Automatic analysis device

Abstract

An automatic analysis device 1 has, in a duct 140 provided in the automatic analysis device 1, a guiding part for guiding air flowing in at prescribed angles with respect to heat sinks 120 due to a change in the flowing direction of the air from a suction port 130 in between the heat sinks 120 to flow toward the sides closest to Peltier elements 110 in the heat sinks 120. Accordingly, an automatic analysis device that comprises a reagent storage capable of improving cooling efficiency compared with conventional products is provided.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for circulating air in a reagent storage compartment using a fan. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-128049 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the limitations on the volume that can be used for the configuration required to cool the reagent storage in a small automatic analyzer with a small housing.

[0005] The present invention provides an automatic analyzer equipped with a reagent storage that can improve cooling efficiency compared to conventional ones. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention includes multiple means for solving the above-mentioned problems, and one example thereof includes a reagent storage container for storing multiple reagent containers, a cooling section for cooling the inside of the reagent storage container, a heat exhaust section for emitting heat that has cooled the cooling section, an air intake port for taking in air from the outside to be supplied to the heat exhaust section, an exhaust port for discharging the air to the outside after being supplied to the heat exhaust section, and a duct for directing the air from the air intake port to the heat exhaust section and directing the air after heat exchange with the heat exhaust section to the exhaust port, wherein the duct has a guide section that guides the air that has flowed in at a predetermined angle to the heat exhaust section so that it flows to the side of the heat exhaust section closest to the cooling section by changing the flow direction of the air between the air intake port and the heat exhaust section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency compared to the prior art. Objects, configurations and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an automatic analyzer. [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of a duct. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing another example of the shape of the duct. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the automatic analyzer will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In the drawings used in this specification, identical or corresponding components are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and repeated explanations of these components may be omitted.

[0010] First, the overall configuration of the automatic analyzer will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the general configuration of the automatic analyzer.

[0011] The automatic analyzer 1 is composed of a control unit 10 and an analysis operation unit 20. This automatic analyzer 1 stores a plurality of reagent containers 31 along the inside of the outer wall of a cylindrical reagent storage 30 that is supported rotatably around a vertical axis, and has the function of aspirating a predetermined amount of a predetermined reagent from each reagent container 31 using a dispensing pipette and supplying it to a biological specimen such as blood or urine dispensed in a reaction container 51 for analysis.

[0012] First, the transport route of the sample to be analyzed will be described.

[0013] The sample to be analyzed is contained in a sample container 40 and moved within the automatic analyzer 1 by a sample transport mechanism such as a belt conveyor or rack handler (not shown for convenience of illustration), and is transported to a sample dispensing mechanism 41 equipped with a dispensing pipette for dispensing the sample, where it is dispensed.

[0014] A plurality of reaction vessels 51 are supplied into the automatic analyzer 1 while being placed on a storage unit 50 that stores unused reaction vessels.

[0015] The reaction vessels 51 are gripped one by one by a first transport mechanism 52 that transports the reaction vessels from the storage unit 50, and then raised to move them to the buffer 42 (the sample discharge position of the sample dispensing mechanism 41), and also to a gripping position 43, which is a position for gripping the reaction vessel 51 above the buffer 42. To enable such movement, the first transport mechanism 52 is configured to be movable in the X-axis (left-right direction in FIG. 1), Y-axis (front-back direction in FIG. 1), and Z-axis (up-down direction in FIG. 1) directions.

[0016] The disk-shaped incubator 25, which is supported so as to be freely rotatable around a vertical central axis, has multiple mounting sections 26 for securing multiple reaction vessels 51 on the circumference near the outer periphery, and each reaction vessel 51 can be moved to a predetermined position by rotating the incubator 25.

[0017] Next, the specimen dispensing mechanism 41 moves to the region above the specimen container 40, aspirates the specimen, and then moves to the region above the reaction container 51 above the buffer 42, and dispenses the specimen into the reaction container 51. After this, the specimen dispensing mechanism 41 cleans the nozzle of the dispensing pipette using a cleaning mechanism (not shown). If an exchangeable tip is used instead of the nozzle, the tip may be exchanged using an exchange mechanism (not shown).

[0018] Next, the transport path of the reagent to be added to the sample in the reaction vessel 51 will be described.

[0019] The second transport mechanism 60 is configured to be able to move circularly within its range of movement, which includes the buffer 42, the gripping position 43, the reagent discharge position 33 of the reagent dispensing mechanism 32, the installation section 26 on the incubator 25, and the B / F separation section 104 of the analysis section 100.

[0020] The cylindrical, hollow reagent storage 30 is rotatably supported around a vertical central axis and forms a reagent holder 34 that holds multiple reagent containers 31 radially along the hollow housing 38. Some of the reagent containers 31 contain reagents containing a large number of magnetic particles for stirring. The structure will be described in detail later.

[0021] The reagent dispensing mechanism 32 is configured to be able to aspirate the reagent in the reagent container 31 and move to a predetermined position. First, the reagent dispensing mechanism 32 moves to an area above the reagent container 31 in the reagent storage 30 and aspirates a predetermined amount of reagent, and then moves to an area above the reaction container 51 placed at the reagent discharge position 33 set around the incubator 25 and discharges the reagent into the reaction container 51.

[0022] A first stirring mechanism (not shown) capable of stirring the reagent is provided above the reagent storage 30. This first stirring mechanism is provided with a stirring arm (also called a stirrer) that can rotate around a vertical axis and stir the magnetic particles. The stirring arm moves to the upper region of the reagent container 31 containing the reagent to be stirred, which contains magnetic particles. The stirring arm lowers a paddle-shaped or spiral-shaped stirring blade, for example, attached to the lower end of the stirring arm, into the reagent, and rotates the stirring blade to stir the magnetic particle solution. To prevent spontaneous settling of the magnetic particles in the solution, the stirring arm stirs the magnetic particles just before the reagent is dispensed. After stirring, the stirring arm rises to the top of the reagent container 31, moves to the upper region of the cleaning mechanism containing the cleaning solution, and then descends into the cleaning solution. The stirring arm then rotates the stirring blade to remove magnetic particles adhering to the stirring blade.

[0023] After a predetermined reaction time has elapsed since the sample and predetermined reagents were dispensed, a reaction solution is formed. The reaction vessel 51 containing this reaction solution is moved to the B / F separation unit 104 of the analysis unit 100 by the second transport mechanism 60.

[0024] The B / F separation unit 104 is a mechanism that separates the magnetic particles from the reaction liquid that does not contain magnetic particles by magnetically attracting magnetic particles containing substances that have immunologically bound to the object to be measured that are present in the reaction liquid in the reaction vessel 51 transported by the second transport mechanism 60 to the inner wall of the reaction vessel 51 using a magnet 105.

[0025] The reaction liquid suction nozzle 106 is configured to be able to rotate and move up and down, and moves above and down to a reaction vessel 51 on the B / F separation section 104 after a predetermined time has elapsed, and aspirates the reaction liquid that does not contain magnetic particles from the reaction vessel 51.

[0026] The replacement liquid discharge nozzle 108 is configured to be able to rotate and move up and down, and moves above and down the reaction vessel 51 into which the reaction liquid not containing magnetic particles has been sucked above the B / F separation section 104, discharging the buffer solution into the reaction vessel 51.

[0027] A second stirring mechanism (not shown) mixes the magnetic particles and buffer solution in the reaction vessel 51 by applying a rotational motion to the reaction vessel 51. After mixing, the reaction vessel 51 is transported below the measurement flow channel introduction nozzle by the rotational movement of the turntable 102.

[0028] The measurement flow path introduction nozzle (not shown) is rotatable and movable up and down, and is a nozzle for sucking the reaction liquid in the reaction vessel 51 and sending the liquid to the photometry unit.

[0029] The photometry unit (not shown) detects the concentration of the substance to be detected in the reaction liquid sucked and sent from the measurement flow path introduction nozzle.

[0030] Next, the reaction vessel 51 holding the analyzed reaction liquid is moved by the first transport mechanism 52 to an area above a disposal port (not shown) for discarding reaction vessels, and is discarded into the disposal port.

[0031] The automatic analyzer 1 shown in FIG. 1 can efficiently analyze a plurality of specimens for a plurality of analysis items by combining or repeating the above operations.

[0032] The mechanism described above in the automatic analyzer 1 is referred to as an analysis operation unit 20.

[0033] Furthermore, the automatic analyzer 1 includes, in addition to the analysis operation unit 20, a control unit 10 that controls the operation of each device in the automatic analyzer 1. The control unit 10 includes an operation unit 11, a processing unit 12, and a memory unit 13.

[0034] The processing unit 12 is configured by, for example, a hardware board and a computer, and includes a storage unit 13 such as a hard disk.

[0035] The storage unit 13 stores, for example, control parameters corresponding to each unit and sample information relating to various samples.

[0036] The processing unit 12 may be configured as hardware using a dedicated circuit board, or may be configured as software executed by a computer. When configured as hardware, it can be realized by integrating multiple arithmetic units that execute the processing on a wiring board, or in a semiconductor chip or package. When configured as software, it can be realized by installing a high-speed general-purpose CPU in a computer and executing a program that executes the desired arithmetic processing. It is also possible to upgrade existing devices using a recording medium on which this program is recorded. Furthermore, these devices, circuits, and computers are connected via a wired or wireless network, and data is transmitted and received as appropriate.

[0037] The operation unit 11 is composed of a display unit, which is a display, and input units such as a mouse, keyboard, etc. On the display unit, various information related to the automatic analyzer 1 stored in the storage unit 13 is displayed.

[0038] The above is the configuration of the automatic analyzer 1.

[0039] Although the configuration of the automatic analyzer has been described as being equipped with a photometric unit that performs immune system analysis as shown in Figure 1, the configuration of the automatic analyzer to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to automatic analyzers that are equipped with, for example, a biochemical detection unit, or a biochemical detection unit and an immune system detection unit, or even detection units for other analysis items, in addition to or instead of the biochemical detection unit and the immune system detection unit.

[0040] Furthermore, the automated analyzer is not limited to a single analysis module configuration as shown in Figure 1, but can be configured to connect two or more analysis modules capable of measuring various identical or different analysis items and preprocessing modules that perform preprocessing via a transport device.

[0041] The interior of the reagent storage used in the automated analyzer must be kept cool to prevent deterioration of the reagents, and therefore a cooling unit made up of, for example, a Peltier element and a heat dissipation unit made up of, for example, a heat sink connected to the cooling unit are provided.

[0042] Due to the constraints imposed by the placement of the rotation axis in the reagent storage, it is necessary to draw in air from below and then turn it sideways before directing the cooling air to the heat exhaust section. However, if the duct is simply designed to direct the cooling air to the heat exhaust section, the flow will be disrupted where the angle of the cooling air flow changes, resulting in differences in the amount of cooling air supplied when viewed in cross section within the duct, and there is a risk of areas where the cooling efficiency is reduced. Therefore, it is desirable to stabilize the amount of cooling air supplied.

[0043] In particular, when a heat sink is used for the heat dissipation section, it is desirable to direct cooling air to the base of the fin (hereinafter referred to as the base section), which is where the temperature is high, but since it is difficult to supply cooling air to this base section, it is necessary to more effectively pass the cooling air. Furthermore, in small automated analyzers with small housings, there are strict limitations on the volume that can be used for the components required to cool the reagent storage.

[0044] As a structure for solving the above problems, the details of the reagent storage 30 in the automatic analyzer 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of a duct that guides cooling air from the reagent storage, and Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing another example of the shape of the duct.

[0045] The reagent storage 30 shown in FIG. 2 moves a predetermined reagent container 31 to a reagent dispensing position by rotating a rotary shaft 115 with a drive motor 117.

[0046] The reagent storage 30 has a heat insulating function because it is necessary to control the temperature of the reagent containers 31 at a constant level to ensure the properties of the reagents stored therein. This heat insulating function is ensured by the lid 36 and the housing 38 being made of heat insulating material, or by the lid 36 and the housing 38 having heat insulating material inside.

[0047] The inside of the reagent storage 30 is cooled by cooling the cooling jacket 37 with a Peltier element (cooling unit) 110. Although Fig. 2 shows a configuration in which multiple Peltier elements 110 are provided to increase cooling efficiency, a single Peltier element may also be used. Furthermore, the cooling unit is not limited to the Peltier element 110, and may be water-cooled or the like.

[0048] Here, the Peltier element 110 generates heat on the heat transfer surface opposite to the heat transfer surface in contact with the cooling jacket 37, and a heat sink (heat dissipation part) 120 is brought into contact with this heat transfer surface to dissipate the heat that has cooled the Peltier element 110. By dissipating heat using the heat sink 120 in this way, efficient heat dissipation is possible without the need for a drive part. There are no particular limitations on the shape of the heat sink 120, as long as it has a shape that can dissipate the heat that has cooled the Peltier element 110. The area of ​​the heat sink 120 closest to the Peltier element 110 is the base part 122 that particularly needs to be cooled.

[0049] The heat sink 120 is air-cooled, and an air intake 130 is provided on the underside of the housing of the automatic analyzer 1 to take in cooling air from outside the automatic analyzer 1 to be supplied to the heat sink 120 .

[0050] Furthermore, an exhaust port 135 for discharging air supplied to the heat sink 120 to the outside is provided downstream of each heat sink 120, for example, on a side surface on the rear side of the housing of the automatic analyzer 1.

[0051] A duct 140 is also provided to guide air from the intake port 130 to the heat sink 120 and to guide the air to the exhaust port 135 after exchanging heat with the heat sink 120 .

[0052] This duct 140 branches off to supply air to each of the two heat sinks 120. Due to the limited space in the housing of the automatic analyzer 1, the air flow direction changes between the intake port 130 and the heat sink 120.

[0053] In duct 140, in order to efficiently supply air particularly to root portion 122, it is necessary to guide the air that has flowed in at a predetermined angle to heat sink 120 by changing the flow direction so that it flows toward the side of heat sink 120 that is closest to Peltier element 110. For this purpose, a guide portion is provided in duct 140. In Figure 2, this guide portion is a plate-like member 150 that is perpendicular to the direction in which the air flows in and parallel to the vertical direction, and is provided a predetermined distance forward from the opening that receives the flowing in air.

[0054] This plate-like member 150 suppresses turbulence in the airflow caused by the air taken in from the intake port 130 colliding with the rotating shaft 115 and changing its flow direction from vertical to approximately horizontal, thereby making it possible to stably supply cooling air sufficient to sufficiently cool the base portion 122 of the heat sink 120. This makes it possible to avoid a decrease in the cooling efficiency of the Peltier element 110.

[0055] Duct 140A in reagent storage 30A shown in Figure 3 also branches to supply air to each of the two heat sinks 120, and since the air flow direction changes between the intake port 130 and the heat sink 120, just like duct 140 in reagent storage 30 shown in Figure 2, duct 140A also has an induction section.

[0056] In Figure 3, this guidance section includes first areas 160, 162 having a bottom surface that slopes diagonally upward from the opening that receives the incoming air, and a second area 164 that is connected to the first areas 160, 162 and has a bottom surface that is parallel to the horizontal direction.

[0057] These first regions 160, 162, the contact surface of the heat sink 120 with the Peltier element 110, and the second region 164 suppress turbulence in the airflow caused when the air taken in from the air intake 130 collides with the rotation shaft 115 and changes its flow direction from vertical to approximately horizontal, thereby making it possible to stably supply cooling air sufficient to sufficiently cool the base portion 122 of the heat sink 120. This makes it possible to avoid a decrease in the cooling efficiency of the Peltier element 110.

[0058] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0059] The duct 140 of the above-mentioned automatic analyzer 1 has an induction section that induces air that flows in at a predetermined angle to the heat sink 120 by changing the air flow direction between the intake port 130 and the heat sink 120 so that the air flows toward the side of the heat sink 120 that is closest to the Peltier element 110.

[0060] When there is a part where the angle of the cooling air flow changes, when looking at a cross section of the flow direction inside the duct, differences in the amount of cooling air supplied will occur, avoiding the creation of areas where the cooling efficiency will decrease, and the cooling air can be directed to the entire heat dissipation section, including the root section 122 in particular, without increasing pressure loss, thereby improving cooling efficiency compared to conventional methods.

[0061] <Other> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. The above-described embodiment has been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to having all of the described configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1…Automatic analyzer 10...Control unit 11...Operation unit 12...Processing section 13...Storage section 20...Analysis operation section 25...Incubator 26…Installation part 30, 30A...Reagent storage 31...Reagent container 32...Reagent dispensing mechanism 33...Reagent dispensing position 34...Reagent holding section 36…Lid 37...Cooling jacket 38...Case 40...Specimen container 41...Sample dispensing mechanism 42...Buffer 43...Gripping position 50…Storage department 51...Reaction vessel 52...First conveying mechanism 60...Second conveying mechanism 100…Analysis Department 102...Turntable 104...B / F separation section 105...Magnet 106...Reaction liquid suction nozzle 108...Replacement liquid discharge nozzle 110...Peltier element (cooling part) 115...Rotation axis 117...Drive motor 120...Heat sink (heat dissipation part) 122...root part 130...Air intake 135...Exhaust port 140,140A...Duct 150...Plate-shaped member (guiding portion) 160,162...First area (guiding part) 164...Second area (guiding part)

Claims

1. a reagent storage room for storing a plurality of reagent containers; a cooling unit that cools the inside of the reagent container; a heat dissipation unit that dissipates heat that has cooled the cooling unit; an intake port for taking in air to be supplied to the heat exhaust unit from the outside; an exhaust port for discharging the air to the outside after being supplied to the heat exhaust unit; a duct that guides the air from the intake port to the heat exhaust section and guides the air to the exhaust port after heat exchange with the heat exhaust section, The duct has a guide portion that guides the air that has flowed in at a predetermined angle to the heat dissipation portion by changing the flow direction of the air between the intake port and the heat dissipation portion so that the air flows to the side of the heat dissipation portion that is closest to the cooling portion. Automatic analyzer.

2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, The heat dissipation part is a heat sink. Automatic analyzer.

3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2, The guide portion has a plate-like member that is perpendicular to the direction in which the air flows in and parallel to the vertical direction, and is located a predetermined distance forward from the opening that receives the inflowing air. Automatic analyzer.

4. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2, The guide portion has a first region having a bottom surface that slopes obliquely upward from an opening that receives the inflowing air, and a second region that is connected to the first region and has a bottom surface that is parallel to the horizontal direction. Automatic analyzer.

5. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, The cooling unit includes a plurality of cooling units. Automatic analyzer.

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