JPS59171847A - Biochemical analytical apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain to enhance treating capacity by performing electrophoretic treatment in parallel, by arranging a plurality of electrophoretic boxes in parallel while performing the supply and delivery of a support by moving a support supply means and a transit conveying means to each box. CONSTITUTION:Support 55 each cut into a predetermined dimension are supplied to a plurality of electrophoretic boxes B1, B2 from a support supply means A and the predetermined position of each support 55 is coated with a specimen by a pen point. In the next step, the supports 55 are closely adhered to filter papers 76, 77 set to both electrode cells 15, 16 and a current is supplied to both electrode cells 15, 16 to perform migration. After the pen point is washed, the next specimen is adhered to the support 55 and moved onto the next electrophoretic box according to the above mentioned operation order. In this case, the means A is already moved to the position of the support charging port of the next electrophoretic box and supplies the support thereto.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a biochemical analyzer, and more specifically, to a biochemical analyzer using electrophoresis suitable for measuring protein concentration etc. contained in serum. be.

In recent years, the usage rate of this type of analyzer has been increasing rapidly, but when applying a sample on a support in an electrophoresis chamber and performing electrophoresis analysis, it takes about 30 minutes for one processing time. Since it takes ~50 minutes, processing capacity is no longer able to keep up with the demand. To deal with this, it would be possible to increase the length of one support and increase the number of samples that can be processed in one run, but according to this,
This is undesirable because not only the electrophoresis box but also the subsequent steps such as staining and decolorizing means become larger and the entire apparatus becomes larger. In addition, the distance for transporting the support becomes longer, the structure of the transport means becomes more difficult, and new problems such as reproducibility arise in the case of separate images. On the other hand, it is also possible to increase throughput by arranging a plurality of electrophoresis boxes in parallel and moving them alternately to the support supply section and the support delivery section. However, in this method, if 11 electrophoresis boxes are used, space for n+(n-1) boxes is required on the analyzer, and the device becomes large as described above. ], and as the electrophoresis box is moved, the means for regenerating the buffer solution must also be moved, which complicates the structure and increases technical problems.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a biochemical analyzer that is small but has high throughput.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

This biochemical analyzer includes support supply means A.

From this support supply means A, a predetermined size 1. ; For example, two electrophoresis boxes B1 and B2 to which cut supports are supplied, and sample application means C for applying a sample such as serum onto the supports supplied in the electrophoresis boxes B1 and B2; Electrophoresis box B1. B:l! It moves between one staining/decolorizing means provided on the side of the support outlet, the electrophoresis boxes Bi, B2, and the staining/decolorizing means, and the support is transferred between them. Relay conveyance means E and this relay conveyance means]
A drying means F for drying the support in Σ, an identification code marking means G for attaching an identification code to each image of the support supplied from the relay conveyance means E, and this identification code marking means G A colorimetric determination means 11 is provided for colorimetric determination of each minute image on the support on which the identification code has been detected.

The support supply means A is connected to a motor 2 and a reel member (not shown) that rotatably holds the support 1 made of a piece of acetate cellulose wound into a roll. A feed roller 3゜4 that sends out toward the electrophoresis box 13 i + 82, and this feed roller 3
, 11, a fixed-size cutter 5 cuts the support 1 to a predetermined size, detects the presence or absence of the support 1, and uses the detection signal to determine the cutter 5 and the motor 2. The support 1 wound into a roll is unwound by the feed rollers 3 and 4.
Along with the mark, the edge of the electric iAt 1lI will be described later.
Each electric i
J (supplied into the electrophoresis box. This support supply means C is placed on the support entrance side of the electrophoresis boxes Bl and B2)
Upper 'T-1 pair of guide rails 1.0 arranged horizontally
, 1.1, and is selectively moved by a motor 71 via a pinion 8 and a rack 9, for example. Note that the control of the motor 7, that is, the position control of the support supply means A, is carried out in each electrophoresis box B.
This is carried out by a position detector 12 located corresponding to B2.

The electrophoresis boxes B and B2 are arranged in parallel with each other as shown in the figure, and each of them has its support loading port 90.
A pair of upper and lower support rollers 13 and 14 arranged on the side
and nine electrode tanks 15, 1.6 arranged symmetrically.
and between these electrode tanks 15 and 16, an IJA
The support conveyor bells 1 to 17 and 18 are arranged to be rotated by a motor 19 via a gear group 20. The electrophoresis boxes B1 and B2 also include first and second support detectors 21 and 22 for detecting the support 55 conveyed by the support conveyance belt 17, 18,
The top shutter 23, which is normally biased in a closed state by a spring 92, and the support conveyor belt 17.1
In connection with the operation of step 8, an unloading Roshanotter 24 is provided which selectively opens and closes the support unloading port 93. In addition,
Although not shown, this electrophoresis box B1, +32 is provided with a circulation means for circulating a buffer solution.

The sample application means C has a horizontally movable block 26 which holds a plurality of sample application pen nibs 25 so as to be movable downward.
1. It is moved to a predetermined position via a belt or wire 3 (l) by a motor (not shown) along a pair of upper and lower guide rails 27° 28 arranged horizontally at a predetermined height position on B2. , this horizontal movement block 26 has a sample attachment position where the sample 30 dispensed onto the sample dish 29 is attached, a draining and temporary application position where the filter paper 31 is placed, an electrophoresis box By, R-
・Sample application position to support body 55 inside, cleaning tank 32
The pen tip 25 is moved in a predetermined order to cleaning positions within the pen, and is stopped at each position by the position detector 33.

The above dyeing/decolorizing means 1. ．． 1 has a liquid tank 511 consisting of a vertically long bottomed cylindrical body with two sides open.
4, a pair of left and right two-part rollers 50, 5'l are always pressed, and a pair of left and right rollers 1, which are normally open and are pressed only when carrying out the support 55 from the liquid tank 54. The lower rollers 52 + 53 of the row, the pump 56 that feeds the dyeing liquid in the dyeing liquid tank 94 into the liquid tank 54, the valve 57 that drains the liquid from the liquid tank 54, and the suggested value liquid tank 9.
A pump 58 that sends the decolorizing liquid in the liquid tank 54 into the liquid tank 54, a valve 59 that drains the liquid from the liquid tank 54, and an air pump 60 that generates air bubbles in the liquid tank 54 to enhance the decoloring effect during decolorization. It will be equipped with. In this example, the staining/decolorizing means is provided in the electrophoresis box I31.
It is arranged at a fixed position corresponding to the support carrying out piece 93. In addition, a lower roller 5 is provided in the liquid tank 54.
A porous auxiliary container 96 for receiving the support 55 is provided in association with the support 55 .

The relay conveyance means E includes conveyance bells h36, 37 driven by a motor 35, a roller 38 disposed on the inlet side of the bell 1 to interlock therewith, and a roller 39 in pressure contact with the roller 38. and a roller 40 provided on the exit side of the two-part belt 36, 37 so as to be in pressure contact therewith, and a support for detecting the presence or absence of a support at the ends of the bells I to 3G, :s7. Body detector/
'II, 42. And this relay transportation 1
1st stage I- is a guide rail arranged in a state of water 9 [1]
7,48J movably supported]' (with motor/
13, one set of pulleys 44, 45. ! 1 piece of each support from the electrophoresis box R1, 1J) is carried out via the Y Q't-46 which is passed over the 2-part staining/decolorizing means and the drying means F. They are moved in a predetermined order. Incidentally, reference numeral 49 is a position detector for positioning this relay conveying means at each position indicated by -. In this example,
-1- The conveyor bells 1 to 36 and 37 are provided so as to be inclined in a right-I rotation J shape as shown in the figure. This is because it is intended that the space occupied by the relay conveying means E be as small as possible, and that the support placed on the dyeing/decolorizing means can be transferred without difficulty.

The drying means 1.'', as illustrated in FIG. 3, consists of a heater 81 and a fan 82 built into a cylindrical casing 97. In this case, the drying means F comprises hot air discharged therefrom; thus the electrophoresis box 131.8
In order to avoid disturbing the electrophoresis atmosphere in each electrophoresis box B1. B:; is located at an intermediate position (see Fig. 1). Note that this drying means F may be provided within the relay conveying means E.

The above-mentioned identification code marking means G is for marking a specific code for individually identifying each part image formed on the support body supplied from the relay conveying means E, and for example, rotates a cam 62 by a motor 61. ! As mentioned above, this cam 62 causes the elastic plate 64 to
By intermittently moving up and down, a support is sandwiched between the elastic plate 64 and the mark drum 63, and a specific identification code is attached to each image.

The colorimetric determination means 1 (as described above, includes a plurality of rollers 67 rotationally driven by a motor 66 for conveying a support bearing a specific identification code to a clarifying liquid tank 65;
The same number of rollers 68 press against each of these rollers 67
A light source 69 and a light receiving element 70 facing each other across the transparent liquid tank 65 are connected to a motor 71 and a pinion 72.
．． The guide rail 74.7 is driven by a drive source including Lasota 73.
5 and configured to colorimetrically image each minute image on the support.

Next, the operation of this invention will be explained. As shown in FIG. 1, the support supply means A and the relay conveyance means T are connected to the support inlet 91 of the electrophoresis box Hj and the support unloader ['].
Assuming that the robot is moving to each position corresponding to 93,
First, the support 1 wound into a roll is unwound by the feed rollers 3 and 4 of the support supply means A, and the support 1 is brought in.
Wetting roller 13 from 191. While being properly moistened at +4, it is carried into this electrophoresis box BI on a conveyor bell 1-17.18, and when the edge of the support 1 reaches the location of the second detector 21, , the above feed roller 3.4
, the wetting rollers 13 and 14 and the conveyor belts 17 and 18 are stopped, and the support 1 is cut to a predetermined length by the sizing cutter 5, and the finite length support 55 is separated from the roll-shaped support 1 by this cutter 5. be done.

This support 55 is connected to the wetting rollers 13, 1 . /I and transport bell h+7. ] 8, and when the tip thereof is detected by the second detector 22, their feeding is stopped. In this state, the sample application means C operates and the cleaning 4e3
After the pen tip 25 that has been washed in the pen tip 2 is drained on a filter paper 31, the pen tip 25 is moved to the sample attachment position, and the sample 30 is temporarily coated on the filter paper 31 which has been drained once.
0 onto the electrophoresis box B1, push open the upper shutter 23 against the spring 92, and apply the sample to a predetermined position on the appropriately moistened support 55 as described above. Next, the filter papers 76 and 77 set in both electrode tanks 15 and 16 are lifted up by the rift 1 (not shown) to the side of the machine, and the support body 55 is lifted from the conveyor bells 1 to 17.18. The pen tip 25 is placed in close contact with the filter papers 76, 77 of the electrodes 15, 1.6, and the electrode wires (not shown), which are wired in both the electrode tanks 15, 1.6, are energized to carry out electrophoresis. After applying the sample to
It is transferred to the cleaning tank 32, where it is washed for a predetermined period of time, drained again, and the next sample 30 is attached, and the other electrophoresis f (f B-: is moved upward) according to the above-described operation sequence.

In this case, the support supply means A has already moved to the position of the support inlet 93 of this electrophoresis box B2, and transfers the support wound into a roll into the electrophoresis box B2.
: Supply within. Then, after the support 55 cut IJJ from the support 1 by the sizing cutter 5 is moderately moistened by the wetting rollers 13 and 14, it is placed on the conveyor bells 1 to 17 and 1.8. It has been transported to the designated location. Therefore, the pen nib 25 allows the support 55 to be
＼The sample is applied, and the electrophoresis is then carried out in the same manner as described above.

``When the electrophoresis in the electrophoresis box B i is completed, the shutter 24 that was blocking the support outlet 93 is opened, and
Conveyor belts 17, 18, belt 36 of relay conveyance means E.
37 and rollers 38 and 39 rotate together, and the migrated support 55 is transferred from the conveyor belt 17.18 to the belt 36+37''2. When the tip of this support 55 is detected by the detector 42, the bells b36 and 37 rotate in the opposite direction, and the upper roller 50 of the dyeing/decolorizing means
．． 51 and lower rollers 52 and 53 rotate, supporting body 5
5 is fed into a liquid tank 54 which is already filled with dyeing liquid. In this case, the support 55 is the upper roller so, 51
It is sent into the liquid tank 54 until it separates from the
This control is performed by continuing to feed υ for a predetermined period of time after the support 55 passes the detector 41 provided at the lower end of the bell 1-36.37. Liquid tank 5
When the support 55 is dyed and fixed in the tank 94 for a certain period of time, the valve 57 is opened and the staining solution is returned to the tank 94.
The pump 58 operates and the liquid tank 54 is discharged from the decolorizing liquid tank 95.
The decolorizing liquid is supplied to a predetermined water level within the tank. In connection with this, the air pump 60 is activated to carry out decolorization work. After this operation has been carried out for a certain period of time, the valve 59 opens and the dirty decolorizing liquid is discharged, and a new decolorizing liquid is supplied into the liquid tank 54 again. In this way, when the decolorization of the support body 55 is completed, the lower rollers 52, 53, the upper roller 50,
51 and belts 36 and 37 rotate in the opposite direction, and the support 55 continues to move through the relay conveyance means E until its tip is detected by the detector 42.
brought back inside. In that case, the door roller 52. ．． "13 is crimped and the lower roller 50+ is sandwiched between the support body 55.
51.

After that, the relay conveying means 1ε moves to the upper part of the drying means 1, and the heater 81 and the fan 82
is activated, and the heat lice guided by the guides 79 and 80 are sent into the drying chamber surrounded by the cover 78, and the support 55 is dried. When this drying process is completed, the relay conveying means E moves to the position of the entrance of the means G indicated by the identification code (-1).Then, the belt 36
．． 37 and the conveyance roller of the colorimetric determination means H °6'7.6
8, the support body 55 is conveyed until its terminal end passes the detector 42 and then stopped. At this time, the identification code notation means G operates to apply a specific code to the support 55 for identifying each image formed on the support 55. The colorimetric determination means H performs automatic zero point adjustment, and on the other hand,
The support 55 is moved until the center of the first minute image (first specimen) reaches the light source 69 and then stopped. Then, the light source 69 and the light-receiving element 7° scan the partial image to perform quantitative determination.

In this way, the feeding and quantification of the support is repeated for each sample, so that all the images on the support 55 are quantified.

The same applies to the support 55 in the electrophoresis box B2, and when the electrophoresis ends, the relay conveyance means E moves to the position of the support outlet 93 of the electrophoresis box B2, and the electrophoresis box B2 The inner support body 55 is transferred to the relay conveyance means E. Thereafter, this support 55 is dyed and decolorized in accordance with the above-described order, and after being dried, it is sent to the colorimetric determination means H via the means G marked with the identification code A. In addition,
The buffer solution in each electrophoresis box Bx, B:z is replaced by a buffer circulation means (not shown) every time electrophoresis is completed.
Wait for the next run.

While repeating the above operations, each electrophoresis box Bt,
H2 is controlled so that there is no idle time, but it goes without saying that the number of electrophoresis boxes is not limited to two in this embodiment, and may be three or more. In addition, reference number 83.8=1 is the fixed ball of the guy 1-rail 47.48, 85 is the protection ball of the pulley 45, 86°87 is the fixed ball of the guy 1' trail 27.28, and 8 ( 1°90 is the fixed ball of the rail to guy 1, 8
8 is wash ('f14< overflow (da11).

As is clear from the description of the embodiments described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of electrophoresis cells 1t1 are arranged in parallel, and the support supply means and the relay conveyance means are moved to each of them. By supplying and receiving the supports, the electrophoresis process in each electrophoresis box can be carried out in parallel, and the throughput can be greatly improved. In addition, since the space occupied by the electrophoresis λt1 is small compared to the conventional one in which the electrophoresis box itself is moved, it is possible to design the entire apparatus in a compact manner. In addition, there is no need to move the solution circulation means attached to the electrophoresis box, so the structure is simpler.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are a sectional view taken along the line A to A-8 in FIG. 1, and a sectional view taken along the +3-8' line, respectively. In the figure, l'\ is the support supply ii'ri lower stage, l(+,
Is L3 electricity? Water: 1 box of II, 4 columns of 4 samples of C type,
Shi means dyeing/bleaching [1 stage, I means relay transportation go 1 stage, C means +
2 drying] 1st stage, G is identification 13f/J means, I-1 is colorimetric determination means, j, 55 is support, 1.3.14 is wetting roller, +5, 16 is electrode +jIJ, 17.1 .8 is conveyance/< Le 1-123 is the L-side sheet V-Tutter-125 is the sample application pen tip, 26 is the horizontal movement block, 29 is the sample plate, 3
2 is a cleaning tank, 3G, 37 is ・\ruto, and 5.1 is a liquid tank C. Special A1 Applicant General Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Tsuge Ohara However, Figure 3 F Procedural Amendment (Voluntary) August 8, 1988 2, Title of Invention Biochemical Analyzer 3, Person Making Amendment Case Relationship Patent applicant 1116 (661) Suenaga, Takatsu-ku, Yozaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture General Co., Ltd. Representative Shoji Furukawa 5, Amendment order daily (self-motivated) Showa month/day (shipment date; same year/month El)
) 6. Correct the correction target L1 entrance 93aj. (2) In the specification, page 12, line 7 and line 11 of the same page, "Inlet port 91J" is corrected as "Inlet port 93all." (3) In the specification, page 14, line 3, ""Delivery entrance 93" is corrected to "Delivery entrance 93a, j." (4) Specification, page 7, line 16, page 9, line 10,
Page 10, line 8, page 12, line 8, page 14, line 14
"Export port 93" in line 8, page 17, line 8 is corrected to "export port 93b". (5) Specification, page 9, line 12 “Roller 52°52”
(6) In the specification, page 9, line 13, "porous..." to the next line "...iteru." ” is corrected. (7) Specification, page 13, line 11 r... cloth. ”
Add the following sentence after. WIn addition, in order to shorten the time, the sample application means C may proceed at the same time as the support loading process, so that when the support stops in a fixed position, the pen tip with the sample attached immediately moves and can be applied. Of course. J (7) Specification, page 15, line 9 “...”
Add the following sentence after. ``In addition, when the end of the support leaves the upper rollers 50, 51, the space between the lower rollers 52, 53 opens, so the support does not enter any further. Correct. That's all.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) A support supply means for supplying a support made of a cellulose acetate membrane cut into a predetermined length, and a buffer solution supplied from the support supply means. a plurality of electrophoresis boxes including a wetting section for wetting; a sample application means for applying a sample such as serum onto the support carried into the electrophoresis box; A dyeing/bleaching means for dyeing and bleaching the support, a drying means for drying the support dyed/bleached by the means, and an identification code for each image of the support dried by the means. An identification code recording means for attaching an identification code;
quantification means for colorimetrically quantifying each fractional image on the support supplied from the means, each of the electrophoresis boxes being arranged in parallel at a fixed position, The supply means is movably provided with respect to each support carrying-in port of these electrophoresis boxes, and each support carrying-out port is provided on the support carrying-out port side of each electrophoresis box. and the dyeing/bleaching means to receive and transfer the support, and the support dyed/bleached by the dyeing/bleaching means:) ii
A biochemical analysis apparatus characterized in that a relay conveying means is provided for drying the product in the drying means and then supplying the identification code to the identification code writing means. (2. In claim (1), the support supply means is equipped with a fixed cutter for cutting the support wound into a roll into predetermined lengths. Chemical analysis apparatus. (3) In claim (1), the drying means is arranged in parallel with the staining/decolorizing means on the support outlet side of the electrophoresis box, and the relay conveyance means A biochemical analysis device characterized in that the support is moved between a support outlet, the staining/decolorizing means, and the drying means in a predetermined order. (4) In claim (3), the drying means , a biochemical analysis device characterized in that the electrophoresis box is disposed at an arbitrary position shifted from the support outlet. (5) In claim ( ), the dry membrane comprises: A biochemical analysis device characterized in that it is incorporated in the relay conveyance means.