JP3315868B2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer, and more particularly to an automatic analyzer for performing washing, blank measurement, reagent dispensing, sample dispensing, and sample measurement on a plurality of reaction cells held by a reaction disk.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic analyzers (for example, see
No. 0650), for each of a plurality of reaction cells arranged on a reaction disk, a reaction cell washing mechanism, a spectrophotometer, and a sample dispenser arranged around the reaction disk are rotated while rotating the reaction disk. The washing, cell blank measurement, sample dispensing, reagent dispensing, and stirring are sequentially performed by the mechanism, the reagent dispensing mechanism, and the stirring mechanism to allow the reaction to proceed in the reaction cell. Is measured, and the measured value is corrected by the cell blank measured value to calculate data such as concentration and output.

[0003]

However, this is time consuming as well as detergent and cleaning, since cleaning is performed on all reaction cells, whether used or unused. There is a problem that results in excessive consumption of water. In addition, the necessity of washing the reaction cell is detected,
Reaction cells that do not require washing can be measured without washing.
Less time lost and consumption of detergent and washing water
Automatic analyzers that can be
An automatic analyzer is the last instrument used in a series of measurements (analysis).
When the used reaction cell has been washed, the operation is stopped.
Therefore, when resuming the analysis,
Dispensing of sample
There is a problem that takes a long time to reach.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of shortening the time and reducing the consumption of washing water and detergent by selectively washing only those of the reaction cells which need washing. Is to do. Another object of the present invention is to
In addition, wash the last reaction cell used in the series of analyses.
Dispensing of samples when urgent analysis is resumed even after purification is completed
Automatic analyzer that can reduce the time required to reach
Is to provide.

[0005]

According to the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, whether or not each of the reaction cells is used or not is determined.
The presence or absence of purification, further, it is determined whether the washing <br/> Kiyoshi is needed based on the elapsed time since the cleaning, washing the resulting wash is judged to be necessary reaction cell blank measurement, San
The pull dispensing, the reagent dispensing, and the sample measurement are omitted for the reaction cells for which it is determined that the washing is unnecessary, and the blank measurement, the sample dispensing, the reagent dispensing, and the sample measurement are performed by the corresponding devices. Also urgent sun
Switching between pull measurement mode and normal sample measurement mode
Can be configured and put into emergency sample measurement mode
Operates regardless of the measurement instruction from the input / output unit.
And during this time, before using each reaction cell.
To determine if the reaction cell used requires cleaning.
And select only those reaction cells that need cleaning.
It was configured to selectively wash.

[0006] According to this, detergents and consumption of washing water can be suppressed only to a reaction cell fraction using, and cleaning is not necessary reaction cell time shortening as well as detergent and cleaning because the cleaning is omitted Water consumption is reduced. Especially in the emergency sample measurement mode, the emergency sample
Time required for sample dispensing when measuring (resume analysis)
Can be shortened.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The automatic analyzer includes an input / output device (hereinafter, referred to as an input / output unit) 1, a control device (hereinafter, referred to as an apparatus control unit) 2,
Reaction cell cleaning determination device (hereinafter referred to as reaction cell cleaning determination unit) 3, data processing device (hereinafter referred to as data processing unit)
4. Reaction cell use history storage device (hereinafter referred to as reaction cell use history storage unit) 5, analyzer (hereinafter referred to as analysis unit)
7 and an interface 6 for connecting them.

The reaction disk 11 has n number of reaction cells 12 on its circumference and can rotate freely. When there is an instruction to start measurement from the input / output unit 1, the reaction cell used first moves to the start position by the reset operation. Thereafter, the reaction disk 11 starts rotating, and the reaction cell 12 first moves to the reaction cell cleaning section 13 and is cleaned using a detergent or cleaning water.

Subsequently, a cell blank sample (ion-exchanged water) is injected into the reaction cell 12 from a cell blank sample discharge unit incorporated in the reaction cell washing unit 13 and the light source 1
An optical measurement is performed as it passes across the optical axis connecting 4 to the spectrophotometer 15. This measured value is a cell blank value having information on cell scratches and dirt during measurement, luminance drift of the lamp, and characteristic change of the electric circuit.The measured value is stored in the data processing unit, and the sample and the reagent to be measured in the subsequent process react with the reagent. It is used for zero correction of the optical measurement value of the sample. Hereinafter, the optical measurement for zero correction is referred to as cell blank measurement.
Subsequently, the reaction cell 12 is subjected to a drying process by the reaction cell washing unit 13 and reaches the sample dispensing position. Here, the sample on the sample disk 16 is dispensed (added) to the reaction cell 12 by the sample dispensing mechanism 17.

Subsequently, the reaction cell 12 reaches the reagent dispensing position, where the reagent on the reagent disk 18 is dispensed (added) to the reaction cell 12 by the reagent dispensing mechanism 19, and immediately thereafter, the sample and the reagent are dispensed. The stirring of the reagent is performed by the stirring mechanism 20. The reaction disk 11 continues to rotate thereafter, and the reaction cell 12 passes through the optical axis connecting the light source 14 and the spectrophotometer 15 approximately every 18 seconds. As the reaction cell 12 passes, the spectrophotometer 14 moves the sample in the reaction cell 12. An optical measurement is performed. The measured value is sent to the data processing unit 4. When the optical measurement data is ready, the data processing unit 4 corrects the optical measurement data of the sample based on the cell blank value, converts the value into the concentration of the substance in the sample, and the like, Output. At the same time, the reaction disk 11 continues to rotate further, and the reaction cell 12 reaches the reaction cell washing section 13 where it is again washed with detergent or washing water. Thereafter, the measurement of the cell blank value is also performed and used again for the measurement.

The operations performed on the reaction cell 12 as described above are summarized in FIG. At time t0, the first reaction cell is at the start position and the start 201
Then, at the time t1, the cleaning 20
2, the cell blank measurement 203 ends at time t2, the sample dispensing 204 is performed at time t3, the reagent dispensing / stirring 205 is performed at time t4, and the time t5
, A measurement result output 206 is performed, and at time t6, the first reaction cell returns to the start position again. When the device control unit 2 instructs to continue the operation, the same operation as the time t0 to t6 is repeatedly performed starting from the time t6.

In this automatic analyzer, there are n reaction cells, and another reaction cell comes to the start position every time ti = (t6-t0) / n. Focusing on the entire reaction cell, the time schedule of the operation performed on the reaction cell is as shown in FIG. At every time ti, one of the reaction cells is sequentially stopped at the start position 301, the reaction cell cleaning 302,
The cell blank measurement 303, the sample dispensing 304, the reagent dispensing / stirring 305, and the measurement result output 306 are in the state. That is, while the reaction disk 11 continues to rotate repeatedly, any one of the reaction cells 12 is set at the time t.
This means that the cell blank measurement can be started within i.

By the way, the automatic analyzer has an input / output unit 1
In the emergency sample measurement mode (hereinafter called emergency sample
Mode) and the normal sample measurement mode (normal
(Referred to as a sample mode) .

In the normal sample mode, the operation of the analyzer is stopped when the washing of the last used reaction cell is completed. During shutdown, there is no consumption of reaction cell detergent and washing water. However, when the measurement is started from a state where the operation of the analysis unit is stopped, the reaction cells must be sequentially washed from the first reaction cell before the sample dispensing is started. It requires t0.

On the other hand, in the emergency sample mode, after the mode is designated, until the emergency sample mode is released, regardless of the presence or absence of a measurement instruction from the input / output unit 1, the reaction disk 1
Continue the operation of 1. During this time, the reaction cell cleaning determination unit 3
Whether or not the reaction cell 12 needs to be cleaned is determined based on the information in the reaction cell use history storage unit 5.

The reaction cell use history storage section 5 stores whether or not the reaction cell has been used since the previous cleaning. Samples and reagents have been added to the reaction cell since the previous reaction cell cleaning. When used as a reaction container, when the sample is diluted in the reaction cell, or when a cleaning agent is filled instead of the reagent for the purpose of cleaning the reaction cell, the reaction cell cleaning determination unit 3 It is determined that the reaction cell requires cleaning.

Further, the reaction cell use history storage unit 5 stores whether or not each reaction cell has been washed one or more times after shifting to the emergency sample mode, and the washing has been performed even once. If not, the reaction cell cleaning determination unit 3 determines that the reaction cell needs to be cleaned.

Further, the reaction cell use history storage unit 5 stores, for the reaction cell which has been lastly cleaned, how much time has elapsed since the cleaning (this can be determined from the elapsed machine cycle). Is stored, and if the time-out period exceeds a timeout period specified separately or input from the input / output unit 1, the reaction cell cleaning determination unit 3 determines that the reaction cell needs to be cleaned.

If none of the above applies, and the reaction cell cleaning is unnecessary, the reaction cell cleaning determination unit 3 determines that the reaction cell cleaning is unnecessary. Based on such a determination result, the apparatus control unit 2 instructs the reaction cell cleaning mechanism 13 whether or not the reaction cell cleaning 302 is necessary, and the reaction cell cleaning mechanism 13 selectively selects the reaction cell 12 that has received the cleaning instruction. Wash. In this way, if control is performed so that all cells before cell blank measurement have been washed, cell blank measurement can be performed within time ti, and even if urgent measurement is requested, time t3
Within -t1 + ti, a cell blank measurement can be performed and sample dispensing can begin.

After the measurement request in the normal sample mode and the urgent sample mode, the time until the sample dispensing operation is started is compared. This automatic analyzer is 800 per hour
It is assumed that measurement can be performed twice. In the automatic analyzer, t0 = 0 seconds, t1 = 63 seconds, t2 = 117 seconds, t3
= 121.5 seconds and ti = 4.5 seconds. In the normal sample mode, time t3-t0 = 121.5 seconds, and in the emergency sample mode, time t3-t1 + ti = 63 seconds or less. In the emergency sample mode, analysis can be started in almost half the time in the normal sample mode.

This automatic analyzer uses 125 microliters of detergent and 1800 of washing water for each reaction cell washing.
Assuming that microliters are consumed, if the device is operated for 24 hours in the emergency sample waiting mode, all reaction cells 1
When washing is performed on 2, the washing is performed 19,200 times, during which each consumption is 2.4 liters of detergent,
Wash water is 34.6 liters.

On the other hand, if only the reaction cells requiring washing are washed, if the number of analyzes is m, each consumption amount is as follows.
Detergent (125 x m) microliter, washing water (1
800 × m) microliter. After the emergency sample mode is set, the first time the reaction cell is washed,
Even if the determination logic of the reaction cell cleaning determination unit is set so that cleaning is always performed, the amount of consumption of the detergent is (1).
25 × (m + n)) microliter, washing water (18
(00 × (m + n)) microliter.

From the above description, it is understood that the washing of the reaction cell of the automatic analyzer can be minimized, and the consumption and time of the detergent and washing water can be reduced.

[0024]

According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the time and reduce the amount of washing water and detergent consumed during washing by selectively washing only the used ones of the reaction cells. And finally used in a series of analyses.
Even when washing of the reaction cell has been completed,
Automatic analyzer is provided which may be shortened the time to reach the pull dispensing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed time chart of one reaction cell.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relevant time chart of all reaction cells.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input / output part, 2 ... Device control part, 3 ... Reaction cell washing determination part, 4 ... Data processing part, 5 ... Reaction cell use history storage part, 6 ... Interface Face, 7 ... Analyzing unit, 11 ... Reaction disk, 12 ... Reaction cell, 13 ... Reaction cell cleaning mechanism, 14 ... Light source, 15 ... Spectrophotometer, 16 ... Sample disk, 17 ... sample dispensing mechanism, 18 ... reagent disk, 19 ... reagent dispensing mechanism, 20 ... stirring mechanism, 20
1. Start, 202 ... reaction cell washing, 203 ... cell blank measurement, 204 ... sample dispensing, 205 ... reagent dispensing / stirring, 206 ... measurement result output, 301. ..Start position stop, 302 ... reaction cell washing, 303 ... cell blank measurement, 304 ... sample dispensing, 305 ... reagent dispensing / stirring, 306 ... measurement result output, 307. ..Start position stop.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-5-18979 (JP, A) JP-A-6-160398 (JP, A) JP-A-1-167668 (JP, A) JP-A-6-167668 102282 (JP, A) JP-A-3-202772 (JP, A) JP-A-7-333228 (JP, A) JP-A-8-313537 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 35/00-35/10 JICST file (JOIS)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A reaction cell for reacting a sample with a reagent,
An automatic analyzer having an analysis unit for measuring a reaction in the reaction cell and an input / output unit for giving a measurement instruction to the analysis unit, comprising a plurality of reaction cells, and washing the reaction cells after use. Normal sample measurement mode in which the operation of the analysis unit is stopped when washing of the last used reaction cell is completed, regardless of the presence or absence of a measurement instruction from the input / output unit. Continue the operation, and during this time, before using each reaction cell, determine whether the reaction cell to be used needs cleaning,
An automatic analyzer having a function of switching between two modes of an emergency sample measurement mode for selectively cleaning only a reaction cell determined to require cleaning. 2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a reaction cell use history storage unit for storing whether or not each of the reaction cells has been used after the washing, for each of the reaction cells, An automatic analyzer having a function of determining whether to wash each reaction cell based on information stored in the reaction cell use history storage unit in the sample measurement mode. 3. An automatic analyzer which comprises a plurality of reaction cells for reacting a sample with a reagent, wherein said reaction cells are washed after use and reused, wherein said automatic analyzer is provided for washing said reaction cells. The operation including the operations of cell blank measurement, sample dispensing, reagent dispensing, and sample measurement is performed repeatedly, and at the start of each of the repeated measurement operations, the reaction cell used for measurement is washed. Whether or not it is necessary is determined based on information as to whether or not each of the reaction cells has been washed and whether or not the time after the washing has been performed is within a predetermined time for the washed reaction cells. An automatic analyzer characterized in that a reaction cell determined to be unnecessary is provided for use without washing the reaction cell.