JPH06148205A - Automatic dispensation measurement system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save waste time due to disagreement of tacts and to improve the working efficiency of a system by dividing test tubes or Petri dish part into a specimen dispensing region, a reagent casting region, and a measuring region and by providing transport means for parallel access to each region. CONSTITUTION:This system is divided into a specimen dispensing region 2 which dispenses a specimen liquid into each Petri dish part, a reagent casting part 3 which casts a reagent into tubes 6 or Petri dish parts after dispensation of specimen liquid, and a measuring region 4 which make measurement after the specimen liquid reacts with the reagent. A turn table 19 having four-six stage regions 19A-is installed at the center of three regions to make the regions 2-4 correspond to the stage regions 19A-19C. The regions 2-4 are provided with transport in and out regions to transport racks 5 and the like to other regions. Regions 19D- store racks 5 and the like of different tacts to make parallel access, thereby saving waste time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to an automatic dispensing / measuring system used in blood tests and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to avoid workers from being infected with viral hepatitis, AIDS, etc., this type of test enables dispensing and testing without touching the liquid to be dispensed (specimen) as much as possible. It is desired to be able to do this, and automation is desired to improve work efficiency. In particular, in dispensing work, different test items are required for each dispensed liquid (specimen), and in many cases it is necessary to dispense multiple types corresponding to this. This often results in erroneous dispensation into the inspection section and a significant error in determining the inspection results.

[0003] However, the conventional dispensing apparatus has a plurality of test tubes or micro-tubes in which a predetermined amount of the dispensed liquid (sample) sucked from a required test tube or the like into a dispenser chip is stored in one rack. It is only to dispense into each petri dish part of the plate one by one, and manual labor of workers is required for sorting and transporting each dispensed test tube or microplate for each inspection item. there were.

Therefore, a mechanical structure arranged serially and a control system in which a computer or the like is incorporated, in a rack or microplate unit, and for each inspection item, a test tube or a microplate mounted in the rack unit. Dispensing the liquid to be dispensed into the Petri dish and measuring it avoids direct manual sorting work by the operator, and the automation does not cause errors in collating with the sample when determining test results. An automatic dispensing / measuring system configured as above has already been proposed.

In this automatic dispensing / measuring system, a rack or a microplate loaded with empty test tubes is placed on a transfer line from a required stage and introduced into a dispensing work area, where a dispenser is used for dispensing. The work is performed, then the reagent is introduced into the reagent input area, the reagent is added, and further, the reagent is conveyed to the area where the relevant inspection item is measured.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
Since the measuring system has a serial mechanical structure using a conveyer such as a conveyer on the conveyer line, it has the following drawbacks. That is, in the dispensing work area, the reagent input area, and the measurement area, the work is performed in units of racks or microplates that are sequentially sent. For example, the time required for the reaction varies depending on the type of reagent,
The tact in each area is not constant. For this reason, control must be performed with the longest tact time, which results in a wasteful waiting time and a low work efficiency.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and is a control system incorporating a mechanical structure and a computer, etc., and is mounted on the above rack for each inspection item in a desired rack or microplate unit. When dispensing the liquid to be dispensed into the test tube or each petri dish of the above microplate, adding the reagent, and performing the measurement, it is equipped with a transporting device that allows access to each area in parallel, and the tact is not constant. Even if you do n’t waste time,
It is intended to provide an automatic dispensing / measuring system capable of improving work efficiency.

[0008]

Therefore, in the present invention,
Take the dispensed liquid from its storage section into a dispenser,
From there, in each test tube of the test tube rack or in each petri dish part of the microplate, an area for dispensing the above-mentioned liquid to be dispensed; in each petri dish part of the test tube or microplate after dispensing, An area for introducing the reagent from the reagent introducing section; an area for measuring the content of each petri dish of the test tube or microplate after the liquid to be dispensed reacts with the reagent, and an area for each of the test tubes between the areas. In an automatic pipetting / measuring system including means for transporting a rack or a microplate, the transport means is composed of a turn table having at least a stage area corresponding to each area, and each stage area is provided with the above test. A tube rack or microplate is installed,
Dispensing and reagent injection are performed on the table, and a means for performing the operation of moving the test tube rack or the microplate in and out of the measurement area is provided.

[0009]

With this, the dispensing operator can dispense and measure the liquid to be dispensed (specimen) for each inspection item without directly touching the test tube or the microplate. This is effective in ensuring the safety of work related to prevention of viral hepatitis and AIDS infection. Moreover, even if the tact is not constant due to the difference in the reaction time of the reagents, the turntable can access each area in parallel, thus eliminating the dead time for waiting,
High work efficiency can be achieved.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. In the automatic dispensing / measuring system according to the present invention, the gantry 1 is divided into a plurality of areas, and a dispensing area 2, a reagent loading area 3 and a measuring area 4 are set respectively.

In this embodiment, the dispensing area 2 occupies the right front part of the gantry 1, and the test tube racks 5 are arranged on the upper surface of the gantry 1 in a stereotactic position, for example, two racks 5 are arranged side by side. In addition, each of the racks 5 is loaded with a large number of test tubes 6 each containing a dispensed liquid (sample) collected from each subject. Further, a chip rack 8 loaded with a large number of dispenser chips 7 is installed behind the position where the rack 5 is arranged.

In the present embodiment, the reagent input area 3 is
It occupies the left front part of the gantry 1, and on the upper surface of the gantry 1,
A turntable 9 is arranged. On the turntable 9, a bottle 10 containing a reagent is detachably arranged along the periphery of the turntable 9. In particular, in this embodiment, each bottle 10 is opened, but the transparent cover 11 having the opening 11A formed only at the take-out portion covers the upper surface of the turn table 9 in order to prevent the infiltration of dust. Is equipped with. Further, a bar code reader 12 for discriminating the type of reagent from a label attached to each bottle 10 is provided on the gantry 1 corresponding to the above-mentioned take-out point.

On both sides of the front part of the gantry 1, guide rails (having driving means built in) 13A, 1 extending forward and backward are provided.
3B is provided, and a beam 14 extending left and right is installed between them, and is configured to be moved back and forth along the guide rail. Then, on the beam 14, a sample dispensing nozzle 15 and a reagent dispensing nozzle 16 which are moved in the longitudinal direction of the beam via an appropriate driving means (not shown) are respectively provided in the dispensing regions 2 and It is held and equipped corresponding to the reagent input area 3. Each of the dispensing nozzles 15 and 16 is controlled to move up and down independently, and at the lower end of the dispensing nozzle 15, the dispenser tip 7 is selected from the tip rack 8 and is selected. It is designed to be detachably fitted. Further, a dispenser tip 16A for sucking up and dispensing the reagent is attached to the lower end of the dispensing nozzle 16. The dispenser nozzle 16 and the dispenser tip 16A can be washed with the washing device 17 provided on the upper surface of the gantry 1 as needed when changing reagents, etc. It has become.

On the rear part of the gantry 1, the above-mentioned measurement area 4 is set from the central part to the right part, and here, an optical inspection device known by a colorimetric method or the like is installed. There is. Particularly, in this embodiment, the measuring section 4A is located at the center rear part and the light source section 4B is located at the right side part.

On the front side of the measuring section 4A, the dispensing area 2
A turntable 19 is mounted on the upper surface of the gantry 1 and is located between the reagent input area 3 and a plurality of stages (# 1) radially around the vertical rotation axis 20.
~ # 4 stages) are divided and set. In addition, in this embodiment, although it is divided into four stages, FIG.
The number of stages may be divided into six or more as shown in FIG. When the stages are set in the order of clockwise rotation of the turntable 19, for example, as shown in FIG.
9A to 19D (these refer to certain work areas in the gantry 1) are set as follows, respectively. Into the stage area 19A located in the center front part of the gantry 1, a dispensing microplate 21 (in this embodiment, a microplate is exemplified, but a rack loaded with a large number of test tubes may be carried in). A loading / unloading section is configured so that the loading / unloading section can be carried out, and each stage area 1 is provided for the left and right dispensing areas 2, the reagent loading area 3, and the rear measurement area 4.
9B, 19D, and 19C correspond. Also,
Each stage is equipped with an entrance / exit stopper 22 for holding and fixing the micro plate 21 when the micro plate 21 is mounted on the stage from the outer peripheral portion of the turn table 19. It should be noted that a means such as a solenoid mechanism may be adopted as the stopper 22.

Further, in this embodiment, a reagent cleaning area 23 is provided between the turn table 19 and the measuring section 4A.
Is equipped with a flush cleaning system. In particular, here, eight double-tube nozzles 23A to 23B for blowing and sucking wash water are prepared with their openings facing downward. Each of the nozzles 23A to 23A blows out cleaning water from the central conduit and sucks up the cleaned cleaning water from the peripheral conduits. The measurement area 4 is provided with a means (not shown) for performing an operation of moving the microplate 21 (or the test tube rack) in and out from the opposing stage area 19. In this embodiment, the above means has an appropriate transport structure for performing intermittent feeding so that the dish portion of the microplate 21 can be washed row by row in the reagent washing area 23.

The microplate 21 used in this embodiment is provided with 8 × 12 = 96 groove-shaped petri dish portions 21A to 21X in the vertical and horizontal directions. In the example, in the stage area 19B of FIG. 1, the object is injected by the dispensing nozzle 15 under computer control, and similarly, in the reagent input area 3 (in this embodiment, the location of the stage area 19D of FIG. 1). ), The reagent is dispensed by the dispensing nozzle 16 under computer control.

Next, in the system of the present invention, a working mode of a series of computer-controlled dispensing / measurement will be described. Before starting the series of work, the following preparations are made. First, the tip rack 8 loaded with new dispenser tips is set at a predetermined position. Further, the test tubes 6 containing the liquid to be dispensed (sample) corresponding to the data given to the computer are loaded in the rack 5 in an arrangement based on the above-mentioned data order, and in this state, the rack 5 is set at a predetermined position. To be done. Further, in the reagent input area 3, the bottle 10 is loaded at a predetermined position on the turntable 9. The relationship between each reagent contained in the bottle 10 and its arrangement is registered in the computer.

When the apparatus is operated, first, the required number of microplates 21 are turned on the turntable 1.
Each stage area 9 is loaded from the front side of the gantry 1 by a worker or a work robot. In this case, the turntable 19 is computer-controlled with respect to its rotation direction, rotation angle, and tact. In addition, since the microplate 21 after loading is fixedly held, the stopper 2
2 is controlled.

Next, one computer-controlled work pattern will be described as an example. According to the program, the computer first operates the beam 14 along the guide rails 13A and 13B, operates the sample dispensing nozzle 15 leftward or rightward, and descends at a predetermined position of the tip rack 8. The required dispenser tip 7 is fitted into the sample dispensing nozzle 15. Then, like above,
By moving the beam 14 back and forth and moving the sample dispensing nozzle 15 left and right and up and down, the sample dispensing nozzle 15 is accessed to the test tube 6 selected according to the registered order, Aspirate a quantity of analyte into the dispenser tip.

Then, at the location of the stage region 19B shown in FIG. 1, the required sample dish nozzle is accessed to the required petri dish portion (selected by the computer) of the microplate 21 there, and a predetermined amount of the subject is sampled. Drop it.
Next, the sample dispensing nozzle 15 is returned to the predetermined position of the tip rack 8 or an appropriate dispenser tip discard chute (not shown) is accessed, and the used dispenser The chip is removed from the sample dispensing nozzle 15. And tip rack 8
Next, the sample dispensing nozzle 15 is moved to the next designated position, a new dispenser tip 7 is fitted into the nozzle 15, the test tube 6 in the next order is accessed, and another sample is sucked up. Thus, the reason why the dispenser tip is replaced is to avoid the contamination of the subject. Then, in the same manner as described above, the sample dispensing nozzle 15 is attached to the next petri dish of the microplate 21.
Is accessed and a predetermined amount of the subject is dropped. By repeating such an operation, the subject is dispensed to all the Petri dishes of one microplate 21.

Next, the turntable 19 is, for example,
Rotate the required angle clockwise according to the computer program. Then, the microplate 21 into which the subject is dispensed is brought to the stage region 19D of FIG. 1 and receives the introduction of the reagent therein. That is, at this stage, the computer operates the beam 14 in the front-rear direction and the reagent dispensing nozzle 16 in the left-right direction and the up-down direction, so that the bottle 1 located there is opened at the opening 11A.
The required reagent is sucked up from 0 into the dispenser tip 16A. In this case, the selection of the reagent is performed by setting the required amount on the turntable 9 in advance according to the computer program.
This is performed by controlling the rotation and changing the bottle 10 for the opening 11A. Next, the corresponding microplate 21
The reagent dispensing nozzle 16 is sequentially accessed to all of the petri dish parts, and the reagent is dropped from the dispenser tip 16A.

Then, for example, the reaction time is allowed to stand by as it is, and then the turntable 19 is rotated clockwise, for example, by a required angle, and the microplate 21 into which the reagent is dispensed is placed in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the measurement unit 4B is positioned in the stage region 19C corresponding to the measurement unit 4B. The waiting time for the reaction may be performed after the turn table 19 is first rotated and positioned in the stage area 19C, or may be performed in both the stage areas 19D and 19C. If necessary, during this period, the turntable 19 may be vibrated by an appropriate means to promote the mixing / contact of the sample and the reagent. On the other hand, for the microplate 21 newly brought to the stage area 19B, the sample dispensing nozzle 15 is subsequently operated to
The same subject is dispensed.

After the required reaction time has elapsed, the microplates 21 in the stage area 19B (or transferred to the stage area) are directed toward the measuring section 4B at a predetermined pitch (row interval between the petri dishes). , It is sent by intermittent operation. During this intermittent operation, the washing liquid is supplied from the double-tube nozzles 23A to 23A to the petri dish part of each row corresponding to the reagent washing region 23, and the excess reagent and the subject are sucked up together with the washing liquid. . As a result, a layer of the reacted analyte is left on the inner wall surface of the dish. In this way, when the petri dish parts of all the rows are washed in the process of intermittent operation, the microplate 21 has the measuring part 4
It reaches a predetermined position inside B and is set at a fixed position.
In this state, for example, a method such as a colorimetric method is used to optically inspect and measure the object in each petri dish. The computer records information during the inspection / measurement, and after the measurement, the microplate is returned to the stage area 19C.

At the next required rotation of the turntable 19 in the clockwise direction, for example 90 °, the measured microplate 21 is brought to the stage area 19A, and further rotated by 90 °. The microplate 21, which is brought to the stage area and at the same time, on the stage area 19B, into which the subject is dispensed,
In addition, for further reagent dispensing, the stage area 19
Moved to D. Then, in the stage area 19A, if the stage is empty or if there is a measured microplate 21, with the help of an operator or a work robot, the measured microplate is unloaded,
The loading of a new microplate is carried out sequentially.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, according to the contents of the data sequentially read by the computer, for each microplate 21 of each stage (# 1 to # 4 stages),
The cycle of the sample dispensing / measurement is set as follows. In this case, when reading the data on the computer side, the functions D = 1 and D = 2 for the types of reagents (for example, a plurality of types of reagents having reaction times of 15 minutes and 30 minutes).
Is selected. Further, functions C and T are prepared for each microplate.

(1) The data read by the computer is
Select a function for the reagent (D = 1 or D = 2) and load a new microplate 21 to the corresponding stage (eg, # 1 stage) of the turntable 19 in the stage area 19A. Then, C = 0 and T = 0 (initial values) are set for this microplate. In the process of dispensing and measurement, the stage area 19A
For microplates that have reached, the function C = 0,
If T = 1, then in that stage area 19A, the used microplate 21 is unloaded from the corresponding stage of the turntable, and subsequently a new microplate is loaded into it, and as described above, the function Selection of D and setting of functions C = 0 and T = 0 (initialization). Then, the required time (which is determined by selecting, for example, a short tact S of 1 minute 20 seconds or a long tact L of 16 minutes 20 seconds based on computer calculation) has elapsed. Then, the turntable 19 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise, and the process proceeds to the next step.

(2) Clockwise 9 of the turntable 19
When the microplate (for example, the microplate on the # 1 stage) shifts from the stage region 19A to the stage region 19D by the rotation of 0 degree (the tact at this time is, for example, 3 seconds), the functions C = 1 and T = If it is 0, calculation is performed on the computer side, T = 1 is set, and reagent dispensing is performed. Time required (This is the short tact S as described above.
Or long tact L), the turntable 19 is turned clockwise 9
Rotate 0 degrees and move to the next step.

(3) Clockwise 9 of the turntable 19
When the microplate (for example, the microplate on the # 1 stage) moves from the stage area 19D to the stage area 19C by the rotation of 0 degree, the functions C = 1, T = 1,
If D = 1, in the stage region 19C, the intermittent feeding of the microplate to the measuring unit 4B is immediately started, and in the meantime, in the reagent washing region 23, the petri dish part of the microplate is line by line. After the washing and the washing are completed, the measurement unit 4B performs the optical measurement, and after the measurement, the microplate is returned to the original stage (for example, # 1 stage). Also, the functions C = 1, T =
1, if D = 2, then the required waiting time (this is
After the elapse of the time interval t = 15 minutes), the same work as described above is performed. And the required time (this is, as mentioned above,
(Determined by selecting short tact S or long tact L), the turn table 19 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise, and the process proceeds to the next step.

(4) Clockwise 9 of the turntable 19
When the stage (# 1 stage) moves from the stage area 19C to the stage area 19B by the rotation of 0 degree, the function C
= 0 and T = 0, the computer side calculates C = 1, and in the stage area 19B,
Dispense the sample. When the required time (which is determined by selecting the short tact S or the long tact L as described above) has elapsed, the turn table 19 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise, and the next Go to step.

In this case, the computer selects the tact from the end of the rotation of the turntable 19 to the start of the next rotation (that is, the selection of the tact S and the tact L) immediately after the rotation (before the calculation in each step). In the stage), it is determined under the condition corresponding to each stage (# 1 to # 4 stage) at that time. The conditions are, for example: (1) For the microplate 21 in the stage region 19D, when the functions are C = 1 and T = 0, the long tact L is selected. (2) For the microplate 21 in the stage region 19C, if the functions are C = 1, T = 1, and D = 2, the long tact L is selected. (3) For the microplate 21 in the stage region 19B, when the functions are C = 0 and T = 0, the long tact L is selected.

Under any of the above conditions, the stop time (tact) of the turntable 19 is determined to be the long tact L, and in all other cases, the short tact S is selected. In addition, in this embodiment, since the dispensing nozzles 15 and 16 have a simple structure in which they are supported and guided by the common beam 14, dispensing of the object (all petri dishes of one microplate is performed. Dispensing = 15
Computer programmed to prioritize reagent dispensing (15 seconds) over minute). Further, in this embodiment, in order to transfer the microplate 21 from the stage region 19C to the reagent cleaning region 23 by intermittent driving, about 60
Seconds are planned, and it takes about 15 minutes to measure with the measuring unit 4A.
Is planning the second. As a result, the values of the tacts L and S as described above are set.

As described above, when each tact is set, the dead time is remarkably reduced, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, until the completion of all dispensing / measuring operations for one microplate. In the implementation pattern shown in FIG. 8, when reagents having different reaction times are selected in each microplate (in the case of complicated control), for example,
The case where a reagent having a reaction time of 15 minutes for the microplates in the # 1 stage and the # 2 stage and a reagent having a reaction time of 30 minutes for the microplates in the # 3 stage and the # 4 stage are respectively charged is shown ( It should be noted that, in the figure, steps with hatching indicate that there is extra time in the work, and this can be reduced as much as possible by devising a computer program and control).

However, the inspection order of the microplates due to the difference in the reaction time can be set appropriately, and for example, the inspection order is switched such that the one with the long reaction time is overtaken and the one with the short reaction time is inspected first. You can devise ways to eliminate dead time. Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to the case where the reagents are selected (simple control) only for the reagents having the same reaction time. Further, in the above embodiment, the rotation direction of the turntable is set to rotate clockwise and at intervals of 90 degrees.
In the present invention, a computer program is used to perform complicated control such as forward / reverse rotation and rotation angle selection control.
It is possible to add a device for eliminating dead time.

Further, in the above embodiment, the dispensing nozzles 15 and 16 are supported and guided by the common beam 14, but they are independently supported and guided by different beams. In this case, both dispensing nozzles can be operated simultaneously in accordance with each purpose. Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the reagent is dispensed only once, but it may be dispensed multiple times, and a reaction waiting time may be placed therebetween. Further, in the middle, the reagent washing may be performed several times. This can be solved by software if it is appropriately selected according to the inspection item and the condition and the computer program is configured to correspond to it.

[0036]

The present invention has been described in detail above, and the liquid to be dispensed is taken into the dispenser from its storage portion, and from there, it is transferred to each test tube of the test tube rack or each petri dish of the microplate. A region for dispensing the above-mentioned dispensed liquid; a region for introducing a reagent from a reagent introducing unit into each petri dish of the above-mentioned test tube or microplate after dispensing; the dispensed liquid reacts with the reagent After that, in an automatic dispensing / measuring system comprising an area for measuring the contents of each petri dish of the test tube or microplate and a means for transporting the test tube rack or microplate between the areas. The transfer means is composed of a turntable having at least a stage area corresponding to each area. The test tube rack or microplate is mounted in the area, dispensing and reagent injection are performed on the turn table, and the test tube is placed between the stage area facing the measurement area. Since it is equipped with a means for operating the racks or microplates for entering and exiting, it is a control system incorporating a mechanical configuration and a computer, etc., and is mounted on the above racks for each desired rack or microplate unit for each inspection item Dispense the liquid to be dispensed into each petri dish of the test tube or the microplate,
When a reagent is put in and measured, a transportation means which can access each area in parallel is provided, and even when the tact is not constant, the dead time can be omitted and the work efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is likewise a left side view.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an essential part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a time table showing the control of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Platform 2 Sample Dispensing Area 3 Reagent Input Area 4 Measuring Area 4A Measuring Section 4B Power Supply 5 Test Tube Rack 6 Test Tube 7 Dispenser Chip 8 Chip Rack 9 Turntable 10 Bin 11 Transparent Cover 13A, 13B Guide Rail 14 Beam 15 Specimen Dispensing Nozzle 16 Reagent Dispensing Nozzle 16A Dispenser Tip 17 Washer 19 Turn Table 19A ~ Stage Area 21 Microplate 22 Stopper 23 Reagent Cleaning Area 23A ~ Double Tube Nozzle

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A dispenser for taking in the dispensed liquid from a storage portion thereof into a dispenser, and dispensing the dispensed liquid to each test tube of a test tube rack or each petri dish of a microplate. Area; area where reagent is put into each dish of the above-mentioned test tube or microplate after dispensing from the reagent feeding section; and each dish of the above-mentioned test tube or microplate after the liquid to be dispensed has reacted with the reagent In an automatic pipetting / measuring system comprising a region for measuring the content of a part and a means for transporting the test tube rack or the microplate between the regions, the transport means corresponds to at least each region. It consists of a turntable with a stage area, and each stage area has a rack for test tubes. Or, a microplate is installed, dispensing and reagent injection are performed on the turn table, and the test tube rack or microplate goes in and out of the stage area facing the measurement area. An automatic dispensing / measuring system having means for performing an operation. 2. The automatic dispensing / measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the turntable has a rack for the test tube or a loading / unloading area of the microplate for each stage area. 3. The automatic dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a reagent washing region is installed in a transport path of the test tube rack or the microplate from the turntable to the measuring means. -Measuring system.