JPH01295134A - Automatic chemical analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize the apparatus and to facilitate an adjustment operation by disposing the respective optical axes of the incident light on and exit light from a reaction vessel on the same plane as the plane at which the reaction vessel is moved. CONSTITUTION:The incident white light on the reaction vessel 2 along the optical axis 10A by a spectroscope 6 from a light source 5 of a light irradiation part 4A is emitted as transmitted light along the optical axis 10B and enters a photodetection part 4B1 in case of measuring the absorbency of a reaction liquid 1. This light is subjected to the measurement of the quantity of the light of respective wavelengths by a photodetector 9 via a mirror 7 and a spectroscope 8. The white light of the light source 5 is spectrally split by the spectroscope 6 and the incident monochromatic light on the reaction vessel 2 along the optical axis 10A is emitted as fluorescence along the optical axis 10A and is measured by a photodetector 11. The optical axis 10A cast to the vessel 2, the optical axis 10B of the transmitted light emitted therefrom and the optical axis 10C of the fluorescence are all disposed on the same plane as the plane at which the vessel 2 moves.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides a plurality of light detection systems that irradiate light onto a reaction container and detect at least transmitted light and fluorescence reflected by a reaction solution, respectively. This invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with

(Prior art) For example, serum collected from a human body is used as a sample, a desired reagent is reacted with it, the reaction solution is irradiated with light, and the absorbance is measured based on the transmitted light. Also known is an automatic chemical analyzer that measures scattered light and uses it for diagnosis.

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are block diagrams showing the outline of such an analyzer, in which a plurality of reaction vessels 2 containing a reaction liquid 1 are shown.
are arranged to form a circular reaction vessel row 3 and are intermittently moved in a predetermined direction in a constant cycle, and a photodetection system 4 is arranged at a position midway along the movement path of the reaction vessels 1. The light detection system 4 includes a light source 5 that generates white light and a spectrometer 6 such as an interference filter or grating that has the function of passing the white light as it is or splitting the white light into monochromatic light and passing the light. It consists of a section 4A and a photodetector section 4B, which will be described later. When measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution 1, the spectrometer 6 irradiates the reaction container 2 with white light, and when measuring the fluorescence or scattered light of the reaction solution 1, the spectrometer 6 emits monochromatic light obtained by dispersing the white light. It operates to irradiate the reaction vessel 1 with.

Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the absorbance of the reaction liquid 1 is measured.The spectrometer 6 allows white light from the light source 5 to pass through as it is and enters the reaction container 2. The light transmitted through the reaction solution 1 and emitted from the reaction container 2 reflects the absorbance of the reaction solution 1, and the light path is changed toward the bottom of the reaction container 2 as shown in FIG. 5(b). The light is incident on the detection section 4B. The light detection unit 4B includes a mirror 7 that reflects incident light, and a spectrometer 8 such as a grating that separates this reflected light into monochromatic light.
and a photodetector 9 such as a photodiode array for measuring the amount of light of each wavelength of the monochromatic light.

In this way, the absorbance of the reaction solution 1 is measured by the photodetector 8.

When measuring the fluorescence or scattered light of the reaction solution 1, a spectrometer 6 is used.
Monochromatic light is incident on the reaction container 2, and the light detection section 4B
Fluorescence or scattered light is measured by a similar method, with only a slight difference in configuration.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in conventional analyzers, the light detection section is arranged to detect light emitted in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the reaction container moves. This poses a problem in that there are restrictions when trying to downsize the device, and adjustment work becomes complicated. That is, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the light detection section 4B is arranged in the depth direction of the reaction container 2 so as to detect the light emitted from the bottom of the reaction container 2.
This dimension in the depth direction cannot be made very small. Furthermore, if the photodetector 4B is disposed at the bottom of the reaction vessel 2 in this way, the adjustment work cannot be easily performed and requires complicated work. Furthermore, when detecting the light emitted from the bottom of the reaction vessel 2, the flatness of the bottom is important, and simple pultrusion cannot form a bottom with high precision. For this reason, a labor-intensive processing method such as a bonding method is required, so an increase in the cost of the reaction vessel 2 is unavoidable.

The present invention was made in response to the above circumstances.
The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic chemical analyzer that can be miniaturized and allows easy adjustment work.

[Structure J of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention moves the optical axis of the light incident on the reaction container and the optical axis of the detection light emitted from the reaction container by moving the reaction container. It is arranged on the same plane as the plane to be used.

(Function) By arranging the optical axes of the incident light and the emitted light to the reaction container on the same plane as the plane in which the reaction container is moved, it is no longer necessary to arrange the photodetector in the depth direction of the reaction container. Therefore, since the dimension of the device in the depth direction is reduced, it is possible to achieve miniaturization, and accordingly, adjustment work can be easily performed.

Furthermore, since the detection light is no longer emitted from the bottom of the reaction vessel, the flatness of the bottom is no longer important, so the reaction vessel can be manufactured using a simple processing method.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, in which a plurality of reaction vessels 2 containing a reaction liquid 1 are arranged to form a circular reaction vessel row 3. It is intermittently moved in a predetermined direction in a constant cycle. Reaction container 2
has a circular cross-sectional shape, and a light irradiation unit 4A including a light source 5 and a spectroscope 6 is arranged outside the circle of the circular reaction vessel row 3. The optical axis 10A of white light or monochromatic light irradiated from the light source 5 to the reaction container 2 via the spectroscope 6 is arranged on the same plane as the plane in which the reaction container 2 moves. When measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution 1, the spectrometer 6 directly irradiates the reaction container 2 with white light from the light source 5, and the spectrometer 6 measures the fluorescence or scattered light (hereinafter referred to as fluorescence) of the reaction solution 1. When measuring fluorescence (simply referred to as fluorescence), the white light from the light source 5 is split into monochromatic light and the reaction vessel 2 is irradiated with this as excitation light.

When measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution 1, white light incident on the reaction container 2 along the optical axis 10A is transmitted along the optical axis 10B.
The light is emitted along the extension of the optical axis 10A and is incident on the mirror 7 of the light detection section 4B1. The light reflected by the mirror 7 enters the spectroscope 8, where it is separated into monochromatic colors, and then the light intensity of each wavelength of the monochromatic light is measured by the photodetector 9, which determines the absorbance (
amount of transmitted light> is measured.

On the other hand, when measuring the fluorescence of the reaction solution 1, the monochromatic light that enters the reaction container 2 as excitation light along the optical axis 10A excites the reaction solution, so that the fluorescence generated from the reaction solution is transmitted along the optical axis 10A and 90. 'The photodetector 4 emits light onto the separated optical axis 10C.
The amount of fluorescence light is measured by the photodetector 11 of B2. With this configuration, the optical axis 10B of the transmitted light and the optical axis 10C of the fluorescent light emitted from the reaction container 2 are arranged in the same plane as the plane in which the reaction container 2 moves, similarly to the optical axis 10A.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution 1, the light source 5 of the light irradiation unit 4A is used to measure the reaction container 2 along the optical axis 10A using the spectrometer 6.
The white light that has entered is emitted as transmitted light along an optical axis 10B that is an extension of the optical axis 10A, and enters the light detection section 481. This light is split into monochromatic lights via a mirror 7 and a spectroscope 8, and a photodetector 9 measures the amount of light at each wavelength, thereby measuring absorbance. Next, when measuring the fluorescence of the reaction solution 1, the white light from the light source 5 of the light irradiation section 4A is separated by the spectroscope 6 and the monochromatic light that enters the reaction container 2 along the optical axis 10A is converted into fluorescence. Optical axis 10 separated by 10A and 90'
The light is emitted along the line C and enters the light detection section 4B2. The amount of fluorescence of this light is measured by a photodetector 11.

In the analyzer used for each of these measurements, the optical axis "IOA" of the white light or monochromatic light irradiated onto the reaction container 2 is
The optical axis 10B of transmitted light and the optical axis 10C of fluorescence emitted from the reaction container 2 are both arranged on the same plane as the plane in which the reaction container 2 moves.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the photodetector section 4-81
, 4B2 in the depth direction of the reaction vessel 2, the size of the device in the depth direction can be reduced, and the device can be made smaller. Additionally, adjustment work for the device can also be easily performed. Furthermore, reaction vessel 2
Since it is no longer necessary to emit detection light such as transmitted light or fluorescence from the bottom of the sensor, flatness accuracy of the bottom is not required. Therefore, since the reaction container can be manufactured using a simple processing method, costs can be reduced.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which each reaction container 2 constituting the reaction container row 3 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. According to this embodiment, the first
Effects similar to those of the embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the reaction vessel 2
-0- shows a row in which a rectangular one is used and the optical axis 10A of the irradiation light is arranged in the tangential direction of the reaction container row 3. According to this embodiment, in addition to obtaining the same effects as in the first embodiment, the light irradiation section 4A, the light detection section 4B1.
Fabrication of the device by placing all 4B2 outside the circle of the circular reaction vessel row 3.

This provides the effect of using a container for adjustment, etc.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the light irradiation section 4
This shows an example in which A is arranged inside the circle of the circular reaction container row 3 and the photodetector 482 is arranged in the tangential direction of the reaction container row 3. This embodiment also provides the same effects as the first embodiment.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the optical axes of the incident light and the outgoing light to the reaction vessel are arranged on the same plane as the plane in which the reaction vessel is moved, so it is possible to miniaturize the apparatus. This makes adjustment work easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are block diagrams of a conventional example. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Reaction liquid, 2... Reaction container, 3... Reaction container row, 4... Light detection system, 4A... Light irradiation part, 4B
1,482...Photodetector, 6.8...Spectrometer, 9,
11... Photodetector.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) In an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a plurality of light detection systems that irradiate light onto a reaction container containing a reaction solution and detect at least transmitted light and fluorescence, each of which reflects the reaction solution, the light of the irradiation light An automatic chemical analyzer characterized in that an optical axis for detecting transmitted light and an optical axis for detecting fluorescence are arranged on the same plane as a plane in which the reaction container is moved. (2) The automatic chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation light optical axis and the fluorescence detection optical axis are arranged 90 degrees apart. (3) The automatic chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of reaction vessels are arranged in a circular shape. (4) The automatic chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the reaction container is circular or rectangular. (5) The automatic chemical analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the optical axis of the irradiation light is arranged in the tangential direction of the row of reaction vessels arranged in a circular shape.