JP4443271B2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that performs qualitative / quantitative analysis of biological components such as blood and urine, and more particularly, to an automatic analyzer equipped with a cleaning and drying mechanism for sample and reagent dispensing nozzles.

  Automatic analyzers are used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of components such as inorganic ions, proteins, nitrogen-containing components, sugars, lipids, enzymes, hormones, drugs, specific antigens, and antibodies in biological samples such as blood and urine. The This automatic analyzer has been widely used mainly in large hospitals and inspection centers because it is an automated analysis performed by a person using a color chart or the like and can perform a quick and reproducible analysis.

  In the automatic analyzer, a dispensing nozzle is used for transferring (dispensing) a sample (sample) or reagent to a predetermined amount in a reaction container. The dispensing nozzle is cleaned after dispensing one sample and reagent, and consideration is given so that different samples and reagents do not mix with each other.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic analyzer equipped with means for vacuum-drying a nozzle after washing so that an adverse effect due to the washing liquid remaining on the dispensing nozzle after washing does not occur.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-340913

  After washing the dispensing nozzle in the washing tank, when the nozzle is moved to the vacuum drying tank, the washing water remaining on the outer wall of the dispensing nozzle may be scattered outside the nozzle washing / drying mechanism.

  That is, a corresponding acceleration is generated in the nozzle at the time of starting and stopping when the dispensing nozzle is moved horizontally, but since the nozzle is a long and narrow pipe, the washing water adhering to the nozzle is scattered when the horizontal movement is started or stopped. Probability is high. Since the washing mechanism of the dispensing nozzle is often arranged in the vicinity of the reaction vessel or the sample vessel, if the scattered washing water enters the reaction vessel or the sample vessel, the analysis may be adversely affected. The technique described in Patent Document 1 does not consider measures for remaining washing water when the nozzle moves.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer equipped with a dispensing mechanism that enables movement of cleaning water remaining on the outer wall of a dispensing nozzle after washing to a vacuum drying tank without splashing outside the nozzle washing and drying mechanism. There is to do.

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

  A dispensing nozzle for dispensing a specimen or a reagent, a washing tank for washing the dispensing nozzle, a drying tank for drying the nozzle washed in the washing tank, and the washing tank and the drying tank are fixed. And a tray part integrally provided so as to cover the movement path of the dispensing nozzle between the cleaning tank and the drying tank and between the cleaning tank and the drying tank. Analysis equipment.

  As the dispensing nozzle, a dedicated nozzle may be provided for each of the specimen (sample) and the reagent, or a dual-purpose nozzle may be used. In the washing tank, at least a part of the nozzle is inserted into the tank, and water, detergent, or the like is allowed to flow on the outer wall of the nozzle to wash away samples, reagents, etc. adhering to the nozzle surface. The drying tank removes the cleaning liquid and the like adhering to the outer wall of the nozzle by an air flow or the like. A vacuum pump that generates a negative pressure and sucks the cleaning liquid is preferable because the cleaning liquid is less scattered, but any type that removes liquid droplets attached to the nozzle mainly using an air flow is acceptable. good. “Fix the washing tank and the drying tank” means to fix the relative position of the washing tank and the drying tank. Each need not be firmly fixed (for example, on the floor surface). The surroundings of the washing tank and the drying tank mean that the droplets attached to the nozzles are within a range in which the nozzles are scattered when the dispensing nozzle is moved. Since there is a high possibility that the droplets are scattered along the moving direction of the nozzle, the tray portion may be provided larger in the moving direction of the nozzle and less in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the nozzle.

  Since it is possible to reduce the possibility that droplets adhering to the nozzle are scattered outside when the dispensing nozzle after washing is moved from the washing tank to the vacuum drying tank, it is possible to improve the reproducibility of the analysis result. Further, the contamination on the upper surface of the analyzer is reduced, and the aesthetic appearance of the apparatus can be maintained.

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic analyzer to which the present invention is applied. It consists of a reaction disk 1, a reagent storage unit 2, a sample storage unit 3, a reagent sampling mechanism 4, a sample sampling mechanism 5, a photometer 6, a reaction tank 7, a cleaning mechanism 8, a nozzle cleaning / drying mechanism 9, and a control unit 10. . A plurality of reaction containers 11 for mixing and stirring the sample and the reagent are installed on the reaction disk 1, and the reaction containers 11 are repeatedly transferred in a constant cycle by the rotation stop operation of the reaction disk drive unit 12. A plurality of reagent containers 13 containing reagents are installed in the reagent storage unit 2. A plurality of sample containers 14 containing samples are installed in the sample storage unit 3. The reagent sampling mechanism 4 moves linearly between the reaction disk 1 and the reagent storage unit 2 and dispenses the reagent into the reaction container 11 by the dispensing nozzle 15. The sample sampling mechanism 5 rotates between the reaction disk 1 and the sample storage unit 3 and dispenses the sample into the reaction container 11 by the dispensing nozzle 15. The photometer 6 analyzes the specimen by measuring the absorbance of the stirred specimen and reagent. The reaction tank 7 is circulated with reaction tank water at a constant temperature. The cleaning mechanism 8 cleans the reaction container 11 after analysis. The nozzle cleaning / drying mechanism 9 cleans and vacuum-drys the dispensing nozzle 15 after dispensing the reagent or specimen. FIG. 2 is a sectional view around the nozzle cleaning / drying mechanism 9 to which the present invention is applied. The nozzle cleaning / drying mechanism 9 includes a nozzle cleaning tank 17 that cleans the dispensing nozzle 15 with the cleaning water 16, an overflow tank 18 that prevents overflow of the cleaning water, and the cleaning water remaining in the dispensing nozzle 15 after cleaning. , There is a nozzle drying tank 19 for vacuum drying, and these are integrated structures. The cleaning performed by the nozzle cleaning / drying mechanism 9 is performed by discharging the reagent or sample sucked by the dispensing nozzle 15 of the reagent sampling mechanism 4 or the sample sampling mechanism 5 to the reaction vessel 11 and then feeding it into the nozzle cleaning tank 17 to supply water. Cleaning is performed by opening and closing the valve 20 and washing the outer wall of the dispensing nozzle 15 with the supplied cleaning water 16. The used washing water is discharged from below by natural fall. Drying is performed by raising the dispensing nozzle 15 after washing, passing through a groove provided in the nozzle washing tank 17 by rotation or linear motion, and moving to the drying position 22, and moving to the nozzle drying tank 19 by vertical movement. Then, the inside of the cylindrical nozzle drying tank 19 is vacuum-absorbed by opening and closing the suction valve 23, and the cleaning water 16 remaining on the outer wall of the dispensing nozzle 15 is removed and dried without contact.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cleaning mechanism of the present invention. The nozzle cleaning tank 17 and the nozzle drying tank 19 are provided inside the tray 24. The cleaning tank includes a cleaning liquid jet 26, and when the dispensing nozzle is positioned at the cleaning position 21, the cleaning liquid flows from the pair of cleaning liquid jets 26 to wash away components adhering to the outer wall of the dispensing nozzle. In cleaning the nozzle, the cleaning efficiency is improved by flowing the cleaning liquid from the pair of ejection ports. In this case, if the cleaning liquid leaks from the groove 25 through which the dispensing nozzle passes, the cleaning efficiency may be lowered. Therefore, it is preferable that the cleaning liquid outlet 26 is attached so as to face substantially at right angles to the attachment position of the groove 25. . In this way, it is expected that the cleaning liquid ejected from the ejection port hits the outer surface of the nozzle, then hits the inner wall of the cleaning tank, rebounds, hits the dispensing nozzle, and improves the cleaning efficiency. The ejection angle of the cleaning liquid ejection port 25 does not have to be the downward direction illustrated in FIG. 3 and may be a direction perpendicular to the nozzle. In that case, it is preferable that the attachment part of the spout is provided below the height of the outer wall of the tray so that the cleaning liquid does not overflow from the tray 24.

  When the dispensing nozzle is washed, the washing portion can be enlarged by being inserted further downward from the bottom surface of the tray 24. The dispensing nozzle, which has been cleaned, is positioned slightly above the bottom surface of the tray 24 by moving the nozzle upward as required, and then horizontally moved in the direction of the nozzle drying tank 19. In that case, a groove | channel is arrange | positioned so that a nozzle may pass between the groove | channels 25 of a washing tank. After the dispensing nozzle is positioned at the drying position 22 of the drying tank, the suction valve 23 provided at the lower part of the drying tank is opened, and a downward airflow is generated at the outer periphery of the nozzle and is attached to the outer wall of the nozzle. Droplets such as cleaning liquid are removed. After the dispensing nozzle is positioned at the drying position 22, the dispensing efficiency can be improved by being inserted into the drying tank as necessary. In addition to the vacuum suction method, the drying tank may be of any method as long as the method mainly blows droplets using an air flow, such as a method of blowing an air flow from a direction perpendicular to the nozzle.

  Since the dispensing nozzle is controlled to move in the horizontal direction only inside the tray 24, liquid droplets such as cleaning liquid are not scattered from the nozzle even when the horizontal movement of the nozzle is started and stopped. Since the scattering of the cleaning liquid at the time of starting and stopping is the largest along the moving direction, it is preferable that the tray portion 24 has a shape extending along the moving direction of the nozzle.

  In addition, the shape of a saucer part may not be a rectangular parallelepiped shape like FIG. 3, and shapes, such as an elliptic cylinder, may be sufficient.

It is the schematic of the automatic analyzer to which this invention which concerns on an Example is applied. It is sectional drawing of the nozzle washing | cleaning drying mechanism periphery to which this invention is applied. It is a perspective view around a nozzle cleaning and drying mechanism to which the present invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reaction disk, 2 ... Reagent storage part, 3 ... Sample storage part, 4 ... Reagent sampling mechanism, 5 ... Sample sampling mechanism, 6 ... Photometer, 7 ... Reaction tank, 8 ... Cleaning mechanism, 9 ... Nozzle cleaning drying mechanism DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Control part, 11 ... Reaction container, 12 ... Reaction disk drive part, 13 ... Reagent container,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Sample container, 15 ... Dispensing nozzle, 16 ... Washing water, 17 ... Nozzle washing tank, 18 ... Overflow tank, 19 ... Nozzle drying tank, 20 ... Water supply valve, 21 ... Washing position, 22 ... Drying position, 23 ... suction valve, 24 ... saucer part.

Claims (4)

A dispensing nozzle for dispensing a sample or reagent;
A washing tank for washing the dispensing nozzle;
A drying tank for drying the nozzle washed in the washing tank;
The washing tank and the drying tank are fixed, and are integrated so as to cover the movement path of the dispensing nozzle between the washing tank and the drying tank, and around the washing tank and the drying tank. A saucer provided,
With
Further, the tray part has an outer wall having a predetermined height,
And a dispensing nozzle control mechanism for controlling the dispensing nozzle to move horizontally at a predetermined position below the height of the outer wall when moving between the washing tank and the drying tank. An automatic analyzer. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The washing tank includes an outer wall that is substantially the same height as the outer wall of the tray, and the outer wall of the washing tank includes a groove portion in which the dispensing nozzle can move in the horizontal direction. apparatus. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 or 2,
An automatic analyzer having a drain outlet for draining water in the tray in the tray . The automatic analyzer according to claim 2,
2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning tank includes a set of cleaning water injection ports for injecting water in a direction substantially perpendicular to the groove with respect to the dispensing nozzle .

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