Processing device

Abstract

In the present invention, in order to provide a processing device that can suppress bumping of a liquid sample in a more exact manner by precisely controlling the temperature of a liquid in a container, the following configuration is adopted.　Provided is a processing device comprising an evaporative concentration part that includes: a gripping mechanism having a heating part capable of heating a container that can accommodate a liquid, the gripping mechanism being capable of gripping and releasing the container from the outside of the container by means of the heating part; and a placing part that supports the container in the state where the gripping mechanism has opened the container.

Description

Processing equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a processing device.

[0002] Examples of analytical methods for specific components contained in biological samples such as blood and urine (hereinafter simply referred to as samples) include liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS) (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry), which are connected online.

[0004] Patent Document 1, for example, discloses a technique for evaporating and concentrating a sample. The technique includes a heating section that heats a container to evaporate the sample, and an exhaust section that sucks in the generated vapor. The evaporation and concentration process is divided into a first evaporation and concentration process and a second evaporation and concentration process to reduce bumping of the sample.

[0003] International Publication No. 2023 / 005560

[0004] According to Patent Document 1, the heating unit that heats the container is composed of a block heater that covers the entire container, which makes it difficult to precisely control the temperature of the liquid in the container.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a processing apparatus that can more precisely control the temperature of a sample in a container, thereby more precisely suppressing bumping of the sample.

[0006] The present invention, which achieves the above object, is configured as follows: A processing device equipped with an evaporation and concentration unit having a heating unit capable of heating a container capable of containing a liquid, a gripping mechanism capable of gripping and opening the container from the outside by the heating unit, and a mounting unit that supports the container when the gripping mechanism opens the container.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a processing apparatus that can more precisely control the temperature of a sample in a container, thereby more precisely suppressing bumping of a liquid sample.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic view of the overall configuration of an automatic analyzer. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a pre-processing step of an analytical process. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an evaporation and concentration mechanism. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which a reaction vessel is gripped by a ring-shaped heater. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which ring-shaped heaters are separated by a dividing line. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a state in which a reaction vessel is gripped while placed on a mounting part. FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a state in which the ring-shaped heater is set downward. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a state in which the ring-shaped heater is positioned at the lowest position. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a modified shape of the ring-shaped heater. FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a state in which the evaporation and concentration step has been completed and the lid has been raised. A flowchart of detailed operations of the evaporation and concentration step.

[0009] When analyzing a sample by LC-MS, methods for increasing the purity of the sample include, for example, solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). In particular, SPE can be easily connected online to LC-MS, making it possible to automate SPE processing and LC-MS analysis in an integrated manner. In such sample processing, in order to achieve high-sensitivity detection by LC-MS, evaporation concentration is sometimes performed, in which an extract from which a target component contained in the sample has been extracted is evaporated to increase the concentration of the target component.

[0010] Below, we will explain an example of an automatic analyzer that combines LC-MS as an analytical mechanism with a sample processing function, but the present invention can also be applied to an automatic analyzer that combines a separation means such as capillary electrophoresis with a detector such as an absorptiometer as an analytical mechanism.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of an automatic analyzer. In Fig. 1, the automatic analyzer 100 includes a preprocessing unit (pretreatment unit) 101 for preprocessing a sample, a separation unit 102 for separating components in the sample, an analysis unit 103 for analyzing the separated components, a control unit 104 for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, an input unit 105 for a user to input information to the apparatus, a display unit 106 for displaying information to the user, and a storage unit 107 such as a storage medium for storing various information related to the control of the automatic analyzer 100.

[0012] The control unit 104 , the input unit 105 , the display unit 106 , and the storage unit 107 constitute a control device that controls the overall operation of the automatic analyzer 100 .

[0013] In the first embodiment, the input unit 105 and the display unit 106 are shown as separate units, but the input unit 105 and the display unit 106 may be integrated into one unit, such as a touch panel monitor.

[0014] The pretreatment unit 101 comprises a transport mechanism 112 that transports a sample container 111 containing the sample to be analyzed to a sample dispensing position, a reaction disk (incubator) 120 that can maintain the solution in the reaction container 116 at a constant temperature by mounting the reaction container 116 in multiple openings 119, a reagent disk 122 that holds multiple reagent containers 121 containing reagents, and a sample dispensing mechanism 113 that dispenses the sample from the sample container 111 transported to the sample dispensing position into the reaction container 116 accommodated in the opening 119 of the reaction disk 120.

[0015] The pre-processing unit 101 also includes a reagent dispensing mechanism 123 that dispenses reagent from a reagent container 121 into a reaction container 116 on the reaction disk 120, a dispensing tip mounting rack 115 that mounts unused disposable dispensing tips 115a that are attached to the nozzle of the sample dispensing mechanism 113, and a dispensing tip attachment / detachment unit 114 that removes and discards used dispensing tips 115a from the nozzle of the sample dispensing mechanism 113, or attaches unused dispensing tips 115a to the nozzle.

[0016] The pre-treatment unit 101 also includes a reaction vessel mounting rack 117 on which unused reaction vessels 116 are mounted, and a transport mechanism 118 which transports unused dispensing tips 115a from the dispensing tip mounting rack 115 to the dispensing tip attachment / detachment unit 114, transports used reaction vessels 116 from the opening 119 of the reaction disk 120 to a disposal unit (not shown), and transports unused reaction vessels 116 from the reaction vessel mounting rack 117 to the opening 119 of the reaction disk 120.

[0017] The pretreatment unit 101 also includes a magnetic separation mechanism 124 that separates magnetic beads in the solution contained in the reaction vessel 116 using the magnetic force of a magnet, a transport mechanism 125 that transports the reaction vessel 116 between the reaction disk 120 and the magnetic separation mechanism 124, and an evaporation and concentration mechanism 131 that evaporates and concentrates the components to be analyzed in the solution in the reaction vessel 116.

[0018] Furthermore, the pretreatment unit 101 includes a transport mechanism 132 that transports the reaction vessel 116 between the reaction disk 120 and the evaporation and concentration mechanism 131, a separation unit dispensing mechanism 133 that dispenses the solution in the reaction vessel 116 after evaporation and concentration to the separation unit 102 that separates the components in the sample, and an analysis unit 103 that detects and analyzes the components in the solution separated in the separation unit 102.

[0019] The magnetic separation mechanism 124 is provided on a rotation track 126 of the reagent dispensing mechanism 123. The reagent dispensing mechanism 123 can dispense a reagent into a reaction vessel 116 supported by the magnetic separation mechanism 124, and can aspirate a solution in the reaction vessel 116.

[0020] The reaction disk 120 functions as an incubator that keeps the temperature of the reaction vessel 116 placed in the opening 119 constant, and incubates the reaction vessel 116 placed in the opening 119 for a certain period of time.

[0021] The separation unit 102 is, for example, an LC, and is provided with a column or the like for the function of separating components in the reaction solution dispensed by the separation unit dispensing mechanism 133. The separation unit 102 separates the components in the reaction solution dispensed from the reaction vessel 116 by the separation unit dispensing mechanism 133, and sequentially introduces the separated components into the analysis unit 103.

[0022] The analysis unit 103 is, for example, an MS, and is equipped with an electron multiplier or the like to perform ionization and mass analysis of the components introduced from the separation unit 102. The analysis unit 103 ionizes the components introduced from the separation unit 102, detects the amount of ions (i.e., the amount of components), and outputs the detection result to the control unit 104.

[0023] The control unit 104 controls the operation of the evaporation concentration mechanism (evaporation concentration unit) 131, the operation of the separation unit 102, and the operation of the analysis unit 103. The control unit 104 also calculates the concentration values ​​of components in the sample using the detection results (ion amount) from the analysis unit 103 and a calibration curve obtained in advance, stores the results in the memory unit 107 as analysis results, and displays the analysis results on the display unit 106.

[0024] To obtain a calibration curve, for example, a standard substance with a known concentration is first analyzed at multiple concentrations. Then, the time change in ion amount, i.e., ion intensity, for the m / z (mass / charge ratio) of the ions derived from the standard substance (mass chromatogram) is obtained, and the peak area of ​​the mass chromatogram is calculated. A calibration curve is then created based on the relationship between this area and the concentration of the standard substance.

[0025] By using the calibration curve thus obtained, it is possible to detect the component concentration of a sample whose concentration is unknown but which contains the same analyte component as the standard substance.

[0026] Specifically, the peak area of ​​the mass chromatogram of the sample to be analyzed is determined, and the concentration of the component to be analyzed is determined from the correspondence between the peak area of ​​the mass chromatogram and the calibration curve.

[0027] Furthermore, normalizing the intensities of detected ions based on the intensities of ions derived from an internal standard allows for highly accurate comparison of data. In other words, ion intensities, which may show some variation between analyses due to the influence of sample pretreatment, sample injection into LC-MS, and ionization in LC-MS, can be compared and verified between analyses. This method is known as the internal standard method.

[0028] First, the basic steps of the analytical process will be described. Figure 2 shows an example of the pre-processing steps of the analytical process by an automatic analyzer. Prior to starting the pre-processing, an unused reaction vessel 116 is placed in an opening 119 on the reaction disk 120 from a reaction vessel mounting rack 117 by a transport mechanism 118. Furthermore, prior to dispensing the sample, the sample dispensing mechanism 113 is made to access the dispensing tip attachment / detachment unit 114, and a dispensing tip 115a is attached to the tip of the nozzle.

[0029] In the pretreatment, first, the sample dispensing mechanism 113 aspirates a sample containing a component to be analyzed from the sample container 111 via the dispensing tip 115a and dispenses it into the reaction container 116 on the reaction disk 120 (step S200).

[0030] When the sample dispensing mechanism 113 has finished dispensing the sample from one sample container 111, the dispensing tip attaching / detaching unit 114 discards the used dispensing tip 115a and attaches an unused dispensing tip 115a.

[0031] Next, the reagent dispensing mechanism 123 aspirates an internal standard substance as a reagent corresponding to the component to be analyzed from the reagent container 121 on the reagent disk 122 and dispenses it into the reaction container 116 (step S201).

[0032] Next, the reagent dispensing mechanism 123 aspirates a reagent such as a deproteinizing agent from the reagent container 121 on the reagent disk 122 and dispenses it into the reaction container 116 (step S202).

[0033] Next, the reagent dispensing mechanism 123 aspirates a suspension of magnetic beads as a reagent from the reagent container 121 on the reagent disk 122 and dispenses it into the reaction container 116 (step S203).

[0034] Next, the reaction vessel 116 into which the sample, internal standard, and magnetic beads have been dispensed is transported by the transport mechanism 125 to the magnetic separation mechanism 124, where the magnetic beads are washed (step S204). In the magnetic separation mechanism 124, the magnetic beads carrying the analyte component and internal standard are collected on the inner wall surface of the reaction vessel 116 by the magnetic force of the magnet 201 positioned along the outer surface of the reaction vessel 116 (shown as a group of magnetic beads 202 in FIG. 2). In this state, the solution in the reaction vessel 116 is aspirated and discarded by the reagent dispensing mechanism 123.

[0035] At this time, the magnetic beads, the analyte component held by the magnetic beads, and the internal standard remain in the reaction vessel 116 .

[0036] Next, the reagent dispensing mechanism 123 aspirates a cleaning solution from the reagent container 121 on the reagent disk 122 to wash away impurities other than the substances held by the magnetic beads (the component to be analyzed and the internal standard substance), and dispenses the solution into the reaction container 116. At this time, the magnetic beads may be temporarily released from the magnetic force of the magnet 201.

[0037] Next, the magnetic beads are collected again on the inner wall surface of the reaction vessel 116 by the magnet 201, and the reagent dispensing mechanism 123 aspirates and discards the solution (cleaning solution) from the reaction vessel 116, thereby washing the magnetic beads.

[0038] Next, the reagent dispensing mechanism 123 aspirates an eluate as a reagent from the reagent container 121 on the reagent disk 122, which elutes the analyte component and internal standard from the magnetic bead group 202, and dispenses it into the reaction container 116 (step S205).

[0039] Next, with the magnetic bead group 203 from which the analyte components and internal standard substances have been eluted collected on the inner wall surface of the reaction vessel 116 by the magnetic force of the magnet 201, the solution (purified solution) in the reaction vessel 116 is aspirated by the reagent dispensing mechanism 123 (step S206) and ejected into an unused reaction vessel 116 on the reaction disk 120 different from the reaction vessel 116 placed on the magnetic separation mechanism 124 (step S207).

[0040] The purified solution contained in the reaction vessel 116 of the reaction disk 120 is incubated as needed.

[0041] Next, the transport mechanism 132 transports the reaction vessel 116 containing the purified liquid to the evaporation and concentration mechanism 131, where the components in the purified liquid are evaporated and concentrated (step S208). The detailed configuration of the evaporation and concentration mechanism 131 will be described later.

[0042] Next, when the composition of the purified liquid is changed so that the components to be analyzed bind to the separation column (not shown) provided in the separation section 102, the reagent dispensing mechanism 123 aspirates the diluted liquid from the reagent container 121 on the reagent disk 122 and dispenses it into the reaction container 116.

[0043] The purified liquid obtained by the above pretreatment steps is sucked from the reaction vessel 116 by the separation section dispensing mechanism 133 and discharged into the separation section 102, and the components separated in the separation section 102 are ionized in the analysis section 103 to detect the amount of ions (i.e., the amount of components). The detection results in the analysis section 103 are output to the control section 104, and the concentration values ​​of the components in the sample are calculated using a calibration curve.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the evaporation and concentration mechanism 131 used in the purified liquid evaporation and concentration step (S208) of FIG. 2. During the evaporation and concentration step, the reaction vessel 116 is placed on a support 302 that supports the reaction vessel from below. To promote evaporation of the liquid in the reaction vessel 116, the reaction vessel 116 is covered with a lid 303 that covers the top surface, and vapor inside the reaction vessel is sucked through a suction port 305 provided on the lid 303 (the lid 303 may also be referred to as the "lid portion"). An O-ring 308 is provided on the lid 303 to ensure that the lid 303 tightly fits the reaction vessel 116 (this O-ring may also be referred to as the "airtight portion"). Simply sucking the above through the suction port 305 may result in excessive pressure reduction inside the reaction vessel 116, which could lead to bumping. Therefore, the lid 303 is provided with an inlet hole 304 (sometimes referred to as the "outside air inlet") for introducing outside air. Note that, depending on the device, the O-ring 308 may not be necessary.

[0045] The heating unit for heating the reaction vessel 116 is a ring-shaped heater 306 that heats the outer periphery of the reaction vessel 116. The ring-shaped heater 306 not only heats the reaction vessel 116 but also serves as a gripping mechanism that grips the outer periphery of the vessel. The lid 303 may also include an imaging unit (e.g., a camera) 307 for monitoring the state and amount of liquid in the reaction vessel 116. Furthermore, a capacitance line 309 may be provided on the outer periphery of the reaction vessel 116 to determine the liquid level in the vessel using the imaging unit 307. When the imaging unit 307 captures an image of the liquid in the vessel, the relative position of the capacitance line 309 and the liquid level can be used to determine whether the liquid level is high, medium, or low. This function is performed by a computer constituting the control unit 104 or a dedicated processing board, and the part that performs this function is sometimes referred to as a liquid level monitoring unit.

[0046] As described below, the annular heater 306 is divided into two parts by a dividing line 310. A pair of support members 312 supporting the annular heater 306 are equipped with an annular heater movement mechanism (not shown) that can open and close the two divided parts of the annular heater 306 in the left-right direction in FIG. 3 . The annular heater movement mechanism can be realized using a well-known linear motion mechanism such as a rack-and-pinion mechanism. The pair of support members 312 are connected to a vertically movable support member 311 via another support member 313. The vertically movable support member 311 can be moved up and down by a vertical movement mechanism such as a motor to change the vertical position of the annular heater 306. As described below, depending on the shape of the annular heater 306, the support member 311 may be structured not to move up and down.

[0047] 4 shows the state in which the ring-shaped heater 306 grips the reaction vessel 116. The ring-shaped heater 306 is divided into two parts by a dividing line 310, and when gripping the reaction vessel 116, the dividing line 310 is butted against each other. The ring-shaped heater can open the reaction vessel 116 as shown in FIG. 5 by separating the dividing line 310. FIG. 6( a) shows the state in which the reaction vessel 116 is gripped while placed on the mounting part 302, and FIG. 6( b) shows the state in which the reaction vessel 116 is opened.

[0048] By using the annular heater 306, the vertical position at which the reaction vessel 116 is heated can be changed as desired. Furthermore, by separating the annular heater 306 at the dividing line 310, the degree of heating of the reaction vessel can be varied. That is, if it is desired to reduce the amount of evaporation from the reaction vessel 116, the annular heater 306 can be separated. Even when the reaction vessel 116 is not held by the annular heater 306, the reaction vessel 116 is pressed against the mounting portion 302 via the O-ring 308 provided on the lid 303, so the reaction vessel 116 will not tip over. Figure 7 shows a state in which the annular heater 306 is set to the downward position. Figure 7(a) shows a state in which the reaction vessel is held, and Figure 7(b) shows an open state.

[0049] It is believed that a large temperature difference between the liquid surface and the gas phase increases the likelihood of bumping. Positioning the annular heater 306 near the gas-liquid interface, as shown in Figures 6(a) and 7(a), can reduce the temperature difference between the liquid surface and the gas phase, thereby suppressing bumping. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6(b) and 7(b), the temperature of the reaction vessel 116 can be lowered by separating the annular heater 306. When using a block heater described in the prior art, the temperature does not drop immediately even after heating is stopped due to the large heat capacity of the block heater. By using the annular heater of this embodiment, heating conditions can be finely adjusted, which can avoid unstable situations that could cause bumping, thereby enabling effective bumping suppression. Furthermore, the imaging unit 307 can observe the condition near the liquid surface in the reaction vessel 116. If unstable conditions near the liquid surface are detected, bumping can be effectively suppressed by separating the annular heater 306 or reducing the suction volume of the suction unit 305 (i.e., adjusting the pressure reduction device connected to the suction unit 305 to reduce the degree of pressure reduction).

[0050] FIG. 8 shows the annular heater 306 in its lowest position.

[0051] Figure 9 shows a modified example in which the vertical length of the annular heater is increased. In this modified example, the heated area cannot be changed vertically, unlike the annular heater shown in Figure 6 etc., but the effect of being able to immediately stop heating by opening the annular heater is the same as that of the annular heater shown in Figure 6 etc. By adopting this modified example, the vertical movement mechanism for the support member 311 can be omitted, which has the advantage of reducing product costs.

[0052] 10 shows a state in which the evaporation and concentration step (S208 in FIG. 2) has been completed and the lid 303 has been raised. In this case, with the heating of the annular heater 306 turned off, the reaction vessel 116 is butted at the dividing line 310 and gripped to prevent the reaction vessel 116 from falling over.

[0053] A detailed flow chart of the evaporation and concentration step will be described with reference to FIG. 11 . The evaporation and concentration step begins (S601). First, the vessel lid 303 is lowered and closed so that the O-ring 308 of the lid 303 fits snugly against the opening of the reaction vessel 116 (S602). Next, the liquid level in the reaction vessel 116 is confirmed (S603). This confirmation is performed by capturing an image of the inside of the reaction vessel 116 using the imaging unit 307 attached to the lid 303, determining the liquid level based on its position relative to the capacitance line 309. The controller 104 evaluates the liquid level in the reaction vessel 116 based on the detected liquid level using one of three levels: low, medium, or high. Alternatively, the reaction vessel 116 may be imaged from the side using a separate imaging unit to detect the liquid level, or the liquid level may be directly input by the operator. The component that evaluates the liquid level (the computer program constituting the controller 104 or a dedicated processing board) is sometimes referred to as the liquid level determination unit.

[0054] 1 determines the vertical position of the annular heater 306 based on the information on the detected liquid volume, and moves the annular heater 306 to the determined position (S604). Alternatively, although not shown, a method of moving the annular heater 306 a predetermined height (moving the stepping motor that moves the support member 311 up and down by a predetermined number of steps) may be employed. In this case, the annular heater 306 is lowered a predetermined number of steps, and the image of the liquid level in the reaction vessel 116 captured by the image capturing unit 307 is used to determine whether the lowered position is appropriate based on the positional relationship with the capacitance line 309. If it is not appropriate, the annular heater 306 is further moved a predetermined number of steps. This step is repeated until the position of the annular heater is appropriate.

[0055] Next, the reaction vessel 116 is gripped by butting the annular heater 306 at the dividing line 310 (S605). Next, the annular heater 306 is heated, and the suction of steam inside the reaction vessel is started from the suction part 305 provided on the lid, thereby starting evaporation and concentration (S606).

[0056] The liquid in the reaction vessel 116 is observed by the imaging unit 307 provided on the lid, and it is determined whether the state near the liquid surface is unstable (whether there are signs of bumping) (S607).

[0057] If it is determined that the state near the liquid surface is not unstable (NO in S607), heating by the annular heater 306 continues (return to S606). If it is determined that the state near the liquid surface may be unstable (YES in S607), the annular heater 306 is separated at the dividing line 310 to reduce the level of heating (S608). Thereafter, the image capturing unit 307 provided on the lid observes the liquid in the reaction vessel 116 to determine whether the state near the liquid surface is unstable (whether there are signs of bumping) (S609).

[0058] If it is determined that the state near the liquid surface may be unstable (YES in S609), the annular heater remains open (return to S608). If it is determined in S609 that the state near the liquid surface is not unstable (NO in S609), the reaction vessel 116 is again gripped by the annular heater (S610). Next, it is determined whether the position of the annular heater is appropriate (S611). That is, it is confirmed by the image capture unit 307 whether the amount of liquid in the reaction vessel 116 has decreased due to heating by the annular heater and suction of steam from the vessel. If the position of the annular heater is above the liquid surface of the reaction vessel 116 (NG), it is determined whether to lower the position of the annular heater to match the liquid surface.

[0059] If it is determined in S611 that the position of the annular heater is appropriate (OK), the process returns to S606. If it is determined in S611 that the position of the annular heater needs to be lowered, the position of the annular heater is moved downward (S612). It is determined (S613) whether the liquid volume in the reaction vessel 116 has decreased to the target liquid volume (whether the target concentration has been achieved). If the target liquid volume has not been reached, the process returns to S606. If it is determined (S613) that the target liquid volume has been reached, the annular heater is moved to the vessel gripping position (S614), the annular heater is gripped (S615), the vessel lid is opened (S616), and the evaporation and concentration is terminated (S617).

[0060] Whether the state near the liquid surface is unstable (whether there are signs of bumping) can be determined by the imaging unit 307 by setting criteria based on a database of separately acquired image data of the liquid surface near the time bumping occurs, and by image analysis, determining whether there are signs of bumping. The accuracy of this determination can be improved by applying well-known techniques such as machine learning.

[0061] Regarding the determination of the state near the liquid surface, various reports have been made at various academic societies, such as a lecture given at the 14th Japan Heat Transfer Symposium on June 1, 1977, manuscript acceptance on December 28, 1978, Vol. 46, No. 404 (April 1980), Evaporation of Droplets on a High-Temperature Liquid Surface (First Report), and the findings from these reports may be incorporated into the determination of the state near the liquid surface.

[0062] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modifications, and includes various other modifications. For example, the above-described embodiment has been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all of the described configurations.

[0063] In the above example, the concentration process involves heating and evacuation, but it is also possible to concentrate the sample by heating alone, and the present invention also includes such embodiments.

[0064] Furthermore, some or all of the above-described configurations, functions, etc. may be realized by designing them as integrated circuits, for example. Furthermore, the above-described configurations, functions, etc. may be realized by software in which a processor interprets and executes a program that realizes each function. Furthermore, the analysis unit 103 may be, for example, an optical analysis device other than a mass spectrometer.

[0065] The "processing device" that is the subject of this invention does not only refer to a "pretreatment device" that performs so-called pretreatment such as separation, concentration, dilution, etc. of a sample to be fed to an "analytical device," but also includes a device that integrates a "pretreatment device" and an "analytical device."

[0066] 100 Automatic analyzer, 101 Pretreatment unit (pretreatment device), 102 Separation unit, 103 Analysis unit, 104 Control unit, 105 Input unit, 106 Display unit, 107 Memory unit, 111 Sample container, 112 Transport mechanism, 116 Reaction container, 120 Reaction disk, 121 Reagent container, 122 Reagent disk, 131 Evaporation concentration mechanism.

Claims

1. A processing device characterized by comprising an evaporation and concentration unit having: a heating unit capable of heating a container capable of containing a liquid, a gripping mechanism capable of gripping and opening the container from the outside using the heating unit; and a mounting unit that supports the container when the gripping mechanism opens the container.

2. A processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a vertical movement mechanism that can move the gripping mechanism in the vertical direction.

3. A processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an imaging unit that images the liquid in the container, and a control unit that controls the gripping mechanism to release its grip on the container based on the appearance of the liquid near the liquid surface imaged by the imaging unit.

4. A processing device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises an imaging unit that images the liquid in the container, and a liquid level detection unit that detects the liquid level in the container based on the image captured by the imaging unit.

5. A processing device according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a control unit that controls the up-and-down movement mechanism to move the gripping mechanism to the vicinity of the liquid surface based on the result of grasping by the liquid surface grasping unit.

6. A processing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the container has at least one scale for determining the amount of liquid in the container, and further comprises a liquid amount determining unit for determining the amount of liquid in the container based on the positional relationship between the liquid level determined by the liquid level determining unit and the scale in the container.

7. A processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a lid that contacts the opening of the container, the lid having a suction section for sucking in steam emitted from the liquid in the container, and an outside air inlet section for introducing outside air into the container.

8. A processing apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the lid is provided with an airtight portion for improving the adhesion between the container and the lid.

Images