JPH0715476B2 - Automatic chemical analyzer - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a thermostatic device equipped in an automatic chemical analyzer or the like.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] Conventionally, an automatic chemical analyzer that can automatically perform a chemical analysis such as a blood test or a urine test for a large amount of sample samples at once includes sample samples in a test tube. Equipped with a constant temperature device for reacting a reagent with a reagent at a constant temperature. The thermostat provided in the automatic chemical analyzer is a so-called fluid circulation thermostat, and a thermostat having a thermostat medium such as water for performing the reaction between the specimen sample and the reagent at a constant temperature, and a thermostat. Based on the temperature detection element that detects the temperature of the constant temperature medium taken out from the inside of the constant temperature bath through the pipe and the temperature detected by the temperature detection element, the constant temperature medium taken out of the constant temperature bath is heated and cooled. A heater and a cooler as a heat exchange means for the above, and a pump for returning the heated or cooled constant temperature medium into the constant temperature tank again via a pipe, and the constant temperature medium in the constant temperature tank to the outside of the constant temperature tank. It is intended to bring the temperature of the constant temperature medium in the constant temperature tank to the set temperature by taking it out once and adjusting the temperature of the constant temperature medium taken out to the set temperature and then returning the constant temperature medium in the constant temperature tank. Was Tsu.

However, the conventional thermostatic device has the following problems. That is, the thermostatic medium is not only in contact with the atmosphere, but since its temperature is suitable for the inhabitation of fungi, fungi propagate inside the thermostatic medium, and these fungi attach to the stagnation part of the circulation path of the thermostatic medium. It may cause contamination or blockage of the circulation path,
It also had an adverse optical effect. In order to prevent the growth of such fungi, there is a method of mixing an algae control agent in a constant temperature medium. However, this method has a drawback that it corrodes metals (for example, aluminum, copper, etc.) used in the circulation path of the thermostatic medium, since the pH of the algae inhibitor used is generally high.

[Object of the invention] The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and prevents the growth of fungi generated in the thermostatic medium without adversely affecting the metal used in the circulation path of the thermostatic medium, and circulates it. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a thermostatic device capable of improving the contamination, clogging and optical characteristics of a road.

[Outline of the Invention] The outline of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is to arrange a test tube for containing a sample in a thermostatic chamber, and circulate a thermostatic medium through a heating unit to measure the temperature of the sample. In an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a constant temperature device that is kept constant, a part of the circulation path in the heating unit is configured by a member that transmits ultraviolet rays, and an ultraviolet lamp that irradiates the constant temperature medium with ultraviolet rays through the member is used. It is characterized by having.

[Embodiment of the Invention] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The drawing is a schematic view of a thermostatic device according to the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 is a constant temperature water tank for keeping the temperature of the sample in the test tube constant with water as a constant temperature medium. The constant temperature water tank 1, the circulation pump 2, the heating unit 3 and the cooling unit 5 which are heat exchanging means.
And are connected by a pipe 6. The heating unit 3
Is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet rays (eg, quartz glass). Reference numeral 4 denotes an ultraviolet lamp (for example, a mercury lamp) that irradiates the water passing through the heating unit 3 with ultraviolet rays.

Next, the operation of the embodiment apparatus having the above configuration will be described. Water, which is a constant temperature medium, is circulated through the constant temperature water tank 1, the heating unit 3, and the cooling unit 5 via the pipe 6 by the circulation pump 2. The water is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the mercury lamp 4 when passing through the heating unit 3 made of quartz glass. Generally, cells have an absorption maximum at 260 nm, and when they are irradiated with light of this wavelength (ultraviolet rays), they die in a short time. For this reason, the fungus generated in the constant temperature water tank 1 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays when passing through the heating unit 3, and is killed here. As a result, it is possible not only to prevent the propagation of fungi but also to eliminate the contamination and clogging of the circulation path caused by the adhesion of the fungus to the stagnation part of the circulation path, and also to improve the optical characteristics.

It should be noted that the heating unit 3 which is a part of the heat exchanging means irradiates the ultraviolet rays because the water stays there for heat exchange, so that the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated for a longer time than other places. Is. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and includes the case of irradiating ultraviolet rays through another circulation path.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention as described above, the constant temperature medium is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in the heating part which is a part of the heat exchange means in which the constant temperature medium is retained. An automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a thermostat that can prevent contamination and clogging of the circulation path, improve optical characteristics, and does not adversely affect the metal used in the circulation path of the thermostatic medium can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings are schematic views of a thermostatic device which is an embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... Constant temperature water tank, 2 ... Circulation pump, 3 ... Heating section,
4 ... UV lamp, 5 ... Cooling part, 6 ... Pipe.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic chemical analysis equipped with a thermostat in which a test tube for accommodating a sample is arranged in a thermostat and a thermostat medium is circulated through a heating unit to keep the temperature of the sample constant. In the device, an automatic chemical analysis device is characterized in that a part of a circulation path in the heating unit is constituted by a member that transmits ultraviolet rays, and an ultraviolet lamp that irradiates the constant temperature medium with ultraviolet rays through the member is provided.