JPH01287466A - Automatic chemical analysis apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To determine whether the measurement in a reaction line is necessary or not and to improve the efficiency of measurement by previously obtaining sample information by a measuring means provided to a dilution line. CONSTITUTION:A sampler 1 takes out a sample vessel 7 from a rack 8 on a rotary table 6 and dispenses the sample into a vessel 9 of the dilution line 2. A diluting mechanism 11 dilutes the sample in the vessel 9 to a prescribed magnification. The vessel is then fed by a conveyor 10. The absorbancy of the vessel 9 is measured by a measuring system 12 to obtain the sample information. Respective sets of the information are measured and computed by items under the control of a control section 15 and are compared with the set threshold value. A reaction line 3 is controlled and the measurement of the corresponding items of this sample is not executed if the information exceeds the threshold value. However, an error code is attached to the result of the measurement in case of a rate method and the error correction of the absorbancy is executed in case of an end point method. The desired sample is dispensed into the reaction vessel 16 from the vessel 9 of the dilution line 2 by an arm 5 in the reaction line 3. The sample of the vessel 16 is subjected to a reagent reaction and the chemical analysis is executed by measuring the concn. of the specific component.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer that reacts a sample with a reagent and measures the concentration of a specific component in the reaction solution.

(Prior art) For example, blood serum collected from a human body is used as a sample, a desired reagent is reacted with it, and the concentration of a specific component in this reaction solution is measured, for example, by a colorimetric method, for chemical analysis of desired items. An automatic chemical analyzer that performs the following is known. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of such an analyzer, and the analyzer is roughly divided into a sampler section 1 that holds a sample to be analyzed and samples it to the outside by a sample dispensing arm 4 at a predetermined timing; A dilution line section 2 dilutes the sample sampled from the sampler section 1 to a desired magnification according to the measurement item, and a dispensing arm 5 dispenses the sample from the dilution line section 2 at a predetermined timing to the desired amount. It consists of a reaction line section 3 that performs analysis of desired items by reacting reagents and measuring the concentration of specific components in the reaction solution, for example, by colorimetry. Here, it is possible to arrange a plurality of reaction line sections 3 as necessary, thereby improving the throughput of the analyzer.

The serum used as the sample to be analyzed here inevitably contains chyle, hemolysis, jaundice, etc., which affect the measured values, and each has absorbance characteristics as shown in Figure 6. There is.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, with conventional analyzers, there is a problem in that the error in the measurement data obtained in the reaction line section increases as the amount of such impurities that affect the measured values increases. There is. In other words, in order to obtain accurate serum measurement data, it is desirable that the amount of impurities such as chyle contained in serum be small, but if this amount increases to a certain extent, the accuracy of serum measurement will be affected by the influence of these impurities. This means that accurate measurement data cannot be obtained. Furthermore, if there is a possibility that such measurement data may be obtained, it is desirable to be able to predict this in advance in order to improve measurement efficiency.

The present invention was made in response to the above circumstances.
The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic chemical analyzer that improves measurement efficiency by obtaining sample information in advance.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a measuring means for obtaining sample information regarding the absorbance of each sample in the dilution line section. .

(Function) Using the measurement means installed in the dilution line, sample information on chyle, hemolysis, jaundice, etc. can be obtained in advance, and based on this measurement result, it is decided whether or not to perform measurements in the reaction line. be able to.

This makes it possible to improve the measurement efficiency in the reaction line section. Further, even if the measurement result is equal to or greater than a preset threshold, the measurement can be performed.

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

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, in which the sampler section 1 has, for example, a circular rotary table 6 that moves intermittently in a constant cycle.
A sample rack 8 is set in which supports a predetermined number, for example, five sample containers 7 containing samples to be analyzed. A desired sample is sampled from the sample rack 8 on the rotary table 6 at a predetermined timing by the sample dispensing arm 4 and dispensed into the dilution container 9 of the dilution line section 2.

The dilution line section 2 has a belt conveyor 10 and a dilution mechanism 1.
1, the sample in the dilution container 9 is diluted to a desired ratio and transported in the direction of the arrow in a constant cycle. A measurement system 12 for measuring sample information regarding absorbance from the sample in the dilution container 9 is provided in the middle of the dilution line section 2 . This measurement system 12 includes a light source lamp 13 and a photodetector 14 arranged on both sides of the dilution container 9, as shown in FIG. Sample information is determined by measuring the absorbance.

As for the sample information, as shown in FIG. 6, the absorbance of each impurity such as chyle, hemolysis, and yellow stain is measured. Such sample information is obtained by performing measurement calculations for each measurement item under the control of the control unit 15, and this measurement result is determined by a threshold value preset for each measurement item by the control unit 15. compared to The control unit 15 is composed of a dedicated microprocessor and controls the control operations of the entire apparatus.

When the comparison result of each measurement value with the threshold value exceeds the threshold value, the control unit 15 performs a control operation on the reaction line unit 3 such that the corresponding item of this sample is not measured. . However, the configuration is such that measurement can be performed even in such a case, and in the case of the rate method, processing is performed such that an error code is added to the measurement result. Alternatively, in the case of the endpoint method, processing is performed to correct absorbance errors caused by serum color tone.

The reaction line section 3 is configured such that reaction containers 16 are moved intermittently in a fixed cycle, and a desired sample is dispensed into these reaction containers 16 from the dilution container 9 of the dilution line section 2 by the sample dispensing arm 5. configured to be possible. A desired reagent is reacted with the sample in the reaction container 16, and the concentration of a specific component in the reaction solution is measured by a measurement system, thereby performing a chemical analysis of a desired item.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to a flowchart.

In the flowchart of FIG. 4, first, in step A, a sample to be analyzed is set in the sampler section 1, and then in step B, this sample is sampled and dispensed into the dilution line section 2. Ru. Next, as in step C, the measurement system 12 in the dilution line section 2
Measurement calculations are performed on the sample information of the sample.

As described above, this is performed for each measurement item by measuring the absorbance of impurities such as chyle, hemolysis, and jaundice.

Subsequently, this measurement result is compared with a threshold value set for each measurement item as in step D, and the flow is divided into step E and step F or G depending on the comparison result.

If the comparison result is within the threshold range, this sample is controlled so that a normal measurement is performed later in the reaction line section 3 as in step E. On the other hand, if the comparison result is outside the threshold range, this sample is controlled so that no measurement is performed in the reaction line section 3 as in step G, or controlled so that measurement is performed as in step F. be done. If measurement is not performed, sample dispensing and reagent dispensing in the reaction line section 3 are stopped. Deciding whether or not to conduct such measurements is
This is done by inputting selection information in advance by the operator.

If the comparison result exceeds the threshold value and the measurement is performed, the flow is divided into steps H and (2). For example, when performing a measurement such as the rate method that determines the amount of change in absorbance, either prepare to attach an error code as in step H and attach it as in step J, or do not attach it to the step as in step J. Make a selection. - For example, when measuring serum color tone using the endpoint method, prepare for color tone correction as in step ① and perform correction as in step L, or do not perform correction as in step M. Make a choice.

When performing correction, set the threshold value T in advance as shown in Figure 3, and make corrections that change absorbance characteristic A, which contains errors due to the influence of serum color tone, to absorbance characteristic B, which removes that influence. will be held.

According to this embodiment, sample information is measured in advance in the dilution line section before measuring the sample in the reaction line section, and the gist of the measurement implementation in the reaction line section is selected according to the measurement result. Since measurements are not necessarily performed on all samples, measurement efficiency can be improved. Further, even if the measurement result does not meet the predetermined conditions, there is still room for selecting whether to carry out the measurement if necessary, so the scope of application of the measurement can be expanded.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the sample information is obtained in advance in the dilution line section, and the gist of the measurement to be performed in the reaction line section is selected based on this measurement result. Measurement efficiency can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main parts of the device of this embodiment, and FIG.
4 is a flowchart explaining the operation of this embodiment, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional example, and FIG. 6 is a detailed explanation of the present invention. FIG. 1... Sampler section, 2... Dilution line section, 3...
...Reaction line part, 12...Measurement system of dilution line part, 13...Light source lamp, 14...Photodetector, 15.
...Control unit. 2 Dilute Urine Galine Japan 1 Figure 3 Figure 6

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an automatic chemical analyzer that samples a desired sample from a sampler section, transports it to a reaction line section via a dilution line section, and performs a chemical analysis of a desired item in this reaction line section, each sample is placed in the dilution line section. An automatic chemical analyzer characterized by comprising a measuring means for obtaining sample information regarding the absorbance of. (2) The automatic chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the necessity of performing chemical analysis in the reaction line section is determined based on the measurement results of the measuring means.