JPH09127136A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Problem] To reduce mistakes in liquid level detection during sample dispensing. A sample dispenser 1 includes a probe 1a with a liquid level sensor at the tip of an arm mechanism, and the probe 1a is vertically driven by a pulse motor.
The dispensing control unit 10 controls operations of dispensing a sample by the sample dispenser 1 and dispensing a reagent by the reagent dispenser 5. The liquid level detection unit 12 measures the descending distance of the probe 1a of the sample dispenser 1, which is controlled by the dispensing control unit 10, until the liquid level sensor provided in the probe 1a detects the liquid level of the sample. Detect from the number of motor pulses. The detected liquid surface position is stored in the liquid surface storage unit 14. At the time of the next dispensing of the same sample, the comparison and determination unit 16 compares the liquid surface position of the sample detected by the liquid surface detection unit 12 with the previous liquid surface position stored in the liquid surface storage unit, and The correctness of the previous sample dispensing is judged from the amount of change.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample dispensing device, such as an automatic biochemical analyzer or a blood coagulation analyzer, for dispensing a sample from a sample container to a reaction container by a sample probe equipped with a liquid level sensor, for reagents. The present invention relates to a reagent dispensing device that dispenses a reagent from a reagent container to a reaction container by a probe, and an automatic analyzer that includes a measurement unit that measures a reaction of a reaction solution in the reaction container and that analyzes a component of a sample.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a sample dispensing device or a reagent dispensing device of an automatic analyzer, when dispensing a sample or a reagent into a reaction container,
Bar codes attached to sample containers and reagent containers are read by a bar code reader, and analysis is performed while automatically managing analysis conditions and information according to the read results.

In sample dispensing, the sample probe is lowered into the sample container, and when the liquid level sensor detects the liquid level, the liquid level position is recognized from the descending distance of the sample probe, After confirming that the sample required for dispensing exists in the sample container, the sample is sucked by the probe and dispensed into the reaction container.

The liquid level sensor is of a type that detects a change in capacitance when the probe touches the liquid level, or an electrode is provided on the probe, and the fact that the electrode touches the liquid level is detected by the probe and the electrode. A method of detecting by conduction between the two is generally used.

[0005]

When dispensing is performed only by the liquid level sensor detecting the liquid level, the liquid level may be erroneously detected for various reasons. For example, (1) the liquid level sensor operates before reaching the liquid surface due to static electricity charged in the sample or sample container, (2) erroneous detection due to bubbles on the sample surface, (3) dirt or adhered liquid on the wall surface of the sample container And (4) erroneous detection due to noise entering the liquid level detection circuit. Thus, if the liquid level sensor does not reach the liquid level of the sample and detects the liquid level, dispensing failure will occur and abnormal data will appear, or the sample will be in the sample container. There is an inconvenience that the sample becomes insufficient and reinspection becomes necessary.

In view of the above, the present invention is intended to reduce the liquid level detection error by utilizing not only the detection of the sample in the sample container by the liquid level sensor but also the change of the liquid level height. It is intended.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a dispensing correctness determination section for determining whether or not the dispensing has been correctly performed based on the change in the liquid level height of the sample in the sample container. The dispensing correctness determination unit detects the liquid level detection unit that detects the liquid level position of the sample from the descending distance of the sample probe recognized by the sample dispensing device when the sample is dispensed, and the liquid level detection unit. The liquid level storage unit that stores the stored liquid level position and the previous liquid level stored in the liquid level position of the sample detected by the liquid level detection unit during the next dispensing of the same sample It includes a comparison and determination unit that compares the surface position and determines whether the previous sample dispensing is correct based on the change amount.

At the time of sample dispensing, in the sample dispensing apparatus, the sample probe equipped with the liquid level sensor descends into the sample container. Since the vertical movement of the sample probe is usually driven by the pulse motor, the liquid level height of the sample in the sample container depends on the pulse motor for the probe up and down until the liquid level sensor detects the liquid level of the sample. It can be detected by the number of pulses. Whether or not the detected liquid level is appropriate is
In consideration of the drop in the liquid level due to sample suction, it is determined whether the liquid level can be reproduced within a certain range from the previous liquid level height, for example, within 1 mm.

[0009]

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to an automatic biochemical analyzer. A reaction container 9a is arranged on the circumference of the reaction disc 9, and the reaction container 9a can be sequentially moved to a sample dispensing position, a reagent dispensing position and a reaction measurement position by rotating the reaction disc 9. It is like this.

A sample dispenser (right side) is arranged near the reaction disk 9 for dispensing the sample into the reaction container 9a. The sample disc 2 of the sample dispensing apparatus is provided with a sample container 3 to which a barcode for identification information is attached along its circumference, and a barcode reader 4 is provided at a predetermined position.
The bar code can be read by. The sample in the sample container 3 is placed in the reaction container 9a of the reaction disk 9.
A sample dispenser 1 is provided for dispensing into the. The sample dispenser 1 includes a probe 1a with a liquid level sensor at the tip of an arm mechanism.
a is driven so that it can be moved together with the liquid level sensor between the sample container 3 at a predetermined position, the sample dispensing position of the reaction disk 9 and the cleaning position for cleaning the probe 1a. The probe 1a is vertically driven by a pulse motor. When the bar code of the sample container 3 is read by the bar code reader 4, the content of the bar code is collated with the sample identification information stored in the control device in advance, whereby the sample in the sample container is automatically recognized. .

In order to dispense the reagent into the reaction container 9a, a reagent dispensing device (left side) is arranged near the reaction disk 9. A reagent container 6 is arranged along the circumference of the reagent disc 6 of the reagent dispensing apparatus, and each reagent container 7 is provided with a bar code having a content corresponding to the reagent contained therein. There is. Bar code is barcode reader 8
Is read at a predetermined position. Reagent for reaction vessel 9a
The reagent dispenser 5 to be dispensed with is equipped with an arm mechanism similar to that of the sample dispenser, and a probe 5a with a liquid level sensor is provided at the tip of the arm mechanism. The arm mechanism is driven so that the probe 5a can move between the reagent container 7 at a predetermined position, the reagent dispensing position of the reaction disk 9, and the cleaning position of the probe 5a. When the bar code attached to the reagent container 7 is read by the bar code reader 8, the reusable item and its suction position are automatically recognized by collating with the reagent identification information stored in advance in the control device. To be done.

The dispensing control unit 10 is the sample dispenser 1
The operation of dispensing the sample by the method and the operation of dispensing the reagent by the reagent dispenser 5 are controlled. The liquid level detection unit 12 measures the descending distance of the probe 1a of the sample dispenser 1, which is controlled by the dispensing control unit 10, until the liquid level sensor provided in the probe 1a detects the liquid level of the sample. Detect from the number of motor pulses. The detected liquid surface position is stored in the liquid surface storage unit 14. Comparison determination unit 16
At the time of the next dispensing of the same sample, compares the liquid level position of the sample detected by the liquid level detection unit 12 with the previous liquid level position stored in the liquid level storage unit, Determine the correctness of sample dispensing.

The operation of determining the correctness of the dispensing in the sampling of the sample according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the sampling operation is started, the probe 1a descends into the sample container 3 for a predetermined sample, and the liquid level sensor provided in the probe 1a detects the liquid level in the sample container, the number of pulses of the probe up / down pulse motor is increased. The liquid level height of the sample is detected from the descending distance of the probe 1a due to and is stored in the liquid level storage unit 14.

If the dispense is the first item for the sample, a retest is specified if the analysis is a single item analysis and a flag is set to indicate a data retention analysis. After that, the normal liquid level at the time of the next dispensing of the sample is set, and the criterion for the validity is set, for example, 1 mm.
Within, is set. When the next item is analyzed for the sample, the sampling of the same sample is repeated again.

Similarly, the liquid level at the time of the second sample dispensing is detected from the descending distance of the probe 1a and compared with the liquid level previously detected and stored in the liquid level detection unit 14, which is normal. If the liquid level height is within the appropriate judgment criteria, it is judged that the previous and current dispensing were normal. In this case, the previous data and the current analysis, which were considered as data retention analysis, are judged to be normal, and both analyzes are reported as official results.

The analysis of the following items is executed while determining the appropriateness of the liquid level based on the previous normal liquid level, and if the liquid level is poor, the reinspection process is performed. That is, if the second time does not fall within the judgment criteria of the appropriateness of the normal liquid level, the first analysis is designated as the subject of reinspection, and the analysis is a data retention analysis for this analysis. A flag is set to indicate that the next item will be analyzed. In the analysis of the next item, the normality of the previous data is judged, and if the analysis is also defective, the re-inspection designation and the data suspension are similarly repeated.

In the case of the one-item analysis, all the re-inspection processes are performed, and the validity of the sample dispensing is judged at the next sample analysis. Since the re-examination reduces the processing capacity, it is possible to only display an indication that the previous dispensing is uncertain to the measurement data determined to be inappropriate at the time of the next sample dispensing. Further, in the case of a detection error due to a shortage of the sample or collision of the probe, the re-inspection can be automatically performed by judging the validity of the liquid level.

[0018]

According to the present invention, when the sample is dispensed, the liquid level position of the sample is detected from the descending distance of the sample probe, and the liquid level position for the next dispensing of the same sample is determined as the previous liquid level position. Since it was determined whether the previous sample dispensing was correct or not based on the amount of change compared to the above, the liquid level detection error that occurred when the presence or absence of the sample in the sample container was detected only by the liquid level sensor You will be able to prevent it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part of an embodiment showing a dispensing control unit and a dispensing correctness determination unit in a block diagram.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Sample Dispenser 2 Sample Disc 3 Sample Container 5 Sample Dispenser 10 Dispensing Control Unit 12 Liquid Level Detection Unit 14 Liquid Level Storage Unit 16 Comparison Judgment Unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sample dispensing device for dispensing a sample from a sample container to a reaction container by a sample probe equipped with a liquid level sensor, and a reagent dispensing device for dispensing a reagent from a reagent container to a reaction container by a reagent probe. , And an automatic analyzer for analyzing the components of a sample, which is provided with a measuring unit for measuring the reaction of the reaction solution in the reaction container, wherein when the sample is dispensed, the sample probe recognized by the sample dispenser is A liquid level detection unit that detects the liquid level position of the sample from the descending distance, a liquid level storage unit that stores the liquid level position detected by the liquid level detection unit, and the liquid level when the next sample is dispensed A comparison determination unit that compares the liquid level position of the sample detected by the detection unit with the previous liquid level position stored in the liquid level storage unit and determines the correctness of the previous sample dispensing from the amount of change. It is equipped with a dispensing correctness judgment unit that includes Automatic analyzer to.