Apparatus and method for optically analyzing a plurality of analysis items in a sample in a container

• US 4,668,617 A
• Filed: 01/27/1984
• Issued: 05/26/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Furuta, Yoshiteru, Nomura, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US06/574,586
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 435/4, 435/11, 435/16, 435/18, 435/19, 435/24, 435/25, 435/26, 435/28, 435/291, 435/808, 435/288, 422/64, 422/65, 422/67, 422/72
• US Class Current: 435/4
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0097 monitoring reactions as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/52 Use of compounds or compositions for colorimetric, spectrophotometric or fluorometric investigation, e.g. use of reagent paper and including single- and multilayer analytical elements immunological elements G01N33/54386; involving labelled immunochemicals G01N33/58; for haemoglobin or occult blood G01N33/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/021 having a flexible chain, e.g. "cartridge belt", conveyor for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes

Abstract

An apparatus and method for analyzing at least two analytical items in a sample solution in a single container, wherein a series of transparent containers supported on a rotatable disc pass over a sample-receiving position, a first reagent solution-adding position, a second reagent solution-adding position, an optical path of a photometer, a solution-discharging device and a washing device. In the sample-receiving position, a fixed volume of sample is introduced into one of the transparent containers. In the first reagent solution-adding position, the first reagent solution is introduced into the transparent container, whereby a reaction is allowed to proceed. Subsequently, the container is passed across an optical path, and absorbance of light by the reaction solution is measured, to provide first measurements. Thereafter, a second reagent solution is introduced into the transparent container at the second reagent solution-adding position, without removal of the first reaction solution, whereby a further reaction is allowed to proceed. Subsequently, the container is passed across an optical path, and absorbance of light by the resulting solution in the transparent container is measured, to provide second measurements. The first analytical item can be investigated from the first measurements, and the second analytical item can be investigated from differences between the first and second measurements.

Claims

1. An apparatus for optically analyzing at least two analytical items, which comprises:

a reactor turntable provided with a plurality of reactor vessels on a circumferential edge thereof;

a first dispenser for charging a first enzyme reagent into the reactor vessels at a first position over the circumferential edge of said turntable;

a second dispenser for charging a second enzyme reagent into the reactor vessels at a second position over the circumferential edge of said turntable;

a spectroscope for light absorption measurement of a sample solution in the reactor vessels by detecting a light beam passing through the reactor vessels at a third position on the circumferential edge of said turntable;

a sample-feeding means for feeding a sample to the reactor vessels at a fourth position on the circumferential edge of said turntable; and

control means for providing analysis of at least two analytical items in the sample solution in a given reactor vessel of said reactor vessels, said control means including means for alternately actuating the first dispenser, the second dispenser, and the sample feeding means so as to feed first enzyme reagent, second enzyme reagent, and sample, respectively, to the given reactor vessel while the reactor turntable is at rest and for turning the reactor turntable by a one pitch difference with respect to the given reactor vessel and actuating the spectroscope during the turning;

said control means further including (1) means for analyzing a first analytical item in the sample solution in the given reactor vessel on the basis of an output of light absorption measurement of the sample solution by the spectroscope after the addition of the first enzyme reagent from the first dispenser to the sample solution, and (2) means for analyzing a second analytical item in the sample solution in the given reactor vessel after the addition to the given reactor vessel of the second enzyme reagent from the second dispenser, said means for analyzing a second analytical item conducting said analysis of the second analytical item from a difference between (a) said output of light absorption measurement and (b) another output of light absorption measurement of the sample solution in the given reactor vessel by the spectroscope after the addition to the given reactor vessel of the second enzyme reagent.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for turning the reactor turntable is a means for turning the reactor turntable one full turn plus one pitch.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light beam source for providing said light beam, the light beam source being located within the circumferential edge of said reactor turntable.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spectroscope includes means for providing an output representing a measurement when each reaction vessel of the reactor turntable is at said third position during the turning of the turntable.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for adjusting at least one of the output of light absorption measurement after the first enzyme reagent is charged to the given reactor vessel and the output of light absorption measurement after the second enzyme reagent is charged to the given reactor vessel due to a degree of dilution of the solution resulting from charging both the first enzyme reagent and the second enzyme reagent to the given reactor vessel.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for analyzing a first analytical item and said means for analyzing a second analytical item respectively conduct the first and second analysis utilizing a working curve for the first analytical item and a working curve for the second analytical item, respectively.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for actuating the spectroscope during the turning is a means for causing light absorption measurement by the spectroscope of each of the reactor vessels, with each light absorption measurement providing an output from the spectroscope, whereby a plurality of outputs from the spectroscope are provided, and wherein the control means further includes means for selecting said output of the spectroscope measuring the given reactor vessel after the first enzyme reagent is charged to the given reactor vessel, and for selecting said output of the spectroscope measuring the given reactor vessel after the second enzyme reagent is charged to the given reactor vessel, from the plurality of outputs from the spectroscope.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the spectroscope is a multi-wavelength spectrometer, and the means for selecting includes means for selecting the output of the spectrometer at different measuring wavelengths.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the means for selecting the output at different measuring wavelengths includes means for selecting the output of the spectrometer after the first enzyme reagent is charged to the given reactor vessel at a different measuring wavelength than the output of the spectrometer after the second enzyme reagent is charged to the given reactor vessel.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the means for selecting selects the output at the same measuring wavelength.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, further including at least a third dispenser for charging, respectively, at least a third enzyme reagent at at least a fifth position, respectively, over the circumferential edge of said turntable, and wherein the control means further includes means for analyzing respective further analytical items in solution in the given reactor vessel from an output of the spectroscope after the at least a third enzyme reagent is charged to the given reactor vessel.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said control means further includes means for analyzing a third analytical item in the sample solution in the given reactor vessel after the addition of the third enzyme reagent from the third dispenser, the means for analyzing a third analytical item conducting the analysis from a difference between (a'"'"') the output of the spectroscope after the at least a third enzyme reagent is charged to the given reactor vessel and (b'"'"') the output of the spectroscope prior to charging of the at least a third enzyme reagent.

13. A method for optically analyzing at least two analytical items, which comprises the steps of:

conveying a transparent container containing a sample containing at least two analytical items to be measured to a position where a first enzyme reagent solution is to be added;

preparing a first reaction solution by introducing a first enzyme reagent solution into said container so as to cause a first reaction;

conveying said container containing the aforesaid first reaction solution, thereby passing the container across an optical path of a photometer so as to be able to measure light absorption by the first reaction solution;

conducting a first optical measurement for obtaining a first signal corresponding to optical characteristics of the aforesaid first reaction solution when the container is irradiated with light, said first signal corresponding to light absorption by the first reaction solution;

conveying said container containing the aforesaid first reaction solution, after the first optical measurement, to a position where a second enzyme reagent solution is to be added;

preparing a second reaction solution by introducing a second enzyme solution into said container still containing the first reaction solution so as to cause a second reaction;

conveying said container containing the aforesaid second reaction solution, thereby passing the container across an optical path of said photometer so as to be able to measure light absorption by the second reaction solution;

conducting a second optical measurement for obtaining a second signal corresponding to optical characteristics of the second enzyme reaction solution when the container is irradiated with light, said second enzyme signal corresponding to light absorption by the solution in the container after forming the second reaction solution;

measuring a first analytical item on the basis of the first signal obtained in the first optical measurement; and

measuring a second analytical item on the basis of the signals obtained in the first and second optical measurement, the measuring of the second analytical item including finding a difference between said second signal and said first signal.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein one of the first and second signals is adjusted in accordance with a degree of dilution of the first reaction solution caused by the introduction of the second enzyme reagent solution.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said transparent container is one of a plurality of transparent containers conveyed.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of transparent containers are located on a circumferential edge of a reactor turntable.

17. An apparatus for optically analyzing at least two analytical items, which comprises:

a plurality of reactor vessels;

a first dispenser for charging a first enzyme reagent into the reactor vessels;

a second dispenser for charging a second enzyme reagent into the reactor vessels;

a spectroscope for light absorption measurement of a sample solution in the reactor vessels by detecting a light beam passing through the reactor vessels;

a sample-feeding means for feeding a sample to the reactor vessels; and

control means for providing analysis of at least two analytical items in the sample solution in a given reactor vessel of the said reactor vessels, said control means including means for alternately actuating the first dispenser, the second dispenser, and the sample feeding means so as to feed first enzyme reagent, second enzyme reagent and sample, respectively, to the given reactor vessel while the given reactor vessel is at rest and for moving the reactor vessels and actuating the spectroscope during the moving;

said control means further including (1) means for analyzing a first analytical item in the sample solution in the given reactor vessel from an output of light absorption measurement of the sample solution by the spectroscope after the addition of the first enzyme reagent from the first dispenser to the sample solution, and (2) means for analyzing a second analytical item in the sample solution in the given reactor vessel after the addition to the given reactor vessel of the second enzyme reagent from the second dispenser, said means for analyzing a second analytical item conducting said analysis of the second analytical item from a difference between (a) said output of light absorption measurement and (b) another output of light absorption measurement of the sample solution in the given reactor vessel by the spectroscope after the addition to the given reactor vessel of the second enzyme reagent.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of reactor vessels are connected in a chain and pass along a path, wherein the first dispenser charges the first enzyme reagent at a first position on said path, wherein the second dispenser charges the second enzyme reagent at a second position on said path, wherein the spectroscope detects a light beam passing through the reactor vessels at a third position on said path, and wherein the sample-feeding means feeds the sample at a fourth position on said path.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means includes means for adjusting at least one of the output of light absorption measurement after the first enzyme reagent is charged to the given reactor vessel and the output of light absorption measurement after the second enzyme reagent is charged to the given reactor vessel due to a degree of dilution of the solution resulting from charging both the first enzyme reagent and the second enzyme reagent to the given reactor vessel.