JP6462301B2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an automatic analyzer that detects the position of each of a plurality of reaction vessels.

  The automatic analyzer supports a plurality of reaction containers for measuring a specimen (hereinafter referred to as a sample). The plurality of reaction vessels are individually distinguished. In order to detect individual positions of the plurality of reaction vessels, a detected portion is provided in association with each reaction vessel. The automatic analyzer identifies the position of each reaction container by detecting the detected portion with a detector fixed at a specific position. The automatic analyzer controls the movement and stoppage of the reaction container according to the detected position of the reaction container.

  However, when a water droplet is attached between the detected portions associated with each reaction container, the water droplet may be detected as the detected portion. That is, even in a portion where the detected portion does not exist between the detected portions, there is a problem that the automatic analyzer causes a false detection that determines that there is a detected portion due to the presence of water droplets. Due to this erroneous detection, there is a problem that the automatic analyzer malfunctions.

JP 2000-346853 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of preventing erroneous detection of a detector even if a water droplet adheres to a detected portion corresponding to each reaction container.

The automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment is arranged to stand upright on the outer edge portion of the reaction container support part corresponding to each of the reaction container support part and the reaction container supporting a plurality of reaction containers. It comprises a plurality of detected parts and a detector for detecting each of the detected parts.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the reaction mechanism according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a cell holder that is a part of the reaction vessel support section according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a top view showing an example of the upper surface of the cell holder that is a part of the reaction vessel support section according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section of the cell holder and the detector when the position detection plate is detected according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section of the cell holder and the detector during detection of the position detection plate according to a modification of the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be given only when necessary.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic analyzer 100 includes a reaction mechanism 10, an analysis unit 50, an output unit 60, an input unit 70, a system control unit 80, and an interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F) 90.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the reaction mechanism 10. The reaction mechanism 10 includes a sampler unit 34, a sample probe 334, a sample arm 336, a first reagent container 350, a second reagent container 370, a first reagent probe 354, a first reagent arm 356, a second reagent probe 374, and a second reagent. The arm 376, the stirring unit 320, the cleaning unit 325, the reaction vessel support unit 310, the detector 330, the photometry unit 32, and the like are included.

  The sampler unit 34 moves the sample rack 340 containing a plurality of sample containers to a position for sucking a sample in the sample container (hereinafter referred to as a sample suction position). The sample rack 340 holds a plurality of sample containers 3400. Hereinafter, the sample rack will be described as holding five sample containers. The sampler unit 34 includes a tray 341, a rack pull-in device 343, a rack lateral movement device 345, and a rack push-out device 347.

  A plurality of sample racks 340 are placed in parallel on the tray 341 along a first direction 349 that is the longitudinal direction of the tray. The tray 341 moves the plurality of sample racks 340 placed along the first direction 349. Each of the rack pull-in device 343, the rack lateral movement device 345, and the rack push-out device 347 has a motor for moving the sample rack 340. The rack pull-in device 343 pulls the sample rack at the pull-in point 202 from the tray 341 into the rack pull-in lane 200 along the second direction 201 under the control of the reaction mechanism control unit 36. The rack lateral movement device 345 laterally moves the sample rack 3401 located in the rack pull-in lane 200 to the sampling lane 204 along the first direction 349. The rack pusher 347 moves the sample rack 3402 in the sampling lane 204 to the sample suction position along the direction opposite to the second direction 201. In the present embodiment, the sampler unit 34 has been described as a rack sampler, but may be a disk sampler.

  The sample probe 334 is attached to the tip of the sample arm 336. The sample arm 336 supports the sample probe 334 so as to be rotatable. The sample probe 334 sucks a sample from a sample container at a sample suction position on the sampling lane 204 by a sample dispensing pump. The sample probe 334 discharges the sucked sample to the reaction container 312 at the position where the sample is discharged in the reaction container support part 310.

  The first reagent storage 350 holds a plurality of first reagent containers 352 corresponding to a plurality of measurement items. The second reagent store 370 holds a plurality of second reagent containers 372 corresponding to a plurality of measurement items. In the first reagent container 352 and the second reagent container 372, reagents that react with the components of the respective inspection items are stored. The first reagent store 350 and the second reagent store 370 rotate at a predetermined angle at a predetermined timing under the control of the reaction mechanism control unit 36. The reaction mechanism 10 may further include other reagent containers in addition to the first reagent container 350 and the second reagent container 370. The first reagent container 350 and the second reagent container 370 keep the plurality of retained reagent containers cold. The first reagent store 350 and the second reagent store 370 have a plurality of compartments for holding a plurality of reagent containers.

  The first reagent probe 354 is attached to the tip of the first reagent arm 356. The first reagent arm 356 supports the first reagent probe 354 so as to be rotatable and vertically movable. The first reagent probe 354 descends from the standby position into the first reagent container 352 at the position where the first reagent is aspirated on the first reagent storage 350. The first reagent probe 354 sucks the first reagent from the first reagent container 352 by a predetermined amount by the first reagent dispensing pump. The first reagent probe 354 moves up to the standby position after completing a predetermined amount of suction. The first reagent probe 354 discharges the aspirated first reagent into the reaction container 312 at the position where the first reagent is discharged in the reaction container support part 310.

  The second reagent probe 374 is attached to the tip of the second reagent arm 376. The second reagent arm 376 supports the second reagent probe 374 so as to be rotatable and vertically movable. The second reagent probe 374 descends from the standby position into the second reagent container 372 at the position for aspirating the second reagent on the second reagent storage 370. The second reagent probe 374 sucks the second reagent from the second reagent container 372 by a predetermined amount by the second reagent dispensing pump. The second reagent probe 374 moves up to the standby position after completing a predetermined amount of suction.

  The stirring unit 320 includes a stirring arm 322 and a stirring bar 324. The stirring bar 324 is attached to the tip of the stirring arm 322. The stirring arm 322 supports the stirring bar 324 so as to be rotatable and vertically movable. The stirring arm 322 inserts the stirring bar 324 from the standby position into the reaction vessel 312 stopped at the position where the test mixture in the reaction vessel 312 in the reaction vessel support 310 is stirred. When the tip of the stirring bar 324 is lowered to the vicinity of the inner bottom surface of the reaction vessel 312, the stirring arm 322 stops the lowering of the stirring bar 324. After the stirring bar 324 is stopped, the stirring bar 324 vibrates under the control of the reaction mechanism control unit 36. As the stirrer 324 vibrates, the mixed liquid (sample and first reagent, sample and second reagent, sample, first reagent and second reagent, etc.) in the reaction vessel 312 is agitated. After stirring, the stirring arm 322 raises the stirring bar 324 to the standby position.

  The cleaning unit 325 includes a support mechanism (not shown), a cleaning nozzle, and a drying nozzle. The support mechanism supports the cleaning nozzle and the drying nozzle so as to be movable up and down, respectively. The washing nozzle sucks the mixed solution from the reaction vessel 312 at the position for washing the reaction vessel 312 on the reaction vessel support 310 by a washing pump. After sucking the mixed solution, the cleaning nozzle discharges pure water to clean the inside of the reaction vessel 312. The drying nozzle dries the inside of the reaction vessel 312 in the position for drying the reaction vessel 312 on the reaction vessel support part 310 with a drying pump.

  The reaction vessel support unit 310 rotatably supports a plurality of reaction vessels 312 arranged on the circumference. The reaction vessel 312 is accommodated in a thermostatic bath. The reaction vessel support unit 310 stops after rotating at a predetermined angle for each analysis cycle. As a result, the reaction vessel 312 rotates and moves by a predetermined angle. In other words, each reaction vessel 312 rotates by an angle around a certain point and moves to another position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the cell holder 314 that is a part of the reaction container support 310. FIG. 4 is a top view of the three cell holders 314 in a part of the reaction vessel support 310 in FIG. 2 as viewed from above.

  The reaction vessel support unit 310 has a plurality of arranged in an upright manner on the outer edge portion 315 of the reaction vessel support unit 310 according to a plurality of positions respectively corresponding to the plurality of reaction vessels 312 supported by the reaction vessel support unit 310. A detected portion 316 is included. That is, the plurality of detected parts 316 and the plurality of reaction vessels 312 correspond one-to-one. Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the detected part 316, the detected part is described as a position detection plate. That is, the position detection plate 316 is an embodiment of the detected part.

  Specifically, the reaction vessel support 310 is divided into a plurality of compartments. Each of the plurality of sections corresponds to a plurality of cell holders 314. Each of the plurality of cell holders 314 supports a plurality of reaction vessels 312. The cell holder 314 has a plurality of position detection plates 316 arranged upright on the outer edge portion 315 of the cell holder 314 according to a plurality of positions respectively corresponding to the plurality of reaction vessels 312.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the distance A between the midpoints of the widths of the reaction vessels along the rotation direction in the two adjacent reaction vessels is equal to the position detection plate along the rotation direction between the two adjacent position detection plates. Is smaller than the interval B at the midpoint of the width (A <B). In this embodiment, the width dimension D along the rotation direction of each position detection plate 316 is larger than the width dimension C along the rotation direction of the reaction vessel 312 (C <D). In addition, the gap E between the adjacent position detection plates 316 is smaller than the gap F between the adjacent reaction vessels 312 in this embodiment (E <F). Further, the plate surface of each position detection plate 316 is not a flat surface but a gentle curved surface. The midpoint in the rotational movement direction of each reaction vessel and the midpoint in the rotational direction of the position detection plate corresponding to the reaction vessel are located on the same line extending radially from the rotation center.

  The cell holder 314 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to, for example, a part of the reaction vessel support 310 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the reaction vessel support 310 may have a protruding portion 318 that protrudes from the outer edge portion 315 by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction. At this time, the position detection plate 316 is provided upright on the protruding portion 318 of the cell holder 314 (reaction vessel support portion 310) as shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the position detection plate 316 is provided along the substantially vertical direction from the protruding portion 318. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the plurality of position detection plates 316 is installed on the protruding portion 318 of the cell holder 314 in association with the position of each of the plurality of reaction vessels 312 in the cell holder 314. FIG. 3 shows an example in which water droplets adhere to the position detection plate a and the position detection plate b due to condensation.

  The detector 330 detects each of the position detection plates 316 according to the rotation of the reaction container support part 310. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the cell holder 314 and the detector 330 when the position detection plate 316 is detected.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when detecting the position detection plate 316, the detector 330 covers the reaction mechanism 10 so as to cover an upper end portion (hereinafter referred to as an upper end) of the detected position detection plate 316. Provided. The detector 330 has a concave shape. The concave recess is provided so as to cover the upright position detection plate 316 (upper end) from above. That is, the concave concave portion in the detector 330 is provided substantially vertically downward. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the water droplets attached to the position detection plate 316 are located below the position detection plate 316.

  The detector 330 includes, for example, an irradiation unit 331 that irradiates electromagnetic waves such as light, and a light receiving unit 333 that receives light emitted from the irradiation unit 331. Specifically, the irradiation unit 331 and the light receiving unit 333 are respectively provided on two convex portions having a concave shape. The irradiation unit 331 and the light receiving unit 333 are provided to face each other across the upper end of the position detection plate 316. Between the irradiation unit 331 and the light receiving unit 333, there is a gap through which the upper end of the position detection plate 316 that enters and exits between the irradiation unit 331 and the light receiving unit 333 passes without contact. The irradiation unit 331 emits light toward the light receiving unit 333. A sensor line 335 in FIG. 5 indicates an irradiation line of light emitted from the irradiation unit 331 toward the light receiving unit 333.

  When the light emitted from the irradiation unit 331 is blocked by the position detection plate 316, the detector 330 outputs data related to the detection of the position detection plate 316 to the reaction mechanism control unit 36 via the cable 337. When the light emitted from the irradiation unit 331 reaches the light receiving unit 333 without being blocked by the position detection plate 316, the detector 330 transmits data related to non-detection of the position detection plate 316 via the cable 337 to control the reaction mechanism. To the unit 36.

  The photometry unit 32 irradiates a mixture of a test sample and a reagent (hereinafter referred to as a test mixture) with light. The photometry unit 32 converts the light transmitted through the test mixture into absorbance, and generates absorbance data regarding the test sample. The photometry unit 32 outputs the generated absorbance data to the data storage unit 52. The photometry unit 32 irradiates light to a mixture of a standard substance and a reagent (hereinafter referred to as a standard mixture). The standard substance is a substance having the same or common property as the substance to be measured or a substance having a common reaction with a reagent. The photometry unit 32 converts light that has passed through the standard mixture into absorbance, and generates absorbance data relating to the standard substance. The photometry unit 32 outputs absorbance data regarding the standard substance to the data storage unit 52.

  The reaction mechanism control unit 36 applies to each element of the reaction mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 2 based on signals from the system control unit 80 regarding analysis items, analysis procedures, and the like input by the operator via the input unit 70. Create a sequence. Based on the assembled sequence and the output from the detector 330, the reaction mechanism control unit 36 causes the reaction container support unit 310, the first reagent storage 350, and the second reagent storage 370 shown in FIG. Rotate at a predetermined angle.

  Based on the assembled sequence, the reaction mechanism control unit 36 connects the plurality of sample racks 340 arranged on the tray 341 shown in FIG. 2 to the rack pull-in lane 200 along the first direction 349 (hereinafter, referred to as the “reaction mechanism control unit 36”). , The operation of the tray 341 is controlled. The reaction mechanism control unit 36 controls the rack pull-in device 343 to move the sample rack at the pull-in point 202 to the rack pull-in lane 200 along the second direction 201 based on the assembled sequence. The reaction mechanism controller 36 controls the rack lateral movement device 345 to laterally move the sample rack 3401 in the rack pull-in lane 200 to the sampling lane 204 along the first direction 349 based on the assembled sequence. To do. Based on the assembled sequence, the reaction mechanism control unit 36 controls the rack pusher 347 to pitch the sample rack that has been laterally moved on the sampling lane 204 along the direction opposite to the second direction 201. To do. Specifically, the reaction mechanism control unit 36 controls the rack pusher 347 in order to move the sample container to be sampled to the sample suction position.

  The reaction mechanism control unit 36 rotates and vertically moves the sample probe 334, the first reagent probe 354, and the second reagent probe 374 shown in FIG. 2 based on the assembled sequence. The reaction mechanism control unit 36 moves the stirrer 324 and the cleaning nozzle and the drying nozzle of the cleaning unit 325 shown in FIG. 2 up and down based on the assembled sequence. The reaction mechanism control unit 36 drives a sample dispensing pump, a first reagent dispensing pump, a second reagent dispensing pump, a washing pump, and a drying pump, which are not shown, based on the assembled sequence. The reaction mechanism control unit 36 vibrates the stirring bar 324 shown in FIG. 2 based on the assembled sequence.

  The analysis unit 50 includes a sample analysis unit 51 and a data storage unit 52. The sample analysis unit 51 generates calibration curve data based on the absorbance data and analysis items stored in the data storage unit 52. The generated calibration curve data is stored in the data storage unit 52 and output to the output unit 60. Based on the calibration curve data and the absorbance data regarding the test sample stored in the data storage unit 52, the sample analysis unit 51 generates analysis data regarding the concentration and activity value of the component corresponding to the test item. . The generated analysis data is stored in the data storage unit 52 and output to the output unit 60.

  The data storage unit 52 includes a storage medium such as a hard disk. The data storage unit 52 stores absorbance data generated by the photometry unit 32 of the reaction mechanism 10. The data storage unit 52 stores the calibration curve data generated by the sample analysis unit 51 for each standard substance. The data storage unit 52 stores the analysis data generated by the sample analysis unit 51 for each test sample.

  The output unit 60 includes a printing unit 61 and a display unit 62. The output unit 60 outputs the calibration curve and analysis data generated by the analysis unit 50 as a print or display. The printing unit 61 uses an output device such as a printer to print the calibration curve and analysis data generated by the analysis unit 50 on a printer sheet with a predetermined layout.

  The display unit 62 displays the calibration curve and analysis data generated by the analysis unit 50 in a predetermined layout using a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display, or a plasma display. In addition, the display unit 62 displays an analysis condition setting screen for setting analysis conditions such as the liquid volume of the test sample, the liquid volume of the reagent, and the wavelength of the photometric beam for each measurement item. A subject information setting screen for setting a sample name and the like, a measurement item selection screen for selecting a measurement item for each test sample, and the like are displayed.

  The input unit 70 includes input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, various buttons, and a touch key panel. The input unit 70 outputs the analysis conditions for each measurement item input by the operator via the input device, the measurement items to be measured for each test sample, and the like as operation signals to the system control unit 80. Information input by the operator via the input unit 70 may be stored in a storage unit (not shown).

  The system control unit 80 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The system control unit 80 controls each unit in the automatic analyzer 100 in an integrated manner. The system control unit 80 controls each unit based on an operation signal supplied from the input unit 70.

  For example, a network is connected to the I / F 90. The automatic analyzer 100 may be connected to a PACS (Architecture and Communication System) or the like via a network.

(Modification)
The difference from this embodiment is that the lower end (hereinafter referred to as the lower end) of the position detection plate 316 is positioned below the protruding portion 318.

  One end (lower end) of the position detection plate 316 is provided on the protruding portion 318 so as to be positioned below the protruding portion 318.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the cell holder 314 and the detector 330 when the position detection plate 316 is detected according to this modification. As shown in FIG. 6, the lower end of the position detection plate 316 is positioned below the protruding portion 318. As shown in FIG. 6, the water droplets attached to the position detection plate 316 are located at the lower end of the position detection plate 316.

According to the configuration described above, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the automatic analyzer 100 according to the present embodiment, the position detection plate 316 indicating the position corresponding to each reaction vessel 312 is made to stand upright (in the vertical direction) on the outer edge portion 315 of the reaction vessel support 310 (cell holder 314). Can be arranged. Further, according to the present embodiment, the position detection plate 316 can be provided on the protruding portion 318 that protrudes from the outer edge portion 315 by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction. In addition, according to the automatic analyzer 100 according to the present embodiment, the upper end of the position detection plate 316 is covered, that is, the concave concave portion covers the upper end of the position detection plate 316 from above, vertically downward. A detector 330 having a concave shape can be provided in the reaction mechanism 10.

  In addition, according to the automatic analyzer 100 according to the modification of the present embodiment, the position detection plate 316 can be provided on the protruding portion 318 with the lower end of the position detection plate 316 positioned below the protruding portion 318.

  From the above, according to the automatic analyzer 100 according to the present embodiment and the present modification, the position detection plate 316 is provided upright in the vertical direction and provided on the reaction vessel support unit 310, whereby the position detection plate 316 is provided. Water drops attached to 316 can be freely dropped, and erroneous detection of the detector 330 by water drops can be prevented. That is, due to the structure of the position detection plate 316 in the present embodiment, even if water droplets are attached to the position detection plate 316, no water droplets remain on the sensor line 335 in the detector 330, so that the detector 330 may malfunction. Measurement can be continued without any problems.

  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 10 ... Reaction mechanism 32 ... Photometry part 34 ... Sampler part 36 ... Reaction mechanism control part 50 ... Analysis part 51 ... Sample analysis part 52 ... Data storage part 60 ... Output part 61 ... Printing part 62 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Display part, 70 ... Input part, 80 ... System control part, 90 ... Interface (I / F), 100 ... Automatic analyzer, 200 ... Rack pull-in lane, 201 ... Second direction, 202 ... Pull-in point, 204 ... Sampling lane, 310 ... reaction vessel support, 312 ... reaction vessel, 314 ... cell holder, 315 ... outer edge part, 316 ... detected part (position detection plate), 318 ... projecting part, 320 ... stirring part, 322 ... stirring arm, 324 ... Stirrer, 325 ... Cleaning part, 330 ... Detector, 331 ... Irradiation part, 333 ... Light receiving part, 334 ... Sample probe, 335 ... Sensor line, 336 ... Sample , 337 ... cable, 340 ... sample rack, 341 ... tray, 343 ... rack pull-in device, 345 ... rack lateral movement device, 337 ... rack extrusion device, 349 ... first direction, 350 ... first reagent storage, 352 ... 1st reagent container, 354 ... 1st reagent probe, 356 ... 1st reagent arm, 370 ... 2nd reagent storage, 372 ... 2nd reagent container, 374 ... 2nd reagent probe, 376 ... 2nd reagent arm, 3400 ... Sample container, 3401 ... sample rack, 3402 ... sample rack.

Claims (6)

A reaction vessel support for supporting a plurality of reaction vessels;
A plurality of to-be-detected parts arranged in an upright direction on the outer edge part of the reaction container support part corresponding to the reaction containers,
A detector for detecting each of the detected parts;
The automatic analyzer characterized by comprising. The reaction vessel support portion has a protruding portion protruding a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction from the outer edge portion,
The detected portion is provided in the protruding portion;
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1. The detected portion is provided along a vertical direction from the protruding portion;
The automatic analyzer according to claim 2. The lower end of the detected portion is positioned below the protruding portion by extending the detected portion downward from a connection portion between the protruding portion and the detected portion .
The automatic analyzer according to claim 2 or 3. The detector has a concave shape;
The concave-shaped concave portion is provided so as to cover the upright detected portion from above;
The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The concave recess is provided vertically downward;
The automatic analyzer according to claim 5.

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