JP6307606B2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that automatically analyzes components such as blood.

As an analyzer that analyzes the amount of components contained in a sample, it measures the amount of transmitted light or scattered light of single or multiple wavelengths obtained by irradiating light from a light source onto a reaction mixture in which the sample and reagent are mixed. An automatic analyzer that calculates the amount of a component from the relationship between the amount of light and the concentration is known. There are roughly two types of analysis methods for reaction solutions, colorimetric analysis using a color reaction between a substrate and an enzyme, and homogeneous immunoassay using an agglutination reaction by binding of an antigen and an antibody. For homogeneous immunoassay, measurement methods such as immunoturbidimetry and latex agglutination are known.

  In the immunoturbidimetric method, an antibody-containing reagent is used to generate an immune complex with a measurement object (antigen) contained in a sample, and these are optically detected to quantify the amount of components. In the latex agglutination method, a reagent containing latex particles sensitized (bound) with an antibody on the surface is used to agglutinate latex particles by antigen-antibody reaction with the antigen contained in the sample, and these are detected optically. Quantify the amount of ingredients. Furthermore, a heterogeneous immunoassay apparatus that performs more sensitive immunoassay by a detection technique using chemiluminescence or electrochemiluminescence and a B / F separation technique is also known.

There is also an automatic analyzer that measures the coagulation ability of blood. Blood flows while maintaining fluidity inside blood vessels, but once it bleeds, coagulation factors present in plasma and platelets are activated in a chain, and fibrinogen in plasma is converted into fibrin and deposited. Lead to hemostasis. Such blood coagulation ability includes an exogenous one that coagulates blood leaking out of the blood vessel and an intrinsic one that coagulates blood inside the blood vessel. The measurement items related to blood coagulation ability (blood coagulation time) include prothrombin time (PT) of extrinsic blood coagulation reaction test, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of intrinsic blood coagulation reaction test, and fibrinogen amount (
Fbg) and the like. In these items, it is necessary to sufficiently agitate the mixed solution of the sample and the reagent in order to stably progress the blood coagulation reaction.

  As background art of this technical field, there is JP-A-7-239334 (Patent Document 1). This publication describes a method of uniformly mixing a small amount of a sample solution with an accurate mixing ratio while stirring efficiently with a second solution. At that time, it is described that the tip of the sample liquid pipette tip is stopped in contact with or close to the inner side wall surface of the container and the liquid is discharged.

JP 7-239334 A

  Patent Document 1 describes a method of efficiently stirring a small amount of sample liquid with a second liquid. However, the agitation method of Patent Document 1 does not consider the lifting of the liquid due to the capillary phenomenon. For example, when discharging a liquid by bringing a dispensing probe into contact with or close to the inner side wall surface of the reaction vessel, a capillary phenomenon occurs in a gap formed between the dispensing probe and the inner side wall surface of the reaction vessel, and the liquid is discharged. In some cases, it travels along the outer wall surface of the dispensing probe.

  At that time, since the dispensing probe is contaminated with the liquid over a wide range, the cleaning range of the dispensing probe is increased accordingly. Therefore, the cleaning operation of the dispensing probe becomes complicated, or a long time is required. Since this washing step needs to be performed for each cycle, there are a drawback that it does not lead to an improvement in processing capacity and a disadvantage that the amount of washing water increases. Further, if the cleaning process is neglected, there is a problem that the possibility of carrying over and contamination increases.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a stepped region on the inner side wall surface of the reaction vessel, suppresses capillary action that occurs in the gap between the dispensing probe and the reaction vessel, and reduces the lifting of the reagent, thereby contaminating the dispensing probe. An automatic analyzer capable of limiting the above is provided. Moreover, the reaction container which can restrict | limit such a contaminated area is provided.

  Of the inventions disclosed in this application, the outline of typical ones will be briefly described as follows.

  A reaction container into which a sample and a reagent are dispensed, a dispensing probe for discharging the reagent into the reaction container, a washing tank for washing the dispensing probe, a control unit for controlling the operation of the dispensing probe, In the automatic analyzer including the sample and a detection unit that inspects the sample from the mixed solution of the reagent, the reaction container has a stepped portion protruding inward on the inner side wall surface, and the control unit is dispensed. An automatic analyzer that lowers the dispensing probe so that the tip of the probe is below the stepped portion and discharges the reagent while the dispensing probe is in contact with the stepped portion.

  A reaction container into which the reagent is dispensed, a dispensing probe for discharging the reagent into the reaction container, a washing tank for washing the dispensing probe, a control unit for controlling the operation of the dispensing probe, In a reaction container of an automatic analyzer equipped with a detection unit that inspects the sample from the mixed solution of the sample and the reagent, the control unit reacts the tip of the dispensing probe after lowering the dispensing probe The reaction container is a reaction container of an automatic analyzer that includes a stepped portion that protrudes from the inner side wall surface that contacts the side surface of the container and discharges the reagent.

  Thus, by providing a step on the inner side wall surface of the reaction container, it is possible to suppress capillary action that occurs in the gap between the dispensing probe and the reaction container and to restrict the reagent from being lifted up to the upper part of the dispensing probe. .

  Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, effects obtained by typical ones will be briefly described as follows.

  According to the automatic analyzer of the present invention, the lifting of the liquid to the upper part of the dispensing probe due to the capillary phenomenon is suppressed, so that the dispensing probe can be easily cleaned and the possibility of carryover and contamination is reduced. can do. Moreover, also in the reaction container of the automatic analyzer of the present invention, when the reagent is dispensed by bringing it into contact with the reaction container at the time of dispensing, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of embodiments.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the outline of a structure of the automatic analyzer of one Embodiment to this invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a dispensing probe. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the dispensing probe. These are explanatory drawings which showed the relationship between the shape of the reaction container which concerns on Example 1, the contamination area | region of a dispensing probe, and the washable range. These are the longitudinal cross-sectional views which show the modification of the reaction container which concerns on Example 2. FIG. These are the longitudinal cross-sectional view and top view which show the modification of the reaction container concerning Example 3. FIG.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In order to describe the present embodiment, components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings, and repeated descriptions thereof are omitted as much as possible.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an automatic analyzer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic analyzer 1 includes a sample container 20 that stores a sample such as a standard sample or a test sample, and a sample disk 21 that holds the sample container 20.

  In addition, a reagent container 30 that contains a reagent containing a component that reacts with a component of each test item included in the sample, and a reagent disk 31 that holds and cools the reagent container 30 are provided.

  In addition, a sample probe 22 that sucks the sample in the sample container 20 held on the sample disk 21 and dispenses the sample into the disposable reaction container 50 is provided.

  In addition, a reagent dispensing probe 60 that sucks the reagent in the reagent container 30 held on the reagent disk 31 and dispenses it into the disposable reaction container 50 is provided.

  The sample probe 22 performs a sample and reagent suction operation and a discharge operation in accordance with the operation of the sample syringe pump. Similarly, the reagent dispensing probe 60 performs a suction operation and a discharge operation in accordance with the operation of the reagent syringe pump.

The sample syringe pump and the reagent syringe pump can be finely operated and are controlled by the control unit 100 so that the dispensing accuracy can be strictly managed to a minute value.

  The disposable reaction vessel 50 is installed in the detection unit 72 and the sample dispensing port 74, and is provided with a reaction vessel transfer mechanism 71 that conveys the used disposable reaction vessel 50 for disposal.

  The sample and the reagent are dispensed and mixed in the disposable reaction vessel 50, whereby the sample and the reagent start to react.

  In the detection unit 72, a disposable reaction vessel 50 holding a mixed solution of a sample and a reagent is installed, a reaction between the sample and the reagent is detected, and the sample is inspected from the mixed solution.

  The detection unit 72 includes a light source and a light receiving unit. The light source uses, for example, an LED, and the light receiving unit uses, for example, a photodiode. The installed disposable reaction vessel 50 is irradiated with light from the light source from below, and this light is scattered by the precipitate produced by the reaction of the mixed solution. As the amount of precipitates increases, the amount of scattered light also increases. Therefore, the amount of precipitates is calculated by detecting the scattered light with a light receiving unit. For example, in a coagulation test item, when a specimen and a reagent react, time passes and fibrin precipitates. As the fibrin increases, the amount of light scattered increases. By monitoring this amount of light, the amount of fibrinogen (Fbg) can be inspected. In addition, by monitoring the amount of light in the same manner using a reagent corresponding to the test item, other coagulation items such as prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) can also be tested.

  The detection unit 72 is kept at a constant temperature in order to promote the reaction between the sample and the reagent, and 37 ° C. is preferable.

  In addition, a reagent dispensing probe 60 that discharges a reagent into a disposable reaction container 50 installed in the detection unit 72 and performs dispensing is provided.

  In addition, a cleaning tank 73 for cleaning the sample probe 22 and the reagent dispensing probe 60 is provided.

  The controller 100 controls the sample disk 21, the reagent disk 31, the sample dispensing probe 22, the reagent dispensing probe 60 up and down, the horizontal operation, the operation of the sample syringe and the reagent syringe, and the cleaning tank 73. Control of all automatic elements constituting the automatic analyzer 1 such as discharge and stop operation of the washing water 75, control of the light source and light receiving unit of the detection unit 72, concentration calculation, and the like is performed.

  The operation of the automatic analyzer 1 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 2A and the operation flow of the dispensing probe of FIG. Note that the implementation contents of these flowcharts are controlled by the control unit 100.

First, the disposable reaction vessel 50 to be used will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, this reaction vessel has a stepped portion 51 protruding inward on the inner side wall surface. As an example of the dimensions, the protruding height (horizontal width) is about 0.13 mm, and the vertical width is about 0.8 mm. The height of the reaction vessel is about 26 mm, the distance from the opening to the step is about 11 mm, and the distance from the bottom to the step is about 15 mm. The height of the step portion is designed so that the mixed solution does not touch even if the mixed solution of the sample and the reagent is accommodated. The step portion 51 is arranged in an annular shape and arranged in all directions.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. In S 101, the sample held in the sample container 20 installed on the sample disk 21 is sucked by the sample probe 22. The reaction container transfer mechanism 71 installs the disposable reaction container 50 in the sample dispensing port 74. The sample probe 22 dispenses the sample into the disposable reaction vessel 50 installed in the sample dispensing port 74. The reaction container transfer mechanism 71 transfers the disposable reaction container 50 from the sample dispensing port 74 to the detection unit 72 and installs it. The temperature of the sample installed in the detection unit 72 is increased.

  In S <b> 102, the reagent held in the reagent container 30 installed on the reagent disk 31 is aspirated by the reagent dispensing probe 60. The reagent dispensing probe 60 is equipped with a heater, and is kept at a constant temperature of 37 ° C., for example. The aspirated reagent is preheated in the reagent dispensing probe.

  After the preheating is completed, in S103, as shown in FIG. 3A, the coagulation reagent dispensing probe 60 moves horizontally and moves to the center and above the disposable reaction vessel 50. In S104, the reagent dispensing probe 60 is lowered. At this time, the control unit 100 lowers the probe so that the tip of the reagent dispensing probe 60 comes below the stepped portion 51.

  Subsequently, in S105, the reagent dispensing probe 60 moves horizontally and stops at a position where the tip of the probe is brought into contact with the stepped portion 51 provided on the inner side wall surface of the disposable reaction vessel 50.

In S106, the reagent is discharged in a state where the reagent dispensing probe 60 is stopped, that is, in a state where the reagent dispensing probe 60 is in contact with the stepped portion 51. The sample 62 and the reagent 61 are mixed at the moment when the reagent is discharged. The probe includes water 63 for pushing out the reagent 61 and a gap 64 for preventing the reagent 64 from being diluted by the water 63 before the reagent 61 is discharged. When the reagent is discharged, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), by bringing the tip of the reagent dispensing probe 60 into contact with the inner wall of the disposable reaction container 50, the reagent flows through the wall into the disposable reaction container 50. Therefore, it can be mixed with the sample without entraining bubbles. Further, the mixing can be performed more efficiently than the method of discharging and mixing reagents from the center of the disposable reaction vessel 50. In this embodiment, the liquid mixture is stirred by the discharge force of the reagent without separately stirring using an external stirring means.

After the reagent is discharged, as shown in S10 7 and FIG.
Returns to the center of the disposable reaction vessel 50 and rises to the ascending limit position in S108. As another form, the reagent dispensing probe 60 can move while moving the tip to the center of the disposable reaction vessel 50, that is, in an oblique direction. In this manner, the reagent dispensing probe 60 is raised after being moved close to the central axis of the disposable reaction vessel 50, or moved obliquely upward.

  In S109, the reagent dispensing probe 60 moves horizontally to the washing tank 73 after being raised to the rising limit position, and is washed with the washing water 75 as shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2B, the step S107 can be omitted as the second modification. The reagent dispensing probe 60 can be raised while maintaining the horizontal position where the tip is in contact with the stepped portion 51 on the inner side wall surface of the disposable reaction vessel 50. Thus, the reagent dispensing probe 60 can be raised while in contact with the stepped portion 51. After rising, the reagent dispensing probe 60 moves horizontally to the washing tank 73. The reagent dispensing probe 60 is washed with the washing water 75 in the washing tank 73.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the shape of the disposable reaction container 50 according to the first embodiment, the contaminated area of the reagent dispensing probe 60, and the washable range.

FIG. 4A shows an example when the reagent is discharged into the disposable reaction vessel 50 without the stepped portion 51. Even when there is no step 51, discharging the reagent from the side surface of the reaction container is very effective from the viewpoint of stirring efficiency of the sample 62 and the reagent. However, when the reagent is discharged from the side surface of the reaction container, a part of the reagent rises due to a capillary phenomenon in a slight gap generated between the reaction container side surface and the probe, and reaches the vicinity of the opening of the reaction container. That is, the contaminated area that needs to be cleaned later extends to the vicinity of the opening. For this reason, the cleaning range in the cleaning tank 73 needs to be at least the entire region of the probe that has entered the opening.

  On the other hand, FIG. 4B shows a case where there is a step 51. As shown in the figure, the probe and the stepped portion 51 are in contact with each other. A part of the reagent rises due to capillary action as in the case of (a), but since the probe and the stepped portion 51 are in contact, the reagent cannot rise any further. That is, the contaminated area is from the probe tip to the contact point with the stepped portion 51. For this reason, the cleaning range in the cleaning tank 73 need only be a range having a predetermined amount of margin upward from the point of contact with the stepped portion 51.

  In other words, there is a region that does not need to be cleaned even in the region of the probe that has entered the opening due to the stepped portion 51. Accordingly, when the cleaning tank 73 cleans the tip of the probe, the opening from the position in contact with the stepped portion 51 of the probe positioned below the opening of the reaction container at the position where the probe discharges the reagent to the opening. It is not necessary to wash a part of the side.

In this way, since it is not necessary to clean the uncontaminated region, it is possible to eliminate the disadvantage that the cleaning operation of the dispensing probe becomes complicated or a long time is required. Further, since this cleaning step needs to be performed for each cycle, various disadvantages such as a disadvantage that the treatment capacity is not improved and a disadvantage that the amount of the washing water is increased are eliminated by providing the step portion 51 in the reaction vessel. be able to.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 4B, the length of the probe inserted into the opening is about 15 mm, the length from the probe tip to the stepped portion 51 is about 4 mm, and the margin is about 2 mm. However, it is sufficient for the cleaning tank 73 to clean a range of about 6 mm from the probe tip. This is a significant improvement compared to the case where the area of about 15 mm has to be cleaned when there is no stepped portion 51.

  Next, a more desirable example will be described. So far, the mode in which the side surface relatively far from the tip of the probe is brought into contact with the stepped portion 51 has been described. Thereby, the raise of the reagent by capillary action can be suppressed. Even when the probe tip is not completely in contact with the side surface of the reaction container, the reagent rises due to the surface tension of the reagent if the distance is somewhat short. However, when the probe tip is not completely in contact, the stirring force is reduced due to the reagent discharging position being away from the side surface of the reaction vessel. When the reagent reaches the sample directly without passing through the side of the reaction vessel, it is because it is away from the interface between the sample and the side of the reaction vessel, which is the most efficient stirring, even when it reaches the sample through the side of the reaction vessel. This is because the collision between the reagent and the side surface of the reaction container becomes larger than that in the case where the probe tip is completely in contact, and the momentum of the reagent entering the sample is weakened. For this reason, it is desirable to discharge the reagent with the probe tip also in contact with the side surface of the reaction vessel. This will be described below.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state where the tip of the probe is also in contact with the side surface of the reaction vessel. Hereinafter, the reaction vessel will be described on the assumption that the vertical cross section is circular.

Let a be the radius of the vertical cross section including the point where the tip of the probe and the wall of the reaction vessel contact. Let b be the radius of the vertical cross section including the point where the probe and the stepped portion 51 come into contact. Let c be the elastic range between the contact points of the probe tip and the side surface in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the probe. When in the range of 0 ≦ b−a ≦ c, the probe can be easily pressed against the reaction vessel, the contact point between the tip of the probe and the wall of the reaction vessel, and the contact point between the probe and the step portion 51. Can be brought into contact with each other. This c varies depending on the size of the outer diameter of the probe, the material, and the distance between contact points. Normally, when b-a exceeds 0.2 mm, the tip of the probe is a reaction vessel. It is considered that it is difficult to get caught on the side surface and bring the side surface of the probe into contact with the step portion 51. Therefore, regarding the protruding height of the step portion of the reaction vessel, the horizontal distance between the step portion 51 and the central axis of the reaction vessel and the horizontal distance between the point where the tip of the reaction vessel contacts and the central axis are The difference is desirably 0.2 mm or less. By designing the reaction vessel in this range, it is possible to achieve both suppression of the contamination range due to the stepped portion 51 and improvement in stirring efficiency by the reagent.

  As mentioned earlier, it is desirable and not an essential embodiment for the probe tip to contact the container side. However, the structure of the reaction container that satisfies the following conditions is desirable regardless of the presence or absence of contact at the tip.

  The distance between the dispensing probe and the inner wall of the reaction vessel in the adjacent region on the opening side of the stepped portion with the stepped portion 51 as a boundary is larger than the distance between the inner wall of the adjacent region on the bottom side of the stepped portion 51. . Alternatively, with the stepped portion 51 as a boundary, the inner diameter in the adjacent region on the opening side of the stepped portion is larger than the inner diameter in the adjacent region on the bottom side. In addition, a proximity | contact area means to the range about 5 mm away from the level | step-difference part. In other words, above the step, basically the reagent cannot rise, but even if it rises beyond the step, the distance between the probe and the reaction vessel is inevitably large, so the capillary phenomenon is weakened. Reagent rise can be suppressed. On the other hand, below the step portion, the distance between the probe tip and the reaction container is small, so that the reagent easily flows along the side surface of the reaction container. In addition, although the stirring force is reduced as compared with the case where the probe tip is in contact with the side surface of the reaction container, a constant amount of stirring force due to reagent discharge can be maintained.

  Since the reagent dispensing probe 60 is brought into contact with the stepped portion 51 in this way and the reagent is discharged, the reagent lift due to the capillary phenomenon is suppressed, so that the contamination range of the outer wall of the reagent dispensing probe 60 can be limited. . According to this, at the time of cleaning the reagent dispensing probe 60 in the cleaning tank 73, only a limited range of the probe needs to be cleaned, and as a result, the cleaning time and the amount of cleaning water used can be reduced. Moreover, since not only the liquid adhering to the outer wall of the probe but also the liquid adhering to the inner side wall surface of the disposable reaction vessel 50 can be reduced, the waste of valuable reagents and specimens can be reduced. These enable efficient operation of the apparatus.

  In addition, according to the second modification, the liquid adhering to the outer wall of the probe has an effect of being removed at the stepped portion 51 of the disposable reaction vessel 50, so that waste of liquid can be further reduced.

  Example 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, only one stepped portion 51 of the disposable reaction vessel 50 is provided. However, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, two or more stepped portions 51 of the disposable reaction vessel 50 are provided. The upper step portion 51 is a step portion 51 newly provided. Accordingly, the mixed liquid is not changed in contact with the stepped portion 51. The probe discharges the reagent while the side surface of the probe is in contact with the two or more step portions 51.

According to this, even when the reagent climbs over the stepped portion 51 on the bottom side and the liquid is lifted, the stepped portion 51 on the opening side can prevent the liquid from being lifted due to capillary action.

Further, by bringing the reagent dispensing probe 60 into contact with the step portion on the bottom side and the opening side, the inclination of the probe can be controlled more easily.

  Example 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In Example 1, the inner diameter dimension is the same on the opening side and the bottom side of the disposable reaction vessel 50 with the stepped portion 51 as a boundary (except for the vicinity of the bottom on the bottom side of the vessel). 6 (a), the inner diameter on the opening side is made larger than the inner diameter on the bottom side of the disposable reaction vessel 50. The step 51 is arranged above the probe tip as in the other embodiments.

According to this, the distance between the probe and the inner wall of the disposable reaction vessel 50 increases on the opening side with the stepped portion 51 as a boundary, so that the lift of the reagent due to the capillary phenomenon can be more effectively prevented. As a rule of thumb, the step of the stepped portion where the inner diameter of the stepped portion 51 spreads outward is 0.25 mm or more. The distance between the side surface of the probe and the inner wall of the reaction vessel above the step is 0.3 mm or more. If a distance of 0.3 mm or more can be secured, it is possible to prevent the reagent from being lifted due to capillary action. Even in the case of a reaction vessel that gradually becomes wider as it goes upward, the reagent can be prevented from lifting if it is somewhat upward, but it becomes gradually wider by providing a step 51 as shown in FIG. Compared to the case, more of the reagent to be raised accumulates on the upper surface of the step portion 51, so that the contaminated area can be effectively reduced.

  As a second modification of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, the bent portion 65 is provided in the reagent dispensing probe 60, thereby increasing the distance between the reagent dispensing probe 60 and the inner wall of the disposable reaction container 50. As a result, the lifting of the liquid due to the capillary phenomenon can be more effectively prevented, and even when the amount of the sample or the reagent is changed, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In this case, the step portion 51 is not necessarily required.

  The probe includes a first axis extending from the base of the probe, a bent portion 65, and a second axis including a probe tip below the bent portion 65. The rise of a part of the reagent discharged from the probe by the bent portion can be suppressed. As a rule of thumb, if the deviation between the first axis and the second axis due to the bent portion 65 is 0.3 mm or more, the reagent can be prevented from being lifted by capillary action.

  In the case of the third embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, the side surface of the probe does not necessarily need to be in contact with the stepped portion 51 as long as the probe tip is in contact with or close to it. It is sufficient that the distance between the adjacent eyes is within 1 mm.

6A and 6B, the stepped portion 51 and the bent portion 65 can suppress an increase in the reagent discharged from the probe. The cleaning range can be made narrower than when these devices are not devised. About the washing | cleaning range of a washing tank, similarly to Example 1, a washing | cleaning range can be narrowed by providing the area | region which does not wash | clean partially.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described Example, Various modifications are included. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. For example, the light from the light source is irradiated from below the reaction vessel, but may be irradiated from the side surface. Further, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic analyzer, 20 ... Sample container, 21 ... Sample disk, 22 ... Sample probe, 30 ... Reagent container, 31 ... Reagent disk, 50 ... Disposable reaction container, 51 ... Step part, 60 ... Reagent dispensing probe, 61 ... Reagent, 62 ... Sample, 63 ... Water, 64 ... Gap, 65 ... Bent part, 71 ... Reaction container transfer mechanism, 72 ... Detector, 73 ... Washing tank, 75 ... Washing water

Claims (9)

A reaction vessel into which samples and reagents are dispensed;
A dispensing probe for discharging the reagent into the reaction vessel;
A washing tank for washing the dispensing probe;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the dispensing probe;
A light source for irradiating light to a reaction container containing a mixed solution of the sample and the reagent, and a light receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light source, and the sample based on the received light In an automatic analyzer equipped with an analysis unit for analyzing
The reaction vessel has a step portion formed to project in an annular shape along the inner side wall surface;
The control unit includes:
Lowering the dispensing probe so that the tip of the dispensing probe is located below the stepped portion,
The dispensing probe is moved horizontally so as to form a contact portion that suppresses the rising of the discharged reagent with respect to the stepped portion, and the dispensing probe and the stepped portion are in contact with each other, An automatic analyzer characterized by discharging a reagent. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
The distance between the dispensing probe and the inner side wall surface of the reaction vessel in the adjacent region on the opening side of the stepped portion with the stepped portion as a boundary is more than the distance in the adjacent region on the bottom side of the stepped portion. An automatic analyzer characterized by its large size. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
An automatic analyzer characterized in that an inner diameter of the reaction vessel in a proximity region on the opening side of the stepped portion is larger than the inner diameter in a proximity region on the bottom side of the stepped portion with the stepped portion as a boundary. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the controller raises the dispensing probe in contact with the stepped portion after discharging the reagent held by the dispensing probe. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The control unit, after discharging the reagent held by the dispensing probe, moves up or moves obliquely upward after the dispensing probe is brought close to the central axis of the reaction vessel. apparatus. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The reaction vessel has two or more step portions,
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the controller discharges the reagent in a state where the dispensing probe is in contact with the two or more step portions. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The reaction vessel is configured such that the inner diameter below the stepped portion is smaller as it is closer to the bottom side,
The control unit brings the first portion of the dispensing probe into contact with the stepped portion, and places the second portion of the dispensing probe located on the tip side of the first portion below the stepped portion. An automatic analyzer characterized by discharging the reagent in a state of being in contact with an inner side wall surface of the reaction container. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The control unit controls the washing tank so as not to wash a part of a region from the position in contact with the stepped portion to the opening of the reaction container when the reagent is discharged in the dispensing probe. Automatic analyzer characterized by A reaction vessel into which samples and reagents are dispensed;
A dispensing probe for discharging the reagent into the reaction vessel;
A washing tank for washing the dispensing probe;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the dispensing probe;
A light source for irradiating light to a reaction container containing a mixed solution of the sample and the reagent, and a light receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light source, and the sample based on the received light In an automatic analyzer equipped with an analysis unit for analyzing
The controller discharges the reagent in a state where the tip of the dispensing probe is in contact with or close to the inner side wall surface,
(1) The reaction container includes a step portion formed so that the inner diameter is expanded above a position where the tip of the dispensing probe contacts or approaches, and the reagent discharged from the dispensing probe by the step portion To suppress the rise of
(2) The dispensing probe has a shape having a bent portion, and includes a first shaft extending from a base of the dispensing probe, and a second shaft including a tip of the dispensing probe below the bent portion. An axis, and suppresses the rise of the reagent discharged from the dispensing probe by the bent portion,
An automatic analyzer characterized by that.

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