JPH0843402A - Automatic chemical analysis device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lower the temperature of exhaust heat produced from a cold reserving means for insulating a reagent tray or a sample tray from heat. CONSTITUTION:The heat produced from a thermomodule 11 provided on the lower side of a reagent tray 9 is exhausted outside an instrument by a fin 12 and a fan 13 through an exhaust heat pipe 14. In the exhaust heat pipe 14, drainage from washing water for washing a pipette probe 7, constant temperature water overflowing a thermostat 3 and dew water of the reagent tray 9 flows through drainpipes 5, 5' and 5'', a drain tray 15 and a drain tube 16. Accordingly, the heat in the exhaust heat pipe 14 is subjected to heat exchange in the drain tube 16 and the temperature thereof lowers.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer for measuring the concentration or activity value of a target component in a sample containing multiple components such as blood and urine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sample sampling mechanism for dispensing a sample into a reaction container along an annular reaction line in which the reaction containers are arranged and conveyed in a line in an analysis section of an automatic chemical analyzer.
Single-multi-system automatic chemical analysis that has at least a reagent injection mechanism that dispenses a reagent into a reaction container in which a sample is injected, an absorptiometer that measures the absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction container, and a cleaning mechanism that cleans the reaction container The device is known,
A schematic diagram of the general configuration of such a device is shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 32 is a reaction disk, which is intermittently rotated in the direction of arrow 35 by a rotary drive mechanism. An annular reaction line 35 is formed by arranging reaction vessels 34, which also serve as cuvettes, in a line along the circumference of the cuvette roller 33 of the reaction disk 32. A sample sampling mechanism 36 is arranged along the reaction line 35 for injecting a sample analyte into the reaction container 34.

In the sample sampling mechanism 36, sample cups 37 are arranged along the circumference of the sampling table 38, and a sample dispenser 49 is arranged to dispense a sample from the sample cup at the sample suction and collection position 43. ing. A sampling probe 40 is provided at the tip of the sample dispenser 45, and the probe 40 moves along the movement path 41 between the reaction container at the sample dispensing position 44 and the sample cup at the sample suction and sampling position 43. A cleaning pot 42 is provided on the moving path 41 so that the probe 40 can be cleaned.

A reagent injection mechanism 46 is arranged along the reaction line 35 in order to inject the reagent into the reaction container into which the sample has been dispensed. In the reagent injection mechanism 46, the reagent containers 47 are arranged along the circumference of the reagent tray 48,
A reagent dispenser 49 is arranged to dispense a reagent from the reagent container at the reagent suction / collection position 53. Reagent Dispenser 49
A reagent probe 50 is provided at the tip of the probe 50, and the probe 50 moves along the movement path 51 between the reaction container at the reagent dispensing position 54 and the reagent container at the reagent aspirating and collecting position 53. A cleaning pot 52 is arranged on the moving path 51 so that the probe 50 can be cleaned. The reagent tray 48 is cooled by a thermo module (not shown) due to deterioration of the reagent.

A washing and dehydrating device 56 is further arranged along the reaction line 35, and an absorptiometer 57 is also arranged along the reaction line 35.

[0007]

However, in the conventional configuration, since the reagent tray 18 is cooled by the thermo module, the amount of heat of the cooled portion is generated, and the heat is generated by the fin and the fan. , It had to be discharged out of the device.

Therefore, the temperature of the inspection room rises due to the exhaust heat of the apparatus, and a means for cooling the inspection room, such as a cooler, is required, and the temperature does not decrease depending on the capacity of the cooler and the apparatus cannot be used. There were cases.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a novel automatic chemical analysis device which suppresses the exhaust heat of the device.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention dispenses a sample from a sample tray to a reaction disk in which reaction vessels are arranged and conveyed in a constant temperature bath and to the reaction vessel. Sample sampling mechanism, reagent injection mechanism that dispenses reagent from reagent tray into reaction container in which sample is injected, cooling means that keeps the reagent tray and / or sample tray cool, and light absorption that measures the absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction container In an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a photometer, a cleaning mechanism for cleaning each of the reaction container, the sample sampling mechanism, and the reagent injection mechanism, and a drive mechanism for driving the reaction disk, cooling heat exhausting means is attached to the cold keeping means. In addition, a heat exchanger is arranged in the cooling heat exhausting means.

Here, the reaction disk may be anything as long as a plurality of reaction vessels are arranged and driven integrally, for example, a circular turntable in which a plurality of reaction vessels are arranged on the outer peripheral surface, and a plurality of chain belts. For example, the one in which reaction vessels are connected is applicable. The drive mechanism of the reaction disk is, for example, a gear and a pinion are connected, and the pinion is driven by a motor. The reaction container is preferably a glass cuvette made by Pyrex, which is used for absorbance analysis when performing direct photometry. Further, the reaction container is stored in a constant temperature bath because the reaction is carried out at a constant temperature.

The sample tray is, for example, a circular turntable in which a plurality of sample containers are installed on the outer peripheral surface,
For example, a rectangular rack with multiple sample containers inserted. When using a rack, move it to the sample dispensing position with a belt conveyor. For the sample sampling mechanism, for example, a nozzle connected to a syringe pump can be used, and it is preferable that the nozzle can reciprocate between the sample tray and the reaction disk.

As the reagent tray, for example, a circular turntable similar to the above-mentioned sample tray or a rectangular box-shaped one can be used, but the reagent tray is not limited thereto. Note that the sample tray and the reagent tray are made of the same member by, for example, forming a plurality of concentric holes on a circular turntable, installing the sample container on the outermost periphery, and installing the reagent container on the inner periphery. It can also be configured. Like the sample sampling mechanism, the reagent injection mechanism can use, for example, a nozzle connected to a syringe pump,
The nozzle is preferably one that can reciprocate between the reagent tray and the reaction line. The cooling means is not particularly limited,
For example, a thermo module, an aquarium maintained at a low temperature, a refrigerator, and the like are all applicable. The cold storage temperature is controlled by the type of sample and reagent.

The absorptiometer consists of a photometer used for ordinary absorption analysis, that is, a light source, a spectroscope, and a detector. As the light source, a deuterium lamp, a tungsten iodine lamp, or the like can be used. For this, a photodiode array can be used. The photometric method may be either a direct photometric method in which the reaction tube is directly metered or a flow cell method in which the sample is sucked from the reaction tube into the flow cell to perform photometry. Further, the absorptiometer may be one that moves inside the reaction disk or one that is fixedly installed in each reaction container.

Any cleaning mechanism may be used as long as it can clean each of the reaction container, the sample sampling mechanism, and the reagent injection mechanism. For example, a nozzle of the sample sampling mechanism or the reagent injection mechanism is inserted into a cup containing cleaning water. For example, those performed by spraying cleaning water onto the reaction vessel from a nozzle are applicable.

The cooling heat discharging means discharges heat taken from the reagent tray and the sample tray by the cooling means to the outside of the apparatus, and is generally composed of a fin, a fan, and a heat exhaust pipe connected to the fin. is there. The heat exchanger may be anything as long as it can exchange the heat of the exhaust heat from the cooling heat exhausting means to lower the temperature. For example, a reaction vessel, a sample sampling mechanism, and a reagent are provided in the exhaust heat pipe of the cooling heat exhausting means. Examples include a drainage pipe of the washing water of the injection mechanism, an overflow pipe of the constant temperature bath or a reagent tray, and a drainage pipe of the condensed water of the sample tray, which are connected to each other. As a result, existing equipment can be used effectively and no special heat exchanger is required.

[0017]

According to the present invention, when the heat taken from the reagent tray and the sample tray by the cold keeping means is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the cooling heat discharging means, a heat exchanger is arranged in the path to discharge the exhaust heat. Lower the temperature.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic side view of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a disk-shaped reaction disk, which is intermittently rotated by a rotation drive mechanism (not shown). Around the circumference of the reaction disk 1, reaction vessels 2 which also serve as cuvettes are arranged at equal intervals to form an annular reaction line.

The reaction vessel 2 is immersed in a constant temperature bath and kept at a constant temperature. The water in the constant temperature bath is kept at a constant water level, and the overflow portion overflows into the drainage container 4. The constant temperature water overflowing into the drainage container 4 is drained through the drainage pipe 5 connected to the lower part of the container.

A sample dispenser 6 is arranged along the outer periphery of the reaction disk 1 for injecting a sample into the reaction container 2. The sample dispenser 6 comprises a syringe pump (not shown) and a pipetter probe 7 connected to the syringe pump.
Moves between the reaction container at the sample dispensing position of the reaction disk 1 and the sample cup (not shown) at the sample suction / collection position of the sample tray (not shown). A washing cup 8 is provided on the moving path of the probe 7 so that the probe 7 can be washed. In addition, washing water is introduced into the washing cup 8 from the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the drainage thereof is drained through a drainage pipe 5 ′ connected to the lower portion of the cup.

Further, in order to inject the reagent into the reaction container in which the sample is dispensed, the reagent tray 9 is provided on the outer periphery of the reaction disk 1.
Is arranged. This reagent tray consists of double tanks,
A plurality of reagent containers 10 are arranged in the inner tank, and a drainage pipe 5 ″ for discharging condensed water is connected between the inner tank and the outer tank. A thermo module 11, which is a cooling means, is installed below the reagent tray 9. And the thermo-module 11 reagent tray 9
The surface in contact with is cooled and the opposite surface is heated. The generated heat is exhausted to the outside of the device via the fins 12, the fan 13, and the exhaust heat pipe (air duct) 14. A reagent injection mechanism (not shown) is arranged around the circumference of the reagent tray 9 to dispense the reagent from the reagent container at the reagent suction / collection position to the reaction container.

The drainage water of the drainage pipes 5, 5 ', 5 "is collected in a drainage tray 15 and drained out of the apparatus through a drainage tube 16. At this time, a part of the drainage tube 16 is provided in the exhaust heat pipe 14. Via the communication port, enter the exhaust heat pipe 14,
It is drained to the outside of the device through the pipe 14. Drainage tube 16
Is made of a tube with good thermal conductivity,
The heat inside and the water inside the drainage tube 16 are heat-exchanged. Therefore, the drainage tube 16 serves as a heat exchanger.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an outer wall of the apparatus, and although not shown, the apparatus further has a washing and dehydrating device arranged along the reaction disk, and further an absorptiometer along the reaction disk. It is arranged.

The operation of the present apparatus having the above-described structure is performed as follows.

The reaction disk 1 is driven to position one of the empty reaction containers 2 at the sample dispensing position, and a fixed amount of the sample collected by the pipetter probe 7 of the sample dispenser 6 is dispensed into the reaction container 2. Note. After the sample is dispensed, the reaction disk 1 is moved one round (or half a circle) +1 pitch, and then the sample is similarly dispensed to the reaction container which has reached the sample dispensing position. In addition, if the water in the constant temperature bath accommodating the reaction container 2 overflows, it is collected in the drainage tray 15 by the drainage pipe 5 and flows into the drainage tube 16 at any time.

The probe 7 is washed by the washing cup 8 for each dispensing, and the washing water is collected in the drain tray 15 by the drain pipe 5'and flows into the drain tube 16.

When the reaction container into which the sample is dispensed moves and is positioned at the reagent dispensing position, a certain amount of reagent is sampled from the reagent container 10 in the reagent tray 9 by a probe (not shown), and then the reagent is added to the reaction container. Dispense into 2. Reagent tray 9
Is cooled by the thermo module 11, and the dew condensation water generated thereby is discharged from the drain pipe 5 "to the drain tray 1".
5, flowing into the drainage tube 16. The exhaust heat from the thermo module 11 is exhausted to the outside of the device via the exhaust heat pipe 14.

The absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction container 2 is measured when the reaction disk 2 makes one round (or half round) and passes through the absorptiometer 27.

During such measurement and dispensing, the drainage tube 1
Since the water always flows through 6, the exhaust heat pipe 14
The heat inside is reduced by the drainage tube 16.

In the above configuration, the waste water used for lowering the temperature of the exhaust heat from the thermo module 11 is the overflow of the constant temperature water, the washing water of the probe 7,
Although the condensed water in the reagent tray is used, the present invention is not limited to these, and may be cleaning water for cleaning the reagent probe or cleaning water for cleaning the reaction container.

Further, washing water for washing the probe may be introduced into the washing cup after passing through the exhaust heat pipe 14. By doing so, the temperature of the washing water rises and the washing effect increases.

[0033]

According to the present invention, the temperature of the exhaust heat from the cold insulation means is lowered and then exhausted to the outside of the apparatus, so that the temperature of the inspection chamber is not raised. In particular, when the waste water of the device is used for the heat exchanger, the temperature of exhaust heat can be lowered without special equipment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Schematic diagram of the whole automatic chemical analyzer

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Reaction disk 2: Reaction vessel 3: Constant temperature bath 4: Drainage vessel 5, 5 ', 5 ": Drainage pipe 8: Washing cup 9: Reagent tray 11: Thermo module 12: Fin 13: Fan 14: Exhaust heat pipe 15: Drainage tray 16: Drainage tube

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reaction disk in which reaction vessels are arranged and conveyed in a line in a constant temperature bath, a sample sampling mechanism for dispensing a sample from a sample tray into the reaction vessel, and a reagent tray into a reaction vessel into which the sample has been injected. Of a reagent injection mechanism for dispensing the reagent, a cooling means for keeping the reagent tray and / or the sample tray cool, an absorptiometer for measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction container, the reaction container / sample sampling mechanism / reagent injection mechanism. In an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a cleaning mechanism for cleaning each of them and a drive mechanism for driving the reaction disk, a cooling heat exhausting means is attached to the cold keeping means and a heat exchanger is arranged in the cooling heat exhausting means. Automatic chemical analyzer that can be installed.