JPH0418891B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic liquid sample dispensing device for collecting and dropping a liquid sample to be analyzed onto a liquid sample analysis element for chemically analyzing the liquid sample. .

In general, it is often necessary to chemically analyze liquid samples, including body fluids from the human body. Dry methods and wet methods are known as chemical analysis methods for liquid samples. Of these, the dry method is simpler than the wet method in that it does not require preparation steps such as diluents. be. This dry method involves dropping the liquid sample to be analyzed into a liquid sample analysis element, which consists of a thin layer body impregnated with a specific reagent sandwiched between mounts, to combine the reagent in the liquid sample analysis element with the liquid sample. react, and the progress or result of the reaction,
For example, this is a method in which a color change due to a reaction is examined using an optical analysis device or the like, and thereby the presence or absence or amount of a specific component in a liquid sample can be determined.

By the way, in order to efficiently analyze a large number of liquid samples, an automatic liquid sample dispensing device is required to dropwise supply the liquid sample to be analyzed to the liquid sample analysis element.
There is one described in the specification of No. 4287155. As shown in FIG. 1, this device has a sample container 1 in which a liquid sample is injected, and a pipette tip 2 used for inhaling and discharging the liquid sample, each of which is held in pairs. A fan-shaped sample stage 3 having a container storage section 31 and a pipette tip storage section 32 is rotatably provided.
A pipette part drive mechanism 5 is provided for moving the pipette part 4 up and down and reciprocating it toward the sample stage 3. The pipette drive mechanism 5 consists of a pair of guide rods 7, 7 fixed to a machine frame 6 so as to extend horizontally toward the sample stage 3, and a slider that slides along the length direction of the guide rods 7, 7. A movable frame 8 is movably attached, and this movable frame 8 is connected to a guide rod 7,
a motor (not shown) for moving the motor along 7;
A pinion 9 pivotally supported by the movable frame 8, a rack 10 meshed with the pinion 9 and extending in the vertical direction,
A guide rail 101 fixed to the movable frame 8 and extending in the vertical direction so as to support and guide the rack 10
and a motor 11 fixed to the movable frame 8 to rotationally drive the pinion 9.
A pipette part 4 is attached to the lower end of the pipette 0.
A motor (not shown) for rotationally driving the sample stage 3 is connected to the rotating shaft of the sample stage 3, and a suction pipe 12 from a suction pump is connected to the pipette section 4. 13 is a liquid sample analysis element.

According to such a configuration, the pipette part 4 is reciprocated and moved up and down by the pipette part drive mechanism 5 to reach a predetermined position, so that the operation of attaching the pipette tip 2 to the pipette part 4 and the operation inside the pipette tip 2 are performed. The operations of aspirating the liquid sample in the sample container 1, dropping the liquid sample in the pipette tip 2 to the liquid sample analysis element 13, and discarding the used pipette tip 2 are performed in order. Note is achieved. Next, sample stage 3
is rotated, the next sample container 1 and pipette tip 2 are placed in a predetermined position, and the same operation as described above is performed again to drip-supply the next liquid sample to the new liquid sample analysis element 13, and these operations are repeated. is performed repeatedly to perform continuous dispensing.

However, in such a configuration, the drive mechanism for vertically moving and reciprocating the pipette section 4 is complicated and large, and moreover, the number of sample container storage sections 31 and pipette tip storage sections 32 provided on the sample stage 3 is increased. If a large number of liquid samples are to be dispensed using the sample table 3, the sample stage 3 must have a large rotation radius and its outer circumference must be increased, resulting in an increase in the area occupied by the entire apparatus.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic liquid sample dispensing device in which the drive mechanism of the pipette part is simple and the entire device is compact. .

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

In one embodiment of the invention, FIGS.
As shown in the figure, a pipette drive mechanism 14 is provided which allows the pipette section 4 to move vertically and rotate along the circular path P1, so that the pipette section 4 passes below the circular path P1 through which it is rotated. For example, a guide frame 15 extending in a straight line is provided as a sample stage transport path,
A long sample stand 3 is provided to be able to reciprocate along the guide frame 15, and a sample of the liquid sample to be analyzed is placed on the upper part of the sample stand 3 when the sample stand 3 passes below the circular passage P1. The sample container storage section 31 and the pipette tip storage section 32 are arranged so that each pair of the sample container storage section 31 in which the container 1 is stored and the pipette tip storage section 32 in which the pipette tip ₂ is stored is located directly below the circular passage P1. A plurality of sets of storage units 32 are provided in sequence along the length direction of the sample stage 3.

The pipette drive mechanism 14 includes a bearing 141.
A drive shaft 142 is pivotally supported for vertical movement and rotation.
, a drive section (not shown) for vertically moving and rotating this drive shaft 142 , and a pipette section whose one end is fixed to an arm support member 143 fixedly provided on the upper part of the drive shaft 142 and whose other end extends horizontally. It consists of a support arm 144 and a pipette attachment part 145 provided at the other end of the pipette support arm 144, and the pipette part 4 is attached to this pipette attachment part 145. The drive unit that moves and rotates the drive shaft 142 includes, for example, a motor that moves the drive shaft 142 up and down via a gear, etc., and a drive unit that moves the drive shaft 142 up and down and rotates it.
42 and a motor that rotates via a gear or the like, and by selectively operating these motors, the drive shaft 142 can be moved up and down and rotated. Alternatively, the drive shaft 142 is provided with a male threaded portion, and the bearing portion 141 is rotatably provided with a female threaded portion that is rotatably screwed into the male threaded portion. A clutch mechanism is provided to connect the female threaded portion to each other, and the female threaded portion is provided with a motor that rotates the female threaded portion via a gear, etc., and the clutch mechanism is engaged to connect the male threaded portion and the female threaded portion. The drive shaft 142 is rotated integrally with the drive shaft 142 by connecting the drive shaft 142 in the rotational direction and rotating the female threaded portion by a motor, while the clutch mechanism is released to allow relative rotation between the male threaded portion and the female threaded portion. By rotating the female threaded portion using a motor, the male threaded portion can be moved up and down. Alternatively, other known configurations may be used.

The pipette part 4 has a fitting part 41 in which the pipette tip 2 is airtightly fitted into the distal end part extending vertically downward.
The internal space of the pipette section 4 is connected to a suction mechanism (not shown) via a suction pipe (not shown) disposed within the pipette section support arm 144.

Reference numeral 16 represents a sample stage drive unit that reciprocates the sample stage 3, 17 represents an analysis element feeding position where the liquid sample analysis element (hereinafter simply referred to as "analysis element") 13 is supplied, and 19 represents a used pipette tip 2. is the disposal position where it is discarded. At this disposal position 19, the used pipette tip 2 is discarded, for example, by a disposal mechanism (not shown) provided in the pipette section 4. This disposal mechanism can be constructed using, for example, a solenoid, and can be configured to remove the pipette tip 2 fitted into the fitting part 41 of the pipette part 4 by an actuator operated by a plunger of the solenoid.

According to such a configuration, a liquid sample is dispensed as follows. First, on the sample stage 3, the sample container 1 containing the liquid sample and the pipette tip 2 are placed in the sample container storage section 31 and the pipette tip storage section 32, respectively, by appropriate means.
will be stored in. The sample stage 3 is driven by the sample stage drive unit 16 and moved along the guide frame 15, and for example, as will be described later, the sample container 1 and pipette tip 2 located at the top of the sample stage 3 are moved along the circular path P1.
After reaching directly below the sample containers 1,
It is controlled to move stepwise by a distance d of 1. On the other hand, the pipette section 4 is rotated by the pipette section drive mechanism 14 to a position A1 directly above the pipette tip 2, and is lowered from this position A1 so that the pipette tip 2 is fitted into the fitting section 41 of the pipette section 4. Next, the pipette part 4 is raised and returned to the position A1 directly above the pipette tip 2, and then rotated to the position A2 directly above the sample container 1.
When the tip of the pipette tip 2, which has been lowered from the pipette tip 2, enters the liquid sample in the sample container 1, it is stopped. In this state, the suction mechanism removes the pipette tip 2.
Negative pressure is applied inside the pipette tip 2, and a predetermined amount of liquid sample is sucked into the pipette tip 2. After the pipette section 4 is raised again to the position A2 directly above it, it is rotated to a position A3 directly above the analyte feeding position 17. From this position A3, the pipette section 4 is lowered to an appropriately set lowered position. In the lowered position, a liquid sample is dripped and supplied to the analysis element 13 located at the analysis element supply position 17. After the dripping is finished, the pipette part 4 is raised again to the position A3 directly above it, and then rotated to a position _A4 just above the pipette tip disposal position 19, and lowered from this position A4, and the pipette tip 2 is removed from the pipette part 4 at the disposal position 19. Will be discarded. In this way, by the time one dispensing is completed, the sample stage 3 is moved by the separation distance d between the sample containers 1, 1, and the next sample container 1 and pipette tip 2 are positioned directly below the circular path P1, The same operation is performed again to dispense the liquid sample in the next sample container 1.

According to the above embodiment, the pipette drive mechanism 1
4 to move the pipette part 4 up and down and through the circular path P1.
Since the device rotates along the same axis, vertical movement and rotation can be performed by a single drive shaft 142, and unlike conventional devices, vertical movement and reciprocating movement are completely separate and independent mechanisms. Compared to what is done,
The drive structure is simple and can be easily miniaturized. Moreover, since the structure is simple, the pipette part 4 can be reliably moved to a predetermined position, so that the stability of position control is increased, and the durability is also increased. You can get sex. Since the sample stage 3 is configured to be long and reciprocated in the longitudinal direction, the sample stage 3 can be transported in close proximity to the pipette drive mechanism 14.
At the same time, it is possible to reduce the area occupied by the entire device. The replenishment device required for replacing the sample container 1 and replenishing the pipette tip 2 can be installed along the transport path of the sample stage 3, so the sample stage can be rotated as in the conventional case. This is advantageous in terms of design since the range of selection of installation positions is larger than in the case of the conventional method. Since the sample stage 3 moves along a straight line, it is easy to know when to replenish the sample container 1 and the pipette tip 2, and by providing a large number of sample stages 3 and sequentially transporting them in one direction along the guide frame 15, dispensing It is also possible to significantly improve processing efficiency. Also, when storing samples, the area occupied is smaller than when the samples are arranged in a circular manner as in the past.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various changes can be made. For example, two sample stands 3 may be provided and reciprocated along a common guide frame 15 from opposite directions; in this case, the liquid sample on one sample stand 3 may be dispensed. After finishing, the liquid sample can be continuously dispensed on the other sample stage 3, while the sample container 1 can be replaced and the pipette tip 2 can be refilled on one sample stage 3. It has the advantage that it can be carried out rapidly and continuously and that the processing efficiency is high. Further, the disposal position 19 of the pipette tip 2 is not particularly limited as long as it is within the range of the circular passage P1.

As described above, the present invention provides a pipette section for aspirating and dropping a liquid sample to be analyzed, a pipette section drive mechanism that allows the pipette section to move vertically and rotate along a circular path, and a pipette section for causing the pipette section to move vertically and rotate along a circular path. a sample table that is moved along a sample table transport path provided to pass below the circular path in which the sample table is rotated;
This structure is characterized by comprising a sample container storage part formed on this sample stage, in which a sample container for a liquid sample to be analyzed is stored, and a pipette tip storage part in which a pipette tip is stored. It is possible to provide an automatic liquid sample dispensing device that has a simple drive mechanism and is compact in size as a whole.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing an example of a conventional device, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are an explanatory plan view and an explanatory perspective view, respectively, showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1...Sample container, 2...Pipette tip, 3...
...Sample stand, 31...Sample container storage section, 32...Pipette tip storage section, 4...Pipette section, 5...
Pipette drive mechanism, 6... Machine frame, 7, 7... Guide rod, 8... Movable frame, 9... Pinion, 10...
... rack, 101 ... guide rail, 11 ... motor, 12 ... suction pipe, 13 ... liquid sample analysis element, P1 ... circular passage, 14 ... pipette drive mechanism, 15 ... guide frame, 141 ... ... Bearing section, 142 ... Drive shaft, 143 ... Arm support member, 144 ... Pipette part support arm, 145 ...
...pipette attachment part, 41...fitting part, 16...
Sample stage drive unit, 17... Analysis element feeding position, 19
...Disposal position.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pipette section for aspirating and dropping a liquid sample to be analyzed, a pipette section drive mechanism that allows the pipette section to move vertically and rotate along a circular path, and a pipette section drive mechanism that allows the pipette section to move freely up and down and rotate along a circular path; A sample stage that is moved along a sample stage transport path provided to pass below the passage, a sample container storage section formed on this sample stage that stores a sample container for a liquid sample to be analyzed, and a pipette tip that is stored therein. 1. An automatic liquid sample dispensing device comprising: a pipette tip storage section;