WO2025097190A1 - Analyser with a cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an analyser (1) for analysing samples by, for example, clinical chemical analysis and/or heterogeneous immunoassays, comprising an interior (2) for the analysis of the samples, a reagent store (3a) which is accessible via the interior (2), and a cooling device (4) by means of which the reagent store (3a) can be cooled, wherein a coolant can be moved in a cooling circuit running direction (R) in a cooling circuit of the cooling device (4), and a ventilation device (5) by means of which air can be introduced into the interior (2). According to the invention, for effective interior cooling it is proposed that the cooling device (4) comprises at least one heat exchanger (6) which is arranged in the cooling circuit and through which the coolant can be guided, and the ventilation device (5) is configured to supply air to the heat exchanger (6) during introduction into the interior (2). The invention further relates to a method for analysing samples, in particular using an analyser (1) of this kind.

Description

Analyzer with cooling device

The invention relates to an analyzer for analyzing samples by, for example, clinical-chemical analysis and/or heterogeneous immunoassays, comprising an interior space for analyzing the samples, a reagent storage space accessible via the interior space, and a cooling device with which the reagent storage space can be cooled, wherein a coolant in a cooling circuit of the cooling device is movable in a cooling circuit direction, and a ventilation device with which air can be brought into the interior space.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for analyzing samples by, for example, clinical-chemical analysis and/or heterogeneous immunoassays, wherein the samples are provided for analysis in an interior of an analyzer, in particular in the interior of an analyzer of the type mentioned above, and are mixed with reagents from a reagent storage, wherein the reagent storage is cooled by a cooling device with which coolant is guided in a cooling circuit, and wherein air is moved in the interior.

Automatic analyzers are known from the prior art, with which chemical, biochemical and/or immunochemical analyses can be carried out. Such analyzers have a sample area in which samples are prepared for analysis. Furthermore, such analyzers comprise a reagent storage in which various reagents are prepared. In an interior of the analyzer, the samples can be analyzed, for example, using spectroscopic methods. For this purpose, a measuring station equipped with cuvettes is provided in the interior. Using automated pipetting devices, so-called pipettors, samples are fed into the measuring cuvettes, where they are mixed with one or more reagents, after which, for example, light absorption or light emission can be measured in order to determine sample properties. Analyzers of this type are disclosed, for example, in WO 2019/010514 A1 or WO 2019/204841 A1.

In analyzers of this type, the cuvettes should be kept at a temperature of approximately 37 °C, which is approximately the same as a person's body temperature. The analyzer, particularly the measuring station, includes a thermostatted cuvette block with which the liquids can be brought to the target temperature. The reagent storage is cooled by a cooling device so that the reagents, which are charged less frequently than the samples, can be used over a longer period of time.

The cuvette block is thermostatted using suitable heating and cooling elements, usually using the Peltier effect. However, problems can arise when setting the temperature if the temperature in the analyzer's environment becomes too high and approaches the target temperature of 37 °C for the cuvette block. In this case, precise control of the cuvette block's temperature is difficult or even no longer possible because the temperature difference between the interior temperature and the cuvette block is too small to allow quick, accurate control. Inaccurate temperature setting can result in measurement errors, assuming operation is possible at all. This problem is particularly relevant in regions where the ambient temperature can regularly exceed 30 °C, for example in South America, Africa, Asia, or Australia.

In connection with this, the invention sets itself the task of developing an analyzer of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that this problem is avoided or at least reduced.

A further aim of the invention is to develop a method of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that even at high ambient temperatures, a good controllability of the temperature of an analyzer component such as a cuvette block in the interior of the analyzer is possible.

The object of the invention is achieved if, in an analyzer of the type mentioned at the outset, the cooling device comprises at least one heat exchanger arranged in the cooling circuit, through which the coolant can be guided, and the ventilation device is designed to supply air to the heat exchanger during introduction into the interior. A particular advantage achieved with the invention is that the interior can be cooled using very simple means, so that measurement can be carried out with the analyzer even at high ambient temperatures of, for example, 30 °C or more. The invention also takes advantage of the fact that reagent storage in corresponding analyzers is generally cooled to a temperature of approximately 4 °C to 8 °C, for example approximately 5 °C. This usually results in excess cooling capacity, which can then be used additionally. Since the heat exchanger provided according to the invention is arranged in the cooling circuit through which the coolant can be conducted, some or possibly all of the excess cooling capacity can be used. For this purpose, a ventilation device is arranged and configured to supply air to the heat exchanger during introduction into the interior. The air moved from the ventilation device to the heat exchanger and subsequently further from the heat exchanger is thereby cooled and can then be supplied cooled to the interior, for example via a line. This allows the interior to be cooled in a targeted manner and, if necessary, maintained at a certain temperature of, for example, a maximum of 30 °C.

The reagent storage is designed to provide reagents used for sample analysis. For this purpose, the reagent storage can be located inside the chamber. Optionally, the reagent storage can be pulled out of the chamber like a drawer to allow quick access and easy replacement of reagents.

Furthermore, the analyzer may have a sample storage configured to provide samples to be analyzed. For this purpose, the sample storage may be arranged in the interior.

The interior may further comprise a working area, for example delimited by a work surface, in which a pipettor is arranged such that it can move in order to transfer liquids, in particular samples and/or reagents, between the sample storage, the reagent storage and a cuvette block which is also arranged at least partially in the working area and in particular adjoins it. The work surface can separate a measuring and supply area of the interior, which in particular at least partially or predominantly comprises the reagent storage and/or sample storage, from the work area. Access devices, each comprising one or more access openings, can be arranged in the work surface to allow the pipettor access to the reagent storage and/or sample storage.

By means of the ventilation system, the air can be brought preferably into the measuring and supply area of the interior so that at least this area is cooled.

The cooling device and/or components of the cooling device, such as the heat exchanger, coolant lines and the like, are preferably thermally insulated from the environment of the cooling device, in particular from the interior of the analyzer surrounding the cooling device.

Advantageously, the analyzer comprises a control device configured to control the ventilation device. In particular, the control device may be configured to selectively activate and/or deactivate the ventilation device, for example, through a user input via the control device or through a predefined ventilation program stored in the control device.

It is expedient if the analyzer further comprises an interior temperature sensor connected to the control device, by means of which a temperature in the interior can be detected. The control device is designed to control the ventilation device depending on a detected temperature in the interior. For example, the ventilation device can be activated by the control device if the temperature in the interior is above a threshold value, or deactivated if the temperature in the interior is below a threshold value.

In one variant, the at least one heat exchanger can be arranged in front of the reagent storage in the cooling circuit direction. The cooling circuit direction is the direction in which the coolant for cooling the reagent storage is supplied from a The expansion tank is then fed to a compression refrigeration system and then to the reagent storage, and subsequently further in the circuit back to the expansion tank. Alternatively, it is also possible for the at least one heat exchanger to be arranged downstream of the reagent storage in the cooling circuit direction. It is also possible for multiple heat exchangers to be provided. For example, one heat exchanger can be arranged upstream of the reagent storage and one downstream of the reagent storage. The performance of the heat exchanger(s) can be matched to the required cooling capacity for the reagent storage on the one hand and the desired interior cooling on the other.

The cooling device may comprise a compression refrigeration system arranged in the cooling circuit, wherein the at least one heat exchanger is preferably arranged between the compression refrigeration system and the reagent storage in the cooling circuit direction.

In order to move the coolant in the direction of the cooling circuit, it is expedient for the cooling device to comprise a pump arranged in the cooling circuit.

In general, it can be provided that the cooling device comprises a compression refrigeration system and a pump, wherein the pump is arranged upstream of the compression refrigeration system in the cooling circuit direction. In this context, it can be provided, in particular, that the at least one heat exchanger is arranged in the cooling circuit direction between the reagent storage and the pump of the cooling device, in particular between the reagent storage and an expansion tank of the cooling device. In this embodiment, the coolant is initially used to cool the reagent storage. The outflow of the coolant from the reagent storage is still cold enough to enable sufficient cooling of forced-air by the heat exchanger arranged between the reagent storage and, in particular, the expansion tank. The air cooled in this way can then be directed into the interior, in particular into the previously described measuring and supply area.

In order to heat the interior if necessary, it is preferably provided that the analyzer has a further ventilation device which is designed to The exhaust air from the compression refrigeration system is heated to the interior. Heating the interior allows the analyzer to operate in cooler ambient conditions. It also enables a more rapid attainment of a homogeneous temperature distribution, for example, when starting the analyzer.

It is expedient if the control device is further configured to control the additional ventilation device. In this case, it can be provided, in particular, that the control device is configured to selectively activate and/or deactivate the additional ventilation device, for example, through a user input via the control device or through a predefined (additional) ventilation program stored in the control device.

It is advantageous if the analyzer has an external temperature sensor connected to the control unit to detect the analyzer's ambient temperature. This allows the temperature in the interior to be regulated depending on the ambient temperature. For example, the interior can be cooled at high ambient temperatures and/or heated at low ambient temperatures.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the control device is designed to control the further ventilation device in such a way that the exhaust air

- is led into the interior when the ambient temperature is below a predetermined (lower) threshold, for example 18 °C or less,

- is discharged from the analyzer when the ambient temperature is above a predetermined (upper) threshold,

- is introduced into the interior during start-up of the analyzer, in particular in order to quickly achieve a homogeneous temperature condition in the interior, and/or

- is discharged from the analyzer during operation.

It is particularly preferred that the ventilation device has an adjusting device which can be adjusted between a first setting in which the exhaust air is guided into the interior space and a second setting in which the exhaust air is discharged to an environment of the analyzer. Thus, the interior space either heated or the exhaust air from the compression refrigeration system can be removed from the analyzer.

Advantageously, the ventilation device is configured to supply air from the interior space, in particular the measuring and supply area of the interior space, to the at least one heat exchanger and to return it to the interior space, in particular the measuring and supply area of the interior space. This enables air to circulate through the interior space. The ventilation device is advantageously arranged outside the interior space or inside the interior space at a boundary plane between the interior space and the environment of the analyzer. For the supply and discharge of air, the interior space has suitable openings to which supply and discharge lines are connected.

The ventilation device can also be configured to supply air from the environment of the analyzer to the at least one heat exchanger and into the interior space. In this case, it is possible for the air from the environment of the analyzer to be guided in a continuous flow through the interior space and then discharged therefrom again, without circulation. In this variant, the interior space is flowed through with air obtained from the environment and cooled. Suitable valves and lines can also be arranged for the ventilation device, making it possible to operate the ventilation of the interior either in circulation mode or alternatively in flow-through mode. Furthermore, it is also possible for circulation to take place on the one hand, but also for fresh air to be supplied continuously or quasi-continuously from the environment of the analyzer on the other.

In this case, the ventilation system may be provided with a filter unit through which the air is passed to filter the air taken from the environment. This may, in particular, be a particle and/or dust filter.

The cooling device, including the at least one heat exchanger and/or the ventilation device, is preferably arranged within the interior, preferably outside the working area, particularly in the measuring and supply area. This results in a particularly compact design. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the cooling device, including the at least one heat exchanger and/or the ventilation device, is arranged at least partially outside the interior, with the cooling circuit leading from outside the interior into the interior and back out again. Thus, the analyzer itself can be designed to be particularly small. The cooling device and/or the ventilation device can be connected to the analyzer as a separate component, in particular in a modular manner, resulting in a particularly flexible design.

For practical reasons, components not relevant to the measurement itself are located outside the interior, leaving the entire interior space available for the measurement and the corresponding instrumentation. This also applies to the ventilation system, which can also be located outside the interior for the same reasons.

The measurement and supply area is preferably cooled in the interior, especially since this is where the components that require cooling are located when the ambient temperature is too high. The working area, where the pipettor, for example, operates, can also be cooled.

The analyzer can have a drainage device for draining condensate from the interior, in particular for draining condensate from the cooling device. This not only allows the interior to be maintained within a specific temperature range, but also makes it possible to keep humidity levels low, which is also important for reliable measurement results. The drainage device can be designed as an additional pump designed to drain condensate from the interior.

The analyzer may further comprise an openable housing which seals the interior when closed, so that a controllable zone, in particular a temperature and humidity controllable zone, is present in the interior when air circulates.

The cooling circuit is advantageously designed to run through the reagent storage area. For this purpose, an extruded profile made of a material with a high thermal conductivity coefficient, such as copper, Copper alloy or aluminum alloy, which has an inlet and an outlet for the coolant. Between the inlet and the outlet, the profile is divided into several, for example four, chambers, which ensure heat exchange with the reagent storage and maintain it at a predetermined temperature, for example, 5 °C. The chambers run through the reagent storage and ensure effective heat dissipation from the reagent storage.

It is expedient if at least a portion of the interior, in particular a measuring and/or supply room, can be cooled using the means described above. For this purpose, the ventilation device can be configured to introduce air into the measuring and/or supply room.

It is advantageous if the heat exchanger arranged in the cooling circuit is located, especially completely, outside the interior. This eliminates the need for space inside the vehicle for the heat exchanger, allowing the interior to be compact and reducing the volume to be tempered.

In addition, it is advantageous if the interior has an inlet opening for air passing through the heat exchanger.

It is expedient if the analyzer has one or more measuring chambers in the interior, for example cuvettes or cuvette holders, in which the samples can be made available for analysis.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the analyzer is designed to analyze samples using optical methods. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the analyzer comprises at least one optical measuring device, which has a detection unit for detecting light emerging from the measuring chamber(s).

According to a first variant of the detection unit, it has a single detector, which is aligned or can be aligned with the measuring chamber(s) to detect light emerging from the measuring chamber(s). If multiple measuring chambers are provided, it is advantageous if the detector is movably mounted along these chambers so that it can be selectively positioned at the measuring chambers. According to a second variant of the detection unit, it comprises a plurality of detectors, each of which is assigned to a measuring chamber. A number of detectors preferably corresponds to a number of measuring chambers.

The detector according to the first variant or the detectors according to the second variant can each be designed, for example, as a photomultiplier or photodiode. The first variant is particularly advantageous when the analysis is performed at low light intensities, thus requiring a particularly sensitive and therefore technically complex and expensive detector, such as a photomultiplier. Similarly, the second variant is particularly advantageous when the analysis is performed at low light intensities, thus requiring a less sensitive and thus less expensive detector, such as photodiodes.

According to a first embodiment of the optical measuring device, the detection unit can be configured to detect light generated in the measuring chamber, for example, by means of chemiluminescence or fluorescence through the sample. For this purpose, the detection unit can comprise a detector, which is particularly configured as a photomultiplier. Since low light intensities generally occur in this case, it is particularly preferred that the first embodiment of the optical measuring device comprises a detection unit according to the first variant described above.

According to a second embodiment of the optical measuring device, the detection unit can be configured to detect light penetrating the measuring chamber, for example, for scattered light, transmission, or extinction measurements. It is advantageous if the optical measuring device has a light source by means of which light can be introduced into the measuring chamber.

It is expedient if the analyzer has a plurality of optical measuring devices which are of identical construction or if the analyzer has a plurality of optical measuring devices, wherein at least one optical measuring device of the plurality of optical measuring devices is designed according to the first embodiment and at least one optical measuring device of the plurality of optical measuring devices is designed according to the second embodiment. An analyzer according to the invention, apart from the cooling device, can be designed in particular as an analyzer disclosed in WO 2019/010514 A1 or WO 2019/204841 A1. The content of these two documents is hereby incorporated in its entirety. In particular, in addition to the cooling device and the heat exchanger, the analyzer can be designed as:

- Automatic analyzer for carrying out chemical, biochemical, and/or immunochemical analyses of liquid samples present in a sample storage of the analyzer, with the aid of liquid reagents present in at least one reagent storage of the analyzer, with cuvettes for receiving the liquid samples and reagents, each of which preferably has a lateral entry window and at least one lateral exit window, wherein a plurality of cuvettes is optionally arranged as at least one stationary, linear cuvette array in the analyzer, with movable and stationary automatic components, at least comprising: a pipettor movable in the x-direction along a movement line defined by the linear cuvette array, which is equipped with at least one pipetting module movable in the y-direction - essentially normal to the x-direction - whose at least one hollow needle is designed to be lowered in the z-direction into the cuvettes and into individual vessels of the sample and/or reagent storage, optionally a mixer unit for mixing the samples and reagents in the cuvettes, an optical measuring unit, with a stationary light supply unit, which has at least one light distribution device, which feeds the light of several light sources emitting spectrally differently in the UV/VIS/NIR wavelength range, such as LED light sources, into the entrance windows of the individual cuvettes of the cuvette array, as well as with a stationary detection unit assigned to the exit windows of the cuvettes, which preferably has several photodiodes, a cuvette washing unit designed to be movable in the x-direction for cleaning the cuvettes, a needle washing unit for cleaning the at least one hollow needle, a stationary thermostatting unit for setting a predeterminable measuring temperature in the cuvettes, and an evaluation and control unit, wherein optionally the light distribution device has a cavity whose inner surfaces are at least partially mirrored and/or diffusely reflective, and wherein optionally each cuvette of the stationary cuvette array is permanently assigned at least one photodiode.

In addition to the cooling device and the heat exchanger, the analyzer can also be designed as:

- Automatic analyzer for carrying out chemical, biochemical and/or immunochemical analyses of liquid samples present in a sample storage of the analyzer, with the aid of liquid reagents present in at least one reagent storage of the analyzer, with cuvettes for receiving the liquid samples and reagents, wherein a plurality of cuvettes is arranged as at least one stationary, linear cuvette array in the analyzer, with movable and stationary automatic components, at least comprising: a pipettor designed to be movable in the x-direction along a movement line defined by the linear cuvette array, which is equipped with at least one pipetting needle designed to be lowerable into the cuvettes in the z-direction and in a position substantially normal to the x-direction y-direction between the cuvettes and the sample storage and/or the reagent storage, a mixer unit for mixing the samples and reagents in the cuvettes, an optical measuring unit which, in particular - to obtain a measuring signal - receives measuring radiation emerging through a measuring window arranged on the side of the cuvette, optionally a cuvette washing unit which is designed to be movable in the x-direction for cleaning the cuvettes, a needle washing unit for cleaning the at least one pipetting needle, and a stationary thermostatting unit for setting a predeterminable measuring temperature in the cuvettes, wherein at least two automatic machine components are designed to be movable independently of one another in the x-direction along or parallel to the line of movement defined by the linear cuvette array and each have access to different cuvettes or groups of cuvettes in a freely selectable order.

The further object of the invention is achieved if, in a method of the type mentioned at the outset, the air moved in and/or into the interior is cooled by heat exchange with the cooling circuit.

A method according to the invention is advantageous in that a temperature in the interior of the analyzer can be adjusted using simple means. This usually involves using existing cooling circuits that are used for heat exchange. This can be achieved easily, especially when a cooling device of the type described above is used. In addition to the desired temperature control of the interior, a high level of process efficiency is also achieved because excess cooling capacity can be utilized. In the method, it is particularly advantageous if the samples are optically measured in the interior after they have been mixed with one or more reagents.

To add reagents to the samples, it is advantageous if the device has a pipettor located in the interior and configured to take reagents from the reagent storage. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the reagent storage is accessible via the interior, for example, through holes in a cover plate that separates the interior from the reagent storage.

The method may provide for air to be supplied to and removed from the interior space, with the air being cooled by heat exchange with the cooling circuit during its supply. The air can be circulated through the interior space and thus supplied to and removed from it, or taken from an ambient environment and guided through the interior space without air circulation. In the latter case, the interior space is maintained within a specific temperature range by air from the ambient environment, which has previously been cooled by heat exchange.

The cooling system can include at least one heat exchanger through which the air is guided during its supply into the interior. This allows for efficient heat exchange with the cooling circuit. In principle, a single heat exchanger is sufficient to bring the interior into the desired temperature range. However, multiple heat exchangers can also be provided if a higher cooling capacity is required for the interior.

The air can be circulated in a circuit. In this case, the air can be moved through the interior by a ventilation system located outside the interior. In this variant, the interior is continuously supplied with air cooled by heat exchange.

It is advantageous if the temperature of the air in the interior is measured and, based on the measured values, the air is cooled by heat exchange with the cooling circuit. This allows the interior to be kept stable within a predetermined temperature range.

In order to heat the interior, exhaust air from a compression refrigeration system can be fed into the interior.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of an analyzer according to the invention at an ambient temperature of more than 25 °C, in particular more than 30 °C.

Further features, advantages, and effects of the invention will become apparent from the following exemplary embodiments. Reference is made to the drawings, which show:

Fig. 1 is a first perspective view of an analyzer;

Fig. 2 is a second perspective view of the analyzer;

Fig. 3 is a first cross-sectional view of the analyzer;

Fig. 4 is a second cross-sectional view of the analyzer;

Fig. 5 shows an analyzer according to the prior art;

Fig. 6 shows a first variant of an analyzer according to the invention;

Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b each show a modification of the analyzer from Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 shows a second variant of an analyzer according to the invention;

Fig. 8 shows a section of an analyzer with an additional ventilation device.

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a perspective view of an analyzer 1 for analyzing samples. Furthermore, the analyzer 1 is shown in a schematic cross-sectional view in Fig. 3 along line I shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 4 along line II shown in Fig. 1.

The analyzer 1 comprises an interior space 2 and a reagent storage 3a for providing reagents and substances used for performing clinical-chemical analyses and/or heterogeneous immunoassays, and preferably a sample storage 3b for providing samples to be analyzed. The reagent storage 3a and optionally the sample storage 3b can For this purpose, it can be arranged in particular in a measuring and supply chamber 14 of the interior 2. Particularly preferably, the reagent storage 3a is designed in the form of a drawer, so that it is accessible from outside the interior 2, for example, to refill reagents.

In the interior chamber 2, measurements are performed on samples by mixing them with reagents and measuring them, for example, photometrically. For this purpose, the samples are mixed with the reagents in cuvettes held in a thermostatted cuvette block 12. The reagent storage 3a is arranged such that it is accessible via a work area 11 of the interior chamber 2, allowing reagents to be removed, for example, by a pipettor and introduced into cuvettes.

Preferably, the analyzer comprises, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a housing 10, in particular one that can be opened, which delimits the interior space 2. The working area 11 and the measuring and supply area 14 together form the interior space 2. The housing 10 is shown in Fig. 1 in a closed configuration and in Fig. 2 in an open configuration.

As can be seen from a synopsis of Figs. 2 to 4, the interior space 2 preferably comprises the work area 11, which is bounded downwards, for example, by a work surface AF. For example, the pipettor (not shown) can be movably arranged in the work area 11. The cuvette block 12, the reagent storage 3a, and/or the sample storage 3b are preferably arranged below the work surface AF, in particular outside the work area 11, and in a measuring and supply area 14 adjacent to the work area 11.

Fig. 2 shows the working area 11 of the analyzer 1, wherein the cuvette block 12, an access device 13a to the reagent storage 3a, and an access device 13b to the sample storage 3b are shown only schematically. The cuvette block 12 and the access devices 13a, 13b can, for example, have one or more access openings, particularly arranged in the working area AF, through which the pipettor can introduce reagents or samples into the Cuvettes can be dispensed or removed from the respective storage 3a, 3b. For reasons of clarity, the pipettor is not shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

In addition, the analyzer 1 comprises a cooling device 4, which is explained in more detail below in connection with Fig. 5 to Fig. 7 and is designed to cool the reagent storage 3a.

Furthermore, the analyzer 1 has a ventilation device 5, by means of which air can be introduced into the interior and/or circulated therein.

Fig. 5 shows a highly simplified schematic representation of an analyzer 1 according to the prior art. This shows a cooling circuit of the cooling device 4. The cooling device 4 comprises a compression refrigeration system 7 and, upstream thereof, a pump 8 and an expansion tank 9. The cooling circuit has a cooling circuit direction R, which begins with the expansion tank 9 and extends over the

Pump 8 to the compression refrigeration system 7 and then to the reagent storage 3a and then back to the expansion tank 9. The cooling circuit direction R is also the direction in which the coolant is moved to the reagent storage 3a in order to achieve its cooling. With the cooling device 4, the reagent storage 3a can be maintained at a relatively low temperature of 4°C to 8°C. Furthermore, a ventilation device 5 is provided, with which fresh air from the environment of the analyzer 1 can be supplied to the interior 2.

Fig. 6 shows an analyzer 1 according to the invention. The analyzer 1 shown in Fig. 6 is fundamentally constructed in the same way as the analyzer 1 according to Figs. 1 to 5 with respect to the interior space 2 and the reagent storage 3a. Again, the reagent storage 3a is accessible via the work area 11, in particular for a pipettor that can be moved in different spatial directions, in particular a pipettor that can be moved linearly in the x-direction, y-direction, and z-direction.

Not shown in Fig. 6 is a cuvette block 12, which is preferably equipped with a temperature control and is arranged in the interior 2, in particular in the working area 11, and which accommodates cuvettes. Reagents and samples can be drawn from a sample storage 3b (not shown in Fig. 6), which is also accessible via the work area 11, into the cuvettes located in the cuvette block 12. A measurement can then be carried out, for example an absorption or emission measurement, for example a chemiluminescence measurement.

The samples in sample storage 3b and the reagents in reagent storage 3a can be inserted into corresponding receptacles in the respective area (sample storage 3b or reagent storage 3a). This allows for rapid sample changes and refilling of reagents by simply removing the existing containers and replacing them.

In contrast to an analyzer 1 according to Fig. 5, the cooling device 4 additionally has a heat exchanger 6. This heat exchanger 6 is integrated into the cooling circuit and is part of the cooling device 4. The heat exchanger 6 is arranged in the cooling circuit direction R, starting with the equalization tank 9 after the reagent storage 3a and is located between the reagent storage 3a and the equalization tank 9.

The analyzer 1 further comprises a ventilation device 5, which is configured to move air along a flow path. The ventilation device 5 is designed such that the air conveyed thereby comes into contact with the heat exchanger 6, thereby cooling the air. The air can originate from the interior space 2 and be returned thereto, thus ensuring air circulation (circulation mode). However, the air can also originate from the environment of the analyzer 1 and is then first cooled via the heat exchanger 6 before the thus cooled air is fed into the interior space 2 and later discharged therefrom (flow-through mode). If suitable valves are provided, it is possible to switch between these two modes (circulation mode and flow-through mode). By forcing the air through the ventilation device 5 via the heat exchanger 6, the air fed into the interior space 2 is cooled. This makes it possible, especially at high ambient temperatures, to keep the interior 2 comparatively cool and thus to obtain reliable measurement results even at high ambient temperatures, in particular when an ambient temperature of the analyzer 1 is more than 25 °C, in particular more than 30 °C.

Fig. 6a shows a further variant of the analyzer 1 with an optional control device 15 for controlling the ventilation device 5. The control device 15 can be connected to an internal temperature sensor 16 arranged in the interior 2 for detecting a temperature in the interior 2. Such a control device 15 with or without an internal temperature sensor 16 can also be provided in the embodiments described below and shown in Fig. 6b to Fig. 8.

Fig. 6b shows an alternative embodiment of the analyzer 1 with a reduced interior space 2, wherein, in particular, the heat exchanger 6 and other components 5, 7, 8, 9 of the cooling circuit 4 are arranged outside the interior space 2; the interior space 2 is again schematically outlined by dashed lines. The embodiment described below and shown in Fig. 7 can also be configured with such a reduced interior space 2.

Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the analyzer 1 according to the invention. In this case, with the design otherwise identical to Fig. 4, the heat exchanger 6 is arranged in the cooling circuit direction R, beginning with the expansion tank 9, upstream of the reagent storage 3a, specifically between the compression refrigeration system 7 and the reagent storage 3a. Such an arrangement may be expedient if a higher cooling capacity is required for the interior 2.

Fig. 8 shows a section of the analyzer 1, wherein an optional additional ventilation device 5a of the analyzer 1 can be seen, by means of which exhaust air from the compression refrigeration system 7 can be discharged either into the interior 2 or out of the interior 2. For this purpose, the ventilation device 5a can comprise an optional adjusting device 5b. The compression refrigeration system 7 can be integrated into the cooling circuit 4 as described in connection with Fig. 6a, Fig. 6b or Fig. 7. Here, too, the analyzer 1 can be designed with a reduced interior, so that the additional ventilation device 5a and the adjusting device 5b are arranged outside the interior 2. In this case, the previously described optional control device 15 can additionally be configured to control the additional ventilation device 5a. For this purpose, the control device 15 can also be connected to an external temperature sensor 17 arranged outside the interior space 2, in particular on an outer side of the analyzer 1.

In Fig. 5 to Fig. 7, the measuring and supply area 14 is shown in a highly simplified and schematic manner as a rectangle, with the cooling device 4 and the reagent storage 3 being shown outside this rectangle for reasons of clarity. Of course, the cooling device 4, the reagent storage 3 and/or the sample storage 3b can each be arranged entirely or at least partially within the measuring and supply area 14, as shown by way of example in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4. In this case, it can also be provided that the interior space 2 essentially corresponds to the measuring and supply area 14, so that the components 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of the cooling circuit 4 are arranged essentially outside the interior space 2.

The above embodiments are not intended to be limiting in any way. Within the scope of the invention, it is also possible to have multiple heat exchangers 6 integrated into the cooling circuit, wherein the heat exchangers 6 each interact with the ventilation device 5 or, if appropriate, multiple ventilation devices 5 to cool supplied or circulated air. It is also possible to implement the cooling circuit and the cooling device 4 with other components, as long as a heat exchanger 6 is provided which is dimensioned such that supplied air can be cooled to a temperature below 30°C, in particular below 25°C, before it is fed into the interior 2.

Claims

Patent claims 1. An analyzer (1) for analyzing samples, for example by clinical-chemical analysis and/or heterogeneous immunoassays, comprising an interior space (2) for analyzing the samples, a reagent storage (3a) accessible via the interior space (2), and a cooling device (4) with which the reagent storage (3a) can be cooled, wherein a coolant in a cooling circuit of the cooling device (4) can be moved in a cooling circuit direction (R), and a ventilation device (5) with which air can be brought into the interior space (2), characterized in that the cooling device (4) comprises at least one heat exchanger (6) arranged in the cooling circuit, through which the coolant can be guided, and the ventilation device (5) is designed to supply air to the heat exchanger (6) during introduction into the interior space (2). 2. Analyzer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the analyzer (1) further comprises a control device (15) which is designed to control the ventilation device (5). 3. Analyzer (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the analyzer (1) has an internal temperature sensor (16) connected to the control device (15), by means of which a temperature in the interior (2) can be detected, wherein the control device (15) is designed to control the ventilation device (5) depending on a detected temperature in the interior (2). 4. Analyzer (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the at least one heat exchanger (6) is arranged in front of the reagent storage (3a) in the cooling circuit direction (R). 5. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one heat exchanger (6) is arranged downstream of the reagent storage (3a) in the cooling circuit direction (R). 6. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cooling device (4) comprises a compression refrigeration system (7) arranged in the cooling circuit, wherein the at least one heat exchanger (6) in the cooling circuit direction (R) preferably arranged between the compression refrigeration system (7) and the reagent storage (3a). 7. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cooling device (4) comprises a pump (8) arranged in the cooling circuit. 8. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cooling device (4) comprises a compression refrigeration system (7) and a pump (8), wherein the pump (8) is arranged upstream of the compression refrigeration system (7) in the cooling circuit direction (R). 9. Analyzer (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one heat exchanger (6) is arranged in the cooling circuit direction (R) between the reagent storage (3a) and the pump (8) of the cooling device (4), in particular between the reagent storage (3a) and an equalizing tank (9) of the cooling device (4). 10. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the analyzer (1) comprises a further ventilation device (5a) which is designed to guide exhaust air from the compression refrigeration system (7) into the interior (2) in order to heat it. 11. Analyzer (1) according to claim 10 and one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the control device (15) is further designed to control the further ventilation device (5a). 12. Analyzer (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the analyzer (1) comprises an external temperature sensor (17) for detecting an ambient temperature of the analyzer (1), wherein the control device (15) is designed to control the further ventilation device (5a) in such a way that the exhaust air is guided into the interior (2) when the ambient temperature is below a predetermined threshold value. 13. Analyzer (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the control device (15) is designed to control the further ventilation device (5a) in such a way to control that the exhaust air is led into the interior (2) during start-up of the analyzer (1). 14. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the further ventilation device (5a) has an adjusting device which is adjustable between a first setting in which the exhaust air is guided into the interior space (2) and a second setting in which the exhaust air is discharged to an environment of the analyzer (1). 15. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the ventilation device (5) is designed to supply air from the interior (2) to the at least one heat exchanger (6) and to return it to the interior (2). 16. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the ventilation device (5) is designed to supply air from an environment of the analyzer (1) to the at least one heat exchanger (6) and to guide it into the interior space (2). 17. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the cooling device (4) together with the at least one heat exchanger (6) is arranged outside the interior space (2). 18. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the ventilation device (5) is arranged outside the interior space (2). 19. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the analyzer (1) has a discharge device for discharging condensate water from the interior (2), in particular for discharging condensate water from the cooling device (4). 20. Analyzer (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the discharge device comprises a further pump which is designed to suck condensate water out of the interior (2). 21. Analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the analyzer (1) comprises an openable housing (10) which seals the interior (2) when closed, so that a controllable, in particular temperature and humidity controllable, zone is present in the interior (2) when air circulates. 22. A method for analyzing samples, for example by clinical-chemical analysis and/or heterogeneous immunoassays, wherein the samples are prepared for analysis in an interior space (2) of an analyzer (1), in particular in the interior space (2) of an analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 21, and are mixed with reagents from a reagent storage (3a), wherein the reagent storage (3a) is cooled by a cooling device (4) with which coolant is guided in a cooling circuit, and wherein air is moved in the interior space (2), characterized in that the air moved in the interior space (2) and/or into the interior space (2) is cooled by heat exchange with the cooling circuit. 23. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that air is supplied into the interior space (2) and discharged therefrom, wherein the air is cooled during the supply into the interior space (2) by heat exchange with the cooling circuit. 24. Method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the cooling device (4) comprises at least one heat exchanger (6) through which the air is guided during the supply into the interior space (2). 25. Method according to one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that the air is circulated in a circuit. 26. Method according to one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that a temperature of the air in the interior (2) is measured and, based on the measured values obtained, cooling of the air is regulated by heat exchange with the cooling circuit. 27. Method according to one of claims 22 to 26, characterized in that an exhaust air of a compression refrigeration system (7) is guided into the interior space (2) in order to heat it. 28. Use of an analyzer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 21 at an ambient temperature of more than 25°C, in particular more than 30°C.