Automatic Analyzer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024142484-A1
Application number	US-202218279255-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2022
Priority date	Mar 15, 2021
Publication date	May 2, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of individually identifying a channel in which an abnormality has occurred while suppressing complication of the analyzer. The automatic analyzer, comprises: a channel through which liquid flows; a sensor that monitors the channel; and a control unit that determines abnormality in the liquid flowing through the channel based on measurement results of the sensor. In the automatic analyzer, one of the sensors monitors, as monitoring objects, the plurality of channels having different properties, and the control unit determines that which of the channels an abnormality has occurred based on analogue monitoring data continuously measured by the sensor during monitoring and analogue reference data continuously measured by the sensor beforehand before monitoring.

First claim

1 . An automatic analyzer, comprising:
a channel through which liquid flows; a sensor that monitors the channel; and a control unit that determines abnormality in the liquid flowing through the channel based on measurement results of the sensor, wherein one of the sensors monitors, as monitoring objects, the plurality of channels having different properties, and the control unit determines that which of the channels an abnormality has occurred based on analogue monitoring data continuously measured by the sensor during monitoring and analogue reference data continuously measured by the sensor beforehand before monitoring.

2 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein one of the sensors monitors, as monitoring objects, the plurality of channels having different diameters.

3 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 2 , wherein
the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, and the control unit specifies a range of each of the channels using a difference in time interval between reflected waves existing in the reference data, and determines that which of the channels an abnormality has occurred depending on to which range a reflected wave existing only in the monitoring data belongs.

4 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein one of the sensors monitors, as monitoring objects, the plurality of channels including different materials.

5 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 4 , wherein
the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, and the control unit specifies a range of each of the channels using a difference in signal intensity between reflected waves existing in the reference data, and determines in which of the channels an abnormality has occurred depending on to which range a reflected wave existing only in the monitoring data belongs.

6 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein
one of the sensors is an optical sensor, and monitors, as monitoring objects, the plurality of channels having different transparencies, and the control unit determines that which of the channels an abnormality has occurred depending on the degree of attenuation of intensity of transmitted light.

7 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a reaction disc holding a plurality of reaction containers each containing a mixed liquid of a sample and a reagent; and a cleaning mechanism including a plurality of nozzles to discharge a cleaning liquid to the reaction containers, wherein one of the sensors monitors, as monitoring objects, a plurality of channels connected to the respective nozzles.

8 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a flow-type electrolyte analysis mechanism using an ion selective electrode, wherein the electrolyte analysis mechanism includes a dilution bottle containing a diluted solution, and a reference electrode liquid bottle containing a reference electrode liquid, and one of the sensors monitors, as monitoring objects, a channel connected to the dilution bottle and a channel connected to the reference electrode liquid bottle.

Assignees

• Hitachi High Tech Corp

Inventors

• Sato Rei
• Inabe Toshiyuki

Classifications

• G01N21/59

  Transmissivity (G01N21/25 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N2035/1018

  Detecting inhomogeneities, e.g. foam, bubbles, clots · CPC title

• G01N35/08 Primary

  using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis · CPC title

• G01N35/0092

  Scheduling · CPC title

• G01N35/025

  having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes · CPC title