JPS6058421B2 - Sample inspection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sample inspection device, and in particular, a horizontal turntable is provided with a rotation axis in the center, and a plurality of sample containers are supported on a circle centered on the rotation axis, and the sample containers are rotated. A device for rotating the turntable step by step around the axis of rotation is provided so that the sample can be distributed and inspected during the stop, and the sample container extends below the turntable. A device for forming a space occupied by a sample, a device for circulating air in the space, a device for changing the temperature in the space, and a control device for keeping the temperature of the sample container at approximately a predetermined value S. Regarding inspection equipment.

British Patent Application No. 51988/73, 46608/74, 20
The device described in 38V74 is a device in which a turntable rotates in steps relative to a stationary dispensing device, and a light-transmitting sample container, such as a vial, supported by the turntable is The dispensing device dispenses predetermined amounts of blood sample, diluent, and reagent.

A light beam rotating about the axis of the turntable sequentially scans the vials, and the light transmitted or scattered through the liquid produces an output voltage via a photodetector, and the value of the output voltage is determined by the amount of light leaving each vial. Proportional to intensity, perform blood sample analysis. In order to improve the accuracy of analysis results, it is necessary to maintain the sample container temperature within a narrow predetermined temperature range.

In the sample testing device described in DE 1806585, the vial projects into an annular space formed by an annular casing below the turntable.

The casing is provided with an inlet and outlet air passageway to the fan to form a closed circuit for air circulation. The air is maintained at a predetermined temperature by means of a temperature change device, such as a cooler or heater, and a temperature control device. This air circulation device has an inlet/outlet transverse to the annular space from which the vials protrude, making it complex in construction and difficult to maintain all the vials within a precise temperature range. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sample inspection device that is free from the above-mentioned drawbacks.

A feature of the sample inspection apparatus according to the present invention is that, in the above-mentioned type, the horizontal direction and bottom of the space are formed by an outer wall, and the upper part is formed by a turntable, and the sample is placed in the space and the sample is placed in the space. A device is provided for circulating air between the container and the temperature change device.

The temperature change device is usually a heater with a control device.

However, if a predetermined temperature below the outside air temperature is required, a cooling device is used. When the outside air fluctuates above and below a predetermined temperature, it is necessary to provide both a heater and a cooling device and operate them selectively. A preferred embodiment provides a dispenser mounted adjacent to the turntable for dispensing liquid into a sample container supported on the turntable, the dispenser having an inlet for receiving the liquid to be dispensed and a probe for dispensing the liquid. A tubular body having a needle is provided, a device for dispensing a predetermined amount of liquid, and a device for maintaining the liquid at a predetermined temperature of approximately S.

Illustrative embodiments and drawings will be described to facilitate implementation of the invention.

Figures 1, 1a, and 1b show a blood analyzer as a preferred embodiment of the sample testing device of the present invention, and the reaction between a blood sample and a reagent is measured by a comparison method, a light scattering method, and a fluorescence analysis method. Used for evaluation.

A hollow vertical trunnion 2 is attached to the fixed frame 1 of the analyzer.
Install. The upper end of a hollow rotary shaft 3 coaxially supported within the trunnion 2 is connected to a motor 4 via a transmission device 13 consisting of a pulley, a belt, and a reduction gear. motor 4
is attached to frame 1. A horizontal turntable 6 is attached to the lower end of a second rotating shaft 5 coaxially supported on the outside of the trunnion 2. The second rotary shaft 5 is driven by a stepping motor 14 via a separate transmission device. The top surface of the turntable is covered by a cover 17.

The turntable 6 is circular and has the same axis as the trunnion 2, has a number of recesses spaced at equal intervals on its outer periphery, and removably supports vials or sample containers in the recesses. The lower part of the frame 1 is a cylindrical part 52 with a radially inward annular flange at the upper end of the part 52, which is covered by a cover 17.

Each vial projects downward with the turntable surface as its upper end. As shown in Figures 1 and 1a, the diameter of the turntable is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the annular flange, and the turntable is spaced slightly from the bottom surface of the flange. As a result, less of the constant temperature air circulating within the cylindrical portion is dissipated into the outside air. A horizontal arm 7 shown in FIG. 1a is connected below the turntable 6 to the lower end of the first constant speed rotating shaft.

A counterweight 18 is attached to the opposite side of the arm 7. Two optical transmission fibers 8 and 9 are attached to the arm 7. The optical input end of the optical transmission fiber 8 is the upper end of the shaft 3 and extends vertically downward;
It extends radially outward from the lower end of the shaft 3 along the arm 7, and forms an output end at a position inward from the outer periphery of the table 6. The output end of the optical transmission fiber 8 is shaped like a slit. The input end of the optical transmission fiber 9 is attached to the arm 7 outside the outer periphery of the table 6, and on the same straight line as the output end of the fiber 8.

The input end of the fiber 9 is a slit-shaped opening. The fibers 9 extend radially inwardly along the arms 7 from their input ends, with their output ends pointing vertically downwards along the axis of the shaft 3. 1st
Figure b shows that the fiber 8 is looped to prevent sharp curvature at the transition portion between the axial direction and the radial direction. Although the fiber 9 is not shown, it is similarly looped.
The lamp 10 attached to the upper end of the shaft 3 is a light transmission fiber 8
guides light to the input end of the

A necessary filter or grating is inserted between the lamp 10 and the input end of the fiber 8 to select the wavelength of the light transmitted by the fiber 8 and evaluate the desired response. An optical device consisting of a correction slit (not shown), a converging lens 11, and another correction slit is provided radially outward from the output end of the fiber 8 to focus the light exiting the fiber 8 onto the liquid in the vial. This optical device is adjustable on the arm 7.
The light transmitted by the liquid enters the input end of the optical transmission fiber 9,
The light enters the optical amplifier 12 from the vertically downward output end of the shaft 3. A vane 57 shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the lower end of the rotating shaft 3 in a radial direction different from that of the arm 7.

The vane 57 consists of two vertical plates of almost rectangular shape.
The long side of the rectangle is in the radial direction of the shaft 3, and the short side is in the axial direction. A notch 63 is provided in the vane 57 and made slightly larger than the vial to prevent it from colliding with the vial during rotation. The upper edge of the vane is located close to the bottom surface of the turntable 6, and the outer end is located close to the cylindrical inner surface of the cylindrical portion 52 of the frame. Below the vanes 57 and on the bottom plate of the cylindrical portion 52 of the frame are a plurality of radial support plates 61.
A horizontal annular plate 58 is attached at a small distance from the lower end surface of the vane 57 above the second support plate 61 to which the vane 57 is attached. A central opening 59 formed by the annular plate 58 and the support plate 61 is connected to the shafts 3 and 5.
and the same axis. The outer end of the annular plate 58 is shorter than the inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical portion 52 of the frame to define the required annular airflow spacing 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the vanes and the horizontal annular plate 58 form an air circulation system. Temperature change devices in the form of concentric rings, or electrical resistance heaters 60 in the illustrated embodiment, are mounted in openings in support plate 61. A thermistor (not shown), that is, a control device for the heater, is installed in a position close to the vial, and power is supplied to the heater 60 in response to the temperature in the space formed by the annular gate plate 58, the turntable 6, and the cylindrical inner surface of the frame. is controlled to maintain a constant temperature, and the liquid in the vial is brought to a predetermined temperature. A metering and dispensing device is attached to the upper flange of the cylindrical portion 52 of the frame to dispense a predetermined amount of blood and a predetermined amount of diluent into the vial when stopped at the first station.

The turntable 6 is operated intermittently between stopping and rotation by a predetermined angle by a stepping motor 14. At the next stop, a predetermined amount of reagent and diluent are dispensed into the blood and diluent mixture in the vial. A dispenser 100 used at each station is shown in FIG. The dispenser 100 is mounted on a support device 101 shown in FIG. 1 and is vertically movable and is in an upper position away from the vial during rotation of the turntable. The support device 101 swings the probe 110 laterally about a vertical axis, and sucks blood and reagents from a container outside the analyzer. With the dispenser in the downward position, suck in a predetermined amount of blood and reagent in the container. When the turntable stops, the dispenser is lowered from an upper position above the vial to a lower position to supply a predetermined amount of blood or the like into the vial. Next, a predetermined amount of diluent is supplied. When the blood analyzer is operated, the motor 14 rotates the turntable 6 by a predetermined angle.

During the stop time between step rotations of the turntable 6, blood, reagents, diluents as required, etc. are supplied into the respective vials at each station. At each stop time, the motor 4 rotates the rotary shaft 3 at least once, and the arm 7 rotates once so that the light from the light transmission fiber 8 scans all the vials, and the light transmitted by the liquid in the vial is transmitted through the light transmission. The fiber 9 is irradiated, and the optical amplifier 12 receives the light and generates an output voltage. The value of this output voltage changes depending on the amount of light received by the optical transmission fiber 9. Vanes 57 rotate through the space between the bottom surface of turntable 6 and the top surface of annular plate 58, circulating air while the light transmission fiber scans each vial. Due to centrifugal force, the air flows radially outward in the above-mentioned space as indicated by the arrows, passing between each vial, and flowing downwardly between the annular plate 58 and the cylindrical inner wall of the frame. , flows radially inwardly along the outer surface of the heater 60 , is heated, and returns through the opening 59 to the upper surface of the annular plate 58 . To the thermistor. "The temperature of the vial and the sample in the vial is maintained at a predetermined value within a narrow temperature range. By creating a circulating air flow below the turntable 6, the temperature of the vial protruding below the turntable is varied. is a significantly small value.'Until now, it has been impossible to maintain the temperature fluctuation value range within ±0.05°C.The temperature time constant of the analyzer shown in the figure is approximately 0 seconds, and the maximum human power is approximately 200 W. The optical amplifier 12 is connected to a computer (not shown) and stores a series of data representative of the output voltage of the optical amplifier 12 for each vial at each revolution of the shaft 3. When rotating the above, a series of data representative of the optical amplifier output voltage average value for each vial is stored.In practice, the motor 4 should rotate continuously regardless of whether the turntable 6 stops or rotates. This is preferable.At this time, the data received during the rotation during the stop time should not be stored in the computer.Furthermore, during the stop time of the shaft 5, the part where the shaft 3 rotated an integral number of times or more In the illustrated example, the blood analyzer is configured to perform colorimetric analysis of a blood sample.

However, with slight modification, light scattering or fluorescence analysis of blood/fluid samples can be performed. This modification is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1a. Instead of the optical transmission fiber 9, the input end of the fiber 9'' is placed vertically below the vial and is perpendicular to the output end of the optical transmission fiber 8. Furthermore, the output end of the optical transmission fiber 9'' and the optical amplifier 12 By this, the output voltage of the optical amplifier 12 is determined by the wavelength of the light in the predetermined wavelength band determined by the filter among the scattered light from the optical transmission fiber 8, which exits the vial. is proportional to the strength of the dispenser 100 shown in FIG.
I will explain about it.

An inlet stub 103 is formed or secured to the upper end of the metal upright tubular body 102 of the dispenser 100 and the stub 10
A flexible tube 104 is coupled to 3. Heating miles 106 surround nearly the entire length of tubular body 102.

The outside of the heating coil 106 is covered with a jacket 107 of thermally insulating material.
Surround with The upper end of the jacket 107 contacts the end surface of the shoulder 108 at the upper end of the tubular body 102, and the lower end contacts the end surface of the shoulder 108 at the upper end of the tubular body 102.
is in contact with both end surfaces of the collar 105 by opposing annular surfaces 109. A collar 105 at the lower end of the tubular body 102 is formed with a diameter slightly larger than the bore in the body, into which a replaceable dispensing tip or probe 110 is inserted. The probe 110 is made of stainless steel and is not heated. Probe 11
0 protrudes below the tubular body 102 and the insulation jacket 107. A thermistor 111 is inserted into a recess formed in the collar 105 to control the power passing through the heating coil 106 to maintain the tubular body 102 and the dispensed liquid at a predetermined temperature. Upon operation of the analyzer, the first dispenser 100
Aspirate the diluted solution into the tube and then aspirate the prescribed amount of serum. The amount of serum is small, almost enough to fit into the S probe 110. When the turntable 6 stops, predetermined amounts of serum and diluent are injected from the first dispenser 100 into the vial stopped at the first station. At the same time, a predetermined amount of reagent and diluent at a predetermined temperature are injected from a second dispenser into a vial stopped at a second station. This procedure is almost the same as the first station S, but the amount of reagent is larger than the amount of serum, and when the reagent is sucked in, the reagent is not only inside the probe 110 but also in a part of the tube of the tubular member 102. enter. For this reason, the reagents are heated. The vial is stopped at a first station and dispensed with serum and diluent, and then stopped at a second station to receive dispensed reagent and diluent. At each station, the dispenser 100 is in a downward position and the tip of the probe 110 is almost near the bottom of the vial to distribute the liquid, and the tip of the probe contacts one wall of the vial to prevent droplet formation. . After dispensing the required amount of liquid, the dispenser is in the upper position,
The tip of the probe is above the top of the vial. This causes the turntable to rotate and the next vial to stop below the dispenser. A non-dimensional diagram of a preferred apparatus for supplying diluent to a dispenser, then drawing serum and reagents into the dispenser, and dispensing predetermined amounts of diluent, serum and reagents into vials is shown in Figure 3. Shown as Check valves 1 and V2 are inserted at the inlet and outlet of the diluent pump 120 shown in FIG. 3, respectively. The outlet of the small volume infusion pump 121 and the outlet of the diluent pump 120 are connected to a common conduit 122 . Conduit 122 connects to flexible conduit 104 of dispenser 100 shown in FIG. First, start the cycle from the position shown in FIG.

The dispenser 100 is filled with diluent. Place the probe 110 into the serum or reagent container and insert the infusion pump 121.
The probe 110 is rotated half a turn, ie, performs a suction stroke, and the serum or reagent is sucked into the probe 110. The amount of suction at this time is determined by the suction stroke of the injection pump. At the first and second stations, the probe 110 is lowered into the vial and the infusion pump 121 performs a half turn or dispensing stroke to dispense serum or reagent into the vial. The diluent pump is then turned half a turn to perform a dispensing stroke to dispense a predetermined amount of diluent into the vial. The strokes of the pumps 120 and 121 can be adjusted so that a predetermined amount of liquid can be sucked and discharged by half a rotation of the pumps. Finally, diluent pump 1
20 to perform a suction stroke, draw diluent into the pump from a container (not shown), and return to the position shown in FIG. As an example of numerical values, at the first station, 5 3 or 25 3 serums at outside temperature are distributed and mixed with a diluent at a predetermined temperature, resulting in a total volume of 150T! r! Let's call it N3.

A thermistor-controlled heater 60 maintains the vial and liquid at a predetermined temperature. Due to the heat capacity of the vial, the change in liquid temperature is not rapid. After mixing the reagent and diluent, approximately 1
Reach precisely controlled temperatures in minutes. At this time, the temperature of the mixture of serum and diluent is within ±0.05° C. of the room temperature at which the vane rotates. In order to satisfy this condition, at the serum dispensing station, the diluent temperature when the tubular body of the dispenser is made of integral copper is preheated to within ±0.5°C of the required temperature. It can be carried out. At the reagent distribution station, 50 m3 of reagent at 4.0 ± 0.5°C and 33 m3 of preheated diluent were added.
00T! RIfL3 from the dispenser into vials.

The dispenser is required to dispense every 6 seconds and it is possible to accurately control the average temperature of the dispensed mixture. The temperature range of the mixed solution of the distributed reagent and diluent is ±0.7 including the error of the initial temperature of the reagent! 'C. The maximum error in the temperature of the mixed liquid in the vial during this distribution is about 0.15°C, and after (9) seconds, it is 0.1°C.
becomes. When distributing two or more reagents, use the third and fourth reagents.
The initial temperature control at the gate station may have a wider temperature range than at the first and second stations.

This temperature range is determined by the amount and timing of distribution. When dispensing the second reagent immediately after dispensing the first reagent, there is no time for temperature correction using circulating air, so it is necessary to accurately control the initial temperature. As mentioned above, the vial of the blood analyzer of the present invention maintains a narrow range of controlled temperatures, as does the mixture of serum, reagents, and diluent.

Therefore, the reaction between the blood and the reagents takes place under precisely controlled temperatures, resulting in accurate analytical data for the blood sample. 1st, 1a
As a modification of the figure, a fan 70 is provided between the lower surface of the vane 57 and the bottom plate of the cylindrical chamber. The fan 70 is driven separately from the vane 57 and the arm 7. The purpose of this fan 70 is to
, the vanes 57 generate a circulating air flow even when the vanes 57 are at rest. At this time, a thermistor near the vial may detect a low temperature and issue a heating command to the heater 60, causing the fan 7
0 prevents heating of the heater 60. Preferably, the apparatus shown in Figure 3 is used to dispense the serum or reagent and the diluent by one dispenser; It is also possible to use separate dispensers for each reagent and dispense predetermined amounts at predetermined time intervals.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a blood analyzer as an embodiment of the sample testing device of the present invention, FIG. 1a is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG.
Figure 1b is a sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 1, Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the dispenser of the dispensing device of the device in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing a part of the dispensing device. It is. 1... Frame, 2... Trunnion, 3, 5...
Rotating shaft, 4, 14... Motor, 6... Turntable, 7... Arm, 8, 9, 9''... Optical transmission fiber, 10... Lamp, 11... Luns, 12... ... Optical amplifier, 17. Cover, 18. Balance weight, 52.
... Cylindrical part, 57 ... Vane, 58 ... Annular plate, 60 ... Heater, 63 ... Recess, 100 ... Dispenser, 102 ... Tubular body, 106 ... Heating Coil, 107... Jacket, 110... Probe,
120,121...Pump.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A turntable capable of supporting a series of containers containing a liquid sample in a circular arrangement around an axis of rotation, and a rotating turntable for rotating the turntable to inspect the sample. a temperature control device for controlling the temperature near the series of containers, and a dispensing device for dispensing a predetermined amount of sample liquid into the containers, and the containers are sent to the dispensing device by rotation of a turntable. In the sample inspection apparatus configured as such, the temperature control device includes a cover and frame portion 17 defining a space surrounding a turntable and a sample container supported on the turntable.
, 52, a temperature change device 60 provided in the space, a control device disposed close to the container to control the temperature change device, and a temperature change device 60 provided in the space between the temperature change device 60 and the sample container. an air circulation device 57 that circulates air;
58, the pipetting device includes a tubular body having an inlet disposed close to the turntable 6 for injecting the sample liquid and an outlet having a probe 110 at the tip for discharging the sample liquid and dispensing it into a container. 102, a heating device that heats the tubular body 102, and an automatic temperature control device that automatically controls the heating device to maintain the temperature of the sample liquid to be dispensed at approximately a predetermined value. The sample inspection apparatus is characterized in that the heating device and the automatic temperature control device operate independently of a temperature control device that controls the temperature in the vicinity of the container. 2. The air circulation device includes a vane 57 that rotates around the same axis as the turntable within the space, and a horizontal annular plate 58 that divides the space into an upper portion and a lower portion below the vane 57. However, the outer peripheral surface of this horizontal annular plate is separated from the inner surface of the frame portion 52, and the temperature change device 60 is provided in a space below the horizontal annular plate 58. The sample inspection device described in section. 3. The sample inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the heating device is constituted by an electric heating coil 106 wound around the tubular body over the entire length of the tubular body. 4. The sample inspection device according to claim 3, wherein the dispenser is configured such that the tubular body 102 is made of copper, and the heating coil 106 is surrounded by a heat insulating jacket 107. 5. According to any one of claims 1 to 4, the automatic temperature control device is constituted by a thermistor 111 disposed in a recess formed in the tubular body 102 close to the probe 110. The sample inspection device described. 6. The sample inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the probe 110 is configured as a detachable tip.