JPS5873870A - Automatic chemical analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a reagent supplying mechanism which is small-sized and free from mutual pollution of reagents, by providing a rinsing device for the inside and the outer surface of each of nozzles for a reagent. CONSTITUTION:A nozzle 24A for a first reagent moves between the positions of a reagent solution suction position on a turntable 25A, a reagent solution discharge position on a reaction line 8 and a rinsing tank 22A. A nozzle 24B for a second reagent moves between the positions of a reagent solution suction position on a turntable 25B, a reagent solution discharge position on the reaction line and a rinsing tank 22B. These nozzles suck and hold the reagent solution at the solution suction positions, and discharge the reagent solution into a reaction vessel at reagent solution applying positions. Prior to the suction of another reagent solution, the outer walls of the nozzles are rinsed in the rinsing tank 22A, while the inner walls thereof are rinsed by water for rinse and dilution after the reagent is discharged into the reaction vessel. These oerations in series are repeated every time when the reaction vessel 3 is brought to the reagent applying position on the reaction line 8.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer suitable for use in clinical tests, etc., and is a discrete type analysis device in which multiple types of analysis items are reacted on the same reaction line. Regarding Apparatus [Prior Art] Some conventional chemical analyzers for clinical testing react multiple types of analysis items on the same reaction line. This type of analyzer uses multiple types of reagent liquid tanks.
These reagent liquid tanks were fixedly installed, and the outlet of the reagent liquid feeding pipe was also fixed at a convenient location on the reaction line. When adding a reagent solution to a reaction container, the reagent solution was made to flow in one direction through a pump device and a reagent solution delivery pipe. For this reason, in conventional analyzers, a pump device must be installed for each reagent tank, and as the number of analysis items to be measured increases, it is necessary to install additional pump devices (dispenser mechanisms). there were. Therefore, in a multi-item analyzer, the reagent supply mechanism must be large-scale, and the operation control of each dispenser must also be complicated.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic chemical analyzer having a small reagent supply mechanism and free from the possibility of contamination between reagents.

[Summary of the Invention] i□l,j=”;j The features of the present invention include a device for transporting a reaction container row through a sample addition position and a reagent addition position, and a device for transferring multiple samples for different analysis items using the same sampling nozzle. A sample supply device for feeding into a reaction container positioned at a sample addition position, a movable stage capable of holding multiple types of reagent liquid tanks, and a reagent liquid tank corresponding to the analysis item related to the reaction vessel positioned at a reagent addition position. a reagent liquid positioning device that positions a reagent liquid at a reagent liquid suction position by moving a moving table; A reagent pipettor device that adds liquid to the corresponding reaction container at the reagent addition position and performs the reagent addition operation using the same nozzle even if the test liquid tank located at the reagent liquid suction position changes, and the previous test liquid. Before a different type of reagent solution is inhaled and held by the reagent nozzle, a cleaning liquid is discharged from the test nozzle to clean the inside of the reagent nozzle. Before inhaling the reagent solution through the reagent nozzle and holding it at 1.I.1°, the pipe is equipped with a tube outer surface cleaning device that cleans the outer surface of the nozzle with a cleaning solution, which is transported to the cleaning chamber. There is a particular thing.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In this analyzer, the reaction line 8 includes a thermostatic bath and a row of translucent reaction vessels 3, which are immersed in the bath and transferred by a sprocket or the like (not shown).

The reaction vessels 3 are held at fixed pitches by an endless snake chain, and by the movement of this chain, the reaction vessels are immersed in a heating bath and cross the optical path of the photometer 12, after which they are washed and moved to the sample addition position. be returned.

The sample container 20 consists of a large number of sample containers 1 containing serum samples held at predetermined intervals by a snake chain or the like, and these sample containers are moved through a sample suction position by a chain drive mechanism (not shown). be transported. The residence time at the sample suction position of each sample container 1 is mainly determined by how many types of analysis items are measured by the sample, so the transfer time interval is not constant and is controlled by the main computer 5 based on the sample information. be done.

The spring/pull nozzle 24 is moved between the serum intake position on the sampler 20, the sample discharge position into the reaction container on the reaction line 8, and the outer wall cleaning tank 22, and can be moved up and down at each point. . The sampling nozzle 24 includes a serum dispensing pipetter mechanism 2 that can discharge washing water through the nozzle 24.
Connected to 3. The nozzle 24 sucks and holds serum at the serum suction position, and discharges the serum and water into the reaction container 3.
Thereafter, the nozzle is moved to a cleaning tank 22, where the nozzle outer wall is cleaned. Such a series of dispensing operations is repeated every time the reaction line 8 moves one step at a time.

A plurality (for example, two) of reagent liquid tank groups are arranged near the reaction line 8.The turntables 25A and 25B are operated by a similar mechanism, but the types of reagent liquids arranged on each turntable are different. A reagent group added to the reaction container 3 on the reaction line 8 at an early stage is a first reagent group, and a reagent group added at a late stage is a second reagent group. Each turntable 25A.

25B is prepared with reagent liquid types corresponding to the types of items to be analyzed, and the main computer 5 determines and controls the operation of which type of reagent liquid is positioned at the reagent liquid suction position. That is, the first reagent nozzle 24
The reagent solution tank 26A containing the reagent solution for the analysis item corresponding to the reaction container positioned at the first reagent solution addition position, where A is positioned on the reaction line, is located at the first reagent solution addition position of the reaction container. -C
1 is positioned at the reagent liquid suction position on the turntable 25A. When the analysis item positioned at the reagent addition position changes, the reagent liquid tank 26A is positioned at the reagent liquid suction position.
It also changes. This kind of operation is the same for the second test chestnut group.

Each free reagent solution contained in the reagent solution tanks 26A and 26B is
It is about twice as concentrated as the number of concentrations used during normal analytical operations. Therefore, since only a small amount of reagent is inhaled at one time, the volume of the reagent liquid tank can be reduced. When adding such reagents to the reaction vessel using the reagent pipettor + IA-23A,
, 23B to discharge water from the nozzle into the reaction vessel;
Dilute the reagent solution to the normal concentration.

The reagent pipettor machines 23A and 23B are connected to reagent nozzles 24A and 24B, respectively, and have microslips for sucking and holding concentrated reagents at the tips of each nozzle. In addition, as this suctioned and held reagent solution is discharged into the reaction vessel, about 10 times the amount of pure water is discharged to dilute the reagent solution, and a medium-sized slip is also used that cleans the inside of the nozzle pipe by discharging this pure water. have.

The first N medicated nozzle 24A moves between the reagent aa position on the turntable 25A, the sample liquid discharge position on the reaction line 8, and each point in the cleaning tank 22A. The second reagent nozzle 24B fits on the turntable 25B, the chemical solution suction position, and the reagent suction position on the reaction line. It moves between each point of the cleaning tank 22B. These nozzles are located at the reagent suction position.

Suction and hold a predetermined amount of reagent 4 and liquid from the reagent liquid tank into the nozzle, hold it at the reagent suction position, and discharge the 9 reagent liquid into the reaction container, before inhaling the reagent liquid for another analysis item. Next, the nozzle outer wall is cleaned in the cleaning tank 22A. The inner wall of the nozzle is cleaned by discharging the reagent solution into the reaction vessel and subsequently discharging cleaning water and dilution water. This series of operations is repeated every time the reaction container 3 is positioned at the reagent suction position of the reaction line 8.

The turntables 25A and 25B are rotated in a fixed direction by a drive motor via a slip mechanism, but are stopped, for example, electromagnetically, when a given reagent container comes to the above-mentioned reagent suction position according to instructions from the main computer 5. It is the composition.

The multi-wavelength photometric needle 12 irradiates the reaction vessel 3 with white light from a light source, and separates the white light transmitted through the reaction vessel using a grating (diffraction grating) of a spectrometer.
The absorbance for the wavelength of 1241A between 4Qnm and 850nm is continuously measured.

13 is a light source, 14 is a dispersion element, and 15 is a detector.

In the apparatus configured as described above, the operator first installs the sample containers 1 containing the sample serum to be measured in the snake chain of the sampler mechanism 20 in an orderly manner, and at the same time collects sample information such as what items to measure for each sample serum. is inputted by the input operation controller 19, and then the analyzer is started.

With this start, reaction line/8, pipetter mechanism 23
, 23A, and 23B repeat the same operation every cycle, regardless of the sample information, as is clear from the above description.

Meanwhile, evening tables 25A and 25B and sampler 2
0, the computer 5 controls the rotation, stopping, and transfer timing, respectively, based on sample information.

The operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be described in more detail below, taking as an example a case where six items A to F are measured for an arbitrary specimen.

When the serum sample container 1 reaches the serum suction position on the sampler mechanism 20, the transfer of the sampler mechanism is stopped by opening and stopping the reaction line 8 and the pipetter mechanisms 23, 23A and 23B in 6 steps, during which the sampler mechanism 20 reaches the serum suction position. The serum in the container is inhaled and diluted with pure water by the pipettor mechanism 23, and then sequentially dispensed into the six reaction containers 3.

These six reaction vessels are further transferred to the nozzle 24A.
When the reagent solution addition position is reached, the turntable 25
A rotates and stops based on sample information, and when stopped, the concentrated first reagent in the reagent container 26A located at the suction position on the turntable is inhaled by the pipetter mechanism 23A, and then added to the reaction container after being diluted with pure water. .

By repeating this process, the concentrated first reagents corresponding to items #) A to F are placed in the suction position of the turntable in an orderly manner, and diluted and added into the six reaction vessels.

After the first reagent stock has been added, the six reaction containers are further sequentially transferred and reach the reagent solution addition position by the nozzle 24B, and as in the case of the first reagent addition, the six reaction containers are turned and pulled 25B.
The required dilution of the concentrated second reagent is added through the nose.

When the reaction container after adding the second reagent is further transported and reaches the photometry position, the absorbance is sequentially measured by the multi-wavelength photometer 12, and the results are transmitted to the main computer 5 via the A/D converter 16. It is processed.

Although the typical example of the embodiment device has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that there are various other modifications and embodiments.

For example, when sample serum is not collected or when using a one-component method, turntable 25A and (or 7c are
It is desirable to provide one or more empty stopping positions on B where no reagent containers are placed.

That is, by doing this, for containers that do not require the addition of vC reagents, the turntable is stopped at the empty position and only pure water is added, thus saving t-tf on reagents.
Nito is made.

According to the above-mentioned device example, the mechanism that is controlled based on the sample information in relation to the partial pressure of the liquid is two tarps/tables and/or plastics. However, the number of reagents to be measured can be significantly simplified, and since the number of pipetters used is approximately 3 and takes 1 minute regardless of the number of items to be measured, the number of reagents to be measured can be changed by simply increasing or decreasing the number of reagents placed on the turntable. It is safe and reliable because it can be expanded and changed freely, requires only a small number of nozzle mechanisms and pipetters, which require the most complex movements in the mechanical system, and whose movements are only cyclical repetitions. It has a variety of effects, including significantly improving performance and eliminating the need for a pipettor or reagents in its path at the start of daily operation, eliminating waste of reagents and avoiding problems caused by mold and dirt. achieved.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the reagent supply mechanism can be downsized by pipetting multiple reagent solutions,
By adopting a configuration suitable for cleaning the inner and outer surfaces of the reagent nozzle, it is possible to eliminate contamination between reagents.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Sample container, 3... Reaction container, 12... Photometric needle, 20... Sampler mechanism, 22A, 22B... Washing tank, 23A, 23B... Reagent pipetter mechanism, 2
4... Sampling nozzle, 24A, 24B... Reagent nozzle, 25A, 25B... Turn 1-Pull, 2
6 people. 26B...Reagent liquid tank.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an automatic chemical analyzer that performs reactions related to multiple types of analysis items for liquid samples in reaction vessels on the same reaction line, (a) the reaction vessel row is transferred so as to pass through the sample addition position and the reagent addition position; (b) A sample supply device for adding multiple samples for different analysis items to a reaction container positioned at the reagent addition position using the same sampling nozzle; (C) A device capable of holding multiple types of reagent liquid tanks. a moving table; (d) a reagent liquid positioning device that positions a reagent liquid tank corresponding to an analysis item related to the reaction container positioned at the reagent addition position to a reagent liquid suction position by moving the mobile table; (e> reagent liquid Inhale and hold the above reagent 1!!L into the reagent nozzle at the above reagent nozzle suction position, and add the reagent liquid held in the above reagent nozzle to the reaction container for the analysis item to be drawn at the above reagent addition position. and (f) a reagent pipetter device that performs a reagent addition operation using the same nozzle even if the reagent liquid tank positioned at the reagent liquid suction position changes.
a pipe interior cleaning ## device for discharging a cleaning solution from the reagent nozzle to clean the inside of the reagent nozzle before inhaling and holding a reagent solution of a type different from the reagent solution of Ail through the reagent nozzle; (g) Before a reagent solution of a different type than the previous reagent solution is inhaled and held by the reagent nozzle, the outer surface of the reagent nozzle transferred to the cleaning tank is cleaned with a cleaning solution. Automatic chemical analysis device with a patent for complete equipment.