JPH0154658B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer that performs direct photometry of a sample in a reaction tube that is sequentially transferred.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer using an in-liquid photometric prism.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Conventionally, a method has been used in which the light of a sample in a reaction tube is directly measured in a constant temperature bath. According to this method, temperature control is easier and there are fewer adverse effects of cross contamination than in the flow cell method in which a sample in a reaction tube is sucked and photometry is performed in a flow cell.

Here, an example of a conventional automatic chemical analyzer using direct photometry will be explained with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the automatic chemical analyzer includes a reaction tube 1 that moves along the direction from the back side to the front side of the drawing,
A constant temperature bath 3 that stores a liquid 2 inside and maintains the sample in the reaction tube 1 at a constant temperature, transparent windows 4 provided on both side walls of the constant temperature bath 3, and transparent windows 4, 4 on both sides of the transparent etc. It consists of prisms 5, 5 arranged opposite to each other, a light source 6 and a lens 7 for inputting light into one of the prisms 5.

The automatic chemical analyzer having the above configuration has a structure in which photometry of the sample in the reaction tube 1 is carried out through light-transmitting windows 4 provided on the side wall of the thermostatic chamber 3. For this reason, an automatic chemical analyzer having a plurality of reaction lines in the same thermostatic chamber has the disadvantage that direct photometry cannot be performed. This is because a plurality of reaction tubes are located in the light path. In order to perform direct photometry on multiple reaction lines with the above configuration, the mounting positions of the reaction tubes for each reaction line are shifted, and the reaction tubes of each reaction line are positioned sequentially in the optical path. must be done. If this is done, the mounting pitch of the reaction tube will become larger, which will lead to an increase in the size of the apparatus.

Therefore, in response to the request to perform direct photometry on each of multiple reaction lines in the same thermostatic chamber and to prevent the equipment from increasing in size, the present applicant developed an automated chemical analysis method using a submerged photometric prism. An application was filed earlier as a device (Japanese Patent Application No. 58-54674).

However, according to the above application, as shown in FIG. 2, reaction tubes 11a, 11b,
11c and 11d are sequentially transferred, and a pair of in-liquid photometric prisms 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, which are disposed opposite to each other across the transfer path (reaction line) of each of the reaction tubes 11a to 11d, transfer each reaction. Since the tubes 11a to 11d are arranged in a straight line in the same row with respect to the transfer direction, the spacing between the rows is determined by the dimensions of the prism, and the reaction tubes 11a and 11b, 11b and 11c, and 11c are adjacent to each other.
It was not possible to reduce the distance between 1c and 11d to a size equal to or less than the size of two prisms, and as a result, it was not possible to sufficiently meet the demand for miniaturization of the entire device. By the way, prisms are usually 10mm on each side.
is necessary, and considering the gap between the reaction tube and the entire surface of the prism, the distance between adjacent reaction tubes is at least about 25 mm, which ultimately increases the size of the entire device.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and uses a prism for in-liquid photometry that can contribute to miniaturization of the apparatus by reducing the number of prisms for in-liquid photometry and narrowing the gap between each reaction. The purpose is to provide an automatic chemical analyzer.

[Summary of the invention]

The outline of the present invention for achieving the above object is to sequentially transfer reaction tubes along a plurality of reaction lines in a submerged thermostatic chamber, and to measure a sample in the reaction tube using a submerged photometric prism. In an automatic chemical analyzer that performs direct photometry, two adjacent reaction tubes of the reaction line are joined via a reflective member, and prisms for in-liquid photometry are placed facing each other across the pair of reaction tubes thus formed. , is characterized in that an optical path section is provided below each of the in-liquid photometry prisms, which serves both as input and output of light.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the photometric system of the apparatus of the present invention, including a reaction line. In the same figure, constant temperature bath 2
4, first, second, third, and fourth reaction lines 41, 42, 43, and 44 are provided by a cassette 28 held in parallel with the transfer direction of the reaction tube, and one of the adjacent The reaction lines, that is, the reaction tubes 29a of the first reaction line 41 and the reaction tubes 29b of the second reaction line 42 are joined via the reflective member 30A, and the pair of reaction tubes formed by this joining is sandwiched between the reaction tubes 29a and 29b of the second reaction line 42. Prisms 27a and 27b for in-liquid photometry (hereinafter abbreviated as prisms) are arranged to face each other, and optical path sections 25a and 25b, which also serve as input and output of light, are provided below each of the prisms 27a and 27b. There is. In addition, the other adjacent reaction lines, that is, the reaction tube 29c of the third reaction line 43 and the fourth reaction line 44
The reaction tubes 29d are similarly joined via the reflective member 30B, and an optical path portion 2 serving as the input and input of light is placed below each of the pair of prisms 27c and 27d across the pair of reaction tubes formed by this joining.
5c and 25d are provided.

Each of the optical path sections 25a to 25d includes:
A condensing lens 26 is provided, and the output end of the light distribution fiber 23 bundled into one and the input end of the light receiving fiber 31 are connected. Here, each fiber 2 bundled into the above-mentioned one
3 and 31, as shown in FIG. 4, light distribution fiber strands 23a (indicated by white circles) and light receiving fiber strands 31a (indicated by black circles) are randomly arranged in the pipe 50. Among the many strands, the strands 23a of the optical distribution fiber collectively receive light from a lamp, which will be described later, and the strands 31a of the light receiving fiber collectively transmit light to an optical switch means, which will be described later. I'm starting to do it.

Next, the operation of photometrically measuring the sample 39a in the reaction tube 29a in the first reaction line 41 using the apparatus of the present invention described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The light emitted from the light source 21 is collected by the lens 22, and distributed by the optical distribution bundle fiber 23 to the optical path section 25a provided by cutting out the lower part of the thermostatic chamber 24, and the incident light is further transmitted to the optical path section 25a. The light is collected by the condensing lens 26 in the section 25a, converted into an optical path in the horizontal direction by the prism 27a, and after irradiating the sample 39a in the reaction tube 29a, the light is reflected by the reflection member 30A and returns to the reaction tube 29a. Sample 3 inside
9a, returns to the optical path section 25a via the original meridian, that is, the prism 27a, is condensed by the condenser lens 26, and finally reaches the end face of the light-receiving bundle fiber 31. Here, the light received by the light receiving bundle fiber 31 is guided to the optical switch means 32.
When the optical path is selected by intermittent rotation by the switching mirror 32a of No. 2, the light is guided to the lens 33, passes through the slit 34, is separated by the diffraction grating 35, is sensed by the detector 36, and is sent to the reaction tube. Photometry of the sample 39a located within the sample 39a is performed.

Similarly, when photometrically measuring the sample 39b in the reaction tube 29b in the second reaction line 42, the optical path section 25 is
After the light incident on b is changed in optical path by the prism 27b and irradiates the sample 39b, it is reflected by the reflection member 30A, passes through the sample 39b again, returns to the original path, and is switched by the light receiving bundle fiber 31 to the light switch means. 32, switching mirror 3
An optical path is selected by 2a, and the light is guided to a diffraction grating 35 for spectroscopy, and is sensed by a detector 36 to perform photometry of a sample 39b.

On the other hand, the reaction tube 2 in the third reaction line 43
Sample 39c at 9c and fourth reaction line 44
The photometric position when photometrically measuring the sample 39d in the reaction tube 29d is, as shown in FIG. Photometry is performed using member 30B, and sample 3
9d, photometry is performed using the prism 27d and the reflecting member 30B.

Note that the reflecting members 30A and 30B are, for example,
It may be formed by sandwiching an aluminum plate between the reaction tubes and gluing them together, or by vapor-depositing aluminum at a predetermined location on the outer surface of one reaction tube and gluing the other reaction tube next to it. good. In addition, in consideration of water resistance, it is preferable to use an epoxy adhesive after forming the vapor deposition surface to be slightly smaller than the depth of the reaction tube. In the drawings showing the above-mentioned embodiment, the reflective members 30A and 30B are formed over the entire length of the reaction tube in the vertical direction, but it is not necessarily necessary to have such a full length, and the reflective members are formed only in the part that is hit by the photometric light beam. may be formed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention involves joining two adjacent reaction tubes of a reaction line to each other via a reflective member, and placing a pair of submerged photometry prisms on both sides of the pair of reaction tubes formed by this joining. Provided is an automatic chemical analyzer using a prism for in-liquid photometry, which can contribute to miniaturization of the apparatus by reducing the number of prisms and shortening the gap between each reaction tube by arranging the prisms so as to face each other. can do.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an automatic chemical analyzer using a conventional direct photometry method, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an automatic chemical analyzer using a conventional direct photometry method in the case of multiple reaction lines, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an automatic chemical analyzer using a conventional direct photometry method. A schematic diagram showing a photometry system including a reaction line in an automatic chemical analyzer using a related in-liquid photometry prism, No. 4
The figure is an explanatory view showing the end faces of a single bundled light distribution fiber and light receiving fiber, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of a reaction line for showing photometric positions. 24... Constant temperature chamber, 25a to 25d... Optical path section,
27a-27d...prism (prism for photometry in liquid), 29a-29d...reaction tube, 41-44...
...First to fourth reaction lines.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In an automatic chemical analyzer that sequentially transfers reaction tubes along a plurality of reaction lines in a liquid constant temperature bath, and directly measures the light of the sample in the reaction tubes using a submerged photometric prism, the reaction lines Two adjacent reaction tubes are joined via a reflective member, and prisms for in-liquid photometry are placed facing each other across the pair of reaction tubes thus formed, and light is incident below each prism for in-liquid photometry. An automatic chemical analysis device using a prism for in-liquid photometry, characterized in that it is provided with an optical path section that also serves as an output.