U.S. patent application number 11/656802 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-26 for analyzing apparatus, solid-liquid separation device and solid-liquid separation method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sysmex Corporation. Invention is credited to Kazuya Fukuda, Toshikatsu Fukuju, Kazunori Mototsu, Toshihiro Ootani.
Application Number | 20070172390 11/656802 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38285760 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070172390 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ootani; Toshihiro ; et
al. |
July 26, 2007 |
Analyzing apparatus, solid-liquid separation device and
solid-liquid separation method
Abstract
An analyzing apparatus is described, a representative one of
which includes: rotatable table arranged with a plurality of holes
for accommodating the reaction container which includes a specimen
and a reagent; and a container transferring section, arranged on
the rotatable table, for transferring the reaction container.
Inventors: |
Ootani; Toshihiro;
(Kobe-shi, JP) ; Fukuda; Kazuya; (Kobe-shi,
JP) ; Mototsu; Kazunori; (Kobe-shi, JP) ;
Fukuju; Toshikatsu; (Akashi-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60610
US
|
Assignee: |
Sysmex Corporation
|
Family ID: |
38285760 |
Appl. No.: |
11/656802 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 2035/1088 20130101;
G01N 35/0099 20130101; G01N 35/025 20130101; G01N 35/0098
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/64 |
International
Class: |
G01N 35/00 20060101
G01N035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 23, 2006 |
JP |
2006-13429 |
Mar 31, 2006 |
JP |
2006-96483 |
Claims
1. An analyzing apparatus comprising: a rotatable table arranged
with a plurality of holes for accommodating the reaction container
which includes a specimen and a reagent; and a container
transferring section, arranged on the rotatable table, for
transferring the reaction container.
2. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of holes are arranged in a circular ring shape, and the
container transferring section is arranged at substantially the
center of the circular ring formed by the plurality of holes.
3. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
container transferring section is configured so as to move the
reaction container in the vertical direction, in the
circumferential direction of the rotatable table, and in the radial
direction of the rotatable table.
4. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a dispensing unit for dispensing the specimen or the
reagent into the reaction container; and a control unit for
controlling the operation of the dispensing unit, the rotatable
table and the container transferring section; wherein the control
unit controls the operation of the container transferring section
so that the container transferring section and the dispensing unit
do not contact each other.
5. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
container transferring section comprises a gripping part for
gripping the reaction container, a vertical movement mechanism part
for moving the gripping part in the vertical direction, a
rotational movement mechanism part for moving the gripping part in
the circumferential direction and a radial movement mechanism part
for moving the holding part in the radial direction.
6. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the
container transferring section comprises an stirring mechanism part
for stirring the specimen and the reagent in the reaction container
which is gripped by the gripping part.
7. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
control unit controls the dispensing unit, the gripping part and
the stirring mechanism part so as to dispense the specimen and the
reagent into the reaction container, grippe the reaction container
dispensed with the specimen and the reagent, and stirring the
reaction container dispensed with the specimen and the reagent.
8. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
stirring mechanism part comprises a vibrating portion for
generating vibration to stir the specimen and the reagent in the
reaction container.
9. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
reagent contains magnetic particles for capturing the target
substance in the specimen; the apparatus further comprises a
separation processing unit for collecting the magnetic particles
captured the target substance and removing a residue other than the
magnetic particles in the reaction container; and the container
transferring section transfers the reaction container from the
rotatable table to the separation processing unit.
10. A solid-liquid separation device used in an analyzer for
analyzing a target substance comprising: a holding part for holding
a reaction container containing a reacted sample prepared by
reacting a biological sample and a reagent containing magnetic
particles for capturing a target substance in the biological
sample; a collecting part for collecting the magnetic particles
captured the target substance in the reaction container held by the
holding part; a removing part for removing a residue other than the
magnetic particles collected by the collecting part in the reaction
container held by the holding part; a supplying part for supplying
washing liquid into the reaction container removed the residue; and
a stirring part for stirring the magnetic particles and the washing
liquid under no collecting of the magnetic particles in the
reaction container.
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the stirring part
comprises a gripping part for gripping the reaction container, a
moving part for moving the gripping part gripping the reaction
container on the upper side of the holding part and a vibrating
part for generating vibration to stir the magnetic particles and
the washing liquid in the reaction container gripped by the moved
gripping part.
12. An analyzing apparatus comprising: a reaction processing unit
for reacting a biological sample and a reagent containing magnetic
particles for capturing a target substance in the biological sample
in a reaction container; a separation processing unit comprises a
holding part for holding the reaction container, a collecting part
for collecting the magnetic particles captured the target substance
in the reaction container held by the holding part and a removing
part for removing a residue other than the magnetic particles
collected by the collecting part in the reaction container held by
the holding part; and a container transferring section comprises a
gripping part for gripping the reaction container accommodating the
reacted sample prepared by the reaction processing unit, a stirring
part for stirring the reacted sample in the reaction container
gripped by the gripping part and a moving part for moving the
gripping part gripping the reaction container from the reaction
processing unit to the separation processing unit.
13. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 12, the stirring
part comprises a vibrating part for generating vibration to stir
the reacted sample in the reaction container gripped by the
gripping part.
14. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the
separation processing unit further comprises a discharging part for
suctioning and discharging the residue.
15. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 12, further
comprising a second reaction processing section for reacting a
second reagent containing labeled substance that binds with the
target substance and the magnetic particles separated by the
separation processing unit in the reaction container.
16. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 15, further
comprising a second separation processing part for separating the
magnetic particles and a residue other than the magnetic particles
in the reaction container transferred from the second reaction
processing section.
17. The analyzing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the
rotatable table comprises a plurality of holes for accommodating
the reaction container, the holes being arranged in a circular ring
shape.
18. A solid-liquid separation method comprising the steps of:
providing a reaction container containing a reaction product
comprising magnetic particles captured a target substance and a
residue other than the magnetic particles; collecting the magnetic
particles in the reaction container; removing the residue in the
reaction container under collecting the magnetic particles;
releasing the collection of the magnetic particles; supplying
washing liquid into the reaction container; stirring the magnetic
particles and the washing liquid in the reaction container;
collecting the magnetic particles in the reaction container; and
removing the washing liquid in the reaction container.
19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps
of: supplying washing liquid into the container removed the
residue; and removing the washing liquid in the container.
20. The method according to claim 18, the target substance is
antigen.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119
to Japanese Patent Application Nos. JP2006-013429 filed Jan. 23,
2006, and JP2006-096483 filed Mar. 31, 2006, the entire content of
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to analyzing apparatus, in
particular, to an analyzing apparatus including a container
transferring section for transferring a reaction container
accommodating a reaction sample prepared by reacting a specimen and
a reagent, and an analyzing apparatus a solid-liquid separation
device and a solid-liquid separation method for using a reagent
having magnetic particles as a solid phase.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Analyzing devices such as colorimetric analyzing device,
fluorometric analyzing device, immune analyzing device and blood
coagulation analyzing device are conventionally known as a device
for accommodating the reaction sample prepared from the specimen
and the reagent in the reaction container, irradiating light from
the light source onto the reaction container and analyzing various
aspects of the specimen.
[0004] In this type of analyzing device, the specimen and the
reagent are dispensed in the reaction container. The specimen and
the reagent are then stirred and warmed (incubated) over a
predetermined time to prepare a reaction sample. The sample
preparing steps depend on the measurement items and the measurement
principle, and most steps involve adding a plurality of reagents to
the specimen.
[0005] In one example of preparing the sample by the immune
analyzing device, the specimen dispensed in the reaction container
and a first reagent containing trapped antibody are first stirred
and warmed as described above to prepare a sample in which the
antigen contained in the specimen and the trapped antibody are
bound. The mixed solution obtained by adding a second reagent
containing the magnetic particles to the relevant sample is then
stirred and warmed to prepare a sample in which the magnetic
particles and the trapped antibody are bound. The magnet is brought
close to the reaction sample to separate the bound antigen, trapped
antibody and magnetic particles, and the unnecessary components,
and the reaction liquid is suctioned and cleaned to remove the
unnecessary components from the sample (BF separation).
[0006] A third reagent containing labeled antibody that binds with
the antigen in the specimen is added to the sample removed with the
unnecessary components, and the mixed solution is stirred and
warmed to prepare a sample in which the antigen bound with the
magnetic particles and the labeled antibody are bound. The BF
separation similar to the above is performed on the relevant sample
to remove the unnecessary components from the sample. Furthermore,
a fourth reagent which is a buffer liquid and a fifth reagent
containing a light emitting substrate are added to the relevant
sample, and the mixed solution is stirred and warmed to prepare the
reaction sample for measurement.
[0007] In such immune analyzing device, the light emitting amount
generated by the reaction between the labeled antibody and the
light emitting substrate after the complicating sample preparing
steps is measured to quantitatively measure the antigen contained
in the specimen that binds with the labeled antibody.
[0008] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-160401 and
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-175361 disclose a
device in which a specimen dispensing unit, a plurality of reagent
dispensing units, a stirring device, a detecting unit etc. are
arranged around a rotatable table holding a plurality of reaction
containers, and the operation units of the specimen dispensing
unit, the sample dispensing unit, the stirring device etc. are
operated according to a predetermined sequence while rotating the
rotatable table to perform the complicating sample preparing steps
in each reaction container. The devices disclosed in the above
publications are arranged with a plurality of container setting
sections (driving devices) for setting the reaction container on
the rotatable table or taking out the reaction container from the
rotatable table, which container setting sections are arranged
around the rotatable table.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,129 Publication discloses a blood
coagulation analyzing device including a plurality of pipettes for
dispensing the reagent for the specimens to perform coagulation
reaction, a first rotatable table for holding the container
accommodating the specimen and the container accommodating the
reagent, a second rotatable table arranged with a warming device
for warming the container accommodating the specimen at a
predetermined temperature, an analyzing stage for optically
detecting the degree of coagulation of the reaction sample prepared
by adding reagent to the specimen warmed to the predetermined
temperature, and a container distributing and supplying device
arranged between the first rotatable table and the second rotatable
table. In the relevant blood coagulation analyzing device, the
container accommodating the specimen is transferred to the first
rotatable table and the container accommodating the specimen is
transferred to the second rotatable table by the container
distributing and supplying device. In addition, a chucking finger
positioned at one part of the circumference of the second rotatable
table and on the upper part in the vertical direction of the
analyzing stage to move in the front and back or left and right
(X-Y) direction and to move in the up and down direction along the
vertical direction is arranged in the blood coagulation analyzing
device. The container accommodating the specimen is gripped from
the second rotatable table by the chucking finger, and dispensed
with reagent by the reagent dispensing unit and then stirred, and
thereafter, the container is transferred to the analyzing
stage.
[0010] However, in the devices disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open
Patent Publication No. 6-160401 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 3-175361, the container setting section (driving
device) for transferring the reaction container is arranged on the
outer side of the rotatable table, only the reaction container
conveyed to the vicinity of the container setting section with the
rotation of the rotatable table can be transferred, and the
destination of the reaction container is limited to the vicinity of
the container setting section. Therefore, when transferring the
reaction container among a plurality of positions of the rotatable
table, the container setting section must be arranged in the
vicinity of the relevant position, which enlarges the device and
increases the cost. Furthermore, the processing sequence of the
specimen is limited by the arrangement of the container setting
section since only the reaction container positioned in the
vicinity of the container setting section can be transferred.
Therefore, the control of the rotatable table becomes complicating
or measurement may not be possible for some items when measuring a
plurality of items.
[0011] The chucking finger of the coagulation analyzing device
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,129 is attached to the guide rails
in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction arranged above one
part of the second rotatable table and the analyzing stage. Thus,
the chucking finger must move from the outside of the second
rotatable table, hold the reaction container and transfer the same
to the destination when transferring the reaction container on the
second rotatable table, and thus the movement amount of the
chucking finger is great.
[0012] It is conventionally known to analyze the substance to be
analyzed using a solid phase reagent obtained by sensitizing the
binding substance for the substance to be analyzed (antibody etc.
for substance to be analyzed) in the liquid sample to solid phase
and a labeled reagent. In this analysis, the liquid sample and the
solid phase reagent are mixed and reacted, the solid phase bound
with the substance to be analyzed (bound) and the other liquid
(Free) are separated, the BF separating process of cleaning the
separated solid phase is performed, and the amount of substance to
be analyzed bound to the solid phase is measured.
[0013] The analyzing method described above includes a sandwich
method in which a labeled reagent containing the binding substance
different from the binding substance on the solid phase is bound to
the substance to be analyzed bound to the binding substance on the
solid phase, and a competitive method of competing the substance to
be analyzed and the labeled reagent in binding to the solid phase,
and the analyzing method corresponding to the substance to be
analyzed is used.
[0014] The analyzing method described above is divided into two
methods depending on the reaction step. The first method (two step
assay method) is a method of performing the reaction process by
mixing and reacting the liquid sample and the solid phase reagent,
further mixing and reacting the labeled reagent, performing the BF
separating process of separating into the solid phase bound with
the substance to be analyzed and the labeled reagent (Bound) and
the other liquid (Free) and cleaning and detecting the amount of
label bound to the solid phase to analyze the substance in the
liquid sample; and the second method (one step assay method) is a
method of mixing and reacting the liquid sample, the reagent
containing solid phase and the labeled reagent, performing the BF
separating process of separating into the solid phase bound with
the substance to be analyzed and the labeled reagent (Bound) and
the other liquid (Free) and cleaning, and detecting the amount of
label bound to the solid phase to analyze the substance in the
liquid sample.
[0015] A method using the magnetic particles for the solid phase of
the analyzing method involving the BF separating process is also
known. An automatic analyzing device equipped with a dispensing
mechanism for dispensing the sample and the magnetic particle
reagent into the reaction container, a stirring mechanism for
mixing the reacting container, a magnetism collecting mechanism for
collecting the magnetic particles by contacting the magnet to the
side wall of the reaction container subjected to reaction, a
cleaning mechanism for suctioning F the released sample in the
magnetism collected state and injecting cleaning fluid, a stirring
mechanism for stirring the reaction container injected with
cleaning fluid, a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the labeled
reagent, and a detecting mechanism for detecting the label is known
as the automatic analyzing device for analyzing with the solid
phase reagent using magnetic particles (see e.g., WO88/02866,
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-40122, Japanese
Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-168866).
[0016] The automatic analyzing device disclosed in WO88/02866 is
configured so that the transfer disc of disc shape holding the
reaction cell rotates and transfers the held reaction cell to the
dispensing unit of the sample and the reagent, the reaction
processing unit, the magnetic separating unit, the vibrating unit
and the detecting unit at a predetermined timing. The magnetic
separating unit is arranged at four locations, and at each magnetic
separating unit, the BF separation of contacting the magnet to the
side wall of the reaction cell to collect magnetism, and cleaning
and removing the released sample is performed.
[0017] The automatic analyzing device disclosed in Japanese
Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-40122 is configured so that when
a linear reaction line holding the reaction cell with a belt is
moved, the reaction cell on the reaction line is also moved to the
dispensing unit of the sample and the reagent, the reaction
processing unit, the BF separating unit and the detecting unit. In
the BF separating unit, the magnet is contacted to the side wall of
two reaction cells to collect magnetism, the released sample is
cleaned and stirring is performed.
[0018] The automatic analyzing device disclosed in Japanese
Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-168866 includes a reaction
table for holding the reaction cell, and is configured so that the
cell conveying mechanism moves the reaction cell to the reaction
processing position in the reaction table and the BF separating
position. In the BF separating position, the magnet is
simultaneously contacted to the side wall of six reaction cells and
the BF separation of cleaning and removing the released sample is
performed.
[0019] In such automatic analyzing devices, the BF separation is an
important step, and the analyzing result greatly differs if the BF
separation is insufficient. Thus, a configuration is provided so
that magnetism collection is performed on the plurality of reaction
cells to take enough time for magnetism collection.
[0020] However, in the automatic analyzing device disclosed in
WO88/02866 Publication, all the reaction cells held at the transfer
disc must be moved to move the target reaction to the reagent
dispensing unit, the magnetism collecting unit and the stirring
unit by rotating the transfer disc. In addition, in the automatic
analyzing device disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication
No. 5-40122, the target reaction cells must be conveyed in order to
the dispensing unit, the reaction processing unit and the BF
separating unit. Furthermore, in the automatic analyzing device
disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-168866,
the BF separating unit must perform the BF separating process
simultaneously on six reaction cells at a predetermined position of
the reaction table. Thus, in these automatic analyzing devices, the
measurement flow becomes complicating if the analyzing method and
the reaction step must be changed depending on the measurement
items, or the processing speed must be complied to the measurement
items that require time in the reaction step if the reaction step
includes both measurement items that require time and the
measurement items that does not require time, and thus the
processing speed is limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the
appended claims, and is not affected to any degree by the
statements within this summary.
[0022] An analyzing apparatus according to a first aspect of the
present invention is an analyzing apparatus comprising: rotatable
table arranged with a plurality of holes for accommodating the
reaction container which includes a specimen and a reagent; and a
container transferring section, arranged on the rotatable table,
for transferring the reaction container.
[0023] A solid-liquid separation device according to a second
aspect of the present invention is a solid-liquid separation device
used in an analyzer for analyzing a target substance comprising: a
holding part for holding a reaction container containing a reacted
sample prepared by reacting a biological sample and a reagent
containing magnetic particles for capturing a target substance in
the biological sample; a collecting part for collecting the
magnetic particles captured the target substance in the reaction
container held by the holding part; a removing part for removing a
residue other than the magnetic particles collected by the
collecting part in the reaction container held by the holding part;
a supplying part for supplying washing liquid into the reaction
container removed the residue; and a stirring part for stirring the
magnetic particles and the washing liquid under no collecting of
the magnetic particles in the reaction container.
[0024] An analyzing apparatus according to a third aspect of the
present invention is an analyzing apparatus comprising: a reaction
processing unit for reacting a biological sample and a reagent
containing magnetic particles for capturing a target substance in
the biological sample in a reaction container; a separation
processing unit comprises a holding part for holding the reaction
container, a collecting part for collecting the magnetic particles
captured the target substance in the reaction container held by the
holding part and a removing part for removing a residue other than
the magnetic particles collected by the collecting part in the
reaction container held by the holding part; and a container
transferring section comprises a gripping part for gripping the
reaction container accommodating the reacted sample prepared by the
reaction processing unit, a stirring part for stirring the reacted
sample in the reaction container gripped by the gripping part and a
moving part for moving the gripping part gripping the reaction
container from the reaction processing unit to the separation
processing unit.
[0025] A solid-liquid separation method according to a fourth
aspect of the present invention is A solid-liquid separation method
comprising the steps of: providing a reaction container containing
a reaction product comprising magnetic particles captured a target
substance and a residue other than the magnetic particles;
collecting the magnetic particles in the reaction container;
removing the residue in the reaction container under collecting the
magnetic particles; releasing the collection of the magnetic
particles; supplying washing liquid into the reaction container;
stirring the magnetic particles and the washing liquid in the
reaction container; collecting the magnetic particles in the
reaction container; and removing the washing liquid in the reaction
container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire
configuration of an immune analyzing device according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the entire configuration of
the immune analyzing device according to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a front view of a pipette chip supplied by a
pipette chip supplying device of the immune analyzing device
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
control unit of the immune analyzing device according to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an emergency specimen
and chip conveying unit of the immune analyzing device according to
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an emergency specimen
and chip conveying unit of the immune analyzing device according to
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 7 is a front view showing a specimen dispensing arm and
a chip releasing unit of the immune analyzing device according to
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 8 is a front view of a cuvette supplied by a cuvette
supplying device of the immune analyzing device according to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a primary reaction unit
of the immune analyzing device according to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view showing the primary
reaction unit of the immune analyzing device according to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a BF separating unit
of the immune analyzing device according to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a stirring part of the
BF separating unit of the immune analyzing device according to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0038] FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view showing the stirring part
of the BF separating unit of the immune analyzing device according
to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view showing a cleaning
part of the BF separating unit of the immune analyzing device
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0040] FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view showing the cleaning
part and a nozzle cleaning section of the BF separating unit of the
immune analyzing device according to the embodiment shown in FIG.
1;
[0041] FIG. 16 is a view showing a measurement flow of the immune
analyzing device according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0042] FIG. 17 is a frame format view showing the reaction between
the antigen of the specimen and various reagents measured in the
immune analyzing device according to the embodiment shown in FIG.
1;
[0043] FIG. 18 is a perspective view explaining the analysis
operation of the BF separating unit of the immune analyzing device
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0044] FIG. 19 is a perspective view explaining the analysis
operation of the BF separating unit of the immune analyzing device
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0045] FIG. 20 is a frame format view explaining the analysis
operation of the BF separating unit of the immune analyzing device
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0046] FIG. 21 is a frame format view explaining the analysis
operation of the BF separating unit of the immune analyzing device
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; and
[0047] FIG. 22 is a perspective view explaining the analysis
operation of the BF separating unit of the immune analyzing device
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0048] The immune analyzing device 1 according to one embodiment of
the present invention is a device for performing examination on
various items such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tumor marker,
thyroid hormone and the like using specimens such as blood. The
immune analyzing device 1 is configured by a specimen conveying
section (sampler) 10, an emergency specimen and chip conveying
section 20, a pipette chip supply device 30, a specimen dispensing
arm 50, reagent installing sections 61 and 62, a cuvette supply
section 70, a primary reaction section 81 and a secondary reaction
section 82, reagent dispensing arms 91, 92, 93 and 94, a BF
separating section 101 and a BF separating section 102, a
conveyance catcher 110, a detecting section 120, a disposing
section 130, and a chip releasing section 140, as shown in FIGS. 1
and 2. In the immune analyzing device 1 according to the present
embodiment, the disposable pipette chip 2 (see FIG. 2) is replaced
each time suction and discharge of the specimen are performed to
suppress the specimen such as blood suctioned and discharged by the
specimen dispensing arm 50 from mixing with other specimen.
[0049] In the immune analyzing device 1, after the specimen such as
blood containing antigen, which is the measurement target, trapped
antibody (R1 reagent), magnetic particles (R2 reagent) are mixed,
and the antigen, trapped antibody and magnetic particles are bound,
the magnetic particles are attracted to a magnet 101d of the BF
(Bound Free) separating section 101 thereby removing the solution
containing non-reacting (Free) trapped antibody. After binding a
labeled antibody (R3 reagent) to the magnetic particles bound with
antigen, the bound magnetic particles, antigen, and labeled
antibody are attracted to the magnet 102d of the BF separating
section 102 thereby removing the R3 reagent containing the
non-reacting (free) labeled antibody. Furthermore, after adding a
light emitting substrate (R5 reagent) that emits light in the
reaction process with the labeled antibody, the light emission
amount produced by the reaction between the labeled antibody and
the light emitting substrate is measured. The antigen contained in
the specimen that binds with the labeled antibody is quantitatively
measured through such process.
[0050] The specimen conveying section 10 is configured so as to
convey a rack 4 mounted with a plurality of test tubes 3
accommodating the specimen to a position corresponding to the
suction position 1a of the specimen dispensing arm 50, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2. The specimen conveying section 10 includes a rack
set part 10a for setting the rack 4 mounted with the test tube 3
accommodating non-processed specimens, and a rack storage part 10b
for storing the rack 4 mounted with the test tube 3 accommodating
the dispense processed specimens. When the test tube 3
accommodating the non-processed specimen is conveyed to the
position corresponding to the suction position 1a of the specimen
dispensing arm 50, the specimen such as blood in the test tube 3 is
suctioned by the specimen dispensing arm 50 and the rack 4 mounted
with the relevant test tube 3 is stored in the rack storage part
10b.
[0051] The emergency specimen and chip conveying section 20 is
configured so as to convey the test tube 3 accommodating emergency
specimens, which must cut into the specimens being conveyed by the
specimen conveying section 10 and examined, to an attachment
position 1b of the specimen dispensing arm 50. As shown in FIGS. 5
and 6, the emergency specimen and chip conveying section 20
includes a slide rail 21 arranged so as to extend in the X
direction, a linear moving guide including a slide main body 22
arranged movable along the slide rail 21, a conveying rack 23
attached to the slide main body 22, a detection strip 24 attached
to the lower part of the conveying rack 23, and a light shielding
sensor 25 light shielded by the detection strip 24. Furthermore,
the conveying rack 23 is arranged with a test tube installing part
23a for installing the test tube 3 accommodating the emergency
specimens, and a chip installing part 23b (see FIG. 6) of a long
hole for mounting the pipette chip 2 (see FIG. 3) supplied from the
pipette chip supply device 30 to be hereinafter described. The
detection strip 24 is arranged so as to light shield the light
shielding sensor 25 when arranged at a position of receiving the
pipette chip 2 from the pipette chip supply device 30. The
conveying rack 23 conveys the test tubes 3 accommodating the
emergency specimens and the pipette chip 2 to the attachment
position 1b (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the specimen dispensing arm 50
by being moved along the slide rail 21 by the driving force from
the motor (not shown).
[0052] In the present embodiment, the pipette chip supply device 30
has a function of installing one at a time the pipette chip (see
FIG. 3) input to a chip refill section 31 to be hereinafter
described to the chip installing part 23b of the conveying rack 23
of the emergency specimen and chip conveying section 20.
Furthermore, the pipette chip supply device 30 also has a function
of supplying the pipette chip to the chip installing part 23b of
the conveying rack 23 with the distal end 2a (see FIG. 3) of the
pipette chip 2 facing downward.
[0053] The configuration of the control unit 140 will now be
described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
the control unit of the immune analyzing device 1. The control unit
140 includes a CPU 140a, a memory 140b, a flash memory card reader
140c, and an operation control section 140d. The CPU 140a and the
memory 140b, the flash memory card reader 140c and the operation
control section 140d are connected by way of a data transmission
line to allow data transmission with each other. Thus, the CPU 140a
reads and writes data with respect to the memory 140b and the flash
memory card reader 140c, and transmits and receives data with
respect to the operation control section 140d.
[0054] The CPU 140a can execute the computer program recorded on
the memory 140b or the flash memory card 141c.
[0055] The memory 140b is configured by ROM and RAM, and is used to
record computer program and data used for the execution thereof,
and to read computer program and data. The memory 140b is also used
as a work region of the CPU 140a and a storage region of the data
when executing the computer program.
[0056] The flash memory card 140c is used in reading the data
recorded on the flash memory card 141c. The flash memory card 141c
includes a flash memory (not shown) so as to be able to hold the
data even if power is not externally supplied. Furthermore, the
computer program executed by the CPU 140a for controlling the
operation of each unit of the above described immune analyzing
device 1 is recorded on the flash memory card 141c.
[0057] The operation control section 140d includes a driver circuit
for driving devices such as motor, electromagnetic valve, cooling
device and the like. The operation control section 140d is
electrically connected to each unit of the immune analyzing device
1 (specimen conveying unit (sampler) 10, emergency specimen and
chip conveying unit 20, pipette chip supplying device 30, chip
releasing unit 40, specimen dispensing arm 50, reagent installing
units 60a and 60b, cuvette supplying unit 70, rotatable tables 81
and 83, container transferring sections 82 and 84, reagent
dispensing arms 90a, 90b, 90c, and 90d, BF separating units 100a
and 100b, a movement catcher unit 110, and a detecting unit 120) by
way of electrical signal cable and the like. The operation control
section 140d and each unit are thus able to transmit and receive
electrical signals used in the operation control of the unit, and
the operation control section 140d performs the operation control
of each unit based on the program executed by the CPU 140a.
[0058] The operation of each unit is independently controlled by
the control unit 140. That is, the control unit 140 transmits the
operation command to each unit substantially at the same time, so
that each unit is simultaneously operated. In the above described
computer program, each unit can be controlled substantially at the
same time so that each unit do not contact each other during the
operation (e.g., so that the specimen dispensing arm 50 and the
container transferring section 82 do not interfere during the
operation).
[0059] The specimen conveying unit 10 is configured so as to convey
a rack 4 mounted with a plurality of test tubes 3 accommodating the
specimen to a position corresponding to the suction position 1a of
the specimen dispensing arm 50, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The
specimen conveying unit 10 includes a rack setting section 10a for
setting the rack 4 mounted with the test tube 3 accommodating
non-processed specimens, and a rack storage section 10b for storing
the rack 4 mounted with the test tube 3 accommodating the dispense
processed specimens. When the test tube 3 accommodating the
non-processed specimens is conveyed to the position corresponding
to the suction position 1a of the specimen dispensing arm 50, the
specimen such as blood in the test tube 3 is suctioned by the
specimen dispensing arm 50 and the rack 4 mounted with the relevant
test tube 3 is stored in the rack storage section 10b.
[0060] The emergency specimen and chip conveying unit 20 is
configured so as to convey the test tube 3 accommodating emergency
specimens, which must cut into the specimens being conveyed by the
specimen conveying unit 10 to be examined, to an attachment
position 1b of the specimen dispensing arm 50. As shown in FIGS. 5
and 6, the emergency specimen and chip conveying unit 20 includes a
linear moving guide consisting of a slide rail 21 arranged so as to
extend in the X direction and a slide main body 22 arranged movable
along the slide rail 21; a conveying rack 23 attached to the slide
main body 22; a detection strip 24 attached to the lower part of
the conveying rack 23, and a light shielding sensor 25 light
shielded by the detection strip 24. Furthermore, the conveying rack
23 is arranged with a test tube installing part 23a for installing
the test tube 3 accommodating the emergency specimens, and a chip
installing part 23b (see FIG. 6) of a long hole shape for mounting
the pipette chip 2 (see FIG. 3) supplied from the shoot 31 of the
pipette chip supplying device 30 to be hereinafter described. The
detection strip 24 is arranged so as to light shield the light
shielding sensor 25 when arranged at a position of receiving the
pipette chip 2 from the pipette chip supplying device 30. The
conveying rack 23 conveys the test tubes 3 accommodating the
emergency specimens and the pipette chip 2 to the attachment
position 1b (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the specimen dispensing arm 50
by moving along the slide rail 21 by the driving force from the
motor (not shown).
[0061] The pipette chip supplying device 30 has a function of
installing one at a time the input pipette chip 2 (see FIG. 3) to
the chip installing part 23b of the conveying rack 23 of the
emergency specimen and chip conveying unit 20 by way of the shoot
31. The pipette chip supplying device 30 also has a function of
passing the pipette chip 2 through the shoot 31 and supplying the
pipette chip to the chip installing part 23b of the conveying rack
23 with the distal end 2a of the pipette chip 2 (see FIG. 3) facing
downward.
[0062] The chip releasing unit 40 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is arranged
to release the pipette chip 2 (see FIG. 3) attached to the specimen
dispensing arm 50 to be hereinafter described. The chip releasing
unit 40 includes a steel plate 41 arranged so as to extend in the
vertical direction (Z direction), and a release strip 42 made of
resin attached to the steel plate 41, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. A
cut-out portion 42a smaller than the diameter of the attachment
part 2b (see FIG. 3) of the pipette chip 2 is formed in the release
strip 42. When the specimen dispensing arm 50 is moved upward from
a state in which the nozzle portion 54a of the specimen dispensing
arm 50 is fitted to the cut-out portion 42a of the release strip
42, the lower surface of the release strip 42 of the chip releasing
unit 40 and the upper surface of the attachment part 2b of the
pipette chip 2 contact, and the pipette chip 2 releases from the
arm section 54.
[0063] The specimen dispensing arm 50 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) has a
function of dispensing the specimen in the test tube 3 conveyed to
the suction position 1a by the specimen conveying unit 10 to the
cuvette 8 (see FIG. 8) accommodated in an accommodating hole 81a
(see FIG. 9) of the rotatable table 81 of the primary reaction unit
80a to be hereinafter described. The specimen dispensing arm 50
includes a motor 51, a drive transmission part 52 connected to the
motor 51, and the arm section 54 attached to the drive transmission
part 52 by way of a shaft 53, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The drive
transmission part 52 is configured to turn the arm section 54 with
the shaft 53 as the center and move the same in the vertical
direction (Z direction) by the driving force from the motor 51. A
nozzle portion 54a for suctioning and discharging the specimen is
arranged at the distal end of the arm section 54. The pipette chip
2 (see FIG. 3) conveyed by the conveying rack 23 (see FIG. 6) of
the emergency specimen and chip conveying unit 20 is attached to
the distal end of the nozzle portion 54a (see FIG. 7).
[0064] A reagent installing section 60a (see FIGS. 1 and 2)
includes an installing part 61 for installing the reagent bin 5
(see FIG. 2) accommodating the R1 reagent containing trapped
antibody and the reagent bin 7 (see FIG. 2) accommodating the R3
reagent containing labeled antibody, an upper surface part 62
arranged at the upper part of the installing part 61 so that
foreign materials such as dust do not enter the R1 reagent in the
reagent bin 5 or the R3 reagent in the reagent bin 7 installed in
the installing part 61, and a lid part 63 attached to the upper
surface part 62 in an openable and closable manner. A groove part
62a to be inserted with a nozzle 91e of the reagent dispensing arm
90a to be hereinafter described, and a groove part 62b to be
inserted with a nozzle 93e of the reagent dispensing arm 93c are
formed in the upper surface part 62. The installing part 61 is
rotatably configured so as to convey the installed reagent bin 5
and the reagent bin 7 to the position corresponding to the groove
part 62a and the groove part 62b of the upper surface part 61b.
[0065] The reagent installing section 60b (see FIGS. 1 and 2)
includes an installing part 64 for installing a reagent bin 6
accommodating the R2 reagent containing magnetic particles, an
upper surface part 65 arranged at the upper part of the installing
part 64 so that foreign materials such as dust do not enter the R2
reagent in the reagent bin 6 installed in the installing part 64,
and a lid part 66 attached to the upper surface part 65 in an
openable and closable manner. A groove part 65a to be inserted with
a nozzle 92e of the reagent dispensing arm 90b to be hereinafter
described is formed in the upper surface part 65. The installing
part 64 is rotatably configured so as to convey the installed
reagent bin 6 to a position corresponding to the groove part
65a.
[0066] A cuvette supplying unit 70 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is
configured so as to be able to sequentially supply a plurality of
cuvettes 8 (see FIG. 8) to the accommodating hole 81a of the
rotatable table 81 of the primary reaction section 80a. The cuvette
supplying unit 70 includes a hopper feeder 71 capable of
accommodating the plurality of cuvettes 8, two guiding plates 72
arranged below the hopper feeder 71, a supporting table 73 arranged
at the lower end of the guiding plate 72, and a supply catcher
section 74. The two guiding plates 72 are arranged parallel to each
other at a distance smaller than the diameter of a collar 8a (see
FIG. 8) of the cuvette 8 and larger than the diameter of a core 8b
(see FIG. 8) of the cuvette 8. The hopper feeder 71 includes a
hopper 71a capable accommodating the plurality of cuvettes 8, a
motor 71b serving as a driving source, a main driving pulley 71c
attached to the shaft of the motor 71b, a driven pulley 71d
arranged at a predetermined distance from the main driving pulley
71c, a drive transmission belt 71e attached to the main driving
pulley 71c and the driven pulley 71d, and an arm section 71f
attached decentered with respect to the axis of the driven pulley
71d. Furthermore, the plurality of cuvettes 8 supplied to the
hopper 71a of the hopper feeder 71 are stirred in the hopper 71a by
the arm section 71f to be arrayed along the guiding plate 72 with
the collar 8a engaging the upper surface of the two guiding plates
72. The supporting table 73 includes a rotating part 73a arranged
rotatable with respect to the supporting table 73, and a concave
part 73b (see FIG. 2) arranged so as to be adjacent to the rotating
part 73a. In addition, three cut-out portions 73c are formed on the
outer peripheral portion of the rotating part 73a at every
predetermined angle (120.degree. in the present embodiment). The
cut-out portion 73c is arranged to accommodate the cuvette 8 guided
by the guiding plate 72 one by one. Furthermore, the concave part
73b is configured so as to receive the cuvette 8 rotated while
being accommodated in the cut-out portion 73c of the rotating part
73a.
[0067] The supply catcher section 74 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) has a
function of transferring the cuvette 8 (see FIG. 8) received by the
concave part 73b to the accommodating hole 81a of the rotatable
table 81 of the primary reaction unit 80a, as shown in FIGS. 1 and
2. The supply catcher section 74 includes a motor 74a, a main
driving pulley 74b connected to the motor 74a, a driven pulley 74c
arranged at a predetermined distance from the main driving pulley
74b, a drive transmission belt 74d attached to the main driving
pulley 74b and the driven pulley 74c, an arm section 74e attached
to the driven pulley 74c by way of a shaft, and a driving part 74f
for moving the arm section 74e in the vertical direction. A chuck
part 74g for sandwiching and gripping the cuvette 8 is arranged at
the distal end of the arm section 74e.
[0068] The primary reaction unit 80a is arranged to rotatably
transfer the cuvette 8 accommodated in the accommodating hole 81a
arranged in pluralities in a circular ring shape on the rotatable
table 81 by a predetermined angle at every predetermined period (18
seconds in the present embodiment), and to stir the specimen, R1
reagent and the R2 reagent in the cuvette 8, as shown in FIG. 9.
That is, the primary reaction unit 80a is arranged to react the R2
reagent containing magnetic particles and the antigen in the
specimen in the cuvette 8. The primary reaction unit 80a is
configured by a rotatable table 81 for conveying the cuvette 8
accommodating the specimen, the R1 reagent, and the R2 reagent in
the rotating direction, and a container transferring section 82 for
stirring the specimen, R1 reagent, and R2 reagent in the cuvette 8
and transferring the cuvette 8 accommodating the stirred specimen,
the R1 reagent and the R2 reagent to the BF separating unit 100a
(see FIGS. 1 and 2) to be hereinafter described.
[0069] The rotatable table 81 has a circular upper surface, and the
plurality of accommodating holes 81a are formed in the upper
surface at equidistance so as to form a circular ring coaxially
with the circle. The rotatable table 81 is configured so as to
rotatably transfer the cuvette 8 held in the accommodating hole 81a
by a predetermined angle every 18 seconds. Thus, various devices
(specimen dispensing arm 50, reagent dispensing arms 90a and 92
etc.) of the immune analyzing device 1 are controlled so as to
operate on the cuvette 8 at the predetermined transferred position
at a timing transferred to the predetermined position by the
rotatable table 81.
[0070] The container transferring section 82 is rotatably arranged
at the central portion of the rotatable table 81. The container
transferring section 82 has a function of gripping the cuvette 8
accommodated in the accommodating hole 81a of the rotatable table
81 and stirring the sample in the cuvette 8. Furthermore, the
container transferring section 82 has a function of transferring
the cuvette 8 accommodating the sample obtained by stirring and
incubating the specimen, the R1 reagent and the R2 reagent to the
BF separating unit 100a (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The container
transferring section 82 is configured by a stirring part 821 for
gripping and stirring the cuvette 8, a vertical movement mechanism
part 822 for moving the stirring part 821 in the vertical
direction, a radial movement mechanism part 823 for moving the
stirring part 821 and the vertical movement mechanism part 822 to
the outer side from the center of the rotatable table 81, and a
rotational movement mechanism part 824 (see FIG. 10), as shown in
FIG. 9.
[0071] The stirring part 821 includes a chuck portion 821c
consisting of a pair of plate members 821a for gripping the core 8b
(see FIG. 8) of the cuvette 8 and a coil spring 821b bridged across
the pair of plate members 821a, a supporting member 821d for
supporting the chuck portion 821c, a motor 821f attached to a motor
attachment portion 821e integrally arranged at the supporting
member 821d, and an eccentric weight 821g rotatably attached to the
shaft of the motor 821f. Therefore, the cuvette 8 arranged between
the plate members 821a of the chuck portion 821c is gripped by the
biasing force of the coil spring 821b. The sample in the cuvette 8
is stirred when the motor 821f is driven with the cuvette 8 gripped
by the chuck portion 821c. Specifically, when the motor 821f is
driven, the eccentric weight 821g rotates and the eccentric weight
821g and the motor 821f swings and vibrates. The vibration of the
eccentric weight 821g and the motor 821f is transmitted to the
cuvette 8 gripped at the chuck portion 821c, and the sample in the
cuvette 8 is stirred.
[0072] The vertical movement mechanism part 822 is arranged at the
movement member 323c of the radial movement mechanism part 823, and
is configured to be movable in the radial direction of the
rotatable table 81 integrally with the radial movement mechanism
part 823. The vertical movement mechanism part 822 is configured by
a motor 822a serving as a driving source, a main driving pulley
822b connected to the motor 822a, a driven pulley 822c arranged at
a predetermined distance from the main driving pulley 822b, a drive
transmission belt 822d attached to the main driving pulley 822b and
the driven pulley 822c, a movement member 822e connected to the
drive transmission belt 822d, a linear moving guide consisting of a
slide main body 822f attached to the movement member 822e and a
slide rail 822g attached to the radial movement mechanism part 823
to be hereinafter described, and a light shielding sensor 822h. A
detection strip 822i detected by the light shielding sensor 822h is
integrally formed at the movement member 822e. The stirring part
821 is arranged on the movement member 822e. Therefore, when the
motor 822a is driven, the drive transmission belt 822d is driven by
way of the main driving pulley 822b, and the movement member 822e
connected to the drive transmission belt 822d is moved in the
vertical direction (Z direction). The stirring part 821 arranged at
the movement member 822e is thereby moved in the vertical
direction, and the cuvette 8 gripped by the chuck portion 821c of
the stirring part 821 can be moved in the vertical direction.
[0073] The radial movement mechanism part 823 is configured by a
motor 823a serving as a driving source, a drive transmission belt
823b driven with the drive of the motor 823a, a movement member
823c connected to the drive transmission belt 823b, a linear moving
guide (not shown) for moving the movement member 823c towards the
outer side from the center of the rotatable table 81, and a light
shielding sensor 823d. A detection strip 823e detected by the light
shielding sensor 823d is arranged on the movement member 823c.
Therefore, when the motor 823a is driven, the drive transmission
belt 823b is driven, and the movement member 823c connected to the
drive transmission belt 823b is moved in the radial direction of
the rotatable table 81. Thus, the vertical movement mechanism part
822 arranged at the movement member 823c is thus moved in the
radial direction of the rotatable table 81, and the stirring part
821 arranged at the movement member 822e of the vertical movement
mechanism part 822 is moved in the radial direction of the
rotatable table 81.
[0074] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional side view showing the
configuration of the primary reaction unit of the immune analyzing
device according to one embodiment shown in FIG. 1. As shown in
FIG. 10, the rotational movement mechanism part 824 is configured
by a motor 824a serving as a driving source, a main driving pulley
824b connected to the motor 824a, a driven pulley 824c arranged at
a predetermined distance from the main driving pulley 824b, a drive
transmission belt 824d attached to the main driving pulley 824b and
the driven pulley 824c, a rotating shaft 824e fixedly attached to
the driven pulley 824c, and a fixed member 824f fixedly attached at
the upper end of the rotating shaft 824e. The rotating shaft 824e
is supported in a freely rotating manner by the bearing 824g
attached at the center of the rotatable table 81, and is relatively
rotated with respect to the rotatable table 81. Furthermore, the
fixed member 824f is fixed at the lower part of the above described
movement member 823c. The vertical movement mechanism part 822 and
the radial movement mechanism part 823 are fixed and supported at
the upper end of the rotating shaft 824e by way of the fixed member
824f, and the other portions of the vertical movement mechanism
part 822 and the radial movement mechanism part 823 do not contact
other units such as the rotatable table 81. Therefore, when the
motor 824a is operated, the drive transmission belt 824d is driven
by way of the main driving pulley 824b and the rotating force is
transmitted to the rotating shaft 824e by way of the driven pulley
824c, whereby the rotating shaft 834e relatively rotates with
respect to the rotatable table 81. The movement member 823c fixed
to the rotating shaft 824e by the fixed member 824f integrally
rotates with the rotating shaft 824e. The vertical movement
mechanism part 822 and the radial movement mechanism part 823 thus
rotate in the circumferential direction of the rotatable table
81.
[0075] The reagent dispensing arm 90a (see FIGS. 1 and 2) has a
function of suctioning the R1 reagent in the reagent bin 5
installed in the installing part 61 of the reagent installing unit
60a and dispensing the suctioned R1 reagent into the cuvette 8
dispensed with the specimen of the primary reaction unit 80a. The
reagent dispensing arm 90a includes a motor 91a, a drive
transmission part 91b connected to the motor 91a, and an arm
section 91d attached to the drive transmission part 91b by way of a
shaft 91c. The drive transmission part 91b is configured so as to
turn the arm section 91d with the shaft 91c as the center and move
the same in the vertical direction by the driving force from the
motor 91a. A nozzle 91e for suctioning and discharging the R1
reagent in the reagent bin 5 is attached to the distal end of the
arm section 91d. That is, the nozzle 91e suctions the R1 reagent in
the reagent bin 5 through the groove part 62a of the upper surface
62 of the reagent installing unit 60a, and thereafter, the
suctioned R1 reagent is dispensed into the cuvette 8 dispensed with
the specimen.
[0076] The reagent dispensing arm 90b (see FIGS. 1 and 2) has a
function of dispensing the R2 reagent in the reagent bin 6
installed at the installing part 64 of the reagent installing unit
60b into the cuvette 8 dispensed with the specimen and the R1
reagent of the primary reaction unit 80a. The reagent dispensing
arm 90b includes a motor 92a, a drive transmission part 92b
connected to the motor 92a, and an arm section 92d attached to the
drive transmission part 92b by way of a shaft 92c. The drive
transmission part 92b is configured to turn the arm section 92d
with the shaft 92c as the center and move the same in the vertical
direction (Z direction) by the driving force from the motor 92a. A
nozzle 92e for suctioning and discharging the R2 reagent in the
reagent bin 6 is attached to the distal end of the arm section 92d.
That is, the nozzle 92e suctions the R2 reagent in the reagent bin
6 through the groove part 65a of the upper surface 65 of the
reagent installing unit 60b, and thereafter, the suctioned R2
reagent is dispensed into the cuvette 8 dispensed with the
specimen.
[0077] In the present embodiment, the BF separating unit 100a (see
FIGS. 1 and 2) is arranged to separate the non-reacting R1 reagent
(unnecessary component) and the magnetic particles from the sample
in the cuvette 8 (see FIG. 8) transferred by the container
transferring section 82 of the primary reaction unit 80a. As shown
in FIG. 11, the BF separating unit 100a includes a magnetism
collecting section 101 for installing the cuvette 8 and
transferring the same in the rotating direction, a stirring
mechanism section 102 for stirring the sample in the cuvette 8, a
separating mechanism section 103 for suctioning the sample in the
cuvette 8 and discharging the cleaning fluid, and nozzle cleaning
sections 104a and 104b.
[0078] In the present embodiment, the magnetism collecting section
101 includes an installing part 101a configured in a rotatable
manner, and three magnets 101b for collecting the magnetic
particles in the cuvette 8. Three concave parts 101c, and three
cuvette installing holes 101d arranged at an interval of 120
degrees so as to be adjacent to the concave part 101c are formed in
the installing part 101a. The three magnets 101b are attached to
the concave part 101c so as to be positioned on the side of the
cuvette 8 arranged in the cuvette installing hole 101d. In the
present embodiment, the magnetism collecting section 101 is rotated
by 120 degrees, so that the cuvettes 8 installed in the three
installing holes 101d can be moved to a position corresponding to
the nozzle portion 103f of a primary separating part 103a and the
nozzle portion 103p of a secondary separating part 103b.
[0079] The stirring mechanism section 102 is arranged to be movable
in the front and back direction along the slide rail 105 extending
in the front and back direction (Y direction). The stirring
mechanism section 102 is configured by a linear moving guide
consisting of a slide rail 102a extending in the vertical direction
(Z direction) and a slide main body 102b, a movement member 102c
attached to the slide main body 102b, and a primary stirring part
102d and a secondary stirring part 102e attached to the movement
member 102c. That is, the primary stirring part 102d and the
secondary stirring part 102e integrally move in the vertical
direction along the slide rail 102a.
[0080] In the present embodiment, the primary stirring part 102d
has a function of lifting the cuvette 8 arranged in the cuvette
installing hole 101d of the magnetism collecting section 101 and
stirring the same in the non-magnetism collected state. The primary
stirring part 102d includes a chuck portion 102h made up of a pair
plate members 102f for gripping the cuvette 8 and a coil spring
102g bridged across the pair of plate members 102f, a motor
supporting portion 102i arranged in the movement member 102c (see
FIG. 11), a motor 102j supported at the motor supporting portion
102i, and an eccentric weight 102k attached to the shaft of the
motor 102j, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Furthermore, the secondary
stirring part 102e has a configuration similar to the primary
stirring part 102d and has a function of lifting the cuvette 8
arranged in the cuvette installing hole 101d of the magnetism
collecting section 101 (see FIG. 11) and stirring the same in the
non-magnetism collected state. The secondary stirring part 102e
includes a chuck portion 102n made up of the pair of plate members
1021 and a coil spring 102m, a motor supporting portion 102o, a
motor 102p, and an eccentric weight 102q.
[0081] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, the separating mechanism
section 103 is arranged movable in the front and back direction (Y
direction) along the slide rail 105 independent from the stirring
mechanism section 102. That is, the stirring mechanism section 102
and the separating mechanism section 103 move in the front and back
direction along a common slide rail 105, and thus the separating
mechanism section 103 cannot move forward unless the stirring
mechanism section 102 moves forward, and the stirring mechanism
section 102 cannot move backward unless the separating mechanism
section 103 moves backward. The separating mechanism section 103
includes a primary separating part 103a and a secondary separating
part 103b, which primary separating part 103a and secondary
separating part 103b are movable in the vertical direction
independent to each other.
[0082] The primary separating part 103a includes a motor 103c, a
movement member 103d that moves with the drive of the motor 103c, a
linear moving guide (not shown) and a primary cleaning part 103e.
The primary cleaning part 103e has a function of supplying cleaning
fluid to the cuvette 8 arranged in the cuvette installing hole 101d
of the magnetism collecting section 101 and discharging the same.
In the present embodiment, the primary cleaning part 103e includes
a discharging part 103g including a nozzle portion 103f for
suctioning the unnecessary components of the cuvette 8, and a
supplying part 103h for supplying cleaning fluid to the cuvette 8
through a path different from the path through which the
unnecessary component suctioned by the nozzle portion 103 pass, as
shown in FIG. 14. Furthermore, the unnecessary component suctioned
by the nozzle portion 103f is discharged through a tube 103i
connected to the nozzle portion 103f, and the cleaning fluid is
supplied to the supplying part 103h through a tube 103j from a tank
(not shown) and the like arranged at the lower part of the immune
analyzing device 1.
[0083] The secondary separating part 103b has the same
configuration as the primary separating part 103a. That is, the
secondary separating part 103b also includes a motor 103k, a
movement member 1031, a linear moving guide consisting of a slide
rail 103m and a slide main body 103n, and a secondary cleaning part
103o, as shown in FIG. 11. The secondary cleaning part 103o also
has the same configuration as the primary cleaning part 103e of the
primary separating part 103a and includes a discharging part 103q
with a nozzle portion 103p and a supplying part 103r.
[0084] The nozzle cleaning section 104a is arranged to clean the
nozzle portion 103f of the primary separating part 103a.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the nozzle cleaning section 104a
includes a hole 104c through which the nozzle portion 103f can be
inserted, and when the cleaning fluid is supplied from the
supplying part 103h with the nozzle portion 103f inserted into the
hole 104c of the nozzle cleaning section 104a, the cleaning fluid
flows along the nozzle portion 103f and is discarded to the nozzle
cleaning section 104a. The unnecessary component including the
specimen and the R1 reagent attached to the nozzle portion 103f is
thus rinsed away by the cleaning fluid supplied from the supplying
part 103h. As a result, the unnecessary component of the previous
cuvette 8 is suppressed from being carried on if the nozzle portion
103f is inserted into the next cuvette 8. The nozzle cleaning
section 104b also has a similar function as the nozzle cleaning
section 104a, and is arranged to clean the nozzle portion 103p of
the secondary separating part 103b.
[0085] The movement catcher unit 110 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) has a
function of transferring the cuvette 8 (see FIG. 8) of the
magnetism collecting section 101 of the BF separating unit 100a
separated from the non-reacting R1 reagent and the like to the
holding part 83a of the rotatable table 83 of the secondary
reaction unit 80b. The movement catcher unit 110 includes a motor
110a, a main driving pulley 110b connected to the motor 110a, a
driven pulley 110d arranged at a predetermined distance from the
main driving pulley 110b, a drive transmission belt 110d attached
to the main driving pulley 110b and the driven pulley 110c, and an
arm section 110e attached to the driven pulley 110c by way of a
shaft, and a driving part 110f for moving the arm section 110e in
the vertical direction. In addition, a chuck portion 110g for
sandwiching and gripping the cuvette 8 is arranged at the distal
end of the arm section 110e.
[0086] The secondary reaction unit 80b (see FIGS. 1 and 2) has a
configuration similar to the primary reaction unit 80a, and is
arranged to rotatably transfer the cuvette 8 accommodated in the
holding part 83a of the rotatable table 83 by a predetermined angle
at every predetermined period (18 seconds in the present
embodiment), and to stir the specimen, R1 reagent, R2 reagent, R3
reagent and R5 reagent in the cuvette 8. That is, the secondary
reaction unit 80b is arranged to react the R3 reagent containing
labeled antibody and the antigen in the specimen, and to react the
R5 reagent containing light emitting substrate and the labeled
antibody of the R3 reagent in the cuvette 8. The secondary reaction
unit 80b is configured by a rotatable table 83 for transferring the
cuvette 8 accommodating the specimen, the R1 reagent, and the R2
reagent, R3 reagent and the R5 reagent in the rotating direction,
and a container transferring section 84 for stirring the specimen,
R1 reagent, R2 reagent, R3 reagent and R5 reagent in the cuvette 8,
and transferring the cuvette 8 accommodating the stirred specimen
and the like to the BF separating unit 100b to be hereinafter
described. Furthermore, the container transferring section 84 has a
function of transferring the cuvette 8 processed by the BF
separating unit 100b again to the holding part 83a of the rotatable
table 83. The detailed configuration of the secondary reaction unit
80b is the same as the primary reaction unit 80a, and thus the
description thereof will be omitted.
[0087] The reagent dispensing arm 90c (see FIGS. 1 and 2) has a
function of suctioning the R3 reagent in the reagent bin 7
installed in the installing part 61 of the reagent installing unit
60a and dispensing the suctioned R3 reagent into the cuvette 8
dispensed with the specimen, the R1 reagent and the R2 reagent of
the primary reaction unit 80a. The reagent dispensing arm 90c
includes a motor 93a, a drive transmission part 93b connected to
the motor 93a, and an arm section 93d attached to the drive
transmission part 93b by way of a shaft 93c. The drive transmission
part 93b is configured so as to turn the arm section 93d with the
shaft 93c as the center and move the same in the vertical direction
by the driving force from the motor 93a. Furthermore, a nozzle 93e
for suctioning and discharging the R3 reagent in the reagent bin 7
is attached to the distal end of the arm section 93d. That is, the
nozzle 93e suctions the R3 reagent in the reagent bin 7 through the
groove part 62a of the upper surface 62 of the reagent installing
unit 60a, and thereafter, the suctioned R3 reagent is dispensed
into the cuvette 8 dispensed with the specimen, the R1 reagent, and
the R2 reagent.
[0088] The BF separating unit 100b (see FIGS. 1 and 2) has a
configuration similar to the BF separating unit 100a, and is
arranged to separate the non-reacting R3 reagent (unnecessary
component) and the magnetic particles from the sample in the
cuvette 8 (see FIG. 8) transferred by the container transferring
section 84 of secondary reaction unit 80b. The detailed
configuration of the BF separating unit 100b is the same as the BF
separating unit 100a, and thus the description thereof will be
omitted.
[0089] The reagent dispensing arm 90d (see FIGS. 1 and 2) has a
function of dispensing the R5 reagent containing light emitting
substrate in the reagent bin (not shown) arranged at the lower part
of the immune analyzing device 1 into the cuvette 8 accommodating
the specimen, the R1 reagent, the R2 reagent and the R3 reagent of
the secondary reaction unit 80b. The reagent dispensing arm 90d
includes a motor 94a, a drive transmission part 94b connected to
the motor 94a, and an arm section 94d attached to the drive
transmission part 94b by way of a shaft. The drive transmission
part 94b is configured so as to turn the arm section 94c with the
shaft as the center and move the same in the vertical direction by
the driving force from the motor 94a. Furthermore, a tube 94d for
discharging from the reagent bin (not shown) arranged at the lower
part of the immune analyzing device 1 the R5 reagent to the cuvette
8 accommodated in the holding part 83a of the rotatable table
83.
[0090] The detecting unit 120 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is arranged to
measure the amount of antigen contained in the specimen by
acquiring the light produced in the reaction process of the labeled
antibody bound to the antigen of the specimen performed with the
predetermined process and the light emitting substrate by means of
a photo-multiplier tube. The detecting unit 120 is configured by an
installing part 121 for installing the cuvette 8 accommodating the
specimen, R1 reagent, R2 reagent, R3 reagent and R5 reagent, and a
movement mechanism part 122 for transferring the cuvette 8 (see
FIG. 8) accommodated in the holding part 83a of the rotatable table
83 of the secondary reaction unit 80b. In addition, a lid 123 is
arranged in an opening and closing manner at the installing part
121 so that light does not enter from the outside into the cuvette
8 installed at the installing part 121 in time of measurement.
[0091] The disposing unit 130 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is arranged to
dispose the cuvette 8 (see FIG. 8) accommodating the measured
sample measured by the detecting unit 120. The disposing unit 130
is configured by a suction part 131 (see FIG. 2) for suctioning the
measured sample in the cuvette 8, and a disposing hole 132 arranged
at a position spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the
suction part 131. Thus, the suction part 131 suctions the measured
sample, and thereafter, the used cuvette 8 is disposed into a dust
box (not shown) arranged at the lower part of the immune analyzing
device 1 through the disposing hole 132.
[0092] FIG. 16 is a view showing the measurement flow of the immune
analyzing device according to one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and
FIG. 17 is a frame format view showing the reaction between the
antigen of the specimen and various reagents measured in the immune
analyzing device according to one embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIGS.
18 to 22 are views explaining the analysis operation of the immune
analyzing device according to one embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The
analysis operation of the immune analyzing device according to one
embodiment of the present invention will now be described with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, 8 to 11, 13, and 16 to 22.
(Cuvette Supplying Step)
[0093] First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the motor 71b of the
hopper feeder 71 of the cuvette supplying unit 70 is driven, so
that the cuvette 8 (see FIG. 8) is guided from the hopper 71a
through the guiding plate 72 to the concave part 73b of the
supporting table 73. The cuvette 8 accommodated in the concave part
73b of the supporting table 73 is transferred to the accommodating
hole 81a of the rotatable table 81 of the primary reaction unit 80a
by the supply catcher section 74.
(R1 Reagent Dispensing Step)
[0094] The reagent dispensing arm 90a suctions the R1 reagent in
the reagent bin 5 installed in the installing part 61 of the
reagent installing unit 60a, and thereafter, is rotated to the
primary reaction unit 80a side, and about 150 .mu.l of the
suctioned R1 reagent is discharged to the cuvette 8 transferred by
the supply catcher section 74. The R1 reagent contains trapped
antibody that binds to the antigen contained in the specimen, as
shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.
(Specimen Dispensing Step)
[0095] The specimen dispensing arm 50 attaches the pipette chip
(see FIG. 6) conveyed to the conveying rack 23 of the emergency
specimen and chip conveying unit 20 (see FIGS. 3 and 5), and
thereafter, suctions specimen such as blood from the test tube 3
mounted on the rack 4 conveyed to the suction position 1a (see
FIGS. 1 and 2) by the specimen conveying unit 10. The specimen
dispensing arm 50 is rotated to the primary reaction unit 80a side,
and discharges about 20 .mu.l of the suctioned specimen to the
cuvette 8 accommodating the R1 reagent of the accommodating hole
81a of the rotatable table 81.
(R1 Reagent and Specimen Stirring Step)
[0096] The container transferring section 82 of the primary
reaction unit 80a shown in FIG. 9 stirs the cuvette 8 accommodating
the R1 reagent and the specimen. Specifically, the container
transferring section 82 is rotated while the specimen dispensing
arm 50 is dispensing the specimen, so that the chuck portion 821c
of the stirring part 821 is moved to a position facing the cuvette
8 accommodating the R1 reagent and the specimen, and thereafter,
the chuck portion 821c is moved to the vicinity of the cuvette 8
towards the outer side (radial direction) from the center of the
rotatable table 81. The container transferring section 82 waits
until the specimen dispensing arm 50 finishes dispensing the
specimen, and immediately after the dispensing of the specimen is
finished, the stirring part 821 of the container transferring
section 82 is further moved towards the outer side of the rotatable
table 81. The cuvette 8 accommodating the R1 reagent and the
specimen is thereby gripped by the chuck portion 821c of the
stirring part 821. After lifting the chuck portion 821c gripping
the cuvette 8 upward by driving the motor 822a of the vertical
movement mechanism part 822, the motor 821f of the stirring part
821 is driven. Therefore, the R1 reagent and the specimen in the
cuvette 8 are stirred when the swinging vibration of the eccentric
weight 821g and the motor 821f is transmitted to the R1 reagent and
the specimen in the cuvette 8 gripped by the chuck portion 821c.
When the chuck portion 821c of the container transferring section
82 is moved to the vicinity of the cuvette 8 while dispensing the
specimen, the cuvette 8 can be gripped by the chuck portion 821c
immediately after the dispensing of the specimen is finished, the
specimen and the R1 reagent in the cuvette 8 can be stirred, and
the reaction between the specimen and the R1 reagent can be
efficiently proceeded.
(Incubation Step (Reaction 1 Shown in FIGS. 16 and 17))
[0097] The stirred R1 reagent and specimen are incubated over a
predetermined time in the cuvette 8 of the accommodating hole 81a
of the rotatable table 81 rotated over a predetermined angle for
every 18 seconds. Therefore, if about 162 seconds (18
seconds.times.9) is required for the reaction of the R1 reagent and
the specimen, the cuvette 8 accommodating the R1 reagent and the
specimen is rotatably transferred by nine pitches after the
specimen is dispensed. The trapped antibody (R1 reagent) and the
antigen of the specimen thus bind while the cuvette 8 is being
rotatably transferred.
(R2 Reagent Dispensing Step)
[0098] The reagent dispensing arm 90b suctions the R2 reagent in
the reagent bin 6 installed in the installing part 64 of the
reagent installing unit 60b, and thereafter, is rotated to the
primary reaction unit 80a side, and about 301 of the suctioned R2
reagent is discharged to the cuvette 8 accommodating the R1 reagent
and the specimen incubated over a predetermined time. The R2
reagent contains magnetic particles that bind to the trapped
antibody bound with the antigen in the specimen, as shown in FIGS.
16 and 17.
(R2 Reagent and Specimen Stirring Step)
[0099] The container transferring section 82 of the primary
reaction unit 80a stirs the cuvette 8 accommodating the R1 reagent,
the specimen and the R2 reagent, similar to the R1 reagent and
specimen stirring step described above. That is, the chuck portion
821c of the stirring part 821 is moved to the vicinity of the
cuvette 8 being dispensed with the R2 reagent while the reagent
dispensing arm 90b is dispensing the R2 reagent, and the container
transferring section 82 waits until the reagent dispensing arm 90b
finishes dispensing the R2 reagent. Immediately after the
dispensing of the R2 reagent is finished, the chuck portion 821c of
the stirring part 821 of the container transferring section 82
grips the cuvette 8 accommodating the R1 reagent, the specimen and
the R2 reagent, and the chuck portion 821c gripping the cuvette 8
is lifted upward, and thereafter, the motor 821f is driven to stir
the R1 reagent, specimen and R2 reagent in the cuvette 8.
(Incubation Step (Reaction 2 Shown in FIGS. 16 and 17))
[0100] The stirred R1 reagent, specimen and R2 reagent are
incubated over a predetermined time in the cuvette 8 of the
accommodating hole 81a of the rotatable table 81. Therefore, if
about 90 seconds (18 seconds.times.5) is required for the reaction
of the trapped antibody (R1 reagent) bound to the antigen of the
specimen and the magnetic particles (R2 reagent), the cuvette 8
accommodating the R1 reagent, the specimen and the R2 reagent is
rotatably transferred by five pitches after the R2 reagent is
dispensed. The magnetic particles (R2 reagent) and the trapped
antibody (R1 reagent) bound with the antigen of the specimen thus
bind while the cuvette 8 is being rotatably transferred.
(Transfer Step from Primary Reaction Unit 80a to BF Separating Unit
100a)
[0101] The cuvette 8 accommodating the incubated R1 reagent,
specimen and R2 reagent is transferred to the cuvette installing
hole 101d of the BF separating unit 100a shown in FIG. 11 by the
container transferring section 82 of the primary reaction unit 80a.
Specifically, the chuck portion 821c of the stirring part 821 is
arranged so as to face the cuvette 8 rotatably transferred while
being incubated by rotating the container transferring section 82,
and the stirring part 821 of the container transferring section 82
is moved towards the outer side from the center of the rotatable
table 81. The cuvette 8 accommodating the R1 reagent, the R2
reagent and the specimen is gripped by the chuck portion 821c of
the stirring part 821. The chuck portion 821c gripping the cuvette
8 is lifted upward by driving the motor 822a of the vertical
movement mechanism part 822, and the cuvette 8 is transferred to
the installing part 101a of the magnetism collecting section 101 of
the BF separating unit 100a by driving the motor 823a of the radial
movement mechanism part 823.
[0102] The cuvette supplying step, R1 reagent dispensing step,
specimen dispensing step, R1 reagent and specimen stirring step,
incubation step, R2 reagent dispensing step, R2 reagent and
specimen stirring step, incubation step and transfer step from
primary reaction unit 80a to BF separating unit 100a in the primary
reaction unit 80a are executed in parallel. The plurality of
accommodating holes 81a of the rotatable table 81 are assigned with
corresponding step, and the corresponding step is executed with
respect to each cuvette 8 held at the accommodating hole 81a. For
example, R1 reagent dispensing step is performed on the cuvette 8
held at one accommodating hole 81a, and at the same time, the
specimen dispensing step is performed on the cuvette held in
another accommodating hole 81a.
(First Cleaning Step in BF Separating Unit 100a)
[0103] In the present embodiment, the cuvette 8 installed in the
cuvette installing hole 101d of the installing part 101a of the
magnetism collecting section 101 is transferred in the rotating
direction with the rotation of the installing part 101a, and is
arranged at a position corresponding to the primary stirring part
102d of the stirring mechanism section 102. In this case, the
magnetic particles in the cuvette 8 held at the cuvette installing
hole 101d of the installing part 101a are magnetism collected by
the magnet 101b arranged on the side of the cuvette 8. As shown in
FIG. 18, the stirring mechanism section 102 and the separating
mechanism section 103 of the BF separating unit 100a move forward
(Y direction) along the common slide rail 105, and the chuck
portion 102h of the primary stirring part 102d grips the cuvette 8.
The nozzle portion 103f of the primary cleaning part 103e of the
primary separating part 103a is inserted to the cuvette 8 in such
state, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, and the sample in the cuvette 8
is suctioned, so that the unnecessary components excluding the
magnetic particles and the antigen bound through the trapped
antibody to the magnetic particles are removed. However, in the
first cleaning step, some of the unnecessary components sometimes
retain at the inner wall of the cuvette 8 with the magnetic
particles as if caught in the magnetic particles attracted to the
magnet 101b of the magnetism collecting section 101 and becomes
difficult to sufficiently remove the unnecessary component, and
thus the stirring step and the second cleaning step described below
are performed in the present embodiment to sufficiently remove the
unnecessary components.
(Stirring Step (First Time) in BF Separating Unit 100a)
[0104] In the present embodiment, the cleaning fluid is supplied to
the cuvette 8 performed with the first cleaning step in the BF
separating unit 100a and stirring is performed. Specifically, in
the first cleaning step, immediately after suction is performed by
the nozzle portion 103f of the primary separating part 103a, about
200 .mu.l of the cleaning fluid is discharged by the supplying part
103h of the primary separating part 103a, as shown in FIG. 21. The
primary stirring part 102d is moved upward (Z direction) along the
slide rail 102a from the state in which the chuck portion 102h of
the primary stirring part 102d is gripping the cuvette 8. As shown
in FIGS. 13 and 22, when the motor 102j is driven with the cuvette
8 in the lifted state, the swinging vibration of the eccentric
weight 102k and the motor 102j is transmitted to the cuvette 8
gripped at the chuck portion 102h, and the cleaning fluid, the
unnecessary component and the magnetic particles in the cuvette 8
are stirred. The unnecessary components are then caught in the
magnetic particles and the unnecessary components retained at the
inner wall of the cuvette 8 are dispersed with the magnetic
particles.
(Second Cleaning Step (First Time) in BF Separating Unit 100a)
[0105] In the present embodiment, the cuvette 8 stirred in the BF
separating unit 100a is again held in the cuvette installing hole
101d of the magnetism collecting section 101, as shown in FIG. 18,
and the magnetic particles are collected on the magnet 101b side
arranged on the side of the cuvette 8. After the magnetic particles
in the cuvette 8 are collected, the cleaning fluid and the
unnecessary component are discharged, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20.
That is, after the nozzle portion 103f of the primary cleaning part
103e of the primary separating part 103a is inserted into the
cuvette 8, the cleaning fluid in the cuvette 8 is suctioned, so
that the unnecessary components remaining by being caught in the
magnetic particles are removed.
(Stirring Step (Second Time) in BF Separating Unit 100a)
[0106] In the present embodiment, the cleaning fluid is supplied to
the cuvette 8 performed with the second cleaning step of the first
time in the BF separating unit 100a and stirring is performed.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 21, immediately after suction of the
cleaning fluid and the unnecessary components is performed by the
nozzle portion 103f of the primary separating part 103a in the
second cleaning step of the first time, about 200 .mu.l of the
cleaning fluid is discharged by the supplying part 103h of the
primary separating part 103a. The cleaning fluid, the slightly
remaining unnecessary components, and the magnetic particles and R1
reagent in the cuvette 8 are stirred, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 22
with the chuck portion 102h of the primary stirring part 102d
lifting the cuvette 8 upward.
(Second Cleaning Step (Second Time) in BF Separating Unit 100a)
[0107] In the present embodiment, the cuvette 8 stirred in the BF
separating unit 100a is again held in the cuvette installing hole
101d of the magnetism collecting section 101, and the magnetic
particles are collected on the magnet 101b side arranged on the
side of the cuvette 8, as shown in FIG. 18. After the magnetic
particles in the cuvette 8 are collected, the cleaning fluid and
the slightly remaining unnecessary component are reliably
discharged, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. That is, after the nozzle
portion 103f of the primary cleaning part 103e of the primary
separating part 103a is inserted into the cuvette 8, the cleaning
fluid in the cuvette 8 is suctioned, so that the slightly remaining
unnecessary components are reliably removed. Immediately after the
cleaning fluid and the unnecessary components are suctioned, about
200 .mu.l of the cleaning fluid is discharged by the supplying part
103h of the primary separating part 103a, as shown in FIG. 21.
Thereafter, the cuvette 8 accommodating the cleaning fluid and the
magnetic particles is transferred in the rotating direction by 120
degrees with the rotation over 120 degrees of the installing part
101a while being magnetism collected by the magnet 101b of the
magnetism collecting section 101, and arranged at a position
corresponding to the secondary stirring part 102e of the stirring
mechanism section 102. The nozzle portion 103f of the primary
separating part 103a is cleaned by discharging the cleaning fluid
while being inserted to the hole 104c of the nozzle cleaning
section 104a (see FIG. 11) for each time the sample in the cuvette
8 is suctioned, as shown in FIG. 16.
(Stirring Step (Third Time) in BF Separating Unit 100a)
[0108] Similar to the stirring step (first time and second time)
performed by the primary stirring part 102d of the BF separating
unit 100a, the cuvette 8 accommodating about 200 .mu.l of cleaning
fluid supplied by the supplying part 103h of the primary separating
part 103a is stirred by the secondary stirring part 102e of the BF
separating unit 100a, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 22.
(Second Cleaning Step (Third Time) in BF Separating Unit 100a)
[0109] Similar to the second cleaning step (first time and second
time) performed by the primary separating part 103a of the BF
separating unit 100a, the cleaning fluid in the cuvette 8 is
suctioned by the secondary separating part 103b of the BF
separating unit 100a, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20.
(Stirring Step (Fourth Time) in BF Separating Unit 100a)
[0110] Furthermore, similar to the stirring step (third time)
performed by the secondary separating part 103b of the BF
separating unit 100a, the cuvette 8 accommodating about 200 .mu.l
of cleaning fluid supplied by the supplying part 103r of the
secondary separating part 103b is stirred by the supplying part
103r of the secondary separating part 103b.
(Second Cleaning Step (Fourth Time) in BF Separating Unit 100a)
[0111] Similar to the second cleaning step (third time) performed
by the secondary separating part 103b of the BF separating unit
100a, the cleaning fluid in the cuvette 8 is suctioned by the
secondary separating part 103b of the BF separating unit 100a.
Thereafter, the cuvette 8 accommodating the sample removed with the
unnecessary components and having the magnetic particles of solid
phase as the main components is transferred in the rotating
direction with the rotation of the installing part 101a of the BF
separating unit 100a, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and transferred to
a position of being gripped by the chuck portion 110g of the
movement catcher unit 110. The nozzle portion 103p of the secondary
separating part 103b is cleaned by discharging the cleaning fluid
while being inserted to the hole of the nozzle cleaning section
104b (see FIG. 11) each time the sample in the cuvette 8 is
suctioned.
(Transfer Step from BF Separating Unit 100a to Secondary Reaction
Unit 80b)
[0112] The cuvette 8 performed with separation of unnecessary
components and magnetic particles by the BF separating unit 100a is
gripped by the chuck portion 110g of the movement catcher unit 110
and transferred to the holding part 83a of the rotatable table 83
of the secondary reaction unit 80b, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
(R3 Reagent Dispensing Step)
[0113] The reagent dispensing arm 90c suctions the R3 reagent in
the reagent bin 7 installed in the installing part 61 of the
reagent installing part 60a, and thereafter, rotated to the
secondary reaction unit 80b side, and discharges about 100 .mu.l of
the R3 reagent suctioned to the cuvette 8 accommodating the
magnetic particles (R2 reagent) and the antigen of the specimen
bound through the trapped antibody (R1 reagent). The R3 reagent
contains labeled antibody that binds to the antigen in the
specimen, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.
(R3 Reagent and Specimen Stirring Step)
[0114] The container transferring section 84 of the secondary
reaction unit 80b stirs the cuvette 8 accommodating the trapped
antibody (R1 reagent), the antigen (specimen), the magnetic
particles (R2 reagent) and the R3 reagent containing the labeled
antibody, similar to the stirring step of the R1 reagent and the
specimen described above.
(Incubation Step (Reaction 3 Shown in FIGS. 16 and 17))
[0115] The stirred trapped antibody (R1 reagent), antigen
(specimen), magnetic particles (R2 reagent), and the R3 reagent
containing labeled antibody are incubated over a predetermined time
in the cuvette 8 of the holding part 83a of the rotatable table 83.
Therefore, if about 198 seconds (18 seconds.times.11) is required
for the reaction of the antigen of the specimen and the labeled
antibody (R3 reagent), the cuvette 8 accommodating the trapped
antibody (R1 reagent), antigen (specimen), magnetic particles (R2
reagent), and the R3 reagent containing labeled antibody is
rotatably transferred by eleven pitches after the R3 reagent is
dispensed. The antigen bound with the magnetic particles (R2
reagent) through the trapped antibody (R1 reagent) and the labeled
antibody (R3 reagent) bound while the cuvette 8 is being rotatably
transferred.
(Transfer Step from Secondary Reaction Unit 80b to BF Separating
Unit 100b)
[0116] The cuvette 8 accommodating the incubated trapped antibody
(R1 reagent), antigen (specimen), magnetic particles (R2 reagent),
and R3 reagent containing labeled antibody is transferred to the
cuvette installing hole 101d of the BF separating unit 100b by the
container transferring section 84 of the secondary reaction unit
80b, similar to the transfer step from the primary reaction unit
80a to the BF separating unit 100a described above.
(First Cleaning Step, Stirring Step, and Second Cleaning Step in BF
Separating Unit 100b)
[0117] In the present embodiment, the first cleaning step, four
stirring steps and the second cleaning step are performed in the BF
separating unit 100b, similar to the first cleaning step, four
stirring steps and the second cleaning step in the BF separating
unit 100a described above. Thus, the R3 reagent (unnecessary
component) containing the labeled antibody that does not bind with
the antigen of the specimen can be sufficiently removed. The
cuvette 8 accommodating the sample including the antigen bound with
the labeled antibody removed with the unnecessary components is
thereafter transferred in the rotating direction with the rotation
of the magnetism collecting section of the BF separating unit 100b,
and transferred to a position movable by the container transferring
section 84 of the secondary reaction unit 80b.
(Transfer Step from BF Separating Unit 100a to Secondary Reaction
Unit 80b)
[0118] The cuvette 8 separated with the unnecessary components and
the magnetic particles by the BF separating unit 100b is again
transferred to the holding part 83a of the rotatable table 83 by
the container transferring section 84 of the secondary reaction
unit 80b, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
(R5 Reagent Dispensing Step)
[0119] The reagent dispensing arm 90d discharges only about 100
.mu.l of the R5 reagent containing light emitting substrate in the
reagent bin (not shown) arranged at the lower part of the immune
analyzing device 1 to the cuvette 8 accommodating the trapped
antibody (R1 reagent), the magnetic particles (R2 reagent), the
labeled antibody (R3 reagent) and the antigen of the specimen
through the tube 94d. The light emitting substrate that reacts with
the labeled antibody of the R3 reagent and emits light is contained
in the R5 reagent, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.
(R5 Reagent and Labeled Antibody Stirring Step)
[0120] The container transferring section 84 of the secondary
reaction unit 80b stirs the cuvette 8 accommodating the trapped
antibody (R1 reagent), the antigen (specimen), the magnetic
particles (R2 reagent), the labeled antibody (R3 reagent) and the
R5 reagent containing the light emitting substrate, similar to the
R1 reagent and the specimen stirring step described above.
(Incubation Step (Reaction 4 Shown in FIGS. 16 and 17))
[0121] The stirred trapped antibody (R1 reagent), antigen
(specimen), magnetic particles (R2 reagent), and labeled antibody
(R3 reagent) and R5 reagent containing light emitting substrate are
incubated over a predetermined time in the cuvette 8 of the holding
part 83a of the rotatable table 83. Therefore, if about 378 seconds
(18 seconds.times.21) is required for the reaction of the labeled
(R3 reagent) bound to the antigen of the specimen and the R5
reagent containing light emitting substrate, the cuvette 8
accommodating the trapped antibody (R1 reagent), antigen
(specimen), magnetic particles (R2 reagent), and labeled antibody
(R3 reagent) and R5 reagent containing light emitting substrate is
rotatably transferred by 21 pitches after the R5 reagent is
dispensed. The reaction between the labeled antibody (R3 reagent)
and the light emitting substrate (R5 reagent) proceeds while the
cuvette 8 is being rotatably transferred.
[0122] Similar to the primary reaction unit 81a, the transfer step
from the BF separating unit 100a to the secondary reaction unit
80b, the R3 reagent dispensing step, the R3 reagent and specimen
stirring step, the incubation step, the transfer step from
secondary reaction unit 80b to BF separating unit 100b, the
transfer step from BF separating unit 100b to secondary reaction
unit 80b, the R5 reagent dispensing step, the R5 reagent and
labeled antibody stirring step, and the incubation step in the
secondary reaction unit 80b described above are performed in
parallel.
(Measuring Step)
[0123] Subsequently, the cuvette 8 accommodating the incubated
trapped antibody (R1 reagent), the antigen (specimen), the magnetic
particles (R2 reagent), the labeled antibody (R3 reagent) and the
R5 reagent containing the light emitting substrate is conveyed to
the installing part 121 by the conveying mechanism section 122 of
the detecting unit 120, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In time of
measurement, the lid 123 is closed so that the inside of the
installing part 121 is shielded from external light, and
measurement is performed under the condition the external light is
shielded. The magnetic particles in the cuvette 8 installed in the
installing part 121 are attracted to the magnet side, as shown in
FIG. 16. Thus, the measurement of the light emitting amount is
suppressed from being inhibited magnetic particles when measuring
the light emitting amount generated in the reaction process of the
labeled antibody of the R3 reagent and the light emitting substrate
of the R5 reagent. The light emitting amount generated in the
reaction process of the labeled antibody of R3 reagent and the
light emitting substrate of the R5 reagent is acquired in the
photo-multiplier tube (not shown) under such condition.
(Disposing Step)
[0124] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cuvette 8 accommodating the
measured sample performed with the measurement is conveyed to the
position below the suction part 131 (see FIG. 2) of the disposing
unit 130 by the conveying mechanism section 122 of the detecting
unit 120. The suction part 131 of the disposing unit 130 moves
downward, suctions the measured sample, and empties the cuvette 8.
Thereafter, the conveying mechanism part 122 of the detecting unit
120 gripping the empty cuvette 8 is rotated so as to be conveyed to
the position corresponding to the disposing hole 132 of the
disposing unit 130, and thereafter, the empty cuvette 8 is dropped
into the disposing hole 132, and the used cuvette 8 is disposed
into the dust box (not shown) arranged at the lower part of the
immune analyzing device 1 through the discarding hole 132. The
analysis operation of the immune analyzing device 1 according to
the present embodiment is performed in the above manner.
[0125] In the present embodiment, since the container transferring
section 82 (container transferring section 84) is arranged on the
upper part of the rotatable table 81 (rotatable table 83) as
described above, the movement amount of the container transferring
section 82 (container transferring section 84) does not vary, and
the cuvette 8 accommodated in the accommodating hole of any
position can be easily held even when holding the cuvette 8
accommodated in any accommodating hole of the rotatable table 81
(rotatable table 83). Therefore, even when transferring the cuvette
8 at a plurality of positions of the rotatable table 81 (rotatable
table 83), a plurality of container transferring sections do not
need to be arranged, whereby miniaturization of the device and
reduction of cost are achieved. Furthermore, even when holding the
cuvette 8 accommodated in the accommodating hole of any position,
the movement amount of the container transferring section 82
(container transferring section 84) does not vary, and the movement
amount of the container transferring section 82 (container
transferring section 84) is suppressed. Moreover, since the cuvette
8 accommodated in the accommodating hole of any position can be
easily held, various specimen processing sequences can be flexibly
responded.
[0126] In the present embodiment, the plurality of accommodating
holes are arranged in circular ring shape, and the container
transferring section 82 (container transferring section 84) is
preferably arranged at substantially the center of circular ring
formed by a plurality of accommodating holes. Thus, the distance
between the container transferring section 82 (container
transferring section 84) and all the cuvettes 8 accommodated in the
accommodated hole become substantially the same. Therefore, the
movement amount of the container transferring section 82 (container
transferring section 84) become substantially constant regardless
of at which accommodating hole of the rotatable table 81 (rotatable
table 83) the cuvette 8 is accommodated, and thus the cuvette 8
accommodated in the accommodating hole of any position can be more
easily held, and various specimen processing sequences can be more
flexibly responded.
[0127] In the present embodiment, the container transferring
section 82 (container transferring section 84) is preferably
configured so as to transfer the cuvette 8 in the vertical
direction, the rotating direction of the rotatable table 81
(rotatable table 83) and the radial direction of the circular ring
formed by a plurality of accommodating holes. Thus, the container
transferring section 82 (container transferring section 84)
transfers the holding cuvette 8 in the rotating direction to the
position facing the target accommodating hole and thereafter,
transfers the same in the radial direction until reaching the
target accommodating hole even when transferring the cuvette 8 to
the accommodating hole of any position, whereby the cuvette 8 can
be efficiently transferred by the operation adapted to the
arrangement of the accommodating hole.
[0128] In the present embodiment, the stirring part 821 is
preferably configured so as to be able to stir the specimen and the
reagent in the cuvette 8 while holding the cuvette 8. Thus, the
mixed liquid of the specimen and the reagent is stirred with the
container transferring section 82 (container transferring section
84) holding the cuvette 8, whereby the mixed solution can be
rapidly stirred.
[0129] In the present embodiment, the stirring part 821 is
preferably configured so as to move to the vicinity of the cuvette
to be dispensed with reagent when the reagent dispensing arms 90a,
90b, 90c and 90d dispense the reagents into the cuvette. Reaction
occurs after the specimen and the reagent are mixed, but such
reaction proceeds efficiently by sufficiently stirring the specimen
and the reagent. Therefore, according to the above configuration,
after the specimen or the reagent is dispensed into the cuvette 8,
the specimen and the reagent are rapidly stirred, and the reaction
of the specimen and the reagent is efficiently proceeds.
[0130] In the present embodiment, by arranging the stirring
mechanism section 102 for stirring the sample in the cuvette 8 and
the magnetism collecting section 101 for holding the cuvette 8 and
collecting the magnetic particles (R2 reagent) in the cuvette 8 in
the BF separating unit 100a, when the sample in the cuvette 8 is
stirred by the primary stirring part 102d of the stirring mechanism
section 102 in the BF separating unit 100a, the magnetic particles
and the unnecessary components integrated with the magnetic
particles by being caught thereto are dispersed, and the
unnecessary components are removed with the magnetic particles in
the sample in which the magnetic particles and the unnecessary
components are dispersed by the magnetism collecting section 101
attracted to the magnet 101b side, whereby the unnecessary
components caught in the magnetic particles can be removed.
Consequently, the unnecessary components not necessary for the
analysis of the immune analyzing device 1 are sufficiently
removed.
[0131] In the present embodiment, by arranging the separating
mechanism section 103 for discharging the unnecessary components
after supplying the cleaning fluid to the cuvette 8 in the BF
separating unit 100a in addition to the magnetism collecting
section 101 and the stirring mechanism section 102, the cleaning
fluid for dispersing the integrated magnetic particles and the
unnecessary components caught in the magnetic particles is easily
supplied by the supplying part 103h of the separating mechanism
section 103 in the BF separating unit 100a, and the unnecessary
components in the cuvette 8 held at the magnetism collecting
section 101 are easily discharged. As a result, a series of process
for removing the unnecessary components are performed in the BF
separating unit 100a, and thus the process of removing the
unnecessary components is more rapidly performed.
[0132] In the present embodiment, the BF separating unit 100a and
the BF separating unit 100b are individually arranged, so that when
performing the removal of the unnecessary components after
dispensing the R2 reagent and the removal of the unnecessary
components after dispensing the R3 reagent, the removal of the
unnecessary components for the first time after dispensing the R2
reagent is performed in the BF separating unit 100a and the removal
of the unnecessary components for the second time after dispensing
the R3 reagent is performed in the BF separating unit 100b. As a
result, the removal of the unnecessary components for the second
time is performed in the BF separating unit 100b while the removal
of the unnecessary components for the first time is performed in
the BF separating unit 100a, and thus the process of removing the
unnecessary components is rapidly performed compared to when the
removal of the unnecessary components for the first time and the
second time is performed in one BF separating unit.
[0133] In the present embodiment, three cuvette installing holes
101d are arranged in the magnetism collecting section 101 of the BF
separating unit 100a, and two stirring parts (primary stirring part
102d and secondary stirring part 102e) and two cleaning parts
(primary cleaning part 103e and secondary cleaning part 103o) are
arranged in the stirring mechanism section 102 of the BF separating
unit 100a, so that three transferred cuvettes 8 can be accommodated
in the cuvette installing holes 101d of the magnetism collecting
section 101. Therefore, the sample in the cuvette 8 accommodated in
one cuvette installing hole 101d can be stirred by the primary
stirring part 102d and the unnecessary components can be removed by
the primary cleaning part 103e, while the sample in the cuvette 8
accommodated in another cuvette installing hole 101d is stirred by
the secondary stirring part 102e and the unnecessary components are
removed by the secondary cleaning part 103o. As a result, the
samples in the two cuvettes 8 can be simultaneously processed in
one BF separating unit 100a, which further enhances the processing
ability in the BF separating unit 100a.
[0134] In the present embodiment, the installing part 101a
including three cuvette installing holes 101d is rotatably
configured, so that after processing the sample in the cuvette 8 by
the primary stirring part 102d and the primary cleaning part 103e
with the cuvette installing hole 101d holding the cuvette 8
transferred by the container transferring section 82 moved to a
position corresponding to the primary stirring part 102d and the
primary cleaning part 103e, the installing part 101a is rotated to
move the cuvette installing hole 101d holding the cuvette 8 to the
position corresponding to the secondary stirring part 102e.
Therefore, the sample in the cuvette 8 processed by the primary
stirring part 102d and the primary cleaning part 103e can again be
processed by the secondary stirring part 102e and the secondary
cleaning part 103o. That is, the second cleaning step of the first
and second times is performed in the primary stirring part 102d and
the primary cleaning part 103e while the second cleaning step of
the third and fourth time is performed in the secondary stirring
part 102e and the secondary cleaning part 103o. As a result, the
second cleaning step of a plurality of times (four times in the
present embodiment) are performed in parallel in one BF separating
unit 100a, whereby the lowering of the processing ability in the BF
separating unit 100a is suppressed even if the removal of
unnecessary components is performed over a plurality of times to
sufficiently clean the unnecessary components.
[0135] In the present embodiment, the stirring mechanism section
102 for stirring the sample in the cuvette 8 is arranged in the BF
separating unit 100a for separating the magnetic particles and the
unnecessary components from the sample in the cuvette 8 conveyed by
the container conveying unit 82 as described above, whereby the
sample in the cuvette 8 is stirred in the BF separating unit 100a.
Therefore, the cuvette does not need to be conveyed to another
device including the stirring part to disperse the integrated
magnetic particles and the unnecessary components caught in the
magnetic particles, whereby the process of removing the unnecessary
components is rapidly performed compared to when conveying the
cuvette 8 to another device and stirring and then returning the
cuvette to the BF separating unit 100a. As a result, the processing
ability of removing the unnecessary components in the BF separating
unit 100a enhances.
[0136] In the present embodiment, by arranging the stirring
mechanism section 102 for stirring the sample in the cuvette 8 and
the magnetism collecting section 101 for holding the cuvette 8 and
collecting the magnetic particles (R2 reagent) in the cuvette 8 in
the BF separating unit 100a, when the sample in the cuvette 8 is
stirred by the primary stirring part 102d of the stirring mechanism
section 102 in the BF separating unit 100a, the magnetic particles
and the unnecessary components integrated with the magnetic
particles by being caught thereto are dispersed, and the
unnecessary components are removed with the magnetic particles in
the sample in which the magnetic particles and the unnecessary
components are dispersed by the magnetism collecting section 101
attracted to the magnet 101b side, whereby the unnecessary
components caught in the magnetic particles can be removed.
Consequently, the unnecessary components not necessary for the
analysis of the immune analyzing device 1 are sufficiently
removed.
[0137] In the present embodiment, by arranging the separating
mechanism section 103 for discharging the unnecessary components
after supplying the cleaning fluid to the cuvette 8 in the BF
separating unit 100a in addition to the magnetism collecting
section 101 and the stirring mechanism section 102, the cleaning
fluid for dispersing the integrated magnetic particles and the
unnecessary components caught in the magnetic particles is easily
supplied by the supplying part 103h of the separating mechanism
section 103 in the BF separating unit 100a, and the unnecessary
components in the cuvette 8 held at the magnetism collecting
section 101 are easily discharged. As a result, a series of process
for removing the unnecessary components are performed in the BF
separating unit 100a, and thus the process of removing the
unnecessary components is more rapidly performed.
[0138] In the present embodiment, the BF separating unit 100a and
the BF separating unit 100b are individually arranged, so that when
performing the removal of the unnecessary components after
dispensing the R2 reagent and the removal of the unnecessary
components after dispensing the R3 reagent, the removal of the
unnecessary components for the first time after dispensing the R2
reagent is performed in the BF separating unit 100a and the removal
of the unnecessary components for the second time after dispensing
the R3 reagent is performed in the BF separating unit 100b. As a
result, the removal of the unnecessary components for the second
time is performed in the BF separating unit 100b while the removal
of the unnecessary components for the first time is performed in
the BF separating unit 100a, and thus the process of removing the
unnecessary components is rapidly performed compared to when the
removal of the unnecessary components for the first time and the
second time is performed in one BF separating unit.
[0139] In the present embodiment, three cuvette installing holes
101d are arranged in the magnetism collecting section 101 of the BF
separating unit 100a, and two stirring parts (primary stirring part
102d and secondary stirring part 102e) and two cleaning parts
(primary cleaning part 103e and secondary cleaning part 103o) are
arranged in the stirring mechanism section 102 of the BF separating
unit 100a, so that three transferred cuvettes 8 can be accommodated
in the cuvette installing holes 101d of the magnetism collecting
section 101. Therefore, the sample in the cuvette 8 accommodated in
one cuvette installing hole 101d can be stirred by the primary
stirring part 102d and the unnecessary components can be removed by
the primary cleaning part 103e, while the sample in the cuvette 8
accommodated in another cuvette installing hole 101d is stirred by
the secondary stirring part 102e and the unnecessary components are
removed by the secondary cleaning part 103o. As a result, the
samples in the two cuvettes 8 can be simultaneously processed in
one BF separating unit 100a, which further enhances the processing
ability in the BF separating unit 100a.
[0140] In the present embodiment, the installing part 101a
including three cuvette installing holes 101d is rotatably
configured, so that after processing the sample in the cuvette 8 by
the primary stirring part 102d and the primary cleaning part 103e
with the cuvette installing hole 101d holding the cuvette 8
transferred by the container transferring section 82 moved to a
position corresponding to the primary stirring part 102d and the
primary cleaning part 103e, the installing part 101a is rotated to
move the cuvette installing hole 101d holding the cuvette 8 to the
position corresponding to the secondary stirring part 102e.
Therefore, the sample in the cuvette 8 processed by the primary
stirring part 102d and the primary cleaning part 103e can again be
processed by the secondary stirring part 102e and the secondary
cleaning part 103o. That is, the second cleaning step of the first
and second times is performed in the primary stirring part 102d and
the primary cleaning part 103e while the second cleaning step of
the third and fourth time is performed in the secondary stirring
part 102e and the secondary cleaning part 103o. As a result, the
second cleaning step of a plurality of times (four times in the
present embodiment) are performed in parallel in one BF separating
unit 100a, whereby the lowering of the processing ability in the BF
separating unit 100a is suppressed even if the removal of
unnecessary components is performed over a plurality of times to
sufficiently clean the unnecessary components.
[0141] The embodiments disclosed herein should be recognized as
merely illustrative and should not be recognized as being exclusive
in any way. The scope of the present invention is defined by the
appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and
all changes that fall within meets and bounds of the claims, or
equivalence of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be
embraced by the claims.
[0142] For example, a case of arranging two BF separating units has
been described in the above embodiment, but the present invention
is not limited thereto, and the magnetic particles and the
unnecessary components may be separated by one BF separating unit
or the magnetic particles and the unnecessary components may be
separated by three or more BF separating units. In the present
embodiment, the unnecessary components and the magnetic particles
are separated by the BF separating unit 100a after dispensing the
R2 reagent, and then the unnecessary components and the magnetic
particles are separated by the BF separating unit 100b after
dispensing the R3 reagent, but the unnecessary components and the
magnetic particles may be separated by the BF separating unit 100b
only after dispensing the R3 reagent without separating the
unnecessary components and the magnetic particles after dispensing
the R2 reagent depending on the measurement items.
[0143] An example of performing a first cleaning step and a second
cleaning step in the BF separating unit has been described in the
above embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto,
and the cleaning step of filling the cuvette with cleaning fluid
and then discharging the cleaning fluid may be performed with the
magnetic particles in the cuvette collected separate from the first
cleaning step and the second cleaning step. The sample scattered
and attached to the inner wall surface side of the upper part of
the cuvette are thereby suppressed from drying and retaining at the
relevant position. As a result, analysis is performed including the
sample scattered and attached to the inner wall surface side of the
upper part of the cuvette, whereby accurate analysis is
performed.
[0144] An example of arranging three cuvette installing holes in
the BF separating unit and arranging three magnets on the side of
the cuvette accommodated in the cuvette installing hole has been
described in the above embodiment, but the present invention is not
limited thereto, and two or less cuvette installing holes and
magnets may be arranged or four or more cuvette installing holes
and magnets may be arranged.
[0145] An example of arranging two stirring part (primary stirring
part and secondary stirring part) and two cleaning part (primary
cleaning part and secondary cleaning part) in the BF separating
unit has been described in the above embodiment, but the present
invention is not limited thereto, and one stirring part and one
cleaning part may be arranged in the BF separating unit or three or
more stirring parts and cleaning parts may be arranged in the BF
separating unit.
[0146] An example of stirring the sample in the cuvette by the
stirring part of the BF separating unit when performing the BF
separating process has been described in the above embodiment, but
the present invention is not limited thereto, and the sample in the
cuvette may be stirred by the stirring part of the container
transferring section.
[0147] For example, a case of arranging two BF separating units has
been described in the above embodiment, but the present invention
is not limited thereto, and the magnetic particles and the
unnecessary components may be separated by one BF separating unit
or the magnetic particles and the unnecessary components may be
separated by three or more BF separating units. In the present
embodiment, the unnecessary components and the magnetic particles
are separated by the BF separating unit 100a after dispensing the
R2 reagent, and then the unnecessary components and the magnetic
particles are separated by the BF separating unit 100b after
dispensing the R3 reagent, but the unnecessary components and the
magnetic particfes may be separated by the BF separating unit 100b
only after dispensing the R3 reagent without separating the
unnecessary components and the magnetic particles after dispensing
the R2 reagent depending on the measurement items.
[0148] An example of performing a first cleaning step and a second
cleaning step in the BF separating unit has been described in the
above embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto,
and the cleaning step of filling the cuvette with cleaning fluid
and then discharging the cleaning fluid may be performed with the
magnetic particles in the cuvette collected separate from the first
cleaning step and the second cleaning step. The sample scattered
and attached to the inner wall surface side of the upper part of
the cuvette are thereby suppressed from drying and retaining at the
relevant position. As a result, analysis is performed including the
sample scattered and attached to the inner wall surface side of the
upper part of the cuvette, whereby accurate analysis is
performed.
[0149] An example of arranging three cuvette installing holes in
the BF separating unit and arranging three magnets on the side of
the cuvette accommodated in the cuvette installing hole has been
described in the above embodiment, but the present invention is not
limited thereto, and two or less cuvette installing holes and
magnets may be arranged or four or more cuvette installing holes
and magnets may be arranged.
[0150] An example of arranging two stirring part (primary stirring
part and secondary stirring part) and two cleaning part (primary
cleaning part and secondary cleaning part) in the BF separating
unit has been described in the above embodiment, but the present
invention is not limited thereto, and one stirring part and one
cleaning part may be arranged in the BF separating unit or three or
more stirring parts and cleaning parts may be arranged in the BF
separating unit.
[0151] An example of stirring the sample in the cuvette by the
stirring part of the BF separating unit when performing the BF
separating process has been described in the above embodiment, but
the present invention is not limited thereto, and the sample in the
cuvette may be stirred by the stirring part of the container
transferring section.
* * * * *