Hitachi-high-technologies Corporation

Hitachi, Ltd.

Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.

Hitachi High-tech Corporation

Boehringer Mannheim Gmbh

Roche Diagnostics Gmbh

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Ihu Mediterranee Infection

Shigeki Matsubara

Kyoko Imai

Hiroshi Watanabe

Ryuji Tao

Masanori Akutsu

Mitsuru Oonuma

Akira Omachi

Yukie Tokiwa

Atsushi Watanabe

Osamu Matsumoto

Kenta Imai

Yoshimitsu Takagi

Chie Yabutani

Takuya Yamaguchi

Fridl Lang

Kenji Teshigawara

Peter Wolf

Roland Ihrig

Kazuhiro Shimada

Sylvia Rosenblatt

Kazuhiro Tanaka

Tomonori Mimura

Hajime Yamazaki

Taku Sakazume

Akihisa Makino

Shunsuke Sasaki

Sakuichiro Adachi

Yoshihiro Yamashita

Takashi Irie

Hitoshi Tokieda

Elke Faatz

Masashi Akutsu

Masahiko Iijima

Toshihide Orihashi

Akira Inagaki

Toshiharu Suzuki

Yuusuke Oominami

Teruhiro Yamano

Dietmar Kappelhoff

Daisuke Ebihara

Sayaka Sarwar

Takayuki Sugime

Bernd Rosicke

Chie Sugiyama

Beatus Ofenloch-Haehnle

Yasunao Awata

Werner Döppen

Kazutoshi Onuki

Masaaki Odakura

Didier Raoult

Jacques Bou Khalil

In order to aspire to higher sensitivity in an automatic analysis device, it is important to prevent the mixing of dust and the like in a reaction part in which a sample and a reagent react. The present invention presents an automatic analysis device that is provided with a configuration for making the pressure inside a specific block in the device such as a reaction part, or inside the device become positive. By making the pressure become positive and forming an air flow that flows out from the inside of the reaction part or the device, it is possible to limit, to a certain amount or less, the amount of dust penetrating into the reaction part.

Automatic analysis device

In dispenser-type reagent dispensing, because a reagent is transferred through a piping flow path to a prescribed position and dispensed, some of the reagents may remain in the piping flow path and reagent crystallization may consequently occur in the piping flow path. Thus, crystallization prevention for the entire piping flow path must be taken into consideration. Provided is a dispensing device that comprises a reagent suction pipe for sucking in a reagent from a reagent vessel, a liquid transfer mechanism for transferring the reagent, a nozzle for discharging the reagent, and a reagent discharge pipe that is connected to the reagent container and a port that can be connected to the nozzle. The dispensing device is characterized in that the reagent is dispensed from the nozzle into a reaction vessel and when the reagent is not being dispensed, the nozzle and the port are connected and the reagent is circulated.

Dispensing device and sample analysis device

In conventional automatic analyzers, there have been instances where, when a plurality of associated items are analyzed as a set item, there is high variation in the analysis data obtained using the set item, leading to a need for improvement of analysis precision. The present invention comprises performing, in mutual association, a set of preparation steps to carry out until it is time to analyze an unknown sample, the set of preparation steps including a pre-preparation step in which stirring, etc., is performed when an analysis reagent kit is mounted on the analyzer, and a step for correcting a standard curve in which correction samples that correspond to analysis items are used. This makes it possible to perform analysis after the preparation states of a plurality of analysis reagent kits are collected as needed, enabling high-precision analysis of a set item.

Automatic analyzer

A signal reference value (SLocal) is set at which a blood coagulation reaction time (T) of a blood coagulation time reference sample measured on the basis of the result of comparing a signal value (amount of transmitted light, amount of scattered light, amount of fluorescence, or turbidity) pertaining to blood coagulation time that varies temporally according to the mixing and reaction of the blood coagulation time reference sample and a reagent and a signal reference value (S) corresponds to an expected value (Te) for the blood coagulation reaction time that has been set beforehand so as to correspond to the blood coagulation time reference sample. As a result, it is possible to use the blood coagulation time reference sample to determine the state of the reagent and enhance the reliability of measurement results by setting a unique signal reference value for each reagent container.

Automatic analysis device and analysis method

In the field of automatic analyzers, as items to be analyzed are increase, various reagents differing in such properties as liquid viscosity and contact angle are being used more frequently, and this trend is expected to continue. Also, reagents now take various forms (e.g., a concentrated reagent to be diluted by the water of an automatic analyzer), and so does dilution water. Such being the case, the invention provides an automatic analyzer capable of sufficient stirring regardless of items to be analyzed. To sufficiently stir a substance to which a reagent has been added, the automatic analyzer is designed to alter stirring conditions after a given amount of time has passed since the addition of that reagent.

Method for stirring a mixed liquid in an automatic analyzer including first and second stirring mechanisms

The automatic analysis device includes an analysis unit that corrects, based on a measured value at the time of a first light amount measurement with water dispensed in the reaction cell before the sample is dispensed therein; a measured value at the time of a second light amount measurement after the sample and a preprocessing reagent are dispensed into the reaction cell; a liquid amount in the reaction cell at the time of the second light amount measurement; and a liquid amount in the reaction cell at the time of a third light amount measurement after the reaction reagent has been dispensed into the reaction cell and before the reaction reagent and the substance to be measured react with each other.

Automatic analysis device and automatic analysis method

An automatic analyzer includes: first reagent storing means for storing a plurality of the reagent containers; second reagent storing means for storing a replacement reagent container in addition to the first reagent storing means; transfer means for transferring the reagent container from the second reagent storing means to the first reagent means; and a storing portion for storing the reagent container discharged from the second reagent storing means. The automatic analyzer includes control means for exercising control such that the information write means writes reagent information on the information recording medium immediately before the reagent container is transferred from the second reagent storing means to the first reagent storing means or immediately before the reagent container is discharged from the second reagent storing means to the storing portion.

Unlike conventional reagent storing means of an analyzing unit having a cold-storage function, replacement reagent storing means having no cold-storage function requires reagent management of a higher order. An automatic analyzer is provided that manages the placing elapsed time for a reagent vessel in replacement reagent storing means 2, compares the placing elapsed time for the reagent with a permissible placing limit value stored as one of analysis parameters for each analysis item, and determines as to whether or not the placing elapsed time exceeds permissible limit value. In this way, the analyzer prevents the degradation of the reagent and automatically transfers the reagent to an analyzing section for performing measurement.

An automatic analyzer restartable within a short time includes at least one of quality control information and calibration information stored into an analyzer processing unit. A reagent management unit reads out information from a reagent vessel ID tag affixed to a reagent vessel inside a reagent accommodation unit containing the reagent, and writes information onto the reagent vessel ID tag. The analyzer processing unit uses the reagent management unit to write the quality control information or the calibration information onto the reagent vessel ID tag.

An automatic analyzer is provided that can promptly process a request for additional test items for a sample being analyzed or an error that has occurred in the sample. The automatic analyzer can output measurements of a sample analyzed, determine whether or not re-analyzing is necessary, and perform the re-analyzing. The automatic analyzer includes a buffer area for standby until analysis is completed and measurements are outputted. Each of analysis units includes a pair of buffer units that can randomly access the buffer area. The automatic analyzer further includes a position disposed near the buffer area, at which a sample can be unloaded and reloaded. A rack that stands by within the buffer area can be unloaded onto the unloading position by a command to unload issued by an operator. Subsequent reloading of the sample allows samples other than the sample in question to be analyzed continuously.

Disclosed is an automated analyzer intended for qualitative/quantitative analysis of blood, urine, and other biological samples, and including a reagent disk for mounting a plurality of reagent containers thereon, wherein any errors in liquid-level measurement due to oscillation of a reagent liquid surface during rotation of the reagent disk are minimized, even when reagent containers of a large capacity are mounted. If a predetermined constant cycle time is defined as one unit, the reagent disk with reagent containers mounted thereon is transported to a liquid-level detection position using at least two units when a liquid level of a reagent is measured.

Automated analyzer

The present invention provides an automatic analyzer including: an analyzing unit that includes an analyzing mechanism and a dispensing reagent cassette storage for storing a reagent cassette for dispensing; a reagent replenishing unit including a replenishing reagent cassette storage for storing in advance a reagent cassette for replenishing to be supplied as the reagent cassette for dispensing; and means for ejecting from the replenishing reagent cassette storage the reagent cassette for replenishing that cannot be supplied as the reagent cassette for dispensing.

When a problematic reagent is identified while operating an automatic analyzer, it is required to have a plurality of screens displayed, and it is difficult for inexperienced operators to identify a problematic position of a reagent. With the present invention, control information for reagents and a calibrator required for analysis with an automatic analyzer are displayed concurrently, so that all necessary information can be referred to one screen. In the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, screen switching as required in the conventional technology is not necessary, and improved operability and visibility are provided.

A liquid dispensing apparatus is provided which makes it possible to correctly and easily detect a dispensing operation judgment failure with high accuracy without particularly using a complicated detection mechanism or means. The liquid dispensing apparatus includes a nozzle which sucks a solution in a cassette and dispenses the sucked solution into another cassette; and a cassette holder which holds the another cassette, and the nozzle is used as a first electrode and the cassette holder as a second electrode. Further, the liquid dispensing apparatus has measurement means for measuring a capacitance between the first and second electrodes during a solution dispensing operation.

Liquid dispensing apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Hitachinaka, Japan

Shigeki Matsubara