JPS61240164A - Multi-item analytical method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the speed of automatic multi-item analysis and to attain to enhance analytical treatment capacity and analytical accuracy, by distributing the specimen held in a different specimen distributing pipetter in reaction tubes positioned on a different reaction line. CONSTITUTION:A reaction line 1 has a large number of reaction tubes 2 and a specimen rack 3 having specimen cups A, B, C... is provided along the line 1. Lines 4-11 are provided to the line 1 and collected as blocks 12-15 and specimen distributing nozzles 16-19 are mounted to a nozzle support apparatus 20 in relation to the line 1 while the line 1 intermittently moves by one reaction tube to the direction shown by an arrow and the rack 3 also intermittently moves by one specimen cup to the direction shown by an arrow. A part of the specimen held in a specimen distributing pipetter is distributed in the reaction tubes of one reaction line and, at the time of this distribution, with respect to the reaction tubes receiving the distribution by the specimen distributing pipetter, a different specimen is distributed in the reaction tubes positioned on at least one different reaction line in the succeeding line by a different specimen distributing pipetter.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a multi-item analysis method and device that handles multiple samples, particularly for samples such as blood, plasma, serum, urine, and other body fluids and secretions. This invention relates to a multi-item analysis method and device.

The present invention also relates to a multi-item analysis method for a plurality of samples, particularly a plurality of specimens, using a discrete type automatic chemical analyzer, and a multi-item automatic chemical analyzer that handles a plurality of samples, especially a plurality of specimens.

(b) Jubei's technical analytical values for samples such as blood, plasma, serum, urine, and other body fluids and secretions are used, for example, in diagnosis and treatment guidelines. Since such medical information is more effective when multiple analysis items are combined than from a single analysis item, there is an increasing need to analyze multiple analysis items simultaneously. In order to analyze many specimens and analysis items simultaneously and in a short period of time, a multi-item automatic analyzer in which a plurality of reaction lines are arranged in parallel is used.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Conventionally, in a multi-item automatic analyzer having a plurality of reaction lines, pipetting of a sample into reaction tubes lined up in a plurality of reaction fins was performed using - pipetters. ing. However, when dispensing samples into reaction tubes using multiple pipettes, the time required to dispense samples into reaction tubes increases as the number of analysis items per sample increases, making high-speed analysis difficult. Ta. Therefore, in order to shorten sample dispensing time, a sample dispensing device having the same number of pipetters has been proposed.

However, due to advances in analysis technology, the amount of sample dispensed 1 has become miniscule, so sample dispensing pipetters are required to have a high degree of precision and are expensive. Providing the same number of injection pipettes as reaction lines makes the automatic analyzer more expensive, which is problematic because it reduces analysis costs. Moreover, not all sample dispensing pipetters are exactly the same, and errors are likely to occur.
Since the suction parts of a plurality of sample dispensing pipettes are placed in the same sample container, the sample is diluted by the cleaning liquid that adheres to the suction parts, resulting in a decrease in analysis accuracy, which is a problem.

The present invention aims to solve all the conventional problems associated with an increase in the number of analysis items per sample.

(2) Means for Solving the US Point The present invention is capable of speeding up the analysis even if the number of analysis items per sample increases, and avoiding dilution of the sample.
Moreover, it provides an inexpensive multi-item analysis method and 1llll.

That is, in the present invention, a plurality of reaction tubes are arranged along two or more reaction lines, and then these reaction tubes are moved in the same direction intermittently by one reaction tube each to perform sample dispensing. In a multi-item analysis method that involves processes and photometry processes, the sample held in the sample dispensing pipetter is dispensed into the reaction tube of at least one reaction line within the stop time of the reaction line, and and dispensing the sample held in another sample dispensing pipettor into a reaction tube of at least one different reaction line in a subsequent row to the reaction tube dispensed by said sample dispensing pipettor. The present invention resides in a multi-item analysis method characterized in that a multi-item analysis device having a plurality of reaction lines is provided with two or more sample dispensing pipetters each having a sample dispensing nozzle, and the present invention provides a multi-item analysis method having multiple reaction lines. The sample dispensing nozzles of the sample dispensing pipettor are each individually supported by one nozzle holding device, and the movement path of each of these nozzle holding devices is provided at least across the receiving reaction line. In the present invention, the reaction tube refers to a reaction tube or a reaction tube and photometry cell. Further, in the present invention, the number of sample dispensing pipetters is smaller than the number of analysis items or the number of reaction lines. However, the sample dispensing pipettor dispenses the sample into the reaction tube during the stop time of intermittent movement of the reaction tube, but in order to increase analytical throughput, it is desirable that this stop time be equal and as short as possible. Preferably, the sample dispensing pipettor is
It is reasonable to set the number to be an integral number of the number of analysis items and the number of reaction lines. In this case, the number of analysis items and reaction lines is equal to the number of sample pipetters.
For example, in the present invention, which is divided into an integer number of blocks of two or more, a sample dispensing pipettor is formed exclusively for each block.

Therefore, sample dispensing into this reaction tube is performed by at least one dedicated sample dispensing pipettor for each block. In this case, after dispensing the sample into the reaction tubes of the multiple lines that make up the block using a dedicated sample pipettor, move the reaction tubes, and repeat the process of dispensing the sample and moving the reaction tubes in sequence. , perform sample dispensing.

The sample dispensing pipettor dispenses the sample from the sample dispensing nozzle to the reaction tube. In the present invention, the sample dispensing nozzle
A nozzle holding device that holds the sample dispensing nozzle is movably provided at least across the dedicated reaction line so that the sample can be dispensed into the reaction tube across the reaction line in the receiving block. . When using multiple sample dispensing nozzles, the sample dispensing nozzles are provided along the reaction line.

(E) Function In the present invention, a part of the sample held in the sample dispensing pipetter is dispensed into the reaction tube of one reaction line, and during this dispensing, the sample dispensing pipettor Since different samples are dispensed by different sample pipetters to reaction tubes located in at least one different reaction line in the subsequent row to the reaction tube being dispensed, - the number of analytical items per sample is increased. However, - Sample dispensing can be performed by dividing the sample into blocks, and the dispensing reaction tubes can be sent sequentially without dispensing the same sample to the reaction tubes of other blocks. As a result, delays in feeding the reaction tubes can be reduced and throughput can be increased.

In addition, in the present invention, a plurality of sample dispensing nozzles are provided in the reaction line at a loss, and the reaction fins are divided into the same number of blocks according to the number of nozzles, so that the sample dispensing to each sample dispensing nozzle is possible. The time required for dispensing samples into each reaction tube can be saved.

In the present invention, each reaction line within a block will all be pipetted by the same pipettor.

(f) *Example Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited in any way by the following description.

FIGS. 1 to 3 are explanatory diagrams of the chronological stages of a sample dispensing process using a sample dispensing nozzle in an embodiment of the present invention.

The reaction line 1 is provided with a large number of reaction tubes 2, and along the reaction line 1, a large number of sample cups A are installed.

A sample rack 3 having B, C, D, E, F, G, . . . is provided.

Reaction line 1 includes lines 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
゜9.10 and 11 are provided, and the first line 4
and the second line 5 form a first block 12. A second block 13 is formed by the third line 6 and the fourth line 7, and similarly, a third block 14 is formed from the fifth line 8 and the sixth line 9, and a third block 14 is formed from the fifth line 8 and the sixth line 9. A fourth block 15 is formed from the seventh line 10 and the seventh line 11. In relation to reaction line 1,
The sample dispensing nozzles 16, 17, 18 and 19 are attached to the nozzle support device 20, but in this case, the sample dispensing nozzle 16 shares the sample dispensing of the first block 12, and the sample dispensing nozzle 17 shares the sample dispensing of the first block 12. , share the sample dispensing of the second block 13. The sample sharing nozzle 18 is connected to the third block 14
The sample dispensing nozzle 19 serves as the fourth block 15 for dispensing the sample.

The reaction line 1 moves intermittently in the direction of the arrow by one reaction tube, and the sample rack 3 also moves intermittently in the direction of the arrow by one sample cup. FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 each show the chronological stages of the sample dispensing process. At the stage shown in FIG. 1, the sample is dispensed into the first block 12 of the reaction line 1 - at this stage, t
The L-dispensing nozzle 16 transfers the sample a from the sample cup A.
is aspirated into two reaction tubes and first dispensed into the reaction tube of the first line 4. When the first reaction fin has finished dispensing the sample into the reaction tube in this sample dispensing process, the sample dispensing nozzle 16 moves to the reaction line 5, and the sample a remaining in the sample dispensing nozzle 16 is transferred to the reaction line. (In the figure, the reaction tube into which sample a is dispensed from sample cup A is labeled with a.) In this way, the reaction in first block 12 is performed. Once the sample has been dispensed into the tube, the reaction line 1 and sample rack 3 enter the movement process.
After moving one reaction tube or sample cup, respectively, the reaction line 1 and sample rack 3 stop at the stage shown in FIG. 2, that is, the reaction line 1' and sample rack 3'', and the subsequent sample The dispensing process begins.The sample dispensing nozzle 16 is washed and cleaned during this darkness.Therefore, the sample dispensing nozzles 16 and 17 are used to separate the sample cups B and A, respectively.
Samples A and A are aspirated into two reaction tubes. Therefore, the sample a is dispensed by the sample dispensing nozzle 16 into the reaction tube of the first line 4, and at the same time as this dispensing, the sample a is dispensed by the sample dispensing nozzle 17 into the reaction tube of the third line 6. Ru. When the sample dispensing into the reaction tubes in the first line and V-third line in this sample dispensing process is completed, the sample dispensing nozzles 16 and 17 are transferred to the second line 5 and the fourth line 7, respectively. , and dispense sample A and sample a into the reaction tubes of each line. When the sample dispensing to these reaction tubes is completed, the sample dispensing process is completed, and the reaction line 1'' and sample rack 3' are moved, and the sample dispensing nozzles 16 and 17 are cleaned. In the subsequent sample dispensing process, sample C is poured from sample cups C, B, and A into the reaction tubes of the first to third blocks by the sample dispensing nozzles 16, 17, and 18, respectively.
9 samples A and 9 samples are dispensed. In this way, the sample dispensing process and transfer process are repeated 1it9, and the sample d is transferred to the reaction tubes of the first to fourth blocks 12, 13, 14, and 15.
, sample C9, and sample a are dispensed. FIG. 3 shows how the sample is dispensed into the reaction tube at this stage. Then, reaction line 1# and sample rack 3# enter the movement process.

At the same time, sample dispensing/cheating 16, 17, 18 and 1
9 is washed and cleaned to prepare for the next sample aspiration.

In this example, the eight lines are divided into four blocks and four sample dispensing nozzles of 16°17.18 and c/19 are used, but of course the eight lines are divided into four blocks. Sample dispensing can be performed using two sample dispensing nozzles divided into individual nib blocks. In any case, the number of sample dispensing nozzles and the number of lines are determined by the number of analysis items per sample and the time required for one sample dispensing of the sample dispensing nozzle.

In this example, since a dedicated sample dispensing pipettor is provided for each block, the sample dispensing pipettor used in the sample dispensing process is constant for each analysis item, so there is no error due to the sample dispensing pipettor. be able to resolve it. Moreover, since the number of lines on which the sample dispensing pipetter shares the sample dispensing can be selected as appropriate, dilution of the sample with adhering washing water can be avoided as much as possible, and the accuracy of analysis can be improved.

In this example, in the sample dispensing process, the number of samples to be dispensed for the same sample was divided into several parts, so
It is possible to reduce the waiting time until the end of sample dispensing for reaction tubes that have already been dispensed, and the delay in processing work due to waiting time becomes almost negligible, increasing processing capacity. .

(G) - Effects of the Invention The present invention dispenses a sample held in a sample dispensing pipettor into a reaction tube of at least one reaction line, and when dispensing, the sample is dispensed by the sample dispensing pipettor. Since the sample held in different sample pipetters is dispensed to reaction tubes located in at least one different reaction line in the subsequent row, the sample pipettor used for the same analytical item is In addition, compared to conventional high-speed multi-item analysis methods and devices, the number of sample pipette lids can be reduced, reducing the number of sample aspiration and greatly reducing sample dilution. eased.

Therefore, the present invention can improve analysis accuracy compared to conventional high-speed multi-item analysis methods and devices.

In addition, the present invention allows - Even if the number of analysis items per sample increases, sample dispensing for the same sample can be performed in blocks, so that the next process can be carried out from the reaction tube after sample dispensing. Since the data can be sent sequentially, it is superior to conventional methods in that there is no delay in analysis work and the processing capacity is increased.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, even if the number of sample dispensing pipetters is halved compared to conventional multi-item automatic analysis devices, multi-item automatic analysis can be performed faster, making it cheaper than conventional devices. A multi-item automatic analysis device can be provided.

As described above, the present invention is superior to conventional methods and devices in terms of analysis processing capacity, analysis cost, analysis accuracy, etc., and its impact on dealing with the increase in the number of analysis items is big.

[Brief explanation of the drawing] ? Figures A1 to 3 are explanatory diagrams of the time-lapse steps of a sample dispensing process using a sample dispensing nozzle in an embodiment of the present invention. Regarding the symbols in the figure, 1 is the reaction line, 2 is the reaction tube, and 3 is the reaction line.
are sample racks, 16, 17, 18 and 19 are sample dispensing nozzles, 20 is a nozzle holding device, a g b g Q and d are respectively dispensed samples a, sample S, sample C and sample d.
It is. Agent

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of reaction tubes are arranged along two or more reaction lines, and then these reaction tubes are intermittently moved in the same direction by one reaction tube each to perform a sample dispensing process and a photometry process, respectively. In the multi-item analysis method, the sample held in the sample dispensing pipetter is dispensed into the reaction tube of at least one reaction line during the stop time of the reaction line, and the sample is Dispensing a sample held in another sample dispensing pipettor into a reaction tube of at least one different reaction line in a row subsequent to the reaction tube dispensed by the dispensing pipettor. Multi-item analysis method. (2) In a multi-item analyzer having multiple reaction lines, two or more sample dispensing pipetters each having a sample dispensing nozzle are provided, and the sample dispensing nozzles of these sample dispensing pipetters are individually 1. A multi-item analysis device, characterized in that each nozzle holding device is supported by one nozzle holding device, and the movement path of each nozzle holding device is provided to cross at least the reaction line of each nozzle holding device.