JP3991495B2 - Analysis equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically analyzing a trace component contained in a specimen such as blood, serum, plasma, urine, etc., and in particular, the trace component in such a specimen is biochemically or immunologically analyzed. The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for analysis.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the field of clinical diagnosis, an analyzer is used to analyze the presence and concentration of specific components contained in specimens such as blood, serum, plasma, and urine collected from a subject, and to diagnose diseases from the results. Is widely used. Analytical instruments include multi-item biochemical analyzers that analyze sugars, lipids, proteins, etc. using enzymatic and chemical reactions, and hormones, tumor markers, etc., using specific interactions between antigens and antibodies. There are multi-item immunochemical analyzers that analyze In these analyzers, in order to avoid contamination between specimens or reaction solutions, biochemical reactions and immune reactions are usually performed individually in disposable reaction containers. In addition, when a reagent corresponding to a specific component in a specimen to be analyzed in advance is stored in the reaction container, it is common to use a disposable reaction container.
[0003]
In a conventional analyzer, while a sample container and a reaction container are transported by two different transport means, a certain amount of sample is sucked from the sample container and discharged into the reaction container to perform a reaction, and a specific substance in the sample is collected. It is common to analyze. However, since the transport means inevitably include operating parts, the analysis apparatus having two transport means has a complicated configuration and complicated maintenance, and the manufacturing cost of the apparatus is high, and the apparatus is further enlarged. It has been proposed that the sample container and the reaction container be transported by a single transport means.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In biochemical or immunological analysis, multiple types of specimens are used for each specimen in order to effectively use specimens collected from subjects or to make more reliable diagnoses based on the presence of multiple types of specific components. It is common to measure specific components. In an analyzer in which the sample container and the reaction container are transported by a single transport means, in this case, the sample container is placed at an arbitrary position on the transport means and accommodated in the sample container on the downstream side of the sample container. Place the same number of reaction containers as the number of analyzes performed on the sample, that is, the number of specific components to be analyzed for the sample, so that the sample and the reaction container used for the analysis of the sample are sequentially transported. Will be. When sample dilution or pretreatment is required, the reaction container is placed on the downstream side of the sample container with a dilution container or the like sandwiched therebetween.
[0005]
The analyzer starts the analysis by transporting the sample container and the reaction container by the transport means, sucking a predetermined amount of the sample from the sample container and discharging it to the reaction container, and adding more reagents as necessary. The analysis is started as described above after pre-reaction with the diluted or pretreated reagent. However, since there is only one trajectory for each container in a single transport means, the sample aspirated from the sample container is used as the subsequent reaction container. In order to discharge the liquid, it is necessary to move the transfer path and transport the predetermined sample container directly below the nozzle means to suck the sample, and then quickly drive the transport means to transport the predetermined reaction container to the same position. is there. For this reason, in order to improve the processing speed, the driving speed of the conveying means must be increased and frequently driven.
[0006]
If the transport means is driven quickly and frequently, a new sample container or reaction container cannot be added and placed on the transport means while the analyzer is substantially driven. The means must be enlarged so that can be placed. This detracts from the advantage that the apparatus can be miniaturized and simplified. In addition, it is very difficult to perform a so-called “interrupt” analysis for a sample that requires urgent analysis.
[0007]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to simplify and reduce the size of the apparatus by a configuration in which the sample container and the reaction container are mixed in a single transfer means, and to reduce the transfer speed of these containers to reduce the transfer means. An object of the present invention is to provide an analyzer that can be additionally mounted with a sample container and a reaction container even during driving.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object is an analyzer for analyzing a specific component in a specimen while transporting a specimen container for containing the specimen and a reaction container for reacting the specimen and the reagent, (1) (2) A reactor having a temperature adjusting function for maintaining the reaction container at a predetermined temperature, a used reaction container, having a transport means for transporting the sample container and the reaction container on an annular track in a mixed state A waste container for storing a container, a vertically movable nozzle means for sucking and discharging a certain amount of liquid, and a reaction container supporting means for transporting a reaction container between the transport means, the reactor and the waste box (3) a separate or single drive means for reciprocating the nozzle means and / or the reaction vessel carrying means on a linear track, and (4) the reactor and the waste box being a reaction vessel carrying means. On a straight orbit (5) at least a part of the annular track of the transfer means is linear, and the linear part of the transfer path coincides with a part of the linear track of the nozzle means and the reaction vessel support means; and (6) The apparatus having the characteristics that the conveying means can position two or more containers in the linear portion of the track.
[0009]
The present invention can be applied to, for example, a multi-item biochemical analyzer, a multi-item immunochemical analyzer, and the like. Hereinafter, a case where it is configured as a multi-item immunochemical analyzer will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a view of the analyzer of the present invention observed from the top surface, and FIG. 2 is a view of the same device observed from the side.
[0011]
The sample container 10 is a reaction container that contains a sample. In immunological analyzers and biochemical analyzers, blood, serum, plasma, urine, etc. are used as specimens, but chemical analyzers for analyzing environmental components and the like include, for example, river liquid samples and components extracted from soil. It may be a liquid sample. A reaction container is a container used to react a specimen with reagents necessary for the reaction when analyzing the specimen. Depending on the type of analysis, an empty container may be used, or the component to be analyzed (hereinafter referred to as “specific component”). And a container in which a reagent corresponding to the above is previously stored. In the biochemical analyzer, the sample can be mixed with a specific component in the reaction container and a chemical reagent that produces a color by generating a biochemical reaction. In the immunoanalyzer, the specimen is immunoreacted with the specific component in the reaction container. Mixing with the resulting antigen or antibody can be exemplified. In addition, depending on the specimen, the concentration of the specific component is abnormally high, so that the analysis range may be exceeded, or predetermined preprocessing may be performed. When analyzing such a specimen, a dilution container or a pretreatment container can be used for diluting the specimen or mixing with a pretreatment reagent.
[0012]
When the reagent is previously stored in the reaction container, the reagent may be in a liquid state or in a lyophilized state. If the reaction vessel does not contain all the reagents necessary for the analysis in advance or if an empty reaction vessel is used, add it separately during transfer of the reaction vessel by the transfer means, or add it on the reactor described later It can also be configured. In particular, in an immunoanalyzer, it is possible to store the reagent in a reaction container in advance. For example, when analyzing a specific substance by heterogeneous one-step sandwich EIA, water-insoluble magnetic beads to which an antibody that specifically binds to the specific substance is immobilized and an enzyme-labeled antibody that specifically binds to the specific substance Can be illustrated as being stored in a lyophilized state. In addition to the sandwich EIA, such a configuration of the reaction container can be applied to EIA based on a competitive measurement method, and analysis employing a fluorescent substance or a chemiluminescent substance instead of an enzyme as a labeling substance.
[0013]
The sample container and the reaction container described above are placed on a single transport means 1 and transported on an annular track. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the conveying means can be constituted by an endless track such as a belt conveyor or a snake chain, a driving device such as a sprocket 18, and a support that supports the endless track. In the example of FIG. 1, the sprocket 18 also serves as a support. Note that the specimen container and the reaction container, as well as the dilution container and the pretreatment container, may have different shapes and dimensions, or may have the same shape and dimensions. In the case of using containers of different sizes and shapes, for example, an adapter may be used so that the container can be placed on the conveying means.
[0014]
The transport means 1 transports a sample container and a reaction container on an annular track in a mixed state. The transport means is preferably configured so that the distance between the centers of the placed containers is uniform for reasons that will be described later. For this reason, the automatic measuring device of the present invention can be downsized when compared with a device in which different conveying means are arranged for each type of container. Moreover, it is preferable that the drive of the conveying means is intermittently performed every distance equal to the distance between the centers of the containers. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a reaction container 12 containing a reagent corresponding to a specific component to be measured for a specimen contained in the specimen container 10 is provided downstream (or upstream) of the specimen container 10 as necessary. It continues across the dilution container 11 to be placed. As described above, in the analyzer of the present invention, two specimen containers are not placed on the conveying means in succession, but are placed with at least one reaction container interposed therebetween. In addition, one dilution container is not necessarily used for the analysis of one sample, but it is not used for a sample that does not require dilution, and two or more even if one sample is required when two or more stages of dilution are required. In some cases, a dilution container is used. The same applies to the pretreatment container.
[0015]
When the reagent is not previously stored in the reaction container and the sample aspirated from the sample container during the transport by the transport means 1, the reagent is discharged, and if necessary, a solution or another reagent Is added to initiate a predetermined reaction. After that, perform a washing operation (B / F separation operation) using appropriate washing means or dispense additional reagents, etc. After a predetermined time has passed, the specific substances such as coloring, fluorescence, luminescence, etc. A signal related to the presence or concentration is detected, and the presence or concentration of the specific substance is quantified based on the detected signal intensity or the like.
[0016]
In the analyzer of the present invention, the reaction vessel is transported from the transport means 1 to the reactor 6 in the course of the analysis, where the reaction proceeds to detect the signal. For this reason, in addition to the reaction vessel support means described later, various devices are arranged in the reactor 6. The reactor 6 has at least a temperature adjustment function for maintaining the reaction vessel at a predetermined temperature, and maintains the temperature so that a predetermined reaction occurs efficiently in the transported reaction vessel. The temperature adjustment function can be configured by a combination of a temperature sensor and a heat source, for example. Moreover, it is preferable that the reactor 6 adopts a configuration that can eliminate a factor that hinders high-sensitivity detection in the detection means 8. For example, when the detection means is an optical detection means such as fluorescence or luminescence, if disturbance light enters from the outside of the detection means, the detection sensitivity may be adversely affected, so the entire reactor is left with the opening 16 left. It is particularly preferable to cover with the light shielding plate 14. When the reactor 6 is covered with the light shielding plate in this way, there is an effect that the temperature of the reactor is not easily influenced by the outside air temperature in addition to the light shielding effect.
[0017]
The reactor 6 itself may be a rotatable disk as shown in FIG. 1, or may be an endless track similar to the transport means 1. A disk is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of simplifying and downsizing the apparatus. Moreover, if it is a disk, it is because it is easy to position arbitrary reaction containers in the place where the reaction container directly under the opening part 16 is mounted or taken out by the forward / reverse rotation. In the disc-shaped reactor 6 of FIG. 1, by disposing the three container holding holes concentrically, the reaction container in which the specimen and the predetermined reagent are discharged is transferred to the innermost or intermediate holding hole, When a predetermined time has elapsed, the reaction container support means 26 transports it to the outermost periphery, and the cleaning operation by the cleaning means 7 and the detection by the detection means 8 are performed on the outermost periphery.
[0018]
Various means are added to the reactor 6 by an analyzer to which the present invention is applied. For example, in the analysis apparatus for performing heterogeneous immunoassay using the enzyme described above as a label, the water-insoluble magnetic beads previously accommodated in the reaction vessel are moved with respect to the reactor 6 to move the inside of the reaction vessel. A magnetic vibration device (not shown) for stirring the liquid, a cleaning device 7 (so-called B / F separation device) for separating labeled antibodies that did not bind to the magnetic beads after the immune reaction, and a substrate of the labeled enzyme are reacted. It can be exemplified that the dispensing device 9 for adding to the container and the detecting means 8 for detecting the activity of the labeling enzyme, such as fluorescence, light absorption, and luminescence, can be used.
[0019]
In particular, the cleaning device 7 is a device used to separate a component bound to a water-insoluble magnetic bead from an unreacted liquid component. The cleaning device 7 discharges a cleaning liquid into a reaction vessel and does not discharge a solid phase. So that only the liquid can be discharged, the cleaning liquid discharge pipe and the liquid discharge pipe have a double tube structure, etc., and the former is connected to the cleaning liquid discharge pump and the latter is connected to the vacuum pump etc. via the liquid trap. It can be illustrated. The water-insoluble carrier may be a bead with a diameter of about 1 to 10 mm or a microparticle with a diameter of submicron to several microns. The configuration is preferably selected. When magnetic beads are used as the water-insoluble carrier, the magnetic beads can be brought to the corner of the reaction vessel with a magnet, and the cleaning liquid can be sucked and discharged.
[0020]
In particular, the detection means 8 is appropriately selected according to the signal to be finally detected by the means. More specifically, for example, when detecting color development, fluorescence, luminescence, etc., an absorption monitor, a fluorescence detector, a luminescence detector, etc. may be selected. The reaction solution may be detected without being taken out of the reaction vessel or sucked into a detection cell or the like, but the former is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of simplifying and downsizing the apparatus. In order to perform such detection, it is possible to exemplify that the detector is configured to emit excitation light from above to the reaction solution and detect the signal emitted from the reaction solution upward (in this case, shielding). An opening is provided in the plate). The method of detection is classified by focusing on the number of times of detection, a method of performing detection only once, a method of performing detection twice before and after a certain time, and using the difference between them, and more than 3 times over time. There is a method of performing detection and using the rate of change of the detection result, but it may be determined as appropriate by examining the generation mechanism of the signal to be detected. For example, when alkaline phosphatase is used as a label, 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate can be used as a substrate as an enzyme substrate. Since 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate emits fluorescence when it is dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase, if fluorescence detection means is provided and the fluorescence intensity after a certain time has elapsed after adding the substrate solution, etc. good.
[0021]
In the example of FIG. 1, the enzyme substrate can be configured to be discharged into each reaction container by a nozzle means, but the dedicated dispensing device 9 is provided because the addition of the enzyme substrate is an immune reaction. It is performed after completion and is unnecessary for the immune reaction itself, and it is more effective to shorten the required time by providing a dedicated device to add the enzyme substrate to all reaction vessels. Because it is.
[0022]
In normal analysis, a disposable reaction vessel is generally used for the reasons described above. In the analysis apparatus of the present invention, the reaction container that has finished detection on the reactor 6 and has been analyzed is transported by the reaction container carrying means and discarded and accommodated in the disposal box 17. For this reason, the reaction vessel support means is configured to be movable up and down. The reaction container holding means is used not only when the reaction container is discarded, but also when the reaction container is transported from the transport means 1 onto the reactor 6 after the specimen and the reagent are discharged. In order to carry the reaction vessel, for example, the reaction vessel carrying means is provided with a suspension portion composed of three claws and the like, and a recess or a flange for hanging the claws is provided near the reaction vessel opening. It can be illustrated.
[0023]
For this reason, the reaction vessel support means is configured to be reciprocable on a straight track connecting the transport means 1, the reactor 6 and the waste box 17 by the drive means. Here, at least a part of the annular track of the transport unit 1 is configured in a straight line, and the reaction vessel support unit is configured to be able to reciprocate on a track that overlaps at least the linear track. In order to raise and lower the reaction vessel support means, it is possible to exemplify a configuration in which a nozzle is attached to a suitable base and the base is lifted and lowered using a motor and a tangent screw mechanism. Further, it is possible to exemplify the use of a motor and a tangent screw mechanism for reciprocating the reaction vessel support means on a linear track. In addition, since the transfer of the reaction container to the reactor 6 using the reaction container support means 26 or the transfer of the reaction container from the reactor 6 is performed on the linear orbit of the reaction container support means in the reactor 6, When the reactor 6 is covered with the light shielding plate 14 as described above, it is important to match the opening 16 and the linear trajectory. As a particularly preferred example, the reactor 6 can be a disk, and a part or all of its diameter can be matched with the linear track and the opening 16.
[0024]
Since the sample in the sample container is aspirated and discharged into the reaction container, or the reagent is aspirated from the reagent container and discharged into the reaction container, the analyzer of the present invention can be moved up and down to aspirate and discharge a certain amount of liquid Nozzle means. The nozzle means may be composed of a nozzle and a suction device such as a syringe pump. To raise and lower the nozzle means, the nozzle is attached to a suitable base, and the base is lifted and lowered using a motor and a tangent screw mechanism. Can be exemplified.
[0025]
In the analyzer of the present invention, at least a part of the annular track of the conveying means is linear, but the nozzle means is configured to be able to reciprocate on a track overlapping at least the linear track. However, when a nozzle means for aspirating a specimen or the like by attaching a disposable tip at the tip for the purpose of avoiding contamination of the specimen or reagent is employed in the analyzer of the present invention, the linear trajectory of the nozzle means is used as the disposal box. It is preferable that the used chip is accommodated by extending to the end. Further, when performing a reaction in which the reagent is discharged into the reaction vessel on the reactor 6, it is necessary to extend the linear trajectory of the nozzle means to the reactor 6. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the linear trajectory of the nozzle means is the same as the linear trajectory of the reaction vessel support means.
[0026]
The drive means of the nozzle means and the drive means of the reaction vessel support means may be separate, but the linear orbits in which they reciprocate are the same or overlap, so a single as shown in FIG. The driving means can also be used.
[0027]
The analyzer according to the present invention is configured such that at least a part of the annular track of the transport means 1 is linear. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to exemplify that the trajectory has a substantially rectangular shape and any one of the sides is the linear portion. In addition to this, the trajectory may be approximately elliptical or circular, and only a part of the trajectory may be linear. The length of the linear portion is adjusted so that two or more containers can be positioned on the linear portion of the annular track of the conveying means. The example of FIG. 1 is an example in which a total of six containers are located in the linear portion.
[0028]
The conveying means is configured so that two or more containers can be positioned in the linear portion, because at least one kind of specific substance is analyzed for one sample at the time of analysis. This is because at least one reaction vessel is required. When it is expected to analyze a plurality of types of specific substances for one specimen, it is preferable to configure the transport means so that as many containers as the expected number can be located in the part. In the case of a large size, it is preferable to suppress the upper limit to about 10 while controlling the driving of the conveying means to prevent the apparatus from becoming large. In the present invention, it is preferable to configure the conveying means so that three or more containers can be positioned in the linear portion in consideration of additional operations such as dilution and pretreatment.
[0029]
If the sample container and all the containers required for the analysis related to the sample container can be positioned in the linear portion of the annular track of the transport means, the transport means is driven after transporting all of these containers to the linear portion. The nozzle means is moved up and down on the sample container to suck the sample, the nozzle is driven to the upper part of the reaction container by the nozzle means driving means, and the sample is moved up and down at that position to discharge the sample to the reaction container. it can. On the other hand, if the entire container cannot be positioned in the linear portion, after the sample is aspirated from the sample container, the transport means is driven without driving the nozzle means to transport the reaction container directly below the nozzle. It can be exemplified that the operation is repeated the required number of times, or the driving of the conveying unit is stopped after the predetermined number of times is repeated and the nozzle unit is conveyed to perform the remaining discharge. In the latter case, when the sample is to be discharged into the reaction container by controlling the transfer means, the drive of the transfer means is intermittent for each distance between the centers of the containers placed on the transfer means. It is preferable.
[0030]
As described above, when all the reagents required for the reaction are not stored in the reaction container in advance, an operation for discharging the insufficient reagent into the reaction container is required. When such an operation is performed in the apparatus of the present invention, the reagent container 13 containing the reagent may be disposed on the linear reciprocating orbit of the nozzle means. When there are a large number of types of reagents to be discharged into the reaction container, etc., the apparatus is provided with reagent transport means for transporting these reagent containers on the linear track 19 and linear reciprocation of the nozzle means along the track. For example, it may be configured to intersect with the trajectory, more preferably orthogonal. Further, as described above, when a disposable chip is attached to a nozzle to suck and discharge a sample or the like, a chip rack 5 for mounting the chip 4 may be disposed on a linear reciprocating track of the nozzle means. . When a large number of chips are used, chip conveying means for conveying these chips on the linear track 19 is provided, and the track intersects the linear reciprocating track of the nozzle means, more preferably orthogonal. It can be illustrated that it is configured to. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the reagent container 13 and the chip rack 5 are integrally formed and transported on a linear track 19 using a single transport means. As the chip rack, a commercially available chip rack or the like that can accommodate up to 96 chips arranged in a grid pattern can be used.
[0031]
The function of each part when the present invention is applied to an immune analyzer will be described below. In this apparatus, as described above, all the reagents necessary for an immune reaction with a specific substance are stored in advance in a reaction container.
[0032]
In the case of diluting the specimen 10 ′, the nozzle means is driven to first dilute the liquid 13 provided as the specimen and the reagent at a ratio calculated from the dilution rate into the dilution container 11 ′ placed on the downstream side of the specimen container. Dispense and stir. For stirring, a vibration generating device that gives mechanical vibration to the container placed on the conveying means immediately below the conveying means may be arranged. It is preferable to repeat the suction and discharge in terms of simplifying the apparatus configuration. After stirring, a certain amount of diluted specimen is sucked by the nozzle means and discharged to the reaction containers 12-1 ′ and 12-2 ′.
[0033]
The reaction container in which the specimen diluted as necessary is discharged is transported from the transport means 1 to the reactor 6 at a predetermined temperature by the reaction container support mechanism 26. After the reaction for a certain time, in order to remove unreacted components not bonded to the solid phase, the reactor 6 rotates and conveys the reaction vessel to the cleaning means 7. After completion of the washing, the reaction vessel is transported to the substrate dispensing device by the rotation of the reactor 6, where a substrate that generates a signal that can be detected by the detection means 8 under the action of the enzyme used as a label is added, and the reaction is further performed. It is conveyed to the detection means 8 by the rotation of the device 6 and detection is performed. The reaction container for which detection has been completed is discarded and accommodated in the disposal box 17 by the reaction container supporting means. The detection result is output to the calculation means (not shown) by the detection means 8.
[0034]
By the way, for example, it may be necessary to pre-process the sample once and then subject to a predetermined reaction. Even in such a case, if the time for mixing the sample and the pre-processing reagent is short The analyzer may be controlled in the same manner as in the case of performing the above dilution, but when mixing for a long time is required, the time for stopping the conveying means is lengthened and the processing time is shortened. I can't take it. Therefore, in the analyzer of the present invention, after the nozzle means is driven and the pretreatment liquid 13 provided as the specimen 10 and the reagent is discharged to the pretreatment container 11 ′ placed on the downstream side of the specimen container, the pretreatment container At the same time, the reaction vessel is transported to the reactor 6 by driving the reaction vessel supporting means 26, and a pretreatment reaction is performed on the reactor 26. After completion of the pretreatment reaction, the pretreatment vessel and the reaction vessel are placed on the temporary storage place 15 arranged on the linear reciprocating motion using the reaction vessel holding means 26, and the nozzle means is used here to remove the pretreatment vessel from the pretreatment vessel. The pretreated specimen is aspirated and discharged into the reaction container. The reaction container from which the pretreated specimen has been discharged is then transported again to the reactor 6 using the reaction container holding means 26, where it is processed in the same manner as described above. The temporary storage place is configured to accommodate two or more containers in order to temporarily place the reaction container together with the pretreatment container. The temporary storage place may be located on the orbit of the reaction vessel holding means 3, and may be provided in the reactor 6, for example. In addition, when the pretreatment reaction is completed in the reactor without providing a temporary storage place, it is possible to move the target container under the nozzle and perform dispensing from the pretreatment container to the reaction container.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
The analyzer of the present invention transports the sample container and the reaction container separately by using the two conventional transport means by transporting the sample container and the reaction container using a single transport means. It is possible to simplify the configuration from the type of analyzer. As a result, it is easy to reduce the size of the apparatus, and the operating part of the conveying means can be omitted, so that the frequency of maintenance and the like can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the apparatus can be reduced. In addition, since the transport means transports the reaction container in an annular track, after the sample that has been analyzed is taken out, the sample to be newly analyzed and the reaction container corresponding to the analysis are not stopped. It can be placed on the conveying means, and there is an effect that the analysis operation can be performed efficiently.
[0036]
In the analyzer of the present invention, the reaction vessel is adjusted to a predetermined temperature for the reaction, and a reactor for performing detection or the like is provided separately from the conveyance means, and the conveyance of the reaction container between the conveyance means and the reactor is linearly reciprocated. Since it is configured to be performed by the moving reaction vessel support means, there is an effect that the structure of the transport means and the reactor can be simplified. By disposing a disposal box for discarding and storing the reaction container after the analysis on the linear track of the reaction container support means, the reaction container support means is driven on the straight track and on the linear track. Only the raising and lowering is performed, and simple driving means is provided.
[0037]
The sample is aspirated and discharged from the sample container by the nozzle means, but the nozzle means also reciprocates on a straight track and moves up and down at an arbitrary point in the same manner as the reaction container support means. It only has. Moreover, since the linear track of the nozzle means is included in the linear track of the reaction vessel carrying means (is the same or a part of the linear track of the reaction vessel carrying means), the drive means for reciprocating these on the linear track. It is also possible to further simplify the apparatus by using both.
[0038]
In the apparatus of the present invention, at least a part of the annular orbit of the conveying means described above is linear, and at least two or more containers can be positioned in the part, and the nozzle means and the reaction container holding means are provided with these parts. Depending on the number of containers that can be positioned on this linear part, the group of containers required for the analysis is linear. After being conveyed to the part, it is possible to perform a predetermined operation without driving the conveying means by reciprocating and raising / lowering the nozzle means and the reaction container supporting means.
[0039]
Thus, in the analyzer of the present invention, it is not necessary to increase the driving speed of the conveying means and drive it frequently in order to shorten the time required for analysis and improve the analysis efficiency. It is also easy to additionally place a new sample container or reaction container on the transport means. As a result, there is an effect that even when a large amount of samples are analyzed, it is possible to deal with additional sample containers and reaction containers one after another without increasing the size of the transport means. In addition, if the analyzer of the present invention is applied to the field of clinical diagnosis that requires analysis as soon as possible, it becomes easy to replace sample containers and reaction containers, and interrupt analysis is performed for samples that require urgent analysis. It can be carried out.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an analysis apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the analyzer shown in FIG. 1 (a side view along a reciprocating orbit of the nozzle means 2 and the reaction vessel support means 3).
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyance means, 2 Nozzle means, 3 Reaction container support means, 4 Disposable tip, 5 Chip rack, 6 Reactor, 7 Cleaning means, 8 Inspection means, 9 Substrate dispensing device, 10 Sample container, 11 Dilution container (Pretreatment Container), 12 reaction container, 13 reagent container, 14 shielding plate, 15 temporary storage place, 16 opening, 17 waste box, 18 orbit of reciprocating movement of nozzle means and reaction container support means, 19 reagent transport means and chip transport means Reciprocating orbit, 20 driving means (motor), 21 driving means, 22 nozzle means raising / lowering motor, 23 reaction vessel supporting means raising / lowering motor, 24 raising / lowering feed screw, 25 raising / lowering guide shaft, 26 solenoid, 27 rack and Pinion, 28 Reciprocating drive motor for reagent conveying means and chip conveying means, 29 Reagent conveying means and indicating means for chip conveying means, 30 reaction Motor, 31 reduction gear, 32 bearing

Claims (7)

An analyzer for analyzing a specific component in a sample while transporting a sample container for storing the sample and a reaction container for reacting the sample and the reagent, and having the following characteristics:
(1) comprising a transport means for transporting the sample container and the reaction container on an annular track in a mixed state;
(2) a reactor having a temperature adjusting function for maintaining the reaction vessel at a predetermined temperature, a waste box for containing the used reaction vessel, a nozzle means capable of moving up and down for sucking and discharging a certain amount of liquid, and Comprising a reaction container supporting means capable of moving up and down for transporting the reaction container between the transport means, the reactor and the waste box,
(3) Provided with separate or single drive means for reciprocating the nozzle means and the reaction vessel support means on a linear track,
(4) The reactor and the disposal box are arranged on a linear track of the reaction vessel support means,
(5) At least a part of the annular track of the transfer means is linear, the linear part of the transfer path coincides with a part of the linear track of the nozzle means and the reaction vessel support means, and
(6) The conveying means can position two or more containers on the linear portion of the track. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle and the reaction container supporting unit are installed in a concentric manner with respect to the reciprocating motion on the linear track and are conveyed by a single driving unit. 2. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a reagent conveying means for conveying a reagent container containing a reagent for reaction, and the trajectory intersects with a linear trajectory of the nozzle means. 2. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a chip transport unit for transporting a chip mounted on the nozzle unit, and the track intersects a straight track of the nozzle unit. 2. The analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a detection unit for detecting a component in a reaction vessel on the reactor. 2. The analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a cleaning means for separating a component bound to water-insoluble magnetic beads and an unreacted liquid component in a reaction vessel on the reactor. . The analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis is performed using a reaction container in which a reagent corresponding to a specific component in a specimen to be analyzed is stored in advance.

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