JP5204748B2 - Analytical equipment for clinical testing - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an analyzer for clinical examination that performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological samples such as blood and urine.

  In clinical analyzers that perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of specific components in biological samples such as blood and urine, reagents that react with specific components in biological samples and change color are added to the sample. Is generally measured using a photometer or the like.

  In general, an enzyme is contained in a reagent used in such an analytical apparatus for clinical examination. The enzyme in the reagent reacts with a specific component contained in the biological sample to produce a reaction product. The produced reaction product further reacts with the color former contained in the reagent to cause a color change (absorbance change) proportional to the concentration of the specific component in the biological sample.

  At this time, in order to make the enzyme work, it is necessary to keep the reaction container in which the reagent and the biological sample are mixed at a constant temperature (generally around 37 ° C.).

  Therefore, it is necessary to hold the reaction vessel in a reaction tank for keeping the temperature constant. In order to make the temperature in the reaction tank constant, it is generally realized by circulating a medium (liquid or the like) whose temperature is controlled.

  As an example of the reaction tank, there is a reaction tank of an automatic analyzer described in Patent Document 1.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-181087

  However, the reaction vessel for maintaining the reaction sample with the biological sample in the reaction vessel or the reaction sample with the biological sample in the analyzer in the prior art is open to the outside air outside the analysis device. Generally, it is not in an environment where the amount of dust / dust is controlled.

  Therefore, dust / dust outside the analyzer may enter the reaction tank and the medium circulating in the reaction tank may be contaminated.

  In addition, the concentration is measured by measuring the absorbance of the biological sample in the reaction container or the reaction product with the biological sample held between the light source (lamp) constituting the photometer and the light receiving side sensor unit. Therefore, if the medium circulating in the reaction vessel that keeps the reaction container warm is dirty, there is a possibility that correct measurement will not be performed.

  An object of the present invention is to realize an analytical apparatus for clinical examination provided with a reaction tank having a configuration in which dust / dust is difficult to enter.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

  The analyzer for clinical examination of the present invention includes a reaction container in which a sample is accommodated, a reaction disk for holding the reaction container, a reaction container held in the reaction disk, and a reaction container in the accommodated reaction container. A reaction having a liquid container that contains a liquid for maintaining the sample at a constant temperature, and an air flow layer forming part that forms an air flow layer for blocking dust intrusion between the liquid container and the reaction container. A tank and a photometer that optically measures a sample in a reaction container accommodated in a liquid container of the reaction tank.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the analyzer for clinical tests provided with the reaction tank which has a structure which refuse / dust etc. cannot penetrate easily is realizable.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the analyzer for clinical tests to which this invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing about the intrusion prevention mechanism in 1st Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing about the intrusion prevention mechanism in 2nd Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing about the intrusion prevention mechanism in the 3rd Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing about the intrusion prevention mechanism in the 4th Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing about the intrusion prevention mechanism in the 5th Example of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the 5th Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1-7, the structure and operation | movement of the analyzer for clinical tests by this invention are demonstrated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an analytical apparatus for clinical examination to which the present invention is applied.

  In FIG. 1, a reaction vessel 201 is configured to be intermittently rotatable, and a large number of reaction vessels 202 made of a translucent material are arranged along the circumference of a rotatable reaction disk 208.

  The reaction vessel 202 is maintained at a predetermined temperature (for example, 37 ° C.) by the reaction vessel 201. The biological sample in the reaction vessel 202 or the reaction product with the biological sample in the reaction vessel 201 is adjusted to a constant temperature by the constant temperature maintaining device 203.

  On the sample disk 101, a large number of specimen containers 102 containing biological samples such as blood or urine are arranged. The pipette nozzle 104 attached to the movable arm 103 sucks a predetermined amount of sample from the specimen container 102 positioned at the sample suction position of the sample disk 101, and the sample is a reaction container 202 at a discharge position on the reaction tank 201. Discharge inside.

  A plurality of reagent bottles 304 with labels displaying reagent identification information such as barcodes are arranged in the reagent cooler 303.

  These reagent bottles 304 contain reagent solutions corresponding to analysis items that can be analyzed by the analyzer. A reagent identification information reading device (not shown) attached to the reagent cooler 303 reads the reagent identification information displayed on the outer wall of each reagent bottle 304 at the time of reagent registration. The read reagent information is registered in the memory 6 described later together with the arrangement position on the reagent cooler 303.

  The reagent pipette nozzle in the reagent dispensing mechanism 306 sucks the reagent from the reagent bottle 304 on the reagent cold storage 303 and discharges it into the reaction container 202. The reagent receiving position on the reaction tank 201 is a receiving position corresponding to the inspection item, and the reagent bottle 304 on the reagent cold storage 303 is positioned for each item. Thereby, the reagent pipette nozzle of the reagent dispensing mechanism 306 sucks the reagent corresponding to the inspection item from the reagent bottle 304 and discharges it into the corresponding reaction container 202.

  The mixture of the sample and the reagent accommodated in the reaction container 202 arranged along the circumference of the reaction disk 208 is stirred by the stirring mechanism 207. The rows of the plurality of reaction vessels 202 are rotated and moved by the reaction disk 208 so as to pass through the photometric position sandwiched between the light source 205 and the multi-wavelength photometer 206.

  The reaction liquid of the sample and the reagent in each reaction vessel 202 is photometrically measured while the reaction vessel 201 is rotating. The analog signal measured for each sample is input to the A / D converter 12.

  A reaction container cleaning mechanism 204 disposed in the vicinity of the reaction tank 201 allows the reaction container 202 to be repeatedly used by cleaning the inside of the used reaction container 202.

  Next, a control system and a signal processing system in the analyzer shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  In FIG. 1, a computer (control means) 5 is connected to a sample dispensing control unit 11, a reagent dispensing control unit 13, and an A / D converter 12 via an interface 1.

  The computer 5 sends a command to the sample dispensing control unit 11 to control the operations of the movable arm 103 and the pipette nozzle 104 and to control the sample dispensing operation. The computer 5 also sends a command to the reagent dispensing control unit 13 to control the operation of the reagent dispensing mechanism 306 and to control the reagent dispensing operation.

  The signal photometric value by the multiwavelength photometer 206 converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 12 is taken into the computer 5.

  Connected to the interface 1 are a printer 4 for printing, a memory 6 as a storage device, an external storage medium 2, a keyboard 7 for inputting operation commands and the like, and a CRT display 3 for screen display. As the screen display device, a liquid crystal display or the like can be employed in addition to the CRT display.

  The memory 6 is configured by, for example, a hard disk memory or an external memory. The memory 6 stores information such as the password of each operator, the display level of each screen, analysis parameters, analysis item request contents, calibration results, and analysis results.

  Analytical parameters relating to items that can be analyzed by the analytical device for clinical examinations are input in advance via an information input device such as the keyboard 7 and stored in the memory 6. The operator selects an inspection item requested for each sample using an operation function screen described later.

  At this time, information such as a patient ID is also input from the keyboard 7. In order to analyze the inspection item designated for each sample, the pipette nozzle 104 dispenses a predetermined amount of sample from the specimen container 102 to the reaction container 202 according to the analysis parameter.

  The reaction container 202 that has received the sample is transferred by the rotation of the reaction vessel 201 and stops at the reagent receiving position. The pipette nozzle of the reagent dispensing mechanism 306 dispenses a predetermined amount of reagent solution into the reaction container 202 according to the analysis parameter of the corresponding inspection item. In the sample and reagent dispensing order, the reagent may be dispensed prior to the sample, contrary to this example.

  Thereafter, the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 202 are stirred and mixed by the stirring mechanism 207. When the reaction vessel 202 crosses the photometric position, the multiwavelength photometer 206 measures the absorbance of the reaction solution. The photometric absorbance is taken into the computer 5 via the A / D converter 12 and the interface 1.

  The absorbance taken into the computer 5 is converted into concentration data based on a calibration curve measured in advance by an analysis method designated for each inspection item. The component concentration data as the analysis result of each inspection item is output to the screen of the printer 4 or CRT 3.

  Before the measurement operation described above is executed, the operator sets various parameters necessary for analytical measurement and registers a sample via the operation screen. In addition, the operator confirms the analysis result after measurement on the operation screen on the CRT 3.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, means for preventing entry of dust and dirt into the reaction tank 201 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is an intrusion prevention mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory view of a mechanism for preventing dust or the like outside the apparatus from entering the liquid in the reaction tank 201.

  In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the reaction vessel 201 is kept at a constant temperature by the constant temperature maintaining device 203 for the liquid in the reaction vessel 202 via the liquid 401 controlled at a constant temperature. Air is sent into the reaction tank 201 from the bottom of the reaction tank 201 in the direction indicated by the arrow from a blower mechanism (not shown), and the air is discharged from the flange formed in the reaction vessel 202. This exhaust air is composed of a blocking air flow layer for blocking entry of dust or the like into the liquid 401 in the reaction tank 201, and forms an air curtain with respect to the opening of the liquid 401 in the reaction tank 201.

  That is, a plurality of air passages 201a are formed at regular intervals in the bottom surface portion, the inner peripheral side wall portion, and the outer peripheral side wall portion that contain the liquid 401 of the reaction tank 201, and the bottom surface portion is formed in the plurality of air passages 201a. The air curtain air is supplied from the air inlet 201b formed in the above. And air is discharged | emitted from the air outflow port 201t formed in the upper surface of an inner peripheral side wall part and an outer peripheral side wall part.

  In addition, it is desirable that the flange portion of the reaction vessel 202 is tapered so that the discharged air can be discharged to the outside of the reaction tank 201.

  The blower mechanism can use an exhaust heat blower fan that is normally installed in the analyzer, or may be provided with a separate dedicated fan.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, air in a direction different from the direction from the side wall portion of the reaction vessel 201 toward the opening of the liquid storage portion (the direction opposite to the direction in which dust or the like enters). Therefore, it is possible to realize an analyzer for clinical examinations having a reaction tank having a configuration in which dust / dust is difficult to enter.

  The air outlet of the air passage 201a may be formed only on the outer peripheral side wall of the reaction tank 201.

  FIG. 3 is an intrusion prevention mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory view of a mechanism for preventing dust or the like outside the apparatus from entering the liquid in the reaction tank 201.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, the inside of the reaction vessel 201 has a mechanism for sucking outside air from an air suction mechanism such as a vacuum pump (not shown). By forming an air curtain of a shut-off air flow layer for blocking intrusion of water, it is possible to prevent intrusion of dust or the like outside the reaction tank into the liquid 401 in the reaction tank.

  That is, the difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is that the air passage directions in the air passage 201a are opposite to each other. For this reason, the air outlet 201t shown in FIG. 2 becomes an air inlet, and the air inlet 201b shown in FIG. 2 becomes an air outlet.

  Also in the second embodiment of the present invention, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  It is possible to combine the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention. That is, in one part of the reaction tank 201, an air curtain is formed in which the air flows outside the wall of the reaction tank 201, and in the other part, an air curtain in which the air flows in the wall part of the reaction tank 201 is formed. Intrusion of dust or the like into the liquid storage portion of the tank 201 can also be suppressed.

  FIG. 4 is an intrusion prevention mechanism according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory view of a mechanism for preventing dust or the like outside the apparatus from entering the liquid in the reaction tank 201.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  In FIG. 4, the inside of a reaction chamber 201 is a space (air passage) 201 a formed by the reaction vessel 201 and the reaction vessel 202 by sending air into the reaction vessel 201 from a blower mechanism (not shown). By maintaining the pressure high with respect to the outside air, the air from the space 201a formed by the reaction vessel 201 and the reaction vessel 202 to the outside of the reaction vessel 201 from the hole (air outlet) 201h formed in the inner surface of the wall surface portion. This prevents the entry of dust or the like into the liquid 401 in the reaction tank 201.

  In the third embodiment of the present invention, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  FIG. 5 shows an intrusion prevention mechanism according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory view of a mechanism for preventing dust or the like outside the apparatus from entering the liquid in the reaction tank 201.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  In FIG. 5, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a heat insulating material 402 is formed on the inner surface side of the reaction tank 201 that contains the liquid 401, and at least the liquid 401 in the reaction tank 201 is insulated from the liquid 401. A mechanism (cooling mechanism) 403 that holds cool air (4 ° C. to 5 ° C.) lower than the holding temperature is provided.

  The cool air for cooling the cooling mechanism 403 may be taken out from the reagent cold storage 303 or may have a dedicated mechanism. An air flow from a high temperature to a low temperature is formed by a temperature difference between the temperature of the liquid 401 in the reaction tank 201 and the temperature of the cold air. Thereby, the entry of dust or the like into the liquid 401 in the reaction tank is prevented by creating an air flow from the space formed by the reaction tank 201 and the reaction container 202 to the outside of the reaction tank 201.

  That is, since the liquid 401 is hotter than the outside air, the air heated by the liquid 401 flows in the direction of rising. On the other hand, the upper surface portion of the reaction tank 201 is cooler than the outside air by the cooling mechanism 403. For this reason, an air layer (air curtain) that flows outward from the liquid storage part of the reaction tank 201 is formed on the upper surface part of the reaction tank 201, and intrusion of dust and the like is suppressed.

  In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the illustrated example, the cold air from the cool box is used for cooling the cooling mechanism 403, but a Peltier element can be used as the cooling mechanism. The operation of the Peltier element is controlled by the computer 5.

  Moreover, it is also possible to arrange a Peltier element on the wall portion of the reaction tank 201 and cool the upper surface of the wall portion.

  FIG. 6 shows an intrusion prevention mechanism according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory view of a mechanism for preventing dust or the like outside the apparatus from entering the liquid in the reaction tank 201.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  In FIG. 6, a member (sealing member) 404 (sponge-like member) that closely adheres between the outer peripheral side wall portion and the upper surface portion of the inner peripheral side wall portion of the reaction tank 201 and the flange portion formed in the reaction vessel 202. To prevent dust and the like from entering the liquid 401 in the reaction vessel.

  The member 404 may be formed over the entire surface of the outer peripheral side wall and the upper surface of the inner peripheral side wall of the reaction tank 201, or may be divided into a plurality of parts and formed at regular intervals. In addition to the sponge, the member 404 can be made of an elastic material such as rubber. Furthermore, it may have a two-layer structure of a metal and an elastic member.

  The contact between the upper surface portion of the outer peripheral side wall portion and the inner peripheral side wall portion of the reaction tank 201 and the flange portion formed in the reaction vessel 202 via the member 404 is not performed at the time of analyzing the sample, but at the time other than at the time of analyzing the sample. It is the composition to perform.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration in which the close contact is not performed at the time of sample analysis but is performed at a time other than at the time of sample analysis.

  FIG. 7A shows a state when the sample is analyzed, and FIG. 7B shows a state when the sample is not analyzed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a linear gear 208 g is formed on the rotating shaft 208 a of the reaction disk 208, and the linear gear 208 g meshes with the rotating gear 209. Then, by switching the rotation direction of the rotation gear 208g, the reaction disk 208 is moved up and down, and the flange portion of the reaction vessel 202 is brought into close contact with the member 404 or separated from the member 404.

  The rotation operation control of the rotation gear 209 is performed by the computer 5 supplying a command signal to a rotation gear drive motor (not shown).

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, when the sample is not analyzed, the member 404 seals the space between the upper surface of the wall of the reaction vessel 201 and the flange of the reaction vessel. In addition, it is possible to realize an analytical apparatus for clinical examinations provided with a reaction tank having a configuration in which dust / dust is difficult to enter.

  In addition, the example which combined the 1st-4th Example of this invention shown in FIGS. 2-5 with the 5th Example is also possible.

  That is, when the sample is analyzed, the cage of the reaction vessel 202 and the upper surface of the reaction vessel 201 are opened to form an air curtain, and when the sample is not analyzed, the vessel of the reaction vessel 202 and the upper surface of the reaction vessel 201 are members. Adhering via 404. In this case, the member 404 is composed of a plurality of members, and the air passage 201a and the cooling mechanism 403 are formed at locations where the plurality of members 404 are not formed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Interface, 5 ... Computer, 12 ... A / D converter, 101 ... Sample disk, 102 ... Sample container, 201 ... Reaction tank, 201a ... Air passage, 201h ... hole, 202 ... reaction vessel, 204 ... reaction vessel cleaning mechanism, 205 ... light source, 206 ... multi-wavelength photometer, 207 ... stirring mechanism, 208 ... reaction disk , 208a ... rotating shaft, 208g ... linear gear, 209 ... rotating gear, 303 ... reagent cooler, 304 ... reagent bottle, 306 ... reagent dispensing mechanism, 401 ... Liquid, 402 ... heat insulating material, 403 ... cooling mechanism

Claims (9)

A reaction container in which a sample is stored;
A reaction disc holding the reaction vessel;
The reaction container held on the reaction disk is stored, a liquid storage part for storing a liquid for maintaining a sample in the stored reaction container at a constant temperature, and a space between the liquid storage part and the reaction container. A reaction tank having an air flow layer forming part for forming an air flow layer for blocking dust intrusion;
A photometer for optically measuring the sample in the reaction container accommodated in the liquid container of the reaction vessel;
An analytical apparatus for clinical testing, comprising: The clinical test analyzer according to claim 1,
The liquid storage portion has a bottom surface portion and a wall surface portion, and the air flow layer forming portion is an air flow passage formed in the bottom surface portion and the wall surface portion of the liquid storage portion, and is formed in the bottom surface portion. A clinical laboratory analyzer characterized in that the air flow layer is formed by air flowing in from an air inlet and air flowing out from an air outlet formed on the upper surface of the wall surface portion. . The clinical test analyzer according to claim 1,
The liquid storage portion has a bottom surface portion and a wall surface portion, and the air flow layer forming portion is an air flow passage formed in the bottom surface portion and the wall surface portion of the liquid storage portion, and is formed on the upper surface of the wall surface portion. An analyzer for clinical examination, wherein the air flow layer is formed by air flowing in from the formed air inflow port and air flowing out from the air outflow port formed in the bottom surface portion. . The clinical test analyzer according to claim 1,
The liquid storage portion has a bottom surface portion and a wall surface portion, and the air flow layer forming portion is an air flow passage formed in the bottom surface portion and the wall surface portion of the liquid storage portion, and is formed in the bottom surface portion. An analyzer for clinical testing, wherein the air flow layer is formed by air flowing in from an air inlet and air flowing out from an air outlet formed on the inner surface of the wall surface portion. . The clinical test analyzer according to claim 1,
The liquid storage part has a bottom surface part and a wall surface part, and the air flow layer forming part is a cooling mechanism formed in the bottom surface part and the wall surface part of the liquid storage part. Analysis equipment. The analytical device for clinical examination according to claim 5,
An analyzer for clinical testing, comprising a reagent cold box that keeps the reagent supplied into the reaction container cold, and wherein the cooling mechanism is cooled by cold air in a cold box of the reagent cold box. The analytical device for clinical examination according to claim 5,
The clinical cooling analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism includes a Peltier element, and the air flow layer is formed by cooling the upper surface of the wall portion by the Peltier element. The clinical test analyzer according to claim 1,
The liquid storage part has a bottom surface part and a wall surface part, and the air flow layer forming part is a plurality of air flow passages formed in the bottom surface part and the wall surface part of the liquid storage part, A part of the flow passage forms the air flow layer by the air flowing in from the air inlet formed in the bottom surface and the air flowing out from the air outlet formed in the upper surface of the wall surface. In the other part of the plurality of air flow passages, air is introduced from an air inlet formed on the upper surface of the wall surface portion, and air is discharged from an air outlet formed on the bottom surface portion. By the above, an analytical apparatus for clinical examination, wherein the air flow layer is formed. A reaction container in which a sample is stored;
A reaction disc holding the reaction vessel;
The reaction container held on the reaction disk is stored, a liquid storage part for storing a liquid for maintaining a sample in the stored reaction container at a constant temperature, and a space between the liquid storage part and the reaction container. A reaction tank having an air flow layer forming part for forming an air flow layer for blocking dust intrusion ;
A sealing member that seals between the liquid storage part of the reaction tank and the reaction container stored in the liquid storage part;
A photometer for optically measuring the sample in the reaction container accommodated in the liquid container of the reaction vessel;
Reaction disk moving means for moving the reaction disk so that the reaction container held by the reaction disk moves in a direction away from the liquid storage part of the reaction tank and in a direction approaching the liquid storage part;
During the operation of controlling the reaction disk moving means and analyzing the sample, the reaction container and the liquid container are separated from each other, and the sealing of the liquid container and the reaction container by the sealing means is released, When the air flow layer forming unit forms an air flow layer for blocking dust intrusion between the liquid storage unit and the reaction vessel and does not perform an operation of analyzing the sample, the reaction vessel is placed in the liquid storage unit. A control means for bringing the liquid container and the reaction container sealed by the sealing means;
An analytical apparatus for clinical testing, comprising:

Images