WO2008059685A1

WO2008059685A1 - Analyzer

Info

Publication number: WO2008059685A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/070130
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takami Shibazaki
Original assignee: Olympus Corporation
Priority date: 2006-11-16
Filing date: 2007-10-16
Publication date: 2008-05-22
Also published as: JP2008128662A

Abstract

This invention provides an analyzer which can separate mist from gas discharged from an analyzer to prevent the occurrence of contamination of a biological sample by the diffusion of the mist. An automatic analyzer (1) comprises a reaction vessel, an analysis part, and a washing apparatus. The washing apparatus comprises suction discharge members (30a to 37a and 30c to 35c), which are inserted into the reaction vessel and suck and discharge at least one of a reaction solution within the reaction vessel and a washing liquid, a vacuum pump (42), which is connected to the suction discharge members (30a to 37a and 30c to 35c) and supplies negative pressure to the suction discharge members (30a to 37a, and 30c to 35c), a manifold (41) for separating gas from at least one of the reaction solution sucked through the suction discharge members (30a to 37a and 30c to 35c) by the vacuum pump (42) and the washing liquid, and a mist separator (43) for separating mist from the gas separated by the manifold (41).

Description

Specification

Analysis equipment

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an analyzer.

Background art

[0002] Analysis apparatus is provided with a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a reaction container into which a sample or a reagent is injected after detection is completed, and is disclosed in JP-A-10-062431 as a technique for cleaning the reaction container. There is a cleaning device.

[0003] The analysis apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 reacts a biological sample and a plurality of reagents in a reaction container of a reaction turntable, detects the reaction state with a detector, and the detection is completed. Then, the reaction vessel is sent to the washing position and is washed by the washing device. In this cleaning operation, after the biological sample and a plurality of reagents in the reaction container are discharged, the reaction container is cleaned several times with a cleaning liquid, that is, an alkaline detergent, an acidic detergent, pure water, or the like. The reaction container that has been cleaned is used again for the measurement of the next biological sample, except for those that are very dirty.

Patent Document 1: JP-A-10-062431

Disclosure of the invention

[0004] However, when the reaction solution of the sample and the reagent, the cleaning solution, etc. are drained, the structure is aspirated by a negative pressure generating means such as a vacuum pump. There is a possibility that nucleic acid is contained in the air sucked by the vacuum pump in order to suck the water, and this nucleic acid may be diffused into the laboratory. Once nucleic acid has diffused, it can cause nucleic acid contamination of other samples in the test process, which can lead to erroneous genetic test results.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and separates the mist from the gas exhausted from the analyzer to prevent the occurrence of contamination of the biological sample due to the diffusion of the mist. An object of the present invention is to provide an analyzing apparatus. [0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.

A first aspect of the present invention includes a reaction vessel for reacting a biological sample with a predetermined reagent, an analysis unit for analyzing a reaction solution in the reaction vessel, and a washing unit for washing the reaction vessel. The cleaning unit sucks and discharges at least one of the reaction liquid in the reaction container after analysis and the cleaning liquid for cleaning the reaction container supplied to the reaction container after being inserted into the reaction container. A suction discharge member, a negative pressure generating unit connected to the suction discharge member and supplying a negative pressure to the suction discharge member, and the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid sucked through the suction discharge member by the negative pressure generation unit An analyzer comprising: a gas-liquid separation unit that separates at least one of them from gas; and a mist separation unit that separates mist from the gas separated by the gas-liquid separation unit.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the biological sample put into the reaction container is reacted with the reagent, and the reaction solution is analyzed by the analysis unit. After the analysis, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the reaction vessel and the cleaning operation is performed by the cleaning unit. In the cleaning section, the negative pressure from the negative pressure generating section is supplied to the suction / discharge member inserted into the reaction container, so that at least one of the analyzed reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid supplied to the reaction container is Suction and discharge are performed through the suction and discharge member, whereby the reaction vessel is washed.

[0008] At least one of the sucked reaction liquid and cleaning liquid is separated from the gas and discharged by the gas-liquid separation unit. Further, the gas separated from at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid is separated from the mist and exhausted by passing through the mist separation section. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of contamination of the biological sample due to the diffusion of mist.

[0009] In the first aspect, the suction / discharge member includes a hollow tubular member having one end connected to the negative pressure generating portion and the other end inserted into the vicinity of the bottom wall of the reaction vessel, The gap between the hollow tubular member and the inner wall and the bottom wall of the reaction vessel is sized to generate an air flow having a flow velocity for sucking the liquid adhering to at least one of the inner wall and the bottom wall of the reaction vessel. It may be set.

With this configuration, when the hollow tubular member is inserted into the reaction vessel and the washing water in the reaction vessel is almost sucked, air from the outside is introduced into the hollow tubular member and the inner wall of the reaction vessel. Yo It is sucked through the suction / discharge member by the negative pressure generating portion through the gap with the bottom wall. In this case, the gap is set to a size that generates an air flow having a flow velocity for sucking the liquid adhering to at least one of the inner wall and the bottom wall of the reaction vessel. It is possible to inhale water drops adhering to the inner surface of the reaction container. Thereby, the liquid in the reaction vessel can be sufficiently discharged.

[0011] In the first aspect, the mist separation unit may agglomerate and separate at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid contained in the gas by a cooling effect. Thus, the exhausted gas is cooled by the mist separation unit, so that at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid contained in the gas is aggregated and separated from the gas. Therefore, mist containing a biological sample can be agglomerated and separated from the exhausted gas, and only clean air can be exhausted.

[0012] In the first aspect, the mist separation unit may separate and remove at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid contained in the gas with a filter. With this configuration, when the exhausted gas passes through the mist separation unit, at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid contained in the gas is separated from the gas by the filter. Therefore, it is possible to separate only the clean air by separating the mist containing the biological sample from the exhausted gas by a simple method of passing through the filter.

[0013] In the first aspect, the mist separation unit may include a DNA degrading enzyme.

By comprising in this way, DNA contained in the mist separated from gas by the mist separation part can be decomposed | disassembled by the effect | action of a DNA degrading enzyme. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the diffusion of DNA and to prevent the generation of contamination of the biological sample by DNA.

[0014] In the first aspect, the mist separation unit may be a scrubber.

By configuring in this way, the exhausted gas passes through the scrubber, so Separated from In this case, the mist separated from the gas is cleaned by exhaust gas purification in the scrubber, so even if the mist contains harmful substances, the waste liquid is rendered harmless and processed. can do. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of contamination in the biological sample.

[0015] A second aspect of the present invention includes a reaction vessel for reacting a biological sample with a predetermined reagent, an analysis unit for analyzing a reaction solution in the reaction vessel, and a washing unit for washing the reaction vessel. The cleaning section is inserted into the reaction container and at least one of the reaction liquid in the reaction container after analysis and the cleaning liquid for washing the reaction container supplied to the reaction container. A suction / discharge member that sucks and discharges the vacuum, a negative pressure generation unit that is connected to the suction / discharge member and supplies a negative pressure to the suction / discharge member, and the negative pressure generation unit sucks the suction / discharge member through the suction / discharge member. A gas-liquid separation unit that separates gas from at least one of the reaction solution and the cleaning solution, the reaction container, the analysis unit, and the cleaning unit are disposed in a closed space, and the negative pressure generation unit Analysis with an exhaust port outside the enclosed space It is the location.

[0016] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the biological sample put into the reaction container is reacted with the reagent, and the reaction solution is analyzed by the analysis unit. After the analysis, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the reaction vessel and the cleaning operation is performed by the cleaning unit. In the cleaning section, the negative pressure from the negative pressure generating section is supplied to the suction / discharge member inserted into the reaction container, so that the cleaning liquid supplied to at least one of the analyzed reaction liquid and the reaction container is Suction and discharge are performed through the suction and discharge member, whereby the reaction vessel is washed.

[0017] At least one of the sucked reaction liquid and cleaning liquid is separated from the gas and discharged by the gas-liquid separation unit. In this case, since the reaction container, the analysis unit, and the cleaning unit are disposed in the closed space and the exhaust port of the negative pressure generating unit is provided outside the closed space, at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid is also used. The separated gas is exhausted outside the enclosed space. As a result, it is possible to prevent mist contained in the exhausted gas from mixing into the enclosed space and diffusing. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of contamination of the biological sample.

[0018] A third aspect of the present invention includes a reaction container for reacting a biological sample with a predetermined reagent, An analyzer comprising an analysis unit for analyzing a reaction solution in a reaction vessel and a washing unit for washing the reaction vessel, wherein the washing unit is inserted into the reaction vessel and after analysis. A suction / discharge member that sucks and discharges at least one of the reaction liquid in the reaction container and the cleaning liquid for cleaning the reaction container supplied to the reaction container, and the suction / discharge member connected to the suction / discharge member. A negative pressure generating section for supplying a negative pressure; a gas-liquid separating section for separating gas from at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid sucked through the suction / discharge member by the negative pressure generating section; A drain outlet for draining at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid separated by the liquid separation section as waste liquid, and a drain valve for controlling drainage of the waste liquid is provided at the drain outlet, and the negative pressure generating section The exhaust outlet of the drain outlet An analysis device connected to the downstream side of the liquid valve.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the biological sample put into the reaction container is reacted with the reagent, and the reaction solution is analyzed by the analysis unit. After the analysis, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the reaction vessel and the cleaning operation is performed by the cleaning unit. In the cleaning section, the negative pressure from the negative pressure generating section is supplied to the suction / discharge member inserted into the reaction container, so that at least one of the analyzed reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid supplied to the reaction container is Suction and discharge are performed through the suction and discharge member, whereby the reaction vessel is washed.

[0020] At least one of the sucked reaction liquid and cleaning liquid is separated from the gas by the gas-liquid separation unit, and the liquid is drained as waste liquid by opening the waste liquid valve of the drain port. In addition, the gas separated by the gas-liquid separation unit is exhausted through the drain port to which the exhaust port of the negative pressure generating unit is connected. As a result, it is possible to discharge the waste liquid and mist contained in the air through one drain outlet. In addition, by connecting the exhaust port of the negative pressure generating part to the downstream side of the waste liquid valve of the drain port, the gas S can be exhausted without being controlled by the waste liquid valve.

[0021] According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to separate the mist from the exhausted gas and to prevent the contamination of the biological sample due to the diffusion of the mist.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing a reaction vessel and a support base of a cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a drain tube, a water supply tube, and an overflow tube of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the periphery of a vacuum pump and a mist separation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a modified example around a vacuum pump and a mist separation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

[0023] 1 Automatic analyzer (analyzer)

9 Reaction vessel

20 Reaction vessel cleaning device (cleaning section)

23 Analysis Department

30a, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a, 35a, 36a, 37a, 30c, 31c, 32c, 33c, 34c, 35c

42 Vacuum pump (negative pressure generator)

43 Mist separator (mist separator)

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an automatic analyzer (analyzer) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a reaction vessel 9 in which a reaction between a biological sample and the first reagent and the second reagent is performed, and a reaction solution in the reaction vessel 9. And a reaction vessel cleaning device (cleaning unit) 20 for cleaning the reaction vessel 9.

[0025] The reaction vessel 9 is formed in a circular shape, and a plurality of reaction vessels 9 are set adjacent to each other along the circumference of the reaction turntable 10 rotatable around the central axis.

The analysis unit 23 includes a sampling pipette 14 for injecting a biological sample into the reaction container 9, a sample container 2 for storing a biological sample used for analysis, and a plurality of the sample containers 2. A sample rack 3 to be set, a sample feeder 4 accommodating a plurality of the sample racks 3, and a plurality of first reagent containers 5 each containing a first reagent for each inspection item are set. First reagent turntable 6 and a second reagent turntable 8 on which a plurality of second reagent containers 7 each containing a second reagent for each inspection item are set.

[0026] The sampling pipette 14 is driven by a sampling pipette left and right (not shown), driven left and right and up and down by a vertical drive mechanism, and a sample container 2 set in the sample rack 3 and a reaction container 9 set in the reaction turn table 10 It is designed to reciprocate by rotating left and right.

[0027] In the sample rack 3, one of the plurality of samples accommodated in the sample feeder 4 is driven in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, that is, in the sample container 2 by the sampling pipette 14 by a driving device (not shown). The biological samples are sequentially sent to the aspiration position where they are aspirated.

[0028] When the sampling pipette 14 accesses the sample container 2 by moving up and down at a predetermined position of the sample rack 3 arranged at the suction position as described above, a sample pump (not shown) operates to operate a predetermined amount of living body. The sample is aspirated. When the reaction container 9 is accessed by moving up and down at a predetermined position on the reaction turntable 10, the aspirated biological sample is injected into the reaction container 9.

[0029] Around the reaction turntable 10, in addition to the sampling pipette 14, a first reagent pipette 15, a second reagent pipette 16, a first reaction stirrer 17, a second reaction stirrer 18, A multi-wavelength photometer 21, a thermostat 19 and a reaction vessel cleaning device 20 are arranged.

[0030] The working position of each of these devices on the reaction vessel 9 is determined to be a fixed position.

Yes

The first reagent pipette 15 is a left and right first reagent pipette (not shown), which is driven left and right and up and down by a vertical drive mechanism, and is rotated left and right between the reaction turntable 10 and the first reagent turntable 6. It is designed to reciprocate.

[0031] Then, when dispensing the first reagent into the reaction container 9, the first reagent pipette 15 accesses the first reagent container 5 by moving up and down at a predetermined position of the first reagent turntable 6. After the first reagent pump (not shown) is activated and a predetermined amount of the first reagent is aspirated, the reaction It rotates toward the turntable 10 and accesses the reaction vessel 9 by moving up and down at a predetermined position of the reaction turntable 10 to inject the aspirated first reagent into the reaction vessel 9.

The first reaction stirrer 17 is driven up and down and rotated in one direction by a stirrer up / down / rotation drive mechanism (not shown), and a stirrer (not shown) rotates and reciprocates up and down. It is supposed to do. Then, a stirring rod is inserted into a predetermined reaction vessel 9 containing the biological sample and the first reagent, and this stirring rod is rotated and moved up and down (reciprocating motion in the direction of the rotation axis of the reaction turntable 10). As a result, the reaction of the biological sample with the first reagent is performed uniformly and reliably.

[0033] The second reagent pipette 16 is driven by a second reagent pipette left and right (not shown), which is driven left and right and up and down by a vertical drive mechanism, so that the right and left between the reaction turntable 10 and the second reagent turntable 8 It is designed to reciprocate by rotation. Then, when dispensing the second reagent into the reaction container 9, the second reagent pipette 16 accesses the second reagent container 7 by moving up and down at a predetermined position of the second reagent turntable 8 and is not shown. After the second reagent pump is actuated to suck a predetermined amount of the second reagent, the second reagent pump is rotated toward the reaction turntable 10, and the reaction vessel 9 is accessed by moving up and down at a predetermined position of the reaction turntable 10. The aspirated second reagent is injected into the reaction vessel 9.

[0034] Similarly, the second reaction stirrer 18 is also driven up and down and rotated in one direction by a stirrer up / down / rotation drive mechanism (not shown), and the stirrer (not shown) rotates and moves up and down. It is designed to reciprocate. Then, a stirring bar is inserted into a predetermined reaction vessel 9 containing the diluted sample and the second reagent, and the stirring bar is rotated and moved up and down, so that the reaction of the biological sample by the second reagent is uniform. This is done in a reliable and reliable manner.

The multiwavelength photometer 21 detects the reaction state of the biological sample in the reaction container 9 by measuring the absorbance or the like of the biological sample in the reaction container 9.

The thermostat 19 keeps the reaction vessel 9 of the reaction turntable 10 at a constant temperature.

[0036] The reaction vessel cleaning device 20 can be moved up and down on the support base 22 as shown in Figs. On the supported arm 39, the water supply tube, 30b, 31b, 32b, 33b, 34b, 35b and the suction outlet member, i.e., the drain tube 30a, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a, 35a, 36a, 37a and over No flow tube, 30c, 31c, 32c, 33c, 34c, 35c.

[0037] Further, a suction portion (hollow tubular member) 38 is held at the lower end of the drain tube 37a, and includes at least one of the drain tubes 30a to 37a, the water supply tubes 30b to 35b, and the overflow tubes 30c to 35c. Washing unit WD;! ~ Reaction vessel formed with WD8 The washing device 20 as a whole cooperates to carry out a stepwise washing process of the reaction vessel 9.

[0038] The water tubes 30a, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a, 35a, 36a, 37a and the Ono flow tube, 30c, 31c, 32c, 33c, 34c, 35c, as shown in FIG. It is connected to a vacuum pump 42 as a negative pressure generating means through a manifold (gas-liquid separator) 41 that separates the sucked night body and gas. Furthermore, a mist separator (mist separator) 43 for removing moisture in the gas is connected to the exhaust port 46 of the vacuum pump 42. On the other hand, the water supply tubes 30b, 3lb, 32b, 33b, 34b, and 35b are configured to supply a cleaning liquid into the reaction vessel 9 by a cleaning liquid pump (not shown).

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 44 indicates an air release valve, and reference numeral 45 indicates a waste liquid valve.

[0039] The operation of the reaction vessel cleaning apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The reaction vessel 9 is washed by the reaction turntable 10 while being sequentially moved from the washing units WD1 to WD8. Hereinafter, the cleaning operation will be described step by step.

[0040] First, the first washing is performed on the reaction vessel 9 by the washing unit WD1. In this first cleaning, the reaction liquid of the biological sample in the reaction container 9 and the first reagent is sucked through the drain tube 30a by the vacuum pump 42 and discharged to a drain tank (not shown). At this time, the exhaust from the vacuum pump 42 is exhausted from the exhaust port 46.

Next, a predetermined amount of cleaning water containing an alkaline detergent as a cleaning liquid is injected into the reaction vessel 9 through the water supply tube 30b. In this case, if there is too much wash water supplied and overflows, the overflow wash water is sucked and discharged to the drain tank by the vacuum pump 42 through the overflow tube 30c. This prevents the wash water from overflowing from the reaction vessel 9 and contaminating the periphery of the reaction vessel 9. When the washing of the reaction vessel 9 with the washing water is completed, the washing water in the reaction vessel 9 is sucked through the drain tube 30a by the vacuum pump 42 and discharged to the drain tank.

[0042] Next, the reaction vessel 9 is moved to the next position, and at this position, the second cleaning is performed by the cleaning unit WD2. In the second cleaning, a predetermined amount of cleaning water containing an acidic detergent as a cleaning liquid is injected into the reaction vessel 9 through the water supply tube 31b. As described above, when the wash water overflows, the overflow wash water is sucked and discharged to the drain tank through the overflow tube 31c.

[0043] When the washing of the reaction vessel 9 with the washing water is completed, the washing water in the reaction vessel 9 is sucked through the drain tube 31a and discharged to the drain tank. These discharges are performed by the vacuum pump 42 as in the first cleaning. The discharge in each of the following cleaning steps is similarly performed by the vacuum pump 42.

[0044] Next, the reaction vessel 9 is moved to the next position, and the third cleaning is performed by the cleaning unit WD3 at this position. In the third cleaning, pure water as a cleaning solution is injected into the reaction vessel 9 through the water supply tube 32b. As described above, when the pure water overflows, the overflowed pure water is sucked and discharged to the drainage tank through the overflow tube 32c.

When the cleaning of the reaction vessel 9 with pure water is completed, the pure water in the reaction vessel 9 is sucked through the drain tube 32a and discharged to the drain tank.

[0045] Next, the reaction vessel 9 is moved to the next position, and the fourth cleaning is performed by the cleaning unit WD4 at this position. In the fourth cleaning, pure water as a cleaning liquid is injected into the reaction vessel 9 through the water supply tube 33b. As described above, the overflowed pure water is sucked and discharged to the drainage tank through the overflow tube 33c.

When the cleaning of the reaction vessel 9 with pure water is completed, the pure water in the reaction vessel 9 is sucked through the drain tube 33a and discharged to the drain tank.

[0046] Next, the reaction vessel 9 is moved to the next position, and at this position, the fifth cleaning is performed by the cleaning unit WD5, and thereafter, the reaction container 9 is moved to the next position and the sixth cleaning is performed by the cleaning unit WD6. Done. These are the same as in the fourth cleaning described above.

[0047] Next, the reaction vessel 9 is moved to the next position, in which the washing unit WD7 is moved. Therefore, the seventh cleaning is performed. In the seventh cleaning, pure water remaining in the reaction vessel 9 is sucked through the drain tube 36a and discharged to the drain tank.

[0048] Finally, the reaction vessel 9 is moved to the next position, and the eighth cleaning is performed by the cleaning unit WD8 at this position. In the eighth cleaning, pure water remaining in the reaction vessel 9 after the seventh cleaning is sucked through the drain tube 37a and discharged to the drain tank.

Here, the suction portion 38 held at the lower end of the drainage tube 37a is formed in a relatively flat rectangular tube shape whose upper end is closed and whose lower end is opened. The thickness and width of the suction portion 38 are set to allow entry into the reaction vessel 9, and the length is formed to be approximately the same as the depth of the internal space of the reaction vessel 9.

[0050] When the suction portion 38 enters the reaction vessel 9 and is set at a predetermined position, the suction portion 38 is sucked between the inner wall surface of the reaction vessel 9 and the outer wall surface of the suction portion 38 and the bottom surface of the reaction vessel 9. A predetermined gap is formed between the lower surface of the part 38 and the flow path 40 that connects the upper end opening of the reaction vessel 9 and the lower end opening of the suction part 38 is formed by these gaps. Yes.

[0051] Therefore, when the eighth cleaning is performed on the reaction vessel 9, the remaining cleaning water adhering to the inner wall of the reaction vessel 9 is sucked from the suction portion 38 by the vacuum pump 42 and passes through the drain tube 37a. Discharged into the drain tank. At this time, the washing water remaining in the reaction vessel 9 flows smoothly toward the suction port of the suction portion 38 through the flow passage 40 having the predetermined gap.

That is, when there is almost no washing water in the reaction vessel 9, water droplets of washing water adhere to the inner wall and bottom surface of the reaction vessel 9, but external air is sucked from the upper end opening of the reaction vessel 9. Thus, this air flows through the flow passage 40 toward the suction port of the suction portion 38. At this time, since the airflow flowing through the flow passage 40 is considerably faster than a predetermined flow velocity, water droplets adhering to the inner wall of the reaction vessel 9 are blown away by the air flowing at this large flow velocity.

[0053] Then, the blown water droplets flow together with the sucked air to the suction port of the suction part 38 through the flow path 40, and further flow out from the suction part 38 through the drain tube 37a to the drain tank. In this way, the reaction vessel 9 is cleaned in the eighth cleaning, and this cleaning is performed. When is completed, almost no water droplets remain in the reaction vessel 9.

[0054] At this time, the inside of the piping of the suction / discharge member including the drain tube 37a is in a state where gas and water are mixed, and fine water droplets are suspended in the gas in a mist form. The gas containing the mist generated here passes through the manifold 41 and is sucked by the vacuum pump 42. Further, when this gas is exhausted from the exhaust port 43 by the vacuum pump 42, it is separated from the mist in the gas by passing through the mist separator 43, and only clean air containing no mist is outside the pipe. Exhausted.

[0055] On the other hand, the liquid separated from the gas by the manifold 41 is discharged to the outside of the reaction vessel cleaning device 20 as waste liquid by opening the atmosphere release valve ₄₄ and opening the waste liquid valve 45 at an appropriate timing. Is done.

[0056] It should be noted that the mist separation device 43 can use various devices such as (1) a device that aggregates moisture in the gas using a cooling effect, and (2) a gas that uses a filter. (3) A scrubber is used.

Specifically, as (1), a known device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-337694 may be used.

By using this device, due to the cooling effect of the mist separation device 43, the exhausted gas force can be agglomerated and separated from the mist containing the biological sample, and only the clean air containing no mist is removed.

[0058] As (2), a known device described in JP-A-7-204440 may be used. By using this device, the mist containing the biological sample is separated from the exhausted gas by a simple method of passing through a filter (not shown) provided in the mist separation device 43, and only clean air containing no mist is obtained. Can be exhausted.

[0059] As (3), a known device described in JP-A-2006-187709 may be used. By using this device, the exhaust gas is purified in the scrubber to purify the gas. Therefore, even if mist contains harmful substances, the waste liquid can be made harmless and treated.

[0060] As described above, according to the automatic analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment, when the reaction container 9 is cleaned, the mist in the sucked gas is passed through the mist separation device 43. Since the gas is separated from the gas, it is possible to prevent mist from spreading outside the pipe.

[0061] Therefore, for example, when nucleic acid is examined as a biological sample, and nucleic acid is contained in the aspirated gas, the nucleic acid is separated from the exhausted gas. Generation of sample contamination can be prevented.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain a stable detection result by automating all the steps.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like within the scope of the present invention are also possible. included. For example, in the present embodiment, the automatic analyzer 1 having a plurality of reaction vessels 9 and automatically performing the inspection has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a single reaction vessel is used. It can also be applied to cleaning this.

[0063] Further, for example, in various mist separation devices 43 shown in the present embodiment, a nucleolytic enzyme may be applied to the wall of the air path or the surface of the filter material. Thereby, nucleic acid can be decomposed by the action of the nucleolytic enzyme, and nucleic acid diffusion can be further suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of contamination of the biological sample due to the nucleic acid.

[0064] Further, for example, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the mist separation device 43 is connected to the exhaust port 46 of the vacuum pump 42 has been described, but instead, the reaction vessel 9, the analysis unit 23, and the cleaning device are connected. The device 20 may be disposed in the closed space, and the exhaust port 46 may be provided outside the closed space.

[0065] By doing so, the gas exhausted from the exhaust port 46 can be exhausted out of the closed space, and mist contained in the gas can be prevented from being mixed into the closed space. As a result, even if the mist separation device 43 is not provided, it is possible to prevent the generation of biological sample contamination due to mist diffusion.

[0066] Further, for example, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the mist separation device 43 is connected to the exhaust port 46 of the vacuum pump 42 has been described, but instead of this, as shown in FIG. The device 20 may be provided with a drain port 47 for draining the liquid separated by the manifold 41 as waste liquid, and the exhaust port 42 may be connected downstream of the waste liquid valve 45! /.

[0067] By doing so, the liquid and gas separated by the manifold 41 are discharged from the drain 4 Since it is drained and exhausted through 7, it is possible to discharge the waste liquid and mist contained in the gas through one drain outlet 47. Further, by connecting the exhaust port 46 to the downstream side of the waste liquid valve 45, the gas can be exhausted without being controlled by the waste liquid valve 45.

Further, for example, in the present embodiment, force S described by exemplifying the first reagent and the second reagent as reagents to be reacted with the biological sample, instead of this, only one reagent may be used. A plurality of three or more reagents may be used.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] a reaction vessel for reacting a biological sample with a predetermined reagent;

An analysis unit for analyzing the reaction solution in the reaction vessel;

A washing section for washing the reaction vessel,

The cleaning section is

A suction / discharge member that is inserted into the reaction container and sucks and discharges at least one of the reaction liquid in the reaction container after analysis and the cleaning liquid for washing the reaction container supplied to the reaction container;

A negative pressure generator connected to the suction / discharge member and supplying a negative pressure to the suction / discharge member; and at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid sucked through the suction / discharge member by the negative pressure generator and a gas A gas-liquid separator that separates

A mist separation unit that separates mist from the gas separated by the gas-liquid separation unit.

[2] The suction / discharge member includes a hollow tubular member having one end connected to the negative pressure generating unit and the other end inserted to the bottom wall of the reaction vessel.

A gap between the hollow tubular member and the inner wall and the bottom wall of the reaction vessel is set to a dimension that generates an air flow having a flow velocity for sucking the liquid adhering to at least one of the inner wall and the bottom wall of the reaction vessel. The analyzer according to claim 1.

[3] The analyzer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mist separation unit agglomerates and separates at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid contained in the gas by a cooling effect.

[4] The analyzer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mist separation unit separates and removes at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid contained in the gas with a filter.

[5] The analyzer according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the mist separation unit includes a DNA degrading enzyme.

6. The analyzer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mist separation unit is a scrubber.

[7] a reaction vessel for reacting the biological sample with a predetermined reagent;

An analysis unit for analyzing the reaction solution in the reaction vessel;

A washing section for washing the reaction vessel, The cleaning section is

A negative pressure generator connected to the suction / discharge member and supplying a negative pressure to the suction / discharge member; and at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid sucked through the suction / discharge member by the negative pressure generator and a gas And gas-liquid separation part to separate

With

An analyzer in which the reaction vessel, the analysis unit, and the cleaning unit are disposed in a closed space, and an exhaust port of the negative pressure generating unit is provided outside the closed space.

A reaction vessel for reacting a biological sample with a predetermined reagent;

An analysis unit for analyzing the reaction solution in the reaction vessel;

A washing section for washing the reaction vessel,

The cleaning section is

A drain outlet for draining at least one of the reaction liquid and the cleaning liquid separated by the gas-liquid separation section as waste liquid;

With

A waste liquid valve for controlling waste water drainage is provided at the drain port,

An analyzer in which the exhaust port of the negative pressure generating unit is connected to the downstream side of the waste liquid valve of the drain port.