JPS6355645B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for weighing and fractionating a sample used in an automatic chemical analyzer.

In the field of clinical chemical analysis, automatic chemical analyzers have come into widespread use due to the dramatic increase in the number of specimens handled. In such an automatic chemical analyzer, a sample measuring/separating device is required in order to send a predetermined amount of the sample contained in the same sample container to a reactor provided corresponding to the analysis item.

It is desired that such a sample measuring/separating device be able to measure the sample and send it to each of the reactors in the shortest possible time. A device as described below was developed.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 and 2 are a pair of fixing members arranged with their parallel end faces facing each other, and a plurality of, for example seven, Rotating members R1, R2,..., R7
is located. Rotating member R7 of the fixed member 1
An opening 3 for setting a sample is provided on a circumference of a predetermined radius r centered on the axis on the surface in contact with the sample. For simplicity, in FIG. 1, angles measured around the axis are plotted on the horizontal axis. As is clear from the figure, the first fixing member 1 is further provided with sample feeding openings 4a, 4b, 4 spaced apart from each other by a certain angle θ on the circumference of a radius r centered on the axis.
c, 4d and cleaning openings 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h
is provided. Similarly, on the surface of the second fixed member 2 that comes into contact with the rotating member R1, a sample setting opening 5, a sample feeding opening 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and a cleaning opening are arranged to form a pair with each of these openings. 6e, 6f, 6g, and 6h are provided. Each of these openings is connected to the outside of the fixing member via a conduit bored through each fixing member, as shown by dotted lines in the figure. Especially openings 4a, 4b, 4
c, 4d are first, second, third, and fourth reactors 7a, 7b, 7 for performing different analyses;
c, 7d. Also, rotating members R1, R
2, .
2,...,T7 are provided. Further, each rotating member is provided with nine conduits (holes) spaced apart by θ on the circumference, as shown by dotted lines in the figure. Among the rotating members, the rotating member R1 is connected to a rotational drive source 8, and the rotating member R1 is rotated, for example, 4θ forward and reverse by the drive source 8. B
1, B2,..., B6 are engaging bodies for rotation transmission, and these engaging bodies Bi (however, i=1, 2,...,
6) is for transmitting the rotation of the rotating body Ri to the rotating body R(i+1), and the operator can set whether to allow no play, only θ, or only 2θ when transmitting the rotational force. It can be selected arbitrarily.

In such a configuration, in the previous analysis, each sample delivery opening 4a, 4b, 4c, 4
d, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and the conduits in fixed members R1, R2 and each rotating member R1, R
Reagents flow through each conduit 2, . . . , R7 to send the sample to the reaction system. Therefore, if left as is, the reagents flowing through each of the conduits during the current analysis will interfere with different types of reagents that flowed through the same conduit during the previous analysis, so each of the conduits is washed with washing water prior to the current analysis. . At the start of the current analysis, each of the conduits is filled with wash water. Therefore, first, the sample measuring conduits T1, T2,..., T7 are
As shown in Figure a, at the rotational position of each rotating member R1, R2,..., R7 so as to be continuous with the sample setting openings 3, 5, the sample 9 is sucked in and each sample measuring conduit T1, T2,..., T7 is opened. Fill with sample. Therefore, for example, the first, second, third, and fourth reactors 7
2 units, 2 units, and 2 units for a, 7b, 7c, and 7d, respectively.
When trying to weigh and send out a sample of 1 unit (however, 1 unit of sample is a sample filled in a single sample measuring conduit), the engaging bodies B1, B3, and B5 should have a play of θ. Also, the engaging bodies B2, B4,
B6 is set so that there is no play at all, and the rotational drive source 8 causes the rotating member R1 to rotate normally by 4θ. As a result, the rotation of the rotating member R1 is caused by the engagement bodies B1, B2,
..., each rotating member R2, R3, sequentially via B6,
..., R7, and the rotating members R1, R2,
..., the rotational position of R7 is as shown in FIG. 2b. Here, from the sample sending opening 6a to 4a,
Reagents flow from 6b to 4b, 6c to 4c, and 6d to 4d, and samples of 2 units, 2 units, 2 units, and 1 unit are sent together with the reagents to the first, second, third, and fourth reactors, respectively. . The amount of sample sent to each reactor can be changed arbitrarily depending on how much each rotating member is rotated from the state shown in FIG. to, 3 units each,
When sending samples of 2 units, 1 unit, or 1 unit, the play angles of the engaging bodies may be reset so that each rotating body rotates to the state shown in FIG. 2c.

Now, in such a sample measuring and fractionating device,
Let us follow the progress of each rotating member as it moves to the rotational position shown in FIG. 2b, for example. Since each engaging body B1, B2, ..., B6 is set as described above, when the rotating member R1 rotates by θ, the position of the conduit filled with the sample is indicated by the thin line A in FIG. When the rotating member R2 rotates by 2θ, the wavy line B in the same figure indicates that the rotating member R2 has rotated by 2θ.
When rotated by 3θ, it is represented by a line C made up of small circles in the figure, and the final position is represented by a thick line D. Now, in this position, the sample filled in each sample measuring conduit is connected to the conduit of the adjacent stationary member or rotating member, and is therefore in contact with the wash water. However, since such contact with the wash water occurs at the final rotational position of the rotating member, even if the sample filled in the sample measuring conduit is dissolved into the wash water side due to this contact, the reagent originally Because it is simply dissolved in the washing water that is sent to the specified reaction system,
Such contact does not reduce the amount of sample sent to a predetermined reaction system and does not pose any problem. On the other hand, the sample filled in the conduit T1 is transferred to the sample delivery openings 6a, 6b, and 6 while the rotating member rotates to the final position.
After contact with the wash water at c, it will be connected to the conduit at the final location. The cleaning water in the sample delivery openings 6a, 6b, 6c is supplied to the conduit T.
Although the above-mentioned contact is temporary because the washing water is not sent to the reaction system together with the sample filled with 1, the sample to be sent from the conduit T1 to the reactor 7d dissolves during the contact and a little This is an obstacle to accurate sample analysis. The sample reduction described above also occurs when the conduit is filled with air rather than wash water, although it is not as pronounced as with wash water.

The present invention takes these conventional problems into consideration, and reduces the number of times a sample to be sent to a reaction system comes into contact with other conduits filled with washing water, etc. during the rotation process of the rotating member to the final rotation position. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sample measuring and separating device that enables accurate analysis.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and the same components as in FIG. 3 are given the same numbers. The difference from the conventional one shown in FIG. 1 is that among the many rotating members, the central rotating member R4 is connected to the rotational drive source 8, and the engaging bodies B3, B2,
Engaging bodies B3', B2', B instead of B1, respectively.
1' was installed. However, the engaging body Bi
(i=3, 2, 1) is for transmitting the rotation of the rotating body R(i+1) to the rotating body Ri.

In such a configuration, for example, the first, second,
When trying to weigh and send samples of 2 units, 2 units, 2 units, and 1 unit to the third and fourth reactors 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d, respectively, the engaging body B
4, B5, B6, B3', B2', and B1' are set to θ, and after filling each sample measuring conduit with the sample as shown in Fig. 2a, drive the rotary drive source 8. do. As a result, the lines connecting the sample measuring conduits T1, T2, ..., T7 filled with the sample are shown in Fig. 3b as a thin line A, a wavy line B, and a line C connecting small circles, respectively.
While changing the position as shown in
The final state after 4θ rotation is as shown by the bold line D in the figure. Here, by flowing a reagent through each pair of sample delivery openings, the desired amount of sample is introduced into each reactor.

Now, in such a sample measuring and fractionating device,
For comparison with the conventional sample measuring conduit T1, T
2,..., in the process of T7 moving to the final rotational position indicated by the thick line D, each sample measuring conduit T
Consider how much the sample filled in 1, T2, ..., T7 comes into contact with the cleaning water. As is clear from Fig. 3b, the sample measuring conduits T1, T2,
..., none of the samples filled in T7 come into contact with any wash water during the process other than the wash water filling the connecting conduit at the final rotational position. Therefore, the sample sent to the reaction system is not reduced by the washing water.
Accurate analysis becomes possible.

Note that the first, second, third, and fourth reactors 7a, 7
1 unit, 2 units, and 2 units for b, 7c, and 7d, respectively.
If two units of sample are to be weighed and sent out, the rotating member R1 (or R7) must be rotated by 2θ from the state shown in FIG. 2a until it reaches the final rotational position. Therefore, in this case,
In the above process, it is not possible to completely eliminate contact with wash water other than the wash water that fills the connecting conduit at the final rotational position, but the number of contacts can be reduced compared to conventional methods, allowing for more accurate analysis. becomes possible.

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of times that the sample to be sent to the reaction system comes into contact with other conduits filled with washing water etc. during the rotation process of the rotating member to the final rotational position is reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of the reaction system. A sample measuring and fractionating device that enables accurate analysis can be realized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram to show a conventional example, Fig. 2 is a diagram to explain the operation of the sample measuring and separating device, and Fig. 3 is a diagram to compare the effects of an embodiment of the device based on the present invention with the conventional example. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1, 2: Fixing member, 3, 5: Sample setting opening, 8: Rotation drive source, 9: Sample, R1, R2,
..., R7: rotating member, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d:
Reactor, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 6a, 6b,
6c, 6d: Sample delivery opening, B1, B2,
..., B6, B3', B2', B1': engaging body, T1,
T2,...,T7: Conduit for sample measurement.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A pair of fixed members, a plurality of rotating members sandwiched between the pair of fixed members and rotatably provided around a common axis, and a plurality of rotary members on each opposing end surface of the pair of fixed members centered about the axis. A plurality of openings for setting a sample and a plurality of openings for sending out weighed samples are provided at equal angle intervals on a circumference of a predetermined radius, and It is provided with a plurality of openings provided at equiangular intervals and a plurality of conduits for connecting the openings on both end faces, and the sample setting openings of the pair of fixed members are connected by the conduits of the plurality of rotating members. After connecting and filling the sample in the conduit, the rotating member is rotated to change the connection state of the conduits of the plurality of rotating members, and the sample collected in the conduit is transferred to the fixed member. In the device for feeding through the opening, the rotation angle of the rotating member R7 adjacent to one of the fixed members 1 to the final position is smaller than the rotation angle of the rotating member R6 adjacent to the rotating member R7 to the final position. At the same time, a rotating member R adjacent to the other fixed member 2
The connection state of the conduit is changed prior to sending out the sample by making the rotation angle up to the final position of rotation member R1 smaller than the rotation angle up to the final position of the rotation member R2 adjacent to the rotation member R1. A sample measuring and fractionating device featuring: