JPH11271318A - Dispensing apparatus and analyzer using the dispensing apparatus as component - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dispensing apparatus by which a suction amount can be grasped precisely when an abnormal suction operation is generated by a method wherein a state inside a nozzle tip is detected in units of a prescribed movement amount. SOLUTION: In a dispensing apparatus by which a substance inside a prescribed container is sucked and discharged by using a suction nozzle 1, a pulse motor 4 which can move the suction nozzle 1 in units of a prescribed movement amount corresponding to various container diameters is provided, a pulse motor 12 which moves the position of a syringe used to suck and discharges the substance inside the prescribed container is provided, and a control part 16 which measures a physical quantity inside the suction nozzle 1 whenever the suction nozzle 1 is moved in the units of the prescribed movement amount and which detects a state inside the suction nozzle 1 on the basis of the measured physical quantity is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing and sorting a substance, for example, a sample such as blood, contained in a predetermined container into another container, and an analyzer using the dispensing apparatus as a constituent element. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a sample such as blood is contained in a sample container, but when analyzing or partially storing components contained in the sample, the sample is dispensed and sorted from the sample container to another container. There is a need.

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 06-019361 discloses an example of the above-described dispensing and sorting, and the configuration thereof is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, the suction pump 10
The nozzle tip 101 is connected to the tip of the air hose 102 connected to the nozzle 4. The pressure sensor 103 is connected so that the internal pressure of the air hose 102 can be monitored. A sample container 100 in which a sample is placed in the nozzle tip 101
When the suction pump 104 is operated so that the pressure in the suction pump 104 becomes a negative pressure, the air hose 10
The pressure inside the nozzle tip 101 is also reduced to a negative pressure through the nozzle 2, thereby sucking the sample.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a pressure detection state of the pressure sensor 103 during aspirating a sample in the above-described conventional technique. Normally, the pressure displacement curve begins to change from the suction start point, changes greatly immediately after the start of suction, shows a gradual change during suction, and returns to the atmospheric pressure direction after suctioning the specified amount. A change like a waveform A is shown.

[0005] However, there is a possibility that fibrin is precipitated in the sample, there is a separating material, and the like, and these may adhere to the suction port of the nozzle tip 101 in some cases. In this case, a so-called blockage is caused, and the pressure monitor result of the pressure sensor 103 is as shown in a blockage waveform B in FIG.

[0006] Also, when the nozzle tip 101 enters the separating material, blockage is caused. Depending on the amount of the nozzle tip 101 entering the separation material, the nozzle tip 101 reaches the blood cell component layer below the sample container 100 and mixes the blood cell component into the serum component layer, and cannot be used for analysis.

Further, since the separation material component is generally a substance having a high viscosity, when the nozzle tip 101 that has entered the separation material is pulled out from the sample container 100, the sample container 1
Although it depends on the holding method of the sample container 00, there is a possibility that a problem may occur that the sample container 100 is lifted up from the sample container (not shown) holding the sample container 100 when the nozzle tip 101 moves up. Further, even if the sample container is not lifted, the separation material pulls a thread due to the movement of the nozzle tip 101 due to the viscosity of the separation material component, which may enter another sample container 100 or cause a thread pull. Even if it does not occur, the nozzle tip 1
The blood cell component and the serum component dropped on the separation material component attached to the tip of the nozzle tip 101 in a dumping manner together with the nozzle tip 101 move to a dispensing destination (not shown) where one or more nozzle tips 101 are provided. At the same time, a problem of contamination (contamination) due to dropping into another sample container 100 occurs. A sample that has caused contamination has a problem that the reliability of the analysis result is reduced because components that should not be originally contained in the sample container are contained.

When the above-mentioned blockage occurs, it is difficult to aspirate a predetermined amount of the specimen due to the blockage. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the occurrence of the blockage by some method. . Tokuho 06-019
No. 361 discloses a method of detecting blockage, in which the pressure sensor 103 monitors the pressure at regular intervals Δt,
It is determined whether or not the detected pressure at this time exceeds Δp. When a negative pressure rise exceeding Δp occurs at the time Δt, the corresponding action is taken as a blockage.

[0009] Next, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 06-019361.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-107, the purpose is to detect a complete blockage of the nozzle 101, but in actual operation of the apparatus, it is necessary to consider not only the complete blockage but also the possibility of blockage in an incomplete state. . An incomplete occlusion is one that does not cause complete occlusion at one time, but gradually causes occlusion, or an increase in suction resistance that does not result in occlusion. JP-A-06-027120 describes these.

The configuration of the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-027120 is the same as that shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a pressure detection state of the pressure sensor 103 according to the related art, and corresponds to FIG. 8 described above.

In FIG. 9, the normal suction line is indicated by A, the complete occlusion is indicated by D, and the incomplete occlusion is indicated by B and C according to the level. The method of determining complete blockage is described in
9361, but with incomplete occlusion, the sampling time Δt
Takes a longer sampling time by multiplying
Blockage is determined by comparing the displacement pressure Δp at this time with a pressure change rate threshold.

[0012]

The method for dispensing a sample according to the prior art described above has the following problems. When detecting occlusion, incomplete occlusion or air suction, when trying to discharge the sample that could be aspirated up to the detection to the dispensing destination,
In the above-described dispensing method, it is not possible to accurately determine the amount that can be suctioned from the start of suction to the detection of suction abnormality. In the case of one-to-n sorting and dispensing, an operation may be performed such that even if n ejections cannot be performed, only as much as possible is ejected. But,
Since the suction amount cannot be accurately grasped, it cannot be determined whether the required discharge amount is satisfied. Therefore, a method of returning all the aspirated samples to the container and performing the aspiration again, or a method of discharging a larger amount to satisfy the required discharge amount when this is permitted is adopted. With these methods,
Problems occur such as a long processing time and waste of the sample.

The dispensing apparatus of the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to detect a state in a nozzle tip in units of a predetermined moving amount, thereby detecting a blockage. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing device capable of recognizing a suction amount up to a very high accuracy. Also,
It is another object of the present invention to provide a dispensing device capable of accurately detecting a liquid level and overcoming the problem of sticking of a nozzle tip into a separation material.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a dispensing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a dispensing apparatus that suctions and discharges a substance in a predetermined container using a suction nozzle. A suction nozzle driving unit that can move a suction nozzle in a predetermined moving amount unit corresponding to a container diameter, a piston driving unit that moves a piston of a syringe that suctions and discharges a substance in the predetermined container, and a predetermined movement of the suction nozzle The apparatus includes a measuring unit for measuring a physical quantity in the suction nozzle each time the nozzle is moved by an amount, and a detecting unit for detecting a state in the suction nozzle based on the physical quantity measured by the measuring unit.

Further, the dispensing apparatus according to the second invention has a first dispensing device.
In the dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, the piston drive section moves a piston of a syringe that performs suction and discharge of a sample in a predetermined container, and moves the suction nozzle while moving the suction nozzle by a predetermined movement amount unit. In each step, a predetermined amount of the sample is suctioned and the state of the sample suction is determined.

Further, the dispensing apparatus according to the third invention is characterized in that
In the dispensing apparatus according to the invention, the determination of the sample suction state is performed based on an absolute value. In the dispensing apparatus according to a fourth aspect, in the dispensing apparatus according to the second aspect, the determination of the sample suction state is performed based on a relative value. In addition, the fifth
The analyzer according to the invention of the above aspect has the dispensing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects as a constituent element.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment. An opening of one end of the suction nozzle 1 is connected to the tube 6, and the other end is held by the suction nozzle holder 5 so as to face the sample container 100. The suction nozzle 1 may be a fixed type or a disposable tip such as a disposable tip. The suction nozzle holder 5 is configured to be able to follow the movement of the timing belt 3 hung on the pulley 2 that is axially supported in opposition. The pulse motor 4 serving as the suction nozzle driving unit is configured to be able to directly or indirectly transmit the rotation of its own rotation shaft to the pulley 2.

The end of the tube 6 opposite to the end connected to the suction nozzle 1 is connected to a syringe 8.
The piston 9 provided on the syringe 8 can slide inside the syringe 8 without any gap. Further, the piston 9 is provided with a timing belt 1 hung on a pulley 10 which is rotatably supported in opposition.
1 is configured to be able to follow. The pulse motor 12 serving as a piston driving unit is configured to be able to directly or indirectly transmit the rotation of the rotation shaft to the pulley 10. The pressure detecting section of the pressure sensor 7 is connected so that the pressure in the tube 6 can be detected.

The electric circuit 17 includes a motor drive unit 13 connected to the pulse motor 4, a pressure A / D converter 14 connected to the pressure sensor 7, a motor drive unit 15 connected to the pulse motor 12, It has a control unit 16 connected to control each of these drive units and the conversion unit. Control unit 16
Has functions as a measurement unit and a detection unit. Pressure A / D
The conversion unit 14 can clearly detect even a small pressure change within the range of the S / N by the amplification processing of the detected pressure. Each of the motor driving units 13 and 15 includes a control unit 1
The respective pulse motors 4 and 12 are driven according to the instruction of 6.

Further, the sample container 100 contains blood components separated by centrifugation, and shows a blood cell component 21, a separating material 20, a fibrin 19, and a serum 18 in order from the bottom.

The operation of the dispensing apparatus having the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the outline of the operation of the dispensing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the details of the sample aspiration step (step S4) shown in FIG. 4A is a diagram for explaining the liquid level detection of the present embodiment, FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining the separation material detection of the present embodiment, and FIG. It is a figure for explaining the situation of minute clogging of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a pressure detection waveform of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state example of the inclined separation material.

Here, by automatically or manually inputting the diameter of the sample container to the control unit 16 by means of a sample container diameter determining means (not shown) provided in the apparatus or from another site, It is assumed that the diameter is known in advance. It is also assumed that the approximate value of the serum liquid level of each sample container 100 is grasped in advance by an optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like (not shown). The divided suction amount is set in advance according to the processing speed and the suction accuracy, and is, for example, 100 μl (30 to 2
00 μl, preferably 50 to 150 μl), but may be appropriately increased or decreased according to the volume that can be sucked.

First, when a disposable tip is used as the suction nozzle 1, the disposable tip is mounted on the apparatus (step S1). This step is not necessary if a fixed type is used. Next, the liquid level of the serum 18 is detected by receiving the dispensing instruction information (step S2) (step S3). In this case, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the tip of the suction nozzle 1 is set at the liquid level height of the serum 18 in a moving amount unit (for example, 0.5 mm) corresponding to various sample container diameters. Lower to the top. The unit of the movement amount can be changed according to the total amount of aspirated sample, the number of containers to be dispensed, and the like. Then, every time the step is lowered by one step, a negative pressure of a specified value is generated in the suction nozzle 1 by the operation of the piston 9. By repeating this operation several times, when the suction nozzle 1 reaches the liquid level of the serum 18, the detection pressure during the unit suction of air by the pressure sensor 7 in the liquid level detection waveform of FIG. Rise as shown.

At the point where this pressure change occurs, the control unit 16
Is higher than the liquid level determination threshold 23 but the blockage determination threshold 24
The height of the tip of the suction nozzle 1 in the case of less than the above is calculated from the number of times the suction nozzle 1 descends, and is recognized as the liquid level of the serum 18. When the suction nozzle 1 is blocked by floating fibrin or the like, it appears as a blocked detection waveform 26, and exceeds the blocking determination threshold 24, so that it is determined that blockage has occurred.

In the case where air leakage occurs in the piping system, the liquid level exceeds the liquid level value of the serum 18 obtained by the approximate liquid level detection and exceeds the liquid level determination threshold value 23 even if the suction nozzle 1 descends. Since no pressure is generated, an abnormality is determined.

Next, proceeding to step S4, the sample is aspirated. When the suction nozzle 1 starts suctioning the serum 18, it discharges the serum sucked by the liquid level detection operation, and then discharges the serum 1 detected earlier.
After adjusting the nozzle position based on the liquid level height of No. 8, the same suction operation as liquid level detection is performed again. Here, it is not always necessary to adjust the serum discharging operation and the nozzle position before the start of suction.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, after the liquid level is detected, the sample is sucked while lowering the suction nozzle 1 by a predetermined moving amount (step S11). Next, it is determined whether or not a slight incomplete occlusion has been detected during the suction, by increasing the suction pressure (step S12). Here, an increase in the suction pressure means that the absolute pressure increases in the negative direction, and a decrease in the suction pressure means that the absolute pressure goes to 0 atm. N in step S12
In the case of O, it is determined whether or not the suction pressure has increased during the suction and a complete blockage has been detected (step S13). Here, in the case of NO, it is determined whether or not the suction pressure is reduced during the suction to detect the suction of air (step S1).
4). Here, in the case of NO, the process proceeds to step S15,
It is determined whether the suction of the amount indicated by the dispensing instruction information has been completed.

If YES in step S15, the suction operation ends, but if NO, the process returns to step S11 to repeat the above steps. On the other hand, if YES is determined in the step S12, the process proceeds to a step S16 to reduce the initial divided suction amount and various threshold values to preset values, and then proceeds to a step S15. That is, this step 1
In step 6, it is determined that the suction nozzle 1 has reached the vicinity of the separation material 20 or the fibrin 19, and the divided suction amount is reduced to reduce the descending amount of the suction nozzle 1. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of the suction nozzle 1 protruding into the separation material 20 and the fibrin 19. In other words, the time required for the suction operation can be reduced by increasing the divided suction amount until the separation member 20 or the fibrin 19 is reached.

If YES in steps S13 and S14, the process proceeds to step S17, in which the syringe 8 is returned by the divided suction amount and the abnormal sample is discharged.
The suction operation ends (Step S18). Here, the control unit 16 confirms from the pressure change that complete ejection or air ejection for only one time has been performed, and then selects the analysis items in the specified order or priority order from the sample amounts sucked so far. The sample can be adopted without waste by performing control so as to perform the maximum amount of dispensing in accordance with the conditions.

FIG. 4B shows the operation state of the above-described sample aspiration. When the amount of the serum 18 in the sample container 100 is sufficient for the required dispensed amount, the suction nozzle 1 completes the suction before reaching the separation material 20 or the fibrin 19. In this case, the control unit 16 controls the pressure sensor 7 each time the suction nozzle 1 is lowered and suctioned for each step.
The determination as to whether the suction is good or not is made based on the state of the pressure change detected by the above. When the amount of the serum 18 in the sample container 100 is small, the suction nozzle 1 reaches the separating material 20 or the fibrin 19 before completing the necessary amount of suction.

In the sample aspirating waveform shown in FIG. 5, the normal aspirating waveform 27 is a waveform obtained when the specified amount of aspirate is completed without any problem.
When the blockage occurs due to the above, the blockage exceeds the blockage determination threshold value 24 as indicated by a blockage detection waveform 28, and thereby the blockage is determined.

In the case of incomplete occlusion or a gradual or instantaneous increase in suction resistance caused by suction of the microfibrin 22, as shown in FIG. A suction resistance increase waveform 34 in which the pressure rise is apparently higher than that in 27 is detected. In this case, by providing the incomplete occlusion threshold 29, it is possible to discriminate between complete occlusion and incomplete occlusion, and to perform an operation of changing the coping method based on the result.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the sample container 100 when the separating material 20 is inclined by the centrifugal action.
When the blood serum 18 is sucked, the liquid surface of the blood serum 18 and the tip of the suction nozzle 1 are at the same height or a gap is formed as shown in the drawing, and air is sucked. in this case,
As shown in the air suction detection waveform 30 shown in FIG. 5, since the pressure after suctioning the unit amount is less than the air suction determination threshold value 31, this can be detected. This determination can be used not only for air suction but also for the case where bubbles are generated in the sample and the bubbles are sucked.

Although the above description is for serum dispensing, the present invention can sufficiently exert its effects when dispensing test liquids such as reagents and other various specimens. After the above-described sample aspiration is completed, the aspirated sample is discharged (step S5), and thereafter, information regarding the dispensed result is transmitted to the outside (step S6). Finally, the disposable chip is discarded (step S7). Here, when the fixed suction nozzle 1 is used, it is cleaned.

As described above, in the first embodiment, in the first embodiment, the suction nozzle moves in the unit of a predetermined moving amount set in the control unit according to the diameter of the sample container, and the amount of the sample corresponding to the moving amount is changed. Is sucked in each time. At this time, the pressure data in the nozzle is sent to the control unit via the conversion unit, and the control unit compares the pressure data with a preset threshold value to determine whether the air is blocked or incompletely blocked, and further, whether the air is sucked. If no abnormality is observed, the movement and suction of the nozzle are repeated until the required sample amount is suctioned.

As described above, in this embodiment, the suction operation is divided, and the suction pressure is detected at the time of each small amount of suction.
Normally, variations in the suction waveform are reduced. by this,
A simple determination method detects poor suction due to complete or incomplete blocking of the suction nozzle, detects that the suction amount decreases due to an instantaneous increase in suction resistance, and determines whether to suction air or bubbles to prevent a shortage of suction. Becomes possible. Also, 1
Since the operation is stopped at each step, the suction amount up to that time can be recognized with extremely high accuracy. Further, the liquid level can be accurately detected, and the suction nozzle can be prevented from protruding more than necessary into the separation material.

Further, when a disposable tip is used for the suction nozzle, the disposal of the sample is repeated for each sample due to the nature thereof, and the height of the tip of the suction nozzle varies, but each suction nozzle detects the liquid level with high accuracy. Therefore, there is an effect that this error can be ignored.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The configuration of the second embodiment is similar to the configuration of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, a method of determining an abnormality is different from that of the first embodiment. That is, liquid level detection or serum 18
At the time of suction, absolute values are used for various threshold values when the suction nozzle 1 performs the first suction operation in the same manner as in the above-described first embodiment, but in the second embodiment, the following suction steps are performed. , A relative value obtained by sliding the threshold value based on the previous value is used.

That is, at the time of detecting the liquid level in FIG. 5, before detecting the liquid level, the pressure in each suction unit when the nozzle descends is set as the threshold reference 32, and the threshold reference 32
The threshold value is sequentially changed based on the threshold value. When aspirating the sample, the threshold is sequentially slid based on the lowest point 33 of the pressure curve at the time of the previous aspiration.

According to the above-described second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, an optimum threshold value is set in accordance with the variation in the diameter of the suction nozzle tip generated during molding and the variation in the nozzle tip when the disposable tip is mounted. Can be set.

The approximate height of the upper surface of the separation member 20 is previously detected from the side surface of the sample container (made of glass or transparent plastic) by an optical sensor or the like, and is higher than the detected upper surface height by a predetermined distance. Continuous down to position and / or
Alternatively, the processing speed may be increased by performing continuous suction, and after reaching the height of the upper surface, performing divided lowering and divided suction to determine a suction state.

Although the above embodiment has been described based on an example in which blood is centrifuged using a separating material, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a blood sample centrifuged without using a separating material. it can.

Further, in the present embodiment, in particular, a single suction operation from one sample container (here, a suction operation from the start of suction to the end of suction consisting of a series of a plurality of partial suctions finely divided). The sample aspirated in) is used for multiple reaction vessels (for reacting with reagents), measurement vessels (for measuring directly as in the case of electrolyte measurement), or containers for subdivisions (used in large systems. For the time being, the required amount is distributed to a plurality of sub-containers, and then each sub-container is sorted into a separate analyzer, and distributed to the reaction container or the measurement container in each analyzer. It is suitable for such dispensing, and since the amount of suction until the clogging is detected can be accurately grasped, there is an advantage that the sucked sample is not wasted.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an analyzer including the above-described dispensing device as a component. The suction nozzle holder 5 has an arm portion, and the timing belt 3 and the pulse motor 4 as shown in FIG.
Movably attached to the up-down drive means 40. The vertical movement driving means 40 is rotatably attached to a rotation driving means 41 provided with a motor (not shown), and makes the suction nozzle holder 5 rotatable on a predetermined rotation locus. The vertical drive unit 40 and the rotation drive unit 41 can be controlled by motor drive units 13 and 42, respectively.

The suction nozzle holder 5 movable as described above
A large number of disposable chips 101
And a chip disposal section 44 having an upward opening are disposed below. Further, a sample transport section 46 for supplying and collecting a large number of sample containers 100 divided into a plurality of racks 45 so as to intersect with the rotation locus of the suction nozzle holder 5 and a large number of reaction containers 47 are arranged in at least one line. And a disk-shaped reaction vessel transporting section 48 for transporting the wafer so as to intersect with the rotation locus of the suction nozzle holder 5 with the chip disposal section 44 interposed therebetween.

The sample transport section 46 and the reaction vessel transport section 4
8, the motor drive units 49, 5
0 enables control. In particular, the motor control unit 5
Numeral 0 indicates that all positions of the reaction container 47 conveyed by the reaction container conveying unit 48 can be managed by the reaction container information and the position information registered in a memory (not shown). A diluting unit 51 for supplying an amount of diluent corresponding to an appropriate dilution ratio to the reaction container 47 into which the sample has been dispensed is provided on the outer periphery of the reaction container transport unit 48, and a desired analysis is performed on the diluted sample. A reagent supply unit 52 for supplying a reagent corresponding to the item, a measurement unit 53 for measuring a reaction result of the sample and the reagent, and a washing unit 54 for washing the reaction container 47 after the measurement for reuse. Is arranged. The chip holder 43 is provided with a chip moving mechanism (not shown),
The configuration is such that the chips 101 can be sequentially supplied to the chip mounting position 61 that intersects the rotation locus of the suction nozzle holder 5. The sample transport unit 46 is configured to sequentially stop the sample containers 100 held in each rack 45 at the suction position 62 intersecting with the rotation locus of the suction nozzle holder 5 by driving the motor drive unit 49. Reaction vessel transport unit 48
The discharge position 63 intersecting the rotation locus of the suction nozzle holder 5 by driving the motor drive unit 50
Are sequentially stopped. The measurement unit 53 is connected to a data processing unit 55 for processing the measurement data for each sample and each measurement item, and a display unit 56 for displaying the data-processed measurement results on a printer or a screen.

The motor driving units 49 and 50, the dilution unit 5
1. The reagent supply unit 52 and the data processing unit 55 are configured to be controlled by the control unit 16 shown in FIG.
Under the control of the reaction vessel transport unit 48, in the case of incomplete occlusion, only the number of the reaction vessels 47 corresponding to the dispensing of the available suction amount are stopped on the rotation locus, and the subsequent reaction vessels 47 It is possible to wait until the next sample that can be dispensed is ejected without carrying it.
At this time, the dilution unit 51, the reagent supply unit 52, and the data processing unit 55 omit the supply of the diluent and the reagent for the measurement item corresponding to the sample not dispensed,
Control is performed so that the data processing of the measurement item to be omitted is also omitted. The data processing unit 55 temporarily suspends data processing relating to the omitted sample information, and causes the display unit to display the suspended information. Here, for example, according to the control of the control unit 16 in FIG. 1, the order in which the maximum number of measurement items can be analyzed or the order of measurement items having a high degree of urgency or importance are determined according to the suction amount before the complete occlusion. May be controlled so that the dispensing order is rearranged. The control unit 16 registers the sample number and the measurement item information related to the omitted measurement item in a memory (not shown) in preparation for a case where re-measurement of the omitted measurement item becomes possible, and When is supplied again, control may be performed such that after the sample information is collated, the analysis is executed to complete the analysis of all items to be measured.

As described above, in the analyzer for reacting with the reagent, when sampling the sample in the reaction container 47, even if the suction amount becomes smaller than expected, the available sample is dispensed by dispensing. Perform analysis without problems. Further, the transport of the reaction containers 47 to the sample discharge position 63 by the number of dispensable samples is stopped, and the next sample is transported without transporting the number of reaction containers 47 corresponding to the undispensable samples. Since the transfer is restarted at the time of dispensing, no empty space is formed in the reaction container 47. Here, successive reaction vessels 4
Even if the dispensing cycle for 7 is different from the expected cycle, the reaction starts after the sample is mixed with the reagent, so that an undesired excess or short reaction time does not occur. In addition, when the empty dispensing is performed, the number of specimens to be used at the beginning of dispensing and the number of specimens actually dispensed in order from the end of the row of the reaction vessels 47 held on the reaction vessel transport unit 48. Unused reaction vessels 47 are generated by the number of differences from the above, and such unused reaction vessels 47 can be used for dispensing the sample to be re-measured as described above. At this time, when complete blockage is detected, the operator is prompted to re-measure by an alarm buzzer (not shown) and a message on the display screen, so that re-measurement for the number of undispensed reaction containers 47 can be performed. Can be performed smoothly. When supplying more samples than the total number of the reaction vessels 47 held on the reaction vessel transporting section 48 and performing continuous analysis, the unused reaction vessels 47 are analyzed in the next cycle. , The continuous processing may be maintained.

[0049]

According to the present invention, the liquid level can be accurately detected, and even when the suction nozzle reaches the separation material, the suction nozzle stops once. Intrusion can be prevented, and destruction of the separating agent, lifting of the sample container, stringing of the separating agent and contamination can be prevented.

Further, since the sample is aspirated in a plurality of times, it is possible to strictly determine the state of aspiration one time at a time, so that the total amount of suction from the start of suction to the time immediately before the occurrence of a suction abnormality can be accurately grasped. it can. In addition, variations in the suction pressure waveform when suction is performed normally can be suppressed, and the method of determining suction abnormality becomes relatively simple. Further, it is possible to detect even a momentary increase in the suction resistance that does not lead to an incomplete occlusion, and also to a complete occlusion, thereby reducing the insufficiency of the suction amount. further,
It becomes possible to detect suction of air or bubbles, and it is possible to reduce shortage of suction amount. Furthermore, when using a disposable tip, it is not necessary to consider an error relating to the diameter and height of the suction port.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing the operation of the dispensing device.

FIG. 3 shows a sample aspirating step shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the detail of 4).

4A is a diagram for explaining liquid level detection of the present embodiment, FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining separation material detection of the present embodiment, and FIG. It is a figure for explaining the situation of minute clogging of a form.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a pressure detection waveform of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state of an inclined separating material.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a configuration of a conventional dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a complete blockage detection waveform according to the related art.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an incomplete occlusion detection waveform according to the related art.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an analyzer including the dispensing device of the present embodiment as a component.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 suction nozzle, 2 pulley, 3 timing belt,
4 pulse motor, 5 suction nozzle holder, 6 tube, 7 pressure sensor, 8 syringe, 9 piston, 1
0: pulley, 11: timing belt, 12: pulse motor, 13: motor drive unit, 14: pressure A / D conversion unit,
15 ... motor drive unit, 16 ... control unit, 17 ... electric circuit,
18 ... serum, 19 ... fibrin, 20 ... separating material, 21 ...
Blood cell component, 22: microfibrin, 23: liquid level determination threshold, 24: occlusion determination threshold, 25: liquid level detection waveform, 26 ...
Blockage detection waveform, 27: Abnormal suction waveform, 28: Blockage detection waveform, 29: Incomplete blockage determination threshold, 30: Air suction detection waveform, 31: Air suction determination threshold, 32: Threshold reference, 3
3: lowest point of pressure curve, 34: increase waveform of suction resistance, 10
0: sample container, 101: nozzle tip, 102: air hose, 103: pressure sensor, 104: suction pump.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A dispensing device that suctions and discharges a substance in a predetermined container using a suction nozzle, comprising: a suction nozzle driving unit that can move the suction nozzle in a predetermined moving amount unit corresponding to various container diameters; A piston driving unit that moves a piston of a syringe that suctions and discharges a substance in a container, a measuring unit that measures a physical quantity in the suction nozzle each time the suction nozzle is moved in a predetermined moving amount unit, A detector for detecting a state in the suction nozzle based on the measured physical quantity. 2. The piston driving section moves a piston of a syringe that suctions and discharges a sample in a predetermined container, and moves the suction nozzle by a predetermined moving amount unit in each step of the movement. 2. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample is aspirated by each fixed amount and the status of the sample aspiration is determined. 3. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination of the sample aspirating state is performed based on an absolute value. 4. The dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the determination of the sample suction state is performed based on a relative value. 5. An analyzer comprising the dispensing device according to claim 1 as a component thereof.