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EP-4375673-B1 - AUTOMATIC ANALYSIS DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING INCLINATION THEREOF

EP4375673B1EP 4375673 B1EP4375673 B1EP 4375673B1EP-4375673-B1

Inventors

  • SAKATA, Kenshiro
  • SUZUKI, YOICHIRO
  • TAKAHASHI, TAKUYA
  • KABE, Yoshihiro

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220601

Claims (6)

  1. An automatic analyzer comprising: a frame (70) including a frame upper surface (72b) and a frame bottom surface (72a) having a rectangular shape; a plurality of adjuster feet (37a-d) arranged on the frame bottom surface (72a) and supporting the frame (70); a mechanism base (35) supported by the frame upper surface (72b); a reaction tank (36) which is arranged on the mechanism base (35) and in which a reaction container (2) storing a mixed liquid of reagent and a sample is arranged; a tilt sensor (60) arranged on the mechanism base (35); an analysis unit (45) determining whether a tilt amount of the mechanism base (35) based on sensing data from the tilt sensor (60) exceeds an allowable amount; and a data storage unit (42) accumulating sensing data from the tilt sensor (60) and acquisition time of the sensing data, wherein the tilt sensor (60) is arranged at a position not overlapping with the adjuster foot (37a-d) in top view, characterized in that the analysis unit (45) predicts a tilt amount in future of the mechanism base (35) based on time series data of sensing data from the tilt sensor (60) accumulated in the data storage unit (42), and the tilt sensor (60) includes an external terminal executing power supply and communication.
  2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the adjuster foot (37a-d) is arranged at least at four corners of the frame bottom surface (72a), and the tilt sensor (60) is arranged on the inner side of the adjuster foot (37a-d) arranged at four corners of the frame bottom surface (72a) in top view.
  3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the tilt sensor (60) is a tilt sensor (60) capable of detecting tilting of two axes, and the any one adjuster foot (37a-d) arranged at four corners of the frame bottom surface (72a) is positioned in top view in each of regions separated by the two axes around the tilt sensor (60).
  4. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising: a water level sensor (38) detecting water level of the reaction tank (36); and a stirring mechanism (5, 6) stirring a mixed liquid within the reaction container (2), wherein the allowable amount is determined as such range of water level of the reaction tank (36) detected by the water level sensor (38) that the reaction tank (36) and the stirring mechanism (5, 6) can be operated appropriately.
  5. A tilt adjustment method of an automatic analyzer, the automatic analyzer including: a frame (70) including a frame upper surface (72b) and a frame bottom surface (72a) having a rectangular shape; a plurality of adjuster feet (37a-d) arranged on the frame bottom surface (72a) and supporting the frame (70); a mechanism base (35) supported by the frame upper surface (72b); a reaction tank (36) which is arranged on the mechanism base (35) and in which a reaction container (2) storing a mixed liquid of reagent and a sample is arranged; a tilt sensor (60) of two axes arranged at a position on the mechanism base (35), the position not overlapping with the adjuster foot (37a-d) in top view; an analysis unit (45) determining whether a tilt amount of the mechanism base (35) based on sensing data from the tilt sensor (60) exceeds an allowable amount; and a data storage unit (42) accumulating sensing data from the tilt sensor (60) and acquisition time of the sensing data, the tilt adjustment method comprising steps of: feeding electric power to the tilt sensor (60) from an external terminal of the tilt sensor (60) without turning on electric power of the automatic analyzer; acquiring sensing data from the tilt sensor (60); selecting the adjuster foot (37a-d) adjusting height based on combination of positive and negative tilt amounts of the two axes of the tilt sensor (60); and characterized in that the method includes the step of predicting, by the analysis unit (45), a tilt amount in future of the mechanism base (35) based on time series data of sensing data from the tilt sensor (60) accumulated in the data storage unit (42).
  6. The tilt adjustment method of an automatic analyzer according to claim 5, further comprising steps of: storing a change amount of tilt amounts of the two axes of the tilt sensor (60) caused by changing height of the adjuster foot (37a-d) beforehand; and calculating an adjustment amount of height of the adjuster foot (37a-d) selected so as to offset the tilt amounts of the two axes of the tilt sensor (60).

Description

Technical Field The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer according to claim 1 and a tilt adjustment method according to claim 5. Background Art The automatic analyzer determines a reagent to be dispensed depending on a component to be measured in a sample such as blood or urine, and dispenses the sample and the reagent using a dispensing mechanism into a reaction container arranged in a reaction tank storing liquid kept at a constant temperature. The sample and the reagent are stirred using a stirrer in the reaction container to form a reaction solution. In colorimetric analysis, for example, by causing light components at a plurality of wavelengths to be transmitted through the reaction solution to measure a change in absorbance thereof, the concentration of the component to be measured is qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. A water level sensor that can detect the liquid level is arranged in the reaction tank, and whether to supply or discharge water is determined depending on whether the water level sensor is detected to keep the water level constant. However, when the reaction tank is tilted, there is a difference in water level between a position where the water level sensor is detected and a position where the water level sensor is not detected. Therefore, four adjuster feet arranged in a device lowermost portion are adjusted to execute the leveling of the reaction tank. In the leveling of the reaction tank, the adjustment of the adjuster feet and tilt measurement using a measuring instrument such as a level are required to be repeated at a plurality of positions. Therefore, time and effort is required for the work. Therefore, PTL 1 discloses a method in which a liquid level detection means using a dispensing probe is used, a liquid level is detected at at least three predetermined positions of a reaction tank using the dispensing probe, and a height adjustment amount for executing the leveling of the reaction tank is calculated. Citation List Patent Literature PTL 1: JP 2007-248413 ACN 100 491 995 C is another example of a conventional automatic analyzer. Summary of Invention Technical Problem In PTL 1, instead of using the measuring instrument such as a level, the tilting of the reaction tank is detected using the dispensing mechanism. Therefore, there is a limit in that an analysis operation cannot be executed in a period where the tilting of the reaction tank is being detected. An object of the invention is to provide an automatic analyzer in which a tilt sensor is provided on a mechanism base for supporting each of mechanisms that executes analysis and the tilting of the reaction tank can be automatically checked within a short period of time without interference with the analysis operation, and a tilt adjustment method thereof. Solution to Problem An automatic analyzer according to the invention includes the features defined in claim 1. Advantageous Effects of Invention A tilt amount of an automatic analyzer can be continuously monitored without affecting an analysis operation. Objects, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by describing the following embodiments. Brief Description of Drawings [Fig. 1A] Fig. 1A is an overall configuration example of an automatic analyzer.[Fig. 1B] Fig. 1B is a drawing showing an example of a support structure of a mechanism base.[Fig. 1C] Fig. 1C is an example of a tilt sensor arranged on the upper surface of the mechanism base.[Fig. 2A] Fig. 2A is a drawing showing an appearance of a tilted automatic analyzer.[Fig. 2B] Fig. 2B is a drawing showing an appearance of a tilted reaction tank.[Fig. 3A] Fig. 3A is a drawing showing an appearance of a tilted automatic analyzer.[Fig. 3B] Fig. 3B is a drawing showing an appearance of a tilted reaction tank.[Fig. 4A] Fig. 4A is a drawing showing an appearance of an automatic analyzer in a horizontal state.[Fig. 4B] Fig. 4B is a drawing showing an appearance of a reaction tank in a horizontal state.[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a tilt check flow.[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is an example of time series data of sensing data.[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is an exceeding date prediction flow.[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is an example of curve approximation showing temporal dependence of the tilt amount.[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a tilt adjustment flow.[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a drawing for explaining a tilt adjustment method. Description of Embodiments Fig. 1A shows an overall configuration example of an automatic analyzer. The automatic analyzer includes, as a major configuration, a sample transport mechanism 19, a reagent disk 11 on which reagent bottles 12 are mounted, a reaction disk 1 on which reaction containers 2 are mounted, sample dispensing mechanisms 13 and 14, reagent dispensing mechanisms 7, 8, 9, and 10, stirring mechanisms 5 and 6, a spectral photometer 4, a cleaning mechanism 3, cleaning tanks 15, 16, 30, 31, 32, and 33, a reagent pump 20, a sample pump 21, and a cleaning pump 22, and is arranged above or below