JPH0625769B2 - Automatic chemical analyzer - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analysis device.

[Prior Art] Usually, a biochemical analyzer is designed to analyze a plurality of items for one sample. In such a biochemical analyzer for multi-item analysis, the collected sample is distributed according to the number of items to be analyzed, and each distributed sample is sent to each reaction system together with the reagent corresponding to the item to be analyzed. , The analysis sequence for measuring each item in each reaction system is continuously repeated.

Now, for example, if there are 32 total analysis items and these are analyzed by, for example, an apparatus equipped with four reaction systems, as shown in the table, the first item, the second item, the third item, and the fourth item are During the first analysis cycle, the first, second, third, and fourth reaction systems respectively apply the fifth item, the sixth item, the seventh item, and the eighth item to the first, second, and third items during the second analysis cycle, respectively. , The third and fourth reaction systems ..., the 29th item, the 30th item, the 31st item, and the 32nd item, respectively, during the 8th analysis cycle.
The reaction system is used.

By the way, since the reaction time originally differs depending on the analysis item,
Although the analysis time from sample distribution to measurement differs depending on each item, considering the operation timing of each unit of the device,
The analysis time of the item that requires the longest analysis time among all the items is set as the analysis time of all items.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when a user actually uses a biochemical analyzer,
Not all items that can be analyzed by the device are analyzed, and the number of analysis items differs depending on the user.
Also, the number of analysis items may differ depending on the sample. For example, assuming that the 27th item requires the longest analysis time (T ₀ ) among all the items, when analyzing, for example, 4 items out of all items (32 items) for a certain sample, Even when analyzing the second, third, and fourth items, the fifth, sixth, seventh,
The analysis time of T ₀ is required both when analyzing the eighth item and when analyzing the first, second, nineteenth, and twenty-fourth items.
The analysis time becomes longer as the number of analysis cycles N increases, and 8T ₀ is required in the case of the above table.

Since the number of specimens (samples) to be processed has been increasing recently, it is desired to shorten the total analysis time.
In the case of analyzing a plurality (N) of analysis cycles out of all the analysis cycles, it takes a long total analysis time of NT ₀ , and therefore it has not been solved yet.

Further, as described above, when the analysis time is the same for all analysis items and the analysis cycle (cycle) is fixed, for example, a special analysis item developed afterwards has a particularly long reaction time, and therefore the analysis time is prepared in advance. There was also a problem that we could not respond to items that could not be analyzed due to insufficient reaction in the analysis cycle.

The present invention aims to solve such a problem.

[Means for Solving Problems] In order to achieve this object, the present invention allows a series of steps from distribution of a sample to reaction and measurement to be performed by a series of operations of the plurality of units, and the plurality of units. A time chart memory in which the operation sequence and the operation time are set, and a time signal generating means composed of a clock generating means and a clock counting means, and comparing the time signal from the time signal generating circuit with the signal from the time chart memory. In an automatic chemical analyzer that operates each unit based on the above to analyze a sample, a means for intermittently supplying a clock signal from the clock generating means to the clock counting means and a predetermined delay time are held. Means for generating a delay time point signal for designating a time point for starting the delay, the delay time point signal and the time signal And comparing the output signal of the comparing means and the delay time held in the holding means, the delay time held in the holding means from the time when the output signal of the comparing means is generated. And means for generating a control signal for controlling the connecting / disconnecting means so as to stop the supply of the clock signal to the clock counting means.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment] The attached drawings show an operation command system of a unit in an automatic chemical analyzer in which the present invention is implemented.

In the figure, 1 is a unit system of an apparatus that operates according to a command of a control system 2, a sample distribution unit 1a that distributes a collected sample according to the number of analysis items, and supplies a reagent according to the analysis item to each of the distributed samples. It comprises a reagent supply unit 1b, a liquid sending unit 1c for sending the sample and the reagent to the reaction unit 1d, and the like. The reaction unit 1d is composed of first, second, third and fourth reaction systems. Reference numeral 3 is a time chart memory in which the operating sequence of each unit and the operating time of each unit are preset. Reference numeral 4 is a reference time signal generator such as a clock generator. Reference numeral 5 is a counter for counting the clocks from the reference time signal generator. Reference numeral 6 denotes a comparison circuit, which compares the output from the counter with the time signal from the time chart memory, and when the output from the counter becomes equal to the output from the time chart memory, a signal is sent to the control system 2 through the switch SW _1. Emit. The control system operates the unit system 1 based on the signal. Reference numeral 7 denotes a delay time point signal generating circuit, which specifies the operation time point of the unit whose operation time point is to be delayed, for example, the reaction unit 1d, among the respective units. Reference numeral 8 denotes a comparator which generates a signal to the timer counter 9 when the output from the counter 5 becomes equal to the output of the delay time signal generating circuit.
A delay time of a unit (reaction unit 1d) whose operation time is desired to be delayed is set in the timer counter, and the switch SW ₁ , the reference signal generator 4 and the counter 5 are connected by a signal from the comparator 8. Switch SW
₂ is turned off during the delay time. Each of the switches returns to the ON state after the delay time has elapsed. 10 is a keyboard for designating the analysis item to be selected, 11 is the difference (delay time) between each analysis time of each analysis item and the analysis time of the item with the shortest analysis time among all analysis items. A delay time table 12 is a maximum value setting circuit for setting the largest delay time in the analysis items designated by the keyboard in the time counter 9.

In such a unit operation command system, there are 32 total analysis items, for example, the analysis time of the 27th item is the longest time (T ₀ ) of all the items, and the analysis time of the 18th item is the shortest. When the time (T ') is reached, the analysis sequence with the shortest analysis time is set in advance in the time chart memory. For example, the operating time of the sample distribution unit 1a is Ta seconds, the operating time of the reagent supply unit 1b is Tb seconds, and the operating time of the liquid sending unit 1c is Tc seconds in the order of operating units.
The operating time of the reaction unit 1d is set to Td seconds. Now, in case of analyzing all the items (32 items), for example, the first, second, third and fourth items for a certain sample, the analysis time (T ″ of the second item of these analysis items) ) Is the longest, the delay time (t) is automatically set in the timer counter 9 so that the analysis time of these items becomes T ″ by delaying the operation start time of the reaction unit 1d by t seconds. To be done. Then, the delay time signal generation circuit 7 is preset with a time {(Ta + Tb + Tc)} seconds from the start of the operation of the sample distribution unit 1a to the start of the operation of the reaction unit 1d.

Thus, the analysis of the first analysis item to the fourth analysis item is performed by the following operation.

First, the keyboard 10, the first, second, third and fourth
When an item is designated, the delay time (t) is automatically set in the timer counter 9 by the operation of the delay time table 11 and the maximum value setting circuit 12. When a start signal for starting analysis from the control system 2 enters the time chart memory 3 and the counter 5, the counter and the time chart memory are initialized, and the sample distribution unit 1 of the analyzer.
a starts to operate. Then, the comparator 6 starts comparing the output of the counter 5 and the output of the time chart memory 3. At this time, when the output of the counter 5 becomes equal to the output of the time chart memory 3 (a signal corresponding to the time Ta), the control system 2 operates the reagent supply unit 1b. Then, in the comparator, when the output of the counter 5 becomes equal to the output of the time chart memory 3 {a signal corresponding to time (Ta + Tb)}, the control system 2 causes the liquid delivery unit 1 to operate.
Activate c. During this time, the other comparator 8 has a counter 5
And the output of the delay point signal generation circuit 7 {time (Ta +
Signal corresponding to (Tb + Tc)}. The output of the counter 5 is the output of the time chart memory 3 and the output of the delay time point signal generation circuit 7 (both time (T
a + Tb + Tc) corresponding signal},
The timer counter 9 turns off the switches SW ₁ and SW ₂ for t seconds. Therefore, the counter 5 stops counting the signal from the reference time signal generator 4 for the t seconds,
Since the signal from the comparator 6 is blocked from being sent to the control system 2, the operation start of the reaction unit 1d is delayed for t seconds. After t seconds, the switches SW ₁ and SW ₂ return to the original ON state, so that a signal is sent from the comparator 6 to the control system 2 and the operation of the reaction unit 1d is started. And T
After d seconds, the first, second, third and fourth analysis items are measured (analyzed) in parallel in the respective first, second, third and fourth reaction systems of the reaction unit 1d. The analysis item thus selected is analyzed in T ″ seconds.

Here, comparing the analysis time between the conventional case and the present embodiment, when analyzing a plurality (N) of analysis cycles (however, even if a plurality of analysis items are crossed as described above, for example,
Except the case where the same analytical system is not used at the same time like the analysis of the 25th, 26th and 31st items), the conventional method is NT ₀
Analysis time is required. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, if T ^* is the longest analysis time of the items to be analyzed, it is N
It takes time to analyze T ^* . At this time, T ^* <T _0, so T
^The larger the difference between ^* and T _{0 and} the larger N, the more the total analysis time in the present embodiment is shortened. However, when the item of the longest analysis time (T ₀ ) is included in the items to be analyzed, the same analysis time as in the conventional case is taken.

In the above-described embodiment, the timer counter 9 sets S based on the delay time information set in the set circuit 12 and the delay start timing signal sent from the comparison circuit 8.
Since W1 is controlled and the supply of the clock signal from the reference time signal generator 4 to the counter 5 is stopped for the delay time set from the timing signal generation point, the operation should be started according to the time chart in advance during that time. The operation of the next unit does not start. This corresponds to the period of the analysis cycle being extended by the delay time. Therefore, by setting an appropriate delay time in the set circuit 12, the cycle of the analysis cycle can be set appropriately longer than usual, and therefore, the conventional apparatus having a fixed cycle of the analysis cycle can handle it. It is possible to measure even the measurement items that do not have a particularly long reaction time.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a series of steps from sample distribution to reaction and measurement are performed by a series of operations of a plurality of units, and the operation sequence and operation time of the plurality of units are performed. And a time signal generating means including a clock generating means and a clock counting means, and each unit is based on the comparison between the time signal from the time signal generating circuit and the signal from the time chart memory. In an automatic chemical analyzer which is operated to analyze a sample, a means for intermittently supplying a clock signal from the clock generating means to the clock counting means, a means for holding a predetermined delay time, and a delay Means for generating a delay time point signal for designating a start time point, and comparing means for comparing the delay time point signal with the time signal , Based on the output signal of the comparison means and the information of the delay time held in the holding means, to the clock counting means during the delay time held in the holding means from the time when the output signal of the comparison means is generated. Since a means for creating a control signal for controlling the connecting / disconnecting means is provided so as to stop the supply of the clock signal, the total analysis time can be remarkably shortened as compared with the conventional method, and further, the conventional measurement is impossible. In addition, it is possible to obtain an effect that the measurement can be performed even for a measurement item having a particularly long reaction time.

[Brief description of drawings]

The accompanying drawings are diagrams showing an operation command system of a unit of an automatic chemical analysis device embodying the present invention. 1: unit system, 2: control system, 1a: sample distribution unit, 1b: reagent supply unit, 1c: liquid delivery unit, 1
d: reaction unit, 3: time chart memory, 4: reference time signal generator, 5: counter, 6: comparison circuit, 7:
Delay time signal generation circuit, 8: comparator, 9: timer counter, SW _1, SW _2: switch, 10: keyboard, 1
1: delay time table, 12: maximum value setting circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A series of steps from sample distribution to reaction and measurement are performed by a series of operations of a plurality of units, and a time chart memory in which the operation sequence and operation time of the plurality of units are set, and a clock. A time signal generating means including a generating means and a clock counting means is provided, and each unit is operated based on the comparison between the time signal from the time signal generating circuit and the signal from the time chart memory to analyze the sample. In the automatic chemical analyzer, a means for interrupting the supply of the clock signal from the clock generating means to the clock counting means, a means for holding a predetermined delay time, and a delay time point signal designating a time point for starting the delay are provided. Generating means, comparing means for comparing the delay time signal and the time signal, and an output signal of the comparing means and the holding signal. Based on the information of the delay time held in the means, the supply of the clock signal to the clock counting means is stopped for the delay time held in the holding means from the time when the output signal of the comparison means is generated. An automatic chemical analysis device comprising: means for generating a control signal for controlling the interrupting means.