JP2009229194A - Reagent container and autoanalyzer equipped with it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an autoanalyzer which uniformizes the reagent housed in a reagent container without complicating and scaling up a cooling structure for cooling the reagent container to enhance the precision of a measuring result, and the reagent container. <P>SOLUTION: The upper part of the reagent container cooled by the cooling part of the autoanalyzer arranged on the side of the base keeps heat resistance value set lower as compared with that of the lower part of the reagent container. Alternatively, the upper part of the reagent container is formed of the wall part integrally formed along with the lower part of the reagent container and a cover member which surrounds at least a part of the wall part and comprises a heat conductive substance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that dispenses a test sample and a reagent and measures a reaction, and a reagent container held by the automatic analyzer.

  An automatic analyzer is a device that measures a reaction by dispensing a test sample and a reagent. After dispensing a test sample such as blood or urine and a reagent into a reaction tube and reacting them, the concentration or activity of the test substance or enzyme in the sample is measured by optically measuring the color change caused by the reaction. Measure.

  The reagent must be cooled so as not to cause denaturation. Since it is not efficient to extract and install many reagents from the reagent store for each analysis and return them to their original state after use, the automatic analyzer is often provided with a reagent store having a cooling mechanism. In the automatic analyzer provided with the reagent storage having the cooling mechanism, a reagent rack is rotatably stored in the reagent storage, and a plurality of reagent containers are stored side by side in the reagent rack.

  A reagent storage having a cooling mechanism generally has a constant thickness at the bottom, and a cooling part having a cold water circulation system or a Peltier element is provided in the internal space of the bottom. The cooling unit cools the reagent in the reagent container housed in the reagent rack located above. In other words, a cooling unit is disposed on the bottom surface side of the reagent container, and cool air is transmitted upward from the bottom surface side of the reagent container to cool the reagent in the contents.

  When the cooling unit is provided on the bottom surface side of the reagent container, the reagent close to the bottom surface side is cooled first. Therefore, a temperature distribution occurs in which the reagent closer to the bottom surface side of the reagent container has a lower temperature than the liquid surface side, and at the same time, the reagent temperature and concentration correlate, so the reagent closer to the bottom surface side is closer to the liquid surface side. A density distribution with a higher density than that occurs. This non-uniformity of the reagent is difficult to eliminate in the stationary state because convection hardly occurs in the reagent container when the temperature of the reagent on the bottom side is lower.

  When such reagent heterogeneity occurs, the temperature and concentration of the dispensed reagent differ between when the reagent close to the liquid level is dispensed and when the reagent near the bottom side is dispensed. Therefore, the measurement accuracy is lowered.

  Therefore, a configuration in which a cooling unit is provided on the side surface of the reagent container in order to make the reagent in the reagent container uniform has been proposed (see, for example, “Patent Document 1”). The cooling unit on the side surface of the reagent container has a configuration in which a cooling plate and a waste heat treatment mechanism including a Peltier element and a high heat conductive member are arranged on the side surface of the reagent container.

  In the configuration in which the cooling unit is provided on the side surface of the reagent container, the reagent close to the liquid level and the reagent close to the bottom surface can be cooled uniformly, so that it is difficult to generate temperature distribution and concentration distribution, and the uniformity of the reagent is maintained. Be drunk. However, in such a configuration in which the cooling unit is provided on the side surface of the reagent container, for the purpose of waste heat, the cooling unit disposed on the side surface of the reagent container and the waste heat mechanism disposed on the bottom surface side of the reagent container are connected. It was necessary to provide a mechanism, and the cooling mechanism was complicated. In addition, since the reagent container and the cooling unit are arranged in the width direction of the reagent storage, the dimensions of the reagent storage are increased, and the apparatus itself is enlarged.

JP 2007-24714 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to uniformly store reagents without complicating and increasing the size of a cooling structure for cooling a reagent container. Thus, an automatic analyzer and a reagent container that improve the accuracy of measurement results are provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, the reagent container according to the present invention described in claim 1 is used by being held in an automatic analyzer for dispensing a test sample and a reagent into a reaction tube and measuring a mixed solution thereof, A cooling unit of the automatic analyzer is positioned on the bottom side and cooled when held, and the reagent is taken out from the lid side, the side wall on the lid side of the container being the side wall on the bottom side It has a low thermal resistance value compared with the above.

  At least a part of the lid side wall may be made of a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than the bottom side wall (corresponding to the invention of claim 2).

  At least a part of the side wall on the bottom side may be formed of a heat shielding material having a lower thermal conductivity than the side wall on the lid side (corresponding to the invention according to claim 3).

  The side wall on the lid side may be formed thinner than the side wall on the bottom side (corresponding to the invention of claim 4).

  A difference may be provided between the thermal resistance value of the side wall on the lid side and the thermal resistance value of the side wall on the bottom side according to the viscosity of the reagent to be accommodated (claims). Equivalent to the invention described in 5).

  Depending on the viscosity of the reagent contained, at least a part of the side wall on the lid side is formed of a heat conductive material, or at least a part of the side wall on the bottom side is formed of a heat blocking material, or At least a part of the side wall on the lid side may be made of a heat conducting material, and at least a part of the side wall on the bottom side may be made of a heat shielding material (corresponding to the invention of claim 6). ).

  In order to solve the above problems, a sample container according to the present invention described in claim 7 is held in an automatic analyzer that dispenses a test sample and a reagent into a reaction tube and measures a mixed solution thereof, and When held, a cooling unit of the automatic analyzer is positioned on the bottom side and cooled, and the reagent is taken out from the lid side, and the side wall on the lid side of the container is A wall portion integrally formed with the side wall; and a covering body that surrounds at least a part of the wall portion and is composed of a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than the wall portion. And

  In order to solve the above problems, an automatic analyzer according to the present invention described in claim 8 is an automatic analyzer for dispensing a test sample and a reagent into a reaction tube and measuring a mixed solution thereof, wherein the reagent A reagent container in which the reagent is taken out from the lid side, a reagent container having a cooling part positioned on the bottom surface side of the reagent container, and holding the reagent container, the reagent container comprising: The side wall on the lid side of the container has a lower thermal resistance value than the side wall on the bottom side.

  In order to solve the above problems, an automatic analyzer according to the present invention described in claim 9 is an automatic analyzer for dispensing a test sample and a reagent into a reaction tube and measuring a mixed solution thereof, wherein the reagent A reagent container in which the reagent is taken out from the lid side, a reagent container that holds the reagent container, and has a cooling part disposed on the side wall on the bottom side opposite to the lid side of the reagent container; The side wall on the lid side of the reagent container surrounds at least a part of the wall part integrally formed with the side wall on the bottom side, and has a heat conductivity higher than that of the wall part. And a covering made of a conductive material.

  According to the present invention, even if the cooling unit is arranged on the bottom surface side of the reagent container, the reagent near the liquid surface is cooled before the bottom surface side and the temperature is lowered, so that the convection is generated in the reagent in the reagent container. Resulting in a uniform reagent. Thereby, even if the cooling part is arranged on the bottom side of the reagent container, the accuracy of the measurement result can be improved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an automatic analyzer according to the present invention and a reagent container held in the apparatus will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an automatic analyzer 100 that holds a reagent container 7.

  The automatic analyzer 100 is an apparatus that analyzes a chemical component contained in a test sample by dispensing a test sample and a reagent and measuring a reaction. The test sample is an analysis target, such as blood or urine. A reagent is a chemical that chemically reacts the components of a test sample. The reagent container 7 is a container for storing the reagent as contents. The reagent container 7 contains a first reagent that selectively reacts to the item of the sample to be tested, a calibrator of the item, and a second reagent paired with the first reagent.

  The reagent containers 7 are accommodated in a circular reagent rack 1 in a ring shape. The reagent rack 1 storing the reagent container 7 containing the first reagent is stored in the reagent container 2, and the reagent rack 1 storing the reagent container 7 containing the second reagent is stored in the reagent container 3.

  The test sample and the calibrator are accommodated in the test sample container 17. The test sample container 17 is set on the disk sampler 6.

  The reagent rack 1 is rotated by a predetermined angle for each cycle by a driving device (not shown). Further, the disk sampler 6 rotates at an angle controlled for each cycle by a driving device (not shown).

  A first reagent dispensing probe 14 is disposed in the vicinity of the reagent container 2, a second reagent dispensing probe 15 is disposed in the vicinity of the reagent container 3, and a dispensing probe 16 is disposed in the vicinity of the disk sampler 6. Is placed. The first reagent dispensing probe 14 aspirates the first reagent from the reagent container 7 present at the predetermined suction position on the reagent storage 2 every cycle. The second reagent dispensing probe 15 aspirates the second reagent from the reagent container 7 existing at a predetermined suction position on the reagent storage 3 for each cycle. The dispensing probe 16 sucks the test sample or the calibrator from the test sample container 17 on the disk sampler 6.

  The first reagent dispensing probe 14, the second reagent dispensing probe 15, and the dispensing probe 16 are so-called straws, and a negative pressure is applied to the inside every cycle by a pump (not shown), whereby the first reagent, Aspirate the second reagent or test sample.

  By being discharged to the aspirated first reagent, second reagent, and test sample, they are dispensed into the reaction tube 4. The reaction tubes 4 are accommodated in a circular reaction disk 5 in a ring. The reaction disk 5 is also rotated by a predetermined angle for each cycle by a driving device (not shown).

  The first reagent dispensing probe 14 is supported by the first reagent dispensing arm 8, the second reagent dispensing probe 15 is supported by the second reagent dispensing arm 9, and the dispensing probe 16 is dispensed by the dispensing arm 10. Supported by The first reagent dispensing arm 8, the second reagent dispensing arm 9, and the dispensing arm 10 can be rotated and moved up and down by a drive device (not shown), and the first reagent dispensing probe 14 and the second reagent. The dispensing probe 15 and the dispensing probe 16 are moved in the first reagent dispensing arm 8, the second reagent dispensing arm 9, or the dispensing arm 10 by rotating and vertically moving the reagent container 7 and the test sample container 17 respectively. The tip is plunged into and the reagent and the test sample or calibrator are aspirated.

  The first reagent dispensing probe 14, the second reagent dispensing probe 15, and the dispensing probe 16 are rotated by the first reagent dispensing arm 8, the second reagent dispensing arm 9, or the dispensing arm 10. The first reagent, the second reagent, and the test sample are discharged into the reaction tube 4 by being positioned on the reaction tube 4 by vertical movement and pressurized inside each cycle by a pump (not shown).

  Around the outer periphery of the reaction disk 5, a stirring unit 11, a photometry unit 13, and a cleaning unit 12 are arranged along the circumferential direction.

  The agitation unit 11 has a test sample + first reagent, calibrator + first reagent, test sample + first reagent + second reagent, calibrator + first in the reaction tube 4 stopped at the agitation position for each cycle. Stir the mixture of reagent + second reagent. For example, the stirring unit 11 is provided with a stirring rod having a piezoelectric body (not shown) at one end. Stirring is performed by inserting a stirring bar into the reaction tube 4 and vibrating the stirring bar at high frequency by the piezoelectric effect of the piezoelectric body. This agitation promotes the reaction between the reagent and the test sample.

  The photometric unit 13 measures the reaction tube 4 containing the mixture of the sample to be tested and the reagent from the photometric position. The photometric unit 13 includes a light source and a light receiving unit arranged with the reaction tube 4 interposed therebetween, and measures the absorbance of the mixed liquid, for example.

  The cleaning unit 12 aspirates the mixed liquid that has been measured in the reaction tube 4 stopped at the cleaning / drying position, and cleans / drys the reaction tube 4.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the reagent storages 2 and 3 of such an automatic analyzer 100.

  The reagent containers 2 and 3 are double cylindrical containers composed of an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The outer cylinder has a closed bottom and an open top surface. The inner cylinder is erected from the center of the bottom of the outer cylinder toward the opening. The reagent racks 1 are concentrically accommodated in the annulus spaces (torus spaces) of the reagent containers 2 and 3. The reagent rack 1 accommodates the reagent container 7 in an annular shape, and rotates around the inner cylinder in the reagent containers 2 and 3.

  The bottoms of the outer cylinders of the reagent containers 2 and 3 have a certain thickness. A cooling unit 19 having a cold water circulation system or a Peltier element is provided at the bottom of the outer cylinders of the reagent containers 2 and 3. The cooling unit 19 cools the reagent in the reagent container 7 housed in the reagent rack 1 positioned above. This is to prevent denaturation of the reagent. In other words, the cooling unit 19 is disposed on the bottom surface side of the reagent container 7, and cold air is transmitted upward from the bottom surface side of the reagent container 7 to cool the contents of the reagent.

  FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a first specific example of the reagent container 7 in which the cooling unit 19 is disposed on the bottom surface side when held by the automatic analyzer 100.

  In the reagent container 7, the thickness of the wall portion 71 surrounding the internal space is constant. An upper portion 72 corresponding to the upper side when the wall portion 71 is divided into two so as to cross the standing direction, that is, the lid-side wall portion 71 from which the reagent is taken out is formed of the heat conductive material 721. The wall portion 71 other than the upper portion 72, that is, the lower portion 73 on the bottom side is formed of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene (Polypropylene, PP). In addition, the range of the upper part 72 may be only the side wall of the upper part 72, or may be formed of the heat conductive material 721 up to the lid.

  The thermally conductive material 721 is a material having a higher thermal conductivity than PET or PP, and is, for example, a metal such as silicon carbide, aluminum nitride, or copper. The thermal conductivity is a physical quantity obtained by dividing the thermal energy passing through the unit area per unit time by the temperature gradient. When all of the upper part 72 is formed of the heat conductive material 721, the heat conductive material 721 is preferably silicon carbide having chemical resistance and weather resistance because it directly contacts the internal reagent.

That is, the reagent container 7 has a difference in thermal resistance value between the upper part 72 and the lower part 73, and the upper part 72 far from the cooling part 19 has a lower thermal resistance value than the lower part 73 close to the cooling part 19. Have. The thermal resistance value (m ² + K / W) is a numerical value obtained by dividing the thickness (m) of the wall portion 71 by the thermal conductivity (W / (m + K)). In the present embodiment, since the thickness of the wall portion 71 is constant, the upper portion 72 formed of the heat conductive material 721 has a lower thermal resistance value than the lower portion 73.

  FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the reagent container 7 for explaining the convection of the reagent generated in the reagent container 7 in which the upper part 72 is formed of the heat conductive material 721.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, since the upper portion 72 has a lower thermal resistance value than the lower portion 73, the amount of heat flowing between the outside and the inside of the reagent container 7 is higher in the upper portion 72 than in the lower portion 73. There are more through. Therefore, the reagent in contact with the upper part 72, that is, the reagent close to the liquid surface is cooled first and the temperature is lowered, and the weight of the reagent per unit volume is higher for the reagent close to the liquid surface than for the reagent close to the bottom surface. Become heavier.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the specific gravity of the reagent near the liquid surface and the reagent near the bottom surface changes, the reagent near the liquid surface settles, and the reagent near the bottom surface rises. That is, convection occurs in the reagent in the reagent container 7.

  Due to this convection, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the reagent in the reagent container 7 becomes uniform even if the cooling part 19 for cooling the reagent container 7 is still arranged on the bottom surface side of the container. It is possible to always aspirate the reagent in the same state regardless of the remaining amount. Thereby, the precision of a measurement result can be improved, without causing complication and enlargement of a cooling structure.

  In addition, although the specific example which forms all the upper parts 72 with the heat conductive material 721 was demonstrated, if a difference arises in the thermal resistance value of the upper part 72 and the lower part 73, a part of upper part 72 will be formed with the heat conductive material 721. Other than the upper part 72 may be formed of PET, PP, or the like.

  FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a first modification of the reagent container 7 in which the upper part 72 is formed of the heat conductive material 721. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a second modification of the reagent container 7 in which the upper portion 72 is formed of the heat conductive material 721. FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing a third modification of the reagent container 7 in which the upper portion 72 is formed of the heat conductive material 721.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper portion 72 has a double structure, the inner shell is formed of a heat conductive material 721, and the outer shell is formed of PET, PP, or the like. The double structure of the heat conducting material 721 and PET, PP, or the like may be realized by integral molding, or the outer shell may be bonded to the inner shell.

  When the inner shell of the upper portion 72 is formed of the heat conductive material 721, it is desirable that the composition of the inner shell is silicon carbide having chemical resistance and weather resistance.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper portion 72 has a double structure, the outer shell is formed of a heat conductive material 721, and the inner shell is formed of PET, PP, or the like. When the outer shell of the upper portion 72 is formed of the heat conducting material 721, the heat conducting material 721 is not in direct contact with the reagent, so the chemical composition and weather resistance are not required for the composition of the outer shell. The composition can be a metal such as aluminum nitride or copper.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a part of the upper portion 72 formed of PET or PP may be pierced or scraped, and a heat conductive material 721 may be fitted into the pierced or scraped portion.

  Next, a second specific example of the reagent container 7 in which the cooling unit 19 is disposed on the bottom surface side when held by the automatic analyzer 100 will be described. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing a second specific example of the reagent container 7.

  As an aspect in which the upper portion 72 has a lower thermal resistance value than the lower portion 73, the lower portion 73 is formed of a heat blocking material 731, and the upper portion 72 is formed of PET or PP having a higher thermal conductivity than the heat blocking material 731. You may do it. In addition, the range of the lower part 73 may be only the side wall of the lower part 73, and may be formed with the heat shielding material 731 to the bottom.

  The heat blocking material 731 is a material having a lower thermal conductivity than PET and PP, and examples thereof include polystyrene, ceramics, and polystyrene foam. When all of the lower part 73 is formed of the heat blocking material 731, the heat blocking material 731 is preferably made of polystyrene having chemical resistance and weather resistance since it directly contacts the internal reagent.

  That is, the reagent container 7 realizes a lower thermal resistance value of the upper part 72 far from the cooling part 19 than the lower part 73 close to the cooling part 19 by raising the thermal resistance value of the lower part 73 higher than the upper part 72. Yes.

  In this second specific example, since the lower 73 has a higher thermal resistance value than the upper 72, the amount of heat flowing between the outside and the inside of the reagent container 7 passes through the upper 72 rather than the lower 73. More. Therefore, the reagent in contact with the upper portion 72, that is, the reagent closer to the liquid surface is cooled first and the temperature is lowered, and convection occurs in the reagent in the reagent container 7. By this convection, the reagent in the reagent container 7 becomes uniform even if the cooling unit 19 that cools the reagent container 7 is still arranged on the bottom side of the container.

  FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view showing a first modification of the reagent container 7 in which the lower portion 73 is formed of the heat blocking material 731. FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing a second modification of the reagent container 7 in which the lower portion 73 is formed of the heat blocking material 731. FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a third modification of the reagent container 7 in which the lower portion 73 is formed of the heat blocking material 731.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the lower portion 73 has a double structure, the inner shell is formed of a heat blocking material 731, and the outer shell is formed of PET, PP, or the like. When the inner shell of the lower part 73 is formed of the heat blocking material 731, it is desirable that the composition of the inner shell is polystyrene having chemical resistance and weather resistance.

  Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the lower portion 73 has a double structure, the outer shell is formed of a heat blocking material 731, and the inner shell is formed of PET, PP, or the like. When the outer shell of the lower portion 73 is formed of the heat shielding material 731, the heat shielding material 731 does not come into direct contact with the reagent, so the chemical composition and weather resistance are not required for the composition of the outer shell. The composition can be ceramic or polystyrene foam.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, a part of the lower part 73 formed of PET or PP may be pierced or scraped, and a heat blocking material 731 may be fitted into the pierced or scraped part.

  Instead of forming the lower portion 73 with the heat blocking material 731, the same effect as the second specific example can be obtained by providing a vacuum layer inside the lower portion 73 and blocking the heat with this vacuum layer. Obtainable.

  Next, a third specific example of the reagent container 7 in which the cooling unit 19 is disposed on the bottom side when held by the automatic analyzer 100 will be described. FIG. 12 is a side sectional view showing a third specific example of the reagent container 7.

  As an aspect in which the upper portion 72 has a lower thermal resistance value than the lower portion 73, the upper portion 72 is formed thinner than the lower portion 73. When the upper part 72 and the lower part 73 are formed of the same material, the thermal conductivity is the same, but the upper part 72 has a lower thermal resistance than the lower part 73 because the thickness of the upper part 72 is reduced.

  In this third specific example, even if the upper portion 72 and the lower portion 73 have the same thermal conductivity, the upper 72 has a lower thermal resistance value than the lower portion 73 by the thickness of the wall. The amount of heat that flows between the outside and the inside of 7 is greater via the upper portion 72 than the lower portion 73. Therefore, the reagent in contact with the upper portion 72, that is, the reagent closer to the liquid surface is cooled first and the temperature is lowered, and convection occurs in the reagent in the reagent container 7. By this convection, the reagent in the reagent container 7 becomes uniform even if the cooling unit 19 that cools the reagent container 7 is still arranged on the bottom side of the container.

  Next, a fourth specific example of the reagent container 7 in which the cooling unit 19 is disposed on the bottom surface side when held by the automatic analyzer 100 will be described. FIG. 13 is a side sectional view showing a fourth specific example of the reagent container 7.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the upper portion 72 of the reagent container 7 according to the fourth specific example is formed by a wall portion 71 and a covering body 722. The wall portion 71 is integrally formed with the lower portion 73 and extends up from the bottom surface to the upper portion of the reagent container 7. The covering body 722 is in contact with and surrounds a position corresponding to the upper portion 72 of the wall portion 71.

  The covering body 722 is a member that matches the outer shape or a part of the outer shape of the upper portion 72 of the reagent container 7 and is fitted to the outer shape or a part of the outer shape. For example, convex portions and concave portions are formed on the covering 722 and the upper portion 72, and the convex portions and the concave portions are fitted together. Further, the covering 722 may be a metal seal having a sticking surface. The covering body 722 is composed of a heat conductive material 721.

  Air present in the outer periphery of the reagent container 7 has low thermal conductivity. In particular, in the upper region where the cold air is weakened, air convection is reduced, so that heat transfer between the wall 71 and the air is reduced. However, since the covering body 722 is attached, the amount of heat exchange in the upper portion 72 is increased, the reagent in contact with the upper portion 72 is cooled before the reagent in contact with the lower portion 73, convection is promoted, and the reagent container 7 is cooled. Even if the cooling unit 19 is arranged on the bottom side of the container, the reagent in the reagent container 7 becomes uniform.

  Note that the lower part 73 is composed of the wall part 71 and the heat shielding substance 731 so as to obtain the same effect as the aspect in which the covering body 722 composed of the heat conducting substance 721 is attached to the wall part 71 of the upper part 72. It is also possible to reduce the heat transfer of the lower portion 73 by forming with a covered body.

  Next, a fifth specific example of the reagent container 7 in which the cooling unit 19 is disposed on the bottom surface side when held by the automatic analyzer 100 will be described. FIG. 14 is a side sectional view showing a fifth specific example of the reagent container 7.

  As shown in FIG. 14, in the reagent container 7, an upper portion 72 (first specific example) formed of a heat conducting material 721, a lower portion 73 (second specific example) formed of a heat blocking material 731, or a lower portion At least two or more of the upper portions 72 (third specific example) formed thinner than 73 may be used in combination. By using two or more in combination, the difference in thermal resistance value between the upper portion 72 and the lower portion 73 is further widened, and the convection effect of the reagent is further enhanced.

  The difference in these various thermal resistance values can be provided according to the viscosity of the reagent contained. Convection tends to occur when the viscosity of the reagent to be stored is low. Therefore, any one of the first specific example to the third specific example is applied to the reagent container 7 containing the reagent having a low viscosity. On the other hand, when the viscosity of the reagent is high, convection hardly occurs. Therefore, any two or more of the first to third specific examples are used in combination for the reagent container 7 containing the reagent having a high viscosity.

  As described above, in the reagent container 7 according to each embodiment, the upper part 72 is formed so that the amount of heat exchange per unit time is larger than that of the lower part 73. Therefore, a cooling unit is provided on the bottom side of the reagent container. Even if it is disposed, the reagent close to the liquid surface is cooled before the bottom surface side and the temperature is lowered, so that convection occurs in the reagent in the reagent container and the reagent becomes uniform. Thereby, even if the cooling part is arranged on the bottom side of the reagent container, the accuracy of the measurement result can be improved.

  In addition, at least a part of the upper part 72 is formed of the heat conducting material 721 or at least a part of the lower part 73 is formed of the heat blocking material 731 so as to provide a difference in thermal resistance value according to the viscosity of the reagent contained. Or at least a part of the upper part 72 is formed of the heat conductive material 721 and at least a part of the lower part 73 is formed of the heat blocking material 731, thereby efficiently convection of the reagent. Can be generated.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the automatic analyzer which hold | maintains a reagent container. It is sectional drawing of the reagent storage of an automatic analyzer. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the 1st specific example of the reagent container by which a cooling part is arrange | positioned at the bottom face side, when hold | maintained at an automatic analyzer. It is side surface sectional drawing of the reagent container explaining the convection of the reagent which arises in the reagent container which formed the upper part with the heat conductive substance. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the 1st modification of the reagent container which forms an upper part with a heat conductive substance. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the 2nd modification of the reagent container which forms an upper part with a heat conductive substance. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the 3rd modification of the reagent container which forms an upper part with a heat conductive substance. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the 2nd specific example of a reagent container tool. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the 1st modification of the reagent container which forms a lower part with a heat-insulating substance. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the 2nd modification of the reagent container which forms a lower part with a heat-shielding substance. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the 3rd modification of the reagent container which forms a lower part with a heat-insulating substance. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the 3rd specific example of a reagent container tool. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the 4th specific example of a reagent container. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the 5th example of a reagent container tool.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reagent rack 2 Reagent storage 3 Reagent storage 4 Reaction tube 5 Reaction disk 6 Disc sampler 7 Reagent container 71 Wall part 72 Upper part 721 Thermal conductive material 722 Covering body 73 Lower part 731 Thermal insulation substance 8 1st reagent dispensing arm 9 2nd reagent Dispensing arm 10 Dispensing arm 11 Stirring unit 12 Washing unit 13 Photometric unit 14 First reagent dispensing probe 15 Second reagent dispensing probe 16 Dispensing probe 17 Test sample container 19 Cooling unit 100 Automatic analyzer

Claims (9)

It is used by being held in an automatic analyzer that dispenses a sample and a reagent into a reaction tube and measures the mixture, and when held, the cooling part of the automatic analyzer is located on the bottom side and is cooled And a reagent container for taking out the reagent from the lid side,
The side wall on the lid side of the container has a lower thermal resistance value than the side wall on the bottom side;
A reagent container characterized by At least part of the lid side wall is formed of a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than the bottom side wall;
The reagent container according to claim 1. At least a portion of the side wall on the bottom side is formed of a heat blocking material having a lower thermal conductivity than the side wall on the lid side;
The reagent container according to claim 1. The side wall on the lid side is formed thinner than the side wall on the bottom side,
The reagent container according to claim 1. A difference is provided between the thermal resistance value of the side wall on the lid side and the thermal resistance value of the side wall on the bottom side, depending on the viscosity of the reagent to be accommodated,
The reagent container according to claim 1. Depending on the viscosity of the reagent contained, at least a part of the side wall on the lid side is formed of a heat conductive material, or at least a part of the side wall on the bottom side is formed of a heat blocking material, or At least a portion of the side wall on the lid side is formed of a heat conductive material, and at least a portion of the side wall on the bottom surface side is formed of a heat blocking material;
The reagent container according to claim 5. The test sample and the reagent are dispensed into a reaction tube and held in an automatic analyzer that measures the mixed solution, and when held, the cooling unit of the automatic analyzer is cooled on the bottom side. And a reagent container for taking out the reagent from the lid side,
The side wall on the lid side of the container
A wall portion formed integrally with the bottom side wall;
A cover that surrounds at least a portion of the wall and is composed of a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than the wall; and
Formed from,
A reagent container characterized by An automatic analyzer for dispensing a test sample and a reagent into a reaction tube and measuring the mixed solution,
A reagent container for containing the reagent and taking out the reagent from the lid side;
Having a cooling part located on the bottom side of the reagent container, and a reagent storage for holding the reagent container;
With
The reagent container is
The side wall on the lid side of the container has a lower thermal resistance value than the side wall on the bottom side;
Automatic analyzer characterized by An automatic analyzer for dispensing a test sample and a reagent into a reaction tube and measuring the mixed solution,
A reagent container for containing the reagent and taking out the reagent from the lid side;
Having a cooling part arranged on the side wall on the bottom side opposite to the lid side of the reagent container, and a reagent storage for holding the reagent container;
With
The side wall on the lid side of the reagent container is
A wall portion formed integrally with the bottom side wall;
A cover that surrounds at least a portion of the wall and is composed of a heat conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity than the wall; and
Formed from,
Automatic analyzer characterized by