Automatic Analysis Device, Cold Storage, and Method For Cooling Reagent in Automatic Analysis Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022178959-A1
Application number	US-202017593925-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 4, 2020
Priority date	Apr 18, 2019
Publication date	Jun 9, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is an automatic analysis device, a cooling box, and a cooling method for a reagent in the automatic analysis device capable of suppressing dew condensation on the outside of the reagent cooling box without increasing an outer diameter of the cooling box and without affecting a reagent temperature. The automatic analysis device 100 is a device that is configured to measure physical properties of reaction liquid in which a sample and a reagent are dispensed respectively and reacted in a reaction container 30, and includes a reagent cooling box 24 that is configured to store a reagent container 106 housing the reagent, and a heating unit that is disposed on an outer peripheral part of the reagent cooling box 24 to heat the outer peripheral part.

First claim

1 - 15 . (canceled)

16 . An automatic analysis device that is configured to measure physical properties of a reaction liquid in which a sample and a reagent are dispensed respectively and reacted in a reaction container, the automatic analysis device comprising:
a reagent cooling box that is configured to store a reagent container housing the reagent; and a heating unit that is disposed on a boundary part between a housing and a cooling box lid of the reagent cooling box to heat the boundary part, wherein the heating unit is disposed on an outer side than an end portion of an outer peripheral side of the reagent cooling box in an end portion of the reagent container.

17 . The automatic analysis device according to claim 16 , wherein
the heating unit is disposed on an outer side than an end portion of an outer peripheral side of a cooling device that cools an inner part of the reagent cooling box.

18 . The automatic analysis device according to claim 16 , wherein
the heating unit is fixed by a member constituting the reagent cooling box.

19 . The automatic analysis device according to claim 18 , wherein
the reagent cooling box includes, as the member, a cooling device that is configured to cool the reagent container, a cooling box heat insulating material that is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the cooling device, a first lid that covers an upper surface side of the cooling device, a lid heat insulating material that is disposed on the upper surface side of the first lid, and a second lid that covers the upper surface side of the lid heat insulating material, and the heating unit is disposed on an upper surface side of an outer peripheral part of the first lid.

20 . The automatic analysis device according to claim 19 , wherein
the heating unit is surrounded by the first lid, a first rib that is configured to fix the lid heat insulating material, a second rib that is provided on an outermost peripheral part of an upper surface side of the first lid, and the second lid.

21 . The automatic analysis device according to claim 20 , wherein
an upper end surface of the first rib and an upper end surface of the second rib are arranged on a same plane.

22 . The automatic analysis device according to claim 19 , wherein
a step part is provided on a lower surface side of an outer peripheral part of the lid heat insulating material, and the heating unit is surrounded by the first lid, a first rib that is configured to fix the lid heat insulating material formed on the upper surface side of the first lid, a second rib that is provided on the outermost peripheral part of the upper surface side of the first lid, and the step part of the lid heat insulating material.

23 . The automatic analysis device according to claim 19 , wherein
the heating unit is surrounded by the first lid and a groove provided in the second lid.

24 . The automatic analysis device according to claim 16 , wherein
the heating unit includes a linear heating wire and a power supply that is configured to supply a current to the heating wire.

25 . The automatic analysis device according to claim 16 , wherein
the heating unit includes a heat transfer material disposed on the outer peripheral part of the reagent cooling box, and a heat generating unit that applies heat to the heat transfer material.

26 . The automatic analysis device according to claim 16 , wherein
the output of the heating unit is set to a necessary minimum limit.

27 . The automatic analysis device according to claim 26 , wherein
the output of the heating unit is set to a condition in which dew condensation does not occur in the outer peripheral part of the reagent cooling box at temperature and humidity at an upper limit of a guarantee range of operation of the automatic analysis device.

28 . A cooling box comprising:
a cooling device that is configured to cool an article housed in an inner side of the cooling device; and a heating unit that is disposed on a boundary part between a housing and a cooling box lid of the cooling box to heat the boundary part, wherein the heating unit that is disposed on an outer side than an end portion of an outer peripheral side of the cooling box in an end portion of the article.

29 . A method for refrigerating a reagent in an automatic analysis device, the method comprising:
disposing a heating unit for heating a boundary part between a housing and a cooling box lid of a reagent cooling box for storing a reagent container housing a reagent for reacting with a sample, on an outer side than an end portion of an outer peripheral side of the reagent cooling box in an end portion of the reagent container in the boundary part; and cooling an inner side of the reagent cooling box such that a temperature at the inner side of the reagent cooling box satisfies a storage condition of the reagent, and heating the boundary part of the reagent cooling box by the heating unit.

Assignees

• Hitachi High Tech Corp

Inventors

• Nakajima Satoshi
• Yasui Akihiro
• Setomaru Takeshi

Classifications

• F25D2400/10

  Refrigerator top-coolers · CPC title

• F25D21/04

  Preventing the formation of frost or condensate · CPC title

• F25D3/08

  portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally · CPC title

• F25D3/06

  Movable containers · CPC title

• G01N35/00 Primary

  Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor · CPC title