JPH0228561A - Dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable handling with the same connector when the dispensed amount of a sample is different by using a connector which has a stepped fitting part capable of matching at least two kinds of deposable chips by a difference in single-time suction amount. CONSTITUTION:In the process of the XYZ-axial operation of a head 16 over a stage 5, the deposable chips 33 and 33' specified by chip racks 2 and 2' are selected according to the information of a reserved-input control system and fitted to the connector 28 provided to the head 16. Then, the chips 33 and 33' are inserted into a specified sample tube 35 on a sample rack 4 to suck the sample by a specified amount and dispense it to a specified sample tube 34 on a sample rack 3. At this time, the connector 28 of the head 16 is provided with a stepped part having external diameters matching at least the two kinds of chips 33 and 33' which differ in capacity to maintain the continuity of the operation even if various samples are dispensed by different dispensed amounts all at a time, thereby improving the operation efficiency.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention attaches a debosable tip to a connector, sucks up a sample from a sample tube with the operation of a microsyringe, and dispenses it into the sample tube. The present invention relates to a dispensing device for.

(Prior art) The deposable tip used in this type of dispensing device is
It is used for dividing and distributing large amounts of samples such as serum, and is removably attached to a connector on the head that moves in the X, Y, and Z axes relative to the stage of the dispensing device. Due to its syringe function, it is used as a microsyringe.

Traditionally, the dispensing device selects a new debossable tip from the tip rack, fits it into the connector, moves it to the specified sample tube position in the sample rack by the movement of the head, and then transfers the sample by the action of the microsyringe. It is sucked up into a disposable chip, carried to the sample rack, and dispensed into designated sample tubes.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) The problem here is that the amount of specimen to be aspirated and retained in the diposa pull tip varies considerably depending on the type of specimen. This affects dispensing accuracy. For example, 100
When drawing μt into a diposa pull tip and dispensing it in 20 μt increments, and when sucking into a diposa pull tip and dispensing 1000 μt in 200 μt increments, the same depot is used. When using a diplop tip, the dispensing accuracy varies greatly due to the difference in the amount of air within the diplop tip.

That is, the former has significantly lower accuracy than the latter.

Therefore, depending on the difference in the amount of sample to be dispensed, the type of tip is changed depending on whether a large diposa pull tip is used or a small diposa pull tip is used. However, in this case, the connector provided on the head must be replaced with one that is compatible with the modified debosable chip. However, since dispensing work is performed continuously for various samples in a mixed state, it is necessary to replace the connector and tip rack each time the amount of the sample to be dispensed differs. In this case, work efficiency will be significantly reduced.

Therefore, the present invention was made based on the above circumstances, and
The structure of the connector has been improved so that the same connector can be used even if the deposable tip is replaced when the amount of sample to be dispensed is different. The present invention aims to provide a dispensing device in which the installation position can be reserved and input into the control system to ensure continuity of work and maintain high work efficiency.

(Means for Solving the Problem) For this purpose, in the present invention, x, y
, is equipped with a head that moves in the z-axis direction, and during the operation process of the head, a specified debossable chip is selected from the chip rack according to the reserved input information of the control system, and is fitted into the connector provided on the head. , in which the depoza pull tip is inserted into a designated sample tube in the sample rack to aspirate a designated amount of the specimen, and the sample is dispensed into the designated sample tube in the sample rack, wherein the head has at least two It is equipped with a connector that has a stepped fitting section with an outer diameter that is compatible with two types of diposa pull tips.

Furthermore, the control system has reservation input information about the installation position of each chip rack corresponding to the type of the diposa pull chip, and according to the input information, when the diposa pull chip is taken out by the connector, the position of the chip rack is reserved. After making a selection, the head is driven to approach a desired debosable chip.

(Function) In such a configuration, when selecting a diposa pull tip according to the amount of sample to be dispensed, the connector must be replaced by matching the fitting portions provided in stages. Therefore, work interruptions for this purpose can be avoided, and by inputting in the control system a reservation for the installation position of the tip rack according to the type (size) of the debosable chip,
The diposa pull tip can be selected and attached to the connector based on the input information, and in any case, each sample can be dispensed continuously without interruption of work, maintaining high work efficiency. can.

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

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is the main body of the dispensing device, and a stage 5 for appropriately arranging tip racks 2.2 (sample racks 3 and sample racks 4) is provided at the front part of the dispensing device. It is divided into a stage part 5a on the back side that receives the sample rack 3 and a stage part 5b on the front side that receives the sample rack 3 and the sample rack 4.

The above-mentioned dispensing device main body l has a plate-shaped frame 6 on both sides.
．． 6 is provided, and a guide beam 7.7 extending in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) is installed on this. The beam 7.7 is slidably equipped with a carrier 8,
The carrier 8 can be moved in the X-axis direction along the beam 7.7 by controlling the forward and reverse rotation of a motor 9 provided on the carrier 8. That is, the output shaft of the motor 9 is provided with a gear 10, and this gear lO is connected to the timing belt 1.
1 is engaged. And the above timing belt 1
1 is fixed to the frame 6.6 at both ends, and the carrier 8 is provided with guide wheels 12, 13t for tensioning the timing belt 11 in order to maintain meshing with the gear 10.

Further, the carrier 8 is equipped with a beam 14 extending in the front-rear direction (Z-axis direction), and a rail 15 is provided on this beam, and a head 16 that moves along this is mounted. has been done. The head 16 is attached to a transmission belt 17 disposed from the front to the rear of the beam 14, and another motor 18 provided on the carrier 8 drives the belt 17.
When the roller 7 is driven, it is moved forward or backward along the rail 15 depending on the forward or reverse direction of rotation.

Further, the head 16 has a guide column t9 extending in the vertical direction, and a screw shaft 20 is supported in parallel with the guide column t9. A timing belt 22 is wound around a toothed pulley 21 provided at the lower end of the screw shaft 20. A timing belt 22 is wound around the toothed pulley 21 provided at the lower end of the screw shaft 20. A motor 23 mounted on the head 16 drives the toothed pulley 24 to drive the power receiver and the screw shaft. 20. A sub-head 26 is disposed on the head 16 so that the guide column 19 is sandwiched between rollers 25 from the left and right sides. The sub-head 26 is provided with a female screw block 27 that meshes with the screw shaft 20, and is moved up and down under the forward and reverse rotation control of the motor 23.

The sub-head 26 is provided with a tubular connector 28 having tapered fitting portions 28a and 28b having different outer diameters formed in a stepped manner at its tip, which is connected via a flexible tube 29. , is connected to a microsyringe 30 provided in the dispensing device main body l. Further, the head 16 is provided with a remover 31 that can protrude horizontally toward the connector 28, and is moved back and forth by a solenoid 32.

The tip rack λ2' has a predetermined number of insertion holes in the front, back, left, and right sides, and each rack 2.2' has a predetermined number of insertion holes 33, 33' with different sizes and fitting diameters for each rack 2'.
is removably inserted. Also sample rack 3,
Similarly, each of the sample racks 4 has a predetermined number of insertion holes in the front, rear, left, and right sides, and sample tubes 34 and sample tubes are inserted into and removably inserted into the respective holes.

The above motor 9.18.23 and microsyringe 30
Forward/reverse switching and drive control are performed by signals from a control system 36 incorporating a computer.

Next, the control sequence for each drive section by the control system 36 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the chip racks 2 are placed on each stage section 5a, 5b.
．． 2', the installation quantity of sample rack 3 and sample rack 4,
The longitudinal pitch of each rack 2.2', 3.4, the horizontal pitch (the mutual center pitch of the debossable tips 33 and 33', the sample tube 34, the specimen tube 3
5), set the numerical values for each tube center pitch, etc. In this case, it is preferable to set the pitch by actually moving the connector 28 on the tip racks 2 and 2' by operating the manual operation section 36a in the X, Y, and Z axis directions provided in the control system 36. Also, one chip 33 or 33' is attached to the connector 28 and inserted into the sample tube 34 in each sample rack 3 or into the empty sample tube 35 in the sample rack 4 to set the pitch and It is a good idea to set the insertion amount. The numerical values previously monitored in this manner are stored in the memory (step S, >, then the pick-up order of the debossable tips 33 and 33' is specified, the sample tube selection order, the sample tip 3
Set the number of doses to be dispensed, the amount to be dispensed, the order of dispensing, etc. (
Step St).

Then, the operation is switched to the automatic operation section 36b in the X, Y, and Z axis directions (step S). As a result, the control system 36
is calculated from the input data on the memory, and first selects the type of debosable chip 33 or 33' to be increased and specifies its position (step S
,. ,). Next, the drive amount of each motor 9, 18, 23 in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions from the current position to reach that position is calculated (step 5sot). First, when the drive amount is specified in the X-axis direction (step 5sos
), giving a pulse signal to the motor 9 while performing subtraction l,
Rotation is driven in the forward or reverse direction until it reaches the O value (step S3.4 and steps S, .S). Next, when the drive amount is specified in the Z-axis direction (step S, 6)
, while similarly performing subtraction ti, a pulse signal is given to the motor 18, and the motor 18 is driven to rotate in forward or reverse rotation until it reaches the O value (step 830? and step 5sos). In this process, the motor 9 drives the carrier 8 in the left-right direction to move along the beam 7.7, and the motor 18 drives the head 16 to move the head 16 in the front-back direction along the rail 15 to reach the required diboza. Connector 2 on the pull tip
87f: bring about. Next, the amount of drive in the JCY axis direction (by either of the chips 33, 33', the fitting portions 2Ra, 2
When Rb is fitted, the drive amount is also different) is specified (steps S, o,), a pulse signal is given to the motor 23 while performing subtraction 1, and the motor 23 is driven until it reaches the θ value. step 5sro and step 5so),
The upper end of the debossable chip 33 (or 33') is fitted into the connector 28. In this process, motor 2
3, the screw shaft 20 turns, and the sub-head 26
performs a descending motion. In this way, with the diposa pull chip 33 or 33' fitted (frictionally fitted) to the fitting part 28a or 28b of the connector 28, the reverse pulse signal is applied to the motor while performing addition 1. Give to 23,
This is repeated until it reaches the first drive amount in the Y-axis direction (steps S3, 2 and 8s+s). Next, the X-axis toward the sample tube 35 containing the sample to be sucked up first,
The drive amount of each motor 9, 18, 23 in the Y-axis and Z-axis directions is calculated (step S4). Therefore, first, when the drive amount in the X-axis direction is specified (step S + o +)
, give a pulse signal to the motor 9 while performing subtraction 1,
Drive until it reaches the O value (step 84G! and step 5ans'). Next, when drive amounts are specified for the two axes (step S4.4), a pulse signal is given to the motor 18 while being subtracted in the same way, and the motor is driven until it reaches a zero value (step 5tos and step 840).
6). During this process, the carrier 8 moves in the left and right direction, and the head 16
is moved in the front-back direction so that the debosser pull-chig 33 (or 33') set in one connector 28 faces onto a predetermined sample tube 35 on the sample rack 4. Next K
When the drive amount is specified in the Y-axis direction (step S4゜)
, a pulse signal is given to the motor 23 while subtracting, and it becomes 0.
(step 840g and step 84011), insert the lower end of the tip 33 into the sample tube 3.
Insert within 5.

Next, the control system 36 sends the micro ring 3 at a predetermined stroke according to the suction amount specified in step S.
A signal instructing a siphoning operation of 0 is issued (step SS). In this way, the specimen is sucked up into the diposa pull tip 33 (or 33').

Next, the amount of drive in the Y-axis direction (specified in step S4゜)
A reverse pulse signal is applied to the motor 23 while performing addition toward
Increased from 5.

The number of items to be dispensed next (for example, anywhere from 1 to 5)
settings are made, and the dispensing amount (e.g. 20 μt to 200 μt
) are set (step Sa). First, the drive amount of each motor 9, 18, 23 in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions toward a predetermined position of the sample rack 3 containing the sample tube 34 to be dispensed is calculated ( Step 8an+). First, when the drive amount in the X-axis direction is specified (Step Sg.), a pulse signal is given to the motor 9 while decreasing 31E, and the motor 9 is driven until it reaches the 0 value (Step Sg.). and step 86o4
). Next, when the drive amount is specified in the Z-axis direction (step 5QQS), a pulse signal is given to the motor 18 while subtracting in the same way, and the motor 18 is driven until it reaches the 0 value (steps S, 6 and S ,.,). In this process, the carrier 8 moves in the left-right direction, and the head 16 moves in the front-back direction, so that the depoza pull tip 33 faces a predetermined tube 34 on the sample rack 3. Next, when a driving amount is specified in the Y-axis direction (step S, . . . ), a pulse signal is given to the motor 23 while being subtracted, and the motor 23 is driven until it becomes a zero value. . and step S81°), insert the lower end of the chip 33 (or 33') into the sample tube 34. Next, from the control system 36, step S
A signal instructing the lowering operation of the microsyringe 30 at a predetermined stroke is issued in accordance with the discharge amount corresponding to the dispensing amount specified in step 2 (step 5au). Thus, the first dispensing is done. Next, the motor 23 is added while increasing the amount of drive in the Y-axis direction (specified in step S, .).
A reverse pulse signal is applied to the sample tube 34 (steps S, 1. and step Sa+s), and the diposa pull tip 33 (or 33') is pulled up from the sample tube 34.

Steps S, l, 4) are subtracted for the number of dispensing.
If this is O value (step Ss+s), next step S
If not, return to step S6゜1 and calculate the drive amount of each motor 9, 18, 23 in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions to the position of the next sample tube 34. do. The following repeats the same operation and finally moves to the step. Here, at step 5301, each motor 9 in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions moves to the specified position of the diposa pull chip. .18.Calculate the drive amount of 23.

Thus, the movement of the carrier 8 in the X-axis direction is achieved (step S, .1 specifies the drive amount in the drive).

Further, movement of the head 16 in the Z-axis direction is achieved (step 8704 specifies the drive amount in the Z-axis direction, and step 8705 and step 5qas subtract and compare, and drive the motor 18). Next, the sub-head 26 is moved in the Y-axis direction (step S).
The downward drive amount in the Y-axis direction is specified in steps S, □ and step S. , subtract and compare motor 2
3). Next, the control system 36 outputs a signal to the solenoid 32, and the remover 31 is connected to the connector 28.
It protrudes to the side (step Sy+o). In this state, a signal is issued to move the sub-head 26'ir upward in the Y-axis direction (step Sv++), and the remover 31 presses the head of the deposable chip 330 downward to restore the original position of the chip rack 2 (or 2'). Return the used diposa pull tip 33 (or 33') to its position.

In this way, once the dispensing of the first sample is completed, it is determined in step S whether the dispensing work is complete, and the continuation process returns to step S, o1, where the dispensing of the next sample is completed. The type of chip (33 or 33') and pick-up position are specified, and the same operation is repeated thereafter.

Although the remover 31 is provided on the head 16 in the above embodiment, it may be provided on the sub-head 26 as shown in FIG. The remover 31 is a cylindrical body provided so as to surround the connector 28, and is moved up and down by a solenoid 32. As a result, the disposable chip 33 (or 33') can be pushed down from the tip of the connector 28 to release the fitting.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, the stepped fitting portion can accommodate at least two types of diposa pull tips depending on the difference in the amount of suction applied to the diposa pull tips at one time. Since the head is equipped with a connector with a You can improve.

Furthermore, by inputting the rack installation position for each size of debosable chips in advance as information in the control system, it is now possible to select chips according to the amount to be dispensed and approach the head. In this respect, it is also beneficial in improving work continuity and work efficiency as described above.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, Fig. 3 is a side view of the same, Fig. 4 is a front view of main parts, and Fig. 5 is a front view of the same.
6 is a plan view of the same, FIG. 7 is a flowchart, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a main part of another embodiment. 1...Dispensing device main body, 2.2'...Tip rack 3
... Sample rack, 4... Sample rack 5... Stage, 7... Guide beam, 8... Carrier 9.
... Motor, 15... Turn, 16... Het 18
... Motor, 19 ... Guide column 20 ... Screw shaft, 23 ... Motor 26 ... Subhead, 28
... Connector 30 ... Micro syringe, 33.3
3'... Depoza pull tip 34... Sample tube, 35... Sample tube 36... Control system

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Equipped with a head that moves in the X, Y, and Z axis directions with respect to the stage, and during the operation process of the head, the depot point specified by the chip rack is Select a pull tip and fit it into the connector provided on the head, insert the diposa pull tip into the specified sample tube in the sample rack, aspirate the specified amount of sample, and insert it into the specified sample tube in the sample rack. In the dispensing device, the head is equipped with a connector in which fitting portions with outer diameters suitable for at least two types of diposa pull tips with different capacities are arranged in a stepped manner. Device. (2) The above control system has the installation position of each chip rack corresponding to the type of the diposa pull chip as reservation input information, and according to the input information, the diposa pull chip can be taken out using the connector. 2. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the tip rack is selected and the head is driven to approach a desired droplet tip.