JPH08101213A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To facilitate disposal of sample containers after analysis. [Structure] A cleaning mechanism 20 for sucking and discarding the sample remaining in the sample container 8 after the analysis is provided near the turntable 6 of the sample dispensing mechanism. The cleaning mechanism 20 sucks and discards the sample remaining in the sample container 8, and then supplies the suction nozzle 26 connected to the pump unit and the cleaning water to the tip of the arm 22 so that the sample container 8 can be further washed with water. A nozzle 28 is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a biochemical automatic analyzer for automatically analyzing a sample such as blood or urine, a blood coagulation analyzer for automatically analyzing a blood coagulation reaction in the field of clinical examination, The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that dispenses a sample contained in a sample container into a cuvette, reacts it with a reagent, and measures the reaction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic analyzer supports a plurality of cuvettes, a reaction part having a measuring means for measuring the reaction of a reaction solution in the cuvettes, a plurality of sample containers, and a sample container at a sample collection position. Sample dispensing mechanism that aspirates the sample with the probe of the sample dispensing mechanism into the cuvette at the sample dispensing position of the reaction part, and reagent dispensing that dispenses the reagent into the cuvette at the reagent dispensing position of the reaction part And at least a mechanism. The sample dispensing mechanism is provided with a turntable type or rack type sample holding device for holding the sample container. When a sample container is installed on a turntable or rack and the measurement items for that sample are specified, the sample is positioned at the sample collection position, and the sample at the sample collection position is aspirated by the probe of the sample dispensing mechanism and placed in the cuvette of the reaction unit. Dispensed.

The turntable and rack in the sample dispensing mechanism have positioning accuracy when positioning the sample container at the sample collection position, processing accuracy of the turntable and rack itself,
Due to variations in adjustment during assembly, it is not possible to dispense all of the sample contained in the sample container. The amount of sample that cannot be dispensed due to such mechanical accuracy is called dead volume, and with a normal turntable or rack type sample dispensing mechanism, this dead volume cannot be suppressed below a certain amount. However, it is about 80 μl.

Thus, there is a dead volume in the sample container, and even if the sample is used up, the dead volume remains. Usually, the sample container contains a sample or more of the amount necessary for the analysis, and therefore, the sample of the dead volume or more remains after the analysis. Then, the sample after the analysis is discarded together with the sample container.

[0005]

When the sample container is discarded after the analysis is completed, care must be taken so that the remaining sample does not flow out or the environment is not contaminated by the sample sample adhering to the sample container. The troublesome work is required. It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the work of discarding a sample container after the end of analysis.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the sample dispensing mechanism is provided with a mechanism for sucking and discarding the sample remaining in the sample container after the analysis.

[0007]

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 shows an example. Reference numeral 2 is a reaction table of the reaction section, and cuvettes 4 are arranged on the circumference thereof, and the cuvette 4 is rotated to move. A spectrophotometer (not shown) for irradiating the reaction liquid in the cuvette 4 with measurement light and measuring the absorbance to measure the reaction is provided as a measuring means in the reaction section.

A turntable 6 of a sample dispensing mechanism is arranged near the reaction table 2.
Sample containers 8 are arranged and supported along the circumference of the circle. Reference numeral 8a represents a sample collection position. The turntable 6 rotates to collect the sample to be analyzed at the sample collection position 8
Position at a. A sample dispenser 10 is arranged for dispensing a sample, and the dispenser 10 has its proximal end attached to a rotation shaft, is rotated, and is supported so as to be vertically movable. Dispenser 10
A probe 12 for sucking a sample and discharging the sample into the cuvette 4 is provided at the tip of the. On the moving path of the probe 12, a washing pot 18 for washing the probe 12 and an urgent sample position for urging an urgent sample, which are not shown in the figure, are also installed. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent, a stirring mechanism that stirs the reaction solution in the cuvette, and a reaction solution that has been measured are discharged.
A cleaning mechanism for cleaning is also provided.

A washing mechanism 20 is provided near the turntable 6 of the sample dispensing mechanism to suck and discard the sample remaining in the sample container 8 after the analysis. The cleaning mechanism 20 has a function of aspirating and discarding the sample remaining in the sample container 8 as a minimum function, and for that purpose, a suction nozzle may be provided.

The example shown in the embodiment is an example of a cleaning mechanism in which the sample container 8 can be further washed with water after the sample is removed by suction. The cleaning mechanism 20 includes an arm 22, which is vertically movably supported by a shaft 24 at a base end of the arm 22. A suction nozzle 26 connected to a pump unit and water for cleaning are supplied to a tip of the arm 22. A nozzle 28 is provided. The tips of the nozzles 26 and 28 are slightly longer in the suction nozzle 26 so that the sample or water at the bottom of the sample container 8 can be sucked. During cleaning, detergent may be supplied instead of water. The cleaning mechanism 20 dries the cleaned sample container 8,
It may be provided with a function that enables reuse for another specimen.

Next, the operation of cleaning the sample container of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. When the analysis is completed for each sample and the sample is no longer needed, the nozzle 2 of the cleaning mechanism 20
6 and 28 are lowered into the sample container, and the remaining sample is first sucked by the nozzle 26 and discarded. After that, cleaning water is supplied from the nozzle 28, and the cleaning water is also supplied to the nozzle 26.
The sample container is washed by aspirating and discarding. The wash water may be water alone, or the detergent may be supplied first, and then the water may be supplied subsequently.

Several times can be set for cleaning the sample container as follows. (A) When there is no remaining sample during the analysis. If this is less than the dead volume of the device that can be aspirated,
The sample container is aspirated and discarded, or further washed or further dried. (B) With respect to a sample determined to be a normal sample in the analysis result, that is, a sample determined not to be retested, the sample container is sucked and discarded, or further washed or further dried. (C) When the analysis of all the samples arranged on the turntable 6 is completed, the samples remaining in all the sample containers are aspirated or discarded, or further washed or further dried.

The present invention has the following aspects. (1) A primary cleaning mechanism is provided to wash the empty sample container with water after the remaining sample is aspirated and discarded. (2) A secondary cleaning mechanism is provided for cleaning an empty sample container and then drying it so that the sample container can be reused. (3) When the sample remaining in the sample container is aspirated and discarded, the primary cleaning or the secondary cleaning is performed, or whether only the remaining sample is discarded, whether the primary cleaning is performed or the secondary cleaning is performed It is provided with a control device that selectively performs it according to the type.

[0014]

According to the present invention, since the sample remaining in the sample container is sucked and discarded after the completion of the analysis, the environment is not polluted when the sample container is discarded, and the laborious work of discarding the sample container is avoided. It becomes unnecessary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 reaction table 4 cuvette 6 turntable 8 sample container 10 sample dispenser 12 probe 20 washing mechanism 26 suction nozzle 28 washing water supply nozzle

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reaction part that supports a plurality of cuvettes and has a measuring means for measuring the reaction of a reaction solution in the cuvettes, and a plurality of sample containers, and supports the sample in the sample container at the sample collection position as a sample A sample dispensing mechanism that sucks with the probe of the injection mechanism and dispenses into the cuvette at the sample dispensing position of the reaction section, and a reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses the reagent into the cuvette at the reagent dispensing position of the reaction section In the automatic analyzer provided at least, the sample dispensing mechanism includes a mechanism for sucking and discarding the sample remaining in the sample container after the analysis is completed.