JPH05149954A - Automatic biochemical analytic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a timing of exchange, etc., of a liquid to be judged accurately by performing quantitative analysis of change of properties and discoloration of a liquid within a constant temperature bath easily and accurately by pouring the liquid within a thermostat into a reaction container for analysis. CONSTITUTION:When performing quantitative analysis of change of properties and discoloration of a liquid within a thermostat 3 in an automatic biochemical analysis device 1 with a reaction container 2 for allowing a sample specimen to react with a reagent, the constant temperature bath 3 for retaining a liquid which is temperature-controlled around the reaction container, a specimen- pouring means 5 for pouring a specified amount of sample specimen into the reaction container, and reagent-pouring means 13 and 14 for pouring a specified amount reagent into the reaction container, the specimen-pouring means 5 sucks a specified amount of liquid within the constant temperature bath 3 from an opening 4, pours it into the reaction container 2, and then measures the absorbance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic biochemical analyzer for performing clinical biochemical automatic analysis of blood, plasma, urine, etc., and particularly to a thermostat for controlling the temperature of a reaction vessel. The present invention relates to an automatic biochemical analyzer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional automatic biochemical analyzer,
After injecting a predetermined amount of a sample specimen such as blood, plasma or urine by a sample injecting means such as a sampler and injecting it into a reaction container, a predetermined amount of a reagent corresponding to each measurement item is inhaled by a reagent injecting means such as a dispenser. By injecting into a reaction container, a sample specimen is reacted with a reagent, and the absorbance and the time change of the absorbance are detected to perform qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis of components contained in the sample specimen. At that time, for the purpose of keeping the reaction conditions such as the reaction temperature constant, or for the purpose of shortening or expanding the reaction time, a constant temperature bath for holding the temperature-controlled liquid around the reaction container is provided, It is practiced to keep the sample at body temperature of about 37 ° C. Further, depending on the type of reagent, the reagent container is kept cool at about 5 ° C to 10 ° C in order to prevent deterioration of the reagent. Similarly, the temperature of the sample specimen may be controlled.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example of a conventional automatic biochemical analyzer, showing a reaction container, a thermostatic chamber, and main parts of an optical system. A large number of reaction vessels 2 are arranged circumferentially by reaction vessel holders 51 and 52, and rotation and stop are repeated around a central axis of the reaction disk 10 via a bearing 53. Further, a constant temperature bath 3 for holding a temperature-controlled liquid 9 such as water is arranged around the reaction vessel 2. The liquid 9 is steadily or regularly circulated by a liquid heating device (not shown) such as a heater or a heat exchanger and a circulation pump (not shown) so that temperature unevenness does not occur in the entire liquid. In this way, the temperature of the reaction liquid 8 in the reaction container 2 is kept constant.

Next, an optical system for measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution 8 and its change with time will be described. The light emitted from the light source 71 such as a white lamp is converged by the lens system 72, passes through the window 734, and reaches the reaction liquid 8 in the reaction container 2. The light that has been attenuated in light intensity corresponding to the absorbance of the reaction solution 8 further passes through the window 74, is converged by the lens system 76 via the mirror 75, and is slit 78 via the mirror 77.
The light is focused by and is incident on the spectroscope 79. In this way, the absorbance of the reaction solution 8 and its change with time are measured for each wavelength.

In such an automatic biochemical analyzer, the light for measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution 8 always passes through the liquid 9 in the constant temperature bath 3, so that the liquid is caused by the growth of bacteria and the inclusion of foreign matter. In some cases, the light absorption coefficient was changed due to the deterioration or discoloration of No. 9, and the light quantity loss was caused by the adhesion of water stains or bubbles to the inner surfaces of the windows 73 and 74 or the side surface of the reaction vessel 2. Further, regarding a specific bacterium that propagates in the liquid 9, if a trace amount of the liquid 9 is mixed in the reaction container 8,
This may affect the reaction between the sample and the reagent, resulting in a large error in the measured value. In particular, this tendency is remarkable when the automatic biochemical analyzer is not energized for a long time due to a holiday or a power failure.

Therefore, an antibacterial agent such as an acetamide compound is added to the liquid 9 in the constant temperature bath 3 to prevent bacterial growth, and a surfactant is added to prevent air bubbles from adhering to the wall surface. Was there. At the same time, the cleanliness of the liquid 9 is maintained by regularly and frequently performing the work of replenishing or replacing the liquid 9 in the constant temperature bath 3 as a part of the daily maintenance and inspection work. Was there.

[0007]

However, even if the liquid 9 in the constant temperature bath 3 is altered or discolored to such an extent that it does not affect the sample measurement value, the liquid 9 must be replenished and replaced periodically and Since it is performed frequently, it causes inefficiency in maintenance and inspection work.

Further, it is necessary to add an antibacterial agent or a surfactant each time the liquid 9 is replenished or replaced, which causes an increase in the running cost of the apparatus. In order to solve the above problems, the present invention quantitatively analyzes the degree of alteration or discoloration of the liquid in the constant temperature bath to determine the time of liquid replenishment or replacement, thereby improving the efficiency of maintenance and inspection work and It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic biochemical analyzer that saves antibacterial agents and surfactants.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the automatic biochemical analyzer of the present invention comprises a reaction container for reacting a sample and a reagent, and a temperature-controlled liquid around the reaction container. In an automatic biochemical analyzer equipped with a constant temperature bath for holding, a sample injection means for injecting a predetermined amount of sample specimen into the reaction container, and a reagent injection means for injecting a predetermined amount of reagent into the reaction container, It is characterized by being provided with an analyzing means for injecting the liquid of (1) into a reaction container for analysis.

[0010]

According to the above construction, by injecting the liquid in the constant temperature bath into the reaction container by the sample injection means, the reagent injection means, etc. and analyzing it, the liquid in the constant temperature bath can be stored in the constant temperature bath without using a special measuring device. The degree of alteration or discoloration of the liquid can be quantitatively analyzed easily and accurately. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine the timing of replenishment or replacement of the liquid in the constant temperature bath by comparing the obtained measured value with a preset alteration reference value.

Further, the cleaning liquid is injected into the reaction container in a state where the reaction liquid in the reaction container is not discharged due to a failure of the cleaning mechanism of the reaction container, for example, clogging of the cleaning nozzle, etc. Is overflowing into the constant temperature bath,
Quantitative analysis of the liquid in the constant temperature bath makes it possible to easily detect a failure in the cleaning mechanism of the reaction container.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the automatic biochemical analyzer according to the present invention.

A large number of sample containers in which sample samples such as plasma, blood, urine, lymph and body fluid are stored are placed on the sample disk 11 and repeatedly rotated or stopped around the central axis of the sample disk 11. The sample injection means 5 such as a sampler repeats the swinging motion and the vertical motion to suck a predetermined amount of sample sample from the sample container at a predetermined position and inject it into each reaction container 2. On the other hand, a large number of reagent containers storing the reagents corresponding to the inspection items are placed on the reagent storage 15. Reagent injection means 13 and 14 such as a dispenser are X
-Suction a predetermined amount of reagent from a reagent container at a predetermined position mounted on the Y table and inject it into each reaction container 2. These sample specimens and reagents are kept cool at a temperature of 5 ° C to 10 ° C as necessary to prevent alteration.

A large number of reaction vessels 2 such as cuvettes are circumferentially mounted on the reaction disk 10, and are rotated or stopped around the central axis of the reaction disk 10 while being in contact with the liquid in the constant temperature bath 3. repeat. The liquid in the constant temperature bath 3 is constantly or periodically circulated while being controlled to a predetermined temperature by the liquid temperature controller 20. The whole shape of the constant temperature bath 3 is formed in an annular groove, but the opening 4 is formed so that the probe of the sample injection means 5 can be inserted at the position where the sample injection means 5 swings and crosses. ..

When quantitatively analyzing alteration or discoloration of the liquid in the constant temperature bath 3, the sample injecting means 5 sucks a predetermined amount of the liquid in the constant temperature bath 3 from the opening 4 and injects it into the reaction vessel 2. After that, the absorbance is measured. At that time, if necessary,
It is also possible to inject a specific reagent and measure the absorbance due to the reaction and its change over time. Further, a dedicated reaction container for quantitatively analyzing the liquid in the constant temperature bath 3 may be prepared. Further, when dispensing the liquid in the constant temperature bath, it is possible to use a reagent injecting means, and it is also possible to provide a dedicated dispensing means for dispensing the liquid in the constant temperature bath. .. The timing of this quantitative analysis is performed after the start of energization of the automatic biochemical analyzer, immediately before the end of energization, or before and after the start of measurement of a series of sample specimens.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the absorbance spectrum of water in the constant temperature bath. In FIG. 2, a curve A is an absorbance spectrum of water to which an antibacterial agent and a surfactant are added in a total amount of 0.5% by weight, and a curve B is an absorbance spectrum of water exchanged in daily maintenance work. Curve C is the absorbance spectrum of water left in a constant temperature bath for about 1 month.

From the graph, it can be seen that, when determining the alteration of water, the change in the absorbance appears remarkably in the wavelength region of 400 nm or less. Therefore, for example, a wavelength of 340n
Absorbance at m of 10 mAbs is set as a deterioration reference value, and the presence or absence of deterioration can be automatically determined by comparing with this deterioration reference value each time quantitative analysis of deterioration is performed.

In the above embodiments, an example in which an opening for inserting a probe such as a sample injection means is formed in a part of the constant temperature tank has been described, but an opening communicating with the liquid in the constant temperature tank by a siphon or the like is described. The department may be installed in another place.

[0019]

As described in detail above, the automatic biochemical analysis apparatus of the present invention injects the liquid in the constant temperature bath into the reaction vessel and analyzes it to determine the degree of alteration or discoloration of the liquid in the constant temperature bath. Since it is possible to perform quantitative analysis easily and accurately, it is possible to accurately determine the time of replenishment or replacement of the liquid in the constant temperature bath. Therefore, it is sufficient to replenish or replace the liquid in the constant temperature bath just before the influence on the quantitative analysis of the sample specimen. It is possible to improve the efficiency and save the antibacterial agent and the surfactant.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of an automatic biochemical analyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing an absorbance spectrum of water in a constant temperature bath.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example of a conventional automatic biochemical analyzer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic biochemical analyzer 2 Reaction container 3 Constant temperature bath 4 Opening part 5 Specimen injection means 6 Cleaning means 7 Optical system 10 Reaction disk 11 Sample disk 13, 14 Reagent injection means 15 Reagent storage 20 Liquid temperature controller 21 Specimen pump part 22 Cleaning Pump unit 23 Reagent pump unit 31 A / D conversion unit 32 Reaction system control unit 33 Sample system control unit 34 Reagent system control unit 35 Interface 36 Microcomputer 41 Floppy disk 42 CRT 43 Keyboard 44 Printer 51, 52 Reaction container holder 53 Bearing 54 Surface plate 71 Light source 72, 76 Lens system 73, 74 Window 75, 77 Mirror 78 Slit 79 Spectrometer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reaction container for reacting a sample specimen and a reagent, a thermostatic bath for holding a temperature-controlled liquid around the reaction container, and a predetermined amount of the sample specimen is injected into the reaction container. An automatic biochemical analyzer equipped with a sample injecting means and a reagent injecting means for injecting a predetermined amount of a reagent into the reaction vessel, provided with an analyzing means for injecting the liquid in the constant temperature bath into the reaction vessel for analysis. An automatic biochemical analyzer characterized in that