JPH0271155A - Automatic analyzer equipped with air thermostatic oven - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten analyzing time and improve measuring accuracy of a specimen by raising the temperature of a liquid in a reaction container to a predetermined temperature in a short time by an air thermostatic oven. CONSTITUTION:Many containers 20 of a specimen are supported on a specimen table 16, and containers 18 of a reagent are cooled in a reagent cooler 19. A predetermined amount of the specimen is sucked from the containers 20 to a distributing mechanism 15 and transferred into a reaction container 22 at a set position on a reaction table 65. After the transfer, a probe of the distributing mechanism 15 is sufficiently cleaned in a probe cleaning tank 27. Then, a reaction liquid is stirred, with rows of reaction contains being rotated. By repeating this sequence, a desired number of the specimens are transferred to the reaction containers 22. The reagent is sucked by the mechanism 15 to be distributed to the reaction containers 22 at the discharging position 60. The temperature of the reaction container 22 is raised to and kept at a predetermined temperature by a reaction air thermostatic oven 21. Therefore, the reaction in the thermostatic oven is stabilized, to realize measurement with high sensitivity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer, and more particularly to an automatic analyzer having a function of constant temperature-setting a row of reaction vessels with air.

[Conventional technology]

In order to analyze and measure biological samples such as blood, it is common to use a photometer to measure a reaction solution in which the sample and a reagent are reacted. Particularly when measuring a large number of analysis items for each sample, a discrete type automatic analyzer is often used that generates a reaction liquid in a reaction vessel that also serves as a photometric cell for each analysis item.

Biological samples need to be reacted under constant temperature conditions around 37°C. For this purpose, conventional automatic analyzers employ a method in which a constant temperature water bath is used as a constant temperature bath and a row of reaction vessels is immersed in the constant temperature water, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-168553.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

When a constant temperature water bath is used as a constant temperature bath, the constant temperature water is circulated between the constant temperature water supply section that produces constant temperature water and the bathtub, which requires a large space and inevitably makes the entire analyzer large. It had no choice but to take shape.

If an automatic analyzer is to be made into a desktop type, it is advisable to use an air constant temperature bath instead of a constant temperature water bath. However, since air has a smaller heat capacity than water, it takes a long time (for example, 30°C There is a problem in that the total analysis time ends up being longer.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer that can raise the temperature of a liquid collected in a reaction container to a predetermined temperature in a relatively short time even when using an air constant temperature bath, and then maintain the temperature at a constant temperature.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention includes a reaction table that rotatably transfers a series of rows of reaction containers, a dispensing device that supplies samples and reagents to the reaction containers, and an annular room that forms an air constant temperature room surrounding the rows of reaction containers. A heat block is placed on the inner wall of this annular room, and a preheating device is placed at a predetermined position in the annular room. It is characterized by being configured so that air at a constant temperature is blown toward the target.

[Effect]

In the present invention, a heat block is placed on the inner wall of an annular chamber in which a row of reaction vessels is placed. By arranging heat blocks along and around the reaction vessel rows and heating the heat blocks with sheet-like heaters, the entire air constant temperature chamber can be maintained at a constant temperature, for example, 37°C. When a new reagent solution is put into a specific reaction container at the liquid receiving position on the reaction container row, the temperature of this reagent solution is, for example, 2.
If the temperature is 0°C, the temperature of the sample and reagent mixture will also be low, so the temperature is raised to 37°C in a short time. The preliminary temperature raising device is arranged near the liquid receiving position and is designed to quickly raise the temperature of the received liquid.

The preheating device includes a heater and a blower, and air whose temperature is controlled to a constant temperature (37° C.) is blown toward the reaction vessel that has received the liquid. As a result, heat is efficiently supplied to the reaction vessel, so that the temperature of the liquid in the reaction vessel is raised to a constant temperature in a relatively short period of time due to heat conduction through the walls of the reaction vessel.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 2 shows the overall schematic configuration of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The reagent table 17 holds a reagent container 18 in a reagent cold storage 19. The sample table 16 is fitted onto and attached to the reagent table 17, but is located outside the reagent cooler 19. Sample containers 20 are arranged in two rows on the circumference of the sample table 16, and are driven by the same drive shaft as the reagent table 17. On the other hand, the reaction disk mechanism is composed of one reaction table 65, a reaction constant temperature bath 21, and a reaction container 22. or,
A washer m23 is provided that sucks the reaction liquid in the reaction container 22 and discharges a cleaning liquid for cleaning. Suction of the reaction liquid is performed by the peristaltic pump 24, and discharge of the cleaning liquid is performed by the cleaning syringe 25.

A dispensing mechanism 15 that aspirates the reagent in the reagent container 18 and the sample in the sample container 20, transfers it to the discharge position [60] on the reaction container row, and discharges it is located between the aforementioned sample/reagent disk mechanism and the reaction disk mechanism. It is located in This suction and discharge operation is performed by a dispensing syringe 26, which is connected via piping to a probe attached to the tip of the arm of the dispensing mechanism 15. In front of the dispensing mechanism 15, a probe cleaning tank 27 is disposed on the rotational orbit of the probe, and on the rotational orbit of the reaction container 22, a fluorometer 28 for measuring the fluorescence of the reaction solution is installed in a reaction constant temperature bath. It is installed within 21.

A preheating device shown in FIG. 1 is installed between the position 60 where the reagent is discharged by the dispensing mechanism 15 and the point where the reagent is rotated clockwise until it is measured by the fluorometer 28. Raise the temperature to This preheating device has a forced circulation preheating function, and its temperature is controlled by a preheat amplifier 30. Printer 10. An A/D converter 32 that processes the output signals of the CRT II, the operation panel 12, the floppy disk drive (FDD) 9, and the fluorometer 28.
are each connected to the CPU 34 via an interface 33 and controlled.

Next, the operation of the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. 2 will be explained. The sample used is serum, plasma, or urea biological fluid containing the test antigen. As the reagent, commonly used reagents are used, but especially when analyzing the immune reaction of a virus, a reagent solution containing the same phase coated with an antibody is used. First, a large number of sample containers 2o are held on the sample table 16, and the reagent containers 18 are placed in the reagent cooler 19.
Cool and maintain at specified temperature. A predetermined amount of sample is aspirated with a probe from the sample container 20 on the sample table 16 by the dispensing mechanism 15, transferred to the reaction container 22 at a specified position [60 on the reaction table 65, and discharged. After dispensing, the probe of the dispensing mechanism 15 is thoroughly cleaned in the probe cleaning tank 27 to prevent contamination due to sample liquid carryover. Next, reaction table 6
5 was vibrated for several seconds using a vibration drive device to stir the reaction solution.

Thereafter, the reaction vessel row is rotated and transferred.

By sequentially repeating this operation, a required number of samples are first transferred to the reaction container 22. This process is shown in step 5 of Figure 4.
5. Next, the reagent is similarly sucked from the reagent container 18 by the dispensing mechanism 15, and transferred and dispensed into the reaction container 22 above the discharge position 60. The dispensing cycle sequentially transfers and dispenses the first reagent in the reagent series of the reagent container group. This process is shown at 56 in Figure 4.
Shown below. In this way, the reaction table 65 is rotated as specified, and the sample and reagent are dispensed into the reaction container 22 in batches.

The reaction vessel 22 is maintained at a predetermined temperature, for example, 37° C., by a reaction air constant temperature bath. Regarding the reaction between the sample and the reagent, the reaction is particularly stable in a constant temperature bath, and highly sensitive measurements can be performed with good reproducibility.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an air constant temperature chamber partially equipped with a preheating device 29. The air constant temperature chamber 21 has a room formed in an annular shape almost all around the row of reaction vessels. This annular air constant temperature chamber is configured near the outer periphery of the reaction table 65,
It is placed below it. A row of reaction vessels 22 is suspended inside the air constant temperature chamber 21, and the annular path extends upward so as to surround both sides and the bottom of the row of reaction vessels, which has a shape that does not impede the rotational movement of the row of reaction vessels. The entire air temperature chamber is maintained at 37° C. by the open metal heat block 35 having a U-shaped cross section. A seat heater is arranged around the outer periphery of the heat block 35 to supply heat.

The reaction container 22 held on the reaction table 65 is maintained at 37° C. while containing the reaction liquid.

The outer periphery of the sheet heater 36 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the heat block 35 is covered with a heat insulating material 37, and a cover is provided on top of the heat insulating material 37. The reaction table 65 is fixed to a washer 40 attached to a shaft 39 supported by a drive base 38.
Pulley 41 attached to the other end and pulley 43 attached to pulse motor 42 are connected by timing belt 44, and the rotational force of pulse motor 42 is transmitted to reaction table 65.

Further, its rotational angular position is controlled by a detection plate 45 and a photointerrupter 46, which are formed integrally with the reaction table 65.

Figure 1 shows a preheating device 2 with a forced preheating function.
9 is shown below. The preheating device 29 is partially cut out and opened at the top, and the vicinity of the opening 49 serves as a passageway for the rows of reaction vessels 22. Therefore, the reaction vessel that has received the liquid at the liquid receiving position 60 shown in FIG. 2 is soon sent to this opening 49 and is forcibly heated. The entire structure except for the opening 49 is surrounded by a case 48, and the outside of the case 48 is covered with a heat insulating material 47.

A small case 50 is disposed inside the case 48, and a space between the inner wall of the case 48 and the outer wall of the small case 50 forms an air circulation path. An outside air introduction hole 70 communicating with outside air is opened in the small case 50, and the introduced outside air is used for temperature control of the air constant temperature oven. By opening the lid member 53 attached to the small case 50 by a predetermined angle by a drive mechanism (not shown), outside air flows into the circulation path of the preheating device 29, and when the lower limit of the temperature control range is reached, the lid member 53 is closed. . Inside the circulation path, there are a self-controllable heater 51 such as a ceramic heater, a temperature detection thermistor 52, and a hot air circulation fan 54.
is arranged to control the circulating air to a constant temperature of 37° C. and to blow air at 37° C. toward the reaction vessel 22.

A reagent solution containing the same phase whose surface is coated with an antibody as a reagent is placed on the reagent table, a sample solution containing an antigen such as a virus is placed in the reaction container 22, and then a reagent solution containing a solid phase coated with an antibody is added. Pulse motor 42 shown in Figure 3. Pulley 43, timing belt 44. Pulley 4
1 and a drive shaft 39, the mixture is vibrated and vigorously stirred by controlling the drive signal of the pulse motor 42. The antigen and solid phase come into contact with each other, and the variable portion of the antibody binds to the antigen. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the same phase is cleaned by the cleaning mechanism 23, the unreacted liquid that becomes a noise source for high-sensitivity measurements is discharged by the nozzle of the cleaning mechanism 23, and cleaning water is discharged by the operation of the cleaning syringe 25 from another nozzle. and rewash. This state is shown in step 57 of FIG.
Shown below.

After washing the solid phase, add the substrate solution, which is the enzyme reaction solution.

Immediately, air controlled at 37° C. by the preheating device 29 is blown onto the reaction vessel 22 into which the substrate has been dispensed to raise the temperature, and the temperature is maintained at 37° C. within 5 minutes. This state is shown in step 5 in Figure 5.
8. After 5 minutes of substrate reaction, the reaction status was measured using a fluorometer 2.
8 to analyze the concentration of the test component in the sample. This state is shown in step 59 of FIG. The reagent dispensing step 56 in the time chart of FIG. 5 is programmed so that the number of steps can be increased or decreased depending on the number of reagents required for the reaction.

The automatic analyzer of this example can also be used as a diagnostic device for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by high-sensitivity immunoassay, and the antigen concentration in the sample is 10''B~10-13Mo.
Detects Q/Q and enables highly sensitive measurements. Conventional general biochemical analyzers have a concentration of 10-BMoffi.
/ Q Compared to the previous case where it was possible to measure only up to
``Measurements can be made with twice the sensitivity.To achieve this, an important condition is how quickly the reaction solution can be heated to a predetermined temperature.

The air flow in the forced circulation preheat function will also be explained in some detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 1. Air blown in the direction of the arrow by the fan 54 is blown onto the heater 51. The temperature of the hot air heated through the heater 51 is detected by the thermistor 52, and the signal is processed by the control circuit and fed back as a heater voltage so as to always control the temperature to a predetermined temperature of 37°C. On the other hand, hot air from the heater 51 is blown into the reaction vessel 22, and the reaction liquid inside is heated to 37° C. in a short time. The warm air is further circulated and sucked by the fan 54 again. At this time, when the hot air is excessively heated, the outside air introduction lid 53 opens in response to a detection signal from the thermistor 52, and cooled outside air is sucked in to control the temperature.

FIG. 5 shows the temperature rise situation of the liquid in the reaction container according to this example. When the outside air temperature is 15°C, the reaction container containing the buffer solution (35°C) and substrate liquid (approximately 20°C) dispensed at the liquid receiving position 65 on the reaction table 65 is transferred to the pre-heating device and raised. This shows the case when heated. The temperature of the stored liquid changes as shown from the initial temperature position in FIG. 5, and photometry becomes possible with a fluorometer after 5 minutes. When the outside air temperature is 15°C to 32°C, the temperature of the liquid in the reaction vessel falls within the range between the solid line and the broken line in FIG.

According to the embodiment described above, although it is an air constant temperature bath, it is possible to raise the temperature to 37° C. in a short time, and the disadvantages of conventional water baths can also be improved. In other words, the contamination caused by bacteria that occurs in the water flow path and the troublesome maintenance associated with conventional water constant temperature baths are completely eliminated.1 There is no need to worry about water spilling when replacing reaction vessels, and the device is easy to operate and highly reliable. can be provided.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the temperature of the liquid in the reaction container can be raised to a constant temperature in a short time using an air constant temperature bath, so that analysis time can be shortened and sample measurement accuracy can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the schematic configuration of the preheating device in the embodiment of FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the entire automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of the reaction table and air constant temperature bath in the example of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a time chart of the analysis process.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the temperature of the liquid inside the reaction container changes. 21... Air constant temperature chamber, 22... Reaction container, 28...
・Fluorometer, 29... Preliminary temperature raising device, 35... Heat block, 36... Sheet heater, 48... Case, 49... Opening, 50... Small case, 51...
... Heater, 54 ... Fan, 65 ... Reaction table, 70 ... Outside air introduction hole. High school 1 figure, high school 3 figure, 4 hour heather, 4 figure! Figure 5 Time (minutes)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reaction table that rotates and transfers a series of rows of reaction containers, a dispensing device that supplies samples and reagents to the reaction containers, and an annular room that forms an air constant temperature room surrounding the rows of reaction containers; A heat block placed on the inner wall of this annular room and a pre-heating device placed at a predetermined position in the annular room are provided, and the pre-heating device is directed toward the reaction vessel that has arrived at the predetermined position. An automatic analyzer equipped with an air constant temperature chamber, characterized in that it is configured to blow air at a constant temperature.