JPS629307B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a reaction tank in an automatic biochemical analyzer.

Conventionally, automatic biochemical analyzers are devices that automatically analyze multiple samples simultaneously, and are equipped with a reaction tank 1 as shown in the plan view of FIG. 1a and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1b. . This reaction tank 1 consists of individual reaction tubes 5
This is a device that maintains a constant temperature to prevent chemical reactions of different samples from varying due to temperature, and allows chemical reactions to proceed at the temperature of the human body. This reaction tank 1 includes a constant temperature bath 9 in which a U-shaped groove 2 is dug into an oval shape. The chain 4 is stretched in the same oval shape by two sprockets 6 that fit into the constant temperature chamber 9, and the constant temperature chamber 9 is connected to the constant temperature chamber 9 through the support material 3 attached to each link of the chain 4. Reaction tubes 5 are arranged inside. These reaction tubes 5 are circulated within the oval thermostatic chamber 9 by rotating the sprocket 6 by an external rotation mechanism (not shown). On the other hand, the constant temperature bath 9 has a discharge port 7 for discharging constant temperature water into it, and the constant temperature fluid that has been heat exchanged to a set temperature by an external constant temperature device (not shown) is supplied from the discharge port 7. The water flows through the constant temperature bath 9 and is recovered again to an external constant temperature device through a discharge port 8 provided in the constant temperature bath 9.

In this way, in the reaction tank 1 in which the reaction tubes 5 circulate in the constant temperature tank 9 filled with a constant temperature fluid, individual samples arranged in an external sampler (not shown) are collected from each sample through a nozzle (not shown). It is dispensed into reaction tube 5. After the reagent is injected through another nozzle, the sample after a specified period of time is sucked into an absorption cell (not shown) from the reaction tube 5 by the suction pump, where a colorimetric test, etc. is performed. , obtain data for individual specimens.

This reaction tank allows the chemical reaction of the specimens in each reaction tube containing reagents to proceed under a specified temperature, and obtains temperature-independent data for each specimen.

That is, if there is a temperature variation in the constant temperature bath of this reaction tank, there will also be a variation in the temperature of each reaction tube, and the chemical reaction of each specimen will proceed at the temperature of each reaction tube. Therefore, individual sample data cannot be compared under the same conditions because the temperature coefficient is mixed into each sample data.

As described above, the reaction tank is an important part in obtaining accurate sample data, but the conventional reaction tank described above has problems.

That is, in the oval-shaped constant temperature bath 9 of the reaction tank 1, the constant temperature fluid discharged from the discharge port 7 is divided into the left and right sides in the constant temperature bath 9, and there is an outlet at a position where the constant temperature fluids that have been divided to the left and right join again. 8 is installed and the constant temperature chamber 9 is always filled with constant temperature fluid, the constant temperature fluid discharged into the reaction tube 5 and the U-shaped groove 2 is blocked near the discharge port 7 and overflows outside the constant temperature chamber 9. It is necessary to increase the cross-sectional area of the fluid to lower the flow velocity and lower the pressure when it hits the reaction tube 5 and the U-shaped groove. This makes it impossible to recover constant temperature fluid in a short time, and the discharge is affected by the surrounding temperature. There is a difference in temperature of the constant-temperature fluid near outlet 7 and outlet 8, and the distance that constant-temperature fluid flows through the constant temperature chamber is long, so the liquid level is high near outlet 8 and low near outlet 8. It may not be able to maintain a certain height, such as becoming lower.

Therefore, the temperature of the constant temperature fluid and the height of the liquid level of the reaction tubes 5 in the constant temperature chamber 9 differ depending on their positions, so the reaction temperature of the specimen will vary due to the difference in the amount of heat exchanged. It is difficult to obtain accurate sample data that is independent of temperature.

The present invention has been achieved in view of the above points, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide a reaction tank for an automatic biochemical analyzer that can always keep the temperature in the constant temperature tank at a set temperature, make the reaction temperature of a specimen uniform, and obtain accurate specimen data.

In order to achieve this purpose, the reaction tank of the automatic biochemical analyzer of the present invention is connected to a reaction tube for reacting a sample into which a reagent is introduced, and an automatic system that circulates within a constant temperature chamber and fills this constant temperature chamber with a constant temperature fluid. In a reaction tank of a chemical analyzer, a fluid path that guides a constant temperature fluid led from the outside through a conduit to the center of the reaction tank;
It is characterized by comprising a plurality of discharge holes for discharging constant-temperature fluid from the fluid path into the surrounding constant-temperature chamber, and at least one discharge port for recovering the constant-temperature fluid from the constant-temperature chamber to the outside.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 2a and b are a plan view and a vertical cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of this embodiment including a constant temperature device. Components that are the same as the reaction vessels shown in Figure 1 are given the same symbols, and reaction tubes and the like are omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, in the center of the reaction tank 1 there is a fluid path 10 which is led from the outside by a conduit and which guides constant temperature water flowing in from the discharge port 11 to this center. The constant temperature fluid guided to this fluid path 10 is supplied from a plurality of discharge holes 12 on this side surface to a constant temperature bath 9 surrounded by a U-shaped groove 2 in an oval shape. The constant-temperature fluid that has flowed into the constant-temperature bath 9 is recovered to the outside through discharge ports 8 provided at two locations.

As shown in FIG. 3, the constant temperature fluid is supplied from the reaction tank 1 to the constant temperature device 20 through the outlet 8 and the conduit 14. This constant temperature device 20 includes a pump 15.
There is a heat exchanger 16, and this heat exchanger 1
6 includes a temperature sensor 17 that detects temperature and a heater 16 that is controlled by a temperature control circuit 19 based on the output signal of the temperature sensor 17. The constant temperature fluid sucked from the reaction tank 1 by the pump 15 is transferred to the heat exchanger 16.
After being maintained at the set temperature, it is again supplied to the discharge port 11 of the reaction tank 1 through the conduit 13.

As described above, in the reaction tank of the present invention, a fluid path is provided in the center of the reaction tank 1, and a constant temperature fluid is supplied from the fluid path to the constant temperature tank through a plurality of discharge holes. can be supplied to
In addition, since it can be recovered in a short time, differences in temperature and liquid level inside the constant flow chamber are less likely to occur, and it is possible to maintain a uniform temperature inside the constant temperature chamber. The temperature of the reaction tube can also be kept constant.

In addition, as shown in Figure 2a, if the discharge holes 10 are tilted in the direction of the discharge port 8 so that the constant temperature fluid in the thermostatic chamber 9 circulates and flows toward the discharge port 8, stagnation etc. can be reduced. This further increases the above effects.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the temperature of each reaction tube can be kept uniform without increasing the size of the conventional reaction tank, making it possible to obtain extremely accurate sample data. A reaction tank for an automatic biochemical analyzer can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1a and b are a plan view of a conventional automatic biochemical analyzer and a sectional view taken along line A-A in the same figure, and Figures 2a and b are a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention and a cross-sectional view taken along line B--
B is a vertical sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 CC including the constant temperature device. 1... Reaction tank, 2... U-shaped groove, 8... Discharge port,
9... Constant temperature chamber, 10... Fluid path, 11... Discharge port, 12... Discharge hole, 13, 14... Conduit, 15
... pump, 16 ... heat exchanger, 17 ... temperature sensor, 18 ... heater, 19 ... temperature control circuit,
20... Constant temperature device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a reaction tank of an automatic biochemical analyzer having a passage in which a reaction tube containing reagents and a specimen is immersed in a circulating constant temperature fluid and the reaction tube can move by a distance corresponding to a predetermined reaction time, a fluid path that guides constant temperature fluid introduced from the outside to approximately the center of the reaction tank;
The fluid path is provided with a plurality of discharge holes for discharging this constant temperature fluid into the surrounding constant temperature bath, and at least one discharge port for recovering the constant temperature fluid that has circulated through the constant temperature bath to the outside. The reaction tank of the automatic biochemical analyzer is characterized by: 2. The reaction of the automatic biochemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the discharge hole is tilted toward the discharge port, and the constant temperature fluid discharged into the constant temperature bath is forced to flow out toward the discharge port. Tank.