JPS62157552A - Biochemical analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To close an opening of a measuring element surely, by providing an element holding section with a lid allowed to close elastically the opening of the measuring element. CONSTITUTION:A measuring element 2 is made up of film 23 impregnated with a reagent, a base 21 having a through hole and a cover 22. A rotatable disc 33 is provided on the a shaft 32 on thermostatic disc 31 with an incubation means 3. A lid 332 for airtightness is provided on the top of an element holding section 331 formed in the periphery of the disc 33. The lid 332 is conical in the shape with a plurality of elastic pieces 332a and engaged with a concave at the opening 331a of the holding section 331. With such an arrangement, the element 2 is pushed strongly to the disc 31 by an elastic force of the elastic piece 332a to close the through hole of the element 2 with the lid 332. This can prevent the evaporation of water or the like for the element 2 thereby enabling a highly accurate measurement.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention involves dropping a biochemical liquid sample such as blood, serum, or urine onto a measuring element impregnated with a reaction reagent, and causing the blood, etc. to react with the reagent. This invention relates to a biochemical analyzer for analyzing liquid samples.

[Prior art]

This type of biochemical analysis involves promoting a reaction using a liquid sample of reaction reagents under specific temperature conditions, and measuring the progress and results of the reaction by observing changes in color concentration due to the reaction. It analyzes the presence or absence of components and their content.

By the way, in such an analytical device, when incubating the measuring element (heating to promote reaction, keeping it warm, and transferring it), in order to prevent the evaporation of the impregnated reaction reagent or the dropped liquid sample, it is necessary to A configuration is adopted in which the top opening of the measurement element is closed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing this configuration, and (a) shows a temporary spring 201 that cantilever supports the droplet dropping opening 22a of the measuring element 2.
(C) is a device in which the opening 22a of the measuring element 2 is closed by the weight of the lid 203 guided by the guide rod 202, and (C) is a device in which the opening 22a of the measuring element 2 is closed by the incubation means itself. The opening 22a of the opening 22a is closed.

However, as shown in FIG. Also, as shown in FIG. 11(b), a gap G may be formed due to variations or deformation of the element 2 itself.Furthermore, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.
Also in the case shown in FIG. 11(C), a gap G may be formed due to deformation of the element 2 as shown in FIG. 11(d).

As described above, in the conventional configuration, it is difficult to completely and reliably close the opening of the measuring element due to variations and deformation of the measuring element itself, variations in the position of the pressing member, and inclination, and a considerable amount of evaporation occurs. occurred and had a negative impact on the analysis results.

[Purpose of the invention]

One object of the present invention is to provide a biochemical analysis method configured to completely and reliably seal the opening of a measurement element.

[Structure of the invention]

To this end, the present invention is provided with an incubation means for keeping the measuring element warm and transferring it, and an element holding part provided in the means is provided with an airtight seal that elastically displaces the axis of the opening of the measuring element and seals it. The means were set up.

〔Example〕

Examples of the present invention will be described below. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the external appearance of an analyzer for carrying out the method of one embodiment, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a measuring element, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a disk as a conveying means, and Fig. 4 is IV-I in Figure 3.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a cross section along the V line, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a lid that makes the measurement element airtight.

In the figure, 1 is the main body of the analyzer. As shown in FIG. 2, the measuring element 2 described above includes a mount base 21 having a through hole 21a for photometry and a through hole 22 for dropping a liquid sample.
A film 23 impregnated with a certain reagent is sandwiched between the mount cover 22 and the mount cover 22 having a reagent. It is displayed in 5 bits.

The measuring element 2 is inserted into the device body 1 through the element insertion opening 11 provided on the front surface thereof, and is moved by a pair of upper and lower rollers 41 for carrying the element installed inside the main body 1, as shown in FIG. It is held and carried into the incubation means 3. This roller 41 also has a heat-retaining function that isolates the incubation means 3 from the insertion port 11.

The incubation means 3 has the function of holding the measuring element 2 at a set temperature and conveying it in the circumferential direction, and is rotatably supported by a shaft 32 on a constant temperature plate 31 that is heated and held at a constant temperature. A disk 33 is provided, and a heat-retaining cover 34 is provided above the disk 33 so as to surround it with a gap therebetween.

This disk 33 has element holding portions 331 consisting of fitting grooves (formed in the radial direction and open at the outer peripheral portion) at equal angular intervals on the peripheral edge thereof.
An airtight lid 3 as a sealing means is provided in the opening 331a on the top surface.
32 are elastically engaged.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lid 332 has a truncated conical shape, and has a plurality of elastic pieces 332a bent upward on the larger diameter side of the flange. And this elastic piece 332
a is the recess 3 on the inner periphery of the opening 331a of the element holding part 331.
31a (see FIG. 6 (al)), it is attached to the element holding portion 331.

Therefore, when the measuring element 2 is pushed into the element holding part 331, a part of the periphery of the element 2 slides under the slope of the side surface of the lid 322, as shown in FIG. 6(a). In this state, one side of M2B5 is pushed upward, and the elastic piece 332a on that side is compressed.

Therefore, the measuring element 2 set in the element holding part 331 is in the state shown in FIG. The through hole 22a is completely closed by the lid 332.

As a result, the film 23 of the measuring element 2 is kept airtight from the outside, and the reagent impregnated into the film 23 is prevented from dimming.

Note that even if the shape of the measuring element 2 is deformed, the above-mentioned M
322 has a large diameter portion engaged with a recess 332a by a plurality of elastic pieces 322a, and has an elasticity exerting axis H (sixth
The vertical direction in Figure (C) is displaceable (the mountain in Figure 6) is inclined. ), it can completely cope with deformation and dimensional variations of the measuring element 2, and the opening 22a of the measuring element 2 can be completely and reliably sealed.

On the other hand, when the measuring element 2 is set in one element holding part 331 of the disk 33, the next neighboring element holding part 33
1 rotates to a position corresponding to the insertion opening 11, and the next measuring element 2 can be inserted.

As a driving means for the disk 33, in this embodiment, grooves 333 are formed radially on the peripheral edge of the disk 33 so as to define element holding portions 331. The rotary disk 335 receives the driving force of the motor 35 through the gears 341 and 334.
and the bin 3 installed at an eccentric position on the rotary disk 335.
36 is engaged with the groove 333, and the disk 33 is rotated intermittently. 337 is a click mechanism for stabilizing the stopping position of the disk 33. - After the measuring element 2 inserted into the element holding part 331 is sufficiently preheated by the constant temperature plate 31, the disc 33 rotates intermittently in the clockwise direction, so that the measuring element 2 is heated near the lower part of the liquid dripping hole 12. be in close proximity.

The liquid dripping hole 12 is arranged on the outside of the disk 33, and an element reciprocating means 5 is configured to position the measuring element 2 with respect to the dripping hole 12.

This element reciprocating means 5 has locking pins 51a at the rear end and front part.
, 51b (see FIG. 6(d)),
A lever 52 connected to the moving plate 51, the lever 51
The lever 52 is rotatable around a shaft 54, so that when the solenoid 53 is activated and its piston is attracted, the moving plate 5
1 moves in the direction of arrow a, and the measuring element 2 located on the moving plate 51 is brought directly below the droplet hole 12 as shown in FIGS. 6(d) and (el), and the solenoid 53 stops operating. Then, it returns to the direction opposite to the direction of arrow a and returns the measuring element 2 to the original element holding part 331. Note that the moving plate 51 is the constant temperature plate 3.
The measuring element 2 is disposed so as to be movable within a groove 31a formed on the upper surface of the measuring element 2, and the groove 31a has a width that does not hinder the movement of the measuring element 2.

6 is a photometry section, which includes a light source 61 such as a halogen lamp;
A switchable filter 62 and a light receiving element 6 that detects the light emitted from the light source 61 and reflected by the film 23 of the measuring element 2.
3, and a lens 64 for condensing reflected light onto a light receiving element 63. The information obtained by the light receiving element 63 is sent to a concentration measuring device (not shown), where the optical concentration is detected and biochemical analysis of the liquid is performed.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a discharge section, which is composed of a discharge plate 71, a lever 72 connected to the discharge plate 71, and a solenoid 73 that drives the lever 72. The lever 72 is rotatable about a shaft 74, and thus By driving the solenoid 73, the discharge plate 71 moves in the direction of the arrow, and the measuring element 2 is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 14. Note that a curtain 42 for heat retention is provided at the back of the discharge port 14.

Now, when measuring, power switch 15 of main body 1
Turn on. As a result, if any measurement elements remain in the disk 33, they are ejected, and then the disk 33 is set at its original reference position.

Next, press the mode setting button 16 to select the measurement mode.
This is done by Here, either or both of the endpoint method and rate point method modes can be selected. The end point method is a mode in which a liquid sample is dropped and colorimetric measurement is performed after a certain period of time has elapsed.When this mode is selected, the filter 62 of the photometry section 6 is switched to a predetermined spectral filter, and the rate point method This mode measures concentration changes over time, and the selected filter 62 is switched to another spectral filter.

Next, the numeric keys 17 are operated to input the sample number. Inputting this sample number is necessary for distinguishing between multiple people who have collected the sample.

After the above preparatory work, the measuring element 2 whose film 23 is pre-impregnated with a reagent is inserted through the element insertion opening 11. As a result, the first measuring element is placed in the element holding portion 3 of the disk 33.
When inserted and held in 31, it becomes a sensor (not shown).
Since the disk 33 is moved one pitch clockwise, the measuring elements are inserted one after another.

The disk 33 rotates clockwise each time an element is inserted, and is preheated when all measurement elements have been inserted.

After this preheating, a specific measuring element approaches the vicinity of the dropping hole 12 and is positioned directly below the dropping hole 12 by the element reciprocating means 5. Here, the sample number located directly below the dripping hole 12 will be displayed on the display 18, so after checking this display, collect the necessary liquid sample to be measured with the pipette P and drop it. It is dropped from the hole 12 into the through hole 22a of the measuring element 2 (FIG. 6(d),
See (e). ).

After this, when the dropping end button 13 is pressed, the moving plate 51 of the element reciprocating means 5 returns to its original position, and the measuring element 2 is returned to the element holding part 331 of the disk 33.

In this way, when the dropping end button 13 is pressed again after dropping the liquid sample to all the measurement elements in each element holding part 331 is completed, the timer is activated and incubation is performed, and the reaction between the reaction reagent and the liquid sample is started. is promoted.

When the timer time has elapsed, each of the measuring elements 2 is sequentially conveyed to the measuring section 6, where photometry is performed, and the results are displayed on each display, and the printing section 19 will be printed out on recording paper along with the sample number.

When photometry has been completed for all the measuring elements set in this manner, the measuring elements are transported to a position where the element ejecting means 7 is provided, where they are sequentially ejected to the outside through the ejecting port 14.

When one analysis operation is completed in this way, the disk 33 is moved and set at the reference position for the second analysis operation. The above process is shown in a flow chart in FIG.

As described above, biochemical analysis is performed through the process of inserting the measuring element (all at once) - Breincubation (all at once) - Dropping liquid sample by once removing the measuring element (all at once) - Incubation (all at once) - Photometry (all at once) - Discharge (all at once) However, as mentioned above, in this embodiment, disk 3
The measurement element 2 is held in the element holding portion 331 of No. 3 in such a manner that the liquid (reaction reagent and liquid sample) that has permeated the film 23 in the element is difficult to evaporate.

As a result, compared to conventional incubation without using a lid, as shown in FIG. 8, the color density changes significantly in a short time, making it possible to shorten the analysis processing time.

Note that the lid 332 described in the above embodiment is
As shown in Figure (a), a cylindrical elastic rubber 3 is placed inside the lid 332.
32b (also, this elastic rubber 332
b can also be replaced by a compression spring of similar diameter.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9(b), a bent ring-shaped leaf spring 332C may be mounted on the flange portion of the lid 332.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the measuring element is deformed, the opening for dripping the liquid in the measuring element can be reliably sealed, evaporation of water is effectively prevented, and high Accurate measurement becomes possible.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of an analysis device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the measuring element used in this example, Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the disk as a transport means in the analyzer and its vicinity, and Fig. 4 is taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 3. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the lid that makes the measuring element airtight, Figures 6 (a) to (e) are illustrations of the process of setting the measuring element and dropping the liquid, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing the process of setting the measuring element and dropping the liquid. Flowchart of the entire process, Figure 8 is a color development characteristic diagram with and without a lid, Figures 9 (a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams of another embodiment of the lid, Figure 10
Figures (a) to (C) are diagrams showing conventional sealing methods, and Figures 11 (a) to +C1 are diagrams showing problems with the sealing method shown in Figure 10. 1...Biochemical analyzer, 2...Measurement element, 3...
Incubation means, 332... Lid, 5... Element reciprocating means, 6... Photometry section, 7... Element ejection means. Agent Patent Attorney Tsuneaki Nagao Figure 3 Figure 5 332a 332 Inversion -'ψ-V katatsu - (a) (b) 2a2

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A biochemical analyzer that measures the characteristics of a liquid to be analyzed by dropping a liquid to be analyzed from an opening into a measuring element impregnated with a reagent, which is equipped with incubation means for keeping the measuring element warm and transferring it. A biochemical analyzer, characterized in that an element holding portion provided in the means is provided with a sealing means for elastically displacing the axis of the opening of the measuring element and sealing the opening. (2) A patent characterized in that the sealing means is comprised of a truncated cone-shaped lid, the small diameter portion of the lid faces the measuring element side, and the large diameter portion is elastically attached to the element holding portion. A biochemical analyzer according to claim 1. (3) The biochemical analysis device according to claim 2, characterized in that an elastic member is provided integrally or individually over a large portion of the diameter.