JP3801062B2 - Analysis unit - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an analysis unit for performing measurement such as absorbance measurement. More specifically, the present invention is necessary for analysis of a sample such as suction, discharge, measurement, dilution, mixing, heating, pressure increase / decrease, measurement of a sample or a reagent. The present invention relates to an analysis unit capable of performing a plurality of operations with one unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an example of means for measuring absorbance or the like by adding one or more reagents to a sample, a piston pump having a cylinder and a piston is provided in each liquid tank, and a pipe having an open / close valve is provided. The sample and reagent are sucked from each tank by each piston pump and introduced into the container, and the mixture is heated with the sample and reagent in this container, and then the mixture is measured. Supplying to the cell is done.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional measuring means, a piston pump is connected to each tank containing a sample and a reagent through a pipe provided with an open / close valve, so a plurality of piston pumps, extra pipes and valves are required, Since the number of parts increases, there is a problem that the measuring apparatus becomes large, the measuring apparatus becomes heavy, and the apparatus cost increases.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. For example, a single unit performs a plurality of operations necessary for measurement such as suction, discharge, measurement, dilution, mixing, heating, pressure increase / decrease, and measurement of a sample and a reagent. It is an object to provide a small, lightweight, low-cost analysis unit that can be used.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pair of cylinders that are arranged with their distal ends facing each other, a piston that can be moved forward and backward inserted from the proximal side into each of the pair of cylinders, and the pair of cylinders. And a gate valve through which liquid passes according to the operation of the piston, and the inside of the pair of cylinders communicates with each other via the gate valve, and the tip of one cylinder The side wall portion is provided with a plurality of liquid inlets and outlets through which liquid flows in and out in accordance with the operation of the piston, and the structure composed of the other cylinder and piston is configured as a measurement cell.
[0006]
In this case, the analysis unit of the present invention can be more preferably the following analysis unit as shown in the embodiments described later.
(A) The gate valve is an analysis unit in which a plate made of an elastic material is provided with a cut serving as a liquid passage.
(B) Each of the pistons inserted into the pair of cylinders is an analysis unit driven by a pulse motor.
(C) An analysis unit in which a tapered portion is provided at the tip of a piston inserted into one cylinder, and a portion corresponding to the tapered portion inside the one cylinder has a shape corresponding to the tapered portion.
(D) The structure composed of the other cylinder and piston has a function of causing light to enter the liquid in the cylinder and emitting light transmitted through the liquid in the cylinder and a function of heating the liquid in the cylinder or An analysis unit having a function of oscillating ultrasonic waves in a liquid and configured as an absorbance measurement cell.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an analysis unit according to the present invention. The analysis unit of this example is configured as an analysis unit for measuring absorbance.
[0008]
In the analysis unit 2 of this example, 4 indicates a first cylinder (one cylinder), and 6 indicates a second cylinder (the other cylinder). The first cylinder 4 and the second cylinder 6 are arranged in series with their distal ends facing each other. The first cylinder 4 is made of metal, plastic, ceramic or the like. The second cylinder 6 includes a transparent inner cylinder 8 made of quartz glass, Pyrex (registered trademark) glass, acrylic resin, or the like, and an outer cylinder 10 made of metal, plastic, ceramic, or the like provided outside the second cylinder 6. The internal space portion 14 of the first cylinder 4 passes through the first cylinder 4, and the internal space portion 32 of the second cylinder 6 passes through the second cylinder 6.
[0009]
In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes a first piston which is inserted into the internal space portion 14 of the first cylinder 4 from the base end side and which can be advanced and retracted. A screw hole 16 is formed in the first piston 12 along the axial direction from the base end side, and a piston feed screw 18 that is rotated by the operation of a pulse motor is screwed into the screw hole 16. The first piston 12 is advanced and retracted by rotation 20 of the feed screw 18. Further, a frustoconical portion (tapered taper portion) 22 is formed at the distal end portion of the first piston 12, and a corresponding portion of the internal space portion 14 of the first cylinder 4 also has a frustoconical shape. Furthermore, a pressure-resistant ring 24 is attached to the tip of the truncated cone portion 22 of the first piston 12, and a seal ring 28 is attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion 26.
[0010]
In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a second piston that is inserted into the internal space 32 of the second cylinder 6 from the base end side and can be moved back and forth. A screw hole 34 is formed in the second piston 30 along the axial direction from the base end side, and a piston feed screw 36 that is rotated by the operation of a pulse motor is screwed into the screw hole 34. The second piston 30 is advanced and retracted by the rotation 38 of the feed screw 36. The second piston 30 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and a seal ring 40 is attached to the tip of the second piston 30. In the figure, reference numeral 42 denotes a seal ring disposed between the inner cylinder 8 and the outer cylinder 10.
[0011]
In the figure, reference numeral 44 denotes a gate valve that is disposed between the tip portions of the first cylinder 4 and the second cylinder 6 and through which liquid passes according to the operation of the first piston 12 and the second piston 30. This gate valve 44 is disposed so as to close the tip openings of both cylinders 4 and 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the gate valve 44 is provided with a cross-shaped cut 48 serving as a liquid passage at the center of a plate material (in this example, a rubber plate) 46 made of a circular elastic material. The internal space portions 14 and 32 of both cylinders 4 and 6 communicate with each other through 44.
[0012]
A plurality of liquid inlets / outlets 50 through which liquid enters and exits according to the operations of the first piston 12 and the second piston 30 are formed at the distal end side wall portion of the first cylinder 4. These liquid inlet / outlet ports 50 are connected to tanks 52 such as a sample tank, a reagent tank, and a drainage tank, respectively. In the figure, reference numeral 54 denotes a pipe connecting the liquid inlet / outlet port 50 and the tank 52, and 56 denotes an opening / closing valve interposed in the pipe 54.
[0013]
A light source window 58 and a light receiving window 60 facing the light source window 58 are formed in the outer cylinder 8 of the second cylinder 6 along the radial direction. Light from a light source (not shown) is made incident on the liquid in the second cylinder 6 through the light source window 58, and light that has passed through the liquid in the second cylinder 6 is emitted through the light receiving window 60. Is received by a light receiving element (not shown). In addition, a heating element 62 that heats the liquid in the second cylinder 6 is embedded in the distal end portion of the second piston 30. As described above, the structure including the second cylinder 6 and the second piston 30 is configured as an absorbance measurement cell. Instead of the heating element 62, a vibrating body that oscillates ultrasonic waves may be provided in the liquid in the second cylinder 6.
[0014]
The procedure for measuring the absorbance of the sample using the analysis unit of this example is as follows, for example.
[0015]
(1) In the state shown in FIG. 1, the valve between the liquid inlet / outlet 50 and the sample tank is opened, the valve between the other tanks is closed, and the first piston 12 is moved backward by the operation of the pulse motor. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the sample solution 70 is introduced into the internal space 14 of the first cylinder.
[0016]
(2) In the state shown in FIG. 3, the second piston 30 is moved backward by a predetermined amount by the operation of the pulse motor. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, a predetermined amount of sample liquid 70 is introduced into the internal space 32 of the second cylinder through the gate valve 44.
[0017]
(3) The valve between the liquid inlet / outlet 50 and the drainage tank is opened, the valve between the other tanks is closed, and the first piston 12 is advanced to the state shown in FIG. 1 by the operation of the pulse motor. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the sample liquid in the internal space part 14 of a 1st cylinder is discharged | emitted to a drainage tank. In this case, since the sample liquid 70 exists in the internal space portion 32 of the second cylinder, the sample liquid in the internal space portion 14 of the first cylinder does not flow into the internal space portion 32 of the second cylinder.
[0018]
(4) The valve between the liquid inlet / outlet 50 and the reagent tank is opened, the valve between the other tanks is closed, and the first piston 12 is moved backward by the operation of the pulse motor. As a result, the reagent is introduced into the internal space 14 of the first cylinder. In this case, due to the action of the gate valve 44, the sample liquid 70 in the internal space portion 32 of the second cylinder does not flow into the internal space portion 14 of the first cylinder.
[0019]
(5) In the state of (4), the second piston 30 is moved backward by a predetermined amount by the operation of the pulse motor. As a result, a predetermined amount of reagent is introduced into the internal space 32 of the second cylinder through the gate valve 44, and the sample and reagent are in the internal space 32 of the second cylinder.
[0020]
(6) The valve between the liquid inlet / outlet port 50 and the drainage tank is opened, the valve between the other tanks is closed, and the first piston 12 is advanced to the state shown in FIG. 1 by the operation of the pulse motor. Thereby, the reagent in the internal space part 14 of a 1st cylinder is discharged | emitted to a drainage tank similarly to (3).
[0021]
(7) When two or more kinds of reagents are used, the above-described reagent introduction operation into the internal space 32 of the second cylinder is repeated.
[0022]
(8) All the valves between the liquid inlet / outlet 50 and the tank are closed, the first piston 12 is moved backward by a predetermined amount while the second piston 30 is moved forward by a predetermined amount, and then the first piston 12 is moved forward by a predetermined amount. The second piston 30 is retracted by a predetermined amount. Thereby, after the sample and the reagent in the internal space portion 32 of the second cylinder pass through the gate valve 44 to the internal space portion 14 of the first cylinder, the sample transferred to the internal space portion 14 of the first cylinder and The reagent passes through the gate valve 44 and returns into the internal space 32 of the second cylinder, during which the sample and reagent are sufficiently mixed.
[0023]
(9) After the liquid mixture in the second cylinder 6 is heated and reacted by the heating element 62, the light from the light source is incident on the liquid in the second cylinder 6 through the light source window 58, and the liquid in the second cylinder 6 The light transmitted through the light is emitted through the light receiving window 60, and the light emission is received by the light receiving element to measure the absorbance.
[0024]
(10) The first piston 12 is moved backward while the second piston 30 is moved forward, and all the liquid mixture in the inner space portion 32 of the second cylinder is transferred to the inner space portion 14 of the first cylinder.
[0025]
(11) The valve between the liquid inlet / outlet 50 and the drainage tank is opened, the valve between the other tanks is closed, and the first piston 12 is advanced to the state shown in FIG. 1 by the operation of the pulse motor. Thereby, the liquid mixture in the internal space part 14 of a 1st cylinder is discharged | emitted to a drainage tank similarly to (3).
[0026]
Absorbance measurement is performed by the above operation. However, the above operation is an example of the operation of the analysis unit of this example, and the analysis unit of this example can perform measurement by various other operations.
[0027]
As described above, the analysis unit of this example has the following advantages.
(1) A plurality of operations necessary for absorbance measurement (aspiration, discharge, measurement, mixing, heating, measurement, etc. of samples and reagents) can be performed by one unit.
(2) Small number of parts, small size, light weight and low cost.
{Circle around (3)} Since the gate valve made of an elastic material is provided with a notch that becomes a liquid passage, the gate valve functions effectively because of a minimum liquid reservoir structure.
(4) Since the piston is driven by a pulse motor, the piston can be advanced and retracted with high accuracy.
(5) Since the tapered portion (conical trapezoidal portion) is provided at the tip of the first piston and the corresponding portion of the internal space of the first cylinder is also shaped accordingly, when the first piston is pushed in most The pressure resistance of the structure (measurement cell) composed of the second cylinder and the second piston is increased. Therefore, the liquid mixture in the internal space of the second cylinder can be heated to a high temperature during measurement, and the bubble volume can be reduced.
{Circle around (6)} The dirt on the glass part (inner cylinder) for optical measurement is cleaned every time the piston moves, and the glass part can be kept clean, so the influence of the dirt is reduced.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, for example, a small size capable of performing a plurality of operations necessary for measurement such as suction, discharge, measurement, dilution, mixing, heating, pressure increase / decrease, and measurement of a sample or reagent with one unit, A light-weight and low-cost analysis unit can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of an analysis unit according to the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing a gate valve of the analysis unit of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an operating state of the analysis unit of FIG. 1;
4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an operating state of the analysis unit of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an operation state of the analysis unit of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Analysis unit 4 1st cylinder 6 2nd cylinder 8 Inner cylinder 10 Outer cylinder 12 1st piston 14 Internal space part 22 Frustum trapezoidal part 30 2nd piston 32 Internal space part 44 Gate valve 46 Plate material 48 made of elastic material Cut 50 Liquid Entrance / exit 52 Tank 58 Light source window 60 Light receiving window 62 Heating element

Claims (5)

A pair of cylinders arranged with their distal ends facing each other, a piston which can be moved forward and backward inserted into the pair of cylinders from the proximal side, and a distal end portion of the pair of cylinders, A gate valve through which liquid passes according to the operation, and the insides of the pair of cylinders communicate with each other via the gate valve, and a liquid is supplied to the tip side wall of one of the cylinders according to the operation of the piston. An analysis unit characterized in that a plurality of liquid inlets and outlets are formed, and a structure including the other cylinder and piston is configured as a measurement cell. 2. The analysis unit according to claim 1, wherein the gate valve is a plate made of an elastic material and provided with a cut serving as a liquid passage. 3. The analysis unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pistons respectively inserted into the pair of cylinders are driven by pulse motors. A tapered portion is provided at a tip portion of a piston inserted into one cylinder, and a portion corresponding to the tapered portion inside the one cylinder has a shape corresponding to the tapered portion. The analysis unit according to any one of 1 to 3. The structure composed of the other cylinder and piston has a function of causing light to enter the liquid in the cylinder and emitting light transmitted through the liquid in the cylinder, and a function of heating the liquid in the cylinder or exceeding the liquid in the cylinder. The analysis unit according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit is configured as an absorbance measurement cell.

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