JPH02281143A - Reaction container for automatic chemical analysis - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to perform highly accurate measurement by forming a least a part of a container as a light transmitting part comprising a material which allows optical measurement of liquid contained in a reagent containing chamber. CONSTITUTION:Specified amounts of different reagents (a) and (b) are contained in reagent containing chambers 16 and 18 beforehand. A sample is supplied into one or both of the containing chambers 16 and 18 with an appropriate sample feeding means. After the sample is supplied, a thin tube shaped needle is inserted into a cap 12 at the side of one chamber 16. A gas feeding and exhausting pump is connected to said needle. When a gas is fed into the containing chamber 16 in a reaction container A, the liquid in the containing chamber 16 is sent into the containing chamber 18 through a small groove 23 in a conducting member 22. Conversely, when the gas in the containing chamber 16 is exhausted with the pump, the liquid in the containing chamber 18 flows into the containing chamber 16. When the feeding and the exhausting of the gas with said pump are repeated by the required times, the reagents (a) and (b) and the sample are sufficiently mixed. Thereafter, the container A is mounted, and the optical measurement of the objective components is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a reaction vessel for automatic chemical analysis for mixing a test sample and a reagent and optically measuring components in this mixed solution. . Specifically, the present invention relates to a reaction container for automatic chemical analysis in which a plurality of reagents housed in a plurality of reagent storage chambers and a test sample such as serum can be mixed in one container and subjected to optical measurement as is.

[Prior art] When performing analysis in the field of clinical chemistry analysis such as biochemical analysis and immunoassay, the analysis container is fixed to the analyzer and requires a lot of effort to clean and remove. There is. Furthermore, this analyzer required a reagent dispensing mechanism, a cleaning mechanism, and the like.

In order to solve these problems, the reaction container is made to be easily attachable to and detachable from the analyzer (disposable), two or more reagents are placed in the container without mixing with each other, and optical A container that allows measurements is desired.

Conventionally, in order to optically measure components in serum, serum was injected into a transparent synthetic resin bag containing reagents, mixed, and then set in an optical analyzer. There is. The interior of this bag is divided into two chambers, one of which is a first chamber filled with a liquid reagent and a second chamber filled with a solid reagent (tablet). This second chamber is provided with a sample (serum) injection port called a septum.

Serum is injected from the septum into the other chamber, and the bag is then manually manipulated to break the compartments between the two chambers, dispensing the liquid reagent in the first chamber into the second chamber, dissolving the tablet in the liquid reagent, and dissolving the tablet in the liquid reagent. , react with serum.

After the serum has reacted, the whole bag is packed into a rectangular measurement cell. This cell is made of a transparent material, and the cell filled with the bag is set in an optical measuring device, and by performing optical measurements (for example, measuring absorbance at a specific wavelength), it is possible to detect the concentration of components in serum. It is done.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional measurement method described above, a bag containing a reaction solution with serum is filled into the cell, so there is a bag containing the reaction solution in the cell. There are bags made of synthetic resin. Therefore,
There may be a gap between the inner surface of the cell and the outer surface of the bag, which may change the optical path length during absorbance measurement, or the bag may cause a disturbance factor (
Diffuse reflection, absorption, etc.) may cause errors, resulting in low measurement accuracy.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The reaction container for automatic chemical analysis according to claim (1) is a container having a plurality of reagent storage chambers and a pore that communicates the reagent storage chambers with each other, At least a part of the reagent storage chamber is a light transmitting part made of a material that allows optical measurement of the liquid contained in the chamber, and each reagent storage chamber is provided with an opening for supplying a test sample or supplying and discharging gas. In addition, the opening is sealed with a soft material.

The reaction container for automatic chemical analysis according to claims (2) and (3) includes a container main body having a plurality of reagent storage chambers, each reagent storage chamber having an open opening at the upper surface thereof; The container body is made of a material capable of optically measuring the liquid contained in the reagent storage chamber, and the lid is made of a diagonal pierceable soft material.

In claim (2), the container body is provided with a pore that communicates the reagent storage chambers with each other.

In claim (3), a conductive member is provided so as to straddle the partition wall of the container body, and the reagent storage chambers are communicated with each other through the pores or narrow grooves formed in the conductive member.

[Function] In the reaction container for automatic chemical analysis according to claims (1) to (3), different reagents are stored in each reagent storage chamber in advance.

For example, a test sample such as serum is collected in a syringe or other injector having an italic shape.The diagonal is pierced through the soft material of a reaction container for automatic chemical analysis, and the test sample is injected into a reagent storage chamber. Ru. Next, a diagonal body communicating with a gas supply/discharge device is pierced through the soft material to supply/discharge gas to a certain reagent storage chamber. When air is supplied to the reagent storage chamber, the reagent in the reagent storage chamber is pumped to another reagent storage chamber, and conversely, when air is exhausted from the reagent storage chamber, reagents flow into the reagent storage chamber from other reagent storage chambers. .

Therefore, by supplying and discharging this gas a required number of times, the test sample and the plurality of reagents are mixed.

After this reaction container for automatic chemical analysis has been sufficiently mixed, it is set in an optical measuring device such as a spectrophotometer, and optical measurements are performed.

In this case, since the reaction container for automatic chemical analysis has a translucent container body or is provided with a transparent part, the reaction container for automatic chemical analysis can be used as is for optical measurement. It can be used as a cell. In addition, there are no inclusions such as bags inside the container, the optical path length is constant, there is no diffuse reflection or absorption of light, and the measurement accuracy is extremely high.

In addition, in claims (2) and (3), when the lid is removable, the lid is removed from the container body when supplying the test sample into the container, and the lid is placed directly into the reagent storage chamber with a pipette or the like. A test sample may also be supplied.

[Example] Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 7 show the structure of a reaction vessel A for automatic chemical analysis according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view;
Figure 2 is an assembled perspective view, Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, Figure 4 is a plan view of the container body, Figure 5 is a front view of the conductive member, Figure 6 is a right side view, and Figure 7 is a bottom view. It is.

Reference numeral 10 is a container body, and a lid 12 is placed on the top of the container body. The interior of the container body 1o has reagent storage chambers 16 and 18 formed by a partition wall 14 rising from the bottom surface, and the partition wall 14 is provided integrally with the container body 10. Note that the mid-height portions of both sides of the container body 10 are sloped surfaces 20, and the reagent storage chamber 1
6.18 is constructed so that the upper part has a larger liquid surface area than the lower part. Note that the upper part of the container body 10 has an arcuate shape at the side surface portion.

A conductive member 22 is arranged so as to straddle the partition wall 14. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, this conductive member 22 has a pair of leg portions 22a extending downward along both sides of the partition wall 14.
.
from the lower end of a to the connecting portion 22c, and furthermore, the connecting portion 22c.
A narrow groove 23 is formed from c to the lower end of the leg portion 22b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the height of the partition wall 14 is slightly lower than the top surface of the container body 10, and when the conductive member 22 is attached to the partition wall 14 so as to straddle the partition wall 14, the connecting portion 22c The upper surface is configured to be flush with the upper end surface of the container body 10.

Note that the lower ends of the legs 22a and 22b are connected to the reagent storage chamber 16.1.
Their lengths are set so that they are slightly separated from the bottom surface of 8.

The container body 10 is made of a translucent material (for example, polystyrene) that allows light to pass through when performing optical measurements to be described later. Further, the lid body 12 is made of a soft material and is detachable from the container body 10.

Note that the thickness of the container body 10 is preferably about 1 mm.
The width and depth of the container body 10 are both preferably about 5 to 10 mm. The width and depth of the narrow groove 23 are preferably about 0.3 to 2 mm.

A method of using the reaction vessel for automated chemical analysis constructed as described above will be explained next with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11.

Different reagents a and b are stored in predetermined amounts in the reagent storage chambers 16 and 18 in advance. Test specimen (sample) such as serum
is supplied to one or both of the reagent storage chambers 16, 18 by a suitable sample supply means such as a microsyringe 24 or a micropipette 26. In the case of a microsyringe, the needle 24a of the microsyringe 24 can be inserted into the lid 12 to supply the reagent to the reagent storage chamber, as shown in FIG. 9(a). In the case of a micropipette, the lid 12 can be removed to supply the reagent to the reagent storage chamber, as shown in FIG. 9(b).

After supplying the sample, as shown in FIG. 10(a), a thin tube-shaped needle 28 is pierced through the lid 12 on one side of the chamber 16, and a pump 30 for supplying and discharging gas such as air is connected to the needle 28. Connect with piping 32.

Note that another needle 33 of the lid on the side of the other chamber 18 is pierced to communicate the inside of the chamber 18 with the atmosphere.

When gas is supplied into the reagent storage chamber 16 in the reaction container A with the pump 30, the liquid in the reagent storage chamber 16 flows through the conduction member 22.
When the gas in the reagent storage chamber 16 is pumped through the narrow groove 23 of the reagent storage chamber 18 and the gas in the reagent storage chamber 16 is discharged by the pump 30, the liquid in the reagent storage chamber 18 is discharged as shown in FIG. 10(b). It flows into the reagent storage chamber 16. Therefore, by repeating the supply and discharge of gas by the pump 30 a required number of times, the reagents a and b are
and the sample is thoroughly mixed.

After the reagent and sample are sufficiently mixed, the container A is attached to an optical measuring device 34 shown in FIG. 11, for example, to optically measure the target component in the sample. In addition, in FIG. 11, the reference numeral 36 indicates a constant temperature bath. Also, 3
Reference numeral 8 denotes a rotating disk, and the container A is locked to a container mounting portion 38a formed on the rotating disk 38, and the lower part of the container A is configured to be maintained at a constant temperature in a constant temperature bath 36. . Reference numeral 40 denotes a light emitting device, and 42 denotes a light receiving device. Light from the light emitting device 40 passes through the reaction container A and the liquid in the reaction container A and reaches the light receiving device 42. For example, 300 to 10
Changes in turbidity are measured by measuring the absorbance of light at 00 μm. Of course, absorbance at a specific wavelength may also be measured. A large number of reaction vessels A are attached to the rotating disk 38, and by rotating the rotating disk 38, samples in each vessel A are sequentially analyzed. The same container A may be repeatedly measured at regular intervals to measure changes in turbidity and the like over time.

As is clear from the above description, according to this embodiment, the reaction container body 10 is made of a translucent material, and the container A can be used as it is as a cell for optical measurement. There are no inclusions such as bags in the reaction vessel A, and the optical path length is constant.

Also, there is no diffuse reflection or absorption of light by the bag. Therefore, extremely accurate measurements can be performed.

Note that the container body 10 according to the above embodiment can be manufactured into a container by an injection molding method.

In the above embodiment, the narrow groove 2 is formed so as to straddle the partition wall 14.
Although three conductive members 22 were provided, in the present invention, a conductive member 44 with pores such as a capillary may be used as shown in FIG.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the reagent storage chambers 16.18 are 2
However, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 13, three or more reagent storage chambers may be provided. Note that the third reagent storage chamber is indicated by the reference numeral 17.

FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16 explain embodiments in which the shape of the container body 10 is different. In FIG. 14, the reagent storage chambers 16.18 are cylindrical and are arranged close to each other so as to be in direct contact with each other.

In FIG. 15, the reagent storage chambers 16.18 have a cylindrical square shape, and the reagent storage chambers 16.18 are separated from each other.

In FIG. 16, the reagent storage chambers 16, 18 are prismatic and spaced apart by a predetermined distance. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the reagent storage chamber 16.
Although 18 is covered with an integrated lid, it may be a separate lid.

Although two reagent storage chambers are installed in FIGS. 14 to 16, three or more reagent storage chambers may be installed.

In FIGS. 12 to 16, (a) is a plan view of the container body, and (b) is a vertical sectional view of the container.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a reaction container for automatic chemical analysis according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 18 is a front view of the same, and FIG. 19 is a first
A vertical cross-sectional view along the line 19-19 in Figure 7, and Figure 20 is the 19th section.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 in the figure. The reaction container B for automated chemical analysis according to this embodiment also includes a container body 10 and a lid 12 that covers it, and the inside of the container body 10 is divided by a partition wall 14 into two reagent storage chambers 16 and 18. There is. In this embodiment, a pore 48 is provided at the bottom of the 1° container body, and the pore 48 allows the reagent storage chamber 1 to be opened.
6.18 Comrades are communicating. Furthermore, the partition wall 14 has a height that reaches the upper end surface of the container body 1o.

Even in this reaction container B for automatic chemical analysis, different reagents are placed in the reagent storage chambers 16 and 18 in advance, and after a sample is supplied into the container B, air is supplied to and discharged from one of the reagent storage chambers. This allows each reagent and sample to be thoroughly mixed.

Note that the pores 48 have a sufficiently small diameter, so that even if different reagents are stored in each reagent storage chamber 16, 18, there is no or almost no mixing of these reagents.

In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, the chamber 16.1
When the liquid contained in the pores 8 is water, alcohol, etc., the inner diameter (diameter) of the pores 48 is preferably about 0.3 to 1.0 mm.

Of course, in the present invention, the liquid may be other than water or alcohol. For example, when measuring AFP (α-fetoprotein), AFP latte fluid and AFP
A stabilizing solution can be used.

In Figs. 17 to 20, two reagent storage chambers are installed, but in the present invention, three reagent storage chambers are installed as shown in Fig. 21.
More than one reagent storage chamber may be provided. In this case, the reagent storage chambers may be installed apart from each other as shown in FIG. 22. Further, as shown in FIG. 23, the reagent storage chamber can have various shapes such as a cylindrical shape. In addition, the 21st to 2nd
3, (a) is a plan view of the container body 10, and (b) is a plan view of the container body 10.
) is a vertical cross-sectional view of container B, and FIG. 2(C) is a right side view of the same.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a reaction vessel C for automatic chemical analysis according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 25. In this embodiment, a plate 50 is integrally provided on the upper surface of the container body 10, and an opening 52 is formed in the plate 50. A cap 54 made of a soft material is attached to this opening 52. Even in the embodiment shown in Figures 24 and 25, separate reagents are stored in advance in the reagent storage chambers 16 and 18 in the reaction container C, and the reagents are introduced into the container C using a microsyringe or a micropipette. supply,
By supplying and discharging gas to one chamber, each reagent and sample can be sufficiently mixed, and the chamber can be set in an optical measuring device as it is.

In addition, in the present invention, only a portion of the container may be made translucent. For example, only the portion surrounded by the two-dot chain line 56 in FIG. 24 and the opposing surface portion may be made transparent.

In the present invention, the soft material constituting the lid 12 and the cap 54 may be SBR rubber, silicone rubber, nitrile rubber, or the like.

[Effects] As described above, according to the reaction container for automatic chemical analysis according to claims (1) to (3) of the present invention, the container can be used as it is as a cell for optical measurement. Furthermore, since the optical path length is constant, extremely highly accurate measurements can be performed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a reaction container for automatic chemical analysis according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an assembled perspective view, Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, Fig. 4 is a plan view of the main body of the container, and Fig. 5 is a front view of the conductive member,
FIG. 6 is a right side view of the same, and FIG. 7 is a bottom view. Figure 8,
FIGS. 9 and 10 are longitudinal cross-sectional views showing a method of mixing samples. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an optical measurement method. Figure 12, Figure 13, Figure 14, Figure 15, Figure 16
Each figure is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a different embodiment, Fig. 18 is a front view of the same, Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 in Fig. 17, and Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along line 2020 in Fig. 19. It is a diagram. FIG. 21, FIG. 22, and FIG. 23 are configuration diagrams showing different embodiments. FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a different embodiment, and FIG. 25 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. A, B, C... Reaction container for automatic chemical analysis, 0... Container body, 2... Lid, 4... Partition wall, 22... Conductive member.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A container having a plurality of reagent storage chambers and a pore that communicates the reagent storage chambers, and at least a portion of the container is made of a material that allows optical measurement of the liquid contained in the reagent storage chambers. Each reagent storage chamber is provided with an opening for supplying a test sample or supplying and discharging gas, and the opening is sealed with a soft material. Reaction vessel for chemical analysis. (2) A container body having a plurality of reagent storage chambers, each reagent storage chamber having an open opening at the top, and a lid fitted to the container body; The container body is made of a material that allows optical measurement of the liquid contained in the reagent storage chamber, the lid is made of a soft material that can be penetrated by a needle, and the container body has a pore that communicates between the reagent storage chambers. A reaction vessel for automatic chemical analysis, characterized in that it is provided with. (3) It has a plurality of reagent storage chambers partitioned by partition walls, and each reagent storage chamber has a container body with an open opening at the top, and a lid fitted to the container body. The container body is made of a material that allows optical measurement of the liquid contained in the reagent storage chamber, the lid is made of a soft material that can be penetrated by a needle, and the reagent storage chamber is made of a material that allows optical measurement of the liquid contained in the reagent storage chamber. 1. A reaction container for automatic chemical analysis, characterized in that the reaction container is communicated by a pore or narrow groove formed in a conductive member that spans the wall.