JPH0127391B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer that automatically performs analysis of a plurality of items on a plurality of samples.

(Prior Art) In order to improve the analysis efficiency in this type of automatic chemical analyzer, it is sufficient to perform analysis of multiple items in a short time. As an extremely rational system for performing multiple analysis in a short period of time, multiple step-driven reaction lines are installed, and multiple reaction lines are used to analyze multiple items of the same sample in parallel. There is a system to do it.

Conventionally, in this type of system, a sample is sucked up from a sampler and discharged in a predetermined amount into a dilution tank at a fixed location, and then a predetermined amount of diluent such as physiological saline is injected into this dilution tank. The diluted sample in the dilution tank is sucked up and discharged in fixed amounts into the analytical reaction tubes of each reaction line, thereby transferring the diluted sample into the analytical reaction tubes of each reaction line. After that, the diluted sample in the analytical reaction tube of each reaction line was subjected to analysis. Therefore, the positions at which diluted samples are dispensed into the analysis reaction tubes of each reaction line are significantly restricted by the fixed dilution tanks. This has been a major factor in reducing the efficiency of analysis and measurement, such as not allowing the reaction line to proceed until the dispensing of the diluted sample and washing of the dispensing system are completed.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional system, dilution is performed in a fixedly arranged dilution tank, so the position at which the diluted sample is dispensed into the analytical reaction tube of each reaction line is fixed. As a result, the reaction line cannot proceed until the dispensing of the diluted sample and washing of the dispensing system are completed, which poses a major problem in the efficiency of analysis and measurement.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the restriction on the dispensing position of the diluted sample and to enable the dispensing of the diluted sample at any position on the analysis line consisting of the reaction tube for analysis, thereby improving the efficiency of analysis and measurement. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic chemical analyzer.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The automatic chemical analyzer according to the present invention includes a dilution line in which dilution reaction tubes used for diluting a sample and containing the diluted sample are arranged. , a multi-channel analysis line consisting of an array of analytical reaction tubes that contain reaction liquids and are used for predetermined measurement and analysis, and these dilution lines and analysis lines that are moved synchronously while maintaining a fixed positional relationship. and a drive means for driving the diluted sample in the dilution reaction tube of the dilution line at a point set as desired in relation to the operation of this drive means. It is characterized by comprising a means for dispensing into a reaction tube for analysis.

(Function) In the present invention described above, since the dilution line is provided that maintains a constant positional relationship with the analysis line and moves synchronously, the dispensing position of the diluted sample with respect to the analysis line is not restricted, and the required position can be adjusted. The diluted sample can be dispensed at any desired number of locations. Therefore, efficient analytical measurements can be performed.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, 1 is a reaction line, and this reaction line 1 has the number of analysis channels n.
For example, a large number (m) of reaction tube rows each consisting of n+1 reaction tubes (bottomed cylindrical containers) are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the reaction tube row to form an endless chain conveyor. . In this reaction line 1, the reaction tube arrays L ₁ , L ₂ ,...L _n are reaction tubes T ₁₁ to _{T 1o+1} , T ₂₁ to _{T 2o+1} ,..., T _n1 , respectively.
〜T _no+1 , each reaction tube T ₁₁ 〜T _1o+1 , T ₂₁ 〜
T _2o+1 ,..., T _n1 ~T _no+1 are dilution reaction tubes T ₁₁ ,
T ₂₁ ,..., T _n1 and analytical reaction tube T ₁₂ ~ _{T 1o+1} , T ₂₂ ~
It is distinguished into T _2o+1 ,..., T _n2 ~ _{T no+1} . That is, the dilution line 1a is formed by the dilution reaction tubes T ₁₁ , T ₂₁ , ..., T _n1 , and the analysis reaction tubes T ₁₂ -
An analysis line 1b is formed by T _1o+1 , T ₂₂ to _{T 2o+1} , ..., T _n2 to _{T no+1} . Therefore, the reaction line 1 is composed of a dilution line 1a and an analysis line 1b that operate in parallel. The reaction line 1 is intermittently driven in the direction of arrow M in the figure at pitches corresponding to the intervals between the reaction tube rows L ₁ , L ₂ , . . . . 2 is a first dispensing mechanism, and this first dispensing mechanism 2 sucks the sample liquid from the sampler S through the nozzle 22 using the pump device 21, and transfers it to the dilution reaction tube T ₁₁ of the dilution line 1a. , T ₂₁ , ... and further diluted liquid D such as physiological saline.
is injected and diluted, and then washed in a washing tank P. This series of operations by the first dispensing mechanism 2 is repeated in synchronization with the intermittent operations of the reaction line 1. The sampler S has a plurality of containers containing sample liquid, and is located at the suction position by the first dispensing mechanism 2.
Next, the containers containing the sample liquid to be analyzed are driven as appropriate so that they are successively positioned. 3 is a second dispensing mechanism, and this dispensing mechanism 3 has two nozzles 31 and 3 which are arranged along the moving direction M of the reaction line 1 and have mutually independent suction and discharge systems.
2, and a pump device 38 for inhaling and discharging through the nozzles 31 and 32, respectively. This second dispensing mechanism 3 uses the pump device 33 to make one unit of operation correspond to two steps of intermittent operation of the reaction line 1, and uses the cleaning liquid W in the first step to pump the cleaning tank P. After washing nozzles 31 and 32 _with
and _T11 , and in a second step transfer it to two rows of analytical reaction tubes _T12 to T1n.
+1 and T ₂₂ to _{T 2o+1} , respectively. 4 and 5 inject reagents into the necessary analytical reaction tubes T ₁₂ to _{T 1o+1} , T ₂₂ to _{T 2o+1} , etc. that constitute the analysis line 1b according to the analysis item, method, etc. This is a nozzle for 6 are analytical reaction tubes T ₁₂ to _{T 1o+1} , T ₂₂ to _{T 2o+1} , which constitute the analysis line 1b.
This is a nozzle for simultaneously sucking up the contents of one row and sending it to analyzer A. In addition, 7 is a constant temperature chamber filled with heat transfer liquid to immerse the reaction tubes T ₁₁ to T _1o+1 , T ₂₁ to T _2o+1 , ... to maintain the temperature of the sample liquid, etc. in the reaction tubes at a required constant temperature. It's a tank. 8 is the reaction tube T ₁₁ ~
This is a cleaning processing section for cleaning processing of T _1o+1 , T ₂₁ to _{T 2o+1} , . This cleaning processing section 8 includes a first cleaning nozzle 81 that spouts city water, and a second cleaning nozzle 81 that spouts pure water.
The cleaning nozzle 82 and the drying nozzle 83 that eject hot air for drying are configured.

Next, the operation in such a configuration will be explained.

The reaction line 1 is driven intermittently, for example, by one step every second, with the intervals between the reaction tube rows L ₁ , L ₂ , . . . L _n being one pitch.

Now, move one step and move to the first position as shown in Figure 3 a.
It is assumed that the reaction tube array _L1 corresponds to the operating position of the dispensing mechanism 2. At this time, the reaction tube rows L _n-1 and L _n correspond to the operating positions ₁ and ₂ (corresponding to the positions of the nozzles 31 and 32, respectively) of the second dispensing mechanism 3, respectively. In this state, the first dispensing mechanism 2 sucks up a predetermined amount of sample liquid from the sampler S and transfers it to the reaction tube array.
A predetermined amount _of diluent D is injected into the dilution reaction tube _T11 of _L1 , and diluted by jet stirring using the injection force. At this time, the dilution reaction tube T _n1 of the front row L _n located at the operation position ₂ corresponding to the nozzle 32 of the second dispensing mechanism 3 contains the reagent solution injected and diluted in the same manner as described above in the previous operation. is accommodated. After the first dispensing mechanism 2 performs the above-mentioned injection dilution, the nozzle 22 is moved to the next step until the reaction line 1 is stopped.
etc. are washed in the washing tank P. (The second
The operation of the dispensing mechanism 3 will be clarified later, so the explanation will be omitted here. ) Next, when the reaction line 1 moves one step, the reaction tube array L ₂ moves to the first dispensing mechanism 2 as shown in Fig. 3b.
corresponds to the operating position. In this state, the first dispensing mechanism 2 injects and dilutes the sample liquid into the dilution reaction tube _T21 as described above. At this time, the reaction tube rows L _n and L ₁ correspond to the operating positions ₁ and ₂ of the nozzles 31 and 32 of the second dispensing mechanism 3, respectively. While the first dispensing mechanism 2 is performing the above operations, the second dispensing mechanism 3 cleans the nozzles 31, 32, etc. using the cleaning liquid W and the cleaning tank P, and then
The contents of the dilution reaction tubes T _n1 and T ₁₁ of the reaction tube arrays L _n and L ₁ located at operating positions ₁ and ₂ are transferred to nozzle 3, respectively.
1 and 32 separately.

When the reaction line 1 further moves _one step, _as shown in _FIG . Columns L ₁ and L ₂ correspond to each other. Here again, the first dispensing mechanism 2 injects and dilutes the sample liquid into the dilution reaction tube _T31 in the same manner as described above. During this time, the second dispensing mechanism 3 is connected to the dilution reaction tubes Tn1 _{and Tn1} , respectively, in the previous step.
The sample liquid (diluted) sucked up from T ₁₁ is passed through nozzles 31 and 32 to analysis reaction tubes _{T 12 ,} T ₂₂ ; T ₁₃ , _{T 23} ;...; T _1o+1 ,
Inject in scheduled doses sequentially at T _2o+1 . Therefore,
The contents of the dilution reaction tubes in the dilution line 1a are dispensed into the analysis reaction tubes in the reaction tube rows shifted one row at a time in the analysis line 1b.

Analytical reaction tube T ₁₂ where the dispensing was performed in this way
Reagents are injected into the sample liquid in T _1o , T ₂₂ to _{T 2o} at locations corresponding to the required reaction time for the relevant analysis item using nozzles 4, 5, etc., and all items are sucked up at once by nozzle 6. Each item is sent to analyzer A and analyzed by the analysis system for each item.
The empty reaction tube is subjected to processing such as washing and drying in the washing processing section 8 using washing nozzles 81, 82, drying nozzle 83, etc. The reaction tube moving between at least the operating position of the first dispensing mechanism 2 and the nozzle 6 position is immersed in a constant temperature bath 7 and is constant temperature controlled to a predetermined temperature.

In this way, since the dilution line 1a is provided in correspondence with the analysis line 1b and is linked to the analysis line 1b, the sample is diluted in the reaction tube of the dilution line 1a, and the dilution tube containing the diluted sample is Line 1a moves in synchronization with analysis line 1b. For this reason, the analysis line 1b of the diluted sample
Dispensing is not limited to one specific location where dilution is performed, but is performed at appropriate locations on the analysis line 1b, in this case two locations. Therefore, the time associated with dispensing diluted samples can be reduced and the efficiency of analytical measurements can also be improved.

Note that in the above, diluted samples are simultaneously dispensed from the dilution line to the analysis line in two rows, and the operation of the diluted sample dispensing system, that is, the dilution from the dilution line, is performed in two steps of moving the analysis line. All the operations of aspirating the sample, discharging the diluted sample to the analysis line, and cleaning the dispensing system were performed, but since the dilution line and analysis line are synchronously linked, dispensing the diluted sample is It is possible to perform this at multiple locations at a given location on the analysis line. Further, the diluted sample may be dispensed line by line at required locations on the analysis line. In this case as well, the dispensing location can be appropriately set without any restrictions, so dispensing efficiency can be improved.

Furthermore, the arrangement and configuration of the dilution line and analysis line are not limited to the above embodiments. In short, it is sufficient that there is a dilution line and that the dilution line and the analysis line maintain a fixed positional relationship and move synchronously.

In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without changing the gist thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, there is no restriction on the dispensing position of the diluted sample, and the diluted sample can be dispensed at a desired position on the analysis line consisting of the reaction tube for analysis. It is possible to provide an automatic chemical analyzer that can improve efficiency.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing the system configuration in an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of main parts from the information side for explaining the configuration of the embodiment, and Figs. c is a diagram for explaining the operation of the same embodiment. 1... Reaction line, L ₁ ~ L _n ... Reaction tube row, T ₁₁
~T _no+1 ...Reaction tube, 1a...Dilution line, T ₁₁
~T _n1 ...Reaction tube for dilution, 1b...Analysis line,
T ₁₂ 〜T _1o+1 , T ₂₂ 〜T _2o+1 ,…, T _n2 〜T _no+1 ……
Analysis reaction tube, 2...first dispensing mechanism, 3...second dispensing mechanism, 4, 5...(dispensing) nozzle, 6
...(Analysis) nozzle, 7... Constant temperature bath, 8... Cleaning processing section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an automatic chemical analyzer for automatically measuring and analyzing multiple items on multiple samples,
A dilution line in which dilution reaction tubes used for diluting a sample and containing the diluted sample are arranged, and an analysis reaction tube in which a reaction liquid is contained and used for predetermined measurement and analysis are arranged. A multi-channel analysis line, a drive means for driving these dilution lines and analysis lines to maintain a fixed positional relationship and move synchronously, and settings related to the operation of this drive means as desired. and means for dispensing the diluted sample in the dilution reaction tube of the dilution line to the analysis reaction tubes of the corresponding plurality of channels of the analysis line.