Hitachi-high-technologies Corporation

Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi High-tech Corporation

Hitachi-science Systems, Ltd.

Hitachi Science Systems, Co., Ltd.

Tomonori Mimura

Hiroshi Mitsumaki

Kumiko Kamihara

Sakuichiro Adachi

Taku Sakazume

Satoshi Mitsuyama

Tadashi Ohishi

Chihiro Manri

Isao Yamazaki

Atsushi Takahashi

Takenori Okusa

Katsuhiro Kambara

Ryo Miyake

Hiroyasu Uchida

Miki Taki

Akira Inagaki

Hajime Katou

Shigenori Watari

Yoichiro Suzuki

Ryuichiro Kodama

Hajime Yamazaki

Muneo Maeshima

Kyoko Imai

Shinichi Fukuzono

Kazumitsu Kawase

Takeshi Sato

Akihisa Makino

Kunio Harada

Masaharu Nishida

Yoshimitsu Takagi

Hideo Enoki

Hideto Tamezane

Hironobu Yamakawa

Takayuki Noda

Takehide Satou

Qing Li

Katsuaki Takahashi

Shigeki Matsubara

Masaaki Hanawa

Manabu Ando

Isao Shindo

Terumi Tamura

Hideyuki Ban

Masaki Shiba

Yukie Tokiwa

Naomi Ishii

Noriko Iizumi

Takeshi Yogi

Naoto Oki

Hisayuki Sagusa

Kahei Shiraishi

Yoshiaki Igarashi

Mitsuo Hattori

Yuki Fukuyama

Kenichi Takahashi

Hidekatsu Takada

Takahiro Kikuchi

Masami Hayashi

Naoya Motegi

Kiyotaka Saito

Akiko Yokokawa

Tomoko Tomiyama

Rumi Kurumada

Ryuichi Kodama

Yuko Hamazumi

Emiko Ushiku

An automatic analyzer that allows appropriate setting of analytical parameters which incorporate batch-to-batch variations in reagents. The analytical parameters consist of fixed parameters and variable parameters. The fixed parameters include a reagent-dispensing quantity, a sample-dispensing quantity, measuring wavelength, and the like, each of which becomes a pivot for measurement of a sample, and parameters to be used are selected from an item code and bottle code assigned to a reagent bottle. The variable parameters include a linearity check value, a prozone check value, reaction limit absorbance, technical limits, first standard solution absorbance, variation allowable absorbance, and the like, each of which is associated with sample-measurement result checks. The automatic analyzer reads bar code information from the reagent bottle and adopts variable parameters of a corresponding version with the item code, the bottle code, and batch information relating to the reagent, as a key.

Automatic analyzer

An automatic analyzer includes sample vessels containing samples to be measured and; reaction vessels in which to mix a sample and a reagent. A sample dispenserdispenses a sample from any of the sample vessels to any of the reaction vessels. A reagent dispenser dispenses a reagent from a reagent vessel to a reaction vessel, and a stirrer stirs the sample-reagent mix contained in the reaction vessel. A photometric measurement unit is provided for obtaining multiple measurement data points during the progress of reaction of a mixed solution. At least one approximation formula is performed and an approximation curve from the measurement data points is generated. A shape descriptor is calculated from the approximation curve and abnormalities based on the shape descriptor are determined. This not only allows abnormalities to be detected accurately from each measurement result, but also allows the causes of the abnormalities to be identified.

Automatic analyzer for identifying a cause of abnormalities of measurement results

There is provided a technique for automatically determining or predicting a line range specific to a sample that appears in a reaction curve in an automated analyzer for mixing a specimen and a reagent and measuring a change in a mixture of the specimen and the reagent with time. This invention approximates reaction curve data by a function and automatically determines a curve part at an early stage or a second stage of a reaction. The invention determines a line range not including a curve part for each sample and calculates a laboratory test value using absorbance data within the determined line range. This invention also automatically determines a start time of line at the early stage of the reaction on the basis of absorbance data obtained up to a point halfway through the reaction curve, predicts a line range on the basis of the end time of line and a planned end time of line, and calculates a predictive value on the basis of a result of the prediction.

Automatic analysis device and automatic analysis method

An automatic analysis apparatus capable of improving detection sensitivity is provided. An optimum photometer between a light-scattering photometer and an absorptiometer based on a concentration range may be decided. A standard solution is measured multiple times at a normal calibration and a calibration curve is created. Calibration curves are individually created for an absorptiometer and a light-scattering photometer from the minimum and maximum measured values of the concentrations of each standard solution. The upper and lower limits of a standard solution concentration are computed from the minimum/maximum calibration curves. Sensitivity may be computed by using calibration parameters. Whether to use a concentration by absorption or a concentration by scattered light is decided based on the computed sensitivity. The computed sensitivities are compared between the concentration by absorption and the concentration by scattered light, and the use of the concentration of a higher sensitivity is decided.

Automatic analysis apparatus and sample measuring method

To be adapted to various types of latex reagents for detecting scattered light and thereby measuring agglutination reactions with high sensitivity while sufficiently ensuring integration time. To be adapted to various types of latex particles of different particle sizes, a plurality of light receivers are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the direction of cell movement by rotation of a cell disk. To ensure sufficient integration time, the angle between the optical axis of the irradiation light and each of a plurality of optical axes of scattered light viewed from above the cell is made equal to or less than 17.7&#xb0; including a mounting error.

An analyzer provides conditions suitable for a reagent for performing latex immunoassay with a high sensitivity using a method of measuring scattered light. Irradiation light having a wavelength in the range of 0.65 to 0.75 &#x3bc;m is used, and scattered light generated from a reaction solution is received at a light-receiving angle of 15&#xb0; to 35&#xb0; with respect to the irradiation direction during the rotational movement of the reaction container. The reagent contains latex particles the average peak particle diameter of which ranges from 0.3 &#x3bc;m to 0.43 &#x3bc;m and to which antibodies are sensitized. The reaction solution contains latex particles at a concentration at which the absorbance to irradiation light having a wavelength of 0.7 &#x3bc;m is 0.25 abs to 1.10 abs, and a change in the amount of scattered light caused by the aggregation of the latex particles through antigens in a sample is measured and quantified.

Automated analyzer and analyzing method

There is provided an automatic analyzer including: a sample pipetting mechanism, reagent pipetting mechanismsA andB, mixing mechanismsA andB, a scattered light photometer, and an absorption photometerall located on a transfer path of reaction cellsarranged circumferentially on a disk-shaped reaction disk, the reaction cellsbeing transferred in the circumferential direction by rotation of the reaction disk. Scattered light intensity and absorbance are controlled to be measured by causing the reaction cellsto move past a scattered light detection position and a transmitted light detection position in the same process of movement, the two positions being established beforehand on the transfer path. This makes it possible to suppress the effects on measurement results of the difference in time between scattered light measurement and absorbance measurement thereby improving measurement accuracy.

The automatic analysis device measures time sequential data on a scattered light amount as reaction process data, and quantitatively determines the concentration of an analyte from a change in light amount. The automatic analysis device has a function of selecting reaction process data to be used for quantitative determination from the reaction process data obtained by measurement using a plurality of light receivers at different angles. As a result of using this function, data is selected from the reaction process data obtained by measurement using the plurality of light receivers at different angles in accordance with the concentration of the analyte and whether the priority is given to high sensitivity in the case where sensitivity is prioritized or a dynamic range, and the result of the quantitative determination is displayed.

Automatic analysis device

Accuracy control of an automatic analysis device that mixes a sample and a reagent to measure temporal change of a mixed solution is realized. A plurality of measurement point data is acquired from a reaction process of the sample and the reagent. Parameters and test values of approximate equations for approximating the plurality of measurement point data are accumulated in a storage unit. A distribution map of reference data corresponding to the parameters or the test values is created based on predetermined numbers of the parameters or the test values accumulated in the storage unit. Next, a plurality of screens for individually superimposing, on the distribution map, curved lines corresponding to a plurality of regression function candidates obtained by applying a plurality of regression functions are arranged and presented on a display screen, so as to approximate the data to the distribution map of the reference data.

Automatic analysis device and automatic analysis program

To change a photometric time for each item or to change a measurement time for each specimen so that time required for biochemical measurement can be reduced, an index that indicates an end of a reaction is required. Unfortunately, however, no methods have been available for determining the end of the reaction. In measuring a substance to be measured contained in a sample, a parameter in an approximate expression is calculated using a measured value that changes with time, a degree of convergence of a reaction is determined according to a degree of convergence of the parameter, and a measured value at the end of the reaction is calculated using the parameter at a point in time at which it is determined that the reaction has converged.

Provided are an automated analyzer and an automatic analysis method for highly accurately determining presence or absence of abnormality based on reaction process data obtained when concentration of a chemical component or an activity level of an enzyme is measured. The reaction process data is approximated by a function, and shape feature quantities indicating features of a shape of a curve section at an early stage of reaction are calculated. The obtained shape feature quantities are used to determine the presence or absence of abnormality.

Automatic analysis device and analysis method

An automatic analyzer which performs a suction operation a plurality of times on a same sample has a sample dispensing unit, a liquid level sensor which detects the liquid level of the sample in a sample vessel, an arithmetic unitwhich computes a liquid level height hat the end of a first suction operation of the two consecutive suction operations from a liquid level height hand a sample suction volume Vdetected at the start of the first suction operation, a storage unitwhich stores the liquid level height hcomputed by the arithmetic unit, and a determination unitwhich compares a liquid level height hdetected at the start of a second suction operation following the first suction operation with the liquid level height hat the end of the first suction operation.

Automatic analyzer and method for determining malfunction thereof

A blood coagulation analyzer that realizes both securement of a wide dynamic range and enhancement of sensitivity in blood coagulation analysis by selecting an appropriate angle of detection depending on the intensity of scattered light from each specimen without causing complexity of the analyzer. The analyzer has a reaction container. A storage unit is provided which takes in and stores multiple pieces of chronological light intensity variation data acquired from detectors arranged around a reaction container. A judgment unit selects light intensity variation data to be used for calculation of a blood coagulation time from the multiple pieces of light intensity variation data stored in the storage unit based on the amount of light intensity variation. A calculation unit calculates the blood coagulation time from the light intensity variation data selected by the judgment unit.

Blood coagulation analyzer

Abnormality causes are automatically identified during daily quality control, based on the focused consideration of complex uncertainty factors and, especially, of the causes of device-side abnormalities, the latter of which are often difficult to identify. The analyzer performance that affects measurement results can be estimated from analysis parameters and calibration results. Thus, uncertainty estimates are automatically calculated for each analysis item during quality control, and the estimates are compared with uncertainties obtained during actual QC sample measurement, thereby monitoring and evaluating the analyzer performance. Also, measurements are performed on QC samples of multiple concentrations that contain substances known to subject to particular influences such as those of the optical system, sample dispenser, and reagent dispenser, so that the causes of abnormalities can be identified. Uncertainty estimates calculated from the parameters set for the analysis items are compared with uncertainties obtained from the QC sample measurements.

Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of detecting not only clogging and air suction of the dispensation probe but also a decrease in the dispensation quantity caused by a bubble film, air bubbles or a highly viscous sample. Each of a sample/reagent suction operation time and a sample/reagent discharge operation time of a probe is segmented into multiple time sections. For each of the time sections determined by the segmentation, a parameter is calculated by applying a detected pressure waveform to an approximation formula. For each of the time section, the presence/absence of a dispensation abnormality is judged by comparing the calculated parameter with a parameter in cases of normal dispensation. An automatic analyzer capable of judging the presence/absence of an abnormality specific to each time section and making abnormality judgments difficult for conventional techniques can be realized.

Growing community of inventors

Kasama, Japan

Tomonori Mimura