JP2008224245A - Washer and autoanalyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent contamination in dispensation by performing a wash of a dispensing nozzle by using a detergent without lowering treatment speed. <P>SOLUTION: This nozzle washer is equipped with a wash tank 61 disposed on a movement route of a dispensing nozzle. A detergent supply port 63 is formed in a side wall of the wash tank 61, and constitutes, together with a detergent supply pipe 617, a first flow path P1 with a detergent liquid flowing therethrough. Further, a water supply port 65 is formed in the side wall of the wash tank 61, and constitutes, together with a water supply pipe 627, a second flow path P2 with a wash water flowing therethrough. Furthermore, a discharge port 67 is formed in a bottom surface of the wash tank 61, and constitutes, together with an internal space of the wash tank 61 and a discharge pipe 637, a third flow path P3 with the detergent liquid having flowed through the flow path P1 and the wash water having flowed through the flow path P2 flowing therethrough. The dispensing nozzle 301, being fixed/disposed at a washing position in the flow path P3, is washed with the detergent liquid and the wash water. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device and an automatic analyzer including the cleaning device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic analyzer that analyzes a specimen such as blood or body fluid biochemically or immunologically is known. This automatic analyzer includes a dispensing nozzle for dispensing a sample or a reagent, and performs dispensing by sucking and discharging the sample or the reagent. Dispensing nozzles that have been dispensed are cleaned each time to prevent contamination between samples and reagents. In addition, immunological analysis of specimens is performed using an immune reaction, but since minute amounts of inter-sample contamination (carry over) affect the measurement results, washing the dispensing nozzle with detergent Some of them are known. For example, a reagent container unit in which a reagent storage unit that stores a reagent and a detergent storage unit that stores a detergent corresponding to the reagent is integrated is stored in a reagent disk, and the probe (dispensing nozzle) is washed. A cleaning tank is separately provided, and the probe is once moved onto the reagent disk to suck the detergent, and then moved to the cleaning tank for cleaning (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-207944

  By the way, even in the case of performing biochemical analysis, prevention of carryover is required as in the case of performing immunological analysis. However, when the technique of Patent Document 1 is simply applied to an apparatus for performing biochemical analysis and the dispensing nozzle is washed with a detergent, it takes time to move the dispensing nozzle to the detergent container, and the washing time Becomes longer. For this reason, there is a problem that it is not suitable for an apparatus for biochemical analysis with a time limit.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and it is possible to perform cleaning of a dispensing nozzle using a detergent without reducing the processing speed and prevent contamination during dispensing. An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device and an automatic analyzer that can be used.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a cleaning device according to the present invention is a cleaning device used in an automatic analyzer that analyzes a liquid introduced into a container by a nozzle for dispensing a liquid, A first flow path through which a first cleaning liquid for cleaning the nozzle flows, and a cleaning liquid for cleaning the nozzle cleaned by the first cleaning liquid, wherein a second cleaning liquid different from the first cleaning liquid is provided. A second flow path that flows, and a third flow path through which the first cleaning liquid that flows through the first flow path and the second cleaning liquid that flows through the second flow path flow, The nozzle is fixedly disposed and cleaned.

  Moreover, the cleaning apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the nozzle is disposed at a fixed position in the third flow path for cleaning.

  Further, in the above invention, the cleaning device according to the present invention has a liquid reservoir in which the first cleaning liquid is retained on the third flow path, and the nozzle is retained in the liquid reservoir. The first cleaning liquid is used for cleaning.

  The cleaning apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the first cleaning liquid is a liquid containing a surfactant.

  Moreover, the automatic analyzer according to the present invention is characterized by having the cleaning device having the above-described configuration.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to wash with the first cleaning liquid and the second cleaning liquid in a state where the nozzle for dispensing the sample is fixedly arranged. Specifically, the nozzle can be cleaned at a fixed position in the third flow path through which the cleaning liquid flowing through the first flow path and the cleaning liquid flowing through the second cleaning liquid flow. Therefore, since it can wash | clean with a different washing | cleaning liquid, without moving a nozzle, washing | cleaning time can be shortened. According to this, the nozzle cleaning accuracy can be improved without reducing the processing speed. For example, if the first cleaning liquid is used as a detergent liquid and the second cleaning liquid is used as cleaning water, it is possible to surely wash away a specimen that is difficult to be removed only by water cleaning and prevent carryover.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
First, the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the internal configuration of the automatic analyzer according to the first embodiment. The automatic analyzer 1 is an apparatus that automatically performs biochemical analysis of a plurality of samples, and includes a sample supply unit 2 and a measurement unit 3. The measuring unit 3 includes a nozzle cleaning device 60, a reaction tank 31, two reagent storages 32 (32-1, 32-2) configured similarly, a first stirring device 35, and a second stirring device. An apparatus 36, a measurement optical system 37, and a cleaning / drying unit 38 are included. A sample dispensing mechanism 30 is provided between the sample supply unit 2 and the reaction tank 31, and reagent dispensing mechanisms 33 and 34 are disposed between the reaction tank 31 and the reagent storages 32-1 and 32-2. Is provided. Here, the sample dispensing mechanism 30 is configured such that a dispensing nozzle 301 for dispensing a sample is attached to an arm 303 that rotates in the direction of an arrow in a horizontal plane, and each of the reagent dispensing mechanisms 33 and 34 is in a horizontal plane. Dispensing nozzles 331 and 341 for dispensing a reagent are attached to arms 333 and 343 that rotate in the direction of the arrow.

  A plurality of sample racks 21 are arranged in the sample supply unit 2, and a plurality of sample containers 23 each holding a sample are mounted on each sample rack 21. The sample rack 21 is sequentially transported along the path indicated by the arrow by the sample supply unit 2, and the sample held in each sample container 23 by the dispensing nozzle 301 of the sample dispensing mechanism 30 is a cuvette (reaction container) of the reaction tank 31. ) Dispensed into C.

  The nozzle cleaning device 60 causes the dispensing nozzle 301 that has dispensed the sample from the sample rack 21 mounted in the sample supply unit 2 to be washed with the detergent liquid that is the first cleaning liquid and the cleaning water that is the second cleaning liquid. Wash.

  The reaction tank 31 has a heat retaining member 311 and a cuvette wheel 313. The heat retaining member 311 is disposed on the inside and outside in the radial direction of the cuvette wheel 313, and a photometric opening 315 is formed at a position corresponding to the measuring optical system 37. This reaction tank 31 is covered with a disk-shaped lid (not shown), and together with the heat retaining member 311, constitutes a heat retaining tank that keeps the internal temperature at about the body temperature. The cuvette wheel 313 holds a plurality of cuvettes C and rotates integrally with the heat retaining member 311 by a drive mechanism (not shown) under the control of the control unit 4 described later. Specifically, it rotates by {(1 turn-1 cuvette) / 4} cuvettes counterclockwise in one cycle, and rotates 1 cuvette clockwise in four cycles.

  The reagent containers 32-1 and 32-2 are configured to be capable of intermittent rotation about the rotation axis by a drive mechanism (not shown) under the control of the control unit 4. The containers B are stored concentrically arranged along the circumferential direction. Each reagent container B stores a predetermined reagent corresponding to the analysis item, and the predetermined reagent is dispensed into the cuvette C by the dispensing nozzle 331 of the reagent dispensing mechanism 33 and the dispensing nozzle 341 of the reagent dispensing mechanism 34. Noted. For example, the reagent container B storing the first reagent is stored in one reagent storage 32-1, and the reagent container B storing the second reagent is stored in the other reagent storage 32-2. . In a normal measurement, only the first reagent is dispensed into the cuvette C, and the second reagent is dispensed into the cuvette C as necessary. Each reagent storage 32 is covered with a disk-shaped lid (not shown). In addition, a thermostat (not shown) is provided below each reagent storage 32, and together with a lid that covers the inside, constitutes a cool box that keeps the reagent stored in each reagent container B in a constant temperature state. . Thereby, evaporation and denaturation of the reagent can be suppressed. In addition, the dispensing nozzle 331 of the reagent dispensing mechanism 33 and the dispensing nozzle 341 of the reagent dispensing mechanism 34 are flushed and washed in a washing tank (not shown) to which washing water is supplied after completion of dispensing.

  Label reading devices 39-1 and 39-2 are installed on the outer peripheral side of the reagent storages 32-1 and 32-2. The label reading devices 39-1 and 39-2 are, for example, barcode readers, and read the barcodes (not shown) attached to the reagent containers B stored in the reagent storages 32-1 and 32-2, respectively. Get information. The barcode attached to the reagent container B is obtained by coding the reagent information related to the reagent contained in the reagent container B according to a predetermined standard. Examples of the reagent information include the reagent name, lot number, and valid Information such as the deadline is included as appropriate. Based on the reagent information acquired by the label readers 39-1 and 39-2, the reagent in the reagent container B is recognized and selected.

  The first stirrer 35 and the second stirrer 36 are configured to be rotatable around the center thereof, and stir the sample and the reagent dispensed into the cuvette C by the stirrer bars 351 and 361 for reaction. Let The stirring rods 351 and 361 are flushed and washed in a washing tank (not shown) to which washing water is supplied after the stirring is completed.

  The measurement optical system 37 includes a light source 371 and a photometric sensor 373. The light source 371 emits analysis light (340 to 800 nm) for analyzing the reaction solution in the cuvette C in which the reagent and the sample have reacted. The photometric sensor 373 measures the luminous flux emitted from the light source 371 and transmitted through the reaction liquid in the cuvette C through the opening 315. Based on the measurement result by the photometric sensor 373, the component analysis of the specimen is performed.

  The cleaning / drying unit 38 sucks and discards the reaction solution in the cuvette C, which has been measured by the measuring optical system 37, cleans the interior with the cleaning water supplied from the cleaning water tank, and then blows in pressurized air. Dry with. The cuvette C that has been washed and dried here is again dispensed by the dispensing nozzle 301 of the sample dispensing mechanism 30 and used for analysis.

  The automatic analyzer 1 further includes a control unit 4 that controls each part of the sample supply unit 2 and the measurement unit 3 and controls the overall operation of the apparatus. The control unit 4 is composed of a microcomputer having a built-in memory for holding various data necessary for the operation of the automatic analyzer 1 in addition to the analysis result, and is stored in a suitable place in the apparatus. It is shown outside the device for convenience. The control unit 4 is connected to the analysis unit 41 so that the measurement result by the measurement optical system 37 is output as appropriate. The analysis unit 41 analyzes the component concentration of the specimen based on the measurement result by the measurement optical system 37 and outputs the analysis result to the control unit 4. In addition, the control unit 4 displays an input unit 43 including an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting information necessary for analysis such as the number of samples and analysis items, and outputs an analysis result and displays a warning. Are connected to an output unit 45 composed of an output device such as a display or a printer.

  In the automatic analyzer 1 configured as described above, the reagent dispensing mechanism 33 dispenses the reagent (first reagent) in the reagent container B to the plurality of cuvettes C that are sequentially conveyed, and the sample dispensing mechanism 30 The sample in the container 23 is dispensed. Subsequently, after the first stirrer 35 stirs and reacts the reagent in the cuvette C and the specimen, the spectral intensity of the sample in the state in which the measurement optical system 37 has reacted is measured. Further, the reagent dispensing mechanism 34 dispenses the reagent (second reagent) in the reagent container B as necessary. Subsequently, after the second stirrer 36 stirs and reacts the reagent in the cuvette C and the specimen, the spectral intensity of the sample in the state in which the measurement optical system 37 has reacted is measured. Then, the analysis unit 41 analyzes the measurement result and automatically performs component analysis of the sample. In addition, the cleaning / drying unit 38 cleans / drys the cuvette C that has been measured by the measurement optical system 37, and a series of analysis operations are continuously repeated.

  Next, the part which concerns on the washing | cleaning of the dispensing nozzle 301 is demonstrated. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the configuration of the specimen dispensing mechanism 30 and the nozzle cleaning device 60. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration around the cleaning tank 61, and FIGS. 4-1 to 3 are diagrams illustrating the cleaning operation of the dispensing nozzle 301 by the nozzle cleaning device 60. A part of the side surface of the cleaning tank 61 is cut away to show the inside.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sample dispensing mechanism 30 includes a dispensing mechanism driving unit 304. The dispensing mechanism driving unit 304 rotates the arm 303 to which the dispensing nozzle 301 is attached to hold a predetermined suction position above the sample supply unit 2 on which the sample container 23 is mounted and the cuvette C. The dispensing nozzle 301 is moved to a predetermined discharge position above the reaction tank 31 and above the cleaning tank 61 described later, and the arm 303 is moved up and down to move the dispensing nozzle 301 up and down at each position. The sample dispensing mechanism 30 is connected to a washing water tank 308 that stores washing water by a pipe 309 provided with a dispensing pump 305 and a washing water discharge pump 306. A control valve 307 is attached between the dispensing pump 305 and the cleaning water discharge pump 306. By operating the cleaning water discharge pump 306 with the control valve 307 opened, the cleaning water tank 308 The stored washing water can be discharged from the dispensing nozzle 301.

  On the other hand, the nozzle cleaning device 60 includes a cleaning tank 61 disposed on the movement path of the dispensing nozzle 301 that moves between the sample supply unit 2 and the reaction tank 31, and includes a detergent supply valve 611 and a detergent supply pump 613. For example, a detergent supply pipe 617 is connected to a detergent liquid tank 615 storing a detergent liquid such as a detergent containing a surfactant, and a water supply pipe 627 provided with a water supply valve 621 and a water supply pump 623 is used. For example, it is connected to a cleaning water tank 625 that stores cleaning water such as pure water, and is connected to a waste liquid tank 635 that stores waste liquid by a discharge pipe 637 provided with a waste liquid discharge valve 631.

  The cleaning tank 61 has a cylindrical shape with an open top, and as shown in FIG. 3, the dispensing nozzle 301 is inserted into the inside from the top opening. The side wall of the cleaning tank 61 is formed with a detergent supply port 63 that communicates the interior space of the cleaning tank 61 into which the dispensing nozzle 301 is inserted and the outside, and a detergent supply pipe that guides the detergent liquid to the detergent supply port 63. 617 and the 1st flow path P1 into which a washing | cleaning liquid flows are comprised. In addition, a water supply port 65 that communicates the internal space of the cleaning tank 61 with the outside is formed on the side wall of the cleaning tank 61, and the cleaning water flows together with the water supply pipe 627 that guides the cleaning water to the water supply port 65. A second flow path P2 is configured. Further, a discharge port 67 is formed on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 61 so as to communicate the internal space of the cleaning tank 61 with the outside, and a discharge pipe 637 that guides the waste liquid discharged from the internal space of the cleaning tank 61 and the discharge port 67. In addition, the third flow path P3 is configured. The third flow path is a portion through which the detergent liquid flowing through the first flow path and the washing water flowing through the second flow path flow, and the dispensing nozzle 301 is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In addition, the liquid is washed with the detergent liquid and the washing water while being fixedly arranged at a predetermined washing position in the third flow path P3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 4 includes a detergent supply valve 611, a detergent supply pump 613, a water supply valve 621, a water supply pump 623, a waste liquid discharge valve 631, a dispensing mechanism driving unit 304, and a dispensing pump 305. By controlling the operation of each part of the washing water discharge pump 306 and the control valve 307, the dispensing operation and the washing operation of the dispensing nozzle 301 are performed.

  That is, in the dispensing operation, the control unit 4 first operates the dispensing mechanism driving unit 304 to rotate the arm 303 to move the dispensing nozzle 301 to the suction position above the sample supply unit 2. Next, the dispensing mechanism driving unit 304 is operated to lower the arm 303, and the dispensing pump 305 is operated with the control valve 307 closed, thereby causing the dispensing nozzle 301 to perform a suction operation and the sample container. A predetermined amount of the sample is aspirated from 23. When the suction is performed, the dispensing mechanism driving unit 304 is operated to raise the arm 303, and then the arm 303 is rotated to move the dispensing nozzle 301 to the discharge position on the reaction tank 31. The sample is discharged from the dispensing nozzle 301 to the cuvette C by operating the dispensing pump 305 with the control valve 307 closed. When the above dispensing operation is completed, the operation proceeds to the cleaning operation.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the control unit 4 first operates the dispensing mechanism driving unit 304 to rotate the arm 303 to place the dispensing nozzle 301 above the cleaning tank 61. Move. Then, the detergent supply valve 611 is opened with the water supply valve 621 and the waste liquid discharge valve 631 closed, and the detergent supply pump 613 is operated to suck the detergent liquid from the detergent liquid tank 615 and wash it from the detergent supply port 63. The detergent solution sucked into the tank 61 is supplied. The supply amount of the detergent liquid is set in advance, for example, to such an amount that the cleaning tank 61 is almost full of the detergent liquid. In addition, it is good also as supplying the detergent liquid of the quantity in which the front-end | tip part of the dispensing nozzle 301 which penetrate | invades in a specimen at the time of dispensing is immersed, and based on the penetration | invasion amount of the dispensing nozzle 301 at the time of dispensing, The supply amount may be set. After supplying the detergent solution, the detergent supply valve 611 is closed. Subsequently, the dispensing mechanism driving unit 304 is operated to lower the arm 303, and the dispensing nozzle 301 is moved to the cleaning position and immersed in the detergent solution. Thereby, the outer wall of the dispensing nozzle 301 is cleaned with detergent.

  Then, the dispensing pump 305 is operated in a state where the control valve 307 is closed, and the dispensing nozzle 301 is caused to perform a suction operation to suck a predetermined amount of detergent liquid from the cleaning tank 61. For example, the suction amount of the detergent liquid is set to be larger than the sample amount sucked at the time of dispensing. Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the waste liquid discharge valve 631 is opened, the detergent liquid in the cleaning tank 61 is discharged from the discharge port 67 to the waste liquid tank 635, and the dispensing pump 305 is operated to perform dispensing. The nozzle 301 is caused to perform a discharge operation to discharge the detergent liquid. Thereby, the inner wall of the dispensing nozzle 301 is cleaned with detergent. After discharging the detergent liquid, the waste liquid discharge valve 631 is closed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4-3, the water supply valve 621 is opened, the water supply pump 623 is operated, the cleaning water is sucked from the cleaning water tank 625, and is sucked from the water supply port 65 to the cleaning tank 61. Supply cleaning water. The supply amount of the cleaning water is set in advance, for example, to an amount that the cleaning tank 61 becomes almost full with the cleaning water. After supplying the washing water, the water supply valve 621 is closed. Subsequently, the waste liquid discharge valve 631 is opened, the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 61 is discharged from the discharge port 67 to the waste liquid tank 635, and the cleaning water discharge pump 306 is operated with the control valve 307 opened to The cleaning water stored in the tank 308 is discharged from the dispensing nozzle 301. Thereby, the outer wall and inner wall of the dispensing nozzle 301 are each washed with water. If the above washing | cleaning operation is complete | finished, it will transfer to the dispensing operation | movement of the new sample by the dispensing nozzle 301. FIG.

  According to the first embodiment described above, the third liquid flows through the dispensing nozzle 301 that sucks and discharges the sample through the first flow path P1 and the cleaning water that flows through the second flow path P2. The outer wall and inner wall of the dispensing nozzle 301 can be washed with a detergent solution and washed with washing water with water while being fixedly arranged at the washing position inside the washing tank 61 constituting the flow path P3. Therefore, since the detergent cleaning and the water cleaning can be performed without moving the dispensing nozzle 301, the cleaning time can be shortened. According to this, the specimen remaining in the dispensing nozzle 301 can be washed with the detergent liquid without reducing the processing speed, and the specimen that is hard to fall off only with water washing can be surely washed away and carryover can be prevented. .

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The automatic analyzer according to the second embodiment is obtained by arranging a nozzle cleaning device 70 shown in FIG. 5 in place of the nozzle cleaning device 60 in the automatic analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the part similar to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle cleaning device 70 according to the second embodiment.

  The nozzle cleaning device 70 includes a cleaning tank 71 disposed on the movement path of the dispensing nozzle 301 that moves between the sample supply unit 2 and the reaction tank 31. The washing tank 71 has a cylindrical shape with an upper opening, and the dispensing nozzle 301 is inserted into the inside through the upper opening.

  On the side wall of the cleaning tank 71, a detergent supply unit 73 for supplying a detergent solution into the cleaning tank 71 is disposed. The detergent supply unit 73 is connected to the detergent liquid tank 715 by a detergent supply pipe 717 provided with a detergent supply pump 713, and discharges a predetermined amount of detergent liquid from the tip toward the bottom of the washing tank 71. More specifically, a liquid reservoir 79 for retaining the detergent liquid is formed at a position below the detergent position on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 71, and the cleaning liquid discharged from the detergent supply unit 73 is supplied to the liquid reservoir 79. It has become. A water supply unit 75 for supplying cleaning water into the cleaning tank 71 is disposed on the side wall of the cleaning tank 71, and is connected to the cleaning water tank 725 by a water supply pipe 727 provided with a water supply pump 723. ing. The water supply unit 75 includes a water spray plate 751 having a plurality of small holes, and sprays cleaning water into the cleaning tank 71 from each small hole in a shower shape. Further, a discharge port 77 is formed on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 71 to communicate the internal space of the cleaning tank 71 into which the dispensing nozzle 301 is inserted and the outside, and is connected to the discharge tank 735 by a discharge pipe 737. .

  And the detergent supply part 73 comprises the 1st flow path P11 with which a detergent liquid flows with the detergent supply pipe | tube 717, and the water supply part 75 with the water supply pipe | tube 727 and the 2nd flow path P12 with which washing water flows. The discharge port 77 constitutes a third flow path P13 together with the internal space of the cleaning tank 71 and the discharge pipe 737. The third flow path P13 is a portion through which the detergent liquid that has flowed through the first flow path P11 and the washing water that has flowed through the second flow path P12 flow, and the dispensing nozzle 301 is a two-dot chain line in FIG. As shown in the figure, the liquid is washed with the detergent liquid and the washing water in a state of being fixedly arranged at the washing position in the third flow path P13.

  6A to 6C are diagrams illustrating the cleaning operation of the dispensing nozzle 301 by the nozzle cleaning device 70 according to the second embodiment. The control unit 4 controls the operation of each part constituting the nozzle cleaning device 70 and the sample dispensing mechanism 30 and causes the dispensing nozzle 301 to perform the cleaning operation. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the control unit 4 first operates the dispensing mechanism driving unit 304 to rotate the arm 303 to move the dispensing nozzle 301 to a position above the cleaning tank 71. Subsequently, the detergent supply pump 713 is operated to suck a predetermined amount of detergent liquid from the detergent liquid tank 715 and supply it to the liquid reservoir 79 from the detergent supply unit 73. The supply amount of the detergent liquid is set so as to be larger than the sample amount sucked at the time of dispensing, for example.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the dispensing mechanism driving unit 304 is operated to lower the arm 303 and move the dispensing nozzle 301 to the cleaning position. At this time, the outer wall of the dispensing nozzle 301 is cleaned with detergent by immersing the tip of the dispensing nozzle 301 in the cleaning liquid supplied to the liquid reservoir 79. Then, the dispensing pump 305 is operated in a state where the control valve 307 is closed, and the dispensing nozzle 301 is caused to perform a suction operation to suck a predetermined amount of detergent liquid from the cleaning tank 71. Thereby, the inner wall of the dispensing nozzle 301 is cleaned with detergent.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6-3, the dispensing pump 305 is operated to cause the dispensing nozzle 301 to perform a discharging operation to discharge the detergent liquid. The discharged detergent liquid is discharged from the discharge port 77. Subsequently, the water supply pump 723 is operated to suck the cleaning water from the cleaning water tank 725, and the cleaning water is jetted and supplied from the water supply unit 75 to the cleaning tank 71 and the control valve 307 is opened to discharge the cleaning water. The pump 306 is operated to discharge the cleaning water stored in the cleaning water tank 308 from the dispensing nozzle 301. The discharged detergent liquid is discharged from the discharge port 77. Thereby, the outer wall and inner wall of the dispensing nozzle 301 are each washed with water. If the above washing | cleaning operation | movement is complete | finished, it will transfer to the dispensing operation | movement of the new sample by the dispensing nozzle 301. FIG.

  According to the second embodiment described above, as in the first embodiment, the detergent liquid that has flowed through the first flow path P11 and the wash water that has flowed through the second flow path P12 flow through the dispensing nozzle 301. The outer wall and inner wall of the dispensing nozzle 301 can be washed with a detergent solution and washed with washing water in a state of being fixedly arranged at the washing position in the washing tank 71 constituting the third flow path P13. The effect similar to the form 1 of this can be show | played. In addition, a necessary amount of detergent solution is supplied to the liquid reservoir 79 to clean the dispensing nozzle 301, and a required amount of cleaning water is jetted and supplied from the water supply unit 75 to wash the dispensing nozzle 301 with water. The cleaning liquid and the cleaning water can be used without waste.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, Embodiment 3 will be described. The automatic analyzer according to the third embodiment is obtained by arranging a nozzle cleaning device 80 shown in FIG. 7 in place of the nozzle cleaning device 60 in the automatic analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the part similar to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle cleaning device 80 according to the third embodiment.

  The nozzle cleaning device 80 includes a cleaning tank 81 disposed on the movement path of the dispensing nozzle 301 that moves between the sample supply unit 2 and the reaction tank 31. The washing tank 81 has a cylindrical shape, and an upper portion thereof is covered with a lid 82 having an opening 83 for inserting the dispensing nozzle 301 therein. The lid 82 prevents splashing of the detergent liquid supplied from the detergent supply unit 85 (described later) and the washing water supplied from the water supply unit 87 to the outside of the washing tank 81. The dispensing nozzle 301 is inserted into the cleaning tank 81 from the upper opening.

  On one end side of the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 81, a detergent supply unit 85 is provided for spraying and supplying the detergent liquid into the cleaning tank 81. The detergent liquid tank is provided by a detergent supply pipe 817 provided with a detergent supply pump 813. 815 is connected. More specifically, the detergent supply unit 85 is disposed with an injection angle set so that the detergent liquid is supplied to the outer wall portion and the tip portion of the dispensing nozzle 301 that has been moved to a later-described cleaning position. Further, adjacent to the detergent supply unit 85, a water supply unit 87 for supplying the cleaning water by jetting the cleaning water into the cleaning tank 81 is provided, and the cleaning water is supplied by a water supply pipe 827 provided with a water supply pump 823. A tank 815 is connected. Similarly to the detergent supply unit 85, the water supply unit 87 is also arranged with an injection angle set so that the cleaning water is supplied to the outer wall portion and the tip portion of the dispensing nozzle 301 at the cleaning position. On the other hand, a discharge port 89 is formed on the other end side of the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 81 so as to communicate the internal space of the cleaning tank 81 into which the dispensing nozzle 301 is inserted and the outside, and is connected to the waste liquid tank 835 by a discharge pipe 837. Has been. The bottom surface of the washing tank 81 is an inclined surface inclined downward from one end side where the detergent supply unit 85 and the water supply unit 87 are disposed toward the other end side where the discharge port 89 is formed. Accordingly, the waste liquid in the cleaning tank 81 can be sent to the discharge port 89 and discharged without remaining.

  And the detergent supply part 85 comprises the 1st flow path P21 into which a detergent liquid flows with the detergent supply pipe | tube 817, and the water supply part 87 with the water supply pipe | tube 827 the 2nd flow path P22 into which washing water flows. The discharge port 89, together with the internal space of the cleaning tank 81 and the discharge pipe 837, forms a third flow path P23. The third flow path P23 is a portion through which the detergent liquid that has flowed through the first flow path P21 and the wash water that has flowed through the second flow path P22 flow, and the dispensing nozzle 301 is a two-dot chain line in FIG. As shown in the figure, the liquid is washed with the detergent liquid and the washing water in a state of being fixedly arranged at the washing position in the third flow path P23.

  FIGS. 8-1 to 3 are diagrams illustrating the cleaning operation of the dispensing nozzle 301 by the nozzle cleaning device 80 of the third embodiment. The control unit 4 controls the operation of each unit constituting the nozzle cleaning device 80 and the sample dispensing mechanism 30 to perform the cleaning operation of the dispensing nozzle 301. That is, as shown in FIG. 8A, the control unit 4 first operates the dispensing mechanism driving unit 304 to rotate the arm 303 to move the dispensing nozzle 301 to a position above the cleaning tank 81. Subsequently, the dispensing mechanism driving unit 304 is operated to lower the arm 303 and move the dispensing nozzle 301 to the cleaning position.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the detergent supply pump 813 is operated to suck the detergent liquid from the detergent liquid tank 815 and spray and supply the detergent liquid from the detergent supply unit 85 to the cleaning tank 81. At this time, the dispensing pump 305 is simultaneously operated to cause the dispensing nozzle 301 to perform a suction operation, and the detergent liquid sprayed and supplied from the detergent supply unit 85 is sucked. Thereafter, the dispensing pump 305 is operated to cause the dispensing nozzle 301 to perform a discharging operation to discharge the detergent liquid. Thereby, the outer wall and inner wall of the dispensing nozzle 301 are respectively cleaned with detergent.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8C, the water supply pump 823 is operated to suck the cleaning water from the cleaning water tank 815, and the cleaning water is jetted and supplied from the water supply unit 87 to the cleaning tank 81. At this time, the cleaning water discharge pump 306 is operated with the control valve 307 opened, and the cleaning water stored in the cleaning water tank 308 is discharged from the dispensing nozzle 301. The discharged cleaning water is discharged from the discharge port 89. Thereby, the outer wall and inner wall of the dispensing nozzle 301 are each washed with water. If the above washing | cleaning operation | movement is complete | finished, it will transfer to the dispensing operation | movement of the new sample by the dispensing nozzle 301. FIG.

  According to the third embodiment described above, as in the first embodiment, the detergent liquid that has flowed through the first flow path P21 and the wash water that has flowed through the second flow path P22 flow through the dispensing nozzle 301. The outer wall and the inner wall of the dispensing nozzle 301 can be washed with a detergent solution and washed with washing water with the washing water while being fixedly arranged at the washing position in the washing tank 81 constituting the third flow path P23. The same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the dispensing nozzle 301 for dispensing the sample is washed has been described. However, the dispensing nozzles 331 and 341 of the reagent dispensing mechanisms 33 and 34 for dispensing the reagent are washed. The same applies to the case. According to this, the reagent remaining in the dispensing nozzles 331 and 341 for dispensing the reagent can be surely washed away, and contamination between reagents can be prevented.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where two reagent storages are provided in the automatic analyzer 1 has been described, but one reagent storage may be provided.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the internal structure of an automatic analyzer. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the configuration of a specimen dispensing mechanism and a nozzle cleaning device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration around a cleaning tank according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a cleaning operation of the dispensing nozzle according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a cleaning operation of the dispensing nozzle according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a cleaning operation of the dispensing nozzle according to the first embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the structure of the nozzle cleaning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a cleaning operation of a dispensing nozzle according to a second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a cleaning operation of a dispensing nozzle according to a second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a cleaning operation of a dispensing nozzle according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a nozzle cleaning device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a cleaning operation of a dispensing nozzle according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a cleaning operation of a dispensing nozzle according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a cleaning operation of a dispensing nozzle according to a third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic analyzer 2 Specimen supply part 3 Measurement part 30 Specimen dispensing mechanism 301 Dispensing probe 303 Arm 304 Dispensing mechanism drive part 305 Dispensing pump 306 Washing water discharge pump 307 Control valve 308 Washing water tank 309 Piping 60 Nozzle washing apparatus 61 Cleaning tank 63 Detergent supply port 65 Water supply port 67 Discharge port 611 Detergent supply valve 613 Detergent supply pump 615 Detergent liquid tank 617 Detergent supply pipe 621 Water supply valve 623 Water supply pump 625 Washing water tank 627 Water supply pipe 631 Waste liquid discharge valve 635 Waste liquid tank 637 Discharge pipe 31 Reaction tank 32-1, 32-2 Reagent storage 33, 34 Reagent dispensing mechanism 37 Measurement optical system 4 Control unit 23 Sample container

Claims (5)

A cleaning device used in an automatic analyzer for analyzing a liquid introduced into a container by a nozzle for dispensing a liquid,
A first flow path through which a first cleaning liquid for cleaning the nozzle flows;
A cleaning liquid for cleaning the nozzle cleaned by the first cleaning liquid, and a second flow path through which a second cleaning liquid different from the first cleaning liquid flows;
A third flow path through which the first cleaning liquid flowing through the first flow path and the second cleaning liquid flowing through the second flow path flow;
And the nozzle is fixedly arranged and cleaned.   The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is disposed and cleaned at a fixed position in the third flow path. On the third flow path, there is a liquid reservoir for holding the first cleaning liquid,
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is cleaned by the first cleaning liquid held in the liquid reservoir.   The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first cleaning liquid is a liquid containing a surfactant.   An automatic analyzer comprising the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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