Abstract: In an automatic analyzer, when a sample is newly added, all sample barcodes on a sample disk are read. Immediately before dispensing it, second time reading is performed, and the result thereof is checked against that of the first time reading. A sample hand-contact preventing plate is provided above the reading position and dispensing position in order to prevent the sample from being exchanged after the second time reading. This hand-contact preventing plate has a damage-preventing configuration to protect a hand and fingers of an operator against a sampling probe.

Abstract: For installing reagent bottles in a reagent disk, the operator needs to install them while confirming the orientation of each reagent bottle. However, the operator will groan under a psychological burden in working while confirming the orientation. If the operator installs a reagent cassette in wrong orientation, the result of measurement will be erroneous, possibly leading to a grave testing error particularly in a blood analyzer. An automatic analyzer comprises a recording medium for recording information on placement of a plurality of types of reagents contained in a single reagent container, a reagent container disk capable of carrying a plurality of the reagent containers, an information reader for reading information recorded on the recording medium, and a reagent dispense controller for controlling which of reagents is dispensed by a reagent dispenser based on the information read by medium information reader.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer having a high processing capability even when plural kinds of reagents are dispensed at different timings. The automatic analyzer comprises a plurality of reaction cells, a reaction cell moving unit for moving the plurality of reaction cells at a certain cycle; a sample dispensing unit for dispensing a sample into a reaction cell on the reaction cell moving unit, a reagent dispensing unit for dispensing plural kinds of reagents to be added during a sample—reagent reaction process at different timings, the number of the reagent addition timings being larger than the number of times at which the reagents can be dispensed within a time of one cycle, and a control unit for controlling the sample dispensing unit to set a cycle in which no sample is dispensed by the sample dispensing unit, when analyses each using the reagent to be dispensed at the latest one of the reagent addition timings by the reagent dispensing unit succeed a predetermined number of times or more.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer which can remove air bubbles in a photometric light path within a reaction tank and can provide accurate measurement results with stability. The automatic analyzer comprises a reaction cell for mixing a sample and a reagent therein, a constant temperature bath for holding water in which the reaction cell is immersed, a suction pipe for sucking the water in the constant temperature bath, a return pipe for returning the water to the constant temperature bath, a pump disposed between the suction pipe and the return pipe and circulating the water, a heater for heating the water circulated in the constant temperature bath by the pump, and an air-bubble removing unit disposed between the suction pipe and the return pipe, having a water-tight structure to hold the constant temperature bath water therein, and removing air bubbles based on a difference in gravity between the water and the air bubbles.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer which can perform automatic re-measurement, can release a sample for transfer to another unit, can easily perform pre-dilution of the sample, and is adaptable for a reduction in amount of the sample. The automatic analyzer comprises a reaction disk holding a plurality of reaction cells arranged in a row along the circumference of the reaction disk, and a sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing samples into the reaction cells on the reaction disk. The sample dispensing mechanism comprises a dispensing nozzle for dispensing the samples and a support mechanism for supporting the dispensing nozzle, and the support mechanism is disposed inside the circumference of the reaction disk along which the reaction cells are arranged in a row.

Abstract: Without causing an increase in size and complication of an automatic analyzer, the efficiency of washing cuvettes can be increased and the amount of detergent used can be more effectively saved in comparison with known analyzers. In an automatic analyzer in which a sample and a reagent are dispensed into each of a plurality of cuvettes, a resulting reaction solution is mixed under stirring, and reaction states of the mixed reaction solution are measured successively. The automatic analyzer includes a unit for stirring a detergent in the cuvette when the interior of the cuvette is washed with the detergent after measurement of a reaction. The automatic analyzer also includes a control device controlling steps of reaction measurement and washing and incorporating a sequence of stirring in the washing step. A mixing unit for mixing the reaction solution also serves as the unit for stirring the detergent in the cuvette.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer is disclosed that dispenses a sample and a reagent into each of a plurality of reaction vessels to allow them to react with each other, and that measures the liquid formed as a result of the reaction. This automatic analyzer includes a first reagent storage case for storing the reagent to be used for the reaction, a second reagent storage case for storing the reagent for supplemental purpose, and a reagent conveying unit for conveying the reagent from the second reagent storage case to the first reagent storage case.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer capable of replenishing a reagent even during an analysis and minimizing a suspension of the analysis. The automatic analyzer includes a plurality of reaction cells and a unit for holding reagents used in analyses. A plurality of reagents are dispensed to a sample in each reaction cell with a time difference to develop a reaction, and a liquid after the reaction is measured. After temporarily stopping the operation of dispensing the sample for a preset time during the analysis, the sample dispensing operation is restarted. Then, the sample dispensing operation is temporarily stopped again for the preset time at the timing in the dispensing of the reagent corresponding to the timing at which the sample dispensing operation was temporarily stopped. In the automatic analyzer, therefore, an analysis suspension due to registration and replacement of reagents during the analysis can be minimized, a larger number of reagents can be loaded, and a throughput per unit time can be increased.

Abstract: A reagent container used for automatic analysis in an automatic analyzer, which enables reagents to be set with ease and which can increase flexibility in selecting combinations of the reagents. In an automatic analyzer for analyzing components of a biological sample by using two or more kinds of reagents, reagent containers containing the two or more kinds of reagents are jointed into one reagent cassette with the aid of a recess and a projection provided in and on the reagent containers, a reagent holder, bonding, tape binding, etc. Thus, a plurality of reagents used for one analysis item are combined with each other in one cassette corresponding to one analysis item. A reagent container for use in automatic analysis, which is easy to handle and highly flexible in setting of reagents, can be provided.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer which can remove air bubbles in a photometric light path within a reaction tank and can provide accurate measurement results with stability. The automatic analyzer comprises a reaction cell for mixing a sample and a reagent therein, a constant temperature bath for holding water in which the reaction cell is immersed, a suction pipe for sucking the water in the constant temperature bath, a return pipe for returning the water to the constant temperature bath, a pump disposed between the suction pipe and the return pipe and circulating the water, a heater for heating the water circulated in the constant temperature bath by the pump, and an air-bubble removing unit disposed between the suction pipe and the return pipe, having a water-tight structure to hold the constant temperature bath water therein, and removing air bubbles based on a difference in gravity between the water and the air bubbles.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer having a high processing capability even when plural kinds of reagents are dispensed at different timings. The automatic analyzer comprises a plurality of reaction cells, a reaction cell moving unit for moving the plurality of reaction cells at a certain cycle; a sample dispensing unit for dispensing a sample into a reaction cell on the reaction cell moving unit, a reagent dispensing unit for dispensing plural kinds of reagents to be added during a sample—reagent reaction process at different timings, the number of the reagent addition timings being larger than the number of times at which the reagents can be dispensed within a time of one cycle, and a control unit for controlling the sample dispensing unit to set a cycle in which no sample is dispensed by the sample dispensing unit, when analyses each using the reagent to be dispensed at the latest one of the reagent addition timings by the reagent dispensing unit succeed a predetermined number of times or more.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer which can perform automatic re-measurement, can release a sample for transfer to another unit, can easily perform pre-dilution of the sample, and is adaptable for a reduction in amount of the sample. The automatic analyzer comprises a reaction disk holding a plurality of reaction cells arranged in a row along the circumference of the reaction disk, and a sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing samples into the reaction cells on the reaction disk. The sample dispensing mechanism comprises a dispensing nozzle for dispensing the samples and a support mechanism for supporting the dispensing nozzle, and the support mechanism is disposed inside the circumference of the reaction disk along which the reaction cells are arranged in a row.

Abstract: A reagent cassette used in an automatic analyzer for a clinical examination room, which provides an analysis environment enabling an operator to select reagent bottles with proper capacities depending on the number of tests to be performed in each different type of facility and to properly set reagents with ease. In the automatic analyzer comprising a sample pipetting section, a reagent pipetting section, a reaction cuvette, etc., one component in a sample is analyzed by using the reagent cassette in which one or a plurality of reagent bottles containing two or more types of reagents are combined together. The reagent cassette is provided with a reagent identifier including information regarding the presence or absence of a reagent opening of the reagent bottle for each of a plurality of positions of the openings.

Abstract: For installing reagent bottles in a reagent disk, the operator needs to install them while confirming the orientation of each reagent bottle. However, the operator will groan under a psychological burden in working while confirming the orientation. If the operator installs a reagent cassette in wrong orientation, the result of measurement will be erroneous, possibly leading to a grave testing error particularly in a blood analyzer. An automatic analyzer comprises a recording medium for recording information on placement of a plurality of types of reagents contained in a single reagent container, a reagent container disk capable of carrying a plurality of the reagent containers, an information reader for reading information recorded on the recording medium, and a reagent dispense controller for controlling which of reagents is dispensed by a reagent dispenser based on the information read by medium information reader.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer is disclosed that includes a supplementary reagent storage section and reagent bottle transfer mechanism besides an analysis reagent storage section, and that, by managing information on reagents stored in these two regent storage sections, is capable of automating reagent management such as reagent replacing work, thereby reducing the burden on an operator, minimizing the interruption of an analysis due to reagent registration and reagent replacement, mounting many reagents thereon, and achieving a high throughput.

Abstract: In an automatic analyzer, when a sample is newly added, all sample barcodes on a sample disk are read. Immediately before dispensing it, second time reading is performed, and the result thereof is checked against that of the first time reading. A sample hand-contact preventing plate is provided above the reading position and dispensing position in order to prevent the sample from being exchanged after the second time reading. This hand-contact preventing plate has a damage-preventing configuration to protect a hand and fingers of an operator against a sampling probe.

Abstract: The invention provides an automatic analyzer which can realize efficient continuous measurement on many samples and shorten a waiting time to analysis, particularly, for a sample having a high degree of urgency. The automatic analyzer comprises a conveyer line capable of moving a sample rack back and forth, a randomly accessible buffer disposed at each of both ends of the conveyer line, and an analysis unit connected to the conveyer line. In the automatic analyzer with high performance, a sufficient area for use as, e.g., a re-analysis buffer, can be ensured while realizing a compact system size. The analysis system is also promptly adaptable for an analysis request for an urgent sample.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer in which, without causing an increase in size and complication of the analyzer, the efficiency of washing cuvettes can be increased and the amount of detergent used can be more effectively saved in comparison with known analyzers. In an automatic analyzer in which a sample and a reagent are dispensed into each of a plurality of cuvettes, a resulting reaction solution is mixed under stirring, and reaction states of the mixed reaction solution are measured successively, the automatic analyzer includes a unit for stirring a detergent in the cuvette when the interior of the cuvette is washed with the detergent after measurement of a reaction occurred in the reaction solution. The automatic analyzer includes a control device controlling steps of reaction measurement and washing carried out in the automatic analyzer and incorporating a sequence of stirring in the washing step. Ultrasonic washing having a high washing effect is used as the unit for stirring a detergent in the cuvette.

Abstract: An automatically analyzing apparatus includes a plurality of reaction containers for reacting a sample with a reagent, and a reaction container washing unit for washing the reaction containers through a plurality of washing steps. The reaction container washing unit includes a plurality of storage parts in each of which washing liquid containing therein reacted substance is reserved. The plurality of storage parts are sorted with different reacted substance concentrations. A supply part of the reaction container washing unit selects washing liquid of a desired reacted substance concentration among the plurality of storage parts in accordance with respective washing conditions of the reaction containers and supplies the selected washing liquid into the reaction containers for washing the respective reaction containers.

Abstract: In order to provide the methods and equipment that enable the reduction of the total time required for reagent setup even in, and hence, the simplification and acceleration of the startup of, an analytical apparatus in which a plurality of reagent manufacturers are involved, the method of reagent setup in an analytical apparatus can be implemented by incorporating steps in which: reagent-dependent parameters on the required reagents of a plurality of reagent manufacturers are to be entered; the reagent-dependent parameters corresponding to the particular specifications of the analytical apparatus are to be stored in batch form into a storage medium; the batch-stored reagent-dependent parameters corresponding to the analytical apparatus specifications are to be registered in the corresponding analytical apparatus by use of the storage medium, and; a series of data measurements based on the batch-registered reagent-dependent parameters corresponding to the analytical apparatus specifications are to be performed