Automatic analyzer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11624752-B2
Application number	US-201816488647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2018
Priority date	Mar 24, 2017
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

When the automatic analyzer is installed in an environment with a high altitude and different external atmospheric pressures, there is a problem that an amount of vacuum suction decreases due to a decrease in suction performance of a vacuum pump and it is difficult to perform vacuum suction of an analyzed reaction liquid. In view of the above, by newly providing a pressure adjustment mechanism within a flow path connecting a vacuum tank to vacuum pump, it possible to control the pressure difference between a pressure in the vacuum tank and an external atmospheric pressure where the analyzer is installed to be constant regardless of the installation environment. Additionally, by providing a hole in communication with the outside in the vacuum tank or a vacuum bin, it possible to control the pressure difference between the pressure in the vacuum tank and the external atmospheric pressure where the analyzer is installed to be constant regardless of the installation environment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automatic analyzer comprising:
a vacuum pump;
a vacuum tank connected to the vacuum pump;
a vacuum bin connected to the vacuum tank;
a unit that includes a plurality of suction nozzles configured to suction liquid from a plurality of reaction containers and that is connected to the vacuum bin; and
a controller configured to change a rotation speed of the vacuum pump; and
a pressure sensor, provided in the vacuum tank, that measures a vacuum tank pressure, wherein
the controller is configured to determine a result of comparing an inlet pressure of the plurality of suction nozzles to the vacuum tank pressure and change the rotation speed of the vacuum pump based on the result.

2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller changes the rotation speed according to a pressure difference between the external atmospheric pressure and the pressure in the vacuum tank.

3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2 , wherein
the controller changes the rotation speed based on a pressure value measured by the pressure sensor.

4. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a washing tank connected to the vacuum tank and configured to suction washing liquid adhering to a probe by vacuum pressure of the vacuum tank.

5. An automatic analyzer comprising:
a vacuum pump;
a vacuum tank connected to the vacuum pump;
a vacuum bin connected to the vacuum tank;
a unit that includes a plurality of suction nozzles that suction liquid from a plurality of reaction containers and that is connected to the vacuum bin; and
a hole that is provided in the vacuum tank or the vacuum bin and that is in direct communication with an external environment that is external to the vacuum tank and the vacuum bin; and
an open tube connected directly to the hole at a first end of the open tube, wherein a second end of the open tube, opposite from the first end, is open to the external environment;
wherein the hole is in direct communication with the external environment via only the open tube.

6. The automatic analyzer of claim 5 , wherein
the automatic analyzer adjusts the suction pressure of the suction nozzles based on air that passes through the hole from the external environment.

Assignees

• Hitachi High Tech Corp
• Hitachi High Tech Corp

Inventors

• Inaba Tooru
• Mori Takamichi
• Kawahara Tetsuji

Classifications

• G01N2035/0097

  monitoring reactions as a function of time · CPC title

• G01N35/1002

  Reagent dispensers · CPC title

• G01N35/1016 Primary

  Control of the volume dispensed or introduced · CPC title

• G01N35/1004

  Cleaning sample transfer devices · CPC title

• G01N35/00613

  Quality control · CPC title