JPH0121910B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sample supply device, and more particularly to a sample supply device that automatically moves a liquid sample to a sample suction position of an automatic analyzer.

In a sample supply device used in a conventional automatic analyzer, for example, as shown in FIG. It rotates intermittently and sequentially moves the sample container 2 to the sample suction position 4 of an automatic analyzer (not shown). Assuming that the state shown in Figure 1 is the reference position for starting analysis, the sample container 6 located at the sample suction position 4 of the automatic analyzer is placed in the blank sample (usually distilled water) used for zero point adjustment during automatic analyzer calibration. The next sample container 7 is a sample container for storing a standard sample used for gain adjustment. The following sample containers 8 and below are sample containers for storing the sample to be measured.

If it becomes necessary to urgently analyze and measure a special sample while an ordinary sample in a sample container of 8 or less is being analyzed and measured after starting analysis and measurement, the automatic analyzer should be placed in a position other than the sample suction position 4 in the circle. Set the sample container containing the emergency sample in a special position unrelated to plate 1, and set the sample container containing the emergency sample in such a way that the sample suction probe of the automatic analyzer does not come to the sample suction position 4, but to the special position mentioned above. The analysis measurement of an emergency sample is interrupted during the analysis measurement. The above-mentioned conventional technique has the disadvantage that only one emergency sample can be handled at a time. In addition, accuracy control samples with known concentrations are analyzed and measured from time to time, and the accuracy of daily analytical measurements using analyzers is generally controlled based on the analysis results, but there is no location for the accuracy control samples, and each time, Methods such as performing a special analysis and measurement, or replacing a quality control sample in the above-mentioned emergency sample installation position and performing an analysis and measurement, are taken. Since the above-mentioned operations are performed manually, each operation requires labor on the part of the operator, and there is a risk of sample mix-up.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sample supply device that can repeatedly sample quality control samples and standard samples by simply installing them once, and can also easily sample emergency samples. .

The present invention includes a rotatable sample holding table having a row of container installation holes for normal samples on one circumference and a row of container installation holes for special samples on another circumference, A position detection plate is provided that has detection holes corresponding to the container installation holes and the special sample container installation holes, respectively, and is fixed to the sample holding table, and the row of the special sample container installation holes is for quality control. The sample installation area, standard sample installation area, and emergency sample installation area are partially allocated in correspondence with the detection holes on the position detection plate, and the quality control sample on the sample holding table is allocated in accordance with the command from the analyzer. , characterized in that it includes a table positioning device that selectively positions the standard sample or the emergency sample at a position corresponding to the sample suction probe.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a sample suction/exhaust tube or a sample suction probe connected to a pipette is movably disposed so as to traverse over the normal sample row and the special sample row. Then, the transfer timing of the normal sample and the operation of the sample suction probe are related so that one or more samples on the normal sample train transfer path are regularly sampled in sequence. In addition, the samples on the special sample train transfer path are sampled between the sampling of normal samples, if necessary. In other words, a specific special sample is placed on the special sample train transfer path based on a predetermined special operation program or the will of the operator so that the special sample is sampled in the middle of a series of sampling operations for ordinary samples. is transferred to a reference position where the sample suction probe is moved up and down, and this transfer operation and the operation of the sample suction probe are correlated.

The normal sample row transfer path and the special sample row transfer path are formed on the same transfer means. In this case, when one sample row is in the sampling operation, sampling of the other sample row is stopped. The sample suction probe can move between a normal sample train transfer path, a special sample train transfer path, and a reaction line in which a large number of reaction containers are arranged. The sample sucked into the sample suction probe is discharged into a reaction container, and then reacted with a predetermined reagent and then optically measured to determine the concentration of a specific component.

Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below. Second
The figure shows a side sectional view of an embodiment of the invention. A rotatable sample holding plate (sample holding table) 9 is integrally fixed to an outer cylinder 10, and the outer cylinder 10 is rotatably supported by an inner cylinder 11 via bearings 12 and 13. Inner cylinder 11 is fixed to base 14. A detection plate 15 is fixed to the outer cylinder 10, and teeth 16 are attached to the outer periphery of the outer cylinder 10. A gear 17 is fixed to the shaft of a motor 18 fixed to the base 14,
It is connected to the gear 16 to transmit the rotation of the motor 18 to the sample holding plate 9. Detectors 19, 20, 2 are base 1
4, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the relationship between the detection plate 5 and the detectors 19, 20, and 21. Detector 19, 20,
21 is an optical position detector (photointerrupter)
and the detection holes 25 and 2 on the detection plate 15, respectively.
6,27 is detected. These position detectors 19,
20 and 21 constitute a table positioning device together with the motor 18 and the control device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sample holding plate 9, and the relationship between the sample container rows 28 and 29 will be explained. The normal sample container row 28 is for installing 40 sample containers for normal samples, and is numbered 1, 2, 3, . . . , 40 from the reference position 30 where the sample suction probe is located. The special sample container row 29 is for installing sample containers for blank samples, standard samples, quality control samples, and emergency samples.The sample container 31 located at the reference position 30 is for blank samples, and is for installing sample containers for blank samples, standard samples, quality control samples, and emergency samples. The following 16 containers from container 32 to sample container 33 are for standard samples, sample containers 34, 35, and 36 are for quality control samples, and sample containers 37 to 38 are for standard samples.
The next 10 containers are for emergency samples.

The operating principle will be explained below. When a biochemical analyzer (not shown) starts analysis, the motor 18 is rotated by a command from the biochemical analyzer. When the detection hole 26 reaches the detector 20, a signal is sent from the detector 20 to the analyzer, and the motor 18 is stopped by a command from the analyzer. At this time, the first sample container in the sample container row 28 and the sample container 31
is adjusted so that it stops at a reference position 30. If the analyzer needs to be calibrated, a sample suction probe (not shown) of the analyzer moves to the position of the sample container 31 in the sample container row 29, sucks in a blank sample, and performs analysis and measurement. Next, the motor 18 is rotated by a command from the analyzer, and when one of the detection holes 27 is about to pass the detector 21, a signal is sent from the detector 21 to the analyzer.
The motor 18 is stopped by a command from the analyzer. At this time, the detection hole 27 is formed so that the sample container 32 has reached the reference position 30. Through the above operations, the analyzer sucks the first standard sample into the sample suction probe, transfers it to the reaction container, and performs analysis and measurement. By repeating the above operations, reference samples necessary for calibrating the analyzer can be sequentially supplied to the analyzer.

In this embodiment, a maximum of 16 types of standard samples can be placed in the container row 29 so that a maximum of 16 types of components can be analyzed. When the necessary standard sample is supplied, the motor 18 is rotated according to a command from the analyzer, and when the detection hole 26 reaches the detector 20, the motor 18 is stopped according to a command from the analyzer. The sample suction probe of the analyzer sucks in the first normal sample at the reference position 30 and analyzes and measures it. Below, in order, 2nd, 3rd, etc.
It is possible to analyze and measure ordinary samples of... While measuring a normal sample as described above, periodically, for example,
If you want to analyze and measure a quality control sample every time you analyze and measure 10 normal samples, after analyzing and measuring the 10th normal sample in the sample container row 28, the motor 18 will rotate according to a command from the analyzer to remove the sample. The container 34 is moved to the reference position 30. The sample suction probe of the analyzer aspirates the first quality control sample in the sample container 34 and analyzes and measures it.

Thereafter, the second and third quality control samples can be supplied according to a command from the analyzer as needed.

In the above operation, the analyzer counts the number of detection signals from the detector 21 to
It is sufficient to stop the target sample container in the circumferential sample container row 29 at the reference position. Following the above operation, the process returns to supplying the normal sample and moves the 11th normal sample to the reference position 30. The above operation can be performed by the analyzer counting the number of detection signals from the detector 19. In the same way, if it becomes necessary to analyze and measure an emergency sample while supplying normal samples and quality control samples, the emergency sample can be supplied by interrupting the sequential supply of the above samples. can.

Sample containers (1 to 10) for emergency samples are installed between sample containers 37 and 38 in FIG. 4, and the desired emergency sample can be moved to the reference position 30 according to a command from the analyzer. In the above operation, the analyzer can control the sample supply device by counting the number of detection signals from the detector 21. Once the necessary emergency samples have been supplied, it is sufficient to return to the sequential supply of normal samples and quality control samples. The sample supply device continues to stop until the supply of the sample necessary for analysis and measurement is completed and a rotation command for the motor 18 is not received from the analyzer.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the analyzer can supply a variety of samples with extremely simple control, such as operating the motor of the sample supply device and stopping the motor in response to a detection signal for determining the rotation stop position. I can do it.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since two rows of sample containers are provided on the sample holding plate, it is possible to improve the space efficiency of the rotary sample supply device, which tends to be large in size.

As explained above, according to the present invention, standard samples and quality control samples can be automatically and repeatedly sampled just by setting them once, so that laboratory technicians can easily sample standard samples and quality control samples. This saves you the trouble of repeatedly installing the
Furthermore, in the present invention, the row of special sample container installation holes is partially assigned to the quality control sample installation area, the standard sample installation area, and the emergency sample installation area, so the emergency sample also requires a special drive mechanism. It can be easily sampled without using it.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a sample supply device according to the prior art, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the relationship between the rotation stop position detection plate and the detector, and FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the sample arrangement on the sample holding plate. 9... Sample holding plate, 15... Detection plate, 18...
Motor, 19, 20, 21...Detector, 25, 2
6, 27...Detection hole, 28, 29...Container row, 3
0...Reference position.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Equipped with a rotatable sample holding table having a row of container installation holes for ordinary samples on one circumference and a row of container installation holes for special samples on the other circumference; and a position detection plate fixed to the sample holding table, which has detection holes corresponding to the special sample container installation holes, and the rows of the special sample container installation holes correspond to the precision control sample installation holes. The area, standard sample installation area, and emergency sample installation area are partially allocated in correspondence with the detection holes on the position detection plate, and the accuracy control sample on the sample holding table is A sample supply device comprising a table positioning device for selectively positioning a standard sample or an emergency sample at a position corresponding to a sample suction probe.