JP2008058216A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic analyzer capable of rapidly stirring after injection of a reagent while suppressing the occurrence of contamination is provided.
A reaction disk 9 for transporting a reaction vessel 8, a sample dispensing device 12 for injecting a sample into the reaction vessel 8, and a reagent dispensing device 15A, 15B for injecting a reagent into the reaction vessel 8 into which the sample has been injected. And a stirrer 16 that stirs the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 8, the reaction vessel 8 that is stirred by the stirrer 16 is placed at the position of the reaction vessel 8 by the reagent dispensing device 15 B. It is the same as position C in FIG.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an analyzer for analyzing a component of a sample by mixing a reagent or the like with a sample to be analyzed, and more particularly to an automatic analyzer having a function of stirring the reagent and the sample.

  Automatic analyzers such as biochemical automatic analyzers and immune automatic analyzers are, for example, a transport device that transports a plurality of reaction containers, a sample dispensing device that injects a sample into a reaction container with a sample probe, and a sample is injected. A reagent dispensing device for injecting a reagent into the reaction vessel with a reagent probe, and a stirring device for stirring the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel with a stirring rod. As an analysis method used for such an automatic analyzer, an analysis method using an enzyme reaction, an analysis method using an antigen-antibody reaction, and the like have been developed. An example of an analysis method using an antigen-antibody reaction is to react a labeled antigen with an unlabeled antigen and an antibody, and use the competitive binding between the labeled antigen and the unlabeled antigen. There is a way. When this analysis method is used, since the labeled antigen and the unlabeled antigen react competitively, it is desirable to mix the sample and the reagent quickly after the reagent injection.

  Here, conventionally, for example, a structure in which a stirring probe is provided on a reagent probe (reagent dispensing nozzle) of a reagent dispensing apparatus has been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this prior art, when a reagent is injected with a reagent probe of a reagent dispensing device, the reagent probe is agitated by moving up and down in a mixed solution in a reaction vessel. As a result, reagent injection and stirring are performed almost simultaneously.

JP-A-63-148166

However, there are the following problems in the above-described prior art.
That is, in the above prior art, since the reagent probe of the reagent dispensing apparatus is provided with the stirring blade, the structure of the reagent probe becomes complicated, and contamination may occur unless some kind of contrivance is provided to the cleaning mechanism. It was high. However, for example, when the reagent dispensing device and the stirring device are provided independently, it takes time to transport the reaction container from the position where the reagent is poured with the reagent dispensing device to the position where the sample and the reagent are stirred with the stirring device. In short, there has been a problem that the sample and the reagent cannot be quickly mixed after the reagent is injected.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer that can rapidly mix after injection of a reagent while suppressing the occurrence of contamination.

  (1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a transport device for transporting a reaction container, a sample dispensing device for injecting a sample into the reaction container, and a reagent in the reaction container into which the sample has been injected. In an automatic analyzer including a reagent dispensing device to be injected and a stirring device for stirring the sample and the reagent in the reaction container, the position of the reaction container stirred by the stirring device is determined by the reagent dispensing device. The position of the reaction vessel to be injected is the same.

  In the present invention, the position of the reaction container (hereinafter referred to as the stirring position) stirred by the stirring device is the same as the position of the reaction container (hereinafter referred to as the reagent dispensing position) where the reagent is injected by the reagent dispensing device. To do. That is, the reaction container into which the reagent has been injected by the reagent dispensing device is left as it is without being transferred by the transfer device, and is stirred by the stirring device. Thereby, the conveyance time of a reaction container can be reduced and it can mix rapidly after reagent injection | pouring. Further, unlike the case where a stirring blade is provided on the reagent probe of the reagent dispensing device, for example, the occurrence of contamination can be suppressed.

  (2) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention also provides a sample dispensing apparatus having a transport device for transporting a reaction container, a sample probe for injecting a sample into the reaction container, and a mechanism for rotating the sample probe. A reagent probe for injecting a reagent into the reaction container into which the sample has been injected, a reagent dispensing device having a mechanism for rotating the reagent probe, a stirring rod for stirring the sample and reagent in the reaction container, and the In the automatic analyzer including a stirring device having a mechanism for rotating the stirring rod, the position of the reaction vessel to be stirred by the stirring rod of the stirring device is injected with the reagent by the reagent probe of the reagent dispensing device. The same as the position of the reaction vessel.

  (3) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention also provides a transport device for transporting a reaction container, a sample dispensing device for injecting a sample into the reaction container, and a reagent in the reaction container into which the sample has been injected. In the automatic analyzer comprising a reagent dispensing device for injecting a reagent and a non-contact type stirring device for stirring the sample and the reagent in the reaction container, the position of the reaction container stirred by the stirring device is determined by the reagent. The position is the same as the position of the reaction container into which the reagent is injected by the dispensing device.

  According to the present invention, mixing can be performed rapidly after reagent injection while suppressing the occurrence of contamination.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an automatic analyzer of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an example of a sample dispensing position and a reagent dispensing position in an embodiment of the automatic analyzer of the present invention. FIG.

  1 and 2, the automatic analyzer is roughly divided into an analysis unit 1 that analyzes the components of the sample and a control unit 2 that controls the analysis unit 1. The control unit 2 includes a control device 4 that controls the analysis unit 1 via the interface 3, a storage device 5 that stores information related to sample analysis, an input device 6 for inputting information, and a display for displaying information. And a display device 7.

  The analysis unit 1 includes a reaction disk 9 that holds a plurality of light-transmitting reaction vessels 8 arranged in a ring as a reaction line and rotates and a sample disk 11 that holds and rotates a sample container 10 containing a sample, A sample dispensing device 12 for dispensing a sample in the sample container 10 at the sample collection position of the sample disk 11 into the reaction container 8 and a reagent container 13 containing a first reagent corresponding to the analysis item are held and rotated. First reagent disk 14A to be driven, first reagent dispensing device 15A for dispensing the first reagent in the reagent container 13 at the reagent collection position of the first reagent disk 14A to the reaction container 8, and analysis A second reagent disk 14B that holds and rotates the reagent container 13 containing the second reagent corresponding to the item, and a second reagent in the reagent container 13 at the reagent collection position of the second reagent disk 14B The reaction vessel A second reagent dispensing device 15B for dispensing the sample, a stirring device 16 for stirring the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 8, a multiwavelength photometer 17 for measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction vessel 8, and a measurement And a reaction vessel cleaning device 18 for removing and washing the reaction solution from the reaction vessel 8 that has been completed.

  The reaction disk 9 includes a position A (referred to as a sample dispensing position) where the sample is dispensed by the sample dispensing device 12 and a position B (reagent) where the first reagent is dispensed by the reagent dispensing device 15A. For transporting the second reagent with the reagent dispensing device 15B to the position C (referred to as reagent dispensing position) and for passing the optical axis of the multi-wavelength photometer 19 Every cycle, the operation of rotating and stopping a predetermined number of reaction vessels 8 counterclockwise in the figure is repeated. The multi-wavelength photometer 17 has a plurality of detectors (not shown) corresponding to the wavelength positions to be detected, and detects light transmitted through the reaction solution in the reaction vessel 8 when the reaction disk 9 is in a rotating state. It is supposed to be.

  The sample dispensing device 12 includes an arm 20 that is rotatably attached to a support shaft 19, a sample probe 21 that is attached to the tip of the arm 20, and a drive mechanism that rotates the arm 20 (not shown). And a drive mechanism that moves the sample probe 21 up and down, and a drive mechanism (not shown) that drives a cylinder (not shown) connected to the sample probe 21. Then, for example, the sample probe 21 is moved to the sample collection position of the sample disk 11 by the rotation of the arm 20, and after the sample probe 21 is lowered, the sample in the sample container 10 is sucked into the sample probe 21 by driving the cylinder. Then, after the sample probe 21 is raised, the sample probe 21 is moved to the sample dispensing position A of the reaction disk 9 by the rotation of the arm 20, and the sample probe 21 is lowered. The sample is discharged to 8. Thereafter, the sample probe 21 is moved to a cleaning mechanism (not shown) and cleaned. A series of these operations are repeated, and the sample is injected into the reaction vessel 8.

  The reagent dispensing device 15A includes an arm 23A attached so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 22A, a reagent probe 24A attached to the tip of the arm 23A, and a drive mechanism (not shown) for rotating the arm 23A. And a drive mechanism that moves the reagent probe 24A up and down and a drive mechanism (not shown) that drives a cylinder (not shown) connected to the reagent probe 24A. Then, for example, when the arm 23A rotates, the reagent probe 24A moves to the reagent collection position of the reagent disk 14A, and after the reagent probe 24A descends, the first reagent in the reagent container 13 is moved to the reagent probe 24A by driving the cylinder. Suction. Then, after the reagent probe 24A is raised, the reagent probe 24A is moved to the reagent dispensing position B of the reaction disk 9 by the rotation of the arm 23A, and after the reagent probe 24A is lowered, the reaction probe is moved from the reagent probe 24A to the reaction container by driving the cylinder. 8 discharge the first reagent. Thereafter, the reagent probe 24A moves to a cleaning mechanism (not shown) and is cleaned. A series of these operations are repeated, and the first reagent is injected into the reaction vessel 8.

  Similarly, the reagent dispensing device 15B includes an arm 23B attached to be rotatable about a support shaft 22B, a reagent probe 24B attached to the tip of the arm 23B, and a drive mechanism for turning the arm 23B (see FIG. (Not shown), a drive mechanism that moves the reagent probe 24B up and down, and a drive mechanism (not shown) that drives a cylinder (not shown) connected to the reagent probe 24B. Then, for example, when the arm 23B is rotated, the reagent probe 24B is moved to the reagent collecting position of the reagent disk 14B, and after the reagent probe 24B is lowered, the second reagent in the reagent container 13 is moved to the reagent probe 24B by driving the cylinder. Suction. Then, after the reagent probe 24B is raised, the reagent probe 24B is moved to the reagent dispensing position C of the reaction disk 9 by the rotation of the arm 23B, and after the reagent probe 24B is lowered, the reaction vessel is moved from the reagent probe 24B to the reaction container by driving the cylinder. 8 discharge the second reagent. Thereafter, the reagent probe 24B moves to a cleaning mechanism (not shown) and is cleaned. A series of these operations are repeated, and the second reagent is injected into the reaction vessel 8.

  The agitation device 16 includes an arm 26 that is rotatably attached to the support shaft 25, a spatula-like stirring rod 27 that is attached to the tip of the arm 26, and a drive mechanism that rotates the arm 26 (not shown). And a drive mechanism for moving the stirring rod 27 up and down. For example, the stirring rod 27 is moved to the stirring position of the reaction disk 9 by the rotation of the arm 26, and the stirring rod 27 moves up and down in the reaction vessel 8 so that the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 8 are stirred. It has become. As a major feature of this embodiment, the position of the reaction vessel 8 that is stirred by the stirring rod 27 of the stirring device 16 (hereinafter referred to as the stirring position) is determined by the reagent probe 24B of the second reagent dispensing device 15B. This is the same as the reagent dispensing position C to be injected.

  Next, the operation of the automatic analyzer according to this embodiment will be described.

  For example, when a start switch (not shown) of the input device 6 is pressed, the reaction vessel cleaning device 18 starts cleaning the reaction vessel 8. Further, a water blank is measured, and this measured value becomes a reference for the absorbance to be measured thereafter.

  When the reaction container 8 that has been cleaned advances to the sample dispensing position A by repeating the operation of one cycle of the reaction disk 9, the sample disk 11 is rotationally driven and the desired sample container 10 moves to the sample collection position. At the same time, the first reagent disk 14A is rotationally driven to move the desired reagent container 13 to the reagent collecting position, and the second reagent disk 14B is rotationally driven to move the desired reagent container 13 to the reagent collecting position. Then, the sample probe 21 of the sample dispensing device 12 operates to suck the sample from the sample container 10 at the sample collection position of the sample disk 11 and discharge it to the reaction container 8 at the sample dispensing position A of the reaction disk 9. .

  When the reaction container 8 into which the sample has been injected advances to the reagent dispensing position B by repeating the operation of the reaction disk 9 in one cycle, the reagent probe 24A of the first reagent dispensing device 15A operates, and the first reagent The first reagent is aspirated from the desired reagent container 13 at the reagent collection position of the disk 14A and discharged to the reaction container 8 at the reagent dispensing position B of the reaction disk 9. Further, when the reaction container 8 into which the first reagent has been injected advances to the reagent dispensing position C, the reagent probe 24B of the second reagent dispensing device 15B operates and moves to the reagent collecting position of the second reagent disk 14B. A second reagent is aspirated from a desired reagent container 13 and discharged to the reaction container 8 at the reagent dispensing position C of the reaction disk 9. Then, after the reagent probe 24B of the second reagent dispensing device 15B has moved to the cleaning mechanism, the stirring rod 27 of the stirring device 26 operates and the reagent in the reaction container 8 at the reagent dispensing position C of the reaction disk 9 is operated. And stir the sample. The absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction vessel 8 that has been agitated is measured when it passes on the optical axis of the multiwavelength photometer 17.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the stirring position at which the stirring rod 27 of the stirring device 16 is stirred is the same as the reagent dispensing position C at which the reagent is dispensed by the reagent probe 24B of the second reagent dispensing device 15B. By doing so, the conveyance time of the reaction container 8 can be reduced, and it can mix rapidly after 2nd reagent injection | pouring. Further, unlike the case where the reagent probe 24B of the second reagent dispensing device 15B is provided with a stirring blade, the occurrence of contamination can be suppressed.

  In the above embodiment, the stirring device 16 for stirring the sample and the reagent in the reaction container 9 after the second reagent is injected is provided, and the stirring position by the stirring device 16 is set to the second reagent amount. Although the case where it is the same as the reagent dispensing position C by the pouring device 15B has been described as an example, it is not limited thereto. That is, for example, a stirring device for stirring the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 8 after the first reagent is injected and before the second reagent is injected is provided, and the stirring position by the stirring device is set to the first position. It may be the same as the reagent dispensing position A by the reagent dispensing apparatus 15A. In such a case, the same effect as described above can be obtained. Needless to say, the number of reagent dispensing devices and stirring devices is not limited to one or two, and a large number may be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the stirring device 16 has been described as an example of a contact type equipped with the stirring rod 27 for stirring the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel 8, but is not limited thereto, and is not a contactless type. It may be. As an example of this non-contact type stirring device, as shown in FIG. 3, there is a device in which a swirl flow D is generated in the reaction vessel 8 by the effect of acoustic radiation pressure by ultrasonic waves from the piezoelectric element 28 and stirred. It is done. Also in such a modification, the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained by making the reagent dispensing position by the reagent dispensing apparatus the same as the stirring position by the stirring apparatus.

It is the schematic showing the structure of one Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention. It is a top view showing the sample dispensing position and reagent dispensing position in one Embodiment of the automatic analyzer of this invention as an example. It is a figure showing the schematic structure of the non-contact-type stirring apparatus which comprises the modification of the automatic analyzer of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

8 Reaction vessel 9 Reaction disk (conveyance device)
12 Sample dispensing device 15A First reagent dispensing device 15B Second reagent dispensing device 16 Stirring device 21 Sample probe 24A Reagent probe 24B Reagent probe 27 Stirring rod

Claims (3)

A transport device for transporting the reaction container; a sample dispensing device for injecting a sample into the reaction container; a reagent dispensing device for injecting a reagent into the reaction container into which the sample has been injected; a sample in the reaction container; In an automatic analyzer equipped with a stirring device for stirring a reagent,
An automatic analyzer characterized in that the position of the reaction vessel stirred by the stirring device is the same as the position of the reaction vessel into which a reagent is injected by the reagent dispensing device. A transport device that transports the reaction container, a sample probe that injects a sample into the reaction container, a sample dispensing device that has a mechanism for rotating the sample probe, and a reagent that is injected into the reaction container into which the sample has been injected A reagent dispensing device having a reagent probe and a mechanism for rotating the reagent probe, an agitation device for agitating the sample and reagent in the reaction vessel, and an agitation device having a mechanism for rotating the agitation rod In the analyzer
The automatic analyzer is characterized in that the position of the reaction vessel that is stirred by the stirring rod of the stirring device is the same as the position of the reaction vessel that is injected with the reagent probe of the reagent dispensing device. A transport device for transporting the reaction container; a sample dispensing device for injecting a sample into the reaction container; a reagent dispensing device for injecting a reagent into the reaction container into which the sample has been injected; a sample in the reaction container; In an automatic analyzer equipped with a non-contact type stirring device for stirring a reagent,
An automatic analyzer characterized in that the position of the reaction vessel stirred by the stirring device is the same as the position of the reaction vessel into which a reagent is injected by the reagent dispensing device.

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