Hitachi-high-technologies Corporation

Hitachi High-tech Corporation

Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.

Roche Diagnostics Gmbh

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Yoichi Aruga

Toshihide Orihashi

Yoshiaki Saito

Takashi Nakasawa

Kazuhiro Nakamura

Takenori Okusa

Yoshihiro Suzuki

Takamichi Mori

Akihiro Yasui

Hiroki Mori

Miki Taki

Naoto Suzuki

Yosuke Horie

Hironobu Yamakawa

Kouhei Nonaka

Yoshiki Muramatsu

Alexander Seiler

Sayaka Sarwar

Andrew McCaughey

Tatsuya Tokunaga

Yoko Inoue

Taisaku Seino

Hideto Tamezane

Kenichi Takahashi

Hans Hornauer

Hans-Juergen Mueller

Saori Chida

A method of washing an aspiration probe of an in-vitro diagnostic system is disclosed. The aspiration probe comprises an outer surface and an inner surface forming an inner space for receiving a fluid. The method comprises dipping the aspiration probe into a first wash fluid so that the outer surface is immersed at least in part into the first wash fluid, aspirating an amount of the first wash fluid into the inner space of the aspiration probe, propagating an ultrasonic vibration to the outer surface of the aspiration probe via the first wash fluid, and rinsing the outer surface and the inner surface of the aspiration probe with a second wash fluid. Further, an in-vitro diagnostic method and an in-vitro diagnostic system are disclosed.

Method of washing an aspiration probe of an in-vitro diagnostic system, in-vitro diagnostic method, and in-vitro diagnostic system

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

The invention provides a highly reliable automatic analyzer and dispenser probe cleaning method that allows for the removal of leftover cleaning water from the outer wall surfaces of a probe without increasing the size of a cleaning bath and contaminating the outer wall surfaces of the probe. A cleaning bath() comprises: a cleaning water outletfor discharging into the cleaning bath() the cleaning water supplied from a cleaning water supply mechanism; and a compressed air outlet, disposed on the trajectory of the cleaning water discharged from the cleaning water outlet, for discharging the compressed air supplied from a compressed air supply mechanismtoward a sample probeor a reagent probeinserted in the cleaning bath().

Automatic analyzer and cleaning method

The automatic analyzer includes: a member to be washed, such as a probe or a stirrer for contacting and stirring a liquid; a wash station in which the member to be washed is washed with a washing liquid; and a measuring part that measures an optical characteristic of an evaluation reagent contained in a reaction cell. A control unit brings the member to be washed that has been washed in the wash station into contact with the evaluation reagent, causes the measuring part to measure the optical characteristic after contact with the evaluation reagent, and calculates the amount of the washing liquid carried into the reaction cell by the member to be washed, based on the measured optical characteristic.

Automatic analyzer

A control unit outputs measurement status information including the time up to the completion of creation of the calibration curve for each of the desired measurement items to a display unit. The output/display of the calibration curve data measurement status for each of the items enables the operator to be aware of information about a failure to set a standard solution or to request the setting of the standard solution and to recognize how long he or she will need to wait until the creation of the calibration curve begins. The operator can therefore know what can be done while waiting, thereby improving job efficiency.

In an automated analyzing apparatus, problems arise when a reagent container is carried in during analysis, since it is necessary to stop all accesses of mechanisms etc. to a location of the apparatus where the reagent container is placed and, in a situation in which measurements have been already started, it is impossible to carry the reagent container after waiting about several minutes. To address the problems, when a remaining amount of a reagent corresponding to a predetermined item becomes equal to or less than a first threshold value, a pause cycle of reagent suction is generated in which the reagent dispensing mechanism does not suction the reagent from inside of a reagent container of a reagent disc at regular intervals, and a reagent container containing the same kind of reagent in the reagent disc by the reagent container carrying mechanism is automatically carried in the pause cycle.

Automated analyzing apparatus

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

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 analysis device may enable easy selection of a desired reagent-setting position and efficient execution of reagent information confirmation and reagent usage setup by displaying, at a high level of visibility and in an enlarged format, both of the selected reagent-setting position and means for moving, for example, a mouse pointer to an anterior or posterior display position with respect to the selected reagent-setting position. A display controller may cause display of a list of reagent-setting positions provided in a reagent disk. An extended display controller may cause display, in an enlarged format, of a reagent-setting position that has been selected from the reagent-setting position list displayed by the display controller. The display of the selected reagent-setting position may be enlarged distinctly from that of other reagent-setting positions. A movement controller may select a reagent-setting position displayed next to the reagent-setting position being displayed in the enlarged format.

Automatic analysis device

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 automatic chemical analyzer in which a reaction solution is stirred by air ejected from an air ejection hole placed above a reaction container. The reaction region can be washed and cleaned sufficiently without causing damage, such as exfoliation of a coating reagent. A reaction container diskis provided with a poreand a pressure detectorconnected with the pore. Before and after the stirring operation, the ejection hole (nozzle)ejecting air is moved and the output value of the pressure detector is compared with a previously measured normal value. With a discharge pipeand a suction pipeinserted to the opening of the reaction containerto be close to both ends of the opening and the side wall of the container, the reaction regionat the bottom of the container is washed by continuous discharge and suction of cleaning fluid.

Chemical analyzer

An automatic chemical analyzer in which a reaction solution is stirred by air ejected from an air ejection hole placed above a reaction container. The reaction region can be washed and cleaned sufficiently without causing damage, such as exfoliation of a coating reagent. A reaction container disk is provided with a pore and a pressure detector connected with the pore. Before and after the stirring operation, the ejection hole (nozzle) ejecting air is moved and the output value of the pressure detector is compared with a previously measured normal value. With a discharge pipe and a suction pipe inserted to the opening of the reaction container to be close to both ends of the opening and the side wall of the container, the reaction region at the bottom of the container is washed by continuous discharge and suction of cleaning fluid.

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Tokyo, Japan

Yoichi Aruga