Reaction tank cassette

Abstract

Provided is a reaction tank cassette with which it is possible to control a plurality of reaction tanks so that the same are at a prescribed temperature even if there is misalignment between the plurality of reaction tanks and a plurality of holes of a metal block provided in a temperature control device. This reaction tank cassette is used in an analyzer, and is characterized by comprising: a plurality of reaction tanks that store a reaction liquid to be analyzed by the analyzer; a base body that supports the reaction tanks; and a position adjustment unit that is provided between the base body and each of the reaction tanks and that adjusts the position of each reaction tank.

Description

Reactor Cassette

[0001] The present invention relates to a reaction chamber cassette having a plurality of reaction chambers that contain reaction liquids to be analyzed by an analytical device.

[0002] An analytical device is a device that analyzes specific components contained in a sample such as blood or urine. In an analytical device, a temperature controller controls the temperature of a reaction vessel containing a reaction solution to promote the reaction between the sample and a reagent. The temperature controller includes a metal block that is maintained at a predetermined temperature by a heat source, and controls the temperature of the reaction vessel inserted into a hole in the metal block. To control the reaction vessel at the predetermined temperature, the outer wall of the reaction vessel must be tightly attached to the inner wall of the hole in the metal block.

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses that a container containing a specimen is inserted into a container holder provided on a multi-well tray for use in an automated process, and that contact between the container and the container well of the container holder is maximized.

[0004] JP 2017-96978 A

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to contact between the multiple holes in the metal block of the temperature control device and the multiple reaction chambers. Although the holes in the metal block and the multiple reaction chambers are aligned, misalignment due to manufacturing errors or the like can result in insufficient contact between the outer walls of the reaction chambers and the inner walls of the holes, resulting in temperature control problems. Temperature control problems have a negative impact on the analysis results of the samples.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a reaction chamber cassette that can control a reaction chamber to a predetermined temperature even if there is a positional misalignment between multiple holes in a metal block provided in a temperature control device and multiple reaction chambers.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a reaction vessel cassette for use in an analytical device, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of reaction vessels for containing reaction liquids to be analyzed by the analytical device, a base for supporting the reaction vessels, and position adjustment units provided between the base and each of the reaction vessels for adjusting the position of the reaction vessels.

[0008] According to the present invention, a reaction chamber cassette can be provided that can control a reaction chamber to a predetermined temperature even if there is a positional misalignment between multiple holes in a metal block provided in a temperature control device and multiple reaction chambers.

[0009] 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a single reaction vessel and a temperature control device; FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating misalignment between a reaction vessel cassette having multiple reaction vessels and holes in a metal block; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a reaction vessel cassette of a first embodiment; FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a reaction vessel cassette of a second embodiment; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a reaction vessel cassette of a third embodiment; FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a reaction vessel cassette of a fourth embodiment; FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which reaction vessel cassettes of the fourth embodiment are stacked; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 7;

[0010] A preferred embodiment of a reaction vessel cassette according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The reaction vessel cassette is used in an analyzer that analyzes specimens, such as blood or urine, using a reaction liquid between the specimen and a reagent, and has a plurality of reaction vessels that contain the reaction liquid. The temperature of the reaction vessels is controlled by a temperature regulator.

[0011] A single reaction vessel 101 and a temperature control device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The X-axis and Y-axis are axes that are perpendicular to each other and form a horizontal plane, and the Z-axis is an axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

[0012] The reaction vessel 101 is a resin container that contains a reaction liquid 102 of a specimen and a reagent. A lid 103 is attached to the reaction vessel 101 to prevent foreign matter from being mixed into the reaction liquid 102. By attaching the lid 103 to the reaction vessel 101, the reaction vessel 101 is sealed, and leakage of the reaction liquid 102 from the reaction vessel 101 can be prevented. Note that the lid 103 is removed when injecting a specimen or a reagent into the reaction vessel 101 or when aspirating the reaction liquid 102 from the reaction vessel 101.

[0013] The temperature control device 100 has a heat source 105 and a metal block 104. The heat source 105 is a device that generates heat to maintain the metal block 104 at a predetermined temperature, such as a heater or a Peltier element. The metal block 104 is a block made of a metal with relatively high thermal conductivity, such as copper or aluminum, and is connected to the heat source 105 in a tightly contacting manner. The metal block 104 is provided with a hole 106 into which the reaction vessel 101 is inserted. As illustrated in FIG. 1( a), the hole 106 has the same shape as the outer shape of the reaction vessel 101. Because the hole 106 has the same shape as the outer shape of the reaction vessel 101, the outer wall of the reaction vessel 101 inserted into the hole 106 can be tightly contacted with the inner wall of the hole 106, as illustrated in FIG. 1( b).

[0014] In some analyzers, a multi-tray that integrates multiple reaction vessels 101 is used. By using a multi-tray, multiple reaction solutions 102 can be handled simultaneously, thereby improving the throughput of the analyzer. The multiple reaction vessels 101 in the multi-tray and the holes 106 in the metal block 104 are positioned so that they align with each other. However, due to manufacturing errors and the like, misalignment may occur between the multiple reaction vessels 101 in the multi-tray and the holes 106 in the metal block 104.

[0015] Using Figure 2, we will explain the misalignment between a multi-tray 200 having multiple reaction vessels 101 and the holes 106 in the metal block 104. The multi-tray 200 illustrated in Figure 2 has three reaction vessels 101A to 101C, and three holes 106A to 106C are provided in the metal block 104, into which the reaction vessels 101A to 101C are inserted, respectively. When the reaction vessel 101C is aligned with the position of the hole 106C, the reaction vessel 101A is misaligned in the positive direction of the Y axis relative to the hole 106A, and the reaction vessel 101B is misaligned in the negative direction of the Y axis relative to the hole 106B. In other words, because there is a misalignment between the reaction vessels 101A to 101C and the holes 106A to 106C, the reaction vessels 101 cannot be tightly attached to the metal block 104, which hinders temperature control of the reaction vessels 101. Therefore, in the first embodiment, even if there is a positional misalignment between the multiple reaction vessels 101 and the multiple holes 106 provided in the metal block 104, the multiple reaction vessels 101 can be tightly attached to the metal block 104.

[0016] [First Embodiment] A reaction vessel cassette 300 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 3. The reaction vessel cassette 300 comprises a plurality of reaction vessels 101A to 101C, a base 302, and an expandable section 301. Each section will be described below.

[0017] Each of the reaction vessels 101A-C is a container that contains a reaction solution 102 to be analyzed by the analyzer, and is inserted into a corresponding one of holes 106A-C provided in a metal block 104 of the temperature control device 100. Each of the reaction vessels 101A-C and each of the holes 106A-C have the same shape so that the reaction vessels 101A-C and the metal block 104 can be in close contact when each of the reaction vessels 101A-C is inserted into each of the holes 106A-C. Note that, as shown in FIG. 3A, there is a positional deviation between the reaction vessels 101A-C and the holes 106A-C.

[0018] The base body 302 is a frame body that supports the reaction vessels 101A to 101C via the expandable portion 301, and is provided so as to surround the reaction vessels 101A to 101C.

[0019] The expandable section 301 is an expandable member that connects the base 302 to each of the reaction vessels 101A to 101C. When the reaction vessel cassette 300 is manufactured by integral molding, the base 302 and the expandable section 301 are made of the same material as the reaction vessels 101A to 101C, for example, a resin material.

[0020] 3B, the reactors 101A-C are inserted into the holes 106A-C by extending and retracting the extendable section 301, so that they fit into the holes 106A-C, respectively, and are thereby tightly fitted to the metal block 104. More specifically, the extendable section 301 extends and retracts in the directions indicated by the black arrows so that the reactors 101A and 101B can move in the directions indicated by the white arrows, and therefore the reactors 101A-C can be tightly fitted to the metal block 104.

[0021] The insertion of reaction vessels 101A-C into holes 106A-C may be performed by a robot hand provided in the analytical device transporting reaction vessel cassette 300, or may be performed manually by an operator. Therefore, it is preferable that expandable section 301 has an elastic modulus that allows expansion and contraction so that reaction vessels 101A-C can move under their own weight.

[0022] As described above, by providing the expandable portion 301 to the reaction vessel cassette 300, even if there is a positional misalignment between the holes 106A-C and the reaction vessels 101A-C, the reaction vessels 101A-C can be tightly attached to the metal block 104, and the reaction vessels 101A-C can be controlled to a predetermined temperature. The expandable portion 301 functions as a position adjustment portion that adjusts the positions of the reaction vessels 101A-C.

[0023] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the reaction vessel cassette 300 was described as having an expandable section 301 that functions as a position adjustment section that adjusts the positions of the reaction vessels 101A to 101C. The expandable section 301 of the reaction vessel cassette 300 is not limited to that shown in FIG.

[0024] A reaction vessel cassette 300 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 4. The reaction vessel cassette 300 illustrated in Figure 4 includes multiple reaction vessels 101A to 101C, a base 302, and an expandable section 301, similar to that shown in Figure 3. However, the configurations of the base 302 and the expandable section 301 differ from those shown in Figure 3, and these will be described below.

[0025] 4 has frame bodies 400A to 400C that surround the reaction vessels 101A to 101C, respectively, and support the reaction vessels 101A to 101C via the expandable section 301. The frame bodies 400A to 400C are connected to each other to form the base body 302.

[0026] 4 is an expandable member that connects each of the reaction vessels 101A-C to each of the frame bodies 400A-C at four points. By expanding and contracting the expandable portion 301, the reaction vessels 101A-C can be tightly attached to the metal block 104 even if there is a positional misalignment between the holes 106A-C and the reaction vessels 101A-C.

[0027] The number of expandable sections 301 connecting each of the reaction vessels 101A-C to each of the frames 400A-C is not limited to four, and may be two or more. However, to prevent each of the reaction vessels 101A-C from tilting, the central angle between each expandable section 301 is set to 180 degrees or less. Furthermore, if each of the reaction vessels 101A-C swings around the line connecting the two expandable sections 301 as the axis of rotation, the expandable sections 301 are likely to be damaged, so it is preferable that the number of expandable sections 301 be three or more.

[0028] As described above, by providing the reaction vessel cassette 300 with the expansion / contraction section 301, even if there is a positional misalignment between the holes 106A-C and the reaction vessels 101A-C, the reaction vessels 101A-C can be tightly attached to the metal block 104, and the reaction vessels 101A-C can be controlled to a predetermined temperature.

[0029] In the first and second embodiments, the reaction vessel cassette 300 is described as having the extendable section 301 that functions as a position adjustment section that adjusts the positions of the reaction vessels 101A to 101C. The position adjustment section is not limited to the extendable section 301.

[0030] A reaction vessel cassette 500 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 5. The reaction vessel cassette 500 comprises a plurality of reaction vessels 101A-B, a base 302, and flange portions 501A-B.

[0031] The reaction vessels 101A and 101B are containers for accommodating a reaction solution 102 to be analyzed by an analyzer, and are inserted into holes 106A and 106B formed in a metal block 104 of the temperature adjustment device 100, respectively.

[0032] The base 302 is a flat plate having holes into which the reaction vessels 101A and 101B are inserted. The inner diameter of the holes in the base 302 is larger than the outer diameter of each of the reaction vessels 101A and 101B.

[0033] The flange portions 501A-B are annular members provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of each of the reaction vessels 101A-B. The outer diameter of each of the flange portions 501A-B is larger than the inner diameter of the hole in the base 302. The flange portions 501A-B are not connected to the base 302, and the flange portions 501A-B can slide on the base 302 and move horizontally. In other words, the flange portions 501A-B function as position adjustment portions that adjust the positions of the reaction vessels 101A-B. To prevent each of the reaction vessels 101A-B from slipping out of the hole in the base 302, a member that holds each of the flange portions 501A-B vertically may be provided on the upper surface of the base 302.

[0034] By providing flanges 501A-B, which function as position adjustment units, on the outer periphery of the upper ends of reaction vessels 101A-B, reaction vessels 101A-B can be tightly attached to metal block 104 even if there is a positional misalignment between reaction vessels 101A-B and holes 106A-B. That is, reaction vessels 101A-B are inserted so as to fit along holes 106A-B of metal block 104 by horizontal movement of flanges 501A-B, and therefore can be tightly attached to metal block 104. As a result, reaction vessels 101A-B can be controlled to a predetermined temperature.

[0035] Fourth Embodiment In the first to third embodiments, a reaction vessel cassette was described that includes a position adjustment unit that adjusts the positions of each of a plurality of reaction vessels 101. In the fourth embodiment, a reaction vessel cassette that includes a hole for accommodating a lid 103 that is attached to the reaction vessel 101 will be described.

[0036] A reaction vessel cassette 600 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 6. The reaction vessel cassette 600 includes a reaction vessel 101, a base 302, an expandable portion 301, and a lid storage hole 601. The reaction vessel 101, the base 302, and the expandable portion 301 are the same as those in the second embodiment.

[0037] The lid storage holes 601 are holes for storing the lids 103 attached to the reaction vessels 101, and have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the lids 103 and a depth approximately equal to the height of the lids 103. The number of lid storage holes 601 is the same as the number of reaction vessels 101, and the reaction vessel cassette 600 is provided with eight reaction vessels 101 and eight lid storage holes 601. In Figure 6, the eight holes in the upper half are lid storage holes 601, and the eight holes in the lower half are reaction vessels 101. Furthermore, each reaction vessel 101 is connected to the base 302 by four expansion / contraction sections 301, so the reaction vessel cassette 600 is provided with 32 expansion / contraction sections 301.

[0038] The reaction vessel cassette 600 is provided with an extendable section 301 that functions as a position adjustment section for adjusting the positions of each of the multiple reaction vessels 101, and therefore, similar to the first to third embodiments, multiple reaction vessels 101 can be tightly attached to the metal block 104. Furthermore, since the reaction vessel cassette 600 is provided with the same number of lid storage holes 601 as the reaction vessels 101, the lids 103 can be attached to multiple reaction vessels 101 simultaneously by a robot hand or the like.

[0039] Incidentally, when transporting or loading the reactor cassettes 600 into an analyzer, multiple reactor cassettes 600 are stacked. Figure 7 shows an example of multiple stacked reactor cassettes 600, with the reactor cassette 600U at the top and the reactor cassette 600L located below the reactor cassette 600U. If vibration or impact is applied to the stacked reactor cassettes 600U and 600L, the lids 103 stored in the lid storage holes 601, which have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the lids 103, may pop out of the lid storage holes 601 and fall. If the lids 103, which are used to prevent foreign matter from being mixed into the reaction solution 102, fall and the reactor cassette 600 is loaded into the analyzer without the lids 103, the reactors 101 cannot be sealed, hindering analysis.

[0040] In particular, since it is not possible to visually check for missing lids 103 stored in the reaction tank cassette 600L located at the lower level of the reaction tank cassette 600U, it is necessary to prevent the lids 103 from falling from reaction tank cassettes 600 other than the topmost reaction tank cassette 600U.

[0041] A configuration for preventing the lid 103 stored in the reaction vessel cassette 600L located below the uppermost reaction vessel cassette 600U from falling will be described using Figure 8. Figure 8 is a perspective view including the cross section A-A in Figure 7. The reaction vessel cassette 600U has a protrusion 800 below the lid storage hole 601.

[0042] The protrusions 800 are members that protrude below the lid storage holes 601 to prevent the lids 103 stored in the lower reactor cassette 600L from falling, and have, for example, a cylindrical shape. A protrusion 800 is provided for each lid storage hole 601, so the number of protrusions 800 is the same as the number of lid storage holes 601. Furthermore, the protrusions 800 preferably have a length sufficient to contact the lids 103 stored in the lower reactor cassette 600L, but this is not necessarily the case. For example, if the protrusions 800 have a length such that the distance between the bottom surface of the protrusions 800 and the lower lid 103 is less than the depth of the lid storage hole 601, the lids 103 can be prevented from falling.

[0043] Since the reactor cassette 600U and the reactor cassette 600L have the same shape, the protrusion 800 is provided not only on the top reactor cassette 600U but also on the reactor cassette 600L below it. Providing the protrusion 800 on the reactor cassette 600L also prevents the lid 103 placed on the lower reactor cassette 600L from falling. Furthermore, multiple ribs 801 may be provided on the side of the protrusion 800. Providing multiple ribs 801 allows the outer diameter of the protrusion 800 to be reduced.

[0044] As described above, by providing the protrusion 800 to the reaction vessel cassette 600, the lid 103 stored in the lid storage hole 601 can be prevented from falling, and analysis by the analyzer can be performed without being hindered.

[0045] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the components may be modified within the scope of the invention. For example, instead of adjusting the position of the reaction vessel 101, the positions of the metal blocks divided into each reaction vessel 101 may be adjusted. Furthermore, multiple components disclosed in the above embodiments may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, some components may be omitted from all the components shown in the above embodiments.

[0046] 101: reaction vessel, 102: reaction liquid, 103: lid, 104: metal block, 105: heat source, 106: hole, 200: multi-tray, 300: reaction vessel cassette, 301: expandable portion, 302: base, 400: frame, 500: reaction vessel cassette, 501: flange portion, 600: reaction vessel cassette, 601: lid storage hole, 800: protrusion portion, 801: rib.

Claims

1. A reaction vessel cassette for use in an analytical device, comprising: a plurality of reaction vessels for accommodating reaction liquids to be analyzed by the analytical device; a base for supporting the reaction vessels; and position adjustment units provided between the base and each of the reaction vessels for adjusting the position of the reaction vessels.

2. A reaction vessel cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that the position adjustment section is an expandable section that connects the base and each of the reaction vessels and expands and contracts.

3. A reaction vessel cassette according to claim 2, characterized in that three or more of the expansion and contraction sections are provided for each of the reaction vessels.

4. A reaction vessel cassette according to claim 2, wherein the expandable section has an elastic modulus that allows the reaction vessel to expand and contract so as to move under its own weight.

5. A reaction vessel cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that the position adjustment portion is a flange portion provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the reaction vessel and sliding on the base.

6. A reaction vessel cassette as described in claim 1, further comprising a lid storage hole for storing a lid attached to the reaction vessel, and a protrusion that protrudes below the lid storage hole.

7. A reaction vessel cassette according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of ribs provided on the side surface of said protrusion.

8. A reaction vessel cassette for use in an analytical device, comprising: a plurality of reaction vessels for accommodating reaction liquids to be analyzed by the analytical device; a base for supporting the reaction vessels; lid storage holes for accommodating lids to be attached to the reaction vessels; and a protrusion that protrudes below the lid storage holes.

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