JPH1164208A - Particle analyzing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a particle analyzing device wherein the general process speed is improved while a cost related to the device is almost equal to before. SOLUTION: A particle analyzing device D chiefly comprises three units; a diluting part unit 23, an admixing part unit 24, and a measuring part unit 25. Any of these units 23, 24, and 25 functions itself while they can be separated in structure. The diluting unit 23 comprises a sampling valve 3 and a dilution sample dispensing pipet part 7, etc. The admixing part unit 24 comprises an admixing tub formation body 8 and a temperature control element. The admixing tub formation body 8 is discordal while comprising six admixing tubs 17-22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a particle analyzer, and more particularly, to a particle analyzer used in a clinical test field such as a hospital or a blood test center for analyzing particles contained in a sample such as blood or urine. And a particle analyzer for the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a blood cell counter, which is a conventional particle analyzer, blood is quantified by a sampling valve in accordance with the number of measurement items (red blood cell count, white blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, etc.). The measurement is performed after mixing with a reagent such as an agent in the detection unit.

[0003]

In such a particle analyzer, blood and a predetermined reagent are mixed in a measuring section.
In order to measure the sample subjected to the mixing process, the next sample cannot be put into the measuring unit unless the processing up to the cleaning of the measuring unit after the measurement is completed.

[0004] In order to perform processing at higher speed, it is known to provide a plurality of detectors for the same item, or to increase the processing capacity by connecting a plurality of measuring devices by a transport device. However, such a method complicates the equipment and results in an expensive device.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a particle analyzer in which the cost of the apparatus is almost the same as that of the conventional apparatus and the overall processing speed can be improved. Aim.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a sample diluting unit includes a sampling valve for quantifying a plurality of aspirated samples, and a reagent supply source for sending a plurality of quantified samples in the sampling valve together with reagents. And a sample mixing unit having a tank for receiving a plurality of diluted samples respectively discharged from the sample dilution unit, and a sample measurement unit for aspirating and measuring the samples mixed in the sample mixing unit, A sample analyzer is provided, wherein the sample mixing section can switch the position of the tank between a sample discharge position and a sample suction position.

The sample dilution section has a sampling valve. The sampling valve quantitatively collects a sample containing particles such as blood and urine. The sample diluting unit obtains a diluted sample of a predetermined magnification by adding a predetermined reagent to the sample collected quantitatively.

The sample mixing section causes the diluted sample obtained in the sample diluting section to perform predetermined mixing such as waiting for a predetermined time to elapse while stirring.

At this time, if necessary, a reagent such as a hemolytic agent, a staining solution, or a diluent is added to the diluted sample from the second reagent supply source. As the stirring means in the sample mixing section, a method of stirring bubbles from the bottom of the tank, a method of stirring by putting a stirring blade or a stirrer in the tank, or a method of shaking and stirring the whole of the mixing tank forming body are used. The sample measurement unit performs a predetermined measurement such as a blood cell count using the sample mixed in the sample mixing unit.

The sample mixing section is provided with a tank for receiving the diluted sample discharged from the sample diluting section. For example, a plurality of tanks are provided in a concave shape on the upper surface side of one disk-shaped tank forming body, and the mixing in each tank is independent of the mixing in other tanks by switching a mixing operation such as rotating the tank forming body. And be able to do so.

In the particle analyzer according to the present invention, the number of tanks in the sample mixing section is set to be more than twice the number of measurement items, and the sample mixing section moves the position of the tank to the sample dilution section side and the sample mixing section side. It is more preferable to be able to switch to a position other than the above in order to increase the processing capacity.

In the particle analyzer according to the present invention, it is more preferable that each of the sample diluting section, the sample mixing section and the sample measuring section is constituted by a unit which functions independently and is structurally separable from each other. In such a configuration, it is possible to replace each unit with another unit of the same type or to perform maintenance and inspection as needed.

The particle analyzer according to the present invention further comprises:
When the particle-containing sample is blood, the tank is provided with at least two of them for independently mixing leukocytes, erythrocytes and hemoglobin, and a sample diluting unit dilutes the sample into the tank. More preferably, the dispensing, the dispensing of the reagent, and the suction of the mixed sample from the tank by the sample measuring section can be performed independently of each other.

With this configuration, when a predetermined mixing is performed in one set of the tanks for mixing for measuring white blood cells, red blood cells and hemoglobin, the mixing is performed from the other set of the tanks. This makes it possible to perform a process such as aspiration of a used sample, thereby improving the processing speed of the entire apparatus.

It is more preferable that the sample mixing section of the particle analyzer of the present invention has a temperature control element for controlling the mixing temperature when mixing the diluted sample.

This temperature control element makes it possible to effectively control the mixing of the diluted sample.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited by this.

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the configuration of a main part in a particle analyzer D according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the particle analyzer D is roughly divided into a sample diluting unit 2
3. Sample mixing unit 24 and sample measuring unit 2
5 units. Each of these units 23, 24, and 25 functions independently and is structurally separable from each other.

The diluting unit 23 includes a blood suction pump 2, a sampling valve 3, a white blood cell sample preparation pump 4, a red blood cell sample preparation pump 5, a hemoglobin sample preparation pump 6, and a diluted sample dispensing pipette unit 7, a white blood cell. It comprises a pump 56 for a hemolytic agent for measurement, a pump 57 for a diluent for measuring red blood cells, a pump 58 for a hemolytic agent for measuring hemoglobin, and the like.

The mixing unit 24 includes the mixing tank forming body 8,
A bubble supply source 9 for stirring the first diluted sample, a bubble supply source 11 for stirring the second diluted sample, a first waste liquid processing unit 10, a second waste liquid processing unit 12, and a temperature control element (not shown) ).

Here, the mixing tank forming body 8 has a disk-like shape.
And two mixing tanks 17-22. That is, a mixing tank 17 for the first white blood cell measurement sample, a mixing tank 22 for the second white blood cell measurement sample, a mixing tank 18 for the first red blood cell measurement sample, and a second red blood cell measurement sample. A mixing tank 21 for a sample, a mixing tank 19 for a first sample for hemoglobin measurement, and a mixing tank 20 for a second sample for hemoglobin measurement are included. Further, the temperature control element is for controlling the temperature of the mixing when the diluted sample is mixed.

The measurement unit 25 includes a sample suction pipette unit 13, a white blood cell measurement unit 14, a red blood cell measurement unit 15, and a hemoglobin measurement unit 16.

In the particle analyzer D configured as described above, the blood sample put in the blood collection tube 1 is sucked by the pump 2 from the blood suction pipette 26 to the sampling valve 3. The sampling valve 3 has a three-piece configuration, and has a plurality of through-holes (not shown) for blood quantification in a middle part sandwiched between two pieces.

That is, these through holes are used for quantifying blood in order to prepare diluted samples for measuring white blood cells, red blood cells, and hemoglobin, respectively, and the hole diameter and length are accurately defined. And sampling valve 3
The blood sucked into the through holes is filled in these through holes, so that a predetermined amount can be determined for each of white blood cells, red blood cells, and hemoglobin.

When the blood suction by the pipette 26 is completed, the middle part of the sampling valve 3 is rotated, and a predetermined amount of blood is quantified for measuring white blood cells, red blood cells and hemoglobin.

Here, while blood is sucked by the pipette 26 and quantification is performed by the sampling valve 3, the three mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19 below the three pipettes 27 for dispensing the diluted sample are placed. Is discharged to the first waste liquid processing section 10.

A predetermined amount of each reagent for measurement is delivered from the pumps 4, 5, 6 and discharged to the mixing tanks 17, 18, 19 of the mixing tank forming body 8 together with the determined blood. Further, a predetermined amount of each of the second measurement reagents is supplied from the pumps 56, 57, 58 to the respective mixing tanks 17, 18 of the mixing tank forming body 8.
Discharge to 19 Here, the pipettes 27 are inserted into the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19 such that the pipettes 27 come to a position where there is no danger of touching the mixture of the diluent and the blood when the ejection is completed. Keep it.

Blood and reagent are mixed from the pipette 27 into the mixing tank 1
When the bubbles are discharged to 7, 18, and 19, bubbles are blown from the bubble supply source 9 into the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19. Due to these bubbles, the blood and the reagent are sufficiently stirred and mixed.

When the ejection of the blood and the reagent is completed, the pipette 27 is quickly raised and pulled out of the mixing tanks 17, 18, 19.

Next, the mixing tank forming body 8 is rotated by a mechanism (not shown) for rotating the mixing tank forming body 8 around its central axis.
Is rotated by a rotation angle of 180 degrees. Here, since two mixing tanks 17 to 22 are provided for each one measuring system, the rotation angle is 180 degrees. However, when three or more mixing tanks are provided for one measuring system, the mixing tank is not used. The rotation is performed by an appropriate rotation angle according to the number.

When the mixing of the blood and the reagent is completed in each of the measurement systems, the pipette section 13 is lowered to move the three mixed sample suction pipettes 28 into the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19.
Insert inside. Next, each of the measuring units 14, 15,.
16 aspirates the mixed sample in the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19 through the pipette 28, and performs a predetermined measurement.

When the suction is completed, the mixing tanks 17, 18,.
19 into the mixing tank,
19 washes.

Here, the hemoglobin measurement is performed based on the absorbance at a predetermined wavelength. Red blood cell measurement and white blood cell measurement
The detection is performed by an electric resistance method, a light scattering method using a laser, or a detection method combining these.

When the pipette 28 is inserted into one of the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19 and the mixed sample is sucked, the other set of mixing tanks 20, 21, and 22 does not contain the diluted sample. By using these mixing tanks 20, 21 and 22, the processing in the diluting section 23 can be performed simultaneously.

The above processing is shown in the flowchart of FIG. In this flowchart, "SRV" in the "sample diluting section" indicates the sampling valve 3, "mixing tank-1" in the "sample mixing section" indicates one set of mixing tanks 17, 18, 19, and "mixing tank 17". Tank-2 ”is another 1
A set of mixing tanks 20, 21 and 22 is shown. By repeating the processing shown in this flowchart, the sample can be processed continuously at a high speed.

Next, the operation of the mixing unit 24 will be described in more detail.

First, the dilution will be described. In FIG. 3, before the blood is diluted and discharged into the three mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19, the washing waste liquid contained in the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19 is removed from the respective discharge nipples 34, 35, and 36. The waste liquid is discharged to the first waste liquid processing unit 10 (shown in FIG. 1).

The pipette 27 includes a pipette 29 for dispensing a diluted white blood cell sample, a pipette 30 for dispensing a red blood cell diluted sample, a pipette 31 for dispensing a hemoglobin diluted sample, a pipette 59 for dispensing a hemolytic agent for measuring white blood cells, and a hemolytic agent for dispensing a red blood cell. It comprises six pipettes 60 for dispensing and a pipette 61 for dispensing hemolytic agent for measuring hemoglobin. These pipettes 29.3
0.31.59.60.61 can be reciprocated vertically by the air cylinder 32 while being guided by the bearing 33. Then, at the time of waiting for dilution, it is at the position shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows the state at the time of dilution. The pipettes 29, 30, 31, 59, 60, and 61 are lowered by the air cylinder 32, and the respective tips are put into the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19. In this state, the blood determined by the sampling valve 3 is discharged (dispensed) into the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19 together with a predetermined amount of the reagent for measurement sent from the pumps 4, 5.5, and 6. At the same time or after a predetermined time, the second
The second predetermined reagent is discharged (dispensed) into the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19 from the pumps 56, 57, and 58 of the reagent supply source.

The discharged blood and the reagent are supplied to the bubble supply source 9.
Are stirred by the bubbles blown into the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19 from the supply nipples 38, 36, and 34 connected to the tanks. The above is the processing at the time of dilution.

When the dilution processing is completed, the mixing tank forming body 8 is rotated by 180 degrees by the rotary actuator 53, and then the mixing section (mixing processing) suction operation and the cleaning operation of the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19 by the measuring section 25 are performed. And do. Next, these will be described.

FIG. 5 shows a standby state on the mixed sample suction side. The three pipettes 28 include three pipettes 40 for aspirating a mixed sample of white blood cells, a pipette 41 for aspirating a sample mixed with red blood cells, and a pipette 42 for aspirating a sample mixed with hemoglobin. These pipettes 40, 41, 42 are provided with bearings 55
And the air cylinder 43 can reciprocate in the vertical direction. Then, at the time of standby for suction, it is at the position shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows the state when the mixed sample is sucked. The pipettes 40, 41, and 42 are lowered by the air cylinder 43, and the respective tips are put into the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19.
Then, the pipettes 42, 41, 40 in the measuring section 25
Sucks the sample for measurement from the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19.

When the suction process is completed, the air cylinder 43
These outer surfaces are cleaned while raising the pipettes 40, 41 and 42 with. The cleaning liquid at this time is supplied from a supply source (not shown) through the respective cleaning nipples 44, 45, and 46.

After washing the outer surfaces of the pipettes 40, 41, 42, the waste liquid is supplied to the suction nipples 47, 48, respectively.
The liquid is sucked into a waste liquid processing unit (not shown) through 49.

Subsequently, the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19 are washed. First, the samples remaining in the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19 are discharged from the nipples 34, 35, respectively.
The waste liquid is discharged to the first waste liquid processing unit 10 through 36. afterwards,
The cleaning liquid supplied from a cleaning liquid supply source (not shown) through the respective cleaning liquid dispensing nipples 50, 51, and 52 is dispensed to the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19. At this time, the mixing tanks 17, 18,
Air bubbles are blown into 19, and the cleaning effect is improved. Thereafter, the cleaning waste liquid is discharged to the first waste liquid processing unit 10 through the nipples 34, 35, and 36. The above operation is repeated a predetermined number of times.

When the washing of the mixing tanks 17, 18, 19 is completed, the mixing tank forming body 8 is rotated by the rotary actuator 54.
Is rotated 180 degrees to return it to the standby state.

When the samples are continuously processed, the dilution operation, the suction of the sample by the measuring unit, and the cleaning of the mixing tank are simultaneously performed in the two mixing tanks 17 to 22 for the second and subsequent samples, respectively. Ability can be improved.

As described above, in the particle analyzer D, the diluting unit 23, the mixing unit 24, and the measuring unit 25 are composed of units that are functionally and structurally separated from each other. In the mixing unit 24, two mixing tanks 17 to 22 are provided for each measurement system.
Is provided. Therefore, the dilution unit unit 23 discharges the diluted sample into the mixing tanks 17, 18, and 19;
Mixing tank 22 ・ 21 ・ of mixed sample by measuring unit 25
The suction from the sample 20 can be performed continuously without interfering with each other, and high-speed processing of particle analysis can be realized.

[0050]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample dilution apparatus comprising: a sampling valve for quantifying a plurality of aspirated samples; and a reagent supply source for sending the plurality of quantified samples in the sampling valve together with reagents. Section, a sample mixing section having a tank for receiving a plurality of diluted samples discharged from the sample dilution section, and a sample measuring section for aspirating and measuring the samples mixed in the sample mixing section, respectively. The sample mixing section can switch the position of the tank between a sample discharge position and a sample suction position. Therefore, the cost of the particle analyzer is almost the same as the conventional one, and the overall processing speed can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a second reagent supply source for sending a reagent further to the tank of the sample mixing section is provided, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, It becomes possible to further send out the reagent to the tank of the sample mixing section.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sample is blood, and the reagent sent to the sample mixing section is a diluent, a hemolytic agent, a staining solution, or a combination thereof. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the above-mentioned effect of the invention of claim 1 or 2 for various desired reagents.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part (a sample diluting unit, a sample mixing unit, and a sample measuring unit) of a particle analyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing each process of a sample diluting unit, a sample mixing unit, and a sample measuring unit of the particle analyzer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state of a sample diluting unit of the particle analyzer shown in FIG. 1 in a sample dilution standby state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state during sample dilution in a sample dilution section of the particle analyzer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state of a sample measuring unit of the particle analyzer shown in FIG. 1 in a standby state for sucking a mixed sample;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a mixed sample is being sucked in a sample measuring section of the particle analyzer shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 Sampling valve 8 Mixing tank forming body 17 Mixing tank for first white blood cell measurement sample 18 Mixing tank for first red blood cell measurement sample 19 First mixing tank for hemoglobin measurement sample 20 Second Mixing tank for hemoglobin measurement sample 21 Mixing tank for second red blood cell measurement sample 22 Mixing tank for second white blood cell measurement sample 23 Diluting unit (sample diluting unit) 24 Mixing unit ( Sample mixing unit) 25 Measurement unit (Sample measurement unit)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sample diluting unit including a sampling valve for quantifying a plurality of aspirated samples, a reagent supply source for sending the plurality of quantified samples in the sampling valve together with reagents, and a sample diluting unit discharging the sample diluting unit. A sample mixing section having a tank for receiving a plurality of diluted samples, and a sample measuring section for aspirating and measuring the samples mixed in the sample mixing section, wherein the sample mixing section adjusts the position of the tank. A particle analyzer capable of switching between a sample discharge position and a sample suction position. 2. The particle analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a second reagent supply source for sending a reagent further to a tank of the sample mixing section. 3. The particle analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the sample is blood, and the reagent sent to the sample mixing section is a diluent, a hemolytic agent, a stain, or a combination thereof.