JPH0663977B2 - Biochemical analyzer - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a biochemical analyzer, and more particularly to a biochemical analyzer capable of automatically ejecting a measuring element inserted in a transfer means in an incorrect insertion direction. ． [Background of the Invention] Generally, for liquid samples such as blood and serum, there are a dry method and a wet method as chemical analysis methods when it is necessary to know whether or not a specific component is contained in the liquid sample or the content thereof. Among them, the dry method uses a measuring element in which a chemical analysis film impregnated with a specific reagent is sandwiched between a mount and a mount cover, and a liquid sample to be analyzed is dropped and supplied to this measuring element for reaction. It is placed in a temperature-controlled room to react a liquid sample with a reagent, and the state of progress or the result of the reaction is measured and detected by, for example, means for measuring the change in color density due to the reaction by an optical densitometer, or other means. , It is very convenient in that a liquid sample can be actually handled as a solid, but it was difficult to drop a large number of specimens individually on the measuring element and to measure it.
Recently, a plurality of measuring elements are transferred by using an intermittent transfer means, and a measuring element insertion section, a sample dropping section, a photometric section of the measuring element, and a discharging section of the measuring element after the photometric measurement are provided at appropriate positions at the stop positions. Biochemical analyzers were developed. This was excellent in that multiple measuring elements could be collectively measured. When a plurality of measuring elements are collectively measured in this way, the analysis item of each measuring element is specified, the address of the transfer means into which the measuring element is inserted is specified, and the sample is inserted from each inserted measuring element. It is necessary to be able to manage the time from sample dropping to photometry until dropping. For this purpose, it is preferable that an identification item such as an analysis item is displayed on the upper surface of the measuring element, and this can be read by a reading means such as an infrared photosensor and the information can be stored in a storage device. Since it is provided at a position away from the center of the device, that is, at one side edge, if the insertion direction is wrong, the inconvenience that the molecular item cannot be read can be considered. [Object of the Invention] In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a biochemical analyzer which can immediately and automatically eject the measuring element from the transfer means when the measuring element is inserted in the wrong direction. [Constitution of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a measuring element insertion portion, a sample dropping portion, a measuring element photometric portion, and a measuring element at appropriate positions of respective stop positions of a means for intermittently transferring a plurality of measuring elements. In a biochemical analyzer having an element discharge part, an insertion end signal generating means is provided in the insertion part, and an insertion direction detecting means of the measuring element is provided at a stop position next to the transfer means operated by the signal of the means. The discharging section is provided with an operating means for discharging the measuring element whose wrong direction is detected by the detecting means. [Embodiment] Next, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. In Fig. 1, 1 is the main body of the biochemical analyzer and 2 is the measuring element. The measuring element 2 comprises a film 3 impregnated with a certain reagent between a mount 3 having a photometric through hole 3a and a mount cover 4 having a sample dropping through hole 4a as shown in FIG. On the surface of the mount cover 4, a code (hereinafter referred to as an item code) 6 for discriminating reagent data (analysis item) by a plurality of bits is displayed. The measuring element 2 is inserted through an element insertion port 7 provided on the front surface 1a of the main body 1 into an element fitting groove 9 equidistantly arranged on the peripheral portion of a disk 8 installed in the main body 1 as shown in FIG. It is fitted through the feeding means 39 described later. When one measuring element 2 is fitted into one element fitting groove 9 from the insertion portion S including the element insertion port 7 and the feeding means 39, the disk 8 is inserted.
Rotates the next element fitting groove 9 to a position corresponding to the insertion portion S and stops. The item code 6 is provided to the right of the insertion direction of the measuring element. The disk 8 has a measuring element 2 in its one element fitting groove 9.
When is fitted, the next element fitting groove 9 is rotated to a position corresponding to the element insertion opening 7 and stopped. As a drive means for the disk 8, in the embodiment, a radial groove 15 is formed between the element fitting grooves 9 at the peripheral edge of the disk 8 and a rotary wheel 13 having a rotation center on the outer peripheral edge of the disk 8.
Is provided so that the pin 14 implanted at the eccentric position of the rotary wheel 13 can engage with the radial groove 15. As a result, the disk 8 is fed one pitch by a half rotation in which the pin 14 of the rotary wheel 13 engages with the radial groove 15 and then disengages, and the pin 14 disengages from the radial groove 15 and then engages with the next radial groove 15. Until they meet, they are subject to intermittent rotation while they are stationary. A rotating wheel 13 for intermittently rotating the disk 8 is connected to a drive motor 17 via a bevel gear 16 which meshes with a bevel gear 13 'formed on the peripheral surface thereof. The drive motor 17 operates by receiving a pulse signal from the control unit 90, and rotates the rotary wheel 13 once by one pulse signal. Therefore, the length of the stop time of the disk 8 can be freely adjusted by the interval of the pulse signal from the control unit 90. Reference numeral 18 is a stopper for holding the stability of the disk 8 when it is stopped, and a spring-loaded sphere 18a partially falls into one of the radial grooves 15. As shown in FIG. 4, the disk 8 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 12 on a thermostat 11 containing a heat retaining liquid 10. The disk 8
Has a slight gap from the upper surface of the constant temperature plate 11, but is fitted in the element fitting groove 9 so that the measuring element 2 can directly contact the constant temperature plate 11. This is effective for efficiently preheating the measuring element 2, which is normally stored cold, to the reaction temperature with the sample. The constant temperature plate 11 shown here heats the heat-retaining liquid 10 with a heater (not shown) provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate, and the heat preheats the measuring element. Inside the constant temperature plate 11, a stirring blade 11a is provided for keeping the temperature distribution of the heat retaining liquid 10 constant. The stirring blade 11a has a permanent magnet 11a 'embedded therein and the constant temperature plate.
The permanent magnet 11b 'embedded in the rotary disk 11b provided below 11 can be rotated to follow the rotary disk 11b by the attractive force. The rotary disk 11b is connected to the drive motor 17 via a gear (not shown) and is connected to the gear 75 of the shaft 74 via a base gear 76.
When the disk 8 rotates by meshing with 78, it can rotate at the same time. In this embodiment, 20 element fitting grooves 9 provided on the peripheral edge of the disk 8 are provided on the peripheral edge of the disk 8 as indicated by symbols (1) to (5) in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6A, each element fitting groove 9 is provided with a sample dropping window 19 and a see-through window 20 at a position corresponding to the item code 6 in which the same number of through holes are continuous. Further, on the disk 8 along the side edge of the element fitting groove 9, an address code 21 for specifying the addresses 1 to 3 is displayed so that it can be read by a plurality of bits like the item code 6. In the element fitting groove 9, the address is opened for calibration which will be described later, and the measuring elements 2 can fit 19 to the addresses for convenience. Therefore, when this device is powered on, a certain preparatory operation is completed (this operation is particularly effective when there is no measurement element remaining in each element fitting groove 9 = power failure, etc.) After that, an address is provided at the insertion portion S. When the first measuring element 2 is fitted into the element fitting groove 9 at the address, the insertion end detection sensor 91 detects the rear end of the measuring element and outputs an insertion end signal to the controller 90. Upon receipt of the insertion end signal, the control unit 90 operates the drive motor 17 to feed the disk 8 one pitch, the element fitting groove 9 at the address is made to correspond to the insertion portion S, and the next measuring element 2 is inserted at the address. Then, the same operation as described above is repeated, and the element fitting groove 9 corresponds to the insertion portion S in the order of address, address, etc., so that measuring elements can be inserted one after another. On the other hand, at the position (disk stop position) 22 where the measuring element 2 inserted at each address as described above is fed one pitch from the inserting section S, for example, the item code displayed on the measuring element 2 by using an infrared photo sensor. 6
And a code reading device 23, 23 'for reading the address code 21 displayed on the disc, and the information read by this is stored in a recording device (not shown) in which address the measuring element of which item is inserted. It has become so. Similarly, the address and the address are sequentially read and stored. The code reader 23 for reading the item code 6 displayed on the measuring element 2 is used when the measuring element 2 is inserted in the wrong inserting direction as shown in FIG. 6B, that is,
The insertion detection sensor 91 detects the insertion and the transparent window 20.
It also functions as an insertion direction detection means that outputs an incorrect direction signal to the control unit 90 when the item code does not appear in. When the control section 9 receives the wrong direction signal from the inserting direction detecting means (item code reading device) 23, the operating means 25, which will be described later, is driven so that the measuring element 2 inserted in the wrong direction can be immediately ejected. There is. At the stop position 24 of the disk 8 next to the installation position (address / item reading unit) 22 of the code reading device 23, 23 ', there is provided an ejecting section having an operating means 25 for ejecting the measuring element 2 from the element fitting groove 9. H is provided. The actuating means 25 of the discharging part H is provided with a discharging claw 26 having an intermediate part pivotally mounted via a pin 27 above a long hole 19 'formed from the sample dropping window 19 toward the center of the disc. 26 head with rod 28, L-shaped lever 29
Is connected to the tip of the plunger 31 of the solenoid 30 via the
A spring 32 for pulling 31 back is provided. In normal times, the spring 32 acts to pull the rod 28 as shown in FIG. 7A, and lifts the tip of the ejection claw 26 upward to rotate the disk 8. Does not hinder the solenoid
When electricity is applied to 30 and the plunger 31 projects against the spring 32, the rod 28 is pulled and the tip of the discharge claw 26 is rotated as shown in FIG. It is constructed so that the measuring element 2 in the groove 9 can be discharged.
The measuring element 2 discharged by the operation of the discharging claw 26 is a sending means.
It is sent out of the main body through an outlet 34 provided on the front surface of the main body 1 via 33. The delivery means 33 is driven in the discharge direction by a gear 36 fixed to the output shaft of a drive motor 35 as shown in FIG.
Equipped with linear shafts 37, 37 ', two friction rollers 38 fixed to the shafts 37, 37' sandwich the measuring element 2 between it and the upper guide plate 381 so that it can be fed out as shown in FIG. It has become. In addition, the element insertion slot 7 and the element fitting groove 9 of the disk 8
The feeding means 39 provided between the shaft and the shaft 37 is connected to the one shaft 37 of the feeding means 33 through a connecting gear 40.
41 and a shaft 41 ′ connected to this via an intermediate gear 42
Parallel to the shaft, and each of these shafts 41, 41 'has two
The friction rollers 43 are fixed one by one, and the measuring element 2 inserted from the element insertion port 7 is sandwiched between the upper guide plate 44 and
As shown in the figure, it can be fed into the element fitting groove 9. An operation panel 45 of this device is provided on the upper surface of the main body 1. On the operation panel 45, a numeral key 46 for inputting a sample No. as necessary when inserting the measuring element 2 into the element fitting groove 9 of the disk 8 and three switches for selecting a photometric method 47a-47c, sample drip start switch 4
8 and a drip end switch 49 are provided. When the measuring element 2 is inserted from the element insertion port 7 into the element fitting groove 9 in the insertion portion S, the disc 8 is output by the output signal from the sensor 91 that detects the measuring element 2.
Is sent by one pitch and at the same time, a first timer 101 is provided which is driven by the output signal (see FIGS. 18 and 19). The first timer 101 is for managing the insertion interval of the measuring element 2, for example, the time from the insertion of one measuring element to the insertion of the next measuring element such as address-address, address-address. ． This first timer 101
The measuring time of is usually one measuring element 2 inserted in the element fitting groove 9 absorbs the heat of the constant temperature plate 11 and the reaction temperature (about 37
It is decided in consideration of the time required to reach (℃). In the case of this embodiment, this time is set to 3 minutes after the last measuring element is inserted. Specifically, the insertion of one measuring element 2 causes the first timer 101 to start counting for 3 minutes,
When the next measuring element is inserted, the count up to that point is cleared and counting starts from the beginning. Therefore, when a certain measurement element is inserted and the next measurement element is not inserted within 3 minutes from this time, when the first timer 101 times out, an insertion end signal is generated and the signal is sent to the control unit 90. ． As a result, the control unit 90 determines that there is no subsequent insertion, that is, the measuring element inserted immediately before is determined to be the last measuring element, drives the disk 8, and leaves the address where the measuring element 2 is not inserted. The element fitting groove is rapidly conveyed to the photometric unit 53, which will be described later, and the photometric unit 53 performs calibration described later. When the calibration is completed and the completion signal is received by the control unit 90, the disk 8 is driven and the measuring element 2 inserted in the element fitting groove 9 at the address is rapidly conveyed to the sample dropping section 50. ing. The supple drip unit 50 has a drip port 50 'provided on the upper surface of the main body 1 accommodating the disk 8 and a lower end of the drip port 50' whose base end is fixed to the output shaft 51 'of the motor 51 as shown in FIG. It is composed of the shutter 52 and the shutter. This shutter 52 is closed during the time when the sample is not dropped, for example, during the insertion of the measuring element, the photometric time, the disk drive time, etc., to prevent outside air from entering the main body 1 through the drip port 50 ', The temperature change in 1 is suppressed. In addition to the above functions, the shutter 52 also has a function to set the dropping timing. That is, the shutter 52 normally closes the dropping port 50 'as shown in A of the same figure and opens it as shown in B of the same figure only when dropping the sample. In this case, for the first sample drop, the operator presses the drop start switch (shutter opening actuating push button switch) 48 on the operation panel 45 of the main body 1 so that the sample is opened. After that, automatic opening (after performing the calibration, the measuring element 2 inserted into the element fitting groove 9 after the address
Is carried out to the sample dropping section 50), and the shutter 52 is closed after the sample is dropped by pressing a dropping end switch (shutter closing push button switch) 49 except in specific cases. It is like this. The specific case where the shutter 52 is automatically closed is to avoid this because if the shutter 52 is left open for a long time, it will be affected by outside air. In short, by automatically performing the opening operation of the shutter 52 and the closing operation in the above specific case after the second time, the sample dropping timing can be randomly extended or shortened at the operator's discretion. As a result, the timing of sample dropping can be kept almost constant, and this makes it easy to manage the time from dropping to photometry, making it easier to create a program for the entire work. Time from closing to opening of the shutter 52 and shutter
In order to manage the time from the closing of 52 to the photometry, the second, third and fourth timers 102 to 104 driven by the signal when the dropping end switch 49 is pushed as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 are provided. A fifth timer 105 is provided which is driven by a shutter open signal for time management in order to prevent the shutter 52 from being left open. The second timer 102 controls the time from the end of dropping to the photometry for each measuring element. For example, if the measuring element that has finished dropping has a property of measuring light by the endpoint method, 7 minutes is managed, and if it is of a property of measuring by the rate point method, 2 minutes and 4 minutes are managed for each measuring element. Due to the time-up, a signal to bring each measuring element to the photometric unit is generated. Therefore, the second timers 102 are installed in the same number (19 in the embodiment) as the number of measuring elements that can be inserted into each element fitting groove 9. Whether the photometric method is the end point method or the rate point method is determined by the analysis item and is stored in the storage device in advance when the item code 6 is read. The third timer 103 manages the time from the completion of dropping the sample to the first measuring element (for example, the measuring element at the address) to the photometry of the measuring element, that is, the possible drip time. For example, if the first measuring element is the end point method, it is 7 minutes, and if it is the rate point method, it is 2 minutes.
The mode manages each minute and disables subsequent dropping. However, since this 7 minutes or 2 minutes is the time for photometry, the actual time-up time is about 30-40 seconds before the above-mentioned time, that is, considering the time for transporting the measuring element to the photometry unit 53. In the former case, 6 minutes 20-30 seconds after the end of dropping, in the latter case, 1 minute 20-30 seconds.
It will be set as 30 seconds. This third timer 10
3 keeps the shutter 52 closed due to the time-up and makes it impossible to drip thereafter. Therefore, in this embodiment, a stopwatch (not shown) is set 30 seconds before the time-out (time-up of the third timer) occurs. The display 61 is provided with a countdown display means and an audible alarm means such as 30, 29, 28 ... Remaining time. The fourth timer 104 is for managing the time until the shutter 52 that is closed after the sample is dropped on one measuring element is automatically opened. This management time is flexible as long as the third timer 103 permits, depending on the working speed of the operator. However, it is usually sufficient to adjust the time to about 30 to 15 seconds. The fifth timer 105 manages the time from the opening of the shutter so that the temperature of the measuring element does not change when it is left for a long time with the shutter 52 open, and the alarm is activated by the time up and the automatic closing It is for making it. Since the setting time of this fifth timer is set to a short time, for example, within 15 seconds (very short, such as about 10 seconds in the embodiment) due to its nature, in order to inform the operator of the passage of time. It is preferable that a constant signal sound is emitted at intervals of 1 second, for example, and a sounding device (not shown) for this purpose is provided. From shutter open
When dropping is completed within 15 seconds and the dropping end switch is pressed, the shutter is closed, but when the shutter is closed at the time-up of the fifth timer 105, the shutter 52 is not timed-up by the third timer 103. As long as the drop start switch 48 is pressed, it can be opened again. As described above, the third timer 103 that manages the drip possible time
Even if the sample dropping is not performed on all the measuring elements fitted in the element fitting groove 9 of the disk 8, the subsequent sample dropping is disabled, and only the dropped measuring elements are sequentially metered. It will be sent to the part 53 for photometry. That is, assuming that the third timer 103 has timed up when the sample dropping is performed from the address to the address, only the photometering of these is performed, and the measuring elements after the address where the sample dropping is not performed are the measuring elements of the addresses. When photometry is completed, calibration is performed again, the address is sent to the sample dropping section, and the same operation as above is repeated. The photometric unit 53 optically measures the progress or the result of the reaction with the reagent impregnated in the film of the measuring element 2 by dropping the sample, and optically measures the change in color density due to the reaction. A light beam generated from the light source 54 is converted into a photometric light beam of a desired wavelength (wavelength corresponding to an analysis item) through a lens 55 and a switchable filter 56, and the photometric light beam is bent through a mirror 57 and measured through an optical fiber 58. The measurement surface (back surface of the element) of the element 2 is irradiated, the reflected light is transmitted to the light receiving element 60 through the optical fiber 59, and the reflection density, that is, the optical density is obtained by a densitometer (not shown),
This is configured so that the measured value can be obtained by comparing the substance concentration with the calibration curve created for each analysis item. This metering unit
As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting means 302 constituting the control portion for performing the above-mentioned various controls and the measured values in the light measuring means 301 including 53 and the one tangential direction R of the disk 8 and the tangential line orthogonal thereto are shown in FIG. Each is provided in the direction R '. The value measured by the photometric unit 53 is displayed as a numerical value on the display 61 arranged in parallel with the mounting means 302, and can be printed on the roll-shaped recording paper 62 provided on the exterior of the main body 1 which covers the upper surface of the disk 8. It is composed of. Further, the filter 56 is of a rotary type and can also be used as a substitute for a shutter. The light receiving element 60 used in the photometric unit 53 may delay the reaction when light is suddenly received during photometry. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the constant light receiving element 60 is used to correct this.
The light from the auxiliary light source 60 'is applied to the light source and biased to some extent so that it can immediately respond to the actual photometry (in this case, the auxiliary light source 60' is turned off). It is configured. Further, a transparent glass 63 inclined at 45 ° is installed in the optical path of the photometric light beam so that a part of the light reflected by the transparent glass 63 can be referred to the correction circuit via the light receiving element 64. We try to eliminate as much as possible the errors in the measured values due to changes in the amount of light over time. The light receiving element 64 may also be provided with the auxiliary light source. Further, since the densitometer used in the photometric unit 53 does not always output a stable value, it is necessary to perform calibration within the closest possible time before photometry of the actual measuring element. Become. For this purpose, the photometric unit 53
A calibration mechanism 65 is provided in the device as shown in FIG. This is the first standard plate 66 with a low optical density value, which was previously measured with a certain device capable of accurately measuring the optical density.
And a slide 68 having two types of second standard plate 67 having a high optical density value is provided, and the slide 68 is fixed to the output shaft of the motor 69. It is attached to an actuating body 73 which is engaged via the rotary disk 70 and is adapted to give a linear reciprocating motion by the rotation of the disk 70. Then, the calibration mechanism 65 starts its operation when the measuring elements are sequentially inserted from the address, and after the time-out of the first timer, the element fitting groove 9 of the empty address comes to the position corresponding to the photometric section 53. Until then, the slide 68 has been retracted from the disk 8 as shown in FIG. 12A. The motor 69
Rotates the disk 70 as shown in Figure B and stops it. From this, the slide 68 moves forward together with the actuating body 73 and is inserted into the element fitting groove 9 at the address, and the first standard plate 66 is positioned on the photometric section 53 as shown in FIG. After the photometry of the first standard plate 66, the motor 69 is moved again, the slide 68 is further advanced, and the second standard plate 67 is positioned on the photometric unit 53 as shown in FIG. Since the optical density values D1 and D2 corresponding to the low voltage value V1 and the high high voltage value V2 emitted from the concentration meter used for the photometric unit 53 are obtained by the photometry of the first and second standard plates 66 and 67, the thirteenth illustration is shown. If the coordinate is obtained by taking the voltage value V on the vertical axis and the optical density D on the horizontal axis, a straight line with a constant slope is obtained. Therefore, if the inclination angle of this straight line is a and the point of intersection with the vertical axis is b, then the relationship V = aD + b holds. Therefore, the optical density Dx at the voltage value Vx obtained by photometry of the actual measuring element can be calculated as Dx = (Vx−b) / a by applying the above formula, and the correct optical density value can be obtained. It is calibrated and the substance concentration value is obtained as a correct value. After performing the calibration by the calibration mechanism 65, the measuring elements are sequentially transported from the address to the dropping section 50, and the sample is dropped as described above. Further, although not particularly shown in the present embodiment, the previous period photometric unit 53 is configured to be able to compensate when the light amount of the light source 54 is reduced. That is, when the light amount is a certain value or more, the output current with respect to the light amount has a linear relationship (maintains linearity), but when the light source decreases and goes out of the linear region, only the calibration is performed. Cannot compensate enough accuracy. Therefore, a relationship curve between the light intensity in the case of a heel and the output current is created in advance, and this is stored as data in a storage device so that the optical density value can be correctly obtained even when the light intensity is reduced. Next, the operation sequence of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, turn on the power switch (step I). As a result, it is checked, for example, by the item code reading device 23 whether or not the measuring element remains in the element fitting groove 9 of the disk 8, and if it remains, the element fitting groove 9 of the remaining address is set to the discharge portion H. It is transported and discharged (step II). After all the element fitting grooves 9 are checked, the element fitting grooves 9 at the address are moved to the position corresponding to the insertion portion S (step III). Here, the operator selects one of the modes by operating any one of the measurement method selection switches 47a to 47c on the operation panel 45 on the upper surface of the main body 1 (step
IV). There are three types of this mode, the endpoint method, the rate point method, and a mixed method of these, but normally, unless these selection switches are operated, the mode is the endpoint method, so there are two other methods. It is operated when selecting or when returning to the mode of the endpoint method from another mode. Next, the operator operates the numeric keys on the operation panel 45.
Operate 46 to enter the sample number (step V). This sample number is necessary for distinguishing several people who collected the sample, and it is not necessary to enter it for the same person. After the above work is completed, the measuring element 2 is inserted through the element insertion port 7 (step VI). When the first measuring element is inserted into the element fitting groove 9 at the address, the sensor 91 detects the insertion end and outputs an insertion end signal to the control unit 90, which causes the disc 8 to move one pitch. The element fitting groove 9 of the address is fed to the insertion portion S of the main body 1. Thus, the insertions are performed one after another, but this insertion interval must be within the time (3 minutes) managed by the first timer. Element fitting groove 9
The measuring element inserted in the code reading device at the next position 22
The item code 6 and the address code 21 are read by 23 and 23 ', and the address and the item of the measuring element inserted are stored in a storage device (not shown). In this case, if the measuring element insertion direction is wrong, a wrong direction signal is sent to the control unit 90. The same applies to the case where a measurement element of a mode different from this is inserted when measuring in the selection mode, for example, the endpoint method mode, or when the measurement element is not suitable such as a printing error of the barcode. In these cases, the control section gives an "error display" on the display, conveys the wrong measuring element to the discharging section H, immediately discharges it, and after discharging, the empty element fitting groove 9 is almost empty. It is rotated and conveyed again to the insertion part S, and the next measuring element can be inserted at the same address. Further, a cancel switch 79 is provided on the operation panel 45, which is pressed when the user notices that the measuring element is inserted by mistake. When the switch is pressed, the same operation as described above is performed. When the first timer times out due to the insertion of all the measuring elements to be measured, the control unit determines that there is no further insertion, and the measuring element 2 is not inserted and the vacant address is measured. Transported to 53, the photometric unit
The carburetion mechanism 65 provided on the 53 is activated to carry out calibration (step VII). Next, the measuring element 2 inserted into the element fitting groove 9 of the address
The sample is rapidly conveyed to just below the sample lower part 50. A buzzer or the like is used to notify that this measuring element has reached the appropriate lower part 50, and the sample number, analysis item, etc. are displayed on the display 61. The operator confirms this display, collects the necessary sample for the pipette P, and then the operation panel 45
Press the upper drip start switch 48. Until now, the measuring element 2 is usually heated to the reaction temperature by the heat of the constant temperature plate 11, and the sample can be dropped at any time. Press the drip start switch 48 to release the shutter
Wait for 52 to open before dropping sample (Step VII
I) After finishing dropping the sample, the operator presses the dropping end switch 49. This allows the shutter 52
Is closed, the disk 8 is rotated, and the measuring element at the next address is moved to just below the dropping part. When the drip end switch 49 is pressed, a second timer for managing the time from the drip end to photometry for each measuring element, a second timer for managing the time from the drip of the first measuring element to photometry (droppable time) 3 timers, 4th timer to manage the time until the next drip,
The 5th timer that manages the time from opening the shutter operates so that the shutter 52 is not left open for a long time. When the third timer times out, the measurement elements at the address are sequentially conveyed to the photometric section 53, and photometry (step IX) is performed in the photometric section 53, and the result is displayed on the display 61 for one batch (elements on the disc). The serial number, item, measured value, etc. of the measuring element inserted in the fitting groove are displayed, and the same result is printed on the roll-shaped recording paper 62. If the third timer times out before the sample dropping is performed on all the measuring elements, only the measuring elements that have been dropped by that time are measured, and after the end, the remaining measuring elements are measured in step VII. To perform step IX. Thus, when the photometry of all the measuring elements is completed, the element fitting groove 9 at the address is moved to the discharging / discharging portion H, where all the photometrically measured measuring elements are sequentially discharged (step X), and the discharging is completed. After that, the address is moved to the insertion portion S (step II) and one analysis work is completed. Therefore, if the second analysis work is performed without turning off the power switch thereafter, the work starts from step IV. FIG. 15 shows the sample dropping timing and the photometric timing when the photometry is performed by the endpoint method after inserting the required number of measuring elements and before discharging the measured measuring elements (referred to as one batch). In the graph, the horizontal axis shows time (minutes) and the vertical axis shows the number of measuring elements. In the figure, the thin horizontal bar indicates the length of time until one measuring element is moved to the sample dropping part and the dropping is completed (dropping interval), and the thick horizontal line moves one measuring element to the photometric part to measure light. It shows the length of time until the end (photometric interval). This graph shows that the time t1 from the end of the sample dropping to the first measuring element to the photometric measurement of the measuring element is 6 minutes 30 when the dropping interval and the photometric time are correctly taken every 30 seconds.
Since this time is the sample dropping possible time, it is possible to drop the sample to the measuring elements 2 to 14 during this time, and after 7 minutes for these measuring elements up to 14 Time t2 until 14 minutes on the horizontal axis when photometry ends
Indicates that the dropping cannot be performed. In this graph, the drip interval and the photometric interval are set to 30 seconds, but if this is set to 15 seconds, it is possible to double the drip by simple calculation by the end point of the above-mentioned inoperable time and the photometric It is possible to shorten the time until the end. Fig. 16 is a graph showing the sample dropping timing and the photometric timing in the case of performing the photometry by the rate point method during one batch. The horizontal axis shows the time (minutes) and the vertical axis shows the number of measuring elements, as described above. Shows. In the figure, the thin horizontal bar of the double-ended arrow indicates the length of time until one measurement element is moved to the sample dropping part and the dropping is completed (dropping interval), and the thick horizontal bar of the double-ended arrow indicates one measuring element. It shows the length of time (photometric interval) until the metering section is moved to the end of photometry. This graph shows that the time t1 from the end of dropping of the sample to the first measuring element to the light measuring of the measuring element is 1 minute 30 when the dropping interval and the photometric time are correctly taken every 30 seconds.
Second, since this time is the sample dropping possible time, it is possible to drop the sample to the measuring elements Nos. 2 to 4 during the time, and after 2 minutes for these measuring elements No. 4 Metering, 4 minutes later, and time to finish
t2 is the drip-disabled time, and the drip-enabled time t is again 2 minutes from the end of this drip-disabled time t2 to 6 to 8 minutes on the horizontal axis.
It becomes 1 ', and during this time, it is possible to add drops to the measurement elements No. 5 to No. 8, and for 4 minutes from No. 8 to No. 12, the drop impossible time t
It is shown that it becomes 2 '. Figure 17 shows the case of photometry in a mixed mode of the end point method and the rate point method during one batch. The horizontal axis shows the time (minutes) and the vertical axis shows the number of measuring elements, as in the previous case. There is. In the figure, the thin horizontal bar shows the sample dropping interval of the endpoint method, the thick horizontal line shows the photometric interval of the same method, the thin horizontal bar of the double-ended arrow shows the sample dropping interval of the rate point method, and the thick horizontal line of the double-ended arrows shows the same. It shows the photometric interval of the method. This graph shows that the sample is sequentially dropped on the measuring elements of the 1st to 6th endpoint methods at 15-second intervals, and the 7th to 12th is possible during the drip time t1 until the photometry of the first measuring element is performed. This shows that the sample dropping on the measuring element of the rate point method and the photometry were completed. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to terminate all the analyzes from the 1st to the 12th at once 8 minutes and 30 seconds after the photometry of the measuring element of the endpoint method is completed. That is, in the case of the mixed mode of the end point method and the rate point method, the end point method is performed first, and the rate point method is used by utilizing the dropable time until photometry. It can be seen that the photometry time can be saved. In the above embodiment, the transfer means using the disk 8 in which the fitting groove 9 of the measuring element 2 is arranged in the peripheral portion is described as an example, but a transfer means other than the disk may be used. [Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the biochemical analysis apparatus according to the present invention, the insertion portion of the measuring element, the dropping portion of the sample, and the photometric measurement of the measuring element are provided at appropriate positions of the respective stop positions of the means for intermittently transferring the plurality of measuring elements. In a biochemical analyzer equipped with a measuring section and a measuring element discharge section,
An insertion end signal generating means is provided in the inserting section, an inserting direction detecting means of the measuring element is provided at a stop position next to the transferring means operated by the signal of the inserting means, and an incorrect direction is detected by the detecting means in the discharging section. Since it is characterized by the provision of an operating means for ejecting the measuring element, if the inserting direction of the measuring element is wrong, it can be automatically ejected immediately, and the analysis items etc. of individual measuring elements are not specified. There is no inconvenience that the operation is performed as it is, and it has an excellent effect that it is possible to surely perform time management from insertion of sample to sample dropping, from sample dropping to photometry for each measuring element. Further, in the present invention, the display for identifying the inserting direction of the measuring element has a common item identifying display for identifying the measuring item of the measuring element, and the inserting direction detecting means of the measuring element identifies the measuring item. When it is also used as a reading means for reading the display, without increasing the number of parts,
There is an advantage that the above action can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the apparatus, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a measuring element, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a disk and its peripheral mechanism, and FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional front view of the disk and the constant temperature plate, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the disk showing the address of the element fitting groove, FIG. 6A is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the element insertion port, and FIG. Explanatory drawing, FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views showing the operating state of the discharging means, FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the discharging claw and the sending means, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the operating state of the sending means, 10 A and B are cross-sectional views of the sample dropping part showing the operation of the shutter, FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the photometric means, and FIGS. 12A, B and C are cross-sectional views showing the operation order of the calibration mechanism. , Fig. 13 is a graph for explaining the calibration, Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing the operation sequence of this device, and Fig. 15 is the endpoint method. Graph showing dropping and photometric timing, FIG. 16 is a graph showing dropping and photometric timing of rate point method, FIG. 17 is a graph showing dropping and photometric timing of mixed method of endpoint and rate point method, and FIG. 18 is The electrical system diagram of the operation panel, operation control system, measurement system and display system, Fig. 19 is a flow chart when measuring the measuring element in the mode of the endpoint method. 1 ... Main body of biochemical analyzer, 2 ... Measuring element 7 ... Element insertion port, 8 ... Disk 9 ... Element fitting groove 23 ... Insertion direction detecting means (code reading device) 25 ... Ejection operating means 50 …… Sample dropping section 53 …… Photometering section 90 …… Control section 91 …… Insertion end signal generating means (sensor) S …… Insertion section, H …… Discharge section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A biochemical analysis provided with a measuring element insertion portion, a sample dropping portion, a measuring element photometric portion, and a measuring element discharging portion at appropriate positions of respective stop positions of a means for intermittently transferring a plurality of measuring elements. In the apparatus, the insertion end signal generating means is provided in the insertion part, the insertion direction detecting means of the measuring element is provided at the stop position next to the transfer means which is operated by the signal of the means, and the ejection direction is incorrect by the detecting means. A biochemical analyzer characterized in that it is provided with an actuating means for ejecting the measuring element in which the is detected. 2. The biochemical analysis according to claim 1, wherein the display for identifying the inserting direction of the measuring element is common with the item identifying display for identifying the measurement item or the like of the measuring element. apparatus. 3. The biochemical analyzer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insertion direction detecting means of the measuring element is also common to the reading means for reading the measurement item identification display.