JPH05302927A - Analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to pull out a rubber stopper without any contact of a hand on a container by arranging an unplugging means for pulling out the rubber stopper that is fitted in the container in front of the sample sucking position of an auto-sampler device. CONSTITUTION:A blood sample, for which hemoglobin inspection is instructed, is contained in a sample container 4. For the sample container 4, a control device outputs the instructions to an unplugging device 50 and an agitating device, which are arranged at the downstream side from an information reading position so as to pull out a rubber stopper 40 and to agitate the content. An operating part 59, which drives an engaging body 57 of the unplugging device 50, moves and operates a link 60 back and forth by the rotating action of a rotary body 61. The rubber stopper 40 is pulled out of the container 4 by the back and forth operation of the link 60. The operating part 59 is driven and controlled so that an engaging end part 57a of the engaging body 57 is securely hooked and engages with the step part of the rubber stopper 40 and then the rubber stopper 40 is completely pulled out of the opening part of the container 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, an automatic analyzer for measuring hemoglobin and the like and an analyzer such as a blood cell counter, and more particularly, to a rubber stopper fitted to a container such as a blood collection tube automatically. The present invention relates to an analyzer having a pulling function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in an analyzer for analyzing hemoglobin, blood cell count, etc., a container fitted with a rubber stopper cannot be placed on the machine as it is. Or a means such as directly inserting a pipette or the like into the rubber stopper to aspirate the sample.

However, the former manual removal of the rubber stopper is very inefficient and has a risk of blood infection, and the latter pipette. The method of directly piercing the rubber plug into the rubber stopper to aspirate the sample has the problem that the pipette is easily clogged or broken, and the mechanism becomes very complicated. Was there.

The present invention was devised in view of the above situation, and the purpose thereof is to be able to pull out the container without touching the container at all, and the structure is simple and a failure may occur. The present invention is intended to provide an analyzer equipped with a cap opening means with less leakage.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is based on the technical premise of an analyzer having an autosampler device, and is located before the sample suction position of the autosampler device. On the side, a cap opening means for removing the rubber plug fitted in the container is arranged.

[0006]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the case where the present invention is applied to an automatic analyzer for performing biochemical analysis or immunological analysis will be described.
A detailed description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic analyzer A according to this embodiment is constructed so as to be able to measure hemoglobin in addition to general biochemical analysis and immunological analysis.

That is, the automatic analyzer A according to this embodiment
Is a ring-shaped reaction container holder 1, 50 reaction containers 2 removably held in the reaction container holder 1, and the reaction container holder 1 is rotationally controlled so that each of the reaction containers 2 is removed. A drive device (not shown) for transferring to each of a sample dispensing position a, a reagent dispensing position b, an optical measurement position c, and a cleaning position d, and a sample container 4 at the sample dispensing position a.
The sampler device 5 for dispensing a required amount of the sample into the reaction container 2 from inside, the reagent pipette device 6 for dispensing the reagent corresponding to the measurement item into the reaction container 2, and the reaction color state of the sample and the reagent An optical measuring device 7 for optically performing colorimetric measurement, an electrolyte analyzer 8 for measuring the electrolyte of the sample supplied by the sampling device 5, and a cleaning device 9 for cleaning the inside of the reaction container 2 after the optical measurement. , And the rubber attached to the sample container 4 is provided on the upstream side of the sample suction position e of the auto sampler device (not shown) in which the sample container 4 is intermittently transferred to the sample suction position e. An opening device 50 for pulling out the stopper 40 is provided. In the figure, reference numeral 10 is a power source, 11 is a control device, 12 is an operation unit, 14 is a temperature control device, and 15 is a C
A display device such as RT, 16 is a floppy disk driver into which a floppy disk for storing command data and analysis data for driving and controlling the automatic analyzer is detachably inserted, 17 is a printer, and 18 is a reagent. Pump 1
Reference numeral 9 indicates a sump link pump, respectively.

The reaction vessel holder 1 is formed in a substantially concave shape so that the reaction vessel 2 can be held therein, and can be rotated stepwise in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 by a driving device such as a pulse motor. Drive control.

That is, the reaction container holder 1 dispenses the first reagent corresponding to the measurement item into the reaction container 2 at the reagent dispensing position b which is the starting point for starting the apparatus from the ready state, and then the reaction is performed. The container holder 1 is rotated clockwise by 17 containers (122.4 degrees) in FIG. 1 (hereinafter, this transfer state is referred to as the first step rotation), the reaction container 2 is transferred to the sample dispensing position a, and After a predetermined sample is dispensed into the reaction container 2 at the sample dispensing position a, the reaction container holder 1 is again placed in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 for 82 containers (590.4 degrees).
By rotating (hereinafter, this transfer state is referred to as the second step rotation), the reaction container 2 at the sample dispensing position a is advanced by one container (7.2 degrees) from the reagent dispensing position b, that is, By moving the reaction container 2 to the stirring position h and repeating this, as a result, the drive control is performed so as to intermittently transfer each reaction container 2 counterclockwise in FIG. The second reagent is dispensed into another reaction container 2 at the reagent dispensing position b when one reaction container 2 is set at the sample dispensing position a. Of course, the second step rotation may be set so as to advance a distance of 68 containers (489.6 degrees) counterclockwise in FIG. At this time, the reaction vessels 2 are intermittently transferred one by one in the clockwise direction in FIG.

On the other hand, the reaction vessel 2 is constructed in the same manner as a known transparent prismatic reaction vessel, and as described above, 50 reaction vessels 2 are arranged in the reaction vessel holder 1 at regular intervals. Held in. Of course, in order to facilitate the attachment / detachment work of the reaction container 2 to / from the reaction container holder 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the reaction container 2 may be configured to be held in reaction container cassettes in groups of five. ..

The sample container 4 is formed of a material such as synthetic resin in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and a plurality of sample containers 4 are held by an endless belt-shaped chain rack 41. Although not shown, an auto sampler device is provided. By a driving device (not shown), the sample container 4 is intermittently transferred sequentially in the order of the information reading position e ₁ by the barcode reader R → the opening position e ₂ → the stirring position e ₃ → the sample suction position e ₄ .

The configuration of this auto sampler device is as follows.
For example, since a known intermittent transfer mechanism using gears or the like can be applied as appropriate, detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

That is, on the outer peripheral surface of the sample container 4,
A label (not shown) in which the information (for example, patient registration number, examination type, hospital coat, etc.) regarding the stored sample is bar-coded and printed is attached, and the information is arranged at the information reading position e ₁ . The barcode reader R reads the data at the time of sampling and automatically inputs the data to the control device. The control device reads the information from the sample container 4 containing the blood sample instructed for the hemoglobin test. With respect to the opening device 50 and the stirring device (not shown) arranged downstream from the position e ₁ , the rubber plug 40 is pulled out, and
Output instructions to stir. Of course, the bar code reader R discriminates the general sample container 4 to which the rubber stopper 40 is not fitted based on the information from the bar code label and sends the information to the control device. In response to this, the control device is configured to output a command to stop the opening device 50 and the stirring device in response to this.

At the opening position e ₂ , the opening device 5 is opened.
The work of pulling out the rubber plug 40 by 0 is performed.

The opening device 50, as shown in FIG.
A flat plate-shaped base member 51, a pair of support members 52 and 53 provided upright on both front side end portions of the base member 51, and rotatably above the respective support members 52 and 53 via a shaft 54. The rotation member 55 is pivotally supported.

The base member 51 includes the support member 52,
The sample container 4 is configured to have a space having a width dimension in which one sample container 4 is set in the lateral direction shown in FIG. 3 from the portion where the sample container 4 is erected, and the sample container 4 is the autosampler device. It is configured to be successively carried in and out one by one into the above-mentioned space via the drive mechanism of.

The rotating member 55 has a horizontal plate portion 56.
A locking body 57 extending downward from the front edge portion of the horizontal plate portion 56, a support piece portion 58 extending downward from both depth side end portions of the horizontal plate portion 56, and a horizontal plate portion. The operating portion 59 fixed to the upper surface of 56 and a drive device for reciprocally rotating the operating portion 59 within a predetermined range. The shaft 54 is provided below the supporting piece portions 58. It is pivotally supported.

The drive device for reciprocally rotating the operating part 59 has a link 60 whose one end is rotatably supported by the operating part 59, and the other end of which is rotatably supported. The rotating body 61 is supported, and a motor (not shown) for rotating the rotating body 61 is configured. Of course, this drive device is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and any known mechanism can be applied as long as it has a mechanism for reciprocally rotating the operating portion 59 within a predetermined range.

On the other hand, the rotating member 55 is stopped in a state shown by a solid line in FIG. 2, that is, when the horizontal plate portion 56 is in a horizontal state and stops so as not to rotate further in the counterclockwise direction from the horizontal state. It is regulated by (not shown). Of course, clockwise rotation in FIG. 2 is not restricted.

Further, the locking body 57 has a locking end portion 57a of the locking member 57 which is fitted to the sample container 4 when the rotating member 55 is set in the horizontal state. The engaging upper end portion 57a of the locking body 57 is formed in a sawtooth shape so that the horizontal plate portion 56 is set in a horizontal state. The height position is set so that it does not come into contact with the upper end portion of the sample container 4 set to the open position when it is open, and that it bites into the head of the rubber stopper 40 mounted on the sample container 4.

In this embodiment, windows are formed above and below the sample container holding portion of the chain rack 41 in order to prevent the sample container 4 from rising when the sample container 4 is opened. By inserting the lifting pressers 64 and 65 that press the upper end portion and the lower end portion from opposite directions, it is possible to surely perform the opening operation.

Although not shown, of course, a known pressure sensor is provided at the locking end 57a of the locking body 57, and the pressure sensor makes contact with the locking end 57a of the locking body 57. It is also possible to control the opening operation of the rotating member 55 and surely prevent the sample container 4 from being damaged by configuring the existing member to distinguish between the sample container 4 and the rubber stopper 40. ..

On the other hand, the rubber plug recovery container 62 is formed so that its cross section is substantially concave and its plane shape is substantially convex, and the length dimension thereof is such that the rear end portion 62a is the rear end portion of the base member 51. The corner fittings 63 fixed to both sides are positioned in abutment with each other, and the front end portion 62b has the front ends 62b.
It is formed to have a length dimension that is flush with the front end portion of 53.

Further, the front surface plate 62c of the rubber plug recovery container 62 is formed to be inclined, and the locking body 57 is formed.
Is engaged with the stepped portion of the rubber plug 40 and is rotated about the shaft 54 as a fulcrum to pull out the rubber plug 40,
The pulled-out rubber plug 40 falls by its own weight in the direction of the rubber plug collection container 62, rolls on the inclined surface of the front plate 62c, and is housed in the rubber plug collection container 62. As a matter of course, the rubber plug recovery container 62 is not limited to the shape of the illustrated embodiment, and may be of any suitable shape as long as the rubber plug 40 pulled out by the locking body 57 can be reliably stored. Can be used.

The actuating portion 59 for driving the locking body 57 of the thus constructed cap opening device 50 moves the link 60 forward and backward by the rotary operation of the rotary body 61, and the link 6
The rubber stopper 40 is pulled out from the sample container 4 by the forward / backward movement of 0. Therefore, the operation of the operation portion 59 is performed in synchronization with the operation of loading / unloading the chain rack 41 to / from the open position.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the operating portion 59, first, the locking end portion 57a of the locking body 57 is attached to the rubber plug 4.
As shown in FIG. 5, the rubber stopper 40 bites into the head portion of 0 and is rotated in the opening direction by a required angle, and the rubber stopper 40 is once pulled up from the opening portion of the sample container 4, and then the locking member 57 is inserted.
6 is returned to the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 6, and then the locking body 57 is rotated again in the opening direction to lock the locking end 57a of the locking body 57 with the rubber plug. After being surely engaged with the step portion of 40, the rubber stopper 40 is drive-controlled so as to be completely pulled out from the opening portion of the sample container 4, as shown in FIG. 7. This is because when the rubber stopper 40 is formed of, for example, raw rubber having a high elasticity, the adhesion between the rubber stopper 40 and the sample container 4 is large, and as a result, the locking body 57 rotates once. In the operation, there is a possibility that the rubber plug 40 will be left unplugged. Therefore, in order to completely prevent this, the operation of the locking body 57 is controlled as described above.

Further, in the uncapping device 50 according to the above-described embodiment, in order to determine whether the rubber plug is left unplugged, although not shown, for example, a limit switch or the like is provided at the outlet end of the rack transfer path of the uncapping device 50. If a rubber stopper detection means is provided and the rubber stopper is left unremoved, the remaining rubber stopper comes into contact with the limit switch to turn off each drive device and transfer the container holding the remaining rubber stopper. And automatically stop the rotation member at the rotation upper limit position of the locking body,
A means for notifying this state by an alarm or a lamp is provided. In this case, the rack holding the residual rubber stopper is removed from the transfer path, and the start switch or the reset switch is turned on again to restart the cap opening operation.

Of course, the presence / absence of the remaining rubber plug is detected by a detection means such as an optical sensor. If the residual rubber plug is present, the rack transfer is stopped as it is and the rotating member is used. It is also possible to re-drive the above-mentioned procedure and to pull out the remaining rubber stopper again.

The sampling device 5 is composed of an arm 5b whose one end is axially supported by a shaft 5a and a pipette 5c arranged at the other end of the arm 5b. The pipette 5c is After sucking a required amount of the sample at the sample suction position e, the sample is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 to discharge the sucked sample to the reaction container 2 at the sample dispensing position a, or the counterclockwise direction in FIG. It is configured to rotate in the direction to supply the aspirated sample into the flow cell (not shown) at the sample dispensing position f of the electrolyte analyzer 8.

A reagent pipette device 6 for dispensing a reagent corresponding to a measurement item comprises a reagent container holder 6a arranged in a ring shape on the outer periphery of the reaction container holder 1 and the reagent holder 6a in the clockwise direction in FIG. Is a drive device (not shown) for controlling rotation in the counterclockwise direction, a required number of first reagent containers 6c or second reagent containers 6d that are detachably installed in parallel in the reagent container holder 6a, 1 inside the reaction container 2 at the reagent dispensing position b by sucking a required amount of the first or second reagent from the inside of the reagent container 6c or 6d having reached the reagent aspirating position g ₁ or the second reagent aspirating position g ₂ Reagent pipette 6 for dispensing the reagent aspirated into
The reagent for measuring hemoglobin is contained in the first reagent container 6c or / and the second reagent container 6d.

The reagent container holder 6a is controlled to rotate in the normal and reverse directions according to a command from the control device, and the reagent container 6 corresponding to the measurement item.
c or 6d is transferred to the reagent suction positions g ₁ and g ₂ .
The reagent suction positions g ₁ , g of the reagent container 6c or 6d
_As the transfer means to ₂ , it is possible to apply a known moving mechanism such as a slide rail and a step motor drive,
Further, each of the first and second reagent containers 6c or 6d to be set is set at a predetermined position and the type of the stored reagent is stored in the control device.

Next, the reagent pipette 6e is arranged at the other end of the arm 6g which rotates about the shaft 6f, and the reagent pipette 6e is transferred to the washing position after the reagent dispensing.
Cleaning work is performed.

The stirring member 21 attached to the arm 6g is inserted into the reaction container 2 at a position h one container upstream of the reagent dispensing position b in synchronization with the reagent suction operation of the reagent pipette 6e. Then, the mixed liquid (sample) of the sample and the reagent in the reaction container 2 is stirred and mixed. Of course, this stirring body 2
1 is transferred to the cleaning position after the stirring work and subjected to the cleaning work.

The optical measuring device 7 forming the detecting portion or the observation point includes all the reaction vessels 2 passing through the optical measuring position c.
It is a colorimetric measurement of the reaction state of the sample inside, and although it is not shown in detail in the figure, the light source and the measurement light from this light source are measured in the same manner as the configuration and operation of a known diffraction grating type optical measuring device. An optical system (not shown) that guides light through an optical fiber to irradiate the reaction container 2, a light dispersion element, and a light receiving element that receives the amount of light after the measurement light has passed through the reaction container 5 at predetermined wavelengths. The control device selects the absorbance value and the absorbance of the sample after the second reagent is dispensed from among these, and stores the data in the storage unit.

That is, the light quantity of the wavelength corresponding to the measurement item received by the light receiving element is converted into a voltage and the analysis value thereof is processed, a storage section for storing the measurement result, and an automatic analyzer. A data processing device including an operation unit / display for performing all operations and a printer performs arithmetic processing, and the result is output to the display device 15 or the printer 17 together with the reaction time course.

The washing device 9 is constructed in the same manner as a known multi-stage washing device having a washing water supply device 9a and a washing water draining device 9b. The washing operation by the washing device 9 is performed at the reagent dispensing position b. In step 2, the second reagent is dispensed in synchronization with the dispensing timing.

In the present invention, the respective mechanisms of the automatic analyzer and the cap opening device are not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and the known automatic analyzers and caps including other mechanisms are known. It is needless to say that the mechanism can be appropriately modified and applied, and the point is that all of the automatic sampler mechanisms of various analyzers such as blood cell counters that perform analysis on whole blood provided with the opening means are included in the present invention. It

[0039]

As described above, according to the analyzer of the present invention, it is not necessary to manually pull out the rubber stopper fitted to the sampling container, and the rubber stopper is not touched automatically. It can be pulled out, and since it is not necessary to pierce a rubber stopper with a pipette or the like to collect a blood sample, this kind of work can be greatly simplified and fully automated, and since the configuration is simple, there are few failures It has many excellent effects such as easy maintenance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view showing a schematic configuration of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side view showing an example of a cap opening device provided in the same automatic analyzer.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the same opening device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the locking end of the locking body is digging into the head of the rubber stopper in the step of pulling out the rubber stopper of the blood collection tube by the same opening device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state where the rubber stopper is pulled out part way by the locking body in the step of pulling out the rubber stopper of the blood collection tube by the same opening device.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the locking body is returned to its original position and the locking end portion of the locking body is engaged with the stepped portion of the rubber stopper in the process of pulling out the rubber stopper of the blood collection tube by the same opening device. FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state where the rubber stopper is pulled out from the container in the step of pulling out the rubber stopper of the blood collection tube by the same opening device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Automatic analyzer R Bar Code reader 4 Sample container 40 Rubber stopper 41 Chain rack 50 Opening device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An analyzer comprising an automatic sampler device, wherein an opening means for removing a rubber stopper fitted in a container is provided on the front side of the sample suction position of the automatic sampler device. Characteristic analyzer.