JPH07120475A - Analysis device and wash water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a sample device capable of performing a multi-item analysis using a sample piece, even when the amount of sample liquid contained in a sample vessel is insufficient. CONSTITUTION:A urine analysis device grips a test piece 23 out of a test piece feed device 15 via a test piece holding and transport mechanism 16, and immerses the piece 23 in a sample contained in a sample container 20. Then, the mechanism 16 carries the test piece 23 to a measurement section, and color tone-manifested on the test piece 23 is measured on the basis of reflection intensity for an analysis work. In immersing the test piece 23 in the sample, the liquid level of the sample in the vessel 20 is preliminarily detected by a liquid level detector 39, and the necessary portion of a raising rod 40 is inserted in the container 20, thereby raising liquid level in the vessel 20 to the prescribed height.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an analyzer that uses a test strip, and more particularly to an analyzer that uses a biological sample such as urine or blood as a sample solution to cause a test layer of the test strip to undergo a color reaction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Analytical methods using test pieces (or strips) in which a test layer (or test portion) impregnated with a reagent is attached to a plastic plate are used in mass screening and screening tests for diagnosing diseases. Has been adopted. An apparatus for automating this kind of analysis operation is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-71571.

In the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-91571, a test piece is taken out one by one from a test piece part by a movable holder and immersed in a sample solution in a sample container, and then the test piece is pulled up. The test piece is conveyed to the photometric section, and the colored test layer is photometrically measured. In addition, this example shows a configuration in which the liquid surface height of the sample liquid in the sample container is measured prior to the dipping of the test piece in the sample liquid, and the lack of the sample liquid is notified.

[0004]

When the apparatus of the above-mentioned conventional example is used, all the specimens that do not have a sufficient sample liquid amount for immersing the test layer of the test piece are not measurable, and therefore, automation is performed. It becomes impossible to measure.

In relation to these, the relationship between the test piece and the sample liquid amount will be briefly described. FIG. 2 is a configuration example of the test piece. The test piece 23 includes a rectangular plastic stick 24 and a plurality of test layers 25 arranged along the length direction thereof. Each test layer 25 is composed of a small piece of filter paper or felt impregnated with a reagent corresponding to each analysis item, and the number is provided according to the number of analysis items, but a standard layer may be further provided. The one end side of the test piece 23 is the gripping area 2. In order to meet the recent demand for an increase in the number of analysis items, for example, when a test piece provided with a test layer having eight or more analysis items is used, the immersion depth of the test piece immersed in the sample liquid is increased. There must be. However, in the case of an actual urine sample, it is often the case that a sufficient amount of the sample liquid cannot be obtained to immerse all the test layers on the test piece.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an analysis method and an analysis device capable of performing multi-item analysis with a test piece even if the amount of the sample liquid contained in the sample container is insufficient.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a test piece provided with a test layer that can be colored by contact with a sample is dipped in a sample solution in a sample container, and then the test layer is measured. In an analysis method using a test piece, a bulking rod is inserted for the purpose of reducing the accommodation cross-sectional area of the sample liquid in the sample container, and the liquid level of the sample liquid is raised. It is characterized in that the washing water of (3) can be automatically supplied without using a power source such as a pump.

[0008]

In order to raise the sample liquid level, the bulking member for narrowing the sample liquid containing cross-sectional area of the sample container itself is inserted into the sample container. This bulking member is commonly used for sample liquids that are measured one after another. For the purpose of preventing carryover from sample to sample, a cleaning liquid is placed in a cleaning tank, and a bulking rod is inserted into the cleaning liquid for cleaning. At this time, in order to keep the washing water fresh, the cross-section integral washing water in which the bulkhead is inserted overflows from the washing tank and is discharged. Now, the water supply surface of the cleaning bottle and the overflow surface of the cleaning tank are adjusted to the same water level. Therefore, when the cross-section integrated water of the bulking rod overflows, the balance between the water surface of the cleaning bottle and the water surface of the cleaning tank collapses when the bulking bar rises.

However, if the installation base of the apparatus is not horizontal, water is not supplied. At that time, the water level is ensured by adjusting the water level with the balance adjusting device of the present invention, and a certain amount of overflow becomes possible, and the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank is constantly replaced.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, a urine analyzer is provided with a sample positioning device, an automatic test strip supplying device,
It consists of a test piece holding and transporting mechanism, a sample liquid level controller, a wash water supply device measurement unit, and a control calculation unit. In the sample positioning device, a plurality of sample containers containing the sample liquid are arranged, and each sample container is sequentially transferred to the test piece dipping position for positioning. The test strip automatic supply device accommodates a plurality of test strips and sends them to the take-out position one by one. The test strip supply device accommodates a plurality of test strips and sends the test strips one by one to the take-out position. The test strip holding and transporting mechanism grips the delivered test strip, immerses it in the sample in the test container at the dipping position, and then transfers it to the test strip mounting position of the measuring unit. In the measuring section, the placed test piece is transferred to the measuring position and measurement is performed. The sample liquid level adjusting device, when immersing the test piece in the sample by the test piece holding and conveying mechanism, fully immerses the portion in which the height of the liquid level of the sample in the sample container contributes to the reaction for the analysis of the test piece. If it is not at the level, the necessary amount of the bulking rod is inserted into the sample container to raise the liquid level of the sample liquid to a predetermined liquid level. After that, the bulking rod is inserted into the washing tank to clean the surface of the bulking rod.

A first embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.
Will be described with reference to.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an automatic urine analyzer to which the present invention is applied. The device comprises a sample positioning device 14,
The test piece automatic supply device 15, the test piece holding / transporting mechanism 16, the measuring unit 17, the sample liquid level adjusting device 18, the automatic wash water supplying device 60, and the control calculation unit 19 are included. In the sample positioning device 14, a sample container 20 containing a urine sample to be analyzed is arranged on a turntable 21. The turntable 1 rotates at a predetermined time interval to rotate the sample container 2
0 is sequentially transferred to the test piece immersion position B. The number of sample containers that can be loaded on the table 21 is 60 in this embodiment. The test strip automatic supply device 15 includes the test strips 2 stored in advance.
3 has a function of supplying one by one in synchronization with the analysis cycle.

The test piece 23 used has a large number of test layers 25 arranged in series. In the example shown in FIG.
A total of 11 layers to be inspected 2 with one color correction part added to the item
Have five. The total length of the test piece is about 120 mm, the length of the test layer area is about 90 mm, and in order to sufficiently immerse the entire test layer, the sample liquid in the sample container has a liquid level of 90 mm or more. is necessary. Generally, a sample container having a length of about 100 mm is used for urine analysis.

3 (a) and 3 (b) show the structure of the test strip cassette 26 for storing the test strip 23. As shown in FIG. The test piece 23 is stored in the cassette 26 in a state of being pressed by the spring 28 via the pressing plate 27 toward the outlet 29. The cassettes 26 are mounted on the cassette holder 30 of the automatic test strip feeder 15, and are fed one by one to the test strip feeding position A by the test strip feeding mechanism 32 operated by the motor 31. In the automatic test strip feeder 15, there are two cassettes 26 that can store the test strips 23 in units of 100 sheets.
It is installed individually, and when you finish using one cassette,
The cassette switching mechanism 34 is rotated to automatically exchange a new cassette.

In the test piece holding and conveying mechanism 16 shown in FIG. 1, an arm 35 is moved up and down and a drive mechanism 36 is rotated.
And a test piece gripping portion 37 that can attach and detach the test piece 23 and can rotate at the tip of the arm 35. This mechanism 16 operates the test piece 2 at the test piece supply position A.
3 is gripped and immersed in the sample liquid in the sample container 20 positioned at the immersion position B, and after a predetermined time, the test piece is pulled up and transferred to the test piece mounting position C of the measuring unit 17. Then, the holding of the test piece is released.

In the sample liquid level adjusting device 18 shown in FIG. 1, the liquid level detecting electrodes 39a and 39b and the bulking rod 40 are provided so as to hang down on the arm 41 (see FIG. 4).
The arm 41 is horizontally moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 and vertically moved by the drive mechanism 42.

The operation for adjusting the liquid level of the sample liquid will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. First, the electrodes 39a and 39a are attached to the sample container at the liquid level detection position D one step before the immersion position B.
39b is inserted to detect the liquid level of the sample, and the control calculation unit 19 determines whether or not the height of the liquid level of the sample or the liquid amount is equal to or more than the required minimum amount (FIG. 4a). The position of the liquid level is preset by the adjusting ability of the lifting rod, and the control unit 51
Has been entered in.

In the case of this embodiment, the length of the sample container is 100.
mm, the height of the liquid surface required to immerse the test piece is 90 mm, and the height of the liquid surface of the sample required to adjust to this height with the lifting rod is set to 60 mm or more. When the height of the liquid surface does not reach 60 mm, an alarm is output as an insufficient sample amount, and the analysis of the sample container is skipped. When the water level is 60 mm or more, the signal is sent to the control unit, and the pulse number of the pulse motor that inserts the bulking rod into the sample container is controlled from the amount of liquid required to raise the liquid level to 90 mm. It is calculated by the calculation unit 19 and stored in the storage unit.

The tip of the ground-side terminal 39b of the liquid level detecting electrode is bent like a spatula and also serves as the stirrer 44. For the sample for which the analysis is continued, the stirring bar 44 is moved up and down several times by the vertical movement of the arm 41 to stir and mix the sample liquid.

Next, the sample container 20 is advanced by one step and transferred to the immersion position B, the arm 41 is horizontally changed by the drive mechanism 42, and the bulking rod 40 is moved onto the sample container 20 in the immersion position B. The bulking rod 40 is inserted into the sample container 20 and stopped in accordance with the number of pulses stored in advance. Along with this, the liquid level of the sample liquid rises to a height of 90 m required for dipping the test piece (Fig. 4b).

While maintaining this state, the test strip 23 is carried by the operation of the test strip holding and transporting mechanism 16 and the grip portion 37 holds one end of the test strip in the sample container at the dipping position. Then, the test piece 23 is lowered and immersed in the sample liquid (FIG. 4C). After soaking for a certain period of time, the grip portion 37 is raised, the test piece 23 is pulled up from the sample liquid, and the measuring portion 17
Carry to the upper test piece placement position C. The mechanism 16 releases the test piece 23a in which the color reaction has started at this point and prepares for the next new test piece. Next, the lifting rod 40 is attached to the sample container 2
The arm 41 is pulled up from 0, and the arm 41 is horizontally moved toward the cleaning tank 45. The electrode 39a lowered into the cleaning tank 45,
After being washed with the washing liquid, the 39b and the lifting bar 40 are raised and stand by for the work of the next sample.

Next, the automatic supply of cleaning water will be described with reference to FIG. The washing water 86 in the washing tank 85 is
Falls, and the volume and liquid in which the bulking rod 40 is inserted into the wash water 86 rises. The rising liquid overflows from the wall 62 and is discharged from the waste water outlet 61.

The height of the water surface is readjusted by the water surface adjuster so that it is at the same height position as the wall 62 in a state where the lifting rod 40 is not inserted. Therefore, as described above, when the bulking rod 40 is inserted into the washing water 86 and the bulking rod 40 rises, the washing water 86
Although the volume level of the bulking rod 40 becomes low, the cleaning liquid of the bottle 65 passes through the tube 66 and flows in until the water level is balanced, and the water level is restored to the same water level as the wall 62.

FIG. 7 shows details of the automatic water supply valve.

The valve 68 is pushed by the spring 67, and the O-ring 6
At 9 the valve is closed, indicating no water flow.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the bottle is inserted in the adjusting mechanism, the valve 68 is pushed by the bottom surface of the inner guide 64, and the liquid 80 for the air to enter from the air port 70 flows to the lower part. The liquid 80 flows and the liquid level of the liquid 81 rises, but when the air port 70 is blocked by the liquid 81, the outflow of the liquid 80 stops.
The height is adjusted by turning the screw portion 83 of the outer guide 63 and the screw portion of the inner guide 64 so that the water level becomes the same as the upper surface of the wall 62 of the cleaning tank 85. In the measuring unit 17 in FIG. 1, the roll paper 46 is used to transport the reaction injection test piece 23a received from the test piece holding / transporting mechanism 16. The test piece 2 placed at the mounting position by winding the roll paper 46 at a predetermined time interval by the winding mechanism 47.
3a is transported to the photometric position E. The test piece 23a is
After a certain period of time from the immersion of the sample, the sample is positioned at the photometric position E by the photometer 49.

In the photometer 49, a small reflection type detector consisting of an LED light source emitting a light of a specific wavelength corresponding to each analysis item and a silicon photodiode light receiving element is provided, and a detection position on each surface of the test layer of the test piece 23a is detected. A plurality of them are arranged corresponding to, and the reflection intensity from each surface of the layer to be inspected, which is colored by the reaction, is measured. The measurement result is subjected to data processing in the control unit 51 via the A / D converter 50, displayed on the liquid crystal display 52, and output to the printer 53. The analysis work by the present apparatus proceeds by input from the operation panel 54. The test piece after the measurement is wound together with the roll paper by the winding mechanism 47, and after the measurement, the whole roll paper can be taken out and discarded.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a program example of the procedure of the analyzer according to the analysis layer value of FIG. The analysis operation is started with the first sample container 20 of the sample mounted on the sample positioning device 14 positioned at the liquid level detection position D. The analysis operation program proceeds by repeating the operations from “power washing” to “immersing the test piece” and “mounting on the photometric unit” with 12 seconds as one cycle, and the test piece is sequentially immersed in the sample on the sample transfer device. And sends it to the measuring unit 17. The test piece sent to the measuring section is transported in a cycle of 12 seconds, and 60 seconds after being immersed in the sample, it is positioned at the photometric position E, measured by the photometer 49, and the measurement result is output. That is, according to this program, the analysis result by the reaction for 60 seconds after immersion in the sample is obtained at the processing speed of 12 seconds for one sample.

According to the above-mentioned embodiment, when the height of the liquid surface of the sample in the sample container is not at a level at which the test piece can be sufficiently immersed, the water level can be raised to the dipable water level. Even when using a test piece having a long test portion with a large number of analysis items, the liquid amount of the sample prepared in the sample container in advance can be analyzed in a relatively small amount and easy to handle.

The number of test items in clinical tests has increased, and even in a urine screening test using a test piece subjected to color reaction, a test piece for multi-item analysis having 10 test items or more has come to be used. However, when mounting such a test piece on an automatic analyzer, it is troublesome for the operator to prepare a sample solution with a liquid level high enough to immerse all the test layers in advance. Although this operation requires nerves, according to the present embodiment, a target liquid level can be obtained with a relatively small amount of the sample liquid which can be easily handled.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, the sample positioning device may be a system for transporting a rack instead of the turntable 21 to transport a sample. The test strip automatic supply device 15 may be of a type in which test strips are arbitrarily placed in a storage box and taken out one by one while judging the front and back. Further, the test piece holding / transporting mechanism 16 may drive the arm by a linear movement instead of a turning method. For transporting the test piece of the measuring unit 17, various mechanical transportation means can be adopted other than the method using roll paper. The photometer is not a method of providing a plurality of detectors for each analysis item like the embodiment, but a method of performing photometry by scanning each test portion on the test piece using a photometer having a detection function with a plurality of wavelengths is also possible. It is possible.

[0032]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a means for narrowing the storage area of a sample liquid without carryover even if the amount of the sample liquid in the sample container is not enough to immerse the test piece. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the multi-item analysis by the test piece from becoming unmeasurable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an automatic urine analyzer which is an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are diagrams showing a structure of a test piece, FIG. 2A being a plan view and FIG. 2B being a side view.

3A and 3B are views showing the structure of a test piece cassette, in which FIG. 3A is a longitudinal sectional view and FIG. 3B is a front view.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation procedure by the sample liquid level adjusting device.

5 is a diagram showing a flow of operations in the analyzer of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view of an automatic cleaning water supply mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a horizontal adjustment mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 ... Positioning of sample, 15 ... Automatic feeder for test piece,
16 ... Test piece holding / transporting mechanism, 17 ... Measuring section, 18 ... Sample liquid level adjusting device, 19 ... Control computing section, 20 ... Sample container, 23, 23a ... Test piece, 26 ... Test piece cassette, 3
9a, 39b, 55 ... Electrode, 40 ... Bulk rod, 49 ... Photometer, 60 ... Automatic washing water supply device, 63 ... Outer guide, 64
... Inner guide, 65 ... Bottle, 68 ... Valve, 69 ... O-ring, 85 ... Wash tank.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An analytical device for photometrically measuring the test layer after immersing a test piece having a test layer which can be colored by contact with a sample in a sample solution in a container. It has a bulking rod for raising the liquid level of the sample by reducing the cross-sectional area, and has a cleaning mechanism capable of adjusting the water level of the cleaning liquid when cleaning the bulky rod. Analyzer. 2. A washing water supply apparatus which is applied to the analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the washing water is caused to overflow by the cross-sectional integration of the inserted bulkhead and is discharged. 3. The cleaning water supply device according to claim 2, wherein the cleaning water is supplied to the cleaning tank by water level balance. 4. The washing water supply device according to claim 3, further comprising a valve that allows water to be supplied for the first time by inserting the washing water bottle into the bottle receiving portion. 5. The washing water supply device according to claim 4, wherein the height of the washing water can be adjusted by forming the bottle receiving portion with a fixed portion and a movable portion.