JP4110078B2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological samples such as blood and urine, and more particularly to an automatic analyzer that has a mechanism that can store samples for a long period of time.

  Conventional automatic analyzers for clinical examinations are provided with reagent container coolers for long-term storage of reagents, but general specimens are not equipped with a cooling structure because they do not require long-term storage. In addition, control samples to ensure analysis accuracy and calibration samples (calibrators) to obtain calibration curves are used for a long period of time, so they are usually stored in a refrigerator and removed from the refrigerator only when used. The method of setting and using is common. On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses that a reference sample rotation table having a cold storage structure for storing a reference sample is provided on an automatic analyzer in order to eliminate the trouble of taking out and setting the refrigerator.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-41164

  There is a need to store samples on an automatic analyzer for a long time in order to develop a new reagent in a reagent company or the like. However, since the specimen on the automatic analyzer is originally stored at room temperature, there is a concern that if the specimen is to be kept cold, it becomes a custom order and the equipment cost increases. Moreover, since the cold-retaining structure described in Patent Document 1 is a structure that is fixedly provided in the automatic analyzer, there is a concern that the automatic analyzer is enlarged. In particular, the cold insulation structure described in Patent Document 1 is not very suitable for a user who wants to use room temperature storage and cold storage depending on circumstances.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer having a specimen storage structure that can easily select cold storage and room temperature storage of a specimen at low cost.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a sample cooling disk (sample container mounting mechanism) for laying a plurality of cups or test tubes (sample containers) containing a sample and a cooling tube for cooling the sample stored in an upper lid. It is constituted by a cold insulation upper lid.

  More preferably, stainless steel is used as the material for the cold insulation upper lid to prevent corrosion, and heat exchange with the external temperature is prevented by attaching heat insulating packing to the cold insulation upper lid and the sample cold insulation disk. By using antifreeze for circulating water from the external cold water supply unit, it is possible to cool the cooling tube to below zero degree, and the temperature of the cooling tube is used to set the cold temperature of the specimen.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  The selection of whether the specimen is kept cold or at room temperature can be easily performed without impairing the conventional function, and is effective in the market dealing with rare specimens.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the sample cold insulating disk 1. FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the cold insulation upper lid 2. FIG. 4 shows the positional relationship between the cooling pipe 3 and the cup 4.

  A specimen (sample) disk 1 on which a plurality of sample containers 4 (cups or test tubes) containing samples (samples) can be arranged and installed is provided on the automatic analyzer. A required amount of sample is sucked from the sample container on the specimen disk by a sample dispensing probe (sampling nozzle) 8 and dispensed into the reaction container on the reaction disk 9. When the apparatus is in operation, the sample disk 1 is rotated by the sample disk drive 12 and the sampling nozzle 8 is inserted from the dispensing hole 7 of the cold insulation upper cover 2 fixed to the apparatus, and the sample disk 1 is dispensed to the reaction disk 9 and measured. Cooling water from the external cold water supply unit 5 passes through the cooling pipe 3 incorporated in the cold insulation upper lid 2 and passes through both sides of the cup 4 installed on the sample cold insulation disk 1. By passing the cooling pipe 3 through both sides of the cup 4, the condensed water is prevented from falling into the cup 4. Condensed water falls from the air holes 6 and accumulates on the sample cold disk 1. When the sample cold disk 1 rotates from the drain holes 10 of the sample cold disk 1, the condensed water flows from the drain holes 10. By changing the temperature of the antifreeze liquid flowing through the cooling pipe 3 from the external cold water supply unit 5, the specimen cold temperature in the cup 4 is controlled. The temperature around the specimen cooled by the cooling tube 3 can be easily measured with a thermometer or the like from the temperature confirmation hole 13 to improve reliability. Further, when the sample cold insulation disk 1 and the cold insulation upper lid 2 are incorporated in the apparatus, the cold insulation upper lid 2 is hermetically sealed by being supported by the jacket 16, and the gap between the sample cold insulation disk 1 and the cold insulation upper lid 2 is minimized. Can be rotated and the inside of the specimen can be sealed. Even if all the cups 4 are installed in the installation holes 17 of the sample cooling disk 1, the air from the cooling pipe 3 is rotated around the cup 4 by providing the air holes 6 in the sample cooling disk 1. Heat exchange with the external temperature is prevented by covering the cold air from the cooling pipe with the heat insulating packing 11 around the sample cold insulating disk 1 and the cold insulating upper lid 2. FIG. 5 shows a case where the test tube 14 is installed on the sample cold-insulating disk 1. If the outer shape and height of the insertion hole of the sample cooling disk 1 are changed, a wide variety of test tubes can be handled. Further, when the cup 4 is installed on the sample cold insulation disk 1, the cover 18 of the cold insulation upper lid 2 can be removed, so that the installation of the cup 4 can minimize the escape of cold air from the cooling pipe 3.

  FIG. 6 shows a case in which the cooling pipe 3 is partially arranged on the sample cold insulating disk 1. As shown in FIG. 7, a cold insulation cover 19 incorporated in the sample cold insulation disk 1 is pressed by a spring 20 to seal the inside. Also, during operation, the sample cold disk 1 rotates in the X direction. At this time, the cup 4 pushes up the cold insulation cover 19 in the Y direction and fixes the cold insulation cover 19 with the magnet 21, thereby enabling measurement without removing the cold insulation upper lid 2.

  When the specimen does not need to be kept cold or when the barcode reading function is used, the function of the barcode reader 15 can be maintained by removing the sample cooling disk 1 and the cooling top lid 2 from the apparatus and using a conventional sample disk.

The whole schematic of the Example of this invention is shown. A detailed view of a sample cold insulation disk is shown. A detailed view of the cold insulation top cover is shown. The positional relationship between the cooling pipe and the cup is shown. The positional relationship between the cooling tube and the test tube is shown. The positional relationship when a cooling pipe is partially arranged is shown. The detailed view of a cold insulation upper cover when a cooling pipe is partially arranged is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sample disk, 2 ... Cooling top cover, 3 ... Cooling pipe, 4 ... Cup, 5 ... External cold water supply unit, 6 ... Air hole, 7 ... Dispensing hole, 8 ... Sampling nozzle, 9 ... Reaction disk, 10 ... Drain Hole: 11 ... Insulation packing, 12 ... Sample disk drive, 13 ... Temperature confirmation hole, 14 ... Test tube, 15 ... Bar code reader, 16 ... Jacket, 17 ... Installation hole, 18 ... Cover,
19 ... Cold insulation cover, 20 ... Spring, 21 ... Magnet.

Claims (7)

A sample container for containing the sample;
A sample container mounting mechanism including a plurality of the sample containers and a sample container moving mechanism capable of moving the relative positions of the sample containers;
And said sample container mounting mechanism adiabatically cover from above, and the sample container equipped with a cooling mechanism to cold, removable cold on the lid portion from the sample container mounting mechanism,
An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising:   2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism is a cooling water flow pipe arranged so as to sandwich the sample container. Cold on lid of claim 1, wherein the automatic analyzer, wherein a hole for inserting the sample dispensing nozzle for dispensing the sample into the sample container is empty.   An automatic analyzer comprising a control mechanism for controlling the temperature of cooling water flowing through the cooling water flow pipe according to claim 2. Cold on lid according to claim 1, wherein comprises a plurality of cover, automatic analysis apparatus characterized by having a structure capable of installation / removal of the sample container and remove the optional cover. Cold on lid of claim 1, wherein the dividing the sample container mounting mechanism into a plurality of blocks, the automatic analyzer characterized by comprising a cold cover to prevent the flow of cold air between mutual blocks.   7. The automatic analysis apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the cold insulation cover has a structure that does not hinder the movement of the sample container by changing its position by the movement of the sample container.

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