JPS6046654B2 - Continuous sample automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer, and particularly to a continuous sample automatic analyzer used for various tests in the medical field.

Automatic analytical methods and devices for qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of liquids such as blood, urine, drinking water, and milk are well known and are already used in many medical and other fields; Many of the existing methods and devices have had a number of drawbacks.

For example, in a device that sequentially transports a large number of test tubes and automatically performs sample dispensing, reagent dispensing, stirring, and reaction detection,
The mechanism for moving a large number of test tubes has become large and complex, and the structure resulting from the length of the test tubes has inevitably increased in size. For this reason, sheets (films) made of synthetic resins (polymerized plastics) such as vinyl chloride, polycarbonate, and cellulose acetate, which have many recesses that form reaction vessels, have recently been used as substitute containers for test tubes. The miniaturization of equipment has also been carried out,
Efforts are being made to reduce weight. This invention relates to improvements in the cleaning and drying processes in devices that use this sheet film, and it is possible to improve the cleaning and drying process in an apparatus that uses this sheet film, and to improve the cleaning and drying process in a device that uses this sheet film. In an automatic analyzer that detects and analyzes the reaction of a sample by sequentially and intermittently transferring the sample through a reaction detection section that has a detection process, the sheet cleaning section, heating drying section, and cooling section are connected to each other through the reaction detection section and a heat insulation mechanism. A reaction vessel treatment section having a sheet is provided, and the sheet passes through each process in the reaction detection section and each part in the reaction vessel treatment section through an opening provided in the heat insulation mechanism, and is wrapped endlessly, and the sheet passes through the reaction vessel treatment section. This continuous sample automatic analyzer is characterized in that the length of the sheet is made longer than the length of the sheet passing through the reaction detection section by slackening the sheet at least in the heating drying section and passing it in a meandering manner. Let's explain using an example. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the continuous sample automatic analyzer of the present invention, where I is a reaction detection section, ■ is a reaction vessel treatment section, ■ is both these parts 1, and a heat insulating member that thermally divides Π ( (insulation mechanism), S is a sheet (film) that is endlessly wrapped around each of these parts and processes.

In the configuration shown in the figure, the seat S is the driving vehicle Al, a2, a3.
and a drive mechanism consisting of a well-known walking mechanism b, which sequentially and intermittently transports the objects as shown by the arrows in the figure (details of the drive mechanism are omitted).

). This sheet S, as shown in a partial cross section in FIG.
For example, two belts C with feed holes μm, C2...
and a film d stretched between them, and a large number of recesses El, e2, e3, . . . are regularly arranged in this film d. The sheet S sent out from the opening 1 of the heat insulating member (2) is moved along the guide 2 by a driving mechanism such as a walking mechanism (b) to a sample dispenser 3, a reagent dispenser 4, a stirrer 5, and a reaction detector 6. They are sent intermittently in sequence directly below each location. Directly below the sample dispenser 3, the sampled sample is configured to be sequentially dispensed into the recesses of the sheet S in fixed amounts through appropriate means, and directly below the reagent dispenser 4. Similarly, a fixed amount of reagent is dispensed. The stirrer 5 is used to stir a sample and reagent by inserting a stirring rod into the concave portion of the sheet S sent directly below the stirrer 5 so as to promote the reaction between the sample and the reagent. The reaction detector 6 is used to detect the reaction status of the sample sent directly below it.For example, it can suck the sample from the recess and flow it into a flow cell to measure absorbance, or it can measure the absorption of the sample by inserting an electrode into the sample in the recess. Insert it to measure PH and conductivity, or if the sheet S is transparent, place a light source/phototube above and below the sheet S to measure the color reaction or turbidity reaction that occurs in the recess. etc. So. Then, this reaction detector 6
The sheet S, which has passed directly below, passes through the opening 7 of the heat insulating member (2) and is sent into the reaction vessel treatment department (2). Since the above-mentioned configurations and operations of the constituent elements in the reaction detection section 1 are publicly known matters, each element will be described below. The details are omitted.

The present invention relates to the structure and operation of the reaction container treatment section (2) in conjunction with the structure and operation of the reaction detection section 1 as described above.

The reaction vessel treatment section (2) is thermally divided into a reaction detection section 1 and a heat insulation mechanism (member) (2), and also has cleaning sections 8, 9, a heating drying section 10, and a cooling section 11, and has a heat insulation member as shown by the arrow. ■
The sheet S fed through the opening 7 is constructed so as to pass through each part in a meandering manner.

8 is a cleaning section of the sheet S, 81 is a cleaning liquid inlet, and 82 is an outlet. In this cleaning section, almost all the samples, reagents, etc. that have been dispensed into the recesses of the sheet are cleaned.

This cleaned part of the sheet S is then transferred again to the next stage (second stage).
), and is washed (rinsed) again.

Note that 91 and 92 are an inlet and an outlet for a cleaning liquid (for example, water). Then, the cleaned part of the sheet S is
It is sent to the heating drying section 10.

Reference numerals 101, 102, and 103 are hot air jetting ports provided along the circuit of the seat, and the hot air is exhausted from an exhaust port 104.

The sheet S exposed to this drying hot air is finally sent to the cooling section 11 and cooled by the cold air sent from the cold air introduction ports 111 and 112.
It is discharged from 3.

In the above-mentioned configuration of the reaction container treatment section (2), the sheet S fed through the opening 7 is cleaned of the sample/reagent in the concave portion in the cleaning section 8.

At this time, the temperature of the cleaning solution or the atmosphere in the cleaning section 8 is maintained at about 37° C., for example. This is opening 7
This is designed to prevent the temperature from affecting the inside of the reaction detection section 1 through the temperature. In other words, inside the reaction detection section 1, reaction analysis of blood, urine, etc. is carried out, but when these samples are biological samples, the inside of the reaction detection section is also heated at a temperature of about 37cm to match the temperature of the human body.
It is most desirable to carry out the reaction while maintaining the temperature at ℃. Therefore, as mentioned above, the ambient temperature of the cleaning section 8 is maintained at 37.degree. C. to prevent the temperature of the cleaning section from affecting the interior of the reaction detection section. Next, the sheet that has been cleaned in the cleaning section 8 is further sent to the next-stage cleaning section 9, where it is cleaned (rinsed). This cleaned sheet portion is then dried in a hot air drying section 10, but in this type of device,
Since it is necessary to dry as quickly as possible, hot air of about 80° C., for example, is blown from the jet ports 101, 102, and 103 to quickly dry the material.

This dried sheet portion then reaches the cooling section 11 and is cooled by blowing cold air thereon.

However, even though it is called cooling, the temperature in the heating drying section is approximately 80°C.
This is to cool down the temperature of the water to about 37°C.
The reason for setting the temperature to about 37°C is that, as mentioned above, the sample dispensed in the reaction detection section is a biological sample, and the atmosphere in the reaction detection section is maintained at about 3rC, so this temperature should not be disturbed. This is to keep the atmosphere flowing out from the opening 1 to the reaction detection section to about 3rC for reasons such as the following. With the above configuration, the sheet S is washed, dried, and cooled, and then sent out again in sequence from the opening 1 to the position where the sample is dispensed. Generally speaking, the sheet S is washed, dried, and cooled, and then sent out again in sequence from the opening 1 to the position where the sample is dispensed. The time required for detection is much shorter than the time required for washing, drying, and cooling; in other words, a considerable amount of time is required for drying.

Therefore, in this invention, among the sheets endlessly wound around the reaction detection section and the reaction vessel treatment section, the length of the sheet passing through the reaction detection section is made shorter than the length of the sheet passing through the reaction vessel treatment section. That is, as shown in the figure, the sheet in the reaction vessel treatment section is made longer by letting it sag and pass through it in a meandering manner, and the drying time is increased by lengthening the time in this reaction vessel treatment section, especially in the heating drying section. As described above, the present invention has the structure that the heat insulation mechanism prevents the temperature of the lower reaction vessel treatment section from being transmitted to the reaction detection section, and also prevents the reaction from occurring through the opening. Only a small amount of atmospheric gas with a temperature approximately equal to the operating temperature in the detection section flows in, which has almost no effect on the reaction itself, and also prevents the sheet passing through the reaction vessel treatment section, especially at least the heating drying section, from sagging. Since it is designed to meander in a meandering manner, it is possible to save time for drying, and even when this device is operated continuously, samples, etc. can always be dispensed into the recesses of the washed and dried sheet. This makes automatic sample analysis possible.

In the above embodiments, biological samples and urine are used as samples. Although the explanation has focused on blood, etc., it is clear that other samples can also be used, and in this case, there is no need to limit the temperature to 37°C as mentioned above, and any suitable temperature can be selected. It is.

Note that each step within the reaction detection section varies depending on the sample and the analysis content, and is not limited to the steps described above. Furthermore, although the interlocking drive mechanism etc. were not explained in detail in the above embodiments, a general mechanism can be used, and the seat may have recesses in only one row, or may have multiple recesses. It is also possible to use one with rows of recesses.

The configuration of the reaction vessel treatment section itself can be changed as long as the temperature near the opening through which the sheet passes is successfully controlled.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the present invention, and FIG.
It is a partial sectional view of a sheet (film). 1... Reaction detection section, ■... Reaction container processing section, ■... Heat insulation mechanism, S... Sheet (film), 1, 7... ··Aperture.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sheet having a large number of recesses forming a reaction vessel,
In an automatic analyzer that detects and analyzes the reaction of a sample by sequentially and intermittently transferring the sample/reagent into the recess through the reaction detection section, which has a dispensing process, a stirring process, and a reaction detection process, the reaction detection part and the heat insulation mechanism are interposed. A reaction vessel treatment section having a sheet cleaning section, a heating drying section, and a cooling section is provided, and the sheet is passed through each process in the reaction detection section and each section in the reaction vessel treatment section through an opening provided with a heat insulating mechanism, and is endlessly processed. At the same time, the length of the sheet that passes through the reaction vessel treatment section is
A continuous sample automatic analyzer characterized in that the length of the sheet is made longer than the length of the sheet passing through the reaction detection section by slackening the sheet at least in the heating drying section and passing it in a meandering manner.