JP2005283246A - Nozzle washing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a nozzle washing method of a nozzle capable of suppressing the carry-over of a washing object, and provide a nozzle washing apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: In the nozzle washing method and apparatus 1, the leading end of a nozzle 2b, in which a reagent or a specimen solution is sucked, is immersed in the washing liquid L supplied in a washing tank C and the washing liquid is sucked up to a preset necessary washing liquid amount and discharged to wash the nozzle 2b, there are provided a process where a first amount of the washing liquid L is injected in the washing tank C to be sucked by the nozzle 2b, and a process for injecting a second liquid amount of the washing liquid exceeding the first liquid amount in the washing tank C and sucked up to a necessary washing liquid amount by the nozzle 2b, and the washing operation is divided at least twice. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a nozzle cleaning method and a nozzle cleaning device.

  Conventionally, in biochemical analysis, a reagent or specimen is sucked by a nozzle, the nozzle is moved to the position of the reaction container, and then the sucked reagent or specimen is discharged to the reaction container. Then, after ejecting the reagent or specimen, the nozzle is moved to the cleaning position, and the nozzle is cleaned with a cleaning liquid (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the nozzle is supported by the discharge motor Nd and the suction nozzle Ns by an arm A that is moved up and down by a pulse motor M, and a cleaning tank C is disposed immediately below the suction nozzle Ns. Then, under the control of the control device S, the pulse motor M is driven to lower the arm A. The tip of the suction nozzle Ns is inserted into the cleaning tank C, the cleaning liquid discharged from the discharge nozzle Nd into the cleaning tank C is sucked, and the sucked cleaning liquid is discharged from the other end to clean the suction nozzle Ns. The suction and discharge of the cleaning liquid was repeated several times. At this time, the discharge nozzle Nd is positioned with respect to the cleaning tank C so that the lower end of the suction nozzle Ns is positioned slightly above the cleaning tank C in the vertical direction when the lower end of the suction nozzle Ns is positioned in the lower part of the cleaning tank C. Yes.

JP-A-9-304243

  However, the conventional cleaning method is required to improve the cleaning performance with respect to the nozzle in direct contact with the reagent or specimen in order to suppress the carryover of the reagent or specimen as the analysis accuracy increases. It turns out that it is not always satisfactory. In particular, immunoassay, which requires higher accuracy than biochemical analysis, separates components that are specifically bound to immunosorbents and components that are not bound during the reaction process associated with sample analysis. A so-called B / F cleaning operation is included. This B / F cleaning is required to perform high-performance cleaning of an immunosorbing substance containing magnetic particles and the like in order to perform highly sensitive immunoassay. However, in the B / F cleaning, if the nozzle is not sufficiently cleaned, there is a problem that the cleaning performance of the immunosorbing substance is deteriorated and the highly sensitive immunoassay is hindered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a nozzle cleaning method and a nozzle cleaning device capable of suppressing the carry over of the cleaning target and improving the cleaning performance.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the nozzle cleaning method according to claim 1 is set in advance by injecting the tip of the nozzle that sucked the reagent or sample liquid into the cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning tank. A cleaning method for a nozzle that cleans the nozzle by sucking and discharging the cleaning liquid to a necessary cleaning liquid amount, injecting a first liquid amount into the cleaning tank, and supplying the injected first liquid amount A step of sucking the cleaning liquid by the nozzle, and injecting a cleaning liquid of the second liquid amount exceeding the first liquid amount into the cleaning tank, and supplying the injected cleaning liquid of the second liquid amount to the necessary cleaning liquid by the nozzle. And a step of sucking up to the amount, and the cleaning operation is divided into at least two times.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the nozzle cleaning device according to claim 4 sucks the reagent or the sample liquid into the cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning tank under the control of the control device. A nozzle cleaning device for cleaning the nozzle by intruding the tip of the nozzle, sucking and discharging the cleaning liquid up to a preset required cleaning liquid amount, and the control device divides the cleaning operation into at least two times. , A step of injecting a first amount of cleaning liquid into the cleaning tank, and sucking the injected first liquid amount of cleaning liquid by the nozzle; and a second amount exceeding the first liquid amount in the cleaning tank. A step of injecting a cleaning liquid of a liquid amount and sucking the injected cleaning liquid of the second liquid amount to the required cleaning liquid amount by the nozzle.

  According to the nozzle cleaning method of the first aspect, by carrying out the cleaning operation at least twice, the carry over of the cleaning target is suppressed, and the cleaning performance is improved.

  In the nozzle cleaning method according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the first liquid amount is an amount in which a tip portion of the nozzle that has entered the reagent or sample liquid is immersed during aspiration. It is characterized by that.

  The nozzle cleaning method according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the second liquid amount is slightly smaller than a difference between the necessary cleaning liquid amount and the first liquid amount.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The nozzle cleaning method and the nozzle cleaning apparatus according to the present invention can suppress carry over of a cleaning target, and have an effect of improving cleaning performance.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a nozzle cleaning method and a nozzle cleaning device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cleaning apparatus that executes the nozzle cleaning method of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the nozzle is lowered and inserted into the cleaning tank in the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the first liquid amount is injected into the cleaning tank in the cleaning apparatus of FIG. FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the second liquid amount is injected into the cleaning tank after the first liquid amount of the cleaning liquid is sucked.

  The cleaning device 1 is used by being incorporated in an analysis device that performs biochemical analysis or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, a nozzle 2, a pulse motor 4, a cleaning liquid tank 5, a waste liquid tank 7, and a control device 10 are provided. I have.

  The nozzle 2 is supported by the arm 3 and disposed immediately above the cleaning tank C, and is cleaned by the cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning tank C. The nozzle 2 has a discharge nozzle 2a and a suction nozzle 2b. The discharge nozzle 2a is positioned with respect to the cleaning tank C so that the lower end of the suction nozzle 2b is positioned slightly above the cleaning tank C in the vertical direction when the lower end of the suction nozzle 2b is positioned in the lower part of the cleaning tank C. The discharge nozzle 2 a has a tip opened to the cleaning tank C side, and the other end connected to a cleaning liquid tank 5 storing a cleaning liquid L by a pipe 6. In the pipe 6, a pump 6 a that discharges the cleaning liquid L to the cleaning tank C is provided in the middle. The tip of the suction nozzle 2 b is open to the cleaning tank C side, and the other end is connected to the waste liquid tank 7 via a pipe 8. The pipe 8 is provided with a syringe pump 9 having a driving means 9 a in the middle, and control valves 8 a and 8 b are attached to both sides sandwiching the syringe pump 9. The suction nozzle 2b sucks the reagent or sample at the suction position, and then moves to the discharge position to discharge the reagent or sample to the reaction container. After the discharge, the suction nozzle 2b moves to the cleaning position and is cleaned by the cleaning device 1.

  The pulse motor 4 moves the nozzle 2 up and down via the arm 3 and stops the tip of the suction nozzle 2 b near the bottom of the cleaning tank C. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning tank C is disposed directly below the suction nozzle 2b.

  The control device 10 is a control means such as an ECU that controls driving of the pulse motor 4, the pump 6a, the syringe pump 9, and the control valves 8a and 8b. The control device 10 controls the operation of the pulse motor 4 so as to stop at the position where the tip of the nozzle 2 enters the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank C, or the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 5 to the cleaning tank C when the suction nozzle 2b is cleaned. The operation of the pump 6a is controlled so as to supply.

  In the cleaning device 1, when the suction nozzle 2b is cleaned, the control device 10 outputs an operation signal to the pulse motor 4, and as shown in FIG. 2, the arm 3 is lowered and the tip of the suction nozzle 2b is moved to the cleaning tank C. Stop near the bottom.

  Next, the control device 10 outputs an operation signal to the pump 6a, and discharges the cleaning liquid L sucked from the cleaning liquid tank 5 from the discharge nozzle 2a to the cleaning tank C as shown in FIG. At this time, the amount of the cleaning liquid L to be discharged is an amount in which the tip portion of the suction nozzle 2b that has penetrated into the reagent or the sample liquid is immersed. However, the amount by which the tip of the suction nozzle 2b is immersed varies depending on the amount of penetration of the tip of the suction nozzle 2b, the shape of the cleaning tank, and the like. For this reason, since the amount of the cleaning liquid L to be discharged cannot be uniquely determined, it is set at the start of measurement based on the results of measuring the intrusion amount at the tip of the suction nozzle 2b and the shape of the cleaning tank in advance.

  Next, the control device 10 outputs an operation signal to the driving means 9a and the control valves 8a and 8b, operates the syringe pump 9, and sucks the cleaning liquid L in the cleaning tank C by the suction nozzle 2b. At this time, the control device 10 outputs an operation signal so as to close the control valve 8a and open the control valve 8b.

  After that, the control device 10 outputs an operation signal again to the pump 6a, discharges the cleaning liquid L from the cleaning liquid tank 5 to the cleaning tank C, and makes the cleaning tank C almost full with the cleaning liquid L as shown in FIG. . At this time, the amount of the cleaning liquid L to be discharged is the same as the previous amount of cleaning liquid required for cleaning the suction nozzle 2b set in advance so that the cleaning liquid L does not remain in the cleaning tank C when the subsequent suction is executed. It is set to be slightly smaller than the difference from the sucked liquid amount.

  Next, under the control of the drive means 9a by the control device 10, the syringe pump 9 is operated again, and the cleaning liquid L in the cleaning tank C is sucked to the required cleaning liquid amount by the suction nozzle 2b. When the suction is completed, the control device 10 closes the control valve 8b, outputs an operation signal so as to open the control valve 8a, and operates the syringe pump 9 by the driving means 9a to suck the cleaning liquid after cleaning which has been sucked. Dispose of. Thus, the suction nozzle 2b completes one cleaning cycle, and normally executes the above-described cleaning cycle a plurality of times.

  As described above, the cleaning method and the nozzle cleaning apparatus of the present invention pre-clean the suction nozzle 2b with an amount of the cleaning liquid that immerses the tip of the suction nozzle 2b that has entered the reagent or the sample liquid, and then the remaining cleaning liquid is required. The cleaning operation is divided at least twice by cleaning the suction nozzle 2b by sucking up to the cleaning liquid amount. For this reason, the cleaning method and the nozzle cleaning apparatus of the present invention suppress the carryover of the cleaning target in the suction nozzle 2b, and improve the cleaning performance of the suction nozzle 2b.

  Here, in order to confirm the cleaning performance of the nozzle cleaning method and the nozzle cleaning apparatus of the present invention, a cleaning test on the cleaning performance of the immunosorbing substance during B / F cleaning in immunoassay was performed. That is, the suction nozzle 2b in which the sample containing the immunosorbing substance was dispensed using the cleaning apparatus 1 was cleaned 20 times each by the method of the present invention and the conventional method. In the method of the present invention, the timing of the discharge and suction of the cleaning liquid was set as shown in FIG. At this time, the cleaning liquid discharged at the first time was 100 μL, the second time was about 780 μL, and the time required for one cycle of cleaning was 5 seconds. On the other hand, in the conventional cleaning method, as shown in FIG. 6, after about 880 μL of the cleaning liquid is discharged from the discharge nozzle 2a to the cleaning tank C, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank C is sucked by the suction nozzle 2b after about 1 second. It took 5 seconds. Then, each time the suction nozzle 2b was cleaned, the cleaning liquid was newly sucked, and the carryover (ppm) of the immunoadsorbing substance was measured for the sucked cleaning liquid.

  As a result of the washing test conducted 20 times, the conventional washing method had a maximum value of 3.69 ppm and an average value of 1.53 ppm with respect to carry over of the sample. In contrast, the method of the present invention has a maximum carry-over value of 1.60 ppm and an average value of 0.37 ppm, which is about 43% at the maximum value and about 24% at the average value compared with the conventional cleaning method. , Each decreased, and the cleaning performance was improved.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the cleaning operation is divided into two times has been described. However, as long as the cleaning operation is divided into at least two times, the cleaning operation may be divided into three or more times.

  As described above, the nozzle cleaning method and the nozzle cleaning device according to the present invention are useful for suppressing carryover of a cleaning target, and are particularly suitable for use in a biochemical analyzer or an immunoanalyzer.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the nozzle cleaning apparatus which performs the nozzle cleaning method of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the nozzle is lowered and inserted into a cleaning tank in the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which a first liquid amount is injected into a cleaning tank in the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the state which injected the 2nd liquid quantity of the washing | cleaning liquid in the washing tank, after attracting | sucking the 1st liquid quantity of the washing | cleaning liquid. FIG. 2 is a timing diagram illustrating operation timings of a discharge nozzle and a suction nozzle in the cleaning device of FIG. 1. It is a timing diagram which shows the operation timing of the discharge nozzle and the suction nozzle in the conventional nozzle cleaning method. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the conventional nozzle cleaning apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning apparatus 2 Nozzle 2a Discharge nozzle 2b Suction nozzle 3 Arm 4 Pulse motor 5 Cleaning liquid tank 6 Piping 7 Waste liquid tank 8 Piping 8a, 8b Control valve 9 Syringe pump 10 Control apparatus C Cleaning tank L Cleaning liquid

Claims (4)

This is a nozzle cleaning method in which the nozzle tip that has sucked the reagent or specimen liquid is inserted into the cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning tank, and the cleaning liquid is sucked and discharged to a preset required cleaning liquid amount and then discharged. And
Injecting a first amount of cleaning liquid into the cleaning tank, and sucking the injected first amount of cleaning liquid by the nozzle;
Injecting a second liquid amount of the cleaning liquid that exceeds the first liquid amount into the cleaning tank, and sucking the injected second liquid amount of the cleaning liquid to the required cleaning liquid amount by the nozzle;
A nozzle cleaning method characterized in that the cleaning operation is divided into at least two times.   2. The nozzle cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid amount is an amount in which a tip portion of the nozzle that has entered the reagent or the sample liquid is immersed during aspiration.   3. The nozzle cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the second liquid amount is slightly smaller than a difference between the necessary cleaning liquid amount and the first liquid amount. 4. Under the control of the control device, the nozzle tip that has sucked the reagent or sample liquid into the cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning tank is inserted, and the cleaning liquid is sucked up to a preset required cleaning liquid amount and discharged to discharge the nozzle. A cleaning device for a nozzle for cleaning,
The control device divides the cleaning operation into at least two times,
Injecting a first amount of cleaning liquid into the cleaning tank and sucking the injected first amount of cleaning liquid by the nozzle;
Injecting a second liquid amount of the cleaning liquid that exceeds the first liquid amount into the cleaning tank, and sucking the injected second liquid amount of the cleaning liquid to the required cleaning liquid amount by the nozzle;
Nozzle cleaning apparatus characterized in that

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