APPARATUS FOR PRETREATING BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES, AND MASS SPECTROMETER EQUIPPED WITH SAME

• US 20120121464A1
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nogami, Makoto, Kanda, Katsuhiro, Waki, Izumi
• Application Number:
  US13/146,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20120121464A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/405 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00663 of consumables
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/02 using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations G01N35/0098 and G01N35/0099 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 Condition or time responsive

Abstract

A clinical laboratory apparatus includes a pretreating apparatus having a high separation capability and providing high data reproducibility and reliability and a mass spectrometer is provided which executes fully automatic processing from pretreatment to detection. The pretreating apparatus that includes a cartridge for holding an extraction agent for solid-phase extraction, a pressure-loading unit for applying a pressure load to any cartridge mounted on the solid-phase extraction cartridge-retaining unit, a receiving tray mechanism for receiving a sample extracted from the cartridge, and a liquid-level sensor for detecting liquid levels in the receiving tray as well as in the cartridge, conducts feedback control for the pressure-loading unit to open its pressure release valve upon the liquid-level sensor detecting that the liquid level in the receiving tray mechanism has reached a preset liquid-level position.

Claims

1. A pretreating apparatus for biological samples, comprising:

a cartridge for holding an extraction agent for solid-phase extraction;

a solid-phase extraction cartridge-retaining unit with a capacity to retain the cartridge in plurality;

at least one pressure-loading unit for applying a pressure load to any cartridge mounted on the solid-phase extraction cartridge-retaining unit;

a receiving tray mechanism for receiving a sample extracted from the cartridge;

at least one liquid-level sensor, provided at a position different from that of the pressure-loading unit, for detecting liquid levels in at least one of the cartridge and the receiving tray; and

a mechanism for controlling the pressure control mechanism in accordance with an output signal level of the liquid-level sensor.

2. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the liquid-level sensor transmits ultrasonic waves to the liquid whose liquid levels are to be detected.

3. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the liquid-level sensor emits light to the liquid whose liquid levels are to be detected.

7. A mass spectrometer with the biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 1.

4. A pretreating apparatus for biological samples, comprising:

a cartridge for holding an extraction agent for solid-phase extraction;

a solid-phase extraction cartridge-retaining unit with a capacity to retain the cartridge in plurality;

at least one pressure-loading unit for applying a pressure load to any cartridge mounted on the solid-phase extraction cartridge-retaining unit;

a receiving tray mechanism for receiving a sample extracted from the cartridge;

at least one image sensor, provided at a position different from that of the pressure-loading unit, for acquiring images of liquid levels in at least one of the cartridge and the receiving tray;

a mechanism for controlling a pressure of the pressure-loading unit; and

a mechanism for controlling the pressure control mechanism in accordance with an output signal level of the image sensor.

5. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

upon the image-processing sensor detecting a color of one of the liquid levels, the pressure control mechanism is controlled according to a particular change in the color.

6. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a mechanism that upon a sample being introduced into the automatic analyzer for tests/analysis and test items being entered into the control device, determines optimal parameters relating to the kind of solid-phase extraction cartridge, the kind of eluting solvent, a loading pressure, a loading time, and the kind of internal standard substance, according to preset programs for each test item, and automatically executes a sequence from pretreatment and tests/analysis to output of test results.

8. A pretreating apparatus for biological samples, comprising:

a cartridge for holding an extraction agent for solid-phase extraction;

a solid-phase extraction cartridge-retaining unit with a capacity to retain the cartridge in plurality;

at least one pressure-loading unit for applying a pressure load to any cartridge mounted on the solid-phase extraction cartridge-retaining unit;

a pressure hold mechanism for retaining the pressure applied to the cartridge at the pressure-loading unit;

a receiving tray mechanism for receiving a sample extracted from the cartridge;

at least one liquid-level sensor, provided at a position different from that of the pressure-loading unit, for detecting liquid levels in at least one of the cartridge and the receiving tray;

a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of the pressure-loading unit;

a pressure release valve for operatively releasing the pressure; and

a liquid-level sensor for detecting liquid-level positions in at least one or both of the cartridge and the receiving tray mechanism.

9. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mechanism that activates a control device to process an incoming signal detected by a sensor which detects changes in optical characteristics due to a passage of a liquid level,

compute a quantity of the change of the optical characteristics,

transmit relevant information through a control circuit, and

upon a preset liquid-level position being reached, stop the loading operation of the pressure-loading unit or release an internal pressure of the solid-phase extraction cartridge.

10. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mechanism that activates a control device to process an incoming signal detected by a CCD camera sensor,

compute a corresponding variation in the signal level,

transmit relevant information through a control circuit, and

upon a preset liquid-level position being reached, stop the loading operation of the pressure-loading unit or release an internal pressure of the solid-phase extraction cartridge.

11. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mechanism that upon a sample being introduced into the automatic analyzer for tests/analysis and test items being entered into the control device, determines optimal parameters relating to the kind of solid-phase extraction cartridge, the kind of eluting solvent, a loading pressure, a loading time, and the kind of internal standard substance, according to preset programs for each test item, and automatically executes a sequence from pretreatment and tests/analysis to output of test results.

12. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mechanism that activates the liquid-level sensor or the pressure sensor or both thereof to determine normality of the solid-phase extraction process or abnormality of discharging, and then if necessary, rotates a turntable 101 automatically as abnormality recovery means to make the turntable reach an operating zone of the pressure-loading unit, whereby the pressure load is applied again.

13. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mechanism that activates the liquid-level sensor or the pressure sensor or both thereof to determine normality of the solid-phase extraction process or abnormality of discharging, and then if necessary, change solid-phase extraction columns automatically as abnormality recovery means to conduct the solid-phase extraction again.

14. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mechanism that activates the liquid-level sensor or the pressure sensor or both thereof to determine normality of the solid-phase extraction process or abnormality of discharging, and then if necessary, executes initialization associated with a power-on sequence or a settings change.

15. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mechanism that upon a presetting of a parameter being reached during pressure loading in the solid-phase extraction process, stops the loading operation of the pressure-loading unit or release an internal pressure of the solid-phase extraction cartridge.

16. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

when optimal parameters relating to the kind of solid-phase extraction cartridge, the kind of eluting solvent, a loading pressure, a loading time, and the kind of internal standard substance, are determined, a stepwise gradient elution method or a linear gradient elution method is appropriately selected according to a degree of separation required on a test/analytical cycle basis, the stepwise gradient elution method allowing an elution process to be conducted for a fixed time at a fixed organic-solvent concentration, the linear gradient elution method allowing elution to be conducted at organic-solvent concentrations varied at predetermined time intervals.

17. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mechanism that during pressure loading for the solid-phase extraction, rotates one or both of turntables 101 and 105 on the basis of the liquid-level position in the solid-phase extraction cartridge or receiving tray, detected by the liquid-level sensor, and segments the solution to be extracted, into a preset number of fractions.

18. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mechanism that during pressure loading for the solid-phase extraction, upon a presetting of a parameter being reached, stops the loading operation of the pressure-loading unit or releases an internal pressure of the solid-phase extraction cartridge, in order to suppress occurrence of a mist and stop a flow of the solution before a total amount of the solution is discharged.

19. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mechanism that appropriately selects stepwise gradient elution or linear gradient elution according to a degree of separation required on a test/analytical cycle basis, and segments a turntable having a solid-phase extraction cartridge retained thereupon, a turntable having a receiving tray retained thereupon, or both of the turntables, into a preset number of fractions, on the basis of the liquid-level position in the solid-phase extraction cartridge or receiving tray, detected by the liquid-level sensor.

20. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a check valve or one-way valve in the pressure hold mechanism for retaining the pressure of the solid-phase extraction cartridge.

21. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

as the pressure release valve for releasing the pressure of the solid-phase extraction cartridge, either an electromagnetic valve opened and closed by electrical signals, or a sharply tipped member, similar to a needle, that physically releases the pressure when the member is stuck perpendicularly from above into the solid-phase extraction cartridge.

23. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 21, wherein:

the liquid-level sensor transmits ultrasonic waves to the liquid whose liquid levels are to be detected.

24. The biological samples pretreating apparatus according to claim 21, wherein:

the liquid-level sensor emits light to the liquid whose liquid levels are to be detected.

22. A pretreating apparatus for biological samples, comprising:

a cartridge for holding an extraction agent for solid-phase extraction;

a solid-phase extraction cartridge-retaining unit with a capacity to retain the cartridge in plurality;

at least one pressure-loading unit for applying a pressure load to any cartridge mounted on the solid-phase extraction cartridge-retaining unit;

a receiving tray mechanism for receiving a sample extracted from the cartridge;

a liquid-level sensor for detecting liquid levels in at least one of the cartridge and the receiving tray;

a mechanism for controlling a pressure of the pressure-loading unit; and

a mechanism for controlling the pressure control mechanism in accordance with an output signal level of the liquid-level sensor.

25. A pretreating apparatus for biological samples, comprising:

a cartridge for holding an extraction agent for solid-phase extraction;

a solid-phase extraction cartridge-retaining unit with a capacity to retain the cartridge in plurality;

at least one pressure-loading unit for applying a pressure load to any cartridge mounted on the solid-phase extraction cartridge-retaining unit;

a receiving tray mechanism for receiving a sample extracted from the cartridge;

an image sensor for acquiring images of liquid levels in at least one of the cartridge and the receiving tray;

a mechanism for controlling a pressure of the pressure-loading unit; and

a mechanism for controlling the pressure control mechanism in accordance with an output signal level of the image sensor.