JPH04169851A - Washing apparatus for automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the checking of waste consumption of a washing liquid and an increase in a waste liquor by determining the optimum washing conditions corresponding to a member to be washed of a distribution probe or the like based on information on a sample to be analyzed to control a flow rate of the washing liquid. CONSTITUTION:As a member 29 to be washed such as a distribution probe or stirring bar moves to a washing part container 26 from a reaction container 33, a washing liquid 21 in a washing liquid container 22 is sucked with a pump device 24 and discharged to the container 26 through a transfer pipe 23 to wash the member 29. Then, the washing liquid contaminated after the washing is gathered to a waste liquor container 27 as waste liquor 28. Here, information on a sample to be analyzed, for example, information on whether the sample is for analysis on biochemical items or immunological items is included on a work sheet 5 to be inputted 61 into an arithmetic device 7 beforehand. The arithmetic device 7 picks up and processes information corresponding to the member 29 to determine the optimum washing conditions, which are sent to a controller 2. The controller 2 controls a three-way valve 32 according to the information to regulate a flow rate of the washing liquid 21 flowing into the container 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cleaning device for an automatic analyzer that automatically chemically analyzes samples such as blood and urine.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, with the development of diagnostic technology, it has become possible to perform diagnosis very simply and quickly. However, the number of samples and inspection items to be handled for this purpose is extremely large, and it is practically difficult to process them by input.

Under these circumstances, various automatic analyzers have been developed.
It has been put into practical use. An example of such an automatic analyzer is shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the main parts of a conventionally used automatic analyzer. This device 101
are a reaction foil for transporting the reaction container 112, a sample dispensing device 113, a reagent dispensing device 114, and a stirring device 11.
5. It is equipped with a quick-acting device 116, a reaction container supply device 117, and a waste device 11B. The reaction foil 111 is
It has a plurality of reaction vessel holders formed at equal intervals on the same circumference, and rotates intermittently in the direction of the arrow. A reaction container 112 is detachably attached to the reaction container holding portion of the reaction foil 111 and is transported as the reaction foil 111 rotates. During this transportation, each reaction container 112 is filled with a sample from a sample container 119 by a sample dispensing device 113 composed of a syringe, etc., and a reagent container 120 is filled with a sample by a reagent dispensing device 114 similarly composed of a syringe. The reagents are injected at each predetermined position.

After the sample is injected and after the reagents are injected,
The stirring device W115 stirs the inside of the reaction vessel 112 for a certain period of time. Stirring device! E 115 performs stirring by vibrating a stirring rod. Thereafter, at a predetermined position, the mixed liquid inside the reaction container 112 is measured by the photometer 11B. The photometric device 116 usually includes a light source, a filter,
It consists of a light receiving element. The reaction container 112 is supplied to the reaction foil 111 by the reaction container holding part ft 117, and after the analysis is completed, it is recovered by the disposal device 11g.

A problem that arises in the process of proceeding with an analysis cycle using such a device is contamination due to sample contamination. That is, the outer surface of the sample dispensing device 113 comes into contact with the sample when collecting the sample, and the previous sample remains on the outer surface of the sample dispensing device 113 after the sample is injected into the reaction vessel 112. Therefore, if this sample dispensing device 113 is used as is for the next sample, the next sample will be contaminated with the previous sample. This also applies to the stirring device 115, and also to the reagent dispensing device 114 when a plurality of reagents are used.

In order to prevent contamination with foreign substances, it is necessary to clean the sample dispensing device, reagent dispensing device, and stirring device after each analysis cycle. As such a cleaning means, there is a device described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-59383. A schematic configuration of this device is shown in FIG. 11.

In this device, the dispensing probe 29 first starts from the sample position. In this position, the dispensing probe 29 aspirates the sample from the sample container 121 using an aspirating and discharging device (not shown). Next, the dispensing probe 29 moves to the reaction position and discharges the sample into the reaction container 112. Thereafter, the dispensing probe 29 moves to the cleaning section container 26. At this time, the pump device 24 sucks the cleaning liquid 21 from the cleaning liquid container 22. The suctioned cleaning liquid 21 is guided to the cleaning unit container 26 through the transfer pipe 23, and is squirted into the container 26 to clean the dispensing probe 29. The contaminated cleaning liquid 21 after cleaning is stored in a waste liquid container 27 as waste liquid. The cleaned dispensing probe 29 returns to the sample position again and repeats the same cycle.

FIG. 12 is a time chart showing the operations of the above-mentioned dispensing probe 29 and pump device 24.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the automatic analyzer described above, analysis of so-called biochemical items, which measures components in blood, and measurement of so-called immune items, which involves detection of antibodies or antigens, are usually performed on the same device.

Measurements of immune items are generally performed by detecting agglutination reactions using latex particles, so aggregated reagents are more likely to remain in the stirring device or reagent dispensing device than in the case of analysis of biochemical items. In addition, while biochemical analysis mainly measures the amount of components in the blood, immunological analysis requires determining the presence or absence of antigen/antibody reactions, so when dispensing the sample, Cleaning is more important when measuring immune parameters.

In the apparatus described in the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-59363, the discharge time and discharge amount of the cleaning liquid are fixed at constant values, but for the above reasons, cleaning is more important for measurement of immune items. is set according to. For this reason, when used for analysis of biochemical items that are relatively easy to clean, the amount of cleaning solution used is larger than necessary.
The cleaning solution is wasted and must be replenished frequently. Moreover, at the same time, the amount of waste liquid also increases, and treatment of a large amount of contaminated liquid is not preferable from the viewpoint of environmental conservation. Furthermore, since the cleaning time becomes longer, the cycle time also becomes longer.

Therefore, the present invention provides a cleaning device for an automatic analyzer that can reduce the amount of cleaning fluid used to the minimum necessary to obtain a cleaning effect, thereby minimizing the amount of waste fluid and shortening the cycle time. The purpose is to provide

[Means to solve the problem]

A cleaning device for an automatic analyzer according to the present invention includes a cleaning part container that accommodates a dispensing probe of an automatic analyzer and in which the dispensing probe is cleaned, and a container for transferring a cleaning liquid to the cleaning part container. A cleaning device for an automatic analyzer for cleaning a dispensing probe of an automatic analyzer, comprising: a pump device; and a transfer pipe that communicates the cleaning portion container with the pump device; a flow rate controller provided between the automatic analyzer and the automatic analyzer, which communicates with the cleaning section container and the pump device through the transfer pipe, and adjusts the flow rate of the cleaning liquid transferred by the pump device; an input device for inputting analysis item information of a sample to be analyzed; and an input device for storing the analysis item information input by the input device, and dispensing from among the stored information stored in the washing unit container. The present invention is characterized by comprising a calculation device that extracts information corresponding to the probe and performs predetermined processing, and a control device that receives the information processed by the calculation device and controls the flow rate controller in accordance with the information.

Next, the automatic analyzer cleaning device of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown schematically in FIG. 1, the cleaning device of the present invention is broadly divided into an operating section 1 and a data processing section 4. As shown in FIG. The operating section 1 includes a control device 2 and a cleaning device main body 3, and the data processing section 4 includes an input device 6 and an arithmetic unit W7. In this cleaning device, first, analysis items of samples such as blood and urine are inputted into the calculation device 7 through the input device 6 . The information input here is based on the worksheet 5 in which the analysis item information of the sample is described. The input information is stored by the arithmetic device 7, processed and transmitted to the control device 2. The control device 2 that has received the information processed by the arithmetic device 7 controls the cleaning device main body 3 based on the information.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the cleaning device main body 3. As shown in FIG.

This cleaning device main body 3 includes a pump device 24 and a flow rate controller 25 connected to each other via a cleaning liquid transfer pipe 23.
and a cleaning part container 26, a cleaning liquid container 22 for storing the cleaning liquid 21, and a waste liquid container 27 for storing the waste liquid 28. The cleaning liquid container 2 is removed by the pump device 24.
The cleaning liquid 21 sucked from the cleaning part 2 is sent to the cleaning part container 26 through the transfer pipe 23 and is discharged into the cleaning part container 26. A member to be cleaned 29 constituting an automatic analyzer, such as a sample dispensing probe, a reagent dispensing probe, and a stirring bar, are introduced into the cleaning section container 26 . This member to be cleaned 29 has been moved through a dispensing container 121 that stores samples, reagents, etc., and/or a reaction container 112 that mixes and stirs the sample and reagent to perform a reaction, which is provided in the main body of the automatic analyzer. contaminated with samples, reagents, etc. After the member to be cleaned 29 is cleaned by the cleaning liquid 21 discharged into the cleaning section container 26, it is moved to the dispensing container 121 or the reaction container 112 again. The polluted cleaning liquid after cleaning is waste liquid 2.
8 is collected from the washing section container 26 into the waste liquid container 27. The flow rate controller 25 is provided between the pump device 24 and the cleaning unit container 26, and controls the flow rate or flow path of the cleaning liquid 21 moving through the transfer pipe 23 according to commands sent from the control device 2.

In addition, when the member to be cleaned 29 is a dispensing probe for reagents, samples, etc., its inner wall can be cleaned using a known device. As such a device, a device that pushes out cleaning water from behind the probe is known. If the member to be cleaned 29 is a stirring rod, such a device is not necessary.

Further, the automatic analyzer cleaning device of the present invention may be incorporated into an automatic analyzer.

[Effect]

Information on the sample to be analyzed by the automatic analyzer is input from the input device 6 to the arithmetic device 7 based on a worksheet 5 that describes the information. The arithmetic unit 7 stores the input information, then extracts information corresponding to the member to be cleaned 29 to be cleaned from the stored information, performs a predetermined process, and determines the optimum cleaning conditions, for example, the use of cleaning liquid. Determine the amount and washing time. The determined information is sent to the control device 2.
is transmitted to the flow rate controller 25 via. Flow rate controller 25
controls the amount of cleaning fluid flowing into the cleaning section container according to the provided information. As a result, the cleaning section container 2B
The amount of cleaning liquid discharged into the interior is limited to the minimum amount necessary for cleaning, eliminating wasted use of cleaning liquid.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a specific example of a cleaning device for an automatic analyzer according to the present invention. This cleaning device consists of cleaning unit containers 2 connected to each other via cleaning liquid transfer pipes 23.
6, a computing unit w7 having a three-way valve 32 and a pump device 24, and further storing and processing an analysis sample;
Based on the information received from the keyboard 61 and the arithmetic unit 7 for inputting the information of the analysis sample into the three-way valve 3
2 is provided. Components to be cleaned 29 of the automatic analyzer, such as dispensing probes and stirring rods for reagents, samples, etc., are connected to the reagent container 34 and/or the reaction container 33.
and the cleaning section container 28. When the member to be cleaned 29 is moved from the reaction container 33 and stored in the cleaning section container 2B, the pump device 24 starts operating and the cleaning liquid 21
is sucked from the cleaning liquid container 22 and discharged through the transfer pipe 23 into the cleaning section container 2B. The member to be cleaned 29 housed in the cleaning section container 26 is cleaned by the discharged cleaning liquid 21. The cleaning liquid contaminated by cleaning the member to be cleaned 29 is accumulated in the waste liquid container 27 as waste liquid 28 . on the other hand,
Information about the sample to be analyzed by the automatic analyzer, for example, whether the analysis is for biochemical items or immunological items, is summarized in worksheet 5. 7, these pieces of information are entered in advance using the keyboard 61. The computing device 7 extracts and processes information corresponding to the member to be cleaned 29 housed in the cleaning section container 26 and then sends the processed information to the control device 2 .

The control device 2 controls the three-way valve 32 according to information received from the arithmetic device 7. The three-way valve 32 is the pump device 24
and the cleaning section container 2B.
One port is connected to the pump device 24, the other port is connected to the washing section container 26 via a transfer pipe 23, and yet another port is connected to the washing liquid container 22 via the transfer pipe. The control device 2 controls the flow path of the cleaning station 21 by opening and closing the three-way valve 32 toward the cleaning section container and the valve toward the cleaning container, thereby controlling the flow rate of the cleaning liquid 2I flowing into the cleaning section container 26. control.

Similar to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the main parts of a dispensing probe cleaning device using a three-way valve as a flow rate controller. Here, the drive mechanism of the dispensing probe is also shown. The dispensing probe 48 is supported by an arm 49, which is fixed to a spline shaft 5°. This spline shaft 5o is held movable up and down by a spline bearing 51, and is further rotatably fixed to a base 55 by a bearing (not shown). The spline bearing 51 is connected to a rotating motor 54 via a rotating belt 52 and a pair of rotating pulleys 53, and transmits the rotation of the rotating motor 54 to the spline shaft 50. Therefore, as the rotary motor 54 rotates, the dispensing probe 48 also rotates. On the other hand, the base 55 is fixed to the upper and lower belts 5B, and one of the upper and lower belts 5G is looped around a pair of upper and lower pulleys 57, one of which is attached to the rotating shaft of the vertical motor 5B. Therefore, the dispensing probe can be moved up and down by rotating the up and down motor. Device pump 4 connected via transfer pipe 43
5. The operations regarding the three-way valve 44 and the cleaning section container 42 are similar to the cleaning device shown in FIG.
and is discharged into the cleaning section container 42. The cleaning liquid after cleaning is collected in a waste liquid container 27 as waste liquid. Three-way valve 44
One of the ports communicates with the cleaning liquid container 46, and the three-way valve 4
The opening/closing of the valves facing the cleaning unit container and the valves facing the cleaning liquid container in No. 4 are in accordance with information from the arithmetic unit that is instructed via the control device.

Next, a series of operations of the reagent dispensing probe, including cleaning using the cleaning device described above, will be explained with reference to the time chart shown in FIG.

The arithmetic unit 7 of the cleaning device uses a keyboard 61 to
The analysis items and analysis order of the test sample are input in advance. Here, the first cycle analyzes immunological items that require washing time, and the second cycle analyzes biochemical items that require relatively short washing time. As shown in FIG. 5, the reagent dispensing probe 48 first
position, and first inhale the reagent. Next, the vertical motor 58 rotates to lift the dispensing probe 48 from the reagent container 47, and then the rotary motor 54 rotates to lift the dispensing probe 48 to the reaction container 11 of the reaction foil 111 of the automatic analyzer.
2 Move it up. Next, the vertical motor 58 is rotated to lower the dispensing probe 48 to a predetermined position, and the aspirated reagent is discharged into the reaction container 112. After discharging the reagent, the vertical motor 58 is rotated again to lift the dispensing probe 48 from the reaction container 112, then the rotary motor 54 is rotated to move the dispensing probe 48 onto the washing section container 42, and then the vertical motor 58 to lower the dispensing probe 48 into the wash section container 42.

At this time, the pump unit W45 is activated and the cleaning liquid is spouted into the cleaning section container 42 to clean the dispensing probe 48.

In this first cycle, the three-way valve 44 is always open toward the washing section container. After a certain period of time has elapsed, the operation of the pump device 45 is terminated, and at the same time, the vertical motor 58 rotates and the dispensing probe is lifted out of the washing section container 42. Next, the rotary motor 54 is rotated to move the dispensing probe 48 onto a reagent container storing reagents for analysis of biochemical items. Thereafter, the vertical motor 58 is rotated to lower the dispensing probe into the reagent container and aspirate the reagent. Thereafter, the dispensing probe 48 is moved into the cleaning section container 42 in the same manner as in the first cycle, and the dispensing probe is cleaned. In this second cycle, a shorter cleaning time is sufficient than in the first cycle. For this reason, the arithmetic unit w7
determines this and sends an instruction to the control device 2, and upon receiving this instruction, the control device 2 switches the discharge direction of the three-way valve 44 from the direction of the cleaning section container to the direction of the cleaning liquid at an appropriate time. As a result, the cleaning liquid discharged from the pump device 45 returns to the cleaning liquid container 46 during the remaining operating time of the pump device 45, and the cleaning liquid is not wasted. At the same time as the pump device 45 stops, the three-way valve 44 is switched again toward the washing section container, and the dispensing probe 4 is turned again by the rotation of the vertical motor 58.
8 is lifted from the cleaning section container 42 to complete the second cycle.

The above explanation uses a reagent dispensing probe, but if a sample dispensing probe, stirring rod, etc. is used instead of a reagent dispensing probe, it is also possible to use the cleaning solution effectively and eliminate wasteful consumption. . In addition, as shown by the dotted line in the time chart of the reagent dispensing probe in Figure 5, after switching the three-way valve while the pump device is operating to cut off the flow of cleaning liquid into the cleaning section container, immediately turn on the reagent dispensing probe. It can also be moved. This makes it possible to shorten cycle time. Furthermore, the input device is not limited to a keyboard; for example, a combination of a barcode and a barcode reader can also be used.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another specific example of the cleaning device of the present invention. This device has the same configuration as the cleaning device shown in FIG. 3, except that a variable gear pump 62, which can change the discharge amount using a speed control motor, is used in place of the pump device [24]. This variable gear pump 62 is also controlled by the control device 2 according to the judgment of the calculation device i7.

FIG. 7 is a time chart when this apparatus is used to analyze immunological items in the first cycle and then analyze biochemical items in the second cycle in the same manner as described above. Except for the case in which the dispensing probe 29 is stopped in the cleaning section container 26, the process is the same as that shown in FIG. 5 described above, so the explanation will be omitted. If the dispensing probe 29 is present in the wash section container 26, the variable gear pump 6
The speed of motor No. 2 is increased to increase the amount of cleaning liquid discharged, and the probe 29 is cleaned with a sufficient amount of cleaning liquid. In the second cycle, the speed of the motor of the variable gear pump B2 is reduced to reduce the amount of cleaning fluid discharged, thereby minimizing the amount of cleaning fluid used. In this way, the variable gear pump 6
By controlling 2 and changing the amount of cleaning liquid discharged,
It is possible to more finely control the flow rate than by controlling the flow rate only by switching the discharge direction using the three-way valve 32.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of yet another specific example of the cleaning device of the present invention. This device has the same configuration as the device shown in FIG.
A detergent pump 83 is also provided to discharge the detergent 81 from the detergent container 82 into the transfer pipe 23. Detergent 8 sucked from detergent container 82 by detergent pump 83
1 is discharged into the transfer pipe 23 that connects the three-way valve 32 and the washing section container 2B. The detergent pump 83 is controlled by the control device 2 according to information from the arithmetic device 7 .

FIG. 9 is a time chart when this apparatus is used to analyze immunological items in the first cycle and then analyze biochemical items in the second cycle in the same manner as described above. Except for the case in which the dispensing probe 29 is stopped in the cleaning section container 26, the process is the same as that shown in FIG. 5 described above, so the explanation will be omitted. In the first cycle, the dispensing probe 2
9 falls into the washing section container 26, and at the same time the variable gear pump 62 starts to be driven, the detergent pump 83 also starts to be driven.

As a result, the detergent 81 is discharged into the transfer pipe 23 and mixed with the cleaning liquid 31 within the joint 84, and the resulting mixed solution is discharged into the cleaning section container 26. Since this mixed solution contains a detergent, it removes dirt from the dispensing probe more strongly than when the cleaning solution is used alone. In the second cycle, the detergent pump 83 is not driven, and the dispensing probe 29 is cleaned only with the cleaning liquid.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the cleaning device for automatic analyzers of the present invention, when cleaning dispensing probes, stirring rods, etc. of automatic analyzers, the amount of cleaning liquid used can be kept to the minimum necessary without impairing the cleaning effect, and This makes it possible to suppress wasteful consumption of water and increase in waste liquid.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cleaning device for an automatic analyzer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the main body of the cleaning device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of the cleaning device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the main body of the cleaning device and the drive section of the dispensing probe in a cleaning device having almost the same configuration as FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another specific example of the cleaning device of the present invention, and FIG. A time chart illustrating the states of the pump device, three-way valve, and reagent dispensing probe in the cleaning device shown in the figure, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of yet another specific example of the cleaning device of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a time chart illustrating the states of the pump device, three-way valve, detergent pump, and reagent dispensing probe in the cleaning device; FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional cleaning device for an automatic analyzer. Forbidden 1; 11! l$%IlmehiS~GotuntLL
l's [&-1=Pig vetch p-1-z-Ai. ■... Operating section, 2... Control device, 3... Cleaning device main body, 4... Data processing section, 5... Worksheet,
6... Input device, 7... Arithmetic device, 22.46...
・Cleaning liquid container, 23.43...Transfer pipe, 24.45・
...Pump device, 25...Flow rate controller, 26.42.
・・Cleaning section container, 27.41 ・・Waste liquid container, 29・・
- Part to be cleaned, 32.44... Three-way valve, 48... Dispensing probe, 49... Arm 1.51... Spline bearing, 53... Rotating pulley, 54...
・Rotating motor, 57... Upper and lower pulley, 58... Upper and lower motor, 62... Variable gear pump, 81... Detergent,
82... Detergent container, 83... Detergent pump, 84...
・Joint, applicant's representative Patent attorney Jun Tsuboi Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 6 Figure 8 Figure 10

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A cleaning unit container that accommodates the dispensing probe of the automatic analyzer and in which the dispensing probe is cleaned, a pump device for transferring cleaning liquid to the cleaning unit container, and the cleaning unit In a cleaning device for an automatic analyzer for cleaning a dispensing probe of an automatic analyzer, the cleaning device has a transfer pipe that communicates a container with the pump device, and the cleaning device is provided between the cleaning section container and the pump device; a flow rate controller that communicates with the washing section container and the pump device through a transfer pipe and adjusts the flow rate of the washing liquid transferred by the pump device; and an analysis item of the sample to be analyzed by the automatic analyzer. An input device for inputting information, storing analysis item information inputted by the input device, and extracting information corresponding to the dispensing probe accommodated in the washing section container from the stored information. A cleaning device for an automatic analyzer, comprising: an arithmetic device that performs predetermined processing; and a control device that receives information processed by the arithmetic device and controls the flow rate controller in accordance with the information. (2) The flow rate controller adjusts the flow rate of the cleaning liquid by switching the direction in which the cleaning liquid is transferred between either the direction toward the cleaning unit container or the direction toward the cleaning liquid container in which the cleaning liquid is stored. 1. The cleaning device for an automatic analyzer according to 1. (3) The cleaning device for an automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the pump device is a pump capable of changing the discharge flow rate of the cleaning liquid. (4) A detergent container for storing detergent, and a transfer pipe for suctioning the detergent from the washing container according to instructions from the control device, and transferring the detergent to the inside of the transfer pipe provided between the flow rate controller and the washing section container. The cleaning device for an automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a detergent pump for discharging the sucked detergent.