JP6748261B2 - Clinical testing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a clinical examination apparatus.

The clinical examination is performed to objectively evaluate the condition of a subject such as a patient. A clinical examination apparatus is mainly used for this clinical examination. An example of the clinical test device is an automatic analyzer.

The automatic analyzer is configured so that the reaction container is moved along a circular trajectory and is stopped at a predetermined dispensing position, stirring position, measurement position, and washing/drying position. At the dispensing position, the sample and the reagent are dispensed into the reaction container by the probe. At the stirring position, the sample specimen and the reagent in the reaction container are stirred by the stirring bar. Thereby, a reaction liquid is generated. At the measurement position, the components contained in the reaction solution are analyzed. At the washing/drying position, the reaction vessel is washed and dried after the analysis and used for the next analysis. Since the processing capacity is increased, the time required at each position can be shortened.
The probe and the stirrer are washed by the washing mechanism after dispensing and stirring. Since the probe and the stirrer have a shaft shape, these are collectively referred to as a “shaft body”. The detergent and pure water used for cleaning the shaft are collectively referred to as "cleaning water".

An example of the cleaning mechanism includes a passage through which a cleaning target passes and a unit that supplies cleaning water toward the cleaning target that passes through the passage. The cleaning water supplied toward the cleaning target is discharged.

A flow path is an example of a means for supplying cleaning water. The flow paths are arranged so as to face each other with the passage in between, and wash water is discharged toward the washing target passed through the passage. The dirt is washed by the washing water that has flowed out hitting the washing target (for example, Patent Document 1).

In recent years, in automatic analyzers, devices with low running cost and high processing capacity that reduce the amount of washing water used are becoming mainstream. Therefore, it is preferable that the shaft-like body is efficiently washed with a small amount of washing water.

JP, 2005-257491, A

The purpose of this embodiment is to provide a clinical test apparatus capable of efficiently cleaning a shaft with a small amount of cleaning water.

In order to solve the above problems, the clinical examination apparatus of the embodiment has a drive mechanism and a cleaning mechanism. The drive mechanism moves the shaft-shaped body in contact with the sample and/or the reagent to a predetermined position on a predetermined track, and the outer wall portion of the shaft-shaped body to be cleaned passes a predetermined height position for cleaning. Move it up and down as you would. A cleaning mechanism for cleaning the shaft-shaped body moved to a predetermined position on a predetermined track has a nozzle and cleaning water supply means. The nozzles are disposed so as to face each other with a predetermined position in between, and the width direction is horizontal, and at least a predetermined height position, at least a film-like cleaning water having a width equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the shaft-like body is used. When the shaft-like body is passing through a predetermined height position, each has an ejection port that ejects from the opposite direction toward the predetermined height position. The cleaning water supply means supplies the cleaning water to the two nozzles. The shaft-like body has a shaft shape, and has a small diameter portion provided on one end side of the shaft with a small diameter, a large diameter portion provided on the other end side of the shaft with a large diameter, and a large diameter portion. And a stepped portion provided between the small diameter portion and the small diameter portion. The drive mechanism controls the speed at which the step passes the predetermined height position during cleaning so as to be lower than the speed at which the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion pass the predetermined height position.

The conceptual diagram of the probe and the washing chamber which were moved to the washing position. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a probe and a cleaning chamber moved downward from a cleaning position. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an automatic analyzer according to the first embodiment. FIG. The conceptual diagram when the washing room except the ceiling is viewed from above. The figure which shows the relationship between the horizontal width of the circular arc part in a substantially fan shape, and the outer diameter of a probe. The figure which shows the relationship between a shape and a probe at the time of a membrane-like washing water hitting an outer wall part. The figure which shows the cross-sectional shape of the washing water ejected from the nozzle which concerns on a comparative example, and the relationship with a probe. The figure which shows the relationship between the cross-sectional shape of washing water and a probe when a probe is moved upwards. The figure which shows the washing|cleaning process at the time of the downward movement of a probe. The figure showing the speed of the probe at the time of vertical movement, and the time when cleaning water is supplied. The figure which shows the washing|cleaning process at the time of the upward movement of a probe. The whole perspective view of an automatic analyzer.

A shaft-shaped body including a probe and a stirrer in a clinical examination apparatus is moved to a predetermined position for cleaning on a predetermined orbit (hereinafter, referred to as “cleaning position”). Further, the shaft is moved up and down at the cleaning position. On the other hand, a predetermined height position (hereinafter referred to as “wash height position”) through which wash water passes is provided. When the shaft moves up and down, the outer wall portion of the shaft that is to be cleaned passes through the cleaning height position.

In order to efficiently clean the outer wall portion of the shaft-shaped body that is moved as described above to be cleaned with a small amount of cleaning water, (1) two nozzles are arranged so as to face each other with a cleaning position in between. The amount of wash water supplied to the nozzle is set so that the wash water is ejected from the opposite directions toward the wash height position. (2) Further, the jet direction of the nozzle is formed so that the width direction is horizontal and the film-like washing water having a width equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the shaft-like body is jetted from opposite directions at least at the washing height position. To be done. The cleaning water ejected toward the cleaning height position has water droplet groups and/or water lump groups continuously distributed. In the following description, when referring to the shape of the jetted wash water, it means the shape when they are distributed.

<First Embodiment>
Next, as an example of the clinical examination apparatus of the first embodiment, an automatic analyzer will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a probe and a cleaning chamber moved to a cleaning position. In FIG. 1, a probe P used for dispensing a specimen sample is shown as an “axial body”, and a washing target WS of the probe P is an outer wall portion from a lower end position (lower limit position) a to an upper limit position b of the probe. Indicates the area. Here, the "cleaning target" refers to a region that comes into contact with a specimen sample, a reagent, or the like by an inspection, or a region over the maximum range where the test is planned.

The probe P includes a small diameter portion P2 having a small shaft diameter provided on the lower end side of the shaft, a large diameter portion P3 having a large shaft diameter provided on the upper end portion of the shaft, a small diameter portion P2 and a large diameter portion P3. And a step portion P1 provided between them.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of the automatic analyzer. As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic analyzer has a drive mechanism 10 and a cleaning mechanism 20.

(Drive mechanism 10)
As shown in FIG. 3, the probe P is provided at the tip of the arm A. A rotary shaft (not shown) and a nut member (not shown) are provided at the base end of the arm A. A screw member (not shown) is screwed onto the nut member.

The drive mechanism 10 rotates a motor (not shown) to rotate the arm A around the rotation axis and move the probe P to a cleaning position on an arcuate orbit. Further, the drive mechanism 10 rotates the screw member in the forward/reverse direction with respect to the nut member to move the probe P up and down so that the cleaning target WS of the probe P passes through the cleaning height position for cleaning. Configured to let. The control unit 25 described later, based on the rotation amount of the screw member, the size of the probe P and the information on the cleaning target WS (known and stored in a memory (not shown)), the rotation amount of the screw member and the probe P. The height position (vertical position) of the probe P is determined by referring to the correspondence relationship with the movement amount of the probe P, and the rotation speed of the screw member is changed based on the determination to control the movement speed of the probe. To do.

[Cleaning mechanism 20]
As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning mechanism 20 includes a cleaning chamber 21, a cleaning water supply unit 22, a cleaning water tank 23, a waste liquid tank 24, and a control unit 25.

(Washing room 21)
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the probe and the cleaning chamber moved downward from the cleaning position. In FIG. 2, the washing water ejected from the nozzle 31 is conceptually shown by a broken line. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cleaning chamber 21 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and includes a substantially circular ceiling portion 26, a peripheral wall portion 28 surrounding the periphery thereof, a substantially circular bottom portion 29, and a nozzle 31. Have.

A through hole 27 through which the probe P passes in the vertical direction is provided in the central portion of the ceiling portion 26. The position where the through hole 27 is provided corresponds to the “predetermined position” on the arcuate orbit. As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning height position Ha is set inside the cleaning chamber 21 below the predetermined distance H1 from the through hole 27.

As shown in FIG. 2, the probe P moved to the cleaning position by the drive mechanism 10 is further moved by the drive mechanism 10 in the vertical direction so that the outer wall portion of the cleaning target WS passes through the cleaning height position Ha. .. Two nozzles 31 are arranged at an upper end portion of the peripheral wall portion 28 (or a peripheral portion of the ceiling portion 26) so as to face each other with a cleaning position therebetween. The nozzle 31 is configured to eject the film-shaped cleaning water from the opposite direction toward the cleaning height position Ha. Further, the nozzle 31 is configured to intersect the jetted film-like cleaning water at the cleaning height position Ha.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram when the cleaning chamber 21 excluding the ceiling portion 26 is viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 4, the probe P moved downward through the through hole 27 is located at the center of the cleaning chamber 21. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the ejection port of the nozzle 31 has a height (distance in the vertical direction) and a width (distance in the horizontal direction) in which the width direction is horizontal and the probe P is at least at the cleaning height position Ha. The large-diameter portion P3 is formed so as to jet the film-like cleaning water having a width L equal to or larger than the outer diameter d (L≧d). Further, a predetermined amount of supply of cleaning water is supplied to the nozzle 31 so that the film-shaped cleaning water reaches the cleaning height position Ha from the nozzle 31. As a result, the washing water surrounds the outer wall portion around the half circumference thereof.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning water ejected from the opposite directions toward the cleaning height position Ha has a film-like outer shape. The film-shaped outer shape is a substantially fan shape in which the width L in the horizontal direction gradually widens toward the cleaning height position Ha. The left and right substantially arc-shaped arc portions, which are the outer shapes of the wash water ejected from the opposite directions, are designed to overlap each other in the width direction at the wash height position Ha. Even if the film-shaped outer shape is substantially fan-shaped, if the horizontal width L of the arc-shaped portion in the substantially fan-shaped shape is set to be equal to or larger than the outer diameter d of the large diameter portion P3 of the probe P (L≧d), the cleaning water can be discharged from the outer wall portion It comes to surround a half circle.

However, due to the mounting position of the nozzle 31 and the allowable error of the angle, the displacement occurs in a fan shape. In order to ensure that the cleaning water surrounds the half circumference of the outer wall portion, it is necessary to set the horizontal width L of the substantially fan-shaped arc portion in consideration of the allowable error.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the horizontal width L of the arcuate portion in a substantially fan shape and the outer diameter d of the large diameter portion P3 of the probe P. As shown in FIG. 5, the position of the outer shape of the wash water ejected from the opposite directions differs depending on the tolerance. Even in such a case, the horizontal width L of the arc-shaped portion in the substantially fan shape is about the outer diameter d of the large-diameter portion P3 of the probe P so that the sprayed cleaning water surely surrounds the half circumference of the outer wall portion. It has twice the length (L≈2d).

With the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, the film-like cleaning water surrounds one half of the outer wall portion. Further, the film-shaped cleaning water ejected from the direction opposite to the surrounding area surrounds the other half of the outer wall portion. As a result, it is possible to simultaneously wash each half of the outer wall portion with a small amount of washing water without waste.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the relationship between the shape and the probe P when the film-like cleaning water hits the outer wall portion. The film-shaped cleaning water ejected from the nozzle 31 becomes a rectangular portion A0 whose longitudinal direction is horizontal as shown by the broken line in FIG. 6 and hits the outer wall portion of the large diameter portion P3. When the portion A0 hits the outer wall portion of the large diameter portion P3, the portion W0 shown by hatching in FIG. 6 is washed.

When the probe P is moved downward, the portion A0 moves relatively upward, and when the probe P is moved upward, the portion A0 moves relatively downward. Thus, the outer wall portion of the large diameter portion P3 can be efficiently washed. By moving the probe P upward and/or downward, the outer wall portions of the step portion P1 and the small diameter portion P2 are similarly washed. The width of the portion A0 may be adjusted according to the outer diameters of the stepped portion P1 and the small diameter portion P2. Thereby, the outer wall portions of the step portion P1 and the small diameter portion P2 can be efficiently washed with a smaller amount of washing water. At this time, due to the above-mentioned tolerance, the portion A0 is smaller than the outer diameter of the step portion P1 or the small diameter portion P2 so that the film-like cleaning water surely surrounds the half circumference of the outer wall portion of the step portion P1 or the small diameter portion P2. It goes without saying that the width of is increased.

Next, the nozzle according to the comparative example will be described. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the relationship between the cross section shape of the wash water ejected from the nozzle 31 according to the comparative example and the probe P, and FIG. 7B is the cross section shape of the wash water when the probe P is moved upward. It is a figure which shows the relationship with the probe P. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when washing water having a circular cross-sectional shape (having a diameter equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the probe P) is jetted so as to hit the outer wall portion, for example, a lower bow-shaped portion in the lower side of the circle. The portion W where A1 cleans the outer wall portion (shown by hatching in FIG. 7A) is also moved upward when the probe P is moved upward, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B. The portion W that has been moved upwards is shown in broken lines in FIG. 7B. This portion W is included in the portion W2 (shown by hatching in FIG. 7B) for cleaning the outer wall portion, which is the portion A2 other than the inferior arcuate shape in the circle. This means that part W is also cleaned in part W1. In other words, the lower bow-shaped portion A1 is excessively consumed as cleaning water. Note that the same can be said when the probe P is moved downward, for example, so that the upper inferior arcuate portion A1 is additionally consumed as cleaning water. Therefore, it cannot be said that the outer wall portion is efficiently washed with a small amount of washing water.

The jetted cleaning water in the form of a film has the following advantages. When the flow velocity V of the washing water ejected from the nozzle, the amount Q of the washing water supplied to the nozzle per unit time, and the cross-sectional area S of the nozzle ejection port are limited and the relationship between them is considered, The relationship of V=Q/S is established. Therefore, if the amount of supplied water Q is the same, the cross-sectional area S of the nozzle outlet is smaller when the cleaning water is applied to the outer wall portion in a film shape than when it is applied to the outer wall portion in a circular cross-sectional shape. The flow rate V of the washed water thus increased increases. As a result, the strength of the wash water when it hits the outer wall portion increases, which has the advantage of enhancing the washing performance.

However, the amount of water droplets generated when the washing water hits the outer wall increases as the strength of the washing water hits the outer wall increases, and the upper and lower sides around the position where the water drops hit The tendency to adhere to the outer wall of the.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the mounting angle of the nozzle 31 and the shape of the ejection port are set so that the cleaning water is ejected obliquely downward. When the angle θ obliquely downward with respect to the vertical direction is made smaller, the strength of hitting the outer wall portion becomes smaller, so the amount of water droplets adhering to the outer wall decreases, but the cleaning performance deteriorates. On the contrary, if the angle θ in the diagonally lower direction is increased, the strength with which the outer wall portion is hit increases, so that the cleaning ability increases, but the amount of water droplets adhering to the outer wall portion increases. In order to suppress the deterioration of cleaning performance and reduce the amount of water droplets generated, it is preferable that the obliquely downward angle θ is in the range of about 20° to about 30°, and the angle θ is about 25° to about 30°. It is preferably in the range of 30°. The angle θ is measured using, for example, an inclinometer. First, the reference plane of the inclinometer is tilted along the vertical direction, and the angle at this time is set to 0°. Next, the reference surface of the inclinometer is tilted so as to follow the film-like cleaning water ejected from the nozzle 31, and the tilt angle at this time is measured. The measured tilt angle is the angle θ.

When the cleaning water ejected from the nozzle 31 hits the outer wall portion of the probe P to be cleaned at an obliquely downward desired angle θ, even if some water droplets adhere to the outer wall portion below, The washing water flows down along the outer wall portion from where it hits, and at this time, since the water droplets also flow down together with the washing water, the water droplets do not remain on the outer wall portion.

(Cleaning water supply means 22)
As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning water supply unit 22 includes a flow path (not shown) for guiding the cleaning water from the cleaning water tank 23 to the nozzle 31, an electromagnetic valve (not shown) for opening and closing the flow path, and a cleaning flow. And a pump (not shown) for supplying water from the wash water tank 23 to the nozzle 31.

(Wash water tank 23)
A plurality of tanks for storing, for example, pure water and an acidic detergent used for cleaning are provided. In FIG. 3, one wash water tank 23 is shown as a representative of these tanks. The wash water tank 23 communicates with the pump via the flow path.

(Waste liquid tank 24)
As shown in FIG. 2, a discharge port 29 a is provided at the center of the bottom part 29. The cleaning water used for cleaning becomes waste liquid and is guided to the waste liquid tank 24 through the discharge port 29a.

(Control unit 25)
The control unit 25 controls starting and stopping of the pump. Further, the control unit 25 controls opening/closing of the solenoid valve. Further, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the probe P has been rotated to the cleaning position by referring to the correspondence between the rotation amount of the motor and the rotation angle based on the rotation amount of the motor. When the control unit 25 determines that the probe P has been rotated to the cleaning position, the control unit 25 controls the electromagnetic valve to start jetting the cleaning water from the nozzle 31.

As described above, the control unit 25, based on the rotation amount of the screw member, information about the dimensions of the probe P and the cleaning target WS (known and stored in a memory (not shown)), and the rotation amount of the screw member. And the moving distance of the probe P, the height position (vertical position) of the probe P is determined, and the rotation speed of the screw member is changed based on the determination to move the probe. Control the speed.

For example, the control unit 25 controls the rotation speed of the screw member so that the small-diameter portion P2 and the large-diameter portion P3 pass the cleaning height position Ha at the speed when the step P1 passes the cleaning height position Ha. The speed is controlled so that it is lower than the speed.

Next, the control for starting and stopping the cleaning, and the speed control when the probe P moves upward and when the probe P moves upward will be described.

(Washing process when moving the probe P downward)
First, the cleaning process when the probe P is moved downward will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a cleaning process when the probe P is moved downward, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a speed of the probe P when the probe P is moved vertically and a time when the cleaning water is supplied.

The controller 25 stops the pump and closes the solenoid valve when the probe P is not moved to the cleaning position. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the control unit 25 starts the pump and further opens the solenoid valve in response to the probe P being moved to the cleaning position. As a result, the film-like cleaning water is jetted from the opposite directions toward the cleaning height position Ha.

Simultaneously with or before or after this, the control unit 25 controls the rotation speed and the rotation direction of the screw member to move the probe P downward at a medium speed. FIG. 9 shows at time t0 when the jet of cleaning water is started and the movement of the probe P is started. The control unit 25 determines whether the probe P has reached the lowest position based on the rotation amount of the screw member, and when determining that (time t1 shown in FIG. 9), stops the rotation of the screw member, The downward movement of the probe P is stopped. As a result, the outer wall portion of the cleaning target WS from the lower end position (lower limit position) a of the probe P to the upper limit position b passes the cleaning height position Ha, and the cleaning target WS is cleaned. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the control unit 25 receives the time measured from t1 and determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed from t1 and controls the rotation speed of the screw member until the predetermined time elapses. Then, the movement stop of the probe P is continued. FIG. 9 shows the speed when the probe P is moved from t0 to t1 as a medium speed section.

(Washing process when the probe P moves upward)
Next, a cleaning process when the probe P is moved upward will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a cleaning process when the probe P is moved upward.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the control unit 25 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed from t1 (time t2 shown in FIG. 9), the control unit 25 controls the rotation speed and the rotation direction of the screw member to perform the probe operation. Move P upward at medium speed. When the outer wall portion of the probe P passes through the washing height position Ha, the dirt attached to the outer wall portion is hit downward by the washing water when the washing water hits the dirt from above. When the dirt is pushed down, the dirt moves to the lower outer wall portion (including the step portion P1), but the lower outer wall portion is washed with the upward movement of the probe P thereafter. It will not be left behind.

Next, the control unit 25 determines, based on the rotation amount of the screw member, whether or not the step portion P1 of the probe P is just before passing the cleaning height position Ha, and when it is determined that it is immediately before (FIG. At time t3) shown in 9, the rotation speed of the screw member is controlled to move the probe P upward at a low speed. When the step portion P1 of the probe P passes through the cleaning height position Ha, the probe P is moved upward at a low speed, so that the dirt can be reliably pushed down without remaining on the step portion P1. When the dirt is pushed down, the dirt moves to the lower outer wall portion, but since the lower outer wall portion is washed as the probe P moves upward, the dirt is not left on the outer wall portion.

Water droplets tend to accumulate on the step portion P1 as compared with other portions (small diameter portion P2 and large diameter portion P3), but when the step portion P1 passes the cleaning height position Ha, the probe P moves at a low speed. Since it is moved by, it is possible to prevent water droplets from accumulating.

Next, the control unit 25 determines whether the step P1 of the probe P has passed the cleaning height position Ha based on the rotation amount of the screw member, and when it is determined that the step height P1 has passed (time shown in FIG. 9). t4), the rotational speed of the screw member is controlled to move the probe P upward at a medium speed.

Next, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the lower end position a of the probe P has passed the cleaning height position Ha based on the rotation amount of the screw member, and when it determines that the lower end position a has passed (the time shown in FIG. 9). t5), the rotational speed of the screw member is controlled to move the probe P upward at high speed. Further, the control unit 25 closes the electromagnetic valve and further stops the pump to stop the supply of washing water. FIG. 9 shows the wash water supply time from t0 to t5.

Next, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the probe P has risen to the uppermost position based on the rotation amount of the screw member, and when it determines that the probe P has risen (time t6 shown in FIG. 9), the rotation of the screw member. To stop the upward movement of the probe P. Further, when the control unit 25 determines that the probe P has moved to the uppermost position based on the height position of the probe P, the control unit 25 controls the electromagnetic valve to stop the ejection of the washing water from the nozzle 31.

In FIG. 9, the speed when the probe P is moved from t2 to t3 is shown as a medium speed section, and the speed when it is moved from t3 to t4 is shown as a low speed section, from t4 to t5. The speed when moving is shown as a medium speed section, and the speed when moving from t5 to t6 is shown as a high speed section.

Next, another configuration of the automatic analyzer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is an overall perspective view of the automatic analyzer. As shown in FIG. 11, the automatic analyzer has a dispensing mechanism, a stirring mechanism, a photometric unit, and a cleaning unit. The dispensing mechanism is arranged at a dispensing position, and dispenses a sample from a disc sampler 35 or a sample rack (not shown) into a reaction container 36 (two probes P shown on the front side in FIG. 11) and a reagent. It has a reagent probe (one probe P shown on the back side in FIG. 11) for dispensing a reagent from the container 37 to the reaction container 36. The stirring mechanism 38 is arranged at a stirring position and has a stirring bar, and stirs the sample and the reagent in the reaction container 36 to generate a reaction liquid. The photometric unit 39 is arranged at the measurement position and measures the absorbance of the reaction solution. The cleaning unit 39a sucks the reaction liquid for which the measurement is completed in the reaction container 36 stopped at the cleaning/drying position, and also cleans/drys the inside of the reaction container 36.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the probe P is moved at a medium speed from the predetermined position to the lowest position in the cleaning process when the probe P is moved downward, but the moving speed during this time is limited to this. Not done.

In the second embodiment, for example, the lower end position a of the probe P is moved at high speed immediately before reaching the cleaning height position Ha, and further, the intermediate speed is maintained until just before the step P1 passes the cleaning height position Ha. The step P1 may be moved at low speed between immediately before and immediately after the step P1 passes the cleaning height position Ha, and may be moved at medium speed until the probe P reaches the lowest position. ..

Further, in the first embodiment, the two nozzles 31 are arranged at opposite positions and the cleaning water is ejected from the opposite positions to the cleaning height position Ha, but the number of the nozzles 31 is two. Not limited. The number of nozzles 31 may be three or more.

In the second embodiment, for example, four nozzles 31 are provided. The four nozzles 31 are divided into two sets, and when viewed from the cleaning position, one set of nozzles 31 is arranged at, for example, a position facing each other at 0:00 and 6:00, and another set of nozzles 31 is set at, for example, three. It is placed at the opposite position between the hour and 9 o'clock. At this time, the cleaning height position Ha where the cleaning water is ejected from one set of nozzles 31 is different from the cleaning height position Ha where the cleaning water is ejected from another set of nozzles 31. To be done.

However, simply providing the four nozzles 31 increases the amount of cleaning water used for cleaning, which increases the running cost. In order to reduce the running cost, cleaning water is ejected from one set of nozzles 31 for cleaning when the probe P moves downward, and cleaning water is sprayed from another set of nozzles 31 when cleaning the probe P when moving upward. It is configured to eject. At this time, the cleaning height position Ha to which the cleaning water is ejected from the nozzles 31 of each set may be the same.

In the above-described embodiment, the probe P used for dispensing the specimen sample is shown as the shaft-shaped body that is washed by the washing mechanism 20, but even if the probe used for dispensing the reagent is used as the axial sample, Needless to say, it may be a stirrer used for stirring.

The configuration described in the above embodiment can be applied to clinical examination devices other than the automatic analyzer.

Examples of the clinical test device include clinical chemistry analyzers such as automatic analyzers, blood gas analyzers, electrophoresis devices and liquid chromatography devices, nuclear medicine devices such as radioimmunoassay devices, latex agglutination measurement devices and nephelometers. Immune serum test equipment, automatic blood cell counter, blood test equipment such as blood coagulation measurement equipment, microbe classification and identification equipment, blood culture test equipment, DNA/RNA measurement equipment and other bacteria test equipment, urine analysis equipment, fecal occult blood measurement equipment, etc. Urine test equipment, pathological test equipment such as automatic tissue cell staining device, physiological function test equipment, and other clinical test equipment such as micropipette, washing device dispensing device, centrifuge device and the like.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and the scope thereof, as well as in the invention described in the claims and the scope of equivalents thereof.

a Lower end position (lower limit position)
b Upper limit position d Outer diameter A Arm A1 Poor arched portion A2 Non-poor arched portion Ha Cleaning height position (predetermined height position)
P probe P1 stepped portion P2 small diameter portion P3 large diameter portion W, W1 portion to be cleaned WS cleaning target 10 drive mechanism 20 cleaning mechanism 21 cleaning chamber 22 cleaning water supply means 23 cleaning water tank 24 waste liquid tank 25 control section 26 ceiling 27 penetration Hole 28 Peripheral wall part 29 Bottom part 29a Discharge port 31 Nozzle 35 Disk sampler 36 Reaction container 37 Reagent container 38 Stirring mechanism 39 Photometric unit 39a Cleaning unit

Claims (9)

While moving the shaft-shaped body in contact with the sample and/or reagent to a predetermined position on a predetermined track, the outer wall portion of the shaft-shaped body to be cleaned passes through a predetermined height position for cleaning. A drive mechanism that moves up and down,
A cleaning mechanism for cleaning the shaft-shaped body moved to a predetermined position on the predetermined track,
Have
The cleaning mechanism is
At least the film-like cleaning water having a width equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the shaft-like body at least at the predetermined height position is arranged so as to face each other with the predetermined position in between. When the shaft-like body is passing through the predetermined height position, nozzles each having an ejection port ejecting from the opposite direction toward the predetermined height position,
Cleaning water supply means for supplying the cleaning water to two nozzles,
Equipped with
The shaft-shaped body has a shaft shape, and has a small diameter portion provided on one end side of the shaft with a small diameter, a large diameter portion provided on the other end side of the shaft with a large diameter, and A step portion provided between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion,
The drive mechanism lowers a speed when the step passes through the predetermined height position during cleaning, lower than a speed when the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion pass through the predetermined height position. A clinical test apparatus characterized by being controlled as follows. While moving the shaft-shaped body in contact with the sample and/or the reagent to a predetermined position on a predetermined track, an outer wall portion of the shaft-shaped body to be cleaned passes through a predetermined height position for cleaning. A drive mechanism that moves up and down,
A cleaning mechanism for cleaning the shaft-shaped body moved to a predetermined position on the predetermined track,
Have
The cleaning mechanism is
At least the film-like cleaning water having a width equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the shaft-like body at least at the predetermined height position is arranged so as to face each other with the predetermined position in between. When the shaft-like body is passing through the predetermined height position, nozzles each having an ejection port ejecting from the opposite direction toward the predetermined height position,
Cleaning water supply means for supplying the cleaning water to two nozzles,
Equipped with
The shaft-shaped body has a shaft shape, and has a small diameter portion provided on one end side of the shaft with a small diameter, a large diameter portion provided on the other end side of the shaft with a large diameter, and A step portion provided between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion,
The drive mechanism controls the speed at which the step passes the predetermined height position during cleaning so as to be lower than the speed at which the large-diameter portion passes the predetermined height position. A clinical testing device characterized by the above. While moving the shaft-shaped body in contact with the sample and/or reagent to a predetermined position on a predetermined track, the outer wall portion of the shaft-shaped body to be cleaned passes through a predetermined height position for cleaning. A drive mechanism that moves up and down,
A cleaning mechanism for cleaning the shaft-shaped body moved to a predetermined position on the predetermined track,
Have
The cleaning mechanism is
At least the film-like cleaning water having a width equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the shaft-like body at least at the predetermined height position is arranged so as to face each other with the predetermined position in between, and the width direction is horizontal. When the shaft-like body is passing through the predetermined height position, nozzles each having an ejection port ejecting from the opposite direction toward the predetermined height position,
Cleaning water supply means for supplying the cleaning water to two nozzles,
Equipped with
The shaft-shaped body has a shaft shape, and has a small diameter portion provided on one end side of the shaft with a small diameter, a large diameter portion provided on the other end side of the shaft with a large diameter, and A step portion provided between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion,
The drive mechanism controls the speed at which the step passes the predetermined height position during cleaning so as to be lower than the speed at which the small diameter portion passes the predetermined height position. The clinical test equipment characterized by. The outer shape of the film-like washing water is a substantially fan shape in which the width in the horizontal direction gradually widens toward the predetermined height position, and a substantially arc portion in the substantially fan shape is an outer diameter of the shaft-shaped body. The clinical examination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the clinical examination apparatus has a length about twice that of The nozzle jets the cleaning water obliquely downward from a position higher than the predetermined height position toward the predetermined height position. Clinical laboratory equipment. The clinical examination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the obliquely downward angle with respect to a predetermined trajectory of the shaft is in the range of about 20° to about 30°. 7. The clinical examination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two nozzles are configured to intersect the jetted cleaning water at the predetermined height position. The cleaning mechanism has a ceiling part having a through hole through which the shaft passes, and a cleaning chamber including a peripheral wall part surrounding the periphery.
The predetermined height position is set below a predetermined distance from the through hole,
The clinical examination according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the two nozzles are provided in the cleaning chamber so that cleaning water can be ejected from positions facing each other with the through hole interposed therebetween. apparatus. The cleaning mechanism controls the cleaning water supply means so as to start spraying of cleaning water by the nozzle when the shaft starts to descend. The clinical examination device described in Crab.

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