JPH01142440A - Cuvet holder for automatic chemical analyser - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and accurately calibrate a spectrophotometric apparatus, by arranging and fixing calibration filter members to a cuvet holder on the same circumference as the arrangement line of measuring cuvets. CONSTITUTION:Calibration color glass filters 18 are arranged and fixed to a cuvet holder 1 on the same circumference as the arrangement line of measuring cuvets 11. Therefore, it can be simply performed that calibration cuvet holders 17 are provided to the cuvet holder 1 of an automatic chemical analyser in a detachable manner. The actually measured value of a spectrophotometric apparatus is compared with the standard value of each of the calibration color glass filters 18 to make it possible to easily calibrate the analyser.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a cuvette holder for calibrating a spectrophotometer of an automatic chemical analyzer, and in particular, to a cuvette holder for calibrating a spectrophotometer of an automatic chemical analyzer.
Body fluids such as blood, plasma, serum, and lymph, excreta such as urine,
Secretions such as gastric juice, pancreatic juice, bile, saliva, sweat, ascites, pleural effusion,
The present invention relates to a cuvette holder for calibrating a spectrophotometer of an automatic chemical analyzer for specimens such as puncture fluid such as joint cavity fluid.

The present invention also relates to a cuvette holder for calibrating an absorbance measuring device of an automatic chemical analyzer, which includes a sample dispensing device, a reagent dispensing device, a stirring device, and an absorbance measuring device.

(b) Conventional technology A turntable-type automatic chemical analyzer is equipped with a turntable capable of intermittent rotational drive and continuous rotational drive, a sample dispensing device, a reagent dispensing device, a washing/drying device, and an absorbance measuring device. A plurality of cuvette holders for accommodating a plurality of cuvettes are attached to the turntable along an arcuate line, forming a circular row of cuvettes.

In this way, a turntable equipped with a plurality of cuvettes is rotated intermittently or continuously according to a preset time program, and the cuvettes are moved intermittently or continuously, so that each cuvette is dispensed. For example, when the turntable is stopped, the cuvettes located in the analysis work areas such as the sample dispensing area, reagent dispensing area, stirring area, reaction area, washing and drying area, etc. Dispensing a predetermined amount of sample with a sample dispenser, dispensing a predetermined amount of reagent with a reagent dispenser, stirring and mixing the reaction solution, reacting, discharging the reaction solution from the measured sample container, subsequent washing and drying, etc. While performing the analysis work, the absorbance of the analysis item component is measured for the sample located in the measurement area, and then the turntable is rotated intermittently to send the cuvette to the next stop position, and the cuvette located in the analysis work area is For each, perform analysis operations such as sample dispensing, reagent dispensing, stirring, reaction, washing, and drying as before, and continuously repeat driving the turntable and analysis operations in each analysis work area. We are conducting an analysis based on this.

In such automatic chemical analysis, the analytical values are managed, for example, by placing a control serum or a standard sample between the samples to be analyzed, thereby calibrating the analytical values.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention In such an automatic chemical analyzer, for example, when performing a late analysis method using a direct measurement method, the spectrophotometer is moved within the measurement area to measure the absorbance of the sample. Under such measurement conditions, the performance of the spectrophotometric measurement equipment, such as measurement wavelength accuracy, wavelength setting repeatability, photometric accuracy, stray light, noise level, and baseline stability, should be regularly evaluated in order to perform measurements. calibration or verification is required.

In addition, such a decline in the performance of the spectrophotometer will manifest as an abnormality in the analytical value of the standard sample, and re-analysis will be performed. If the problem is on the side, it will be resolved by reanalysis, but if it is on the spectrophotometer side, it will not be resolved by reanalysis.Therefore, the chances of reanalysis will be relatively high, resulting in wasted samples and reagents. This is a problem, and in this case as well, it is necessary to calibrate the spectrophotometer.

However, in order to calibrate a spectrophotometer, a standard sample solution for verification is required, and this standard sample solution has a narrow wavelength band and is difficult to store, so a standard sample solution must be selected each time. Even if the spectrophotometer is periodically calibrated, it reduces the throughput of the automatic chemical analyzer, requires a large variety of expensive standard sample solutions, and is wasted. This is a problem.

It is an object of the present invention to solve such problems related to the calibration of the spectrophotometer in the conventional automatic chemical analyzer.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention not only simplifies and facilitates the calibration of an automatic chemical analyzer, but also enables the calibration operation of a spectrophotometer to be performed during sample analysis while the automatic chemical analyzer is in operation. The purpose is to provide a cuvette bolter for calibration that can be performed simultaneously with operation.

That is, the present invention is characterized in that at least one filter member having a predetermined optical path length and having a known absorbance in the measurement wavelength band is arranged on the same circumference as the measurement cuvette. Located in cuvette holder for automatic analyzer.

In the present invention, the filter member is formed of a material having a known absorption ability in the measurement wavelength band, that is, the absorbance is known, in the shape of a film, plate, or column, and is constituted singly or in combination.

Therefore, when installing a filter member inside a cuvette,
A known optical filter material having a known absorption capacity in the measurement wavelength band, that is, a known absorbance, for example, in the form of a film or a plate, may be fixedly formed in a cuvette used for normal measurements. Further, it can be in the form of a cuvette that has the same dimensions as a cuvette normally used for measurements and is made of a material whose absorbance in the measurement wavelength band is known.

In this way, if the filter member for calibration is provided within the cuvette used for measurement or formed in the form of a cuvette, the filter member for calibration has the same dimensions as the cuvette used for measurement. filter member,
The cuvette holder can be placed on a circumference of the same curvature as the cuvette array line used for measurement.

In this case, the filter member for calibration may be held in the cuvette holder together with the cuvette to be measured, or only the filter member for calibration may be held in the cuvette holder.

In this way, if the filter members for calibration are formed to have the same dimensions as the cuvettes for measurement and are arranged on the same circumference as the arrangement of cuvettes for measurement in an automatic chemical analyzer, Since it can be installed in place of a part of the cuvette holder used for calibration, it is possible to attach such a calibration cuvette holder to an automatic chemical analyzer
This is preferable because it is possible to calibrate the photometric system prior to or during the analysis operation of the automatic chemical analyzer under the same conditions as the analysis operation conditions.

However, in the present invention, the calibration filter member does not necessarily have to be formed to have the same dimensions as the cuvettes for measuring other components; in this case, the calibration filter member is also formed with small dimensions between the other cuvettes. As such, attachments formed in the cuvette alignment line between the measurement cuvettes in the cuvette holder can be provided in the sections.

In this way, if a filter member for calibration is installed in the space between cuvettes in the cuvette holder, an appropriate number of filter members for calibration can be arranged on the circumference together with cuvettes for measurement. Therefore, by arranging calibration filter members with the same absorption wavelength and/or calibration filter members with different absorption wavelengths, it is possible to perform dispensing, for example, before or during analysis with an automatic chemical analyzer. More accurate calibration can be performed without irregularly operating the device or the like.

(e) Function The present invention has the filter members for calibration arranged and fixed on the cuvette holder on the same circumference as the arrangement line of the cuvettes for measurement. , the calibration cuvette holder can be easily and easily installed in a removable manner, and the actual measured value of the spectrophotometer of the automatic chemical analyzer can be compared with the standard value of the calibration filter member. Calibration of the photometric device can be easily performed.

Therefore, before analysis is performed using an automatic chemical analyzer, a calibration cuvette holder equipped with a filter member for calibration is attached to the turntable of the automatic chemical analyzer. The spectrophotometer can be calibrated, and the spectrophotometer of the automatic chemical analyzer can be calibrated during analysis work by the automatic chemical analyzer.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily maintain an automatic chemical analyzer in an accurate state, so that each analytical sample is analyzed accurately, and the accuracy and precision of analytical values are improved. This makes it possible to increase the reliability of analytical values.

(F) EXAMPLES Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited in any way by the following explanations and exemplifications.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of FIG. 1. Third
The figure is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of the invention. All of these figures are shown in a simplified manner for convenience of explanation.

FIG. 4 is an absorption spectrum diagram for the color compensation filter M-10, in which the vertical axis shows transmittance (%) and the horizontal axis shows wavelength (nm).

The cuvette holder 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a fan-shaped floor 2, and the lateral ends 3 and 4 of the floor 2 of a plurality of cuvette holders 1 are placed adjacent to each other. By connecting to , the whole can be formed into an annular shape. A mounting piece 6 is provided on the inside 5 of the fan-shaped cuvette holder 1, and this mounting piece 6 is provided with a fixing screw hole 7 and a positioning hole 68.

On the other hand, the cuvette holder 1 is attached to the outside 019 of the piece 6.
A partition wall 10 is erected on the outside of the partition wall 10.
A cuvette mounting section 13 is provided in which a plurality of cuvettes 11 are mounted along a circumferential line 12.

In this example, each cuvette mounting section 13 includes:
A support frame 14 is provided to protrude downward so that a plurality of cuvettes 11 are accurately fixed at predetermined intervals, and below the support frame 14 is provided a support member that also serves as a measurement mask and has a window 15. 16 are provided.

In this example, all of the cuvettes 11 provided in the cuvette holder 1 are for measurement, but one cuvette section 1 for calibration is partially used for calibration.
7 has a colored glass filter 18 attached inside thereof.

Since this example is constructed as described above, the colored glass filter 18 is attached to a predetermined cuvette of the cuvette 11 of the cuvette holder 1 to form the calibration cuvette section 17, thereby forming the calibration cuvette holder 1.

To attach the calibration cuvette holder 1 to an automatic chemical analyzer, remove the cuvette holder that has already been installed in a predetermined position on the automatic chemical analyzer, and then install the calibration cuvette holder 1 in that position. This is done by attaching. In this case, the positioning pin 68 of the calibration cuvette holder 1 is fitted into the positioning pin (not shown) of the turntable of the automatic chemical analyzer, and the screw is screwed into the screw hole 7 to fix it. As a result, the calibration cuvette holder 1 is attached to the automated analysis and measurement device. In this way, the cuvette holder 1 for calibration
is attached to an automatic chemical analyzer to calibrate the spectrophotometer (not shown) of the automatic chemical analyzer. In this example, an M-10 color compensation filter is used as the color filter for calibration. used.

When calibrating the spectrophotometer of an automatic chemical analyzer using the calibration cuvette of this example, stop the operation of the sample dispensing device, reagent dispensing device, and washing/drying device of the automatic chemical analyzer, and The movement of the turntable of the automatic chemical analyzer is stopped, the spectrophotometer is moved within the measurement area, and the absorbance of the calibration cuvette section 17 located within the measurement area is measured for each measurement wavelength. . By comparing the actual value obtained by this measurement with the standard value of the calibration cuvetupette holder 1, it is possible to know the relationship between the actual value and the standard value for the spectrophotometer.

The absorbance measurement results for each measurement wavelength are shown in the following table.

(The following is a blank space) In the above table, in the wavelength range from 340 nm to 660 r+m, the absorbance has decreased to 98%, and it is considered that a systematic error of about -20% has occurred in the accuracy of the absorbance. Can be done. In addition, the absorbance decreases to 95% in the wavelength range of 700 nm or more, so judging from the absorption spectrum of M-10 shown in Figure 4, this indicates that the wavelength has shifted to shorter wavelengths in this wavelength range. indicates that readjustment or automatic internal calibration is required.

Instead of attaching a filter to the measurement cuvette, for example,
A calibration filter member made of color filter glass can be used.

In FIG. 3, a calibration cuvette holder 19 is used while being fixed to the turntable of an automatic chemical analyzer, similar to the example in FIG. Calibration cuvette holder 1
A plurality of cuvettes 21 for measurement are placed on the floor 20 of 9.
In this example, a calibration probe having dimensions smaller than the measurement cuvette 21 and having sufficient absorption power in the measurement wavelength band is placed between the measurement cuvettes 21 at a location 22. A solid rectangular filter member 23 is fitted and adhesively fixed to the cuvette holder 19 in the same manner as the measurement cuvette 21.

Since the present example is configured as described above, for example, a plurality of calibration cuvette holders are attached to the turntable of an automatic chemical analyzer to carry out calibration mode measurement. In this case, the turntable of the automatic chemical analyzer is rotated intermittently, and when the turntable is stopped, the absorbance is measured for each calibration solid rectangular filter member 23 in the measurement area at the calibration cuvette holder position.

Regarding the solid rectangular filter member 23 for calibration, these analysis operations are not performed because the installation position is shifted from the drifting cuvette position. However, when all of the measurement cuvettes 21 of this calibration cuvette boulder 19 are in the measurement area, one calibration dense solid rectangular filter member 23 is located between these measurement cuvettes. Together with the cuvette 21, each measurement wavelength is measured. Therefore, for each measurement wavelength, the relationship between the actual measurement value and the standard value can be determined while performing normal analysis operations, so it is possible to calibrate the spectrophotometer of an automatic chemical analyzer, such as the wavelength for each measurement, as well as to It is also possible to detect abnormalities in the spectrophotometer of an automatic chemical analyzer, such as abnormalities in the light source and misalignment of the optical axis.

In the above examples, a solid filter member made of a color filter material is used as an example of a filter member for calibration, but a hollow filter member made of a color filter material may also be used.

(G) Effects of the Invention The present invention has a filter member for calibration arranged and fixed in the cuvette holder within the arrangement line of the cuvette for measurement. Abnormalities in a measuring device can be detected simply and easily, and the spectrophotometer of an automatic chemical analyzer can be calibrated simply and easily under the same conditions as those used for actual measurement.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, control sample analysis and spectrophotometer inspection, which was impossible with conventional automatic chemical analyzers, can be performed simultaneously, and the cause of abnormal analytical values can be easily determined. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of FIG. 1. Third
The figure is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of the invention. All of these figures are shown in a simplified manner for convenience of explanation. FIG. 4 is an absorption spectrum diagram for the color compensation filter M-10, in which the vertical axis shows transmittance (%) and the horizontal axis shows wavelength (nm). Regarding the symbols in the figure, 1 is the cuvette holder, 2 is the floor, 3 and 4 are the side edges, 5 is the inside, 6 is the mounting piece, 7 is the fixing screw hole, and 8 is the positioning hole. , 9 is outside, 10
1 is a partition wall, 11 is a cuvette, 12 is a line, 13 is a cuvette mounting part, 14 is a support frame, 15 is a window part, 1
6 is a support member, 17 is a calibration cuvette part, 18 is a colored glass filter, 19 is a cuvette holder, 20 is a floor part,
21 is a cuvette for measurement, 22 is a place between the cuvettes, and 23 is a solid rectangular filter member for calibration.

Claims (1)

[Claims] At least one filter member having a predetermined optical path length and having a known absorbance in a measurement wavelength band is arranged on the same circumference as a cuvette for measurement. cuvette holder.