JPH0833403B2 - Automatic sample introduction device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automatic sample introduction device for sucking a sample subjected to centrifugal separation and injecting it into an analyzer.

(Prior Art) In a clinical analysis for analyzing a body fluid in which a solid component and a liquid component are mixed, in order to improve the analysis accuracy, the sample is once subjected to a centrifuge to separate it into a liquid component and a solid component, and then the analysis purpose is used. Only the matched components are sampled.

By the way, in an automated clinical analyzer, a method of automatically injecting a sample into the analyzer using a so-called autosampler is adopted, but a specific component of a sample subjected to centrifugation is pipetted. Needs to be transferred to a sample container for auto sampling,
There is a problem that the analysis work requires time and effort.

(Purpose) The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is an automatic sample introduction device capable of directly injecting a target component from a sample subjected to centrifugal separation into an analyzer. The purpose is to provide.

(Summary of the Invention) That is, a feature of the present invention is that an elevating mechanism positioned above a pedestal for independently supporting a centrifuge container in which recesses of a mortar are formed on the same lower plate at a constant pitch. And a sample suction nozzle attached to the lifting mechanism,
Sample suction nozzle position detection means for detecting the absolute position of the gantry in the vertical direction, and means for controlling the vertical position of the sample suction nozzle based on external data and a signal from the sample suction nozzle position detection means. Be prepared.

(Embodiment) Therefore, the details of the present invention will be described below based on an illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which reference numeral 1 is an arm which is driven in the X-axis direction by a pulse motor 3 in a horizontal plane above the sample rack mounting table 2. A horizontal positioning mechanism 5 is configured by attaching a nozzle elevating mechanism 6 which will be described later and is driven by the pulse motor 4 in the axial direction, that is, in the Y-axis direction. Reference numeral 6 denotes the above-described nozzle lifting mechanism, which is a step motor 8 provided on the arm 1.
And a rack 11 that engages with the rack 10 via a pinion 9, and a sample suction nozzle 12 is attached to the surface of the rack 11 so that the suction port 12a side faces downward. Reference numeral 13 is a sample suction nozzle position detector, which is composed of a photoelectric element that moves following the movement of the arm 1, and is a light shielding plate provided in the nozzle 12.
It is configured to output a signal when the nozzle 12 reaches the reference position in cooperation with 14.

Reference numeral 16 is a nozzle position control circuit, which receives data from the nozzle position detector 13 and an external data input device 17 such as a keyboard, and positions the nozzle tip at a position set by the external data input device 17. Pulse motor 8
Is to control. In the figure, reference numeral 18 is a control device
16 shows a display device for displaying data such as control parameters to be instructed.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the rack 22.
Through holes 20a, 20a, 20a according to the outer diameter of the centrifuge container C
The upper plate 20 provided with a certain pitch and the through holes 20a, 2
0a, 20a, etc., so as to have a vertical relationship with the recess 21a,
Lower plates 21 having 21a and 21a are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction.

In this embodiment, the sample subjected to centrifugation is stored in the rack 22 as it is in the container C for centrifugation, set on the mounting table 2, and then the liquid level data to be sampled from the external data input device 17, that is, the nozzle. The amount of movement to lower the nozzle 12 is input from the position detector 13.

When the device is activated when such preparations are completed,
The horizontal position control device (not shown) drives the pulse motors 3 and 4 to move the horizontal positioning mechanism 5 from the home position to the first position.
The nozzle 12 is positioned above the first centrifugation container C, and the nozzle 12 is positioned above the first centrifugation container C. When the movement in the horizontal direction is completed, the nozzle position control circuit 16 operates the pulse motor 8 to lower the sample suction nozzle 12 by the elevating mechanism 6. In this process, the light shielding plate 14 attached to the nozzle 12 faces the nozzle position detector 13, so that the nozzle position detector 13 outputs a signal. The nozzle position control circuit 16 receives the signal from the position detector 13, drives the pulse motor 8 by a step corresponding to the preset position data, and then stops the rotation of the pulse motor 8. As a result, the nozzle tip 12a stops at a height corresponding to the specific component layer of the sample subjected to the centrifugal separation process. at this point,
By operating a pump (not shown), only the components suitable for the analysis are collected from the sample subjected to the centrifugal separation process and injected into the analyzer.

When the sample injection is completed, the nozzle position control circuit 16
Pulls the lifting mechanism 6 back to its original position. Then, the horizontal positioning mechanism moves the elevating mechanism 6 to a washing port (not shown) to wash the sample remaining in the nozzle or the like, and then positions it in the second container, and repeats the above process again.

In addition, when various components are required as in the case of multi-item analysis, by inputting a plurality of data regarding the nozzle immersion depth by the external data input device 17 in advance, it is possible to re-input after the first sample sampling. It can be positioned in the same container and sampled at different depths.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which reference numeral 30 designates a plurality of photodetection elements in parallel with the suction nozzle 12.
A nozzle tip position detector in which 30a, 30b, 30c, ... Are arranged, and is constituted by a nozzle elevating mechanism 6 attached so as to be movable in the vertical direction via an elastic member 31.

32 is a nozzle position control circuit, which is a nozzle tip position detector
30 and the data from the external data input device 17 is input,
The pulse motor 8 for driving the lifting mechanism 6 is controlled so as to position the nozzle tip at the position set by the external data input device 17.

In this embodiment, the sample subjected to the centrifugal separation is stored in the rack 22 as it is in the centrifuge container C, the rack is set on the mounting table 2, and then the liquid level data to be sampled from the external data input device 17, That is, the position detector 30
The amount of movement to lower the nozzle is input from the photoelectric detection element 30a at the upper end.

When the device is activated when such preparations are completed,
The nozzle position control circuit 32 operates the pulse motor 8 to lower the sample suction nozzle 12 and the nozzle position detector 30 by the elevating mechanism 6. In this process, the lower end of the nozzle position detector 30 abuts on the bottom of the rack 22 or the centrifuge container C, and the centrifuge container C with the abutting point as a reference position.
It stops in a state of facing the side surface of (Fig. 4B). The elevating mechanism 6 still descends to immerse the nozzle 12 in the container. Needless to say, the nozzle position detector 30 is an elastic member.
Since it is attached to the elevating mechanism 6 via 31, the stopped state is maintained with the contact point as a reference even while the elevating mechanism 6 is descending. When the elevating mechanism 6 continues to descend, the tip 12a of the nozzle 12 faces the position detector 30, and a signal is output from the photodetector element 30a at the upper end. The nozzle position control circuit 32 counts the pulse signals from the position detector 30,
The drive of the pulse motor 8 is stopped at the time when the data matches the preset data (FIG. 2B). As a result, the nozzle tip 12a stops at a height corresponding to the specific component layer of the sample subjected to the centrifugal separation process. At this time point, by operating a pump (not shown), only the components suitable for the analysis among the samples subjected to the centrifugal separation process are collected and injected into the analyzer.

Also in this embodiment, by inputting a plurality of data regarding the nozzle immersion depth from the external data input device 17 in advance, it is possible to perform sampling at different depths again after the first sampling of the sample, and to perform multiple sampling. It can be used for analysis that requires various components such as item analysis. In addition, in this embodiment, since the plurality of photoelectric elements 30a, 30b, 30c ... Are arranged in the liquid column direction of the centrifuge vessel, the individual elements of the nozzle position detector 30 are arranged.
Since the liquid layer can be judged by the level of the output signal from 30a, 30b, 30c, ..., the supernatant liquid and the supernatant liquid are automatically selected by judging the output level of each photoelectric element without using position data. It is also possible to determine the position of the tip of the nozzle.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 40 is a container transfer mechanism which also serves as a rack for transferring the centrifugal separation container in a self-supporting state, and above it will be described later. An elevating mechanism 6 whose vertical position is controlled by a control circuit is provided, and a sample suction nozzle 12 is attached to this. Reference numeral 41 denotes a nozzle position detector in which photodetection elements 41a, 41b, 41c, ... Are arranged in the vertical direction, and is arranged at a position facing the side wall of the container C on the nozzle descending path. 42 is the above-mentioned nozzle position control circuit, which receives data from the nozzle position detector 41 and the external data input device 17, and positions the tip 12a of the nozzle 12 at the position set by the external data input device 17. It controls the pulse motor 8.

In this embodiment, the sample subjected to the centrifugal separation is set in the transfer mechanism 40 as it is in the centrifugal separation container C, and then the liquid level data to be sampled is input from the external data input device 17.

When the device is activated when such preparations are completed,
The container transfer mechanism 40 carries the centrifugal separation container C below the nozzle 12 and stops there. Nozzle position control circuit 42
Operates the pulse motor 8 to lower the sample suction nozzle 12 by the elevating mechanism 6. In this way, the tip 12a of the nozzle 12 faces the position detector 41, and the photoelectric detection element 41a at the upper end outputs a signal. The nozzle position control circuit 42 is
The pulse signals from the position detector 41 are counted, and the driving of the pulse motor 8 is stopped at the time when the pulse signals match the preset data. As a result, the tip 12a of the nozzle 12 stops at a height corresponding to the specific component layer of the sample subjected to the centrifugal separation process.

When the suction of the sample is completed, the elevating mechanism 6 is raised to drive the container transfer mechanism 40 again, and when the second centrifugal separation container faces the nozzle position detector 41, the transfer mechanism 40 is stopped, The above process is repeated.

Further, in the above embodiments, a plurality of photo-detecting elements were used as the nozzle tip position detector, but when the nozzle fully rises, it is set as the home position, and the subsequent nozzle descent amount is based on the home position. It is obvious that the same operation can be performed by controlling the number of pulses given to the pulse motor as.

(Effect) An elevating mechanism positioned above a pedestal for independently supporting a centrifuge container in which recesses of a mortar are formed on the same lower plate at a constant pitch, a sample suction nozzle attached to the elevating mechanism, Since the sample suction nozzle position detecting means for detecting the absolute position of the gantry in the vertical direction and the means for controlling the vertical position of the sample suction nozzle based on the external data and the signal from the sample suction nozzle position detecting means are provided. , The suction nozzle can be moved to a position with respect to the gantry, that is, to an arbitrary depth of the container, without requiring any special means for obtaining an absolute reference, and in particular, a desired component can be obtained from a centrifuged sample. Easy and selective suction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a rack used in the same apparatus, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an apparatus showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... Arm, 2 ... Rack mounting table 3, 4 ... Pulse motor 5 ... Horizontal positioning mechanism 6 ... Lifting mechanism, 8 ... Pulse motor 12 ... Sample suction nozzle 13, 30, 41 ... Nozzle Position detector 17 ... External data input device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An elevating mechanism positioned above a pedestal for independently supporting a centrifuge container in which recesses of a mortar are formed on the same lower plate at a constant pitch, and a sample suction attached to the elevating mechanism. Nozzles, sample suction nozzle position detection means for detecting the absolute position of the gantry in the vertical direction, external data input means for inputting the amount of movement of the sample nozzle to be lowered, input external data and the sample suction nozzle position An automatic sample introduction device comprising means for controlling the vertical position of the sample suction nozzle based on a signal from the detection means.