Patent Description:
An automatic analyzer is a device which analyzes a specific component contained in a specimen such as blood or urine provided from a patient, and is used in a hospital and a detection agency. A dispensing tip used for dispensing a specimen and a reaction cell used for reaction between a specimen and a reagent are treated as an expendable item that is thrown away for preventing the inclusion of a foreign substance. The dispensing tip is accommodated in a case for expendable items or the like.

Patent literature <NUM> discloses a tip accommodating case which includes: a tip holding plate on which a plurality of dispensing tips are held; a body portion that is a square or rectangular box, the box provided with an opening in which the tip holding plate is fitted on an upper side thereof; and a lid portion that is openable and closable, the lid portion provided with an opening in which the body portion is fitted.

However, in patent literature <NUM>, it is necessary to open a lid portion to take out a dispensing tip. Accordingly, to realize automatic conveyance of an expendable item such as the dispensing tip, an opening must be provided to at least one surface out of four surfaces of the lid portion. There may be a case where, on an upper surface of the lid portion where the opening is provided to at least one surface out of four surfaces of the lid portion, a reagent container that is exchanged when an operator of an automatic analyzer performs an expendable item exchanging operation, a container that is filled with a washing liquid and is used during a maintenance operation or the like is placed. In such a case, there is a possibility that the reagent container or the like turns down so that a liquid leaks. When the leaked liquid reaches the dispensing tip, the reaction cell or the like disposed in the case for expendable items, the liquid affects accuracy of analysis of a specimen.

<CIT> discloses an automated analyzer used for chemical analysis such as biochemical analysis or immunoassay in clinical tests.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic analyzer capable of maintaining analysis accuracy of a specimen even when a liquid leaks on an expendable item case in which an expendable item is accommodated.

The present invention that achieves the above-mention object is an automatic analyzer that includes: an analysis unit which analyzes a specimen; an expendable item case which accommodates expendable items including a dispensing tip used for dispensing of the specimen and a reaction cell used for reaction between the specimen and a reagent; a conveyance portion which conveys the expendable items; and a body cover which covers the analysis unit, the expendable item case, and the expendable item conveyance portion. In the automatic analyzer, the expendable item case includes a tray in which the expendable items are arrayed, and an expendable item cover which covers the tray and in which an open portion through which the expendable item conveyance portion passes is provided on a side surface thereof, and a barrier portion protruding upward is provided at an end on a side of the open portion of the expendable item cover.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide the automatic analyzer which can maintain accuracy of analysis of a specimen even when a liquid leaks on an expendable item case in which expendable items are accommodated.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an automatic analyzer according to the present invention are described with reference to attached drawings. In the description made hereinafter and the attached drawings, the same symbols are given to constitutional elements having the identical functions and configurations, and the repeated explanation of these constitutional elements are omitted.

One example of the overall configuration of an automatic analyzer <NUM> is described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. Assume a leftward-rightward direction of the automatic analyzer <NUM> as an X axis, a frontward-and-rearward direction of the automatic analyzer <NUM> as a Y axis and upward-downward direction of the automatic analyzer as a Z axis, and the rightward direction, the rearward direction and the upper direction as the normal directions of the respective axes. The automatic analyzer <NUM> is a device which analyzes a specific component contained in blood, urine or the like provided from a patient. In an immune analysis method that makes use of an immune reaction, a specific component and a marker substance are bonded to each other by an antigen-antibody reaction, and the specific component is subjected to a quantitative analysis or a qualitative analysis using a signal such as an emitted light or absorbed light obtained from the marker substance.

The automatic analyzer <NUM> includes a specimen conveyance path <NUM>, an expendable item case <NUM>, a reagent disk <NUM>, an incubator <NUM>, a specimen dispensing unit <NUM>, a reagent dispensing unit <NUM>, a stirring portion <NUM>, a B/F separation portion <NUM>, a detection portion <NUM>, a body cover <NUM>, and a control unit <NUM>. Hereinafter, the respective portions are described.

The specimen conveyance path <NUM> conveys a specimen rack 5a on which a plurality of specimen container each accommodating a specimen are mounted to a position at which a specimen dispensing unit <NUM> can get access to the specimen. The specimen which is accommodated in the specimen container is dispensed to a reaction cell <NUM> held by the incubator <NUM> by the specimen dispensing unit <NUM>.

In the expendable item case <NUM>, reaction cells <NUM> and dispensing tips <NUM> that are expendable items are accommodated in a state where the reaction cells <NUM> and the dispensing tips <NUM> are arranged on a tray <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a state where the reaction cells <NUM> are arranged in a left-side half of the tray <NUM>, and the dispensing tips <NUM> are arranged in a right-side half of the tray <NUM>. The tray <NUM> on which the reaction cells <NUM> and the dispensing tips <NUM> are arranged is put from an expendable item supply port <NUM> by an operator. The dispensing tip <NUM> is gripped by an expendable item conveyance portion <NUM>, and is transferred from the tray <NUM> to a tip buffer <NUM>. Thereafter, the dispensing tip <NUM> is mounted on a distal end of a nozzle of the specimen dispensing unit <NUM>, and is used for dispensing the specimen. The dispensing chip <NUM> is exchanged each time the specimen dispensing unit <NUM> dispenses the specimen for preventing the intrusion of the specimen, and the used dispending tip <NUM> is discarded to a tip disposal hole <NUM>. A reaction cell <NUM> is gripped by the expendable item conveyance portion <NUM>, is transferred from the tray <NUM> to the incubator <NUM>, and is used for accommodating a mixed liquid of a specimen and a reagent. Each time a reaction between the specimen and the reagent is performed and an analysis is performed after the reaction, the reaction cell <NUM> is also exchanged. The expendable item case <NUM> is described later with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>.

A plurality of reagent container <NUM> each of which accommodates a reagent is stored in the reagent disk <NUM>. The inside of the reagent disk <NUM> is held at a temperature lower than a room temperature for reducing the degradation of a reagent. The reagent disk <NUM> is covered by a reagent disk cover <NUM>. In <FIG>, to express an arrangement example of the reagent containers <NUM>, a portion of the reagent disk cover <NUM> is removed. To the reagent disk cover <NUM>, a reagent container loading port <NUM> is provided for loading and unloading the reagent containers <NUM>. A reagent which is accommodated in the reagent container <NUM> is dispensed to the reaction cell <NUM> to which a specimen is dispensed by a reagent dispensing unit <NUM>. The reagent dispensing unit <NUM> is washed by a reagent nozzle washing portion <NUM> after the reagent is dispensed. In a case where a reagent which is accommodated in the reagent container <NUM> contains magnetic beads, before the reagent is dispensed, the reagent is stirred by the stirring portion <NUM> having a stirring paddle <NUM> on a distal end thereof. The stirring portion <NUM> is washed by a paddle washing portion <NUM> after the reagent is stirred.

The incubator <NUM> holds a plurality of reaction cells <NUM> in each of which a mixed liquid of a specimen and a reagent is held. The incubator <NUM> is held within a range of a target temperature which is a temperature range for causing a reaction of the mixed liquid. By causing the reaction of the mixed liquid over a predetermined time within the range of the target temperature in a step of holding the reaction cell <NUM> in the incubator <NUM>, a reaction liquid which is used in an analysis is produced. In a case where the incubator <NUM> has a circular shape illustrated in <FIG>, the reaction cells <NUM> are arranged along an edge of an outer periphery of the incubator <NUM>. Along with the rotation of the incubator <NUM>, the reaction cells <NUM> are transferred to positions that the specimen dispensing unit <NUM> and the reagent dispensing unit <NUM> can get access to.

The B/F separation portion <NUM> includes a conveyance unit <NUM>, a magnetism collecting portion <NUM>, a probe <NUM>, a washing portion <NUM>, and a redispersion portion <NUM>. The B/F separation portion <NUM> separates a reaction liquid into a reaction product (Bound) and a non-reaction substance (Free). The conveyance unit <NUM> conveys the reaction cell <NUM> from the incubator <NUM> to the B/F separation portion <NUM>, or conveys the reaction cell <NUM> from the B/F separation portion <NUM> to the detection portion <NUM>. The magnetism collecting portion <NUM> collects magnetism of the magnetic beads contained in the reaction liquid so as to separate a reaction product adhering to the magnetic beads from a non-reaction substance. The probe <NUM> aspirates the non-reaction substance separated from the reaction product and discharges a buffer solution which is used for redispersion of the reaction product. The washing portion <NUM> washes the probe <NUM>. The redispersion portion <NUM> disperses the magnetic-collected magnetic beads. The reaction cell <NUM> which accommodates a solution in which the magnetic beads to which the reaction product adheres are redispersed is conveyed to the detection portion <NUM> by the conveyance unit <NUM>, and is discarded to a cell disposal hole <NUM> after the processing in the detection portion <NUM>.

The detection portion <NUM> includes a light source lamp, a spectrometer, a photomultiplier tube, a photo diode and the like for measuring light emission and absorbance of a solution accommodated in the reaction cell <NUM> which is conveyed from the B/F separation portion <NUM>. The detection portion <NUM> may also have a temperature control function for holding the solution at a predetermined temperature. The detection portion <NUM> is covered by a detection portion cover <NUM> which also covers the B/F separation portion <NUM> and a part of the incubator <NUM>.

The body cover <NUM> accommodates the specimen conveyance path <NUM>, the expendable item case <NUM>, the reagent disk <NUM>, the incubator <NUM>, the specimen dispensing unit <NUM>, the reagent dispensing unit <NUM>, the stirring portion <NUM>, the B/F separation portion <NUM>, the detection portion <NUM> and the like thus preventing the intrusion of dirt or the like into the automatic analyzer <NUM> and preventing an operator from being brought into contact with these constitutional elements.

The control unit <NUM> controls an overall operation of the automatic analyzer <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may be a dedicated hardware formed of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or the like, or a micro-processing unit (MPU) which executes a software. An input device and an output device are connected to the control unit <NUM>. Date necessary for an analysis is inputted via the input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, or a touch panel. A result of the analysis is outputted to the output device such as a liquid crystal display or a touch panel.

One example of the expendable item case <NUM> is described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>. The expendable item case <NUM> includes the tray <NUM> described above, an expendable item cover <NUM>, and an enclosing portion <NUM>. The reaction cells <NUM> and the dispensing tips <NUM> that are expendable items are arranged on the tray <NUM>.

The expendable item cover <NUM> covers the tray <NUM>, and includes an open portion through which the expendable item conveyance portion <NUM> passes on a side surface thereof. In this embodiment, the open portion is provided to a rear side of the expendable item cover <NUM>. The expendable item conveyance portion <NUM> conveys the reaction cells <NUM> and the dispensing tips <NUM> from the tray <NUM> to the incubator <NUM> and the chip buffer <NUM> through the open portion. To allow an operator to check a residual amount of expendable items on the tray <NUM> by his/her eyes, the expendable item cover <NUM> may be made of a transparent material, for example, an acrylic resin. At a timing which an operator charges the tray <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> may perform a residual amount control of the reaction cells <NUM> or the dispensing tips <NUM> which are the expendable items.

The enclosing portion <NUM> is a box in which the trays <NUM> are accommodated, and the open portion through which the expendable item conveyance portion <NUM> gets access to the expendable items on the tray <NUM> is provided to an upper side of the enclosing portion <NUM>. In the same manner as the expendable item cover <NUM>, an open portion through which the expendable item conveyance portion <NUM> passes the enclosing portion <NUM> may be provided to a side surface of the enclosing portion <NUM>. In this embodiment, the open portion is provided to a rear side of the enclosing portion <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, it is not always necessary that the enclosing portion <NUM> has a left-and-right symmetrical shape. For example, the enclosing portion <NUM> may have a shape where a portion of the enclosing portion <NUM> on a side where a drive portion of the expendable item conveyance portion <NUM> is disposed is larger. Further, a fitting portion <NUM> that protrudes in a horizontal direction may be provided to a rear side of the enclosing portion <NUM>. The fitting portion <NUM> is fitted into a body of the automatic analyzer <NUM>. By providing the fitting portion <NUM>, in mounting the enclosing portion <NUM> on the body of the automatic analyzer <NUM>, the number of screws for fixing can be reduced.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an inclined surface <NUM> that is high on a side of the open portion is provided to an upper surface of the expendable item cover <NUM>. The incubator <NUM>, the tip buffer <NUM>, the specimen dispensing unit <NUM> and the like are disposed on a rear side of the expendable item cover <NUM>. A rear side of the expendable item cover <NUM> is also referred to as a direction deeper than the open portion. An inclination angle SA which is an angle made by the inclined surface <NUM> and the horizontal surface may be set based on restriction such as an upper limit of a height of the expendable item case <NUM> or the like. The angle is set to <NUM> degrees, for example. By providing the inclined surface <NUM>, even when the reagent container <NUM> which is placed on the upper surface of the expendable item cover <NUM> falls at the time of performing a maintenance operation and a reagent in the reagent container <NUM> leaks, the leaked reagent does not flow toward the side of the open portion. Further, the inclined surface <NUM> is inclined such that the reagent does not leak in a direction toward an area where the incubator <NUM>, the tip buffer <NUM>, the specimen dispensing unit <NUM> and the like are disposed. As a result, accuracy of analysis of a specimen can be maintained.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a barrier portion <NUM> which protrudes upward may be provided to an end portion of the expendable item cover <NUM> at the side of the open portion. By providing the barrier portion <NUM>, even in a case where the inclination angle SA is small so that a liquid that leaks on the expendable item cover <NUM> flows toward the side of the open portion, the flow of the liquid is stopped by the barrier portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, an eaves portion <NUM> that protrudes in a horizontal direction may be provided to lower end portions of side surfaces of the expendable item cover <NUM> to which the open portion is not provided. By providing the eaves portion <NUM>, a mechanical strength of the expendable item cover <NUM> can be increased. The eaves portion <NUM> may be fixed to a periphery of the open portion of the enclosing portion <NUM> by screws <NUM>.

A convex portion <NUM> having a surface that faces the eaves portion <NUM> may be provided to a portion of a periphery of an opening of the enclosing portion <NUM>. The convex portion <NUM> protrudes in an upward direction from an upper surface of the enclosing portion <NUM>, and a stepped portion formed between the convex portion <NUM> and the upper surface of the enclosing portion <NUM> is indicated by HA. In a case where the convex portion <NUM> is provided, it is preferable that the eaves portion <NUM> protrude more than the convex portion <NUM> in a horizontal direction. By setting a horizontal direction length LA of the eaves portion <NUM> longer than a width of the convex portion <NUM> in a horizontal direction, a leaked liquid flows as indicated by a dotted arrow in <FIG>. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the infiltration of the liquid into the expendable item case <NUM> through a gap formed between the eaves portion <NUM> and the convex portion <NUM>. A corner portion <NUM> having an L shape may be provided to roots of the eaves portion <NUM> and the convex portion <NUM> for facilitating cleaning.

A modification of the eaves portion <NUM> is described with reference to <FIG> illustrates an eaves portion <NUM> where a barrier portion <NUM> that protrudes upward is provided to an outer peripheral portion of the eaves portion <NUM>. By providing the barrier portion <NUM> having a height HB to an outer periphery of the eaves portion <NUM>, the flow of a liquid that leaks on an expendable item cover <NUM> is stopped by the barrier portion <NUM> even when the liquid reaches the eaves portion <NUM>. A corner portion <NUM> having an L shape may be provided to a root of the barrier portion <NUM> for facilitating cleaning. By forming the corner portion <NUM> into an L shape, a stress concentration can be alleviated so that a mechanical strength of the barrier portion <NUM> can be increased.

A modification of the enclosing portion <NUM> is described with reference to <FIG> illustrates an enclosing portion <NUM> where a barrier portion <NUM> that protrudes upward is provided around an opening. By providing the barrier portion <NUM> having a height HC around the opening of the enclosing portion <NUM>, the flow of a liquid that leaks on an expendable item cover <NUM> is stopped by the barrier portion <NUM> even when the liquid reaches an upper surface of the enclosing portion <NUM> by way of an eaves portion <NUM>. Further, a corner portion <NUM> having an L shape may be provided to a root of the barrier portion <NUM> for facilitating cleaning. It is preferable to form a gap between the barrier portion <NUM> and the expendable item cover <NUM> to an extent that a capillary phenomenon does not occur. By forming such a gap, it is possible to prevent the infiltration of the liquid into the expendable item case <NUM>.

A modification of the expendable item cover <NUM> is described with reference to <FIG> illustrates an expendable item cover <NUM> where a barrier portion <NUM> that protrudes upward is provided to an outer periphery of an upper surface of the expendable item cover <NUM>. By providing the barrier portion <NUM> having a height HD on the outer periphery of the upper surface of the expendable item cover <NUM>, the flow of a liquid that leaks on the expendable item cover <NUM> is stopped by the barrier portion <NUM> and stays on the upper surface of the expendable item cover <NUM>. A corner portion <NUM> having an R shape may be provided to a root of the barrier portion <NUM> for facilitating cleaning.

Claim 1:
An automatic analyzer (<NUM>) comprising:
an analysis unit which analyzes a specimen;
an expendable item case (<NUM>) which accommodates expendable items including a dispensing tip (<NUM>) used for dispensing of the specimen and a reaction cell (<NUM>) used for reaction between the specimen and a reagent;
an expendable item conveyance portion (<NUM>) which conveys the expendable items from the expendable item case (<NUM>); and
a body cover (<NUM>) which covers the analysis unit, the expendable item case (<NUM>);
and the expendable item conveyance portion (<NUM>),
wherein the expendable item case (<NUM>) includes a tray (<NUM>) in which the expendable items are arrayed, and an expendable item cover (<NUM>) which covers the tray (<NUM>) and in which an open portion through which the expendable item conveyance portion (<NUM>) passes is provided on a side surface thereof, and
the expendable item cover (<NUM>) includes a barrier portion (<NUM>) protruding upward at an end on a side of the open portion.