JPH05209835A - Incubator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an incubator allowing the use of a film for chemical analysis which has no mount in which a reagent layer is provided on a base film. CONSTITUTION:A recessed accommodating part 33 is arranged in a main body 28 to accommodate a film 1 for chemical analysis. A photometric window 34 is opened at the central bottom part of the accommodating part 33, and a part of the accommodating part 33 corresponding to a corner of the chemical analysis film is projected inward thereby to form a corner part 33a. Accordingly, the side face of the accommodated chemical analysis film is restricted from butting against an inner side wall 33b of the accommodating part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to an optical density obtained by spotting a sample solution such as blood or urine on a reagent layer of a chemical analysis film and chemically reacting a predetermined biochemical substance contained in the sample solution with the reagent layer. The present invention relates to an incubator for maintaining a constant temperature for reacting a chemical analysis film in which a sample solution is spotted on a reagent layer in a biochemical analysis device that measures the concentration of a biochemical substance from changes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a dry type chemical analysis slide capable of quantitatively analyzing a specific chemical component or a formed component contained in a sample liquid simply by spotting and supplying a small drop of the sample liquid. Has been put to practical use. In addition, in order to quantitatively analyze the chemical components in the sample solution using such a chemical analysis slide, after spotting the sample solution on the chemical analysis slide, place this in an incubator (incubator). Incubation for a predetermined time to allow color reaction (dye formation reaction), and then for measurement that includes 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 irradiation light to measure its optical density, and from this optical density, a calibration curve representing the correspondence between the optical density previously determined and the substance concentration of a predetermined biochemical substance is used. A biochemical analysis device configured to determine the substance concentration of a predetermined biochemical substance in a sample solution 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 mount so that the chemical analysis film is easily warped when dried. The film is configured to maintain a flat state.

The plate-like chemical analysis slides as described above are sequentially conveyed in the biochemical analysis apparatus as described above from the spotting of the sample solution to the constant temperature maintenance by the incubator. The storage chamber for the chemical analysis slide is formed in a slit-shaped space that opens to the side, and the chemical analysis slide on which the sample solution is spotted is conveyed from the side so that the slide is inserted. For example, a technique for carrying the same by a reciprocating claw is disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 4,296,069 and 4,56.
It is disclosed in the specification of No. 8,519. The chemical analysis slide is also provided with a mount so that the above-mentioned transport mechanism can perform transport.

[0005]

However, in the case of using the chemical analysis slide having the mount on the chemical analysis film as described above, the accommodating portion of the incubator for accommodating the chemical analysis slide and keeping it at a constant temperature is chemically separated. The mount is larger for the analysis film, which is an obstacle to the compactness of the incubator. In addition, the capacity of the biochemical analysis device as a whole is reduced due to the small number of housings. Is not obtained.

Further, when it is assumed that the mount of the chemical analysis slide is removed and the chemical analysis film is used alone in a biochemical analysis device, the chemical analysis film is conveyed to an incubator for automation of the analysis. It is necessary to ensure that the temperature is kept constant, but as described above, the chemical analysis film in a dry state is curved like a roof tile, and the degree of bending changes depending on the spotting of the sample solution. It becomes difficult to laterally slide and store the chemical analysis film into the conventional slit-shaped space.

In view of the above, the present invention provides an incubator capable of incubating and containing a chemical analysis film having a reagent layer on a light-transmitting support, but the end of the reagent layer is exposed. In the existing chemical analysis film, the sample solution that has been spotted may adhere to the side wall of the storage chamber to cause another problem that reduces the measurement accuracy.

That is, when the sample solution is spotted on the reagent layer of the chemical analysis film, the sample solution permeates and expands in a circular shape when seen in a plan view along the reagent layer. The part oozes out from the side surface of the reagent layer at the side portion where the distance from the center is short, and does not hang down to the light-transmissive support carrying this reagent layer, but it adheres in a droplet form due to surface tension. It becomes a state. Then, when the side portion of the chemical analysis film touches the inner wall of the storage chamber of the incubator, the sample liquid exuding as described above is attached, and the sample liquid attached to this side wall is then inserted into the storage chamber. The chemical analysis film spreads from the side surface to the reagent layer and contaminates the reagent layer, which adversely affects the measurement accuracy.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and pays attention to the fact that in a rectangular chemical analysis film, the corners have a long distance from the center and the development of the sample solution does not reach. It is an object of the present invention to provide an incubator capable of preventing the contamination of a storage chamber due to the above and enabling the use of a chemical analysis film having no mount.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the incubator of the present invention comprises a rectangular chemical analysis film having a reagent layer provided on a light-transmissive support, on which a sample solution is spotted. In order to maintain a constant temperature, the main body containing the heating means is provided with a concave accommodating portion for accommodating the chemical analysis film, and a photometric window is opened at the bottom of the accommodating portion while the upper part of the accommodating portion is opened. Install a cover to open and close,
Further, by forming a portion corresponding to a corner portion of the chemical analysis film in the accommodation portion inwardly to form a corner portion, the contact of the side surface of the accommodated chemical analysis film with the inner wall of the accommodation portion is regulated. It will be.

Further, when arranging a plurality of the accommodating portions,
It is preferable to arrange them in a plurality of rows concentrically.

[0012]

In the incubator as described above, the main body is provided with a concave accommodating portion on its upper surface, so that the chemical analysis film having no mount is carried in from above, and the sample solution is spotted. The cell cover is closed and a predetermined incubation is performed, and the color reaction of the chemical analysis film is measured through the photometric window at the bottom of the container.The sample solution spotted on the chemical analysis film spreads out on the side surface. Even if it oozes out, the movement of the chemical analysis film is regulated by the corner portion of the storage portion, its side surface is prevented from coming into contact with the inner side surface of the storage portion, and the inside of the storage portion is prevented from being contaminated by the sample solution. A chemical analysis film that does not have the above mount can be used to prevent a decrease in measurement accuracy. As a result, the size of the storage part becomes smaller and the incubator becomes more compact. With attained, it can be reduced analysis costs with the exclusion of the mount.

Further, in the case where the chemical analysis film is inserted from the side, only one row of accommodating portions can be formed in the outer peripheral portion, whereas by forming the accommodating portion for accommodating the chemical analyzing film from above, the main body formed by the rotating body is provided. The storage portions can be arranged in a plurality of rows concentrically, and a large number of storage portions can be compactly formed to improve processing efficiency.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic mechanism of a biochemical analyzer equipped with an incubator of one embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an incubator portion.

The biochemical analysis apparatus 10 comprises an incubator 11 for keeping the rectangular chemical analysis film 1 at a constant temperature for a predetermined time,
A film storage means 12 arranged on the side of the incubator 11 for storing an unused chemical analysis film 1; and a film transport means 13 for transporting the chemical analysis film 1 from the film storage means 12 to the incubator 11. For example, a sample liquid storage means 14 for storing a sample liquid such as serum or urine in a plurality of cups, and a spotting means 15 for spotting the sample liquid in the sample liquid storage means 14 onto the chemical analysis film 1 conveyed to the incubator 11. Is equipped with.

As shown in FIG. 4, the chemical analysis film 1 comprises a light transmissive support 1a (base film) made of a plastic film such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and a reagent layer 1b including a development layer laminated on the light transmissive support 1a (base film). In a dry state before use, it has a curved shape with the reagent layer 1b inside. The reagent layer 1b of the chemical analysis film 1 contains a reagent that causes a color reaction (dye forming reaction) after being kept at a constant temperature (incubation) for a predetermined time when mixed with a predetermined sample liquid component, and is a measurement item. Correspondingly, a plurality of types of chemical analysis films 1 having a reagent layer 1b set for each chemical component or formed component to be measured in the sample solution are prepared.

The chemical analysis film 1 is accommodated in a supply cartridge 21 for each measurement item, and as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of cartridges are accommodated in parallel in a cartridge accommodating portion 22 of a film accommodating means 12 in a dry state. The cartridge 21 accommodates a large number of chemical analysis films 1 in a stacked state with the light-transmissive support 1a facing upward, and the cartridges 21 are suction-held one by one from the upper opening by a suction cup 24a of a transfer means 13 described later. Is taken out. Further, the cartridge storage section 22 can be moved in a direction for selecting the loaded cartridge 21 by a moving mechanism (not shown), and an opening / closing shutter which is opened at the upper portion when a predetermined chemical analysis film 1 is taken out from each cartridge 21. (Not shown) is provided. It should be noted that a lot number, individual number, measurement item, expiration date, etc. of the chemical analysis film 1 are shown on a part of the cartridge 21 by, for example, a bar code.

The transport means 13 for transporting the chemical analysis film 1 from the film storage means 12 to the incubator 11 opens the opening / closing shutter of the cartridge storage portion 22 to store the chemical analysis film 1 at the top of the internal cartridge 21 in the cartridge. It is provided with a take-out mechanism 24 for taking out to the front side of the section 22, and a loading mechanism 25 for reversing the chemical analysis film 1 received from the take-out mechanism 24 and inserting it into the accommodating section 33 of the incubator 11.

In the take-out mechanism 24, a suction cup 24a for adsorbing the light-transmissive support 1a side of the chemical analysis film 1 is arranged at the tip of the transport rod 24b, and the transport rod 24b moves up and down and back and forth by a drive mechanism 24c. While being supported as much as possible, the decompression pipe 26a from the suction pump 26 is connected to the chemical analysis film 1 on the top of the cartridge 21.
Is adsorbed and held, and is moved slightly forward to extract the chemical analysis film 1 from the cartridge 21, then moved upward and taken out from the opening of the cartridge storage portion 22, and is further driven so as to be conveyed to the front incubator 11 side. It is a thing.

Further, the loading mechanism 25 is provided with a suction cup 25b for adsorbing and holding the reagent layer 1b side of the chemical analysis film 1 at the tip of the rotary arm 25a, and the rotary arm 25a is a motor 25c.
The pressure reducing pipe 26b from the suction pump 26 is connected to the suction cup 25b. The suction cup 25b of this rotating arm 25a
When it is rotated to the delivery position with the take-out mechanism 24 (the position indicated by the chain line), the suction cup of the take-out mechanism 24 faces upward.
The chemical analysis film 1 adsorbed on the 24a is adsorbed from below, and when the rotating arm 25a is turned to the incubator 11 side, the suction cup 25b faces downward, the shape of the rotating arm 25a, and the attachment of the suction cup 25b. The direction is set.

Next, the incubator 11 has a disk-shaped main body 28.
Is rotatably supported by a rotation drive mechanism 29 in the lower center, and a heating means (not shown) is built in the main body 28.
The inside is kept at a specified temperature (for example, 37 ° C). As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary driving means 29 is provided with a pulley 31 on a rotary shaft 30 arranged at the center of a main body 28.
A belt 32a from a motor 32 is hung on 31 to be rotationally driven by a predetermined angle.

Further, on the upper surface of the main body 28, a concave accommodating portion for accommodating the chemical analysis film 1 on the circumference at predetermined intervals.
A plurality of 33 are provided, and a photometric window 34 is provided at the center bottom of the housing 33.
Further, a ring-shaped annular groove 35 into which a later-described photometric head 47 is inserted is formed below the photometric window 34, that is, on the bottom surface of the main body 28. On the other hand, a cell cover 36 for preventing the evaporation of the sample liquid is installed on the upper part of the container 33 so as to be openable and closable. The cell cover 36 is individually provided in each of the accommodating portions 33, but all the accommodating portions 33 can be a single cover.

Further, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 3, the planar shape of the accommodating portion 33 is a rectangular shape larger than the chemical analysis film 1 as a whole, and the chemistry to be charged into the accommodating portion 33 is large. A corner portion corresponding to a corner portion of the analysis film 1 is formed in a corner portion 33a protruding inward, and the corner portion 33a is formed.
Is provided in a structure for restricting the contact of the side surface of the chemical analysis film 1 in which is stored with the inner wall 33b of the storage portion 33.
That is, the basic rectangular horizontal and vertical dimensions of the accommodating portion 33 are formed to be larger than the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the chemical analysis film 1, while the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the corner portion 33a are increased. The size of the chemical analysis film 1 is smaller than that of the chemical analysis film 1 in the lateral and vertical directions in the portion near the inner wall 33b. Due to the shape of the accommodating portion 33, when the accommodated chemical analysis film 1 moves forward or backward or in the lateral direction, its corner portion abuts on the corner portion 33a and further forward or backward or lateral movement is restricted. To be done.

The upper part of the incubator 11 is covered with an incubator case 37, and the case 37 is located at a spotting position corresponding to the rotary arm 25a of the transfer means 13.
A shutter 38 is provided which opens when the chemical analysis film 1 is inserted and when the sample solution is spotted. The shutter 38 is provided, for example, in such a structure that it is opened by an external drive means (not shown) and normally biased in the closing direction.

Although not shown, the chemical analysis film 1 is adsorbed from the accommodating portion 33 of the main body 28 on the side opposite to the spotting position in order to discard the chemical analysis film 1 after measurement. Ejecting means for ejecting the same is disposed, and a shutter similar to the spotting position is installed in the incubator case 37. The discharging means is the loading mechanism 25 of the transport means 13.
It is provided similarly to.

The sample liquid accommodating means 14 has a sample tray 41 for holding a plurality of sample cups 40 accommodating the sample liquid.
The sample tray 41 is movably provided by a drive mechanism (not shown), and the sample cup 40 is sequentially moved to the take-out position.

The spotting means 15 for spotting each sample solution in the sample cup 40 onto the chemical analysis film 1 conveyed to the incubator 11 has a spotting nozzle 43 for sucking and discharging the sample solution. A pipette-shaped nozzle tip 44 is detachably attached to the tip of the spotting nozzle 43, and is vertically movably and rotatably moved by a drive mechanism 45.
The sample solution is sucked from 14 and moved to be spotted on the chemical analysis film 1. Further, the nozzle tip 44 at the tip of the spotting nozzle 43 of the spotting means 15 is replaced when the sample liquid is changed.

The deposited chemical analysis film 1 is incubated in an incubator 11 and measured by a measuring means 16 (see FIG. 2) arranged below the incubator 11. The measuring means 16 has a photometric head 47 for measuring the optical density due to the color reaction between the chemical analysis film 1 and the sample solution. The photometric head 47 is for irradiating the measurement irradiation light containing light of a predetermined wavelength through the light transmissive support 1a to the reagent layer 1b and detecting the reflected light by the photodetector element 47a. Light source 48 (lamp)
The light from is incident on one end of the optical fiber 51 via the lens 49 and the filter 50, and the other end of the optical fiber 51 is connected to the photometric head 47. In the photometric head 47, the light from the other end of the optical fiber 51 is applied to the reagent layer 1b via the lens. The filter
51 is configured such that a plurality of filters corresponding to inspection items are installed on a disc 52 and the disc 52 is rotated to select a filter 51 having a predetermined characteristic corresponding to a measurement item.

Further, the reflected light from the reagent layer 1b is optical information (specifically, the amount of light) according to the amount of dye produced in the reagent layer 1b.
The reflected light carrying the optical information is incident on the photo-detecting element 47a, photoelectrically converted, and sent to the determining unit 54 via the amplifier 53. The determination unit 54 determines the optical concentration of the dye generated in the reagent layer 1b based on the level of the input electric signal, and identifies the substance concentration of a predetermined biochemical substance in the sample solution.

The measurement by the biochemical analysis device 10 will be described. First, the cartridge containing the chemical analysis film 1 corresponding to the measurement item by the take-out mechanism 24 of the conveying means 13.
The chemical analysis film 1 is taken out of the apparatus 21, the chemical analysis film 1 is inverted by the loading mechanism 25, and the chemical analysis film 1 is inserted into the accommodating portion 33 of the incubator 11 with the reagent layer 1b facing upward.
Subsequently, the spotting nozzle 43 of the spotting means 15 is connected to the sample liquid storage means.
The tip of the nozzle tip 44 is immersed in the sample liquid by moving it onto a predetermined cup 40 of 14, and a predetermined amount of the sample liquid is sucked into the nozzle tip 44. Then, the spotting nozzle 43 is moved onto the chemical analysis film 1 inserted in the incubator 11, and then the spotting nozzle 43 is moved downward to make a nozzle tip.
From 44, a predetermined amount of the sample solution is dropped on the reagent layer 1b of the chemical analysis film 1. The dropped sample liquid is spread and diffused and mixed with the reagent.

The chemical analysis film 1 in a dry state before the spotting of the sample solution is curved as shown in FIG. 4, but it extends to a substantially flat state as the sample solution is spotted.
Subsequently, when the spotted chemical analysis film 1 is heated to a predetermined temperature by the incubator 11, the reagent layer 1b causes a color reaction (dye formation reaction). Then, the optical density of the dye generated by this color reaction is measured by the photometric head 47 at every predetermined time or after the lapse of a predetermined time during the color reaction.

In the above measurement, by depositing a predetermined amount of the sample solution on the central portion of the chemical analysis film 1, the sample solution W develops into a circular shape as shown in FIG. There is a case where a part of the sample liquid reaches the side portion of the layer 1b and oozes out, but the amount of the oozing liquid is attached to the side surface rather than drooping. Then, in this state, the side surface of the chemical analysis film 1 is located on the inner wall 33b of the accommodation portion 33.
If the sample solution comes in contact with the
The above contact is prevented by regulating the movement of the chemical analysis film 1 by the corner portion 33a of 33.

Therefore, the shape of the corner portion 33a is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but the chemical analysis film 1 is used.
Any shape may be used as long as the side surface of this does not come into contact with the inner wall 33b of the storage portion 33.

In the incubator 11 of the above embodiment, the main body
Although the accommodating portions 33 arranged on the upper surface of 28 are in a line on the circumference,
Further, when a plurality of accommodating portions 33 are arranged, they are arranged concentrically on the inner peripheral side. At that time, the conveying means 13 is the accommodation portion on the inner peripheral side.
The chemical analysis film 1 can be inserted into and removed from the incubator 11 so that the chemical analysis film 1 can also be inserted into the 33.
It is necessary to change each part to a structure in which the 15 spotting nozzles 43 can be moved to the inner peripheral side even when moving.

The cartridge 21 may be accommodated in the accommodating means 12 in the form of a disk. On the other hand, the spotting nozzle 43 has a nozzle tip 44 which can be attached and detached. It may be configured such that after the first spotting is performed, the nozzle is cleaned by the nozzle cleaning unit and is reused for the next spotting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a biochemical analyzer including an incubator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an incubator part.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a storage portion of the incubator.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a chemical analysis film.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Chemical analysis film 1a Support 1b Reagent layer 10 Biochemical analyzer 11 Incubator 13 Film transport means 28 Main body 33 Storage section 33a Corner section 33b Inner side wall 34 Photometric window 36 Cell cover 47 Photometric head

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An incubator for isothermally holding a sample solution spotted on a reagent layer of a rectangular chemical analysis film having a reagent layer provided on a light-transmissive support, and including a heating means. A concave accommodating part for accommodating the chemical analysis film is provided on the upper surface of the main body, a photometric window is opened at the bottom of the accommodating part, and an opening / closing cover is installed at the upper part of the accommodating part. A part corresponding to the corner of the chemical analysis film in the section is formed in the corner by projecting inward, thereby restricting the contact of the side surface of the stored chemical analysis film with the inner wall of the storage section. Incubator to do. 2. The incubator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the accommodating portions are arranged. 3. The incubator according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of accommodating portions are concentrically arranged in a plurality of rows.