Analyzer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016299167-A1
Application number	US-201415100399-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2014
Priority date	Dec 27, 2013
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is an analyzer ( 1 ) that is provided with a liquid level detection function or a droplet collection function and a cold retention function; efficiently uses a reagent, sample, or other liquid collected in a container ( 22 ); and carries out highly accurate analysis. This analyzer ( 1 ) is provided with a dispenser ( 2 ), a dispensing tip ( 21 ) attached to the dispenser ( 2 ), a container ( 22 ) for containing liquid sucked in by the dispenser ( 2 ), a holder ( 23 ) for holding the container ( 22 ), a conductor ( 24 ) covering the outer surface of the container, a control unit ( 4 ) for detecting the capacitance between the dispensing tip ( 21 ) and the conductor ( 24 ) and/or controlling the electric field between a pair of electrodes ( 41, 42 ), and a cold retention device ( 60 ) for keeping the container ( 22 ) cold. The container ( 22 ) has at least two cross-sectional shapes (S 1 , S 2 ) for which the cross-sectional areas in the horizontal direction are smaller at deeper positions.

First claim

1 . An analyzer, comprising:
a dispensing mechanism for sucking in and ejecting liquid, the dispensing mechanism having a liquid level detection function; a container containing unit; electrodes; and a detection unit for detecting that the dispensing mechanism is in contact with the liquid by measuring a change in capacitance between the dispensing mechanism and the electrodes, wherein the container containing unit has two or more different opening shapes in a depth direction.

2 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrodes are provided in a bottom portion of the container containing unit.

3 . The analyzer according to claim 2 , wherein
among the opening shapes in the depth direction, the electrodes are provided to cover the opening shape positioned in a bottommost portion.

4 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrodes are provided in the container containing unit so as to be electrically independent from each other in the depth direction.

5 . The analyzer according to claim 4 , comprising
a control unit for controlling an electric field of the electrodes, wherein a pair of electrodes for generating the electric field is changed from an upper side toward a lower side.

6 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , comprising
a cold retention device receiving a container.

7 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein
each electrode is a cushioning conductive gasket.

8 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein
a thickness of and around a bottom portion of a container is smaller than a thickness of the other parts.

9 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein
permittivity of a material of and around a bottom portion of a container is higher than permittivity of a material of the other parts.

Assignees

• Hitachi High Tech Corp

Inventors

• Sano Minoru

Classifications

• G01N2035/00435

  Refrigerated reagent storage · CPC title

• G01N35/1016 Primary

  Control of the volume dispensed or introduced · CPC title

• G01N2035/1025

  Fluid level sensing · CPC title

• C12Q1/686

  Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] · CPC title

• G01N2035/00425

  Heating or cooling means associated with pipettes or the like, e.g. for supplying sample/reagent at given temperature · CPC title