Automatic Analyzer

Provided is an automatic analyzer in which a lid of a reagent vessel does not hinder the dispensing of the reagent. An automatic analyzer for analyzing a specimen includes a reagent dispensing unit for dispensing a reagent from a reagent bottle in which a plurality of reagent vessels storing reagents used for the analysis of the specimen are arranged in one direction, and a reagent rack in which reagent bottles are stored, in which the reagent rack includes a lid opening unit for opening a lid corresponding to an upward opening of the reagent vessel along an arrangement direction of the reagent vessels, and a lid fixing unit for fixing the lid to the outside of a path in which the reagent dispensing unit is inserted into the opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer.

BACKGROUND ART

An automatic analyzer is a device that automatically makes quantitative analysis or qualitative analysis of a specific component contained in a specimen such as blood or urine. Various reagents are used for the analysis of specimens by the automatic analyzer. In order to obtain a stable analysis result, it is necessary to prevent condensation of the reagent due to evaporative drying or degradation of the reagent due to contamination with dust or the like. For this reason, the reagent that is used for analysis is stored in a reagent vessel with an openable and closable lid and the lid of the reagent vessel is opened and closed as necessary. In many cases, a plurality of reagent vessels having an upward opening are arranged in one direction and the lid corresponding to each opening is opened and closed along the direction in which the reagent vessels are arranged.

Patent Literature 1 discloses an automatic analyzer in which a plurality of lids openable and closable around a hinge are brought from a hermetically closed state to a half-open state or from a half-open state to a hermetically closed state, or from a half-open state to an open state or from an open state to a half-open state.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

However, in Patent Literature 1, the lid in an open state may interfere with dispensing of a reagent. In other words, an excessively open lid may cover the opening of an adjacent vessel or an insufficiently open lid may cover the opening of the corresponding opening and thus the lid of the reagent vessel may cover the path where the reagent dispensing unit is inserted into the opening.

Therefore, the present invention has an object to provide an automatic analyzer that prevents the lid of the reagent vessel from interfering with dispensing of a reagent.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automatic analyzer for analyzing a specimen that is characterized by comprising: a reagent dispensing unit for dispensing a reagent from a reagent bottle in which a plurality of reagent vessels storing reagents used for the analysis of the specimen are arranged in one direction; and a reagent rack in which the reagent bottle is stored. The reagent rack includes a lid opening unit for opening a lid corresponding to an upward opening of the reagent vessel along the direction in which the reagent vessels are arranged, and a lid fixing unit for fixing the lid to the outside of a path where the reagent dispensing unit is inserted into the opening.

The present invention also provides an automatic analyzer for analyzing a specimen that is characterized by comprising: a reagent dispensing unit for dispensing a reagent from a reagent bottle in which a plurality of reagent vessels storing reagents used for the analysis of the specimen are arranged in one direction; a reagent rack in which the reagent bottle is stored; and a lid support unit for opening a lid corresponding to an upward opening of the reagent vessel along the direction of arrangement of the reagent vessels and maintaining an open state of the lid, as the reagent rack moves downward.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic analyzer that prevents the lid of a reagent vessel from interfering with dispensing of a reagent.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an automatic analyzer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to accompanying drawings. In the description and accompanying drawings, constituent elements with the same functions are designated by the same reference signs and repeated description thereof is omitted. The drawings schematically show the embodiment and may express real objects in a simplified form.

First Embodiment

Referring toFIG.1, an explanation is given below of an example of the entire configuration of an automatic analyzer that automatically makes quantitative or qualitative analysis of a specific component contained in a specimen such as blood or urine. The automatic analyzer includes a reagent and specimen storage unit3, an incubator1, a reagent dispensing unit8, a specimen dispensing unit9, an analysis unit10, a transport unit11, a disposal box15, and a control unit18.

The reagent and specimen storage unit3stores a reagent bottle4and a specimen vessel5and keeps them at a prescribed temperature. A rack tray20that partitions the space in which reagent bottles4and specimen vessels5are stored is provided inside the reagent and specimen storage unit3. Details of the rack tray20will be explained later referring toFIG.2. The reagent bottle4stores a plurality of reagents that are used for analysis. Details of the reagent bottle4will be explained later referring toFIG.3AandFIG.3B. The specimen vessel5stores a specimen such as blood or urine. A reagent aspiration hole6and a specimen aspiration hole7are provided on the upper surface of the reagent and specimen storage unit3and a reagent stored in the reagent bottle4and a specimen stored in the specimen vessel5are aspirated through the reagent aspiration hole6and the specimen aspiration hole7, respectively. Inside the reagent and specimen storage unit3, as the rack tray20rotates, the desired reagent bottle4or specimen vessel5is positioned under the reagent aspiration hole6or the specimen aspiration hole7.

The incubator1keeps a reaction vessel2placed on the circumference at a fixed temperature and rotates to move the reaction vessel2to a specified position. An empty reaction vessel2to be placed in the incubator1is transported from a vessel tray14by the transport unit11. A reagent and a specimen are dispensed into an empty reaction vessel2by the reagent dispensing unit8and specimen dispensing unit9from the reagent and specimen storage unit3. More specifically, the reagent dispensing unit8is moved on a circular arc indicated by the dotted line inFIG.1and inserted into the reagent bottle4to aspirate a specified quantity of reagent and dispense the reagent into the empty reaction vessel2. The specimen dispensing unit9is also moved on a circular arc indicated by the dotted line and aspirates a specified quantity of specimen and dispenses the specimen into the reaction vessel2into which the reagent has been dispensed. The reagent and specimen that have been dispensed into the reaction vessel2react with each other by being kept at a fixed temperature and the result of reaction is analyzed by the analysis unit10.

In order to prevent contamination of the specimen, the dispensing tip12of the specimen dispensing unit9may be replaced each time the specimen is dispensed. The dispensing tip12is transported by the transport unit11from a tip tray13to a tip mounting position16provided on the upper surface of the disposal box15, and mounted on the specimen dispensing unit9at the tip mounting position16. The dispensing tip12that has been used to dispense the specimen is disposed of into a disposal hole17in the disposal box15. The reaction vessel after analysis is also disposed of into the disposal hole17.

The control unit18controls operation of the abovementioned various units and, for example, it is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Specifically, rotary motions and temperature control of the reagent and specimen storage unit3and the incubator1, dispensing motions of the reagent dispensing unit8and specimen dispensing unit9, analysis by the analysis unit10, transportation by the transport unit11and so on are controlled by the control unit18.

An example of the rack tray20is explained below referring toFIG.2. The rack tray20includes a disk unit21, a cylindrical unit22, a column unit23, an inner partition24, and an outer partition25. The disk unit21is a circular plate and may have an opening. The cylindrical unit22is a cylindrical member that is concentric to the disk unit21and located on the disk unit21and has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the disk unit21. The column unit23is a columnar member that is concentric to the disk unit21and located on the disk unit21and has a smaller outer diameter than the outer diameter of the cylindrical unit22and a smaller height than the height of the cylindrical unit22.

The inner partition24is a plate that equally divides the space between the cylindrical unit22and column unit23in the circumferential direction. A reagent rack40in which a plurality of reagent bottles4are mounted is housed in the space surrounded by two inner partitions24adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction and the cylindrical unit22. In each space that houses the reagent rack40, one or more ribs26and one or more inner pins27are provided. The rib26is located on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical unit22and extends from the upper surface of the disk unit21along the axial direction of the cylindrical unit22, and part of the reagent rack40slides on it. The inner pin27is located on the upper surface of the disk unit21inside the cylindrical unit22and used to determine the position of the reagent rack40by being fitted to the reagent rack40. The rack tray20inFIG.2has six inner partitions24arranged radially from the column unit23to the cylindrical unit22and can house six reagent racks40.

The outer partition25is a plate that equally divides the space between the cylindrical unit22and disk unit21in the circumferential direction. A specimen rack41in which a plurality of specimen vessels5are mounted is housed in the space surrounded by two outer partitions25adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction and the cylindrical unit22and disk unit21. In each space that houses the specimen rack41, one or more outer pins28are provided. The outer pin28is located on the upper surface of the disk unit21outside the cylindrical unit22and used to determine the position of the specimen rack41by being fitted to the specimen rack41.

An example of the reagent bottle4is explained below referring toFIG.3AandFIG.3B.FIG.3AandFIG.3Binclude two side views and a top view of the reagent bottle4as well as a front view. The reagent bottle4is structured in a manner that a plurality of reagent vessels30are integrated by a case33. The reagent vessels30each have an upward opening36and a lid31for covering the opening36and are arranged in one direction.FIG.3Ashows a reagent bottle4in which three lids31are closed andFIG.3Bshows the reagent bottle4in which the three lids31are open.

The lid31is connected to the reagent vessel30by a hinge35and opened and closed with the hinge35as an axis along the direction in which the reagent vessels30are arranged. A protrusion32that is used to open and close the lid31is provided on the lid31. For example, the protrusion32protrudes toward a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the lid31is opened and closed, and has a cylindrical shape. When the opening36is covered by the closed lid31, evaporative drying of the reagent stored in the reagent vessel30and contamination of the reagent with dust or the like can be prevented. When dispensing the reagent, the reagent is aspirated by the reagent dispensing unit8inserted into the reagent vessel30through the opening36with the lid31open.

An IC tag34for use in data management of the reagent bottle4may be attached to the case33. The IC tag34may record data on the reagent bottle4or an identifier to identify the reagent bottle4. If an identifier is recorded on the IC tag34, the data on the reagent bottle4and the identifier are associated and stored in a storage unit that the control unit18can access. The operator can confirm the orientation of the reagent bottle4from the position where the IC tag34is attached.

If an excessively open lid31covers an adjacent opening36or an insufficiently open lid31covers the corresponding opening36, the reagent dispensing unit8cannot be inserted into the reagent vessel30, resulting in a reagent dispensing failure. Therefore, in this embodiment, a lid fixing unit for fixing the lid31to the outside of the path for the reagent dispensing unit8is provided on the reagent rack40so that dispensing of the reagent cannot be interrupted.

An example of the reagent rack40is explained below referring toFIG.4AtoFIG.4C.FIG.4Ais a schematic perspective view of the reagent rack40as a single item,FIG.4Bis a schematic perspective view of the reagent rack40in which reagent bottles4are inserted with the lids31closed, andFIG.4Cis a schematic perspective view of the reagent rack40with the lids31of the reagent bottles4closed. The reagent rack40includes a handle42, a lid support unit43, and a bottle storage unit44.

The handle42is gripped by the operator to carry the reagent rack40and connected to the bottle storage unit44by two fixed shafts45.

The bottle storage unit44has a plurality of partition walls54arranged radially and a bottom surface56and a reagent bottle4is housed in the space surrounded by two adjacent partition walls54and the bottom surface56. InFIG.4AtoFIG.4C, seven partition walls54are arranged and six reagent bottles4can be housed. The bottom surface56has a positioning hole57as a hole into which an inner pin27is fitted, and a rib passage groove58as a groove through which a rib26passes.

Each of the partition walls54has a leaf spring55that has a shape protruding from the surface of the partition wall54and can be displaced along the concave-convex portion on the side surface of the reagent bottle4. As the leaf spring55fits into the recess of the reagent bottle4, the position of the reagent bottle4is fixed. In other words, this prevents the reagent bottle4from falling from the reagent rack40under its own weight when the reagent rack40is carried or reduces the possibility that the reagent bottle4floats up from the bottle storage unit44.

The lid support unit43is located between the handle42and the bottle storage unit44and can move along the fixed shaft45and has a contact unit50and a plurality of lid guide units51. The lid support unit43can slide on the bottle storage unit44and may be connected with a sliding shaft46as a guide for vertical movement of the lid support unit43. A difference in level may be provided at the lower end of the sliding shaft46to limit the range of movement of the lid support unit43.

The contact unit50is located so as to be in contact with the upper surface of the column unit23when the reagent rack40is placed in the rack tray20. Specifically, when the reagent rack40is placed in the rack tray20, the contact unit50is in contact with the upper surface of the column unit23and thereby moves the lid support unit43upward.

The lid guide unit51is located above each of the partition walls54and when the reagent rack40is placed in the rack tray20, the lower surface of the lid guide unit51is in contact with the upper surface of the rib26. Specifically, when the reagent rack40is placed in the rack tray20, the lid support unit43is also moved upward by contact of the lower surface of the lid guide unit51with the upper surface of the rib26. The lid guide units51that are adjacent to each other are arranged with the distance equal to the outer diameter of the opening36of the reagent vessel30and connected by a semicircular unit51A. The semicircular unit51A has the same shape as the side surface of the opening36of the reagent vessel30and prevents the reagent bottle4from being inserted in the reverse direction. Details of the semicircular unit51A will be explained later referring toFIG.6.

A slope52and a stopper53are provided on the upper surface of each of the lid guide units51. The slope52is an inclined surface on which the protrusion32of the lid31slides when the lid support unit43moves upward, and functions as a lid opening unit that opens the lid31of the reagent vessel30. The stopper53is a wall surface that stands on the slope52, and functions as a lid fixing unit that fixes the lid31to the outside of the path for the reagent dispensing unit8. Specifically, as the lid support unit43moves upward, the lid31of the reagent vessel30is opened and fixed to the outside of the path for the reagent dispensing unit8. Details of the slope52and stopper53will be described later referring toFIG.8AtoFIG.8C,FIG.9AtoFIG.9C, andFIG.10AandFIG.10B.

How the reagent rack40opens the lid31of the reagent vessel30will be explained referring toFIG.5AtoFIG.5C.FIG.5Ais a plan view of the reagent rack40before insertion of the reagent bottle4with the lid31closed and a sectional view taken along the line A-A,FIG.5Bis a plan view of the reagent rack40after insertion of the reagent bottle4with the lid31closed and a sectional view taken along the line A-A, andFIG.5Cis a plan view of the reagent rack40with the lid31of the reagent bottle4open and a sectional view taken along the line A-A.

The reagent bottle4with the lid31closed is inserted into the reagent rack40from the outer circumferential side as shown inFIG.5A. In the process in which the reagent bottle4is inserted, the leaf spring55is displaced along the concave-convex portion of the side surface of the reagent bottle4and as the side surface of the opening36of the reagent vessel30is placed in the semicircular unit51A, the leaf spring55is fitted into the recess of the side surface of the reagent bottle4and the position of the reagent bottle4is fixed. When the reagent bottle4is fixed in the reagent rack40, as shown inFIG.5B, the protrusion32is at the uppermost position of the slope52and the lid31remains closed. When the reagent rack40is inserted into the rack tray20with the reagent bottle4fixed in the reagent rack40, the contact unit50is in contact with the upper surface of the column unit23and the lower surface of the lid guide unit51is in contact with the rib26. As the reagent rack40is further inserted into the rack tray20, the lid support unit43moves upward. The upward movement of the lid support unit43causes the protrusion32to slide on the surface of the slope52while being pushed upward and the lid31opens as shown inFIG.5C. The lid31that has opened is fixed to the outside of the path for the reagent dispensing unit8by the stopper53.

Referring toFIG.6, an explanation is given below of the case that the reagent bottle4is inserted into the reagent rack40in the reverse direction. When the reagent bottle4is inserted correctly, as shown inFIG.5Bthe side surface of the opening36of the reagent vessel30fits into the semicircular unit51A. On the other hand, if the reagent bottle4is inserted in the reverse direction, the shape of the portion to be connected to the hinge35does not fit the semicircular unit51A and the reagent bottle4protrudes from the reagent rack40. When the reagent bottle4protrudes from the reagent rack40, the reagent rack40cannot be inserted into the rack tray20, thereby preventing the reagent bottle4from being inserted in the reverse direction.

Referring toFIG.7, an explanation is given below of the state in which the reagent rack40storing the reagent bottles4is inserted in the rack tray20.FIG.7is a plan view of the rack tray20in which the reagent rack40is inserted and a sectional view taken along the line B-B. As the operator holds the handle42and inserts the reagent rack40from above the rack tray20, the column unit23pushes up the contact unit50and the rib26pushes up the lid guide unit51and the lid guide unit51moves upward. As the lid guide unit51moves upward, the protrusion32slides on the surface of the slope52and the lid31opens.

An example of the slope52and stopper53is explained below referring toFIG.8AtoFIG.8C.FIG.8Ais a plan view of the lid guide unit51andFIG.8BandFIG.8Care sectional views taken along the line C-C ofFIG.8A. The slope52has a cross-sectional shape that follows the locus of the protrusion32when the lid31is opened and for example, it may be a combination of different inclined surfaces as shown inFIG.8Bor a surface including a smooth curve as shown inFIG.8C. Since the slope52has a cross-sectional shape that follows the locus of the protrusion32, when the protrusion32is positioned at the bottom surface of the slope, the lid31does not become insufficiently open, thereby preventing the opening36corresponding to the lid31from being covered. In addition, when the cross-sectional shape of the slope52includes a smooth curve, the protrusion32slides smoothly. Furthermore, when the protrusion32is in contact with the stopper53, the lid31does not become excessively open, thereby preventing the adjacent opening36from being covered by the lid31.

Another example of the slope52and stopper53is explained below referring toFIG.9AtoFIG.9C.FIG.9Ais a plan view of the lid guide unit51andFIGS.9B and9Care sectional views taken along the line C-C ofFIG.9A. Preferably, height h of the slope52from the bottom surface to the top surface should be larger than outer diameter d of the protrusion32. With h>d, it is difficult for the protrusion32to deviate from the space surrounded by the slope52and stopper53, so the lid31is prevented from being excessively open. Preferably, the stopper53should have a surface that forms an angle with the bottom surface of the slope52that is equal to or greater than a right angle. For example,FIG.9Bshows that the stopper53standing vertically has an inclined surface53A at its upper end andFIG.9Cshows that the stopper53is inclined upward. When the stopper53has a surface that forms an angle with the bottom surface of the slope52that is equal to or greater than a right angle, the protrusion32is prevented from being caught by the upper end of the stopper53when the reagent bottle4is taken out of the reagent rack40.

Another example of the slope52and stopper53is explained below referring toFIG.10AandFIG.10B.FIG.10Ais a plan view of the lid guide unit51andFIG.10Bis a sectional view taken along the line C-C ofFIG.10A. A groove52A in which the protrusion32is fitted may be provided between the slope52and stopper53. As the protrusion32is fitted into the groove52A, opening and closing of the lid31is suppressed.

The embodiment of the present invention has been so far described. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but the constituent elements may be modified without departing from the gist of the present invention. Also, several of the constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiment may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, some of all the constituent elements described in the above embodiment may be deleted. For example, the specimen rack41may be stored not in the rack tray20but in another case so that a specimen is dispensed from the case.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST