Hitachi-high-technologies Corporation

Hitachi High-tech Corporation

Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Toshihide Orihashi

Tatsuya Tokunaga

Masaki Takano

Hiroki Mori

Yoshiaki Saito

Kazuhiro Nakamura

Naoto Suzuki

Yoichi Aruga

Mariko Miyaki

Hitoshi Tokieda

Akihiro Yasui

Yoshimitsu Takagi

Yoshihiro Suzuki

Shigeki Matsubara

Miki Taki

Hideyuki Yanami

Dietmar Kappelhoff

Takashi Nakasawa

Kenichi Nishigaki

Sayaka Sarwar

Satoru Chida

Kazuhiro Shimada

Goro Yoshida

Yasunao Awata

Werner Döppen

Ryohei Ishigami

Mikio Kasama

Yasuo Kaneko

When the type is to be changed from serum (preceding sample) to urine (current sample), 'serum' is set to a preceding type and 'urine' is set to a measurement type at number 1 in a condition number. At condition number 1, the wash type is pattern 1, with washing performed once with detergent 1. Where the preceding sample is serum and the current sample is CSF, the condition number is 2 and the wash type is pattern 2, with washing performed twice using detergent 1 and once with detergent 2. Where the preceding sample is urine and the current sample is CSF, the condition number is 3 and the wash type is pattern 3, with washing performed once with detergent 1, once with detergent 2, and once with water. In the case of pattern 4, washing is performed three times with detergent 1.

Automatic analyzer and method for washing sample-pipetting probe

An automatic analyzer is capable of ensuring sufficient nozzle cleaning and suppressing of deterioration in the accuracy of analysis. When it is judged that there remains no analysis item of the sample, a judgment is made on whether the sample dispensation quantity of the n-th sample dispensation is less than a dispensation quantity threshold value or not, and if less, a cleaning pattern is selected by making a judgment on whether or not all the sample dispensation quantities of the first through (n&#x2212;1)-th sample dispensations are less than the dispensation quantity threshold value. If the sample dispensation quantity of the n-th sample dispensation is the dispensation quantity threshold value or more, another cleaning pattern selected by making the judgment on whether or not all the sample dispensation quantities of the first through (n&#x2212;1)-th sample dispensations are less than the dispensation quantity threshold value.

Automatic analyzer

An automatic analyzer has a transport device which includes a specimen rack gripping mechanism that grips the specimen rack on a first transport path on which the specimen racks are transported by the specimen rack being sandwiched between gripping plates from both sides of flanks in the transport direction to transport the specimen rack along the first transport path and a gripping width controller that controls a distance between the gripping plates of the specimen rack gripping mechanism in accordance with a width of the specimen rack. Accordingly, an automatic analyzer capable of transporting a plurality of types of the specimen racks while suppressing an increase in size of the apparatus and also an increase in cost can be provided.

In determining whether a rack inputted to the automatic analyzer by the user is to be transferred to an analysis section or not, samples existing in a route from a buffer to a sample dispensing position in the analysis section are identified, and the number of items in which suction by a nozzle has not been completed in analysis items requested for the samples is managed. When the number of items is reduced to be smaller than a given number, the conveyance of a next rack from the buffer to the analysis section is controlled, thereby limiting the number of analysis items requested for samples in a waiting state for analysis in the analysis section constantly to be smaller than a fixed number. As a result, a period of time until a measurement result of emergency samples is outputted can be reduced even when emergency samples are newly inputted.

After an analysis start instruction is input in a state where a sample is not dispensed to all of reaction containersmounted on a reaction disc, before completing an analysis preparation washing process for washing the reaction containerto be used in analyzing the sample to be first analyzed, a soaking and washing process for performing soaking and washing during a predetermined period of time is controlled to be started by dispensing a soaking and washing detergent to another reaction containerdifferent from the reaction container. In this manner, the soaking and washing can be efficiently performed on the reaction container without hindering an analysis process.

Automatic analysis device

When the type is to be changed from serum (preceding sample) to urine (current sample), 'serum' is set to a preceding type and 'urine' is set to a measurement type at numberin a condition number. At condition number, the wash type is pattern, with washing performed once with detergent. Where the preceding sample is serum and the current sample is CSF, the condition number isand the wash type is pattern, with washing performed twice using detergentand once with detergent. Where the preceding sample is urine and the current sample is CSF, the condition number isand the wash type is pattern, with washing performed once with detergent, once with detergent, and once with water. In the case of pattern, washing is performed three times with detergent

A display is provided for an automatic analyzer to display statistics such as measurement results. A width of a display in a window that displays statistics may be adjusted and the amount of information to be displayed on the display is changed according to a level of detail of the information which the operator wants to confirm. Sample information, measurement results, and detailed information related to the measurement results are simultaneously displayed without a subwindow being displayed in overlapped form in the limited display area.

An automated analyzer that can effectively reduce contamination of a diluted low-concentration specimen resulting from a high-concentration specimen not being diluted. The automated analyzer includes a specimen nozzle that performs both the function of pipetting a specimen from a specimen container accommodating the specimen and the function of pipetting a specimen diluted by the analyzer, and means for washing the specimen nozzle with a predetermined detergent. When a pipetting process of a high-concentration specimen not being diluted and a pipetting process of a low-concentration specimen diluted by the analyzer are consecutively performed for the same specimen by the specimen nozzle, between the pipetting process of a high-concentration specimen and the pipetting process of a low-concentration specimen, the analyzer performs a washing processing in which the specimen nozzle is washed with the predetermined detergent.

Automated analyzer

An automatic analyzing device has an easy-to-use user interface. In particular, the automatic analyzing device for analyzing samples has a reaction disk to which samples are dispensed conveyed through a conveying path; a control unit that controls movement of the reaction disk; and a display unit that is controlled by the control unit and displays various screens. A sample list including sample IDs and states of analysis of the samples is displayed on a display screen of the display unit so that the sample IDs and the states of analysis can be selected, such that a menu displaying button for displaying processing menus for the sample selected in the sample list is displayed at the sample, and such that options of the menus for the sample are displayed as menu buttons when the menu displaying button is indicated.

Automatic analyzing device, information display method thereof, and information display system

An automatic analyzer enables users to perform working steps easily and reliably by switching a display screen irrespective of a skill level of the user. The automatic analyzer, which determines a consistency of a test item, includes a display/input section to display a plurality of working steps relating to necessary work flow for measurement. The display/input section is adapted to selectively present a maximized workflow display and a reduced workflow display. The maximized workflow display shows a series of operations and works, and further shows a plurality of operations and works in an order that the plurality of operations and works are processed. In a reduced display of the work flow, the reduced workflow display shows details of a specific operation or work, and a position of the specific operation or work in a sequence that the entire series of operations and works are processed.

An automated analyzer includes a conveyance mechanism to convey a specimen, an analysis portion to analyze the specimen, and a device cover to cover a movable mechanism including the conveyance mechanism. The automated analyzer is provided with an interlock mechanism and an interlock release mechanism. The interlock mechanism stops an operation of the movable mechanism when the device cover is opened. The interlock release mechanism disables all or part of the interlock mechanism. The interlock mechanism is enabled when a leveris in contact with a safety switch. The interlock mechanism is disabled or partially disabled when the leveris not in contact with the safety switch. This enables to prevent a user from inadvertently touching the movable mechanism including a hazard region during analysis of the automated analyzer or a maintenance task. Only a specific maintenance task can be performed with the device cover opened.

Automated analyzer and maintenance method for same

An automatic analyzer includes a function in which the measured data of a quality control sample is compared with reference maximum and minimum values of measured data of the quality control sample. When the measured data is out of the range between the reference maximum and minimum values, re-measurement for calibration is recommended to a user who can easily confirm the recommendation on an operation screen and request the re-measurement.

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.

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Tokyo, Japan

Toshihide Orihashi