Specimen conveying device, specimen analysis system, and specimen pretreatment device

Abstract

To provide a conveying device capable of detecting the position of an object to be conveyed with high accuracy.SOLUTION: A conveying device 1 is used in testing for analyzing a specimen, which is a biological sample, conveys an object to be conveyed using electromagnetic forces as a thrust force and a braking force, and comprises: a plurality of magnetic poles 25a and 25b that are arranged in a lattice shape and that are supplied with a current to generate the electromagnetic forces; and a calculation section 41. The object to be conveyed is a container carrier 110 that includes a permanent magnet and that holds a specimen container 122 in which the specimen is accommodated, and is conveyed along at least a portion of a conveying line to an analysis section. In the analysis section, components contained in the biological sample that has reacted with a reagent are analyzed. The magnetic poles 25a and 25b are electromagnets, and include a first magnetic pole 25a positioned in a traveling direction 110a of the object to be conveyed and a second magnetic pole 25b positioned adjacent to the first magnetic pole 25a in a direction opposite to the traveling direction. The calculation section 41 detects the position of the object to be conveyed using the current supplied to the second magnetic pole 25b, which generates a braking force on the object to be conveyed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a specimen transport device for transporting a specimen which is a biological sample, a specimen analysis system for analyzing a specimen, and a specimen pretreatment device for pretreating a specimen.

Background Art

[0002] In a specimen analysis system for analyzing biological samples such as blood, plasma, serum, urine, and other body fluids (hereinafter referred to as "specimens"), for each specimen, in order to examine the designated analysis items, a plurality of devices having different functions are connected, and each process is automatically processed. In other words, in a specimen analysis system, analysis units in a plurality of analysis fields such as biochemistry and immunology are connected by a transport device, and a plurality of analyses are performed collectively.

[0003] A transport device is a device (transport line) for transporting an object to be transported. For example, in a specimen analysis system, a container carrier such as a specimen holder that holds a specimen container containing a specimen is used as an object to be transported, and it is transported to a device that executes the processing of each process.

[0004] The transport methods of the transport device include a method of transporting by a belt conveyor and a method of transporting using electromagnetic attraction force as a thrust. In the method of transporting using electromagnetic attraction force, a permanent magnet is provided on the object to be transported, and the electromagnetic attraction force generated by supplying current to the winding of the magnetic circuit provided on the transport surface of the object to be transported is used as the thrust of the object to be transported.

[0005] An example of a conventional transport device is described in Patent Document 1. In the transport device described in Patent Document 1, without using a sensor such as a Hall IC, the position of a container carrier which is an object to be transported is detected by utilizing the magnetic saturation phenomenon of the magnetic circuit due to the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet. More specifically, the transport device described in Patent Document 1 detects the position of the container carrier by utilizing the change in the inductance of the winding that generates thrust on the container carrier.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 137182 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0007] When transporting a container carrier as an object to be transported, in order to stop the container carrier at a predetermined stop position, or to avoid liquid sloshing of a specimen placed on the container carrier or collision between container carriers, it is necessary to precisely control the speed of the container carrier. In order to precisely control the speed of the container carrier, it is necessary to accurately detect the position of the container carrier.

[0008] In a transport device, if the position of an object to be transported (for example, a container carrier) is detected only using a winding that generates a thrust on the object to be transported, since there is a region with low position detection accuracy on the transport surface, the error of the position information becomes large, and there is a problem that the controllability of the speed of the object to be transported deteriorates. In particular, when the current flowing through the winding decreases during deceleration of the object to be transported, the change in inductance due to magnetic saturation is small, and it is difficult to accurately obtain the position of the object to be transported.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a transport device capable of detecting the position of an object to be transported with high accuracy, and a specimen analysis system and a specimen pretreatment device including this transport device. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0010] The transport device according to the present invention is used in an inspection for analyzing a specimen which is a biological sample, and is configured to transport an object to be transported using electromagnetic force as a thrust force and a braking force. The transport device is arranged in a lattice pattern and includes a plurality of magnetic poles which are arranged in a lattice pattern, supplied with current, and generate the electromagnetic force, an arithmetic unit, and the object to be transported. The object to be transported includes a permanent magnet, and is a container carrier that holds a specimen container containing the specimen, and is transported at least in part of a transport line to an analysis unit. In the analysis unit, components contained in the biological sample are analyzed for the biological sample that has reacted with a reagent. The magnetic poles are electromagnets, and in the transport direction of the object to be transported, include a first magnetic pole located in the traveling direction of the object to be transported, and a second magnetic pole located adjacent to the first magnetic pole in the reverse traveling direction which is the direction opposite to the traveling direction. The arithmetic unit detects the position of the object to be transported using the current supplied to the second magnetic pole that has generated the braking force on the object to be transported.

[0011] The specimen analysis system according to the present invention includes a carry-in unit where the object to be transported is a container carrier that holds a specimen container containing a specimen which is a biological sample, an analysis unit that analyzes the transported specimen, a specimen transport device that transports the object to be transported from the carry-in unit to the analysis unit, and the object to be transported. The analysis unit analyzes components contained in the biological sample for the biological sample that has reacted with a reagent. The specimen transport device is the transport device according to the present invention.

[0012] The specimen pretreatment device according to the present invention includes a carry-in unit where the object to be transported is a container carrier that holds a specimen container containing a specimen which is a biological sample, a specimen transport device that transports the object to be transported to a specimen analysis system connected for analyzing the specimen, and the object to be transported. The specimen analysis system includes an analysis unit that analyzes components contained in the biological sample for the biological sample that has reacted with a reagent. The specimen transport device is the transport device according to the present invention.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a conveying device capable of detecting the position of an object to be conveyed with high accuracy, and it is possible to provide a specimen analysis system and a specimen pretreatment device including this conveying device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] The specimen transport device according to the present invention (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "transport device") is a device that transports a specimen which is a biological sample such as blood or urine, and is used in an examination for analyzing the specimen which is a biological sample. During the transport of the object to be transported, the position of the object to be transported can be detected with high precision, and it has high controllability. The transport device according to the present invention uses a container carrier used for transporting a biological sample (hereinafter referred to as "specimen") as the object to be transported, and can be used in a specimen analysis system for analyzing the specimen, or a specimen pretreatment device that performs pretreatment necessary for analyzing the specimen on the specimen.

[0016] Hereinafter, the transport device, the specimen analysis system, and the specimen pretreatment device according to the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in this specification, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description of these components may be omitted.

Embodiment

[0017] The transport device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the transport device according to the present embodiment. The transport device 1 includes a plurality of electromagnets that constitute magnetic poles. In FIG. 1, two electromagnets are shown representatively.

[0019] The transport device 1 includes a first electromagnet 25a that constitutes a magnetic pole, a second electromagnet 25b that is a magnetic pole arranged adjacent to the first electromagnet 25a with a predetermined interval, a first drive circuit 50a, a second drive circuit 50b, a first current detection unit 40a, a second current detection unit 40b, an arithmetic unit 41, and a power supply 55.

[0020] The first electromagnet 25a includes a first tooth 22a formed of a magnetic material and a first winding 21a wound around the outer peripheral portion of the first tooth 22a. The second electromagnet 25b, similar to the first electromagnet 25a, includes a second tooth 22b and a second winding 21b wound around the outer peripheral portion of the second tooth 22b. Note that the first tooth 22a and the second tooth 22b are columnar as shown in FIG. 1 in this embodiment, but may have any shape, for example, prismatic.

[0021] The transport device 1 has a transport surface (not shown in FIG. 1) on the upper surface portions of the first electromagnet 25a and the second electromagnet 25b. On the transport surface, an object to be transported by the transport device 1, i.e., an object to be transported, is placed so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the object to be transported is a container carrier 110. The container carrier 110 slides and moves horizontally on this transport surface. The container carrier 110 as the object to be transported is transported at least in part on the transport line to the analysis unit, as will also be described in Example 3 below. In the analysis unit, components contained in the biological sample (specimen) that has reacted with the reagent are analyzed.

[0022] The container carrier 110 includes a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is installed, for example, on the bottom surface portion of the container carrier 110, and the magnetization direction (direction of the magnetic field) is in the vertical direction. The container carrier 110 moves on the transport surface by using the force exerted by the electromagnetic force generated by the electromagnets 25a and 25b on the permanent magnet of the container carrier 110 as a thrust force and a braking force. It is preferable to use a magnet made of a neodymium alloy, ferrite, or the like for the permanent magnet included in the container carrier 110. Also, the container carrier 110 can be provided with a soft magnetic material or the like instead of the permanent magnet.

[0023] Examples of the container carrier 110 include a specimen holder that holds one specimen container at a time and a specimen rack that holds a plurality of specimen containers. The specimen container is a container that houses a specimen, and is, for example, a test tube or a sample cell that can house a liquid specimen.

[0024] The first drive circuit 50a is connected to the first winding 21a of the first electromagnet 25a. When a voltage is applied to the first electromagnet 25a by the first drive circuit 50a, a magnetic field is generated. This magnetic field is, for example, in a direction upward from the upper end of the first tooth 22a.

[0025] The second drive circuit 50b is connected to the second winding 21b of the second electromagnet 25b. When a voltage is applied to the second electromagnet 25b by the second drive circuit 50b, a magnetic field is generated. This magnetic field is, for example, in a direction upward from the upper end of the second tooth 22b.

[0026] A thrust is generated on the permanent magnet provided in the container carrier 110 by the magnetic fields generated by the first electromagnet 25a and the second electromagnet 25b, for example, the magnetic fields generated upward from the upper ends of the first tooth 22a and the second tooth 22b.

[0027] The first current detection unit 40a has a function of detecting the current supplied from the first drive circuit 50a to the first winding 21a of the first electromagnet 25a and sending the detected current value to the arithmetic unit 41.

[0028] The second current detection unit 40b has a function of detecting the current supplied from the second drive circuit 50b to the second winding 21b of the second electromagnet 25b and sending the detected current value to the arithmetic unit 41.

[0029] The first current detection unit 40a and the second current detection unit 40b can be configured by any element or device. For example, those that measure the voltage of a series resistor, those using a current transformer, and those using a Hall current sensor can be used.

[0030] The arithmetic unit 41 generates a control signal for moving the container carrier 110 using the current values detected by the first current detection unit 40a and the second current detection unit 40b, and outputs this control signal to the first drive circuit 50a and the second drive circuit 50b. Thereby, the conveying device 1 can convey the container carrier 110 to a desired position.

[0031] Based on the current values detected by the first current detection unit 40a and the second current detection unit 40b, etc., the calculation unit 41 can calculate the relative positional relationship between the first teeth 22a and the second teeth 22b and the container carrier 110, and obtain the position of the container carrier 110 in the conveying device 1. That is, the calculation unit 41 can calculate and obtain at which position of the conveying device 1 the container carrier 110 is currently located. Further, the calculation unit 41 uses the calculated position information of the container carrier 110 to determine the amount of current required for driving the container carrier 110 and the timing for supplying this current.

[0032] The calculation unit 41 can obtain the position of the container carrier 110 in the conveying device 1 by using a conventional technique, for example, the method described in Patent Document 1. That is, the calculation unit 41, for example, obtains in advance the relationship between the inductance obtained from the current flowing through the first winding 21a of the first electromagnet 25a and the position of the container carrier 110 with respect to the first electromagnet 25a, and the relationship between the inductance obtained from the current flowing through the second winding 21b of the second electromagnet 25b and the position of the container carrier 110 with respect to the second electromagnet 25b. The calculation unit 41 stores these relationships, obtains the inductances respectively by using the current values detected by the first current detection unit 40a and the second current detection unit 40b, and uses the stored relationships to obtain the position of the container carrier 110.

[0033] Also, the calculation unit 41 can obtain the amount of current required for driving the container carrier 110 and the supply timing of this current by using a conventional technique, for example, the method described in Patent Document 1. That is, the calculation unit 41, for example, obtains the speed of the container carrier 110 from the time change of the position of the container carrier 110, obtains the thrust required to move the container carrier 110 from this speed, and based on the obtained thrust, obtains the amount of current required for driving the container carrier 110 and the supply timing of this current.

[0034] As described above, the arithmetic unit 41 generates a control signal for moving the container carrier 110.

[0035] The power supply 55 is connected to the first drive circuit 50a and the second drive circuit 50b. The power supply 55 may be an AC power supply or a DC power supply. For example, a battery may be used as the DC power supply for the power supply 55.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a plurality of electromagnets provided in the conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, five electromagnets are shown as an example, and the conveying direction of the container carrier 110 is the left - right direction in FIG. 2. Also, in FIG. 2, the traveling direction of the container carrier 110 (the direction from left to right in FIG. 2) is indicated by an arrow 110a. Note that the electromagnets are connected to each other by yokes, but the illustration of the yokes is omitted in FIG. 2.

[0037] The conveying device 1 includes a first electromagnet 25a, a second electromagnet 25b, a third electromagnet 25c, a fourth electromagnet 25d, and a fifth electromagnet 25e. These electromagnets 25a - 25e are arranged in a grid pattern and each includes windings 21a - 21e and teeth 22a - 22e to form magnetic poles. The conveying device 1 conveys the container carrier 110, which is an object to be conveyed, using the electromagnetic forces generated by the electromagnets 25a - 25e, which are magnetic poles, as thrust and braking forces.

[0038] The fifth electromagnet 25e and the second electromagnet 25b are magnetic poles arranged adjacent to the first electromagnet 25a along the conveying direction of the container carrier 110. The fifth electromagnet 25e is located in the direction in which the container carrier 110 travels (the traveling direction of the container carrier 110) with respect to the first electromagnet 25a. The second electromagnet 25b is located in the direction opposite to the direction in which the container carrier 110 travels (the reverse traveling direction of the container carrier 110) with respect to the first electromagnet 25a.

[0039] The third electromagnet 25c and the fourth electromagnet 25d are magnetic poles arranged adjacent to the first electromagnet 25a along a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the container carrier 110 (the up - down direction in FIG. 2).

[0040] The container carrier 110 is provided with a permanent magnet as described above, and a thrust force and a braking force are generated by the magnetic fields generated by the first electromagnet 25a to the fifth electromagnet 25e, and it moves and is conveyed on the conveying surface in the direction of arrow 110a.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing cross-sections of the first electromagnet 25a, the second electromagnet 25b, and the fifth electromagnet 25e in the conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment. These electromagnets 25a, 25b, 25e are connected to each other by a yoke 26.

[0042] In FIG. 3, the container carrier 110 is moving on the conveying surface 65 from directly above the electromagnet 25b toward directly above the electromagnet 25a in the direction of arrow 110a. Note that directly above the electromagnet means a position where the center line of the container carrier 110 and the electromagnet coincides with each other in the conveying direction.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 3, in the conveying direction, the distances between the second electromagnet 25b and the first electromagnet 25a, and between the first electromagnet 25a and the fifth electromagnet 25e are defined as A. The distance A is the interval between the center lines of two adjacent electromagnets in the conveying direction.

[0044] In the present embodiment, consider the case of decelerating the moving container carrier 110. That is, consider the case of decelerating the container carrier 110 to stop it at a predetermined position, or the case of decelerating the container carrier 110 with a high speed to make the speed of the container carrier 110 a preferable value.

[0045] In the movement of the container carrier 110 from a position above the electromagnet 25b toward a position above the electromagnet 25a (FIG. 3), a current is supplied to the electromagnet 25b located on the opposite side of the advancing direction from the position of the container carrier 110, and an electromagnetic force that attracts the container carrier 110 to the opposite side of the advancing direction is generated in the electromagnet 25b, and the container carrier 110 is decelerated by using this electromagnetic force as a braking force.

[0046] Simultaneously with this deceleration, a minute current is supplied to the electromagnet 25a located on the advancing direction side from the position of the container carrier 110, and an electromagnetic force for attracting the container carrier 110 toward the advancing direction side is generated in the electromagnet 25a, thereby generating a thrust force on the container carrier 110.

[0047] The current supplied to the electromagnet 25b located on the reverse advancing direction side from the position of the container carrier 110 is larger than the current supplied to the electromagnet 25a located on the advancing direction side. That is, the braking force on the container carrier 110 is larger than the thrust force on the container carrier 110.

[0048] In addition, when the moving speed of the container carrier 110 is high and the container carrier 110 has sufficient inertia, an abnormal stop in which the container carrier 110 stops between the electromagnet 25b and the electromagnet 25a does not occur during the movement of the container carrier 110. Therefore, it is not necessary to supply current to the electromagnet 25a (that is, it is not necessary to generate a thrust force on the container carrier 110).

[0049] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the inductance change rate 30a of the first electromagnet 25a and the inductance change rate 30b of the second electromagnet 25b when the container carrier 110 is moving from directly above the second electromagnet 25b toward directly above the first electromagnet 25a (FIG. 3). In the graph of FIG. 4, the horizontal axis indicates the position X of the container carrier 110, and the vertical axis indicates the inductance change rate, that is, the change rate of the inductance obtained from the current flowing through the winding of the electromagnet with respect to the position X of the container carrier 110.

[0050] In FIG. 4, the position P indicates the position directly above the first electromagnet 25a, and the position (P - A) indicates the position directly above the second electromagnet 25b. As described above, the distance A is the distance between two adjacent electromagnets (the electromagnet 25b and the electromagnet 25a) in the conveyance direction. The container carrier 110 is located between the electromagnet 25b and the electromagnet 25a.

[0051] The inductance change rate is the magnitude of the change in inductance per unit displacement momentum of the container carrier 110. Therefore, the larger the inductance change rate, the more sensitively the change in the position X of the container carrier 110 can be detected, and the position X of the container carrier 110 can be detected with high accuracy.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the inductance change rate 30b of the electromagnet 25b is larger than the inductance change rate 30a of the electromagnet 25a. This is because the current flowing through the electromagnet 25b is larger than the current flowing through the electromagnet 25a, and the electromagnet 25b is magnetically saturated.

[0053] The electromagnet 25b with a large inductance change rate 30b is an electromagnet that generates a braking force, and the electromagnet 25a with a small inductance change rate 30a is an electromagnet that generates a thrust force. From this, when the electromagnet 25b that generates a braking force, that is, the electromagnet 25b that is located on the reverse travel direction side of the container carrier 110 and attracts the container carrier 110, is used to detect the position of the container carrier 110, the position of the container carrier 110 can be detected with high accuracy.

[0054] When the arithmetic unit 41 obtains the position of the container carrier 110 in the transport device 1 based on the current value supplied to the electromagnet 25b, the position of the container carrier 110 can be detected with high accuracy, and the deceleration control of the container carrier 110 can be performed with high accuracy.

[0055] As described above, the transport device 1 according to the present embodiment can detect the position of the container carrier 110, which is the object to be transported, with high accuracy, and can perform speed control of the container carrier 110 with high accuracy. For example, the transport device 1 according to the present embodiment can accurately obtain the position of the container carrier 110 even when the current flowing through the electromagnet that applies a thrust to the container carrier 110 is small or when no current is passed through this electromagnet during deceleration of the container carrier 110.

Embodiment

[0056] The conveying device according to Example 2 of the present invention will be described. In this example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the container carrier 110 is conveyed while decelerating from the position (P - A) directly above the second electromagnet 25b, passing through the position P directly above the first electromagnet 25a, and heading towards the position (P + A) directly above the fifth electromagnet 25e.

[0057] In this example, an example of detecting the position of the container carrier 110 with high accuracy by changing the electromagnet used to detect the position of the container carrier 110 according to the position of the container carrier 110 relative to the electromagnet will be described. Even when the current flowing through the electromagnet that applies a thrust to the container carrier 110 during deceleration of the container carrier 110 becomes small, the position of the container carrier 110 can be accurately obtained.

[0058] Also in this example, as in Example 1, the arithmetic unit 41 obtains the position of the container carrier 110 in the conveying device 1 based on the current value supplied to the electromagnet, and controls the speed of the container carrier 110.

[0059] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the inductance change rate 30a of the first electromagnet 25a, the inductance change rate 30b of the second electromagnet 25b, and the inductance change rate 30e of the fifth electromagnet 25e with respect to the position X of the container carrier 110 when currents are supplied to the first electromagnet 25a, the second electromagnet 25b, and the fifth electromagnet 25e, respectively.

[0060] While the container carrier 110 is moving between the position (P - A) and the position P (in the section where P - A ≤ X ≤ P), a current is supplied to the electromagnet 25a to generate a thrust from the electromagnet 25a to the container carrier 110, and a current is supplied to the electromagnet 25b to generate a braking force from the electromagnet 25b to the container carrier 110. That is, the electromagnet 25a and the electromagnet 25b generate an attractive force to the container carrier 110.

[0061] The position P1 shown in FIG. 5 is a position where the inductance change rate 30a of the electromagnet 25a and the inductance change rate 30b of the electromagnet 25b are equal to each other, and is between the position (P - A) and the position P.

[0062] Between the position (P - A) and the position P1 (in the section where P - A ≤ X ≤ P1), the position of the container carrier 110 is close to the electromagnet 25b that generates a braking force on the container carrier 110. For this reason, in the section where P - A ≤ X ≤ P1, the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet provided in the container carrier 110 intersects a large amount with the electromagnet 25b, and the electromagnet 25b is magnetically saturated. Therefore, the inductance change rate 30b of the electromagnet 25b is larger than the inductance change rate 30a of the electromagnet 25a.

[0063] Between the position P1 and the position P (in the section where P1 ≤ X ≤ P), the position of the container carrier 110 is close to the electromagnet 25a that generates a thrust force on the container carrier 110. For this reason, in the section where P1 ≤ X ≤ P, the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet provided in the container carrier 110 intersects a large amount with the electromagnet 25a, and the electromagnet 25a is magnetically saturated. Therefore, the inductance change rate 30a of the electromagnet 25a is larger than the inductance change rate 30b of the electromagnet 25b.

[0064] Therefore, in the section where P - A ≤ X ≤ P1, by detecting the position of the container carrier 110 using the electromagnet 25b that generates a braking force, and in the section where P1 ≤ X ≤ P, by detecting the position of the container carrier 110 using the electromagnet 25a that generates a thrust force, the position of the container carrier 110 can be detected with high accuracy.

[0065] While the container carrier 110 moves between the position P and the position (P + A) (in the section where P ≤ X ≤ P + A), a current is supplied to the electromagnet 25e to generate a thrust force on the container carrier 110 by the electromagnet 25e, and a current is supplied to the electromagnet 25a to generate a braking force on the container carrier 110 by the electromagnet 25a. That is, the electromagnet 25e and the electromagnet 25a generate an attractive force on the container carrier 110.

[0066] The position P2 shown in FIG. 5 is a position where the inductance change rate 30a of the electromagnet 25a is equal to the inductance change rate 30e of the electromagnet 25e, and is between the position P and the position (P + A).

[0067] Between position P and position P2 (in the range P ≦ X ≦ P2), the position of the container carrier 110 is close to the electromagnet 25a that generates a braking force on the container carrier 110. Therefore, in the range P ≦ X ≦ P2, since the electromagnet 25a is magnetically saturated, the inductance change rate 30a of the electromagnet 25a is larger than the inductance change rate 30e of the electromagnet 25e.

[0068] Between position P2 and position (P + A) (in the range P2 ≦ X ≦ P + A), the position of the container carrier 110 is close to the electromagnet 25e that generates a thrust force on the container carrier 110. Therefore, in the range P2 ≦ X ≦ P + A, since the electromagnet 25e is magnetically saturated, the inductance change rate 30e of the electromagnet 25e is larger than the inductance change rate 30a of the electromagnet 25a.

[0069] Therefore, if the position of the container carrier 110 is detected using the electromagnet 25a that generates a braking force in the range P ≦ X ≦ P2, and the position of the container carrier 110 is detected using the electromagnet 25e that generates a thrust force in the range P2 ≦ X ≦ P + A, the position of the container carrier 110 can be detected with high accuracy.

[0070] Note that the positions P1 and P2 can be determined by prior experiments, simulations, etc.

[0071] In this embodiment, by changing the electromagnets 25a, 25b, 25e used to detect the position of the container carrier 110 according to the positions of the electromagnets 25a, 25b, 25e of the container carrier 110, compared to the case where only one of the electromagnets 25a, 25b, 25e is used to detect the position of the container carrier 110 regardless of the position of the container carrier 110, the position of the container carrier 110 can be detected with high accuracy.

[0072] In addition, in FIG. 5, depending on the position of the container carrier 110, the magnitudes of the inductance change rates 30b and 30a are reversed between the electromagnet 25b and the electromagnet 25a, and the magnitudes of the inductance change rates 30a and 30e are reversed between the electromagnet 25a and the electromagnet 25e. This is because control is performed to change the current values of the electromagnets 25a, 25b, and 25e to convey the container carrier 110. For example, by changing the values of the currents supplied to the electromagnets 25a, 25b, and 25e, control is performed so that the speed of the container carrier 110 approaches the target value.

Example

[0073] The specimen analysis system and the specimen pretreatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The specimen analysis system and the specimen pretreatment apparatus according to this embodiment include the transport device 1 according to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0074] First, the specimen analysis system according to this embodiment will be described. The specimen analysis system is a device that dispenses a specimen and a reagent into a reaction vessel, reacts them, and measures the reacted liquid.

[0075] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of the specimen analysis system 100 according to this embodiment. The specimen analysis system 100 includes a loading unit 101, an emergency rack inlet 113, a transport line 102, a buffer 104, an analysis unit 105, a storage unit 103, a display unit 118, and a control unit 120.

[0076] The loading unit 101 is a place where a specimen rack 111, which is a container carrier holding a plurality of specimen containers 122 containing biological specimens (specimens) such as blood and urine, is arranged.

[0077] The emergency rack inlet 113 is a place for loading into the apparatus a specimen rack 111 that houses a specimen rack (calibration rack) loaded with a standard solution or a specimen container 122 containing a specimen that requires urgent analysis.

[0078] The transfer line 102 is a line for transferring the specimen rack 111 installed in the loading section 101, and can be configured by the transfer device 1 according to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the object to be transferred, the container carrier 110, is the specimen rack 111, and the permanent magnet provided in the container carrier 110 is provided on the bottom surface of the specimen rack 111. The transfer device 1 transfers the object to be transferred from the loading section 101 to the analysis section 105. The specimen rack 111 as the object to be transferred is transferred at least in part on the transfer line 102 up to the analysis section 105.

[0079] The buffer 104 holds a plurality of specimen racks 111 transferred by the transfer line 102 so that the dispensing order of the specimens in the specimen rack 111 can be changed.

[0080] The analysis section 105 has the specimen rack 111 transferred from the loading section 101 through the buffer 104 by the transfer line 102, and analyzes the transferred specimen. The analysis section 105 analyzes the components contained in the biological sample (specimen) that has reacted with the reagent. The analysis section 105 can have, for example, the same configuration as the analysis section provided in an existing specimen analysis system. Details of the analysis section 105 will be described later.

[0081] The storage section 103 stores the specimen rack 111 in which the specimen container 122 holding the specimen whose analysis in the analysis section 105 has been completed is accommodated.

[0082] The display section 118 is a display device for displaying the results of the analysis in the analysis section 105. For example, the display section 118 displays, as the analysis result, the concentration of a predetermined component contained in a specimen such as blood or urine.

[0083] The control section 120 is composed of a computer or the like, controls the operations of the respective mechanisms of the specimen analysis system 100, and performs arithmetic processing for obtaining the concentration of a predetermined component in a specimen such as blood or urine. The transfer device 1 (transfer line 102) according to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 is controlled by the control section 120.

[0084] The analysis unit 105 includes a conveyor line 106, a reaction disk 108, a sample dispensing nozzle 107, a reagent disk 117, a reagent dispensing nozzle 109, a cleaning mechanism 112, a reagent tray 114, a reagent ID reader 115, a reagent loader 116, and a spectrophotometer 121.

[0085] The conveyor line 106 is a line for carrying the sample rack 111 in the buffer 104 into the analysis unit 105, and has the same configuration as the transport device 1 according to Example 1 or Example 2.

[0086] The reaction disk 108 includes a plurality of reaction vessels.

[0087] The sample dispensing nozzle 107 dispenses a sample from the sample container 122 into the reaction vessel of the reaction disk 108 by rotational driving and vertical driving.

[0088] The reagent disk 117 mounts a plurality of reagents.

[0089] The reagent dispensing nozzle 109 dispenses a reagent from the reagent bottle in the reagent disk 117 into the reaction vessel of the reaction disk 108.

[0090] The cleaning mechanism 112 cleans the reaction vessels of the reaction disk 108.

[0091] The reagent tray 114 is a member for installing a reagent when registering the reagent into the specimen analysis system 100.

[0092] The reagent ID reader 115 is a device for acquiring reagent information by reading the reagent ID attached to the reagent installed on the reagent tray 114.

[0093] The reagent loader 116 is a device for loading a reagent into the reagent disk 117.

[0094] The spectrophotometer 121 measures the absorbance of the reaction solution by measuring the transmitted light obtained through the reaction solution in the reaction vessel from a light source (not shown).

[0095] The above is the overall configuration of the specimen analysis system 100.

[0096] The analysis process of the specimen by the specimen analysis system 100 as described above is generally executed in the following order.

[0097] First, the specimen rack 111 is installed at the loading unit 101 or the emergency rack inlet 113, and is carried into the buffer 104 that enables random access by the transport line 102.

[0098] Among the racks stored in the buffer 104, the specimen analysis system 100 carries the specimen rack 111 with the highest priority into the analysis unit 105 by the conveyor line 106 according to the priority rule.

[0099] The specimen rack 111 that has arrived at the analysis unit 105 is further transferred by the conveyor line 106 to the specimen dispensing position near the reaction disk 108, and the specimen is dispensed into the reaction vessel of the reaction disk 108 by the specimen dispensing nozzle 107. The specimen is dispensed the required number of times according to the analysis items requested for the specimen by the specimen dispensing nozzle 107.

[0100] The specimen dispensing nozzle 107 dispenses specimens for all the specimen containers 122 mounted on the specimen rack 111. The specimen rack 111 for which the dispensing process for all the specimen containers 122 has been completed is transferred back to the buffer 104. Further, the specimen rack 111 for which all the specimen dispensing processes, including automatic re-inspection, have been completed is transferred to the storage unit 103 by the conveyor line 106 and the transport line 102.

[0101] Also, the reagent used for analysis is dispensed from the reagent bottle on the reagent disk 117 to the reaction vessel where the specimen has been previously dispensed by the reagent dispensing nozzle 109. Subsequently, the mixture of the specimen and the reagent in the reaction vessel is stirred by a stirring mechanism (not shown).

[0102] Thereafter, the light generated from the light source is transmitted through the reaction vessel containing the mixed solution after stirring, and the light intensity of the transmitted light is measured by the spectrophotometer 121. The light intensity measured by the spectrophotometer 121 is transmitted to the control unit 120 via an A / D converter and an interface. Then, the control unit 120 performs calculations to obtain the concentration of a predetermined component in the specimen, which is a liquid specimen such as blood or urine, and displays the obtained result on the display unit 118 or stores it in a storage unit (not shown).

[0103] Note that the specimen analysis system 100 is not limited to the one having the above-described configuration. The specimen analysis system 100 may, for example, include a unit for pretreatment, or may not include some units or some configurations. Further, the analysis unit 105 is not limited to biochemical analysis, and may be for immunoassay. Furthermore, the specimen analysis system 100 can include not only one but also two or more analysis units 105. Even if the specimen analysis system 100 includes two or more analysis units 105, the analysis unit 105 and the loading unit 101 are connected by a transport line 102, and the specimen rack 111 is transported from the loading unit 101.

[0104] Next, the specimen pretreatment apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. The specimen pretreatment apparatus is an apparatus that performs various pretreatments necessary for the analysis of a specimen.

[0105] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of the specimen pretreatment apparatus 150 according to this embodiment. The specimen pretreatment apparatus 150 can have the same configuration as an existing specimen pretreatment apparatus. For example, the specimen pretreatment apparatus 150 includes a capping unit 152, a specimen storage unit 153, an empty holder stacker 154, a specimen loading unit 155, a centrifugation unit 156, a liquid volume measurement unit 157, an uncapping unit 158, a sub-specimen container preparation unit 159, a dispensing unit 160, and a transfer unit 161, and also includes an operation unit 163 for controlling the operations of these plurality of units.

[0106] The sample pretreatment device 150 is connected to a sample analysis system 100 for performing qualitative and quantitative analysis of the components of a sample as the transfer destination of the pretreated sample. The sample analysis system 100 includes an analysis unit 105 that analyzes the components contained in the biological sample (sample) that has reacted with the reagent.

[0107] The sample input unit 155 is a unit for inputting a sample container 122 containing a sample into the sample pretreatment device 150.

[0108] The centrifugation unit 156 is a unit for performing centrifugation on the input sample container 122.

[0109] The liquid volume measurement unit 157 is a unit for measuring the liquid volume of the sample contained in the sample container 122.

[0110] The cap opening unit 158 is a unit for opening the cap of the input sample container 122.

[0111] The sub-sample container preparation unit 159 is a unit for performing the necessary preparations for dispensing the sample contained in the input sample container 122 in the next dispensing unit 165.

[0112] The dispensing unit 160 is a unit for aliquoting the centrifuged sample for analysis by the sample analysis system 100 or the like, and attaching barcodes or the like to the aliquoted sample containers 122 and sub-sample containers 122a.

[0113] The transfer unit 161 is a unit for classifying the dispensed sub-sample containers 122a and preparing for transfer to the sample analysis system 100.

[0114] The cap closing unit 152 is a unit for closing the sample container 122 and the sub-sample container 122a.

[0115] The sample storage unit 153 is a unit for storing the closed sample container 122.

[0116] Between the plurality of units included in the specimen pretreatment apparatus 150 or between the specimen pretreatment apparatus 150 and the specimen analysis system 100, they can be connected by the transfer device 1 according to Example 1 or Example 2 of the present invention. For example, the transfer device 1 transfers a specimen holder or a specimen rack holding the specimen container 122 to the specimen analysis system 100.

[0117] Note that the specimen pretreatment apparatus 150 is not limited to those having the above-described configuration. The specimen pretreatment apparatus 150 may further include, for example, other units, or may not include some units or some configurations.

[0118] Also, the specimen analysis system according to the present embodiment may be a specimen analysis system 200 as shown in FIG. 7, that is, a specimen analysis system 200 including the specimen pretreatment apparatus 150 and the specimen analysis system 100 described above. In this specimen analysis system 200, not only within each system but also between systems can be connected by the transfer device 1 according to Example 1 or Example 2 of the present invention, and the specimen container 122 can be transferred.

[0119] The specimen analysis systems 100 and 200 and the specimen pretreatment apparatus 150 according to the present embodiment are provided with the transfer device 1 according to Example 1 or Example 2, and can transfer the specimen container 122 to the destination with high efficiency, so the time until the analysis result is obtained can be shortened. In addition, there are few troubles that occur when transferring the specimen container 122, and the burden on the inspection technician can be reduced.

[0120] Note that in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, an example in which the specimen rack 111 holding five specimen containers 122 containing specimens is the object to be transferred has been described. The object to be transferred is not limited to such a specimen rack 111, and may be, for example, a specimen holder holding two specimen containers 122.

[0121] In addition, in Examples 1 to 3, the object to be conveyed by the conveying device 1 is not limited to the container carrier 110 (specimen holder or specimen rack 111), and can be any object, for example, various objects that are required to be conveyed on a large scale.

[0122] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, the above embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to the embodiments having all the configurations described. Also, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment. Further, it is possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Also, it is possible to delete a part of the configuration of each embodiment, or add or replace other configurations.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0123] 1…Conveying device, 21a…First winding, 21b…Second winding, 21c…Third winding, 21d…Fourth winding, 21e…Fifth winding, 22a…First teeth, 22b…Second teeth, 22c…Third teeth, 22d…Fourth teeth, 22e…Fifth teeth, 25a…First electromagnet, 25b…Second electromagnet, 25c…Third electromagnet, 25d…Fourth electromagnet, 25e…Fifth electromagnet, 26…Yoke, 30a…Inductance change rate of the first electromagnet, 30b…Inductance change rate of the second electromagnet, 30e…Inductance change rate of the fifth electromagnet, 40a…First current detection unit, 40b…Second current detection unit, 41…Calculation unit, 50a…First drive circuit, 50b…Second drive circuit, 55…Power supply, 65…Conveying surface, 100…Specimen analysis system, 101…Loading section, 102…Conveying line, 103…Storage section, 104…Buffer, 105…Analysis section, 106…Conveyor line, 107…Specimen dispensing nozzle, 108…Reaction disk, 109…Reagent dispensing nozzle, 110…Container carrier, 110a…Arrow indicating the advancing direction, 111…Specimen rack, 112…Washing mechanism, 113…Emergency rack insertion port, 114…Reagent tray, 115…Reagent ID reader, 116…Reagent loader, 117…Reagent disk, 118…Display section, 120…Control section, 121…Spectrophotometer, 122…Specimen container, 122a…Sub-specimen container, 150…Specimen pretreatment device, 152…Sealing unit, 153…Specimen storage unit, 154…Empty holder stacker, 155…Specimen input unit, 156…Centrifugation unit, 157…Liquid volume measurement unit, 158…Unsealing unit, 159…Sub-specimen container preparation unit, 160…Dispensing unit, 161…Transfer unit, 163…Operation section, 200…Specimen analysis system.

Claims

1. It is used in an inspection for analyzing a specimen which is a biological sample, and is configured to convey an object to be conveyed using electromagnetic force as a thrust force and a braking force, and includes a plurality of magnetic poles arranged in a lattice pattern and supplied with current to generate the electromagnetic force, a calculation unit, the object to be conveyed, and is provided with, the object to be conveyed is a container carrier that holds a specimen container containing the specimen, is a permanent magnet, and is conveyed at least in part of a conveyance line to an analysis unit, in the analysis unit, components contained in the biological sample are analyzed for the biological sample that has reacted with a reagent, the magnetic poles are electromagnets, and in the conveyance direction of the object to be conveyed, include a first magnetic pole located in the advancing direction of the object to be conveyed and a second magnetic pole located adjacent to the first magnetic pole in the reverse advancing direction which is the direction opposite to the advancing direction, the calculation unit detects the position of the object to be conveyed using the current supplied to the second magnetic pole that has generated the braking force on the object to be conveyed, A specimen conveyance device characterized by the above.

2. The calculation unit detects the position of the object to be conveyed using the current supplied to the second magnetic pole that has generated the braking force on the object to be conveyed, without using the current supplied to the first magnetic pole. The specimen conveyance device according to Claim 1.

3. Current is supplied to the first magnetic pole so as to generate the thrust force on the object to be conveyed. The specimen conveyance device according to Claim 1.

4. The calculation unit detects the position of the object to be conveyed using the current supplied to the first magnetic pole or the current supplied to the second magnetic pole according to the position of the object to be conveyed. The specimen conveyance device according to Claim 3.

5. It is provided with a current detection unit that detects the current supplied to the winding of the electromagnet, and the calculation unit obtains the position of the object to be conveyed using the inductance obtained from the value of the current detected by the current detection unit. The specimen conveyance device according to Claim 1.

6. The calculation unit determines the amount of current required for driving the object to be conveyed and the timing for supplying this current using the obtained position of the object to be conveyed. The specimen conveyance device according to Claim 5.

7. The object to be conveyed is a container carrier that holds a specimen container containing a biological sample which is a specimen, a loading unit where the object to be conveyed is arranged, an analysis unit that analyzes the conveyed specimen, a specimen conveyance device that conveys the object to be conveyed from the loading unit to the analysis unit, the object to be conveyed, and is provided with. The analysis unit analyzes the components contained in the biological sample for the biological sample reacted with the reagent, The sample carrier device is the sample carrier device according to claim 1, A sample analysis system characterized by the above.

8. The object to be conveyed is a container carrier that holds a sample container containing a sample that is a biological sample, A sample analysis system for analyzing the sample is connected, A sample carrier device that conveys the object to be conveyed to the sample analysis system, The object to be conveyed, Comprising, The sample analysis system includes an analysis unit that analyzes the components contained in the biological sample for the biological sample reacted with the reagent, The sample carrier device is the sample carrier device according to claim 1, A sample pretreatment device characterized by the above.

Images