JPH021266B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cell cleaning device for an automatic biochemical analyzer.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, in a cell cleaning device for a discrete automatic biochemical analyzer, a reaction vessel (hereinafter referred to as an optical cell) 1 is attached to a drive member 2 such as a chain, and is rotated endlessly. In the position where the optical cell 1 was inverted and stood upside down, the cleaning water in the tank 3 was supplied to the optical cell 1 by a pump P etc. for cleaning.

However, this type of cell cleaning device is of an endless type, so the cleaning device is fixed, the reaction line is long, and multiple optical cells are required.
In addition, there were drawbacks such as the large size of the device. or,
Since cleaning cannot be performed until the optical cell reaches a predetermined cleaning position, there is also the problem that the processing speed from analysis to cleaning is limited.

The present invention was made based on the above circumstances, and it is possible to efficiently wash and dry a plurality of optical cells at the same time, and to provide a highly reliable product at a low cost with an extremely simple structure. The object of the present invention is to provide a cell cleaning device for an automatic biochemical analyzer that can be used in a biochemical analysis device.

This invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the cell cleaning device in the automatic biochemical analyzer of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the state of the cell during sample dispensing and measurement, and Fig. 4 is FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the state of the cell during cleaning and drying. In each figure, 10 is a cell cleaning device, and this cell cleaning device 10 forms a plurality of optical cells 11 in at least one row at equal intervals.
Further, on both sides 11A and 11B in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the optical cells 11, a support 12 is provided with a transparent material having excellent heat resistance and chemical resistance, such as a synthetic resin plate, as a light-transmitting surface. ing. Each optical cell 11 of the support body 12 communicates with each other through a Z-shaped communication path 13 that communicates between the upper end and the lower end. Also, a cell 11a at one end of the optical cell 11
is a tank 15 that stores waste liquid via a communication pipe 14;
and an optical cell 11b at the other end.
A communicating tube 17 having a pulp 16 at its end communicates with it. This pipe 16 is connected to a pump 19 via a communication pipe 18a, and this pump 19 is connected to a tank 20 containing cleaning water via a communication pipe 18b.
is connected to. The valve 16 has a communication pipe 1
A pump 21 for supplying compressed air is connected through the valve 8c, and cleaning water or compressed air is alternately supplied into the optical cell 11 by switching the valve 16. A lid member 23 having through holes 22 at positions corresponding to the respective optical cells 11 is disposed on the upper part of the support body 12 so as to be able to reciprocate in the directions of arrows A and A'. This lid member 23
The reciprocating motion is performed by a suitable drive member such as a rack and pinion.
Both sides 11 of each optical cell 11 of the support 12
A light source 24 and a detector 25 are arranged facing each other at A and 11B. Further, the support 12 is kept at a constant temperature using a constant temperature block (not shown) or the like.

In addition, although the above-mentioned example shows the case where four optical cells 11 are provided on the support 12, the number is not limited to this, and the number may be set as appropriate depending on the biochemical automatic analyzer used. Needless to say, it can be done.

Next, the operation of the above device will be explained.

During sample dispensing and photometry, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper opening of each optical cell 11 of the support 12 and the through hole 22 of the lid member 23 are aligned, and each sample is sprayed from above by a nozzle (not shown). optical cell 11
Next, a reagent is dispensed into each optical cell 11 from a nozzle (not shown) and a reaction starts, and a light source 24 and a detector 25 are disposed opposite each other on both sides of each optical cell 11. It will be measured by

After the measurement of each optical cell 11 on the support 12 is completed, a driving member (not shown) is operated to move the support 12.
The cover member 23 disposed reciprocally on the upper part of the support body 12 is moved in the direction of arrow A to position each through hole 22 of the cover member 23 between the optical cells 11 of the support body 12. The upper opening of each optical cell 11 is closed (the state shown in FIG. 4). At the same time as the upper opening of each optical cell 11 is closed, the valve 16 is opened to the pump 19 side.
9 operates to discharge the reaction-completed liquid in each optical cell 11 of the support body 12 into the tank 15 that stores the waste liquid through the communication pipe 17, and supplies the cleaning liquid into each optical cell 11. At this time, the tank 2 containing the cleaning water
0 from inside the communication pipes 18a, 18b and the pump 19
The cleaning water sucked through the optical cell 11b enters the first optical cell 11b of the support 12, and the cleaning water that enters the optical cell 11b flows between the upper and lower ends provided between the optical cells 11. The liquid is sequentially supplied into each optical cell 11 through a communicating Z-shaped communication path 13, and is discharged into a tank 15 that stores waste liquid via a communication pipe 17 by the last optical cell 11a.

After the inside of each optical cell 11 of the support body 12 is sufficiently cleaned, the operation of the pump 19 is stopped and the valve 16 is connected to the pump 21 side.
1 operates, and compressed air is supplied into each optical cell 11 of the support body 12 via the communication pipe 18c and the communication pipe 17. As a result, the residual water in each optical cell 11 is sequentially removed, and the removed residual water is discharged into the tank 15 via the communication pipe 14, and in this way, the inside of each optical cell 11 is dried. . When each optical cell 11 is dried, the pump 21 is stopped and the lid member 23 disposed on the upper part of the support body 12 is moved via the drive member, and each through hole 22 of this lid member 23 is inserted into the support body 12. It is aligned with the upper opening of each optical cell 11 (the state shown in FIG. 3).

Each optical cell 1 cleaned and dried in this way
1 will wait for the next measurement.

It should be noted that the above embodiment is merely an example, and it goes without saying that each member can be replaced with another member having the same function. Also, support 1
Each optical cell 11 of 2 is located on both sides 11 of the support 12.
Although a light transmitting material such as a transparent synthetic resin material is attached to A and 11B, the present invention is not limited to this. You may form it.

Since this invention is configured as described above, multiple optical cells can be efficiently washed and dried simultaneously using only a pump, and measurements can be made without moving the optical cells, making the entire device smaller. can do. Further, since cleaning can be performed without moving between the measurement position and the cleaning position, processing speed can be increased. Moreover, it has excellent effects such as being able to supply a highly reliable product at a low cost with an extremely simple structure.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional cell cleaning device, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the cell washing device in an automatic biochemical analyzer of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a sample dispensing FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the optical cell during measurement, and FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the optical cell during cleaning and drying. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Reaction container, 2... Drive member, 3... Tank, 10... Cell cleaning device, 11... Optical cell,
11A, 11B... Side part, 12... Support body, 13
...Communication path, 14, 17, 18a, 18b, 18
c...Communication pipe, 15, 20...Tank, 16...
Valve, 19, 21... pump, 22... through hole, 23... lid member, 24... light source, 25... detector.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an apparatus for cleaning a plurality of optical cells formed on a support body, in which a plurality of optical cells each having an open top and a light-transmitting surface at both ends are arranged in a row at a predetermined interval. , a communication path is provided to communicate the upper and lower ends of the descending optical cells, a discharge pipe is connected to the optical cell at one end, a supply pipe is connected to the optical cell at the other end, and a communication path is connected to the optical cell at one end, and a supply pipe is connected to the optical cell at the other end. A product characterized by comprising a lid member in which a plurality of through holes are formed in a row and can be reciprocated by a drive member, and a supply member for supplying cleaning water or compressed air to the supply pipe. Cell cleaning device for chemical automatic analyzer.