JPH02238362A - Column and mounting device of biochemical analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten a time by providing end part members at both end parts of a tubular container through filters, providing guiding holes which are made small in a conical shape from the coupling parts of the end part members, providing liquid ports which are continued from said guiding holes, and providing tapered surfaces at the outer surface parts. CONSTITUTION:The inside of a container 23 is filled with particles. End part members 24 are coupled at both end parts of the container 23. A liquid port 24b which is connected to a liquid feeding tube is formed at the center of each member 24. A coupling port 24a and the liquid port 24b are smoothly connected without steps. A conical guiding hole 24c is formed so that liquid flows smoothly. A ring shaped packing 25 is applied at the end hole surface of the container 23. A filter 26 is further applied. Under this state, the container is attached into the coupling ports 24a. The corner of the outer tip corner part of the member 24 is cut in the tapered shape. Thus, a conical tapered surface 24d is formed so as to obtain a guide surface. This column 6 is attached to a mounting device, and measurement is performed. In this way, intrusion of air into the column and the occurrence of errors in measured values can be prevented.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] A. INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION FIELD This invention relates to a column suitable for use in a flow system type biochemical analyzer, and a column mounting device for the column.

B. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a flow system type biochemical analyzer in which a column is constructed by fitting end members to both ends of a cylindrical container through filters, and a column mounting device is provided. By configuring a movable support mechanism part in which a movable crimp member is slidably mounted against an applied force, and a fixed support mechanism part in which the crimp member is screwed, arranged to face each other, the movable crimp member and The column is elastically held between the pressure bonding member and the pressure bonding member.

C. 2. Description of the Related Art In general, biochemical analysis methods using flow systems are used for quantitative or qualitative measurements of liquid objects.

Biochemical analysis using this flow system is as follows. That is, the object to be measured is injected into a continuously flowing fluid system. Then, by causing a chemical reaction in the object to be measured, it is converted into some measurable physical quantity.

Since this physical quantity is proportional to the amount of the substance that caused the reaction of the object to be measured, this is a method for quantitative or qualitative analysis.

Such devices include chemiluminescence measurement devices, bioluminescence measurement devices, and fluorescence photometers. There are spectrophotometers, liquid chromatography devices, etc.

Conventionally, there is an analyzer as shown in FIG. 4, for example, as an analyzer using the above-described flow system.

In this case, a carrier liquid (distilled water, etc.) that does not affect the measuring system, which is stored in a container 1, is fed by a pump 2 through a liquid feeding tube 3. The carrier liquid sent to the susceptible liquid valve 4 is mixed with the sample liquid supplied from the sample liquid container 5 to be measured, and is mixed with the sample liquid supplied to the column 6.
sent to. This column 6 is a device that is detachably attached to the liquid feeding tube 3 using a column attachment joint 7.

As shown in FIG.
4 is filled with particles 15 that exhibit a unique reaction to a specific substance such as an immobilized enzyme, and filters 16 are attached to both ends of the cylindrical container 14 to prevent these particles from coming out. It is.

That is, the particles 15 are placed in the container I4 of the column body,
The openings at both ends are respectively closed with filters 16, and screw holes 17 having threaded grooves are bored in the inner peripheries of both free ends.

As shown in the figure, a large bolt-shaped mounting member I8 is screwed into each screw hole 17 via the filter 16 and the annular packing l9.

This mounting member l8 has a liquid guide hole 20 along its central axis.
is bored, and a fixing screw hole 21 is bored at the free end side.

Then, thread grooves are drilled around the column mounting joints 7 installed at the ends of each liquid feeding tube 3 in the flone stem analyzer, and these are connected to each mounting member l8.
It is designed so that it can be screwed into the fixing screw hole 2I and attached to a flow system analyzer. This filter 16 does not allow particles to pass through, but allows liquid to pass through. Therefore, a certain substance in the object to be measured, which is a liquid that has flowed into column 6 in the flow system, may cause particles I in column 6 to
5, and the other substances are allowed to flow out from the column 6 as they are.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sample liquid that has passed through this column 6 is sent to a mixing valve 8, where it is mixed with a reagent fed from a reagent container 9 by a pump lO.

Next, this liquid mixture is introduced into the flow cell l1 and measured by the sensor 12. The mixed liquid after measurement is disposed of into a waste liquid bottle 13. In addition to the immobilized enzyme, the column may also contain a filter made of ion exchange resin, gel particles, or fibers. Furthermore, column 6 may be an analytical column or a separation column.

With such a conventional analyzer using a float stem, when a sample is repeatedly measured, depending on the number of measurements,
Since the particles 15 in the column 6 degraded, the column 6 was replaced and used while the degree of degradation was within the allowable measurement range.

D. Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional analyzer as described above, when attaching and detaching the column 6 to the flow system analyzer, the column attachment joint 7 is screwed into each attachment member at both ends of the column 6. Since the column 6 was attached, each time it was installed or removed, it was necessary to perform separate screwing work at both ends of the column 6. Moreover, if the work was done using a spanner, etc., the work was particularly time-consuming and labor-intensive. There was a problem that it took a while.

Furthermore, if it takes a long time to install the column 6, air tends to enter the column 6. If air enters the column 6, the reaction of the sample liquid in the column 6 will vary due to the influence of the air bubbles, which will cause errors in measurement values and prevent accurate measurements. was there.

In view of the above-mentioned points, an object of the present invention is to newly provide a column with a simple structure that can be easily and quickly attached to and detached from a flow system type biochemical analyzer, and a column mounting device for the column.

E. Means for Solving the Problems In the column of the biochemical analyzer of the present invention, end members are installed at both ends of a cylindrical container so as to fit into the fitting openings through filters, respectively. A communicating hole that narrows in the shape of a truncated cone without a step from the fitting opening, and a liquid port that is a small hole that follows this are bored, and a truncated conical tapered surface is formed on the outer circumference of the free end. It is characterized by being configured.

In addition, the column mounting device has a movable support mechanism section on which the movable crimp member is slidably attached while being biased by a spring, and a fixed support mechanism section into which the crimp member is screwed, which are arranged opposite to each other. A recess is provided at the opposite end of the crimp member, the inner circumference of which is formed into a guide surface corresponding to the taper, and a liquid feeding tube is inserted into each of these through holes, and a flange formed at the end thereof is formed. It is characterized by being configured so as to face the bottom of the recess.

F. Function: With the configuration described above, by moving the movable crimping member, the column is elastically clamped between the movable crimping member and the crimping member, and the tapered surface of the column is guided by the four guide surfaces to position the column. It has the effect of being mounted in a held state.

In addition, the connection hole formed in the conical slope between the liquid port and the fitting port, which have widely different diameters on the end member of the column, is connected without any steps, which allows for smooth flow of liquid through the column. play an action.

G. EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of a column of a biochemical analyzer and its mounting device of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In addition,
In FIGS. 1 to 3, parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 4 and 5 described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

This is a partial sectional view showing the column mounting portion of FIG. 1, where 6 is a column and 22 is a column mounting device section.

As shown in FIG. 2, this column 6 is constructed by installing end members 24 at both ends of a glass cylindrical container 23, respectively.

This container 2S23 has both end surfaces polished to be smooth to improve airtightness, and the inside thereof is filled with particles 15.

In addition to the glass straight tube, the container 23 is made of Teflon. stainless. It may be made of vinyl chloride resin, plastic, or the like. The container 23 is simple and inexpensive, consisting of a cylinder with both ends polished.

The end member 24 is made of vinyl chloride resin. It is a cylindrical member made of silicone rubber or Teflon (trade name).

This end member 24 has a fitting opening 24a formed at one end with a predetermined diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the container 23 into which the container 23 is to be fitted. Further, a liquid port 24b having a diameter of about 0.5 mm to be connected and communicated with the liquid feeding tube 3 is bored at the other end.

Furthermore, in the middle part of the end member 24, as shown in the figure,
A fitting port 24a and a liquid port 24b, which have widely different diameters, are connected smoothly without a step to form a truncated conical communication hole 24C that allows liquid to flow smoothly.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the annular packing 25 is applied to the smoothly polished end face of the container 23, and with the filter 26 applied, this end portion is inserted into the end member 24. The column 6 is completed by fitting and attaching it elastically into the abutment 24a.

This filter 26 prevents particles 15 from flowing out, and is a Teflon filter. It is made of nylon mesh, fiber filter, paper filter, etc. Further, as the packing 25, a neoprene packing, a Teflon packing, an O-ring, or the like is used.

In addition, the tip outer circumferential corner of each end member 24 is tapered to a tapered corner, and a truncated conical tapered surface 24 is formed to serve as a guide surface.
form d.

The column 6 configured as described above can be mounted on the column mounting device section 22 shown in FIG. The one shown in FIG. 1 is configured so that two columns can be installed in parallel.

The column mounting device section 22 is composed of a pair of movable support mechanism sections 28 and fixed support mechanism sections 29, which are disposed opposite to each other at a fixed interval on a fixed member 27.

The fixed support mechanism section 29 is installed at the bottom of the figure.
It mainly consists of a block 30 and a pressure bonding member 3l.

This block 30 is a box-shaped body with a bottom removed and fixedly installed on the side surface of the fixing member 27, and a large diameter screw hole 30a is bored in the portion corresponding to the upper end surface in the figure.

Then, a threaded groove is cut in the outer circumference of the cylindrical crimp member 3l with flanges, and the crimped member 3l is screwed into the threaded hole 301 of the block 30.

A through hole 312L is bored in the axial center of the crimp member 3, and a column 6
A recess 32 is bored into which the end member 24 is inserted.

Then, the end of the liquid feeding tube 3 is fixed to the portion between the through hole 31a and the recess 32.

This liquid feeding tube 3 is made of Teflon. It is a tube made of stainless steel or silicon, and has a flange portion 3a that spreads out in a trumpet shape at its tip.

Then, the end of the liquid feeding tube 3 is inserted into the through hole 31a of the pressure bonding member 3l, so that the flange portion 3a thereof faces the bottom surface of the recess 32.

Further, a stop hole 33 is bored in the end opposite to the recess 32 in the through hole 31a of the crimping member 3l, and a hollow stopper 34 is formed by inserting the liquid feeding tube 3 into the through hole in the central shaft portion. are fitted to support the liquid feeding tube 3. In addition,
This hollow stopper 34 is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber, Teflon, or rubber.

By supporting the liquid feeding tube 3 with the hollow stopper 34 in this way, there is no need for thread processing, etc., compared to the conventional means of supporting and fixing using hollow bolts. Can be easily installed.

Further, a guide surface 32a is formed by obliquely notching the opening circumference of the recess 32 of the crimping member 3I, and serves as a guide for aligning the axis when the end member 24 is installed in the recess 32.

Next, the movable support mechanism section 28 will be explained.

The movable support mechanism section 28 mainly includes a block 35 and a movable pressure bonding member 36 movably installed on the block 35.

The block 35 is attached to the upper side of the fixing member 27.
It is a box-shaped body fixedly arranged so as to face 0 and form a pair.

A large-diameter sliding insertion hole 35a is bored in a portion of this block 35 that corresponds to the lower end surface in the figure.

Then, the flanged cylindrical movable pressure bonding member 36 is slidably inserted into the sliding insertion hole 35λ with the flange portion thereof entering the block 35 as shown in the figure.

Furthermore, a compression coil spring 38 (which may be replaced with an elastic member) is disposed between the cover plate 37 fixed to cover the upper end of the block 35 and the flange portion of the movable crimp member 36. is biased in the direction of the crimping member 31 on the fixed side.

Note that this spring 38 corresponds to various pressures of the fluid system in this flow system, from low pressure to high pressure, and
6 and the liquid feeding tube 3 to maintain appropriate pressure.
The spring force shall be selected and used.

As shown in FIG. 3, a through hole 36a is bored in the axis of the movable crimp member 36, and the end member 24 of the column 6 is fitted into the lower end of the through hole 36a. A recess 39 is bored for this purpose.

Then, the end of the liquid feeding tube 3 is fixed to the area between the through hole 36a and the recess 39.

This liquid feeding tube 3 is made of Teflon or stainless steel. Alternatively, it is a silicon tube, and a flange portion 3a that spreads out in a trumpet shape is formed at its tip.

Then, the end of the liquid feeding tube 3 is inserted into the through hole 36a of the movable pressure bonding member 36, so that the flange portion 3a thereof faces the bottom surface of the recess 39.

Further, the groove 39 in the through hole 36a of the movable crimping member 36
A hollow stopper 4l is formed by drilling a stopper hole 40 at the opposite end and inserting the liquid feeding tube 3 into the through hole in the central shaft.
are fitted to support the liquid feeding tube 3. Note that this hollow stopper 4l is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber, Teflon, or rubber.

Furthermore, a guide surface 39a is formed by obliquely notching the opening circumference of the recess 39 of the movable crimping member 36, and serves as a guide for aligning the shaft center when inserting the end member 24 into the four parts 39.

Next, the usage and operation of this example device configured as described above will be explained.

First, the case where the column 6 is mounted on the column mounting device 22 will be described.

In this case, first, while pushing the end member 24 at one end of the column 6 into the recess 39 of the movable crimp member 36 along the guide surface 39a, move the movable crimp member 36 along the arrow A in the figure. Push it all the way up in the direction. In this state, the end member 24 at the other end of the column 6 is attached to the crimping member 3 on the fixed side.
Position it above Shiro 32 of l. Then, the column 6 is pulled down in the direction of arrow B, and the end member 24 at the other end is moved to the guide surface 3.
It is inserted into the recess 39 along the line 9a and held in the holding state as shown in FIG.

In this state, the column 6 is connected to each end member 24 at both ends thereof.
are inserted into the recesses 32 and 39, respectively, and are supported and reliably held from both sides by the biasing force of the spring 38.

Furthermore, the end surfaces of each end member 24 at both ends of the column 6 are
It is crimped onto the flange portion 3a of the liquid feeding tube 3 by the appropriate biasing force of the spring 38, and this acts as a packing, and even if there is pressure of the liquid flowing through the column 6, the withstand pressure is adjusted to increase or decrease, and each liquid feeding tube It can be connected to each end of 3 to prevent liquid leakage.

Note that when the pressure of the liquid flowing through the column is low, the biasing force of the spring 38 can be weakened to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the column 6.

In addition, the opening of the liquid feeding tube 3 and the liquid opening 2 of the end member 24 are
4b, the tapered surface 24d, and the guide surface 32a. Due to the action of 39a, the axes are aligned and connection can be made without creating a step.

In addition, depending on the length of the column 6, the rotation of the crimp member 3l of the fixed support mechanism section 29 is adjusted to appropriately adjust the amount of protrusion of the crimp member 3I from the screw hole 30a of the block 30. The distance between the crimping member 3 and the movable crimping member 36 can be adjusted to correspond to the length of each column 6.

Next, the case where the column 6 is removed from the column mounting device section 22 will be described.

In this case, the column 6 is pushed up along with the movable pressure bonding member 36 in the eight directions of the arrows. Then, one end of the column 6 is pulled out from the recess 32 of the fixed side crimp member 3I, and then the column 6 is pulled down obliquely, and the other end is attached to the movable crimp member 3I.
It is removed by pulling it out from the recess 39 of No. 6.

H. Effects of the Invention As detailed above, according to the column of the biochemical analyzer and its mounting device of the present invention, the column is fitted into the fitting opening at both ends of the cylindrical container through the filters respectively. An end member is installed, and a communicating hole that narrows in a truncated conical shape without a step from the fitting opening of this end member and a liquid port that is a small hole that follows this are bored, and the outer periphery of the free end is bored. It is constructed by forming a truncated conical taper. In addition, the column mounting device is arranged such that the movable support mechanism section and the fixed support mechanism section are opposed to each other,
A crimping member is screwed into the fixed support mechanism block, a recess is provided in the head of the crimping member, the inner periphery thereof is formed as a guide surface corresponding to the tapered surface, and a liquid feeding tube is inserted into the through hole of the crimping member. The movable support mechanism is configured such that the flange formed at the end thereof faces the bottom of the recess, and the movable crimp member is slidably inserted into the block and attached with a spring in the direction of the fixed support mechanism. A recess is provided at the tip of the movable crimp member, the inner periphery thereof is formed into a guide surface corresponding to the tapered surface, a liquid feeding tube is inserted into the through hole of the movable crimping member, and a flange is formed at the end of the tube. Since the column is configured to face the bottom of the recess, by moving the movable crimping member, the column can be crimped between this and the fixed crimping member, or it can be removed. This has the effect of making it possible to easily and quickly perform the attachment/detachment work with one hand and with a single touch.

Therefore, the column can be replaced quickly, air can be prevented from entering the column and errors in measured values can be prevented, and the time required for the entire measurement can be shortened.

In addition, since the tapered surfaces at both ends of the column are supported in such a way that they are positioned by the guide surfaces of each recess, the flow path of the column and the flow path of the liquid delivery tube can be supported without shifting, and can be supported reliably and firmly. effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a partial sectional view of the main parts showing an embodiment of the column and its mounting device of the biochemical analyzer of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged exploded longitudinal sectional view of the main parts, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the main parts. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional flow system, and FIG. 5 is a partially sectional front view of the main part of the column device. 6... Column, 22... Column attachment/detachment device section, 23.
...Yongsai, 24...Danro member, 3l...Crimp member,
36...Movable pressure bonding member, 38...Spring, 4l...
Hollow stopper. Figure 1: Partial sectional view of the main part Figure 4: Overall schematic configuration diagram Figure 5: Partial sectional view of the main part

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) End members are installed at both ends of the cylindrical container through filters so as to fit into the fitting openings, and the end members continue from the fitting openings into a truncated conical shape without any steps. 1. A column for a biochemical analyzer, characterized in that the column has a communication hole and a liquid port following the communication hole, and has a conical tapered surface on the outer periphery of the free end of the end member. (2) A movable support mechanism part in which the movable crimping member is slidably attached while being biased by a spring, and a fixed support mechanism part in which the crimping member is screwed are arranged to face each other, and the movable crimping member and the crimping member are arranged opposite to each other. a recess is formed at each end facing the movable crimp member and the crimp member, and an inner peripheral portion of the recess is formed as a guide surface corresponding to the tapered surface of the end member of the column according to claim (1); A column for a biochemical analyzer, characterized in that a liquid feeding tube is inserted into each through hole of the member, and a flange portion provided at an end of the liquid feeding tube faces the bottom surface of the recess. Mounting device.