JPS5897644A - Photometric method for automatic analyzing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an analysis possible by illuminating the plural cells by one light source selectively at high speed without moving the light source or cell, by invading the plural number of optical path conversion members along the optical path of the light source selectively. CONSTITUTION:Luminous flux from a light source 10 is made into a parallel light passing through a lens 11 and is transmitted through a filter 14 of a filter turret 13 attached to a motor 12. Further, said light is introduced to a cell 16 for holding a liquid to be inspected by a mirror 15 and is received by a photodetector 17. The cell 16 consists of A-F eight cells and the mirror 15 consists also of eight mirrors. The mirror 15 is moved between P-Q parallelly. In order to make the analysis of eight items of the same sample, the sample is taken in eight cells 16 and the luminous flux is made incident to the cells A-F successively. Also, photometry can be carried out by the plural wavelengths by stopping the mirror 15 at the P position and switching the filter 14 successively by rotating the turret 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a photometric method for an automatic analyzer that analyzes a specimen by photometry.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional photometry method.

In this photometry method, a cell 3 holding a test liquid is sequentially moved between a light source and a light receiving detector 2, and when the optical axis reaches the center of the cell 3, photometry is performed.

In this method, cell 3 must always be measured at a constant position with respect to the optical axis in order to reduce subtle differences in optical path length depending on the location within the same cell and the effects of scratches and dirt on the cell. Generally, photometry is performed by stopping the movement of the cell 3 using a determining mechanism. In addition, the movement of the cell 3 causes the test solution in the cell to shake, and for precise measurements, it is necessary to wait until the test solution stops shaking before taking measurements, and the measurement speed cannot be increased because photometry cannot be performed immediately after the cell stops. There was a drawback.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing another example of the conventional photometry method. This photometry method is a method in which a plurality of cells J are fixed, and light #l and a light receiving detector are simultaneously moved in the same direction to sequentially photometer the plurality of cells. In this case as well, as in the example shown in FIG. 1, an accurate positioning mechanism is required because the light source 1 and the photodetector 1 are stopped and photometry is performed when they reach the photometry position relative to the cell 3. In addition, in order to move the light source 1 and the light receiving detector, care must be taken to ensure that the wiring for supplying current to the light source 1 and the wiring for extracting signals from the light receiving detector 1 are sufficiently resistant to movement. There are some problems.

Fig. 3 shows a photometry method devised to compensate for the drawbacks of the methods shown in Figs. In this method, light is received by a device and photometry is performed.

In this photometry method, the light from the light source l is divided by the fiber j, so the amount of light guided to one cell is reduced. Furthermore, when photometry is performed using short wavelength light (ultraviolet light), the fiber itself absorbs the light, which requires the use of a quartz glass fiber or the like, which is expensive.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems in the conventional photometry method of automatic analyzers, and to reduce the amount of light from a single light source without moving the light source, light receiving detector, or test liquid holding cell. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photometric method that can conduct multi-item and multi-analyte analysis by leading to a large number of test liquid holding cells while preventing polarization.

In order to achieve this purpose, the photometric method of the automatic analyzer of the present invention selectively illuminates multiple cells holding test liquids with a single light source, and the light transmitted through the cells is received by a light receiving element. In a photometry method for an automatic analyzer that performs photometry of a test liquid, a plurality of optical path changing members arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of cells along the optical path of the light source are selectively intruded onto the optical path. Accordingly, the optical path of the light from the light source is changed toward a cell corresponding to each optical path changing member, and the light is made to selectively enter the plurality of cells.

The photometric method of the automatic analyzer of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a photometric device of an automatic analyzer based on the photometric method of an automatic analyzer of the present invention. Light # on +g! The light beam from 10 passes through lens l/, becomes parallel light, passes through filter l- of filter turret 13 attached to motor/2, becomes monochromatic, and is converted into a test liquid by mirror /j, which is an optical path conversion member. The light transmitted through the test solution holding cell/l is received by the light receiving detector 17 and photometry is performed. In Figure 4I, the test solution holding cell/6 is 1 of 5 to 1.
There are 1 cells, and the same number of mirrors IS for changing the optical path as the cells 16 for holding the test solution are prepared. Mirror/J is designed to be able to move in parallel between P and Q in Fig. 41, and when positioned at P, it reflects the light from light #10 and closes the sample holding cell 1.
A light beam is made incident on 6. For example, when a beam of light is made to enter the cell 16 for holding the test liquid, it is sufficient to move only the mirror /3 corresponding to the cell 16 from the position Q to the position P. When performing one-item analysis of the same sample, dispense the sample into one reaction tube, react with the reagent that meets the analysis item, and guide the reacted test solution to the test solution holding cell/B mirror/ By sequentially moving S from Q to P, the light beam can be made to sequentially enter A to F of the test liquid holding cell lB, and one item of analysis can be performed at the same time. Filter turret/
3, a filter 14t having a wavelength matching the analysis item can be selected in synchronization with moving the mirror/J by driving the motor 12. In addition, the mirror 15 is moved from the Q position to the P position and stopped, and the motor/2
By driving the filter turret 13 to rotate the filter and sequentially switching filters, it is also possible to perform photometry at a plurality of wavelengths for one analysis item. In addition, by dispensing each sample into one reaction tube, reacting with the same reagent, and guiding the reaction sample to t test solution holding cells/6, it is possible to simultaneously analyze one sample. can.

In the case of this photometry method, a light source 10, a test liquid holding cell 1
Since mirror /j is only moved between P and Q without moving mirror 4, there is no need for a particularly precise positioning and stopping mechanism, and mirror /1 can be moved using a simple mechanism. Also, since the mirror /j has a width, the mirror movement stop position does not need to be very accurate at the P and Q positions.
By keeping only the incident angle at which the light beam enters the mirror tS constant, the light beam can always be made to enter the cell I at a substantially fixed position.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the means for moving the mirror/j. In this embodiment, the extension shaft /I of the motor lλ.

The rollers provided at the bottom of the mirror /3 are urged by the springs l and brought into contact with the attached plurality of cams /9, and the mirror /j is sequentially moved by the operation of the cam /9, and the light source /θ is moved from the light source /θ. The light beam is sequentially switched so as to be incident on 5 to F of the test liquid holding cell /l, and at the same time, the filter turret 13 having a gear formed on its outer periphery is rotated by a gear n attached to the extension shaft /l of the motor 12. Filter turret 13
The filters/11 attached to the filters are sequentially selected. As shown in the sixth fjlJ, when the light beam is incident on the test liquid holding cell l≦, the beam of mirror /j is moved by the beam of cam l and reflects the light beam from the light source 10. At this time, the filter a provided in the filter turret/J is selected, and the monochromatic light made by the filter a is incident on the test liquid holding cell/6.

Generally, when performing biochemical analysis optically, it is common practice to make a reaction between a specimen and a reagent and select the wavelength at which the change in light absorption by the reaction solution is greatest. With this system, you can automatically replace the filter with the optimal wavelength for each test liquid and perform photometry, making it easy to select the wavelength of light that is suitable for the analysis item. Also filter turret/
Since the filter/diameter 3 can be removed and replaced, changes in analysis items can be easily accommodated.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the means for moving the mirror /3, in which the mirrors /J are individually driven using a solenoid n and a spring λ. Further, the filter turret 1 is driven by a motor 12 separately from the mirror 3.

In this embodiment, the light beams can be incident on the sample liquid holding cells/4 through 1 in any order, and the filter/ji that selects the wavelength of the light beam to be sent to these test liquid holding cells/6 can be arbitrarily controlled. It is designed so that you can select and switch.

According to the photometry method of the automatic analyzer of the present invention as detailed above, the light source and the light receiving detector are not moved, so the wiring is fixed and reliability is high. Since the cell for holding the test liquid is not moved, there is no fluctuation in detection, making high-speed photometry possible. Since only the optical path converting means is moved, the mechanical positioning mechanism becomes simple. This photometry method has many advantages, such as being able to simultaneously switch the cell that sends the light flux and the wavelength of the irradiated light flux using a single drive system.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various changes can be made within the scope of the claims. Although a mirror is used as the optical path converting means in the above-mentioned embodiment as an example, the optical path is not limited to this, and the optical path may be changed using a prism or an optical fiber.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 are diagrams showing the configuration of the photometric method of a conventional automatic analyzer, FIG. 4I is a diagram showing the configuration of a photometric device based on the photometric method of the automatic analyzer of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the configuration of the filter turret of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the optical path conversion means in the photometric device of the automatic analyzer of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is the automatic analyzer of the present invention. s showing another embodiment of the optical path changing means in the photometric device of
It is a l1 diagram. l...Light source, λ...Light receiving detector, 3...Cell, D...Optical axis, j...Optical fiber, 10...Light source, /
/...Lens, /2...Motor, /3-...Filter turret, l...Filter, /J...Mirror, /4...Cell, 17...Light receiving detector, /l...
・Extension shaft, lq...cam, X...roller, i...
Spring, n...Gear, n...Solenoid, Review...Spring. Patent Applicant Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Procedural Amendment Statement April 5, 1980 Case No. 11 Showa 56 Patent Application No. 196213 2 Title of Invention Photometry of Automatic Analyzer Method 3: Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant (037) Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. L specification page aS @ 1 line, 1 cell 8” is replaced with “multiple cells 8 (e.g., t
In the 14th line of the same page, change cell 8 to ``cell δ (e.g. M,
B, 0, D, E---Correct 3 to ``. 2. Correct "to cell 8" in the 8th negative 7th line to "to cell 8 (for example, mu, B, 0.D, g)". 8. Corrected "cell for holding test solution" on line 1111 of page 5 of the same TM to "cell for holding multiple test solution", and changed "Mu~F" on line 4 and line 17 of the same page to "5~H". ” respectively. 4 Corrected line lIs on page 7 of the same page to ``provided at the bottom of 5' to 1'' of mirror 15 on the multiple cams 19 installed at M' to F', respectively.''"holdingcell" was corrected to "multiple detection holding cells", and "filter 14" in line 9 of the same page was changed to "a of filter 14".
-f is corrected to ``,'' and ``corresponding to this'' is added to III of ``Mirror 15'' on the 12th line of the same page. Correct "cell for holding test solution" on page 8, line 12 of the same page to "cell for holding test solution". 6. In the drawing, 1st * 2 + 8 t 4 r 6 e
Correct Figure 7 according to the corrected figure. Figure 1 Nail, 2 tonneau No. 8. G: 4th is 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a photometry method for an automatic analyzer, the cell on the complement side holding detection is selectively illuminated by L/number of light sources, and the light transmitted through the cell is received by a light-receiving element to measure the light of the test liquid. A plurality of optical path converting members arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of cells are selectively allowed to enter the optical path along the optical path of the light source, thereby directing the light from the light source to the cell corresponding to each optical path converting member. 1. A photometry method for an automatic analyzer, characterized in that the optical path is changed toward the direction of the light beam, and the light path is made to selectively enter the plurality of cells.