JPH01134256A - Biochemical analysis apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable high-speed processing with a biochemical analysis apparatus using a long-sized test film by specifying the length of an incubator to the length at which plural sample spotting parts can be housed therein and constituting a measuring means in such a manner that said means can move. CONSTITUTION:The long-sized test film 3 incorporated therein with a reagent which makes coloration reaction with a measuring component is fed from a supply cassette 7 to a take-up cassette 8 through the inside of the incubator 55. A sample is spotted by a spotting nozzle 15 onto the test film 3 and after the spotted sample is incubated for a prescribed period of time, the degree of the coloration thereof is measured by the measuring means 57. The length L of the incubator 55 is specified to the length at which the plural sample spotting parts can be housed therein. The measuring means 57 is so constituted that said means is movable between the sample spotting position 61 and the terminal in the incubator 55. The time for the incubation is thereby prevented from hindering high-speed processing even in both an end point method and speed method.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention involves spotting a test liquid onto a test film having one or multiple reagent layers, maintaining the temperature at a constant temperature (incubation) for a predetermined period of time, and Or, after completion of the test, the degree of color development due to the reaction between the reagent and the test liquid (
The present invention relates to a biochemical analyzer for measuring the degree of pigment formation, and particularly to a biochemical analyzer suitable for high-speed processing.

(Prior Art) Qualitative or quantitative analysis of specific chemical components in a test liquid is a commonly performed operation in various industrial fields. In particular, quantitative analysis of chemical components or formed components in biological body fluids such as blood and urine is extremely important in the field of clinical biochemistry.

In recent years, dry type chemical analysis slides have been developed that can quantitatively analyze specific chemical components or formed components contained in a test liquid by simply applying small droplets of the test liquid ( Special Publication No. 53-21677, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55
-164358, etc.) have been put into practical use. Using these chemical analysis slides, it is possible to analyze sample liquids more easily and quickly than conventional wet analysis methods, so they are especially useful for medical institutions that need to analyze a large number of test liquids. , research institutes, etc.

In order to quantitatively analyze the chemical components in a test liquid using such a chemical analysis slide, the test liquid is placed on the chemical analysis slide in a measured amount and then placed in an incubator. The temperature is maintained (incubated) for a predetermined period of time to cause a color reaction (pigment formation reaction), and then the measurement includes wavelengths preselected by a combination of the components in the test liquid and the reagents contained in the reagent layer of the chemical analysis slide. The chemical analysis slide is irradiated with a specific irradiation light and its reflected optical density is measured.

In medical institutions, research laboratories, etc., it is necessary to analyze a large number of test liquids, so it is desirable to be able to perform the above-mentioned analyzes automatically and continuously. For this reason, various proposals have been made regarding chemical analyzers that can automatically and continuously analyze test liquids using the above-mentioned chemical analysis slides (for example, JP-A-58-77746). issue). In addition, as a means of automatically and continuously analyzing the test liquid, a long tape-shaped test film containing a reagent is used instead of the slide described above, and the test film is pulled out one by one and spotted in turn. Devices for incubation and measurement have also been proposed (e.g., U.S. Patent Sections 3.52B, 48
0 specification).

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) When chemical analysis slides are used, one slide is used for one measurement, so it is necessary to use a large number of slides to automatically and continuously measure the test liquid. There are problems in that the equipment has to be handled more complicated, larger, and more expensive. Also, using a long tape-shaped test film is convenient for automatic and continuous measurement, but
Even if the test film is spotted one after another, it takes a long time to keep it at a constant temperature in the incubator. After the test film is inserted into the incubator, it is necessary to take measures such as slowing down the transport speed of the test film, which poses a problem in high-speed processing.

The present invention uses a long test film in the form of a long tape, which is convenient for automatic and continuous measurement, and
Provides a biochemical analyzer that solves the above problems and can continuously spot a test liquid on a long test film, incubate it, and measure it without incubation time interfering with high-speed processing. The purpose is to

(Means for solving the problem) The present invention involves spotting a liquid to be tested on a long test film,
Thereafter, incubation is carried out in an incubator, and the degree of coloration of the spotted part is measured by a measuring means.In a biochemical analyzer, the incubator can accommodate a plurality of spotted parts on a long test film. It has a length along the film transport direction,
The measuring means is provided movably along the portion of the long test film inside the incubator so that the optical density of a plurality of spotted portions within the incubator is measured. It is.

(Function) In the present invention, since the incubator has a length capable of accommodating a plurality of spotted parts along the transport direction of a long test film, it is possible to incubate a plurality of spotted parts at the same time. Therefore, the number of incubations per unit time can be increased compared to an apparatus that performs incubation one location at a time. In addition, in a device that performs spotting one spot at a time, the elapsed time from the start of incubation for the plurality of spotting spots will be different for each spot, but the measuring means is attached to the part of the long test film inside the incubator. Since it is provided so as to be movable along the same direction, n1 determination of a predetermined spotting point can be carried out after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of incubation.

Since a plurality of spotting locations can be incubated at the same time in this way, and the measuring means is configured to be movable as described above, it is possible to carry out continuous processing at high speed.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a biochemical analyzer according to the present invention.

The biochemical analyzer 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a transparent lid 2, and this 1! i2 is opened, and a liquid to be tested, a long test film 3 in the form of a long tape, etc., which will be described below, are accommodated in or taken out from the device 1. This device 1 is equipped with a test liquid storage means 4 that stores test liquids such as serum and urine in a circular arrangement. The test film 3 is taken out by the spotting means 5 and
It is dotted on top. The long test film 3 is available in multiple types depending on the measurement item, such as containing a reagent that shows a color reaction with only the specific chemical component or tangible component that you want to measure in the test liquid. has been done. The unused portion of the long test film 3 is wound in a film supply cassette 7, and the portion used for the above measurement is wound in a film winding cassette 8. At one end of the film winding cassette 8, for example, a bar code 9 indicates the loft number 1 side number, measurement items, expiration date, etc. of the long test film 3.

In the center of the roll 10 in the film winding cassette 8,
As will be described later, a hole 11 is provided which engages with a rotating shaft of a motor for pulling out the long test film 3 from the film supply cassette 7 after the long test film 3 is accommodated in the apparatus 1.

The long test film 3 is stored in the device 1 while being wound around a cassette 7.8. The film supply cassette 7 and the film winding cassette 8 are separated as shown in this figure. The test film storage means 12 is configured to store unused portions of a plurality of long test films 3 in parallel so that a plurality of items can be measured simultaneously using this device 1. The spotting means 5 has a spotting nozzle I5 at its tip, and is moved by a moving means 17 placed on the rail 1B in the direction in which the rail 1B extends, takes out the liquid to be tested from the liquid to be tested storage means 4, and collects the liquid to be tested from the liquid to be tested storage means 4. is spotted onto a long test film 3 pulled out from the test film storage means 12 by a test film transport means to be described later. Further, the moving means 17 is configured to be able to move the spotting means 5 in the vertical direction as well, and when the moving means 17 moves the spotting means 5 in the left and right direction in which the rail 1B extends. The spotting means is in an elevated position, and is lowered when taking out the liquid to be tested, spotting, and cleaning as described later.

After spotting the long test film 3, the spotting nozzle 15 is cleaned by a nozzle cleaning section 18 disposed between and close to the test film storage means 12 and the test liquid storage means 4, and Reused for next spotting.

The spotted long test film 3 is incubated in an incubator as described later 1,
Measured by measuring means.

Control of the overall operation of the device 1, processing of measurement data, etc. are performed by a circuit section 19 and a computer 20 connected to this circuit section 19.
This is done by An operation/display section 21 provided on the front side of the circuit section 19 is equipped with a power switch for the device 1, an ammeter for monitoring current consumption in the device 1, and the like. The computer 20 includes a keyboard 22 for giving instructions to the device 1, a CRT display 23 for displaying auxiliary information for instructions, measurement results, etc., a printer 24 for printing out measurement results, and a keyboard 24 for giving various instructions to the device 1. A floppy disk device 25 that accommodates a floppy disk for storing commands, measurement result data, etc.
is provided.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main parts of the biochemical analyzer 1 whose perspective view is shown in FIG.

The test film storage means 12 is configured such that the spotting positions 41 of all the long test films 3 pulled out from therein are lined up on a straight line shown by a dashed line in the figure, and furthermore, the nozzle cleaning is arranged on this straight line. portion 18 and the test liquid take-out position 4Qa in the test liquid storage means 4 are arranged. By arranging the above-mentioned positions and the nozzle cleaning section 18 on a straight line in this way, the structure of the moving means described later is simplified, which leads to fewer failures and lower costs of the apparatus 1.

The test liquid storage means 4 is configured to accommodate a plurality of sample cups filled with the test liquid in a storage section 40 arranged in a roughly circular shape. A sensor is attached to each storage position of the storage section 40 to detect whether or not a sample cup is stored, and when this sensor detects that a sample cup is stored, the sample cup is stored. The fact that the sample cup has been sampled and its storage position are transmitted to the computer 20 via the circuit section 19 shown in FIG.
For example, the operator may be informed by sound, light, etc. to input ID information to identify the test liquid, instructions on what items to analyze for the test liquid, etc.) from the keyboard 22, or in particular, Information and instructions to be input are displayed on the CRT display without any warning. In this way, when the sample cup is stored in the storage section 40, the storage position is automatically detected, and the user is prompted to input information and instructions regarding the liquid to be tested in the sample cup, thereby preventing erroneous input. This can prevent forgetting to input information. Furthermore, if the sensor detects that the sample cup has been taken out from the storage section 40 before the test liquid is taken out from the set sample cup by the spotting means 5 for measurement, the A warning will be issued to the person concerned.

In addition, this test liquid storage means 4 has a configuration in which a storage section 40 arranged in a circular shape is rotated, and the test liquid stored in this storage section 40 is used for the next measurement. It is automatically rotated by a rotating means (not shown) so that the test liquid to be used is located at the take-out position 40a. In order to prevent the liquid to be tested stored in the storage section 40 from deteriorating in quality due to evaporation, a lid (not shown) is placed over the storage section 40 other than the take-out position 40a.

The spotting means 5 is moved in the direction in which the rail extends by the moving means 7 mounted on the rail 6, takes out the liquid to be tested from the take-out position 40a, and spots it on the spotting position 41 on the long test film 3. .

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view taken along line xx' in FIG. 2 of the biochemical analyzer 1 whose perspective view is shown in FIG. 1. 1st
Components that are the same as those in the figures and FIG. 2 are given the same numbers.

The long test film 3 is housed in this apparatus while being housed in the film supply cassette 7 and the film winding cassette 8. The film supply cassette 7 is housed in a cold storage 50 constituting the test film storage means 12, and the film winding cassette 8 is housed in a winding chamber 51.

Since the unused portion of the long test film 3 is thus stored in the film supply cassette 7, the unused long test film 3 can be stored in the test film storage means 12 without being touched.

At one end of the film winding cassette 8, the lot number of this long test film 3 is displayed as described above.

For example, a barcode 9 is attached with information such as an individual number, measurement items, expiration date, etc., and the position corresponding to the barcode 9 when this film winding cassette 8 is stored in the winding chamber 51 is attached. barcode reading means 5 provided in
2, the information written in this barcode 9 is read. This read information is stored, for example, in a floppy disk in the floppy disk device 25 shown in FIG.
It is used for managing the remaining length of unused film remaining in the test film 3, correcting errors in measurement values due to variations between lofts of the long test film 3, etc. Furthermore, even if the long test film 3 is used halfway and is once removed from the device 1, an erase command is input from the keyboard 22 shown in FIG. Unless the floppy disk is automatically erased for reuse, the floppy disk will remember the individual number of the long test film 3, the remaining length of unused film, etc. When the long test film 3 is stored in the test film storage means 12, the individual number of the long test film 3 that has been rehoused is compared with the information stored in the floppy disk, and the unused remaining length of the long test film 3 is determined. etc. will be managed again.

The above-mentioned barcode 9 may be attached to the film supply cassette 7, and the six-code reading means 52 may be provided in the cold storage 50. Further, the means for transmitting information such as the lot number and expiration date of the long test film 3 to the device 1 is not limited to the above-mentioned barcode and barcode reading means 52, but also the film supply cassette 7 or the film winding cassette. Any means may be used as long as it is possible to record information on the test film 8 and read the information when the long test film 3 is housed in the apparatus 1.

The cold storage 50 is surrounded by a cold storage wall 54 made of a heat insulating material, and a cooling/dehumidifying device 58 is installed on one side of the cold storage wall 54 to keep the inside of the cold storage 50 at a predetermined low temperature and low humidity. This allows the air inside the cold storage 50 to be circulated.

When the film winding cassette 8 is housed in the winding chamber 51, a long test film provided in the winding chamber 51 is inserted into the hole 11 provided in the center of the roll 10 in the film winding cassette 8. The rotating shaft of the test film winding motor 53 constituting the test film transport means for 3 is engaged, and as the motor 53 rotates, the long test film 3 is passed from the film supply cassette 7 through the drawer opening 49 of the cold storage 50. The film is drawn out continuously or intermittently and wound into the film winding cassette 8. Since the used part of the long test film 3 is stored in the film winding cassette 8 in this way, it is possible to take out the used film that has been spotted with the test liquid and soiled from the apparatus 1 without touching it. It is possible to perform such activities as a hermitage.

Regarding this disposal, instead of winding the used film in the film winding cassette 8, the film winding cassette is eliminated and the film is stored in the winding chamber 51. A box is provided and the winding chamber 5
A cutter for cutting used film is placed near the entrance of section 1, and the used film is cut and stored in the box without touching the used film stored in the box. It may be configured such that the entire box can be taken out of the apparatus 1 and the used film can be treated. In this case, the transport of the test film is as follows:
This may be carried out by providing conveyance rollers that grip and convey the test film.

The spotting means 5 is provided with a thin tube 43 that communicates with the tip 15a of the spotting nozzle 15 of the spotting means 5, and this tube 43 is further connected to a flexible tube 4.
Through these tubes 43 and 44, the test liquid is transferred into the spotting means 5 and spotted onto the long test film 3. When cleaning the spotting nozzle 15, the tip 15a of the spotting nozzle 15 is immersed in a small container filled with distilled water placed in the nozzle cleaning section 18, and these tubes 44 A cleaning liquid contained in a tank (not shown) is discharged through the .43.

In the vicinity of this spotting nozzle 15, a liquid level detector 45 is provided in parallel with this nozzle 15. This liquid level detector 45 has its tip 45a at the tip 1 of the dotting nozzle 15.
Slightly above 5a (for example, the height difference is about 2.5III)
III), and when the spotting means 5 is lowered by the moving means 17 in order to take out the test liquid stored in the test liquid storage means 4, the tip 15a of the spotting nozzle 15 A signal from the liquid level detector 45 indicating that the tip 45a of the liquid level detector 45 has come into contact with the liquid to be tested is transmitted to the circuit section 19 shown in FIG. 1 through the signal line 46. , is for stopping the lowering of the spotting means 5 based on this signal. By doing this, the tip 1 of the spotting nozzle 15 is always kept at a constant depth from the surface of the liquid to be tested, regardless of the amount of the liquid to be tested.
5a can be immersed in liquid.

The exposed portion of the long test film 3 between the film supply cassette 7 and the film winding cassette 8 is placed in an incubator 55 whose interior is maintained at a predetermined temperature (for example, 37° C.).
It is installed so that it passes between the Incubator 55
A measuring means 57 for measuring the optical density due to the color reaction between the long test film 3 and the liquid to be tested is arranged at the lower part of the test film 3 .

The measuring means 57 is moved to the end of the incubator 55 on the winding chamber 51 side (the measuring means 5 shown in the figure) by a moving means (not shown).
7) and the other end of the incubator 55 (position 57' indicated by a broken line in the figure) in the directions of arrows A and B shown in the figure. DI determination of the optical density at the position where a plurality of dots have been performed is performed.

Since the measuring means measures while moving in this way, it is not possible to measure multiple locations at the same time. However, when measuring by the end point method, it is only necessary to measure sequentially at the same period as the period of sequential spotting, so there is no need to measure multiple locations at the same time. In addition, when measuring 11 m1 using the velocity method, even if it is not possible to measure multiple spots at the same time, changes due to color reaction proceed continuously over time, so measurements can be made even if the measurement time is slightly different. It can be corrected on the data.

Note that this measuring means 57 is located at a position 57' indicated by a broken line in the figure.
It is also provided so that it can be moved to the spotting position 6 before spotting.
The measurement accuracy is improved by measuring the fog density of the long test film 3 of 1 and correcting the value measured by the measuring means 57 after spotting and incubation based on this measured value. You can also do that.

The length LCcm of the incubator 55 in the transport direction of the long test film 3 will be explained using FIG.

FIG. 4 shows the required incubation time t[mln
, ] and the required length LCcm of the incubator 55.

The area surrounded by parallel straight lines on the upper right side of the figure and marked with horizontal lines is the area where the long test film 3 is spotted once when it is continuously conveyed at a constant speed (the length fL C
cal ) within the incubator 55 over time.

The length required for one dotting on the long test film 3 is 9. [ca+], the incubation time for incubating the spotted part of the long test film 3 is t [mln,], and the number of spots per 11 minutes is n [times/a+in,]. When the test film is conveyed continuously at a constant speed v [cm/ff1in,], the required incubator length L (continuous feed) [:cIR] is L (continuous feed) - v - 10 minutes... ...(1)
becomes.

vswn - Immunity ...... (2) Therefore, substituting equation (2) into equation (1), L (continuous feed) ≧ (nt + 1) - Immunization ... (3) becomes.

Note that in this specification, the incubation time t [
a+in, ] is the length 9. where the spotting was performed. [:cm
] from the time when the entire portion is carried into the incubator (origin in FIG. 4), the length 9. The time until the moment when even a part of the portion Ccal is taken out of the incubator (time to in FIG. 4), that is, the above length '; LCcm
It is defined as the time during which the entire portion l is housed in the incubator. This has a length of 9. [The time during which the entire portion of cml is stored in the incubator is referred to as the incubation time, or the length of 9. This is because whether the time during which even a portion of Ccml is stored in the incubator is referred to as incubation time is merely a matter of definition. When the above definition is changed, each formula expressed in this specification will be changed in accordance with the change in definition.

The step-shaped, diagonally shaded area on the upper right side of the figure is a certain point when the long test film 3 is intermittently conveyed by the length of 9 Ccml required for one spotting. It shows the temporal movement of the attached portion (length 9 cm, cml) within the incubator 55.

As shown in the figure, the long test film 3 has a time τt
It is stopped for [mln,], and the time τ2[min
, ]. At this time, the cycle τ [min, ] when the long test film is intermittently conveyed is τ−τ1 +τ2
......(4). Time t of end of incubation. As shown in the figure, the stopping time τt [ll1n,
], the required incubation length L (intermittent feeding) [cml is L (intermittent feeding) ≧ [nt+1] ・See... (
5) should be satisfied. Here, [nt+1] is nt+
It represents the largest integer not exceeding 1.

As mentioned above, even if the incubation time is slightly different, it is possible to correct it, and the transfer time τz
[a+In, ko is usually a sufficiently short time compared to the stop time τI Cm1n, ko, so in the process of deriving the above equation (5), the time at which the stop time τ1 [n+in, ] ends is set as the end time to of incubation. There is no loss of generality in this choice.

Depending on whether the biochemical analyzer 1 is configured to transport the long test film 3 at a constant speed or intermittently, the incubator 55 is operated using the formula (3) or (5). The incubation time t [Igin,
] will not reduce the processing capacity of this device 1.

As described above, the biochemical analyzer 1 of this embodiment is configured to accommodate a plurality of long test films 3 at the same time. The above incubation time t for the long test film 3 used for analysis of different chemical components, etc.
[■1n,] may be different, and in this case, if the lengths are aligned to correspond to the longest time, it is possible to place the long test film 3, which takes time for incubation, in the test film storage means 12. It is convenient because it can be accommodated. In addition, even in the case of a single-function device that can accommodate only one long test film 3, it is necessary to determine the incubation time t[a+in,] among multiple types of long test films 3 that may be used in the device. The length [a11] of the incubator is determined according to the longest long test film 3.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are diagrams showing how spotting was performed on the long test film 3.

FIG. 5A shows that multiple types of long test films 3 are lined up in the apparatus in correspondence with multiple measurement items, and even when the measurement corresponding to the long test films 3 shown in this figure is not carried out, the long test films 3 are The length test film 3 is intermittently 9J [:c
An example is shown in which the configuration is such that the liquid is transported in ml units. This τ [m1n,] has a relationship of τ-1/n with the above-mentioned n [times/mln,].

As described above, the long test film 3 shown in FIG. 5A is conveyed from right to left in the figure at every predetermined period τ[ll1n,]. The long test film 3 pulled out from the film supply cassette 7 is spotted at the spotting position 61, and then transported into the incubator 55 where it is incubated.

The measuring means 57 is located at a position where the optical density is measured at the leftmost point 62a in the figure inside the incubator 55 (the position of the measuring means 57 shown in the figure), and at a point inside the incubator 55 at the rightmost point in the figure. It is provided so that it can freely move back and forth in the left-right direction in the figure between the positions where the optical density of the spotting points 62 is measured, and the optical density of a plurality of spotting spots B2 in the incubator 55 is measured.

As described above, it is desirable that the measuring means 57 be configured so that it can move to a position where the optical density at the spotting position 61 is measured and also measure the fog density at the spotting position 61 before spotting.

As shown in FIG. 5A, even when the measurement corresponding to the long test film 3 is not performed, the predetermined period τ[l
If the apparatus is configured so that the long test film 3 is conveyed every time the incubation is performed for a predetermined period of time, without using the speed method that measures multiple optical densities during the incubation, When using only the measuring endpoint method, for example, position 8 shown in the figure
2a, the measuring means 57 may be used for measurement, but on the other hand, the part B3 which is not used for the long test film 3
occurs, and the usage efficiency of the long test film 3 decreases.

In addition, when using the velocity method, as shown in FIG. 5A, the long test film 3 is
Even if the device is configured to always transport the measuring means 5
7 requires moving.

FIG. 5B shows an example in which the apparatus is configured so that when n1 determination corresponding to the long test film 3 shown in this figure is not carried out, the long test film 3 is not conveyed and stands by at that position. FIG.

The same reference numerals as in FIG. 5A are given, and detailed explanation will be omitted.

In this case, since the long test film 3 may be waiting for a while without being conveyed, even when measuring by the end point method, the test film 3 has already been incubated at the predetermined incubation point with the spotting point at the position 62c shown in the figure, for example. time may end, in which case the measuring means 57 reaches this position 82c.
measurement is performed.

In this way, in the present invention, since the measuring means 57 is movably provided, it is possible to perform measurement using the velocity method, and a control method corresponding to FIG. 5B is adopted in both the end point method and the velocity method. Thus, it becomes possible to maximize the usage efficiency of the long test film 3.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of the correspondence between the movement of the spotting point θ2 and the movement of the measuring means 57 in the incubator 55 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

The horizontal axis of the figure represents the time measured from the time when the spotting position 62 was accommodated in the incubator 55, and the vertical axis of the figure shows the time from the end of the incubator 55 on the spotting position Ll side to the opposite end. It represents the measured distance within the incubator 55. Also, the inside of the form shows the time and distance when measuring using the velocity method, and the inside of the second form shows the time and distance when measuring using the end point method. In this figure, for simplicity, it is assumed that only four spotting positions can be accommodated in the incubator 55, and only the movement of one spotting position is shown.

Graph 100 is a graph corresponding to the case where the long test film 3 is conveyed by the control method described in FIG. 5A. When the end point method is adopted, the measuring means 57 is Ll.
The distance is fixed at t, and the distance is measured at time t. In the velocity method, in the example of this graph, the measuring means 5
7 at a distance of L3, and at time t1. t2. Each measurement is made at time t3, and when this spotting position moves to a distance LA, the measuring means 57 also moves to a distance L4, and measurement is performed at time t4. In this way, the measuring means 57 is controlled to move as the spotting location moves. Note that a plurality of spotting locations B2 exist simultaneously in the incubator 55,
When measuring by the velocity method, the measuring means 57 is moved so that the above-mentioned measurement is performed for each spotting location 62. As described above, correction can be made even if measurements cannot be made at multiple locations at the same time.

Graph 101 is a graph corresponding to the case where the long test film 3 is conveyed by the control method described in FIG. 5B. In this case, as shown in this graph 101, the spotting point 62 may be at a distance of Ll even at time t5 when measurement should be performed using the end point method, and in this case, the measuring means 57 moves to a distance of Ll. The measurement is then carried out. In the example of this graph 101, when determining Δ1j using the velocity method,
ilNl flattening 57 is placed at a distance of Ll, and at time t1+
tZ+ t3. A measurement is taken at t4. In this way, when the control method corresponding to FIG. 5B is adopted, the measuring means 57 moves to perform measurements in both the velocity method and the end point method. Incidentally, when a plurality of spotting points 62 are present in the incubator 55 at the same time, the measuring means 57 is moved so that the above-mentioned measurement is performed for each spotting point B2.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the biochemical analyzer of the present invention. The same members as in FIG. 3 are given the same numbers, and their explanations will be omitted.

The incubator 55' of this biochemical analyzer 1' is formed in an arc shape, and the measuring means 57 is moved to the end of the incubator 55' on the winding chamber 51' side (the measuring means shown in the figure) by a moving means (not shown). 57) and the other end of the incubator 55 (position 57' shown in the figure) in the directions of arrows C and D shown in the figure. The optical density is measured at the positions of the film 3 where a plurality of dots have been applied. Further, as described above, this measuring means 57 can also be configured so that it can also be moved to the position 57' indicated by the broken line in the figure to measure the fog density.

By forming the incubator 55' in an arc shape in this manner, the apparatus 1' can be made compact, and the mechanism for moving the measuring means 57 can also be simplified.

The length [cm] of the incubator 55' is configured to be the same as in the embodiment described above.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained in detail above, the present invention is capable of spotting a test liquid on a long test film, incubating it in an incubator, and coloring the spotted portion using a measuring means. In a biochemical analyzer for measuring the degree of disease, an incubator is configured to have a length capable of accommodating a plurality of spotted parts along the conveyance direction of a long test film, and the plurality of spotted parts in the incubator The measuring means is movable along the length of the test film in the incubator so that the optical density of the test film can be measured without incubation time interfering with high-speed processing. The test liquid can be continuously spotted, incubated, and measured. Further, since the measuring means is movable, it is possible to configure the apparatus to maximize the efficiency of using the long test film regardless of the end point method or speed method.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the biochemical analyzer according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main parts of the biochemical analyzer shown in perspective in FIG. 1; FIG. is a cross-sectional view along the line xx' in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is
Figures 5A and 5B are diagrams showing the temporal movement of the spotted part within the incubator.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of the correspondence between the movement of the spotting point and the movement of the measuring means; FIG. 7 is a graph showing how the spotting is performed on a long test film; FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the biochemical analyzer. 1.1'...Biochemical analyzer 3...Long test film 4...Test liquid storage means 5...Spotting means 7...Film supply cassette 8...Film winding cassette 9...Barcode 12...Test film storage means 15...Spotting nozzle 17...Movement means 18...Nozzle cleaning section 40...Accommodating section 40a...Test liquid extraction position 41 ... Spotting positions 43, 44 ... Tube 45 ... Liquid level detector 50 ... Cooling storage 51 ... Winding chamber 5
2...Barcode reading means 55.55'...Incubator 57...Measuring means 58...Cooling and dehumidifying device 61...Spotting position B2...Spotting position 鵡 -□ Rem 1L

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A test liquid storage means for storing a test liquid, a test film storage means for storing a long test film containing a reagent that reacts with the test liquid to cause an optical density change, and this test film. A test film transport means that sequentially pulls out the long test film stored in the storage means, and a test film transport means that takes out the test liquid stored in the test liquid storage means from the test film storage means on the long test film. a spotting means for spotting a predetermined amount at the pulled-out position; an incubator for keeping the spotted portion of the long test film at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time; A biochemical analyzer having a measuring means for irradiating a portion with light and measuring the optical density resulting from the reaction, wherein the incubator is capable of accommodating a plurality of the spotted portions on the long test film. The measuring means is attached to a portion of the long test film inside the incubator so that the optical density of the plurality of spotted portions inside the incubator is measured. A biochemical analyzer characterized in that the device is movable along the line.