JP3670519B2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer having reaction vessels arranged in an annular shape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The automatic analyzer is a device that analyzes patient serum and urine, and includes a sample holding mechanism having a sample container for storing a sample such as serum, a reagent holding mechanism for storing a reagent corresponding to a test item, a sample and a reagent. And a reaction container holding mechanism having a reaction container for reacting the mixed reaction liquid. Furthermore, the automatic analyzer includes a stirring mechanism that stirs and mixes the reaction solution and a cleaning mechanism that cleans the reaction vessel.
[0003]
In addition, the reaction vessel holding mechanism employs a configuration in which reaction vessels are arranged in an annular shape, thereby improving analysis efficiency and reliability. In addition, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-264559, for highly reliable and high-efficiency measurement, the life of a reaction vessel is grasped as a variable, and a reaction vessel with severe deterioration is used for analysis. The method of not doing is adopted.
[0004]
By the way, in general, according to the order of samples, analysis items are sequentially assigned to reaction vessels, and a series of analyzes proceeds. At this time, the reaction vessel in which the sample is first dispensed and the analysis is performed, that is, the reaction vessel in which the analysis assignment is performed first is always the same, and the first position (early position) of the reaction vessel row is always used. Is assigned.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The problem of the present invention will be described by taking as an example the case where 160 reaction vessels are held on the reaction table.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the number of requests for each analysis, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the number of times the reaction container is used. As shown in FIG. 4, the number of analyzes is 200 for the first time, 150 for the second time, 55 for the third time, 130 for the fourth time, 75 for the fifth time, and each analysis is the number of reaction vessels held in the reaction table. Regardless of which analysis is being requested.
[0006]
Here, when the allocation of the first reaction container to be analyzed is always the same and the reaction container is in the first position, the reaction is performed as shown in FIG. 5 every time the analysis is repeated once or twice. There is a difference in the number of uses depending on the position of the container. In the example of FIG. 5, the number of uses is six at the first position, and the number of uses is one at the 160th position. This trend becomes even greater as the number of analyzes is increased.
[0007]
That is, the bipolarization is promoted such that the reaction container close to the first position deteriorates due to dirt and the like, and the reaction container close to the 160th position does not deteriorate so much.
[0008]
By the way, when the reaction vessel is further deteriorated, the reaction vessel is naturally replaced. In this case, from the viewpoint of device management, all the reaction containers held in the reaction table are replaced and discarded at a time. In the example of FIG. 5, all of the 160th position containers are discarded from the first position container.
[0009]
As described above, the number of times the reaction vessel attached to the reaction table is used varies depending on the position, and the degree of deterioration naturally varies depending on the position.
[0010]
However, in the past, replacement was performed based on the degree of deterioration of some of the reaction vessels, so that there was a problem in that even the reaction vessels that did not need to be replaced were discarded to increase maintenance costs.
[0011]
An object of the present invention is to realize an automatic analyzer that can effectively use a plurality of reaction vessels and reduce maintenance costs by changing the initial analysis assignment position by paying attention to the above-described conventional problems. It is.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.
(1) a plurality of reaction vessels are arranged and held in a ring, in the automatic analyzer and a these reactor column drive mechanism for driving rotation of the reaction vessel allocating first analyzed from the reactor A control unit that controls the operation of the drive mechanism so as to change the position for each analysis is provided .
[0013]
(2) Preferably, in the above (1), a reaction unit including a storage unit for storing a preset threshold value of the number of times of use of the reaction container, and assigning the analysis to the position of the reaction container whose use number does not exceed the threshold value is assigned to the analysis first. It was equipped with a function for assigning containers .
[0014]
(3) Preferably, in the above ( 2 ), when the number of times of use of all the reaction containers exceeds the threshold value, a function of resetting the threshold value is provided .
[0015]
(4) Preferably, in the above (1), the assignment position of the reaction container to which the analysis is assigned first is forcibly changed .
[0016]
(5) Preferably, in the above ( 2 ), when the position of the reaction vessel to which the analysis is initially assigned is different from the position of the reaction vessel to which the analysis is initially assigned in the previous analysis process, A display means for displaying that the assigned reaction container is different from the previous one is provided .
[0017]
(6) In an automatic analyzer having a plurality of reaction vessels arranged in a ring and a drive mechanism for rotating and driving these reaction vessel rows, reaction vessels to which analysis is first assigned from the reactors The control unit controls the operation of the drive mechanism so as to change the position according to any one of the time, the interval time, and the number of analysis start times .
[0018]
(7) Preferably, in the above (1), the absorbance of the reaction vessel is measured with a photometer, and the reaction is first assigned to the reaction vessel position where the measured absorbance does not exceed a preset control value. It was equipped with a function for assigning containers.
[0019]
Each time the number of times the reaction vessel assigned to the analysis is used exceeds the control value, the reaction vessel to which the analysis is assigned first is sequentially changed, so the first assignment position can be changed for each analysis. Yes, the number of times of using the reaction vessel can be averaged as a whole.
[0020]
Thereby, the automatic analyzer which can use a some reaction container effectively and can make a maintenance cost cheap can be implement | achieved.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer to which the present invention is applied.
The analysis unit side of the automatic analyzer has a sample container 1 filled with a sample, a sample disk 2 and a drive mechanism 3 for holding the sample container, a reagent corresponding to the content of the analysis test, and a reagent for holding the reagent. The reagent disk 4 and the drive mechanism 5 are provided, and the reaction container 6 for making a sample and a reagent react.
[0022]
In addition, the analysis unit side includes a reaction table 7 and a drive mechanism 8 for holding the reaction container, a sampling mechanism 9 for dispensing a sample into the reaction container 6, and a reagent for dispensing into the reaction container 6. A reagent pipetting mechanism 10, a stirring mechanism 11 for stirring and mixing the sample and the reagent, a cleaning mechanism 12 for cleaning the reaction container, and a photometer 13 for measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction container 6; Is provided.
[0023]
The control system also includes a control unit 14, an information storage unit 15 that stores known information about the reaction vessel and accumulated information that is accumulated with the operation of the automatic analyzer, and a display that displays the allocation information of the reaction vessel 6. A unit 16, an input unit 17 for inputting information to the information storage unit, and a timer 18 for time management are provided, and the analysis unit is controlled via the interface 19.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a calculation flowchart for determining the reaction vessel 6 to be initially assigned for analysis in the automatic analyzer shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2, first, N = 1 is given to the information storage unit 15 as known information at the position of the reaction vessel 6 where the analysis allocation is performed first (step 1).
[0025]
Further, a threshold value M of the number of times of use of the reaction vessel 6 is given as stored information. When there is a request for analysis, first, it is determined whether or not the number of uses of the reaction container 6 in the first position is equal to or less than the threshold value M (step 2). In this step 2, if the number of times of use of the reaction container 6 in the first position is less than or equal to the threshold value M, the first position is stored in the information storage unit 15 (step 3), and the first analysis assignment is made to this reaction container 6 To do.
[0026]
The above is a case where N = 1, but when the analysis is repeated many times, the following occurs.
If the position of the reaction container 6 assigned first at the previous time is N, if there is a request for analysis, it is determined whether or not the number of uses of the reaction container 6 at the N position is equal to or less than the threshold value M (step 2).
[0027]
If the number of times the N-position reaction vessel 6 is used is equal to or less than the threshold value M in step 2, the N-position is first stored in the information storage unit 15 as the reaction vessel 6 assigned (step 3). However, if the number of uses of the N-position reaction vessel 6 is greater than the threshold value M, the conditions of the reaction vessel 6 are changed in order so that the number of uses of the reaction vessel 6 is less than or equal to the threshold value M. A position satisfying the condition is searched (step 4).
[0028]
Here, when the position of the reaction vessel 6 exceeds the number of reaction vessels held in the reaction table 7 (step 5), the N position of the reaction vessel 6 is returned to the first position which is the initial value, and the threshold value is set. M is reset (step 6). Thereafter, the above-described flow is repeated to sequentially update (sequentially change) the N position and the threshold value M of the reaction vessel 6 to determine the allocation position.
[0029]
Here, the number of times of use of the reaction vessel 6 is set as a threshold value for calculating the first analysis assignment, and this is set as a control value. However, the cell blank absorbance value using the output from the photometer 13 or dirt is used. Even if the absorbance value of the related reagent is stored in the information storage unit 15 as a control value, the same effect can be obtained by the same procedure.
[0030]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the reaction vessel 6 to which analysis is initially assigned is updated every time analysis is started. However, the time or interval time managed by the timer 18 or the number of analysis start times may be used. The information is stored in the information storage unit 14 as a condition.
[0031]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the analysis operation in the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 3, first, samples to be analyzed are arranged on the sample disk 2, and analysis items are input. Next, when start is input, the control unit 14 checks the analysis conditions to determine whether there is any inconvenience in the analysis (step 7). Simultaneously with the confirmation of the analysis conditions, the reaction vessel 6 that starts the analysis is also assigned (step 8).
[0032]
When the reaction vessel 6 that is initially assigned to the analysis is, for example, at the eleventh position by the above-described calculation flow, the following occurs.
First, the automatic analyzer performs an initial operation to confirm the position of each mechanism (step 9). The position of the reaction table 7 holding the reaction vessel 6 is confirmed by a detector attached to the drive mechanism 8, and the position of each reaction vessel 6 is calculated by a relative position with respect to this detector.
[0033]
The relative position between the reaction container 6 at the first position and the detector, that is, the straight line from the center of the annular reaction table 7 to the reaction container 6 at the first position, and the center of the reaction table 7 to the detector. If the angle with the straight line is 0 °, the reaction vessel 6 in the eleventh position has a relative angle of 22.5 ° with respect to the detector. The reaction vessel 6 assigned with the first analysis is rotated 22.5 ° to the first washing position of the washing mechanism 12 in the next operation cycle for washing the reaction vessel before analysis (step 10).
[0034]
Then, the reaction vessel 6 moves to the sample dispensing position while being sequentially subjected to the cleaning operation (step 11). During this time, the water blank necessary for the measurement is also measured (steps 12 and 13). In the reaction vessel 6 in which the sample has been dispensed (step 14), the first reagent is added and stirred (steps 15 and 16), and the absorbance is measured while passing in front of the photometer 13. .
[0035]
If it is necessary to add the reagent again for the analysis, the fourth reagent is added to the fourth reagent from the second reagent at a predetermined time, and stirring is performed. When all photometry is completed (step 17), the apparatus after washing of the reaction vessel 6 stops (step 18).
[0036]
For the apparatus user, when the reaction vessel 6 assigned to the analysis first is different from the reaction vessel 6 assigned initially, the display unit 16 such as a CRT or a printer displays the reaction vessel 6 to the user. Is displayed.
[0037]
In addition, when it is estimated by calculation that the reaction container 6 to be analyzed and allocated first is different from the current one from the information in the storage information unit 15 and the information of the reaction container 6 that has been analyzed and allocated at the first time, display This is displayed on the part 16.
[0038]
In addition, when displaying the above, it is possible to display the number of times of use of each reaction container, which reaction container is the first analysis container assigned to the analysis.
[0039]
The display timing described above may be before the start of analysis or after the end of analysis. Furthermore, the display described above may be executed between step 8 and step 9 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0040]
It is also possible to designate the reaction container 6 to be assigned first from the external input unit 17 and forcibly change the assigned position.
[0041]
As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the number of times of use of the reaction vessel 6 that is initially assigned for analysis is compared with the threshold value. Since the reaction container 6 is assigned to the analysis first, and thereafter the reaction container 6 to which the analysis is assigned first is updated each time the usage count exceeds the threshold value, the first assignment position is changed for each analysis. It is possible to average the number of times the reaction vessel is used as a whole.
[0042]
Thereby, the automatic analyzer which can use a some reaction container effectively and can make a maintenance cost cheap can be implement | achieved.
[0043]
When the present invention is applied to an existing automatic analyzer, the only additional flow steps are step 8 and step 10 shown in FIG. 3, which are assigned first after the initial operation (step 9). The moving time for moving the reaction vessel 6 to the first cleaning position of the cleaning mechanism 6 is required, but it is sufficient that the reaction table 7 is rotated at most, and the analysis processing capability of the automatic analyzer is sufficient. Will not be affected.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the number of times of use of the reaction vessel attached to the reaction table is averaged, and the total number of times of use and time intervals until replacement due to deterioration can be extended, thereby extending the life of the reaction vessel. As a result, the maintenance cost can be reduced.
[0045]
That is, by changing the initial analysis assignment position, an automatic analyzer that can effectively use a plurality of reaction vessels and reduce maintenance costs can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a calculation method related to change of reaction vessel allocation in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an analysis operation of the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the number of requests for each analysis to the automatic analyzer.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the number of times of use for each reaction container based on the number of requests shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sample container 2 Sample disk 3 Sample disk drive mechanism 4 Reagent disk 5 Reagent disk drive mechanism 6 Reaction container 7 Reaction table 8 Reaction table drive mechanism 9 Sampling mechanism 10 Reagent pipetting mechanism 11 Stirring mechanism 12 Washing mechanism 13 Photometer 14 Control part 15 Information storage unit 16 Display unit 17 Input unit 18 Timer 19 Interface

Claims (7)

A plurality of reaction vessels held in an annular arrangement;
A drive mechanism for rotationally driving these reaction vessel rows ;
In an automatic analyzer equipped with
An automatic analyzer comprising a control unit for controlling the operation of the drive mechanism so as to change the position of a reaction vessel to which analysis is first assigned from the reactor for each analysis. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
A storage unit for storing a preset threshold value of the number of times of use of the reaction container;
An automatic analyzer having a function of setting a reaction vessel position in which the number of uses does not exceed the threshold value as a reaction vessel assignment position for assigning the analysis first . The automatic analyzer according to claim 2 ,
An automatic analyzer having a function of resetting the threshold value when the number of times of use of all the reaction containers exceeds the threshold value . The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
An automatic analyzer characterized by forcibly changing an allocation position of a reaction vessel to which an analysis is initially allocated . The automatic analyzer according to claim 2 ,
When the position of the reaction vessel to which the analysis is initially assigned is different from the position of the reaction vessel to which the analysis is initially assigned in the previous analysis process, the fact that the assigned reaction vessel is different from the previous one is displayed. An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising display means . A plurality of reaction vessels held in an annular arrangement;
A drive mechanism for rotationally driving these reaction vessel rows;
In an automatic analyzer equipped with
A control unit that controls the operation of the drive mechanism so as to change the position of the reaction vessel to which analysis is initially assigned from the reactor according to either time or interval time or the number of times of analysis start is provided. Automatic analyzer to do. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The absorbance of the reaction vessel is measured with a photometer, and the reaction vessel position in which the measured absorbance does not exceed a preset control value is provided as a reaction vessel allocation position for first assigning the analysis. Automatic analyzer to do.

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