Automated analysis device

Abstract

The objective of the present disclosure is to facilitate management of a liquid supplied to each processing unit of an automated analysis device (1) having two or more processing units. The automated analysis device according to the present disclosure is provided with a first container (131) for accommodating a first liquid, wherein the first container is configured to be capable of supplying the first liquid to each of a first processing unit (11) and a second processing (12) unit by being connected to each of the first processing unit and the second processing unit.

Description

automatic analyzer

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an automated analyzer for analyzing a sample.

[0002] Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) systems generally have a pretreatment section and an analytical section. The pretreatment section typically adds a solvent to the sample as a pretreatment. The analytical section separates the sample before performing mass analysis. The pretreatment section and analytical section are generally configured as independent devices, or, even if they are configured as an integrated unit, they are generally configured internally separately.

[0003] Patent Document 1 addresses the issue of "providing a blood analyzer capable of accurately measuring the concentrations of both glucose and glycated hemoglobin at a cost-effective cost without increasing the size of the device and reducing the user's burden of operation and maintenance." It describes the following technology (see abstract): "The blood analyzer X is configured to measure the concentrations of glucose and glycated hemoglobin by sampling blood 13 once. Preferably, the blood analyzer X is configured to simultaneously prepare samples for measuring the concentrations of glucose and glycated hemoglobin through a single sample preparation. The blood analyzer X may be configured to dilute the blood sample for measuring glycated hemoglobin and the blood sample for measuring glucose using the same diluent."

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-095715

[0005] Because the pretreatment unit and the analytical unit are independent of each other, the flow paths for supplying the solvent from the solvent storage unit to these units are configured individually for each destination device. Accordingly, the solvent stored in the solvent storage unit is managed individually for each destination device. For example, even when the same solvent is supplied to both the pretreatment unit and the analytical unit, a container containing the solvent to be supplied to the pretreatment unit and a container containing the solvent to be supplied to the analytical unit are provided separately.

[0006] In this way, storing the same solvent in duplicate can make solvent management complicated. For example, if there is a shortage of solvent supplied to either the pretreatment unit or the analysis unit, the measurement must be interrupted. Conventional techniques such as those described in Patent Document 1 do not fully consider the issues that arise from storing the solvent in duplicate between the pretreatment unit and the analysis unit.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to facilitate management of liquid supplied to each processing unit in an automatic analyzer having two or more processing units.

[0008] The automatic analyzer according to the present disclosure includes a first container for holding a first liquid, and the first container is connected to each of a first processing unit and a second processing unit, thereby being configured to be able to supply the first liquid to each of the first processing unit and the second processing unit.

[0009] According to the automated analyzer of the present disclosure, in an automated analyzer having two or more processing sections, it is possible to easily manage the liquid supplied to each processing section. Other features, advantages, configurations, etc. of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description below.

[0010] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an automatic analyzer 1 according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an automatic analyzer 1 according to embodiment 2.

[0011] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an automatic analyzer 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. The automatic analyzer 1 is an apparatus that analyzes samples by liquid chromatography, and includes a pre-processing unit 11 (first processing unit), an analytical unit 12 (second processing unit), a solvent storage unit 13, a transport mechanism 14, and flow paths 151, 152, 153, and 154.

[0012] The solvent storage unit 13 includes a first reservoir 131 (corresponding to the first container in this embodiment), a first auxiliary pump 132, a first solvent bottle 133 (first liquid storage unit), a second reservoir 134 (second container), a second auxiliary pump 135, and a second solvent bottle 136. The first solvent bottle 133 stores a first solvent, and the second solvent bottle 136 stores a second solvent. The first solvent and the second solvent may be the same solvent or different solvents. The first auxiliary pump 132 extracts the first solvent from the first solvent bottle 133 and introduces it into the first reservoir 131. The second auxiliary pump 135 extracts the second solvent from the second solvent bottle 136 and introduces it into the second reservoir 134.

[0013] As the solvent decreases with use, the user must either refill the solvent bottle with solvent or replace the solvent bottle itself. Therefore, the first solvent bottle 133 and the second solvent bottle 136 are located in a location that is easily accessible to the user. This location may not be suitable for transporting the solvent within the automated analyzer 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, a reservoir is provided between the solvent bottle and the supply destination (pretreatment unit 11 and analytical unit 12 in FIG. 1 ), and the solvent to be supplied to the supply destination is always kept in the reservoir.

[0014] The pretreatment unit 11 is a device that performs pretreatment on a sample. An example of the pretreatment is adding a solvent to a reaction vessel 2 containing a sample. The pretreatment unit 11 includes dispensing units 111 and 113, a syringe 112 (first adjustment mechanism), and a syringe 114. The dispensing unit 111 dispenses a first solvent supplied by a first reservoir 131 into the reaction vessel 2. The syringe 112 extracts the first solvent from the first reservoir 131 and supplies it to the dispensing unit 111. The dispensing unit 113 dispenses a second solvent supplied by a second reservoir 134 into the reaction vessel 2. The syringe 114 extracts the second solvent from the second reservoir 134 and supplies it to the dispensing unit 113. In this example, the pretreatment performed by the pretreatment unit 11 is dispensing the first solvent and the second solvent into the reaction vessel 2 containing the sample.

[0015] The analysis unit 12 is configured as an LC-MS device, and receives a sample from a reaction vessel 2, performs separation processing by liquid chromatography, and then performs mass spectrometry. The analysis unit 12 includes a sample aspirator 121, a syringe 122, a liquid feed pump 123 (second adjustment mechanism), a liquid feed pump 124, a sample injection unit 125, a separation column 126, and a detection unit 127. The sample aspirator 121 and the syringe 122 aspirate a sample from the reaction vessel 2 pretreated by the pretreatment unit 11 and supply it to the sample injection unit 125. The liquid feed pump 123 extracts a first solvent from a first reservoir 131 and supplies it to the sample injection unit 125. The liquid feed pump 124 extracts a second solvent from a second reservoir 134 and supplies it to the sample injection unit 125. The sample injection unit 125 supplies the sample and each solvent to the separation column 126. The separation column 126 performs the separation process, and the detection unit 127 performs the mass spectrometry.

[0016] The syringe 112, the syringe 114, the liquid supply pump 123, and the liquid supply pump 124 can operate independently of one another, so that the amount of solvent supplied to each processing section by these pumps can be adjusted independently of one another.

[0017] The amounts of each solvent supplied by the syringes 112 and 114 to the pretreatment unit 11 may be the same as or different from the amounts of each solvent supplied by the liquid feed pumps 123 and 124 to the analysis unit 12. The amount of the first solvent supplied by the syringe 112 and the amount of the second solvent supplied by the syringe 114 may be the same as or different from the amounts of the first solvent supplied by the liquid feed pump 123 and the second solvent supplied by the liquid feed pump 124. The amount of the first solvent supplied by the syringe 112 and the amount of the first solvent supplied by the liquid feed pump 123 may be the same as or different from the amounts of the second solvent supplied by the syringe 114 and the amount of the second solvent supplied by the liquid feed pump 124. In other words, the amounts of the first solvent and the second solvent used by the pretreatment unit 11 may be the same as or different from the amounts of the first solvent and the second solvent used by the analysis unit 12. The amounts of these liquids can be individually adjusted depending on the analysis items and the types of each liquid.

[0018] The transport mechanism 14 transports the reaction vessel 2 in accordance with each processing step in the pretreatment section 11 in the following order: (a) a position where the dispensing section 111 can access the reaction vessel 2; (b) a position where the dispensing section 113 can access the reaction vessel 2; and (c) a position where the sample aspirating section 121 can access the reaction vessel 2. When the dispensing section 111 dispenses a first solvent into the reaction vessel 2, the transport mechanism 14 moves the reaction vessel 2 to position (a); when the dispensing section 113 dispenses a second solvent into the reaction vessel 2, the transport mechanism 14 moves the reaction vessel 2 to position (b); and when the sample aspirating section 121 aspirates a sample from the reaction vessel 2, the transport mechanism 14 moves the reaction vessel 2 to position (c).

[0019] Flow paths 151 and 153 transport the first solvent from the first reservoir 131 to the supply destination. Flow path 151 connects the first reservoir 131 to the pre-treatment unit 11 (syringe 112), and flow path 153 connects the first reservoir 131 to the analysis unit 12 (liquid delivery pump 123). Flow paths 152 and 154 transport the second solvent from the second reservoir 134 to the supply destination. Flow path 152 connects the second reservoir 134 to the pre-treatment unit 11 (syringe 114), and flow path 154 connects the second reservoir 134 to the analysis unit 12 (liquid delivery pump 124).

[0020] Summary of First Embodiment In the automated analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment, the first reservoir 131 is connected to both the pre-processing unit 11 and the analytical unit 12, so that the first solvent can be supplied to each of the pre-processing unit 11 and the analytical unit 12. The same applies to the second solvent. This simplifies solvent management. For example, if separate solvent containers are provided for the pre-processing unit 11 and the analytical unit 12, the analysis process must be stopped if the solvent in either solvent container runs low. In contrast, in the first embodiment, solvent is supplied to each processing unit in parallel from a common reservoir, so this inconvenience can be suppressed.

[0021] In the automated analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment, the first solvent bottle 133 and the second solvent bottle 136 are placed in locations that are easily accessible to the user. For example, each solvent bottle can be placed at a relatively low position within the automated analyzer 1. Because each solvent is supplied to each processing unit from each reservoir and the user does not have direct access to the reservoirs, there are no layout restrictions on the location of the reservoirs. Therefore, layout restrictions on each component of the automated analyzer 1 can be relaxed.

[0022] In the automated analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment, the solvent is supplied to each processing unit from the reservoir. Therefore, even when the user is replacing a solvent bottle or refilling a solvent bottle with solvent, the solvent can continue to be supplied from the reservoir to each processing unit, and there is no need to stop the measurement operation.

[0023] 2 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an automated analyzer 1 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Unlike the first embodiment, the second embodiment does not have a first reservoir 131 or a second reservoir 134. Instead, a first solvent is directly supplied to the pretreatment unit 11 and the analytical unit 12 from a first solvent bottle 133 (corresponding to the first container in this embodiment), and a second solvent is directly supplied to the pretreatment unit 11 and the analytical unit 12 from a second solvent bottle 136.

[0024] 2, each solvent is supplied directly from each solvent bottle to each processing section, eliminating the need for a reservoir, thereby simplifying the configuration of the automated analyzer 1. However, when the user replaces a solvent bottle or replenishes the solvent bottle with solvent, the solvent cannot be supplied to each processing section, and the measurement operation must be stopped.

[0025] <Regarding Modifications of the Present Disclosure> The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present disclosure, and it is not necessary to include all of the configurations described. Furthermore, a part of one embodiment can be replaced with a configuration of another embodiment. Furthermore, a configuration of another embodiment can be added to a configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, a part of the configuration of each embodiment can be added to, deleted from, or substituted for a part of the configuration of another embodiment.

[0026] In the above embodiment, the automated analyzer 1 uses two types of solvents (first and second solvents) and the solvent storage unit 13 stores the two types of solvents. However, the number of solvent types is not limited to this, and the present disclosure can be applied to cases where any type of solvent is used. For example, even when only the first solvent is used, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be achieved by supplying the first solvent to each processing unit from the first reservoir 131 or the first solvent bottle 133.

[0027] 1: Automatic analyzer 11: Pretreatment section 12: Analysis section 13: Solvent storage section

Claims

1. An automatic analyzer for analyzing a sample, comprising: a first container for containing a first liquid; a first processing unit for performing a first process on the sample in a reaction container using the first liquid; a second processing unit for performing a second process on the sample after the first process using the first liquid; and a transport mechanism for transferring the reaction container from the first processing unit to the second processing unit, thereby transferring the sample from the first processing unit to the second processing unit; wherein the first container is connected to both the first processing unit and the second processing unit, and is configured to be able to supply the first liquid to both the first processing unit and the second processing unit.

2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising: a first flow path connecting the first container and the first processing unit; and a second flow path connecting the first container and the second processing unit, wherein the first container is configured to be able to supply the first liquid to the first processing unit via the first flow path and to be able to supply the first liquid to the second processing unit via the second flow path.

3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising: a second container for containing a second liquid; the first processing unit is configured to process the sample using the first liquid in the first process, and then process the sample using the second liquid; the second processing unit is configured to process the sample using the first liquid and the second liquid in the second process; the transport mechanism transports the reaction container from a first position where the first processing unit processes the sample using the first liquid to a second position where the first processing unit processes the sample using the second liquid; and the transport mechanism transports the reaction container from the second position to the second processing unit.

4. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a first adjustment mechanism that adjusts the amount of the first liquid supplied to the first processing unit, and a second adjustment mechanism that adjusts the amount of the first liquid supplied to the second processing unit, wherein the first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism independently perform the operation of supplying the first liquid to the first processing unit and the operation of supplying the first liquid to the second processing unit, thereby individually supplying the first liquid from the common first container to each of the first processing unit and the second processing unit.

5. The automatic analyzer according to claim 3, further comprising a first adjustment mechanism that adjusts the amounts of the first liquid and the second liquid supplied to the first processing unit; and the automatic analyzer further comprising a second adjustment mechanism that adjusts the amounts of the first liquid and the second liquid supplied to the second processing unit, and the amounts of the first liquid and the second liquid supplied by the first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism to the first processing unit and the second processing unit are at least one of: the amount of the first liquid supplied to the first processing unit by the first adjustment mechanism and the amount of the first liquid supplied to the second processing unit by the first adjustment mechanism are different from each other; or the amount of the second liquid supplied to the first processing unit by the first adjustment mechanism and the amount of the second liquid supplied to the second processing unit by the first adjustment mechanism are different from each other.

6. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, characterized in that the first processing unit is configured as a pre-processing unit that performs pre-processing on the sample by dispensing the first liquid into the reaction vessel containing the sample before the second processing unit processes the sample, and the second processing unit is configured as an analysis unit that receives the sample in the reaction vessel, performs separation processing by liquid chromatography, and then performs mass analysis.

7. The automatic analyzer of claim 4, wherein the first processing unit is configured as a pre-processing unit that performs pre-processing on the sample by dispensing the first liquid into the reaction vessel containing the sample before the second processing unit processes the sample; the second processing unit is configured as an analysis unit that receives the sample in the reaction vessel, performs separation processing by liquid chromatography, and then performs mass spectrometry; the first adjustment mechanism adjusts the amount of the first liquid that the first processing unit dispenses into the reaction vessel and supplies to the first processing unit; and the second adjustment mechanism adjusts the amount of the first liquid that the second processing unit uses and supplies to the second processing unit.

8. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising: a first liquid storage section that stores the first liquid; and a pump that delivers the first liquid from the first liquid storage section to the first container, wherein the first liquid storage section is configured so that a user can replenish the first liquid into the first container by refilling the first liquid into the first liquid storage section or by replacing the first liquid storage section.

9. The automatic analyzer according to claim 8, characterized in that the first liquid storage portion and the first container are configured so that the first liquid can be supplied from the first container to the first processing portion or the second processing portion even when the first liquid is being refilled into the first liquid storage portion or the first liquid storage portion is being replaced.

10. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the first container is configured so that a user can refill the first container with the first liquid or replace the first container.