JPS62184359A - Method for cutting liquid drop of pipette and method for wiping away liquid sticking to pipette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the accuracy of an automatic specimen inspecting apparatus by bringing the top end of a pipette in which liquid is sucked into proximity to the bottom of a vessel, discharging the liquid, raising the pipette until the top end contacts the wall part of the vessel and moving the liquid drop stored in the top end to the wall part then detaching the top end from the vessel. CONSTITUTION:The top end of the pipette 1 driven by a manipulator is brought into proximity to the bottom of the vessel 4 and after a specified amt. of a reagent is discharged therefrom, the top end of the pipette 1 is automatically raised and is horizontally moved until the top end contacts the wall part of the vessel 4, then the reagent liquid drop stored into the top end of the pipette 1 is moved and stuck to the wall part of the vessel 4 by surface tension. The top end of the pipette is thereafter raised and horizontally moved to be detached from the wall part of the vessel 4. The last liquid drop is thereby thoroughly discharged into the vessel and therefore, the precise discharge of mul order is executed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

A. Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to how to cut off a droplet that remains on the tip of a pipette and how to wipe off the cleaning liquid that adheres to the area around the tip of the pipette after cleaning the pipette, both of which are automatically controlled by a manipulator. . B. Summary of the Invention The present invention is a method of operating a pipette that is attached to a manipulator and automatically controls the suction and discharge of a fixed amount of liquid and its spatial movement. By automatically moving the droplets, the ejected droplets are completely cut off and precise ejection is performed. In addition, in the manipulator-driven pipette operation method, after washing the pipette, cleaning residual liquid adhering to the periphery of the pipette tip is automatically wiped off, thereby preventing cross-contamination via the pipette. C # D. Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, conventional manipulator-driven pipettes have the following problems. Precise dispensing and dispensing of reagents using pipettes (e.g. μIA-da) when conducting clinical specimen tests, etc.
However, there is a problem in that in the final stage of dispensing, droplets that adhere to the tip of the pipette due to surface tension cannot be shaken off, resulting in an error in the dispensing amount. In addition, when handling multiple reagents sequentially with a common pipette, it is necessary to wash the pipette before use, but after washing, the cleaning residue that adheres to the area around the pipette tip cannot be wiped off, resulting in the problem of cross-contamination. was occurring. E. Means for Solving the Problems The present invention aims to solve the problems of the prior art described above. For this purpose, the following configuration means were included. First, a method for automatically discharging liquid to the manipulator drive pivot 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 (Δ). 1 is Pibetsu I
It is ~. 2 is the head of the manipulator, which holds the pivot t-i and executes the suction and discharge of the pipette 1. 3 is the arm 'C of the manipulator, which holds the head 2 at the tip and raises the pipette 1. Lower floor I nfT
After) Perform horizontal movement left and right. 4 is a volume (d) into which the reagent is to be injected with a pipette.As shown in Figure 1 (A) A, the tip of the pipette 1-1 is brought close to the bottom of the container 4, and a certain amount of reagent is injected into the container. This is where the discharge was performed.Then, as shown in Figure 1]
As such, the tip of the pipette 1 is automatically pushed upward and moved horizontally to come into contact with the wall of the container 4. At this time, the reagent droplet remaining at the tip of the pipette 1 moves and adheres to the wall of one container 4 due to surface tension. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1C, the pipette tip is moved horizontally on the upper back and away from the wall of the container 4. As described above, since the last droplet is completely ejected into the container, precise ejection of μflA-da is possible. Next, a method of wiping off the liquid adhering to the manipulator-driven pipette will be described with reference to FIG. 1(B). 1.2.3 is similar to FIG. 1(A). 115 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped water absorbent covered with gauze or the like. The structure of the water-absorbing body is not limited to this, as long as it has water-absorbing property (or specific liquid-absorbing property). As shown in Figure 1 (B) A,
The pipette, which is immersed in the cleaning tank and repeatedly suctioned and discharged to clean the interior of the pipette, moves through the air and its tip comes into contact with the flat surface of the water absorbing body 115. The remaining cleaning liquid is wiped off. Then, as shown in the figure, the pipette tip moves from side to side, and the outer periphery of the pipette tip comes into contact with the side surface of the water absorbent body 115, and the remaining cleaning liquid is wiped off. The cleaning residual liquid adhering to the outer periphery of the pipette tip of the above J-uni cleaning is completely wiped off to prevent scontamination. 1: Examples Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 2 shows the present invention in action! ! Self to do! IIIJ
There is a front view of the clinical specimen testing device ``C''.
This is an automatic installation that adds a liquid reagent to the pipette and checks the reaction. 1 is a pipette that precisely collects and dispenses a minute amount of a sample or reagent. Multiple pipettes 1 may be provided depending on the purpose. 2 is the head of the manipulator and pipette 1
The arm 3 of the manipulator rotatably holds the head 2 and performs suction and discharge.
(after moving forward) 1st and 3rd attack. 51: Main shaft of the L manipulator, supporting the arm 3 at right angles. The main shaft 5 rotates and slides in the axial direction. Therefore, the pipette 1 can be moved vertically and rotated horizontally. Reference numeral 6 denotes a base of the manipulator, which supports one shaft 5 and has a built-in servo motor (not shown) for driving. In addition to the pipettes 1 to 1, the head 2 is also equipped with a necessary device such as a tray suction gamma shell 7. Also, stations for performing various processing operations are arranged around the manipulator. 8 is a sample feeding mechanism station, 9 is a tray supply device station, and 10 is a station;
11 is a reagent storage station (hereinafter referred to as F pallet stage 1 and b). Finally, 12 is a control unit that controls the manipulator according to a predetermined program, sequentially drives the pipette cap device attached to the head and the stage around the manipulator, and performs a series of specimen tests. Process automatically. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the automatic sample testing device, mainly showing the station PIs around the manipulator. Reference numeral 8 is a sample feeding mechanism for feeding the #4 sample tube 81 containing the sample to a predetermined working position. Reference numeral 9 is a tray feeding device for storing the tray. As shown in FIG. 4, the tray 91 is made of a plus book board and has a plurality of four parts 92 arranged in rows. Samples and reagents are dispensed into the recessed part of the tray using pipette 1 and the reaction is observed. 111. 112 and 113 are pallets for storing a small number of reagents (e.g. buffer, unsensitized blood cells, sensitized autologous cells). 114 is a pipette cleaning tank filled with a washing liquid (e.g. distilled water). There is. Reference numeral 115 is a water-absorbing body that wipes off cleaning residual liquid around the tip of the pipette. 13 is an agitator IT device slash line. 1/l is a measuring instrument stage to optically measure the reaction product. FIG. 5 is a sample testing flowchart, which basically shows the basics of the block diagram input to the control Ni, and the sample testing device 11 automatically operates according to this flowchart. Briefly explain the flowchart. After transporting the tray to the home stage, the buffer is dispensed into all the recesses of the tray using a pipette, and the pipette is washed. Next, collect the sample with a pipette, dispense it into the four parts at the front of the tray, and wash the pipette. Furthermore, after serially diluting the sample with a pipette using the four parts of each tray, the reagent is dispensed and the reaction is measured. As mentioned above, according to the [1-chart in Fig. 5], the amount LL required for precise dispensing of the pipette is
, ■, ■, and ■, and the first invention of the present application is implemented in these steps. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the pipette 5 is inserted into each recess of the tray 91 set in the home station, and a fixed amount of reagent is dispensed. At this time, the pipette 5 is controlled by a manipulator as shown in FIG. 1(A). 1J, that is, the tip of pipette 5 rubs against the wall of the tray recess when dispensing is completed.

[The droplet that had been staying at the pipette tip moves to the wall.] Next, according to the flowchart in FIG. 5, pipette cleaning is performed in steps ①, [phase], [phase], and [phase], and the second invention of the present application is implemented in these steps [
] Scontamination is prevented. Zunawachi 7th
As shown in the figure, the pipette after the dispensing operation is inserted into the cleaning pallet 114 at the back of the pallet station. The interior of the pipette is cleaned by repeated elbow suction of the pipette. For example, pure water is used as the cleaning liquid in the washing pallet. Next, the pipette that has been washed is moved to the water absorbing body 1150 portion. And as shown in Figure 1 (13),
The tip of the pipette and its outer periphery are brought into contact with the water absorbent body 115, and cleaning residual liquid is wiped off. G. Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the first invention of the present application, it is possible to completely dispense the last drop into a container when dispensing micro-M with a manipulator-driven pipette, making it possible to perform precise dispensing, especially when using a manipulator automatically. It is effective in improving the accuracy of sample testing equipment. According to the second aspect of the present invention, when cleaning a manipulator-driven pipette, it is possible to completely wipe off cleaning residual liquid adhering to the outer periphery of the pipette tip, thereby preventing cross contamination, especially when cleaning a manipulator-driven pipette. It is effective in improving the viscosity of automatic sample testing equipment using a pilator.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 (△) is an explanatory diagram of the pipette liquid) cutting method, Figure 1 ([3] is an explanatory diagram of the method of wiping off the liquid droplets attached to the pipette,
Figure 2 is a front view of the automatic clinical specimen testing rack δ, Figure 3 is a plan view of the automatic clinical specimen testing rack, Figure 4 is a plan and cross-sectional view of the 1-ray, and Figure 5 is the front view of the automatic clinical specimen testing rack. - Bouyard, No. 6
The figure is a perspective view showing the dispensing operation, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view 'C' showing the pipette cleaning operation. 1...Pipette 2...Manipulator head 3...Manipulator arm 4...Container 114...Cleaning pallet 115...Water absorber IB Explanatory diagram of how to cut the dredge of the Habibet Figure 1 ( A) A theory on how to remove desecration from village clothing in the same country. 1 Figure (B) 83 Figure Deno [! l! Part 7: Tray cross-sectional view 4 Diagram inspection le 1 Pushito flow dry eid me 5 Diagram: Perspective view showing distance work 62 Jihe, to! Death is a sign of death.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a droplet cutting method using a pipette that is attached to a manipulator and automatically controls the suction and discharge of a fixed amount of liquid and its spatial movement, there is a process in which the tip of the pipette that has aspirated the liquid is brought close to the bottom of the container and the liquid is discharged, and the tip of the pipette is It is characterized by a process of raising the pipette above the liquid level and bringing the tip of the pipette into contact with the moved container wall, and a process of moving the droplet that had stayed at the pipette tip to the container wall and separating the pipette from the container. How to cut a droplet from a pipette. (2) A method for wiping off liquid from a pipette in which fixed-quantity suction and discharge of liquid attached to a manipulator and spatial movement are self-controlled; A method for wiping liquid adhered to a pipette, comprising the steps of spatially moving the pipette tip vertically and horizontally and bringing the pipette tip into contact with a water absorbent.