JPS61258116A - Liquid quantity confirming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve considerably management of measuring accuracy and also to obtain a confirming device simple in constitution and can be handled easily, by moving a light emitting element body and a photodetector body along a passage into which a liquid is sucked, so that a height of a liquid level is detected. CONSTITUTION:A relation of a moving time (t) extending from the upper limit stop position of a measuring member 21 to a liquid level height, and a liquid quantity corresponding to a suction height of a sample 1, and a light quantity converting voltage value (OV value) of air (a) and the sample 1 are stored in advance in a control device 23, respectively. Subsequently, when the measuring member 21 is made to descend at a constant speed along a passage by starting a driving device 22 in case a measuring light is transmitting through the layer of the air (a), as for the OV value photodetected by a photodetector body 25, a value of about -5V is inputted, and a register R displays '0'. When the member 21 further descends and the measuring light transmits through the inside of the sample 1, a light quantity photodetected by the element body 25 cecreases remarkably, the OV value becomes -2--3V or so, and the register R displays '1'. Also, by detecting a moving time t1 of the member 21 of until this display is inputted to the device 23, a liquid quantity which is sucked up to a pipet P is confirmed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to a liquid volume confirmation device necessary for accuracy control of an automatic analyzer that performs biochemical analysis or immunological analysis.

(Technical Background of the Invention) As is well known, in an automatic analyzer that performs this type of analysis, the amount of serum sample or reagent used therein, for example, is extremely important for controlling measurement accuracy.

However, it is extremely difficult to weigh the amount of serum sample or reagent according to each measurement item when aspirating with multiple pipettes in sequence, as the inner diameter and length of each pipette are slightly different. As a result, there are limits to measurement accuracy control in this type of automatic analyzer.

(Prior Art) In order to solve this problem, the present applicant has previously proposed a liquid amount confirmation device shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. As shown in FIG. 3, this liquid level confirmation device A has a main body 1 made of a transparent material such as quartz glass, hard transparent glass, or ceramic.
0, a flow path 11 formed through the main body 10 and connected to the pivot P, and suitable attachment means such as fitting means, fasteners, adhesive, etc. on both sides of the main body 10. holders 12 and 13 that are integrally fixed by means or formed integrally with the main body part 10, and these holders 12 and 1;
The light emitting element body [4 and the light receiving element body 15 attached to 3,
The light-emitting element body L4 and the light-receiving element body 1 are arranged in the main body part 1 so that they are arranged oppositely across the channel 11 of the main body part 10.
It is attached to 0.

This light-emitting element body [4] has a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged vertically at required intervals, and each of these light-emitting elements receives light from a light source of 45
It is configured so that measurement light converted to a wavelength of around 5 nm is guided.

On the other hand, the light-receiving element body 15 has the same number of light-receiving elements Ht, nz, .

These light receiving elements fin, n2φ, . . . Hn are configured to be connected to an amplifier 16 of a data processing device.

A sample hold 17 is connected to these amplifiers 16, and a comparator 1 is connected to this sample hold 17.
8 is connected to this comparator 18.
A launch resistor R is connected to distinguish between air A and sample 1, and the signal from this register R is sent to a computer (C
PU). In addition, the light source light wavelength is 455n
The reason for setting m is that the QV value of air a and the QV value of the sample amount can be clearly distinguished as shown in Fig. 5, and that sample 1,
This is because the absorption peak of serum is around 455 nm.

Therefore, in advance in the computer (CPU), air a
QV value (Q shown in the light receiving elements fin to n3 in Fig. 5)
V value) and QV value of sample 1 (Fig. 5 photodetector elements n4 to n6
The suction height of the sample I can be confirmed by storing the QV value shown in ( ) in advance and comparing it. In this case, register R displays sample 1 as "1" and air a as "0", for example.
” and enters this information into the computer (CPU). In this way, by inputting the total capacity of the pipette P corresponding to the suction height of the sample l into the computer (CPU) in advance, the pipette The amount of P suction can be accurately confirmed.

Therefore, in this liquid volume confirmation device, if the amount aspirated by the pipette P and the sample amount required for measurement do not match, the correction coefficient is calculated in advance and input into the computer (CPU). Highly accurate measured values can be obtained by variably controlling the suction stroke amount of the suction pump in accordance with this correction coefficient, or by correcting the obtained measured value based on the correction coefficient based on the actual suction amount. It is structured so that you can ask for it.

[Problems with conventional technology]

However, the liquid level confirmation device A configured as described above
Although it is possible to measure the amount of suction with a certain degree of precision, if there is a liquid level between the light emitting element body [4 and receivers 14 and 15], it is not possible to accurately measure the amount of liquid. First, this measurement error occurs relatively depending on the spacing between the elements 14 and 15, and the resolution is small, which is a problem in terms of measurement accuracy control.

(Objective of the Invention) The object of the present invention is to improve the defects of the invention previously proposed by the applicant, to improve measurement accuracy control in an automatic analyzer as much as possible, and to have a simple configuration and easy handling. The present invention aims to provide a convenient and low-cost liquid volume confirmation device for an automatic analyzer.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a liquid amount confirmation device that optically measures the amount of liquid sucked into the pipette and is connected to the pipette and made of a transparent material. a light-emitting element body and a light-receiving element body arranged opposite to each other across the flow passage, and a guide device that drives and guides the light-emitting element body, the light-receiving element body, and the entire flow path along the longitudinal direction. The light-emitting element body and the light-receiving element body measure and detect the height of the liquid in the flow path, thereby confirming the amount of liquid sucked up by the pipette.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The liquid level confirmation device X according to this embodiment includes a pipette P, a channel 20 connected to the upper end of the pipette P, and a measuring member 2 that is guided up and down along the longitudinal direction of the channel 20.
1, a light-emitting element body 24 and a light-receiving element body disposed on this measuring member 21, a drive device 22 for moving the measuring part 21 up and down, and a light-emitting element body 25 detected and measured by the light-receiving element body 25 and sucked based on the information. It consists of a control device and a device for checking the liquid S.

The pipette P is shaped like a syringe needle, and after cleaning, the pipette P is moved to the sample suction position, and at this position, the amount of sample that is adapted to each measurement item is determined in advance by the control system. 1 from inside the sample cup S, and the pipette P that has aspirated the sample 1 is configured to move to the reaction measurement tube.

As described above, the flow path 20 is connected to the upper end of the pipette P whose drive is controlled in this manner.

The flow path 20 is formed into a pipe shape and made of a transparent material with excellent translucency, such as quartz glass, hard transparent glass, or ceramic.

The measuring member 21 is constituted by a ring-shaped member having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the flow path 20, and is disposed with the flow path 20 inserted into the inner diameter portion.

A driving device 22 having a known configuration such as an actuator, a gear, a motor, etc. is connected to the measuring member 21, and by driving this driving device 22 at a constant speed, the measuring member 21 is moved along the flow path 20. is reciprocated along the longitudinal direction.

Further, the light emitting element body 24 and the light receiving element body 25 are connected to the flow path 2.
The measuring member 21 is provided opposite to the inner wall surface of the measuring member 21 with 0 in between.

The light receiving element body 5 is connected to an amplifier 16 of a data processing device.

A sample hold 17 is connected to the amplifier 16, a comparator 18 is connected to the sample hold 17, and a launch resistor R for distinguishing between air a and sample 1 is connected to the comparator 18. The signal from R is sent to control device n.

The wavelength of the measurement light emitted from the light emitting element body 24 is 455 nm, as in the conventional example. The reason for this is exactly the same as in the conventional example, so detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the liquid amount confirmation device X according to the above embodiment will be explained.

The relationship between the moving time t of the measuring member 21 from the upper limit stop position to the liquid level height and the liquid volume corresponding to the suction height of the sample 1 is input into the controller in advance, and the Ov of the air a is input in advance to the controller.
The value and the Ov value of sample 1 are input into the control device 123 and stored.

Next, the drive device 22 is started to move the measuring member 21 into the flow path 2.
When the 455 nm measurement light is transmitted through the layer of air a in the flow path 20, the light amount conversion voltage value ( Ov)
As shown in the second case, a value of -5v is input, and register R displays "0". Then, when the measuring member 21 is further lowered and the measuring light passes through the sample 1 in the flow path 20, the amount of light received by the light receiving element body is significantly reduced, and the second
As shown in the figure, the light amount conversion voltage value (Ov) is -2 to -
3v, register R displays "1". The amount of liquid sucked up by the pipette PK is confirmed by detecting the moving time t1 of the measuring member 21 until the display of "1" in the register R at this time is input to the control device.

Incidentally, in the above embodiment, the present invention has been explained by taking as an example the case where it is attached to a sample suction pipe (P), but it is not limited to this, and it is of course applicable to, for example, a reagent suction pipette, etc. .

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention is configured to detect the liquid level height by moving the light emitting element body and the light receiving element body along the longitudinal direction of the flow path in which the liquid is sucked. The actual amount of liquid aspirated by the pipette can be confirmed with extremely high precision, and since the resolution is also similar to that of a dog, the reliability of the analysis accuracy in automatic analyzers can be improved as much as possible. be effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a liquid amount confirmation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a graph diagram showing changes in the light amount conversion voltage value corresponding to the presence or absence of liquid, and FIG. The figure is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a conventional liquid level confirmation device, and Fig. 4 shows the conventional ff,
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the entire checking device in more detail, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a liquid amount checking means of the conventional device. P...Pipette X...Liquid level confirmation device 20.
...Flow path 21...Measuring member 22...Driving device 23...Control device Patent applicant Nippon Chiku)on Co., Ltd.Round S2 Tomoe V

Claims (1)

[Claims] A liquid volume confirmation device that optically measures the amount of liquid sucked into a pipette, and the device includes a flow path formed of a translucent material and connected to the pipette, and a flow path sandwiched between the flow path and the flow path. It is composed of a light-emitting element body and a light-receiving element body that are arranged opposite each other, and a guide device that drives and guides the light-emitting element body and the light-receiving element body along the longitudinal direction of the flow path. A liquid amount confirmation device characterized in that the device is configured to confirm the amount of liquid sucked up by a pipette by measuring and detecting the height of the liquid in a flow path.