JP6251069B2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an automatic analyzer having a mechanism for supplying a cleaning detergent to a reaction tube.

  Conventionally, an automatic analyzer that analyzes a sample collected from a subject by reacting with a reagent corresponding to an analysis item is known. In order to reduce the size of the automatic analyzer, a bottle for storing a concentrated liquid (hereinafter referred to as a stock solution) as a detergent for washing a reaction tube is installed. The stock solution is used after being diluted with water in an automatic analyzer so as to have a concentration suitable for washing the reaction tube (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-4-335157

  By the way, the detergent for cleaning the reaction tube is very expensive and greatly affects the running cost. In general, the remaining amount of cleaning detergent is monitored by a weight sensor, and if the remaining amount falls below a predetermined threshold, the user is notified to replace the cleaning detergent bottle with a new one. Is done.

  However, at this time, a small amount of detergent that could not be sucked by the suction nozzle remains in the cleaning detergent bottle. Since the cleaning detergent remaining in a small amount is difficult to be sucked appropriately, it is very difficult to clean the reaction tube with a predetermined detergent concentration using this detergent.

  Due to the circumstances described above, manufacturers of automatic analyzers prohibit the addition of cleaning detergent from the viewpoint of device performance, and discard the small amount of cleaning detergent remaining at the bottom of the cleaning detergent bottle. This is the current situation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to perform cleaning at a predetermined detergent concentration by using a small amount of cleaning detergent remaining at the bottom of a cleaning detergent bottle that is currently discarded. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer.

An automatic analyzer according to one embodiment
A reaction solution generation mechanism for dispensing a test sample and a reagent into a reaction tube to generate a reaction solution;
An analysis unit for analyzing the reaction solution;
A detergent container containing a stock solution of detergent for washing the reaction tube;
A flow path through which the detergent flows from the detergent container to the reaction tube;
A pure water container for containing pure water;
The pure water is sucked from the pure water container and discharged to the flow path, and the stock solution is sucked from the detergent container and discharged to the flow path, thereby generating a predetermined concentration of cleaning liquid and the reaction tube. A first pump unit for supplying to
A residual amount calculator for calculating the residual amount of the stock solution in the detergent container;
A second pump unit for supplying the pure water to the detergent container;
When the remaining amount of the stock solution falls below a predetermined threshold, the pure water is supplied to the detergent container to control the second pump unit to generate a diluted solution, and the cleaning solution having the predetermined concentration A control unit for controlling the first pump unit to change the amount of the pure water discharged to the flow path so as to be supplied to the reaction tube;
It is characterized by comprising.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a partial configuration of the reaction tube cleaning apparatus. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a flowchart of processing related to cleaning of the reaction tube by the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of processing relating to cleaning of the reaction tube by the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of an automatic analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic analyzer 1 includes a reaction disk 11 in which a plurality of reaction tubes 26 are arranged in a circumferential shape, a disk sampler 12 in which a sample container 12a in which a test sample is stored, 1st reagent storage 13, 2nd reagent storage 14, sampling arm 15, 1st dispensing arm 16, 2nd dispensing arm 17, 1st stirring unit 18, 2nd stirring unit 19, and reaction The tube cleaning device 20, the electrode unit 21, the measurement unit 22, and the automatic analyzer control unit 30 are included.

  The disk sampler 12 is formed in a disk shape, and the desired sample container 12a is moved to a suction position by the sampling arm 15 by rotating around the axis.

  The first reagent storage 13 is a reagent storage in which a first reagent rack storing a plurality of reagent bottles 13a in which reagents that react with various components of a test sample are stored. Similarly, the second reagent storage 14 is also a reagent storage in which a second reagent rack storing a plurality of reagent bottles 14a storing reagents that react with various components of the test sample is installed.

  The first reagent storage 13, the second reagent storage 14, the reaction disk 11, and the disk sampler 12 are each rotated by a driving device. Reagents necessary for measurement are reacted on the reaction disk 11 from the reagent bottles 13a and 14a stored in the first reagent rack or the second reagent rack using the first dispensing arm 16 or the second dispensing arm 17. Dispensed into tube 26.

  The sampling arm 15 is provided with a needle-like probe 15c on the distal end side of the arm 15b. By positioning the probe 15c at a desired suction position of the disk sampler 12 and lowering the column 15a, the probe 15c is lowered into the sample container 12a to suck a predetermined amount of sample. Thereafter, the support column 15 a is raised and the arm 15 b is rotated toward the reaction disk 11, and the sample is discharged into a desired reaction tube 26 accommodated in the reaction disk 11.

  The sampling arm 15 lowers the probe 15c into the reaction tube 26 by discharging the column 15a at a predetermined discharge position at the time of discharging the sample in the same manner as at the time of suction, and discharges the sample from the probe 15c. Further, a tube is connected to the root portion of the probe 15c, that is, the arm 15b side. The tube passes through the arm 15b, further passes through the support column 15a, and the other end is connected to a pump (not shown).

  That is, the sampling arm 15, together with a first dispensing arm 16 and a second dispensing arm 17 which will be described later, has a reaction solution generating mechanism for dispensing a test sample and a reagent into the reaction tube 26 to generate a reaction solution. It is composed.

  The test sample stored in the test sample container arranged on the disk sampler 12 is dispensed into the reaction tube 26 on the reaction disk 11 by the probe 15c of the sampling arm 15 which is a sample dispensing mechanism. The reaction tube 26 into which the test sample and the reagent are dispensed moves to the stirring position by the rotation of the reaction disk 11, and the test sample and the reagent are stirred by the stirring units 18 and 19 to generate a reaction solution. .

  The reaction disk 11 rotates about its axis, and the desired reaction tube 26 is moved to the reagent discharge position of the first dispensing arm 16 and the second dispensing arm 17. Both the first reagent storage 13 and the second reagent storage 14 are formed in an annular shape, and rotate about the axis thereof. The first reagent storage 13 moves a desired reagent container 13 a out of the stored reagent containers 13 a to the suction position of the first dispensing arm 16. Similarly, the second reagent storage 14 moves a desired reagent container 14 a out of the stored reagent containers 14 a to the suction position of the second dispensing arm 17.

  Similarly to the sampling arm 15, the first dispensing arm 16 is also provided with a needle-like probe 16c at the tip of the arm 16b. The first dispensing arm sucks the reagent from the desired reagent container 13a by the probe 16c, and dispenses the reagent into the desired reaction tube 26 accommodated in the reaction disk 11 by a predetermined amount. Similarly, the second dispensing arm 17 is also provided with a needle-like probe 17c at the tip of the arm 17b. The probe 17c sucks the reagent from the desired reagent container 14a, and dispenses the reagent into the desired reaction tube 26 accommodated in the reaction disk 11 by a predetermined amount.

  When the reaction tube 26 reaches the first stirring position and the second stirring position by the rotation of the reaction disk 11, the first stirring unit 18 and the second stirring unit 19 are discharged into the corresponding reaction tube 26. The mixture is mixed with a reagent with a stir bar to promote the reaction.

  Furthermore, when the reaction tube 26 reaches the position of the measurement unit 22 as the reaction disk 11 rotates, the component of the mixed solution in the reaction tube 26 is spectrally analyzed by the measurement unit 22.

  The electrode unit 21 uses the ion selective electrode and the reference electrode to measure the electromotive force of the reaction liquid in the reaction tube 26 that has moved to the electrolyte measurement position, thereby performing the electrolyte analysis of the test sample.

  The measurement unit 22 performs component analysis of the test sample by irradiating the reaction tube 26 moved to the photometric position with light and measuring the change in absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction tube 26.

  That is, the electrode unit 21 and the measurement unit 22 together with the automatic analyzer control unit 30 function as an analysis unit that analyzes the reaction solution.

  By the way, when the reaction tube 26 reaches the position of the reaction tube cleaning device 20 after the analysis is completed, first, the mixed solution in the reaction tube 26 is discharged, and the reaction tube 26 is sequentially cleaned by the reaction tube cleaning device 20 and then the next. The sample is used for analysis.

  The reaction tube cleaning device 20 discards the reaction solution in the reaction tube 26, and the reaction tube 26 is an acidic detergent (hereinafter referred to as an acidic detergent solution) that is a cleaning solution produced by diluting a stock solution of an acidic detergent with pure water. And an alkaline detergent (hereinafter abbreviated as alkaline detergent liquid) which is a washing liquid produced by diluting the alkaline detergent stock solution with pure water. That is, the reaction tube cleaning device 20 functions as a reaction tube cleaning unit that cleans the reaction tube 26 with a cleaning liquid.

  The automatic analyzer control unit 30 comprehensively controls each part of the automatic analyzer 1. That is, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 controls the operation and processing of each part of the automatic analyzer 1, and comprehensively controls all processes related to analysis of the specimen (test sample), washing of the reaction tube, and the like. .

  Although details will be described later, when the remaining amount of the stock solution in the acidic detergent bottle 38 / alkaline detergent bottle 40 falls below a predetermined threshold, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 supplies pure water to the acidic detergent bottle 38 / alkaline detergent bottle 40. The special dilution pump 50 is controlled so as to generate a diluted solution by supplying an acidic detergent line SL / alkaline detergent line so that a cleaning solution having a predetermined concentration (final detergent concentration described later) is supplied to the reaction tube 26. It functions as a control unit that controls the acidic detergent pump 42 / alkaline detergent pump 44 so as to change the amount of pure water discharged to the AL.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a partial configuration of the reaction tube cleaning device 20. As shown in the figure, the reaction tube cleaning device 20 includes a pure water tank 36, an acidic detergent bottle 38, an alkaline detergent bottle 40, an acidic detergent pump 42, an alkaline detergent pump 44, a special dilution pump 50, An alkaline detergent line AL, an acidic detergent line SL, and a special dilution line DL are provided.

  The pure water tank 36 is a pure water container that contains pure water, the acidic detergent bottle 38 is a detergent container that contains a stock solution of acidic detergent, and the alkaline detergent bottle 40 is a detergent container that contains a stock solution of alkaline detergent. It is.

  The acidic detergent pump 42 draws in an acid detergent stock solution from the acid detergent bottle 38 and pure water from the pure water tank 36, dilutes the acid detergent stock solution with pure water, and discharges the acid detergent solution to the acid detergent line SL. To do. This dilution by the acidic detergent pump 42 is referred to as “normal dilution”.

  Similarly, the alkaline detergent pump 44 draws in the alkaline detergent stock solution from the alkaline detergent bottle 40 and pure water from the pure water tank 36, dilutes the alkaline detergent stock solution with pure water, and then removes the alkaline detergent liquid into the alkaline detergent line. Discharge to AL. This dilution by the alkaline detergent pump 44 is referred to as “normal dilution”.

  That is, the acidic detergent pump 42 / alkaline detergent pump 44 sucks pure water from the pure water tank 36 and discharges it to the acidic detergent line SL / alkaline detergent line AL, and at the same time removes the stock solution from the acidic detergent bottle 38 / alkaline detergent bottle 40. By inhaling and discharging to the acidic detergent line SL / alkaline detergent line AL, it functions as a first pump unit that generates a cleaning liquid having a predetermined concentration and supplies it to the reaction tube 26.

  The acidic detergent line SL functions as a flow path through which the acidic detergent flows from the acidic detergent bottle 38 to the reaction tube 26. The acidic detergent pump 42 sucks pure water from the pure water tank 36 and discharges it to the acidic detergent line SL. In addition, the acidic detergent pump 42 sucks the raw liquid from the acidic detergent bottle 38 and discharges it to the acidic detergent line SL. It functions as a pump part which produces | generates and supplies to the said reaction tube 26.

  The alkaline detergent line AL functions as a flow path through which the alkaline detergent flows from the alkaline detergent bottle 40 to the reaction tube 26. The alkaline detergent pump 44 sucks pure water from the pure water tank 36 and discharges it to the alkaline detergent line AL. In addition, the alkaline detergent pump 44 sucks the undiluted solution from the alkaline detergent bottle 40 and discharges it to the alkaline detergent line AL. It functions as a pump part which produces | generates and supplies to the said reaction tube 26.

  The special dilution pump 50 supplies pure water to the special dilution line DL when the remaining amount of detergent in the acidic detergent bottle 38 / alkaline detergent bottle 40 (hereinafter referred to as detergent remaining amount) becomes a predetermined threshold or less. This is a pump for diluting the detergent in the bottle to a predetermined concentration (hereinafter referred to as special dilution). This dilution by the special dilution pump 50 is referred to as “special dilution”. The special dilution by the special dilution pump 50 is executed under the control of the automatic analyzer control unit 30. Details of the special dilution will be described later. That is, the special dilution pump 50 functions as a second pump unit that supplies pure water to the acidic detergent bottle 42 / alkaline detergent bottle 40.

  The acidic detergent line SL connects the acidic detergent pump 42 and a reaction tube cleaning unit (not shown). The alkaline detergent line AL connects the alkaline detergent pump 44 and a reaction tube cleaning unit (not shown). The special dilution line DL connects the special dilution pump 50 and the acidic detergent pump 42, and connects the special dilution pump 50 and the alkaline detergent pump 44.

  By the way, the reaction tube cleaning device 20 operates so that each cleaning nozzle performs a predetermined cleaning operation all at once, while repeating vertical movement at a predetermined timing under the control of the automatic analyzer control unit 30. However, the reaction tube cleaning device 20 itself is fixed so as to hold the cleaning tools constituting each cleaning line, and the cleaning tools constituting each cleaning line are individually controlled by the automatic analyzer control unit 30. The cleaning operation may be performed while repeating the up and down movement at a predetermined timing.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B are flowcharts showing a process related to cleaning of the reaction tube under the control of the automatic analyzer control unit 30. FIG.

  First, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 determines whether or not the remaining amount of detergent in the acidic detergent bottle 38 / alkaline detergent bottle 40 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (step S1). Specifically, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 calculates the remaining amount of the detergent using a weight sensor (a constituent member conventionally provided in the automatic analyzer). That is, for example, when the specific gravity of the detergent used is 1, the weight including the detergent bottle itself when the detergent remaining amount in the detergent bottle becomes A [mL] is (empty container weight + A) [g]. . Here, the manufacturer of the automatic analyzer knows the weight of the empty container and the specific gravity of the detergent. As described above, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 functions as a remaining amount calculation unit that calculates the remaining amount of the stock solution in the acidic detergent bottle 38 / alkaline detergent bottle 40.

  In other words, in step S1, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 measures the weight of the acidic detergent bottle 38 / alkaline detergent bottle 40 with a weight sensor (not shown) provided in the automatic analyzer 1, and the measurement is performed. Based on the result, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of the acidic detergent / alkaline detergent is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

  Specifically, for example, when the specific gravity of the detergent to be used is 1 and the predetermined threshold value is (detergent remaining amount) is A [mL], the automatic analyzer control unit 30 determines the detergent measured by the weight sensor. It is determined whether the weight including the bottle itself is a value equal to or less than (empty container weight + A) [g].

  When step S1 is branched to NO, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 controls the reaction tube cleaning device 20 so that only normal dilution is performed at a predetermined dilution ratio without performing special dilution (step S2). Then, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 controls the reaction tube cleaning device 20 so as to clean the reaction tube 26 with the cleaning liquid generated by the processing in step S2 (step S3).

  By the way, when step S1 is branched to YES, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 displays an operation screen for the user to select whether or not to perform special dilution on a display unit of an operation console (not shown) ( Step S4). As an example of this operation screen, for example, “Residual amount of detergent for washing the reaction tube has decreased. Do you want to use the diluted detergent? 《Use diluted (operation button display)》 << A display example of “exchange (operation button display)” ”can be given. Then, the user operates an operation console (not shown) to determine whether or not to perform special dilution (step S5).

  When step S5 is branched to NO (when an operation for not performing special dilution is performed), the automatic analyzer control unit 30 warns to instruct to replace the detergent bottles 38 and 40 (step S6). ). In step S6, for example, a warning is displayed on the display unit of the operation console.

  When step S5 is branched to YES (when the operation for executing the special dilution is performed), the automatic analyzer control unit 30 displays an operation screen for setting the dilution ratio in the special dilution as an operation (not shown). Display on the console display. The user operates the operation console to set the dilution factor for the special dilution (step S7).

  Then, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 supplies pure water from the pure water tank 36 to the detergent bottles 38 and 40 by the special dilution pump 50 (step S8), and the weight of the detergent bottles 38 and 40 is set in step S7. It is determined with reference to the measurement result of the weight sensor whether the weight has been diluted at the dilution ratio thus obtained (step S9).

  Specifically, in this step S9, for example, when using a detergent (specific gravity 1) whose amount of detergent consumed in one washing of the reaction tube is A [mL], the detergent is diluted at a dilution ratio. When diluting with a 10-fold special dilution, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 may determine whether the weight of the detergent bottles 38 and 40 is (empty container weight + A × 10) [g].

  When step S9 is branched to NO, the process proceeds to step S8. That is, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 continues to supply pure water to the detergent bottles 38 and 40 until the weight of the detergent bottles 38 and 40 becomes the weight after being diluted with the dilution rate set in step S7. The reaction tube cleaning device 20 is controlled.

  When step S9 is branched to YES, since the special dilution at the dilution rate set in step S7 is completed, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 stops the supply of pure water to the detergent bottles 38 and 40. The reaction tube cleaning device 20 is controlled (step S10).

  Subsequently, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 changes the dilution ratio in the normal dilution based on the dilution ratio in the special dilution (step S11). Specifically, in order to keep the concentration of the detergent supplied to the reaction tube 26 (hereinafter referred to as the final detergent concentration) constant, the dilution ratio in the normal dilution is changed.

  In other words, step S11 is a step of changing the dilution concentration in the normal dilution in order to maintain the final detergent concentration even when special dilution is performed.

  For example, when the final detergent concentration is 1% and the remaining amount of detergent reaches 10 mL in a 500 mL detergent bottle, 90 mL of pure water is supplied to the detergent bottles 38 and 40 by special dilution, and the detergent bottle The case where the detergent inside is diluted 10 times will be described as an example.

  In this example, before special dilution, 10 μL of detergent is normally diluted with 990 μL of pure water and discharged to the reaction tube 26. After the special dilution, since the detergent in the detergent bottles 38 and 40 has already been diluted 10 times, 100 μL of the specially diluted detergent is normally diluted with 900 μL of pure water and discharged to the reaction tube 26. As described above, when the special dilution is performed, the final detergent concentration can be maintained at 1% by changing the dilution concentration in the normal dilution.

  The automatic analyzer control unit 30 executes normal dilution at the dilution ratio changed in step S11 (step S12), and cleans the reaction tube 26 with a detergent having a predetermined final detergent concentration generated by the normal dilution. The reaction tube cleaning device 20 is controlled (step S13).

  In the above-described example, the special dilution is automatically performed under the control of the automatic analyzer control unit 30 (steps S8 to S10). However, the automatic analyzer control unit 30 displays the operation console on a display unit (not shown). “Instruction to supply pure water to the detergent bottle to perform special dilution” may be displayed, and the user may perform special dilution manually.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform cleaning at a predetermined final detergent concentration using a small amount of cleaning detergent remaining at the bottom of a cleaning detergent bottle that is currently discarded. An automatic analyzer can be provided. More specifically, for example, the following effects can be obtained.

-The amount of detergent to be discarded can be reduced, and the running cost can be reduced.

-Conventionally, if the remaining amount of detergent decreases, the final detergent concentration varies because the detergent cannot be sucked correctly, but by applying this embodiment, the desired final detergent concentration can be maintained. . Thereby, it is possible to prevent the data accuracy from being deteriorated due to the fact that the reaction tube cannot be properly cleaned and the dirt remains.

When the detergent bottle volume is 500 mL, the “detergent stock solution” used for cleaning per reaction tube is 10 μL, and 1 mL is used with 1% detergent, and the predetermined threshold is assumed to be 10 mL, “The number of reaction tubes that can be washed with one detergent bottle” and “the amount of detergent discarded per detergent bottle” are as follows. That is, “the number of reaction tubes that can be washed with one detergent bottle” is “49000” in the conventional automatic analyzer, whereas “49900” in the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment. Become. Further, the “detergent discard amount per detergent bottle” is “10 ml” in the conventional automatic analyzer, but “1 ml” in the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

    DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic analyzer, 11 ... Reaction disk, 12 ... Disc sampler, 12a ... Sample container, 13 ... First reagent storage, 13a ... First reagent container, 14 ... Second reagent storage, 14a ... Second reagent container, 15 Sampling arm, 15b ... Arm, 15c ... Probe, 15a ... Post, 16 ... First dispensing arm, 16b ... Arm, 16c ... Probe, 17 ... Second dispensing arm, 17b ... Arm, 17c ... Probe, 18, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... Stirring unit, 20 ... Reaction tube washing apparatus, 21 ... Electrode unit, 22 ... Measuring unit, 26 ... Reaction tube, 30 ... Automatic analyzer control part, 36 ... Pure water tank, 38 ... Acidic detergent bottle, 40 ... Alkaline Detergent bottle, 42 ... Acidic detergent pump, 44 ... Alkaline detergent pump, 50 ... Special dilution pump, AL ... Arca Sex detergent line, SL ... acidic detergent line, DL ... special dilution line.

Claims (2)

A reaction solution generation mechanism for dispensing a test sample and a reagent into a reaction tube to generate a reaction solution;
An analysis unit for analyzing the reaction solution;
A detergent container containing a stock solution of detergent for washing the reaction tube;
A flow path through which the detergent flows from the detergent container to the reaction tube;
A pure water container for containing pure water;
The pure water is sucked from the pure water container and discharged to the flow path, and the stock solution is sucked from the detergent container and discharged to the flow path, thereby generating a predetermined concentration of cleaning liquid and the reaction tube. A first pump unit for supplying to
A residual amount calculator for calculating the residual amount of the stock solution in the detergent container;
A second pump unit for supplying the pure water to the detergent container;
When the remaining amount of the stock solution falls below a predetermined threshold, the pure water is supplied to the detergent container to control the second pump unit to generate a diluted solution, and the cleaning solution having the predetermined concentration A control unit for controlling the first pump unit to change the amount of the pure water discharged to the flow path so as to be supplied to the reaction tube;
The automatic analyzer characterized by comprising. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the remaining amount calculation unit calculates a remaining amount of the stock solution by measuring a mass of the detergent container.

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