JPH02156143A - Apparatus for holding liquid to be inspected - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the withdrawal of a means of holding a liquid to be inspected by providing a means to push up the means for holding a liquid to be inspected in the removal of a lid section. CONSTITUTION:Sample cups 101 of a means for holding a liquid to be inspected which holds a liquid to be inspected is inserted into a plurality of hole parts 102a formed on a holding means 102 and a large-diameter pat 101a at the upper end thereof is engaged with a perimeter of the hole part 102a to be supported by the means 102. The means 102 has a rotating shaft 105 rotating with a pulse motor 106 so that the cups 101 are moved sequentially to a position where the liquid to be inspected is sucked one at a time. Then, a thrust means 110 comprising a thrust plate 112 having a cup receptacle 111, a pin 113 at the upper end face thereof and a spring 114 are provided below the means 102. The thrust means is lowered and fixed with the pin 113 using a lid 104 and with the removal of the lid 104, the cup 101 is pushed upward with the cup receptacle 111 by a force of the spring 114 thereby facilitating the withdrawal thereof.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention provides a biochemical analyzer that holds a plurality of test liquid storage means each containing a test liquid, and sequentially stores the test liquids into the test liquid. The present invention relates to a test liquid storage device that supplies liquid to a liquid suction means, and particularly relates to a test liquid storage device from which the test liquid storage device can be easily taken out.

(Prior Art) Qualitative or quantitative analysis of specific chemical components in a test liquid is a commonly performed operation in various industrial fields. In particular, quantitative analysis of chemical components or formed components in biological body fluids such as blood and urine is extremely important in the field of clinical biochemistry.

In recent years, dry type chemical analysis slides have been developed that can quantitatively analyze specific chemical components or formed components contained in a test liquid by simply applying small droplets of the test liquid ( Special Publication No. 53-21677, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55
-184358, etc.) has been put into practical use. Using these chemical analysis slides, it is possible to analyze sample liquids more easily and quickly than conventional wet analysis methods, so they are especially useful for medical institutions that need to analyze a large number of test liquids. This is preferable in research institutes, etc.

In order to analyze the chemical components in a test liquid using such a chemical analysis slide, the test liquid is placed on the chemical analysis slide in a measured amount and then placed in an incubator for a predetermined period of time. It is kept at constant temperature (incubation) to cause a color reaction (pigment formation reaction), and then a measurement irradiation light containing a wavelength selected in advance by the combination of the components in the test liquid and the reagent contained in the reagent layer of the chemical analysis slide is applied. is irradiated onto this chemical analysis slide to increase its reflected optical density to 11
11, which allows quantitative analysis of the chemical components, etc. mentioned above.

In this case, in the above-mentioned analysis at the medical institution, research institute, etc., it is necessary to analyze a large number of test liquids, and it is desirable to be able to perform this analysis automatically and continuously. For this reason, various proposals have been made regarding chemical analyzers that can automatically and continuously analyze test liquids using the above-mentioned chemical analysis slides (for example, JP-A-58-77746). issue). In addition, as a means of automatically and continuously analyzing the test liquid, a long tape-shaped test film containing a reagent is stored in place of the slide described above, and the test film is pulled out one by one. spotting, incubation,
Apparatus for making measurements have also been proposed (eg, US Pat. No. 3,526,480). In this way, a device that uses a long tape-shaped test film can reduce running costs compared to a device that uses chemical analysis slides, and also has a simple mechanism that allows it to measure a large number of test liquids in succession. can be done.

The test liquid used in the biochemical analysis described above is stored for each specimen in a sample cup, which is a test liquid storage means, and the sample cup is attached to the test liquid storage device in the biochemical analyzer. This test liquid storage device includes a holding means for integrally holding a plurality of sample cups, and a transfer unit 11 for moving the holding means along a predetermined movement path and sucking the test liquid by a suction means. and a moving means for arranging the sample cups one by one at suction positions on the road. No, the above-mentioned holding means has a plurality of holes horizontally formed into which the sample cups enter from above one by one, and the sample cups enter from above into the holes so that the upper end of the sample cup enters into the hole. It is held by the holding means by being locked to the periphery of the part. Furthermore, when the sample cup is held in this holding means, a lid is attached above the holding means to prevent water from evaporating from the test liquid in the sample cup and changing the quality of the test liquid. It has become. Further, an opening is formed in the lid at a position that overlaps with the above-mentioned suction position, allowing the suction means to enter the sample cup.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in conventional test liquid storage devices, the holding means usually has a large diameter portion provided at the upper end of the sample cup that is locked to the periphery of the hole. Since each sample cup is held by the sample cup, the sample cup only protrudes upward from the holding means by the height of the large diameter portion (for example, about a few millimeters), making it difficult to remove the sample cup from the device. The disadvantage was that it was extremely difficult to carry out.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even if the holding means supports the upper end of the test liquid storage means such as a sample cup, the test liquid storage means can be easily taken out. The object of the present invention is to provide a test liquid storage device that can carry out the test.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The test liquid storage device of the present invention, together with the holding means and the moving means of the test liquid storage means described above, is urged upward by the urging means, and each of the test liquid storage means push-up means for lifting up the lower end of the liquid storage means to float the test liquid storage means from the holding position by the holding means, and having a size that covers the entire holding means and overlapping the suction position by the suction means; An opening is formed at a position that allows the suction means to enter, and the opening is brought into contact with a part of the push-up means from above to lower the push-up means against the biasing force of the biasing means to remove the object to be inspected. It is characterized by comprising a lid portion that is fixedly installed above the holding means when the liquid storage means is returned to the holding position by the holding means.

(Function) Since the above-mentioned storage device is used with the lid attached, when the test liquid storage means are sequentially arranged at the suction position and the test liquid is supplied to the suction means, the above-mentioned The push-up means is pushed down by the lid, and each test liquid storage means is maintained at its upper end supported by the holding means. On the other hand, when taking out the test liquid storage means from the apparatus, the lid is removed, so the force from above on the push-up means by the lid is released, and each test liquid storage means is is pushed up and moved upwards.

Therefore, each test liquid storage means has a large projecting height from the holding means, and can be easily taken out.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a biochemical analyzer equipped with a test liquid storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The illustrated biochemical analyzer 1 is equipped with a transparent lid 2, and by opening this M2, the test liquid described below, a long test film 3 in the form of a long tape, etc. are placed inside the device 1. It is designed to be opened and removed. This device 1 includes
Holding means 1 that integrally holds sample cups 101 containing test liquids such as serum and urine arranged in an annular shape.
02 is provided, and the test liquid stored therein is suctioned by suction means 5 and deposited on the long test film 3, as will be described later. The long test film 3 is prepared in multiple types according to the measurement items, such as containing a reagent that exhibits a color reaction with only the specific chemical component or tangible component to be measured in the test liquid. There is. This long test film 3
The unused portion is wound in the film supply cassette 18, and the portion used for the above measurement is wound in the film winding cassette 19. Also these cassettes 1
8. After storing a long test film 3 in the apparatus 1 as described later, the film 3 is placed in the film supply cassette 1 at the center of each of the rolls 18a and 19a.
a hole tab that engages the rotating shaft of the motor for withdrawal from the film supply cassette 8 and for rewinding into the film supply cassette 18;
i9b is provided. The long test film 3 is stored in the apparatus 1 while being wound around a cassette 18, 19. Film supply cassette 18 and film winding cassette 1
9 are separated from each other as shown in this figure. The test film storage means 6 is constructed so that unused portions of a plurality of long test films 3 can be stored in parallel so that a plurality of items can be measured simultaneously using this device 1.

The suction means 5 has a suction nozzle 7 at its tip, and is moved by a moving means 9 placed on a rail 8 in the direction in which the rule 8 extends, and sucks the test liquid from the test liquid storage device 100. , onto the long test film 3 pulled out from the test film storage means 6 as will be described later.

Further, the moving means 9 is configured to move the suction means 5 in the vertical direction as well, and when the suction means 5 is moved in the left-right direction in which the rail 8 extends by this moving means 9, the suction means is raised. It is in this position, and is lowered during suction and spotting of the liquid to be inspected, and during cleaning, which will be described later.

After the suction nozzle 7 is deposited on the test film, it is cleaned by a nozzle cleaning unit 10 located between the test film storage means 6 and the test liquid storage device ioo in close proximity to both, and then the next deposition is performed. reused.

The spotted test film is incubated in an incubator as described below, and measured by a photometric means.

Control of the overall operation of the device 1, processing of measurement data, etc. are performed by a circuit section 11 and a computer 12 connected to this circuit section 11.
This is done by The operation/display section 13 provided on the front side of the circuit section 11 is equipped with a power switch for the device 1, an ammeter for monitoring the current consumption in the device 1, and the like. The computer 12 includes a keyboard 14 for giving instructions to the device 1, a CRT display 15 for displaying auxiliary information for instructions, measurement results, etc., a printer 16 for printing out the Δ81 constant results, and a printer 16 for giving various instructions to the device 1. A floppy disk device 17 is provided that accommodates a floppy disk for storing commands, measurement result data, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main parts of the biochemical analyzer 1 whose perspective view is shown in FIG.

The test film storage means 6 is configured such that the spotting positions 22 of all the test films pulled out from therein are arranged in a straight line, and furthermore, the nozzle cleaning section 10 and the test liquid storage device are located on this straight line. It is configured such that the suction positions P of the test liquid indicated by diagonal lines in 100 are arranged.

The test liquid storage device 100 is constructed by holding sample cups 101 containing a test liquid arranged in an annular shape by the holding means 102, and rotated by a predetermined angle in the direction of arrow A by the moving means described later. 101
are sequentially positioned at the suction position P. Note that the holding means 1
02 is covered with a lid, which will be described later, and which has an opening in a portion overlapping with the suction position P, but the lid is omitted in FIG. 2 to show the arrangement of the sample cups 101. Further, the suction means 5 is moved in the direction in which the rail extends by a moving means 9 mounted on the rail 8,
The liquid to be tested is sucked from the suction position P and spotted at a spotting position 22 on a long test film suitable for nJ standard items.

FIG. 3 shows a main part of a cross section taken along line xx' in FIG. 2.

The long test film 3 is placed in a film supply cassette 1.
8 and the film winding cassette 19,
loaded into the device. The film supply cassette 18 is housed in a cold storage 50 whose interior is temperature-controlled at, for example, 4° C., and the film winding cassette 19 is housed in a winding chamber 51. If the unused portion of the long test film 3 is stored in the film supply cassette 18 in this manner, the unused long test film 3 can be stored in the cold storage 50 without being touched. The cold storage 50 has a cold storage wall 50a using a heat insulating material.
On one side of this cold storage wall 50a, there is a cold storage 50
A cooling/dehumidifying device 58 is attached to keep the inside at a predetermined low temperature and low humidity, and a fan 60 circulates the air inside the cold storage 50.

When the film supply cassette 18 and the film winding cassette 19 are housed in the cold storage 50 and the winding chamber 51, respectively, as described above, the film inside the film winding cassette 19 is
A rotating shaft of a winding motor 53A, which is a conveyance means for the long test film 3 provided in this winding chamber 51, is engaged with a hole 19b provided in the center of the winding chamber 51.
3A, the long test film 3 is pulled out from the film supply cassette 18 via the drawer opening 50b of the cold storage 50, and wound into the film winding cassette 19. On the other hand, a rotation shaft of a motor 53B for rewinding the film engages with a hole 18b provided in the center of the reel 18a of the film supply cassette 18, as will be described later.

If the used portion of the long test film 3 is stored in the film winding cassette 19 as described above,
The used film, which has been spotted with the liquid to be tested and becomes dirty, can be taken out from the device 1 and disposed of, etc., without touching it. Regarding this disposal, instead of winding the used film in the film winding cassette 19, the film winding cassette 19 is eliminated and the film can be freely attached to and removed from the device 1 that stores the film in the winding chamber 51. A cutter for cutting the used film is placed near the entrance of the winding chamber 51, and the used film is cut and stored in the box. It may be possible to take out the entire box from the device 1 without touching the film and dispose of the used film. In this case, the test film may be transported by providing transport rollers that grip and transport the test film.

Film supply cassette 18 and film winding cassette 19
An incubator 55 is disposed at the exposed part of the long test film 3 between the two, and the long test film 3 and the liquid to be tested are placed in the incubator 55. A photometry section 57 is arranged to determine the optical density δPI due to a color reaction with the photoreceptor.

As described above, the long test film 3 is intermittently pulled out from the cold storage 50 by the rotation of the motor 53, and is intermittently fed to the left in the figure, and when the film 3 is fed, the top lid 55a of the incubator 55 is It rises in the direction of arrow A.

When the long test film 3 is moved, the upper lid 55a descends in the direction of arrow B and pushes the long test film 3. Next, the shutter 54 that had been blocking the nozzle insertion hole 55b of the upper lid 55a moves to the right in the figure, and then the suction nozzle 7 descends as shown in the figure and is applied onto the long test film 3 through the nozzle insertion hole 55b. Test liquid is applied. Furthermore, the shutter 54 moves to the left to open the nozzle insertion hole 5.
5b to prevent air from entering or exiting the incubator 55 to the outside, thereby maintaining the inside of the incubator at a predetermined temperature (for example, 37° C.). The part of the film on which the liquid to be tested has been spotted and developed (the part shown with diagonal lines in FIG. 3) is kept at a constant temperature in the incubator 55 for a predetermined period of time (for example, 4 minutes).

After or during the incubation, the Δp+ light section 57 measures the optical density of the portion of the long test film 3 where the spotting has been performed.

This density measurement is performed by irradiating the film 3 with light containing a preselected wavelength emitted from the light irradiation means 57a and detecting the reflected light from the film 3 with the photodetector 57b.

When the spotting, incubation, and measurement of one liquid to be tested are completed in this way, the next liquid to be tested can be spotted. The long test film 3 remains in the incubator even after the above-mentioned measurement is completed, so that the part of the film to be used for the next analysis is placed at the spotting position immediately before the spotting for the next analysis. will be transferred to.

As described above, when the liquid to be tested is taken out from each of the plurality of sample cup lots and the measurement is completed, each sample cup 101 is taken out from the liquid to be tested storage device 100. The test liquid storage device 100 of this embodiment has a structure that allows the sample cup to be taken out easily. Explain the structure.

The holding means 102 is a disc-shaped member having a plurality of holes 102a into which the sample cup 101 enters from above, and its end portion is fixed by a wall 103 of the device. The sample cup 101 has a large diameter portion 101a at its upper end, and is supported by the holding means 102 by being engaged with the peripheral edge of the hole 102a. A push-up means 110 for pushing up the sample cup 101 is provided below the holding means 102, and as shown in FIG. 4, a lid 104 is attached to the holding means 102. In this case, the push-up means 110 is pushed down by the lid 104 so as not to interfere with the sample cup 101. This push-up means 110 includes a push-up plate 112 having a cup receiver 111 surrounding the lower end of each sample cup 101, a bottle 113 planted on the upper end surface of this push-up plate 112, and a push-up temporary 112. It is made up of a spring 114 that biases it. On the other hand, the lid portion 104 is
An opening 104a that allows the suction nozzle 7 to enter is provided in a portion that overlaps with the suction position of the liquid to be tested, and the pin 113 of the push-up means 110 is pushed down by a protrusion 104C provided on the lower end surface. It is fixed on the holding means 102. That is, the wall portion 103 has a plurality of locking bottles 103a protruding horizontally, and the lid portion 104
As shown in FIG. 5, there is formed an L-shaped groove 104d that engages with the locking pin 103a. Lid part 10
4 is lowered downward while engaging the groove portion 104d with the locking pin 103a, and then is fixed by being moved a certain amount in the rotational direction. When the lid portion 104 is attached in this manner, the sample cup lot is sequentially moved to the suction position by the moving means described later, and the above-described test liquid is suctioned.

A rotating shaft 105 is fixed to the center of the holding means 102, and the holding means 102 is rotated by a predetermined amount by a pulse motor 106, which is a moving means attached to the rotating shaft 105. Note that the rotating shaft 105 rotatably passes through the push-up plate 112. Furthermore, if the moving means is a pulse motor as described above, each sample cup 101 can be stopped at a predetermined suction position, but in this embodiment, in order to further improve the accuracy of the stopping position of the sample cup 101, A position sensor 107 is installed on the side of the rotating shaft 105 to detect the amount of rotation of the rotating shaft 105.
is provided, and the stopping position of each sample cup lot can be determined by controlling this position sensor. In addition, in this apparatus, the lid part 1 is placed directly above the sample cup whose upper end is supported by the holding means 102.
04 is attached, the suction nozzle 7 can be placed in a raised position close to the lid part 104 as shown in FIG. The amount of movement of the suction bow nozzle 7 can be kept small.

Further, by arranging the lid portion 104 close to the sample cup 101, it is possible to prevent the sample cup from tilting diagonally during rotational movement.

After the removal of the test liquid from each sample cup lO1 is completed, each sample cup 101 is transferred to the test liquid storage device 10.
0, the lid portion 104 is removed. In that case, the locking pin 103a and the groove 104d of the lid 104 can be attached by grasping the handle 104b of the lid 104, rotating the entire lid a little in the opposite direction, and then pulling it upward. is disengaged, and the lid portion 104 is removed. When the lid part 104 is removed, the pushing up means 110
Since the pin 113 is no longer pressed by the protrusion 104c of the lid 104, the push-up plate 112 is removed as shown in FIG.
is moved upward by the biasing force of the spring 114.

At this time, the bottom surface of the cup receiver 111 comes into contact with the lower end of the sample cup 101, thereby moving the sample cup 101 upward as a whole. Therefore, the upper end of the sample cup 101 largely protrudes above the holding means 102. Further, both ends of the push-up plate 112 come into contact with stoppers 103b, which are steps formed on the wall portion 103, so that the raised position is regulated.

In this way, when the sample cup is taken out, if the push-up means 110 pushes the sample cup upward, the amount of protrusion of the sample cup from the holding means increases, so that the sample cup can be taken out easily. become. Furthermore, when using the device, simply by attaching the lid, the push-up means can be pushed down to immediately return the sample cup to the predetermined holding position.

Note that the sample cup may have any shape as long as its upper end can be supported by the hole of the holding means and can move freely upwards. It may have a substantially conical shape, etc.

Further, the specific structure of the push-up means can be changed in various ways depending on the relationship with the lid. For example, the bottle 11
A member corresponding to No. 3 may be provided on the lid side. Further, the device of the present invention may be of any type as long as it can be moved along a predetermined movement path so that all the sample cups can be placed at the above-mentioned suction position, and the movement path may be annular or circular. It may be linear or the like. In that case, the lid portion may be attached over the entire movable portion of each sample cup.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the test liquid storage device of the present invention, the test liquid storage device is provided with the push-up means for pushing up the test liquid storage means when the lid is removed. When the storage means is taken out, the amount by which the storage means protrudes from the holding means is increased, making it possible to take out the storage means easily.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a biochemical analyzer equipped with a test liquid storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of essential parts of the biochemical analyzer, and FIG. FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 are cross-sectional views of the test liquid storage device, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lid. 1... Biochemical analyzer 3... Long test film 100... Test liquid storage device 101... Sample cup 102... Holding means 103a... Locking bottle 104a... Opening 104d ... Groove 106 ... Motor Ill ... Cup receiver 113 ... Bottle 5 ... Suction means 102a ... Hole 104 ... Lid 104C ... Protrusion 105 ... Rotating shaft 110... Push-up means 112... Push-up plate 114... Spring Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A plurality of holes are formed in a substantially horizontal direction through which the test liquid storage means containing the test liquid enters from above, and the upper end of the test liquid storage means is formed by the peripheral edge of the hole. a holding means for supporting and holding a plurality of the test liquid storage means; moving the holding means in a substantially horizontal direction to bring the test liquid storage means to a suction position where the test liquid is sucked by a suction means; The moving means disposed one by one is biased upward by the biasing means to push up the lower end of each of the test liquid storage means, thereby lifting the test liquid storage means from the position held by the holding means. and an opening having a size to cover the entire holding means and allowing the suction means to enter at a position overlapping with the suction position, and a part of the push-up means being pressed from above. a lid that is fixed above the holding means in a state where the push-up means is lowered against the urging force of the urging means and the test liquid storage means is returned to the holding position by the holding means; A test liquid storage device consisting of a part.