JPS6373154A - Analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten a period from a mixing time of a sample and reagent to a time when reaction liquid reaches a constant temperature, by distributing the injecting the reagent into specified reaction containers in a thermostatic chamber beforehand, heating the reagent preliminarily, and discharging the sample to be checked into the reaction containers. CONSTITUTION:Reagent of a specified quantity is distributed and injected into a specified reaction tube 22 at a position P1. Then a sample is distributed and injected in the tube 22 when it is rotated to a position P2. The temperature of a thermostatic chamber 14 is kept at a constant value of, e.g., 37 deg.C. Therefore, the temperature of the reagent is increased from 5 deg.C to 37 deg.C in this case until the sample is injected at the position P2. After the sample is injected at the position P2, a rotating agitator is inserted at a position P3, and the reaction liquid is well agitated. Thereafter, when the second reagent is further required, it is distributed and injected at, e.g., a position P4. Thus the reagent is injected in the specified reaction tube 22 on a reaction table 20, and the reagent is heated with the constant temperature liquid in the thermostatic chamber before the sample is injected. Thus the rising time of the temperature immediately after the injection of the sample and the reagent can be shortened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Objective of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an analyzer that automatically analyzes samples such as serum with high precision and quickly.

(Prior art) This type of analyzer dispenses a test sample in a test sample container and a reagent in a reagent container into a reaction container, and then optically analyzes the progress of the reaction in the reaction solution, for example. The analysis data was obtained by

Furthermore, in this type of analyzer, it has been common to dispense a small amount of a test sample into a reaction container in advance and then dispense a large amount of reagent into the reaction container. This is because it was thought that by adding a large amount of reagent to a small amount of sample, the entire reaction solution would be stirred by the flow of reagent, and the reaction would be promoted.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) Some reagents are unstable and require refrigeration.

However, if a reagent at a temperature lower than the predetermined reaction temperature is added to a reaction vessel using a conventional method, it takes several minutes to reach the temperature suitable for the reaction (temperature in a constant temperature bath), and the sample and This method has the disadvantage that it takes a long time to rise from when the reagents are mixed until the reaction solution reaches a constant temperature, which becomes an obstacle to increasing the sample processing speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer that has a simple configuration and can shorten the temperature rise time of a mixed test solution in a reaction container after injection of a reagent and a sample.

[Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention is characterized by taking the following measures in order to solve the above problems and achieve the object. That is,
The present invention is characterized by comprising means for dispensing a reagent in advance into a predetermined reaction container in a constant temperature bath, preheating the reagent, and then discharging a test sample into the reaction container.

(Function) By taking such measures, it is possible to shorten the time from when the sample and reagent are mixed until the reaction solution (test solution) reaches a constant temperature by reusing the configuration that performs normal analysis operations. Processing capacity can be increased.

Furthermore, even when refrigerated reagents are used, there is no need to provide a device for preliminarily heating the reagents, the structure is simple, and the reaction can be carried out efficiently.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the analyzer according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the apparatus of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a reaction line useful for explaining the reagent dispensing operation according to the present invention, and FIGS.
b) shows the elapsed time until a predetermined constant temperature is reached after dispensing the reagent in the present invention in comparison with the conventional technique.

In FIG. 1, a plurality of reaction vessels 1a are arranged in a ring shape in a turntable-type reaction line 1 that moves intermittently at predetermined angles. On one side of this reaction line 1, a reagent tray 2 in which a plurality of reagent containers 2a are arranged, a test sample tray 3 in which a plurality of test sample containers 3a are arranged, and a probe cleaning section 4 are arranged in parallel. There is. These reaction lines 1. Reagent tray 2 and test sample tray 3. An arm 5 is mounted above the probe cleaning section 4, and a moving block 6 is provided on the arm 5 and is moved in the longitudinal direction by a drive mechanism (not shown).

Further, the moving block 6 is provided with a sample probe 7a of the dispensing device 7.

Further, on the other side of the reaction line 1, a light source 8a is provided.

A spectrometer 8 consisting of a detector 8b and the like is provided to optically analyze the progress of the reaction of the reaction solution in the reaction container and output it as an analog signal. This spectrometer 8
The output is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 9 and incorporated into a CPU (computer) 10, so that analysis data can be calculated using a predetermined calculation method.

This CPU (computer) 10 has a display 1
1. A printer 12 and an operation panel 13 are connected. This analyzer also includes a constant temperature bath 14 for hot water to maintain the reaction container 1a at a predetermined temperature, and a cleaning and cleaning system for the reaction container 1a.
It is equipped with a drying unit 15, a reagent pump 16, and the like.

Here, the CPU (computer) 10 performs the rotation operation of the reaction line 1 and the movement operation of the arm 5 and the moving block 6 in addition to calculating the above-mentioned analysis data.

It has means for controlling the movement of the trays 2 and 3, the operation of the dispensing device 7, etc. These operations are achieved by appropriately creating and executing analysis operation programs.

The reaction line 1 includes a reaction table 20 and a large number of reaction vessels 22 arranged on the turntable 20. The reaction vessels 22 are arranged in a rectangular insertion hole provided on the circumference of the reaction cable 20 in a state where they are loaded into the reaction cable 20.
A constant temperature bath 14 is placed below the reaction cable 20,
The vicinity of the bottom of the reaction vessel 22 is immersed in the constant temperature liquid in this bath.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the reaction cable 20. Since the strut 24 fixed to the reaction cable 20 is connected to the motor via a gear, the reaction cable 20 moves in a circle inside the thermostatic chamber due to the rotation of the motor. It shows how it rotates in the circumferential direction. Along the rotation of this reaction cable 20, each operating position for analysis is determined, and these are all controlled by the CPU.
controlled by. First, a predetermined amount of reagent is P1
It is dispensed into a predetermined reaction tube 22 at a certain position. Next, the sample is
The reagent is dispensed when the reaction tube 22 into which the reagent is dispensed rotates to the P2 position. Since the constant temperature bath 14 is kept constant at 37°C, the temperature of the reagent dispensed at the P1 position increases from 5°C to 37°C before the sample is dispensed at the P2 position. After the sample is dispensed at the P2 position, for example, a rotating stirrer is inserted at the P3 position to sufficiently stir the reaction solution. After that, if a second reagent is further required, it is conceivable to dispense it, for example, at the P4 position. In this way, by dispensing the reagent in advance into the predetermined reaction tube 22 of the reaction cable 20 and heating the reagent with the constant temperature liquid in the constant temperature bath before injecting the sample, the rise time of the temperature of the sample and the reaction liquid immediately after the reagent is dispensed can be adjusted. can be shortened. FIG. 3(a) shows the change in reaction liquid temperature over time according to the conventional dispensing method, and FIG. 3(b) shows the same change in reaction liquid temperature according to the present invention. . As is clear from this, it can be seen that the sample and reagent quickly reach the predetermined constant temperature after mixing.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, the analyzer according to the present invention selectively aspirates a predetermined amount of reagent from the reagent tray according to the analysis item using the probe of the dispensing device, and transfers the reagent to the reaction line on the reaction line. After dispensing the sample into the container, the sample is provided with means for preheating with a constant temperature liquid in a constant temperature bath until the sample is dispensed in the next step (operating position).

With this configuration, by reusing the configuration that performs normal analysis operations, it is possible to shorten the time from when the sample and reagent are mixed until the reaction solution (test solution) reaches a constant temperature, increasing processing capacity. . Furthermore, even when refrigerated reagents are used, there is no need to provide a device for preliminarily heating the reagents, the structure is simple, and the reaction can be carried out efficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a plan view of a reaction line useful for explaining the reagent dispensing operation according to the present invention, and Figure 3 is a diagram comparing the elapsed time until the reaction solution reaches a predetermined constant temperature according to the conventional technique and the present invention. It is.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A reaction line in which a plurality of reaction containers are arranged in a reaction tank maintained at a predetermined temperature, a reagent tray in which a plurality of reagent containers are arranged, a test sample tray in which a plurality of test sample containers are arranged, and the space between these. and a dispensing device equipped with a plurality of probes that move the sample, and the probe dispenses the test sample in the test sample container and the reagent in the reagent container into the reaction tube for chemical analysis. In the analyzer, the reagent in the reagent container is selectively dispensed into the reaction tube by the probe, and after the reaction tube into which the reagent has been dispensed is kept in the reaction tank for a predetermined time, It is characterized by comprising a control means for executing the operation of discharging the sample with the probe, and preheating a reagent in the reaction tube to carry out a predetermined reaction according to the analysis before the sample to be analyzed is dispensed. Analyzer for