Automatic analyzer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9389240-B2
Application number	US-201214238205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2012
Priority date	Sep 6, 2011
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

An automatic analyzer adapted to enhance sample/reagent dispensing accuracy, regardless of a difference in sample/reagent dispensing height of a dispensing probe. When the amount of sample in a sample container is small, tip height “h1” of a sample dispensing probe positioned immediately after it has aspirated the sample decreases below tip height “h′” of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately before it discharges the sample. The sample in this state takes a concave shape at the tip of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately before it discharges the sample. When the amount of sample in a sample container is large, tip height “h2” of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately after it has aspirated the sample increases above the tip height “h′” and the sample takes a convex shape at the tip of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately before it discharges the sample.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automatic analyzer comprising:
a sample dispensing probe that dispenses a sample into a reaction cell from a sample container holding the sample;
a sample dispensing syringe connected to the sample dispensing probe through a flexible tube;
a sample dispensing motor that drives the sample probe in a vertical direction;
a reagent dispensing probe that dispenses a reagent into the reaction cell from a reagent container holding the reagent;
a reagent dispensing syringe connected to the reagent dispensing probe through a flexible tube;
a reagent dispensing motor that drives the reagent dispensing probe in the vertical direction; and
an analyzing unit that analyzes a solution from the reaction of the sample with the reagent, wherein
the automatic analyzer further comprises a controller connected to each of the sample dispensing motor, reagent dispensing motor, sample dispensing syringe, and reagent dispensing syringe,
wherein the controller is programmed to:
based on signals from the sample dispensing motor or reagent dispensing motor, detect a first position where the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe stops in the vertical direction from a predetermined reference point when the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe aspirates a predetermined volume of the sample or reagent from the sample container or the reagent container,
based on signals from the sample dispensing motor or reagent dispensing motor, detect a second position where the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe stops in the vertical direction from the predetermined reference point when the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe discharges the sample or regent into the reaction cell,
determine a corrected discharge quantity value of the sample or the reagent based on a difference between the detected first position and the detected second position, and
control the operation of the sample dispensing syringe or the reagent dispensing syringe to discharge the sample or the reagent based on the corrected discharge quantity value.

2. An automatic analyzer comprising:
a sample dispensing probe that dispenses a sample into a reaction cell from a sample container holding the sample;
a sample dispensing syringe connected to the sample dispensing probe through a flexible tube;
a sample dispensing motor that drives the sample probe in a vertical direction;
a reagent dispensing probe that dispenses a reagent into the reaction cell from a reagent container holding the reagent;
a reagent dispensing syringe connected to the reagent dispensing probe through a flexible tube; and an analyzing unit that analyzes a solution from the reaction of the sample with the reagent; and
a reagent dispensing motor that drives the reagent dispensing probe in the vertical direction,
wherein the automatic analyzer further comprises a controller for controlling operation of the sample or reagent dispensing probe and is connected to each of the sample dispensing motor, reagent dispensing motor, sample dispensing syringe, and reagent dispensing syringe,
wherein the controller programmed to:
based on signals from the sample dispensing motor or reagent dispensing motor, detect a first position where the sample dispensing probe or reagent dispensing probe stops in the vertical direction from a predetermined reference point when the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe aspirates a predetermined volume of the sample or reagent from the sample container or the reagent container,
based on signals from the sample dispensing motor or reagent dispensing motor, detect a second position where the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe stops in the vertical direction from the predetermined reference point when the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe discharges the sample or regent into the reaction cell,
determine a corrected discharge quantity value of the sample or reagent based on a difference between the first detected position and the detected second position,
control the operation of the sample dispensing syringe or the reagent dispensing syringe to discharge the sample or the reagent based on the corrected discharge quantity value, and
wherein the analyzing unit corrects measurement results output in association with each of the detected first position and the detected second position of the sample or reagent dispensing probe from the predetermined reference point.

3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a screen display connected to the controller,
wherein the controller is further programmed to display respective volumes of aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent in association with each of the detected first position and detected second position of the sample or reagent dispensing probe.

4. The automatic analyzer to claim 1 , further comprising:
a screen display connected to the controller,
wherein the controller is further programmed to display a screen for selecting a measurement item, entering a correction amount with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent, and deriving a calculation expression for the correction amount.

5. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a screen display connected to the controller,
wherein the controller is further programmed to display a screen for selecting whether the correction, with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent, or to the measured data, will be applied to analytical items to be measured.

6. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a screen display connected to the controller,
wherein the controller is further programmed to display a screen for selecting, on an analytical item basis, whether the correction, with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent, or to the measured data, will be applied.

7. A liquid dispensing method for use in an automatic analyzer including a sample dispensing probe that dispenses a sample into a reaction cell from a sample container holding the sample, a sample dispensing syringe connected to the sample dispensing probe through a flexible tube, a sample dispensing motor that drives the sample probe in a vertical direction, a reagent dispensing probe that dispenses a reagent into the reaction cell from a reagent container holding the reagent, a reagent dispensing syringe connected to the reagent dispensing probe through a flexible tube, a reagent dispensing motor that drives the reagent dispensing probe in the vertical direction, and an analyzing unit that analyzes a solution from the reaction of the sample with the reagent, the dispensing method comprising the steps of:
detecting a first position where the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe stops in the vertical direction from a predetermined reference point when the sample dispensing probe or the reagent the dispensing probe aspirates a predetermined volume of the sample or reagent from the sample container or the reagent container;
detecting a second position where the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe stops in the vertical direction from the predetermined reference point when the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe discharges the sample or regent into the reaction cell;
determining a corrected discharge quantity value of the sample or reagent based on a difference between the detected first position and the detected second position; and
controlling the operation of the sample dispensing syringe or the regent dispensing syringe to discharge the sample or the reagent based on the corrected discharge quantity value.

Assignees

• Takahashi Kenichi
• Yamazaki Isao
• Hitachi High Tech Corp

Inventors

• Takahashi Kenichi
• Yamazaki Isao

Classifications

• G01N35/025

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

• G01N2035/1025

  Fluid level sensing · CPC title

• G01N2035/0443

  for reagents · CPC title

• G01N35/1011 Primary

  Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device · CPC title

• G01N2035/0441

  for samples · CPC title