Tosoh Corporation

Toyo Soda Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Hidechika Hayashi

Yuji Higo

Yukio Mitsuhisa

Shuji Iwasaki

Yoshihiko Umegae

Kazuya Kamata

Toshiaki Kono

Tetsufumi Matsumoto

Seiji Kawaguchi

Narihito Ishihara

Toshi Kagayama

Kiyofumi Yoshida

A chromatogram analyzer which analyzes a chromatogram obtained by applying a sample containing n analytes (wherein n is a natural number of at least 2) to chromatography to detect peaks attributable to the n analytes.

Chromatogram analyzer

A chromatogram analyzer is provided which analyzes a chromatogram obtained by applying a sample containing an analyte. The chromatogram analyzer can be used after peak detection, for example, based on predicted peak emergence times for respective analytes of interest and can determine proper baselines even in the presence of peaks attributable to components other than the analytes or ghost peaks. The chromatogram analyzer is used for an analysis of a chromatogram developed by chromatography, namely by separating and detecting analytes in a sample. Although chromatography is divided into various types of liquid chromatography and gas chromatography according to the principles for separation and development, a chromatogram obtained by any type of chromatography can be analyzed. For example, an electrophoretically obtained result stained with a proper dye can be analyzed by using the present invention after photometric scanning.

A method of rate calculation in which, in connection with a reaction in which the substrate of an enzyme undergoes the action of the enzyme to be converted to a reaction product, a signal correlated to the concentration of the reaction product is measured at different points of time, those measured values obtained which exceed the upper limit preset in accordance with the detection limit of a detector to be used are excluded while selecting those measured values obtained at different points of time at least equal in number to the independent parameters of the approximating function and which are not greater than said upper limit and the measured values thus selected are weighted by a finite value to effect approximation by said function, provided that said finite value for weighting at least a portion of the measured values are changed continuously in accordance with the magnitudes of said specific measured values. This method is capable of calculating the rate of enzyme activity to accomplish precise quantification of a substance without impairing the continuity of a calibration curve even if measurements are conducted at discontinuous points of time over a measurement range where the rate will change under the influence of the concentrations of the substrate and the reaction product in the reaction mixture.

Method of rate calculation

A fluorescence detection apparatus is provided which has a partial reflection mirror 8 for transmitting a part of fluorescence light emitted from a fluorescent substance by projecting excitation light and reflecting the rest of the fluorescence light, and a pair of a first and a second photodiode 2,3 for measuring the light transmitted through or reflected by partial reflection mirror 8 respectively at a selected wavelength, and the pair of the first and the second diodes are arranged to be optically equivalent relative to the partial reflection mirror 8. This fluorescence detection apparatus is affected less by positional deviation of the measurement cell relative to the optical measurement system.

Fluorescence detection apparatus

An apparatus has a holder unit for sample vessels and reaction vessels, a dispensing unit and a washing unit; wherein, (i) the holder unit involves a sample-vessel holder including a linear array of holes for receiving the sample vessels, a reaction-vessel holder including a linear array of holes for receiving the reaction vessels, a coupling arrangement for coupling together the sample-vessel holder and the reaction-vessel holder so that the linear arrays of the holes of the holders are arranged parallel to each other, and a moving arrangement for horizontally moving the coupled sample-vessel holder and the reaction-vessel holder, (ii) the dispensing unit is movable in the direction orthogonal to the horizontal-moving direction of the sample-vessel holder and the reaction-vessel holder, and (iii) the washing unit supplies cleaning liquid to the reaction vessels and absorbs the liquid-phase component from the reaction vessels.

Assaying apparatus and a vessel holder device in use with the assaying

An automatic sample pretreatment device is provided which is capable of conducting a series of treatments or reactions from pretreatment to measurement automatically in a short time by employing a separate reaction system from the reaction system for measurement. The automatic sample pretreatment device comprises a sample rack, a pretreatment vessel and a measurement vessel, a liquid dispenser, a first vessel-transfer apparatus having a vessel holder for holding and transferring the vessels, a pretreatment vessel feeding apparatus for feeding the pretreatment vessel to the vessel holder of the first vessel transfer apparatus, a measurement vessel feeding apparatus for feeding the measurement vessel to the vessel holder of the first vessel-transfer apparatus, a vessel discarding hole for discarding the vessel after use, a second vessel-transfer device for transferring the used vessel held at the vessel holder of the first vessel-transfer apparatus to the vessel discarding hole, an incubator equipped with a measurement device for measuring a sample, and a third vessel-transfer device for transferring the vessel held by the vessel holder of the first vessel-transfer apparatus to the incubator.

Device and method for automatic sample pretreatment

A reaction apparatus is provided which is suitable for automatic immunoassay equipment and is capable of conducting treatments in reaction vessels for different reaction conditions such as reaction time and treatment method like a one-step method and a two-step method. The apparatus comprises a conveying mechanism for conveying vessels containing a objective measurement substance around a rotation center. The conveying mechanism comprises a fixed disk 1 for guiding the vessels 5 along a spiral lane 2, and a rotation disk 3 for guiding the vessels 5 along radial lanes. The vessels 5 are inserted at intersection points of the spiral lane and the radial lanes, and are conveyed with the rotation of the radial lanes along the spiral lane. The mechanism is constituted such that the vessels 5 for long-time treatment and the vessels for short-time treatment are inserted to the same insertion position and the vessels 5 for short-time treatment is taken out from an intermediate way of the conveying route.

Reaction apparatus for automatic analysis

A method for determining a fluorescent substance in a broader concentration range with higher measurement accuracy is provided which is applicable to assay of enzyme activity in enzyme-label immunoassay, enzyme-label DNA hybridization, etc. A method for assaying enzyme activity is also provided which employs the above fluorescence measurement. In the method, a specimen containing an objective fluorescent substance to be determined and a reference substance is irradiated with excitation light capable of exciting both the objective fluorescent substance and the reference fluorescent substance; measuring a first fluorescence intensity at a first wavelength where fluorescence is emitted mainly by the objective fluorescent substance; measuring a second fluorescence intensity at a second wavelength where fluorescence is emitted mainly by the reference fluorescent substance; and calculating the concentration of the objective fluorescent substance from the equation:

Method of determination of fluorescent substance and method of assay of

Method of assay of enzymatic activity, comprising projecting excitation light to a sample containing an enzyme, a substrate which forms a product by action of the enzyme, and a reference substance which is insensitive to the action of the enzyme but emits fluorescence; obtaining a first measured value of fluorescence intensity of the sample at a first wavelength region which includes fluorescence emitted by the substrate or the product at least, obtaining a second measured value of fluorescence intensity at a second wavelength region which is different from the first wavelength region for the first measured value and includes fluorescence emitted by the reference substance; and assaying the enzymatic activity from the ratio of the first measured value to the second measured value and apparatus for performing the method. The method assures high accuracy and high sensitivity of measurement in enzyme labeled immunoassay and enzyme labeled DNA hybridization.

Method of assay of enzymatic activity and apparatus therefor

Method of assay of enzymatic activity, including projecting excitation light to a sample containing an enzyme, a substrate which forms a product by action of the enzyme, and a reference substance which is insensitive to the action of the enzyme but emits fluorescence; obtaining a first measured value of fluorescence intensity of the sample at a first wavelength region which includes fluorescence emitted by the substrate or the product at least, obtaining a second measured value of fluorescence intensity at a second wavelength region which is different from the first wavelength region for the first measured value and includes fluorescence emitted by the reference substance; and assaying the enzymatic activity from the ratio of the first measured value to the second measured value and apparatus for performing the method. The method assures high accuracy and high sensitivity of measurement in enzyme labeled immunoassay and enzyme labeled DNA hybridization.

Method of assay of enzymatic activity

A method of monitoring a discharge of a liquid comprises the steps of: measuring a presence or absence of a liquid discharged at an optional area of a passage for the liquid during discharging the liquid of a vessel through the passage; comparing a measurement result obtained in said measuring step with a reference measurement result which are to be obtained when a discharge of the liquid is reliably carried out; and determining as to whether a discharge operation for the liquid has been reliably performed. And an apparatus for performing the method.

Method of monitoring the presence or absence of liquid and apparatus

An automated analyzer for automatically assaying a specific component in a sample by utilizing a top-opened reaction vessel containing a reagent capable of reacting with the specific component, and which is sealed with a seal foil on which a symbol for the reagent is shown: said analyzer comprising a seal foil breaker for breaking the seal foil, a sample dispenser for dispensing the sample to the vessel, and a detector for detecting a reaction signal caused by a reaction with the specific component and the reagent; a transfer device for transferring the reaction vessel and a symbol discriminator for discriminating the symbol shown on the seal foil, which is placed at a position on a transfer route of the reaction vessels transferred by the transfer device and at a position before the seal-foil breaker.

Automated biochemical analyzer

An automated immunoassay analyzser comprising a transfer route on which test plates each having a plurality of chambers for immunological reaction opened upwards are transferred continually with a constant interval of time, and devices of at least A, B, C and D described below which are arranged on the transfer route from upstream to downstream in the order referred to in which the device A is for injecting the sample comprising a vertically and horizonally driven support, a pipet fixed to the support, and a nozzle tip usable for a single sample and removably attached to the lower end of the pipet, the device B is for B/F separation and the device C is for injecting the substrate solution and both devices are integratedly combined and comprise a vertically and horizontally driven support, a washing tube supported by the support, a temperature controllable solution reservoir block fixed to the support, a substrate injection tube provided to the lower side of the reservoir block, the washing tube and the substrate solution injection tube being arranged in alignment and spaced each other according to the pitch of the cup arrangement, and the device D is for photometry with which to measure optically detectable changes caused in the substrate in the chamber of immunological reaction.

Automated immunoassay analyser

A biochemical reaction analyzing apparatus having a reaction cup and a suction head for carrying the reaction cup, wherein the suction head can carry a reaction cup of light weight used for biochemical reaction analysis by hanging it by suction, wherein the head is provided with a cylindrical cavity as an air passage having a diameter approximately equal to that of an air suction and discharge opening formed at the lower end of the head body and extending up from the opening in the head body; further, if necessary, a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the inner wall surrounding the cylindrical cavity or a vertically movable weight fitted in the cylindrical cavity is provided.

Growing community of inventors

Yokohama, Japan

Hidechika Hayashi