Patent Description:
As an example of an automatic analysis device provided with a reaction vessel stirrer capable of maintaining a predetermined temperature without impairing measurement accuracy while having a simple configuration, PTL <NUM> describes that a rotating unit that houses and rotates a reaction vessel is supported via a bearing; the temperature of the fixed unit of the bearing is adjusted with the temperature adjusting unit to adjust the temperature of the reaction vessel via the bearing and the rotating unit; a temperature sensor is arranged in the temperature control unit, which is the fixed unit, to make it possible to detect the temperature of the temperature control unit; and it is possible to maintain the temperature at a predetermined temperature without impairing the measurement accuracy while having a simple configuration.

An automatic analysis device is a device that performs analysis by dispensing a specimen solution containing a substance to be analyzed and a reaction reagent into a reaction vessel and reacting them, and optically measuring the reaction solution. In such an automatic analysis device, for example, specific biological components and chemical substances contained in biological samples such as blood, serum, and urine are detected.

In order to obtain sufficient analytical accuracy in an automatic analysis device, it is necessary to keep the temperature of reagents used for specimen pretreatment and analysis constant.

As a method of adjusting the temperature of the reagent, as in PTL <NUM>, a method of connecting a bearing of a rotating unit in which a reaction vessel is installed to a temperature adjusting unit such as a Peltier element, in a reaction vessel stirring mechanism is known.

However, in the case of the method described in PTL <NUM>, a bearing or a container is interposed between the temperature adjusting unit and the reagent. Therefore, there is room for simplifying the method for accurately controlling the temperature of the reagent and there is room for improving the accuracy of temperature control.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analysis device capable of controlling a temperature of a reagent used in the device with high accuracy compared to the related art.

<CIT> and <CIT> discloses automatic analysers devices configured to adjust the temperature of the reagent supplied to the reaction vessel by the supply equipment.

<CIT> relates to a pipetter for reagent. <CIT> relates to an automatic analysis device which has the function to regulate the temperature of a reactant to a prescribed temperature range.

The present invention includes a plurality of means for solving the above-mentioned problems and an example thereof is an automatic analysis device according to claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, the temperature of the reagent used in the device can be controlled with high accuracy compared to the related art. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those mentioned above will be clarified by the description of the following examples.

Hereinafter, examples of the automatic analysis device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The following examples are examples when applied to an automatic immunoassay analyzer. The present invention is not limited to the automatic immunoassay analyzer and can be applied to other types of automatic analysis devices such as automatic biochemical analysis devices that require temperature adjustment of reagents. For example, it can be applied to an analysis unit that analyzes electrolyte analysis items of an automatic biochemical analysis device.

Example <NUM> of the automatic analysis device of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>.

First, the overall configuration of the automatic analysis device in this example will be outlined with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the automatic analysis device of Example <NUM>. <FIG> is an enlarged view of a processing unit and a liquid temperature adjusting unit in the automatic analysis device shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, an automatic analysis device <NUM> in this example is a device which reacts a specimen and a reagent and measures the reacted reaction solution and includes a specimen dispensing nozzle <NUM>, a reaction table <NUM>, a reaction vessel transport mechanism <NUM>, a specimen dispensing tip and reaction vessel holding member <NUM>, a reagent disk <NUM>, a reagent dispensing nozzle <NUM>, a processing unit <NUM>, a detector <NUM>, a rack conveyance line <NUM>, and a control device <NUM>.

The rack conveyance line <NUM> is a line for transporting a rack <NUM> on which a plurality of specimen containers <NUM> containing a specimen can be placed to a specimen dispensing position or the like.

The specimen dispensing nozzle <NUM> is a nozzle for sucking the specimen contained in the specimen container <NUM> and discharging the specimen to a reaction vessel <NUM>.

The reaction table <NUM> is a disk for performing the reaction between the specimen and the reagent at a constant temperature, and the temperature is maintained at a predetermined temperature by a heater (not illustrated) to promote the reaction between the specimen and the reagent. A plurality of reaction vessels <NUM> are held in the reaction table <NUM> and serve as a place for mixing and reacting the specimen and the reagent.

The reaction vessel transport mechanism <NUM> transports the reaction vessel <NUM>. The specimen dispensing tip and reaction vessel holding member <NUM> stores the disposable tip and the reaction vessel <NUM> used for specimen dispensation.

The reagent disk <NUM> is a disk which stores a reagent bottle and is kept cold in order to suppress deterioration of the reagent. The reagent dispensing nozzle <NUM> is a nozzle for sucking the reagent stored in the reagent bottle within the reagent disk <NUM> and discharging the reagent to the reaction vessel <NUM>.

The processing unit <NUM> performs the treatment on the specimen before the analysis of the specimen by the detector <NUM>. The detector <NUM> performs detection using the liquid in which the reaction has been completed within the reaction vessel <NUM>. The details of the processing unit <NUM> and the detector <NUM> will be described later.

The control device <NUM> controls various operations of the above-mentioned members and also performs computation processing for obtaining the concentration of a predetermined component in the specimen from the detection result performed by the detector <NUM>. The control device <NUM> is provided with a control unit <NUM> that executes temperature control of a liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM>. The details of the control unit <NUM> will also be described later.

Next, the overall flow of analysis in the automatic analysis device of this example illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> will be outlined. Prior to the analysis, the user disposes consumables such as the reagent bottles, the specimen dispensing tips, and the reaction vessels <NUM> necessary for the analysis on the reagent disk <NUM> and the specimen dispensing tip and reaction vessel holding member <NUM> within the analysis device.

First, the user inserts the rack <NUM> into the automatic analysis device in a state where the specimen such as blood or urine to be analyzed is put in the specimen container <NUM>. Here, an unused reaction vessel <NUM> and specimen dispensing tip are transported to the reaction table <NUM> and the specimen dispensing tip mounting position by the reaction vessel transport mechanism <NUM> of the analysis device.

After that, the reagent dispensing nozzle <NUM> accesses the inside of the reagent disk <NUM> to dispense the reagent stored within the reagent bottle into the reaction vessel <NUM> on the reaction table <NUM>.

After that, when the rack <NUM> passes through the rack conveyance line <NUM> and reaches the specimen dispensing position, the specimen is dispensed into the reaction vessel <NUM> by the specimen dispensing nozzle <NUM> and the reaction between the specimen and the reagent starts. The reaction referred to here means, for example, binding a specimen to a luminescent labeled substance by an antigen-antibody reaction using a luminescent labeled antibody that reacts only with a specific antigen of the specimen as a reagent. At this time, the stirring of the specimen and the reagent is performed by sucking and discharging the mixture of the specimen and the reagent within the specimen dispensing tip.

After this operation is completed, the used specimen dispensing tip is transported to the disposal unit by the reaction vessel transport mechanism <NUM> and discarded.

After the reaction between the specimen and the reagent is started by stirring, another reagent may be added at a specific timing to perform the reaction. For example, there is a process of further binding a magnetic bead with an antibody bound to the surface thereof to the antigen described above. Therefore, the reaction vessel <NUM> placed on the reaction table <NUM> for a predetermined time by a transport mechanism <NUM> is transported to a magnetic separating unit <NUM> in the processing unit <NUM> which performs pretreatment of the analysis.

As shown in <FIG>, in the magnetic separating unit <NUM>, the specimen is magnetically separated, then an unnecessary solution is discharged from a suction nozzle <NUM>, and a reagent called a replacement solution is discharged from a discharge nozzle <NUM>. The replacement solution is stored in a reagent storing unit <NUM> and is supplied by opening a solenoid valve <NUM> and closing a solenoid valve <NUM> to suck the reagent into a syringe pump <NUM> which intermittently feeds the reagent, and then closing the solenoid valve <NUM> and opening the solenoid valve <NUM> to discharge the reagent from the syringe pump <NUM>. The temperature of the replacement solution is adjusted in advance in the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> by a method described later.

The suction nozzle <NUM>, the discharge nozzle <NUM>, the reagent storing unit <NUM>, the solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM>, and the syringe pump <NUM> correspond to supply equipment which supplies reagents to the reaction vessel <NUM> disposed in the processing unit <NUM>.

After the magnetic separation process is completed, the reaction vessel <NUM> is transported to a stirrer <NUM> in the processing unit <NUM> by the transport mechanism <NUM>. In the stirrer <NUM>, the stirring is performed by rotating the reaction vessel <NUM> by a motor <NUM>.

After the stirring for a predetermined time is completed, the reaction vessel <NUM> is transported to the reaction table <NUM> again by the transport mechanism <NUM>.

Regardless of the presence or absence of magnetic separation, the reaction vessel <NUM> that has passed a predetermined time while being placed on the reaction table <NUM> is transported to a container holding unit <NUM> by the transport mechanism <NUM>, and the reaction solution is guided from the suction nozzle <NUM> to a detection container <NUM>. In the detection container <NUM>, the detector <NUM> detects the signal from the reaction solution, and the analysis result is notified to the user and recorded in the storage device.

After the detection operation is completed, the reaction vessel <NUM> is transported to the disposal unit by the transport mechanism <NUM> and the reaction vessel transport mechanism <NUM> and discarded.

Next, the configuration of the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> which executes the control of the temperature of the replacement solution of this example and the surroundings thereof, and the operation thereof will be described with reference to <FIG>.

It is desirable that the temperature adjustment of the replacement solution by the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> shown below is preferably started at the time of warming up of the automatic analysis device <NUM> and stably executed at the time of standby. However, the timing is not particularly limited and it is desirable that the temperature adjustment is stably performed during the analysis.

In this example, a first temperature detection unit <NUM> which detects the temperature of the air within the processing unit <NUM> is provided in the vicinity of the magnetic separating unit <NUM> and the stirrer <NUM> in the processing unit <NUM>.

Further, the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> which adjusts the temperature of the replacement solution is provided with a second temperature detection unit <NUM> which measures the liquid temperature at the outlet of a spiral pipe <NUM> (see <FIG> and the like) in order to detect the temperature of the reagent supplied to the processing unit <NUM>.

The first temperature detection unit <NUM> and the second temperature detection unit <NUM> are composed of a thermistor, a thermocouple, or the like, and the detection signal is taken into a sensor input processing unit <NUM> of a control unit <NUM>.

The signals from the first temperature detection unit <NUM> and the second temperature detection unit <NUM> are taken into the sensor input processing unit <NUM> of the control unit <NUM>, a target temperature computation unit <NUM> calculates a target liquid temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM>, and a Peltier element control unit <NUM> controls the energization of the Peltier element.

The control unit <NUM> obtains a target value of the second temperature to be detected by the second temperature detection unit <NUM> based on a first temperature detected by the first temperature detection unit <NUM> and outputs a control signal which executes temperature adjustment based on a difference between the measured second temperature and the target value with respect to the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM>. The liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> executes the temperature adjustment of the replacement solution based on the control signal.

In particular, the control unit <NUM> executes temperature adjustment such that as the first temperature is higher, the second temperature is lower, and the first temperature is lower, the second temperature is higher.

As shown in <FIG>, the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> includes a metal block <NUM>, the spiral pipe <NUM>, connectors <NUM> and <NUM>, thermal interfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, a heat diffusion plate <NUM>, a first Peltier element <NUM>, a fin base <NUM>, fins <NUM>, and a heat insulating material <NUM>.

The metal block <NUM> is a metal block made of a metal having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum, and the spiral pipe <NUM> obtained by spirally forming a pipe such as stainless steel is attached. As a method of attaching the spiral pipe <NUM>, there is a method of making a through hole in the metal block <NUM> open, inserting the spiral pipe <NUM>, pouring solder or the like into the periphery, and fixing the spiral pipe <NUM>. The connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are attached to the inlet and outlet of the spiral pipe <NUM>. The connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are threaded and are connected to a tube <NUM> for supplying the replacement solution from the reagent storing unit <NUM> to the discharge nozzle <NUM> by a tube joint. It is not necessary to use the spiral pipe <NUM>, and a pipe having another shape such as a straight line may be used.

The heat diffusion plate <NUM> made of aluminum or the like is connected to the metal block <NUM> described above via the thermal interface <NUM> such as grease. Further, the first Peltier element <NUM> is connected to the surface of the metal block <NUM> different from the surface connected to the heat diffusion plate <NUM> via the thermal interface <NUM>. Further, a heat sink composed of the fin base <NUM> and the fin <NUM> is connected to the opposite surface of the first Peltier element <NUM> via the thermal interface <NUM>.

The first Peltier element <NUM>, the thermal interfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and the heat diffusion plate <NUM> are fixed by a method of sandwiching them between the metal block <NUM> and the fin base <NUM> and fixing them with screws. The periphery of the metal block <NUM> is insulated by the heat insulating material <NUM>.

Next, the operation of the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> will be described. Here, the thermal interfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are all described as thermal grease.

In this example, in the cooling operation in which the temperature of the air within the processing unit <NUM> detected by the first temperature detection unit <NUM> needs to be high and the reagent needs to be cooled, of the two main surfaces of the first Peltier element <NUM>, the first Peltier element <NUM> is energized such that temperature of the surface on the metal block <NUM> side is low and the temperature of the surface on the fin base <NUM> side is high.

As a result, the heat of the reagent moving in the spiral pipe <NUM> or the heat of the reagent staying therein is absorbed by the first Peltier element <NUM> through the metal block <NUM>, a grease <NUM>, the heat diffusion plate <NUM>, and a grease <NUM>. Further, the surface of the first Peltier element <NUM> on the opposite side generates heat (radiate heat), and the heat is transferred from a grease <NUM> and the fin base <NUM> to the fins <NUM>, and is radiated to the air flowing between the fin <NUM> by a fan <NUM>.

On the other hand, in the heating operation in which the temperature of the air within the processing unit <NUM> needs to be low and the reagent needs to be heated, the element is energized such that the surface of the first Peltier element <NUM> on the metal block <NUM> side is high and the temperature of the fin base <NUM> side is low.

As a result, the temperature of the fins <NUM> is lower than the air temperature, and the heat is taken from the air flowing between the fins by the fan <NUM> and absorbed by the first Peltier element <NUM> via the fin base <NUM> and the grease <NUM>. Further, the surface of the first Peltier element <NUM> on the opposite side generates heat (radiate heat), and the heat is applied to the reagent moving in the spiral pipe <NUM> or the reagent staying therein through the grease <NUM>, the heat diffusion plate <NUM>, the grease <NUM>, and the metal block <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a block diagram of the Peltier element control.

In the control unit <NUM>, the target temperature computation unit <NUM> calculates a target temperature <NUM> to be detected by the second temperature detection unit <NUM> from the air temperature in the vicinity of the processing unit <NUM> detected by the first temperature detection unit <NUM>. The Peltier element control unit <NUM> obtains a current value to be output to the first Peltier element <NUM> based on a difference between the target temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM> calculated by the target temperature computation unit <NUM> and the temperature of the reagent actually detected by the second temperature detection unit <NUM> and outputs a command signal such that the obtained current value flows to the first Peltier element <NUM>.

As a method of controlling the current output, for example, based on the temperature detected at regular time intervals and the target temperature, the current on and off time ratio, that is, the duty is controlled based on the proportional-integro-differential control (PID control) at regular time intervals, thereby controlling the cooling or heating capacity of the first Peltier element <NUM>. At this time, the current when energized is constant.

As another control method, the cooling and heating capacities of the Peltier element may be controlled by changing the current flowing through the first Peltier element <NUM>. In this case, the first Peltier element <NUM> is continuously energized.

<FIG> shows an example of the relationship between the air temperature detected by the first temperature detection unit <NUM> and the target liquid temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM>. As the air temperature in the vicinity of the processing unit <NUM> detected by the first temperature detection unit <NUM> is higher, the target temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM>, that is, the liquid temperature of the reagent (replacement solution) is set to be lower.

Without being limited to the relationship as shown in <FIG>, depending on the characteristics and purpose of the reagent, as the air temperature in the vicinity of the processing unit <NUM> detected by the first temperature detection unit <NUM> is higher, the target temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM>, that is, the liquid temperature of the reagent (replacement solution) may be set to be high.

Next, the effect of this embodiment will be described.

The automatic analysis device <NUM> of Example <NUM> of the present invention described above includes the processing unit <NUM> which performs the treatment on a specimen before the analysis of the specimen, the supply equipment which supplies a reagent to the reaction vessel <NUM> disposed in the processing unit <NUM>, the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> which adjusts the temperature of the reagent supplied to the reaction vessel <NUM> by the supply equipment, the control unit <NUM>, and the first temperature detection unit <NUM> which detects at least one temperature of the temperature of the air within the processing unit <NUM> and the temperature of the reagent supplied to the reaction vessel <NUM>, in which the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> and the control unit <NUM> execute temperature adjustment of the reagent based on the first temperature detected by the first temperature detection unit <NUM>.

As a result, since the temperature of the reagent in the magnetic separating unit <NUM> and the stirrer <NUM> can be maintained in a constant temperature range, the reaction between the specimen and the reagent is performed under more appropriate conditions and the analytical accuracy of the detector <NUM> can be improved. That is, the temperature of the reagent in the pretreatment step of analysis can be controlled more accurately, and an automatic analysis device with high analytical accuracy can be realized.

Further, a second temperature detection unit <NUM> which is disposed within the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> and detects the temperature of the reagent supplied to the processing unit <NUM> is further provided, and since the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> and the control unit <NUM> obtain a target value of the second temperature detected by the second temperature detection unit <NUM> based on the first temperature and the temperature adjustment is executed based on a difference between the second temperature and the target value, the temperature of the reagent in the magnetic separating unit <NUM> and the stirrer <NUM> can be maintained in a constant temperature range with higher accuracy.

Further, the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> and the control unit <NUM> execute temperature adjustment such that as the first temperature is higher, the second temperature is lower, and as the first temperature is lower, the second temperature is higher. Therefore, the temperature of the reagent in the magnetic separating unit <NUM> and the stirrer <NUM> can be maintained in a constant temperature range.

Further, according to this example, since the temperature of the reagent immediately before the execution of the analysis can be maintained in an accurate constant range, the processing unit <NUM> is set as a portion to perform treatment with respect to the reaction solution at a position that greatly contributes to the improvement of analytical accuracy, thereby making it possible to further contribute to the improvement of analytical accuracy.

In the above-described example, the case where the first temperature detection unit <NUM> detects the air temperature in the vicinity of the processing unit <NUM> has been described, but instead, the temperature of the reagent supplied to the reaction vessel <NUM> may be detected, and both the air temperature in the vicinity of the processing unit <NUM> and the temperature of the reagent supplied to the reaction vessel <NUM> may be detected. When both temperatures are used, the control unit <NUM> may use the average value of both or may use both with weight on either one.

An automatic analysis device according to Example <NUM> of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>. The same reference numerals are shown in the same configurations as in Example <NUM> and the descriptions thereof will be omitted. The same shall apply in the following examples. <FIG> is an enlarged view of a processing unit and a liquid temperature adjusting unit in the automatic analysis device according to Example <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram showing the structure of the processing unit of the automatic analysis device in Example <NUM>, and <FIG> is a diagram showing the structure of the liquid temperature adjusting unit when viewed from a direction different from that of <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, in this example, in addition to the reaction vessel <NUM>, a reagent container <NUM> for containing the reaction auxiliary liquid, which is a reagent supplied to the detection container <NUM>, and a reagent container <NUM> for containing a cleaning solution are disposed in the container holding unit <NUM>.

The reagent (reaction auxiliary liquid) in the reagent container <NUM> is supplied from the reagent storing unit <NUM> by operating a syringe pump <NUM> and solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM>. The reagent (cleaning solution) of the reagent container <NUM> is supplied from the reagent storing unit <NUM> by operating a syringe pump <NUM> and solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM>.

The container holding unit <NUM> can rotate and move up and down.

The reagents within the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> and the solution within the reaction vessel <NUM> are guided to the detection container <NUM> by operating a syringe pump <NUM> and solenoid valves <NUM> and <NUM>, in a state where the container holding unit <NUM> is rotated and moved up and down such that the tip of the suction nozzle <NUM> enters the required container. In the detection container <NUM>, the detector <NUM> detects the signal from the reaction solution, and then the reaction solution and the reagent are discharged to a waste liquid container <NUM>.

The operation of the container holding unit <NUM> and the operations of the syringe pumps <NUM> and <NUM> and the solenoid valves <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are executed according to a predetermined sequence.

Further, in this example, as shown in <FIG>, spiral pipes <NUM> and <NUM> having the same shape as the spiral pipe <NUM> are attached to a metal block 101A such as aluminum, in addition to the spiral pipe <NUM> obtained by spirally forming a pipe such as stainless steel. Connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, are <NUM> are attached to the inlet and outlet of the spiral pipes <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are threaded and connected to the tube <NUM> by a tube joint.

As a result, a control unit 201A controls the temperature adjustment by a liquid temperature adjusting unit 1A such that the temperature of the reagents supplied to the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> is also adjusted based on the first temperature.

The configuration and operation of a sensor input processing unit 202A, a target temperature computation unit 203A, and a Peltier element control unit 204A are the same as those of the sensor input processing unit <NUM>, the target temperature computation unit <NUM>, and the Peltier element control unit <NUM>, respectively.

Other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the automatic analysis device of Example <NUM> described above and the details thereof will be omitted.

The automatic analysis device of Example <NUM> of the present invention also has almost the same effect as the automatic analysis device of Example <NUM> described above.

Further, the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> which temporarily hold the reagent supplied to the detection container <NUM> for analyzing the specimen, and the container holding unit <NUM> which holds the reaction vessel <NUM> and the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> are further provided and the liquid temperature adjusting unit 1A and the control unit 201A also adjust the temperature of the reagent supplied to the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> based on the first temperature. Therefore, the temperature of the reagent supplied to the detection container <NUM> via the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> located closer to the detector <NUM> can also be adjusted and the analytical accuracy in the detector <NUM> can be further improved.

An automatic analysis device according to Example <NUM> of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is an enlarged view of a processing unit and a liquid temperature adjusting unit in the automatic analysis device in Example <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram showing the structure of the liquid temperature adjusting unit of the automatic analysis device in Example <NUM>, and <FIG> is a diagram showing the structure when viewed from a direction different from that of <FIG>. <FIG> is a block diagram showing a control method of the liquid temperature adjusting unit of the automatic analysis device in Example <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the air temperature of a third temperature detection unit and a target liquid temperature of a fourth temperature detection unit of the automatic analysis device in Example <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in this example, in addition to the devices of Example <NUM>, a third temperature detection unit <NUM> which detects the air temperature around the container holding unit <NUM> is further provided.

Further, a liquid temperature adjusting unit 1B which adjusts the temperature of the replacement solution and the reagent of this example is provided with a fourth temperature detection unit <NUM> which detects the temperature of the reagents supplied to the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> in addition to the second temperature detection unit <NUM> which measures the liquid temperature at the outlet of the reagent.

The signals from the first temperature detection unit <NUM>, the second temperature detection unit <NUM>, the third temperature detection unit <NUM>, and the fourth temperature detection unit <NUM> are taken into a sensor input processing unit 202B of a control unit 201B.

As shown in <FIG>, in the liquid temperature adjusting unit 1B of this example, a metal block 101B is connected to a second Peltier element <NUM> via the thermal interface <NUM> in addition to the heat sink including the heat diffusion plate <NUM>, the first Peltier element <NUM>, the fin base <NUM>, and the fins <NUM>.

Further, the fourth temperature detection unit <NUM> composed of a thermistor or a thermocouple is provided in the vicinity of the outlets of the spiral pipes <NUM> and <NUM>. The signal from the fourth temperature detection unit <NUM> is taken into the sensor input processing unit 202B of the control unit 201B.

Although the case where the first Peltier element <NUM> and the second Peltier element <NUM> are provided in the same metal block 101B has been described, the first Peltier element <NUM> and the second Peltier element <NUM> can be provided in separate metal blocks, and in this case, a heat insulating material or the like can be used therebetween.

As shown in <FIG>, in the control unit 201B of this example, a target temperature computation unit 203B calculates a target temperature 205B of the second temperature detection unit <NUM> from the air temperature in the vicinity of the processing unit <NUM> detected by the second temperature detection unit <NUM>. Further, the target temperature computation unit 203B calculates a target temperature 207B of the test solution to be detected by the fourth temperature detection unit from the air temperature in the vicinity of the container holding unit <NUM> detected by the third temperature detection unit <NUM>.

After that, a first Peltier element control unit 204B controls the duty of the current output to the first Peltier element <NUM> based on the target temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM> calculated by the target temperature computation unit 203B and the actual temperature detected by the second temperature detection unit <NUM>.

On the other hand, a second Peltier element control unit 206B controls the duty of the current output to the second Peltier element <NUM> based on the target temperature of the fourth temperature detection unit calculated by the target temperature computation unit 203B and the actual temperature detected by the fourth temperature detection unit <NUM>.

Regarding the target liquid temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM> obtained by the target temperature computation unit 203B, as shown in <FIG>, as the air temperature in the vicinity of the processing unit <NUM> detected by the first temperature detection unit <NUM> is higher, the target temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM>, that is, the temperature of the reagent (replacement solution) is set to be lower.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, in the target temperature computation unit 203B, as the air temperature in the vicinity of the container holding unit <NUM> detected by the third temperature detection unit <NUM> is higher, the target temperature of the fourth temperature detection unit <NUM>, that is, the temperature of the reagent (the reaction auxiliary liquid and cleaning solution) is set to be lower.

Further, the third temperature detection unit <NUM> which detects at least one of the temperature of the air around the container holding unit <NUM> and the temperature of the reagents within the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> is further provided, and the liquid temperature adjusting unit 1B and the control unit 201B execute temperature adjustment of the reagents supplied to the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> based on the third temperature detected by the third temperature detection unit <NUM>, and thus, the temperature of the reagent supplied to the detection container <NUM> via the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> can be adjusted and the analytical accuracy can be further improved as compared with Example <NUM>.

Further, the liquid temperature adjusting unit 1B and the control unit 201B further include the fourth temperature detection unit <NUM> which detects the temperature of the reagents supplied to the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM>, and the liquid temperature adjusting unit 1B and the control unit 201B obtain a target value of the fourth temperature detected by the fourth temperature detection unit <NUM> based on the third temperature and execute temperature adjustment based on the difference between the fourth temperature and the target value. In particular, the liquid temperature adjusting unit 1B and the control unit 201B execute temperature adjustment such that as the third temperature is higher, the fourth temperature is lower, and as the third temperature is lower, the fourth temperature is higher. Thus, the temperature of the reagents supplied to the container <NUM> via the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> can be adjusted with higher accuracy.

In the above description, the first temperature detection unit <NUM> detects the air temperature in the vicinity of the processing unit <NUM>, but instead or additionally, the temperature of the reagent within the reaction vessel <NUM> can be detected. Further, although the case where the third temperature detection unit <NUM> detects the air temperature in the vicinity of the container holding unit <NUM> has been described, instead or additionally, the liquid temperature within the reagent container <NUM> and/or the reagent container <NUM> can be detected.

An automatic analysis device according to Example <NUM> of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is an enlarged view of a processing unit and a liquid temperature adjusting unit in the automatic analysis device in Example <NUM>. <FIG> is a block diagram showing a control method of the liquid temperature adjusting unit of the automatic analysis device in Example <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the estimated values of the air temperature and the change in the calorific value of the first temperature detection unit and a target liquid temperature of the second temperature detection unit in the automatic analysis device in Example <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in this example, detection units <NUM> and <NUM> of a motor and solenoid provided in the transport mechanism <NUM> and a detection unit <NUM> of a motor <NUM> for rotationally driving the stirrer <NUM> are provided to detect a current flowing through the motor or the like. The detection units <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may detect voltage or both current and voltage.

Further, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a control unit 201C is provided with a second sensor input processing unit 209C, a calorific value estimation unit 210C, and a calorific value change computation unit 211C.

Then, as shown in <FIG>, in the control unit 201C of the present example, the calorific value estimation unit 210C estimates the calorific value based on the current of the motor or the like detected by the detection units <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and the calorific value change computation unit 211C calculates a change in the calorific value.

Next, a target temperature computation unit 203C calculates a target temperature 205C of the second temperature detection unit <NUM> based on the air temperature in the vicinity of the processing unit <NUM> detected by the first temperature detection unit <NUM> and the change in the calorific value obtained by the calorific value change computation unit 211C.

A Peltier element control unit 204C controls the duty of the current output to the first Peltier element <NUM> based on the target temperature 205C of the second temperature detection unit <NUM> and the temperature actually detected by the second temperature detection unit <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an example of the relationship between the temperature detected by the first temperature detection unit <NUM> and the target liquid temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM> with the change in the calorific value obtained by the calorific value change computation unit 211C as a parameter.

As shown in <FIG>, it is set such that as the air temperature in the vicinity of the processing unit <NUM> detected by the first temperature detection unit <NUM> is higher, the target temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM>, that is, the temperature of the reagent (replacement solution) is lower, and it is set such that as the increase in the calorific value is greater, the target liquid temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM> is lower, and as the decrease in the calorific value is greater, the target liquid temperature of the second temperature detection unit <NUM> is higher.

Further, an estimation unit which estimates the calorific value of the heating element existing within the automatic analysis device <NUM> is further provided, and the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> and the control unit 201C obtain the target value of the second temperature detected by the second temperature detection unit <NUM> based on the change in the calorific value estimated by the estimation unit in addition to the first temperature and execute temperature adjustment based on the difference between the second temperature and the target value. In particular, the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> and the control unit 201C execute temperature adjustment such that as the increase in the calorific value is greater, the second temperature is lower, and as the increase in the calorific value is smaller, the second temperature is higher. Therefore, since the cooling capacity of the first Peltier element <NUM> is adjusted in response to fluctuations in the calorific value, the temperature of the reagent in the magnetic separating unit <NUM> and the stirrer <NUM> can be maintained in a constant temperature range with higher accuracy. Therefore, the reaction between the specimen and the reagent can be performed under more appropriate conditions, and the analytical accuracy in the detector <NUM> can be further improved.

The estimation of the calorific value as in this example can be executed by the liquid temperature adjusting unit 1A of Example <NUM> and the liquid temperature adjusting unit 1B of Example <NUM>.

Further, without being limited to the case where the target value of the second temperature detected by the second temperature detection unit <NUM> is obtained based on the change in the calorific value estimated by the estimation unit in addition to the first temperature and the temperature adjustment is executed based on the difference between the second temperature and the target value, the liquid temperature adjusting unit <NUM> and the control unit 201C can obtain the target value of the fourth temperature described in Example <NUM> based on the change in the calorific value estimated by the estimation unit in addition to the third temperature described in Example <NUM> and execute temperature adjustment based on the difference between the fourth temperature and the target value. In particular, the temperature adjustment can be executed such that as the increase in the calorific value is greater, the fourth temperature is lower, and as the increase in the calorific value is smaller, the fourth temperature becomes higher.

As a result, the temperature of the reagent supplied to the detection container <NUM> via the reagent containers <NUM> and <NUM> can be adjusted with higher accuracy and the analytical accuracy of the detector <NUM> can be further improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and includes various modifications. The above-mentioned embodiments have been described in detail in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner and are not necessarily limited to those having all the described configurations.

Claim 1:
An automatic analysis device (<NUM>) configured to react a specimen with a reagent and to measure the reacted reaction solution, the device comprising:
a processing unit (<NUM>) configure to perform a treatment on a specimen before the analysis of the specimen;
supply equipment (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to supply the reagent to a reaction vessel (<NUM>) disposed in the processing unit;
a liquid temperature adjusting device (<NUM>, 1A, 1B) configured to adjust the temperature of the reagent supplied to the reaction vessel by the supply equipment;
a first temperature detection unit (<NUM>) configured to detect a temperature of the air within the processing unit, wherein
the liquid temperature adjusting device (<NUM>, 1A, 1B) is configured to execute temperature adjustment of the reagent based on a first temperature detected by the first temperature detection unit (<NUM>);
a second temperature detection unit (<NUM>) which is disposed within the liquid temperature adjusting device (<NUM>, 1A, 1B) and is configured to detect the temperature of the reagent supplied to the processing unit; and,
an estimation unit (210C, 211C) configured to estimate a calorific value of a heating element (<NUM>, <NUM>) present within the automatic analysis device,
wherein
the liquid temperature adjusting device (<NUM>, 1A, 1B) is configured to acquire a target value of a second temperature detected by the second temperature detection unit (<NUM>) based on the first temperature and based on a change in the calorific value estimated by the estimation unit (210C, 211C) and to execute temperature adjustment based on a difference between the second temperature and the target value.