JPH01174968A - Automatic chemical analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the obtaining a highly reliable data, by providing a cleaning probe for alcohol immediately before a dryer. CONSTITUTION:When a mounting plate 5 moves downward, a cleaning probe 3 enters a reaction container 1a right below thereof discharge or sucks a cleaning water. Then, the mounting plate 5 moves upward to shift containers 1a-1z by one container in the direction of the arrow 7. Then, a reaction tube with the contents liquid thereof removed by a drain probe 8 moves right below a cleaning probe 9 for alcohol. Subsequently, the mounting plate 5 moves downward and the probe 9 enters the reaction container, a condition under which ethanol 10 is discharged into or sucked from the reaction container through a tube 12 with a syringe 11. Then, as the mounting plate 5 moves upward, the containers 1a-1z shift in the direction of the arrow 7, the reaction container cleaned by alcohol is positioned right below an alcohol drain probe 16 to remove alcohol. A probe 9 of such a type is provided immediately before the dryer thereby obtaining a highly reliable data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer for liquid samples, particularly for specimens such as blood, serum, and urine. The present invention also relates to an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a cleaning device and a drying device.

(Prior art) 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 cleaning device, a drying device, and a measuring device. Reaction containers such as reaction cuvettes are arranged on a turntable, and the turntable is rotated intermittently or continuously according to a preset time program, and analysis is performed for each sample container. . For example, when the turntable is stopped, the reaction containers located in analysis work areas such as the sample dispensing area, reagent dispensing area, stirring area, reaction area, and washing and drying area are
Dispensing a predetermined amount of sample using a sample dispenser, dispensing a predetermined amount of reagent using a reagent dispenser, stirring and mixing the reaction solution, reacting, discharging the reaction solution from the measured sample container, and subsequent washing and drying. 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 intermittently rotated to send the reaction container to the next stop position and located in the analysis work area. For the reaction vessels, perform sample dispensing, reagent dispensing, stirring, and
Analysis operations such as reaction, washing, and drying are performed, and analysis is performed by continuously repeating the drive of the turntable and analysis operations in each analysis operation area.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) In such an automatic chemical analyzer, the final cleaning process of the reaction vessel is performed with pure water, and pure water remains in the reaction vessel used for the previous measurement, resulting in a complete cleaning process. It may be used for the next measurement without being dried. in this case,
Water remaining in the reaction vessel affected the next analysis results, causing unreliable results.

The present invention aims to solve the problems associated with draining and drying the reaction container after cleaning in conventional automatic chemical analyzers.

(Means for Solving the Problems) An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic chemical analyzer that reduces the cleaning liquid remaining in the reaction container during repeated measurement use and improves the reliability of analysis results.

The present invention provides a reaction line in which a plurality of reaction containers are arranged, a sample dispenser, a reagent dispenser,
An automatic chemical analyzer is provided with a reaction container, a cleaning device, and a drying device in that order, and is characterized in that an alcohol cleaning probe is provided immediately before the drying device. In the present invention, the cleaning probe for alcohol may share the discharge part with a probe for detergent-containing water or pure water for rinsing purposes, and connect an alcohol flow path through a valve or the like in the middle of the probe to feed alcohol. However, it is more preferable to provide these probes for cleaning water separately and independently.

In the present invention, alcohol refers to lower alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propatool, butanol, and ethanol is preferred due to environmental concerns and its low boiling point.

In the present invention, a drying device means a hot air blower, etc., but in the case of an automatic chemical analyzer that does not have a special drying device, it is a waiting period from the end of the cleaning process to the start of the next analysis operation such as sample dispensing. It can also refer to a part of an analytical device that forms a part of the analyzer.

(Function) The alcohol cleaning probe discharges alcohol into the reaction vessel that has been cleaned with detergent or the like. This alcohol mixes with a small amount of pure water remaining in the reaction container, and is discharged out of the reaction container by suction into the container or by reversing the container. After this, the extremely small amount of alcohol remaining in the reaction container has a low boiling point, so it evaporates and the container dries without requiring any special operation. In addition, in order to stop evaporation, air blowing, heating, etc. can be used in conjunction with the drying process9 (Example) Examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited in any way by the following description and illustrations.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1a to 1z are reaction vessels of an automatic chemical analyzer, which are located in a constant temperature water bath 2 whose temperature is controlled to 37°C. 3 is a probe for detergent, and 4 is a probe for pure water. These probes are attached to a plate 5 and move up and down as shown by arrows 6. First, during installation, when the plate moves downward, the probe 3 enters the reaction vessel 1a positioned directly below it, and the probe 3 discharges and suctions washing water. When this process is completed, the mounting plate 5 moves upward and the reaction vessels 1a to 12 move by one vessel in the direction of the arrow 7. Reference numeral 8 denotes a draining probe which sucks the solution in the reaction vessel.The reaction tube from which the liquid content has been removed by the draining probe 9 is moved directly below the alcohol cleaning probe 9. Subsequently, during installation, the plate 5 moves downward and the alcohol cleaning probe 9 enters the reaction vessel. In this state, ethanol 10 is discharged by the syringe 11 through the tube 12 into the reaction container in a flow state shown by arrow 13, and is sucked in according to the flow state shown by arrow 14. The pipe 15 is connected to a pressure reducing device (not shown). Next, install plate 5
moves upward and the reaction vessels 1a to 1z move in the direction of arrow 7, so that the alcohol-washed reaction vessel is positioned directly below the alcohol cutting probe 16, and thereafter alcohol is removed in the same manner. The tube 17 is connected to a pressure reducing device (not shown), and 18 is a sponge to ensure complete alcohol removal.9 After this, the reaction vessel is placed in a sample dispensing device (not shown) for the next analysis. Since the temperature is maintained at 37°C during this time, trace amounts of alcohol remaining in the reaction vessel are removed by evaporation.

Although this example is an automatic chemical analyzer in which the reaction container is always installed upward, it can also be used in an automatic chemical analyzer in which the reaction container is turned upside down to perform the washing and drying process. ) According to the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, the cleaning process of the reaction container is completed by rinsing using alcohol.
Since the liquid drains easily, a cleaning/drying process with less residual liquid and easy drying is provided. Furthermore, since the reaction container is washed with alcohol each time it is used for analysis, contamination of the reaction solution with fat-soluble substances is reduced. Therefore, an automatic chemical analyzer that can obtain more reliable data is provided9.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating one embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, 1a to 1z are reaction vessels, 9 is an alcohol cleaning probe 11 is ethyl alcohol 16 is an alcohol cutting probe Patent applicant: Shimadzu Corporation 'uph is good Engraving of drawings (no changes to content) Spear 1 time Ialb　　　　-10　　　　! 2a Procedural amendment 1.Display of the incident Special application No. 62-336198 2. Name of the invention automatic chemical analyzer 3. Person who makes corrections Relationship to the case Patent applicant 1, Kuwahara-cho, Nishinokyo, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City (199) Shimadzu Corporation Representative: Director and President Minoru Nishihejo 4. Agent

Claims (1)

[Claims] A reaction line in which a plurality of reaction containers are arranged, and along the reaction line, a sample dispenser, a reagent dispenser, a reaction device,
An automatic chemical analyzer comprising a washing device and a drying device in that order, characterized in that an alcohol washing probe is provided immediately before the drying device.