Inspection device

Abstract

This inspection device for inspecting a specimen comprises: a partition wall that is disposed below a transfer path through which an article used for inspection is transferred; a discharge port that is provided on the partition wall and discharges, to the outside of the partition wall, falling objects that fall within the partition wall; and a falling object storage unit that stores the falling objects discharged from the discharge port.

Description

Inspection Equipment

[0001] The technology of the present disclosure relates to an inspection device.

[0002] Known examples of testing devices for testing specimens include those that use a cartridge having a reaction region for detecting a specimen contained in the specimen and optically measure the reaction of the specimen in the reaction region (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 05-196627 and 2006-090758). Such testing devices are provided with a dispensing mechanism for dispensing specimens into the cartridge. The dispensing mechanism has a nozzle for aspirating and discharging the specimen, and a tip that is replaceably attached to the tip of the nozzle. The tip is a single-use consumable that comes into contact with the specimen and is replaced for each specimen.

[0003] In addition to the dispensing mechanism, such testing devices may also be provided with a transport mechanism and a disposal unit for disposing of used tips. The transport mechanism transports a holder that holds various items used in testing, such as cartridges, sample containers containing samples, and unused tips.

[0004] The articles transported by the transport mechanism may contain liquid or have liquid attached thereto. Contact of liquid with electrical components in the testing device can cause malfunctions, so a partition wall may be provided in the article transport path to prevent liquid that has fallen from the article from flowing onto the electrical components. The partition wall may have, for example, a box-like shape with a bottom located below the article transport path and side walls rising upward from both sides of the bottom. Such a partition wall prevents the electrical components from coming into contact with the liquid.

[0005] However, if non-liquid materials accumulate within the partition, transport obstructions may occur due to interference between the accumulated materials and the items being transported along the transport path. Such transport obstructions may cause breakdowns and require repairs to recover, so measures to prevent transport obstructions have been desired.

[0006] The technology disclosed herein provides an inspection device that can suppress obstacles to the transport of articles.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the inspection device relating to the technology disclosed herein is an inspection device for inspecting specimens, and is equipped with a partition wall arranged below a transport path along which items used for the inspection are transported, an outlet wall provided in the partition wall for discharging falling objects that fall into the partition wall out of the partition, and a fallen object storage section for storing falling objects discharged from the outlet wall.

[0008] The partition preferably has a bottom portion disposed below the transport path and side walls rising from both sides of the bottom portion in the transport direction.

[0009] It is preferable that a guide portion be disposed at the discharge port to guide the falling object toward the falling object storage portion.

[0010] The guide portion is preferably an inclined portion that is inclined toward the fallen object storage portion with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0011] It is preferable that the contact surface of the inclined portion with which the falling object comes into contact is uneven.

[0012] An opening for loading an article is provided on the upstream side of the transport path, and it is preferable that the partition wall has a discharge opening on the upstream side of the transport path.

[0013] The article preferably includes a tip that is replaceably attached to the tip of the nozzle that dispenses the sample.

[0014] A disposal section for storing used tips is provided, and it is preferable that the disposal section also serves as the dropped object storage section.

[0015] In the disposal section, it is preferable that a dropped object storage section be provided in a second space partitioned from the first space in which used tips are stored.

[0016] The transfer path is preferably a path along which a holder for holding an article is transferred.

[0017] The articles preferably include at least one of a container for storing a specimen or a liquid used in the test, a consumable item to be discarded after the test, and a cartridge used in the test.

[0018] The container containing the liquid used in the test preferably includes a container whose lid is removed by the user.

[0019] It is preferable that a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the sample is provided.

[0020] The method for testing the specimen is preferably a method that utilizes an antigen-antibody reaction.

[0021] According to the technology disclosed herein, it is possible to suppress obstacles to the transport of goods.

[0022] FIG. 1 is an external view of an inspection device according to the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of the internal configuration of the inspection device; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a cartridge used in the inspection device; FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an outline of fluorescence detection using a measurement unit; FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the angle of incidence of excitation light and the degree of plasmon enhancement; FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a partition wall; FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an outlet and a guide unit; FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a comparative example; FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a guide unit of modified example 1; FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a disposal box of modified example 2; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a disposal box of modified example 2.

[0023] The testing device 100 shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a testing device that tests a sample collected from a living body using an antigen-antibody reaction to perform immunodiagnosis. Specifically, the testing device 100 quantitatively measures a test substance A (see FIG. 4) contained in the sample. Such a testing device 100 is also referred to as an immunodiagnostic device, an analyzer, a measuring device, or the like. The testing device 100 is, for example, a testing device that uses a fluorescence method. The fluorescence method is a measurement method that measures the test substance A by irradiating excitation light onto a fluorescent label F (see FIG. 4) bound to the test substance A and detecting fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent label F. More specifically, the testing device 100 measures the test substance A by enhancing the fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent label F using the surface plasmon resonance phenomenon. Such a measurement method is called, for example, surface plasmon field-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy (SPFS).

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1 , when performing a measurement using the testing device 100, a sample container CB containing a sample, a nozzle tip NC used to extract the sample and reagent, and a cartridge 10 having a reagent cell and a flow path formed therein are set in the testing device 100. The sample container CB, nozzle tip NC, and cartridge 10 are all single-use types that are disposed of after a single use. The testing device 100 then injects the sample into the flow path 15 of the cartridge 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 4 ), and, for example, quantitatively measures analyte A in the sample. The cartridge 10 is an example of a "cartridge" according to the technology of the present disclosure. The cartridge 10 is also referred to as an analysis cartridge, a measurement cartridge, an analysis chip, etc.

[0025] The specimen is, for example, blood, more specifically, serum, plasma, or whole blood. The specimen may be other than blood, and may be urine, nasal fluid, saliva, feces, body cavity fluid, or the like. The test substance A contained in the specimen may be, for example, a nucleic acid, a protein, an amino acid, a carbohydrate, a lipid, or a modified molecule or complex thereof. The complex may be, for example, a tumor marker, a signal transduction substance, or a hormone.

[0026] The top surface of the housing 102 of the testing device 100 is provided with an opening 103 that is opened when installing the cartridge 10 or the like, and an operation panel including an operation unit 51 and a display unit 52. A holder 101 that holds the cartridge 10 is provided at the back of the opening 103. The holder 101 holds items used in testing, such as the cartridge 10, and is an example of a "holder" according to the technology disclosed herein. The holder 101 is provided with a main installation section 101A to which the cartridge 10 is installed, and sub-installation sections 101B to which the sample container CB, diluent container DS, and nozzle tip NC are each installed. The cartridge 10 is detachably installed in the main installation section 101A. The sample container CB, diluent container DS, and nozzle tip NC are also detachably installed in the sub-installation section 101B.

[0027] The lids CP are detachably attached to the sample containers CB and diluent containers DS. When performing a test, the lids CP are removed from the sample containers CB and diluent containers DS, and the sample containers CB and diluent containers DS are attached to the sub-mounting unit 101B with the lids CP removed. The lids CP are removed by the user. After testing, the sample containers CB are removed from the holder 101, but the diluent containers DS may be used repeatedly for multiple tests. In this case, after testing, the diluent containers DS may be stored in the holder 101 with the lids CP attached. Furthermore, as an example, two nozzle tips NC can be attached to the holder 101, one for the sample and one for the diluent.

[0028] The cover 104 is a cover that opens and closes the opening 103. When the cover 104 is opened, the holder 101 is exposed from the opening 103, and the cartridge 10 or the like can be attached. When performing a measurement, the cover 104 is closed. The opening 103 is an example of an "opening" for attaching an article according to the technology of the present disclosure to the holder 101.

[0029] Furthermore, an operation unit 51 and a display unit 52 are provided on the top surface of the housing 102 above the opening 103. The display unit 52 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and the operation unit 51 is physical keys such as buttons and a cross key. Of course, the display unit 52 may be a touch panel display, and part of the operation unit 51 may also be configured with the touch panel display.

[0030] The housing 102 is also provided with a disposal box 210 (see also FIG. 6 ) for disposing of used single-use items used in testing, such as used nozzle tips NC. The disposal box 210 is a drawer type, and its front surface is exposed below the front of the housing 102. By pulling the disposal box 210 out of the housing 102, used nozzle tips NC inside the disposal box 210 can be removed. The disposal box 210 is an example of a "disposal section" that stores used tips according to the technology of the present disclosure.

[0031] 2, which schematically shows the internal configuration of the testing device 100, the testing device 100 includes a holder 101, as well as a dispensing mechanism 20, a measurement unit 30, and a control unit 40. The holder 101 moves between an attachment position and a measurement position within the testing device 100 (see also FIG. 6). The attachment position is a position corresponding to the opening 103, where the cartridge 10 and the like are attached. The measurement position is a position where the measurement unit 30 is disposed, where measurement is performed on the cartridge 10. As an example, the attachment position is located closer to the front in the depth direction of the housing 102, and the measurement position is located behind the attachment position.

[0032] The holder moving mechanism 34 moves the holder 101 between the mounting position and the measurement position. The holder moving mechanism 34 has a rail 34A on which the holder 101 is movably attached, as well as a conveyor belt and a motor (not shown), and moves the holder 101 along the rail 34A. The rail 34A forms a transfer path for transferring the holder 101.

[0033] 1, in addition to the cartridge 10, items used in the test, such as a nozzle tip NC and a specimen container CB, are attached to the holder 101, and therefore, when the holder 101 moves to the measurement position, the nozzle tip NC, the specimen container CB, and the like are also transported to the measurement position. In this way, the holder moving mechanism 34 is a transport mechanism that transports the items attached to the holder 101. The transport path formed by the rails 34A is an example of a "transport path along which items used in the test are transported" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

[0034] The dispensing mechanism 20 extracts the specimen from the specimen container CB using the nozzle 24 and mixes and stirs the extracted specimen with a reagent to produce a specimen solution SL (see FIG. 4 ). The reagent is provided in the cartridge 10, as described below. A diluent contained in the diluent container DS is used, for example, to dilute the specimen solution SL. The dispensing mechanism 20 then injects the produced specimen solution SL into the cartridge 10.

[0035] Specifically, the dispensing mechanism 20 includes a nozzle moving mechanism 21 and a pump 22. The nozzle moving mechanism 21 is a mechanism for moving the nozzle 24 in the vertical direction (Z direction in FIG. 2 ) and horizontal directions (X direction and Y direction in FIG. 2 ). The pump 22 is connected to the nozzle 24 via a pipe 26, and applies pressure to the nozzle 24 for discharging and aspirating a liquid such as a specimen. The dispensing mechanism 20 is an example of a "dispensing mechanism" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

[0036] A single-use nozzle tip NC is attached to the tip of the nozzle 24. The dispensing mechanism 20 is also provided with a mechanism for removing the nozzle tip NC attached to the nozzle 24. The nozzle tip NC is replaced for each sample, and the used nozzle tip NC is removed from the nozzle 24 and discarded. This prevents contamination between different samples. Also, different nozzle tips NC are used for diluents and samples. The dispensing mechanism 20 retrieves the nozzle tip NC from the holder 101 located at the measurement position. The dispensing mechanism 20 also accesses the sample container CB, diluent container DS, and cartridge 10 attached to the holder 101 via the nozzle movement mechanism 21. The used nozzle tip NC is discarded in a disposal box 210 (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ), which will be described later. The nozzle tip NC is an example of a "tip" that is replaceably attached to the tip of the nozzle 24 that dispenses samples.

[0037] The measurement unit 30 measures the reaction of the test substance A contained in the specimen solution SL injected into the cartridge 10 by a fluorescence method utilizing surface plasmon resonance. The measurement unit 30 includes an excitation light irradiation unit 31, an incident angle adjustment mechanism 33, a fluorescence detection unit 32, etc.

[0038] The excitation light irradiator 31 irradiates the cartridge 10 with excitation light Le (see FIG. 4 ). The excitation light irradiator 31 is composed of, for example, a laser diode (LD) that is a light emitting unit that emits the excitation light Le, and a reflecting mirror that reflects the excitation light Le. The incident angle adjustment mechanism 33 adjusts the incident angle of the excitation light Le irradiated onto the cartridge 10. The fluorescence detector 32 detects fluorescence Lf (see FIG. 4 ) emitted from fluorescent labels F excited by the excitation light Le in the cartridge 10, and outputs a fluorescence detection signal to the controller 40. The fluorescence detector 32 is composed of, for example, a photodiode, a photomultiplier, a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor (CMOS) image sensor, etc.

[0039] The measurement unit moving mechanism 36 is a moving mechanism that moves the measurement unit 30. As will be described later, the cartridge 10 is provided with a plurality of regions to be measured, and the measurement unit moving mechanism 36 moves the measurement unit 30 relative to the cartridge 10 so that the plurality of regions of the cartridge 10 can be measured.

[0040] The control unit 40 comprehensively controls each unit of the testing device 100. An operation unit 51 and a display unit 52 are connected to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 also has a built-in timer (not shown) that performs various timing operations. As described above, the operation unit 51 is composed of buttons, a cross key, and the like, and is used to input operation instructions, such as a measurement start instruction, to the control unit 40. Patient information related to the sample is also input through the operation unit 51. As described above, the display unit 52 is composed of a liquid crystal display, and displays measurement results, status indicating the operating state, warnings, and other messages.

[0041] The control unit 40 controls the dispensing mechanism 20 to inject the specimen solution SL into the cartridge 10 in accordance with a measurement start instruction from the operation unit 51. Then, it operates the measurement unit moving mechanism 36 and the measurement unit 30 to perform the measurement. During the measurement, the control unit 40 outputs, as a measurement result, the concentration of the test substance A, for example, based on the fluorescence detection signal obtained from the fluorescence detection unit 32. Note that in addition to the concentration of the test substance A, data analysis may be performed based on the concentration, and the analysis results may be included in the measurement results and output. The control unit 40 outputs the measurement results to the display unit 52.

[0042] The control unit 40 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) 40A and a memory 40B. The control unit 40 is also communicatively connected to a data storage (not shown). As is well known, the CPU 40A executes a program loaded into the memory 40B to perform processing defined by the program. The memory 40B includes a random access memory (RAM) and a read-only memory (ROM). The data storage may be a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), etc.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cartridge 10. The cartridge 10 has a main body 11 formed of a dielectric material such as optically transparent resin, and is configured with an inlet 12, an outlet 13, reagent cells 14A and 14B, and a flow path 15. The inlet 12 is connected to the outlet 13 via the flow path 15. A sample solution SL is injected through the inlet 12 and supplied to the flow path 15. The reagent cells 14A and 14B are cells that contain a fluorescent reagent to be mixed with the sample in the sample container CB. The fluorescent reagent performs pretreatment, such as adsorbing to proteins in the sample to dissociate targets, for example, for pH adjustment. The openings of the reagent cells 14A and 14B are sealed with sealing members that are pierced when the sample and fluorescent reagent are mixed.

[0044] A reaction region 16 for detecting a test substance A in a sample is provided within the flow channel 15. A test region TR, a first control region CR1, and a second control region CR2 are formed in the reaction region 16. If the side of the flow channel 15 where the injection port 12 is located is defined as the upstream side of the reaction region 16, the first control region CR1, the test region TR, and the second control region CR2 are provided in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side.

[0045] A first antibody B1 (see Figure 4) is immobilized on the test region TR and captures the analyte A. The first antibody B1 is an example of an antibody that specifically reacts with the analyte A. The first control region CR1 is a region that normally does not capture anything and is a so-called negative control region in which the signal value serving as the base of the fluorescence detection signal is 0. The second control region CR2 is a region in which a substance that captures the fluorescent label F in the sample solution SL is immobilized. The second control region CR2 captures the fluorescent label F regardless of whether it is bound to the analyte A. Therefore, the second control region CR2 is a region in which the signal value serving as the base of the fluorescence detection signal is a value corresponding to the concentration of the fluorescent label F contained in the sample solution SL and is a so-called positive control region. Sample abnormalities, measurement abnormalities, etc. are detected based on the fluorescence detection signals from the first control region CR1 and the second control region CR2.

[0046] When a command to start measurement is issued, the dispensing mechanism 20 attaches the nozzle tip NC to the nozzle 24 and uses the nozzle 24 to aspirate the sample from the sample container CB. The dispensing mechanism 20 then pierces the seal of the reagent cell 14A, mixes and stirs the sample with the reagent in the reagent cell 14A, and then uses the nozzle 24 to aspirate the sample solution SL again. This operation is similarly performed for the reagent cell 14B. The reagent is a second antibody B2 (see FIG. 4 ) labeled with a fluorescent label F. The second antibody B2 specifically binds to the analyte A present in the sample. Therefore, by mixing and stirring the sample and reagent, the second antibody B2 binds to the analyte A, generating a sample solution SL in which the surface of the analyte A is modified with the second antibody B2 and the fluorescent label F.

[0047] Then, the dispensing mechanism 20 moves the nozzle tip NC containing the specimen solution SL to above the injection port 12. The dispensing mechanism 20 injects the specimen solution SL into the injection port 12 from above the injection port 12 by discharging the nozzle 24. This causes a pool of specimen solution SL to form inside the injection port 12. The dispensing mechanism 20 then removes the nozzle tip NC from the nozzle 24, inserts the tip of the nozzle 24 into the outlet 13, and performs a suction operation in this state. This causes the specimen solution SL that has accumulated inside the injection port 12 to be supplied to the flow channel 15. The specimen solution SL supplied to the flow channel 15 flows downstream within the flow channel 15 and comes into contact with the reaction region 16.

[0048] 4, in the measurement unit 30, the excitation light irradiation unit 31 is disposed at a position facing the incident surface of the prism 11A of the cartridge 10 attached to the holder 101 at the measurement position. On the other hand, the fluorescence detection unit 32 is disposed above the flow path 15 of the cartridge 10 at a position facing the first control region CR1, the test region TR, and the second control region CR2, and is disposed at a position where it can detect fluorescence from each region.

[0049] The measurement unit moving mechanism 36 (see FIG. 2) linearly moves the excitation light irradiation unit 31 and fluorescence detection unit 32 in the flow direction of the flow channel 15, i.e., along the arrangement direction of the first control region CR1, test region TR, and second control region CR2. This enables the measurement unit 30 to selectively move to a position facing each of the first control region CR1, test region TR, and second control region CR2, respectively, to measure the reaction in each region. While FIG. 4 focuses on the test region TR, the positional relationship between the excitation light irradiation unit 31 and fluorescence detection unit 32 is similar for the first control region CR1 and second control region CR2.

[0050] The main body 11 of the cartridge 10 has a dielectric plate 17. The front surface 17A of the dielectric plate 17 forms the bottom surface of the flow channel 15, and a prism 11A is provided on the back surface 17B. A metal film 18 that forms the test region TR, the first control region CR1, and the second control region CR2 is formed on the dielectric plate 17. In this example, the material of the metal film 18 is gold. The dielectric plate 17 and the prism 11A are molded integrally, and the prism 11A is also a dielectric.

[0051] In the dielectric plate 17, the front surface 17A corresponds to the main surface that contacts the back surface of the metal film 18, which is opposite to the surface on which the test region TR is provided.

[0052] As described above, the first antibody B1 is immobilized on the metal film 18 of the test region TR, and the first antibody B1 captures the test substance A modified with the fluorescent label F and the second antibody B2 using a so-called sandwich method. As described above, the first control region CR1 is a negative control region, and, as an example, no antibody is immobilized on the metal film 18 of the first control region CR1. In other words, the first control region CR1 is simply the metal film 18. Also, as described above, the second control region CR2 is a positive control region, and a substance that captures the fluorescent label F is immobilized on the metal film 18 of the second control region CR2, regardless of the presence or absence of the test substance A.

[0053] The excitation light irradiation unit 31 applies excitation light Le to the surface 17A of the dielectric plate 17, which is the front surface that contacts the back surface of the metal film 18, via the prism 11A. The incident angle θ of the optical axis with respect to the surface 17A is equal to or greater than the critical angle that satisfies the total reflection condition. This allows the excitation light Le to be applied to the back surface of the metal film 18 in the test region TR, the first control region CR1, and the second control region CR2. As described above, the excitation light irradiation unit 31 is provided with a reflecting mirror. The reflecting mirror is rotatable, and the excitation light irradiation unit 31 can change the incident angle θ of the excitation light Le by rotating the reflecting mirror. The incident angle adjustment mechanism 33 adjusts the incident angle of the excitation light Le without changing the irradiation position of the excitation light Le on the back surface of the metal film 18 by rotating the reflecting mirror, for example, by using a lens.

[0054] When excitation light Le is incident on the back surface of the metal film 18 by the excitation light irradiation unit 31 at a specific incident angle equal to or greater than the critical angle, evanescent waves Ew seep out onto the metal film 18, and these evanescent waves Ew excite surface plasmons on the surface of the metal film 18. These surface plasmons generate an electric field distribution on the surface of the metal film 18, forming an electric field enhanced region. Then, the fluorescent label F bound to the first antibody B1 fixed on the metal film 18 is excited by the evanescent waves Ew and emits enhanced fluorescence Lf. The fluorescence detection unit 32 receives the enhanced fluorescence Lf and outputs a fluorescence detection signal corresponding to the amount of received fluorescence Lf.

[0055] Here, the specific incident angle θ at which surface plasmon resonance occurs and the enhanced fluorescence Lf reaches a maximum is called the resonance angle. The resonance angle varies depending on factors such as the type of specimen solution SL that contacts the surface of the metal film 18. Therefore, the incident angle θ of the excitation light Le is adjusted by the incident angle adjustment mechanism 33.

[0056] FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the plasmon enhancement of the fluorescence Lf and the reflectance of the reflected light RL of the excitation light Le versus the angle of incidence θ when plasma is used as the sample. The profile in FIG. 5 is an example where the wavelength of the excitation light Le is 658 nm, the thickness of the metal film 18 is 36 nm, the material of the metal film 18 is gold, and the material of the prism 11A is PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate). Here, the plasmon enhancement is an index that indicates how many times the amount of enhanced fluorescence Lf is compared to the reference value, where the amount of fluorescence Lf without enhancement is taken as the reference value. Because the plasmon enhancement is proportional to the amount of fluorescence Lf detected by the fluorescence detection unit 32, the relationship between the amount of fluorescence Lf and the angle of incidence θ in FIG. 5 will be the same even if the vertical axis represents the amount of fluorescence Lf.

[0057] In Fig. 5, the incident angle θ at which the plasmon enhancement of the fluorescence Lf reaches a peak value and becomes a local maximum is identified as the resonance angle. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the resonance angle is 73.6 degrees. Because the excitation light Le consumes energy in plasmon enhancement, the reflected light RL of the excitation light Le is significantly attenuated near the resonance angle, in contrast to the plasmon enhancement of the fluorescence Lf, and the reflectance becomes a local minimum. By adjusting the incident angle, the resonance angle at which the plasmon enhancement of the fluorescence Lf becomes a local maximum, as shown in Fig. 5, can be identified.

[0058] 6 and 7 , a partition wall 211 is provided vertically below the rail 34A that constitutes the transfer path for the holder 101. The partition wall 211 is a member that separates the transfer path for the holder 101 from electrical components such as the control unit 40. Liquid may fall from an object such as the nozzle 24 onto the transfer path, and if this liquid comes into contact with the electrical components, it may cause malfunctions. The partition wall 211 prevents liquid that has fallen from the transfer path from flowing onto the electrical components.

[0059] The partition wall 211 has a box shape with its longitudinal direction extending in the transfer direction of the holder 101. The partition wall 211 has a bottom 211A disposed below the transfer path and side walls 211B rising toward the transfer path from both sides of the bottom 211A in the transfer direction.

[0060] In addition to liquid, items such as the nozzle tip NC and the lid CP may fall onto the partition 211. When the holder 101 is in the mounting position, the nozzle tip NC and the lid CP usually do not fall. However, because the nozzle tip NC is mounted on the holder 101 and the lid CP is attached and detached to the sample container CB by the user, if the user makes an error in operation, the nozzle tip NC and the lid CP may fall onto the partition 211 below the transfer path.

[0061] A falling object discharge port 211D is formed in the bottom 211A of the partition 211, through which falling objects such as the nozzle tip NC and the lid CP that fall into the partition are discharged to the outside of the partition. The falling object discharge port 211D is an example of an "exhaust port" according to the technology of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, it will be simply referred to as the "exhaust port 211D." A waste box 210 is disposed below the discharge port 211D. The waste box 210 collects the falling objects discharged from the discharge port 211D. The waste box 210 is an example of a "falling object storage section" according to the technology of the present disclosure. In other words, the waste box 210 also serves as the falling object storage section. The falling object storage section is a storage section from which a user of the inspection device 100 can remove fallen objects without disassembling the inspection device 100. In this example, the waste box 210 is a drawer type, allowing the user to remove fallen objects.

[0062] A guide section 211E that guides the falling objects toward the disposal box 210 is disposed at the discharge port 211D. The guide section 211E is inclined toward the disposal box 210 with respect to the horizontal direction. α is the inclination angle. Therefore, when a falling object falls onto the guide section 211E, it slides down the inclined surface and falls toward the disposal box 210. The inclination angle α is set so that the resistance force acting due to friction between the falling object and the contact surface of the inclined section is lower than the force of gravity acting on the falling object.

[0063] The discharge outlet 211D is located on the upstream side of the partition 211 in the transfer direction of the transfer path. The transfer direction of the item is from the mounting position where the opening 103 is located in the housing 102 toward the measurement position where the measurement unit 30 including the fluorescence detection unit 32 is located, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 6 . A user accesses the holder 101 through the opening 103 to mount an unused nozzle tip NC and attach or detach a lid CP to or from a specimen container CB. The nozzle tip NC and lid CP are likely to fall onto the partition 211 at the opening 103. For this reason, the discharge outlet 211D is located upstream of the opening 103 in the transfer direction.

[0064] The effects of the testing device 100 will be described with reference to a comparative example shown in Fig. 8. When no discharge port is formed in the partition wall 311 of the comparative example shown in Fig. 8, fallen objects such as the nozzle tip NC and the lid CP accumulate inside the partition wall 311. This can cause interference between the fallen objects and the specimen container CB attached to the holder 101, resulting in transport obstructions. Such transport obstructions can cause malfunctions of the holder moving mechanism 34.

[0065] The inspection device 100 includes a partition 211 disposed below a transfer path along which items used for inspection are transferred, a discharge port 211D provided in the partition 211 for discharging items that fall into the partition out of the partition, and a waste box 210, which is an example of a fallen item storage unit that stores the fallen items discharged from the discharge port 211D. Therefore, even if an item falls into the partition 211 from the transfer path, the fallen item is discharged from the discharge port 211D and stored in the fallen item storage unit. This prevents the fallen items from accumulating inside the partition 211, thereby suppressing obstacles to the transfer of items.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the partition 211 has a bottom 211A disposed below the transfer path and side walls 211B rising from both sides of the bottom 211A in the transfer direction. When the partition 211 has the bottom 211A and the side walls 211B, the function of preventing the liquid from leaking onto the electrical components is improved. On the other hand, when the partition 211 has such a structure, the accumulation of fallen matter inside the partition 211 is likely to progress, which can easily cause transfer obstructions. Therefore, when the partition 211 has such a structure, the technology of the present disclosure, which provides the discharge port 211D, is particularly effective.

[0067] In the above embodiment, a guide portion 211E is provided at the discharge port 211D to guide the fallen objects toward the disposal box 210, which is an example of a fallen object storage unit. The provision of the guide portion 211E at the discharge port 211D improves the flexibility of component placement within the housing 102. For example, if the guide portion 211E were not provided, a fallen object storage unit would need to be provided directly below the discharge port 211D. By providing the guide portion 211E, as shown in FIG. 7 , the disposal box 210 can be positioned at a different location from the discharge port 211D, rather than directly below it. For example, the holder movement mechanism 34, which includes a transfer path, is a relatively heavy component within the housing 102. Due to restrictions on the placement of the disposal box 210, it may be necessary to position the disposal box 210 toward an edge of the housing 102 in the width direction. Even in this case, the holder moving mechanism 34 for the heavy object is placed in the center in consideration of the weight balance, and the guide part 211E can guide the fallen object toward the disposal box 210 placed near the edge. This makes it possible to adjust the weight balance of the housing 102.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the guide portion 211E is an inclined portion that is inclined from the horizontal direction toward the disposal box 210 (an example of a fallen object storage portion). Because the guide portion 211E is formed as an inclined portion, the configuration is simpler than when the guide portion 211E is configured with a mechanical mechanism such as a transport mechanism.

[0069] In the above embodiment, an opening 103 for attaching an article such as a nozzle tip NC to the holder 101 is provided upstream of the transfer path, and a discharge port 211D is provided upstream of the transfer path in the partition wall 211. Falling objects tend to be concentrated near the opening. The position of the discharge port 211D corresponds to the opening 103 for attaching the object, so that the accumulation of fallen objects and the resulting transport obstructions can be appropriately suppressed.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the articles transferred by the holder 101 include a nozzle tip NC (an example of a tip) that is replaceably attached to the tip of the nozzle 24. The nozzle tip NC is a consumable item, and since it is frequently attached to the holder 101, it often falls onto the partition wall 211. Therefore, the technology of the present disclosure is effective when using such a nozzle tip NC.

[0071] In the above embodiment, a disposal box 210 (an example of a disposal unit) is provided to store used nozzle tips NC, and the disposal box 210 also serves as a dropped object storage unit. Because the disposal box 210 serves as both a disposal unit and a dropped object storage unit, the configuration can be simplified compared to when they are separate units.

[0072] It is also possible to provide a fallen object storage unit separate from the waste box 210, rather than using the same unit as the discard box 210. Even in this case, it is necessary to configure the fallen object storage unit so that the user can remove the fallen objects from it.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the transfer path is a path along which the holder 101 that holds the article is transferred. Since there is a high risk of the article falling from the holder 101, transfer obstructions due to the accumulation of fallen objects are likely to occur. For this reason, the technology of the present disclosure is effective.

[0074] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the items transferred by the holder 101 are containers containing a specimen or a liquid used in testing (for example, a specimen container CB or a diluent container DS), consumables to be discarded after testing (for example, a nozzle tip NC), and a cartridge 10 used in testing. When using a holder 101 that holds such liquid-containing items, it is highly necessary to protect electrical components from the liquid using a partition 211. The technology disclosed herein is effective because the presence of a partition 211 makes it easy for transfer obstructions to occur due to the accumulation of fallen objects. Note that the items transferred by the holder 101 do not need to include all of the items exemplified in the above embodiment, and may include at least one item, such as only a nozzle tip NC or only a specimen container CB, for example.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the objects transferred to the holder 101 include the specimen container CS and the diluent container DS, which are containers from which the user removes the lid CP. In the case of such containers, there is a high risk that the lid CP will fall onto the partition 211, and therefore the technology disclosed herein is effective.

[0076] Furthermore, the above embodiment includes a dispensing mechanism 20 that dispenses a sample. When the dispensing mechanism 20 is included, it is highly necessary to protect the electrical components from liquids by the partition wall 211.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the specimen is tested using an antigen-antibody reaction test device, which uses a large amount of liquid such as a diluent and a reagent in addition to the specimen, and therefore it is highly necessary to protect the electrical components from the liquid by the partition wall 211.

[0078] When the partition wall 211 is present, transport obstructions due to the accumulation of fallen objects are likely to occur. Therefore, the technology of the present disclosure is effective in an inspection device 100 that requires the partition wall 211 to protect electrical components from liquid.

[0079] (Variation 1) As shown in Variation 1 in Figure 9, in a guide portion 211E formed by an inclined portion, the contact surface 211F with which the falling object comes into contact may be formed with irregularities. The irregularities are formed, for example, by providing a plurality of ribs extending along the falling direction of the nozzle tip NC. The irregularities formed on the contact surface 211F reduce the frictional force between the falling object and the contact surface 211F, making it easier for the falling object to fall. The nozzle tip NC and the lid CP are relatively lightweight. When the falling object is lightweight, it is susceptible to the influence of frictional force, so reducing the frictional force is highly effective.

[0080] (Variation 2) As shown in Variation 2 in FIGS. 10 and 11 , within a disposal box 210, which is an example of a disposal unit, a fallen object storage unit may be provided in a second space 210B that is partitioned from a first space 210A that stores used nozzle tips NC (an example of a tip). The second space 210B is a portion of the first space 210A and is nested within the first space 210A. The second space 210B is provided at a position corresponding to the discharge port 211D in the transfer direction. The guide portion 211E guides fallen objects discharged from the discharge port 211D toward the second space 210B. Within the disposal box 210, the first space 210A is a space where used nozzle tips NC are disposed, and therefore is a space contaminated by specimens and the like. The second space 210B is partitioned from the first space 210A and is therefore an uncontaminated space. Since the objects that fall from the discharge port 211D are unused nozzle tips NC and lids CP, by using the second space 210B as a fallen object storage section, the reusable fallen objects can be protected from contamination.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the test device that uses an antigen-antibody reaction has been described as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to test devices that use other sample testing methods.

[0082] Furthermore, the technologies described in the following supplementary items can be understood from the above description. [Supplementary Item 1] An inspection device for inspecting a specimen, comprising: a partition wall arranged below a transfer path along which items used for the inspection are transferred; a discharge port provided in the partition wall for discharging objects that fall into the partition wall to the outside; and a fallen object storage unit for storing the fallen objects discharged from the discharge port. [Supplementary Item 2] The inspection device described in Supplementary Item 1, wherein the partition wall has a bottom portion arranged below the transfer path and side walls rising from both sides of the bottom in the transfer direction. [Supplementary Item 3] The inspection device described in Supplementary Item 1 or Supplementary Item 2, wherein the discharge port is provided with a guide portion for guiding the fallen objects toward the fallen object storage unit. [Supplementary Item 4] The inspection device described in Supplementary Item 3, wherein the guide portion is an inclined portion that is inclined toward the fallen object storage unit with respect to the horizontal direction. [Supplementary Item 5] The inspection device described in Supplementary Item 4, wherein the inclined portion has an uneven contact surface with which the fallen objects come into contact. [Supplementary Item 6] The testing device according to any one of Supplementary Items 1 to 5, wherein an opening for attaching an article is provided on the upstream side of the transfer path, and wherein a discharge port is provided in the partition on the upstream side of the transfer path. [Supplementary Item 7] The testing device according to Supplementary Item 6, wherein the article includes a tip that is replaceably attached to the tip of a nozzle that dispenses a sample. [Supplementary Item 8] The testing device according to Supplementary Item 7, wherein a disposal section for storing used tips is provided, and wherein the disposal section also serves as a dropped object storage section. [Supplementary Item 9] The testing device according to Supplementary Item 8, wherein the dropped object storage section is provided in a second space within the disposal section that is partitioned from the first space in which used tips are stored. [Supplementary Item 10] The testing device according to any one of Supplementary Items 1 to 9, wherein the transfer path is a path along which a holder that holds the article is transported. [Supplementary Item 11] The testing device according to Supplementary Item 10, wherein the items include at least one of a container for storing a specimen or a liquid used in the test, a consumable item that is discarded after the test, and a cartridge used in the test. [Supplementary Item 12] The testing device according to Supplementary Item 11, wherein the container for storing a liquid used in the test includes a container whose lid is removed by the user.[Supplementary Item 13] The testing device according to any one of Supplementary Items 1 to 12, which includes a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a sample. [Supplementary Item 14] The testing device according to Supplementary Item 13, wherein the method for testing the sample utilizes an antigen-antibody reaction.

[0083] The above describes preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted, such as combinations of the embodiments and modified examples, as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0084] The above-described description and illustrations are a detailed explanation of the parts related to the technology of the present disclosure and are merely an example of the technology of the present disclosure. For example, the above description of the configuration, functions, actions, and effects is an explanation of an example of the configuration, functions, actions, and effects of the parts related to the technology of the present disclosure. Therefore, it goes without saying that unnecessary parts may be deleted, new elements may be added, or replacements may be made to the above-described description and illustrations within the scope of the gist of the technology of the present disclosure. Furthermore, to avoid confusion and facilitate understanding of the parts related to the technology of the present disclosure, the above-described description and illustrations omit explanations of common technical knowledge that do not require particular explanation to enable the implementation of the technology of the present disclosure.

[0085] In this specification, "A and / or B" is synonymous with "at least one of A and B." In other words, "A and / or B" means that it may be only A, only B, or a combination of A and B. Furthermore, in this specification, the same concept as "A and / or B" is also applied when three or more things are expressed by connecting them with "and / or."

[0086] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-026483, filed on February 26, 2024, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In addition, all documents, patent applications, and technical standards described herein are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual document, patent application, and technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Claims

1. An inspection device for inspecting specimens, comprising: a partition wall arranged below a transport path along which items used for the inspection are transported; a discharge outlet provided in the partition wall for discharging objects that fall into the partition wall to the outside of the partition; and a fallen object storage section for storing the fallen objects discharged from the discharge outlet.

2. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the partition has a bottom portion disposed below the transport path and side walls rising from both sides of the bottom portion in the transport direction.

3. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a guide section is disposed at the discharge port to guide the fallen object toward the fallen object storage section.

4. The inspection device according to claim 3, wherein the guide section is an inclined section that is inclined toward the fallen object storage section with respect to the horizontal direction.

5. The inspection device according to claim 4, wherein the contact surface of the inclined portion with which the falling object comes into contact is formed with irregularities.

6. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein an opening for loading the article is provided on the upstream side of the transfer path, and the discharge outlet is provided on the partition wall on the upstream side of the transfer path.

7. The testing device according to claim 6, wherein the article includes a tip that is replaceably attached to the tip of a nozzle that dispenses the sample.

8. The inspection device according to claim 7, further comprising a disposal section for storing used chips, said disposal section also serving as said dropped object storage section.

9. The inspection device according to claim 8, wherein the dropped object storage section is provided in a second space within the disposal section that is partitioned from a first space in which the used chips are stored.

10. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the transport path is a path along which a holder that holds the object is transported.

11. The testing device according to claim 10, wherein the items include at least one of a container for storing the specimen or a liquid used in the test, a consumable item to be discarded after the test, and a cartridge used in the test.

12. The testing device according to claim 11, wherein the containers containing the liquid used in the testing include a container whose lid is removed by the user.

13. The testing device according to claim 1, further comprising a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the sample.

14. The testing device according to claim 13, wherein the method for testing the sample utilizes an antigen-antibody reaction.

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