JP6824064B2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention mainly relates to an automatic analyzer that performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological samples such as blood and urine, and particularly relates to an automatic analyzer provided with a stirring mechanism for mixing a reagent and a sample in a reaction vessel.

The automatic analyzer mixes and stirs a reagent that reacts with the component to be analyzed with the sample, reacts the sample for a predetermined time, and then analyzes the target component in the sample mainly by optical measurement. The stirring mechanism includes, for example, a contact stirring method in which a spatula-shaped stirrer is immersed in a liquid to be agitated and the agitated object is mixed by rotating or reciprocating the stirrer, and ultrasonic waves are applied to the agitated object. There is a non-contact stirring method in which the material to be stirred is mixed by the stirring.

As such a non-contact stirring method, for example, in Patent Document 1, ultrasonic waves are irradiated from below the reaction vessel containing the sample and the reagent toward the opening of the reaction vessel to stir the sample and the reagent in a non-contact manner. And the method of mixing is described. Further, in Patent Document 1, a piezoelectric element is arranged on the bottom surface of a constant temperature bath, an acoustic lens is provided in the radiation direction of vibration waves (ultrasonic waves) by the piezoelectric element, ultrasonic waves are focused by the acoustic lens, and the inside of the reaction vessel is contained. It is disclosed that the sample is floated by an acoustic straight flow.
Further, in Patent Document 2, a plurality of sound sources or reflectors are provided outside the reaction vessel so that the reaction vessel is arranged between the sound source and another sound source or the reflector, and the reaction vessel is arranged from a plurality of directions toward the reaction vessel. A method is described in which the liquid in the reaction vessel is efficiently fluidized by irradiating ultrasonic waves, and the sample and the reagent are stirred and mixed in a non-contact manner.
Further, in Patent Document 3, at least the inner bottom surface of the bottomed cylindrical reaction vessel is a spherical recess, and the bottom surface of the reaction vessel is positioned as a sound source via an acoustic matching layer, and is incident into the reaction vessel from the sound source. A method of focusing the ultrasonic waves and stirring and mixing the sample and the reagent is described.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-146007 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-254981 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-90992

However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, ultrasonic waves are irradiated from below the reaction vessel toward the opening of the reaction vessel, or further, ultrasonic waves are irradiated from the side of the reaction vessel. Therefore, if strong ultrasonic waves are irradiated from the lower sound source in order to obtain a strong stirring force, the liquid level of the sample may rise and the sample liquid or the like may scatter, while irradiating too weak ultrasonic waves sufficiently contributes to stirring. It may not be possible.
Further, in the configuration described in Patent Document 2, although a strong stirring force can be obtained, a certain height of the liquid level may be required because ultrasonic waves are incident on the vicinity of the liquid level and the bottom surface of the reaction vessel. There is. In other words, it is not always sufficient for the analysis of trace samples.
Further, in the configuration described in Patent Document 3, ultrasonic waves are focused by making the shape of the bottom surface of the reaction vessel spherical. However, since the focal position is fixed, if the height of the liquid level in the reaction vessel changes, the convection of the reaction liquid may vary, and the stirring force may become unstable.
Therefore, the present invention provides an automatic analyzer capable of improving the stirring efficiency in mixing the reagent and the sample in the reaction vessel and reducing the amount of the reagent and the sample that can be stirred.

In order to solve the above problems, the automatic analyzer according to the present invention includes a reaction vessel capable of accommodating dispensed samples and reagents, an array-shaped ultrasonic generator arranged on the side of the reaction vessel, and an array of ultrasonic generators. An acoustic lens arranged between the ultrasonic generator and the reaction vessel and focusing the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic generator at a desired position of a mixture of a sample and a reagent in the reaction vessel is provided. The acoustic lens is characterized in that the focusing point of ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating unit in the reaction vessel is changed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the stirring efficiency in mixing the reagent and the sample in the reaction vessel, and to provide an automatic analyzer capable of reducing the amount of the reagent and the sample that can be stirred.
Issues, configurations and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments.

It is a perspective view which shows the whole schematic structure of the automatic analyzer of Example 1 which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of the reaction disk and a stirring mechanism shown in FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the driver circuit shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relationship between the voltage applied to the segment which constitutes a sound source, and the focusing of ultrasonic waves by an acoustic lens. It is a vertical sectional view of the reaction disk and the stirring mechanism which constitute the automatic analyzer of Example 2 which concerns on another Example of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the driver circuit shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relationship between the voltage applied to the segment which constitutes a sound source, and the focusing of ultrasonic waves by an acoustic lens. It is a vertical sectional view of the reaction disk and the stirring mechanism which constitute the automatic analyzer of Example 3 which concerns on another Example of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the driver circuit shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relationship between the voltage applied to the segment which constitutes a sound source, and the focusing of ultrasonic waves by an acoustic lens.

As used herein, the automatic analyzer includes an automatic biochemical analyzer and an automatic immunoanalyzer. The biochemical automatic analyzer will be described below as an example of the automatic analyzer.
The biochemical automatic analyzer mainly provides a sample dispensing mechanism for supplying the sample to be analyzed to the reaction vessel, a reagent dispensing mechanism for supplying the reagent to the reaction vessel, and samples and reagents in the reaction vessel. Stirring mechanism for stirring, photometric mechanism for optically measuring the physical properties of samples during or after the reaction, cleaning mechanism for sucking and discharging the sample after measurement and cleaning the reaction vessel, It is composed of a controller and the like that control these operations.
Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall schematic configuration of an automatic analyzer of Example 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a reaction disk and a stirring mechanism shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the biochemical automatic analyzer as the automatic analyzer 100 mainly stores a plurality of reaction vessels 102 so as to be separated from each other at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction. A constant temperature bath 114 for maintaining a constant temperature state of the reaction vessel 102 stored in, a sample disk 103 for storing a plurality of sample cups 104 so as to be separated from each other at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction, and a reagent bottle 105. A reagent disk 106 for storing a plurality of reagents along the direction, a sample dispensing mechanism 107 for dispensing a predetermined amount of the sample in the sample cup 104 to the reaction vessel 102, and a reagent in the reagent bottle 105 for dispensing a predetermined amount to the reaction vessel 102. Reagent dispensing mechanism 108, stirring mechanism 109 that stirs and mixes the dispensed sample and reagent in the reaction vessel 102 in a non-contact manner, reaction process of the mixture of sample and reagent in the reaction vessel 102, and for example, absorbance after the reaction. It is composed of a photometric mechanism 110 for measuring the temperature and a cleaning mechanism 111 for cleaning the reaction vessel 102 after the photometric (inspection) is completed. Each of these components contains information (for example, analysis item, sample and reagent dispensing amount (liquid amount) according to the analysis item) set in advance by the user (inspection engineer) via the console 113 before starting the test. ) Etc.), the operation is controlled by the controller 112 creating a program and executing the program.

Note that FIG. 1 shows an example in which a plurality of sample cups 104 are stored in the sample disk 103 along the circumferential direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sample disk 103 may be configured to concentrically store a plurality of sample cups 104 on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side along the circumferential direction. Further, instead of the sample disk 103, a plurality of sample containers for accommodating the samples may be stored in the sample rack.
Further, the reaction disk 101 may also be configured to concentrically store a plurality of reaction vessels 102 on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side along the circumferential direction. However, in this case, it is necessary to store the reaction vessel 102 stored on the inner peripheral side and the reaction vessel 102 stored and stabbed on the outer peripheral side so as not to overlap in the radial direction of the reaction disk 101.

The operation of the biochemical automatic analyzer as the automatic analyzer 100 will be described below.
According to the control signal (control command) from the controller 112, the sample dispensing mechanism 107 sucks a predetermined amount (predetermined amount of liquid) of the sample from the sample cup 104, and sucks a predetermined amount (predetermined amount of liquid) into the designated reaction vessel 102. The sample dispensing operation is executed by discharging the sample (quantity). Next, the reaction disk 101 is positioned so that the reaction vessel 102 to which a predetermined amount (predetermined amount of liquid) of the sample is dispensed by the sample dispensing mechanism 107 is positioned at the reagent dispensing position by the control signal (control command) from the controller 112. Rotates. The reagent dispensing mechanism 108 sucks the reagent of the liquid amount corresponding to the analysis item from the reagent bottle 105 stored in the reagent disk 106 by the control signal (control command) from the controller 112. After that, the sample dispensing mechanism 107 rotates so as to draw an arc-shaped locus, and discharges the reagent to the reaction vessel 102 that houses a predetermined amount (predetermined amount of liquid) of the sample positioned at the reagent dispensing position. Perform the reagent dispensing operation at.

Subsequently, the reaction disk 101 rotates to the stirring position, that is, the position where the stirring mechanism 109 is installed, in which the reaction vessel 102 to which the sample and the reagent are dispensed is rotated by the control signal (control command) from the controller 112. The stirring mechanism 109 stirs and mixes the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 102 in a non-contact manner. According to the control signal (control command) from the controller 112, the reaction disk 101 rotates to the washing position when the measurement is started from the time when the stirring is completed and the reaction is completed. The cleaning mechanism 111 sucks the mixture of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 102, and executes the cleaning treatment of the empty reaction vessel 102.
The above-mentioned series of processes from the sample dispensing operation to the cleaning process is executed in batch processing for each of a plurality of samples.

Next, the details of the stirring mechanism 109 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the stirring mechanism 109 is an ultrasonic generator (sound source) 201 provided on the outer side of the reaction vessel 102 housed in the reaction disk 101 and supported by the inner wall of the constant temperature bath 114. , The ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 and the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 for focusing the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic generating unit (sound source) 201 and incident on the reaction vessel 102 in the vertical direction. It is provided with a vertical movement mechanism described in detail later, and a tilting mechanism for tilting the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 so that the upper side of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 approaches the reaction vessel 102. The ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 is mutually predetermined between the ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound source) 201 and the outer surface of the reaction vessel 102 on the ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound source) 201 side. It is arranged through the interval of. Here, the predetermined interval means that the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 tilts the reaction vessel 102 even when the upper side of the ultrasonic focusing portion (acoustic lens) 206 is tilted so as to approach the reaction vessel 102 by the tilting mechanism. It is set within the range that does not come into contact with the outer surface of. The ultrasonic wave generating part (sound source) 201, the ultrasonic wave focusing part (acoustic lens) 206, the vertical movement mechanism, and the tilting mechanism are immersed in the constant temperature water 202 in the constant temperature bath 114.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic wave generating section (sound source) 201 is provided with one electrode (not shown) on the surface of one piezoelectric element facing the ultrasonic focusing section (acoustic lens) 206. The other surface, that is, the surface opposite to the surface on which one electrode (not shown) is provided, is provided with a plurality of electrodes divided in an array. As a result, the ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound source) 201 has a structure in which segments 205 that can be driven independently are arranged in an array. Here, the array shape means a one-dimensional array or a two-dimensional array. Further, in FIG. 2, one electrode (not shown) is provided on the surface of one piezoelectric element facing the ultrasonic focusing portion (acoustic lens) 206, and the piezoelectric element is divided into an array on the other surface. Although an example in which a plurality of electrodes are provided is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements may be arranged in an array to form an ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound source) 201.

Generally, ultrasonic waves are gradually attenuated in the middle of propagation, but if there is an interface where the acoustic impedance defined by density x sound velocity changes rapidly, part of the ultrasonic waves is reflected at that interface. To. Therefore, as the material of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 arranged with the constant temperature water 202 interposed between the ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound source) 201, for example, the acoustic impedance of epoxy resin or the like is matched. Alternatively, a resin capable of suppressing reflection as much as possible is appropriately selected and used. Further, the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 has a flat flat plate shape on the side facing the ultrasonic generating unit (sound source) 201, and the other surface, that is, the surface facing the reaction vessel 102. Has a recess in. The shape of the concave portion of the ultrasonic focusing portion (acoustic lens) 206 is preferably a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface, and may be a shape approximated as a part of a side surface of a cylinder. The radius of curvature of the recess, which has a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of a side surface of a cylinder, is a radius of curvature having a center in a substantially central portion in the horizontal direction in the reaction vessel 102, or a reaction. The radius of curvature is centered on the ultrasonic wave generating portion (sound source) 201 side (front side) from the substantially central portion in the horizontal direction in the container 102 and at a position separated from the inner wall surface of the reaction vessel 102.

The vertical movement mechanism that moves the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206 up and down along the vertical direction is a waterproof linear servo 211, and one end contacts the bottom surface of the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206. A cylinder rod 212 that supports (acoustic lens) 206 and a support portion 213 that supports a waterproof linear servo 211 are provided. A control signal (control command) is transmitted from the driver circuit 203 to the waterproof linear servo 211, and power is supplied from a power supply unit (not shown). By controlling the waterproof linear servo 211, the cylinder rod 212 moves up and down in the vertical direction, so that the height of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 is adjusted.
Further, the tilting mechanism that tilts the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206 so that the upper side of the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206 approaches the reaction vessel 102 is in contact with the bottom surface of the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206. This is achieved by shifting the upper end of the cylinder rod 212, which is a portion, back and forth and / or left and right. At the upper end of the cylinder rod 212 at the contact portion, for example, a servo (not shown) or a plurality of wire wires (not shown) are installed inside the cylinder rod 212. If it is a servo, a control signal (control command) is transmitted from the driver circuit 203, and power is supplied from a power supply unit (not shown) to displace the upper end portion of the cylinder rod 212 at the contact portion. On the other hand, if there are a plurality of wire wires, the upper end of the cylinder rod 212 at the contact portion is displaced by winding or sending out the wire wire by, for example, a watertight (waterproof) motor set in the constant temperature bath 114. Let me.
As an example, a configuration in which a linear servo 211, a cylinder rod 212, and a support portion 213 for supporting the linear servo 211 are provided as a vertical movement mechanism for moving the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 up and down along the vertical direction will be described as an example. However, it is not limited to this. For example, a watertight (waterproof) motor, a crank mechanism capable of converting the rotational force of the motor into a linear motion, and a support portion for fixing the watertight (waterproof) motor to the bottom of the constant temperature bath 114 may be provided. ..

As shown in FIG. 2, when a voltage having a phase difference is applied from the driver circuit 203 to each segment 205, the ultrasonic wave generator (sound source) 201 directs the ultrasonic wave (plane wave) toward the lower side of the reaction vessel 102. ) 207 is emitted. The emitted ultrasonic wave (plane wave) 207 propagates in the constant temperature water 202 and is incident on the flat flat flat surface of the ultrasonic focusing portion (acoustic lens) 206. The ultrasonic wave (plane wave) 207 incident on the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206 becomes an ultrasonic wave (spherical wave) 208 along the shape of the concave portion of the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206 and propagates in the constant temperature water 202. Then, the sample and the reagent mixture in the reaction vessel 102 are focused on the focal point 209 near the liquid surface. Due to the action of acoustic radiation pressure, convection 210 is generated in the mixture of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 102, and the mixture of the sample and the reagent is agitated and mixed.
In the state where the ultrasonic waves are focused on the focal point 209 near the liquid surface of the mixture of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 102, the tilting mechanism described above changes the tilt angle of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206. While the above-mentioned vertical movement mechanism moves the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 downward in the vertical direction, the focal point 209 near the liquid surface of the mixture of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 102 is substantially arcuate. Moves down the reaction vessel 102 along the orbit of. As a result, the flow velocity of the convection 210 generated in the mixture of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 102 is increased, and the stirring efficiency of the mixture of the sample and the reagent can be improved. The vertical movement mechanism described above may move the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 up and down in the vertical direction. That is, the focal point 209 near the liquid surface of the mixture of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 102 moves to the lower side of the reaction vessel 102 along the substantially arcuate orbit, and then reacts along the substantially arcuate orbit. It may be moved to the vicinity of the liquid level of the mixture of the sample and the reagent in the container 102.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the driver circuit shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the voltage applied to the segments constituting the sound source and the focusing of ultrasonic waves by the acoustic lens.
As shown in FIG. 3, the driver circuit 203 includes a liquid level calculation unit 231, an ultrasonic irradiation region determination unit 232, an amplitude modulation unit 233, a delay control unit 234, an acoustic lens height / tilt angle determination unit 235, and acoustics. It includes a lens vertical movement control unit 236, a storage unit 237, an input I / F 238, and an output I / F 239, which are connected to each other via an internal bus 240. Here, the liquid level height calculation unit 231, the ultrasonic irradiation region determination unit 232, the amplitude modulation unit 233, the delay control unit 234, the acoustic lens height / tilt angle determination unit 235, and the acoustic lens vertical movement control unit 236 For example, it is realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), a ROM for storing various programs, a RAM for temporarily storing data of a calculation process, a storage device such as an external storage device, and a CPU or the like. The processor reads and executes various programs stored in the ROM, and stores the calculation result, which is the execution result, in the RAM or an external storage device.

The storage unit 237 is set in advance by a user (inspection engineer) via an input device (for example, a mouse or a keyboard) of the console 113, that is, at least the amount of the sample and the reagent dispensed into the reaction vessel 102. , Volume and bottom area of reaction vessel 102, timing of stirring, position information of each segment 205, focal length and initial position information of ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206, ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 and reaction vessel. Information 204 (FIG. 2) including the distance from 102 is stored in a predetermined storage area from the controller 112 via the input I / F 238 and the internal bus 240.

The liquid level height calculation unit 231 accesses the storage unit 237 via the internal bath 240, and the amount of samples and reagents dispensed into the reaction vessel 102 and the volume of the reaction vessel 102 stored in the storage unit 237. And the bottom area are read out, and the height of the liquid level of the mixture of the sample and the reagent, which is the liquid to be stirred, contained in the reaction vessel 102 is calculated. The liquid level height calculation unit 231 transfers the obtained liquid level to the ultrasonic irradiation region determination unit 232, the amplitude modulation unit 233, and the acoustic lens height / tilt angle determination unit 235 via the internal bus 240. To do.

Based on the height of the liquid level transferred from the liquid level height calculation unit 231, the ultrasonic irradiation region determination unit 232 adds the sample and the reagent to the mixture of the sample and the reagent to be agitated in the reaction vessel 102 including the liquid level. Determine the optimal ultrasonic irradiation area. The ultrasonic irradiation region determination unit 232 transfers the determined ultrasonic irradiation region to the delay control unit 234 and the acoustic lens height / tilt angle determination unit 235 via the internal bus 240.

The acoustic lens height / tilt angle determination unit 235 accesses the storage unit 237 via the internal bus 240, and the focal length and initial position information of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 stored in the storage unit 237. Then, the distance between the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 and the reaction vessel 102 is read out. The acoustic lens height / tilt angle determination unit 235 reads out the focal distance and initial position information of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206, and the distance between the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 and the reaction vessel 102. Furthermore, the height of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 is based on the height of the liquid level transferred from the liquid level height calculation unit 231 and the ultrasonic irradiation area transferred from the ultrasonic irradiation area determination unit 232. Determine the radius and tilt angle. Specifically, the acoustic lens height / tilt angle determining unit 235 is along the vertical direction of the cylinder rod 212 constituting the vertical movement mechanism that moves the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 up and down along the vertical direction. The stroke amount is determined, and the control signal (control command) to be output to the waterproof linear servo 211 is determined. Further, the acoustic lens height / tilt angle determining unit 235 determines the tilt angle so that the focal point 209 is positioned near the liquid surface based on the height of the liquid surface and the focal length, and the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206. The control signal (control command) to be output to the tilting mechanism that tilts the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 so that the upper side of the lens approaches the reaction vessel 102 is determined. The acoustic lens height / tilt angle determining unit 235 transfers the determined height and tilt angle of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 to the delay control unit 234 via the internal bus 240.
When the vertical movement mechanism moves the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 downward in the vertical direction while the tilting mechanism changes the tilt angle of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206, the acoustic lens height. The tilt angle determination unit 235 is within a range in which the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 does not come into contact with the outer surface of the reaction container 102 based on the distance between the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 and the reaction vessel 102. Determine the amount of change in the tilt angle so that Further, the acoustic lens height / tilt angle determining unit 235 determines the amount of downward movement of the focal point 209 near the liquid surface of the mixture of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 102. Then, the acoustic lens height / tilt angle determining unit 235 transfers the downward movement amount of the focal point 209, that is, the downward stroke amount along the vertical direction of the cylinder rod 212 to the acoustic lens vertical movement control unit 236. Transfer via 240.

The amplitude modulation unit 233 accesses the storage unit 237 via the internal bus 240, and reads out the volume and bottom area of the reaction vessel 102 stored in the storage unit 237. Then, the amplitude modulation unit 233 increases the amplitude of the sinusoidal voltage applied to the segment 205 based on the volume and bottom area of the read reaction vessel 102 and the height of the liquid level transferred from the liquid level height calculation unit 231. Modulate. This is because when ultrasonic waves propagating in a liquid reach the free liquid surface, the liquid becomes droplets or mist and a force (acoustic radiation pressure is the main factor) that causes the liquid to jump out to the gas side acts. Therefore, the amplitude modulator 233 is, in other words, a sample, depending on the depth of the reaction vessel 102 based on the volume and bottom area of the reaction vessel 102 and the height of the liquid level of the mixture of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 102. The amplitude of the sinusoidal voltage applied to the segment 205 is modulated according to the distance from the height of the liquid level of the mixture of the reagent and the reagent to the opening of the reaction vessel 102. This makes it possible to prevent droplets or mist of the mixture of the sample and the reagent from scattering from the opening of the reaction vessel 102.

The delay control unit 234 accesses the storage unit 237 via the internal bus 240 and reads out the position information of each segment 205 stored in the storage unit 237. The delay control unit 234 includes the read position information of the segment 205, the ultrasonic wave irradiation area transferred from the ultrasonic wave irradiation area determination unit 232, and the ultrasonic wave focusing unit transferred from the acoustic lens height / tilt angle determination unit 235. Based on the height and tilt angle of the (acoustic lens) 206, the segment 205 corresponding to the ultrasonic wave irradiation region is selected from the plurality of segments 205 constituting the ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound wave) 201. The delay control unit 234 includes a flat flat plate-shaped surface (the surface of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 on the side facing the ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound wave) 201) and an ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound wave). A voltage having a delay (having a phase difference) is applied to each of the selected segments 205 via the output I / F 239 so that the phase planes of the ultrasonic waves emitted from 201 are parallel. At this time, the amplitude of the sinusoidal voltage applied to each segment 205 is modulated by the amplitude modulation unit 233.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sinusoidal voltage applied to each segment 205 selected by the delay control unit 234 from the driver circuit 203 according to the timing of stirring stored in the storage unit 237 is the amplitude modulation unit 233. It is a voltage after amplitude modulation by, and has a phase difference (delay) by the delay control unit 234. Ultrasonic waves (plane waves) 207 are emitted downward from each selected segment 205 toward the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206. The phase surface of the emitted ultrasonic wave (plane wave) 207 faces the flat flat plate-like surface (ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound wave) 201) of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 inclined at a predetermined tilt angle. It is parallel to the surface on the side of the sound wave, propagates in the constant temperature water 202, and is incident on the ultrasonic focusing portion (acoustic lens) 206. The ultrasonic wave (plane wave) 207 incident on the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206 becomes an ultrasonic wave (spherical wave) 208 along the shape of the concave portion of the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206 and propagates in the constant temperature water 202. Then, focus on the focusing point 209. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 2, in the biochemical automatic analyzer as the automatic analyzer 100 of this embodiment, the upper end of the ultrasonic generator (sound source) 201 is a mixture of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 102. It is located above the height of the liquid level of.

In this embodiment, the case where the delay control unit 234 is realized by software is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the delay control unit 234 is configured by hardware such as a switch, switches are arranged on the wiring that applies voltage to each segment 205, and each switch is turned on at a predetermined delay time interval. You may.
Further, in this embodiment, the driver circuit 203 is provided with the acoustic lens height / tilt angle determining unit 235 and the acoustic lens vertical movement control unit 236, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these acoustic lens height / tilt angles are not necessarily limited. The determination unit 235 and the acoustic lens vertical movement control unit 236 may be provided in the controller 112.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the stirring efficiency in mixing the reagent and the sample in the reaction vessel, and to provide an automatic analyzer capable of reducing the amount of the reagent and the sample that can be stirred.
Further, according to this embodiment, the liquid level height of the mixture of the sample and the reagent in the stirable reaction vessel can be set to be equal to or lower than the height of the ultrasonic wave generating part (sound source).

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the reaction disk and the stirring mechanism constituting the automatic analyzer of the second embodiment according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the driver circuit shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the voltage applied to the segments constituting the sound source and the focusing of ultrasonic waves by the acoustic lens. In this embodiment, the surface of the ultrasonic focusing portion (acoustic lens) facing the ultrasonic generating portion (sound wave source) has a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of a side surface of a cylinder. It differs from Example 1 in that it has a convex portion and that the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating portion (sound source) is a spherical wave that is concave in the propagation direction. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206a constituting the stirring mechanism 109 of the biochemical automatic analyzer as the automatic analyzer 100 is on the surface facing the reaction vessel 102 with the first embodiment. Similarly, it has a recess having a shape approximated as a part of the spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of the side surface of the cylinder, and a part of the spherical surface on the surface facing the ultrasonic wave generating part (sound source) 201. It has a convex portion having a shape approximated as or as a part of the side surface of the cylinder. The radius of curvature of the convex portion is larger than the radius of curvature of the concave portion.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the delay control unit 234a constituting the driver circuit 203a of the present embodiment accesses the storage unit 237 via the internal bus 240, and each segment 205 stored in the storage unit 237. Read the position information. The delay control unit 234 includes the read position information of the segment 205, the ultrasonic wave irradiation area transferred from the ultrasonic wave irradiation area determination unit 232, and the ultrasonic wave focusing unit transferred from the acoustic lens height / tilt angle determination unit 235. Based on the height and tilt angle of the (acoustic lens) 206a, the segment 205 corresponding to the ultrasonic irradiation region is selected from the plurality of segments 205 constituting the ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound wave) 201. The delay control unit 234a has a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface provided on the surface of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206a facing the ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound wave) 201, or one of the side surfaces of the cylinder. Each of the selected segments 205 has a delay (has a phase difference) so that the convex portion having a shape approximated as a portion and the phase plane of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating portion (sound wave) 201 are matched. A voltage is applied via the output I / F 239. At this time, the amplitude of the sinusoidal voltage applied to each segment 205 is modulated by the amplitude modulation unit 233.

As shown in FIG. 7, the sinusoidal voltage applied to each segment 205 selected by the delay control unit 234a from the driver circuit 203a according to the timing of stirring stored in the storage unit 237 is the amplitude modulation unit 233. This is the voltage after the amplitude modulation according to the above, and has a phase difference (delay) by the delay control unit 234a. An ultrasonic wave (spherical wave) 208 that is concave in the propagation direction is emitted toward the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206a downward from each of the selected segments 205. The phase plane of the emitted ultrasonic wave (spherical wave) 208 is a shape approximated as a part of the spherical surface of the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206 inclined at a predetermined tilt angle or as a part of a side surface of a cylinder. Since it matches the convex portion of the approximate shape (the surface on the side facing the ultrasonic wave generating portion (sound source) 201), 1 at the stage where the ultrasonic wave (spherical wave) 208 is emitted from each selected segment 205. Focusing on the stage is applied. The ultrasonic waves (spherical waves) 208 emitted from each of the selected segments 205 propagate in the constant temperature water 202 and enter the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206. The ultrasonic wave (spherical wave) 208 incident on the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206 becomes an ultrasonic wave (spherical wave) 208 along the shape of the concave portion of the ultrasonic focusing part (acoustic lens) 206 and flows in the constant temperature water 202. It propagates and focuses at the focusing point 209. That is, the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 applies the second-stage focusing. In this way, the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic wave generator (sound source) 201 and focused on the focal point 209 near the liquid surface of the mixture of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 102 are focused in two stages. The focusing efficiency of ultrasonic waves is improved, and the stirring efficiency is improved. Further, it is possible to increase the flow velocity of the convection 201.

In this embodiment, the case where the delay control unit 234a is realized by software is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the delay control unit 234a is configured by hardware such as a switch, switches are arranged on the wiring for applying voltage to each segment 205, and each switch is turned on at a predetermined delay time interval. You may.
Further, in this embodiment, the driver circuit 203 is provided with the acoustic lens height / tilt angle determining unit 235 and the acoustic lens vertical movement control unit 236, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these acoustic lens height / tilt angles are not necessarily limited. The determination unit 235 and the acoustic lens vertical movement control unit 236 may be provided in the controller 112.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the focusing efficiency of ultrasonic waves is improved and the stirring efficiency can be improved as compared with the first embodiment. In addition, the flow velocity of convection can be further increased.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the reaction disk and the stirring mechanism constituting the automatic analyzer of the third embodiment according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the driver circuit shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the voltage applied to the segments constituting the sound source and the focusing of ultrasonic waves by the acoustic lens. In this embodiment, the surface of the ultrasonic focusing portion (acoustic lens) facing the ultrasonic generating portion (sound wave) has a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of a side surface of a cylinder. It differs from Example 1 and Example 2 in that it has a recess and does not have a delay control unit. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206b constituting the stirring mechanism 109 of the biochemical automatic analyzer as the automatic analyzer 100 is on the surface facing the reaction vessel 102 with the first embodiment. Similarly, it has a recess having a shape approximated as a part of the spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of the side surface of the cylinder, and a part of the spherical surface on the surface facing the ultrasonic wave generating part (sound source) 201. It has a recess having a shape approximated as or as part of the side surface of the cylinder. The radius of curvature of the concave portion of the surface facing the ultrasonic wave generating portion (sound source) 201 201 is larger than the radius of curvature of the concave portion of the surface facing the reaction vessel 102.

As shown in FIG. 9, the driver circuit 203b of this embodiment does not have a delay control unit. The amplitude modulation unit 233 constituting the driver circuit 203b accesses the storage unit 237 via the internal bus 240, and reads out the volume and bottom area of the reaction vessel 102 stored in the storage unit 237. Then, the amplitude modulation unit 233 increases the amplitude of the sinusoidal voltage applied to the segment 205 based on the volume and bottom area of the read reaction vessel 102 and the height of the liquid level transferred from the liquid level height calculation unit 231. Modulate. Then, the amplitude modulation unit 233 applies an amplitude-modulated sinusoidal voltage to each segment 205 corresponding to the ultrasonic wave irradiation region determined by the ultrasonic wave irradiation region determination unit 232 via the output I / F 239. Apply in phase.

As shown in FIG. 10, when a sinusoidal voltage whose amplitude is modulated is applied to each segment 205 in the same phase according to the timing of stirring stored in the storage unit 237, each segment 205 is ultrasonically focused. Ultrasonic waves (plane waves) 207 are emitted toward the unit (acoustic lens) 206b. The ultrasonic waves (plane waves) 207 emitted from each segment 205 propagate in the constant temperature water 202 and reach the ultrasonic focusing portion (acoustic lens) 206b, and the ultrasonic waves (spherical waves) become convex in the propagation direction. ) A phenomenon that changes to 208 may occur. This is as if a point sound source or macroscopic when a sinusoidal voltage of the same phase is applied to the ultrasonic wave generator (sound source) 201 having a structure in which segments 205 that can be driven independently are arranged in an array. This is because it is equivalent to the case where ultrasonic waves are emitted from one segment. Even in such a case, the sound wave focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206b of the present embodiment has a shape or a cylinder approximated as a part of a spherical surface on the surface facing the ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound wave) 201. Since it has a concave portion having a shape approximated as a part of the side surface, the ultrasonic wave (spherical wave) 208 which is convex in the propagation direction and the concave portion of the surface facing the ultrasonic wave generating portion (sound source) 201 are aligned. To do. Then, the ultrasonic wave (spherical wave) 208 incident on the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206b is super along the shape of the concave portion on the surface of the ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens) 206 facing the reaction vessel 102. It becomes a sound wave (spherical wave) 208, propagates in the constant temperature water 202, and focuses at the focusing point 209.

In this embodiment, the ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound source) 201 is composed of a plurality of segments 205, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the ultrasonic wave generating unit (sound source) 201 may be used as a point sound source.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, delay control is not required, so that the configuration of the driver circuit can be simplified as compared with the first embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and includes various modifications. In addition, the above-described embodiment has been described in detail in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to the one including all the described configurations.

100 ... Automatic analyzer 101 ... Reaction disk 102 ... Reaction vessel 103 ... Sample disk 104 ... Sample cup 105 ... Reagent bottle 106 ... Reagent disk 107 ... Sample dispensing mechanism 108 ... Reagent dispensing mechanism 109 ... Stirring mechanism 110 ... Photometric mechanism 111 ... Cleaning mechanism 112 ... Controller 113 ... Console 114 ... Constant temperature bath 201 ... Ultrasonic generator (sound source)
202 ... Constant temperature water 203, 203a, 203b ... Driver circuit 204 ... Information 205 ... Segments 206, 206a, 206b ... Ultrasonic focusing unit (acoustic lens)
207 ... Ultrasonic wave (plane wave)
208 ... Ultrasonic wave (spherical wave)
209 ... Focus 210 ... Convection 211 ... Linear servo 212 ... Cylinder rod 213 ... Support unit 231 ... Liquid level height calculation unit 232 ... Ultrasonic irradiation area determination unit 233 ... Amplitude modulation unit 234, 234a ... Delay control unit 235 ... Acoustic lens Height / tilt angle determination unit 236 ... Acoustic lens vertical movement control unit 237 ... Storage unit 238 ... Input I / F
239 ... Output I / F
240 ... Internal bus

Claims (13)

A reaction vessel capable of containing dispensed samples and reagents,
An array of ultrasonic wave generators arranged on the side of the reaction vessel,
An acoustic lens which is arranged between the ultrasonic wave generating unit and the reaction vessel and which focuses the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating unit at a desired position of a mixture of a sample and a reagent in the reaction vessel is provided. ,
The acoustic lens changes the focusing point of ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating unit in the reaction vessel.
A vertical movement mechanism for moving the acoustic lens up and down with respect to the reaction vessel is provided .
An automatic analyzer characterized in that a mixture of a sample and a reagent is agitated while the acoustic lens is moved in the vertical direction by the vertical movement mechanism . In the automatic analyzer according to claim 1,
The vertical movement mechanism is characterized in that the acoustic lens is moved downward in the vertical direction so as to move the focusing point of ultrasonic waves downward in the vicinity of the liquid surface of the mixture of the sample and the reagent contained in the reaction vessel. Automatic analyzer. In the automatic analyzer according to claim 2,
A tilting mechanism for tilting the acoustic lens toward the reaction vessel at a predetermined angle is provided.
The tilting mechanism tilts the upper side of the acoustic lens so as to approach the side surface of the reaction vessel, thereby moving the focusing point of the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating portion in the reaction vessel downward. An automatic analyzer featuring. In the automatic analyzer according to claim 3,
The acoustic lens has a recess on the surface facing the reaction vessel having a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of a side surface of a cylinder, and faces the ultrasonic generating portion. An automatic analyzer characterized by a flat surface on the side of the surface. In the automatic analyzer according to claim 3,
The acoustic lens has a recess on the surface facing the reaction vessel having a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of a side surface of a cylinder, and faces the ultrasonic wave generating portion. An automatic analyzer characterized in that the surface on the side of the cylinder has a convex portion having a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of a side surface of a cylinder. In the automatic analyzer according to claim 3,
The acoustic lens has a recess on the surface facing the reaction vessel having a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of a side surface of a cylinder, and faces the ultrasonic wave generating portion. An automatic analyzer characterized in that the surface on the side of the cylinder has a recess having a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of a side surface of a cylinder. In the automatic analyzer according to claim 5,
An automatic analyzer characterized in that the radius of curvature of the convex portion is larger than the radius of curvature of the concave portion. In the automatic analyzer according to claim 6,
An automatic analyzer characterized in that the radius of curvature of the concave portion of the surface facing the ultrasonic wave generating portion is larger than the radius of curvature of the concave portion of the surface facing the reaction vessel. The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 4 to 6.
The radius of curvature of the concave portion of the surface facing the reaction vessel is the ultrasonic wave generating portion side from the substantially central portion in the horizontal direction of the reaction vessel or the substantially central portion in the horizontal direction of the reaction vessel, and is the inner wall surface of the reaction vessel. An automatic analyzer characterized by having a center at a position separated from the center. In the automatic analyzer according to claim 9,
The ultrasonic wave generator
It has one piezoelectric element extending in the axial direction of the reaction vessel, and a plurality of electrodes arranged in an array on the surface of the piezoelectric element opposite to the acoustic lens, or
An automatic analyzer characterized by having a plurality of segments including piezoelectric elements and electrodes arranged in an array in the axial direction of the reaction vessel. In the automatic analyzer according to claim 10,
An automatic analysis characterized in that a sinusoidal voltage having a delay is applied to each electrode so that the flat surface of the acoustic lens and the phase surface of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave generating portion are parallel to each other. apparatus. In the automatic analyzer according to claim 10,
A convex portion having a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of a side surface of a cylinder on a surface facing the ultrasonic generating portion, and ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic generating portion. An automatic analyzer characterized in that a sinusoidal voltage having a delay is applied to each electrode so that the phase planes of the above are matched. In the automatic analyzer according to claim 10,
The acoustic lens has a recess on the surface facing the reaction vessel having a shape approximated as a part of a spherical surface or a shape approximated as a part of a side surface of a cylinder, and faces the ultrasonic wave generating portion. Has a recess on the side surface that has a shape approximated as part of a spherical surface or a shape approximated as part of the side surface of a cylinder.
An automatic analyzer characterized in that a sinusoidal voltage is applied to each electrode in the same phase.

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