Patent Description:
In an automatic analyzer that detects an object to be measured contained in a sample, the sample and a reagent are reacted in the reaction container. At this time, there is a dispensing step in which the sample or the reagent is aspired from a sample container or a reagent container held in the predetermined position by a dispensing probe, and the aspired sample or reagent is ejected into the reaction container held in another predetermined position. In this dispensing step, from the viewpoint of preventing carryover of the sample or reagent, there is an automatic analyzer that is configured such that a disposable dispensing tip is mounted to the tip of the dispensing probe to aspire and eject the sample or the reagent, and the dispensing tip after using is wasted to a predetermined wasting position.

In order to mount this dispensing tip to the dispensing probe, known is a method of inserting and pressing the dispensing probe to dispensing tip disposed in an installation table. When the dispensing tip is wasted, there is a method of falling the dispensing tip from the hole of the predetermined position into the waste box. In that case, by upward moving the dispensing probe in a state where the upper end of the dispensing tip is hooked to the base, the dispensing tip is separated from the dispensing probe to be freely dropped into the waste box. There is a configuration of surrounding a falling route with a waste cylinder in order to prevent the dispensing tip from scattering during the falling. As a patent document relating to such a dispensing device, for example, PTL <NUM> is disclosed.

An automatic analyzer with the features in the pre-characterizing portion of Claim <NUM> is disclosed in <CIT>. Further automatic analyzers related to the one of the present invention are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

In an automatic analyzer using a dispensing tip in a dispensing step of a sample or a reagent, the dispensing tip is repeatedly mounted and wasted depending on the analysis. However, due to mounting failure of dispensing tips or attachment of a residual liquid such as a sample or a reagent attached to a dispensing tip tip to a waste route during waste, the dispensing tip is attached to the waste route to cause the waste route to be narrowed and clogged so that the dispensing tips cannot be wasted. Otherwise, there has been a problem that, due to continuous falling of the dispensing tips at the same point to be accumulated in a bamboo shoot shape, the dispensing tips are overflowed even if there is a room for waste in a waste box.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of solving the above problems and preventing the mounting failure of dispensing tips and the incapability of waste.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention suggests the automatic analyzer defined in Claim <NUM>. Further advantageous features are set out in the dependent claims.

It is possible to solve the problems of the mounting failure of dispensing tips, the clogged of dispensing tips in a waste cylinder, and the accumulation of dispensing tips in a bamboo shoot shape to be overflown from a waste box.

Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present invention is described with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the automatic analyzer to which the present invention is applied, and the problems of the dispenser of the automatic analyzer in the related art described above are described with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of an automatic analyzer according to each embodiment. The figure illustrates the configuration of the plane of an automatic analyzer <NUM> disposed on the XY plane, which is a horizontal plane, as viewed from above (in the Z direction). The X direction and the Y direction are directions orthogonal to each other for configuring a horizontal plane, and here, the X direction corresponds to the horizontal width direction of the device <NUM>, and the Y direction corresponds to the vertical width direction of the device <NUM>. The Z direction is a perpendicular direction vertical to the X direction and the Y direction, and corresponds to the height direction of the device <NUM>.

The automatic analyzer <NUM> includes a control computer <NUM> which is a controller, a rack transport portion <NUM>, a rack transport line <NUM>, a sample dispensing mechanism <NUM>, an incubator <NUM>, a transport mechanism <NUM>, a holding member <NUM>, a stirring mechanism (not illustrated), a reagent disk <NUM>, a reagent dispensing mechanism <NUM>, a reaction container transport mechanism <NUM>, and a detecting unit <NUM>.

The control computer <NUM> which is a controller controls each mechanism based on the analysis request information of the automatic analyzer <NUM> to realize each step for analysis. This step includes a dispensing step and the like. The control computer <NUM> provides the interface to the user.

A sample to be an analysis target of the automatic analyzer <NUM> is contained in a sample container <NUM>, and the sample container <NUM> is imported into the automatic analyzer <NUM> in a state of being installed in a rack <NUM>. The rack transport portion <NUM> is a mechanism that imports or exports the rack <NUM> between the outside and the automatic analyzer <NUM>.

The rack <NUM> imported by the rack transport portion <NUM> is moved to the sample dispensing position near the sample dispensing mechanism <NUM> by the rack transport line <NUM>. In the incubator <NUM>, plural reaction containers <NUM> can be installed in the circumferential portion thereof, and rotational movements in which the reaction containers <NUM> installed in the circumferential direction are each moved to predetermined positions can be performed.

The transport mechanism <NUM> can be moved in each direction of three axes of X, Y, and Z. The transport mechanism <NUM> is a mechanism for transporting sample dispensing tips <NUM> and the reaction containers <NUM> and moves in a range of predetermined positions of the holding member <NUM> that holds the sample dispensing tips <NUM> and the reaction containers <NUM>, the stirring mechanism (not illustrated) that stirs the reaction containers <NUM>, a dispensing tip waste hole <NUM> that wastes the sample dispensing tips <NUM>, a sample dispensing tip mounting position <NUM>, and the incubator <NUM>.

The holding member <NUM> holds the plural unused reaction containers <NUM> and the plural unused sample dispensing tips <NUM>. First, the transport mechanism <NUM> moves over the holding member <NUM>, descends to grip the unused reaction container <NUM>, moves upward, moves again over a predetermined position of the incubator <NUM>, and descends to install the reaction container <NUM> at a predetermined position of the incubator <NUM>.

Subsequently, the transport mechanism <NUM> moves again above the holding member <NUM>, descends to grip the unused sample dispensing tip <NUM>, moves upward, moves over the sample dispensing tip mounting position <NUM>, and descends to install the sample dispensing tip <NUM> at the sample dispensing tip mounting position <NUM>. In order to prevent carryover, the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is mounted at the tip of the probe when the sample dispensing mechanism <NUM> dispenses the sample, and is discarded if the dispensing of the sample is completed.

The sample dispensing mechanism <NUM> can perform a rotation operation on a horizontal plane and can vertically move in the perpendicular direction (Z direction). The sample dispensing mechanism <NUM> moves above the sample dispensing tip mounting position <NUM> by the rotation operation and descends, to press-fit and mount the sample dispensing tip <NUM> at the tip of the probe. The sample dispensing mechanism <NUM> that mounts the sample dispensing tip <NUM> at the tip of the probe moves above the sample container <NUM> placed in the transport rack <NUM> and descends to aspire the sample held in the sample container <NUM> by a predetermined amount. The sample dispensing mechanism <NUM> that aspires the sample moves above the incubator <NUM> and descends to eject the sample to the unused reaction container <NUM> held in the incubator <NUM>. If the ejection of the sample is completed, the sample dispensing mechanism <NUM> moves above the dispensing tip waste hole <NUM> to waste the used sample dispensing tip <NUM> from the dispensing tip waste hole <NUM>.

The reagent disk <NUM> has a disc shape and performs a rotation operation. Plural reagent bottles <NUM> are disposed on the reagent disk <NUM>. The reagent disk <NUM> rotates about the central axis in the perpendicular direction on the horizontal plane. Accordingly, the reagent bottles <NUM> disposed on the reagent disk <NUM> move in the circumferential direction and are transported at predetermined positions corresponding to the step.

The plural reagent bottles <NUM> can be installed on the reagent disk <NUM>. Each containing portion has a main body for containing the reagent, aspiration holes <NUM> accessible to the reagent, and a lid (not illustrated) that can seal the aspiration holes <NUM>. The outer shapes of the entire reagent bottles <NUM> are substantially rectangular shapes, an opening and closing operation is performed by a reagent container lid opening and closing mechanism (not illustrated). However, the lid is opened and closed according to the timing when the reagent dispensing mechanism <NUM> and the like are access to the reagent containers <NUM> to suppress the evaporation or the concentration change of the reagent.

A cover (not illustrated) is provided on the reagent disk <NUM> so that the entering of dust and the like is prevented and a space portion including the reagent disk <NUM> is kept warm or cold at a predetermined temperature. That is, the space portion including the reagent disk <NUM> also functions as a heat insulator or a cold insulator. In an area <NUM>, in order to cause the reagent dispensing mechanism <NUM> to access the reagent bottles <NUM>, it is preferable to provide an opening in the cover in the area <NUM> and also provide a reagent container lid opening and closing mechanism. Accordingly, the rotation operation of the reagent disk <NUM> is not necessary between the opening and closing operation of the lid of the reagent container and the reagent aspiration operation, and thus the time required for the dispensing step can be reduced.

The reagent dispensing mechanism <NUM> can perform rotation operation in the horizontal plane and vertically move in the perpendicular direction. The reagent dispensing mechanism <NUM> moves by the rotation operation above the area <NUM> which is the opening of the cover, descends, immerses the tip of the probe in the reagent in the reagent bottle <NUM> opened by the reagent container lid opening and closing mechanism, and aspirates the predetermined amount of the reagent. Subsequently, the reagent dispensing mechanism <NUM> moves upward, moves above the predetermined position of the incubator <NUM> by the rotation operation, and ejects the reagent to reaction container <NUM>.

The reaction container <NUM> to which the sample and the reagent are ejected moves to the predetermined position by the rotation of the incubator <NUM> and transported to the reaction container stirring mechanism (not illustrated) by the transport mechanism <NUM>. The reaction container stirring mechanism (not illustrated) stirs and mixes the sample and the reagent in the reaction container <NUM> by adding the rotation movement to the reaction container <NUM>. Accordingly, the reaction liquid is generated in the reaction container <NUM>.

The reaction container <NUM> in which the stirring completed is returned to the predetermined position of the incubator <NUM> by the transport mechanism <NUM>. The reaction container transport mechanism <NUM> transfers the reaction container <NUM> between the incubator <NUM> and the detecting unit <NUM>. The reaction container transport mechanism <NUM> grips the reaction container <NUM>, moves upward, and transports the reaction container <NUM> to the detecting unit <NUM>. The reaction container <NUM> is analyzed in the detecting unit <NUM>. The reaction container <NUM> in which the analysis is completed is wasted from a reaction container waste hole <NUM> by the reaction container transport mechanism <NUM>.

As various embodiments used in the automatic analyzer having the overall configuration described above, embodiments are described in the order of: an embodiment of a dispensing tip installation table for suppressing the mounting failure of the dispensing tip, an embodiment of a member for controlling a posture of a dispensing tip during dispensing tip waste, an embodiment of an operation method of the dispensing probe for controlling a posture of a dispensing tip during dispensing tip waste, an embodiment of a method of controlling a posture of a dispensing tip by a dispensing probe operation and a shape of a dispensing tip waste table, and an embodiment of a dispensing tip separation method at plural positions.

Embodiment <NUM> is an embodiment of the automatic analyzer including a second member having a tip to which a first member is attached, an installation table having a hole through which the first member passes, and a controller that performs a control such that the first member is mounted on the second member by pressing the second member against the first member that passes through the hole, and the hole of installation table includes a first cylindrical position being provided on an upper side in a gravity direction and a second cylindrical position being disposed to be connected to a lower side of the first cylindrical position in the gravity direction and having a larger diameter than the first cylindrical position.

That is, Embodiment <NUM> is an embodiment of a configuration of an installation table which includes a dispensing probe which is a second member having a tip to which a dispensing tip which is the first member is attached, an installation table having a hole through which the dispensing tip passes, and a controller that performs a control such that the dispensing tip is mounted on the dispensing probe by pressing the dispensing probe against the dispensing tip that passes through the hole, and in which the hole of the installation table includes the first cylindrical position being provided on an upper side in a gravity direction and the second cylindrical position being disposed to be connected to a lower side of the first cylindrical position in the gravity direction and having a larger diameter than the first cylindrical position so that dispensing tip is installed to suppress the mounting failure of the dispensing tip. The control computer <NUM> which is a controller performs a control such that the dispensing tip is mounted on the dispensing probe by pressing the dispensing probe against the dispensing tip that passes through the hole.

The sample dispensing mechanism <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> moves above the sample dispensing tip mounting position <NUM> of the installation table of the dispensing tip by the control of the control computer <NUM>, descends, and press-fits and mounts the sample dispensing tip <NUM> of the first member to the tip of a nozzle 104a of the second member. Thereafter, the sample dispensing mechanism <NUM> moves upward, but there is a concern that the mounted sample dispensing tip <NUM> is bent by the contact between the side surface of the hole of the sample dispensing tip mounting position <NUM> of the installation table and the side surface of the sample dispensing tip <NUM>. As the length of the side surface of the hole is longer, the influence of friction due to the contact is larger. However, since the embodiment is a method of press-fitting and inserting the sample dispensing tip <NUM>, the sample dispensing tip mounting position <NUM> requires a certain thickness in order to maintain the strength.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in the upper sectional view and the lower plan view of <FIG>, a circular countersunk hole <NUM> is provided on the lower surface of the sample dispensing tip mounting position <NUM> of the installation table. In other words, the hole of the sample dispensing tip mounting position <NUM> of the installation table includes a first cylindrical position provided on an upper side in a gravity direction and the second cylindrical position being disposed to be connected to a lower side of the first cylindrical position in the gravity direction and having a larger diameter than the first cylindrical position. By the countersunk hole <NUM> of the installation table of the present embodiment, when the sample dispensing mechanism <NUM> moves upward after the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is mounted, the distance that is concerned to be in contact between the sample dispensing tip <NUM> and the side surface of the hole of the sample dispensing tip mounting position <NUM> of the installation table is reduced, and thus the occurrence of the mounting failure such as bending of the tip of the sample dispensing tip <NUM> can be reduced.

Embodiment <NUM> is an embodiment of a configuration of installing a member that controls a posture of a dispensing tip during sample dispensing tip waste in the automatic analyzer. That is, Embodiment <NUM> is an embodiment of the automatic analyzer having a configuration in which a posture control member is installed inside the waste route that is disposed between a waste box in which the dispensing tip is wasted and a waste table that is disposed above the waste box in the gravity direction.

<FIG> is upper plan views and cross-sectional views for illustrating a waste operation using the waste table of the dispensing tip of the automatic analyzer and a problem thereof. As illustrated in <FIG>, the used dispensing tip <NUM> is inserted to a waste route <NUM> extending from a waste table <NUM> positioned above a waste box <NUM> for waste to the lower side of the waste box <NUM> in the gravity direction. Thereafter, by the control of the control computer <NUM>, the sample dispensing mechanism <NUM> is rotated to <FIG>, and the nozzle which is the sample dispensing probe 104a is pulled up. According to this operation, the used sample dispensing tip <NUM> is fallen to the waste box <NUM>. However, as illustrated in <FIG>, samples inevitably remain on the side surface of the tip of the wasted sample dispensing tip <NUM>. Therefore, the posture when the sample dispensing tip <NUM> falls to the waste box <NUM> is not stable and there is a concern that the sample dispensing tip <NUM> during falling is in contact with the waste route <NUM>. There is a risk in that sample remaining on the side surface of the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is attached to the waste route <NUM>, and thus may be bonded to the waste route <NUM> during waste of the sample dispensing tip <NUM>.

Therefore, in Embodiment <NUM>, in order to stabilize the posture of the sample dispensing tip during sample dispensing tip waste, the posture control member is provided in the waste route disposed between waste table and the waste box. <FIG> illustrates a configuration of installing a posture control member <NUM> that controls the posture of the dispensing tip during sample dispensing tip waste according to the present embodiment. Inside the waste route <NUM> on the lower side of the waste table <NUM>, for example, the cylindrical posture control member <NUM> that has a length which is about a width slightly longer than the maximum diameter of the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is disposed. By the posture control member <NUM>, when the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is fallen, if the posture of the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is not stabilized, the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is in contact with the posture control member <NUM>, but the width of the cylindrical posture control member <NUM> is narrow, and thus while the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is fallen, it is possible to control the sample dispensing tip <NUM> to a stable posture nearly vertical.

Embodiment <NUM> is an embodiment of operating a sample dispensing probe such that the controller of the automatic analyzer controls the posture of the dispensing tip during sample dispensing tip waste. In Embodiment <NUM>, posture controlling during sample dispensing tip falling is realized by providing the new posture control member <NUM>, but in the present embodiment, the posture during sample dispensing tip falling is controlled by studying the operation of the sample dispensing probe by controlling the control computer which is the controller.

That is, the present embodiment is an automatic analyzer having the configuration in which the waste table includes a third member having a recessed portion passing through a second member, and the controller performs control such that the second member is inserted into the recessed portion from a horizontal direction, the first member is moved upward in the gravity direction until the first member comes into contact with the third member, the second member is stopped in a state where the first member is in contact with the third member, and then the first member is moved again upward in the gravity direction. Further, Embodiment <NUM> is an embodiment of the automatic analyzer having the configuration in which the controller performs a control such that, after the second member is moved upward in the gravity direction at a first speed and stopped, the second member is moved again upward in the gravity direction at a second speed that is slower than the first speed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the upward movement operation of the sample dispensing probe 104a during the separation of the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is set to upward movement of two stages. The first upward movement of the sample dispensing probe 104a is started as illustrated in <FIG>, the upward movement to the narrow recessed portion of the waste table <NUM> is performed as illustrated in <FIG>, the first upward movement is stopped at a position where the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is in contact with the lower surface of the waste table <NUM>. Accordingly, the upper surface of the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is sufficiently in contact with the lower surface of the waste table <NUM>, and thus the influence by the vibration of the mechanism can be eliminated. Thereafter, as illustrated in <FIG>, the sample dispensing probe 104a moves upward for the second time, that is, moves upward again, the sample dispensing tip <NUM> is separated from the sample dispensing probe 104a in a stable posture and can be fallen in a stable posture close to vertical. The controller can perform a control such that the speeds of the upward movements to be different from each other, for example, the first speed of the first upward movement is slower than the second speed of the second upward movement.

Embodiment <NUM> is an embodiment of the shape of the waste table of the sample dispensing tip and the posture control of a dispensing tip by a dispensing probe operation. That is, Embodiment <NUM> is an embodiment of the automatic analyzer having the configuration in which the waste table includes a third member having a recessed portion through which the second member passes, and the recessed portion of the third member has a first portion having a wide hole and a small thickness and a second portion having a narrower hole and a larger thickness than the first portion which are adjacent to each other. Further, Embodiment <NUM> is an embodiment of the automatic analyzer having the configuration in which the controller performs a control such that the second member is inserted into the first portion of the recessed portion, is moved to the second portion, and then is moved upward in the gravity direction.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in the cross-sectional view at the bottom of <FIG>, the thickness of the first portion of the wide hole of the waste hole that configures the recessed portion of the waste table <NUM> is thinned, and the thickness of the second portion of a narrow hole of the waste hole is thickened. As illustrated in <FIG>, only by moving the used sample dispensing tip <NUM> to a position of the narrow second portion from the table portion having the wide waste hole, as illustrated in <FIG>, it is possible to cause the upper surface of the sample dispensing tip <NUM> to be in in a state of being in contact with the second portion having a narrow waste hole and a large thickness on the lower surface of the waste table <NUM>, and the sample dispensing tip <NUM> can be stably fallen by upward moving the sample dispensing probe 104a in this state, as illustrated in <FIG>. Therefore, it is not required to cause the upward movement operation of the sample dispensing probe 104a as illustrated in Embodiment <NUM> to be in a two-stage operation with stopping put therebetween.

Embodiment <NUM> is an embodiment of performing a separation operation of sample dispensing tips at plural positions of the waste table <NUM>. That is, Embodiment <NUM> is an embodiment of an automatic analyzer which includes a second member having a tip to which a first member is attached, a waste box in which the first member is wasted, a waste table that is disposed above the waste box in a gravity direction and includes a third member having a recessed portion through which the second member passes, and a controller that performs a control such that the second member is inserted into the recessed portion from a horizontal direction and is moved upward in the gravity direction, and in which the controller performs a control such that, after completion of a first process in which the second member is stopped at a first position of the recessed portion and then moved upward in the gravity direction, when the second member is inserted into the recessed portion from the horizontal direction, the second member is stopped at a second position of the recessed portion different from the fist position and then is moved upward in the gravity direction.

By the posture stabilization during sample dispensing tip falling by Embodiments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the attachment of the sample attached to the sample dispensing tip to the waste route <NUM> can be suppressed. However, due to the continuous falling of the sample dispensing tips <NUM> at the same position, as sequentially illustrated in <FIG>, the sample dispensing tips <NUM> are accumulated in a bamboo shoot shape in the waste box <NUM>, to cause the problem that the sample dispensing tips <NUM> are overflowed from the waste box <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, separation positions on the second portions of the sample dispensing tips <NUM> on the waste table <NUM> at each wasting timing (N-th time, (N+<NUM>)-th time, (N+<NUM>)-th time, and the like) are sequentially changed and moved, to vary falling positions of the sample dispensing tips <NUM> so that it is possible to suppress the accumulation of the sample dispensing tips <NUM> in a bamboo shoot shape in the waste box. In other words, in the present embodiment, the first to N-th positions are provided in the second portion of the recessed portion of the waste table, the control computer <NUM> that is the controller sequentially stops the sample dispensing probe which is the second member from the first member to N-th position and then performs a control such that the sample dispensing probe upwardly is moved in the gravity direction, and thus it is possible to suppress accumulation of the dispensing tips <NUM> in a bamboo shoot shape in the waste box.

By combining the above examples, it is possible to provide a more reliable automatic analyzer. The present invention is not limited to the above examples, and includes various modifications. For example, the above embodiments are described in detail for a better understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to the one including all the configurations of the description. In the above embodiment, only the sample dispensing tip is described, but the same method when the dispensing tip is used can be applied to, for example, the reagent.

Claim 1:
An automatic analyzer comprising:
a sample dispensing probe (104a) having a tip to which a sample dispensing tip (<NUM>) is attached;
a waste box (<NUM>) in which the sample dispensing tip (<NUM>) is to be wasted;
a waste table (<NUM>) that is disposed above the waste box (<NUM>) in a gravity direction and includes a waste hole (<NUM>) having a recessed portion through which the sample dispensing probe (104a) passes; and
a controller that performs a control such that the sample dispensing probe (104a) is inserted into the recessed portion from a horizontal direction and is moved upward in the gravity direction so that the sample dispensing tip (<NUM>) is separated from the sample dispensing probe (104a) and falls into the waste box,
characterized in that
the controller (<NUM>) performs a control such that,
after completion of a first sample dispensing tip separation process in which the sample dispensing probe (104a) has been stopped at a first position of the recessed portion in the horizontal direction and has then been moved upward in the gravity direction, and
when the sample dispensing probe (104a) is inserted into the recessed portion from the horizontal direction in a subsequent sample dispensing tip separation process,
the sample dispensing probe (104a) is stopped at a second position of the recessed portion different from the first position and is moved upward in the gravity direction.