26 is normally open (N.
O. ).

Among the above-mentioned syringes, a syringe 23 is a syringe for a small capacity, and one of the syringes is an N.V. O.
The other is connected to a two-way valve 28 through a circulating water channel (return water channel) 27. The syringe 25 is a large-capacity syringe, and these syringes 23 and 25 are driven by a driving motor 29. Also,
The two-way valve 28 is closed in a normal state, and is connected to the circulation water channel (return water channel) pipes 27 and 30 and to the diluent container 26.

The operation of the embodiment constructed as described above will be described. First, the dispensing nozzle 20 is moved over the container containing the test solution, or the container is moved and the dispensing nozzle 2 is moved.
0 makes the test solution suckable. Next, dispensing nozzle 2
0 is lowered or the container containing the test solution is raised, the dispensing nozzle 20 is inserted into the test solution, the drive motor 29 is driven, and the dispensing nozzle 20 is
Then, a predetermined amount of the test solution is sucked.

In this case, the operation of the drive motor 29 also causes the syringe 25 to perform a suction operation. However, since the three-way valve 24 is not switched in the syringe 25, the operation is stopped. O. The diluent is only sucked from the side, and has no effect on the suction of the sample. Next, when sucking the diluent into the syringe 25, the N.V. O. Is closed (NC is opened), and the two-way valve 28 is similarly switched (opened) to drive the drive motor 29 so as to push out the liquid in the syringe.

In this case, the diluent in the syringe 23 is
The diluent container 2 passes through a pipe 27, a two-way valve 28, and a pipe 30.
Returned to 6. When the syringe returns to the upper point, the drive motor 29 is driven again, and a predetermined amount of the diluent is sucked into the syringe 25. Then, the diluent is also sucked into the syringe 23 through the pipe 30, the two-way valve 28, and the pipe 27. During such an operation or after the operation is completed, the dispensing nozzle 20 is moved onto a container, for example, a reaction container or the like, from which the sample is to be discharged, or the reaction container or the like is moved below the dispensing nozzle 20. Thus, the dispensing nozzle 20 is set in a dischargeable state.

Also in this embodiment, the sample does not reach each syringe even if it is sucked. That is, since the sample does not reach the three-way valve 22 by either of the syringes 23 and 25, the syringe and the diluent container 26 are not contaminated. In the state before the sample (reagent) is aspirated, the entire space from the three-way valve 22 to the inside of each syringe and the diluent container 26 is filled with a diluent such as water, physiological saline, or a buffer. It uses a method that improves dispensing accuracy than using air pressure. Next, the N.V. C. Open and N.I. O. The side is switched to closed, the drive motor 29 is driven, and the sample in the dispensing nozzle 20 is simultaneously extruded and dispensed by discharging the diluent in the syringe 25. As described above, dilution and dispensing can be arbitrarily performed.

Next, a description will be given of a case where the amount of sample suction is large and the dilution ratio is small, that is, the amount of diluent is small in the second embodiment. First, the dispensing nozzle 20 is moved above the sample, or the sample is moved, so that the sample can be sucked by the dispensing nozzle 20. Next, by lowering the dispensing nozzle 20 or raising the sample, the dispensing nozzle 20
Is inserted into the sample. Also, the three-way valve 22 and the three-way valve 24
N. C. Then, the two-way valve 28 is switched to open, the drive motor 29 is driven, and the sample is aspirated from the syringe 25 to the dispensing nozzle 20.

In this case, the syringe 23 operates simultaneously, but the syringe 23 has a pipe 27, a two-way valve 28, and a pipe 30.
The diluent is only aspirated through the filter and has no effect on the aspiration of the sample. Thus, after aspirating the sample, the dispensing nozzle 2
The sample is dispensed from the dispensing nozzle 20 by moving 0 or by moving the container to be dispensed. next,
The driving motor 29 is driven to discharge the sample from the dispensing nozzle 20. At this time, the syringe 23 operates at the same time, but the diluent from the syringe 23 only returns to the diluent container 26 again through the pipe 27, the two-way valve 28, and the pipe 30, and has no effect on the ejection of the sample. do not do.

After the sample is discharged, the three-way valve 24 is in the normal state, that is, the N.V. C. The side is closed again, and the drive motor 29 is operated to suction a predetermined amount of the diluent into the syringe 23. At this time, the syringe 25 also operates, but only the diluent is sucked from the diluent container 26 here. After sucking the diluent, the three-way valve 22 is in the normal state, that is, the N.V. C. Side is closed and N.N. O. Open. Then, the drive motor 29 is operated to discharge the diluent in the syringe 23 from the dispensing nozzle 20. At this time, the diluent sucked into the syringe 25 is returned to the diluent container 26 again. As described above, dilution and dispensing when the dilution factor is small can be arbitrarily performed.

The technique for selectively changing the dispensed amount by the selective liquid dispensing apparatus according to the second embodiment is also possible in the first embodiment, and the selective liquid dispensing apparatus according to the second embodiment is also applicable. If a plurality of dispensing devices are prepared and only the driving system is connected in common, it is possible to selectively change the dispensing nozzle and the dispensing amount as in the first embodiment.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the drive system for simultaneously driving the circulation water channel (return water channel) and the plurality of syringes is provided, the plurality of syringes corresponding to the dispensing nozzles can be driven by the same drive system. While controlling, selectively for each dispensing nozzle,
Moreover, it is possible to arbitrarily dispense in different dispensing modes. In addition, since syringes that are not used in the return channel are also constantly transferring liquid, even when changing various dispensing modes such as the number of nozzles to be used, the load for each common pump and syringe is equalized, and the durability of the device is improved. improves.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a dispensing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a dispensing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a dispensing device according to a conventional example.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a dispensing device according to a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a dispensing device according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 dispensing nozzle 3, 8 flow path 4, 9, 13, 16 three-way valve 5, 10, 14, 17 syringe 6, 11, 12, 15 pipe 7 diluent container 18, 19 drive motor

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first syringe and a second syringe for sucking and discharging liquid are connected to driving means and driven at the same time, and the first syringe is connected to one end of each of a first flow path and a second flow path. The two syringes are connected to the other end of the second flow path and one end of the third flow path via a three-way valve, and the other end of the first flow path is dispensed in common to the first and second syringes. And the other end of the third flow path is connected to a common liquid container for the first and second syringes, and one end of a branch flow path is connected to the first syringe, The other end of the branch flow path is connected to the liquid storage section, and the three-way valve is selectively switched by control means to connect the first syringe to either the first flow path side or the branch flow path side. The number of the dispensing nozzles is smaller than the number of syringes and at least two syringes. A dispensing nozzle connected to the dispensing nozzle. 2. The selective liquid dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the syringes have different suction and discharge capacities. 3. The selective liquid dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the branch flow path communicates with the diluent tank. 4. A system comprising a plurality of syringes for sucking and discharging liquid, common driving means for simultaneously driving the syringe, and a first flow path connecting a part of the syringe and a common dispensing nozzle. Syringe operating on the dispensing nozzle by selectively transmitting suction and discharge pressure by a syringe connected to the dispensing nozzle to a branch flow path different from the dispensing nozzle using a selective liquid dispensing device A selective liquid dispensing method characterized by changing the combination of 5. The selective liquid dispensing method according to claim 4, wherein at least one syringe is selected from syringes having different suction and discharge capacities.