Patent EP0567093A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0567093A2
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EP
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Automatic analyzing apparatus
Assignee: Toray Industries Inc
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Filing: 1993-04-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of cartridges each have a specimen tub, a dilution tub and three reaction tubs, and a specimen is placed in the specimen tub in advance. The cartridges are mounted in a rack and set to a cartridge standby section. A specimen dispensing unit distributes the specimen from the specimen tub to the reaction tubs of each cartridge set to the cartridge standby section. Thereafter the cartridges are successively transported independently of one another in selected directions within a three-dimensional space to a first reagent dispensing section, a first reaction path, a second dispensing section, a second reaction path, an unreacted component removing section, a luminescent reagent dispensing section and a hydrogen peroxide dispensing section in the stated order by transport mechanisms provided in the respective sections. Examination processes are carried out with reagents dispensed by reagent dispensing units and through B/F separation by unreacted component removing units. Finally, reaction mixtures are subjected to photometry by a photometric unit in a photometric section, and thereafter the cartridges are transported to a cartridge discharge section. Where an analytical curve correction is effected, a specimen dispensing unit and each of sample cartridges holding sample specimens are moved relative to each other. For example, a first sample specimen placed in the specimen tub of the first sample cartridge is distributed to a first reaction tub of each of three sample cartridges. A second sample specimen placed in the specimen tub of the second sample cartridge is distributed to the second and third reaction tubs of each sample cartridge. A third sample specimen placed in the specimen tub of the third sample cartridge is distributed similarly. The respective sample cartridges are subjected to the examination processes prior to cartridges holding specimens to be examined. A new analytical curve is obtained from the results of examination thereof for use in examining the specimens placed in the cartridges subsequently transported for the examination processes.
Inventors
- 👤 Mutsumi Hayashi
- 👤 Tatsuo Ogasawara
- 👤 Yayoi Mizutani
- 👤 Nobuyuki Kuriyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/00584; G01N35/00594; G01N35/0092; G01N35/0095; G01N35/0098; G01N35/00722; G01N35/00732; G01N2035/00742; G01N2035/00752; G01N35/02; G01N35/04; G01N2035/0401; G01N2035/0412; G01N2035/0415; G01N2035/0474; G01N2035/0482; G01N2035/0487; G01N21/00; G01N21/75; G01N21/76; G01N35/00693; G01N35/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An automatic analyzing apparatus for dispensing reagents according to examination items to specimens to cause reactions, and measuring and analyzing reaction mixtures finally obtained through a plurality of analytic processes, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of cartridges each including, as integral parts thereof, at least one specimen tub for holding a specimen, and a plurality of reaction tubs for allowing analysis on a plurality of items to be conducted separately; transport means for transporting said cartridges in rectangular coordinate directions according to said analytic processes; and a multiple structural device including at least dispensing units and an optical unit for carrying out said analytic processes for the respective reaction tubs of said cartridges, said dispensing units and said optical unit being arranged in a multiple structure corresponding to the number of said reaction tubs for carrying out said analytic processes in parallel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transport means includes a plurality of transport mechanisms for transporting said cartridges in selected directions within a three-dimensional space for the respective analytic processes, and for independently transporting said cartridges for the respective analytic processes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
143 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said dispensing units includes a syringe, a cleaning buffer container, a reagent container, a first three-way valve, a second three-way valve and a dispensing nozzle, said syringe, said cleaning buffer container and said second three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said first three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said syringe, said reagent container, said dispensing nozzle and said first three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said second three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said first three-way valve, each of said dispensing units further including dispensation control means for causing said syringe to suck a reagent from said reagent container, switching said first three-way valve and said second three-way valve, and causing said dispensing nozzle to dispense said reagent sucked.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
143 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said dispensing units includes a syringe, a cleaning buffer container, a reagent container, a first three-way valve, a second three-way valve and a dispensing nozzle, said syringe, said cleaning buffer container and said second three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said first three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said syringe, said reagent container, said dispensing nozzle and said first three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said second three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said first three-way valve, each of said dispensing units further including dispensation control means for causing said syringe to suck a reagent from said reagent container, switching said first three-way valve and said second three-way valve, and causing said dispensing nozzle to dispense said reagent sucked.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
222 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said dispensing units includes a syringe, a cleaning buffer container, a plurality (n) of first to (n)th reagent containers, a plurality (n+1) of first to (n+1)th three-way valves and a dispensing nozzle, said syringe, said cleaning buffer container and said second three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said first three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said syringe, said first reagent container, said third three-way valve and said first three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said second three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said first three-way valve, said second reagent container, said fourth three-way valve and said second three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said third three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said second three-way valve, said (n)th reagent container, said dispensing nozzle and said (n)th three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said (n+1)th three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said (n)th three-way valve, each of said dispensing units further including dispensation control means for causing said syringe to suck a reagent from each of said reagent containers, switching said first to (n)th three-way valves, and causing said dispensing nozzle to dispense said reagent sucked.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
222 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said dispensing units includes a syringe, a cleaning buffer container, a plurality (n) of first to (n)th reagent containers, a plurality (n+1) of first to (n+1)th three-way valves and a dispensing nozzle, said syringe, said cleaning buffer container and said second three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said first three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said syringe, said first reagent container, said third three-way valve and said first three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said second three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said first three-way valve, said second reagent container, said fourth three-way valve and said second three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said third three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said second three-way valve, said (n)th reagent container, said dispensing nozzle and said (n)th three-way valve being connected to one another by piping through said (n+1)th three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said (n)th three-way valve, each of said dispensing units further including dispensation control means for causing said syringe to suck a reagent from each of said reagent containers, switching said first to (n)th three-way valves, and causing said dispensing nozzle to dispense said reagent sucked.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said dispensation control means is operable to control said syringe such that a predetermined quantity of reagent is sucked from said reagent container in addition to an intended quantity of reagent to be dispensed through said dispensing nozzle, part of the additional reagent is discarded through said dispensing nozzle before the intended quantity of reagent is dispensed to a recipient, the intended quantity of reagent is then dispensed, and thereafter a remaining quantity of reagent is discarded through said dispensing nozzle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said dispensation control means is operable to control said syringe such that a predetermined quantity of reagent is sucked from said reagent container in addition to an intended quantity of reagent to be dispensed through said dispensing nozzle, part of the additional reagent is discarded through said dispensing nozzle before the intended quantity of reagent is dispensed to a recipient, the intended quantity of reagent is then dispensed, and thereafter a remaining quantity of reagent is discarded through said dispensing nozzle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said dispensation control means is operable to control said syringe such that a predetermined quantity of reagent is sucked from one of said reagent containers in addition to an intended quantity of reagent to be dispensed through said dispensing nozzle, part of the additional reagent is discarded through said dispensing nozzle before the intended quantity of reagent is dispensed to a recipient, the intended quantity of reagent is then dispensed, and thereafter a remaining quantity of reagent is discarded through said dispensing nozzle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said dispensation control means is operable to control said syringe such that a predetermined quantity of reagent is sucked from one of said reagent containers in addition to an intended quantity of reagent to be dispensed through said dispensing nozzle, part of the additional reagent is discarded through said dispensing nozzle before the intended quantity of reagent is dispensed to a recipient, the intended quantity of reagent is then dispensed, and thereafter a remaining quantity of reagent is discarded through said dispensing nozzle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
122 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical unit includes: reaction mixture takeout means having a syringe, a cleaning buffer container and a nozzle connected to one another by piping through a three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said syringe, and a flow cell connected to an intermediate position of piping between said three-way valve and said nozzle, said flow cell being penetrable by light emitted from a reaction mixture sucked from each reaction tub of each cartridge and detained in said flow cell; photodetecting means for detecting the light emitted from said reaction mixture detained in said flow cell; and light shielding means for shutting off said flow cell and said photodetecting means from ambient light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said optical unit includes: reaction mixture takeout means having a syringe, a cleaning buffer container and a nozzle connected to one another by piping through a three-way valve to have a common port communicating with said syringe, and a flow cell connected to an intermediate position of piping between said three-way valve and said nozzle, said flow cell being penetrable by light emitted from a reaction mixture sucked from each reaction tub of each cartridge and detained in said flow cell; photodetecting means for detecting the light emitted from said reaction mixture detained in said flow cell; and light shielding means for shutting off said flow cell and said photodetecting means from ambient light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein elements forming parts of each unit are interconnected through piping having a length determined based on a capacity of said piping to agree with a predetermined reference value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein elements forming parts of each unit are interconnected through piping having a length determined based on a capacity of said piping to agree with a predetermined reference value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
258 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a specimen dispensing device for distributing the specimen placed in said specimen tub of each cartridge to predetermined reaction tubs of said cartridge; moving means for moving said specimen dispensing device and said cartridge relative to each other in a direction of a next analytic process and in a direction opposite thereto; specimen dispensation control means for controlling dispensation of sample specimens to the plurality (n which is a natural number 2 or more) cartridges such that said specimen dispensing device and each of said first to (n)th cartridges are moved relative to each other to distribute a first sample specimen placed in the specimen tub of the first cartridge to a first reaction tub of each of said first to (n)th cartridges, said specimen dispensing device and each of said cartridges are moved relative to each other to distribute a second sample specimen placed in the specimen tub of the second cartridge to a second reaction tub of each of said first to (n)th cartridges, and the first to (s)th (s being a natural number 2 or more and less than the number of reaction tubs) sample specimens placed in the specimen tubs of the first to (s)th cartridges are distributed to the first to (s)th reaction tubs of said first to (n)th cartridges; and analytical curve correcting means for effecting an analytical curve correction based on results of measurement obtained from the predetermined analytic processes for the reaction tubs to which said sample specimens have been distributed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
258 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising: a specimen dispensing device for distributing the specimen placed in said specimen tub of each cartridge to predetermined reaction tubs of said cartridge; moving means for moving said specimen dispensing device and said cartridge relative to each other in a direction of a next analytic process and in a direction opposite thereto; specimen dispensation control means for controlling dispensation of sample specimens to the plurality (n which is a natural number 2 or more) cartridges such that said specimen dispensing device and each of said first to (n)th cartridges are moved relative to each other to distribute a first sample specimen placed in the specimen tub of the first cartridge to a first reaction tub of each of said first to (n)th cartridges, said specimen dispensing device and each of said cartridges are moved relative to each other to distribute a second sample specimen placed in the specimen tub of the second cartridge to a second reaction tub of each of said first to (n)th cartridges, and the first to (s)th (s being a natural number 2 or more and less than the number of reaction tubs) sample specimens placed in the specimen tubs of the first to (s)th cartridges are distributed to the first to (s)th reaction tubs of said first to (n)th cartridges; and analytical curve correcting means for effecting an analytical curve correction based on results of measurement obtained from the predetermined analytic processes for the reaction tubs to which said sample specimens have been distributed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a waste treating device including: waste tubs for temporarily storing waste liquids produced in the respective analytic processes; a waste tank communicating with said waste tubs and having a sealed interior; valves for switchable to make and break the communication between said waste tubs and said waste tank, respectively; a vacuum pump connected to said waste tank for sucking the waste liquids stored in said waste tubs; and control means for controlling ON/Off operation of said vacuum pump and switching of said valves.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
92 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising a waste treating device including: waste tubs for temporarily storing waste liquids produced in the respective analytic processes; a waste tank communicating with said waste tubs and having a sealed interior; valves for switchable to make and break the communication between said waste tubs and said waste tank, respectively; a vacuum pump connected to said waste tank for sucking the waste liquids stored in said waste tubs; and control means for controlling ON/Off operation of said vacuum pump and switching of said valves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said waste treating device further includes a pressure release valve communicating with said waste tank for releasing an internal pressure of said waste tank, said pressure release valve being closed when said vacuum pump is turned on, and opened when said vacuum pump is turned off.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said waste treating device further includes a pressure release valve communicating with said waste tank for releasing an internal pressure of said waste tank, said pressure release valve being closed when said vacuum pump is turned on, and opened when said vacuum pump is turned off.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
103 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said multiple structural device further includes an unreacted component removing unit having a magnet for attracting from outside the reaction tubs magnetic components in the reaction mixtures having reacted to components to be measured in the reaction tubs of each cartridge, and a reaction mixture suction unit for sucking the reaction mixtures from said reaction tubs, said magnet having a magnetic substance covering three surfaces thereof which are two lateral surfaces on opposite sides of a surface opposed to said reaction tubs and a back surface remote from the surface opposed to said reaction tubs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
103 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said multiple structural device further includes an unreacted component removing unit having a magnet for attracting from outside the reaction tubs magnetic components in the reaction mixtures having reacted to components to be measured in the reaction tubs of each cartridge, and a reaction mixture suction unit for sucking the reaction mixtures from said reaction tubs, said magnet having a magnetic substance covering three surfaces thereof which are two lateral surfaces on opposite sides of a surface opposed to said reaction tubs and a back surface remote from the surface opposed to said reaction tubs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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