JPH019013Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention is an automatic sample supply device that is suitably used in automatic chemical analyzers such as liquid chromatography and discrete automatic analyzers for clinical tests. The present invention relates to a liquid quantitative dispensing device that can collect and supply a fixed amount of sample liquid sequentially, accurately, without waste, and without causing contamination between successive sample liquids without contacting each other.

A conventional device of this type has a configuration shown schematically in FIG. 1, for example. That is, 2
Using standard dispensing syringes 1 and 2, close the on-off valve 3 and pour the sample liquid 4 into the nozzle 5 using the syringe 1.
Next, in this state, open the on-off valve 6 to aspirate a fixed amount of the reagent solution 7 into the syringe 2, close the on-off valve 6, and open the on-off valve 3.
After that, push up syringes 1 and 2. At this time, since the nozzle 5 has been transferred to the reaction tube 8, the sample liquid in the syringe 1 and the reagent liquid in the syringe 2 are discharged from the nozzle 5 into the reaction tube 8 at a constant mixing ratio.

The disadvantage of the conventional example is that the sample quantitative syringe 1
Unless the measurement is extremely precise, it is impossible to accurately measure the sample liquid.

The reason why the precision of syringe 1 is required is that the mixing of reagent and sample liquid ranges from a few μl to a few microliters for a biochemical analyzer.
For a sample volume of several + μl, the reagent solution is about 100 μl.
The mixing ratio will be approximately twice that. Therefore, the quantitative error of the reagent solution does not have much influence on the mixing ratio, but the quantitative error of the sample liquid has a large influence because it is very small, and it affects the reaction results, resulting in a significant impact on the analytical results. This is because it will give a defect.

As mentioned above, since the amount of sample liquid is extremely small, it is not only difficult to manufacture this syringe 1 with high precision, but also due to wear due to changes in the piston head over time, expansion of the material due to temperature changes, etc. It has the disadvantage that it fluctuates.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2 as a prior art, liquid passages 13 and 13' having a fixed volume provided in a rotating part 12 inserted between fixed parts 11 and 11' are rotated around a central axis 14. sample liquid container 1
5. From the sample liquid passage consisting of the nozzle 16, the liquid passage 13' of the rotating part 12, the pump 17 and the overflowing liquid 18, to the discharge passage consisting of the reagent liquid 19, the pump 20, the liquid passage 13 of the rotating part 12, and the reaction tube 21. By rotating the rotating part 12, a fixed amount of sample liquid is cut out in the liquid passage 18 having a fixed volume, and the sample liquid is taken to the discharge passage, and the diluent or reagent liquid 19 is delivered to the reaction tube 21 by the pump 20.
There is a method that uses extrusion and discharge. The disadvantages of this prior art are as follows: (1) Since the rotating body 12 cuts off a fixed amount of the sample liquid and transfers it to the discharge passage, the rotating body 12
Liquid leakage occurs at the sliding part between the fixed parts 11 and 11'.

(2) Each liquid passage of the rotating body 12 and the fixed parts 11, 11'
It is not easy to align the connection hole with the liquid passage.

(3) It is impossible to mix a plurality of reagent solutions and dispense them into the reaction tube 21 at the same time.

(4) It is difficult to arbitrarily change the mixing ratio of sample liquid and reagent liquid.

(5) Dirt generated on the sliding surfaces of the rotating body 12 and the fixed bodies 11, 11' may be mixed into the sample liquid.

The present invention has been developed to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art as described above.The present invention does not require high suction and discharge precision of the suction and discharge device, and the liquid can be determined and transferred using the flow channels that have been widely used in the past. The present invention aims to provide a liquid dispensing device with a simple configuration that can be operated using only a switching device.

That is, the present invention includes a first nozzle and a first nozzle.
a liquid metering section constituted by a transfer pipe including a nozzle, one or more flow path switching devices placed in the metering section at a predetermined interval, and connected to the flow path switching device to transfer the first liquid to the a suction device for sucking the liquid into the metering section through the first nozzle; a second nozzle connected to the flow path switching device; a suction/discharge device for sucking the second liquid through the first nozzle and discharging the second liquid through the first nozzle together with the first liquid previously sucked into the liquid metering section; and a discharge means for causing discharge from the first nozzle via a switching device.

The present invention will be described in detail below based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a first nozzle that sucks and discharges a first liquid, such as a sample liquid 22, at its tip, and the transfer tube 23 including this first nozzle 21 constitutes a liquid metering section. That is, the liquid metering section is composed of the transfer pipes 23A, B, and C including the nozzle 21, and flow path switching devices 24, 25, and 26 are installed at predetermined intervals in the liquid metering section. It is interposed. However,
For example, in the length A of the liquid metering part,
10μl, 15μl for A+B length section, A+B+C
The length is set so that a liquid volume of 20 μl can be measured. Note that the measurement can be arbitrarily set by changing the length of the transfer tube 23, provided that the inner diameter of the transfer tube 23 is kept constant. 27 is a suction device, such as a syringe, for suctioning the sample liquid 22 into the liquid metering section, and is connected to each flow path switch 24, 25, 26 via each coupling tube 28, 29, 30, For example, when the flow path switching device 24 is operated to connect portions A and B of the transfer tube, and the flow path switching device 25 is operated to connect portion B of the transfer tube and the suction device 27, the suction device When the piston 31 of 27 is pulled, the sample liquid 22 is suctioned and extracted from the nozzle 21 through the A and B portions of the transfer tube and into the suction device 27 via the flow path switching device 24. That is, in that case, the first nozzle 2
The sample liquid 22 is the transfer pipe section of the liquid metering section that connects the flow path switcher 1 to the suction device 27.
It will be filled with.

Further, 32, 33, 34 are a plurality of second liquids of different types, for example, reagent liquids 35, 3.
6 and 37, respectively, and is a second nozzle group for suctioning the flow path switching devices 24 and 2, respectively.
Each reagent liquid 35, 3 is
6 and 37 are configured so that a predetermined amount of each can be suctioned separately. For example, syringes having pistons 41, 42, 43 are used as the second suction/exhaust devices 38, 39, 40. Reference numeral 44 denotes a liquid discharging means, such as a pump, connected to a flow path switching device 26 located at the end of the liquid metering section opposite to the nozzle 21 side, and each of the flow path switching devices 24, 25, and 26 When each part of the transfer pipe constituting the apparatus is switched to communicate only with the pump 44, air is sent into the transfer pipe so that all the liquid in the liquid metering part is discharged from the nozzle 21. At this time, the nozzle 21 is transferred to the reaction tube 45 by well-known means, so that all the liquid in the liquid metering section is discharged into the reaction tube 45.

In the above configuration, the sample liquid suction and reagent liquid suction operations will be explained.

First, the first nozzle 21 for sucking and discharging is inserted into the sample liquid 22 container using a well-known insertion mechanism. Now, if 15 μl of the sample liquid 22 is to be taken out in a quantitative manner, the flow path switch 24 is opened to connect the transfer pipe passages A and B that constitute the liquid metering section, and the next flow path switch 25 is so as to open only between the transfer pipe B and the coupling pipe 29 of the first suction device 27,
Opening and closing of these flow path switching devices 24 and 25 is controlled.

In this state, when the piston 31 of the suction device 27 is moved to the right in the figure and suctioned, the sample liquid 22
A of the transfer pipe 23 from the nozzle 21 to the liquid metering section,
It is sucked into the coupling tube 29 through the part B. When a small amount of the sample liquid enters the coupling tube 29, the piston 31 is stopped. The amount of sample liquid aspirated at this time was aspirated into parts A and B of the transfer tube and part of the coupling tube, so as mentioned earlier, we measured 10 μl in part A and 5 μl in part B. Since it is set so that the amount is A+B+α.

As described above, in the device of the present invention, it is not necessary to aspirate exactly 15 μl into sections A and B of the transfer tube constituting the liquid metering section by operating the piston of the suction device 27, and it is sufficient to aspirate as much as α amount. Note that it is more desirable that the α amount is smaller, since the sample amount is not wasted.
The sample amount can be kept to a minimum by moving the piston 31 of the suction device 27 by an arbitrary stroke under computer control.

Depending on the measurement item (e.g. GOT, GPT, etc.)
Alternatively, when the sample liquid is blood cells and a blood cell suspension is to be made, many types of reagent liquids are required depending on the diluent (saline solution, buffer solution, etc.). Or we will call it a test solution.

Second liquid, i.e. first, second and third reagents 3
5, 36, and 37 respectively have second nozzles 32,
33 and 34 are inserted.

Now, considering the case of sucking 300 ml of the second reagent 36, the suction/discharge device 39 corresponding to the specific second nozzle 33 inserted into the reagent in the second suction devices 38, 39, 40, and the specific The flow path switch 25 connected to the second nozzle 33 and the corresponding suction/discharge device 39 is controlled so that only the space between the nozzles 33 is opened, and the piston 4 of the suction/discharge device 39 is opened.
2 to aspirate the second reagent 36 into its aspirator 39.

The above sample liquid 22 suction step and reagent 3
Through the suction step 6, a predetermined amount of the sample liquid and reagent are suctioned into the liquid metering section and suction/discharge device 39.

Next, the operation of discharging the sucked sample liquid and reagent will be explained.

First, the first nozzle 21 is transferred from the container of the sample liquid 22 to the reaction tube 45 by any known means. Next, only the flow path switching devices 24 and 25 are controlled so that portions A and B in the transfer pipe 23 of the liquid metering section and the corresponding suction/discharge device 39 are opened, and then the piston 42 of the suction/discharge device 39 is opened. By pushing up the 300 ml of reagent sucked into the liquid metering section through the flow path switching device 25 from the suction/discharge device 39, a reaction occurs through the first nozzle 21 along with the sample liquid sucked into the liquid metering section. tube 4
Discharge to 5. Next, all the flow path switching devices 24, 25, and 26 placed at predetermined intervals in the liquid metering section are set so that only communication is established between all of the transfer pipes constituting the liquid metering section and the pump 44, which is the discharge means. After the control, the pump 44 sends clean air into the liquid metering section, and the sample liquid and reagent remaining in the liquid metering section are completely discharged from the nozzle 21 into the reaction tube 45.

As a result, the 15 μl of sample liquid that had been aspirated into parts A and B of the liquid metering section and the 300 ml of reagent that had been injected into the liquid metering section by the suction/discharge device 39 were accurately distributed. This means that the liquid was dispensed into the reaction tube 45.

In this case, +α sucked into the coupling tube 29
The sample liquid is not discharged into the reaction tube 45,
It remains in the coupling tube 29.

After dispensing as described above, the nozzle 21
Transfer to a cleaning tank (not shown). flow path switching device 24,
After controlling 25 so that only parts A and B of the liquid metering part and the suction device 27 are opened, the piston 31 of the suction device 27 is pushed in to open the flow path indicated by 25. The amount α of the sample liquid remaining in the coupling tube 29 to the suction device 27 connected to the switching device is all discharged to the liquid metering section.

Next, all the flow path switching devices 24, 25, 2
6 is controlled so that only the nozzle 21 and the pump 44 are completely opened, and then the pump 44 is operated to wash all of the sample liquid α amount and reagents present in the liquid metering part from the nozzle 21. It is discharged into a tank, and with this, one cycle of suction and discharge is completed.

In the above embodiments, the sample liquid volume is determined by the effective length of the transfer pipe 23 constituting the liquid metering section, and the flow path switching devices 24, 25 placed at a predetermined interval in the liquid metering section.
It is easy to change by controlling 26.

For example, if only part A of the liquid metering part is used as the effective length, the effective length will be 10 μl, and if up to part B is used, the effective length will be 15 μl as explained in the above example, and C
If the effective length is up to the part, 20 μl of sample liquid can be collected.

Further, the reagent can be selected by controlling the opening and closing of a flow path switch connected to a nozzle that sucks a desired reagent. That is, the suction and exhaust devices 38, 39, 4
Which of the pistons 41, 42, 43 of 0 is used is determined depending on which of the reagents 35, 36, 37 is used, and the corresponding flow path switching device 24, 2 is determined.
5, 36 to communicate between any one of the second nozzles 32, 33, 34 for suctioning a desired reagent and any of the corresponding suction/discharge devices 38, 39, 40, and connect the corresponding suction/discharge device. The reagent amount can be arbitrarily set by the amount of piston movement. Further, it is also possible to selectively aspirate a plurality of reagents in the same manner.

Note that by using one second nozzle for reagent suction, a plurality of reagent containers containing different reagents are placed on a turntable, and the reagents are selectively applied to the position of the second nozzle. If multiple types of reagents are used for dispensing, only one flow path switching device, second nozzle, and suction/discharge device will be required. Embodiments are also included in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a more specific embodiment of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and the same parts as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the flow path switching devices 24, 2
5, 26 are switching valves 46, 47, 48 and on-off valve 4
9, 50, and 51 are arranged in pairs.

In this example, all of the section A, section B, and section C including the suction and discharge nozzle 21 of the transfer pipe 23 constituting the liquid metering section are connected to each flow path switching device 24, 25, 2.
The reagent nozzles 32, 33, 34 communicate with the liquid discharge means, that is, the pump 44, through the switching valves 46, 47, 48 of 6, and the respective reagent nozzles 32, 33, 34
2, 33, and 34 are connected to corresponding suction/exhaust devices 38, 39, and 40 via respective switching valves 46, 47, and 48 of the flow path switching devices. Also, by rotating the "knobs" 52, 53, 54 of each switching valve 46, 47, 48, the pairs of valve holes 55 and 56, 57 and 58, and 59 and 60 are interchanged. In addition, the transfer pipe A section and the coupling pipe 28 to the suction device 27, the transfer pipe B section and the coupling pipe 29, and the transfer pipe C section and the coupling pipe 30, which constitute the liquid metering section, are connected to the switching valve 4, respectively.
It is opened and closed by on-off valves 49, 50 and 51 which operate in conjunction with the switching operations of 6, 47 and 48. In the illustrated example, all of the on-off valves 49, 50, and 51 are sealed, and are configured to be opened at desired times during the suction and discharge processes.

Each flow path switching device 24, 2 configured in this way
The operations in the suction and ejection processes 5 and 26 as well as the operation for quantitative dispensing are exactly the same as those shown in FIG. 3, so the explanation will be omitted.

As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention is based on the length of the transfer pipe to the predetermined flow switching device of the flow switching device placed at a predetermined interval in the liquid metering section composed of the transfer pipe. Therefore, since the sample liquid is collected quantitatively, the sample liquid can be collected with less wastage.
Moreover, not only can the liquid be precisely measured using only the flow path switching device, but also the mixing ratio of the sample liquid and reagent can be varied as desired, and the sample liquid and reagent can be dispensed without direct contact with the atmosphere. In addition, the structure is relatively simple, and the transfer tube that makes up the liquid metering section has a fixed inner diameter, but by simply changing the length, various quantitative values can be obtained, making it easy to manufacture. It also has the effect of

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are schematic configuration diagrams showing different conventional examples, FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an embodiment shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 21...first nozzle, 22...sample liquid,
23... Transfer pipe constituting the liquid metering section, 24, 2
5, 26...Flow path switching device, 27...Suction device, 2
8, 29, 30... Connection pipe to suction device, 31,
41, 42, 43... Piston, 32, 33, 3
4... Second nozzle, 35, 36, 37... Reagent liquid, 38, 39, 40... Suction and exhaust device, 44... Pump, 45... Reaction tube, 46, 47, 48... Switching valve, 49 , 50, 51...Opening/closing valve, 52, 5
3, 54...knob, 55, 56, 57, 58,
59...Valve hole.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a first nozzle, a liquid metering section composed of a transfer pipe including the first nozzle, one or more flow path switching devices placed at a predetermined interval in the liquid metering section, and the flow path switching device and the first liquid is connected to the first liquid.
a suction device for sucking the liquid into the metering section through the nozzle; a second nozzle connected to the flow path switching device;
a suction/discharge device for suctioning the second liquid through the nozzle and discharging the second liquid through the first nozzle together with the first liquid previously sucked into the liquid metering section; A liquid dispensing device comprising: a discharge means for discharging from the first nozzle via the flow path switching device.