JPH08220106A - Suction and discharge device and automatic chemical analyzer using this device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] When clogging occurs in the suction / discharge nozzle that sucks and discharges the sample liquid by driving the syringe pump, when the water is pumped from the syringe pump to remove the clogging, the high pressure at the time of pressure feeding is used. Prevents damage to the pressure sensor due to the effect of. [Structure] Pressure sensor 2 provided in bypass tube 23
Reference numeral 5 is for detecting whether or not the suction state is normal when the sample liquid in the sample container 9 is sucked, and is switched to the connection portion to the suction / discharge tube 5 at both ends of the bypass tube 23. Valves 33 and 35 are provided. Switching valve 3
In the state where the syringe pump 1 and the suction / discharge nozzle 3 are communicated with each other via the bypass tube 23, the pressures in the tubes 3 and 35 can be detected, but the detected value is the pressure range of the sample liquid at the time of suction. If it is outside, it is determined that the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is clogged, and the syringe pump 1 and the suction / discharge nozzle 3 are communicated with each other via the second tube 37.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a suction and discharge device for sucking a liquid to be used in biochemical analysis and discharging it into a reaction tube, and an automatic chemical analysis device using this device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional suction / discharge device in an automatic chemical analyzer, there is one disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-24151. FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of the suction / discharge device described in the above publication, in which the syringe pump 1 and the suction / discharge nozzle 3 are connected by a suction / discharge tube 5. The suction / discharge nozzle 3 is a sample liquid (eg, blood, urine, etc.) in a sample container 9 collected from a patient or the like by pulling out the plunger 1a of the syringe pump 1 driven by the pump driving means 7 from the inside of the cylinder 1b. While the plunger 1a is pushed into the cylinder 1b, the sucked sample liquid is discharged into the reaction tube 11.

The end of the suction / discharge tube 5 on the syringe pump 1 side is connected to one end of a water tube 15 via a pump side switching valve 13, and the other end of the water tube 15 is a water container 17 in which water is stored. It is connected to the. The pump-side switching valve 13 can be switched between a state in which the syringe pump 1 communicates with the water tube 15 (shown by a broken line) and a state in which the syringe pump 1 communicates with the suction / discharge tube 5 (shown by a solid line). In the former state,
The operation of sucking the water in the water container 17 is performed, and in the latter state, the operation of discharging the sucked water to fill the suction / discharge tube 5 and the sample with the suction / discharge tube 5 filled with water An operation of sucking the sample liquid in the container 9 and an operation of discharging the sucked sample liquid into the reaction tube 11 are performed.

A cleaning tank 19 for cleaning the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is arranged between the sample container 9 and the reaction tube 11. The suction / discharge nozzle 3 is connected to the sample container 9 with the cleaning tank 19 interposed therebetween. Between the reaction tube 11 and the suction / discharge nozzle drive means 21.
It is possible to move by.

A bypass tube 23 is provided in the suction / discharge tube 5 between the suction / discharge nozzle 3 and the pump side switching valve 13.
The bypass tube 23 is provided with a pressure sensor 25 for detecting the pressure in the bypass tube 23 and an opening / closing valve 29 for opening / closing the bypass tube 23 by the valve opening / closing means 27.

In the initial state before the sample liquid is sucked from the sample container 9 by the suction / discharge nozzle 3, the syringe pump 1
The water in the water container 17 sucked by is filled in the suction / discharge tube 5 and the bypass tube 23 in advance.
In this state, when sucking the sample liquid, the open / close valve 29 provided in the bypass tube 23 is closed. When the sample liquid is sucked by the suction / discharge nozzle 3, the pressure sensor 25
Detects the pressure in the bypass tube 23, and this detection signal is input to the control device 31.

The control device 31 has a built-in memory in which a pressure range depending on the viscosity of the sample liquid, such as blood, urine, aqueous standard liquid or pure water, is stored in advance, and the detected pressure is within this pressure range. If it is within the range, it is judged that the sample liquid is normally sucked by the suction / discharge nozzle 3, and conversely, if the detected pressure is outside the pressure range, the sample liquid is not normally sucked. Then, it is determined that the sample liquid is not sucked, the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is clogged, or there are too many bubbles, and the operation of the suction / discharge device is stopped.

In particular, when the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is clogged, the pump side switching valve 13 is set in a state in which the syringe pump 1 and the suction / discharge tube 5 are in communication with each other, and the open / close valve 29 is opened. Plunger 1 for pump 1
The clog is removed by operating a so as to be pushed into the cylinder 1b and blowing out the water in the syringe pump 1 from the suction / discharge nozzle 3.

[0009]

However, the suction / ejection device in such a conventional automatic chemical analyzer is as follows.
When water is pumped from the syringe pump 1 to the suction / discharge tube 5 side in a state where the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is clogged, the pressure in the suction / discharge tube 5 and the bypass tube 23 increases, and the water is provided in the bypass tube 23. The pressure sensor 25 may be damaged. Then, this invention aims at preventing damage to the pressure detection means provided in the tube.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is as follows. First, a suction and discharge nozzle for sucking and discharging a liquid to be used for analysis is provided at one end, and this suction is provided at the other end. A first tube and a second tube, which are connected in parallel with each other, are provided in the middle of a suction / discharge tube provided with driving means for driving the discharge nozzle to perform suction / discharge operation, and the first tube is provided in the first tube. A pressure detecting means for detecting the internal pressure is provided, and the suction / discharge nozzle and the driving means can be switched between a state in which they communicate with each other via at least the first tube and a state in which they communicate with each other via only the second tube. It is configured to have a switching valve.

Secondly, in the first configuration, the switching valve is
Switched between a state in which the suction and discharge nozzles and the driving means are provided at the connecting portions of both ends of the first and second tubes and communicate with each other via only the first tube and a state in which they communicate with each other via only the second tube. It is possible.

Thirdly, in the second configuration, with the switching valve being switched so that the suction / discharge nozzle and the driving means communicate with each other only through the first tube, the suction driving of the driving means sucks and discharges. When sucking liquid from the nozzle, when the detection value of the pressure detecting means is out of a predetermined range, control for controlling the switching valve so that the suction / discharge nozzle and the driving means communicate with each other only through the second tube. Means are provided.

Fourthly, in the third structure, the driving means is a syringe pump for sucking and discharging the liquid, and the other end of the water tube whose one end is connected to the water container is on the suction and discharge port side of the syringe pump. A pump side switching valve that can switch between a state in which the syringe pump is in communication with the water tube and a state in which the syringe pump is in communication with the suction and discharge tube is provided at the connecting portion between the water tube and the suction and discharge tube. When the detection value of the pressure detecting means is out of the predetermined range, the syringe pump discharges the water sucked from the water container to the suction and discharge tube side. You. Fifthly, any one of the first to fourth suction / discharge devices is used in an automatic chemical analysis device.

[0014]

According to the above construction, when the liquid to be analyzed is sucked and discharged by the suction and discharge nozzle, the switching valve is brought into a state in which the suction and discharge nozzle and the driving means communicate with each other through at least the first tube. Thus, the pressure in the tube at the time of suction is detected by the pressure detecting means. If it is determined from the detection value of the pressure detection means at this time that the suction / discharge nozzle is clogged, the switching valve is set to a state in which the suction / discharge nozzle and the drive means communicate with each other only via the second tube. Drive to clear the blockage.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a suction / ejection device in an automatic chemical analyzer showing an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same components as those of the conventional suction / discharge device shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and in this embodiment, instead of the opening / closing valve 29 in this conventional device, the bypass tube 2 is used.
3 is connected to both ends of the suction / discharge tube 5 with the switching valve 3
3, 35 are provided respectively. Bypass tube 23
Includes a pressure sensor 25 as a pressure detecting means, and thus constitutes a first tube, and a tube between both switching valves 33 and 35 is a second tube 37 which is connected in parallel with the first tube. Are configured. Switching valve 33,3
5 is switchable between a state in which the suction / discharge tube 5 is communicated with the bypass tube 23 as shown by a solid line and a state in which the suction / discharge tube 5 is not communicated with the bypass tube 23 but is communicated with the second tube 37 as shown by a broken line. It is composed.

Switching valves 33 and 35 and pump side switching valve 1
3 is opened and closed by the valve opening / closing means 27, and the valve opening / closing means 27 is operated by a control signal from the control device 31.
As in the conventional example, the control device 31 has a built-in memory in which a pressure range depending on the type of sample liquid, such as blood, urine, an aqueous standard liquid, or pure water, which is different in viscosity, is stored in advance. Whether or not the sample liquid is normally sucked by the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is determined depending on whether or not the pressure is within the pressure range, and based on this, the pump drive means 7, the valve opening / closing means 27, and the suction / discharge nozzle drive means 21.
Drive control.

In the suction / discharge device configured as described above, first, the pump side switching valve 13 is brought into a state in which the syringe pump 1 which is the driving means and the water container 17 are in communication with each other, and in this state, the plunger 1a. By pulling, water is sucked into the syringe pump 1 through the water tube 15. Next, the pump side switching valve 13 is switched so that the suction / discharge nozzle 3 and the syringe pump 1 communicate with each other, and at the same time,
The switching valves 33 and 35 are brought into a solid line state in which the syringe pump 1 and the suction / discharge nozzle 3 communicate with each other via the bypass tube 23, and in this state, the syringe pump 1 is operated so as to push in the plunger 1a, thereby performing suction / discharge. The tube 5 and the bypass tube 23 are filled with water. As a result, the initial state is obtained before the sample liquid is sucked from the suction / discharge nozzle 3.

In the above-mentioned initial state, the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is positioned on the cleaning tank 19. At this time, in order to prevent the mixing of the water and the sample liquid, the plunger 1a is pulled and the inside of the tip of the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is pulled. Aspirate a certain amount of air into. After that, it is moved onto the sample container 9 and the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is lowered, and the tip thereof is immersed in the sample liquid as shown in FIG. Then, by pulling the plunger 1a, a predetermined amount of the sample liquid is sucked into the tip of the suction / discharge nozzle 3, and then the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is lifted to move above the sample container 9 as shown in FIG. 2B. Located in.

At this time, the pressure sensor 25 provided in the bypass tube 23 always detects the pressure in the tube, and the detected value is input to the control device 31. The controller 31 corrects the input pressure value by the atmospheric pressure previously measured and stored, and when the corrected value is within the pressure range of the sample liquid in the sample container 9,
It is determined that the sample liquid is normally sucked by the suction / discharge nozzle 3, and the operation of the main suction / discharge device is continued as it is. That is, the suction / ejection nozzle 3 located on the sample container 9
2 is moved to above the reaction tube 11 and inserted into the reaction tube 11 as shown in FIG. 2 (c), and the plunger 1a is pushed in this state to react the sample solution held in the tip of the suction / discharge nozzle 3. Discharge into the pipe 11. After the sample liquid is discharged, the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is raised and then moved onto the cleaning tank 19, and is immersed in the cleaning tank 19 so that the sample liquid in the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is completely discharged. Water is also discharged, and the inner and outer surfaces of the suction / discharge nozzle 3 are cleaned with cleaning water to return to the initial state.

On the other hand, when the correction value of the detection value of the pressure sensor 25 is outside the pressure range of the sample liquid in the sample container 9, the sample liquid is not normally sucked, and the sample liquid is not sucked or is not sucked. After the control device 31 determines that the suction / discharge nozzle 3 is clogged or an excessive amount of air bubbles are generated and the suction operation is stopped, the switching valves 33 and 35 are set to the second position between the syringe pump 1 and the suction / discharge nozzle 3. The suction and discharge nozzles 3 are moved onto the cleaning tank 19 while switching to a broken line state in which they communicate with each other via the tubes 37.

At this time, the pump side switching valve 13 draws the plunger 1a in a state where the syringe pump 1 and the water container 17 are in communication with each other, thereby sucking the water in the water container 17 into the syringe pump 1 and then the syringe. The pump 1 and the suction / discharge nozzle 3 are switched to communicate with each other. In this state, the plunger 1a is pushed in to discharge water from the suction / discharge nozzle 3, thereby removing the clogged foreign matter and bubbles. At this time, the inside of the bypass tube 23 in which the pressure sensor 25 is provided is the syringe pump 1 and the suction / discharge nozzle 3.
Are shut off by the switching valves 33 and 35, so that even if the pressure in the suction / discharge tube 5 increases due to the pushing operation of the plunger 1a of the syringe pump 1, the pressure sensor 2
This high pressure does not act on the pressure sensor 5, and damage to the pressure sensor 25 is prevented.

When the suction operation of the sample liquid is not normally performed due to clogging of the suction / discharge nozzle 3, the operator is informed of the contents by means such as a warning lamp and a warning sound not shown. An error code is attached to the data.

Further, in the above embodiment, the switching valves 33, 35 are
When sucking the sample liquid by the suction / discharge nozzle 3,
Although the syringe pump 1 and the suction / discharge nozzle 3 are configured to communicate with each other only via the bypass tube 23, they may be configured to communicate with each other via both the bypass tube 23 and the second tube 37.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outline of an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with the above-mentioned suction / discharge device. This automatic chemical analyzer is for analyzing serum collected from a human body, and includes a sampler section 39 having a plurality of sample containers 9 containing sample solutions such as serum and a reagent corresponding to a test item. It is provided with a reagent section 43 having a reagent bottle 41 for each type thereof, and a reaction section 45 having a plurality of the reaction tubes 11 for reacting the sample solution by mixing the sample solution and the reagent.

The suction / discharge nozzle 3 for supplying the sample solution in the sample container 9 to the reaction tube 11 is provided near the sampler section 39, and the reagent bottle 41 is provided near the reagent section 43.
A reagent dispensing nozzle 47 for supplying the reagent contained in the reaction tube 11 to the reaction tube 11 is provided. Further, the reaction unit 45 includes a stirring unit 4 for stirring the sample liquid and the reagent contained in the reaction tube 11.
9, a cleaning unit 53 for cleaning the reaction tube 11, and the like.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a problem such as clogging of the suction / discharge nozzle occurs, the switching valve is provided with the suction / discharge nozzle and the drive means.
By driving the driving means after establishing the communication through only the tube, the clogging can be removed without applying a high pressure to the pressure detecting means provided in the first tube, and the pressure detecting means is damaged. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a suction / ejection device in an automatic chemical analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory view of a suction / discharge nozzle in the suction / discharge device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an outline of an automatic chemical analysis device equipped with the suction / discharge device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a suction / ejection device in an automatic chemical analyzer showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Syringe pump (driving means) 3 Suction / discharge nozzle 5 Suction / discharge tube 13 Pump side switching valve 15 Water tube 17 Water container 23 Bypass tube (first tube) 25 Pressure sensor (pressure detection means) 31 Control device (control means) 33 , 35 Switching valve 37 Second tube

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A suction device having suction and discharge nozzles for sucking and discharging a liquid to be used for analysis at one end side, and driving means for driving the suction and discharge operation of the suction and discharge nozzles at the other end side, respectively. A first tube and a second tube, which are connected in parallel to each other, are provided in the middle of the discharge tube, the pressure detection means for detecting the pressure in the first tube is provided to the first tube, and the suction and discharge nozzle and the driving means are provided. Is provided with a switching valve capable of switching between a state of communicating with at least the first tube and a state of communicating with only the second tube. 2. A switching valve is provided at a connecting portion where both ends of the first and second tubes are connected to each other, and a state in which the suction and discharge nozzle and the driving means are communicated with each other only through the first tube, and the second tube. The suction / ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the suction / ejection device can be switched to a state in which it communicates with each other. 3. When sucking the liquid from the suction / discharge nozzle by the suction drive of the driving means in a state in which the switching valve is switched so that the suction / discharge nozzle and the driving means communicate with each other via only the first tube. , The detection value of the pressure detection means
3. The suction device according to claim 2, further comprising control means for controlling the switching valve so that the suction / discharge nozzle and the driving means are in communication with each other only through the second tube when outside the predetermined range. Discharge device. 4. The driving means is a syringe pump for sucking and discharging a liquid, and the other end of a water tube, one end of which is connected to a water container, is connected to the suction and discharge port side of the syringe pump, At the connection with the suction and discharge tube,
A pump-side switching valve that can switch between a state in which the syringe pump is in communication with the water tube and a state in which the syringe pump is in communication with the suction / discharge tube is provided.
The suction / discharge device according to claim 3, wherein the suction / discharge device discharges the water sucked from the water container to the suction / discharge tube side by a syringe pump when the temperature is out of the predetermined range. 5. An automatic chemical analyzer using the suction / ejection device according to claim 1.