Automatic analysis apparatus

Claim 1

An automatic analysis apparatus comprising: A. a sample table (10) rotatably disposed for rotation about a vertical axis and including a first plurality of sample containers (12), a second plurality of diluent sample containers (14) and a third plurality of emergency containers (16), said first, second and third pluralities being arranged in concentric and ordered circular rows for sequential operation, said sample table (10) being operatively connected to first drive means (19) which rotates said sample table (10) in a stepping manner; B. a reaction table (20) rotatably disposed for rotation about a vertical axis and mounted around said sample table (10), said reaction table (20) including a plurality of reaction vessels (22) arranged in ordered circular row for sequential operation and concentrically of said rows of said containers (12, 14, 16) on said sample table (10), said reaction table (20) being operatively connected to second drive means (202) which rotates said reaction table (20) in a stepping manner to bring said reaction vessels (22) sequentially to a predetermined reagent discharge position (538); C. at least a pair of reagent tables (30) each rotatably disposed for rotation about a vertical axis and situated externally of said reaction table (20), each said reagent table (30) including a plurality of identical reagent containers (32) of sectional cross section for containing at least one type of reagent, said containers (32) being laid out in a circular pattern, each said reagent table (30) being operatively connected to separate drive means (34) which rotates said associated reagent table (30) in a stepping manner to bring said reagent containers (32) sequentially to a predetermined reagent aspiration position (536, 542); D. sample pipetting means (41) mounted adjacent to said reaction table (20) and including a stationary cleaning trough and a pair of first and second identical pipetting tubes (420, 421) fixedly secured to both ends of a linear arm (45) that is horizontally rotatably pivoted at its center on a stationary vertical column and drive means which slues said linear arm (45) about said vertical column to bring each paired pipetting tube (420, 421) first to a sample aspiration position (432) for said sample containers (12, 14, 16) where a measured aliquot of sample is picked up, then to a sample discharge position (434) where said picked up sample aliquot is discharged, and finally to said cleaning trough where said pipetting tubes (420, 421) are cleaned of the sample residue for the next round of operation, said paired pipetting tubes (420, 421) being operated by said drive means to be alternatively employed in such a manner that, when one of said paired pipetting tubes (420, 421) is at said sample discharge position (434), the other stands at said cleaning trough, said linear arm (42) being slidably disposed for sliding movement in longitudinal direction with respect to said vertical column and connected to a power transmission system (428) which slides said linear arm (45) to extend each said pipetting tube (420, 421) from said sample aspiration position (432) for sample containers (12) to a diluted or emergency sample container (14, 16); E. reagent pipetting means (520) mounted between said reaction table (20) and each reagent table (30) and consisting of a cleaning trough, a pair of first and second identical reagent tubes (521, 522) fixedly secured to both ends of a linear arm (524) that is horizontally rotatably pivoted at its center on a stationary vertical column, and drive means (530) which slues said linear arm (524) about said vertical column to turn each said paired reagent pipetting tubes (521, 522) first to said reagent aspiration position (536, 542) where a measured aliquot of reagent is picked up, then to a reagent discharge position (538, 540) situated a predetermined number of steps after said sample discharge position (434) where said picked up aliquot of reagent is discharged to mix with said picked up aliquot of sample discharged at said sample discharge position (434) to produce a reaction mixture in said reaction vessel (22) so that said mixture is eventually allowed to cause reaction for subsequent analytical purposes; F. photometer means for performing biochemical and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) analysis of the sample in said proper reaction vessel (22) by progressively monitoring the reaction taking place in it, comprising a lighttight enclosure (62) fixedly mounted radially internally of the reaction table (20), a light source (622) encased in said enclosure (62) and adapted to generate an optical beam, a condensing lens (624) fitted in said enclosure (62), pairs of diametrically opposed holes (28) defined in said reaction table (20) to permit said optical beam to pass through said reaction vessel (22), and including an optical system composed of a reflector (626), slit (628), and a spherical diffraction grating (630) through which said optical beam leaving said reaction vessel (22) is passed to output a dispersed optical beam, an optical sensor (632) to sense said output optical beam, and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the output of said optical sensor (632) to a digital signal; G. means for performing electrolytic analysis of a sample from said sample containers, comprising a container provided to receive therein an amount of sample from said sample, diluent or emergency containers (12, 14, 16) by said sample pipetting means (41) and a sampling pump (430) including a microsyringe and a pulse motor adapted to drive said pump through a pulley drive to suck up an aliquot of sample from said sample, diluent or emergence containers (12, 14, 16); H. a fluorescent analyzer (82) for measuring the density of drugs contained in a sample from said sample, diluent or emergency containers (12, 14, 16); I. means for EIA analysis of samples in bead solid phase by monitoring the reaction taking place in a reaction vessel (22); and J. optical beam transmitting means for said photometer means comprising a movable frame (640) adapted to encompass said reaction vessels (22) and movably disposed for vertical shifting relative to said reaction vessels (22) between a lower position at which said reaction vessels (22) are directly exposed to scanning by said optical beam that traverses the samples in said reaction vessels (22) to be sensed by the optical system of F. for biochemical analysis and EIA and an upper position where said reaction vessels (22) being encompassed by said frame (640), are exposed to scanning by said optical beam through an optical system comprising four reflectors (646) and a lens (644) for focal adjustment for EIA analysis of the samples in bead solid phase, and lifting means (642) for moving said frame (640) between said positions.