JPH0360066B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for performing clinical blood tests.

[Conventional technology and its issues]

Conventional automatic analyzers for biochemical analysis and immunoassays dispense the required amount of reagent corresponding to the measurement item into serum, cause a color reaction, and then measure this color state using an optical device. Most of them are configured to perform clinical blood tests by measuring.

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional automatic analyzer of this kind, a plurality of reaction tubes containing a serum sample are held in series along the circumferential direction of a reaction tube holder formed in a disk shape. Most of the configurations are such that each reaction tube is transferred from a sampling position to a reagent dispensing position to an optical measurement position by rotating the reaction tube holder using a drive device.

For this reason, when using the above-mentioned conventional automatic analyzer, when trying to process multiple samples quickly,
The number of reaction tubes must be increased;
There was a problem in that the planar area of the reaction tube holder increased, making the apparatus larger.

This invention was devised in view of the current situation, and its purpose is to significantly reduce the planar area occupied by this type of automatic analyzer, and to
The present invention aims to provide an automatic analyzer that can significantly increase the processing of specimens.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention is configured such that, after dispensing a reagent into a reaction tube containing a sample and causing a color reaction, the state of the reaction is measured by an optical measuring device. The technical premise is that the reaction tube holder containing the specimen is formed into a substantially C-shaped plane, and the transfer path of the reaction tube holder is a vertical cylindrical reaction transfer path. and a measurement transfer path are installed in parallel, and in the measurement transfer path,
A light source holder is vertically disposed along the axis of the reaction tube holder, and a means for rotationally driving the reaction tube holder at an optical measurement position is provided, and the reaction tube holder whose measurement has been completed within the measurement transfer path is configured as described above. It is characterized in that it is sent out of the measurement transfer path by means of ejection in a direction that intersects the axis.

[Effect]

Therefore, in the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, the reaction tube holder containing a plurality of serum samples is passed vertically from the sampling position through the reagent dispensing position and the reaction line formed in a vertical cylindrical shape. The reaction tube holder is independently transferred to the optical measurement position of the measurement transfer path formed in a cylindrical shape, and at each position, the reaction tube holder is rotationally controlled by a holder rotation drive device to remove the sample in each reaction tube. After the predetermined processing is performed on the reaction tube holder and all such operations are completed, the reaction tube holder is sent out from the measurement transfer path.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

Reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 indicates a reaction tube holder formed in a substantially C-shape in plan.
0, a required number of small holes 11 are opened at required intervals, and a plurality of reaction tubes 12 are held in the small holes 11 so as to be freely insertable and removable, as shown in FIG.
It is preferable that each of these reaction tubes 12 has a height dimension that allows the reaction tubes 12 to be held without protruding from the upper and lower surfaces of the reaction tube holder 10.

In addition, each small hole 11 of the reaction tube holder 10 has an optical axis hole 1 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of each hole 11.
3 is opened through the light receiving element 44 (see FIG. reference).

A gear 14 is carved along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the reaction tube holder 10 configured in this way, and the gear 14 is connected to drive gears 45, 45 (described later) at an optical measurement position (described later). ' is configured to rotate the reaction tube holder 10 at least once.

The reaction tube holder 10 configured in this manner is first fitted and held in a holder holder 15 having a vertical cross section and disposed at a sampling position.

This holder holder 15 is rotationally controlled by a rotating means 16 such as a motor. This control is performed via a control device (CPU).

In this way, the rotation of the holder holder 15 is controlled,
When each reaction tube 12 held by the reaction tube holder 10 stops at the sampling position, the holder holder 1
Sample cup 2 of sampler 20 adjacent to 5
A serum specimen (hereinafter simply referred to as specimen) contained in the chamber 1 is dispensed in required amounts via a pipette P.

This pipette device P has a required number of pipettes P ₁ , P ₂ , . . . corresponding to the opening diameter of the sample cup 21.
It consists of P _o .

These pipettes P ₁ , P ₂ . . . P _o are collected in a bundle at the upper part of the sample cup 21, that is, at the sample suction position, and are guided up and down to aspirate the required amount of the sample in the sample cup 21, respectively. After that, it is rotated horizontally and transferred to the sample dispensing position, where it is expanded at required intervals and then lowered, and the required amount of each sample is aspirated into the corresponding reaction tube 12. Dispense. At this time, each pipette
From P ₁ , P _{2 .} . . P _o , a required amount of the first reagent or diluent R ₁ corresponding to the analysis item is dispensed into the corresponding reaction tube 12.

In this example, pipettes P ₁ , P ₂ . . .
When the number of P _o is smaller than the number of reaction tubes 12 held in the reaction tube holder 10, for example, when the number of pipettes is 8 and the number of reaction tubes 12 is 32, the holder holder 15 is controlled by a control device (CPU) so that it rotates four times by the required angle each time the sample suction/dispensing work using the eight pipettes is completed. Of course, if you want to shorten this dispensing work time, you can use the 4 pipettes with the 8 pipettes mentioned above.
This is possible by arranging pipette devices P, P _A , P _B , P _C , and _PD , and driving and controlling them simultaneously. In this case, sample _a is transferred to the third
Sample b is placed in eight reaction tubes 12 within the range of θ ₁ in the figure.
The sample c is transferred to the eight reaction tubes 12 in the range of θ ₂ in Fig. 3 through the pipette P _B.
Eight reaction tubes 1 in the range of θ ₃ in Figure 3 through P _C
2, the sample d is transferred to the third pipette via the pipette device P _D.
It is dispensed into eight reaction tubes 12 within the range of θ ₄ in the figure.

In addition, pipettes P ₁ , P ₂ after each dispensing operation have been completed...
Of course, P _o is washed with a pipette washing device (not shown).

The reaction tube holder 10 that holds the reaction tubes 12 into which the sample and the first reagent corresponding to the measurement item are dispensed in this way has a vertical cylindrical reaction transfer path 30.
be transferred to. As this replacement operation means, various known mechanisms such as manual or known mechanical means, such as a transfer mechanism consisting of a combination of a belt conveyor and a gripping device that operate at a required timing, can be applied.

The reaction transfer path 30 has a function as a constant temperature bath, and its inner diameter is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the reaction tube holder 10, and the reaction transfer path 30 has a function as a constant temperature bath. The reaction tube holder 10 is inserted into the reaction transfer path 30 through an opening 32 formed at the bottom of the reaction transfer path 30 .

The reaction tube holder 10 thus transferred into the reaction transfer path 30 is successively pushed upward by the push-up mechanism 31 disposed near the bottom of the reaction transfer path 30. This lifting operation is performed at a timing that does not prevent the next transfer operation of the reaction tube holder 10 into the reaction transfer path 30, and at a lifting distance that is at least larger than the height dimension of the reaction tube holder 10.

The reaction tube holder 10 that has been pushed upward in this manner is installed inside the upper position of the side opening 32 of the reaction transfer path 30 and is held by the claws 33 .

This claw body 33 is attached by a spring so as to allow the reaction tube holder 10 to rise and prevent it from falling. As a result, the reaction tube holders 10 are housed in a densely stacked state along the vertical direction within the reaction transfer path 30, and
It is transported upward at a predetermined timing.

In this way, the blood and the like held in each reaction tube holder 10 are kept at the body temperature during the process of being sequentially pushed up and transferred.

That is, the reaction transfer path 30 is provided with a heating means 34 such as an electric heater or hot water circulation, and the reaction tube 12 held in the reaction tube holder 10 in the reaction transfer path 30 is heated by the heating means 34. The blood inside the body is heated and maintained at the body temperature.

When the reaction tube holder 10 is transferred to the top of the reaction transfer path 30, the reaction tube holder 10 is transferred to the vertical cylindrical measurement transfer path 40 adjacent to the reaction transfer path 30. This transfer work is
This can be done manually or by a known mechanical mechanism such as a horizontal extrusion mechanism.

In each reaction tube 12 of the reaction tube holder 10 transferred to the measurement transfer path 40 in this way, a fifth
As shown in the figure, at the top, there is a pipetting device configured similarly to the pipetting device P.
A second reagent corresponding to the analysis item or a second
Diluent R ₂ is dispensed in the required amount.

Then, the reaction tube 1 into which this second reagent etc. was dispensed
Thereafter, the reaction tube holder 10 holding the reaction tube holder 2 is sequentially and intermittently transferred downward along the measurement transfer path 40 one step at a time (that is, by the height of the reaction tube holder 10) at a required timing. This transfer is performed by pulling out the reaction tube holders 10 one by one from the lowest part of the transfer path 40 at the same required timing. Of course, in this case, for example, a known stopper is provided to prevent the reaction tube holder 10 positioned above the reaction tube holder 10 from vibrating due to the reaction tube holder 10 being pulled out.
It is desirable to maintain the original height position until the reaction tube holder 10 at the bottom is removed.

Further, the reaction tube holder 10 is connected to the measurement transfer path 4.
0, the notch 10' of the reaction tube holder 10 is fitted into the projection 41 provided at the top of the transfer path 40 and positioned. As this positioning means, for example, suitable rotation means can be used.

A required number of optical measurement units 41 (four stages in the illustrated embodiment) are disposed midway through the measurement transfer path 40 configured as described above.

The optical measuring device K disposed at each step of the optical measuring section 41 includes a light source holder 42 having an L-shaped front surface,
A light source 43 is disposed at a vertical portion of the light source holder 42 corresponding to each step, and measurement light irradiated horizontally from each light source 43 is transmitted to each step. Reaction tube holder 1 located at
The light passes through the sample in the reaction tube 12 through the optical axis hole 13 of 0 and enters the light receiving element 44, and the absorbance of the wavelength portion corresponding to the measurement item is calculated and measured. and,
The analysis results are displayed on a display such as a CRT or printed out as necessary.

The optical measuring section 41 disposed at each step in this way
When the reaction tube holder 10 is transferred to the position, the drive gears 45 and 45' disposed at the position mesh with the gears 14 of the reaction tube holder 10, respectively, and rotate the reaction tube holder 10 at least once. . The drive gears 45, 45' are rotationally controlled by the motor M so that the reaction tube holder 10 accurately returns to its original position.

Therefore, each sample in each reaction tube 12 held in the reaction tube holder 10 is optically measured every time the reaction tube holder 10 rotates once in the optical measurement section 41 disposed at each step. Therefore, the reaction time course of each sample can be easily obtained.

In this way, the optical measurement at each stage has been completed, and the reaction tube holder 10, which has reached the lowest part of the measurement transfer path 40, is moved through the same transfer path via a pushing device 50 consisting of a known mechanism using an actuator or the like. 40 and transferred to the cleaning position W. At this time, a light source holder 42 is erected at the center of the reaction tube holder 10, and the diameter f of the body of the light source holder 42 is larger than the opening dimension F of the notch 10' of the reaction tube holder 10. Since the reaction tube holder 10 is formed to have a small diameter, the light source holder 4
It is sent out smoothly in a direction that intersects the axis of No. 2.

At the cleaning position W, all the specimens and the like contained in each reaction tube 12 of the reaction tube holder 10 are sucked out and discarded, and then cleaned by a known ultrasonic cleaning device or the like and provided for reuse. In addition, if it is desired to improve the cleaning accuracy, it is possible to do so by arranging a plurality of cleaning apparatuses as shown in FIG.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention allows a reaction tube holder containing a plurality of serum samples to be formed into a vertical cylinder from a sampling position through a reagent dispensing position and a reaction line formed into a vertical cylinder. independently transporting the measurement transport path to the optical measurement position,
Further, the reaction tube holder is rotationally controlled by a holder rotation drive device at each position to perform predetermined processing on the sample in each reaction tube, and furthermore, after all such operations are completed, the reaction tube holder is rotated. Since it is configured to be sent out from the measurement transfer path, it has the excellent effect of being able to quickly process multiple samples without increasing the size of the device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a reaction tube holder, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the reaction tube holder and a sampler. Explanatory drawing, FIG. 3 is a plane explanatory view showing an example of a distribution mode when blood in a sample cup is dispensed into a reaction tube of a reaction tube holder, and FIG.
The figure is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the overall mechanism of the automatic analyzer.
Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the measurement transfer path, and Fig. 6 is an illustration of the configuration of the measurement transfer path.
7 is a plan view of the entire device. [Explanation of symbols], 10...Reaction tube holder, 1
0'... Notch, 12... Reaction tube, 30... Reaction transfer path, 40... Measurement transfer path, 42... Light source holder, K... Optical measuring device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. After dispensing a reagent into a reaction tube containing a specimen and causing a color reaction, the specimen is stored in an automatic analyzer configured to measure the reaction state with an optical measuring device. The reaction tube holder is formed into a substantially C-shaped plane, and a vertical cylindrical reaction transfer path and a measurement transfer path are arranged in parallel in the transfer path of the reaction tube holder, and a vertical cylindrical reaction transfer path and a measurement transfer path are provided in the transfer path of the reaction tube holder. , a light source holder is vertically disposed along the axis of the reaction tube holder, and a means for rotationally driving the reaction tube holder at an optical measurement position is provided, and the reaction tube holder is subjected to measurement within the measurement transfer path. , an automatic analyzer characterized in that the sample is sent out of the measurement transfer path by a means for discharging in a direction intersecting the axis.