Automatic analysis device

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analysis device that is low in cost without having reduced throughput. In the present invention, a washing tank is arranged so that the timing of detection of a dispensing tip occurs at the time of movement to the washing tank, and a sensor is arranged for monitoring the area above the washing tank. By also performing an operation for returning to the washing tank after operation in a sample discharge area, the dispensing tip can be sensed at all timings at which it becomes necessary to confirm the dispensing tip during normal analysis, through use of a single sensor for monitoring the area above the washing tank.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been a demand for automated analyzers to provide higher processing power and more accurate analytical results. In addition, there is a growing need for miniaturization through the increased integration of analytical devices. In order to achieve high processing power, it is necessary to reduce the time required for analysis and the operating time of the analytical device.

[0003] In order to achieve accurate analysis, automated analyzers are known that use disposable dispensing tips to dispense samples and reagents in order to prevent contamination of reagents and samples. The dispensing tips are attached to the dispensing mechanism for each dispensing operation, and are removed and discarded after the operation is completed. Since attachment and removal occur for each dispensing operation, there are concerns about failure to attach and remove the dispensing tip or the tip falling off during the dispensing operation.

[0004] For this reason, an automatic analyzer having a configuration for checking whether or not a dispensing tip is attached to a dispensing mechanism during an analysis operation has been proposed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a dispensing tip is attached to a dispensing mechanism, and whether or not the dispensing tip is attached during an analysis operation is detected by a sensor that monitors the movement trajectory of the dispensing mechanism. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 146220 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In parallel with improvements in analytical performance and throughput, automated analyzers are being required to be more compact through higher integration. As a method for achieving miniaturization, a sample / reagent dispensing mechanism that integrates a sample dispensing mechanism and a reagent dispensing mechanism has been devised and is being increasingly adopted. However, Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the arrangement of the mechanisms and the method of detecting dispensing tips in the case of a sample / reagent dispensing mechanism that integrates a sample dispensing mechanism and a reagent dispensing mechanism, which results in issues such as increased costs and reduced throughput due to the addition of sensors and unnecessary operations.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost automatic analyzer without reducing throughput. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to determine whether a disposable dispensing tip used in an automatic analyzer is correctly attached during an analysis operation, a sensor is placed to monitor the movement trajectory of the dispensing mechanism, and the sensor is positioned so that the end point of the sample / reagent suction operation during the dispensing operation overlaps with the start point of the ejection operation of the aspirated liquid.By operating the dispensing mechanism to the start point of the ejection operation after the ejection operation, it is possible to detect with the single sensor whether the dispensing tip is attached to the dispensing nozzle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, a low-cost automatic analyzer can be constructed without reducing throughput. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an automatic analyzer according to Example 1. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the movement path of the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism of the device according to the first example, and the positional relationship with other components. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism in the analysis operation of the automatic analyzer of the first embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between a sensor for detecting a dispensing tip and a specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism of the automatic analyzer of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between a sensor for detecting a dispensing tip and a washing tank in the automatic analyzer of the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The embodiment of an automatic analyzer for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [Example]

[0012] 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an automatic analyzer 100 of Example 1. The automatic analyzer 100 includes a control unit 1, an input unit 102, and a display unit 103. The control unit 101 is a computer that controls the overall operation of the automatic analyzer 100, including a sample / reagent dispensing mechanism 107, which will be described later, and the input unit 102 is an input device, such as a keyboard or mouse, for inputting main operation commands, various data, and the like.

[0013] The first container holding unit, the sample / reagent container rack 106, the sample / dispensing mechanism 107, and the second container holding unit, the incubator 109, are configured to hold dispensing tips (TIPs) so that the sample or reagent can be aspirated from the sample / reagent holding unit rack 106, and are also configured so that the aspirated liquid can be ejected into a reaction container RC installed in the incubator 109 by a transport mechanism not shown.

[0014] The analyzer 100 further includes a tip attachment / disposal unit 110, which is a disposal position, and a sensor 112, which is a detection unit. As will be described later, the sensor 112 is a detector for detecting whether a dispensing tip is attached to or detached from the dispensing nozzle 1070 of the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107. The type of sensor 112 is not limited, and the detection principle, etc., is not important as long as it can detect the presence of a dispensing tip. Preferably, the sensor 112 is composed of a light-emitting unit 112-1 that emits light and a light-receiving unit 112-2 that receives reflected and scattered light.

[0015] The specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 includes an arm 1071 that can rotate around a rotation axis 1070, and a dispensing nozzle 1072 as a probe attached to the arm 1071. The specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 is configured so that the dispensing nozzle 1072 can move along an arc-shaped movement path Rm by rotating the arm 1071. The aspirating units 104S / 105R, the detecting unit 112S formed by the sensor 112, the discharging units 109P1 / 109P2, and the tip attachment / disposal unit 110 are arranged and configured as shown in FIG.

[0016] In addition to the above, the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 dispenses specimens and reagents using one dispensing tip, as described below. At this time, a washing tank 111 is installed on the movement path Rm as a mechanism for washing the dispensing tip before and after the aspirating operation of each specimen and reagent to prevent contamination.

[0017] 3 shows an example of the dispensing operation of the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107. As shown in the figure, an example of the dispensing operation of the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 is as follows: Attaching a dispensing tip to the tip attachment / disposal section 110 (S1). The first liquid is aspirated by the sample / reagent rack aspirator 105R (S3). The second liquid is aspirated by the sample / reagent rack aspirator 104S (S5). The aspirated liquid is discharged from the discharge portion 109P1 / 2 (S7). Movement to the detection unit 112S (S8). Disposal of the dispensing tip in the tip attachment / disposal section 110 (S9). The process is carried out in the following order.

[0018] 2 is arranged so as to coincide with the end point Rm-S of the reciprocating motion of the operation consisting of steps S1, S3, and S5, which corresponds to the dispensing and suction operation of the specimen / dispensing mechanism 107. Furthermore, operation S7 is configured so that the start point of dispensing and discharging operation S7 of the specimen / dispensing mechanism 107 is Rm-S. By adding operation S8 to this, the sensor 112 detects the presence or absence of a dispensing tip arranged in the dispensing nozzle 1072 in each of operations S1, S3, S5, and S7. By arranging the sensor 112 as described above and executing operation S8, it becomes possible to detect a dispensing tip using a single sensor 112.

[0019] The end point Rm-S of the reciprocating motion of the dispensing and suction operation S100 may be located anywhere on the movement path Rm-S, but it is optimal to locate it between the specimen / reagent rack 106 and the incubator 109, as shown in Figure 2. By using the arrangement shown in Figure 2, the operation of the specimen / dispensing mechanism 107 can be divided into operations on the movement path Rm from Rm-S to the specimen / reagent rack 106 side and from Rm-S to the incubator 109 side, and the specimen / reagent suction operation and specimen / reagent discharge operation can be performed in the shortest distance.

[0020] The sample / reagent dispensing operation in the automatic analyzer of FIG. 2 will be described in detail in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. When a sample / reagent dispensing command is input to the control unit 101 via the input unit 102, the control signal from the control unit 101 causes the dispensing nozzle 1072 attached to the sample / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 to move from its initial position along the movement path Rm to the tip attachment / disposal unit 110, where a dispensing tip is attached (S1). Thereafter, the dispensing nozzle 1072 moves in the reverse direction (arrow X) along the movement path Rm, passes through the discharge portions 109P1 / 2, reaches the aspirating portion 105R, and aspirates the first liquid from the specimen / reagent container 104 (S2). In this transition from S1 to S3, when the nozzle 1072 passes the detection unit 112S constituted by the sensor 112, the sensor 112 detects whether or not a dispensing tip is attached to the tip of the dispensing nozzle 1072. If the attachment of the dispensing tip is detected, the dispensing operation is determined to be normal, and the dispensing operation continues. If the dispensing tip is not detected, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the dispensing operation, i.e., the attachment of the dispensing tip has failed, the operation of the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 is stopped, and an abnormality notification is displayed on the display unit 103 (S102). After aspirating the first liquid at aspirator 105R, specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 returns in the opposite direction (in the direction of the arrow) along movement path Rm to reach Rm-S, which is the end point of the reciprocating motion of operation S100, and then performs cleaning in cleaning tank 111 installed on movement path Rm. After that, it moves in the opposite direction (in the direction of the arrow) again to reach aspirator 104S and aspirate the second liquid from specimen / reagent container 104 (S5). Since the detection unit 112S is positioned to coincide with Rm-S, the sensor 112 detects whether or not a dispensing tip is attached when the process moves from S3 to S5. If the attachment of a dispensing tip is detected, it is determined that the dispensing operation is proceeding normally, and the dispensing operation continues. If the dispensing tip is not detected, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the dispensing operation (the dispensing tip has fallen off), the dispensing operation of the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 is stopped, and an abnormality is notified on the display unit 103 (S102). After aspirating the second liquid at aspirator 104S, specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 returns to movement path Rm in the opposite direction (the direction of the arrow), and after washing at washing tank 111 installed on movement path Rm at reciprocating motion end point Rm-S, passes through detector 112S, and reaches liquid discharger 109P1 or 109P2, where it discharges the aspirated liquid into reaction vessel RS installed in the discharger (S7). Here, in the transition from S5 to S7, the sensor 112 detects whether or not a dispensing tip is attached. If the attachment of a dispensing tip is detected, it is determined that the dispensing operation is proceeding normally, and the dispensing operation continues. If the dispensing tip is not detected, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the dispensing operation, i.e., the dispensing tip has fallen off, and the operation of the sample / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 is stopped, and an abnormality is notified on the display unit 103 (S102). After discharging the liquid from the liquid discharger 109P1 or 109P2, the specimen / dispensing mechanism 107 returns in the opposite direction along the movement path Rm to the reciprocating movement end point Rm-S, where tip detection is performed (operation S8). Since the detector 112S for the dispensing tip is positioned to coincide with Rm-S, the sensor 112 detects whether or not a dispensing tip is attached when moving from operation S7 to operation S8. If the dispensing tip is not detected, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the dispensing operation (the dispensing tip has fallen off), the dispensing operation of the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 is stopped, and an abnormality is notified on the display unit 103 (operation S102). The specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 reaches the reciprocating motion end point Rm-S by operation S8, and after checking whether a dispensing tip is attached, the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 again moves in the reverse direction along the movement path Rm to the tip attachment / disposal unit 110, where it executes tip disposal processing (S9). After tip disposal in the tip attachment / disposal unit 110 is completed, the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 returns to the movement path Rm in the opposite direction, moves to the reciprocating motion end point Rm-S, and waits. Therefore, the reciprocating motion end point Rm-S functions as a waiting unit (S11). Here, in the transition from S9 to S11, the sensor 112 detects whether or not a dispensing tip is attached. If the attachment of a dispensing tip is not detected, it is determined that the disposal operation of the dispensing tip has been completed normally, and the dispensing operation ends. If a dispensing tip is detected, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the dispensing operation, i.e., disposal of the dispensing tip has failed, and the operation of the sample / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 is stopped, and an abnormality notification is displayed on the display unit 103 (S102). The washing tank 111 may be placed anywhere on the movement path Rm, but is optimally placed between the specimen / reagent rack 106 and the incubator 109, as shown in Figure 2. Furthermore, by aligning the position of the washing tank 111 with the end point Rm-S of the reciprocating motion of the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107, the dispensing operation of the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 can be performed in the shortest time.

[0021] Figure 4 shows the relative positions of the sample / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 and the sensor 112. Figure 4 shows an example of the application of an optical reflection sensor, and the sensor for detecting the dispensing tip may be positioned so as to satisfy the following two conditions. A dispensing tip is attached to the tip of the dispensing nozzle 1072, and when the dispensing nozzle 1072 is positioned at the sensor detection section, a detection signal is emitted. When no dispensing tip is attached to the tip of the dispensing nozzle 1072 and the dispensing nozzle 1072 is positioned at the sensor detection section, no detection signal is emitted.

[0022] The sensor positional relationship when the optical reflection sensor shown in Figure 4 is used will be described in detail. In order to achieve the above two conditions with the optical reflection sensor, the optical reflection sensor is specifically arranged to satisfy the following conditions. The detection range 112SR of the sensor is located on the movement path Rm-S. The detection range 112SR of the sensor satisfies the following condition at the height when the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 moves along the movement path Rm. The detection range 112SR of the sensor does not overlap the tip 1072-1 of the dispensing nozzle 1072. When the dispensing nozzle 1072 is fitted with a dispensing tip, the detection range 112SR of the sensor overlaps with the dispensing tip. No mechanism other than the dispensing tip should overlap the sensor detection range 112SR. The sensor 112 is also configured to be able to transmit to the control unit 101 the detection state of the sensor 112 at the time when the control unit 101 issues a control signal for checking the sensor state.

[0023] 5 shows the positional relationship between the washing tank 111 and the sensor 112. As described above, by aligning the position of the reciprocating motion end point Rm-S of the sample / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 with the position of the washing tank 111, it is possible to perform the dispensing operation in the shortest distance. At this time, the detection unit 112S formed by the sensor 112 coincides with the reciprocating motion end point Rm-S. Therefore, the positional relationship between the sensor 112 and the washing tank 111 satisfies the following condition: The detection range 112SR of the sensor 112 is located at the upper part in the height direction so as not to overlap with the cleaning tank 111. The sensor 112 does not interfere with the travel path Rm. The detection range 112SR of the sensor 112 must not interfere with the liquid and mechanism used for cleaning in the cleaning tank 111. The sensor 112 satisfies the above-mentioned conditions for sensor placement.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 5B, the area 112-P where the sensor 112 can be placed is a set of positions where the sensor 112 can be placed without interfering with the movement path Rm and so that the detection part 112S coincides with the end point Rm-S of the reciprocating movement. However, the area 112-P shown in Fig. 5 is an example when an optical reflection sensor is used, and when chip detection is performed in the cleaning tank 111, the sensor placement area is 112-P as long as the positional relationship between the sensor 112 to be used and the cleaning tank 111 satisfies the above-mentioned conditions.

[0025] 2 , the tip attachment / disposal unit 110, incubator 109, sensor 112, reciprocating motion end point Rm-S, and sample / reagent rack 106 are arranged as described above. By performing the operation of S8 in addition to the above steps S1, 3, 5, and 7, the sample / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 can detect the presence of a dispensing tip using the sensor 112. Furthermore, by aligning the position of the reciprocating motion end point Rm-S with the position of the sensor 112, the operating distance of the sample / reagent dispensing mechanism 107 can be minimized, thereby enabling multiple detections of the dispensing tip without reducing the throughput of the automated analyzer. If the sensor 112 fails to detect a dispensing tip even though a dispensing tip is attached to the dispensing nozzle 1072 when the sample passes through the sensor 112, or if the sensor 112 detects the attachment of a dispensing tip even though a dispensing tip should not be attached to the dispensing nozzle 1072, an abnormality is determined, and the display 103 is notified of the abnormality, and the sample dispensing operation is stopped.

[0026] As described above, the automated analyzer of this embodiment includes an incubator that accommodates multiple reaction vessels, a specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses specimens / reagents into each of the multiple reaction vessels, an attachment unit that attaches dispensing tips to the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism, an aspirating unit that aspirates specimens / reagents from vessels containing specimens / reagents using the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism with the attached dispensing tips, a discharge unit that is provided in the incubator and discharges the aspirated liquid from the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism into the reaction vessels, a disposal unit that discards the dispensing tips, a sensor that detects whether a dispensing tip is attached to the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism, and a controller that controls the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism, where the attachment unit, aspirating unit, discharge unit, and disposal unit are arranged along the movement path of the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism, the sensor is located between the aspirating unit and the discharge unit, and the controller controls the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism to return to the sensor after dispensing liquid from the specimen / reagent dispensing mechanism into the reaction vessels at the discharge unit. This allows for a low-cost automated analyzer to be provided without reducing throughput. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 100 automatic analyzer, 101 control unit, 102 input unit, 103 display unit, 106 sample / reagent rack, 107 sample / reagent dispensing mechanism 107, 1070 sample / reagent dispensing mechanism rotation axis, 1071 rotating arm, 1072 dispensing nozzle, 108 reaction vessel / dispensing tip storage unit, 109 incubator, 109P1 first discharge position, 109P2 second discharge position, 110 tip attachment / disposal unit, 111 washing tank, 112 sensor, 112S detection unit, 112SR sensor detection range, 112-P sensor placement range.

Claims

1. a probe having a tip attached to its tip and configured to aspirate and discharge liquid through the tip; a first container holder that holds a plurality of containers containing liquid to be aspirated by the probe; a second container holder that holds a plurality of containers containing liquid to be discharged by the probe; a detection unit that detects whether the tip is attached to the tip of the probe; a control unit for controlling the movement of the probe, the first container holding unit, the detection unit, and the second container holding unit are arranged in this order; the control unit controls the probe to aspirate the liquid on the first container holder, pass through the detection unit, and then discharge the liquid on the second container holder, and then return to the detection unit to detect the tip. An automated analyzer, a standby unit for causing the probe to wait, The standby unit is located at the detection unit. An automatic analyzer characterized by:

2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, a washing tank for washing the tip is provided between the first container holder and the second container holder; An automatic analyzer characterized by:

3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2, The detection unit is installed on the upper part of the cleaning tank. An automatic analyzer characterized by:

4. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, the control unit controls the detection unit to transmit chip detection information at the time when the control unit issues a control command to the detection unit to the control unit; An automatic analyzer characterized by:

5. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, a discard position at which the tip is discarded from the probe; the first container holding unit, the detection unit, the second container holding unit, and the disposal position are arranged in this order, and the control unit controls the detection unit to detect the tip before the tip is disposed of at the disposal position. An automatic analyzer characterized by:

6. The automatic analyzer according to claim 5, The detection unit includes a light source that emits light and a photodetector that detects the light. An automatic analyzer characterized by:

7. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, the probe is capable of aspirating the liquid to be aspirated held in the first container holder multiple times during a dispensing operation and discharging the liquid at the second container holder; An automatic analyzer characterized by:

8. The automatic analyzer according to claim 7, The liquid to be aspirated is a sample and a reagent. An automatic analyzer characterized by:

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