WO2023007866A1

WO2023007866A1 - Pretreatment device for biochemistry and control method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2023007866A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/016603
Authority: WO
Inventors: 弘貴宮▲崎▼
Original assignee: 株式会社島津製作所
Priority date: 2021-07-28
Filing date: 2022-03-31
Publication date: 2023-02-02
Also published as: JPWO2023007866A1; JP7525069B2

Abstract

A pretreatment device 12 comprises: a first chip holding part 24 for holding a plurality of chips 40; a second chip holding part 26 for holding a plurality of used chips 40a; a chip attaching/detaching part 48b capable of attaching and detaching the chips 40; and a support mechanism 50 for displaceably supporting the chip attaching/detaching part 48b. When the chip 40 used for the first time in a dispensing process is mounted on the chip attaching/detaching part 48b, the pretreatment device 12 displaces the chip attaching/detaching part 48b so that the tip of the chip 40 faces the second chip holding part 26 before the dispensing process is performed, and detects the non-discarding of the used chip 40a when a load caused by the collision between the chip 40 and the used chip 40a held in the second chip holding part 26 is detected.

Description

Biochemical pretreatment device and its control method

The present invention relates to a biochemical pretreatment device and its control method.

For example, in a gene analysis device as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, liquid is dispensed with a dispensing tip attached to the tip of the nozzle.

JP 2007-175004 A

In the above gene analysis device, since at least a liquid sample derived from a living body is dispensed, the dispensing tip is replaced each time a liquid is dispensed to prevent contamination of the liquid sample.

In such a device, the tip used for liquid dispensing is temporarily held within the housing. However, there is a limit to the number of pipetting tips that have already been used.

Therefore, if the next series of dispensing is performed while the dispensing tip used in the previous series of dispensing has not been discarded from the housing, the dispensing tip used in the current series of dispensing will may come into contact with the dispensing tip used in the previous series of dispensing. In such a case, there is a possibility that the device will be damaged by continuing the dispensing without properly replacing the dispensing tip. Furthermore, in the event of equipment failure, liquid samples and the like are wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a biochemical pretreatment device and a method of controlling the same, which can detect in advance whether a used tip has not been discarded when performing a dispensing process. With the goal.

A first aspect of the present invention is a container holding part that holds a plurality of containers containing liquid, a first chip holding part that holds a plurality of chips, and a plurality of used chips that are the chips after use. a second tip holding part that allows the tip to be attached and detached; and a support mechanism that displaceably supports the tip attachment and detachment part. A control method for a biochemical pretreatment device that performs a dispensing process in which a dispensing operation of aspirating and discharging is performed at least once, comprising a tip mounting step, a load detection step, and a non-disposal detection step. Prepare. In the chip attaching step, the chip is attached to the chip attaching/detaching part by displacing the tip attaching/detaching part. In the load detection step, the load on the tip attachment/detachment portion caused by displacement of the tip attachment/detachment portion is detected. In the non-abandonment detection step, when the tip to be used first in the dispensing process is attached to the tip attaching/detaching section in the tip attaching step, the tip end portion of the tip is detected before executing the dispensing process. toward the second tip holding portion, and the load caused by the collision between the tip and the used tip held by the second tip holding portion is detected in the load detecting step is detected, it is detected that the used chip has not been discarded.

A second aspect of the present invention is a container holding part that holds a plurality of containers containing liquid, a first chip holding part that holds a plurality of chips, and a plurality of used chips that are the chips after use. a second tip holding part that allows the tip to be attached and detached; and a support mechanism that displaceably supports the tip attachment and detachment part. A biochemical pretreatment device that executes a dispensing process in which a dispensing operation of aspirating and discharging is performed at least once or more, comprising a tip attachment processing unit, a load detection processing unit, and a non-disposal detection processing unit Prepare. The tip attachment processing section attaches the tip to the tip attachment/detachment section by displacing the tip attachment/detachment section. The load detection processing section detects a load on the tip attachment/detachment portion caused by displacement of the tip attachment/detachment portion. The non-abandoned detection processing unit is configured to, when the tip to be used first in the dispensing process is attached to the tip attachment/detachment unit by the tip attachment processing unit, remove the tip before executing the dispensing process. The tip attachment/detachment part is displaced so that the tip end faces the second tip holding part, and the load caused by the collision between the tip and the used tip held by the second tip holding part is reduced to the load. When detected by the detection processor, it detects that the used chip has not been discarded.

According to the present invention, it is possible to detect in advance whether a used tip has not been discarded when performing a dispensing process.

It is a block diagram showing an example of composition of a pretreatment system of this embodiment. It is an exploded perspective view showing a part of an example of composition of a pretreatment device of this embodiment. It is a top view which shows an example of a structure of the table of this embodiment. It is a top view which shows an example of a structure of the 2nd chip|tip holding|maintenance part of this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of an example of a configuration of a second chip holding portion and a cover member according to the embodiment; 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of a pretreatment device of this embodiment; FIG. It is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the pretreatment device of the present embodiment. It is a schematic sectional view for demonstrating the chip|tip accommodation process of this embodiment. It is a schematic sectional view for explaining non-abandonment detection processing of the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the memory map of RAM of this embodiment. 2 is a block diagram specifically showing the electrical configuration of the pretreatment device of the present embodiment; FIG. It is a flow figure showing an example of the whole processing of CPU of this embodiment.

1. 1. Peripheral Configuration of Pretreatment Apparatus FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a pretreatment system 10 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, pretreatment system 10 includes pretreatment device 12 and user terminal 14 .

The pretreatment device 12 is a biochemical pretreatment device for pre-treating a liquid required for biochemical examination and analysis. Specifically, it is a device capable of sucking and discharging liquid via a chip 40 (see FIG. 3).

The user terminal 14 is a device including at least a CPU, a communication unit for communicating with the outside, a non-volatile memory, and the like, and is a desktop PC, notebook (laptop) PC, tablet PC, or the like.

The preprocessing device 12 and the user terminal 14 are connected via a network 16. The network 16 here includes a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, and the like. Alternatively, the preprocessing device 12 and the user terminal 14 may be directly connected.

2. Overall Configuration of Pretreatment Apparatus FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of an example of the configuration of the pretreatment apparatus 12 of the present embodiment. The pretreatment device 12 has a main body 20 and a table 21 . The main body 20 is configured by a hollow housing. The table 21 also includes a container holding portion 22 and a first chip holding portion 24 . The table 21 is configured such that the container holding portion 22 and the first chip holding portion 24 are integrated.

Furthermore, the pretreatment device 12 includes a second chip holding section 26 . In FIG. 2, the second chip holder 26 is shown separated from the table 21, but the second chip holder 26 is accommodated in the space 28 of the table 21 when used.

Although the table 21 is shown separated from the main body 20 in FIG. Furthermore, openings 32 are provided in the walls that partition the space 30 .

The second chip holding part 26 can be removed from and attached to the table 21 through the opening 32 . Further, as described above, since the table 21 is built in the main body 20 , it can be said that the second chip holding portion 26 can be removed from the main body 20 and attached to the main body 20 .

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the table 21 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the container holder 22 holds a plurality of liquid containers. Further, the container holding portion 22 includes a sample container holding portion 22a, a reagent container holding portion 22b, and a reaction container holding portion 22c.

The sample container holding part 22a holds a plurality of sample containers 34 that contain liquid samples. A liquid sample is a sample collected from a living body, and can be exemplified by saliva, blood, or the like. The reagent container holding section 22b holds a plurality of reagent containers 36 containing liquid reagents. The reaction vessel holder 22c holds a plurality of reaction vessels 38 each containing a mixture of a liquid sample and a liquid reagent. The first chip holder 24 holds a plurality of chips 40 .

Also, the table 21 is provided with a cover member 42 . The cover member 42 is a thin plate-like member that covers the space 28 inside the table 21 . That is, when the second chip holding portion 26 is attached to the table 21 , the cover member 42 covers the second chip holding portion 26 .

The cover member 42 has a through hole 42a. Further, the cover member 42 is formed with a plurality of hooking portions 42b for hooking the chip 40 about to pass through the through hole 42a. The width of the hook portion 42b in the Y direction is larger than the outer diameter of the lower end portion of the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b described later and smaller than the outer diameter of the upper end portion of the tip 40. As shown in FIG. Note that the hook portion 42b is formed so as not to hinder the displacement of the chip attaching/detaching portion 48b (see FIG. 6).

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the second chip holding portion 26 of this embodiment. The second chip holder 26 can hold a plurality of chips 40 . In addition, the second tip holder 26 can hold a plurality of used tips 40a, which are already used tips 40. As shown in FIG. After a series of pretreatments for the liquid samples in the plurality of sample containers 34 is completed, the used tip 40a held in the second tip holding section 26 can be discarded by removing the second tip holding section 26 from the main body 20. . The empty second tip holder 26 after the used tip 40a has been discarded is reattached to the main body 20 and used in the next pretreatment.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the second chip holding portion 26 is provided with a groove 44 for slidably holding the chip 40 , and the chip 40 is held at both ends of the groove 44 .

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing part of an example of the configuration of the second chip holding portion 26 and the cover member 42 of this embodiment. In this embodiment, when the second chip holding portion 26 is attached to the table 21, the groove 44 overlaps the through hole 42a and the hook portion 42b in the Z direction (vertical direction) as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the portion of the groove 44 that overlaps with the hook portion 42b serves as a housing portion 46 for holding and housing the tip 40. As shown in FIG.

The through holes 42a, the hooks 42b, and the grooves 44 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 are merely examples, and the shape and number thereof may be changed as appropriate as long as the accommodating portion 46 is configured. In the example shown in FIG. 4 , both ends of the grooves 44 are used as the receiving portions 46 , but for example, the number of the grooves 44 may be increased and only one end of each groove 44 may be used as the receiving portion 46 . may

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the pretreatment device 12 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the pretreatment device 12 includes an electrically controllable dispensing mechanism 48 . The dispensing mechanism 48 is a mechanism for aspirating and discharging liquid, and includes a syringe 48a, a tip attaching/detaching part 48b, and a plunger 48c. The syringe 48a is a cylindrical member into which a plunger 48c is slidably inserted.

The tip attachment/detachment part 48b is a cylindrical member with a diameter smaller than that of the syringe 48a, and the tip 40 can be attached and detached. As the tip attaching/detaching part 48b, for example, an elongated cylindrical nozzle communicating with the inside of the syringe 48a is used. The tip 40 is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape that gradually tapers toward the lower end, and the tip 40 is attached to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b by press-fitting the lower end of the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b into the upper end thereof.

Although not shown, the dispensing mechanism 48 includes an actuator such as a motor, a connecting member connected to the plunger 48c, and a transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the actuator to the connecting member as Z-direction movement.

According to the dispensing mechanism 48, an amount of liquid corresponding to the stroke amount of the plunger 48c can be sucked and discharged. Note that the dispensing mechanism 48 described above is merely an example, and the configuration of the dispensing mechanism 48 is not particularly limited as long as it has the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b and is capable of sucking and discharging liquid.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the pretreatment device 12 includes an electrically controllable support mechanism 50 . The support mechanism 50 is a mechanism that supports the dispensing mechanism 48 so as to be displaceable. A transmission mechanism or the like for transmitting to the support member 50a is provided.

According to the support mechanism 50, the dispensing mechanism 48 can be displaced in the Z direction while being supported. In other words, the support mechanism 50 can displace the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b in the Z direction while supporting it. Note that the support mechanism 50 described above is merely an example, and the configuration of the support mechanism 50 is not particularly limited as long as it can displace in the Z direction while supporting the chip attachment/detachment portion 48b and the like. Further, the support mechanism 50 may be configured so that the dispensing mechanism 48 can also be displaced in the horizontal direction (XY directions).

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the pretreatment device 12 includes an electrically controllable holding mechanism 52 . The holding mechanism 52 is a mechanism that holds the table 21 in a displaceable manner, and includes an actuator such as a motor, a holding member that holds the table 21, and the like. The holding mechanism 52 also includes a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the actuator to the holding member as movement in the X and Y directions.

According to the holding mechanism 52, the table 21 can be horizontally displaced while being held. The holding mechanism 52 described above is merely an example, and the configuration of the table 21 is not particularly limited as long as it can be horizontally displaced while holding the table 21 . Moreover, the holding mechanism 52 may be configured to allow the table 21 to be displaced in the Z direction as well.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the pretreatment device 12 includes a load absorbing mechanism 54. The load absorbing mechanism 54 is a mechanism that absorbs the load on the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b by allowing the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b to displace. The load applied to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b is specifically a force in the direction from the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b toward the syringe 48a.

The load absorbing mechanism 54 includes a biasing member 54a, a fixed member 54b and a displacement member 54c. The biasing member 54a is, for example, a compression coil spring, and is provided between the fixed member 54b and the displacement member 54c. One end of the biasing member 54a is attached to the fixed member 54b, and the other end is attached to the displacement member 54c. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the biasing member 54a is provided between the fixed member 54b and the displacement member 54c so as to cover the outer circumference of the syringe 48a.

The fixed member 54b is a member whose position is fixed with respect to the support member 50a. Further, since one end of the biasing member 54a is attached to the fixing member 54b, the position of the one end of the biasing member 54a is fixed. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the fixing member 54b has a through hole with a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the syringe 48a, and the syringe 48a passes through the through hole.

The displacement member 54c is a member provided on the outer periphery of the syringe 48a. Further, since the other end of the biasing member 54a is attached to the displacement member 54c, the position of the other end of the biasing member 54a is displaced according to the load transmitted from the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b to the syringe 48a. .

According to the load absorbing mechanism 54, when a load is applied to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b, the biasing member 54a is compressed while the displacement member 54c is displaced together with the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b. That is, the load absorbing mechanism 54 absorbs the load on the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b. On the other hand, when the load on the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b disappears, the biasing member 54a returns to the state before it was compressed. position.

It should be noted that the load absorbing mechanism 54 described above is merely an example, and the load absorbing mechanism 54 can be used as long as it is possible to absorb the load on the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b by allowing the displacement of the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b. is not particularly limited. For example, the urging member 54a is not limited to a compression coil spring, and may be made of another elastic body.

The preprocessing device 12 also includes a load detection unit 56 . The load detector 56 detects the load on the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b based on the displacement of the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b. The load detector 56 includes a displacement member 56a and a load detection sensor 56b.

The displacement member 56a, like the displacement member 54c, is a member provided on the outer periphery of the syringe 48a, and is displaced due to the load transmitted from the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b to the syringe 48a. The load detection sensor 56b is a sensor that detects the displacement of an object, and uses, for example, a photosensor or a proximity sensor. However, as the load detection sensor 56b, various sensors such as other optical sensors, mechanical sensors, and electrical sensors can be used as long as they can detect the load on the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b.

The displacement member 56a is displaced according to the load applied to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b, and the load detection sensor 56b detects the displacement of the displacement member 56a. Therefore, the load detection section 56 can detect the load on the tip attachment/detachment section 48b.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, a photosensor is used as the load detection sensor 56b, and the light emitting portion 56c and the light receiving portion 56d of the photosensor are arranged to face each other. When a load is applied to the chip attaching/detaching portion 48b, light emitted from the light emitting portion 56c toward the light receiving portion 56d is blocked by the displacement member 56a. Therefore, it is possible to detect the load on the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b.

3. Electrical Configuration of Pretreatment Apparatus FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the pretreatment apparatus 12 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the pretreatment device 12 includes a control unit 100, an operation control circuit 110, a communication unit 112, and a notification unit 114 in addition to the dispensing mechanism 48, the support mechanism 50, the holding mechanism 52, the load detection sensor 56b, and the like. Prepare.

Also, the control unit 100, the load detection sensor 56b, the operation control circuit 110, the communication unit 112, and the notification unit 114 are electrically connected to each other via wiring 108 such as a bus. Also, the operation control circuit 110 is electrically connected to the dispensing mechanism 48 , the support mechanism 50 and the holding mechanism 52 .

The control unit 100 is responsible for overall control of the pretreatment device 12 . The control unit 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 102 . The control unit 100 also includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 and a storage unit 106 that can be directly accessed by the CPU 102 .

The CPU 102 controls each component of the pretreatment device 12 . A RAM 104 is used as a work area and a buffer area for the CPU 102 . Storage unit 106 is a non-volatile memory, and for example, HDD (Hard Disc Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) is used as storage unit 106 .

The storage unit 106 stores a control program for controlling each component of the preprocessing device 12 and data required for executing the control program (execution data). Note that the storage unit 106 may be configured to include the RAM 104 .

The operation control circuit 110 generates voltages for driving the dispensing mechanism 48, the support mechanism 50, the holding mechanism 52, etc., and appropriately applies the voltages to them.

The communication unit 112 is means for communicating with the outside. In this embodiment, the communication unit 112 is communicably connected to the user terminal 14 via the network 16 .

The notification unit 114 is means for notifying the user. As the notification unit 114, a light-emitting member, a display, or the like can be used for visual notification. Also, as the notification unit 114, a speaker or the like for giving an audible notification can be used.

4. Overview of Dispensing Process In such a pretreatment device 12, the dispensing process can be executed at preset timings. In the dispensing process, a dispensing operation of sucking and discharging liquid through the tip 40 attached to the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b is performed at least once. In addition, in this embodiment, the tip attachment process and the tip accommodation process are executed in parallel with the dispensing process.

In the chip mounting process, the chip 40 held by the first chip holding portion 24 is mounted on the chip attaching/detaching portion 48b. In the chip accommodating process, the chip 40 attached to the chip attaching/detaching portion 48b is accommodated in the accommodating portion 46. FIG. Note that in these processes, the position of the table 21 (position in the XY direction) and the position of the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b (position in the Z direction) are appropriately displaced.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the chip accommodation process of this embodiment. In the chip accommodating process, first, the chip 40 is inserted into the groove 44 of the second chip holding portion 26 as shown in FIG. Further, when the chip 40 is inserted into the groove 44, the position of the table 21 is displaced in the XY directions, and the chip 40 is arranged in the housing portion 46 as shown in FIG. 8(b).

Next, the chip attaching/detaching part 48b is separated from the table 21. Then, the hook portion 42b is hooked on the upper end surface of the chip 40, so that the chip 40 is removed from the chip attaching/detaching portion 48b, and the chip 40 is housed in the housing portion 46 as shown in FIG. 8(c).

In this embodiment, for example, when an instruction to execute the dispensing process is received, the tip 40 is attached to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b by the tip attachment process. When the tip 40 is attached to the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b, a dispensing operation is performed. The dispensing operation includes an operation of aspirating the liquid sample in the sample container 34 and discharging it into the reaction container 38, and an operation of aspirating the liquid reagent in the reagent container 36 and discharging it into another reagent container 36 to obtain a liquid reagent. and an operation of sucking the mixed liquid reagent from the reagent container 36 and discharging it into the reaction container 38 . When the dispensing operation is performed, the tip 40 used in the dispensing operation is stored in the storage section 46 by the tip storage process. That is, the containing portion 46 contains the used chip 40a.

When the dispensing operation is performed multiple times in the dispensing process, the mounting of the tip 40 and the accommodation of the tip 40 in the accommodation section 46 are performed for each dispensing operation.

However, if, for example, the dispensing operation is performed multiple times and no contamination occurs in the liquid sample, the tip 40 used in the previous dispensing operation may continue to be used. For example, when mixing multiple types of liquid reagents, the chip 40 may be used continuously.

The order in which the chips 40 used in the dispensing process are accommodated in the plurality of accommodating portions 46 (chip accommodation order) is determined in advance. The preset accommodation order may be a fixed order, or may be arbitrarily set by the user.

5. Outline of non-discard detection process In the present embodiment, when the tip 40 that is used first in the dispensing process is attached to the tip attachment/detachment part 48b, the non-discard detection process is executed before the dispensing process is performed. The presence or absence of a used chip 40a that has not yet been discarded is detected.

Specifically, in the non-discarded detection process, the non-discarded used tip 40a is detected based on the load detection unit 56 detecting the load on the tip detaching unit 48b. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the non-discard detection processing of this embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the second tip holding unit 26 holds a used tip 40a that has not been discarded. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the used tip 40a is represented by a dashed line. In the example shown in FIG. 9, a chip with a filter is used as the chip 40 . In the tip 40 with a filter, a mesh-like filter is provided in the middle of the tip 40, and foreign matter can be prevented from entering from above to below the filter.

In the non-abandonment detection process, the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b is displaced so that the tip 40 attached to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b faces the second tip holding portion 26, specifically, the accommodation portion 46. The displacement of the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b means the relative displacement of the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b with respect to the second tip holding portion 26, and not only the displacement of the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b itself, but also the displacement of the second tip with respect to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b. The displacement of the retainer 26 is also included. In the present embodiment, the second chip holding portion 26 is displaced in the XY directions to align the chip mounting/dismounting portion 48b above the accommodating portion 46, and then the chip mounting/dismounting portion 48b is displaced downward to move the chip 40. is directed toward the accommodating portion 46. As shown in FIG.

Since the thickness of the tip 40 gradually increases upward, the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b is displaced downward from above the accommodating portion 46 in a state where the second tip holding portion 26 does not have the used tip 40a. As it moves, the tip 40 is caught on the hook portion 42b on the way. If the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b is displaced until the tip 40 is caught by the hook portion 42b, the load on the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b will be detected regardless of the presence or absence of the used tip 40a. That is, it becomes impossible to determine whether or not there is a used chip 40a.

Based on this, in this embodiment, a tip 40 having a shape and type that satisfies predetermined conditions is used. Assume that the tip 40 displaced downward from the top of the housing portion 46 is hooked on the hook portion 42b, and let A be the distance from the hook portion 42b to the tip of the tip 40. FIG. Also, let B be the distance from the collision element of the used tip 40a accommodated in the accommodation portion 46 to the hook portion 42b. In this case, if the distance A is longer than the distance B, the above predetermined condition is satisfied.

A collision element is, for example, a filter provided on the chip 40 . Depending on the shape and type of the tip 40, for example, a step forming the tip 40, a portion of the tapered surface, and the like can also be collision elements.

According to the tip 40 that satisfies the above-described predetermined conditions, when the non-discarded used tip 40a is accommodated in the accommodation portion 46 and the non-discarded detection process is performed, the tip attached to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b is performed. 40 collides with the used tip 40a housed in the housing portion 46 before being caught by the hook portion 42b.

In addition, in the non-abandonment detection process of the present embodiment, the chip attachment/detachment portion 48b is displaced from above to below the accommodating portion 46 to a predetermined position. Here, the predetermined position is a position where the tip 40 attached to the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b can collide with the used tip 40a without coming into contact with the hook portion 42b.

When the used tip 40a is accommodated in the accommodation portion 46, the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b is displaced to the predetermined position, so that the tip 40 attached to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b collides with the used tip 40a. The resulting load is applied to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b. In this case, the load detecting section 56 detects the load on the tip attaching/detaching section 48b.

On the other hand, when the used tip 40a is not accommodated in the accommodation portion 46, the tip 40 does not come into contact with either the used tip 40a or the hook portion 42b even if the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b is displaced to the predetermined position. , the load on the chip attaching/detaching portion 48b is not detected.

Therefore, in the non-discarding detection process, it is possible to detect whether the used tip has not been discarded in response to the detection of the load on the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b.

It should be noted that in the non-disposal detection process, the presence or absence of the used chip 40a is determined in a preset order for each container 46. FIG. The non-discard detection process ends when it is detected that the used chip 40a is not discarded. That is, if the used chip 40a remains in at least one of the storage units 46, the non-discarded chip is detected and the non-discarded detection process ends. The non-abandoned chip detection process also ends when the used chip 40a is not detected in any of the storage units 46. FIG.

In this embodiment, when it is detected that the used tip 40a has not been discarded, the tip 40 attached to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b is accommodated in the accommodation portion 46 by the tip accommodation process.

Specifically, the chip 40 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 46 that most likely does not contain the used chip 40a based on the chip accommodation order, that is, the accommodation portion 46 corresponding to the end of the chip accommodation order. . Even if the used chip 40a is stored in the storage portion 46 corresponding to the end of the chip storage order, since the length of the hook portion 42b in the X direction is sufficiently secured, the storage portion By performing the chip accommodation process on 46, the chips 40 attached to the chip attaching/detaching portion 48b can be accommodated side by side with the used chips 40a.

Also, when the tip 40 attached to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b is accommodated in the accommodation portion 46 in response to the detection that the used tip 40a has not been discarded, the execution of the dispensing process is cancelled. When it is not detected that the used tip 40a has not been discarded, the tip 40 attached to the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b is not accommodated in the accommodating portion 46, and the dispensing process is executed as it is.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when it is detected that the used chip 40a has not been discarded, the notification unit 114 notifies of this fact. The user terminal 14 also notifies that the used chip 40a has not been discarded. However, the notification that the used chip 40a has not been discarded may be notified by either the notification unit 114 or the user terminal 14 alone.

It should be noted that the detection of the load on the tip attachment/detachment section 48b by the load detection section 56 is performed not only in the non-abandonment detection process but also in other processes. For example, the second chip holding portion 26 is moved into the space 28 of the table 21 by detecting whether or not the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b is displaced and contacts a part of the second chip holding portion 26 by the load detecting portion 56. You may detect whether it is accommodated. In this way, if the non-discarding detection process is performed by the load detection unit 56 that is also used for other processes, there is no need to separately provide a sensor.

6. Memory Map FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map 200 of the RAM 104 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, RAM 104 includes program area 201 and data area 202 .

The program area 201 stores a control program read in advance from the storage unit 106 . In the example shown in FIG. 10, the control program includes an operation program 201a, a load detection program 201e, a non-discard detection program 201f, a cancellation program 201g, a communication program 201h, a notification program 201i, and the like.

Also, the operation program 201a includes a tip mounting program 201b, a tip accommodation program 201c, a dispensing program 201d, and the like.

The operation program 201a is a program that controls the operation of the preprocessing device 12.

The chip mounting program 201b is a program corresponding to chip mounting processing. That is, the chip mounting program 201b is a program for mounting the chip 40 held by the first chip holding section 24 to the chip mounting/dismounting section 48b.

The chip accommodation program 201c is a program corresponding to the chip accommodation process. That is, the chip accommodation program 201c is a program for removing the chip 40 attached to the chip attachment/detachment portion 48b and accommodating the chip 40 in the accommodation portion 46 after referring to the accommodation order data 202b, which will be described later.

The dispensing program 201d is a program corresponding to dispensing processing. That is, the dispensing program 201d is a program that performs the dispensing operation of sucking and discharging the liquid through the tip 40 at least once.

The load detection program 201e is a program that uses the load detection sensor 56b to detect the load on the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b.

The non-discard detection program 201f is a program corresponding to non-discard detection processing. That is, the undiscarded detection program 201f causes the operation program 201a to perform 2 is a program for displacing the tip attachment/detachment part 48b so that the tip of the tip 40 attached to the tip attachment/detachment part 48b faces the second tip holding part 26. FIG. The non-discarded detection program 201f detects the load caused by the collision between the tip 40 attached to the tip attachment/detachment part 48b and the used tip 40a held in the second tip holding part 26 by the load detection program 201e. Then, the program detects whether the used chip 40a has not been discarded.

When the undiscarded detection program 201f detects that the used chip 40a has not been discarded, the cancel program 201g causes the chip accommodation program 201c to attach/detach the chip to the accommodating section 46 that most likely does not contain the used chip 40a. It is a program that accommodates the tip 40 attached to the portion 48b and cancels the execution of the dispensing process.

The communication program 201h is a program for controlling the communication unit 112 and communicating with the user terminal 14.

The notification program 201i is a program that, when it is detected that the used chip 40a has not been discarded, uses the notification unit 114 or the user terminal 14 to notify that fact.

Although not shown, the program area 201 also stores control programs other than the operation program 201a and the like.

The data area 202 stores execution data read from the storage unit 106 in advance. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the data area 202 stores control data 202a, accommodation order data 202b, notification data 202c, and the like.

The control data 202a is various data necessary to control the operation of the preprocessing device 12. The accommodation order data 202b is data corresponding to the order of chip accommodation.

The notification data 202c is data necessary to notify that the used chip 40a has not been discarded. The notification data 202c is data corresponding to the notification method. For example, the notification data 202c is voice data, message data, data indicating a light emission pattern, and the like.

In addition, the data area 202 may store other execution data or temporarily store data corresponding to the signal output from the load detection sensor 56b. Further, the data area 202 may be provided with timers (counters) and registers necessary for executing the control program.

7. Specific Electrical Configuration of Dispensing Apparatus FIG. 11 is a block diagram specifically showing the electrical configuration of the pretreatment apparatus 12 of this embodiment. In the control unit 100 including the CPU 102 , the CPU 102 executes the operation program 201 a so that the control unit 100 functions as an operation processing unit 300 that controls the operation of the preprocessing device 12 .

Specifically, the CPU 102 executes the chip mounting program 201b so that the control unit 100 functions as a chip mounting processing unit 302. The tip attachment processor 302 controls the support mechanism 50, the holding mechanism 52, etc., and attaches the tip 40 held by the first tip holder 24 to the tip removal/attachment portion 48b.

Also, the CPU 102 executes the chip accommodation program 201c, so that the control unit 100 functions as the chip accommodation processing unit 304. The chip accommodation processing section 304 removes the chip 40 attached to the chip attachment/detachment section 48 b and accommodates it in the accommodation section 46 .

Further, the CPU 102 executes the dispensing program 201d so that the control unit 100 functions as a dispensing processing unit 306. The dispensing processing unit 306 performs a dispensing operation of sucking and discharging liquid through the chip 40 at least once.

Also, the control unit 100 functions as a load detection processing unit 308 by the CPU 102 executing the load detection program 201e. The load detection processor 308 uses the load detection sensor 56b to detect the load on the tip attachment/detachment part 48b.

Further, the CPU 102 executes the non-discard detection program 201f, so that the control unit 100 functions as the non-discard detection processing unit 310. When the tip 40 to be used first in the pipetting process is attached to the tip attaching/detaching part 48b by the tip attaching/detaching part 302, the non-abandoned detection processing part 310 detects the tip 40 before performing the dispensing process. Then, the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b is displaced so that the tip of the tip 40 attached to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b faces the second tip holding portion 26. Then, as shown in FIG. The non-abandoned detection processing unit 310 determines that the load caused by the collision between the tip 40 attached to the tip attachment/removal unit 48b and the used tip 40a held by the second tip holding unit 26 is detected by the load detection processing unit 308. is detected, it is detected that the used tip 40a has not been discarded.

Furthermore, the control unit 100 functions as a cancellation processing unit 312 by the CPU 102 executing the cancellation program 201g. When the non-discard detection processing unit 310 detects that the used chip 40a has not been discarded, the cancellation processing unit 312 causes the chip accommodation processing unit 304 to move the used chip 40a to the accommodation unit 46 that is most likely not to be accommodated. , the tip 40 attached to the tip attaching/detaching portion 48b is accommodated, and the execution of the dispensing process is canceled.

Also, the control unit 100 functions as the notification processing unit 314 by the CPU 102 executing the notification program 201i. When it is detected that the used chip 40a has not been discarded, the notification processing unit 314 notifies that effect.

Furthermore, the control unit 100 functions as a communication processing unit 316 by the CPU 102 executing the communication program 201h. The communication processing unit 316 uses the communication unit 112 to communicate with the user terminal 14 .

8. Flow FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of the overall processing of the CPU 102 of this embodiment. The overall process is started, for example, when the pretreatment device 12 receives a command from the user terminal 14 instructing execution of the dispensing process.

First, in the chip mounting step of step S1, the chip 40 held by the first chip holding portion 24 is mounted on the chip attaching/detaching portion 48b.

After that, it is determined whether or not the storage unit 46 has detected that the used chip 40a has not been discarded by the non-discard detection step of step S2. This non-abandonment detection step includes a load detection step of detecting the load on the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b caused by the displacement of the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b. If "No" in step S2, that is, if it is not detected that the used chip 40a has not been discarded, the process proceeds to step S6.

On the other hand, if "Yes" in step S2, that is, if it is detected that the used chip 40a has not been discarded, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the tip 40 attached to the tip attachment/detachment portion 48b is accommodated in the accommodation portion 46. After that, in step S4, execution of the dispensing process is cancelled, and in step S5, it is notified that the used tip 40a has not been discarded. Steps S3 and S4 are cancellation steps, and step S5 is a notification step. When the execution of the dispensing process is canceled in this way, the overall process ends.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not the presence or absence of the used chip 40a has been confirmed in all the storage units 46. If "No" in step S6, that is, if confirmation of the presence or absence of used chips 40a has not been completed in all of the storage units 46, the process returns to step S2.

On the other hand, if "Yes" in step S6, that is, if confirmation of the presence or absence of the used chip 40a has been completed in all the storage units 46, the overall processing ends.

9. Modifications In the above embodiment, the sample container holding part 22a, the reagent container holding part 22b, the reaction container holding part 22c, the first chip holding part 24, and the second chip holding part 26 are provided, and the liquid reagent is supplied via the chip 40. A device capable of aspirating and ejecting, and liquid sample aspirating and ejecting has been described as an example.

However, the pretreatment device 12 may be configured without the reagent container holding portion 22b and the reaction container holding portion 22c. In this case, the pretreatment device 12 includes a sample container holding section 22a, a first chip holding section 24, and a second chip holding section 26, and aspirates and discharges a liquid sample through the chip 40, thereby obtaining a plurality of samples. The liquid sample may be dispensed from the container 34 into a mixing container (pool container) for mixing.

It should be noted that the specific configurations and the like given in the above-described embodiments and the like are examples, and can be changed as appropriate according to the actual product. In addition, the order in which the steps in the flow diagrams shown in the above-described embodiments and the like can be changed as appropriate as long as the same result can be obtained.

10. Aspects It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments described above are specific examples of the following aspects.

(Section 1) A control method for a biochemical pretreatment device according to one aspect includes:
a container holding portion for holding a plurality of containers containing liquid; a first tip holding portion for holding a plurality of chips; a second tip holding portion for holding a plurality of used chips which are said chips after use; A tip attachment/detachment unit to which a tip can be attached/detached, and a support mechanism that supports the tip attachment/detachment unit so as to be displaceable. A control method for a biochemical pretreatment device that executes a dispensing process that is performed at least once,
a tip attachment step of displacing the tip attachment/detachment portion to attach the tip to the tip attachment/detachment portion;
a load detection step of detecting a load on the tip attachment/detachment portion caused by displacement of the tip attachment/detachment portion;
When the tip to be used first in the dispensing process is attached to the tip attaching/detaching section in the tip attaching step, the tip of the tip is attached to the second tip holding section before performing the dispensing process. when the load caused by the collision between the chip and the used chip held by the second chip holding portion is detected in the load detecting step, the and a non-discard detection step of detecting non-discard of used chips.

According to the control method of the biochemical pretreatment device according to the first aspect, when the used tip is held in the second tip holding part without being discarded, the tip attachment/detachment part is attached to the used tip. By the collision of the tip attached to the tip, it is detected that the used tip has not been discarded before the dispensing process is executed. That is, it is possible to detect in advance whether a used tip has not been discarded when executing the dispensing process. As a result, failure of the apparatus can be prevented, and waste of the liquid sample and the like can be prevented.

(Section 2) A biochemical pretreatment device according to one aspect includes:
a container holding part for holding a plurality of containers containing liquid; a first tip holding part for holding a plurality of chips; a second tip holding part for holding a plurality of used chips which are said chips after use; A tip attachment/detachment unit to which a tip can be attached/detached, and a support mechanism that supports the tip attachment/detachment unit in a displaceable manner. A biochemical pretreatment device that performs a dispensing process that is performed at least once,
a tip attachment processor that attaches the tip to the tip attachment/detachment portion by displacing the tip attachment/detachment portion;
a load detection processing unit that detects a load on the tip attachment/detachment portion caused by displacement of the tip attachment/detachment portion;
When the tip used first in the dispensing process is attached to the tip attaching/detaching part by the tip attachment processing part, before the dispensing process is executed, the tip of the tip is held by the second tip. When the load detection processing unit detects a load caused by a collision between the chip and the used chip held by the second chip holding unit, and a non-discard detection processing unit for detecting non-discard of the used chip.

According to the biochemical pretreatment device of item 2, when the used tip is held in the second tip holding part without being discarded, the used tip is attached to the tip attaching/detaching part. Due to the collision of the used tip, it is detected that the used tip has not been discarded before the dispensing process is executed. That is, it is possible to detect in advance whether a used tip has not been discarded when executing the dispensing process. As a result, failure of the apparatus can be prevented, and waste of the liquid sample and the like can be prevented.

(Section 3) In the biochemical pretreatment device according to Section 2,
When the non-discarding detection processing unit detects that the used tip has not been discarded, the tip attached to the tip attachment/detachment unit is moved to the second tip holding unit by displacing the tip attachment/detachment unit. A cancellation processing unit may be further provided for holding and canceling the execution of the dispensing process.

According to the biochemical pretreatment device according to the third aspect, when it is detected that the used tip has not been discarded, the execution of the dispensing process is cancelled. It is possible to reliably prevent the processing from being executed. In addition, since the chip used to detect whether the used chip has not been discarded is removed from the chip attachment/detachment section and held in the second chip holding section, contamination or the like occurs when the chip is reused. can be prevented.

(Section 4) In the biochemical pretreatment device according to Section 3,
With respect to the chips used in the execution of the dispensing process, an order of accommodation in a plurality of accommodation units provided in the second tip holding unit is determined in advance,
When the non-discard detection processing unit detects that the used chip has not been discarded, the cancellation processing unit determines that the used chip after the plurality of storage units is not stored based on the storage order. The tip attached to the tip attaching/detaching portion may be accommodated in the accommodating portion with the highest possibility.

According to the biochemical pretreatment device of item 4, when the chip used for detecting non-discarded used chips is removed from the chip attachment/detachment section and accommodated in the second chip holding section , there is a high possibility that the chip can be held in a container that does not contain used chips. Therefore, the tip used for detecting non-discarded used tips can be removed from the tip attachment/detachment part and stored in the storage part more satisfactorily.

(Item 5) In the biochemical pretreatment device according to any one of items 2 to 4,
The apparatus may further include a notification processing unit that, when the non-discard detection processing unit detects that the used chip has not been discarded, notifies that effect.

According to the biochemical pretreatment device described in paragraph 5, it is possible to prompt the user to dispose of the used chip by notifying that the used chip has not been disposed of.

12 Pretreatment device 22 Container holding part 24 First tip holding part 26 Second tip holding part 40 Tip 40a Used tip 44 Storage part 48b Tip detaching part 50 Supporting mechanism 302 Tip mounting processing part 308 Load detection processing part 310 Non-disposal detection Processing unit 312 Cancellation processing unit 314 Notification processing unit

Claims

a container holding part for holding a plurality of containers containing liquid; a first tip holding part for holding a plurality of chips; a second tip holding part for holding a plurality of used chips which are said chips after use; A tip attachment/detachment unit to which a tip can be attached/detached, and a support mechanism that supports the tip attachment/detachment unit in a displaceable manner. A control method for a biochemical pretreatment device that executes a dispensing process that is performed at least once,
a tip attachment step of displacing the tip attachment/detachment portion to attach the tip to the tip attachment/detachment portion;
a load detection step of detecting a load on the tip attachment/detachment portion caused by displacement of the tip attachment/detachment portion;
When the tip to be used first in the dispensing process is attached to the tip attaching/detaching section in the tip attaching step, the tip of the tip is attached to the second tip holding section before the dispensing process is executed. when the load caused by the collision between the chip and the used chip held by the second chip holding portion is detected in the load detecting step, the and a non-disposal detection step of detecting non-disposal of the used chip.
a container holding part for holding a plurality of containers containing liquid; a first tip holding part for holding a plurality of chips; a second tip holding part for holding a plurality of used chips which are said chips after use; A tip attachment/detachment unit to which a tip can be attached/detached, and a support mechanism that supports the tip attachment/detachment unit in a displaceable manner. A biochemical pretreatment device that performs a dispensing process that is performed at least once,
a tip attachment processor that attaches the tip to the tip attachment/detachment portion by displacing the tip attachment/detachment portion;
a load detection processing unit that detects a load on the tip attachment/detachment portion caused by displacement of the tip attachment/detachment portion;
When the tip used first in the dispensing process is attached to the tip attaching/detaching part by the tip attachment processing part, before the dispensing process is executed, the tip of the tip is held by the second tip. When the load detection processing unit detects a load caused by a collision between the chip and the used chip held by the second chip holding unit, and a non-disposal detection processing unit for detecting non-disposal of the used chip.
When the non-discarding detection processing unit detects that the used tip has not been discarded, the tip attached to the tip attachment/detachment unit is moved to the second tip holding unit by displacing the tip attachment/detachment unit. 3. The biochemical pretreatment device according to claim 2, further comprising a cancellation processing unit that holds the data and cancels execution of the dispensing process.
With respect to the chips used in the execution of the dispensing process, an order of accommodation in a plurality of accommodation units provided in the second tip holding unit is determined in advance,
When the non-discard detection processing unit detects that the used chips have not been discarded, the cancellation processing unit determines whether the used chips are stored in the plurality of storage units based on the storage order. 4. The biochemical pretreatment device according to claim 3, wherein said tip attached to said tip attachment/detachment portion is accommodated in an accommodation portion that is most likely not to be present.
3. The biochemical pretreatment device according to claim 2, further comprising a notification processing unit that notifies when the non-disposal detection processing unit detects that the used chip has not been discarded.