JPH0447267A - Automatic apparatus for chemical analysis - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the treating capacity of a chemical analysis without increasing the area of reaction lines, by providing a plurality of reaction lines which can rotate at independent cycle times from each other in the same plane. CONSTITUTION:A plurality of reaction vessels 2 are disposed and form a reaction line 15 in a constant temperature bath 1. The reaction line 15 is made up of a double circle of an inside reaction line 15A and an outside reaction line 15B disposed within the same plane and these lines are so constructed that they can be moved intermittently in the direction of arrows at independent cycle times of each other by first and second driving sources 21 and 22 respectively. CPU 16 controls the inside reaction line 15A and the outside reaction line 15B making up the reaction line 15 of an analyzing apparatus and the first and second driving sources 21 and 22 and makes them execute treatment for analysis at a prescribed cycle time. According to this constitution, a treating capacity can be improved without increasing the area of the reaction line.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a reaction line that rotates endlessly at an arbitrary cycle time.

(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 Automated chemical analyzers are known that chemically analyze items such as oxygen (UA) and neutral fats (TG) for diagnosis. When conducting such chemical analysis, in most cases, a request is made to test multiple items for one type of sample, so it is desirable to improve the efficiency of the test, and the average time per hour is usually used as a guide to the ability of the analyzer. It shows how much inspection (test) can be performed.

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. This one-cycle time will be much shorter with a highly capable analyzer.

Among such automatic chemical analyzers, one is known that has a configuration having a ζ1 circular reaction line as shown in FIG. 5 for the purpose of completely random access. Reference numeral 15 denotes a circular reaction line in which a plurality of reaction vessels 2 are arranged, and is configured to be endlessly rotated at an arbitrary cycle time by a drive source (not shown). Reference numeral 7 denotes a plurality of sample containers 8 in which y samples are each housed in the sampler section.
A sampling nozzle (not shown) sucks any sample from the sample container and dispenses it into a reaction container located opposite to the arrow J. As an example, assuming that seven types of samples prepared with Nα1 to 7 are prepared in a sample container, A to I (5 minute reaction items) and a to f.
(This shows the case of testing the 100-minute reaction item. IA means testing item A of sample 1, and 2a means testing item a of sample 2. and have meanings similar to these hereinafter.

With the analyzer shown in Figure 5, for example, in order to step feed the reaction vessels and react for 5 minutes with a cycle time of 6 seconds, it is necessary to arrange 50 reaction vessels (300 seconds ÷ 6 seconds) on the reaction line. There is. Also, with a cycle time of 6 seconds, 1
In order to react for 0 minutes, 100 (600 seconds ÷ 6 seconds) reaction containers must be arranged. If we try to increase the number of reaction vessels in this way, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the reaction line, which inevitably increases the size of the apparatus.In this respect, the capacity of the analyzer shown in Figure 5 is 600 /Time is the limit.

FIG. 6 shows another conventional configuration, in which an inner reaction line 15A and an outer reaction line 15B are provided concentrically, and a plurality of reaction vessels 2 are arranged in each reaction line 15A, 15B. It is configured to rotate at the same cycle time using a drive source. The analyzer shown in Figure 6 does not use a completely random access method, but instead uses a method that maintains the order of measurement no matter what items are received for each sample.
For this reason, a so-called semi-random access method is used in which an empty space is created in the reaction vessel.

Table 1 shows an example of a request for testing 5-minute reaction items and 100-minute reaction items for each sample. Further, Table 2 shows comparative examples when analysis is performed using the conventional analyzers shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In the case of the analyzer equipped with the double reaction line of the same structure as shown in Fig. 6, the same capacity (processing speed) as the analyzer shown in Fig. 5 can be obtained by increasing the 1 cycle time to 12 seconds. The area of the reaction line can be reduced to about 1/4.

Table 2 (Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, in conventional analyzers equipped with double circular reaction lines, the double circular reaction lines are configured to rotate together. There is a problem in that the processing capacity is limited.

The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems.
The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic chemical analyzer that improves throughput without increasing the area of a reaction line.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention arranges a plurality of reaction vessels in a reaction line that rotates endlessly at an arbitrary cycle time, and injects a sample into the reaction vessels. and an automatic chemical analyzer for dispensing reagents to carry out a predetermined chemical reaction, characterized by having a plurality of reaction lines that can rotate at mutually independent cycle times within the same plane.

(Function) For example, double reaction lines are provided in the same plane, and each reaction line is configured to rotate at an independent cycle time. Thereby, processing capacity can be improved without increasing the area of the reaction line.

(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, in which 1 is a thermostatic chamber in which a plurality of reaction vessels 2 are arranged to constitute a reaction line 15, and the reaction lines 15 are identical to each other. Consisting of dual use of an inner reaction line 15A and an outer reaction line 15B arranged in a plane, each is intermittently driven in the direction of the arrow by a first drive source 21 and a second drive source 22 at mutually independent cycle times. It is configured to be movable. The cycle time can be arbitrarily set as necessary, and this can be done by storing this information in advance in the CPU, which will be described later.

A reagent storage 3 is arranged at position A around the constant temperature bath 1, and this reagent storage 3 stores multiple types of reagents necessary for analysis in reagent containers 4.
The reagent dispensing nozzle 6 provided on the reagent dispensing arm 5 allows the reagent to be dispensed into the reaction container 2 located opposite to the reagent dispensing arm 5. A sampler section 7 is located at position B around the constant temperature chamber 1.
A plurality of types of samples to be analyzed are housed in a sample container 8 in this sampler section 7, and are opposed to each other by a plurality of sample sampling nozzles, for example, two sample sampling nozzles IOA and IOB provided on a sample dispensing arm 9. It can be dispensed into the reaction container 2 at the position. 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 photometric system, which is placed in the middle of the moving path of the reaction container 2, with a light source 13 and a photodetector 14 facing each other with the reaction container 2 in between, and which is moved intermittently. 2 crosses the optical axis 1, the absorbance of the reaction solution is measured, thereby determining the concentration of a specific component and analyzing a desired item.

Reference numeral 16 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls the entire control operation of the analyzer.When test request item information, etc. is input from the operation unit 17 prior to analysis, it performs necessary control and also controls the photometry system. When photometric data is input from 12, it processes the data, displays the results on display 18, prints them out from printer 19, etc. Particularly in the case of this embodiment, the inner reaction line 15A and the outer reaction line 15B that constitute the reaction line 15
1 The first and second drive sources 21 and 22 are controlled to perform analysis processing at a predetermined cycle time.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

Figures 2 (a) to (g) explain an example of the case where analysis is performed according to the request example shown in Table IJ above, in which the inner reaction line 15A corresponds to the 10-minute reaction item, and the outer reaction Line 15B corresponds to a 5 minute reaction item. In addition, the case where one cycle time of the inner reaction line 15A is set to 12 seconds and the cycle time of the outer reaction line 15B is set to 6 seconds is shown.

First, as shown in FIG. 2(a), the sample container 8 of the sampler section 7 is
From there, using the sample dispensing arm 9, sequentially add the black 1 sample to the reaction container 2 of the outer reaction line 15B LA, IB, IC, ID.
Dispense for 4 tests. Here, IA means inspecting item A of sample 1, and IB means inspecting item B of sample 1.
It means to inspect, and the following meanings are similar to these. In the same manner, the sample at No. 1 is placed in the reaction vessel 2 of the inner reaction line 15A from the position facing the IC.
Dispense aliquots for two tests: a and lb.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2(b), after moving the reaction line 15 and the sampler section 7 by intermittent feeding, the Nt12 sample is placed in the reaction container 2 of the outer reaction line 15B in sequence 2A and 2B following the ID. , 2C, 2D, and dispense for 4 tests. Similarly, a sample of Nα2 is placed in the reaction container 2 of the inner reaction line 15A, and then two test portions 2a and 2b are sequentially dispensed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2(C), after moving the reaction line 15 and the sampler section 7 by intermittent feeding, a sample of Nα3 is placed in the reaction vessel 2 of the outer reaction line 15B in sequence 3E, 3F following the 2D. Dispense for 2 tests. Similarly, a sample of N113 was added to the reaction vessel 2 of the inner reaction line 15A.
Following step b, dispense 3C for one test.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2(d), after moving the reaction line 15 and the sampler section 7 by intermittent feeding, 4 samples were sequentially added to the reaction container 2 of the outer reaction line 15B following the 3F, 4G, Dispense for 2 tests of 4H. Further, at this time, the Nα4 sample is not dispensed into the reaction vessel 2 of the inner reaction line 15A.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2(e), after moving the reaction line 15 and the sampler section 7 by intermittent feeding, the Nt15 sample is not dispensed into the reaction container 2 of the outer reaction line 15B, and Na5 for reaction vessel 2 of reaction line 15A
Continuing from 3C above, empty one container of the sample and dispense one test portion of 5d.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2(f), after moving the reaction line 15 and the sampler section 7 by intermittent feeding, a sample of Nα6 is poured into the reaction container 2 of the outer reaction line 15B by two containers following 4H. Dispense for one test in step 6. Similarly, a sample of Nα6 is dispensed into the reaction vessel 2 of the inner reaction line 15A for two tests 6e and 6f following the step 5d.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2(g), after moving the reaction line 15 and the sampler section 7 by intermittent feeding, a sample of Nα7 is added to the reaction container 2 of the outer reaction line 15B following the above 6I.
Empty the container and dispense into two tests, 7E and 7F. Similarly, Nα7 is applied to the reaction vessel 2 of the inner reaction line 15A.
Dispense the sample for one test of 7C following the above 6f.

By conducting the analysis using such a method, the results shown in Table 3 were obtained. Note that in this Table 3, the method of this example corresponds to Mode I, and the inner reaction line 1
5A can achieve a maximum processing rate of 300 tests/hour, and the outer reaction line 15B can achieve a maximum processing rate of 600 tests/hour, totaling 900 tests/hour.
Maximum processing speed of time was obtained. Furthermore, as is clear from Table 3, the inner reaction line 15A and the outer reaction line 1
By varying the cycle time of 5B, different processing speeds can be obtained. In the case of the present invention, the third
As shown in mode (■) in the table, the maximum processing speed can be increased to 1200 tests/hour. Moreover, according to each embodiment of the present invention, the area of the reaction line can be suppressed to 1/4 of that of a conventional single circular structure by configuring the reaction line in the dual independent drive structure.

(The following is a margin.) Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are explanatory diagrams of the sampling method performed in this embodiment, in which two sampling nozzles I
When performing sampling using the dispensing arm 9 equipped with OA and IOB, the two sampling nozzles IOA and IOB are inserted into the same sample container 8 of the sampler section 7 and separated in the direction of the arrow. Note: This figure shows a method of dispensing a sample into each reaction container 2 of the inner and outer reaction lines 15A and 15B by moving the arm 9.
Inner and outer reaction lines 15A, using only one of the two sampling nozzles IOA, IOB,
15B shows a method for dispensing a sample into any of the reaction vessels 2 of FIG.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are explanatory diagrams of another sampling method. When a circular sampler section 7 is used, FIG. 4(a) shows two sampling nozzles IOA.

10B into different sample containers 8 of the sampler section 7, move the dispensing arm 9 in the direction of the arrow, and dispense the sample into each reaction container 2 of the inner and outer reaction lines 15A and 15B. It is. Moreover, FIG. 4(b) shows two sampling nozzles IOA.

10B into the same sample container 8, move the dispensing arm 9 in the direction of the arrow to connect the inner and outer reaction lines 15A, 1.
5B shows a method for dispensing a sample into each reaction container 2.

Any of these dispensing methods can be used depending on the purpose, use, etc., and other methods can also be used.

In this way, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the reaction line is configured to have a double structure of an inner reaction line and an outer reaction line, and each of them is driven independently, so that the cycle time of each reaction line can be arbitrarily selected. As a result, processing speed can be improved without increasing the size of the reaction line.

In the example, the analysis was explained under limited conditions, but
These can be arbitrarily changed depending on the analysis content.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the reaction lines have multiple identical structures and each one is driven independently, so that the throughput can be improved without increasing the area of the reaction lines. can.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, FIGS. 2(a) to (g) are explanatory diagrams of the operation of this embodiment, and FIGS. 3(a), (b) and Figure 4 (a), (b)
is an explanatory diagram of the sample sampling method in this embodiment, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams of the main parts of a conventional analyzer. 2... Reaction container, 7... Sampler section, 8... Sample container, 9... Sample dispensing arm, 15.15A, 1
5B... Reaction line, 16... CPU (Central Processing Unit), 21.22... Drive source for the reaction line. Diagram (e) Diagram-"Toe 158 +5A Diagram Diagram Diagram

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an automatic chemical analyzer, multiple reaction vessels are arranged in a reaction line that rotates endlessly at a given cycle time, and samples and reagents are dispensed into the reaction vessels to carry out a predetermined chemical reaction. An automatic chemical analyzer characterized by being equipped with multiple reaction lines that can be rotated at independent cycle times.