JPH0257864B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to an automatic analyzer, and particularly to an automatic analyzer that automatically performs optical analysis of a large number of items on a large number of samples such as blood and urine.

(B) Prior Art Such an automatic analyzer includes, for example, a reaction tube table, a plurality of reflectors arranged and fixed on the outside along the outer periphery of the reaction tube table, and a light source fixed at the center. It has been proposed that the base is equipped with a rotatable base and a filter and a photodetector for obtaining monochromatic light corresponding to a plurality of predetermined analysis items from a light source (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1986-1999).
(See Publication No. 24554). However, in this automatic analyzer, the light beam from the light source passes through the reaction tube, is reflected by reflectors fixed at a plurality of predetermined locations, and is guided to a filter and a photodetector. In other words, photometry with this device is limited to the position where the reflector is fixed. Furthermore, it is extremely difficult to accurately guide the light from all the reflectors to one filter or photodetector, and adjustment is extremely difficult.

On the other hand, the reaction tube table with the reaction tubes arranged in a ring rotates one rotation and one pitch (the distance between the centers of adjacent reaction tubes). Automatic analyzers that measure light instantaneously are also known (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-44856). However, in this device, when the measurement time is increased to increase the S/N ratio, the time required for one revolution increases, which limits the time for dispensing reagents and cleaning reaction tubes. On the other hand, if these times are sufficiently secured, the measurement time will be limited. In short, while the reaction tube table is rotating, operations other than photometry cannot be performed in parallel.

(c) Purpose This invention was made mainly in view of these circumstances, and one of its main purposes is to provide an automatic analyzer that does not limit the photometry position and allows easy optical adjustment. Another objective is to provide an automatic analyzer that can perform reagent dispensing and cleaning even during photometry, and that can provide highly reliable analysis results.

(d) Configuration This invention comprises a reaction tube table that supports a plurality of reaction tubes in an annular manner, an intermittent rotation movement means for this reaction tube table, a light source, an optical member that guides a light beam to the reaction tubes, a spectrometer, and an optical member. a base that supports these light sources, optical members, spectrometers, and photodetectors; and a base that rotates the base coaxially relative to the reaction tube table. and rotational movement means, when the intermittent rotational movement means of the reaction tube table stops the reaction tube table, the rotational movement means of the base rotates the base in the forward direction, and analyzes predetermined items for each reaction tube. This is an automatic analyzer configured so that after the analysis, the base is rotated in the opposite direction to return to its original position.

(E) Embodiments The present invention will be described in detail below based on embodiments shown in the figures. Note that this invention is not limited by this.

In Figures 1 and 2, the biochemical automatic analyzer 1
comprises a reaction tube table (reaction disk) 7 that supports a plurality of reaction tubes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. in an annular manner, an intermittent rotation movement means 8, a base 9, and a base 9 that connects the base to the reaction tube table 7. Rotational movement means 1 for rotating the base coaxially relative to the
0.

The base 9 includes a light source 11 and a light source for condensing a light beam including multiple wavelengths from the light source and guiding the condensed light beam across a reaction tube (for example, 2) supported by a reaction tube table 7. lenses 12, 13,
The transmitted light beam obtained from the optical member such as the slit 14 and the reaction tube 2 is converted into monochromatic light of different wavelengths corresponding to multiple analysis items (for example, 340 nm, 375 nm,
Entrance slit 15 divided into 510nm, 660nm, )
A spectroscope consisting of a dispersion element (16, concave holographic grating), an optical member consisting of mirrors 17, 18, and a lens 19 that guide the transmitted light beam obtained from the reaction tube 2 to the spectrometer, and a dispersion element 16. Photodetectors (for example, silicon photocells) 20, 21... arranged at positions corresponding to the divided wavelengths.
...is installed.

Next, the operation of the automatic analyzer 1 having the above configuration will be explained.

First, in the pretreatment section A, a certain amount of serum, plasma, or urine is sampled from a separate sample cup and dispensed into reaction tubes A ₁ . . . A _o . Next, reagents corresponding to each analysis item are added to each reaction tube and stirred to sequentially prepare test solutions.

Thus, by the intermittent rotation movement means 8 of the reaction tube table 7, each reaction tube A _o ... A ₁ containing the test liquid is
Intermittent rotational movement is performed by one pitch [the center distance between adjacent reaction tubes, for example, the center distance between reaction tubes A _o and A _o-1 ]. When stopped during that time, the base plate 9 is rotated by the rotary movement means 10 and optical measurements are performed.
That is, the light beam containing multiple wavelengths from the light source 11 is focused by the lenses 12 and 13, and guided through the slit 14 to cross the test liquid in each reaction tube (for example, 2) from the inside to the outside. do. The transmitted light flux that has passed through the test liquid is redirected from the outside to the inside and condensed by mirrors 17, 18 and a lens 19, and forms a filament image of the light source on the entrance slit 15. The entrance slit 15 is the entrance slit of the spectrometer. Thus the dispersion element 1
The light incident on the photodetector 6 is divided into monochromatic lights of different wavelengths corresponding to each analysis item, and each monochromatic light is sent to the photodetector 2.
Detected at 0, 21... In FIG. 1, the C side is the short wavelength (340 nm), and the D side is the long wavelength. The detection signal thus obtained by the photodetector is appropriately converted into an electrical signal, amplified, and subjected to arithmetic processing.
In addition, as the photodetectors 20, 21..., those having an integrated array structure can be used,
In order to avoid the influence of reflection of other wavelengths (light-transmitting cut), it is preferable to install a bandpass filter.
Especially at 340 nm, the light is weak and the detector has low sensitivity, so it is easily affected by other long wavelengths. usually
At 340 nm, a colored glass filter (U-340) is used. However, in this device 1, the photodetector 20,
21 Since the transmitted light beam is separated just before...
It can be said that the influence of reflections from the surroundings is extremely small compared to methods that split the light into monochromatic light before it crosses the test solution in the reaction tube. (The photodetector must be stored in a dark room.)

When the measurement is completed in this manner, the reaction tube is cleaned in a post-processing section B, that is, a cleaning mechanism, and then subjected to analysis again.

A time chart of these operations is shown in FIG. Here, when the analysis cycle is 10 seconds, the processing speed is
360 tests/hour. Note that the optical axis is pre-processing section A.
It traverses each reaction tube on the long circumferential side from 2 next to A _o in 2 to B _n-1 in post-processing section B. The reaction tube B _n-1 is filled with pure water after washing, and a water blank value for the next analysis is measured. This makes it possible to reduce errors such as contamination of the reaction tube, which can be a problem when measuring one wavelength. At the reaction tube B _n position, the purified water after measurement is sucked and discharged.

By the way, as is clear from FIG. 3, pre-processing and post-processing can be performed even during photometry, and sufficient cleaning and other processing can be performed, thereby allowing highly accurate analysis. Furthermore, since the analysis time can be used effectively, the processing speed can be dramatically increased, and an automatic analyzer can be provided that is inexpensive in terms of processing capacity. Furthermore, since the optical system is installed (fixed) on one base, it is only necessary to perform optical adjustment once when it is fixed (complicated optical adjustment between relatively moving members is not required), and the failure rate is also reduced.

Furthermore, since measurement can be performed without being affected by pre-processing and post-processing time, sufficient measurement time can be secured and S/N
A wide range of analytical data with good ratios and high reliability can be obtained. Note that photometry (light) does not always need to be performed on all reaction tubes, and can be selected as appropriate. For example, the measurement may be carried out every few reaction tubes, or it may be limited to only those reaction tubes that are less contaminated. Further, each reaction tube supported by the reaction tube table is preferably inserted into a constant temperature bath and measured at a constant temperature.

The drive motor of the intermittent rotational movement means 8 in FIG. 2 is a pulse motor, but the drive motor of the rotational movement means 9 is a servo motor because the base plate 9 is sensitive to vibrations and a constant speed is required. It is preferable that

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, after the light beam traverses the test liquid, it is split into monochromatic light just before the photodetector. However, in analysis in which the test liquid is irradiated with monochromatic light, it is necessary to first form the necessary monochromatic light and form a light beam path accordingly, but when using white light as the irradiation light beam as in the example, it is necessary to Handling is easy because only the position and number of the rear light receiving elements need to be changed.

Furthermore, when performing two-wavelength photometry, with monochromatic light there is a time lag between the two wavelengths, making it difficult to maintain analytical accuracy, but with white light, two or more wavelengths can be measured simultaneously and under the same conditions. Therefore, it is easy to ensure analytical accuracy.

Further, the reaction tube table may be provided with a notch corresponding to the photometric width of the reaction tube, and the photometric section may detect the notch (for example, with a photointerrupter) to identify a valid signal. Furthermore, in order to correct for the drift of the photodetector and preamplifier, a shielding plate that blocks the optical axis is installed between the reaction tubes B _n ... A _o , and the dark voltage value of each wavelength is measured between them to perform photometry. It can also be subtracted from the value. In particular, in the embodiment shown in _Figs .
It is incident on 0, 21... The above correction is effective when using inexpensive components, especially the preamplifier.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, it is necessary to connect signal lines and the like between the base and the outside, and for this purpose, the base, which is the support for the optical system, is rotated forward and backward so that it always returns to its original position. Prevents the signal line from wrapping around the shaft.

(f) Effects This invention fixes optical systems such as a light source, a spectrometer, and a photodetector on one base, and allows the base to move relative to the reaction tube table, thereby achieving the following: In addition to making it easy to adjust the optical system, it is also possible to perform photometry by rotating the base while the reaction tube table is stopped, which enables pre- and post-processing during photometry, allowing for highly reliable analysis in a short time. can be done. Further, according to the present invention, since the base plate is first rotated in the forward direction and then reversed to the original position, it is possible to prevent the signal wires from becoming entangled, thereby providing a highly practical automatic analyzer.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view showing one embodiment of an automatic analyzer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an analysis time chart thereof. 1...Biochemical automatic analyzer, 2, 3...6...
Reaction tube, 7... Reaction tube table, 8... Intermittent rotation movement means, 9... Base, 10... Rotation movement means,
11... Light source, 16... Dispersion element, 20, 21...
Photodetector.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A reaction tube table that supports a plurality of reaction tubes in an annular manner, an intermittent rotation movement means for this reaction tube table, a light source, an optical member that guides a light beam to the reaction tubes, a spectrometer, and a light detection device. a base that supports these light sources, optical members, spectrometers, and photodetectors, and rotation of the base that coaxially rotates this base relative to the reaction tube table. and a moving means, when the reaction tube table intermittent rotation movement means stops the reaction tube table, the base rotation movement means rotates the base in the forward direction, and performs analysis of predetermined items on each reaction tube. An automatic analyzer configured to rotate the base in the opposite direction and return to its original position.