Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Nobuyoshi Tsuda

Miyuki Murakami

Provided are an agitation apparatus, a vessel, and an analysis apparatus including the agitation apparatus that have excellent energy transmission efficiency, and simplified structure allowing downsizing, and are easy to perform maintenance. An agitation apparatus (), a vessel (), and an analysis apparatus () including the agitation apparatus agitate a liquid retained in the vessel () using sound waves. The agitation apparatus () includes a power transmitter () that transmits power, an electric terminal () that receives the power transmitted from the power transmitter and changes a relative arrangement with respect to the power transmitter when an arrangement of at least one of the power transmitter and the electric terminal () changes, and a sound wave generator () that generates sound waves by converting the power received by the electric terminal () to agitate the liquid.

Agitation apparatus, vessel, and analysis apparatus including agitation apparatus

An analyzer includes plural stirrers that have plural sound-wave generating units, which are provided on respective vessels holding liquid and generate sound wave toward the liquid, and drive units, which drive the plurality of sound-wave generating units, and that stir the liquid using sound wave generated by the sound-wave generating units; a power detecting unit that detects traveling-wave power output from the drive unit and reflected-wave power reflected from the sound-wave generating unit; and a control unit that determines whether an abnormality occurs in each of the stirrers on the sound-wave generating unit side or on the drive unit side in each of the stirrers based on a reflectivity of the power, and controls continuation or suspension of an analytical work based on a result of the determination.

Analyzer and its abnormality coping method

Provided here is an agitation vessel which enhances energy transmission efficiency in an agitation apparatus and an analysis apparatus, simplifies the structure of the agitation apparatus and the analysis apparatus, and allows for downsizing and improved maintenanceability. An agitation vessel () agitates retained liquid by sound waves. A sound wave generating member () which generates sound waves is provided integrally with the agitation vessel (). The agitation vessel () includes a bottom wall () and plural side walls () made of an optically transparent material, and a part of the opposing side walls among the plural side walls () is a photometric window () that optically measures the liquid agitated. The sound wave generating member () is arranged on the side wall (), on which the photometric window () is arranged, among the plural side walls ().

Agitation vessel

A stirring determining device that determines whether stirring by a stirrer, which stirs liquid contained in a vessel using sound wave generated by a sound-wave generating unit that is attached to the vessel, is successful or unsuccessful. The stirring determining device includes a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the liquid; and a determining unit that determines whether stirring of the liquid contained in the vessel is successful or unsuccessful depending on the temperature of the liquid measured at least before and after the stirring by the temperature sensor.

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Hino, Japan

Nobuyoshi Tsuda