JPH09297147A - Automatic chemical analysis device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate spatial waste in a reagent injecting device and manage with a single driving system of a reagent storage so as to attain miniaturization and cost reduction. SOLUTION: A reagent injecting device is provided with only one reagent storage 32 and two reagent probes 10, 12. In a reagent tray 33 of the reagent storage 32, reagent containers are arranged double on concentric circles from the rotational center. A reagent container row arranged in an outer position 36 has mutual clearances 37 within the row, and the circumferential reagent container positions are shifted between the inner and outer reagent container rows so that the display faces of the reagent containers arranged in an inner position 34 can be identified from the clearances 37. In one cycle, the reagent tray 33 repeats rotation and stop twice so as to perform dispensation in regular order by two reagent probes 10, 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer for measuring the concentration or activity value of a target component in a sample containing multiple components such as serum and urine, and particularly, it is designed to measure multiple items at once. The present invention relates to an automated chemical analysis device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic chemical analyzer is provided with a reaction line in which reaction cells are arranged, and each adjacent reaction cell shares a different item. There is an automatic chemical analyzer called a single / multi type that can measure items. Single / multi type automatic chemical analyzer
A sample sampling mechanism that dispenses a sample into a reaction cell that reacts a sample and a reagent, a reagent injection device that injects the reagent into the reaction cell, and an absorptiometer that measures the absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction cell, A reaction disk that holds and rotates a plurality of reaction cells, a rotation drive mechanism that rotates the reaction disks to position the reaction cells in a predetermined position, a reaction cell cleaning mechanism, and a reaction solution in the reaction cell. It is provided with a heat-retaining water tank for keeping heat and a control unit for controlling the operation of each unit and for calculating the concentration or activity value of the sample by the absorbance from the absorptiometer.

The usual measurement items are measured by a one-reagent system or a two-reagent system. In the case of the two-reagent system, the dispensing of the reagent into the reaction cell is performed after a fixed time. Conventionally, in a two-reagent system reagent dispensing mechanism, respective reagent storages are provided corresponding to the first reagent and the second reagent, and a reagent for sucking and discharging the reagent from each reagent storage is provided. A probe is provided for each reagent storage.

FIG. 1 shows an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with such two reagent storages. The reaction disk 2 can hold a reaction cell along its circumference, and is provided with a heat-retaining water tank for keeping the temperature of the reaction solution in the reaction cell, and the absorbance of the reaction solution can be measured to measure the concentration or activity value of the sample. An absorptiometer 4 for measurement is provided. A cleaning mechanism for cleaning the reaction cell is also arranged, but not shown. The reagent injection device includes a first reagent storage 6 and a second reagent storage 8
, Two rotary reagent storages are provided, and a first reagent probe 10 for dispensing the reagent from the reagent storage 6 and a second reagent probe 12 for dispensing the reagent from the reagent storage 8 are arranged. . The sample is transported along the transport path 14, and is dispensed by the sample probe 16 to the reaction cell at the sample dispensing position on the reaction disk 2. Reference numeral 18 is a first stirrer, and 20 is a second stirrer, which stirs the reaction solution in the reaction cell at a predetermined position.
Reference numerals 22, 24 and 26 are cleaning pots for cleaning the sample probe 16 and the agitators 18 and 20, respectively.

[0005]

In the structure provided with two reagent storages as shown in FIG. 1, space is wasted. Also,
Since the reagent storages 6 and 8 must be driven independently, two drive systems for the reagent storages are required, resulting in high cost. An object of the present invention is to reduce space and waste in the reagent injection device and to increase the number of drive systems for the reagent storage, thereby achieving downsizing and cost reduction.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a two-reagent system automatic chemical analyzer in which a reagent injection device is provided with one rotary reagent container and two reagent probes, and the reagent container has Multiple reagent containers are arranged concentrically from the center of rotation, and the reagent container rows arranged on the outer side are arranged inside each other, with the exception of the reagent container row arranged on the innermost side. The positions of the reagent containers in the circumferential direction are shifted between the inner and outer reagent container rows so that the display surface of the reagent container can be identified from the gap. Is driven to dispense into the respective reaction cells at the two reagent dispensing positions of the reaction disk. 1 cycle of analysis operation is divided into 1
Within the cycle, the timing of aspiration / ejection with the two reagent probes is shifted. The reagent storage is rotated by one drive system, and the reagent is positioned at two reagent suction positions where the reagent suction is performed by both reagent probes.

[0007]

Embodiment FIG. 2 shows an embodiment. Similar to FIG. 1, the reaction disk 2 can hold the reaction cells along the circumference thereof, and is provided with a warm water tank for keeping the temperature of the reaction solution in the reaction cells, and measures the concentration or activity value of the sample. Therefore, an absorptiometer 4 for measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution is provided. A cleaning mechanism for cleaning the reaction cell is also arranged, but not shown.

As the sample sampling mechanism, the sample container is arranged on the triple circumference of the turntable 15, and the sample to be dispensed is positioned at the sample suction position. The sample probe 16 dispenses the sample at the sample suction position into the reaction cell on the reaction disk 2. Reference numeral 30 is a mechanism for arranging the sample container on the turntable 15 and for exchanging the sample on the turntable 15 with a new one.

The reagent injection device is provided with only one reagent container 32 and two reagent probes 10 and 12. In the reagent tray 33 of the reagent storage 32, reagent containers are arranged in a double manner on a concentric circle from the center of rotation, and the reagent container rows arranged at the outer position 36 are mutually arranged in the row. The positions of the reagent containers in the circumferential direction are offset between the inner and outer reagent container rows so that the display surface of the reagent container disposed at the inner position 34 can be identified by the gap 37. The display surface of the reagent container is provided on the side surface of each reagent container facing the outside. The two reagent probes 10 and 12 are driven so as to dispense a reagent at an arbitrary position of the reagent storage 32 into the respective reaction cells of the two reagent dispensing positions of the reaction disk 2. 38 and 40 are cleaning pots for cleaning the reagent probes 10 and 12, respectively.

In the reagent tray 33 of the reagent storage 32, a 20 ml or 50 ml reagent container can be arranged at a position 36 on the outer circumference, and a 20 ml, 50 ml or 10 ml at a position 34 on the inner circumference.
A 0 ml reagent container can be arranged, and 32 reagent containers can be arranged on each circumference. Both the reagent probes 10 and 12 can aspirate the reagent both from the inner peripheral reagent container and the outer peripheral reagent container.

The timing of reagent dispensing is shown in FIG. 3 comparing the case of the conventional apparatus of FIG. 1 (A) with the case of the embodiment of FIG. 2 (B). In the conventional case, the reagent trays of the two reagent storages rotate together while the reaction disk rotates and the photometry by the absorptiometer is performed, and the first reagent and the second reagent to be dispensed respectively To the suction position of
Suction is performed with each reagent probe. After the reaction disk is stopped, the reagent is discharged to the reaction cell at each reagent dispensing position. After the reagent is discharged, the reagent probe is washed in preparation for the next reagent suction.

On the other hand, in the case of the apparatus of the embodiment,
As shown in (B), while the reaction disk is rotating and the photometry is performed by the absorptiometer, the reagent tray 33 of the reagent storage is rotated and the first reagent is positioned at the first reagent suction position, The first reagent is aspirated by the first reagent probe 10. When the reaction disk 2 stops, the reaction disk 2
To the reaction cell at the upper first reagent dispensing position, the first reagent probe 1
The first reagent is discharged from 0. The reagent tray 33 is the first
After the completion of the suction of the first reagent by the reagent probe 10, the reagent is rotated again to position the second reagent at the second reagent suction position, the reagent at the predetermined position is sucked by the second reagent probe 12, and the second reagent on the reaction disk 2 is sucked. The second reagent is discharged from the second reagent probe 12 to the reaction cell at the two-reagent dispensing position. Here, the reagent tray 33 rotates and stops during one cycle.
Repeatedly repeated, the dispensing by the two reagent probes 10 and 12 is sequentially performed.

In the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the first reagent storage 6 and the second reagent storage 6 are provided.
32 kinds of reagents can be respectively placed in the reagent storage 8, and 64 kinds of reagents can be placed in the reagent storage 32 in the embodiment of FIG. When used as the main device, it is necessary to measure many items, but in the case of the conventional device of FIG. 1, the maximum number of simultaneous items is 32. For example, regardless of whether all items are one-reagent system or two-reagent system, the reagent dispensing positions on the reaction disk are determined, and therefore (number of reagents in each reagent tray) = (number of measurable items). . When all the items are one-reagent type, the second reagent storage is not used at all. In addition, if a reagent to be placed in the first reagent storage is erroneously placed in the second reagent storage or vice versa, the reagent cannot be dispensed.

On the other hand, in the case of the embodiment, up to 64 items can be measured if all items are one reagent system. In this case, the second reagent probe 12 will not operate. In addition, when all items are two-reagent type, there are 32 items. In the case where all 32 items are two-reagent type and the ratio of the first reagent dispensing amount and the second reagent dispensing amount is 1: 1, the conventional device of FIG.
Although 32 kinds of 0 ml × 2 can be measured, a total of 32 kinds of 16 kinds of 100 ml × 2 and 16 kinds of 50 ml × 2 are possible in the embodiment of FIG. In that case, the frequency of reagent replacement is higher in the example, but in reality, the ratio of the first reagent dispensed amount and the second reagent dispensed amount is rarely 1: 1.
Since it is often 4: 1 or 5: 1, there is no problem in practical use.

Although the embodiment of FIG. 2 shows a method of arranging the sample container on the turntable as a sample sampling mechanism, it may be provided with a belt conveyor type conveying path as shown in FIG.

[0016]

According to the present invention, since the reagent tray can be rotated by one drive system, the cost of the apparatus is reduced as compared with the conventional case where two sets of the reagent tray and the drive meter are required.
It is also advantageous in terms of maintenance. Further, since the wasted space is reduced, the device can be downsized. Since the reagent storage can be made one, the reagent can be kept cool efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a conventional automatic chemical analyzer.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an automatic chemical analyzer according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing reagent dispensing,
(A) is a conventional case, and (B) is an example.

[Explanation of Codes] 2 Reaction Disc 4 Absorptiometer 15 Turntable of Sample Sampling Mechanism 16 Specimen Probe 10, 12 Reagent Probe 32 Reagent Storage 33 Reagent Tray 34, 36 Position for Arranging Reagent Container

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sample sampling mechanism for dispensing a sample into a reaction cell for reacting a sample with a reagent, a reagent injection device for injecting the reagent into the reaction cell, and an absorbance of a reaction solution in the reaction cell. An absorptiometer, a reaction disk that holds and rotates a plurality of the reaction cells, a rotation drive mechanism that rotates the reaction disks to position the reaction cells at a predetermined position, and a cleaning mechanism for the reaction cells. In an automatic chemical analyzer including a heat-retaining water tank that keeps the reaction solution in the reaction cell warm, and a control unit that controls the operation of each unit and calculates the concentration or activity value of the sample by the absorbance from the absorptiometer The reagent injection device includes one rotary reagent container and two reagent probes, and the reagent container has a plurality of reagent containers arranged concentrically from the center of rotation and arranged at the innermost side. Except for the reagent container rows that are arranged, the reagent container rows that are arranged on the outside have a gap between them, and the reagent containers on the inside and outside so that the display surface of the reagent container that is arranged on the inside can be identified from the gap. The positions of the reagent containers in the circumferential direction are displaced from each other in rows, and the two reagent probes divide a reagent at an arbitrary position of the reagent storage into respective reaction cells of two reagent dispensing positions of the reaction disk. An automatic chemical analyzer characterized in that it is driven so as to pour.