JPH0358469B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a reaction tube exchange device in an automatic biochemical analyzer, and in particular, controls the transfer of reaction tubes by confirming whether the reaction tubes have been reliably replaced at the required positions. The present invention relates to an exchange device having a reaction tube exchange confirmation means configured as follows.

As a method for transferring reaction tubes in an automatic biochemical analyzer, a plurality of reaction tubes are held in an endless belt-like transfer path, and the reaction tubes are sequentially moved intermittently on this transfer path, and during the movement, each reaction tube is moved at a predetermined position. Dispense the specimen into the reaction tube one after another, dispense one or more reagents corresponding to the measurement item at the next predetermined position to cause a chemical reaction, and then check the color state of the specimen at the next predetermined position. Analyze the components in the sample by optical measurement,
A method is known in which the sample and the like inside the reaction tube are then discharged at a final predetermined position to clean the inside of the reaction tube.

However, in the case of such an endless belt-like transfer means for reaction tubes, a plurality of reaction tubes must be held by a flexible endless chain, which makes it difficult to maintain constant chain feeding accuracy. However, there is a problem in that it is extremely difficult to position the reaction tube in the transfer path.

The present applicant proposed an automatic biochemical analyzer as shown in FIG. 1 in order to eliminate the problems associated with such conventional means for transferring reaction tubes.

This automatic biochemical analyzer A predetermined amount of the sample in the container 10 held in the sample cassette F is aspirated at a predetermined position. and a pipetting device G for dispensing this into the reaction tube 11.
and a turret-shaped feeding device H as a first reaction tube transfer path which holds a plurality of the reaction tubes 11;
A plurality of reagent containers I, which are arranged concentrically with the feeding device H on the inner circumferential side of the feeding device H and contain reagents corresponding to measurement items, are removably mounted on the turret holder 12. A first reagent device J and a second transfer path for the reaction tube 11 are connected to a turret-shaped feeding device H that intermittently sequentially transfers the reaction tube 11 into which the predetermined amount of the specimen and the predetermined type and predetermined amount of reagent are injected. a reaction tube exchange device L for transferring the sample to the measurement turret K; an optical device M for colorimetrically measuring the sample in the reaction tube 11 held in the measurement turret K;
Comprised of a signal processing device N that displays and stores the data measured by this optical device M, and a cleaning device O that cleans the reaction tube 11 after the above-mentioned measurement work has been completed, it is possible to perform dispensing and measurement of samples and reagents. The present invention aims to provide an automatic analyzer that can perform these operations using separate and independent transfer paths, thereby speeding up these operations reliably.

In addition, in the same figure, symbols P and P are drive devices that synchronously and intermittent rotationally control the feeding device H and the measurement turret K, Q is a stirring device, and R is arranged on the measurement turret K side. 2 shows a second reagent device having the same configuration as the first reagent device I.

By the way, in the biochemical automatic analyzer X configured as described above, by exchanging each reaction tube 11 held in an independent transfer path at a required position, the reaction tube 11 held in one transfer path can be replaced with another reaction tube 11 held in one transfer path. is transferred to the measurement position, and the reaction tube 11 held in another transfer path is transferred to the cleaning position, so if the transfer after the exchange is started before the exchange is completed, Since the reaction tube 11 may be damaged or the entire apparatus may malfunction, confirmation of completion of the replacement is strongly desired.

The present invention was devised in view of the current situation, and its purpose is to increase the speed of sample analysis and to confirm the completion of the replacement of the reaction tube, thereby improving the speed of the biochemical analysis. It is an object of the present invention to provide a reaction tube exchange device that can continuously and reliably perform the following steps, thereby improving the operational reliability of this type of automatic analyzer.

In order to achieve this object, in the present invention, a transfer path of a reaction tube containing a specimen and a reagent is arranged such that the specimen is dispensed into the reaction tube by the specimen dispensing means, and the reagent is dispensed. An outer periphery of a reaction turret in which a number of reagents corresponding to the measurement items are dispensed into the reaction tube by a pouring means, and an outer periphery of a measurement turret in which a sample contained in the reaction tube is analyzed by a sample analysis means. formed independently of each other,
The reaction tube transferred through the transfer path of the reaction turret and the reaction tube transferred through the transfer path of the measurement turret are held simultaneously at predetermined positions and rotated, and the reaction turret and the measurement turret are rotated. A replacement means for replacing the reaction tube between the turrets, and a replacement means disposed at the reaction tube replacement position of each of the transfer paths, and detecting whether or not the reaction tube has been replaced by the replacement means, respectively; The present invention is constructed by disposing a reaction tube exchange device in an automatic biochemical analyzer, characterized in that it is equipped with a replacement confirmation means for starting the transfer operation of each of the transfer paths based on the detection signal.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail based on an embodiment shown in FIG.

In the reaction tube exchange device L according to this embodiment, when the reaction tube 11 held by the feeding device H is intermittent to a predetermined position, the reaction tube 11 and the measurement turret K are placed at a position facing the reaction tube 11. At the same time, lift up the reaction tube 11' held in the turret K and rotate it 180 degrees to replace the reaction tube 11' in the position where the reaction tube 11 of the feeding device H was taken out. 11' is replaced in the extracted position.

That is, the reaction tube exchange device L includes a support arm 21 having picking arms 20 at both ends, as shown in FIG.
and a gear 23 fixed to the outer periphery of the lower end of the lifting rod 22.
a drive device 24 that meshes with the gear 23 to rotate the lifting rod 22 in a fixed direction; and an eccentric cam 25 that comes into contact with the lower end of the lifting rod 22;
It is composed of a motor 26 that rotationally drives this eccentric cam 25.

Therefore, the lifting rod 22 has an eccentric cam 25.
The eccentric cam 25 moves down to the lowest position at the shortest radius part a, and rises to the highest position at the longest radius part b of the eccentric cam 25, meshing with the gear 27 of the drive device 24, and the driving force of the drive device 24 lifts the rod. The rotation of the support arm 22 is controlled until the support arm 21 rotates 180 degrees. Also,
The picking arm 20 is supported so that its tip expands and narrows using a pin 28 as a fulcrum, and reacts when the lifting rod 22 is set to the lowest position via a known timing mechanism (not shown). Holding the tubes 11, 11', turn the reaction tubes 11, 1 at the lowest position of the lifting rod 22 after rotating 180 degrees.
1' is configured to release the clamped state.

Furthermore, a replacement confirmation device Y for the reaction tubes 11 is disposed at each reaction tube replacement position of each transfer path. This replacement confirmation device Y includes light emitting elements 30, 30, light receiving elements 31, 31 that receive confirmation light l emitted from the light emitting elements 30, 30, and the light receiving element 3.
a voltage converter 32 that converts the amount of light received at 1 and 31 into a corresponding voltage; and an interface 33.
Based on the converted voltage data, the drive device P of the feeding device H and the drive device of the measurement turret K are
It consists of a microcomputer 34 that controls on/off the drive of P', and a display 35 connected to this microcomputer 34 that issues a warning when the reaction tube 11 is incompletely replaced. , 30 and light receiving elements 31, 3
1 means that only when the reaction tubes 11, 11 held by the feeding device H and the measurement turret K are securely replaced, each confirmation light 1 is used to transfer the sample and reagent mixture A in the reaction tube 11. It is arranged so that it can be seen through.

Therefore, until the feeding device H and the measuring turret K are stopped at the exchange device for the reaction tubes 11, 11 for the required time, and the required reaction tube exchange operation is completed, each drive device P, P' is not operated. Although the drive is controlled via the control device 34 so as not to start,
Replacement was completed in a state where the reaction tubes 11, 11 were not completely replaced, that is, in a state where the lower part of each reaction tube 11, 11 did not reach the transmitting position of the confirmation light 1, as shown by the solid line in Figure 2. Even if the case is
Since the amount of light incident on the light receiving elements 31, 31 does not change, the control device 34 does not issue an operation start command to the drive devices P, P'. If this condition continues for the required time, a warning regarding the same condition will be displayed on the display 35. Of course, even if only one reaction tube is incompletely replaced, both drive devices P,
The operation of P′ is controlled to stop.

On the other hand, when the reaction tubes 11, 11 are securely replaced with both the feeding device H and the measuring turret K,
The lower part of each reaction tube 11, 11 blocks the confirmation light path, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. The amount of light received by the light receiving elements 31, 31 is significantly reduced compared to the above case, and as a result, the light amount conversion voltage converted by the voltage converter 32 becomes a significantly low level. 34
When this low-level voltage is input, in response, it issues an operation start command to each of the driving devices P and P', and accordingly, each of the driving devices P and P' starts the operation of the feeding device H.
and the measuring turret K are rotated intermittently and synchronously.

In the above embodiment, the case where the elevation control of the elevation rod 22 of the reaction tube exchanger L is performed by the eccentric cam 25 has been explained as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the control may be performed by, for example, an actuator. It may be configured as follows.

Further, in the above embodiment, the replacement of the reaction tubes 11, 11 is confirmed by the light emitting elements 30, 30 and the light receiving element 31,
Although the explanation has been given by taking as an example a configuration configured to perform the operation using a device such as 31, the present invention is not limited to this, and various types of switches can be applied, for example.

Since the present invention includes the above configuration, even if the transfer path of the reaction tube in the biochemical automatic analyzer is separated into multiple paths, the transfer operation of the reaction tube can be reliably and at high speed without stopping the transfer operation. Furthermore, since the reaction tube can be moved through the transfer path only after the reaction tube has been reliably replaced, the reliability of continuous sample measurement processing is greatly improved. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of an automatic biochemical analyzer equipped with a reaction tube exchange device previously proposed by the present applicant, and FIG. 2 is a reaction tube exchange device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. X... Biochemical automatic analyzer, L... Reaction tube exchange device, H... Feeding device (first transfer path), K... Measurement turret (second transfer path), P, P'... Drive device , Y... Reaction tube replacement confirmation device, l... Confirmation light, 11, 11'... Reaction tube, 34... Control device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A transfer path of a reaction tube containing a sample and a reagent is arranged so that the sample is dispensed into the reaction tube by the sample dispensing means, and the number corresponding to the measurement item is placed in the reaction tube by the reagent dispensing means. The outer periphery of the reaction turret in which the reagent is dispensed and the outer periphery of the measurement turret in which the sample contained in the reaction tube is analyzed by the sample analysis means, respectively, and the outer circumference of the reaction turret is formed independently. The reaction tube transferred through the transfer path and the reaction tube transferred through the transfer path of the measurement turret are simultaneously held at predetermined positions and rotated, and the reaction tube is moved between the reaction turret and the measurement turret. A replacement means for replacing the reaction tube, and a replacement means disposed at the reaction tube replacement position of each of the transfer paths, detecting whether or not the reaction tube has been replaced by the replacement means, and based on the detection signal. A reaction tube exchange device in an automatic biochemical analyzer, comprising a replacement confirmation means for starting the transfer operation of each of the transfer paths.