JPH01189548A - Feeding method of test film by prescribed quantity - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To feed a test film into an analyzing area of an analyzer exactly by a prescribed quantity necessary for analytical measurement, by a method wherein a large number of needlelike projections provided on the circumferential surface of a test film feeding means are made to engage with the test film and feed same intermittently by a prescribed amount. CONSTITUTION:A test film feeding means 50 is constructed of a roller 51 having needlelike projections 53 provided on the circumferential surface thereof, and of a roller 52. A test film 31 is held by the rollers 51 and 52 between, and therefore the needlelike projections 53 are put in the state of engaging with the upper surface of the test film 31. When an analysis is ended, a motor M is started and the roller 51 is rotated in the direction of an arrow P, whereby the test film 31 is fed in the direction of an arrow R by a prescribed amount. By repeating this operation, a prescribed length of the test film 31 being necessary for an analytical processing thereof can always be fed exactly and intermittently to an analyzing area 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a test film quantitative feeding method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for quantitatively feeding a test film for biochemical analysis, which can reliably feed a certain amount required for analysis and measurement.

[Prior art and its problems] In current medical care, biological body fluids (whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, saliva, etc.) are used for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Clinical chemistry tests that perform quantitative analysis of various components contained in these substances are gaining importance.

For this purpose, it is necessary to quickly perform a large number of clinical chemistry tests, and the above quantitative analysis is carried out at medical institutions, laboratories, etc.
What is needed is a method and apparatus that is simple, automatic, and continuous.

For the above-mentioned quantitative analysis, there are biochemical analysis methods that use, for example, multilayer analytical test films that use spectroscopic measurements and analytical test films that measure ion activity using ion-selective electrodes. It has been proposed and put into practice.

Quantitative analysis using the above-mentioned multilayer analysis test film (hereinafter sometimes referred to as r-colorimetric test film) is as follows:
After spotting a small amount of the liquid to be tested on a colorimetric test film, this is kept at a constant temperature (incubation) for a predetermined period of time to cause a color reaction between the target component in the liquid to be tested and the reagent in the colorimetric test film. The objective component is quantitatively analyzed by measuring the color density spectrophotometrically.

In addition, in quantitative analysis using an analytical test film using an ion-selective electrode, a test liquid and a reference liquid are applied to each of the ion-selective layers of a sheet-shaped ion-selective electrode that are electrically separated from each other. The ionic activity of the test liquid is measured by measuring the potential difference between ion selective electrodes while the liquids are electrically connected to each other.

In order to automatically and continuously perform analysis using these test films for biochemical analysis, US Pat.
It is advantageous to use a continuous length of these test films for biochemical analysis, as disclosed in US Pat. No. 26,480.

Such a long test film must be intermittently fed over a certain length to the analysis area of the analyzer during analytical measurements. One conceivable feeding method for this is to intermittently feed the test film by rotating the roll shaft that winds up the used test film by a certain amount intermittently, but in this method, the winding diameter of the test film roll Since the thickness of the test film varies depending on the type of test film, it is extremely difficult to constantly feed it a constant length intermittently.

Another option is to hold the test film between a pair of rollers and feed it intermittently by a fixed amount, but increasing the nip pressure between the rollers is not good for the test film, so it is necessary to lower the nip pressure. If this happens, there is a problem that the test film and the roller may slip, making the feed amount inaccurate.

[Object of the Invention] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for quantitatively feeding a test film for biochemical analysis, which can accurately feed a certain amount necessary for analysis and measurement to the analysis area of an analyzer.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention provides a biochemical analyzer using a long test film for biochemical analysis, in which the test film is intermittently fed by a predetermined amount by a test film feeding means having a member that engages with the test film. This method is characterized by feeding the test film quantitatively.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the test film feeding means comprises:
It has a roller with many sharp protrusions on its circumferential surface,
The test film metering method described above is characterized in that the test film is fed by engaging the protrusion with the test film.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the test film feeding means comprises:
The feeding member includes a feeding member that reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the test film, and the feeding member engages with the test film when moving in the direction of feeding the test film and disengages from the test film when moving in the opposite direction. The method for quantitatively feeding a test film is characterized in that it has a mating member.

[Detailed description of the invention] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an example of a colorimetric biochemical analysis device having a test film feeding means used in the test film quantitative feeding method of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A--A of the cassette portion in FIG.

1 and 2, a test liquid spotting means 2 is provided on the upper part of the biochemical analyzer 1, and a spotting nozzle 3 connected to the test liquid spotting means 2 is connected to the biochemical analyzer 1. It is provided with an opening directly above the analysis area 4 provided in the center of the area. The test liquid spotting means 2 is provided so as to be movable in the front and back directions of the paper. The analysis area 4 is provided with a shutter 5, an incubator 6, and a photometer 7. A plurality of analysis areas 4 may be provided in the front and back directions of the paper,
Further, it may be provided so as to be movable in the front and back directions of the page in conjunction with the test liquid spotting means 2. The lower half of the biochemical analyzer 1 is provided with a cold storage 8 that stores unused film cassettes 30 containing test films 31 for biochemical analysis. It is designed to maintain low humidity. Analysis area 4
On the opposite side of the cold storage 8, there is provided a winding chamber 10 that houses a cassette case 40 for storing used test films. A test film feeding means 50 is provided between the analysis area 4 and the winding chamber 10. Inside the winding chamber 10, there is a gear W that meshes with teeth on the outer periphery of a spool wheel 43 fixed to a reel 41 for winding the used test film fed from the test film feeding means 50 to the extent that it does not loosen. A motor M for rotation is provided. The motor M operates when the test film feeding means 50 feeds the test film 31.
The used test film is transferred to the test film feeding means 50.
and the reel 41, and is not driven when the test film feeding means 50 does not feed the test film 31.

When analyzing a test liquid using the biochemical analyzer 1, the test film 31 is taken out from the unused film cassette 30 by the test film feeding means 50, transferred to the analysis area 4, and then transferred from the spotting nozzle 3. The liquid to be tested is spotted on the test film 31, and then the incubator 6 is closed by the shutter 5, and the inside of the incubator 6 is brought to a predetermined temperature (for example, 37° C.) and incubated for a predetermined time.

During or after this incubation, the optical density of the test film 31 is measured by the photometer 7.

In the analysis area 4, after a series of analysis operations from spotting the test liquid to measuring the luminous intensity, the test film 3
1 is sent to the winding chamber 10 by a predetermined constant amount by the test film feeding means 50 and wound into the used film cassette section by the drive of the motor M, and at the same time, the unused portion of the test film 31 is sent to the analysis area 4. be transported. At that time, always make sure that no part of the test film used in the previous analysis remains in the analysis area 4, and that unused test film 31 is not wasted by being transferred more than necessary. It must be ensured that a certain required length of test film 31 is transferred.

FIG. 3a is an enlarged sectional view showing an example of the test film feeding means used in the test film feeding method of the present invention, and FIG. 3b is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 38.

In FIGS. 3a and 3b, the test film feeding means 50 is composed of a roller 51 and a roller 52, each of which has a needle-like protrusion 53 on its circumferential surface. Test film 31 is held between rollers 51 and 52. The upper surface of the test film 31 is generally made of paper, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, etc. as described later, so that the needle-like protrusions 53 provided on the circumferential surface of the roller 51 are engaged with the upper surface of the test film. By rotating the roller 51 in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 3a with motor M', the test film 31 can be fed in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 3a. Since the needle-like protrusion 53 easily engages with the test film 31, the roller 51
Even if the test film 31 is pressed lightly by the roller 52, the test film 31 is reliably fed by the rotation of the roller 51 without the roller 51 slipping on the test film 31.

The motor M' is driven to rotate the roller 51 in the direction of arrow P to feed the test film 31 in the direction of arrow R, and when a predetermined amount of the test film has been fed, the rotation of the roller 51 is stopped. At this time, an unused test film is located in the analysis area 4 in FIG. 1, and the liquid to be tested is analyzed. When the analysis and measurement are completed, the motor M' is started, the roller 51 is rotated in the direction of arrow P, and the test film 31 is fed by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow R. By repeating this operation, a fixed amount of the test film 31 of the length required for analysis processing can always be accurately and intermittently sent to the analysis area 4.

The shape, number, arrangement, etc. of the needle-like protrusions g53 can be set arbitrarily as appropriate.

By appropriately changing the rotational circumferential distance of the roller 51, the predetermined feed amount of the test film 31 can be changed arbitrarily.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing another example of the test film feeding means used in the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the test film feeding means 50 is composed of a gear roller 54 and a gear roller 55.

Test film 31 by gear rollers 54 and 55
The test film 31 is fed by rotating the gear roller 54 by a motor (not shown, but similar to the one shown in FIG. 3b). Teeth 5 of gear rollers 54 and 55
Test film 3 even though the tip of 6 is not very sharp
1 can be sent reliably. The procedure for intermittently feeding a predetermined amount of test film 31 is the same as that described with respect to FIGS. 3a and 3b.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing still another example of the test film feeding means used in the present invention.

The feeding means shown in FIG. 5 is similar to the feeding means shown in FIG. 3a except that a knurled roller 57 is used in place of the roller 51, and the tip of the knurling 58 reliably engages the test film 31. The procedure for intermittently feeding a predetermined amount of test film 31 is the same as that described with respect to FIGS. 3a and 3b.

In FIG. 5, the roller 52 may be replaced by a knurled roller.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing still another example of the test film feeding means used in the present invention.

The feeding means shown in FIG. 6 has a flat plate 59 instead of the roller 52.
The feeding means is similar to the feeding means shown in FIG. 3a, except that . The procedure for intermittently feeding a predetermined amount of test film 31 is the same as that described with respect to FIGS. 3a and 3b.

In FIG. 6, the roller 51 may be replaced with a knurled roller 57 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing still another example of the test film feeding means used in the present invention.

In FIG. 7, the test film feeding means 50 is composed of a feeding member 60 and a feeding member 61 that reciprocate together in the directions of arrows S1 and S2. The feeding member 60 includes an engaging member 62 that engages with the test film 31.
is rotatably provided by the bin 63, and the engagement member 62
is pressed against the test film 31 by a leaf spring 64. Similarly, the feeding member 61 is provided with an engaging member 65 that engages with the test film 31 so as to be rotatable by a pin 66, and the engaging member 65 is pressed against the test film 31 by a leaf spring 67. The ends of the engaging members 62 and 65 are formed into square shapes.

As described above, when the feed member 60 and the feed member 61 move together in the direction of the arrow S1, the test film 31 is held between the engagement member 62 and the engagement member 65, so that the tip of the engagement member 62 is caught and engaged with the upper surface of the test film 31 (made of cloth or the like as described later), and the test film 31 is sent in the direction of arrow R. When a certain amount of test film 31 has been fed, the engaging members 62 and 65 are stopped, and then the engaging members 62 and 65 are moved in the direction of arrow S2. At this time, the tip of the engaging member 62 slides without engaging the upper surface of the test film 31, so the test film 31 does not move. In this way, since the test film 31 moves only when the engaging members 62 and 65 move together in the direction of arrow S1, the engaging member 62
The test film 31 is intermittently fed by a moving distance of 65.

The moving distance of the engaging members 62 and 65 was measured using the test film 3.
The feed amount of the test film 31 can be arbitrarily determined by adjusting it to be equal to the predetermined feed amount of 1 or an integer of the predetermined feed amount.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing still another example of the test film feeding means used in the present invention.

In FIG. 8, the test film feeding means 50 is arranged as follows: arrow T1→arrow T2→arrow T3→arrow T4→arrow T1...
It consists of a combination of a feeding member 68 and a supporting flat plate 70 that move as shown in FIG. A sharp protrusion 69 is provided on the lower surface of the feeding member 68 to engage with the upper surface of the test film 31.

The feeding member 68 is moved in the direction of the arrow T1 with the pointed protrusion 69 positioned so as to engage with the upper surface of the test film 31. At this time, the test film 31 is fed in the direction of arrow R. When feeding a predetermined amount of the test film 31, the movement of the feeding member 68 is stopped, and then the feeding member 68 is stopped.
8 in the direction of arrow T2. The movement in the direction of arrow T2 may be such that the sharp protrusion 69 comes off the test film 31. Next, the feeding member 68 is moved in the direction of arrow T3 and further moved in the direction of arrow T4 to return it to the initial position, and the sharp protrusion 69 is moved to the test film 3.
1. By repeating this operation, a predetermined amount of the test film 31 can be fed intermittently.

The test film quantitative feeding means in the present invention may be provided between the cold storage box 8 and the analysis area 4 in FIG.

The test film quantitative feeding means in the present invention is in the analysis area 4.
and the winding chamber 10, the risk of the test film 31 being damaged in any way due to contact between the feeding means and the test film 31 can be avoided. The means may become contaminated. Furthermore, when the feeding means is provided between the analysis area 4 and the cold storage 8, the feeding means is kept clean; however,
The test film 31 may be damaged in some way due to the contact between the feeding means and the test film 31. In consideration of the analyzer, the type of test film, the analysis format, etc., it can be arbitrarily determined in which of the above positions the test film quantitative feeding means is provided.

Although FIG. 1 shows a mode in which the reel 41 is rotated by the spool wheel 43 rotated by the motor M, it is possible to rotate the reel 41 without providing the spool wheel 43.
The winding shaft 11 is engaged with the hole 42 of the reel 41, and the winding rod 1
1 may be rotated directly or indirectly by a motor.

A biochemical analysis device used in the biochemical analyzer 1, which consists of an unused film cassette section for storing a long test film for biochemical analysis and a used film cassette section for winding up the test film used for analysis. A perspective view of an example of a long test film cassette is shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, an unused film cassette section 30
The test film 31 is wound into a roll and stored inside a thick plate-shaped rectangular parallelepiped case with a side surface 32 whose outer shape is approximately square and whose thickness is slightly larger than the width of the test film 31. , test film 31 outlet 3
3 protrudes from the case body. Further, the used test film cassette section 40 has the same shape and size as the case of the unused film cassette section 30, so that a used test film can be wound into the case.

The cassette case as described above can be made by a method known per se. For example, the case and the lid of the cassette case are made separately, and after loading an unused test film, the case and the lid are fitted together. The case may be fixed by engagement, screwing, adhesion, or other means, or the case and the lid may be connected at one side of the lid and the connecting portion may be formed into a hinge structure.

A reel (not shown) for winding the test film 31 in a roll inside the unused film cassette section 30 is designed to prevent cracks from forming in the test film 31 if the test film 31 is wound with a radius of curvature that is too small. This is not desirable, so do not make the diameter too small. Generally, it is preferred that the diameter is 40 to 80 mm. Moreover, the inside of the reel has a suitable locking part to prevent the test film from being taken out more than necessary.

Cassette cases and reels are generally made of various thermoplastic resins, such as polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polystyrene, impact-resistant polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile resins, styrene resins such as ABS resins, vinyl chloride resins, and nylon resins. It can be easily manufactured from polyester, polycarbonate, polyacetal, and other resins using the technology used to manufacture audio and video cassette tapes.

Furthermore, the unused film cassette section 30 and the used film cassette section 40 may be made integrally.

An example of test film 31 is a colorimetric test film having a multilayer analytical element as shown in FIG. In FIG. 1O, the colorimetric test film 31 has a reagent layer 3°12 laminated on a light-transmitting support 311, and a developing layer 313 laminated thereon. In dry analysis, a liquid to be tested is spotted on the spreading layer 313, the liquid to be tested spreads in the spreading layer 313, and the component to be analyzed is transferred to the reagent layer 312.
The component to be analyzed in the test liquid is analyzed by reflection photometry from the support 311 side to detect changes in color density generated by reaction with the reagent contained in the reagent layer 312 using the principle of colorimetry. The colorimetric slide test film 31 may further include a reflective layer, a light shielding layer, a filtration layer, and a regi layer, if necessary.
Other layers known in the art may also be included, such as stration layers, water absorption layers, subbing layers, etc. Also,
The developing layer and reagent layer may be a single layer.

The structure of the multilayer analytical element as shown in FIG. 10 is known per se. For example, the support 311 is a film made of a material that is transparent to water and is impermeable to water. Examples of the substance include polyethylene terephthalate, bisphenol A polycarbonate,
Examples include polymers such as polystyrene and cellulose esters (eg, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose acetate propionate, etc.). The thickness of the support 311 is about 50 μm to about 3 μm.
00 μm1, particularly preferably in the range of 80 to 200 μm, and conveniently its width is in the range of approximately 3 to 10 mm. The length can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the number of analyzes per roll, and the number is not particularly limited, but it is generally convenient to have an analysis area of 100 to 600 times.

The spreading layer 313 spreads the liquid to be inspected that is spot-supplied on its surface at a rate of approximately constant amount per unit area in the lateral (horizontal) direction without substantially unevenly distributing the components contained therein. It has a spreading effect. The expansion layer 313 is
It is composed of paper such as filter paper, woven fabric made from natural fibers, synthetic Ml fibers, etc., non-woven fabric 41j, etc. Further, the spreading layer 313 may be made of a porous material made of particulate polymer.

The spreading layer 313 further contains a cellulose derivative, a wood-loving polymer such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyacrylamide, and a nonionic, cationic, anionic, or amphoteric surfactant in order to control the spreading of the test liquid. It can be impregnated with various surfactants and appropriate buffers for stable analysis.

Reagent layer 312 contains a suitable reagent capable of reacting with the analyte to produce a colorimetrically detectable change in color density. The reagent layer 312 is preferably one in which one or more reagents are dispersed in a wood-philic colloid such as gelatin, gelatin derivative, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, or polyvinylpyrrolidone that acts as a binder.

As another example of the test film in the present invention, a test film having an ion-selective electrode can also be used.

[Effects of the Invention] The test film quantitative feeding method of the present invention has no adverse effect on the performance of the test film for biochemical analysis;
This has the remarkable effect of being able to very easily and reliably send a certain amount of the test film required for analysis and measurement to the analysis area of the analyzer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an example of a colorimetric biochemical analyzer having a test film feeding means used in the test film quantitative feeding method of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cassette section A- 3a is an enlarged sectional view showing an example of a test film feeding means used in the test film feeding method of the present invention; FIG. 3b is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 3a; , 5, 6, 7, and 8 are enlarged cross-sectional views showing examples of test film feeding means used in the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a length for biochemical analysis in the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a colorimetric test film. 1: Biochemical analyzer, 2: Test liquid spotting means, 3: Spotting nozzle, 4: Analysis area, 5: Shutter, 6: Incubator, 7: Photometer, 8: Cold storage, 9: Cooling and dehumidifying device , 10: Winding chamber, 11: Winding shaft, M, M': Motor, 30: Unused film cassette section, 31: Test film, 33: Take-out opening, 311: Light-transparent support, 312: Reagent layer , 313: Spreading layer, 40: Used film cassette section, 41: Reel, 42: Hole, 43 Nisbourg wheel, 50: Test film feeding means, 51.52: Roller, 53: Acicular protrusion 54.55: Gear Roller, 56: Teeth, 57: Knurling roller, 58: Knurling, 59: Flat plate, 60.61: Feeding member, 62.65: Engaging member, 63.66: Pin, 64.67
: Leaf spring, 68: Feeding member, 69: Pointed projection, 70: Supporting flat plate. Patent applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Agent
Patent Attorney Yasuo Yanagawa Figure 7/ Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 3 F-Nagi Tanefu IE Book 1986 β Month 2 ゛

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A biochemical analyzer using a long test film for biochemical analysis, characterized in that the test film is intermittently fed by a predetermined amount by a test film feeding means having a member that engages with the test film. Film metering method.