JPS62276440A - Chemical analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the title analyzer relatively small-sized, by providing a fog photometric part performing the fog photometry of a chemical analysis slide by allowing a reading head to move the lateral side of an incubator in the lateral direction thereof. CONSTITUTION:The feed of a chemical analysis slide 1 from a slide mount part to a spot deposition part and the feed and insert of the slide after spot deposition with respect to an incubator housing chamber 133 are performed by a feed/insert means 150. A fog photometric part for measuring the reflecting optical intensity of the chemical analysis slide 1 unused is provided to the lateral side of an incubator 130 in the lateral direction thereof. Further, a reading head 141 freely slidable to the lateral direction slides to the position opposed to the fog photometric part by the sliding to the lateral direction, the chemical analysis slide 1 is allowed to pass through the fog photometric part by the feed/insert means 150 and fog photometry is performed in the fog photometric part by the reading head 141.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention involves applying a substance to be measured on a chemical analysis slide having one or more reagent layers, and maintaining the temperature at a constant temperature (incubation) for a predetermined period of time. The present invention relates to a chemical analysis device that optically measures and analyzes the degree of color development (degree of pigment formation) caused by chemical reaction.

(Prior Art) Qualitative or quantitative analysis of specific chemical components in a liquid sample is a commonly performed operation in various industrial fields. In particular, quantitative analysis of chemical components or formed components in biological body fluids such as blood and urine is extremely important in the biochemical and clinical fields.

In recent years, dry-type chemical analysis slides have been developed that can quantitatively analyze specific chemical components or formed components contained in a sample solution by simply applying small droplets of the sample solution. No. 53-21677, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-16
No. 4356, etc.) has been put into practical use. Using these chemical analysis slides, sample #1 liquid can be analyzed more easily and quickly than conventional wet analysis methods, so their use is especially recommended for @collaborative institutions that need to analyze a large number of samples. ,
This is preferable in research institutes, etc.

In order to analyze the chemical components in a sample liquid using such a chemical analysis slide, the sample liquid is weighed and deposited on the chemical analysis slide, and then it is placed in an ink 1 beta (depletion machine) for a predetermined period of time. The chemical analysis is performed by maintaining the temperature at a constant temperature (incubation) to cause a color reaction (pigment formation reaction), and then applying measurement irradiation light containing a wavelength pre-selected by the combination of the sample components and the reagents contained in the reagent layer of the chemical analysis slide. This method measures the IQI34 optical density of a slide by irradiating it with light, thereby performing a quantitative analysis of the chemical components, etc. mentioned above.

In this case, it is necessary to analyze a large number of samples in the above-mentioned analysis at the medical institution, research institute, etc., and it is desirable to be able to perform this analysis automatically and continuously. For this reason, various proposals have been made regarding the chemical analysis Bfiff, which is capable of automatically and continuously analyzing samples using the chemical analysis slides described above.

For example, as disclosed in JP-A-56-77746, chemical analysis slides are sandwiched between two rotatable disks at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The chemical analysis slide, which has been kept at constant temperature for a predetermined period of time, is positioned opposite the reading head located below the disk by rotating the disk. There is a chemical analysis apparatus which uses this reading head to irradiate a chemical analysis slide with light through the fff1 port on the lower surface of the disk and measure the reflected optical density thereof.

Using this device, a small number of chemical analysis slides can be arranged circumferentially between two disks, making it possible to conduct analysis efficiently and quickly. The il control system tends to become complicated, and there are some problems in terms of miniaturization and cost reduction of the device.

Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-21566, for example, a U-shaped transport path is formed in the incubator, and a chemical analysis slide held on a carrier of a predetermined shape is placed in this transport path. A plurality of slides are fed in sequence and transported along this transport path, and a reading head installed in the middle of this transport path irradiates the chemical analysis slide that is kept at a constant temperature within the transport path for a predetermined period of time. A chemical analysis device has also been proposed in which light irradiation J3 and reflection optical density are measured. Although this device also allows efficient and rapid analysis using multiple chemical analysis slides, it requires a mechanism to transport the carrier that holds the chemical analysis slides along the V feed path. However, there are some problems in terms of reducing the size and cost of the device. Furthermore, in January, when the reflection optical density is measured, the same chemical analysis slide is measured multiple times at predetermined time intervals to measure the rate of change in the reflected optical density. However, there is a problem in that the above device is not very suitable for measuring rates.

Furthermore, as a different example of a chemical analysis device, chemical analysis slides are stacked and inserted one after another into an incubator, and after a predetermined period of time, the stacked slides are sequentially removed from the bottom to measure the reflected optical density. There is something like this. In this way, the chemical analysis slides are stacked in the incubator, making it easier to maintain the constant temperature (and the advantage is that the incubator can be made more compact). The gas generated by the color reaction with the sample attached to this slide affects the color reaction on other chemical analysis slides.
There is a problem that the accuracy of analysis decreases. Furthermore, since the present apparatus sequentially takes out chemical analysis slides and performs measurements after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, it is difficult to perform measurements during constant temperature maintenance, making it unsuitable for rate measurements.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In view of the above, the present applicant uses an incubator equipped with a plurality of storage chambers in which a plurality of chemical analysis slides are arranged horizontally on the same plane. A read head that is rotatable along the lower surface and measures the reflected optical density by facing the reagent layer of the chemical analysis slide in the storage chamber. A compact device that is integrated with a spotter that supplies drops, a slide loading section that holds unused chemical analysis slides before this drop supply, and a transport/insertion means that transports and inserts the chemical analysis slides through the spotting section and into the incubator.・We proposed a compact chemical analysis device. When performing chemical analysis using such an apparatus, it is desirable to perform a fog measurement in which the reflected optical density of an unused chemical analysis slide is measured in advance in order to improve measurement accuracy. For this reason,
A read head for fog measurement is required, but if the read head for measuring reflective optical density of chemical analysis slides subjected to a color reaction in an incubator can also be used for capri measurement, it would be possible to improve the equipment. Downsizing,
This can be said to be preferable in terms of cost reduction.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention provides a relatively small-sized device that is capable of performing fog measurement of a chemical analysis slide and reflective optical ALFF measurement after a color reaction using a single reading head. The object of the present invention is to provide a chemical analysis device that is compact, has a simple structure, and can perform chemical analysis quickly and with high precision.

The chemical analysis device of the present invention stores and holds chemical analysis slides in a slide loading section, takes out the chemical analysis slides one by one and transports them to a spotting section, and applies the reagent layer of the chemical analysis slides by the spotting section. The liquid to be measured is supplied dropwise for a predetermined period of time, and then the chemical analysis slide is inserted into one of the plurality of storage chambers formed in the incubator side by side on the same plane, and the PI! Irradiation light is applied to the chemical analysis slide by a reading head which is freely adjustable and is arranged so as to be able to face the chemical analysis slide stored in the storage chamber through reading openings formed in each of the storage chambers. It is designed to measure the reflected optical density by irradiating the slide, and is used to transport chemical analysis slides from the slide loading section to the spotting section, and to transport and insert the slides after spotting into the incubator storage room. - A fog photometer for measuring the reflected optical density of an unused chemical analysis slide is provided on the side of the ink 1 beta in the lateral direction, and a recording/reading head is provided which can be freely filled in the lateral direction. This lateral sliding makes it possible to move to a position facing the fog photometry section, and the chemical analysis slide conveyed from the slide loading section to the spotting section by the conveyance/insertion means passes through the fog photometry section. The present invention is characterized in that fog photometry can be performed using a reading head in a fog photometry section.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the chemical analysis device of the present invention.
This device includes a cartridge device main section 11, an incubator 20, 27, a spotter 30, and a conveyor on a main body 10.

An insertion means 40 is provided, and the plan view of FIG. 2 shows these as seen from above, and the front view of FIG. It is a diagram. As shown in FIG. 1, this apparatus includes a display section 14 for displaying measurement data during measurement. Although operation keys 15 for operating the display and the like and a magnetic disk insertion section 13 for recording are provided, these are omitted in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The cartridge 2 stores a plurality of unused chemical analysis slides 1 in a stack, and the chemical analysis slide 1 loaded into the loading section 11 has a frame 1a having a circular hole for dropping a liquid sample as shown in FIG. A dry multilayer film 1b is arranged in which a support, a reagent layer, and an i1 layer are laminated in this order, and a sample (substance to be measured) such as urine or blood is placed on this film.
A predetermined amount of the solution is added dropwise and kept at a constant temperature (incubation) to cause a color reaction. The chemical analysis slides 1 are pushed out one by one from the lowest one in the cartridge 2 to the fog measuring section 1G by a pushing lever 12. The fog measurement unit 16 measures the reflection density (
Fog density) is measured, and the quality of slide 1 is determined, and the m of slide 1 after color reaction is determined according to the fog density.
A frame body 16a and a frame body 16a are provided for correcting the degree measurement value and are provided with a measurement opening 16b at the bottom.
A storage chamber 16e in which the slide 1 is stored is formed between the lower inner surface of the frame body 16a and the presser part 4416d.

A barcode reading means 18 for reading a barcode (not shown) attached to the slide 1 is provided on the slide insertion side of the storage chamber 16e. A reference white board 17w and a reference blackboard 17b are arranged for correcting errors in reflection density measurement values.Furthermore, a first incubator 20 is located on the right side, and a fog measuring section 16 is located in the first incubator 20. A plurality of storage chambers 21, 21, . A tray 29 is arranged below the first incubator 20 to receive used slides discharged from the storage chamber 21.As shown in FIG. A reading head 50 that can be easily counterfeited is disposed laterally (in the direction of arrow C).In this day shift, for example, a linear This rail 51 is driven by a motor or the like.
extends to the bottom surface of the fog measuring section 16 and extends to the reading head 5.
0 can be moved up to the fog measuring section 16, and the fog measuring section 1G
It is designed to be able to face the Chemical Analysis Slide 1.

The first incubator 10 has a built-in heater (not shown), and has storage chambers 21, 21 . ...21 chemical analysis slides 1 can be kept at constant temperature (incubation).

On the right side of the first incubator 20, there are storage chambers 21, 21. A second incubator 27 is arranged horizontally on the same plane as the slide 21, and forms a storage chamber 28 for storing the chemical analysis slide 1'. fixed on top. By arranging the incubators separately in this manner, slides can be maintained at different temperatures.

Note that the fog measuring section 16 and the first incubator 20
J3, the first incubator 20, and the second incubator 27 are arranged to be thermally insulated.

In this embodiment, the chemical analysis slide 1 stored in the first incubator 20 detects the color reaction between the sample and reagent dropped on the film through the reading opening 21a formed on the lower surface of the storage v21. through the read head 50
The chemical analysis slide 1' housed in the second injector 27 measures the potential difference generated in proportion to the logarithm of the ionic activity of a specific ion in the sample. The second incubator 2 is used to measure ion activity (electrolyte slide).
The chemical analysis slide 1' housed in 7 has a basic configuration in which at least a pair of solid electrodes having an ion-selective layer as the outermost layer and a porous bridge that acts as a capillary between the pair of ion-selective layers are arranged. A reference solution is applied onto one ion-selective layer of the electrode pair of this slide, and a sample solution (substance to be measured) is applied onto the other ion-selective layer, and the potential difference between the -F distribution electrodes is applied. is measured by an electrode head attached to the lower surface of the second incubator 27 to measure a predetermined ion activity in the sample liquid. The first incubator 20 needs to maintain each chemical analysis slide 1 at approximately the same temperature as body temperature (37°C) in order to cause a color reaction in samples such as urine and blood. There is no need to do this; for example, it is sufficient to maintain the temperature at about 30° C., and since the incubators 20 and 27 are separately arranged, this is convenient in such a case.

On the other hand, behind the first and second incubators 20 and 27 are entrance openings 21a of these storage chambers 20 and 28.

A conveyance/insertion means 40 that is slidable in the lateral direction (in the direction of the arrow) is arranged opposite to 28a. This sliding is performed by the conveyance/insertion means 40 placed on a rail 49 extending in the transverse direction and driven by, for example, a linear motor.
It is slidable not only to the first and second incubators 20, 27 but also to a position facing the fog measuring section 16 (the position indicated by the chain line X in FIG. 2). Therefore, the chemical analysis slide 1 or 1' pushed out from the fog measuring section 16 by the pushing lever 12 can be picked up by the conveyance/insertion means 40 slid to the position indicated by the chain line X.

A spotter 30 is arranged behind this conveyance/insertion means. The spotter 30 is slidable in the lateral direction (in the direction of the arrow) on the base fi 31 and is arranged in two rows in the lateral direction as sample cups 36, 36 . ...36 and chips 35, 35,
A pipette 32, which has a sample stage 34 on which a 35° angle is placed and is movable up and down (in the direction of the arrow) and back and forth (in the direction of arrow B) with respect to the base 31, moves up and down and back and forth to Attach the tip 35 to the tip and
A predetermined amount of the substance to be measured in the sample cup 36 is sucked into the sample cup 36, and then the spotting section 19 drips and supplies it onto the film 1b of the chemical analysis slide 1 on the transport/insertion means 40. At this time, the tip is replaced for each sample cup so that the substances to be measured in the sample cup 36 do not mix. In addition, in the case of the chemical analysis slide 1' stored in the second incubator 28, it is also necessary to drop the reference liquid, and in this case, as shown in FIG.
The reference liquid is sucked up from the tube and supplied dropwise.

In this way, the chemical analysis slide 1 . will be explained with reference to a sectional view taken along the arrow v--■ in FIG. 2 shown in FIG. 4A.

The conveyance/insertion means 40 includes a support block 41a arranged below the cover plate 18 and slidable laterally (in the direction of the arrow) on a rail 49, and a support plate 41 placed on the support block 41a. FIG. 4B shows this in detail when viewed from above. This support plate 41 includes a loading section 45 on which the chemical analysis slide 1 is placed;
Stepped portions 43, 43 formed at both ends of the cap 15, a pair of wedge-shaped insertion portions 43a, 43a formed at the tips of the stepped portions, and a pair of wedge-shaped insertion portions 43a, 43a formed at the tip of the loading portion 45. It has a slide ejection projection 42 and a pair of recesses 44, 44 formed at the rear of both sides of the rear end surface of the chemical analysis slide 1 held in the loading section 45. This transportation
The insertion means 40 slides laterally on the rail 49 to
When positioned at the poly position shown in the figure, the film 1b of the chemical analysis slide 1 held in the loading section 45 is inserted into the opening 1 of the spotting section 19.
9a, and the substance to be measured is dripped onto the film 1b from the pipette 32 of the spotter 30 through this opening 19a. Next, the transport/insertion means 40 moves again on the rail 49 and stops at a position facing the storage chamber 21 or 28 in which the chemical analysis slide 1 is to be stored and held.The support plate 41 moves back and forth on the support block 41a. (arrow E
By this sliding, the chemical analysis slide 1 held on the support plate 41 is inserted into the storage chamber 21 or 2B of the incubator 21 or 27.

The incubator 20 contains the inserted chemical analysis slide 1
a support member 24 that supports and has a reading opening 21a;
A pressing member 2 that faces this support member 24 and is movable up and down
2, and a spring 2 that urges this pressing member 22 downward.
3. It consists of a main body member 25 that movably supports the pressing member 22, and a stopper plate spring 26 attached to the entry hole fjf1 hole 21a portion of the storage chamber 21.
Insertion of a chemical analysis slide by the conveyance/insertion means 40 into the apparatus will be explained with reference to Figures 6 to 6D.

Here, a chemical analysis slide 1 that has already been read by the reading head 50 through the reading opening 21a is stored and held in the storage chamber 21, and is transferred to a new chemical analysis slide 1 on the transport/insertion means 40. The case of replacement will be explained. Since the chemical analysis slide 1 in the storage chamber 21 is held between the support member 24 and the pressing member 22 by the biasing force of the spring 23, when the support plate 41 moves forward (in the direction of arrow E1), the slide 1 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the wedge-shaped insertion portion 43a enters between the two members 22 and 24, pushes the pressing member 22 upwards, and releases the chemical analysis slide 1 from its grip. Next, the slide ejection protrusion 42 comes into contact with the rear end of the chemical analysis slide 1 in the storage chamber 21 and pushes the chemical analysis slide 1 in the forward direction of the arrow E1, finally moving the chemical analysis slide 1 out of the storage chamber 21. The receiver is pushed out and discharged into the tray 29 (FIG. 6C). At this time, the new chemical analysis slide 1 held in the loading section 45 of the support plate 41 is located at a predetermined position in the storage chamber 21, and the pair of chemical analysis slides 1 formed behind both measuring sections on the rear end surface of the chemical analysis slide 1 are placed at a predetermined position in the storage chamber 21. The stopper plate spring 26 is placed in the recess 44.
enters. Note that this plate spring 26 has a bifurcated shape or a bifurcated shape so that its tip enters into the pair of four parts 44, 44.
It has a divided shape. Next, when the support plate 41 is pulled back (arrow E2 direction), the stopper leaf spring 2
6 comes into contact with the rear end surface of the chemical analysis slide 1 and prevents the movement of the chemical analysis slide 1, so only the support plate 41 returns, and as a result, the chemical analysis slide 1 is moved between the support member 24 and the pressing member 22 in the storage chamber 21. held by.

Note that the transport/insertion means 40 is warmed in advance by a heater or the like in order to prevent the temperature of the incubator 20 from changing (heat shock) when the support plate 41 is inserted into the storage chamber 21 of the incubator 20. This is desirable.

By using the conveyance/insertion means 40 as described above, the storage chamber 2
When there is no chemical analysis slide 1 in the storage chamber 21, the operation of inserting a new chemical analysis slide 1 or simply ejecting the chemical analysis slide 1 from the storage chamber 21 can be performed by the operation of the support plate 41 in exactly the same way as described above. can be done.

The operation of the chemical analysis apparatus configured as described above will be explained step by step.

First, the lowest chemical analysis slide 1 of the chemical analysis slides 1 stacked and stored in the cartridge 2 loaded in the cartridge loading section 11 is pushed out by the push lever and stored in the storage chamber 16e of the fog measurement section 16. Ru. At this time, the barcode of the chemical analysis slide 1 is read by the barcode reading means 18. Subsequently, the reading head 50 is moved to a position facing the measurement opening 16b of the fog measurement section 16, and the fog on the slide 1 before the substance to be measured is deposited is measured. In addition, the reading head 5o
When moving, it faces the reference white board 17w and the reference blackboard 17b, and photometry errors are corrected. When this fog measurement is performed, the chemical analysis slide 1 is pushed out by the pushing lever 12 onto the loading section 45 of the conveyance/insertion means 40, which has been moved to the position indicated by chain aX in FIG.

Please note that the slide is barcode readable and the electrolyte slide 1
′, no fog measurement is performed and the
The laceration 15 of the conveyance/insertion means 40 is caused by the push-out lever 12.
pushed upwards.

Thereafter, the conveyance/insertion means 40 moves to the right on the rail 49 to a position facing the pipette 32 of the spotter 30 (the position indicated by the solid line Y). Here, the pipette 32 moves up and down and back and forth, attaches a tip 35 to its tip, and sucks a predetermined amount of the substance to be measured in the sample cup 36 into the tip 35. l! A substance to be measured is supplied dropwise onto the film 1b of the chemical analysis slide 1 or 1' held by the transport/insertion means 40.

After this, the conveyance/insertion means 40 moves on the rail 49 in the lateral direction (
According to the code read by the barcode reading means 16, it moves in the six directions of the arrow) and faces the predetermined storage chamber 21 or 28 of the first or second incubator 20 or 27, and as described above from FIG. 6A. The chemical analysis slide 1 is inserted into the storage chamber 21 or 28 by the operation shown in FIG. 6D. 1st incubator 20
The chemical analysis slide 1, which is kept at a constant temperature (incubation) inside the storage chamber 21, is irradiated with irradiation light and its reflected optical density is measured through the reading opening 21a by the reading head 50, which has moved below the storage chamber 21. In the second incubator 27, the potential difference between the electrodes of the chemical analysis slide 1' is measured. When these measurements are completed, the chemical analysis slide 1 or 1' is transferred from the storage chamber 21 or 28 to the tray 29 by the transport/insertion means 40.
discharged inside. Thereafter, by repeating the above operations, chemical analysis using a large number of chemical analysis slides can be performed automatically and continuously. In the above embodiment, the substance to be measured is automatically spotted in the spotting section 19 using the spotting device 30, but it is also possible to manually spot the substance to be measured in the spotting section 19 using a micropipette or the like. You may also do so.

Further, the second incubator 27 does not necessarily need to be provided, and may be added later as a separate option.

Next, different examples of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 7 to 9.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of another example of the chemical analysis device of the present invention, in which an incubator, a slide conveyance means, a slide insertion means, etc. are arranged inside the main body 110, and a cover 1
It is covered by 11 and becomes <'. The exterior of this chemical analyzer is provided with an insertion opening 112 for inserting a magnetic disk used for recording, a display section 113 for displaying measurement data, etc., and operation keys 114 for operating this display. ing. Furthermore, on the upper surface of the right side, there is a slide guide 115 that holds an unused chemical analysis slide.
The slide guide 115 holds unused chemical analysis slides loaded from the outside one by one or in a stacked manner. Note that a cartridge storing and holding a plurality of stacked chemical analysis slides may be attached to the slide guide 115. A spotting means 120 is provided behind the slide guide 115 for spotting and supplying a predetermined sample liquid onto the film 1b of the chemical analysis slide. The spotting means 120 includes a spotting arm that projects forward and is vertically rotatable around its rear end;
121, a spotting pipette 122 extending downward from the front end of the spotting arm 121, and an operation button 123 for vertically moving the spotting arm 121 and aspirating and discharging sample liquid to the spotting pipette 122. Become. When spotting is performed using this spotting means 120, the operation button 123
By the operation, the spotting arm 121 is rotated upward to lift the spotting pipette 122, the sample liquid in the container is brought into contact with the tip of the spotting pipette 122, and a predetermined amount of the sample is placed in the spotting pipette 122. The liquid is aspirated, and then the spotting arm 121 is rotated downward again to remove the spotting pipette 12.
A predetermined amount of sample liquid is discharged from 2 onto the film 1b of the chemical analysis slide located below it.

FIG. 8 shows the inside of the chemical analyzer as seen from above, and FIG. 9 shows the inside in cross section along the arrow IX-IX. The internal structure of this chemical analysis device will be described below with reference to both figures. Inside this chemical analysis device, there is an incubator 130 for maintaining a constant temperature of a chemical analysis slide onto which a sample liquid is applied by the above-mentioned spotting means 120, and an incubator 130 for keeping the temperature of the chemical analysis slide kept at a constant temperature. Optical reading means 140 for detection and transport/insertion means 150 for transporting the chemical analysis slide to the incubator 130 and inserting the transported chemical analysis slide into the storage chamber 133 of the incubator 130 are shown on the right. In addition to the above means, a battery 11G, a printed wiring board for the control circuit lf
Although the A plate 117, the light source 118a for the optical reading means 140, the magnetic disk drive mechanism 118b, etc. are arranged, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. In the following description, the direction indicated by arrow E will be referred to as the front, the direction indicated by arrow R will be referred to as rear, and the right and left sides in FIG. 8 will be referred to as right and left, respectively.

The incubator 130 is arranged to extend in the left-right direction,
Moreover, inside thereof, a plurality of storage chambers 133 are formed side by side in the left-right direction. These storage chambers 133 each have an inlet and an outlet opening, and the inlet opening is the incubator 1.
The exit openings are formed side by side along the lower rear end surface 130a of the incubator 130, and the exit opening is the front end surface 130 of the incubator 130.
They are formed side by side along the line b. For this reason, the chemical analysis slide 1 is inserted into the storage chamber 133 from the entrance opening and is discharged from the exit opening, and the chemical analysis slide 1 discharged from the exit opening is disposed at the front side of the incubator 130. discharge box 180
discharged inside. Further, the storage chamber 133 includes a lower member 132 on which the chemical analysis slide 1 is placed, and a lower member 132 on which the chemical analysis slide 1 is placed.
and an upper member 131 that presses down the chemical analysis slide 1 placed on it from above, and the chemical analysis slide is maintained at a constant temperature by both members 131 and 132.

The optical reading means 140 is disposed below the incubator 130, and includes two upper and lower guide rods 140a and 143b extending left and right, and a guide rod 143a.

A drive rod 144 extending left and right between 143b and having a thread formed on its outer periphery, a drive motor 145 that rotates the drive rod 144, and a guide rod 143a.

143b - consists of a holder 142 threadably engaged with the holder 144 and a reading head 141 attached to the holder 142. Holding stand 142
along with the reading head 141, the guide C1 rod 14 is rotated by the rotation of the drive rod 144 by the drive motor 145.
3a, 143b can be moved left and right. The read head 141 is the lower part of the incubator 130 13
The measurement light is irradiated onto the film 1b of the chemical analysis slide 1 stored and held in the storage chamber 133 through the measurement hole formed in the lower member 133 in each storage chamber 133, and the reflected optical It is designed to measure concentration. Therefore, the reading head 141, which moves in the left G direction together with the holding table 142, can face the measurement hole of each storage chamber 133 by this movement, and can measure the degree of coloring of the chemical analysis slide 1 in any storage chamber 133. It is possible. Note that the irradiation light at this time is emitted from the light source 118a by guiding it to the reading head 141 through the optical fiber 141a. Moreover, this reading head 141 can only be moved in the left and right direction to face the measurement hole of the fully collapsed tube 133, and the chemical analysis slide is transported from the slide guide 115 onto the transport/insertion means 150 as described later. J5 can also face the lower surface of the transfer chamber 119 through which J5 passes.
This allows fog measurement to be performed.

Further, at the rear of the incubator 130, a spotting means 1 is provided.
Chemical analysis slide 1 on which the sample solution was spotted according to 20
A conveyance/insertion means 150 is provided for conveying the material to a position facing the entrance opening of each storage chamber 133 and inserting it into the storage chamber 133. This conveyance/insertion means 150 includes two upper and lower guide rods 156a and 1 extending left and right.
56b and a guide rod 15Ga.

A transport rod 157 extending from side to side in the middle of the transport rod 156b and having a thread formed on the outer periphery, a transport motor 15B that rotationally drives the transport O-rad 157, and the guide rod 15
(ia, the above-mentioned transport rod 15 is slidable on 156b.
7, and a slide receiver 152 fixedly mounted on the carrier 151.

The conveyor table 151 is movable left and right on the idle rods 156a and 156b together with the slide receiver 152 by the rotation of the conveyor rod 157 by the conveyor motor 158. In FIG. position shown) and incubate 130
It is possible to move between the leftmost storage v133 and the opposing position (the position indicated by the solid line). Slide holder is 1
52 is provided so that its front end faces the entrance m10 of each storage chamber 133 according to the movement in the left-right direction, and furthermore, a pair of guides for holding the chemical analysis slide 1 is provided on the front upper surface of the slide 52. 152a and 152b are formed, and are movable back and forth with respect to the conveyance table 151 similarly to the support plate 41 shown in FIG. 4A. Therefore, when the slide holder 152 is moved to the rear position of the slide guide 115 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The slide receiver is conveyed onto the stand 152 by a push-out lever, a conveyor belt, etc., and guided by the guides 152a and 152b, the slide receiver is placed on the stand 152. During this conveyance, the bar code sensor 125 detects the chemical When the barcode of the analysis slide 1 is read and the slide passes through the transport chamber 119 formed side by side on the same plane as the storage chamber 133,
The reading head 141, which has been moved to a position facing the lower surface of the transport chamber 119, performs reflection optical density measurement (fogging measurement) of the chemical analysis slide 1 before the sample liquid is deposited thereon. The chemical analysis slide 1 transported in this manner and placed on the slide holder 152 is placed on the spotting means 120 at this position.
The sample solution is dotted onto the reagent layer, and then
The slide holder 152 is moved to the left together with the carrier 151, and the chemical analysis slide 1 placed on the slide holder 152 is transported to a position facing the entrance opening of a predetermined storage chamber 133. .

Next, the slide receiver 152 moves upward on the conveyor 151 and the chemical analysis slide is inserted into the storage chamber 133, but this operation is the same as that shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D. Since they are the same, their explanation will be omitted.

(Effect of J? Ming) As explained above, according to the present invention, a slide loading section, a spotting section, an incubator, a reading head, etc. are incorporated into one device, and a chemical analysis slide is transported between these devices. This is automatically carried out by the conveyance/insertion means, and a fog photometry section is provided that moves the reading head laterally to the side of the incubator to perform fog photometry of the chemical analysis slide. The chemical analysis slide transported from the spotting section to the spotting section is passed through this fog photometry section to perform fog photometry, so a single reading head measures the fog photometry and the reflected optical density after the color reaction. The device can be relatively small and compact and can be used to perform measurements.
! ! It can be made simple, and rapid and highly accurate chemical analysis can be performed automatically and continuously.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one example of the chemical analysis device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the above device, Fig. 3 is a front view of the above device as seen along arrows ■-■, and Fig. 4A. is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 2 along the arrow v-■, FIG. 4B is a plan view of the conveyance/insertion means used in the above device, and FIG. 5 is an example of a chemical analysis slide used in the above device. A perspective view, FIGS. 6Δ to 6D are sectional views showing the operation of inserting a chemical analysis slide into the storage chamber of an incubator by means of conveyance/insertion, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the chemical analyzer; FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the chemical analyzer; FIG.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A slide loading section that holds a chemical analysis slide; a spotting section that drips and supplies a predetermined amount of a liquid to be measured onto the chemical analysis slide; and a plurality of chemical analysis slides that are arranged horizontally on the same plane. an incubator comprising a plurality of storage chambers that are stored side by side; and the chemical analysis slide that is slidable in the lateral direction and is stored in the storage chamber through reading openings formed in each of the plurality of storage chambers. A reading head that is arranged to face each other and that irradiates the chemical analysis slide with irradiation light and measures its reflected optical density; After the liquid to be measured is dripped into the layer, the chemical analysis slide is transported to a position opposite to the entrance opening of the storage chamber and is inserted into the storage chamber from the entrance opening. A fog measuring section is provided on the lateral side of the incubator for measuring the reflected optical density of the chemical analysis slide before the liquid to be measured is dripped and supplied, and the reading head is slid in the lateral direction. The chemical analysis slide, which is conveyed from the slide loading section to the spotting section by the conveyance/insertion means, passes through the fog measurement section, and the fog measurement section is moved so as to be able to face the fog measurement section. A chemical analysis apparatus characterized in that fog measurement can be performed using the reading head in the measurement section. (2) The spotting section drips and supplies a predetermined amount of the liquid to be measured onto the top surface of the chemical analysis slide, and the reading head faces the bottom surface of the chemical analysis slide to measure reflected optical density. A chemical analysis device according to claim 1.