JPS6035624B2 - Multi-sample multi-item automatic chemical analyzer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a chemical analysis device that adds a reagent to a sample liquid such as serum collected from a subject and measures the reaction results;
In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus that dispenses a large number of specimen samples into a large number of reaction containers, adds reagents to each of these, and automatically performs chemical analysis of multiple samples and multiple items.

When performing chemical analysis of multiple samples and multiple items, speedy processing is particularly required.

The present invention aims to provide a multi-analyte, multi-item automatic chemical analyzer that satisfies this requirement. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention, and is a transparent flat plate formed by integrally molding concave grooves arranged in a grid pattern and stacked and stored in a sheet feeding device 1. The sheet 2 is sent one by one to the right in the figure by the transport means 3.

This transfer means 3 includes two rollers 3', a chain 3'' wound between the rollers, and driving means for these (not shown).
The sheet is loaded on both ends of the chain in the direction of travel and transported. As shown in the perspective view for explaining the reaction sheet in FIG.
are sheets of transparent material such as vinyl chloride material arranged in approximately IQ rows in the direction of conveyance, and at both ends of this sheet in the direction of travel are conveyor perforators on which the claws on the chain meet. Oration 5 is provided. This concave portion has the shape shown in Figure 3 and constitutes a reaction vessel, and its volume is approximately 70 mm.
0 to 1300 microliters. Each sample liquid is dispensed into each reaction container 4, and the same sample is dispensed into one row in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sheet 2 (arrow direction). The sample liquid is dispensed into the sample container 7 in the sample rack 6 collected from the subject in Fig. 1.
The sample is sucked up by a suction/spool 8 and dispensed through a cock-type sample dispenser 9. In this case, the suction nozzle 8 is inserted into the sample container 7 through the air cylinder 10', and the sample is sucked up and separated by the suction pin 12 which is made negative pressure by the vacuum pump 11 via the cock-type dispenser 9. The liquid is measured and dispensed from the dispensing/dispensing device 9' of the chuangki 9. Note that this dispensing nozzle 9' is disposed corresponding to approximately three concave eagles in the direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction. 1
3 is a reagent tank, 14 is a reagent dispenser, and the reagent in the dispenser 14 is also dispensed into the reaction vessel 4 from the dispensing nozzle 9' of the dispenser 9 described above.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a hot water circulation device which supplies hot water at a predetermined temperature to a heater provided below and behind the reaction sheet 2 being transferred by the transfer means 3 and along the transfer direction through a pipe 15'. , to maintain the sample temperature in each reaction vessel 4 at a predetermined constant temperature.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a constant overflow tank, which is composed of a base frame portion 16' and a cover 16'' that can be opened and closed provided on the top of the base frame portion 16'.

As is clear from the figure, this cover 16'' almost entirely surrounds the reaction sheet 2, the divider 19, the heater plate, the transfer means 3, etc. that are being transferred, and the inside is covered by the electric heater 17 and the blower 18. The heated air circulates and quickly heats up the sample along with the heater, promoting the reaction and maintaining the entire temperature at a uniform temperature. The sheet is configured to be able to pass through openings 19 and 20 provided between the cover 16'' and the cover 16''. Reference numeral 21 denotes a second reagent, which is added to the reaction solution via the separator 22 and its nozzle 22' when necessary, such as in the rate method.

23 is a side light means, and 24 is its light source, which corresponds to the moving path of each concave portion (reaction vessel) of the sheet and has an optical path that crosses the path below the parenthesized path, as shown in FIG. The light guided from the light source 24 is horizontally refracted by the total reflection prism 25, passes through the reaction container 4 in the movement path of the recessed part, returns downward again, and returns to the half mirror 2.
6 toward the photocell 27, and the transmittance of the reaction liquid 4' is measured spectroscopically using light of different wavelengths by color filters 28 disposed in front of each.

The output of each photocell is separately processed and output, but the explanation will be omitted here. In this case, since the reaction sheet 2 is transparent, the reaction container 4 can be used as it is as a side light cell. 29 is the lens, and 30 is the base of these optical systems.

The reaction sheet 2 measured by these optical systems is further transferred to the right in the figure and sent from the discharge port 20 of the overflow tank 16 to an external storage device 31 for discharge.

For convenience of explanation, FIG. 1 shows that it is placed outside the fence heating tank 16, but in reality, it is roughly shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the transfer means includes a heater 17 and a blower 18 that surround almost the entirety of the reagent separation unit 22, spotlight means 23, and the transfer means 3, and further circulate the internal air to make the temperature uniform above and below. It is provided so that air can circulate around it. Further, a heating block (heater) M to which hot water at a predetermined temperature is supplied from a constant temperature water circulation device 15 via a pipe 15' is provided close to the sheet 2 to be transferred. As shown in the cross-sectional explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 7, this heating block has grooves 32 with a cross-sectional shape similar to the cross section of the sheet 2 in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the reaction liquid container 4. This makes the sheet more properly guided and improves the heat transfer to the reaction liquid container to quickly raise the temperature of the reaction liquid. This temperature raising effect is further enhanced by the action of the blower. 3
3 is a hot water passage through which hot water supplied from the hot water circulation device 15 via a pipe 15' flows.

Note that 34 is a claw on the chain 30 adjacent to the perforation 5 of the sheet 2.

The operation of the above configuration will be briefly explained below.
When the sample to be analyzed is introduced into the sample container 7 in the sample rack 6, the nozzle 8 is inserted into the sample container 7 by the operation of the air cylinder 10, and the sample is sucked through the vacuum pump 11 and the suction bottle 12. Ru. On the other hand, from among a large number of sheets stacked and stored in the sheet supply device 1, only the lowest sheet 2 is transferred by the transfer means 3 from the closed portion 19 of the overflow tank to below the dispenser 9.

Then, when the row of reaction vessels arranged in the sheet transport direction comes directly under the nozzle of the dispenser 9, the cock-type divider 9 is operated, and the sample is poured into each of the 30 reaction vessels 4 through the nozzle 9'.
are dispensed at the same time. Further, before or after this operation, if necessary, a reagent from the reagent tank 13 is also dispensed from the /spool 9' via the reagent dispenser 14. This separation operation is performed every time the reaction vessel row perpendicular to the sheet transport direction is positioned below the nozzle 9', that is, while the sheet is moved intermittently, and includes a series of these operations. , although this spectrometer is equipped with a control device including a computer, these control devices are not the gist of this application, so
The explanation here will be omitted.

As described above, the sheets into which the sample etc. have been dispensed are transferred one after another (on the other hand, another new sheet is being supplied from the opening 19), and during this process the sheets are heated from below by a heater. go.

On the other hand, in the constant temperature bath 16, hot air is circulated by a blower, and the heater is provided with a hot water circulation device 15.
As explained above, the sheet, i.e., the reaction vessel, is transferred along the groove similar to the shape of the reaction vessel, so that the mixed reaction liquid of the sample and reagent smoothly reaches the predetermined temperature. It is maintained and the reaction is promoted. Further, if necessary, a reaction liquid is added during this process through the divider 22 and nozzle 22'. Also nozzle 22″
is an air nozzle used to sufficiently mix samples, reagents, etc. in the reaction container. Note that 35 is an air source for driving the air cylinder 10, the demixers 14 and 22, and for jetting and mixing air from the nozzle 22'', and also serves as a driving source for the sheet feeding device. be.

The degree of reaction of the reaction liquid, which is kept at temperature as described above and whose reaction has been sufficiently promoted, is optically measured by a side light means arranged along the groove of the sheet transport path.

As described in detail above, the present invention stores a stack of sheets in which reaction containers for dispensing sample liquids such as serum obtained from a large number of specimens are arranged, and quickly separates and supplies the reaction vessels.
A multi-analyte, multi-item automatic chemical analyzer that dispenses sample solutions and reagents, quickly maintains them at a predetermined reaction temperature, spectroscopically measures them, and then discharges the used sheets in an orderly and prompt manner. It is possible to provide

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reaction sheet, FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of a reaction liquid container, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a measuring section. FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 are explanatory diagrams of the warming means, respectively. 1... Reaction sheet supply device, 2... Reaction sheet, 3
...Transfer means, 4...Reaction container, 9...
...Dispenser, 14...Reagent dispenser, 16...
....temperature tank, 23...detector, 16''...cover, 18...floor, 32...groove, day...
...Heating block. Figure 3 O Figure 4 Spear' Figure O 2 Figure S Figure Saifu Figures, 7 Figures

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. While horizontally transporting a sheet of transparent material with a large number of concave cavities arranged in a grid pattern one by one in a thermostatic chamber, the sample/reagent is dispensed into the concave cavities of this sheet, In a device designed to measure the absorbance of the reaction liquid (mixed reaction liquid with sample/reagent) in each concave part, the constant temperature bath covers almost the entire portion of the pipetting and measuring portion of the sample, etc., and the transfer means. It has a cover that can be opened and closed to surround it, a heating block that is provided close to the bottom of the sheet to be transferred, and a blower that equalizes the internal air temperature. A multi-analyte, multi-item automatic chemical analyzer characterized in that a groove having a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction is bored along the sheet transport direction.