JP6379693B2 - Automatic analyzer for automatic nozzle cleaning - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to cleaning of a nozzle for handling a liquid provided in an automatic analyzer. In particular, the present invention relates to nozzle cleaning that prevents clogging of the nozzle and prevents the substance attached to the nozzle from affecting the analysis result with a simple operation.

  In automatic analyzers used in the fields of immunochemical tests and biochemical tests, suction / discharge nozzles are used for dispensing samples and reagents. When the reaction container used for analysis is washed and used repeatedly, there is a washing step of sucking and removing the reaction liquid and then supplying the washing liquid into the reaction container and removing the washing liquid by suction. Furthermore, in immunochemical tests, the inner surface of the reaction vessel or the magnetic particles in the reaction vessel are used as a solid phase, the capture molecule that binds to the component to be analyzed is fixed to the solid phase, and the capture molecule and the component to be analyzed are combined. In order to remove unnecessary free components, the reaction liquid in the reaction vessel is removed by suction, and after supplying the cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid is suctioned and removed together with unnecessary components. B / F (Bound / Free) separation or B / F There is a process called cleaning. In these cleaning steps, a cleaning liquid supply nozzle and a cleaning liquid suction nozzle are used.

  The suction / discharge nozzle used for dispensing may be a disposable disposable tip, but may be repeatedly used after cleaning the nozzle. In many cases, the cleaning liquid supply nozzle and the cleaning liquid suction nozzle used in the reaction vessel cleaning, B / F separation, or B / F cleaning process are repeatedly used after being cleaned.

  When the nozzle described above is immersed in a sample, reagent, or reaction solution, or when the sample, reagent, or reaction solution is sucked with the nozzle described above and then used repeatedly by washing the nozzle, the nozzle is immersed or sucked. Since the components contained in the liquid adhere to the inner and outer surfaces of the nozzle, it is necessary to clean the nozzle sufficiently so that the adhering components do not enter the liquid to be handled next.

  In general, cleaning of a nozzle that is repeatedly used in an automatic analyzer is performed by moving a movable nozzle to a nozzle cleaning means and then spraying a nozzle cleaning liquid onto the nozzle as disclosed in Patent Document 1. And wash. Normally, the components contained in the previously handled liquid are not mixed into the next handled liquid by the above washing, but the number of times of repeated use increases or the nozzle particularly adheres to the nozzle in the handled liquid. If an easy component is contained, sufficient cleaning cannot be performed by the cleaning, the nozzle is clogged, and the deposit remains, which adversely affects the analysis result.

  Conventionally, as described above, when the nozzle is clogged or adhered matter remains, the operator opens the analyzer cover, and in some cases, removes the nozzle from the instrument and manually cleans the nozzle. There is a need to. However, many of the automatic analyzers are easily equipped with a nozzle at a position hidden behind the cover of the device or a nozzle between complicated structures, like the automatic analyzer disclosed in Patent Document 2. Could not be washed.

  Patent Document 3 discloses an analyzer that automatically cleans a nozzle for cleaning a reaction container or a dilution container. As a cleaning method, a detergent pipette is used to dispense detergent into the reaction container. Disclosed are a method for cleaning the cleaning nozzle by moving it to the position of the cleaning nozzle, and a method for cleaning the cleaning nozzle by dispensing the detergent into the dilution container with a pipette for dilution and moving the dilution container to the position of the cleaning nozzle. doing. However, Patent Document 3 does not disclose cleaning of the reagent dispensing nozzle. In particular, reagents for immunochemical tests include protein components such as antibodies and enzymes, and these are components that easily adhere to the nozzle depending on the conditions of the reagent. is there.

JP 2007-093220 A JP 2013-205384 A JP 2013-242238 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning nozzle for cleaning a reagent dispensing nozzle or a reaction container, which is used in an automatic analyzer used in the field of immunochemical testing or biochemical testing, for cleaning and repeated use, and for normal cleaning. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic analyzer that can perform cleaning more effectively and can be performed periodically with a simple operation.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have intensively studied to arrive at the present invention.

That is, the first aspect of the present invention is:
Sample dispensing means for sucking a sample from the sample container and discharging it to the reaction container, reaction container transport means for transporting the reaction container, reaction means, and reaction for placing the transported reaction container on the reaction means A container mounting means; a reagent dispensing means for dispensing a reagent into the reaction container placed on the reaction means; a cleaning liquid supply nozzle for supplying a cleaning liquid for washing the reaction container placed on the reaction means; and the cleaning liquid. In an automatic analyzer comprising a cleaning means composed of a cleaning liquid suction nozzle for suction and removal from the reaction vessel, and a control means,
A container containing a cleaning agent is placed at the suction position of the sample or the like by the sample dispensing means, and the control means instructs to perform automatic washing of the reagent dispensing means and the washing means, and the sample dispensing means The cleaning agent is sucked and discharged into a reaction container, the reaction container is transported by the reaction container transporting means, the reaction container transported by the reaction container mounting means is placed on the reaction means, The automatic analyzer is configured to wash the reagent dispensing means and the washing means by moving the placed reaction container to a position where the reagent dispensing means dispenses and a position where the reagent is washed by the washing means.

  The second aspect of the present invention is the automatic analyzer according to the first aspect, wherein the sample dispensing means is a pipette using a detachable disposable tip.

  In a third aspect of the present invention, the reaction container is a container provided with two liquid storage parts, and the cleaning liquid of the reagent dispensing means and the cleaning liquid of the cleaning means are stored in each of the liquid storage parts, The automatic analyzer according to the first or second aspect.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is:
The automatic analyzer includes two series of reaction container transporting means, reaction container mounting means, reaction means, reagent dispensing means, and washing means, respectively, while the sample dispensing means is common to the two series. It is a device with a series used for
The first to third aspects in which the two series of reagent dispensing means and the washing means can be washed by placing a container containing a cleaning agent at a suction position of a sample or the like by the sample dispensing means. The automatic analyzer according to any one of the above.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, after the reagent dispensing means and the cleaning means with the cleaning agent in the reaction container are washed, the reaction container placing means and the reaction container transport means are placed at the discharge position of the sample by the sample dispensing means. Any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the reagent dispensing means and the washing means can be repeatedly washed by transporting the reaction container and again discharging the cleaning agent to the reaction container by the sample dispensing means. The automatic analyzer described in 1.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the automatic analyzer according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the cleaning agent is any one of dilute nitric acid, sodium hypochlorite solution, and ethanol solution. is there.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

  Reagent dispensing means (reagent dispensing nozzle) and washing means (cleaning liquid supply nozzle and cleaning liquid suction nozzle), which are used in automatic analyzers used in the fields of immunochemical tests and biochemical tests, are repeatedly washed and used. Although it is cleaned during normal analysis operations, it prevents the nozzles from becoming clogged and prevents contamination that affects the analysis results, or the analysis results are affected by substances clogged or adhered to the nozzles. In this case, it is necessary to clean with a cleaning agent having a higher cleaning effect than normal cleaning.

  In the automatic analyzer of the present invention, when performing the above-described cleaning, it is a position where a container containing a liquid can be easily placed during a normal analysis operation by the automatic analyzer, and the liquid is removed by the sample dispensing means. Positions that can be aspirated, for example, a sample supply unit that is measured in a normal analysis operation, a sample mounting unit that requires urgent measurement, and a sample dispensing unit that dispenses liquid other than a sample such as a pretreatment reagent If the container also serves as a pretreatment reagent, place a container containing a cleaning agent having a high cleaning effect, and instruct the control means to perform automatic cleaning. This is an apparatus capable of cleaning the cleaning means. Examples of the cleaning agent having a high cleaning effect include dilute nitric acid, sodium hypochlorite solution, and ethanol solution.

  The container in which the cleaning agent placed at a position where the liquid can be sucked by the sample dispensing means is dispensed into the empty reaction container by the sample dispensing means. When the reaction container is provided with a plurality of liquid storage units, the type and number of cleaning agents may be appropriately selected and placed according to the purpose of cleaning and the number of reagent dispensing means and cleaning means to be cleaned. The reaction vessel is preferably a reaction vessel having the same shape as the vessel used in normal analysis, but it may not be exactly the same, and the same method as the reaction vessel is supplied in normal analysis operation. Any means can be used as long as it can be placed at the sample discharge position by the means, can be dispensed by the sample dispensing means, and can be carried by the reaction container carrying means and the reaction container placing means. The sample dispensing means may be of a nozzle type that is cleaned and used repeatedly, but a cleaning agent with a high cleaning effect may corrode metal nozzles, and it is desirable to handle the cleaning agent as cleanly as possible. A pipette using a detachable disposable tip is preferred.

  The reaction container containing the cleaning agent is transported by the reaction container transporting means, and is placed at the reaction container receiving position in the reaction means by the reaction container placing means. The reaction means is generally a turntable type having an incubator function, but the structure is not particularly limited. In the case of a turntable, the reaction vessel containing the cleaning agent rotates by the reaction means, so that the position where the reagent is dispensed into the reaction vessel in the normal analysis and the solid phase held in the reaction vessel or reaction vessel After moving to the cleaning position to be cleaned, reagent dispensing means (reagent dispensing nozzle) or cleaning means (cleaning liquid supply nozzle or cleaning liquid suction nozzle) is inserted into the cleaning agent that has entered the liquid container of the reaction container at each position. To be washed. In the reagent dispensing means or the cleaning means, the cleaning agent is aspirated / discharged if the means is a nozzle capable of the aspirating / discharging operation, and the cleaning agent is aspirated if the nozzle is a suction operation only nozzle. Further, the nozzle may be moved in the horizontal direction while being immersed in the cleaning agent, or may be moved up and down.

  When the automatic analyzer of the present invention can return the reaction container placed on the reaction means to the discharge position of the sample by the sample dispensing means by the reaction container placing means and the reaction container transport means, it enters the reaction container. Even if the cleaning agent is removed from the liquid container by the suction operation of nozzle cleaning, the reaction container is returned to the discharge position of the sample or the like by the sample dispensing means, and the cleaning agent is dispensed again to perform cleaning again. Can be done.

  The reagent dispensing means and the cleaning means cleaned with the cleaning agent are then cleaned with a nozzle cleaning means that is used in a normal analysis operation to remove the cleaning agent. The reaction container used for washing the reagent dispensing means and the washing means is transported to the reaction container discarding position and discarded by the reaction means, the reaction container mounting means, and the reaction container transporting means.

  The automatic analyzer of the present invention comprises two series of reaction container transporting means, reaction container mounting means, reaction means, reagent dispensing means, and washing means, respectively, while sample dispensing means includes the two Even if it is an apparatus equipped with one series that is commonly used for the series, it is possible to place two series of reagent dispensing means by placing a container containing a cleaning agent at the suction position of the sample by the sample dispensing means. In addition, the cleaning means can be cleaned.

  The automatic analyzer of the present invention comprises a sample dispensing means for sucking a sample from a sample container and discharging it to a reaction container, a reaction container transport means for transporting the reaction container, a reaction means, and the transported reaction container. Supplying a reaction container placing means placed on the reaction means, a reagent dispensing means for dispensing a reagent into the reaction container placed on the reaction means, and a cleaning liquid for washing the reaction container placed on the reaction means A cleaning means configured to include a cleaning liquid supply nozzle for cleaning and a cleaning liquid suction nozzle for sucking and removing the cleaning liquid from the reaction container, and a control means, and a cleaning agent at a suction position of a sample or the like by the sample dispensing means And instructing the control means to perform automatic washing of the reagent dispensing means and the washing means, the sample dispensing means sucks the detergent and discharges it to the reaction container, Reaction container transport A position where the reaction container is transported by a stage, the reaction container transported by the reaction container placing means is placed on the reaction means, and the reaction container placed on the reaction means is dispensed by a reagent dispensing means; and The reagent dispensing unit and the cleaning unit are cleaned by moving the cleaning unit to a position to be cleaned by the cleaning unit.

  According to the present invention, a container in which a cleaning agent is placed at a suction position of a sample or the like by the sample dispensing means, and a simple operation instructing the control means to perform automatic cleaning of the reagent dispensing means and the cleaning means is possible. The reagent dispensing means and the washing means can be washed with a cleaning agent that is more effective than washing during normal analysis operations. Further, by regularly performing cleaning with a highly effective cleaning agent, clogging of the nozzles (reagent dispensing means and cleaning means) can be prevented, and adverse effects on analysis results due to substances adhering to the nozzle can be prevented.

  Furthermore, when the nozzle is clogged or the analysis result is affected by the substance adhering to the nozzle, the cover of the automatic analyzer is opened as before, and the nozzle may be removed from the apparatus in some cases. Thus, it is not necessary to manually clean the nozzle, and the nozzle can be cleaned by a simple operation.

It is the figure which showed the one aspect | mode of the automatic analyzer of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

  One embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention is shown in FIG. FIG. 1 includes two series of reaction means 60. In FIG. 1, the reference numerals a and b denote means having two series, and the two series perform the same operation.

  One mode of a normal analysis operation by the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The reaction container 1 stored in the reaction container storage unit 11 is placed at the reaction container mounting position U1 of the reaction container transport plate 32 of the reaction container transport unit 30 by the reaction container transport unit 12 and the Y-axis reaction container transport unit 20. The The reaction container transport plate 32 has a structure capable of moving the reaction container to a necessary position along the reaction container transport lane 31.

  The reaction container has two liquid storage portions, and one liquid storage portion 13 contains a solid phase reagent, specifically, magnetic fine particles to which a first antibody that binds to a component to be analyzed is fixed, and the other liquid. The container 14 contains a labeling reagent, specifically a second antibody that binds to an enzyme-labeled component to be analyzed.

  The sample dispensing means 40 sucks the sample contained in the sample container supplied from the sample supply unit 44, which can move the sample dispensing pipette 42 equipped with a disposable pipette tip to a required position along the track 41. Dispensing (discharging) the liquid container 13 containing the solid phase reagent of the reaction container 1 placed at the reaction container placement position U1 of the reaction container transport plate 32.

  The reaction container transport plate 32 is equipped with a stirring mechanism. After the reaction container 1 is stirred, it is placed at the reaction container receiving position of the reaction table 61 by the θ-axis reaction container placing means 33. The reaction table 61 has an incubator function maintained at a temperature suitable for the reaction, and a binding reaction between the first antibody on the solid phase and the component to be analyzed in the sample occurs. The reaction table rotates to move the reaction container to the position of the cleaning nozzle (cleaning means) 63, collect the magnetic fine particles with a magnet, and clean the inside of the liquid container 13 of the reaction container with the cleaning nozzle 63. Separation of the components bound to the phase and the liquid free component is performed. Next, the reaction table rotates to move the reaction container to the reagent dispensing nozzle (reagent dispensing means) 62 position, and the labeled reagent contained in the liquid container 14 of the reaction container is moved to the same reaction container by the reagent dispensing nozzle 62. Into the liquid container 13. The reaction table 61 is rotated, and the reaction container is once returned to the reaction container transport plate 32 by the θ-axis reaction container mounting means 33 and stirred. Then, the reaction table 61 is moved again to react with the first antibody in the solid phase and analyzed. A conjugate of the target component and the labeled second antibody is formed. The reaction table 61 is rotated to move the reaction container to the position of the cleaning nozzle 63 and the position of the cleaning nozzle (cleaning means) 64, and magnetic particles are collected by the magnet at each position, and the reaction container is cleaned by the cleaning nozzles 63 and 64. By cleaning the inside of the liquid storage part 13, the component bonded to the solid phase and the liquid phase free component are separated.

  Subsequently, the reaction container is transported to the common reagent supply means 50 position by the θ-axis reaction container mounting means 33 and the reaction container transport means 30, and the reaction substrate for the enzyme of the labeling reagent is dispensed, and the Y-axis reaction container transport means. At 20, the optical output from the substrate is detected by the enzyme reaction. After the detection, the reaction container is transported by the Y-axis reaction container transfer means 20 and discarded into the waste container container 80.

  The reagent dispensing nozzle 62 and the cleaning nozzles 63 and 64 perform normal nozzle cleaning at the time of the analysis operation by the respective nozzle cleaning means 65, 66, and 67 each time an operation for handling the target liquid is performed.

  Next, an embodiment of automatic cleaning of reagent dispensing means and cleaning means by the automatic analyzer of the present invention will be described. Using the mechanism used for the analysis, the reagent dispensing means and the washing means can be automatically washed by the following method. A container containing a sodium hypochlorite solution as a cleaning agent is placed on the pretreatment reagent placement position 47. An empty reaction vessel 1 having the same shape as that used for normal analysis is placed in the reaction vessel housing 11. The reaction container used for the automatic washing of the reagent dispensing means and the washing means is identified by the automatic analyzer as an empty reaction container.

  When a control means (not shown) provided in the automatic analyzer is instructed to perform automatic washing of the reagent dispensing means and the washing means, the empty reaction container 1 stored in the reaction container storage section 11 is transferred to the reaction container transfer section 12. And the Y-axis reaction container transfer means 20 is mounted on the reaction container mounting position U1 of the reaction container transport plate 32 of the reaction container transport means 30.

  The sample dispensing pipette 42, which also serves as a pretreatment reagent dispensing means equipped with a disposable pipette tip, sucks the detergent contained in the container placed at the pretreatment reagent placement position 47, and the reaction container transport plate 32. Are dispensed into two liquid storage portions 13 and 14 of the empty reaction vessel 1 placed at the reaction vessel placement position U1.

  The reaction container containing the cleaning agent is placed at the reaction container receiving position of the reaction table 61 by the reaction container transport means 30 and the θ-axis reaction container placing means 33. The reaction table rotates to move the reaction container to the position of the cleaning nozzle 63 first, insert the cleaning nozzle 63 into the liquid storage unit 13, immerse the nozzle in the cleaning agent, and then suck the cleaning agent to perform nozzle cleaning. . Next, using the rotation of the reaction table 61 and the θ-axis reaction container mounting means 33 and the reaction container transport means 30, the reaction container is once returned to the discharge position of the sample and the like, and the cleaning agent is put into the liquid container 13 of the reaction container. Dispense again with the sample dispensing pipette 42. The reaction container containing the cleaning agent is again placed on the reaction container receiving position of the reaction table 61 by the reaction container transport means 30 and the θ-axis reaction container placing means 33, the reaction table rotates, and this time the cleaning nozzle 64 position is reached. After moving, the cleaning nozzle 64 is inserted into the liquid container 13, the nozzle is immersed in the cleaning agent, and then the cleaning agent is sucked to perform nozzle cleaning. Next, after rotating the reaction table, the reaction container containing the cleaning agent is moved to the reagent dispensing nozzle 62 position, the reagent dispensing nozzle 62 is inserted into the liquid container 14, and the nozzle is immersed in the nozzle cleaning agent. The nozzle is cleaned by sucking / discharging the cleaning agent.

  After cleaning with the cleaning agent, the reagent dispensing nozzle 62 and the cleaning nozzles 63 and 64 are cleaned with the normal nozzle cleaning liquid at the time of the analysis operation by the respective nozzle cleaning means 65, 66 and 67.

  The reaction container 61 used for the cleaning of the reagent dispensing nozzle 62 and the cleaning nozzles 63 and 64 with the cleaning agent rotates the reaction table 61, the θ-axis reaction container mounting means 33, the reaction container transporting means 30, and the Y-axis reaction. It is conveyed by the container transfer means 20 and discarded into the waste container bin 80.

1: Reaction vessel 10: Reaction vessel supply means 11: Reaction vessel storage unit 12: Reaction vessel transfer unit 13.14: Liquid storage unit 20: Y-axis reaction vessel transfer unit 30: Reaction vessel transfer unit 31: Reaction vessel transfer lane 32 : Reaction container transport plate 33: θ-axis reaction container mounting means 40: Sample dispensing means 41: Trajectory of sample dispensing means 42: Sample dispensing pipette 43: Dispensing water supply section 44: Sample supply section 45: Pipette tip supply Unit 46: Emergency measurement sample mounting unit 47: Pretreatment reagent mounting unit 50: Common reagent supply means (orbit)
60: Reaction means 61: Reaction table 62: Reagent dispensing nozzle 63/64: Cleaning nozzle 65/66/67: Nozzle cleaning means (normal cleaning)
70: Detection unit 80: Waste container

Claims (6)

Sample dispensing means for sucking a sample from the sample container and discharging it to the reaction container, reaction container transport means for transporting the reaction container, reaction means, and reaction for placing the transported reaction container on the reaction means A container mounting means; a reagent dispensing means for dispensing a reagent into the reaction container placed on the reaction means; a cleaning liquid supply nozzle for supplying a cleaning liquid for washing the reaction container placed on the reaction means; and the cleaning liquid. In an automatic analyzer comprising a cleaning means composed of a cleaning liquid suction nozzle for suction and removal from the reaction vessel, and a control means,
A container containing a cleaning agent is placed at a position where the liquid can be sucked by the sample dispensing means , and the control means instructs the automatic dispensing of the reagent dispensing means and the washing means, and the sample dispensing means Sucks and discharges the cleaning agent to the reaction container, transports the reaction container by the reaction container transporting means, places the reaction container transported by the reaction container mounting means on the reaction means, and reacts the reaction means. The automatic analyzer for washing the reagent dispensing means and the washing means by moving the reaction container placed on the container to a position where the reaction container is dispensed by the reagent dispensing means and a position where the reaction container is washed by the washing means. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the sample dispensing means is a pipette using a detachable disposable tip. Automatic reaction vessel is a container provided with two positions of the liquid storage portion, that and the cleaning agent of the cleaning agent and the cleaning means of the reagent dispensing means is accommodated in each of the liquid storage portion, according to claim 1 or 2 Analysis equipment. The automatic analyzer includes two series of reaction container transporting means, reaction container mounting means, reaction means, reagent dispensing means, and washing means, respectively, while the sample dispensing means is common to the two series. It is a device with a series used for
Any one of Claim 1 to 3 which can wash | clean the said 2 series reagent dispensing means and washing | cleaning means by mounting the container which put the cleaning agent in the position which can attract | suck a liquid with the said sample dispensing means. An automatic analyzer according to the above. After washing the reagent dispensing means and cleaning means by the cleaning agent in the reaction vessel, back reaction vessel mounting means and said reaction vessel is transported to the discharge position of the specimen by the sample dispensing means by the reaction vessel transporting means, again The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reagent dispensing means and the washing means can be repeatedly washed by discharging a cleaning agent into the reaction container by a sample dispensing means. The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cleaning agent is any one of dilute nitric acid, sodium hypochlorite solution, and ethanol solution.

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