JP4408404B2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that automatically analyzes components such as blood, and more particularly to an automatic analyzer that can mount more reagents and has a high processing capacity per hour.

  Automatic analyzers that automatically analyze biological samples such as blood and output the results can be used for efficient analysis at large hospitals, small and medium hospitals, and clinics with large numbers of patients. It is an indispensable device.

  Such an automatic analyzer is desired to be compact and capable of performing more types of analysis and having a high processing speed, and various types of automatic analyzers have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic analyzer provided with two reagent disks on which reagents can be placed concentrically and provided with independently movable reagent probes corresponding to the concentric reagent container rows. It is disclosed. That is, by arranging the reagent disks concentrically, the number of reagents that can be mounted is increased, and the reagent probe is provided so as to be independently movable corresponding to each reagent container row, thereby preventing a reduction in processing speed. That's what it is.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an automatic equipped with a reagent dispensing probe capable of dispensing a reagent from different reagent containers arranged on the circumference of a plurality of reagent disks to the same reaction container on the reaction disk. An analyzer is disclosed. In this case, there is a feature that analysis of a random combination can be performed with high throughput.

JP-A-5-10957 JP 2004-045112 A

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of reagent probes that access a reagent container row on one reagent disk have a structure that operates around the same rotation axis.

  In this case, the reagent from the reagent container on the same reagent disk can be dispensed only to the reaction container at the same dispensing position on the reaction disk. Also, reagents from reagent containers on different reagent disks can only be dispensed at different locations on the reaction disk.

  That is, there is a problem that only a combination of reagents defined by the arrangement of the reagent containers can be aspirated, and a random combination analysis cannot be performed with high throughput.

  Further, in the method described in Patent Document 2, since the reagent on different reagent disks is configured to be dispensed to any reaction container on the reaction disk, the reaction container is not sufficiently cleaned. There was a risk that the reagent used in the previous analysis could carry over through the reaction vessel, degrading the accuracy of the next analysis.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer having a high processing capacity per hour and a low probability of occurrence of carry-over through a reaction vessel.

  The configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object is as follows.

A plurality of reaction vessels;
Reaction container transport means for transporting the plurality of reaction containers;
Sample dispensing means for dispensing the sample into the reaction container on the reaction container transport means;
At least one reagent container transporting means for arranging a plurality of reagent containers on the circumference;
Reagent dispensing means for aspirating the reagent from the reagent container on the reagent container conveying means and discharging it to the reaction container;
The reagent container on the reagent transport means is divided into a plurality of reagent systems, and the reaction container on the reaction container transport means is divided into a plurality of reaction container systems, and the reagent sucked from the reagent container on the reagent container transport means is A control means for controlling the reagent dispensing means to discharge to a reaction container of a different reaction container system on the reaction container transport means for each reagent system;
An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising:

  The reaction container transport means is a means for placing the reaction container on a belt conveyor, a disk or the like and moving (conveying) the reaction container by moving the belt conveyor or the disk. Dispensing means such as sample dispensing means and reagent dispensing means usually have a limited dispensing position, but any mechanism capable of transporting any reaction container to the limited dispensing position will be used in the present invention. Applicable. Therefore, it is not limited to the illustrated belt conveyor and disk.

  The configuration of the reagent container transport means is the same as that of the reaction container transport means.

  A plurality of reagent systems means a combination of reagents that can complete the analysis with only the reagents belonging to one reagent system. Many biochemical analyzes use two different reagents for one analysis item (there are one-reagent reaction and three-reagent reaction). A reagent system including such a combination of reagents that can analyze one analysis item is referred to as a reagent system. For example, two reagent disks 1 and 2 may be provided, and each reagent disk may correspond to a different reagent system. In this case, the reagents used for the analysis items A, B, and C are arranged on the reagent disk 1 and the reagents used for the analysis items D, E, and F are arranged on the reagent disk 2, and a plurality of reagent container transport means are provided. It is expressed as corresponding to the plurality of reagent systems.

  For example, the reagent used for analysis items A, B, and C and the reagent used for analysis items D, E, and F have a possibility of so-called reagent cross-contamination that adversely affects the analysis results when the reagents are mixed. However, in the present invention, reaction containers are used properly for different reagent systems, and reagents are not mixed through the same reaction container, so that the occurrence of reagent cross-contamination can be eliminated.

  The reagent system does not need to use physically different reagent container transport means. For example, the reagent system has two reagent container rows on the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side on the same reagent disk, and the reaction on the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side. The container rows may be designated as different reagent systems.

  Further, a control unit may be provided which has a plurality of sample dispensing means and controls each sample dispensing system to discharge a sample to a reaction container in a specific region of the reaction container transporting means.

  Moreover, you may provide the stirring means to stir without contacting the liquid in reaction container.

  Further, the reaction container at a fixed position on the reaction container transporting unit may be controlled to move to a specific position on the apparatus at the start of operation.

  In addition, each reaction container is associated with each system, and the sample dispensing system or reagent dispensing system to be operated first is selected according to the corresponding system of the reaction container at a specific position at the start of operation of the apparatus. You may control.

  As described above, in the present invention, a plurality of reagent dispensing systems are provided, and control is performed so that the reagent is dispensed only from the respective dispensing system to a specific reaction container. It is possible to supply an automatic analyzer with high analysis accuracy without being affected by the reagent from the dispensing system.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 54 reaction vessels 35 are arranged on the circumference of the reaction disk 36 on the housing 62. A second system reagent disk 42 is arranged inside the reaction disk 36 and a first system reagent disk 41 is arranged outside. A plurality of reagent containers 40 can be placed on the circumference of each of the first system reagent disk 41 and the second system reagent disk 42. Two reagents enter one reagent container 40. A transport mechanism 12 for moving the rack 11 on which the sample container 10 is placed is installed near the reaction disk 36. Rails 25, 26 are arranged on the first system reagent disk 41 and the second system reagent disk 42, and the first system first timing reagent probe 20 is movable in the direction parallel to the rail and in the vertical direction on the rail 25. , Second system first timing reagent probe 21 is movable on rail 26 in three axial directions with respect to the rail 26, first system 2-3 timing reagent probe 22, second system 2-3 timing reagent probe 23 is installed. Between the reaction vessel 35 and the transport mechanism 12, a first system sample probe 15 and a second system sample probe 16 that can rotate and move up and down are installed. Around the reaction disk 36, ultrasonic agitators 30, 31, 32, a light source 50, a detection optical device 51, and a container cleaning mechanism 45 are arranged. A cleaning port 54 is installed in each operation range of the sample probes 15 and 16 and the reagent probes 20, 21, 22 and 23. The detection optical device 51, the reaction container 35, the reagent disk 41, the reagent probes 20, 21, 22, 23, and the sample probes 15, 16 are connected to the controller 60, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reaction disk 36 has a sample dispensing position, a first timing reagent dispensing position, a second timing reagent dispensing position, a third timing reagent dispensing position, a stirring position, a measurement position, and a washing position. It has been decided. Further, the reaction containers 35 arranged on the reaction disk are distinguished by container numbers 1 to 54 for convenience.

  The reaction disk rotates counterclockwise by 11 pitches in units of a predetermined cycle time and stops. That is, the reaction container of the container number 1 which was in the sample dispensing position in the first cycle proceeds to the position of the first timing reagent dispensing in the next cycle.

  Analysis using this apparatus is performed in the following procedure.

  First, the reaction container 35 with the container number 1 moves to the sample dispensing position by the reset operation of the apparatus.

  A sample to be inspected, such as blood, is placed in the sample container 10, placed on a rack 11, and carried by a transport mechanism 12. First, the first system sample probe 15 sucks an amount of sample necessary for the first test from the sample container 10 at a specific position. In the first cycle, a predetermined amount of sample is discharged from the first system sample probe 15 into the reaction container 35 of container number 1 at the sample dispensing position on the reaction disk. Meanwhile, the first system first timing reagent probe 20 aspirates a predetermined amount of the first reagent corresponding to the first test from one reagent container 40 on the first system reagent disk 41.

  In the second cycle, the reaction vessel advances to the first timing reagent dispensing position. Here, the first system first timing reagent probe 20 discharges a predetermined amount of the first reagent into the reaction container. Meanwhile, the first system sample probe 15 is washed.

  In the third cycle, the reagent and the sample are stirred in a non-contact manner by the ultrasonic stirring device 30 in the reaction container of the container number 1. Meanwhile, the reagent probe 20 is washed.

  In the fourth cycle, the reaction container of the container number 1 passes between the light source 50 and the detection optical device 51, and optical measurement is performed.

  Optical detection is similarly performed in the ninth, fourteenth, nineteenth, twenty-fourth, twenty-ninth, thirty-fourth, and thirty-ninth cycles.

  When the first test is for dispensing the second reagent at the second timing, the reagent probe 22 for the first system 2-3 timing is the reagent container on the first system reagent disk 41 in the 16th cycle. The second reagent is aspirated from 40 and discharged into the reaction container of container number 1 in the 17th cycle. In the 18th cycle, the liquid in the reaction container of the container number 1 located at the position 18 on the reaction disk is stirred by the ultrasonic stirring device 31.

When the first test is to dispense the second reagent at the third timing, the reagent probe 22 for the first system 2-3 timing is the reagent on the first system reagent disk 41 in the 26th cycle. The second reagent is aspirated from the container 40 and discharged into the reaction container of container number 1 in the 27th cycle. In the 28th cycle, the liquid in the reaction vessel of vessel number 1 is stirred by the ultrasonic stirring device 31.

  After the second reagent is dispensed and stirred, optical measurement is repeated, and then the liquid in the reaction container is sucked by the container cleaning mechanism 45 and injected into the cleaning liquid in the 44th cycle and the 49th cycle. In the 54th cycle, the cleaning solution is completely sucked.

  The optical measurement results performed a plurality of times by the detection optical device 51 are sent to the controller 60, and the concentration of the measurement item of the first test is calculated.

  In the second test, first, during the first cycle, the second system sample probe 16 sucks the sample necessary for the second test from the sample container 10 at a specific position. In the second cycle, the reaction container 35 with the container number 12 has come to the sample dispensing position on the reaction disk. A predetermined amount of sample is discharged from the second system sample probe 16 into the reaction container 35 of container number 12. Meanwhile, the second system first timing reagent probe 21 aspirates a predetermined amount of the first reagent corresponding to the second test from one reagent container 40 on the second system reagent disk 42.

In the subsequent cycle, the same procedure as that in the first test is performed. However, in this case, the sample dispensing is the second system sample probe 16, the reagent dispensing is the reagent in the second system reagent disk 42, the second system first timing reagent probe 21 and the second system 2-3 timing. The reagent is dispensed using the reagent probe 23.

The third and subsequent tests are performed in the same way. For odd-numbered containers, sample dispensing is performed by the first system sample probe 15 in the odd cycle, and the first system first timing reagent probe 20 and the first system 2-3 timing reagent probe 22 are set. It is controlled by the controller 60 so that the reagent in the first system reagent disk 41 is dispensed. For even-numbered containers, sample dispensing is performed by the second system sample probe 16 in an even cycle, and the second system first timing reagent probe 21 and the second system 2-3 timing reagent probe 23 are set. It is controlled by the controller 60 so that the reagent in the second system reagent disk 42 is dispensed.

  If the reagent of the item to be analyzed in the sample is not placed on the reagent disk of the system that can be dispensed in that cycle, the sample dispensing in that cycle is postponed.

  When the sample to be analyzed is interrupted and the series of analysis operations is completed, the apparatus enters a stop mode and the reaction disk 36 stops rotating. However, the cycle count is continued in the controller 60 until an operation stop command is input from the outside. When a new sample arrives during the stop mode, if the reaction container 35 at the sample dispensing position has an odd container number, the first system sample probe 15 starts dispensing and has an even container number. In this case, sample dispensing is started with the second system sample probe 16.

  In this embodiment, only the reagent in the system 1 reagent disk is dispensed to the reaction container 35 with the odd container number, and the reaction container 35 with the even container number is stored in the system 2 reagent disk. Only the reagent is dispensed. Therefore, by separating the reagents of the analysis items that affect the measurement results due to the mixture of reagents in advance on the reagent disks of the system 1 and system 2, the analysis accuracy is reduced due to carry-over through the reaction vessel. Can be prevented.

  In this embodiment, even when the analysis is temporarily interrupted and restarted, only the reagent in the reagent disk of the system 1 is dispensed into the reaction container 35 having an odd container number. However, only the reagents in the system 2 reagent disk are dispensed into the even reaction vessels 35. Therefore, the carry-over through the reaction vessel does not occur from the analysis before the interruption, and it is possible to prevent the analysis accuracy from being lowered due to the carry-over through the reaction vessel.

  In this embodiment, since the reagent probes 20 and 22 are dedicated to the system 1 and the reagent probes 21 and 23 are dedicated to the system 2, the reagents in the system 1 and the system 2 are the same reaction container through the reagent probe. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the analysis accuracy from being lowered due to carry-over through the reaction vessel.

  Further, in this example, since the stirring is performed by the ultrasonic stirring devices 30, 31, and 32 that are not in contact with the liquid in the reaction vessel, the reagent is not mixed into another reaction vessel through the stirring mechanism, It is possible to prevent a decrease in analysis accuracy due to carry-over through the reaction vessel.

  Further, in this embodiment, the influence of carryover through the reaction vessel can be reduced by arranging the influential reagents separately in the system 1 and the system 2, so that the amount of the cleaning liquid used in the container cleaning mechanism 45 can be reduced. Even if the number is reduced, a highly accurate analysis is possible and the running cost can be reduced.

  Further, in this embodiment, it is only necessary to consider the carryover between reagents in the same system, so the necessary frequency of the carryover avoidance operation required when the affected reagent item continues is small and within a certain time. Therefore, it is possible to provide an analysis apparatus having a high processing capability.

  The apparatus configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the reaction disk 36 does not rotate during the reset operation, but starts from the state where the reaction container 35 in the final state at the previous operation is at the sample dispensing position. The controller 60 stores the container number of the reaction container at the sample dispensing position, and dispensing is started from the first system when it is an odd number and from the second system when it is an even number.

  Also in this embodiment, only the reagent in the reagent disk of the system 1 is dispensed to the reaction container 35 having an odd container number, and the reagent disk of the system 2 is dispensed to the reaction container 35 having an even container number. Only the reagent inside is dispensed. Therefore, by separating the reagents of the analysis items that affect the measurement results due to the mixture of reagents in advance on the reagent disks of the system 1 and system 2, the analysis accuracy is reduced due to carry-over through the reaction vessel. Can be prevented.

  Further, in this embodiment, the reaction vessel 35 is not necessarily used from the vessel number 1, and all reaction vessels 35 are used evenly, so that only a specific reaction vessel 35 may be damaged quickly. In addition, since the exchange frequency of the reaction vessel 35 can be reduced, it is possible to provide an automatic analyzer with a low running cost.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the reagent probes 20, 21, 22 and 23 are rotated, and the reagent container 40 has a shape in which only one type of reagent can be contained in one container.

  In this case, the reagent disk 42 has a first system area and a second system area, and the first timing reagent of the first system and the second system are respectively arranged. The reagent disk 41 also has a first system area and a second system area, and a second timing reagent of the first system and the second system is arranged in each.

  As in the first embodiment, the reagent aspirated from the first system area on the reagent disk 42 is discharged into the reaction container 35 having an odd container number using the first system first timing reagent probe 20. Further, the reagent aspirated from the first system area on the reagent disk 41 is discharged using the first system second timing reagent probe 22. The reagent aspirated from the second system area on the reagent disk 42 is discharged into the reaction container 35 with the even container number using the second system first timing reagent probe 21. Further, the reagent aspirated from the second system area on the reagent disk 41 is discharged using the second system second timing reagent probe 23.

  Also in this embodiment, only the reagent of the system 1 is dispensed to the reaction container 35 with the odd container number, and only the reagent of the system 2 is dispensed to the reaction container 35 with the even container number. There is nothing. Therefore, if the reagents of the analysis items that affect the measurement result due to the mixture of reagents are arranged separately in the areas of the system 1 and system 2, the analysis accuracy decreases due to carry-over through the reaction vessel. This can be prevented.

  Further, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to set the areas of the system 1 and the system 2 to the fixed areas on the respective reagent disks, and they can be reset and used in software each time.

  In addition, the system 1 and system 2 do not necessarily have to have independent sample probes and reagent probes, and a certain sample probe or reagent probe may be responsible for dispensing a plurality of systems.

  Moreover, the number of systems is not limited to two, and there may be three or more systems. Furthermore, the number of systems can be made variable without being fixed. In this case, the reagents are classified into the number of systems set by the user, and the reaction container used for each system is fixed.

  In this case, by classifying into reagent groups that do not affect each other and setting the number of systems corresponding to the number of reagent groups, the effects of carryover via the reaction vessel can be more efficiently eliminated.

The top view of the analyzer of the 1st example. Explanatory drawing of the principal part of 1st Example. The top view of the analyzer of 3rd Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Sample container, 11 ... Rack, 12 ... Conveyance mechanism, 15 ... 1st system sample probe, 16 ... 2nd system sample probe, 20 ... 1st system 1st timing reagent probe, 21 ... 2nd system 1st timing Reagent probe for 22; First system, 2-3 timing reagent probe, 23 ... Second system, 2-3 timing reagent probe, 30, 31, 32 ... Ultrasonic stirrer, 35 ... Reaction vessel, 36 ... Reaction disk 40 ... reagent container 41 ... first system reagent disk 42 ... second system reagent disk 45 ... container washing mechanism 50 ... light source 51 ... detection optical device 54 ... washing port 60 ... controller 62 ... enclosure.

Claims (5)

A plurality of reaction vessels;
Reaction container transport means for transporting the plurality of reaction containers;
Sample dispensing means for dispensing the sample into the reaction container on the reaction container transport means;
At least one reagent container transporting means for arranging a plurality of reagent containers on the circumference;
Reagent dispensing means for aspirating the reagent from the reagent container on the reagent container conveying means and discharging it to the reaction container;
The reagent container on the reagent transport means is divided into a plurality of reagent systems, and the reaction container on the reaction container transport means is divided into a plurality of reaction container systems, and the reagent sucked from the reagent container on the reagent container transport means is A control means for controlling the reagent dispensing means to discharge to a reaction container of a different reaction container system on the reaction container transport means for each reagent system;
The plurality of reagent dispensing systems and the individual reaction containers are associated with each of the plurality of reagent dispensing systems, and the reaction container at a predetermined position at the start of the operation of the apparatus first corresponds to the corresponding reagent dispensing system. An automatic analyzer comprising control means for controlling to select a sample dispensing system to be operated. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
An automatic analyzer comprising a plurality of reagent container transport means, wherein the plurality of reagent container transport means correspond to the plurality of reagent systems. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the reagent container transport means is a reagent disk on which a plurality of reagent containers are placed on the disk. The automatic analyzer according to claim 3,
Control means for controlling the reagent aspirated from the reagent containers on the plurality of reagent disks to be discharged to every other reaction container on the reaction container transport means for each reagent disk;
An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising: The automatic analyzer according to claim 3,
Control means for controlling the reagent aspirated from the reagent containers on the plurality of reagent disks to be discharged to the odd-numbered or even-numbered reaction containers on the reaction container transport means for each reagent disk;
An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising:

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