JPS5844352A - Automatic chemical analyzer for numerous specimens on numerous items - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a prescribed reaction temperature rapidly and to maintain the same, by dividing a heating block into a plurality of blocks along the direction of transference of a sheet, and by giving each heating block a temperature gradient increasing reversely to the direction of transference of the sheet. CONSTITUTION:A heating block H is divided into heating blocks H', H'' and H''' along the direction of trasnference of a sheet 2, and these heating blocks are given a temperature gradient decreasing from H' to H'''. A sample and a reagent are distributed onto a reaction sheet 2. Then, the sheet is sent into a thermostatic chamber 16 for measurement. At first, in order to raise the temperature of the sheet itself rapidly to a prescribed temperature, the sheet sent one by one into the thermostatic chamber is heated immediately and rapidly by the first heater H' so that its temperature rise quickly to a desired temperature. The reagent and the sample are heated by the heater H'', and when the sheet with the reagent and the sample is transferred on the heater H''', all can be kept at a stable and desired temperature.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to a chemical analysis device that adds a reagent to a sample liquid such as serum collected from a subject and measures the reaction results;
Especially for large numbers of specimens. Dispense into multiple reaction containers and add reagents to each of them. This invention relates to a device that automatically performs chemical analysis of multiple samples and multiple items.

When performing chemical analysis of multiple samples and multiple items, there is a particular need for speedy processing. The present invention aims to provide a multi-analyte, multi-item automatic chemical analyzer that satisfies this requirement.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention, which is a flat plate formed by integrally molding concave heights arranged in a grid pattern and stacked and stored in a sheet feeding device (1). transparent sheet (
2) are sent one by one to the right in the figure by the transport means (3). This transport means (3) consists of two rollers (3)'
The conveyor belt consists of a chain (3)'' wound between rollers and a drive means for these (not shown), and the sheet is loaded onto the chain with its image side end facing in the direction of travel.This conveyance As shown in the explanatory perspective view of the reaction sheet in Fig. 2, the sheet (2) to be processed has approximately 30 concave heights (4) arranged in approximately 10 rows in the transport direction in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction (arrow). It is a sheet of transparent material such as vinyl chloride material, and at both ends of this sheet facing 5W in the direction of travel, there are transport perforage straps (5W) into which the claws on the chain fit.
) is provided. The concave part provided in this sheet (
One of 4) is 1f! It functions as a reaction container with the shape shown in Figure 3, and its volume is approximately 700~! It is 300 microliters. Each sample solution is dispensed into each reaction container (4), and the same sample is dispensed into one row perpendicular to the traveling direction (arrow direction) of the sheet. The sample liquid is dispensed by suction nozzle (8) from the sample container (7) in the sample rack (6) collected from the subject in Fig. 1, and then by the cock-type sample dispenser (9). It is then dispensed.

In this case, the suction nozzle (8) is connected to the air cylinder (10
), the sample M is inserted into the sample liquid container (7), and the sample M is drawn up by the suction bottle, which is made negative pressure with a vacuum cylinder or tube, via the cock-type dispensing II +91'.
) is metered and dispensed from the dispensing nozzle (91).This dispensing nozzle (91)
0 Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-44352 (2) It is arranged corresponding to the concave portion of the concave portion. (to) is a reagent tank or a reagent dispenser, and the reagent in this dispenser αO is also dispensed from the dispensing nozzle (ml) of the dispenser (9) into the reaction container (4). (to) is a constant temperature water circulation device, and the transfer means (3
) near the bottom of the reaction sheet (2) being transferred, and supplying hot water at a predetermined temperature to the heater (■) installed along the transfer direction, the sample temperature in each reaction container (4) is maintained at a predetermined temperature. The temperature is maintained at a constant temperature. (2) is a constant temperature bath;
It consists of a base frame part, a cover i that can be opened and closed, and a cover i provided on the top of the base frame part. As is clear from the figure, this cover (to) covers the reaction seat during transfer.) 12+・Dispenser (
9) Encloses almost the entire heater (company) and transfer means (3), etc., and also includes an electric heater and blower (18).
As a result, warm air circulates inside the heater (H).
It also has the function of rapidly raising the temperature of the sample to promote the reaction and maintaining the entire sample at a uniform temperature. Note that this constant temperature chamber has openings (19) and (20) provided between the base frame (16)' and the cover (16)'', allowing the sheet to pass through. (21) is the second reagent, which is used in the dispenser (22) and its nozzle (22) when necessary, such as in the sheet method.
) to the reaction solution. (29) is a photometric means, and (24) is its light source, which has an optical path that corresponds to the movement path of each concave portion (reaction container) of the sheet and crosses the path below this path. As shown in the figure, the light guided from the light source is horizontally refracted by the total reflection prism (2) and transmitted through the reaction container (4) and the circular reaction liquid (4) in the movement path of the concave part. Then, it returns downward again, and is divided toward the darkness of the photocell by the half mirror ■, and the reaction liquid +4f is spectrally treated with light of different wavelengths by the color film ■ placed in front of each.
The transmittance is measured. The outputs of each of these seven cells are separately processed and output, but the explanation will be omitted here.

In this case, since the reaction sheet (2) is transparent, the zero reaction container (4) can be used as it is as a photometric cell. (to) is the lens, and ■ is the base of these optical systems.

The reaction sheet (2) measured by these optical systems is further transferred to the right side in the figure to the discharge port (20) of the cover (16)''.
From there, it is sent to an external storage device (31) and released.

For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 1 it is shown as being placed outside the thermostatic oven (16), but the thermostatic oven (26)
It surrounds almost the entire sample liquid dispensing device (14), reagent dispensing device (22), photometric means (28), and transfer means (3), etc., and further circulates the internal air to make the temperature uniform above and below. A blower (18) is provided inside. Further, a heating block heater (H) to which hot water at a predetermined temperature is supplied from a constant temperature water circulation device (15) is transferred to a sheet (2).
) is placed close to the reactor to improve heat transfer to the reaction liquid container and quickly raise the temperature of the reaction liquid, and the effect is further enhanced by the action of the blower. (Company) is a hot water passageway.

This heating block (b) is a conveying means (3) for the sheet (2).
) is divided into, for example, first, second, and third heating blocks @@ (b) along the transfer direction, and the first is high temperature and the second
Thirdly, there is a temperature gradient in which the temperature decreases as the temperature increases.When the sample/reagent is dispensed onto the reaction sheet (21) and then the measurement is performed, the sheet is fed into the thermostatic chamber (21). In order to quickly raise the temperature of the sheet itself to a predetermined temperature, as is clear in the configurations above 9, the sheets that were stored in a large number of stacks are sent one by one into the thermostatic chamber by the transport means. Immediately after that, the sheet is rapidly heated by the first heater (H)' to quickly raise the temperature to the desired temperature.Subsequently, the reagent/sample is dispensed onto this sheet, but this sheet is used for the next process. heater(
During the stage where the sheet, reagent, and sample are heated by heater (B)'' and transferred over heater (B)'', the sheet, reagent, and sample are all heated and maintained at a stable desired temperature. The reaction is also taking place satisfactorily. Thereafter, by measuring the extent of the reaction using a measuring means, accurate detection values can be obtained for each sample.

In the above embodiment, the heater (6) is of a type that is supplied with hot water, but it goes without saying that the heater (6) may be an electric heater. In particular, in the heater d, it is only necessary to heat the sheet C (which has a small heat capacity), so it is also possible to use a small electric heater. The temperature of the first heating block (6) is set to the highest level, then lowered to the second/fJ43, and is stabilized at a predetermined temperature by the third heating block.

This makes it possible to quickly raise and stabilize the temperature of the reaction solution as shown in Figure 6, compared to the temperature rise curve in Figure 5 using a single heating block. In the figure, the vertical axis is temperature and the horizontal axis is time). (15)′
(15)''(15)'' are respectively heating blocks (H)
This is a constant-temperature water circulation device that supplies hot water with different temperatures required for the 100's through pipes (32).

In addition, (33) is an air source for driving the air cylinder (10), the dispensers (14) and (22), and for spouting air from the nozzle (22)'' to fit the reaction sheet. It also serves as a driving source for the supply device (1).

As described in detail above, in the present invention, sample liquids and reagents are individually dispensed onto a sheet in which reaction vessels for dispensing sample liquids such as serum obtained from a large number of specimens are arranged, and the predetermined reaction temperature is quickly adjusted. It is possible to provide a multi-analyte, multi-item automatic chemical analyzer that performs the operations of discharging used sheets in an orderly and prompt manner after maintaining them, spectroscopically measuring them, and discharging them in an orderly manner.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view of an embodiment of Jin's invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reaction rate, FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of the reaction liquid container, FIG. 4 is an explanatory sectional view of the measuring section, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanations of constant temperature means. It is a diagram. (1)・・・Reaction sheet supply device (2)・・・
...Reaction sheet (3) ...Transportation means
(4) - Reaction container (8) Dispenser (13) Reagent dispenser (15)
Constant temperature water circulation device (16)... Constant temperature bath (23)
...Photometering means (31) ...Emission device H.
・・・・・・Heater”・5 Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] A sheet of transparent material with a large number of concave portions arranged in a grid pattern is transferred horizontally one by one inside a thermostatic chamber. A sample reagent is dispensed into the recesses of this sheet, and the absorbance of the reaction liquid (mixed reaction liquid of sample and reagent) in each recess is measured. The above sheet is placed in a constant temperature oven and transferred over a heating block overnight,
This heating block is divided into at least 4s21jl along the direction of movement on the sea, and between each heating block. ``Give a temperature gradient that increases in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the sheet. A multi-analyte, multi-item automatic chemical analyzer characterized by rapid temperature rise of the reaction solution.