JPS60155961A - Ion activity measuring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a small and easy-to-handle ion activity measuring apparatus by spotting a reference liquid and a liquid to be inspected on a slide being fed one at a time while a potential difference measuring probe is provided movably in the vertical way in a rotation area of a turret for moving slides. CONSTITUTION:Slides stacked into a slide holder 11A are pushed out/in the direction of the arrow A with a pushing member 11B one at a time and forced into a slide receiving section 13a of a turret 13A in the direction of the arrow C with a forcing member 11E. A reference liquid in a liquid reservoir 12A is fed with a peristaltic pump 12B to be spotted into a spotting hole of a slide and likewise, a liquid to be inspected is stopped into another spotting hole. The turret 13A rotates intermittently sliding over a temperature control plate 13C to measure potential difference with a vertically movable probe 14A and discharged passing a discharge chute 15A. Thus, a small and easy-to-handle ion activity measuring apparatus is obtained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] I (Technical Field of the Invention) L The present invention relates to aqueous liquid samples, particularly body fluids of living organisms.
A device that measures the activity of electrolyte ions contained in it, more specifically a new electrolyte analyzer that uses the potentiometric method.
In particular, the present invention relates to a slide-shaped ion activity measuring instrument equipped with an ion-selective electrode for measurement that has a function of sequentially moving from a spotting section to a measuring section and then to a discharging section.

Electrolyte ions contained in biological fluids such as blood, plasma, serum, and urine, especially Na, K, Cd2. .

BACKGROUND ART Measurement of ion activity such as Ca2e, HCO3e, CO3"Φ, etc.1 has important significance in clinical chemistry tests, and an ion activity measuring device called an electrolyte analyzer is used for this measurement.

This measuring device uses the tip method, and the coulometric method.
Among these, the present invention relates to the method using the potentiometric method.

(Technical Background of the Invention) For ion activity measurement using such a potentiometric method, an ion activity measuring instrument/tool equipped with an ion selective electrode is used. A device equipped with a film-like ion-selective electrode □ has been developed. (For example, JP-A-52-142584@, special rflll Il
i? 5L211848 JJ) This ion activity measuring device has a basic structure consisting of a pair of solid electrodes having an ion selective layer as the outermost layer, and a porous bridge that can act as a capillary between the pair of ion selective layers. A reference solution and a test solution are spotted on the ion selective layer of this slide-like device, and the potential difference between the electrodes is measured to determine the activity of C in the test solution. It is designed to measure the amount. For this reason, an analyzer for measuring ion activity using this slide-like instrument must have the functions of spotting the reference liquid and test liquid and measuring the potential difference.

Conventional analyzers for this purpose have large devices as a whole, and there is a need for further miniaturization of the devices in practice. In other words, in this analyzer, slide-shaped instruments (hereinafter referred to as "slides") are stacked, the slides are taken out one by one from the stacked cassettes, the sample is spotted on top of the slides, and then the slides are placed in a thermostatic chamber. The structure is such that the slide cassette, the spotting section, the thermostatic device,
The measurement units are arranged side by side to form a horizontally large device. Therefore, an analyzer that is easy to handle by downsizing the overall configuration of the device has been developed.

(Object of the Invention) In order to meet the above-mentioned demands, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ion activity measuring device using a potentiometric method, which has a structure in which the entire device is downsized and easy to handle. - (Structure of the Invention) The ion activity measuring device according to the present invention includes a turret that moves the slides after spotting a reference solution and a test solution on four slides supplied one by one, and further includes a turret that moves the slides. The present invention is characterized in that a potential difference measuring probe that electrically contacts the slide is provided so as to be movable up and down within the rotational range of the slide.

This turret is preferably a circular disk that slides and rotates in the vicinity of (on or between two temperature control plates) a constant temperature control plate that is maintained at a constant temperature by a constant temperature device such as a heater or a thermocooler. It is possible to create a structure in which a slide receiving portion is provided by cutting out the slide receiving portion at equal intervals, and the slides are sequentially fed into the slide receiving portion and moved while maintaining the slide at a constant temperature by rotating the disc.

Further, the potential difference measuring probe includes a needle-shaped contact terminal that descends from above to electrically contact each electrode of the slide, and is electrically connected to the potential measuring means.

If a discharge chute is installed within the rotation range of the turret,
It is convenient because the slide after measurement can be ejected as it is by rotating the turret. Furthermore, by arranging the spotting section within the rotation range of the turret, the entire device can be further miniaturized.

(Effects of the Invention) In the ion activity measuring device according to the present invention, the potential difference measuring probe is brought into contact with the slide within the rotation range of the turret for moving the slide as described above, so that the overall configuration of the device can be improved. It is miniaturized and can be measured in a small space. In addition, a large number of slide receiving parts are formed on the periphery of the turret, and several slides can be received at the same time and measured one after another, resulting in high measurement efficiency. can.

(Embodiments of the Invention) Embodiment 1 of the apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a slide to which the apparatus of the present invention is applied. This slide has an ion selective layer (not shown) between the lower slide frame 1 and the upper slide frame 2.
three pairs of chairs 2 selection electrodes 3. IA, 3.
1B; 3.2A.

3=, 2B: This is formed by sandwiching 3.3A and 3.3B, and there are three pairs of through holes 6 in the center part 2A of the upper slide frame 2.
A, 6B near A, 7B: 8A, 8B are formed.

Of the three pairs of through holes, 7A and 7B are liquid spotting holes (for reference liquid and test liquid), and the remaining 6A.

6B: 8A and 8B are air vent holes, and the liquid dripped from 7A and 7B goes to 6A and 8A (from 7A), respectively.
Diffusion from B to 6B and 8B.

A porous bridge 5 capable of capillary action is disposed between the pair of ion selective layers below the through holes 6A, 6B. These three pairs of electrodes are for measuring the activity of different types of ions, for example, one of the central spotting holes 7A and 7B.
A reference solution is spotted on A, and a sample (test solution) for measuring the activities of three types of ions is spotted on 7B. 3.2A
, 3.2Bil Keita Katsu 13.3A, 3
．． 3B □ 1lllC 0 Potential □ for measurement of iodine activity
Measure the difference between each.

Measurement of the activity of different ions as shown in Section 1'1g
A device capable of measuring with one slide is shown in detail in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-211648 by the present applicant.

Figure 12 shows an example of only one type of slide for measuring ion activity, which includes a pair of spotting parts 9A.

9B and the corresponding ion-selective electrode pairs 3.4A, 3
．． 4B is provided.

An example of a measuring device (analyzer) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the overall structure and operation of this embodiment will be explained in detail with reference to FIG.

Inside the housing 10, there is a slide supply section 1 which is roughly divided into
1, spotting section 12, constant temperature section 13, measuring section 14, discharge section 15
, an operation display section 16, and a printer section 17 are provided.

The supply unit 11 includes a slide holder 11A that stores a large number of stacked slides, a slide extrusion member 11B that takes out slides one by one from the lower end of the slide holder IIA, and a drive tool that reciprocates this extrusion member and IIS. It consists of a crank mechanism 11C and a motor 11D. The slides stacked in the slide holder 11A are such that the slide at the bottom is pushed out by the extrusion member 11.
B When it is pushed out in the direction of arrow A, it falls down one sheet at a time in the direction of arrow B. The pushing member 11B enters into the holder IIA from outside the slide holder 11A through an opening provided on the lower end side surface, pushes the slide out, and returns to the outside of the holder 11Δ. At this time, the upper slide moves down and waits for the next supply.

The slide pushed out of the holder IIA is pushed in the direction of arrow C by another pushing member 11E. The pushing member 11E is a pinion 1 fixed to the shaft of the drive motor 11F.
This motor 11F has a rank 11e that meshes with the motor 1f.
The rotation causes reciprocating movement in the direction of arrow C.

The slide pushed by the pushing member 11E is pushed into a slide receiving portion 13a formed by multiple notches on the peripheral edge of the disc-shaped turret 13A.

Before the slide is pushed in the direction of arrow C, while it is being pushed (the stopping position midway if it is moved intermittently),
Or at any stage after being pushed in, one liquid reservoir 12
The reference liquid stored in A is pumped into the peristaltic pump 12B.
Supplied and deposited by

The apparatus for spotting this reference liquid is shown in detail in FIG.

The peristaltic pump 12B has its suction side connected to the reference liquid reservoir 12A, its discharge side connected to the nozzle 12C, and the motor 1
The reference liquid is supplied one drop at a time from the nozzle 12C by driving the 2D, and is applied to one of the application holes of the slide located below the nozzle 12C. Although the peristaltic pump 12B is suitable for supplying a small amount of liquid in fixed quantities, this dotting means is not limited to the peristaltic pump, and may be of any type. Particularly preferred is a type such as a peristaltic pump, in which the liquid is sent out from the nozzle in only one direction without coming into contact with the outside air.This allows accurate quantitative supply and stability of the concentration of the liquid. Guaranteed. Another type of dosing means of this type is a drip dispenser with a liquid reservoir. An example of this is shown in FIG.
By pushing the liquid, one drop at a time from the nozzle 120'
The liquid in 2B' is drip-fed and covered.

By using such a spotting means, a fixed amount of the reference liquid is applied to the spotting hole of the slide (for example, 7A of the first factor).

Alternatively, it is spotted at 9A> in FIG.

The sample (test liquid) is manually or automatically spotted into the other spotting hole (7B, 9B) of the slide in accordance with the spotting of the reference solution. Any known method can be used for this spotting method.

The completed slide is placed on the turret 13 as mentioned above.
It is pushed into the slide receiving part 13a of A, and the turret 1
The rotation of 3A sends it in the direction of the arrow.

The turret 13A is rotatably installed on a constant temperature control plate 13G fixedly installed on a heater or thermocooler 13B, and is controlled by a motor 13t).
It rotates intermittently in the direction of the arrow while sliding on it. The angle of this intermittent rotation is equal to the angular spacing of the slide receiving portions 13a formed at equal intervals on the turret 13A, and the slides are pushed into the slide receiving portions 13a one by one and fed. There is. Turret 1
A guide wall having a height at least equal to the thickness of the turret 13A is formed on the outside of the circular edge of the turret 13A, and as the turret 13A rotates, the slide moves toward the slide receiving portion 13.
I try not to leave out anything from a.

A cover (not shown) is provided for use.

Of course, with this cover, the slide before dotting is turret 13.
When it is pushed into the receiving part 13a of A, the spotting part and the measuring part, which will be described later, are chipped so that they can be operated from above.

A probe 14A for measuring potential difference is arranged in the middle of the rotation range of the turret 13A so as to be movable up and down. That is, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the measuring section has six needle-shaped connecting terminals 14a and 14 for the slide shown in FIG.
b, 14c...... are provided in a guide 14B so as to be able to slide up and down, and a measurement probe 14A having elastically biased downward protrusions is provided, and each connection terminal 14a, -
Lead wires 14g, 1 output the potential difference from the contacts 14d, 14e, 14f to the measurement circuit.
4h and 14i are connected. This probe 14
A is moved up and down by a motor 14C and a drive mechanism (not shown) driven by this motor, and any known drive mechanism can be employed as this drive mechanism.

The turret 13A is configured to move the slide that has passed through the measurement section 14 further to a discharge section 15, and this discharge section 15 consists of a notch-shaped discharge chute 15A provided in a part of the constant temperature control plate 13G. There is. That is, the slide receiving part 13a of the turret 13A is made of a notch, and the slide is fed by sliding on the constant temperature control plate 13G fixedly installed under the turret 13A. If a part of the constant temperature control plate 13G is cut out and a diagonal chute 15A is provided under it, the slide sent to the turret 13A will automatically fall there and be discharged.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation display section 16 includes a power switch 16a1 and a measurement ion type display section 16b on the operation panel 16A (rMLILTJ has a multi-type slide having three types of electrodes as shown in FIG. (lamp indicating that measurement is in progress), measurement result ion activity display section 16c1, measurement preparation completion indicator lamp 16d, IF
Clamp 16e key adjustment, ID NQ
It is made up of an array of numeric keys 16f for input, etc., and various operation buttons 16g.

The measurement results are recorded on the recording paper 17A by the printer section 11. A printer interface 17B is arranged between the printer section 11 and the panel 16A.

The ion activity measuring device of the present invention has an extremely compact structure as described above, and is capable of spotting, constant temperature, measuring, and ejecting slides one by one.

Practically speaking, it can be placed in a small space and is easy and convenient to handle.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an ion activity measurement device using the potentiometric method, which is the measurement target of the measurement device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a different example thereof, and FIG. A schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of the measuring device; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a peristaltic pump used in the spotting section of the measuring device of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a front view similarly showing an example of a dispenser; Cape No. 6A is a perspective view showing an example of a potential difference measuring probe used in the measuring section of the measuring device of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a partially sectional side view thereof. FIG. 7 is a front view showing an example of the operation display section of the measurement device according to the present invention. 1... Lower slide ≧ slide frame 2... Upper slide frame 3.
1A, '3.1B: 3.2A, 3.2B; 3.3A
. 3.38; 3.4A, 3.48... Ion selective electrode 5... Porous bridge (twisted bridge) 6A, 68
;8A, 8B...Air vent holes 7A, 7B: 9A, 9B
...Point attachment part 10...Housing 11...Slide supply part 11A...Slide boulder IIB...
・Extrusion member 12... point attachment part 12A, 12A
'... Reference liquid reservoir 12B... Peristaltic pump 1
20,120'... Nozzle 13... Constant temperature section 1
3A...Turret 13a...Slide receiving part 1
3B...Thermo cooler 13C... Constant temperature control board 14
...Measurement section 14A...Potential difference measurement probe 15...Ejection section j6...Operation display section 16A...Panel 11...Printer section Fig. 4 II 6A Figure II 6B Figure 14a 14b 14c

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A porous structure between at least one pair of ion-selective electrodes that generates a potential corresponding to the ionic activity of a specific ion and each ion-selective layer of at least one of the electrode pairs. 1 slide-shaped ion activity measurement device with a sexual bridge
a supply means for supplying one sheet at a time; a reference liquid spotting means for spotting a fixed amount of a reference liquid onto the ion selective layer of one of the pair of ion selective electrodes of the slide-like measuring instrument supplied by the supply means; a first moving means for moving the measuring instrument to a measuring section, where the test liquid is spotted on the other ion selective layer of the ion selective electrode of the measuring instrument; and a second moving means for moving the measuring instrument to the discharge section after the measurement, the first and second moving means sequentially moving the plurality of measuring instruments. It consists of one turret that receives and moves intermittently in the circumferential direction at the same time as the potentiometric probe. While the turret is stopped, the turret is lowered onto the measuring instrument on the turret and electrically contacts the pair of electrodes to measure the potential difference between the bipolar devices. An ion activity measuring device characterized in that it is a mobile probe in which the tip rises and leaves both poles before starting the next intermittent movement. 2) The ion activity measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the first moving means includes constant temperature control means for maintaining the measuring instrument at a constant temperature while it is being moved. 3) The turret is characterized by being comprised of a disc that slides and rotates in the vicinity of the constant temperature control plate at least in the portion that acts as the first moving means, and that has a plurality of measuring instrument receiving portions formed on its periphery. An ion activity measuring device according to claim 1. 4) The turret slides and rotates on the constant temperature control plate in the portion that acts as the first and second moving means, and the turret has a plurality of notches (a disc formed with a measuring instrument receiving part) on the peripheral edge thereof. 20. The ion activity measuring device according to claim 19, wherein the self-regulating constant temperature control plate is provided with a notch-like outlet in the discharge section.