JP5161747B2 - Reagent container, automatic analyzer, and reagent management method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reagent container that contains a reagent used for measuring a test sample.

  The automatic analyzer is an apparatus for measuring a reaction by dispensing and mixing a test sample and a reagent for biochemical test items and immune serum test items. After dispensing a test sample such as blood or urine and a reagent into a reaction tube and mixing and reacting them, the change in color tone and turbidity caused by the reaction is measured to measure the transmitted light. Measure the concentration or activity of the analyte or enzyme.

  In this automatic analyzer, measurement of an inspection item selected according to the inspection from among a large number of inspection items is performed. Therefore, it is necessary to set a reagent container containing a reagent to be used according to the inspection item of the test sample in the reagent storage of the automatic analyzer. In general, two or more kinds of reagents are often used in combination in one inspection item. The operation of placing the reagent container is usually performed by an operator. The operator selects a combination of reagents according to the inspection item, and sets the reagent container containing the reagent in the reagent store. Then, the operator inputs to the automatic analyzer which reagent is set where in the reagent storage.

  In recent years, barcode labels corresponding to information such as reagent type, lot number, expiration date, etc. have been affixed to reagent containers in order to reduce operator burdens and prevent human error such as misplacement. Reagent management can be performed automatically by reading with a bar code reader provided in the storage.

  In addition, reagent containers that are used together by connecting reagent containers used for each measurement item have come to be used (see, for example, “Patent Document 1”). In this technique, an uneven connecting surface is provided on a reagent container, and two or more reagent containers are connected by fitting the connecting surfaces. This connected reagent container is set in the reagent storage. According to this technique, since at least two or more reagent containers are always placed under a specific placement relationship, the burden on the operator can be reduced.

  However, the reagent container to be combined needs to be selected by the operator. For this reason, there is a risk that an operator may make a human error in connecting the reagent containers with the wrong combination of reagents corresponding to the inspection items.

JP 2005-164509 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. The object of the present invention is to provide a reagent container and an automatic analysis for preventing a combination of reagents corresponding to a test item from being connected by mistake. An apparatus and a reagent management method are provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, a reagent container according to the present invention described in claim 1 is a reagent container containing at least two kinds of reagents used in combination for each measurement item of a test sample, A first reagent container containing a reagent; a second reagent container containing a second reagent; a pair of adapters having a specific fitting shape on the surface according to the measurement item; and the first reagent container Each of the second reagent containers, and each groove part to which one side of the adapter is detachably attached, and by fitting the adapters attached to the groove part, the same measurement item The first reagent container containing the two types of reagents used in the above and the second reagent container are connected to each other.

  Further, the adapter may have a specific fitting shape according to a manufacturing lot (corresponding to the invention according to claim 2).

  It is provided only in one of the first reagent container and the second reagent container and contains information on the first reagent and the second reagent accommodated in the first reagent container and the second reagent container. A storage unit having reagent identification information may be further provided (corresponding to the invention described in claim 3).

  In order to solve the above problems, the reagent container according to the present invention described in claim 4 contains one of the two types of reagents used in combination for each measurement item of the test sample. An adapter having a connecting surface that can be fitted only in the fitting shape of the other reagent container, and a side surface of the reagent container containing the one reagent therein, A groove part to which the back surface of the adapter is detachably attached, and can be connected only to the other reagent container through the adapter attached to the groove part.

  The adapter may have a connection surface on the surface that accommodates the other reagent and can be fitted only in a fitting shape of a container of a predetermined production lot (corresponding to the invention according to claim 5).

  In order to solve the above problem, the automatic analyzer according to the present invention described in claim 6 selects at least two of the various reagents in the reagent storage according to the measurement item, and selects the selected reagent and the target. An automatic analyzer that dispenses a sample and measures information about the selected measurement item from the mixed solution, and contains various first reagents according to various measurement items and has a groove on the side surface. In addition, various first reagent containers placed in the reagent storage and various second reagents according to various measurement items are accommodated, and a groove is formed on the side surface. The first reagent containers are placed in the reagent storage. And a pair of adapters having a specific fitting shape on the surface according to the measurement item, and containing the reagent used in the same measurement item. The reagent container and the second reagent container correspond to the measurement items. One side of the adapter attached to the groove respectively, that are placed on the reagent storage while being connected by engagement of the adapter, characterized by.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the reagent management method according to the present invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that each of the measurement items of at least two types of reagents used in combination for each measurement item of the test sample, each reagent, Alternatively, in the reagent management method performed in units of production lots, in the groove provided in the first reagent container that houses one of the reagents and the second reagent container that houses the other, for each measurement item, for each reagent, Alternatively, a pair of adapters having a specific pair shape is attached to each production lot, and the first reagent container and the second reagent container of the same production lot are used for the same measurement item through the adapter. Are connected to each other.

  According to the present invention, since only the reagent containers to which one side of the pair of adapters is attached can be connected, it is possible to prevent the first reagent and the second reagent from being placed in an incorrect combination.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a reagent container according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an automatic analyzer in which reagent containers 1 (1A1, 1A2, 1B1,...) Are set.

  The automatic analyzer is an apparatus that analyzes a chemical component contained in a test sample by dispensing and mixing the test sample and a reagent and measuring a reaction. The test sample is an analysis target, such as blood or urine. A reagent is a chemical that chemically reacts the components of a test sample. In an automatic analyzer, two or more types of reagents are often mixed with a test sample in order for one measurement item.

  This automatic analyzer has a reaction disk 8 that rotates by a predetermined angle every cycle. On the reaction disk 8, reaction tubes 7 are placed in an annular shape. The reaction tube 7 is a container into which a test sample and a reagent are dispensed.

  Around the outer periphery of the reaction disk 8, a stirring unit 13, a photometry unit 15, and a cleaning unit 14 are arranged along the circumferential direction.

  The stirring unit 13 stirs the mixed solution dispensed into the reaction tube 7 stopped at the stirring position for each cycle. The photometric unit 15 is a measuring means for measuring the reaction tube 7 containing the mixed solution from the photometric position. The photometric unit 15 has a light source and a light receiving unit arranged with the reaction tube 7 interposed therebetween, and measures the absorbance of the mixed solution, for example. The cleaning unit 14 aspirates the mixed liquid that has been measured in the reaction tube 7 stopped at the cleaning / drying position, and cleans / drys the reaction tube 7.

  A plurality of test samples are accommodated in the test sample container 19. The test sample container 19 is set on the disk sampler 9. In the vicinity of the disk sampler 9, a test sample dispensing probe 18 is arranged. The test sample dispensing probe 18 is a so-called straw, and sucks the test sample by applying a negative pressure to the inside every cycle by a pump (not shown).

  The test sample dispensing probe 18 sucks the test sample from the test sample container 19 stopped at the suction location on the disk sampler 9 and discharges it into the reaction tube 7 every cycle. The test sample dispensing probe 18 is supported by the dispensing arm 12.

  The distal end of the dispensing probe 18 for the test sample is caused to enter the test sample container 19 existing at the suction position during the cycle by the rotation and vertical movement of the dispensing arm 12, and due to the internal negative pressure. The test sample is aspirated.

  Then, the tip of the dispensing probe for test sample 18 is caused to enter the empty reaction tube 7 existing at the specified position during the cycle by the rotation and vertical movement of the dispensing arm 12, and the test sample. Is discharged.

  Reagents are stored in reagent containers 1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 1B2, 1C1, 1C2,. A1, A2, etc. mean measurement items and reagents. For example, A1 means the first reagent of measurement item A. If this meaning is not clearly indicated, A1 and the like may be omitted, and may be omitted simply like the reagent container 1. The same applies to a connecting surface 100 and the like to be described later.

  The reagent container 1 is a container for storing a reagent as contents, and various first reagents that selectively react to measurement items of a test sample and various second reagents that are paired with the first reagent. Is housed.

  For example, the first reagent container 1A1 contains the first reagent A1 that selectively reacts with the measurement item A, and the first reagent container 1B1 selectively reacts with the measurement item B. A first reagent B1 is used. The second reagent container 1A2 is used for the measurement item A and contains the second reagent A2 paired with the first reagent A1, and the second reagent container 1B2 is used for the measurement item B. One reagent B1 and a pair of second reagent B2 are accommodated.

  The automatic analyzer has reagent containers 5 and 6, and the reagent container 1 is stored in the reagent container 5. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the reagent storage 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reagent storage 5 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open top surface, and a reagent rack 5a is rotatably accommodated therein. The reagent container 1 is placed in the reagent rack 5a. The reagent rack 5a also has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper surface, and is placed in the annulus space (torus space).

  In the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment, the reagent containers 1 are placed in two rows in the radial direction of the reagent rack 5a, and each row is arranged in a ring shape in the circumferential direction. The first reagent containers 1A1, 1B1, 1C1,... Are stored in a ring on the inner peripheral side of the reagent rack 5a. The second reagent containers 1A2, 1B2, 1C2,... Are accommodated in an annular arrangement on the outer peripheral side of the reagent rack 5a. As will be described later, the first reagent container 1 on the inner peripheral side and the second reagent container 1 on the outer peripheral side are connected by a connecting surface 100 to form a single reagent container 1. .

  Here, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second reagent container 1A2 set on the outer peripheral side of the reagent rack 5a as viewed from the back. The second reagent container 1A2 has a trapezoidal columnar bottom, and the upper bottom side is the back surface.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the barcode 2A12 is attached to the back surface of the second reagent container 1A2. The bar code 2A12 includes the reagent identification information of the second reagent A2 accommodated in the second reagent container 1A2 attached thereto, and the first reagent container used in combination with the second reagent container 1A2. The storage unit includes reagent identification information of the first reagent A1 stored in 1A1. The reagent identification information includes information such as the reagent type, lot number, and expiration date.

  The reagent identification information may be included in a storage unit such as a three-dimensional barcode or an RF tag in addition to the barcode 2.

  The reagent storage 5 is provided with a reading unit 20 on its inner peripheral surface. When the reagent identification information is barcode 2, the reading unit 20 is a so-called barcode reader. The reading unit 20 reads the barcodes 2A12, 2B12, 2C12,... Attached to the back of the second reagent containers 1A2, 1B2, 1C2,. The positions where the reagents A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2,.

  Then, the position where the reagent used for the measurement item assigned in advance to the aspirated test sample is set is specified based on the barcode 2, and the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 2 containing the reagent are specified. The reagent is aspirated from the reagent container 1.

  Therefore, the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 1 of the same measurement item have a connection structure that is placed in a specific positional relationship in the reagent storage 5 as will be described later. The reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 1 are combined into one reagent container 1 by connection. In this automatic analyzer, the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 1 that store the first reagent and the second reagent used in the same measurement item are connected in the radial direction of the reagent rack 5a. One reagent container 1 is stored.

  For example, the first reagent container 1A1 containing the first reagent A1 used in the measurement item A and the second reagent container 1A2 containing the second reagent A2 are placed side by side in the radial direction. When the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container containing reagents different from the contents indicated by the barcode 2 are arranged as a set, the measurement becomes impossible or a satisfactory measurement result cannot be obtained. .

  Dispensing probes 16 and 17 are arranged in the vicinity of the reagent containers 5 and 6. The dispensing probe 16 aspirates the reagent from the reagent containers 1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 1B2, 1C1, 1C2,... Existing at the specified suction position in the reagent storage 5 and discharges them into the reaction tube 7. To do. The automatic analyzer rotates the reagent rack 5a based on the barcode 2, thereby storing the first reagent and the second reagent corresponding to the measurement item assigned to the aspirated test sample. The container 1 and the second reagent container 1 are moved to the specified suction position.

  The dispensing probe 16 is a so-called straw, and sucks the first reagent and the second reagent by applying a negative pressure to the inside every cycle by a pump (not shown). The dispensing probes 16 and 17 are supported by the dispensing arms 10 and 11. The dispensing arm 10 can be rotated and moved up and down by a driving device (not shown), and the dispensing probe 16 has its tip inserted into the reagent container 1 by the rotation and up and down movement of the dispensing arm 10. The first reagent and the second reagent are aspirated by the internal negative pressure.

  Hereinafter, the structures of the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 1 in which the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 1 of the same measurement item are placed in a specific positional relationship will be described. 4 and 5 are views showing the appearance of the reagent container 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first reagent container as seen from the back, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second reagent container as seen from the front.

  The first reagent container 1A1 is a reagent container for storing the first reagent A1 of the two types of reagents used in the measurement item A, and the second reagent container 1A2 is used in the predetermined measurement item A. This is a reagent container for storing the second reagent A2 of the two types of reagents.

  The first reagent container 1A1 and the second reagent container 1A2 used in the measurement item A are set side by side in the radial direction of the reagent container 6. The first reagent container 1A1 is set on the inner peripheral side of the reagent store, and the second reagent container 1A2 is set on the outer peripheral side of the reagent store.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first reagent container 1 </ b> A <b> 1 has a trapezoidal columnar bottom shape and is hollow inside, and the first reagent A <b> 1 used in the measurement item A is accommodated therein. . The automatic analyzer is set with the upper base side of the trapezoid facing the reagent storage center.

  The first reagent container 1A1 is provided with a unique connection surface 100A1 on the back surface, where the upper bottom side of the trapezoid is the front surface and the lower bottom side of the trapezoid is the back surface. The unique connection surface 100A1 is a surface having a fitting shape unique to the first reagent container 1A1. The first reagent container 1A1 has the same shape and volume as the first reagent containers 1B1, 1C1,... Used in the other measurement items B, C,. Therefore, in other words, it can be said that the unique coupling surface 100A1 has a fitting shape peculiar to the measurement item A or a fitting shape peculiar to the first reagent A1 used for the measurement item A.

  The connecting surface 100A1 has a specific uneven shape as a specific fitting shape. Specifically, it is configured by a combination of a pin body 101 protruding from the back surface of the first reagent container 1A1 and an insertion hole 102 drilled in the back surface of the first reagent container 1A1. The position and number of protrusions and the position and number where the insertion hole 102 is drilled are unique.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the second reagent container 1A2 has a trapezoidal columnar bottom and is hollow inside, and the second reagent A2 used in the measurement item A is accommodated therein. Is done. The reagent store 6 is set with the upper base side of the trapezoid facing the back surface of the first reagent container 1A1. The length of the upper base of the second reagent container 1A2 is substantially the same as the length of the lower base of the first reagent container 1A1.

  The second reagent container 1A2 is provided with a unique coupling surface 100A2 on the front surface when the upper base side of the trapezoid is the front surface and the lower base side of the trapezoid is the back surface. The unique connection surface 100A2 is a surface having a fitting shape unique to the second reagent container 1A2. The shape and volume of the second reagent container 1A2 are the same as the second reagent containers 1B2, 1C2,... Used in the other measurement items B, C,. Therefore, in other words, it can be said that the unique coupling surface 100A2 has a fitting shape peculiar to the measurement item A or a fitting shape peculiar to the second reagent A2 used for the measurement item A.

  Similar to the connection surface 100A1 provided in the first reagent container 1A1, the connection surface 100A2 is formed in the pin body 101 protruding from the front surface of the second reagent container 1A2 and the front surface of the second reagent container 1A2. It is comprised by the combination with the inserted insertion hole 102 made. That is, the position and number of protrusions of the pin body 101 and the position and number of insertion holes 102 are unique.

  However, the connecting surface 100A1 and the connecting surface 100A2 have a specific fitting shape that can be fitted only for these combinations. When the back surface of the first reagent container 1A1 and the front surface of the second reagent container 1A2 face each other, the connecting surface 100A1 and the connecting surface 100A2 have the same position and range in their regions, and the pin body 101. The part opposite to the part where the protrusion protrudes becomes the insertion hole 102, the part opposite to the part where the insertion hole 102 is drilled becomes the pin body 101, and the protrusion length of the pin body 101 and the insertion hole The depth of 102 is the same.

  For example, the connecting surface 100A1 of the first reagent container 1A1 containing the first reagent A1 used for the measurement item A can be viewed from the direction from the back to the front when the connecting surface 100A1 is vertically divided into three and horizontally divided into two. The pin body 101 protrudes in the lower left and the insertion hole 102 is formed in the upper right and the right middle.

  The connecting surface 100A2 of the second reagent container 1A2 containing the second reagent A2 used for the measurement item A has an insertion hole 102 formed in the lower left when viewed from the back to the front, The pin body 101 protrudes.

  Further, the connection surface 100B1 and the connection surface 100B2 of the first reagent container 1B1 and the second reagent container 1B2 used for other measurement items, for example, the measurement item B are the number and positions of the pin bodies 101 and the insertion holes 102. Is different from the coupling surface 100A1 and the coupling surface 100A2.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, only the first reagent container 1A1 and the second reagent container 1A2 can be connected, and the first reagent and the second reagent used for the measurement item A are always set in the reagent container 6 as a set. Can be placed. As for this unique connection surface 100, the first reagent container 1B1 and the second reagent container 1B2 used in the measurement item B similarly have unique connection surfaces 100B1 and 100B2 into which only these combinations can be fitted. The same applies to the reagent containers 1C1, 1C2, 1D1, 1D2, 1E1, 1E2,... Used in the measurement items C, D, E,.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a specific connection surface 100 included in various reagent containers 1.

  For example, when the first reagent container 1A1 containing the first reagent A1 used for the measurement item A is divided into three vertically and two horizontally when the connecting surface 100A1 is viewed from the back to the front, the pin body is located at the upper left. 101 has a connecting surface 100A1 in which an insertion hole 102 is formed in the lower right.

  At this time, the shape that can be fitted to the connection surface 100A1 is only the connection surface 100A2 in which the insertion hole 102 is formed in the upper left and the pin body 101 protrudes in the lower right, and this connection surface 100A2 is a measurement item. Only in the second reagent container 1A2 that houses the second reagent A2 used in A.

  Therefore, the connection surface 100A1 and the connection surface 100A2 are not combined except for this combination, and only the first reagent container 1A1 and the second reagent container 1A2 can be connected.

  In addition, the first reagent container 1B1 containing the first reagent B1 used for the measurement item B is a connection in which the pin body 101 protrudes in the upper left and the left middle, and the insertion hole 102 is formed in the right middle and the lower right. It has surface 100B1.

  At this time, the shape that can be fitted to the connecting surface 100B1 is only the connecting surface 100B2 in which the insertion holes 102 are formed in the upper left and the left middle, and the pin body 101 protrudes in the right middle and the lower right. The surface 100B2 is provided only in the second reagent container 1B2 that houses the second reagent B2 used for the measurement item B.

  Therefore, the connection surface 100B1 and the connection surface 100B2 are not combined except for this combination, and only the first reagent container 1B1 and the second reagent container 1B2 can be connected.

  That is, since the first reagent container 1B1 used for the measurement item B cannot be connected to the second reagent container 1A2 used for the measurement item A, only the first reagent container 1A1 can be connected. In this case, setting errors in the reagent are prevented. Similarly, since the first reagent container 1A1 used for the measurement item A cannot be connected to the second reagent container 1B2 used for the measurement item B, only the first reagent container 1B1 can be connected. Missetting of the reagent in B is prevented.

  Next, a modified example of the reagent container 1 will be described. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the reagent container 1.

  In this reagent container 1, the connection surface 100 can be attached to and detached from both the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 1. In the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 1, the wall portion where the connecting surface 100 existed is pushed inward, and the groove portion 3 is formed. Specifically, the first reagent container 1 has a groove 3 formed on the back surface, and the second reagent container 1 has a groove 3 formed on the front surface. The formation position, range, shape, and depth of the groove 3 may be the same regardless of the reagent containers 1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 1B2, 1C1, 1C2,.

  The reagent containers 1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 1B2, 1C1, 1C2,... Have adapters 4A1, 4A2, 4B1, 4B2, 4C1, 4C2,. Each adapter 4 has the same rectangular parallelepiped shape, and its size, shape, and height are the same as that of the groove 3 or the scale is slightly reduced to such an extent that it can be fitted.

  These adapters 4A1, 4A2, 4B1, 4B2, 4C1, 4C2,... Have unique fitting shapes such as connecting surfaces 100A1, 100A2, 100B1, 100B2, 100C1, 100C2,. The adapter 4 is detachably attached to the reagent container 1 by using the surface opposite to the surface on which the connection surface 100 is formed as the back surface and fitting the back surface into the groove portion 3.

  A method for managing such a reagent container 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, first, an adapter 4A1 having a unique fitting shape such as a connecting surface 100A1 is previously placed in the groove 3 of the first reagent container 1A1 containing the first reagent A1 used for the measurement item A. Install it. Further, if the adapter 4A1 is attached to the first reagent container 1A1, the groove 3 of the second reagent container 1A2 containing the second reagent A2 used for the measurement item A is fitted only to the connecting surface 100A1. An adapter 4A2 having a possible connecting surface 100A2 is attached in advance.

  When analyzing the measurement item A in the automatic analyzer, the first reagent container 1A1 to which the adapter 4A1 is attached and the second reagent container 1A2 to which the adapter 4A2 is attached are taken out from a storage. Then, the reagent containers 1A1 and 1A2 are connected by fitting the adapter 4A1 and the adapter 4A2 so that the back surface of the first reagent container 1A1 and the front surface of the second reagent container 1A2 face each other. The connected reagent containers 1A1 and 1A2 are set in the reagent storage 5 of the automatic analyzer with the first reagent container 1A1 as the inner peripheral side.

  As described above, the adapters 4A1 and 4A2 are attached to the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 1 containing the reagents used for the same measurement item. Thus, only the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 1 can be connected, and it is possible to prevent the combination of reagents from being mistaken at the time of analysis.

  That is, for example, by reading the barcode 2A12 attached to the back surface of the second reagent container 1A2 with the reading unit 20, the set combination of the reagent containers 1 is the same as the first reagent A1 used for the measurement item A. Although it is recognized as the second reagent A2, there is no difference between the recognition of the automatic analyzer and the combination of the set reagents.

  Further, in this modified example of the reagent container 1, since the main body of the reagent container 1 is only provided with the groove portion 3, mass production from the same mold is possible, which hinders the productivity of the reagent container 1. There is no.

  9 and 10 are diagrams showing a modification of the connecting surface 100. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the connecting surface 100 may include a pin body 101 and an insertion hole 102 having an insertion relationship, or may form a housing 103 having a shape that can be fastened to each other. And it can prevent that the reagent which is not used in combination will be set by changing the shape of this housing | casing 103 according to a measurement item.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the connecting surface 100 may be configured by a pin body 101 and an insertion hole 102 having a characteristic shape. The characteristic of the shape includes that the direction and size of the region where the pin body 101 and the insertion hole 102 exist are characteristic in addition to the shape.

  For example, the connecting surfaces 100A1 and 100A2 of the adapters 4A1 and 4A2 used for the measurement item A have a curved pin body 101 and a corresponding insertion hole 102, and a cylindrical pin body 101 and a corresponding insertion hole 102. Is formed.

  On the other hand, on the connecting surfaces 100B1 and 100B2 of the adapters 4B1 and 4B2 used for the measurement item B, the cylindrical pin body 101 and the corresponding insertion hole 102, and the plate-shaped pin body 101 and the corresponding insertion hole 102 are provided. Is formed. Furthermore, the extending directions of the two plate-like pin bodies 101 are different.

  As described above, the groove portion 3 is formed in the side surface of the first reagent container 1 that accommodates the first reagent and the second reagent container 1 that accommodates the second reagent, and according to the measurement item. A pair of adapters 4 having a specific fitting shape on the surface is detachably attached, and the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 1 are connected through the connection between the adapters 4 attached to the groove 3. I tried to do it. Thereby, since only the reagent container 1 to which one side of this pair of adapters 4 is attached can be connected, it is possible to prevent the first reagent and the second reagent from being placed in an incorrect combination.

  In this embodiment, the combination of the adapters 4 is selected according to the measurement item. However, the combination of the adapters 4 may be further detailed according to the lot number of the reagent and the expiration date. For example, when the first reagent container 1A1 and the second reagent container 1A2 used for the measurement item A contain reagents with different production dates, the specific connection surfaces differ for each expiration date. The adapter 4 having 100 is attached. Thereby, management of the reagent can be facilitated.

  Further, the range, shape, or depth of the groove 3 may be changed between the first reagent container 1 and the second reagent container 1. For the reagent containers 1 containing reagents used in different measurement items, such as the first reagent container 1A1 and the first reagent container 1B1, the position, range, shape, and depth of the groove 3 may be changed. Good. In this case, it is necessary to change the shape of the adapter 4 accordingly.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the case where two types of reagents are used has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to a case where three or more types of reagents are used in combination. it can. That is, among the three or more types of reagents, two types of reagents having a connection relationship are provided with the specific fitting shape described above in the container. Alternatively, the container is provided with the adapter 4 having the specific fitting shape described above. For example, when two or more pairs of adapters 4 are used, three or more types of reagent containers 1 can be connected and used for measurement.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the automatic analyzer in which a reagent container is set. It is a perspective view which shows a reagent storage. It is the perspective view seen from the back of the 2nd reagent container set to the outer peripheral side of a reagent rack. It is the perspective view which looked at the 1st reagent container from the back. It is the perspective view seen from the front of the 2nd reagent container. It is a figure which shows the state with which the 1st reagent container and the 2nd reagent container were connected. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the specific connection surface which various reagent containers have. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of a reagent container. It is a figure which shows the 1st modification of a connection surface. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification of a connection surface.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reagent container 2 Barcode 3 Groove part 4 Adapter 5 Reagent storage 6 Reagent storage 7 Reaction tube 8 Reaction disk 9 Disc sampler 10 Dispensing arm 11 Dispensing arm 12 Dispensing arm 13 Stirring unit 14 Washing unit 15 Photometry unit 16 Dispensing probe 17 Dispensing probe 18 Dispensing probe for test sample 19 Test sample container 20 Reading unit 100 Connecting surface

Claims (7)

A reagent container containing at least two types of reagents used in combination for each measurement item of a test sample,
A first reagent container containing a first reagent;
A second reagent container containing a second reagent;
A pair of adapters having a specific fitting shape on the surface according to the measurement item,
Each groove part which is pierced on both side surfaces of the first reagent container and the second reagent container, and one side of the adapter is detachably attached;
With
The first reagent container containing the two types of reagents used in the same measurement item and the second reagent container are connected by fitting the adapters attached to the groove part,
A reagent container characterized by The adapter further has a specific fitting shape depending on the production lot,
The reagent container according to claim 1. It is provided only in one of the first reagent container and the second reagent container and contains information on the first reagent and the second reagent accommodated in the first reagent container and the second reagent container. Further comprising a storage unit having reagent identification information,
The reagent container according to claim 1. A reagent container containing one of the two types of reagents used in combination for each measurement item of the test sample,
An adapter having a connecting surface on the surface that can be fitted only in the fitting shape of the other reagent container;
A groove that is drilled in a side surface of a reagent container that contains the one reagent therein, and a rear surface of the adapter is detachably attached;
With
Being connectable only to the other reagent container via the adapter attached to the groove;
A reagent container characterized by The adapter is
Having a connecting surface on the surface that can be fitted only in the fitting shape of the container of the predetermined production lot that contains the other reagent,
The reagent container according to claim 4. Automatic analysis that selects at least two of the various reagents in the reagent storage according to the measurement item, dispenses the selected reagent and the test sample, and measures information about the selected measurement item from the mixture A device,
Various first reagent containers according to various measurement items are housed, various groove parts are provided on the side surface, and various first reagent containers placed in the reagent storage,
Various second reagent containers according to various measurement items are housed, and various second reagent containers that have grooves on the side surface and are placed in the reagent storage,
A pair of adapters having a specific fitting shape on the surface according to the measurement item,
With
The first reagent container and the second reagent container that contain reagents used in the same measurement item are attached to the respective groove portions on one side of the adapter corresponding to the measurement item, and the adapter Placed in the reagent storage in a state of being connected by fitting,
Automatic analyzer characterized by A reagent management method for performing measurement items for at least two types of reagents used in combination for each measurement item of a test sample, for each reagent, or for each production lot,
A pair of grooves having a unique pair shape for each measurement item, for each reagent, or for each production lot, in the groove provided in the first reagent container for storing one of the reagents and the second reagent container for storing the other. Attach each adapter,
The first reagent container and the second reagent container of the same manufacturing lot are used for the same measurement item or connected to the second reagent container via the adapter.
A reagent management method characterized by the above.