Cartridge for automatic measurement and measuring device using the same

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge for automatic measurement used in an automatic measuring device, capable of automatically performing measurement including heat treatment of a sample, and a measuring device using the cartridge. The present invention relates to a cartridge for use in measuring a component to be measured contained in a sample, comprising: at least a heat-treatment well for performing heat treatment of the sample; and a reaction well for reacting the component to be measured in the sample with a material specifically reacting therewith.

1 . A cartridge which is used by being set in an automatic measuring device for automatically measuring a component to be measured contained in a sample comprising a dispensing portion having a tip for dispensing a reagent and/or a sample to each well on the cartridge, comprising:
 at least a heat-treatment well for performing heat treatment of the sample;   a reaction well for reacting the component to be measured in the sample with a material specifically reacting therewith;   a reagent-containing well for containing a reagent required for measurement;   a diluting solution containing well for containing a diluting solution for diluting the test sample; and/or   a washing well for containing a washing solution for washing a reaction product;   wherein the reagent-containing well, the diluting solution containing well and/or the washing well are sealed with a seal, and   information selected from the group consisting of information on a sample, information on an analyzing item, reagent management information and information on an calibration curve used for measurement is recorded on the seal, and   wherein the information recorded on the seal is configured to be broken by breaking the seal by a leading end of the tip, when the cartridge is used.   
     
     
         2 . A cartridge which is used by being set in an automatic measuring device for automatically measuring a component to be measured contained in a sample comprising a penetrating mechanism, comprising:
 at least a heat-treatment well for performing heat treatment of the sample;   a reaction well for reacting the component to be measured in the sample with a material specifically reacting therewith;   a reagent-containing well for containing a reagent required for measurement;   a diluting solution containing well for containing a diluting solution for diluting the test sample; and/or   a washing well for containing a washing solution for washing a reaction product;   wherein the reagent-containing well, the diluting solution containing well and/or the washing well are sealed with a seal, and   information selected from the group consisting of information on a sample, information on an analyzing item, reagent management information, and information on an calibration curve used for measurement is recorded on the seal, and   wherein the information recorded on the seal is configured to be broken by breaking the seal by the penetrating mechanism, when the cartridge is used.   
     
     
         3 . The cartridge according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the information is recorded with a bar code. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the seal is an aluminum laminate foil or plastic film. 
     
     
         5 . A method for measuring a component to be measured in a sample by using the cartridge, which is used by being set in an automatic measuring device, according to any one of  claims 1 ,  3  and  4  comprising a dispensing portion having a tip, and a measuring device including at least a cartridge accommodating portion for accommodating a cartridge, a dispensing portion for dispensing a reagent and/or a sample to each well on the cartridge contained in the cartridge accommodating portion, a measuring portion for measuring a reaction product on the cartridge contained in the cartridge accommodating portion and a temperature controlling portion capable of controlling at least a heat-treatment well and a reaction well of the cartridge to a desired temperature,
 wherein the dispensing portion having a tip, and 
 recorded information is broken by breaking the seal by a leading end of the tip, when the cartridge is used. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the information is recorded on the seal with a bar code,   the measuring device comprises a mechanism for recognizing the bar code, and   the information recorded with a bar code is broken by breaking the seal by a leading end of the tip after the mechanism for recognizing the bar code recognizes the barcode.   
     
     
         7 . A method for measuring a component to be measured in a sample by using the cartridge, which is used by being set in an automatic measuring device, according to any one of  claims 1 ,  3  and  4  comprising a penetrating mechanism, and a measuring device including at least a cartridge accommodating portion for accommodating a cartridge, a dispensing portion for dispensing a reagent and/or a sample to each well on the cartridge contained in the cartridge accommodating portion, a measuring portion for measuring a reaction product on the cartridge contained in the cartridge accommodating portion and a temperature controlling portion capable of controlling at least a heat-treatment well, a reaction well of the cartridge to a desired temperature and a penetrating mechanism for penetrating the seal,
 wherein recorded information is broken by breaking the seal by the penetrating mechanism, when the cartridge is used. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the information is recorded on the seal with a bar code,   the measuring device comprises a mechanism for recognizing the bar code, and   the information recorded with a bar code is broken by breaking the seal by the penetrating mechanism after the mechanism for recognizing the bar code recognizes the barcode.