JPS62255870A - Optical measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To considerably increase the number of measurement items for an automatic analyzer and to improve the accuracy of measurement by disposing a light source and photodetector of a measuring instrument so as to face each other across the transfer path for reaction vessels. CONSTITUTION:The reaction vessels H are cut in one vessel unit just before at least one pitch of a sample dispensing position (a) by a cutter vessel F and are successively transferred toward an optical measuring position body along the linearly formed transfer path of a reaction vessel transfer device C. The samples in the vessels are sucked in a prescribed amt. via a sampling pipette 23 and are then dispensed into a vessel 1 when the sample vessels 5, 5' are transferred to a prescribed sample sucking position (g). The corresponding reagents are dispensed in a required amt. into the vessel 1 through pipettes 31, 32 when reagent bottles 30, 30' corresponding to the measurement items come to a prescribed reagent sucking position. A prescribed optical measurement is carried out in an optimum measurement position (e) and the analysis data is fed to a CPU 22. The vessel 1 is discarded into a discarding position L in the discarding position (f) at the terminal of the transfer path.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an optical measuring device for an automatic analyzer that performs biochemical analysis or immunological analysis, and particularly relates to an optical measuring device for an automatic analyzer that performs biochemical or immunological analysis.
The present invention relates to an optical measuring device suitable for an automatic analyzer (of the type in which reaction vessels and the like are discarded once used).

/ em kk (k L, ! M ffl II
It is well known that automatic analyzers of the A k N disposable type are superior to automatic analyzers of the type in which reaction vessels are cleaned and reused in terms of preventing measurement carryover.

However, most conventional disposable type automatic analyzers measure at one point, that is, the optical measurement position is fixed at one location, so the IA constant time is very short and only one part of the reaction can be measured. Only parts of it can be seen, and as a result,
Since the measurement items are limited and the processing capacity is significantly reduced, and the time course of the reaction cannot be obtained, the reliability of the measurement accuracy is also low.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] This invention was devised in view of the current situation, and its purpose is to reduce the reaction time even if a disposable type automatic analyzer 2 is used. As a result, it is possible to greatly increase the number of measurement items in this type of automatic analyzer, thereby improving the power of IIL, and also greatly improving the reliability of measurement accuracy. The purpose of this invention is to provide an optical measurement device that can achieve this.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automatic analysis system configured to linearly transport a reaction container to a sample dispensing position, a reagent dispensing position, and an optical measurement position at a predetermined timing. The apparatus is based on an optical measuring device, and the optical measuring device is arranged opposite to each other across the transfer path of the reaction container, and the light source and the light receiving element are configured into a single finger that can be slid along the longitudinal direction of the transfer path. It is.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical measuring device according to this embodiment includes a light source 50 and a filter device 51 that converts the measurement light emitted from the light source 50 into a wavelength corresponding to the measurement item.
a light-receiving element 52 that receives the wavelength-converted measurement light or the amount of light after passing through the reaction vessel l; and a control unit CPU that converts the first light received by the light-receiving element 52 into a voltage and processes its analysis value. , a storage unit 53 that stores the data, a display unit 54, a printer 55, and a stabilized power supply/detection circuit 56.
and a unit 57 that accommodates the stabilized power supply/detection circuit 56, the light source 50, the filter unit 51, and the light receiving element 52.
and a detector moving device 58 that slides the unit 57 back and forth along the transfer path of the reaction container 1. Of course, the light source 50 and the light receiving element 52 are set at positions facing each other across the transfer path of the reaction vessel l.

Furthermore, in this optical measurement device, one reaction vessel 1 is disposed so as to cross the optical path 9, and the absorbance of the sample in the reaction vessel l that crosses the optical path q is measured colorimetrically as it crosses the light beam. Ru.

The detector moving device 58 is constituted by a known linear sliding guide mechanism made of, for example, a ball screw, a slide guide, and a wire, and slides and guides the light beam so that it traverses the inside of a maximum of 17 reaction vessels 1. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the light beam is configured to pass through the 17 reaction vessels 1 from the second reagent dispensing position C toward the reaction vessel disposal position f. This is because the sample blank before dispensing the second reagent can be measured at the second reagent dispensing position c.

Accordingly, if a sample blank is not required, the light beam may be formed at 4III so that it starts from the stirring position δd.

Therefore, this optical measurement device continuously measures all 617 reaction vessels 1 at the second reagent dispensing position aC, for example every 20 seconds for 5 minutes, and the obtained data values are plotted in a straight line or quadrature. By connecting the following curves, the reaction time course for each reaction vessel can be obtained.

The optical measuring device configured in this way includes, for example, a first
This is applied to an automatic analyzer A as shown in the figure.

This automatic analysis device 71A is a sheet formed of the required number of reaction vessels (in the illustrated example, 50 in total, 10 in the horizontal direction and 5 in the vertical direction per sheet) having the above-mentioned disbottle storage part. The reaction vessel H in the shape of a sheet, the stocker B that stores the sheet-like reaction vessel H in a layered manner, and the separated reaction vessel 3i are placed at a sample (serum) dispensing position a at a predetermined timing, and if a reagent is dispensed. position b, second reagent dispensing position C,
+9! A reaction vessel transfer device C that linearly transfers the reaction vessels to the stirring position d, the optical measurement position e, and the reaction vessel disposal position f, and a cutter device that cuts the reaction vessels H into each row (that is, 10 reaction vessels 1). E and a cutter device 2tF that cuts one row of reaction containers cut by the cutter device E at a rate of one container, and a cutter device 2tF that cuts the reaction container row cut by the cutter device E at a rate of one container, and a cutter device 2tF that cuts the sample drawn from the sample container 5 at the sample dispensing point 2? The sample dispensing device 1ffG dispenses the required amount into the reaction vessel L using the above reagent dispensing positions 71b and 71C, and the reagent corresponding to the measurement item sucked from the reagent vessel 30. First reagent dispensing device J that dispenses the required amount
, and 7 Donaba 9 ゐya■Reijitsu 1. I, and Yariho 2 are linked to τ1, a stirring device M that stirs bubbles in the reaction liquid in the reaction vessel 1, and a disposal device Rito, Kau that discards the reaction vessel 1 after optical measurement. It is configured.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reaction container H is made of a transparent plastic material that is flexible and has excellent reagent resistance. It is formed into a sheet shape with a thickness of .

Note that this reaction container 1 has a thin film adhered to its opening that can be easily broken by a sample pipette or a reagent pipette, which will be described later, so that the inside of the reaction container 1 is sealed when not in use. , may be formed to prevent the intrusion of dust and the like.

A plurality of sheet-like reaction containers d configured in this manner are stored in the stocker B in a stacked state, and at the beginning of the measurement, either the uppermost reaction container H or the intermittent transfer device P
I (not shown), one row at a time, the reaction vessel transfer device C
is transferred toward the transfer side end (lower right side in Fig. 1),
At this position, the cutter device E cuts one row at a time.

One row of reaction containers thus cut is set at the end of the reaction container transfer device C on the transfer start side.

One row of reaction vessels H cut by cutter device E
is cut by a cutter device fiF at least one pitch in front of the sample dispensing position 21a to a size of about one container.

Cutting the reaction vessels 1 one by one by the cutter device F in this way means that if the reaction vessels 1 are kept continuous and transferred one line at a time, when one analysis request is completed, Since the analysis work cannot be said to have ended unless the reaction container containing the final sample to be analyzed has been transferred to the disposal position, multiple This is because each unused reaction container would be wasted, and furthermore, it is easier to handle if the container is cut up for disposal.

In addition, cutter equipment! ! Since E and F have the same structure as a known cutter mechanism, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here.

The reaction vessel I cut into one vessel size by the cutter device F is sequentially transferred toward the optical measurement position along the linear transfer path of the gIC after the reaction vessel I.

In addition, a heating element made of nichrome wire or the like is installed in the linear transfer path of the 1-reaction capacity transfer unit WIC, so that the temperature inside the reaction vessel l transferred along the transfer path is The sample is heated to, for example, the biological temperature (approximately 37° C.) during the transfer.

The sample dispensing device G includes a sample holder 22 that is rotated clockwise in FIG. It is composed of a mounting plate 11, a mounting plate 23, and a sample holder 22.
holds a required number of sample containers 5 in a loop shape on its outer periphery, and also holds a required number of sample containers 5' in a loop shape on the inner periphery side of the loop row. The sample container 5 is a container that stores general samples, and the sample container rji5' stores samples for a calibration curve and emergency samples (specimens).

When a predetermined sample container 5 or 5' is thus transferred to a predetermined sample suction position ag, the required amount of sample in the sample container 5 or 5' is aspirated via the sampling pipette 23, and then It is dispensed into reaction vessel l.

The sampling bed 23 has an arm 2 whose one end is pivotally supported by a vehicle 25, similar to the structure of a known sampling pipette.
6, and a pipette 27 disposed at the other end of this arm 26.
A sampling pump 2 is connected to the pipette 27 and sucks the required amount of the sample and discharges it into the reaction vessel l.
8, the arm 26 is moved from the sample suction position g to the sample dispensing position? 1a, and a drive device (not shown) that controls the rotation to the cleaning position at a predetermined timing and controls the lifting and lowering at each position.

The method for measuring this sample is to fill the suction system with water,
After suction measurement with the sample and wood isolated through air, only the sample is discharged, and then the inside of the pipette 27 is washed by passing washing water from inside. During this cleaning, the pipette 27 is of course set at the pipette cleaning position 1h, and the sample adhering to the outer surface of the pipette 27 is cleaned at the same position. The pipette 27 is equipped with a suction amount confirmation device (not shown) having a known configuration for checking the suction amount of the sample, etc., and detects the absolute -1 of the sample etc. every time sampling is performed. However, if the test amount is less than $41, this will be automatically corrected.

The reagent device R rotates and controls a first reagent bottle 30 and a second reagent bottle 30° containing reagents corresponding to measurement items, and a table 33 on which the reagent bottle 30 or 30' is placed. A bottle transfer device (not shown) that transfers the bottle 30 or 30' to the first reagent suction position i or the second reagent suction position j, and a bottle transfer device (not shown) that transfers the bottle 30 or 30' to the first reagent suction position i or the second reagent suction position A first reagent pipette 31 that aspirates a required amount of a corresponding first reagent, and a second reagent pipette 31 that aspirates a required amount of a second reagent corresponding to a measurement item from within a second reagent bottle 30' at a second reagent suction position j. It consists of a pipette 32. Furthermore, the fJI arranged in the table 33 above
Jl and the second reagent bottle 30, 30' are set at predetermined positions, and these positions are each controlled by the controller CP.
It is stored in U. Further, in FIG. 1, the third day is a reagent cold storage, and the reagents in the reagent bottles 30 and 30' are cooled to 10 to 12 degrees Celsius.

In this way, the reagent bottle 30.3 corresponding to the measurement item
0” or the predetermined reagent suction position M t I J,
Required amounts of the corresponding reagents are dispensed into the reaction vessel l via the first and second reagent pipettes 31 and 32, respectively.

The first and second reagent pipettes 31 and 32 have an arm 35.35" pivotally supported at one end by the sleeve 34, 34", and this arm 35.3, similar to the structure of the known bed 9m.
A pipette 31.32 disposed at the other end of the arm 35', a pump 36. Each drive device (not shown) controls the rotation of the .35' from each reagent suction position 21 l l J to the reagent dispensing position i1b, c, and then to the washing position and m at a predetermined timing, and controls the elevation at each position. ).

The method for measuring this reagent is to fill the suction system with water,
After measuring the reagent by suction while separating the reagent from the wood through air, only the reagent is discharged, and then washing water is passed from inside to wash the inside of the beds 31 and 32. During this washing, the beds 31 and 32 are of course located at the pipette washing position 32.
Samples adhering to the outer surface of the sample are washed at the same location.

The pipettes 31 and 32 are equipped with a suction amount checking device (not shown) having a known configuration for checking the suction amount of reagents, etc.
is provided, and is configured to detect the absolute amount of reagent, etc. each time a reagent is aspirated, and to automatically correct the amount of reagent.

The stirring device M includes an arm 4 that is rotatable about a shaft 40.
1, a Geneva gear 42 fixed to the arm 41, a tube 43 for feeding air into the sample in the reaction vessel 1, and a cutter (not shown) for cutting the contact portion of the tube 43 once in contact with the sample. , a feeding means (not shown) for feeding the tube 43 by a certain length, and a tube stocker 44 for stocking the tube 43 in a wound state. Therefore, when the arm 35' is set at the cleaning position m as shown in FIG. 1, the arm 41 of the stirring bag ff1M is set to standby.

After this, the arm 35° is moved to the second reagent suction position j (first
(counterclockwise in the figure), the engagement between the Geneva gear 42 fixed to the arm 41 and the gear 38 disposed at 35 degrees of the arm is released, and the arm 41 is therefore in the set state at the standby position. is held.

From this state, the pipette 32 aspirates the required amount of the second reagent,
When the arm 35' rotates in the direction of the reaction vessel 1 (clockwise in Figure 1), the Geneva gear 42 fixed to the arm 41 again
and the gear 38 disposed at 35° of the arm are set in mesh, so that the arm 41 rotates in the direction of the reaction vessel 1 (counterclockwise in Figure 1), and the tip of the tube 43 is at the stirring position d. It is set directly above the reaction vessel 1.

Next, the arm 35° is lowered from the above state.

When the dispensing operation of the second reagent is started, the arm 41 is also lowered by the arm 35, and the tip of the tube 43 is immersed in the sample in the reaction container 1 to remove air bubbles from the sample. and stir.

When the pipette 32 completes the reagent dispensing operation, the arm 35' rises, and accordingly the arm 41 rises due to the biasing force of a spring (not shown), and the pipette 32 further rotates to the cleaning position (m). (counterclockwise in FIG. 1), the arm 41 also rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 and returned to its original position. At this time, using the rotational force of the arm 41, the tube 4 is cut by a cutter (not shown).
3 cuts are made. This cutting is done to eliminate contamination during measurement by cutting the contact portion of the tube 43 that has once contacted the sample as described above.

In the optical side localization a1e, predetermined optical measurements are performed according to the procedure described above, and analysis data is sent to the control unit CPU.

The disposal device is placed at the end of the transfer path of one reaction vessel L, and its configuration is a bottomed container with an opening at the top. rank i
It is discarded in the discard device iL at 1f.

The control unit CPU controls the operation of each device of the automatic analyzer HA, calculates and judges measurement signals, and also controls the first
In the figure, reference numeral 60 indicates a power supply, 61 indicates a cooling control unit, and 62 indicates a constant temperature control unit. The sample in each reaction vessel l is heated to biological temperature (approximately 37°C).

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it is possible to easily obtain the reaction time course even with a so-called disposable type automatic analyzer, and as a result, the number of measurement items in this type of automatic analyzer can be easily obtained. This has many effects, such as greatly increasing the processing power and greatly improving the reliability of measurement accuracy in this type of automatic analyzer.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view schematically showing the configuration of an optical measuring device and an automatic analyzer suitable for the optical measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Explanation of code] N...Optical measurement device A...Automatic analyzer C.
...Reaction container transfer device l...Reaction container 50...Light source 51...Filter device 52...
Light receiving element 57...Unit 58...Detector moving device a...Sample dispensing position e...Optical measurement position Patent applicant Nichiku Engineering Co., Ltd.□

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical measuring device of an automatic analyzer configured to linearly transport a reaction container to a sample dispensing position, a reagent dispensing position, and an optical measuring position at a predetermined timing, the device An optical measurement device characterized in that a light source and a light receiving element are arranged opposite to each other with a container transfer path in between, and are configured to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the transfer path.