Automated analyzer

Abstract

In order to provide an automatic analysis device capable of stably and accurately monitoring the dispensing amount of a minute amount of liquid to be dispensed, this automatic analysis device is provided with a dispensing mechanism including a dispensing probe for dispensing the liquid, and a reaction vessel into which the liquid is dispensed. The automatic analysis device is provided with: an imaging device (201) which is positioned at a position at which the state of the liquid (1000) ejected by the probe (113) toward the reaction unit (104) can be observed; an image processing unit (211) that uses the image acquired by the imaging device (201) to extract shape and contour information of the liquid; a storage unit (220) that stores information relating the image processing unit (211) and the measurement results of the optical characteristics; and a calculation unit (212) that measures the amount of the liquid using the image processing unit (211) and the storage unit (220).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for performing qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological samples such as blood and urine contained in a sample container, and more particularly to an automatic analyzer capable of verifying whether the analysis was performed without abnormality. Background Art

[0002] Automated analyzers, such as biochemical analyzers, perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological samples (hereinafter referred to as samples), such as serum and urine. These automated analyzers typically use a dispensing probe to dispense a predetermined amount of sample and reagent into a reaction vessel, allowing the reaction to proceed. Analysis is then performed by optically measuring changes in the color and turbidity of the reaction solution using a photometric unit, such as a spectrophotometer.

[0003] In order to obtain accurate analysis results, it is essential to accurately dispense a predetermined amount of liquid from each container into the reaction vessel. Therefore, a device has been proposed that can use various sensors to confirm that liquid is being dispensed into the reaction vessel properly.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses "a device comprising: a dispensing device that inserts a dispensing probe into a container containing a liquid to be dispensed and sucks the liquid, then inserts the dispensing probe into a reaction container and ejects the liquid, thereby dispensing the liquid to be dispensed; a photographing device that photographs the position where the liquid is ejected from the front end of the dispensing probe into the reaction container; and a background portion that is arranged to be opposite to the photographing device across the reaction container and has a bright portion that is arranged to extend in the up-down direction in at least the central portion of the area photographed by the photographing device, and a dark portion that is arranged on at least one side of the bright portion and has a brightness lower than that of the bright portion."

[0005] In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses "an automatic analyzing device that reacts a specimen with a reagent and measures the optical properties of the reaction liquid to analyze the reaction liquid, the automatic analyzing device comprising: a monitoring container having a holding portion formed by a wall surface treated with non-affinity treatment for the dispensed liquid, the holding portion holding the liquid in a roughly spherical shape; and a liquid volume calculating unit that captures the shape of the liquid held in the holding portion and calculates the volume of the liquid based on the captured shape of the liquid."

[0006] Prior art literature

[0007] Patent Literature

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-9532

[0009] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-156793 Summary of the Invention

[0010] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0011] However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, an image is captured after the liquid is dispensed into the reaction vessel. Therefore, if the amount of liquid in the reaction vessel is very small, the shape of the liquid cannot be observed, and the amount of liquid may be misjudged.

[0012] Furthermore, in the method described in Patent Document 2, the liquid adhering to the holding portion is maintained in a substantially spherical shape by applying a non-affinity treatment to the holding portion. Therefore, if the non-affinity treatment of the holding portion deteriorates, it becomes difficult for the liquid in the holding portion to maintain a substantially spherical shape. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor whether the non-affinity treatment of the holding portion has been adequately applied.

[0013] Furthermore, after dispensing liquid into the monitoring container, when the monitoring container is moved to a position to image the liquid, the liquid in the holding portion may also move due to vibrations of the monitoring container, making it difficult for the liquid to maintain a roughly spherical shape. If the amount of liquid that cannot maintain a roughly spherical shape is calculated solely based on the image, the amount of liquid may be incorrect.

[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of verifying the amount of liquid dispensed and improving the reliability of analysis.

[0015] Means for solving problems

[0016] The structure of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is as follows.

[0017] An automatic analysis device, comprising: a dispensing probe that dispenses a predetermined amount of liquid; a reaction container that dispenses liquid from the dispensing probe; an analysis mechanism that analyzes the components of the liquid in the reaction container, the automatic analysis device comprising: a dispensing detection unit that detects the contact state between the liquid dispensed from the dispensing probe into the reaction container and the reaction container; a photographing device that photographs the contact state; an image processing unit that selects an image for determining the amount of liquid dispensed into the reaction container from the image photographed by the photographing device based on information from the dispensing detection unit, and extracts a characteristic value of the liquid from the selected image; a storage unit that stores a database that associates the characteristic value of the liquid with information on the component amount of the liquid analyzed by the analysis mechanism; and a liquid quantity calculation unit that calculates the amount of liquid dispensed by the dispensing mechanism based on the extracted characteristic value based on the database stored in the storage unit.

[0018] Effects of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic analyzer capable of verifying the amount of liquid dispensed and improving the reliability of analysis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the configuration of a dispensing device in an automatic analyzer according to Example 1 of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the configuration of a dispensed liquid amount measuring device in the automatic analyzer according to Example 1 of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the configuration of a measurement unit in the automatic analyzer according to Example 1 of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a flowchart showing the calibration process of liquid amount measurement according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing an example of an image captured by the imaging device according to Example 1 of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 7 This is an explanatory diagram regarding the selection of an image to be extracted as a target of liquid feature value extraction according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 8 This is an explanatory diagram concerning the relationship between absorbance and liquid volume in Example 1 of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing an example of liquid amount reference data stored in the storage unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 10 This is a flowchart showing the liquid amount measurement process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 11 This is a flowchart showing a process of selecting an image to be subjected to liquid feature extraction according to the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following describes embodiments of the present invention using the accompanying drawings and other figures. The following descriptions represent specific examples of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to these descriptions, and various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical concept disclosed in this specification. In addition, in all drawings used to illustrate the present invention, parts with the same function are marked with the same reference numerals, and their repeated descriptions may be omitted.

[0032] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the automatic analyzer of this embodiment. The automatic analyzer 10 is a device for measuring and analyzing components of a reaction liquid obtained by chemically reacting a sample with a reagent in a reaction unit 104 .

[0033] The main components of the automatic analyzer 10 include a sample container 100 , a sample rack 101 , a reagent container 102 , a reagent disk 103 , a reaction unit 104 , a reaction disk 105 , a sample dispensing mechanism 106 , a reagent dispensing mechanism 107 , a stirring unit 108 , a measuring unit 109 , a cleaning unit 110 , a control unit 111 , and a display unit 112 .

[0034] Reaction units 104 are arranged circumferentially on a reaction disk 105. Reaction units 104 are containers for storing a mixed solution formed by mixing a sample with a reagent, and a plurality of reaction units 104 are arranged on the reaction disk 105. A sample rack 101 is arranged near the reaction disk 105. This rack carries a plurality of sample containers 100 containing samples.

[0035] A rotatable and vertically movable sample dispensing mechanism 106 is disposed between the reaction disk 105 and the sample container 100. The sample dispensing mechanism 106 dispenses the sample from the sample container 100 to the reaction unit 104 by moving horizontally and vertically while drawing an arc around the rotation axis.

[0036] The reagent disk 103 is a storage unit capable of placing a plurality of reagent containers 102 containing reagents on a circumference thereof. The reagent disk 103 is kept cool.

[0037] A reagent dispensing mechanism 107 that is rotatable and movable vertically is provided between the reaction disk 105 and the reagent disk 103. The reagent dispensing mechanism 107 moves vertically and horizontally to dispense reagents, detergents, diluents, pretreatment reagents, and the like sucked from the reagent containers 102, diluent bottles, pretreatment reagent containers, and the like into the reaction units 104.

[0038] The reaction disk 105 is surrounded by a cleaning unit 110 for cleaning the interior of the reaction unit 104, a measuring unit 109 for irradiating light onto the reaction solution in the reaction unit 104 and measuring the absorbance of the light passing therethrough, and a stirring unit 108 for mixing the sample dispensed into the reaction unit 104 with the reagent.

[0039] Each mechanism is connected to the control unit 111, which controls its operation and performs component analysis of the reaction solution. The control unit 111 is connected to the storage unit 220, which stores parameters for controlling each of the aforementioned mechanisms within the automatic analyzer, the position of each sequence in each sequence, and absorbance data representing measurement results from the measurement unit 109.

[0040] The automated analyzer 10 performs analysis of a test sample in the following order. First, the sample dispensing mechanism 106 dispenses a sample from a sample container 100 placed on a sample rack 101, which has been transported near the reaction disk 105, into the reaction unit 104 on the reaction disk 105. Next, the reagent dispensing mechanism 107 dispenses the reagent used for analysis from a reagent container 102 on the reagent disk 103 into the reaction unit 104, into which the sample had been dispensed.

[0041] Next, the mixed solution of the sample and the reagent in the reaction unit 104 is stirred by the stirring unit 108 .

[0042] Next, light generated by the light source is transmitted through reaction cell 104, into which the mixed solution is placed, and the absorbance of the transmitted light is measured by measurement cell 109. Based on the absorbance of the reaction solution measured by measurement cell 109, control unit 111 analyzes the component amounts using calibration curve data and Lambert-Baer's law. While the following description uses an automatic analyzer that uses measurement cell 109 to determine the concentration of a predetermined component, the technology disclosed in the following embodiments can also be applied to automated immunoassay analyzers and coagulation analyzers that use other optical units to measure samples.

[0043] Example 1

[0044] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the dispensing device of this embodiment 1. The dispensing device can be applied to Figure 1 The sample dispensing mechanism 106 and the reagent dispensing mechanism 107 are connected. An arm 114, which holds a probe 113 and can be rotated, is mounted on a shaft 115 that can be moved up and down. The probe 113, pressure sensor 116, and syringe pump 117 are connected via piping 118. The dispensing flow path is configured so that the distal end is opened by the probe 113 and the proximal end can be opened and closed by a solenoid valve 119.

[0045] The liquid level detection sensor 120 is connected to the probe 113. When dispensing liquid, the tip of the probe 113 is immersed in the sample or reagent based on the signal of the liquid level detection sensor 120, and the electromagnetic valve 119 is closed, and the liquid (sample or reagent) is sucked and ejected by the syringe pump 117.

[0046] After the dispensing operation is completed, the solenoid valve 119 is opened from the base side to supply cleaning water. The control unit 111 controls the reception of sensor signals and the transmission of motor drive signals. The liquid level detection sensor 120 generally determines whether the probe 113 is in contact with the liquid in the container based on changes in electrostatic capacitance.

[0047] That is, the probe 113 and the container simulate a capacitor. Therefore, when the probe 113 is above the container, the electrostatic capacitance is that of the air corresponding to the distance from the probe 113. However, when the probe 113 comes into contact with the liquid in the container, the electrostatic capacitance changes to that of the liquid (which is smaller than the electrostatic capacitance of air). Based on this change in electrostatic capacitance, it is determined whether the probe 113 is in contact with the liquid surface in the container.

[0048] Figure 3 1 is a block diagram of a dispensing liquid amount measuring device of the dispensing device of Example 1. The dispensing liquid amount calculating unit 200 is a portion for measuring the amount of the liquid 1000 ejected from the dispensing probe 113 to the reaction cell 104 .

[0049] The dispensing amount calculation unit 200 includes an imaging device 201 and an imaging control unit 210. The imaging device 201 is positioned to observe the vicinity of the bottom surface of the reaction cell 104. For example, by arranging the imaging device 201 on the side, below, or above the reaction cell 104, the bottom surface of the reaction cell 104 can be observed. However, in order to observe the vicinity of the bottom surface of the reaction cell 104 from the side or below, the reaction disk 105 needs to be processed.

[0050] The imaging control unit 210 is a control unit that controls the imaging device 201 to image the liquid 1000 and processes the image signal of the imaged liquid. The image processing unit 211 processes the image signal captured by the imaging device 201 and outputs the characteristic value of the liquid 1000.

[0051] The characteristic value refers to information such as the shape and outline of the liquid. The calculation unit 212 calculates the liquid volume based on the shape of the liquid 1000 obtained by the image processing unit 211. The determination unit 213 determines whether the liquid volume 1000 calculated by the calculation unit 212 and the dispensing volume set by the control unit 111 are not abnormal values. The characteristic value of the liquid obtained by the image processing unit 211, the liquid volume calculated by the calculation unit 212, and the result of the determination unit 213 are displayed on the display unit 112 via the control unit 111.

[0052] Figure 4 The following is a diagram showing the configuration of the measurement unit 109 of the automatic analyzer according to Example 1. The measurement unit 109 is composed of a light source 310 , a spectrometer 320 , a detection unit 330 , an amplifier 340 , and a signal processing unit 350 .

[0053] During analysis, incident light 311 emitted from the light source lamp 310 passes through the liquid 1000 stored in the reaction unit 104, and then transmitted light 312 is divided into various wavelengths by the spectrometer 320. The detection unit 330 converts the light into a current corresponding to the intensity of the received light for each wavelength, and the amplifier 340 amplifies the weak current signal into an easily processable voltage signal. The signal processing unit 350 then performs correction and other processing to output the final absorbance.

[0054] The output absorbance result data is displayed on the display unit 112. In addition, based on the output absorbance, the amount of liquid dispensed by the dispensing device is calculated using the liquid amount calculation unit 360. The calculated liquid amount is then stored in the storage unit 220.

[0055] Figure 5 This is a flowchart showing the calibration process for liquid volume measurement in Example 1. This process is performed before the device is operated, and the data measured in this process is stored in the storage unit 220. During device operation, liquid volume measurement is performed based on the data stored in this process.

[0056] According to this figure, the process starts when the control unit 111 instructs the dispensing device to dispense the sample from the sample container 100 to the reaction unit 104 .

[0057] After the process starts, it immediately shifts to the liquid amount measurement calibration mode (step S101).

[0058] In step S102 , the control unit 111 activates the sample dispensing mechanism 106 to move to the sample container 100 , and instructs the probe 113 to aspirate (inject) the liquid stored in the sample container 100 .

[0059] In step S103, the control unit 111 instructs the imaging device 201 to capture the state of the reaction cell 104. This image is used to confirm whether there is no contaminant or other attachment in the reaction cell 104 before the sample dispensing mechanism 106 ejects the liquid 1000 into the reaction cell 104.

[0060] In step S104, the control unit 111 activates the sample dispensing mechanism 106 to move the sample container 100 to the reaction unit 104. The control unit 111 then instructs the probe 113 to eject liquid into the reaction unit 104. The amount of liquid ejected from the sample container 100 to the reaction unit 104 is a minute amount, on the order of several microliters.

[0061] In step S105, the control unit 111 instructs the imaging device 201 to capture an image of the probe 113 ejecting the liquid 1000 toward the reaction cell 104. The timing for the imaging device 201 to start capturing the image is determined based on the state of the sample dispensing mechanism 106.

[0062] For example, imaging is started using the value of the pressure sensor 116 as a trigger. Then, the imaging device 201 continues imaging until the discharge operation of the liquid by the sample dispensing mechanism 106 to the reaction cell 104 is completed.

[0063] In step S106 , the control unit 111 receives notification that the discharge operation of the liquid 1000 is completed, and instructs the imaging device 201 to stop imaging.

[0064] In step S107 , the image captured by the imaging device 201 is sent to the image processing unit.

[0065] In step S108, the image processing unit 211 selects an image from the captured images from which to extract features, and obtains features of the liquid based on the selected image. Features refer to information such as the shape and contour of the liquid. The so-called shape of the liquid may also indicate, in addition to the shape of the liquid, where on the reaction cell 104 the liquid was ejected. Contour information may include, for example, the major and minor radii of the liquid adhering to the bottom surface of the reaction cell 104, and the height of the liquid from the bottom surface of the reaction cell 104, when the shape of the ejected liquid is half of an ellipsoid of revolution.

[0066] Figure 6 FIG. 4 shows an example of an image acquired by the imaging device 201. In this embodiment, an image 400 acquired by imaging only the side surface of the reaction unit 104 by the imaging device 201 will be described.

[0067] When only the side surface of the reaction cell 104 is photographed by the imaging device 201 , the main information that can be obtained as characteristic quantities of the liquid is where in the reaction cell 104 the liquid 1000 was ejected and the height information of the liquid 1000 from the bottom surface of the reaction cell 104 .

[0068] For example, image 400 can obtain information such as that liquid 1000 contacts only the bottom surface of reaction cell 104 and not the side surface, as well as information such as the length a of the liquid attached to the bottom surface of reaction cell 104 and the height b of the liquid 1000 from the bottom surface of reaction cell 104 .

[0069] Here, regarding the dispensing image for acquiring the characteristic amount of the liquid, by using an image immediately before the probe 113 is separated from the liquid 1000 , the characteristic amount of the liquid can be stably acquired.

[0070] Figure 75 is a diagram showing an example of images captured by the imaging device 201 in a time-series order. In this embodiment, an example of imaging the side surface of the reaction cell 104 using the imaging device 201 is described. In the image 510, which shows the process of dispensing the liquid 1000 into the reaction cell 104, liquid 1000 still remains within the probe 113, making it impossible to measure the final amount of liquid 1000 within the reaction cell 104.

[0071] On the other hand, in the image 530 after the liquid 1000 is ejected into the reaction cell 104 and the probe 113 is separated from the liquid 1000, the liquid 1000 wets and spreads on the bottom surface of the reaction cell 104, so the contact angle θ of the liquid becomes smaller, making it difficult to obtain the shape and contour information of the liquid.

[0072] In contrast, in the image 520 in which the liquid 1000 has been ejected into the reaction cell 104 but the probe 113 has not yet been separated from the liquid 1000 , the contact angle θ is large, making it easier to obtain the shape and contour information of the liquid.

[0073] Regarding the image 520 in which the liquid 1000 has been ejected into the reaction unit 104 but the probe 113 has not been separated from the liquid 1000, the completion of the ejection of the liquid 1000 into the reaction unit 104 is determined based on the value of the pressure sensor 116 in the sample dispensing mechanism 106. The control unit 111 uses the initial image in which the probe 113 has been separated from the liquid 1000 as a trigger from the image obtained by the shooting device 201, and adopts the previous image as the image for obtaining the liquid characteristic value, thereby being able to obtain the above-mentioned image 520.

[0074] In step S109 , the characteristic amount of the liquid acquired by the image processing unit 211 is stored in the storage unit 220 .

[0075] In step S110 , the control unit 111 operates the reagent dispensing mechanism 107 to dispense the liquid stored in the reagent container 102 on the reagent disk 103 into the reaction unit 104 .

[0076] In step S111 , the control unit 111 operates the measurement unit 109 to irradiate the reaction unit 104 into which the liquid in the sample container 100 and the liquid in the reagent container 102 have been dispensed with a light source.

[0077] In step S112 , the control unit 111 operates the measurement unit 109 and transmits the absorbance data output from the signal processing unit 350 to the calculation unit.

[0078] In step S113 , the liquid volume calculation unit 360 calculates the liquid volume of the liquid dispensed into the sample container 100 in the reaction unit 104 based on the absorbance data obtained from the measurement unit 109 .

[0079] Figure 8 FIG. 4 shows an example of absorbance data output from the signal processing unit 350. When the contents in the reaction cells 104 are the same, the wavelength at which the absorbance peak is formed is also the same.

[0080] In this embodiment, absorbance indicates the concentration of a predetermined component. Therefore, when measuring the amount of liquid in the sample container 100, if the amount of reagent dispensed from the reagent container 102 into the reaction unit 104 is fixed, the concentration of the component to be measured contained in the liquid increases according to the amount of liquid in the sample container 100. Therefore, if the amount of liquid in the reagent container 102 in the reaction unit 104 is fixed, the amount of liquid in the sample container 100 in the reaction unit 104 can be calculated based on the magnitude of the absorbance peak.

[0081] In step S114 , the liquid volume information of the liquid in the sample container 100 in the reaction cell 104 calculated by the calculation unit based on the absorbance data is stored in the storage unit 220 .

[0082] In step S115 , the characteristic amount of the liquid stored in the storage unit 220 is associated with the liquid amount information of the liquid and is stored again in the storage unit as liquid amount reference data.

[0083] Figure 9 An example of liquid amount reference data stored in the storage unit is shown. In this embodiment, the side surface of the reaction cell 104 is photographed by the imaging device 201, and the attachment position, shape, and contour area of ​​the liquid 1000 are targeted as liquid feature quantities.

[0084] For example, when the liquid 1000 is only attached to the bottom surface of the reaction unit 104 and appears semi-elliptical when viewed from the side of the reaction unit 104, the area S (=πab) of the contour can be derived based on the length a attached to the bottom surface of the reaction unit 104 and the height b of the liquid from the bottom surface of the reaction unit 104.

[0085] The relationship between the derived contour area S and the liquid volume information is saved. By repeatedly performing this process, the relative relationship between the contour area S and the liquid volume can be statistically derived. The more samples of liquid volume reference data, the higher the measurement accuracy.

[0086] The characteristic amount of the liquid acquired by the image processing unit 211 and the amount of the liquid calculated based on the absorbance data by the calculation unit 212 are output to the display unit 112 , and the processing ends.

[0087] Figure 10 This is a flowchart showing a method for measuring the amount of dispensed liquid using an imaging device according to the first embodiment.

[0088] The control unit 111 instructs the dispensing device to dispense the sample from the sample container 100 to the reaction unit 104 , thereby starting the process.

[0089] In step S201 , the control unit 111 activates the sample dispensing mechanism 106 , moves it to the sample container 100 , and instructs the probe 113 to inject the liquid stored in the sample container 100 .

[0090] In step S202 , the control unit 111 instructs the imaging device 201 to capture an image of the reaction cell 104 . This image is used to confirm whether there is no contaminant or other attachment in the reaction cell 104 before the sample dispensing mechanism 106 ejects the liquid 1000 into the reaction cell 104 .

[0091] In step S203 , the control unit 111 activates the sample dispensing mechanism 106 to move the sample container 100 to the reaction unit 104 , and then instructs the probe 113 to eject the liquid into the reaction unit 104 .

[0092] In step S204, the control unit 111 instructs the imaging device 201 to capture an image of the probe 113 ejecting the liquid 1000 toward the reaction cell 104. The timing for the imaging device 201 to start capturing the image is determined based on the state of the sample dispensing mechanism 106.

[0093] For example, imaging is started using the value of the pressure sensor 116 as a trigger. Then, the imaging device 201 continues imaging until the liquid ejection operation of the sample dispensing mechanism 106 to the reaction unit 104 is completed.

[0094] In step S205 , the control unit 111 receives notification that the ejection operation of the liquid 1000 is completed, and instructs the imaging device 201 to stop imaging.

[0095] In step S206 , the image captured by the camera 201 is sent to the image processing unit.

[0096] In step S207, the image processing unit 211 obtains the characteristic value of the liquid based on the captured image. The characteristic value refers to information such as the shape and outline of the liquid.

[0097] The liquid shape includes, for example, information such as where the liquid was ejected on the reaction cell 104. For example, when the shape of the ejected liquid is half of an ellipsoid of revolution, the contour information includes the major and minor radii of the liquid adhering to the bottom surface of the reaction cell 104, and the height of the liquid from the bottom surface of the reaction cell 104.

[0098] In step S208 , the calculation unit 212 compares the characteristic amount of the liquid acquired by the image processing unit 211 with the liquid amount reference data stored in the storage unit 220 , and derives the amount of the liquid dispensed from the sample container 100 in the reaction cell 104 .

[0099] In step S209 , the determination unit 213 determines whether the amount of liquid dispensed from the sample container 100 derived in step S208 is not an abnormal value with respect to the dispensing amount instructed by the control unit 111 to the sample dispensing mechanism 106 .

[0100] If the value is not an abnormal value, the characteristic value of the liquid acquired by the image processing unit 211, the liquid volume derived by the calculation unit 212, and the result of the determination unit 213 are output to the display unit 112, and the process ends.

[0101] If it is an abnormal value, the process proceeds to step S210.

[0102] If the determination unit 213 determines in step S209 that the amount of liquid dispensed from the sample container 100 derived in step S208 is an abnormal value relative to the dispensing amount instructed by the control unit 111 to the sample dispensing mechanism 106 , step S210 is executed.

[0103] The display unit 112 notifies the sample dispensing mechanism 106 of the occurrence of a dispensing abnormality. Furthermore, the liquid feature values ​​obtained by the image processing unit 211 and the liquid volume derived by the calculation unit 212 are output to the display unit 112, and the process ends.

[0104] In this way, the imaging device 201 is used to obtain an image 510 of the liquid 1000 ejected into the reaction unit 104 and just before the probe 113 is separated, and the obtained image is used to extract characteristic quantities such as the shape and contour information of the liquid. The amount of the dispensed liquid is calculated based on the characteristic quantities and the liquid quantity reference data pre-stored in the storage unit 220, which associates the characteristic quantities of the liquid with liquid quantity information calculated based on absorbance data. This makes it possible to stably and accurately monitor the dispensed amount of the liquid in the reaction unit 104, which is a tiny amount of several microliters.

[0105] As a result, the automatic analyzer 10 can ensure and confirm the dispensing accuracy, and becomes a high-quality and highly reliable automatic analyzer.

[0106] Example 2

[0107] In Example 1, to obtain a dispensing image for acquiring characteristic quantities of the liquid, the imaging device 201 uses the initial image of the probe 113 being separated from the liquid 1000 as a trigger to obtain an image. However, the liquid level detection sensor 120 may also be used to obtain an image.

[0108] Figure 111 is a flowchart showing a dispensing image acquisition process using the liquid level detection sensor 120 .

[0109] In step S301 , the control unit 111 activates the sample dispensing mechanism 106 to move the sample container 100 to the reaction unit 104 , and then instructs the probe 113 to eject liquid into the reaction unit 104 .

[0110] In step S302, it is determined whether the value of the pressure sensor 116 has reached a threshold value. The details of the threshold value will be described later. If the value of the pressure sensor 116 has reached the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S303. If not, the process proceeds again.

[0111] In step S303 , the control unit 111 instructs the photographing device 201 to start photographing.

[0112] In step S304 , it is determined whether the value of the liquid level detection sensor 120 has reached a threshold value.

[0113] The value of the liquid level detection sensor 120 changes when the probe 113 is separated from the liquid 1000. Therefore, by monitoring the value of the liquid level detection sensor 120, it is possible to determine whether the probe 113 is separated from the liquid 1000. If the value of the liquid level detection sensor 120 reaches the threshold, the process proceeds to step S305. If not, the process proceeds to step S305 again.

[0114] In step 305 , the control unit 111 instructs the imaging device 201 to stop imaging.

[0115] In step 306 , the image processing unit 211 acquires the characteristic amount of the liquid based on the image immediately before the last image captured by the imaging device 201 .

[0116] According to the second embodiment, the separation of the probe 113 from the liquid 1000 can be determined by the liquid level detection sensor 120 already provided in the dispensing mechanism, thereby reducing the load on the image processing unit 211 and improving the calculation speed.

[0117] Description of Reference Signs

[0118] 10···Automatic analyzer, 100···Sample container, 101···Sample rack, 102···Reagent container, 103···Reagent disk, 104···Reaction unit, 105···Reaction disk, 106···Sample dispensing mechanism, 107···Reagent dispensing mechanism, 108···Stirring unit, 109···Measuring unit, 110···Cleaning unit, 111···Control unit 112···Display unit, 113···Probe, 114···Arm, 115···Shaft, 116···Pressure sensor, 117···Syringe pump, 118···Tubing, 119···Solenoid Valve, 120···liquid level detection sensor, 121···reagent syringe, 201···photographing device, 210···photographing control unit, 211···image processing unit, 212···calculation unit, 220···storage unit, 310···light source, 320···spectrometer, 330···detection unit, 340···amplifier, 350···signal processing unit, 360···liquid volume calculation unit, 400···image capturing, 510···image capturing (during ejection), 520···image capturing (before the probe is detached), 530···image capturing (after the probe is detached), θ···contact angle.

Claims

1. An automatic analysis device comprising: a dispensing probe that dispenses a predetermined amount of liquid; a reaction container for dispensing liquid from the dispensing probe; an analysis mechanism for analyzing the composition of the liquid in the reaction container, It is characterized in that The automatic analysis device comprises: a dispensing detection unit that detects a contact state between the liquid dispensed from the dispensing probe into the reaction container and the reaction container; a photographing device for photographing the contact state; an image processing unit that selects an image for determining the amount of liquid dispensed into the reaction container from the images captured by the imaging device based on the information from the dispensing detection unit, and extracts a characteristic amount of the liquid from the selected image; a storage unit storing a database associating the characteristic quantity of the liquid with information on the amount of components of the liquid analyzed by the analyzing means; as well as A liquid amount calculation unit calculates the amount of liquid dispensed by the dispensing mechanism based on the extracted feature amount based on the database stored in the storage unit.

2. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, characterized in that The feature quantity includes at least information on the shape or outline of the liquid.

3. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, characterized in that The dispensing detection unit is any one of a pressure sensor that detects pressure in the dispensing probe and a liquid level sensor that detects contact between the dispensing probe and the liquid in the reaction container.

4. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, characterized in that The analysis mechanism is a photometer that measures the absorbance of the liquid in the reaction container.

5. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, characterized in that The image selected by the image processing unit is an image taken at a time immediately before the time when the dispensing detection unit detected the detachment of the dispensing probe from the liquid in the reaction container.

6. The automatic analysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The automatic analyzer includes a determination unit having a notification unit configured to notify an abnormality in the automatic analyzer when the amount of liquid calculated by the liquid amount calculation unit differs from the dispensing amount set by the control unit.

7. The automatic analysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The associated database stored in the storage unit has different associations for each physical property of the dispensed liquid.

Images