Hitachi-high-technologies Corporation

Hitachi, Ltd.

Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.

Hitachi-science Systems, Ltd.

Plus Stationery Corporation

Hitachi High-tech Corporation

Roche Diagnostics Gmbh

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Plus Industrial Corporation

Katsuaki Takahashi

Taku Sakazume

Susumu Sakairi

Yukinori Sakashita

Hiroshi Mitsumaki

Stephan Sattler

Yoshihiro Yamashita

Isao Yamazaki

Masaharu Nishida

Reinhold Kraemer

Ryuichi Saito

Kazunori Hashimoto

Katsumi Ishikawa

Ryuji Tao

Masataka Sasaki

Tetsuya Isobe

Mitsuru Ohnuma

Yasuo Narita

Koichi Suda

Shinya Matsuoka

Michihiro Saito

Takehide Satou

Oliver Larbolette

Ralf Kraus

Friedrich Staebler

Tomonori Mimura

Hajime Yamazaki

Hiroshi Ohga

Terumi Tamura

Hideyuki Yanami

Masaki Shiba

Hideyasu Chiba

Hisayuki Sagusa

Tetsuaki Abe

Hidetoshi Sugiyama

Tomoyuki Nemoto

Takehiro Fujita

Takanori Shimane

An electrochemiluminescence method of detecting an analyte in a liquid sample and a corresponding analysis system. An analyte in a liquid sample is detected by first providing a receptacle containing a fluid comprising protein coated magnetic microparticles to a stirring unit. Stirring of the fluid is necessary since the density of the microparticles is usually higher than the density of the buffer fluid. Thus the microparticles tend to deposit on the bottom of the receptacle leading to an aggregation of the microparticles because of weak interactions. To obtain representative measurements a homogeneous distribution of the microparticles in the buffer fluid is necessary to ensure a constant concentration of microparticles for each analysis cycle. It is further necessary to provide disaggregation of the microparticles, which is also realized by stirring the fluid. Stirring is conducted with a rotational frequency that is adapted to the amount of fluid to be stirred.

Electrochemiluminescence method of detecting an analyte in a liquid sample and analysis system

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the analyzer includes a reagent driving disk that accommodates a reagent configured for analysis and that transports the reagent to a desired position, and a fixed disk that has a reagent stand-by position in which to make a reagent container containing the reagent, temporarily stand by, and a magnetic particles stirring position for stirring magnetic particles. A portion of the reagent stand-by position is constituted by a loading system. A reagent container moving unit moves reagent containers containing the reagent, between the reagent driving unit and the fixed disk, according to analytical request status. Providing in a part of the fixed disk the loading system constructed so that reagent containers containing the reagent can be mounted therein during operation enables changing of reagent containers, irrespective of an operational status of the reagent driving disk, and the system to having cold-storage functionality.

Automatic analyzer

Stepped portions of a flow channel are reduced by completely fixing the channel that extends to the measuring unit, and reducing connections in the channel, thereby to suppress a disturbance in the flow of the liquid suctioned into the measuring unit. A means is provided so that the reaction solution and reagent suctioned will move towards the channel through which the liquids are suctioned.

Automated analyzer

An automatic analyzer cleans dispensing nozzles that dispense a sample or reagent using a rinse tank. The rinse tank includes first and second rinse liquid discharge ports arranged along the bottom and top of the rinse tank, respectively. The first rinse liquid discharge ports face the top of the rinse tank. The second rinse liquid discharge ports supply rinse liquid to flow to an exterior of the dispensing nozzles when aligned therewith. Each dispensing nozzle is rinsed by moving from a first position aligned with one of the first rinse liquid discharge ports to a second position aligned with one of the second rinse liquid discharge ports.

The automatic analyzer includes: a disk having a plurality of holding sections for holding a plurality of containers on the circumference of the disk or on a closed loop that rotationally moves, the disk adapted to move the plurality of containers; a reagent dispensing mechanism for dispensing a reagent into the container on the disk; and a sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing a sample into the container on the disk. The automatic analyzer also includes a container transfer mechanism for mounting the container in the holding sections on the disk. The container transfer mechanism is driven in such a manner that the container can be mounted in the plurality of holding sections on the disk.

Automatic analyzer for biological samples

Provided is an automatic analyzer that includes a suction nozzle, a detection container, and a detector. The suction nozzle suctions a sample and a solution used for the detection of the sample. The suctioned sample and the solution are supplied to the detection container. The detector detects a signal from the sample. In addition, a vessel for the sample and a container for the solution are disposed below the detection container.

An automated analyzer and a reagent vessel opening/closing device allows reduction of the time period during which reagent vessels are opened unnecessarily. The reagent vessel opening/closing device opens or closes the lids of reagent vessels when the reagent vessels are at a dispensing/stirring position on a reagent vessel transfer device of an automated analyzer. The device for opening/closing the lids of reagent vessels includes a hook base secured to a unit base and a hook-base drive unit for moving the hook base with respect to the unit base in opening/closing directions of the lids of the reagent vessels. A plurality of hooks are attached to the hook base and a plurality of motors are each adapted to slide one of the hooks with respect to the hook base to engage/disengage the hook with/from the lid of a reagent vessel.

Automated analyzer and device for opening/closing the lids of reagent vessels

An automatic analyzer according to the present invention is compact, mounting great number of reagents, having high processing ability. Reagent disks are arranged at inside and outside of a reaction disk. A reagent probe can inject a reagent into the position which is common position of both reagent disks. One of plural reagent probes approaches to one of reagent disks at one cycle. Plural reagent probes alternatively approach to the reagent disk. Therefore, the first reagents and the second reagents can be placed on both reagent disks. The mounting number of reagents can be increased without enlarging an analyzer. The cycle time can be shortened to make an automatic analyzer to have high processing ability.

An automatic analyzer having a positioning member connected to a nozzle support jig used to install a rinse nozzle having a suction member. The positioning member is present at a lower position than that of the suction member, has a vertically movable construction, and during a downward movement of the rinse mechanism, is brought close to/inserted into the reaction cuvette earlier than the suction member. Thus, the positioning member adjusts an inserting position of the suction member appropriately if the stopping position of the reaction cuvette deviates.

Growing community of inventors

Hitachinaka, Japan

Katsuaki Takahashi