JP2933355B2 - Automatic chemical analyzer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Purpose of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer that performs analysis processing of a desired sample according to analysis information corresponding to an analysis item.

(Prior art) For example, serum collected from a human body is used as a sample, and a desired reagent corresponding to an analysis item is reacted with the sample.
There is known an automatic chemical analyzer in which the concentration of a specific component in the reaction solution is measured by, for example, a colorimetric method to analyze a desired item.

To analyze a sample, a reagent is determined in advance based on item selection information, and an analysis process is performed in accordance with the analysis conditions of each item. Conventionally, to perform such an analysis process,
It is necessary to obtain analysis information including analysis parameters such as analysis conditions and item selection information for each sample. Conventionally, as for this analysis information, the former analysis parameters are stored and held in the analyzer in advance, and the latter item selection information etc.
I get it from the ID.

In storing and storing the analysis parameters, consideration is given to facilitate the addition and change of the parameter of the corresponding item when the measurement item is added or changed later. On the other hand, the sample analysis conditions recognize the ID of each sample,
It retrieves the item selection information corresponding to the ID, analyzes the selected item, and reports the result with the ID.

In recent years, there has been a strong demand for faster inspection and more efficient analysis processing. In order to speed up the analysis, data processing has been accelerated online with the analyzer and data processor, and a transport system using sample ID has been adopted. The automation of analysis sample supply speeds up the work and the efficiency of preparations for analysis, etc. are made more efficient. On the other hand, when an automatic chemical analyzer requires a conventional large-sized analyzer for multi-item high-speed processing, a random access-type analyzer has been provided as an analyzer capable of performing necessary analysis efficiently. Although this type of analyzer has a high degree of freedom in item selection, it has difficulties in high-speed processing, and this disadvantage is overcome by connecting a plurality of analyzers.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In a conventional analyzer, analysis parameters such as analysis conditions are stored and held in a storage holding unit inside the device. The operation is complicated because it is necessary to input the data by the external storage means. The same applies to the case where the analysis items are redistributed. Further, since the item selection information of the sample analysis is temporarily stored in the storage holding unit in the apparatus with an ID attached thereto, if the analysis sample and the item selection information are shifted from each other, the analysis becomes impossible. , The reliability of the analysis decreases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an automatic chemical analyzer that improves operability and reliability of analysis.

[Constitution of the Invention] (Means for solving the problem) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention dispenses a sample and a reagent into a reaction vessel, and performs the above-mentioned operation according to analysis information corresponding to a preselected analysis item. In an automatic chemical analyzer that performs sample analysis processing, a sample container holder that houses a sample container that houses the sample, a reagent container holder that houses a reagent container that houses the reagent, and a reagent arrangement that can arrange the reagent container holder Means, a reaction section for arranging the reaction vessel, a plurality of analysis modules each having the reagent arranging means and the reaction section, and the sample container connected to the reagent arranging means and the reaction section in each of the analysis modules. Transport means for transporting the holder and the reagent container holder; and a sample ID and an item held by the sample container holder or the sample container, and for the sample. A sample individual information storage unit for storing sample individual information including selection information; and a reagent individual information storage unit for holding reagent individual information including a reagent ID for the reagent, which is held in the sample container holder or the reagent container. Reading means provided along the transport means for reading the sample individual information and the reagent individual information from the sample individual information storage means and the reagent individual information storage means, and the sample container holder transported by the transport means After reading the sample individual information from the sample individual information storage means by the reading means in the sample individual information storage means, sample dispensing means for dispensing a sample contained in the sample container into a reaction container of the reaction section, Reading the reagent individual information from the reagent individual information storage means in the reagent container holder to be conveyed by the reading means, When the reagent contained in the reagent container based on the result of the sampling and the sample individual information corresponds to the analysis of the sample dispensed into the reaction container, the reagent container containing the reagent is stored. Control means for controlling the arrangement of the reagent holder provided in the reagent arrangement means.

(Operation) An automated chemical analyzer equipped with a plurality of analysis modules (each of which is separated for a target analysis such as blood system analysis, immune system analysis, etc.). The placement unit and the reaction unit are connected by a transport path, and the sample container holder and the reagent container holder are transported there. After reading the individual information attached to the sample container holder, the sample is dispensed into the reaction container from the sample container transported to the reaction section, and then the individual information attached to the reagent container holder is read, and the reagent is read. If applicable for analysis of a previously dispensed sample, it is placed in the reagent placement section. In this way, the reagent supply is automatically performed.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic chemical analyzer according to the present invention. Reference numerals 1 to 4 each represent a random access type analysis module, for example, using four analysis modules. Reference numeral 5 denotes a reagent module for storing and adjusting various reagents to be reacted with a sample according to an analysis item;
Is for supplying and adjusting various samples to be analyzed by the sample module, 7 is a transport path, and enables reagents and samples from the reagent module 5 and the sample module 6 to be commonly supplied to the analysis modules 1 to 4, and An analysis module (for example, 1
Reference numeral 8 denotes an ID reading device for reading an ID from a reagent or a sample passing through the transport path 7.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reagent is contained in a reagent container 18, and the reagent container 18 is detachably inserted into a reagent container holder 18A. An individual information storage unit 21 is provided on a side surface of the reagent container holder 18A, and stores individual information relating to analysis conditions. The sample is stored in a sample container 19, and the sample container 19 is detachably inserted into a sample container holder 20. A sample individual information storage / holding unit 22 is provided on a side surface of the sample container holder 20, and individual information relating to analysis such as item selection information is recorded in this unit.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a control device which is constituted by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), controls the whole operation, and performs necessary control operations according to the reading result of the ID reading device 8.

FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration of a main part of the analyzer of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1. For example, a configuration in which a reagent and a sample are supplied to the analysis module 1 from the reagent module 5 and the sample module 6, respectively. Is shown. A reagent section 10 is provided in the analysis module 1, and a reagent required for analysis is supplied from the reagent module 5 via the transport path 7, so that the reagent container 10 can be set together with the reagent container holder 18A. Similarly, a reaction section 11 is provided, in which a plurality of reaction vessels 11A are arranged, and a sample to be analyzed is supplied from a sample module 6 via a transport path 7 so that dispensing can be performed. .

Reference numeral 12 denotes a reagent probe which performs a swinging motion as shown by an arrow in the drawing, so that a desired reagent is dispensed from the reagent container 18 of the reagent section 10 and dispensed to the reaction vessel 11A of the reaction section 11. 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a sampling probe that performs a swinging motion as shown by the arrow in the drawing to take a sample from the sample container 19 in the sample container holder 20 that has moved along the transport path 7 and divide it into the reaction container 11A of the reaction unit 11. Work to pour. Reference numeral 14 denotes a reagent exchange mechanism for exchanging the reagent supplied to the reagent section 10 together with the reagent container holder 18A as necessary. The reagent exchange is performed through the opening 10A of the reagent section 10. Reference numeral 15 denotes a sample stopper for stopping the sample container holder 20 at a position before the sampling probe 13, and reference numeral 16 denotes a reagent stopper for stopping the reagent container holder 18A at the reagent supply position or the replacement position.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the sample individual information storage section 22 shown in FIG. 3, in which a sample ID is displayed on a first barcode 22a and item selection information is displayed on a second barcode 22b. It shows. Each of the bar codes 22a and 22b is read by the ID reader 8 first by, for example, laser scanning, the first bar code 22a, and then by the second bar code 22b.
Is read. 17 is a stopper sending mechanism.

 Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

First, the sample container 19 containing the desired sample from the sample module 6 is supplied to the transport path 7 together with the sample container holder 20.
After the sample ID and item selection information are read from the sample individual information storage / holding unit 22 by the ID reading device 8, when the sample reading position is reached, the sample is stopped by the sample stopper 15. Subsequently, the sample container 19 is sampled by the sampling probe 13.
Is dispensed into the reaction vessel 11A of the reaction section 11. When the sample sampling is completed, the sample stopper 15 is retracted, and the sample container holder 20 is transported first.

Next, the reagent container 18 containing the desired reagent from the reagent module 5 is supplied to the transport path 7 together with the reagent container holder 18A, and the ID reader 8 reads the reagent ID from the individual information storage / holding unit 21. If the reagent ID is for the analysis of the sample, it is stopped by the reagent stopper 16. Subsequently, the reagent stopper 16 is guided to the reagent exchange mechanism 14 at the subsequent stage, whereby the reagent container holder 18A is set (placed) together with the reagent container holder 18A through the opening 10A. If replacement is necessary, the reagent container holder 18 is pulled out by the reagent replacement mechanism 14 while being stopped by the reagent stopper 16. Then, the reagent stopper 16 is released, and a substitute reagent container holder 18A is set. The reagent exchange mechanism 14 is a sample stopper 15
In the case where the sample container holder 20 is located at the first position, a stopper mechanism that works so as not to send out the reagent container holder 18A first is also provided.

The reagent container holder 18A drawn out for replacement is in the transport path 7
And returned to the reagent module 5 by the container delivery mechanism 17 to be collected.

According to the present embodiment, when the reagent container holder 18A containing the reagent is set in the reagent section 10, analysis parameters such as analysis conditions can be set by providing the individual information storage section 21 in the reagent container holder 18A. The reagent can be read by the ID reading device 8, and the reagent container holder 18A is
By removing the analysis parameter from the analysis parameter, the analysis parameter can be deleted. As a result, when adding or changing a measurement item, it is not necessary to input the information using an external storage unit as in the conventional case, and the measurement item can be realized by treating it integrally with the reagent. Also, it is easy to redistribute analysis items including reagents. Therefore, operability can be improved.

In addition, by providing the sample individual information storage unit 22 in the sample container holder 20, individual information can be provided to the sample itself. Improvement can be achieved.

In this embodiment, the individual information storage units are provided in each container holder. However, each individual information storage unit may be provided in each container itself. In addition, a plurality of analysis modules may be used or a single analysis module may be used. Furthermore, although an example is shown in which barcodes are provided in two stages for the individual information storage unit, one barcode may be used if necessary storage information can be obtained. In addition to the barcode, various storage media such as a semiconductor memory and a magnetic recording medium may be arbitrarily used.

Further, the container holder or the individual information storage unit provided in the container may be a stickable or detachable card or tape type.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since analysis is performed by reading individual information on a sample and a reagent, operability related to reagent supply and reliability of analysis are improved. be able to. In particular, it is possible to automate the supply of reagents in an automatic analyzer having a plurality of analysis modules.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a layout diagram showing a specific configuration of a main part of the embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of one configuration example of an individual information storage unit used in this embodiment. 1 to 4: Analysis module, 5: Reagent module, 6: Sample module, 7: Transport path, 8: ID reader, 9: Control device (CPU), 10: Reagent part, 11: ... Reaction unit, 14 ... Reagent exchange mechanism, 18A ... Reagent container holder, 20 ... Sample container holder, 21 ... Individual information storage unit, 22 ... Sample individual information storage unit, 22a, 22b ... Bar code.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-1-254870 (JP, A) JP-A-61-95248 (JP, A) JP-A-61-275657 (JP, A) JP-A-1-254870 311278 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01N 35/02

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic chemical analyzer for dispensing a sample and a reagent into a reaction container and performing an analysis process on the sample according to analysis information corresponding to a preselected analysis item, comprising: A sample container holder for accommodating, a reagent container holder for accommodating a reagent container for accommodating the reagent, a reagent arranging unit capable of arranging the reagent container holder, a reaction unit for arranging the reaction container, A plurality of analysis modules having a reaction unit; a transfer unit connected to the reagent placement unit and the reaction unit in each of the analysis modules, for transferring the sample container holder and the reagent container holder; and the sample container holder or the sample. A sample individual information storage unit that is held in a container, and stores sample individual information including a sample ID and item selection information for the sample, A reagent individual information storage unit that is held in the sample container holder or the reagent container and stores reagent individual information including a reagent ID for the reagent; and a sample individual information storage unit that is provided along the transport unit. Reading means for reading the sample individual information and reagent individual information from the reagent individual information storage means; and reading the sample individual information from the sample individual information storage means in the sample container holder conveyed by the carrier means by the reading means. After reading, the sample dispensing means for dispensing the sample contained in the sample container into the reaction container of the reaction section; and the reading from the reagent individual information storage means in the reagent container holder carried by the carrying means. Means for reading the reagent individual information, and reading the reagent information into the reagent container based on the read result and the sample individual information. When the contained reagent is used for analyzing a sample dispensed into the reaction container, a control means for performing control for arranging the reagent holder accommodating the reagent container accommodating the reagent in the reagent arrangement means. And an automatic chemical analyzer comprising: 2. The automatic chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said arrangement means further exchanges a reagent holder in said reagent arrangement means with a reagent holder in said transport means. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the transfer of the reagent container holder to the placement means after dispensing a sample from the sample container of the sample holder to the reaction container in the transfer means. The automatic chemical analyzer according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The automatic chemical analyzer according to claim 2, further comprising a reagent module for storing the reagent, wherein the reagent in the reagent container holder replaced by the placement means is collected by the reagent module.