JPH05188058A - Film cartridge for chemical analysis - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize a disposition space required for a cartridge so as to make a biochemical analysis device compact, and reduce the cost required to mount a chemical analysis slide so as to attain the cost reduction of biochemical analysis. CONSTITUTION:This cartridge is provided with a box body 2 for enclosing biochemical analysis films 1 in the plurally stacked state; a spring 3 fitted to the inner wall part of the bottom face 2a of the box body 2; a pressing member 4 fitted to the upper part of the spring member 3 so as to energize the stacked films 1 upward. A first opening part 2c for enabling the take-out of only one film 1 positioned it the upper most part of the stacked films 1 is bored in the vicinity of the uppermost part of the side face 2b of the box body 2, and an approximately U-shape second opening part 2e for allowing the entry of a suction cup for suction-holding the film 1 positioned at the uppermost part is bored in the upper face 2d of the box body 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a chemical analysis for storing a chemical analysis film having a reagent layer which causes an optical density change by a chemical reaction with a predetermined biochemical substance contained in a sample liquid such as blood or urine. The present invention relates to a photo film cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Qualitative or quantitative analysis of a specific chemical component in a sample solution is generally performed in various industrial fields. Especially, quantitative analysis of chemical components or formed components in biological fluids such as blood and urine is extremely important in the field of clinical biochemistry.

In recent years, a dry type chemical analysis slide has been developed which can quantitatively analyze a specific chemical component or a formed component contained in a sample solution by simply supplying a small drop of the sample solution. (Japanese Patent Publication No. 53-21677 (US patent
3,992,158), JP-A-55-164356 (US patent)
4,292,272), etc.) has been put to practical use. The use of this chemical analysis slide enables simple and quick analysis of sample liquids compared to conventional wet analysis methods, so its use is particularly important for medical institutions and research organizations that need to analyze a large number of sample liquids. It is preferable in some places.

In order to quantitatively analyze chemical components in a sample solution using such a chemical analysis slide, after the sample solution is spotted on the chemical analysis slide, it is placed in an incubator (incubator). Incubate for a predetermined time to allow a color reaction (dye formation reaction), and then a measurement including a wavelength selected in advance by combining a predetermined biochemical substance in the sample solution with a reagent contained in the chemical analysis slide. This chemical analysis slide is irradiated with the irradiation light for use to measure its optical density, and from this optical density, using a calibration curve that shows the correspondence between the optical density obtained in advance and the substance concentration of the specified biochemical substance. A biochemical analysis device configured to determine the substance concentration of a predetermined biochemical substance in the sample liquid is used.

Generally, in the above chemical analysis slide, a chemical analysis film formed by providing a reagent layer containing a reagent on a support made of plastic or the like is held by a plastic frame so that the chemical analysis film tends to warp when dried. Are configured to maintain a planar shape.

The most important point in handling this chemical analysis slide is to keep the reagent layer in a dry state until the measurement is performed.

That is, although the reagents in the reagent layer do not react without water, there is a risk that the reaction will start as soon as water is absorbed, and it will be difficult to obtain accurate analysis results during actual measurement. This is because there is a risk.

For this reason, the chemical analysis film when not in use has a so-called roof-like curved shape, and is held by the frame to forcibly hold it in a planar shape.

On the other hand, when performing biochemical analysis using this chemical analysis slide, it is necessary to smoothly supply the chemical analysis slides one by one in order to facilitate automation of the analysis.

Conventional chemical analysis slides such as
Cartridges for storing about 50 sheets are known (US Pat. Nos. 4,151,931 and 4,187,077).
No. 4,190,420, 4,279,861).

In these cartridges, when the slide located at the top is pushed laterally by the push-out member and taken out, the push-up member is inserted through the bottom of the cartridge, and the slides stacked are one slide. It is designed to be pushed upward by a distance corresponding to the thickness of a minute, and by repeating such an operation, all the slides stored in the cartridge are taken out.

[0012]

However, when performing such biochemical analysis, the above-mentioned chemical analysis slides are consumed in large amounts in a short time, so that the cartridge is inevitably large in size, and the inside of the analyzer is inevitably increased. It is necessary to install as many cartridges as the number of biochemical substances to be analyzed.

Therefore, there is a problem that the biochemical analyzer becomes large because the installation space required for the cartridge becomes large.

Further, the chemical analysis slide requires a large cost for mounting, which is one of the factors that increase the cost in the biochemical analysis, which has been a problem.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and aims at downsizing the biochemical analyzer by reducing the installation space required for the cartridge, and at the same time, the cost required for mounting the chemical analysis slide. An object of the present invention is to provide a film cartridge for chemical analysis, which can reduce the cost of biochemical analysis as much as possible.

[0016]

A film cartridge for chemical analysis of the present invention comprises a box for accommodating and accommodating a plurality of chemical analysis films each having a reagent layer on a substrate, and a loading direction of the box. An inner wall portion of one end surface of the film is provided with a biasing member that biases the stored film in the direction of the other end surface, and the side wall portion close to the other end surface has the other end surface of the stacked and stored film. A first opening is provided to allow only adjacent films to be pulled out in a direction orthogonal to the stacking direction, the other end face holds the film closest to the other end face, and the first film is attached to the first end face. The second opening is provided to allow the intrusion of the means for pulling out from the opening.

That is, an energizing member for pushing up the chemical analysis films is provided on the inner wall at the bottom of the box for accommodating the chemical analysis films without mounts mounted thereon, and above the side surface of the box. A first opening through which only one uppermost film can be taken out, and a means for holding the uppermost film and sending it out through the first opening enter the upper surface of the box body. Has an opening.

Further, in the chemical analysis film cartridge, it is possible to add information about the chemical analysis film to be housed inside the outer wall portion of the box body.

[0019]

According to the film cartridge for chemical analysis of the present invention, a chemical analysis film without a mount is accommodated, and the chemical analysis film can be sequentially taken out during biochemical analysis. The external shape can be made significantly smaller than that of a cartridge that accommodates the attached chemical analysis slide, and the installation space required for this cartridge can be reduced, so that the biochemical analyzer can be downsized. it can. This cartridge is generally stored in a dehumidifying container, but only a film without a mount is stored, so that the dehumidifying efficiency can be improved.

In addition, this cartridge can supply a chemical analysis film without a mount for biochemical analysis, which can reduce the cost required for mounting, thus reducing the cost of biochemical analysis. Reduction can be achieved.

Since the above-mentioned chemical analysis film is much smaller and lighter than the mount-equipped chemical analysis slide, it does not need a push-up member from the outside like a conventional cartridge, and it can be used in a box. The urging member such as a spring provided inside allows the chemical analysis film to be easily pushed up to the upper part of the box body, thereby simplifying the pushing mechanism of the cartridge and the chemical analysis film.

The chemical analysis film is, for example, 15 mm × 15.
Since it is a small size of about mm × 0.5 mm, and it has a curved shape with the reagent layer inside before it is used, it will not be possible to use the extrusion lever like the prior art when removing the film. If the extruding member is used to extrude the film, the film may not be extruded smoothly, or the film may be broken.

Therefore, in the cartridge of the present invention, an opening is provided on the upper surface of the box body so that a film holding member such as a suction cup can enter the inside of the box body, and the film holding member allows the film holding member to enter. The film can be held and the film can be smoothly sent out while preventing the film from being broken.

Further, above the side wall of the cartridge box, there is provided an opening for sending out the uppermost film held by the film holding member to the outside.
This opening has a size such that only one film can be taken out even when the film is curved due to drying as described above, so that the film can be taken out smoothly and the film can be stored in the cartridge. It is possible to prevent the entry of a large amount of water.

[0025]

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

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a chemical analysis film cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. This cartridge is composed of a box 2 for accommodating a large number of biochemical analysis films 1 and a bottom surface of the box 2.
A spring member 3 attached to the inner wall of 2a and a pressing member 4 attached to the upper portion of the spring member 3 for urging the loaded film 1 upward. In addition, a first opening 2c is formed near the top of the side surface 2b of the box body 2 so that only one film 1 located at the top of the biochemical analysis film 1 stacked and stored can be taken out. A substantially U-shaped second opening 2e into which a suction cup for sucking and holding the uppermost film 1 enters is formed on the upper surface 2d of the box 2.

Further, on the outer wall portion of the side surface 2f of the box body 2, there is recorded a magnetic stripe 2g having information representing the characteristics of the biochemical analysis film 1 housed in the cartridge.

The biochemical analysis film 2 housed in the cartridge 1 comprises a base 1a (PET or the like) and a reagent layer 1b including a developing layer provided on the base 1a as shown in the figure. However, in a dry state stored in this cartridge before use, it has a curved shape with the reagent layer 1b inside.

For example, about 100 sheets of the biochemical analysis film 1 are stacked with the base 1a facing upward, set on the pressing member 4, and stored in the box 2.

The bottom surface 2a of the box body 2 can be detached from the side surfaces 2b and 2f and the like, and when the film 1 is stored, the one holding the film 1 on the holding member 4 is held. By inserting the bottom surface 2a portion into the box body 2 and engaging the bottom surface 2a portion with the side surface portions 2b and 2f, the cartridge is formed and the film 1 is attached to the box body 2 by the spring member 3. It will be pressed against the inner wall of the upper surface 2d.

The box 2 has an external dimension of, for example, 18 mm.
It has a thickness of about 18 mm × 100 mm and a thickness of about 1 mm, and is made of a plastic material such as ABS that is colored in black or the like and has a light shielding property.

The magnetic stripe 2g is a magnetic recording of type information, lot correction information, analysis item information, quantity, etc. of the stored analysis film 1 and is used in the magnetic field of the biochemical analyzer. The head is this magnetic stripe
The information contained in 2g is identified and used for the subsequent biochemical analysis.

Next, how the biochemical analysis film 1 is taken out from this cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the base 1a is directed upward, and the biochemical analysis film 1 loaded on the pressing member 4 in a state of being curved so as to be convex upward is formed by the spring member 3.
It is pressed against the inner wall of the upper surface of the box body 2.
Even if the degree of curvature of the film 1 varies, no problem will occur if all the films 1 are arranged in an upwardly convex state. (There is no possibility that the reagent layer is located outside and curved.) Further, the urging force of the spring member 3 is such that only one film 1 stored in the cartridge is placed on the pressing member 4. Even if this film 1 is the upper surface 2d of the box body 2
The strength is set so that it can be pressed against the inner wall of the.

A suction cup 5 is provided above the second opening 2e of the box body 2. When performing biochemical analysis, the suction cup 5 is instructed by a controller of the biochemical analyzer. Moves down (direction of arrow A in FIG. 4 (a)).

The suction cup 5 is brought into contact with the uppermost biochemical analysis film 1p through the second opening 2e of the box 2. The suction cup 5 holds the film 1p by the suction force of a suction pump (not shown). Since the suction cup 5 holds the base 1a of the film 1p by suction, it is easy to secure suction force and there is no risk of damaging the reagent layer 1b.

Next, the suction cup 5 holds the film 1p by suction and holds the film 1p in the direction of the first opening 2c of the box 2 (see FIG. 4).
Move in the direction of arrow B in (b). Since the first opening 2c has such a height that only one curved film 1 can be taken out, the second film 1 is not dragged and discharged.

The biochemical analysis film 1p is conveyed to the outside from the first opening 2c by the suction cup 5, and then disposed at a predetermined position of the biochemical analysis device.

On the other hand, each of the biochemical analysis films 1 in the cartridge 1 is moved by the biasing force of the spring member 3.
It is pushed upwards by the number of sheets and waits until the next film take-out cycle starts in that state.

In this embodiment, the film 1 is pressed against the inner wall portion of the upper surface 2d by the spring member 3 attached to the inside of the box body 2 as described above, and the cartridge vibrates during storage or transportation. There is no risk that the film 1 will be ejected from the cartridge even if it falls or falls.

Further, in the conventional cartridge for storing the chemical analysis slide, a stopper is provided so as to prevent the slide from being accidentally discharged from the slide take-out portion when the cartridge vibrates. The light-weight film 1 is stored in the film 1, and the erroneous discharge of the film 1 can be prevented only by the urging force of the spring member 3 without providing a stopper.

The film cartridge for chemical analysis of the present invention is not limited to the one in the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

For example, the size, color, material, etc. of the box body may be selected appropriately depending on the situation.

The biasing member is not limited to the spring member, and may be any member that can reliably bias a large number of biochemical analysis films.

Further, although the first opening is formed only on one side surface of the box body, it may be formed on the other side surface to provide a plurality of first openings.

Further, the second opening is shaped so as to extend only in the direction of one side surface, but when the first opening is provided on a plurality of side surfaces, each first opening is correspondingly formed. The shape may extend in the direction of the part.

Further, in the above embodiment, the information about the film is recorded by the magnetic stripe, but instead of this, the above information can be recorded by another recording method such as a bar code.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a film cartridge for chemical analysis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a biochemical analysis film stored in the cartridge shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the cartridge shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing how the biochemical analysis film is taken out from the cartridge shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Biochemical analysis film 1a Base 1b Reagent layer 2 Box 2c First opening 2e Second opening 2g Magnetic stripe 3 Spring member 4 Presser member 5 Suction cup

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A box for accommodating and accommodating a plurality of chemical analysis films each having a reagent layer on a substrate, and the accommodating film on an inner wall portion of one end surface of the box in the stacking direction. An urging member for urging in the end face direction is provided, and only the film closest to the other end face of the loaded and stored films is provided in the side wall portion close to the other end face in a direction orthogonal to the loading direction. A second opening which is provided with a first opening for permitting withdrawal, and which holds the film closest to the other end surface on the other end surface and allows the intrusion of means for withdrawing the film from the first opening. A film cartridge for chemical analysis, which is provided with an opening. 2. The film cartridge for chemical analysis according to claim 1, wherein information about the chemical analysis film is attached to an outer wall portion of the box body.