Patent Publication Number: US-2019195902-A1

Title: Reagent storage cabinet and automatic analyzing apparatus including reagent storage cabinet

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a reagent storage cabinet and an automatic analyzing apparatus including the reagent storage cabinet. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally known is an automatic analyzing apparatus configured to automatically execute chemical analysis, such as biochemical analysis or immunoassay, in clinical examination. For example, JP 2014-119328 A1 discloses a reagent storage cabinet including a cooling mechanism for cooling a reagent bottle in order to prevent deterioration of analytical data by denaturation of a reagent used in analysis, and also discloses an automatic analyzing apparatus including the reagent storage cabinet. This reagent storage cabinet includes: a reagent holding drawer including small sections at which reagent bottles are provided; and a reagent storage tubular body having a square tube shape and accommodating the reagent holding drawer. A bottle upper surface of each reagent bottle has a reagent suction port through which a reagent is suctioned. Each reagent bottle is inserted in the small section with the suction port open. Operations of inserting and taking out the reagent bottles are performed by an operator. 
     In recent years, proposed in various fields is that a robot and an operator work together in the same work space. Therefore, also regarding the above-described automatic analyzing apparatus, the automation of all operations by introducing a robot has been considered. 
     However, according to the reagent storage cabinet and the automatic analyzing apparatus including the reagent storage cabinet in the above prior art, for example, the operations of inserting and taking out the reagent bottles in the reagent storage cabinet are performed by an operator. Therefore, there is still room for improvement regarding the introduction of a robot. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a reagent storage cabinet suitable for operations performed by a robot, and an automatic analyzing apparatus including the reagent storage cabinet. 
     A reagent storage cabinet according to one aspect of the present invention is a reagent storage cabinet arranged at a predetermined position where predetermined work is able to be performed by a robot, the reagent storage cabinet including: a container accommodating portion including an upper-surface opening portion and accommodating a reagent container; and a storage cabinet main body including a front-surface opening portion through which the container accommodating portion is put in and pulled out and a storage space communicating with the front-surface opening portion and accommodating the container accommodating portion, wherein: in an accommodated state that is a state where the container accommodating portion is accommodated in the storage cabinet main body, the upper-surface opening portion of the container accommodating portion is sealed; and in a pulled-out state that is a state where the container accommodating portion is pulled out from the storage cabinet main body, the robot is able to directly access, from above, a reagent in the reagent container accommodated in the container accommodating portion. 
     According to the above configuration, the container accommodating portion accommodating the reagent container can be put in and pulled out from the storage space through the front-surface opening portion. With this, in the state where the container accommodating portion is accommodated in the storage cabinet main body, the upper-surface opening portion of the container accommodating portion is sealed, and therefore, the reagent can be stored. On the other hand, in the state where the container accommodating portion is pulled out from the storage cabinet main body, the robot can directly access, from above, the reagent in the reagent container accommodated in the container accommodating portion and can perform, for example, dispensing work. 
     An inner bottom surface of the container accommodating portion may be inclined with respect to a horizontal direction. 
     According to the above configuration, the inner bottom surface of the container accommodating portion is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Therefore, as the reagent is consumed, the reagent in the container gathers in an inclination direction. With this, the reagent in the container can be substantially completely consumed. 
     The inner bottom surface of the container accommodating portion may be inclined such that a rear end thereof is located lower than a front end thereof. 
     According to the above configuration, the inner bottom surface of the container accommodating portion is inclined such that the rear end thereof is located lower than the front end thereof. Therefore, as the reagent in the container accommodated in the container accommodating portion is consumed, the reagent gathers at an opposite side to a side where the robot works. The reagent is suctioned by the pipette attached to the tip end (end effector) of the robot, for example. A tip end portion of the pipette can access the reagent in the container more easily when the reagent gathers at the opposite side to the side where the robot works than when the reagent gathers at the side where the robot works. 
     The reagent storage cabinet may further include a slide mechanism by which the container accommodating portion is automatically put in and pulled out from the storage cabinet main body. 
     According to the above configuration, the container accommodating portion can be automatically put in and pulled out from the storage cabinet main body by the slide mechanism. By adjusting an open/close speed to an appropriate speed, the reagent in liquid form does not spill from the upper-surface opening portion of the reagent container. 
     The slide mechanism may be operated by an external shaft of the robot. 
     According to the above configuration, the slide mechanism is operated by the external shaft of the robot. Therefore, the slide mechanism can be operated in conjunction with, for example, a control operation of a dispensing robot. 
     The reagent storage cabinet may further include a mounting table arranged under the container accommodating portion in the pulled-out state, another reagent container being placed on the mounting table, wherein in the state where the container accommodating portion is accommodated in the storage cabinet main body, the robot may be able to directly access, from above, the reagent in the another reagent container placed on the mounting table. 
     According to the above configuration, in the state where the container accommodating portion is accommodated in the storage cabinet main body, the robot can directly access, from above, the reagent in the reagent container placed on the mounting table and can perform, for example, dispensing work. 
     A mounting surface of the mounting table may be inclined with respect to a horizontal direction. 
     According to the above configuration, the mounting surface of the mounting table is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Therefore, as the reagent in the container is consumed, the reagent gathers in the inclination direction. With this, the reagent in the container can be substantially completely consumed by, for example, a suction nozzle of an automatic analyzing apparatus. 
     The mounting surface of the mounting table may be inclined such that a rear end thereof is located lower than a front end thereof. 
     According to the above configuration, the mounting surface of the mounting table is inclined such that the rear end thereof is located lower than the front end thereof. Therefore, as the reagent in the container placed on the mounting table is consumed, the reagent gathers at the opposite side to the side where the robot works. The reagent is suctioned by the pipette attached to the tip end (end effector) of the robot, for example. The tip end portion of the pipette can access the reagent in the container more easily when the reagent gathers at the opposite side to the side where the robot works than when the reagent gathers at the side where the robot works. 
     An automatic analyzing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is an automatic analyzing apparatus including the above reagent storage cabinet. 
     The above object, other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be made clear by the following detailed explanation of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the configuration of an automatic analyzing apparatus according to the present embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views showing a reagent storage cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are plan views showing the reagent storage cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3A , and  FIG. 4B  is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3B . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the configuration of an end effector of a reagent dispensing robot of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are schematic diagrams for explaining operations of the reagent dispensing robot. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawings. In the following explanations and the drawings, the same reference signs are used for the same or corresponding components, and a repetition of the same explanation is avoided. In addition, for ease of understanding, the drawings schematically show the components. 
     Automatic Analyzing Apparatus 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the configuration of an automatic analyzing apparatus according to the present embodiment. An automatic analyzing apparatus  100  of the present embodiment detects the concentration of an antibody in a reagent by using ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). The automatic analyzing apparatus  100  includes a robot module  1 , an inspection equipment module  2 , a stocker module  3 , a chip rack module  4 , and a reagent tank module  5 . Bases  8  supporting the modules ( 1  to  4 ) are substantially the same in height as one another. Connecting members (not shown) attachable to and detachable from each other are provided at side surfaces of the bases  8 . Therefore, the modules can be easily connected to and separated from one another, and the layout of the automatic analyzing apparatus  100  is flexibly changeable. 
     The robot module  1  includes two work robots ( 1   a  and  1   b ) arranged on the base  8 . These robots are controlled by a control device (not shown). A plate transfer robot  1   a  includes a vertical articulated robot arm and a transferring end effector attached to a tip end of the robot arm. A reagent dispensing robot  1   b  includes a vertical articulated robot arm and a dispensing end effector attached to a tip end of the robot arm. 
     The inspection equipment module  2  includes an inspection equipment  25  arranged on the base  8 . The inspection equipment  25  inspects a plate containing a reagent. The stocker module  3  includes a plate rack  31  arranged on the base  8 . The plate rack  31  accommodates and stores a plurality of plates. The chip rack module  4  includes a chip rack  41  arranged on the base  8 . A plurality of chips are arranged at the chip rack  41 . The reagent tank module  5  includes a reagent storage cabinet  10  arranged on the base  8 . The chip rack  41 , the reagent storage cabinet  10 , the plate rack  31 , and the inspection equipment  25  are arranged at predetermined positions where predetermined wok can be performed by the two robots ( 1   a  and  1   b ). The reagent storage cabinet  10  and the plate rack  31  are controlled by the control device (not shown). The reagent dispensing robot  1   b  attaches a chip (not shown), arranged at the chip rack  41 , to a pipette (not shown) and pours the reagent, stored in the reagent storage cabinet  10 , into the chip by using the pipette. The plate transfer robot  1   a  takes out the plate accommodated in the plate rack  31  and arranges the plate on a worktable of the plate transfer robot  1   a . The reagent dispensing robot  1   b  pours the reagent through the chip into the plate arranged on the worktable. The plate transfer robot  1   a  transfers the plate, into which the reagent has been poured, from the worktable to a predetermined position of the inspection equipment  25  and sets the plate at the inspection equipment  25 . The inspection equipment  25  inspects the plate into which the reagent has been poured. 
     Reagent Storage Cabinet 
     Next, the configuration of the reagent storage cabinet  10  will be explained with reference to the drawings.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views showing the reagent storage cabinet  10 .  FIGS. 3A and 3B  are plan views showing the reagent storage cabinet  10 .  FIG. 4A  is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3A , and  FIG. 4B  is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3B . 
     The reagent storage cabinet  10  includes: a container accommodating portion  12 ; a storage cabinet main body  11  accommodating the container accommodating portion  12 ; and slide mechanisms  13  by which the container accommodating portion  12  can slide with respect to the storage cabinet main body  11  in a front-rear direction (a direction parallel to an X-axis in the drawings). The reagent container  20  is a box body including a rectangular upper-surface opening portion  20   a . A reagent  21  in liquid form is present in the reagent container  20 . 
     The container accommodating portion  12  is a box body including a rectangular upper-surface opening portion  12   a . The container accommodating portion  12  includes an inner bottom surface  12   b  at which three reagent containers  20  can be arranged side by side. The three reagent containers  20  are accommodated in the container accommodating portion  12 . First members  13   a  of the slide mechanisms  13  are provided at both respective outer wall surfaces of the container accommodating portion  12 . 
     The storage cabinet main body  11  includes: a front-surface opening portion  11   a ; and a storage space  11   b  communicating with the front-surface opening portion  11   a . The front-surface opening portion  11   a  is formed in a rectangular shape such that the container accommodating portion  12  is put in and pulled out from the storage cabinet main body  11 . The storage space  11   b  is formed in a substantially cube shape so as to accommodate the container accommodating portion  12 . The container accommodating portion  12  can be put in and pulled out from the storage space  11   b  through the front-surface opening portion  11   a . Second members  13   b  of the slide mechanisms  13  are provided at both respective inner wall surfaces of the storage cabinet main body  11 . 
     Each of the slide mechanisms  13  includes: the first member  13   a  provided at the outer wall surface of the container accommodating portion  12 ; and the second member  13   b  provided at the inner wall surface of the storage cabinet main body  11 . The container accommodating portion  12  can slide with respect to the storage cabinet main body  11  in the front-rear direction (the direction parallel to the X-axis in the drawings). In the present embodiment, the slide mechanisms  13  are operated by an external shaft of the reagent dispensing robot  1   b . To be specific, the container accommodating portion  12  is configured to be automatically put in and pulled out from the storage cabinet main body  11  (see  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3B and 4B , in an accommodated state that is a state where the container accommodating portion  12  is accommodated in the storage cabinet main body  11 , the upper-surface opening portion  12   a  of the container accommodating portion  12  is sealed. With this, the reagent accommodated in the container accommodating portion  12  can be shielded from light and can be prevented from evaporating. On the other hand, as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 4A , in a pulled-out state that is a state where the container accommodating portion  12  is pulled out from the storage cabinet main body  11 , the reagent dispensing robot  1   b  can directly access, from above, the reagent  21  in the reagent container  20  accommodated in the container accommodating portion  12 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the inner bottom surface  12   b  of the container accommodating portion  12  is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction (an X-Y plane in the drawings). In the present embodiment, the inner bottom surface  12   b  of the container accommodating portion  12  is inclined at 1° with respect to the horizontal direction. It should be noted that the inclination angle is exaggeratingly shown in the drawings. Further, the inner bottom surface  12   b  of the container accommodating portion  12  is inclined such that a rear end thereof (a positive side of the X-axis in the drawings) is located lower than a front end thereof (a negative side of the X-axis in the drawings). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the reagent storage cabinet  10  further includes a mounting table  14 . The mounting table  14  is arranged under the container accommodating portion  12  in the pulled-out state, and another reagent container  20  is placed on the mounting table  14 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , in a state where the container accommodating portion  12  is accommodated in the storage cabinet main body  11 , the robot  1   b  can directly access, from above, the reagent  21  in the reagent container  20  placed on the mounting table  14 . A mounting surface  14   a  of the mounting table  14  is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, the mounting surface  14   a  of the mounting table  14  is inclined at 1° with respect to the horizontal direction. It should be noted that the inclination angle is exaggeratingly shown in the drawings. The mounting surface of the mounting table is inclined such that a rear end thereof (a positive side of the X-axis in the drawings) is located lower than a front end thereof (a negative side of the X-axis in the drawings). 
     Dispensing Operation 
     Next, operations of the automatic analyzing apparatus  100  will be explained with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, operations of the reagent dispensing robot  1   b  will be mainly explained.  FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the configuration of an end effector  6  attached to a tip end of the reagent dispensing robot  1   b . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the end effector  6  includes: a main body portion  6   a ; a mechanical interface  6   b  provided at an upper portion of the main body portion  6   a ; and a pipette portion  6   c . In the present embodiment, the pipette portion  6   c  is a multichannel pipette to which eight pipettes  7  are attached. It should be noted that the number of pipettes  7  attached to the pipette portion  6   c  may be 1, 12, 16, 48, or 64. The pipette portion  6   c  is provided with two types of plungers (i.e., a dispensing plunger and a chip release plunger). These plungers are controlled by a robot controller (not shown). Special pipette chips (not shown) are attached to respective tip ends of the pipettes  7 . The reagent is suctioned by the dispensing plunger through the pipette chips and is then poured into the plate. 
     According to conventional pipette work performed by humans, the chip (pipette  7 ) is not sunk in a solution (reagent), i.e., the solution (reagent) is prevented from adhering to an outside of the chip (pipette  7 ). On the other hand, the pipette work performed by the reagent dispensing robot  1   b  according to the present embodiment is different from the pipette work performed by humans. 
     As Comparative Example,  FIG. 6A  shows a case where the robot  1   b  suctions the reagent  21  in the reagent container  20  placed on a horizontal worktable.  FIG. 6A  shows only the pipette  7  and the reagent container  20  for convenience sake. As shown in  FIG. 6A , when the robot  1   b  suctions the reagent, the amount of solution (reagent) cannot be recognized, so that the chip (pipette  7 ) is brought into contact with the bottom of the reagent container  20 . Then, an operation of suctioning extra solution (reagent) adhering to the outside of the chip (pipette  7 ) is performed. Since the reagent container  20  is arranged on the horizontal worktable, the solution (reagent) is consumed and finally dotted on the bottom of the reagent container  20 . Therefore, according to Comparative Example, the reagent  21  cannot be completely consumed. 
     On the other hand,  FIG. 6B  shows a case where the robot  1   b  suctions the reagent  21  in the reagent container  20  accommodated in the reagent storage cabinet  10  according to the present embodiment. Each of the inner bottom surface  12   b  of the container accommodating portion  12  and the mounting surface  14   a  of the mounting table  14  is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 6B , as the reagent  21  is consumed, the reagent  21  in the reagent container  20  gathers in an inclination direction. With this, the reagent  21  in the reagent container  20  can be substantially completely consumed. Further, each of the inner bottom surface  12   b  of the container accommodating portion  12  and the mounting surface  14   a  of the mounting table  14  is inclined such that the rear end thereof is located lower than the front end. Therefore, as the reagent  21  is consumed, the reagent  21  in the reagent container  20  accommodated in the container accommodating portion  12  gathers at an opposite side to a side where the robot  1   b  works. The reagent  21  is suctioned by the pipette  7  attached to the tip end (end effector  6 ) of the robot  1   b , for example. A tip end portion of the pipette  7  can access the reagent  21  in the reagent container  20  more easily when the reagent  21  gathers at the opposite side to the side where the robot  1   b  works than when the reagent  21  gathers at the side where the robot  1   b  works. 
     In the present embodiment, each of the inclination angle of the inner bottom surface  12   b  of the container accommodating portion  12  and the inclination angle of the mounting surface  14   a  of the mounting table  14  is 1°. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as they are slightly inclined. For example, the inclination angle may be in a range of more than 0° and not more than 1° or in a range of more than 0° and not more than 5°. 
     Other Embodiments 
     In the present embodiment, the reagent storage cabinet  10  stores the reagent  21 . However, the present invention is not limited to the reagent  21 , and the reagent storage cabinet  10  may store a specimen (such as blood or biotissue sampled from a human body). 
     From the foregoing explanation, many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention are obvious to one skilled in the art. Therefore, the foregoing explanation should be interpreted only as an example and is provided for the purpose of teaching the best mode for carrying out the present invention to one skilled in the art. The structures and/or functional details may be substantially modified within the scope of the present invention.