Automatic cycling reaction apparatus and automatic analyzing apparatus using the same

Claim 2

An automatic enzymatic cycling reaction apparatus comprising; first means including a turntable for supporting a plurality of reaction vessels along its periphery, each of said vessels containing given amounts of a sample and a cycling mixture including enzymes; and second means for holding liquids contained in the reaction vessels at a low temperature at which the enzymatic cycling reaction does not substantially occur, bringing simultaneously liquids contained in all the reaction vessels at a given cycling reaction temperature, keeping the liquids at said temperature for a given period, holding all the liquids simultaneously at a first temperature at which a cycling reaction is stopped due to loss of activity of enzymes, and then keeping all the liquids simultaneously at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, said second means comprising a reaction tank in which said turntable is arranged, means for circulating a thermostatic liquid through said tank and means for controlling the temperature of said thermostatic liquid.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said device for controlling the temperature of the thermostatic liquid comprises a heater and a refrigerator and a switching valve for selectively passing the thermostatic liquid through the heater or refrigerator.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second means further comprises a lid removably placed on the reaction tank.

Claim 5

An automatic analyzer using an enzymatic cycling reaction comprising; first means including a turntable for supporting a number of reaction vessels along its periphery each of said vessels containing given amounts of a sample and a cycling mixture including enzymes; second means for keeping liquids contained in the reaction vessels at a low temperature at which the enzymatic cycling reaction does not substantially occur bringing simultaneously liquids contained in all the reaction vessels at a first temperature at which an enzymatic cycling reaction proceeds, keeping the liquids at said temperature for a given period, holding all the liquids simultaneously at a second temperature at which the enzymatic cycling reaction is stopped due to a loss of activity of the enzymes, and keeping all the liquids simultaneously at a third temperature lower than the second temperature and at which temperature an indicator reaction proceeds; third means for delivering a given amount of an indicator reagent into respective reaction vessels after the enzymatic cycling reaction of the liquids in the reaction vessels has been stopped; and fourth means for measuring fluorescent light emitted from substances produced by the indicator reaction, said second means comprising a reaction tank in which said turntable is arranged, means for circulating a thermostatic liquid through said reaction tank, and means for controlling the temperature of said thermostatic liquid.

Claim 6

An automatic analyzer using an enzymatic cycling reaction comprising; first means including a turntable for supporting a number of reaction vessels along its periphery each of said vessels containing given amounts of a sample and a cycling mixture including enzymes; second means for keeping liquids contained in the reaction vessels at a low temperature at which the enzymatic cycling reaction does not substantially occur bringing simultaneously liquids contained in all the reaction vessels at a first temperature at which an enzymatic cycling reaction proceeds, keeping the liquids at said temperature for a given period, holding all the liquids simultaneously at a second temperature at which the enzymatic cycling reaction is stopped due to a loss of activity of the enzymes, and keeping all the liquids simultaneously at a third temperature lower than the second temperature and at which temperature an indicator reaction proceeds; third means for delivering a given amount of an indicator reagent into respective reaction vessels after the enzymatic cycling reaction of the liquids in the reaction vessels has been stopped; and fourth means for measuring fluorescent light emitted from substances produced by the indicator reaction, said second means comprising a reaction tank in which said turntable is arranged, means for circulating a thermostatic liquid through said reaction tank, and means for controlling the temperature of said thermostatic liquid.

Claim 7

An analyzer according to claim 4, wherein said temperature controlling device comprises a heater, a refrigerator and a switching valve for selectively passing the thermostatic liquid through the heater or refrigerator.

Claim 8

An analyzer, according to claim 5, wherein said second means further comprises a lid removably placed on the reaction tank.