JPS59202065A - Automatic analytical apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain to enhance a specimen distributing degree and to also accurately perform the analysis of a high concn. specimen, by mixing and injecting both liquids from the non-diluted specimen container and the dilution liquid tank of a specimen table in a diluted specimen container while injecting the liquids of both containers or the liquid of one container into the reaction tube of a reaction table. CONSTITUTION:The movement of a nozzle 4, the suckings and emissions of a dilution liquid pump 7 and a non-diluted liquid pump 8 and the change-over of an emitting and flowline change-over valve 16 are controlled by a central control part 20 and the liquid mixture of the non-diluted specimen of each non-diluted specimen container 10 of an analytical turntable 2 and the diluted specimen from the diluted liquid tank 6 is distributed in diluted specimen containers 11. In addition, the liquid mixture from the tubes 11 or the non-diluted specimen from each tube 10 is similarily distributed in each reaction tube 17 in which a reagent is distributed of a reaction tube turntable 3 to perform absorbance analysis. By this constitution, specimen distributing accuracy is enhanced and an apparent concn. due to a prozone phenomenon is corrected by the comparison with concn. accompanying the analysis of the reagent in the non-diluted specimen even if a reagent concn. is high and accurate analysis can be performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to an automatic analyzer, and more particularly, to an improvement of the control section of a sample dispensing mechanism in an automatic analyzer.

(B) Conventional technology A reagent is added to a sample such as a biological sample such as serum or urine, and reacted with the test substance (target component) present in the sample, and the absorbance and other characteristics of the product are measured. Conventionally, in a dispensing type automatic analyzer that measures the concentration of a test substance, if the cJ degree of the test substance is too high or the reaction sensitivity is too high, the measurable upper limit concentration value, that is, the measurement range becomes small. In order to adjust and lower the reaction sensitivity, analysis has been carried out by reducing the amount of sample taken with respect to the reagent.

However, in this method, for example, when the amount of reagent is small, the amount of sample to be collected may be very small, and may amount to several μg. In this way, when a small amount of sample is collected, the sample adheres to the sample discharge nozzle1. Therefore, when dispensing a small amount of sample,
There was a drawback that the dispensing accuracy decreased.

Also, for example, as seen in the antigen-antibody reaction, test 11! If the concentration of the liquid is too high, the prozone phenomenon shown in FIG. 1 may occur, and the concentration of the target component in the sample may be measured and calculated as an apparent value lower than the true value. In such cases, after measuring the sample, the sample liquid was diluted separately and the measurement was performed again. Therefore, the loss of measurement and analysis time was considerable.

(c) Purpose of the Invention This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of dispensing a sample in an automatic analyzer using a dispensing method without reducing the dispensing accuracy even when dispensing a minute amount of a sample. , and it is intended to be able to accurately calculate the concentration of a test substance present in a sample even in a highly concentrated sample liquid.

(D) Structure of the Invention The present invention comprises a diluent tank, a flow path whose tip is a nozzle portion and whose other end is introduced into the dilution tank, and a flow path which is interposed in the flow path via a flow path switching means. A pump, a table for pie 31,
In an automatic analyzer equipped with a reaction tube double having a large number of reaction tubes, a means for moving a nozzle relative to both tables, and a reagent dispensing means, the sample table has a plurality of undiluted samples into which undiluted samples have been introduced in advance. comprising a sample container and a plurality of diluted sample containers containing diluted samples, and operating a flow path switching means, a pump, and a nozzle relative movement means,
Mix and inject the specified two corresponding liquids from the undiluted sample container and the diluted sample container on the test i31 table into the diluted sample container, and then pour the corresponding two liquids or the specified width from the undiluted sample container and the diluted sample container Select one of them and inject them into the reaction tubes on the reaction tube table, and then operate the reagent dispensing means to inject the reagents into the reaction tubes before or after injecting both of the solutions into the reaction tubes. This is an automatic analyzer equipped with a central control unit.

The switching dispensing means used in this invention is l171 J? as in the embodiment. It is preferable to use a valve, a screw, and a cylinder, but other preferable examples include a combination of a valve-cut sampler and a cylinder pump in place of the piston and cylinder.

(B) Examples The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples shown in the figures. However, this invention is not limited to this.

First, in FIG. 2, the automatic analyzer (1) has a diluent tank (6), a flow path (pipe line) whose tip is a nozzle (4), and whose other end is introduced into the diluent tank (6). (5), a sample liquid pump (8) for aspirating and discharging a fixed amount of undiluted sample and diluted sample interposed in this flow path, and a flow path and a flow path switching valve 0.
A diluent pump (force) that discharges and suctions the diluent disposed through a horizontal sample turntable (2),
A horizontal reaction tube turntable (3), a relative movement plate (9) for the nozzle with respect to both tables, a reagent tank and reagent dispensing 2: 'tN deviation (not shown), and this analyzer (1).
) and a central control unit @). Note that a7) is a reaction tube.

The sample turntable (2) has a plurality of undiluted sample containers (10) 001... and undiluted sample containers (10) into which undiluted sample liquids are placed upward near its outer periphery. Between sample containers (11)...
A large number of these containers are arranged side by side alternately around the outer periphery of the table (2) so as to draw concentric circles.

On the other hand, the sample liquid pump (8) consists of a cylindrical cylinder 02) into which the undiluted sample liquid is placed, and a piston 03) that slides inside this cylinder. Also, the diluent pump (7)
It has the same structure as the sample liquid pump (8), but its dimensions are made slightly larger. Furthermore, this pump is connected to the suction and discharge ports of the cylinder (example) to the pipe line (5) on the diluent tank (6) side when the piston 05) performs suction operation,
Also, when the screw 1 (15) is activated, the nozzle (4)
) is provided with a flow path switching valve (16) connected to the pipe line (5).

The following is a method for automatically measuring the concentration of a target component in a sample such as serum or urine using a control signal from the east 11 control section (ll'ol) of an automatic analyzer (1) consisting of 111 components. Explain.

First, operate the nozzle moving plate (9) of the device (1), lower the nozzle (4), and place its tip on the sample turntable (
2) Insert into the undiluted sample container flol. Next, the screws 1 to 03 of the sample liquid pump (8) are activated to suck the undiluted sample liquid into the cylinder 02 of the sample liquid pump (8) in a predetermined amount. At the same time as this suction, the piston (15) of the diluted liquid pump (7) also operates the suction operation, and the diluted liquid is pumped from the dilution tank (6) by the pre-designated protrusion 1 corresponding to the undiluted sample liquid. Inside the cylinder (I4) (avoid suction). Then, at the same time as the suction of the undiluted sample solution and diluted solution is completed, the nozzle (
4) from inside the undiluted sample container (l○) above the sample turntable (2), and
) by one step so that the diluted sample container (11) is directly below the four-way nozzle (4). here,
Switch the flow path switching valve (16) of the diluent pump (7) to the discharge side as shown in Figure 2, and turn off the pistons (15) and (13) of the diluent pump (7) and sample liquid pump (8). The undiluted sample liquid and the diluted liquid that were previously aspirated by each discharge operation are dispensed into the diluted sample container (11). In this way, the undiluted sample liquid is diluted and dispensed in the other diluted sample containers (1) (11)...(this sequence).

Next, using a reagent dispenser (not shown), a constant 1fi of reagent is added to the reaction tube (17) of the reaction tube turntable (3) 0
71..., and then pump the sample liquid pump (8) again.
) to aspirate the diluted sample liquid, and in that state move the nozzle (4) horizontally onto the reaction tube turntable (3), and dispense the aspirated diluted sample liquid into the reaction tube (17). In this case, the switching valve is shown as a dotted line). In this way, other sample liquids can be prepared by rotating the sample turntable (2) and the reaction tube turntable (3) one step at a time.
7) Dispense the sample into (17)... and allow it to react.Then, a measurement unit (not shown) measures the absorbance of the sample in the reaction tube (17) (17+...). to determine the concentration of the target component in the sample.

By using a diluted sample solution according to the selection as described above, if the m3 degree of the analyte present in Test 1'4 is too high or the reaction sensitivity is too high, the reaction sensitivity adjustment can be done by -C. , and the dispensing precision can also be improved. Furthermore, the concentrations of the undiluted sample solution and the diluted sample solution are measured, and by multiplying the measured value of the consistency (of the target component in the diluted sample solution) by the dilution factor, the concentrations of the undiluted sample solution and the diluted sample solution are By calculating the concentration of the target component and comparing it with the measured value of the undiluted sample,
Even if it is not possible to measure the mere concentration of the target component in the undiluted sample solution due to the prozone phenomenon, the true concentration can be determined C) without fail. However, in this case, if the measured concentration of the target component in the diluted sample solution is very small, the measured value of the undiluted sample is adopted.

In addition, FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) show other embodiments of the sample turntable, and the table 08) in FIG. In addition, undiluted sample containers 00) are arranged concentrically in parallel on the center side. The table 03) in Figure 3 (b) consists of a rack with a rectangular top surface, and the diluted sample container (1
1) and undiluted sample containers [10] are provided in two rows along the longitudinal direction.

As in the above embodiments, instead of using two pumps, the pump (8) and the pump (7) equipped with a flow path switching valve 06, as the injection and dispensing means, one pump equipped with a switching valve is used as the injection and dispensing means.
Two pumps can also be used.

(f) Effects of the Invention The present invention provides a sample table including a undiluted sample container and a diluted sample container, a specific flow path switching valve, a pump,
Nozzle relative movement means 1 A reaction tube table, a reagent dispensing means, and a diluted liquid tank are provided, and the undiluted sample and diluted liquid are injected into the diluted sample container, and the undiluted sample and diluted liquid are injected into the diluted sample container. and a central control unit that respectively controls the injection of the diluted sample into the reaction tube, and pre-dilutes the sample and injects one or both of the diluted sample and the undiluted sample into the reaction tube.
By measuring in pairs, in the case of highly concentrated analytical items, by measuring diluted samples.
Can be dispensed to the positive Bff without reducing dispensing accuracy,
In addition, in the case of prozone phenomenon analysis items, by measuring the undiluted sample and the diluted sample corresponding to this sample in pairs, it is possible to accurately determine the concentration of the test substance present in the undiluted sample. It is something that makes it possible to produce camphor.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the relationship between the absorbance in the prozone phenomenon and the concentration of the target component in the sample. Figures (A) and (B) are plan views showing other embodiments of this sample turntable. (1)... Automatic analyzer. (2)... Sample turntable. Table. (4)... Nozzle, (6) Diluent tank. (7)... Diluent pump. (8)... Non-diluent pump, 00).・・・・・・
・Container for undiluted samples. (11) Container for diluted sample, G61...
...Flow path switching valve. G20]... Centralized control section. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 ('r) (b) 111111

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A channel for introducing 4 fl of the dilution liquid into a diluent tank, the tip of which is a nozzle, and the other end of which is introduced into a diluent tank, and a pump that is interposed in this channel via a channel switching means. In an automatic analyzer equipped with a sample table, a reaction tube table having a large number of reaction tubes, a means for moving a nozzle relative to these tables, and a means for dispensing a reagent, the sample table is prepared in advance with undiluted samples. A plurality of containers for undiluted samples and a plurality of containers for diluted samples into which diluted samples are introduced, and flow path switching means. Activate the pump and nozzle relative movement means to mix and inject a predetermined amount of both solutions from the undiluted sample container and the diluted liquid tank on the trial 1 table into the diluted sample container, and then add the undiluted sample container to the diluted sample container. Select a predetermined amount of the corresponding liquids or one of the liquids from the diluted sample container and inject them into the reaction tubes on the reaction tube table, and then operate the reagent dispensing means to inject both liquids into the reaction tubes. An automatic analyzer @ equipped with a central control unit that controls the injection of reagents into reaction tubes before or after reagents are injected into reaction tubes. 2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, in which the sample daple includes containers for undiluted samples and containers for diluted samples arranged alternately in one row or separately arranged in parallel.