JP5483283B2 - 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.

  For example, in wet automatic analyzers that use water, such as dilution of specimens and reagents, cleaning of specimen dispensers and reagent dispensers, or the supply of constant temperature water to reaction vessels, the components of water are analyzed results. In many cases, pure water such as deionized water is used so as not to affect the water. In such a case, deionized water generated by a deionized water generation facility (hereinafter referred to as an external water supply facility) outside the apparatus is supplied to the inside of the automatic analyzer to suppress a change in supply pressure due to a change in the amount of water used. Water is temporarily stored in a tank inside the device for the buffer function, and is sent to each part of the device by a water supply system such as a pump.

  The water stored in the tank is deionized water, which is high-purity and clean water with very few bacteria remaining, but the water itself does not have a bactericidal action. Because of the fact that it is not possible to completely prevent the contamination of bacteria, bacteria may propagate during use for a long time, and water stains and dirt may occur on the inner surface of the tank. Conventionally, various proposals have been made for improvement of such problems, and examples thereof are disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-25685) and Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-38317). There is something that was done.

<Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-25685)>
The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is provided with an ultraviolet sterilization lamp in a water supply tank, and in an apparatus for sterilizing water by ultraviolet irradiation, a switch that operates by supplying water into the water supply tank and stopping water supply, and a switch. A control circuit with a timer that operates for a certain period of time after stopping water supply is provided, and the sterilization lamp is turned on simultaneously with the supply of water to the water supply tank, and the sterilization lamp is turned off after a certain period of time has elapsed after the water supply is stopped. It suppresses that the water which is not done is supplied.

<Patent Document 2 (JP 2001-38317 A)>
An apparatus described in Patent Document 2 includes a rotating shaft that is disposed inside a water storage tank and is rotationally driven by a driving unit such as a motor, a holding body fixed to the rotating shaft, and a surface cleaning tool attached to the holding body. The surface cleaning tool slides on the inner wall surface of the water storage tank along with the holding body rotated by the rotating shaft, so that the inner wall surface of the water storage tank for storing a large amount of clean water is always kept clean. Even if the residence time is increased, inorganic and organic impurities are not formed on the inner wall surface of the water storage tank, and it is used as a culture medium to prevent germs from breeding in the water storage tank.

JP 61-25685 A JP 2001-38317 A

  However, as mentioned above, since the water stored in the tank has few impurities such as bacteria, the frequency of cleaning in the tank may be low, and the difficulty of cleaning is relatively low. In particular, it is not practical to provide a special configuration such as the above prior art because of low cost effectiveness.

  Moreover, since the capacity of the tank is relatively large so that it can cope with a sudden change in the amount of water used, the tank weight during normal use is considerable. Therefore, when carrying the tank for cleaning, it is necessary to prepare in advance, such as pumping out water from the tank using a manual or electric drainage pump, and it is not easy to manually clean the tank. There wasn't.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of easily performing maintenance of a tank for storing water used in the apparatus while suppressing costs.

An automatic analyzer having a function of using water, a tank for storing water supplied from water supply means provided outside the automatic analyzer inside the automatic analyzer, and from the water supply means to the tank A water supply regulating valve for controlling the water supply state of the water, a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the tank, and supplying water in the tank to one or more water use locations for performing an operation using the water in the tank Among the water use adjustment valves based on the detection signal from the pump, the water use adjustment valve that controls the water supply state from the pump to the water use location, respectively, and the water supply adjustment valve is closed. A controller that controls at least one of the opening and closing operations to perform a water reduction process to reduce the amount of water in the tank to a water level that can prevent idling when no water is supplied to the pump. To do.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the maintenance of the tank for storing the water used with an apparatus can be easily performed, suppressing expense.

1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an automatic analyzer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows roughly the structure of the tank which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the water reduction process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the water reduction process which concerns on the modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the setting screen which sets the maintenance process which concerns on the modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematically the structure of the tank which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the water reduction process which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the automatic analyzer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of the tank together with its peripheral configuration.

  In FIG. 1, an automatic analyzer 100 stores water supplied from an external water supply facility 1 (water supply means) provided outside of the automatic analyzer 100 inside the automatic analyzer 100, and water is stored in the tank 2. A water level sensor 3 that detects the water level of the water, a water supply adjustment valve 4 that controls the state of water supply from the external water supply facility 1 to the tank 2, and one that performs various operations relating to analysis processing using the water in the tank 2. The water use adjustment which controls the water supply state to each water use location 5 from the pump 6 which supplies the water stored in the tank 2 to each of the above water use location 5, the water use location 5, respectively A valve 8; a control device 9 that controls the operation of the automatic analyzer 100 as a whole; a display device 10 that is a display means for displaying various information from the control device 9 and a notification means for notifying an operator; Etc. To and includes schematic and a speaker 95 is a notifying means for notifying the operator.

  The external water supply equipment 1 (water supply means) supplies water used for dilution of specimens and reagents in the automatic analyzer 100, cleaning of specimen dispensers and reagent dispensers, or constant temperature water supply for reaction tanks. Therefore, pure water is generated and supplied so that the components of water do not affect the analysis results. Examples of the external water supply facility 1 (water supply means) include a deionized water generation facility that generates deionized water as pure water.

  The water level sensor 3 is for detecting the water level of the tank 2, and sends the detection result to the control device 9. The water level sensor 3 of the present embodiment detects the water pressure at the installation position and sends the water pressure information to the control device 9. The installation position in the height direction (water depth direction) of the water level sensor 3 is arranged to be lower than the delivery position 2a from the tank 2 to the pump 6. As the water level of the tank 2 in the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment, the position A (maximum water level) that is sufficient to suppress the supply pressure change due to the change in the amount of water used, and the tank 2 can be easily removed. A position B (minimum water level) that is a sufficiently light level is set (see FIG. 2). By keeping the water level in the tank 2 at the position B or higher during normal operation, it is possible to prevent idle operation in which water is not supplied to the pump 6, and it is possible to prevent abnormal rotation that rotates in a state that does not require additional operation.

  The water use location 5 realizes various functions using the water of the tank 2 supplied via the pump 6, and includes, for example, a mechanism for diluting a sample and a reagent, a sample dispenser and a reagent dispenser. It is a mechanism for cleaning an injection device or the like, or a mechanism for supplying constant temperature water in a reaction tank.

  The control device 9 includes a water level calculation unit 93 that calculates the water level of the tank 2 based on the water pressure information from the water level sensor 3, and an adjustment valve control unit 94 that controls adjustment valves such as the water supply adjustment valve 4 and the water use adjustment valve 8. And a storage unit 92 that stores various information, arithmetic expressions, programs, water reduction treatment history, and the like, and a control unit 91 that controls various functions of the control device 9. The control device 9 is based on information and commands input by an input device (not shown), and in accordance with a control control sequence (predetermined order of operation in automatic control), various driving means, and the regulating valves 4, 8 For example, by controlling the operation of each part of the automatic analyzer 100, a sample analysis process, an apparatus maintenance process, a water reduction process for reducing the amount of water in the tank 2 for cleaning the tank 2, and the like are performed. The maintenance process includes, for example, a cleaning process that performs more advanced cleaning (cleaning of maintenance processing specifications) such as a specimen dispenser and a reagent dispenser, and a process that performs constant temperature water replacement and bubble removal such as a reaction tank. is there.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of water reduction processing.

  The water reduction process is a tank cleaning preparation process in which the amount of water in the tank 2 is reduced for cleaning the tank 2, and the water level in the tank is reduced by using water at the water use location 5. When the water reducing process is instructed, the control device 9 first closes the water supply adjustment valve 4 (step S10), starts the operation of the pump 6 (step S20), and opens the water use adjustment valve 8 at the water use location 5. (Step S30). Then, it is determined whether or not the water level (water surface position) indicated by the detection signal from the water level sensor 3 is higher than a predetermined position (position B) (step S40). If the determination result is YES, the determination in step S40 continues. If the determination result is NO, the operation of the pump 6 is stopped (step S50), the use control valve 8 at the water use location 5 is closed (step S60), and the process is terminated.

  The operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  In normal times, the control device 9 performs sample analysis processing by controlling the operation of each part of the automatic analyzer 100 according to the control sequence based on information and commands input by an input device (not shown).

  Here, when the water reduction process is instructed, the control device 9 first closes the water supply adjustment valve 4 and starts the operation of the pump 6 to open the water use adjustment valve 8 at the water use location 5 (step of FIG. 4). S10-30). Then, it is determined whether the water level (water surface position) indicated by the detection signal from the water level sensor 3 is higher than a predetermined position (position B). If the determination result is YES, the determination is continued and the determination result is NO. In this case, the operation of the pump 6 is stopped, the water use adjustment valve 8 at the water use location 5 is closed (steps S40 to S60 in FIG. 4), and the water reduction process is finished. In this state, the operator removes the tank 2 from the automatic analyzer 100, cleans the inside of the tank 2, and then attaches the cleaned tank 2 to the original position of the automatic analyzer 100, using an input device (not shown). When the completion of cleaning of the tank 2 is input, it is confirmed that the inside of the tank 2 is empty, the supply regulating valve 4 is controlled, and the water from the external supply equipment 1 is supplied to the tank 2 at the highest water level (position A Water is supplied until When the water is supplied up to the highest water level in the tank 2, normal operation such as sample analysis processing becomes possible. When the end of cleaning is input, the cleaning history is stored in the storage unit 92.

  The effect in this Embodiment comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.

  In wet automatic analyzers that use water, the water stored in the tank is deionized water, which is highly pure and clean water with very few bacteria remaining, but the water itself does not have a bactericidal action. The bacteria propagates during long-term use, and there are dirt and dirt on the inner surface of the tank because the tank is not completely sealed and the contamination of bacteria cannot be completely prevented. It may occur and regular cleaning is necessary. On the other hand, since the water stored in the tank is low in impurities such as bacteria, the frequency of cleaning in the tank is low and the level of cleaning is relatively low. Providing a UV sterilizing lamp or providing a surface cleaning tool that slides on the inner wall surface of the water storage tank is not cost effective and impractical. In addition, the tank capacity is relatively large so that it can handle sudden changes in the amount of water used, so the tank weight during normal use becomes considerable and the tank can be carried for cleaning. Occasionally, it was necessary to prepare in advance, such as pumping out water from the tank using a manual or electric drainage pump.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, a tank for storing water supplied from the water supply means provided outside the dynamic analyzer having a function of using water in the automatic analyzer, and from the water supply means to the tank. A water supply regulating valve for controlling the water supply state of the tank, a pump for supplying the water of the tank to one or more water use points performing an operation using the water of the tank, and a water supply state from the pump to the water use points And a control device that closes the water supply adjustment valve and controls the opening / closing operation of at least one of the water use adjustment valves to reduce the amount of water in the tank. Therefore, the maintenance of the tank for storing the water used in the apparatus can be easily performed while suppressing the cost.

  In the present embodiment, the automatic analyzer is configured not to be turned off after the water reduction treatment is completed. However, the automatic analyzer may be turned off (shut off) after the water reduction treatment is completed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the automatic analyzer from abnormally ending during the removal of the tank 2 and being in a standby state, and being supplied with water without the tank 2 due to the water level sensor 3 detecting insufficient water. Moreover, you may comprise so that it can be selected whether the power supply of an automatic analyzer is turned off (it cuts off) after completion | finish of a water reduction process.

<Modification of the first embodiment>
A modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This modification adds the process of performing a maintenance process to the process of the water reduction process in 1st Embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the water reduction process according to this modification, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a setting screen for setting the maintenance process to be performed. In the figure, the same members and steps as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In normal times, the control device 9 performs sample analysis processing by controlling the operation of each part of the automatic analyzer 100 according to the control sequence based on information and commands input by an input device (not shown).

  Here, in the water reduction process in this modification, when the water reduction process is instructed, the control device 9 first closes the water supply adjustment valve 4 (step S10), and on the maintenance process setting screen (see FIG. 5 described later). Maintenance processing based on the set item is performed (step S15). Thereafter, the operation of the pump 6 is started (step S20), and the water use regulating valve 8 at the water use point 5 is opened (step S30). Then, it is determined whether or not the water level (water surface position) indicated by the detection signal from the water level sensor 3 is higher than a predetermined position (position B) (step S40). If the determination result is YES, the determination in step S40 continues. If the determination result is NO, the operation of the pump 6 is stopped (step S50), the use control valve 8 at the water use location 5 is closed (step S60), and the process is terminated.

  In FIG. 5, items of maintenance processes that can be executed among the maintenance processes using water are displayed on the setting screen 10 a. In the present embodiment, a case where maintenance A10b and maintenance B10c are selected from the three maintenance processing items 10b to 10d of maintenance A to C will be described as an example.

  The maintenance process items 10b to 10d include a maintenance name of each maintenance (maintenance A, B, C), an amount of water (XA, XB, XC [L]) used in executing each maintenance process item, and the selected maintenance. Total amount of water used in treatment (XAll [L]), amount of water used to set the water level in tank 2 to position B (minimum water level) (target amount: X [L]), and selected maintenance An execution button 10g for confirming the processing item and a cancel button 10h for canceling the setting of the maintenance processing item and closing the setting screen 10a are provided.

  The operator selects a maintenance processing item to be executed by checking a desired check box of the maintenance processing items 10b to 10d with an input device (not shown). Each time the maintenance process items 10b to 10d are selected, the water amounts used in the respective processes are summed and displayed as a total water amount (XAll [L]). When the total water amount becomes larger than the target water amount, the operator is informed by hearing (buzzer sound or voice from the speaker 95) or visual (display of a warning message on the display device 10).

  Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Also in the present embodiment configured as described above, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Moreover, since the maintenance process can be performed during the water reduction process, the water in the tank 2 can be used effectively.

<Second Embodiment>
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a water level sensor 3A is provided instead of the water level sensor 3 in the first embodiment, and a timer processing step is added to the water reduction processing step.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the tank 2 in the present embodiment extracted together with its peripheral configuration, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the water reduction process. In the figure, the same members as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 6, the water level sensor 3 </ b> A is for detecting the water level of the tank 2, and sends the detection result to the control device 9. The water level sensor 3A of the present embodiment has a limit switch 30 installed at a position A (highest water level) that is sufficient to suppress a change in supply pressure due to a change in the amount of water used, and an effect of suppressing a change in supply pressure. Is provided with a limit switch 31 installed at a position C (limit water level) at which the limit water level is obtained, and floats 30a and 31a for opening and closing each of the limit switches 30 and 31. When the floats 30a and 31 are on the upper side, the limit switches 30 and 31 detect that there is a water surface above the limit switches 30 and 31, and in the opposite case, below the limit switches 30 and 31. It detects that there is a water surface on the side, and sends a detection signal to the control device 9.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the water reduction process is instructed, the control device 9 first closes the water supply adjustment valve 4 (step S10), starts the operation of the pump 6 (step S20), and uses the water use point 5 as shown in FIG. The water use regulating valve 8 is opened (step S30). Then, a timer process for calculating the speed at which the water surface descends from the time until the water level (water surface position) indicated by the detection signal from the water level sensor 3A changes from the position A to the position C and waiting until the water surface becomes the position B is performed. After that, the operation of the pump 6 is stopped (step S50), the use control valve 8 at the water use location 5 is closed (step S60), and the process is terminated.

  Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Also in the present embodiment configured as described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Moreover, since it was set as the structure using a limit switch, it is cheaper and can perform more reliable water reduction processing.

  In the second embodiment, a timer process is performed in which the speed at which the water surface falls from the time until the water surface in the tank 2 changes from the position A to the position C is calculated and the water surface waits until the water surface reaches the position B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the time change amount of the water surface position when the water use adjustment valve 5 is in the open state is measured in advance and stored in the storage unit 92. You may comprise so that a timer process may be performed so that it may wait until the time which becomes the position B.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 External water supply equipment 2 Tank 3, 3A Water level sensor 4 Water supply adjustment valve 5 Water use location 6 Pump 8 Water use adjustment valve 9 Controller 10 Display device 91 Control part 92 Memory | storage part 93 Water level calculating part 94 Adjustment valve control part 100 Automatic analysis apparatus

Claims (7)

An automatic analyzer having a function of using water,
A tank for storing water supplied from water supply means provided outside the automatic analyzer inside the automatic analyzer;
A water supply adjustment valve for controlling a supply state of water from the water supply means to the tank;
A water level sensor for detecting the water level in the tank;
A pump for supplying the water of the tank to one or more water use points that perform the operation of using the water of the tank;
A water use regulating valve that controls the supply state of water from the pump to the water use location;
The tank is closed to a water level that closes the water supply adjustment valve and controls the opening / closing operation of at least one of the water use adjustment valves based on a detection signal from the water level sensor to prevent idle operation in which water is not supplied to the pump. An automatic analyzer comprising a control unit that performs a water reduction process for reducing the amount of water in the inside. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
An automatic analyzer comprising a notifying means for notifying an operator when the control unit determines that the water level in the tank has reached a predetermined water level. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit shuts off the power supply when it is determined that the water level in the tank has reached a predetermined water level. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
The control unit can set in advance whether or not to turn off the power when it is determined that the water level in the tank has reached a predetermined water level. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
An automatic analyzer comprising storage means for storing execution information of the water reduction treatment, and notifying an operator when the water reduction treatment is not performed again within a predetermined period. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
An automatic analyzer having a control sequence prepared for maintenance of the automatic analyzer as a pre-process for performing the water reduction treatment. The automatic analyzer according to claim 6 ,
An automatic analyzer comprising setting means for setting a control sequence to be performed as the maintenance process.

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