JPH03272467A - Automatic chemical analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of empty in a reaction container and to enhance inspection efficiency by controlling the operations of a plurality of sampling nozzles so that the nozzles have sampling functions different corresponding to the examination request item data of a sample. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 16 controls sampling nozzles 10A, 10B corresponding to examination request items and samples A, B are sucked from sample containers 8 to be distributed to reaction containers 2. In the second sampling operation, samples C. D are sucked from the sample containers 8 to be distributed to the reaction containers. By repeating this operation, all of samples are distributed to the reaction containers 2. By this constitution, an empty reaction container 2 is not generated. Next, the reagent in a reagent container 4 is distributed to each of the reaction containers 2 by a reagent distributing nozzle 6. The intermittently moved reaction container 2 is irradiated with the light from a light source 13 and transmitted light is detected by a light detector 14 and the detection signal is sent to the CPU 16 and an analytical result is sent to a display 18 and a printer 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer having a plurality of sampling nozzles that can be inserted into a plurality of sample containers simultaneously.

(Prior art) For example, serum collected from a human body is used as a sample, a desired reagent is reacted with the sample, and the concentration of a specific component in the reaction solution is measured by, for example, a colorimetric method to obtain a desired item, e.g. Total protein (TP).

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic chemical analyzers are known that chemically analyze items such as uric acid (UA) and neutral fats (TG) for diagnosis. When performing such chemical analysis, in most cases, a request is made to test multiple items for one type of sample (specimen), so it is desirable to improve the efficiency of testing.
Usually, the capacity of an analyzer is indicated by the number of tests it can perform per hour.

For example, if there is an analyzer that can perform 20 tests on each of 30 patients per hour, the analyzer's capacity will be 600 tests/hour.

Similarly, assuming that there is an analyzer capable of testing 25 items on each of 50 patients per hour, the capacity of this analyzer is 1250 tests/hour.

For example, in the case of an analyzer with a capacity of 600 tests/hour, the time required for one test cycle is 6 seconds, so
A series of steps required for analysis work, such as sample dispensing, reagent dispensing, stirring, photometry, and cleaning, must be completed within these 6 seconds. The time for this one cycle will be shorter if the analyzer has a high capacity.

In addition, in order to speed up testing, there is a dedicated channel system in which multiple reaction lines test specific items in parallel. However, when observing the actual operating status, the ratio of the number of requested items is about 50% of the capacity, and it remains at an average of 12 to 16 items/sample. In other words, the actual operating status remains at ↑/2 of the maximum capacity,
The actual situation is that the capacity is only about half that of the random access method.

FIG. 6 shows the sample sampling mechanism of a conventional random access type analyzer, where 7 is a sampler section that transports samples, and sample containers 8 (
8,,8□,83. ) is set and is intermittently fed in the direction of the arrow at every fixed cycle. Reference numeral 15 denotes a reaction line, which is arranged opposite to the sampler section 7, and includes a large number of reaction vessels 2 (2, 2°, 23, . . . , into which samples to be analyzed are dispensed).
) is set. Reference numeral 10 has a single sampling nozzle that reciprocates in a straight line, sucks in a sample from a sample container 8, and dispenses it into the corresponding reaction container 2.

Inhalation and dispensing of the sample by the sampling nozzle 10 are performed in accordance with the timing of the stop period in each cycle. By the way, one sampling nozzle 1 like this
Analyzers having 0 are disadvantageous in that their throughput cannot be increased because of their limited sample sampling speed. For example, 300 to 600 tests/hour is the limit of ability,
In this case, the time for one cycle is 12 seconds to 6 seconds, and sample sampling must be performed at the stop timing of these times.

For this reason, when a throughput of more than 600 tests/hour is required, an analyzer equipped with two sampling nozzles, IOA and IOB, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, has come to be provided. .

FIG. 4 shows that when two sampling nozzles IOA and 10B are inserted into the same sample container 84 and the inhaled sample is dispensed into the reaction container, each sampling nozzle IOA and IOB
The container is opened and inserted into two different adjacent reaction containers 26, 2b for simultaneous dispensing. In addition, FIG. 5 shows that when two sampling nozzles IOA and IOB are inserted into two different adjacent sample containers 84 and 85, and when the inhaled sample is dispensed into the reaction container, each sampling nozzle IOA and IOB can be inserted as they are. It is constructed so that it can be inserted into two different adjacent reaction vessels 25° 26 with a gap between them and dispensed at the same time. The sample containers and reaction containers discussed here are not limited to specific ones.

If two sampling nozzles, IOA and IOB, are provided as in the analyzer shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the sampling time can be reduced to 1/2, and the processing capacity can be reduced by that amount. This makes it possible to handle higher processing speeds.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in a conventional analyzer having two sampling nozzles, empty reaction vessels may be created depending on the number of test items requested for a sample, resulting in a decrease in test efficiency. There is a problem with doing so. In other words, if the number of sample inspection requested items is an odd number, one sampling nozzle will be empty, and the corresponding reaction container will also be empty.

Figure 7 (a), (b), (c) and Figure 8 (a) (b)
, (C) explains this situation. First, the seventh
Figures (a), (b), and (c) explain the case of the analyzer shown in Figure 4, and (a) is used for measuring glucose, etc. at the time of blood glucose load sample for the sample in each sample container 8. This shows the case where a single item inspection is performed. Note that A□ indicates that sample A is inspected for one item, B1 indicates that sample B is inspected for one item, and the following C2 and thereafter have the same meaning. If only one item of inspection is to be performed for each sample as in (a), only one of the two sampling nozzles IOA and IOB should suck the sample and dispense the sample into one corresponding reaction vessel. Since only one of the two adjacent reaction vessels contributes to the reaction, every other reaction vessel will be empty as indicated by the ☆ marks in the figure. Also, as shown in (b), A2. When performing each test of B, C2゜..., first, A2 inhales two items of sample A through the two sampling nozzles IOA and IOB, and then inhales into the corresponding two adjacent reaction vessels. Since each sample is dispensed, there are no empty reaction vessels. However, in the case of B1, the adjacent reaction vessel becomes vacant for the same reason as in (a). For the same reason, when the number of test items is an odd number like Dl, the adjacent reaction vessels will always be empty. Furthermore, as shown in (C), A5
When performing each inspection of ゜B l + C3+...
First, sample A is inhaled by two sampling nozzles IOA and IOB, and the corresponding two samples are inhaled.
Dispense the sample into each reaction container. Then, this operation is repeated two more times, but since the number of test items is an odd number of 5, an empty reaction container is left.

Similarly, in the case of B1, since it is an odd number, there will be an empty reaction vessel. Note that A1 in reaction vessel 2
indicates that the first item of sample A is scheduled to be inspected, and A2 indicates that the second item of sample A is scheduled to be inspected.

Next, FIGS. 8(a), (b), and (c) show the case of the analyzer shown in FIG.
This shows a case where a single item inspection is performed like C1, . . . . In this case, two sampling nozzles IOA and IO
Samples A and B are each inhaled by H, and each sample A,
B is dispensed into two corresponding adjacent reaction vessels. Thereafter, for sample C and subsequent samples, the same nine aspiration and dispensing operations are performed using two types of samples as a set, so that no empty reaction vessels are left. Also, as in (b), A2 + B1 + C2
+ When performing each inspection, first A2. Bl is 2
each sample A simultaneously by two sampling nozzles IOA, IOB.

B is suctioned and samples are dispensed into two corresponding adjacent reaction vessels. Next, one sampling nozzle IOA is first applied to one of the remaining four items of sample A.
At the same time, sample B, which was scheduled to be inhaled by another sampling nozzle IOB, is not needed this time because it has already been inhaled, so only sample A is sucked into reaction vessel 2. is dispensed. Therefore, an empty reaction vessel 24 will be created adjacent to it. Thereafter, the reaction vessel 28 will also become empty for the same reason. Furthermore, as shown in (C), A5. When performing each inspection of Bl, C3°, etc., first check A5. In B, the two sampling nozzles IOA and IOH simultaneously aspirate the samples A and B, and dispense the samples into two corresponding adjacent reaction vessels. Next, one sampling nozzle 10A sucks sample A for one of the remaining four items of sample A, but at the same time, sample B, which is scheduled to be sucked, is sucked by another sampling nozzle IOH. Since it has already been inhaled, it is not necessary this time, so only sample A is dispensed into the reaction container 23. Thereafter, such suction of only sample A by one sampling nozzle IOA is repeated until sample A is reached, and every other reaction vessel 2 becomes empty. This is the same when testing C3; D1, which is combined with C3, has two fewer test items, so an empty reaction container will be created accordingly.

The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic chemical analyzer that does not leave a vacant space in a reaction container even when a plurality of sampling nozzles are used.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems)] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention transfers a sample from a sample container to a reaction container, adds a reagent according to the test item to the reaction container, and performs a predetermined chemical reaction. An automatic chemical analyzer that performs a reaction has a plurality of sampling nozzles that can be inserted into a plurality of sample containers at the same time, and the plurality of sampling nozzles are inserted into the same sample container according to test request item information. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a sample sampling control means for switching between insertions into different sample containers and dispensing the samples inhaled by each sampling and nozzle into corresponding different reaction containers.

(Function) Switches whether to insert multiple sampling nozzles into the same sample container or into different sample containers according to inspection request item information. The sample inhaled by each sampling nozzle is then dispensed into different corresponding reaction vessels. As a result, regardless of the number of test items requested for the sample, there will be no empty reaction vessels, so the test efficiency can be improved.

(Example) The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, where l is a thermostatic chamber in which a plurality of reaction vessels 2 are accommodated to form a reaction line 15, and this reaction line 15 is kept constant. It is intermittently moved in the direction of the arrow by a drive source (not shown) in cycles of . A reagent storage 3 is arranged at position A around the thermostatic chamber 1, and in this reagent storage 3, a plurality of types of reagents necessary for analysis are stored in reagent containers 4, and a reagent dispensing arm 5 is provided. A reagent dispensing nozzle 6 allows the reagent to be dispensed into the reaction container 2 located at the opposite position.

A sampler section 7 is arranged at position B around the thermostatic chamber 1,
In this sampler section 7, a plurality of types of samples to be analyzed are stored in a sample container 8, and a plurality of, for example, two sample sampling nozzles IOA provided on a sample dispensing arm 9,
The IOB allows for dispensing into reaction vessels 2 located opposite each other. A stirrer 11 is arranged at position C around the constant temperature bath 1 to stir the reaction liquid in the reaction container 2 located at the opposite position.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a side light system, which is placed in the middle of the movement path of the reaction container 2, and has a light source 13 and a photodetector 14 facing each other with the reaction container 2 in between. By measuring the absorbance of the reaction liquid when the container 2 crosses the optical axis 1, the concentration of a specific component is determined and a desired item is analyzed. 16 is CPU
The central processing unit (Central Processing Unit) is in charge of the entire control operation of the analyzer, and when test request item information etc. are input from the operation unit 17 prior to analysis, it performs the necessary control and performs photometry from the photometry system 12. When data is input, control is performed such as processing the data and displaying the result on the display 18 or printing it out from the printer 19. Particularly in this embodiment, when inspection request item information is input, the CPU 1
6 is the reaction line 15.6 based on that information. Reagent storage 3 and reagent dispensing arm 5. Along with the reagent dispensing nozzle 6, the sampler section 7 and the sample dispensing arm 9. Necessary control operations are performed for the two sample sampling nozzles IOA and IOB to ensure that the requested items are tested. Especially reaction line 15. Sampler section 7 and two sample sampling nozzles IOA.

10B, it is configured to perform a control operation so that the reaction container 2 of the reaction line 15 does not become empty, according to the test request item information.

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) explain the operation of the analyzer of this embodiment in more detail. The analyzer of this embodiment has two sample sampling nozzles IOA of the sample dispensing arm 9.
, IOB are inserted into the same sample container 84 as shown in (a) and sample suction is performed, and then the respective nozzles IOA and IOB are connected to line L□.

A first sampling mode that opens while moving on L2 and dispenses a sample into two corresponding adjacent reaction vessels 21 and 26, and two sample sampling nozzles IOA and IOB as shown in (b). is inserted into two different adjacent sample containers 84 and 85 at the same time to aspirate two types of samples, and then each nozzle 10A and IOB are moved along lines L, L2 at this interval to the corresponding adjacent sample containers 84 and 85. and a second sampling mode in which samples are dispensed into two different reaction vessels 26 and 26. By sampling the sample by appropriately selecting these first and second sampling modes, it is possible to prevent each reaction vessel 2 on the reaction line 15 from becoming empty. Furthermore, the second
In Figures (a) and (b), to make the explanation easier to understand,
The sample containers 8 are shown as being arranged in a straight line.

A cleaning tool 20 is arranged at position D around the thermostatic chamber 1 to clean and dry the reaction vessel 2 after photometry, so that when it is moved to the human position again, the same analysis operation as above is repeated. It has become.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 3(a) shows the case where each sample is subjected to single-item inspection as A-work, B-work, C1, . . . . In this case CP
Since the U16 controls the two sampling nozzles IOA and IOB to select the second sampling mode according to the inspection request item information, each sample A and B is placed in the sample container 80, It is inhaled from 8° and dispensed into reaction vessels 2□ and 2□, respectively. In addition, in the second sampling operation, samples C and D are sucked in from sample containers 83 and 84 and dispensed into reaction containers 23 and 24, respectively. Similarly, in the fourth sampling operation, all the samples are continuously dispensed into the corresponding reaction vessels 2, so there is no empty space in the reaction vessels 2.

Moreover, FIG. 3(b) shows A2. B, , C2, . . . show cases in which a single item test and a multi-item test are mixed together. First, in the case of A2, the CPUI 6 selects the two sampling nozzles IOA and IOA according to the inspection request item information.
Since the IOH is controlled to select the first sampling mode, the same sample A is drawn from the sample container 8□ in the first sampling operation, and the same sample A is sucked into each reaction container 2□.
.

Dispensed at 2°. As a result, dispensing of the two items of sample A in the sample container 81 is completed with one sampling. Next, B1. In the case of C2, the CPU 16 controls the two sampling nozzles IOA and IOB to select the second sampling mode according to the inspection request item information, so that each sample B and C is selected in the second sampling operation. are inhaled from sample containers 8□ and 83, respectively, and transferred to reaction containers 2, respectively.
It is dispensed into 3°24 portions. Subsequently, in the case of one item of samples C and Dl remaining in the sample container 83, the CPU 16 selects the second sampling mode.
In the third sampling operation, samples C and D are sucked in from sample containers 83 and 84 and dispensed into reaction containers 26 and 26, respectively. Next, in the case of B2, the first sampling mode is selected by the CPU 6, and in the fourth sampling operation, the same sample E is drawn from the sample container 85 and dispensed into the reaction containers 2□ and 28, respectively. .

Subsequently, in the case of Fl, the second sampling mode is selected by the CPU 16, and the sample F is sucked from the sample container 86 and dispensed into the reaction container 29 in the fifth sampling operation. In this manner, all the samples are continuously dispensed into the corresponding reaction vessels 2 in the fifth sampling operation, so that no empty space is created in the reaction vessels 2.

Furthermore, Fig. 3 (C) shows A5 + B1 + C3+...
・This shows a case where a single-item test and a multiple-item test are mixed together. First of all, in the case of A5, CPU16
By selecting the first sampling mode, the same sample A is drawn from the sample container 81 and dispensed into the reaction containers 21 and 22 in the first sampling operation. Subsequently, a second sampling operation is performed in the same first sampling mode, and the same sample A is aspirated from the sample container 8 and dispensed into the reaction containers 23 and 24, respectively. Next, in the case of one item of samples A and 81 remaining in the sample container 8□, the second sampling mode is selected by the CPUI 6, so that each sample A and B are individually sampled in the third sampling operation. Sample container8. ．． 82 and dispensed into reaction vessels 25 and 26, respectively. Subsequently, in the case of C3, the first sampling mode is selected by the CPU 16, and in the fourth sampling operation, the same sample C is drawn from the sample container 83 and dispensed into the reaction containers 27 and 28, respectively. Next, in the case of one item of samples C and Dl remaining in the sample container 83, CPU1
6 selects the second sampling mode, and in the fifth sampling operation, samples C and D are sucked from the sample containers 83 and 84, respectively, and transferred to the reaction containers 29 and 29.
+210 aliquots. In this manner, all the samples are continuously dispensed into the corresponding reaction vessels 2 in the fifth sampling operation, so that no empty space is created in the reaction vessels 2.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the two sampling nozzles IOA and IOB are controlled by the CPU 16 to have the function of the first sampling mode or the second sampling mode, and Since the sample is sampled by appropriately selecting the mode according to the test request item information, empty reaction containers will not be generated regardless of the number of test request items of the sample. Therefore, inspection efficiency can be improved.

In addition, by eliminating empty space in the reaction vessel, it becomes possible to perform essentially the same analysis even with the random access method, which has about half the processing capacity compared to the dedicated channel method. It becomes possible to downsize the analyzer.

In the example, only two sampling nozzles are controlled, but in reality, the intermittent feeding speeds of the sample container 8 and reaction container 2 will also be controlled according to the sample suction and dispensing speeds of these sampling nozzles. However, these controls can be easily realized using common techniques. Further, the number of sampling nozzles is not limited to two, but it is also possible to provide three or more. Furthermore, in the embodiments, sample types and inspection items are explained using limited examples, but they are not limited to these in any way, and arbitrary settings can be made according to the purpose, use, etc.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the operation of a plurality of sampling nozzles is controlled to have different sampling functions depending on the inspection request item information of the sample. This eliminates the occurrence of this problem and improves the testing efficiency.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, Figs. ),
7(b) and 7(c) are explanatory diagrams of the operation of this embodiment, FIGS. 4 to 6 are explanatory diagrams of the main parts of a conventional analyzer, and FIGS. 7(a) and (b). (C) is an explanatory diagram of the action of the analyzer in Figure 4, and Figure 8 (a)
), (b), and (c) are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the analyzer of FIG. 5. 2.21.22,23. ... Reaction container, 7.
... Sampler section, 8.8□, 8□, 83. ..., ...sample container, 9.
...Sample dispensing arm, 10A, IOB...Sample sampling nozzle, 12.
...Photometric system, 15...Reaction line, 16...CP
U (central processing unit).

Claims (1)

[Claims] Multiple sampling nozzles that can be inserted into multiple sample containers at the same time in an automatic chemical analyzer that transfers a sample from a sample container to a reaction container, adds reagents according to the test item, and performs a predetermined chemical reaction. The plurality of sampling nozzles can be inserted into the same sample container or different sample containers depending on the inspection request item information, and the sample inhaled by each sampling nozzle can be inserted into the corresponding different reaction containers. An automatic chemical analyzer characterized in that it is equipped with a sample sampling control means for dispensing a sample.