Abstract: Provided is a chemical analysis apparatus which has a stirring function for stirring, by using an ultrasonic element, a reagent or the like and a sample to be measured, and with which it is possible to infer the presence or absence of a reaction liquid and estimate the liquid amount of the reaction liquid without using a means such as a sensor and a visual inspection. This chemical analysis apparatus has an ultrasonic stirring mechanism and is characterized in that the ultrasonic stirring mechanism comprises: a piezoelectric element; a plurality of electrodes provided to the piezoelectric element; a power source unit for applying voltage to the electrodes; a detection unit for measuring electric impedance for each of the plurality of electrodes or for any combination of the electrodes; and an analysis unit for determining the liquid amount in a reaction vessel from the electric impedance detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: The present invention accurately estimates the opening state of a solenoid valve using a feature amount based on driving current information of the solenoid valve. A solenoid valve abnormality detection device, which uses a driving current pattern associated with valve opening of a solenoid valve and detected by a current sensor to detect an abnormality of the solenoid valve, comprises: a feature amount extraction unit that determines a feature amount of a driving current pattern associated with valve opening of the solenoid valve within a predetermined detection period; a feature amount correction unit that estimates the valve temperature of the solenoid valve; and an opening state estimation unit that estimates the opening state of the solenoid valve using the feature amount value corrected by the feature amount correction unit.

Abstract: Provided is a chemical analysis device that facilitates the estimation of a failure position in failure diagnosis. This chemical analysis device comprises a plurality of reaction cells into which specimens and reagents are dispensed and measures the absorbances of mixed liquids of the specimens and reagents accommodated in the reaction cells using a light measurement system for emitting light onto the mixed liquids and measuring the light that has passed through the mixed liquids. The chemical analysis device comprises a diagnosis unit for failure diagnosis. The diagnosis unit accumulates time-series light-measurement-system data measured using a sample specimen for failure diagnosis and a reagent for failure diagnosis, creates a light measurement data population for failure diagnosis for each prescribed reaction cell, and carries out failure diagnosis by comparing the light measurement data of the light measurement data populations created for each prescribed reaction cell with a preset threshold.

Abstract: An automatic chemical analyzer, maintenance kit, and maintenance method capable of, even in a case where a problem of the automatic chemical analyzer occurs, clarifying a cause of the problem in a user site and coping with the problem without collecting a device or a component. The automatic chemical analyzer maintenance kit is connectable to an automatic chemical analyzer including a reaction vessel for accommodating at least a pipetted specimen and a reagent, and a stirring mechanism including a piezoelectric element that irradiates the reaction vessel with ultrasonic waves. The piezoelectric element includes a plurality of divided electrodes. The automatic chemical analyzer maintenance kit measures, for each of the divided electrodes, an absolute value of an impedance of the piezoelectric element and a phase difference between a voltage applied to the divided electrode and a current, and determines if there is an abnormality an electrode based on a measurement result.

Abstract: A nozzle cleaner includes: a cleaning tank which stores a cleaning solution; a first conductive member that is disposed to be immersed into the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank when the nozzle is cleaned; an ultrasonic wave generating mechanism which is disposed so that at least a part of a second conductive member is immersed into the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank when the nozzle is cleaned and generates an ultrasonic vibration in the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank; a first voltage control unit which controls a potential applied to the first conductive member; and a second voltage control unit which controls a potential applied to the second conductive member, wherein the first voltage control unit applies a second potential V2 higher than a first potential V1 applied to the nozzle when the nozzle is cleaned to the first conductive member.

Abstract: The present invention accurately estimates the opening state of a solenoid valve using a feature amount based on driving current information of the solenoid valve. A solenoid valve abnormality detection device, which uses a driving current pattern associated with valve opening of a solenoid valve and detected by a current sensor to detect an abnormality of the solenoid valve, comprises: a feature amount extraction unit that determines a feature amount of a driving current pattern associated with valve opening of the solenoid valve within a predetermined detection period; a feature amount correction unit that estimates the valve temperature of the solenoid valve; and an opening state estimation unit that estimates the opening state of the solenoid valve using the feature amount value corrected by the feature amount correction unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic chemical analysis apparatus and an electrical impedance spectrometry device which make it possible to detect the state of a stirring mechanism prior to performing a stirring operation. The automatic chemical analysis apparatus dispenses a reagent and a sample to be analyzed into a reactor vessel 107, and performs stirring by applying sonic waves to the reactor vessel 107. The automatic chemical analysis apparatus comprises: a piezoelectric element 201 that generates sonic waves; a plurality of split electrodes 211 that are provided to the surface of the piezoelectric element 201; a power amplifier 203 that causes the piezoelectric element 201 to generate sonic waves by applying a voltage to each of the split electrodes 211; and a host computer and impedance measuring circuit that measure the electrical impedance spectrum of each split electrode 211 by applying a voltage to each of the split electrodes 211.

Abstract: An automated analysis device has a reaction container constructed on a reaction disc, a reaction tank for immersing the reaction container in water, a water level sensor, a reagent probe that suctions/discharges a reagent to the reaction container, and a controller. In the reagent probe, a water detection unit that detects the presence of water is provided at a prescribed site, the reagent probe being capable of detecting the water level in the reaction tank. The controller detects the water level in the reaction tank in at least three locations (e.g., a first water level confirmation part, a second water level confirmation part, and a third water level confirmation part) by using the water level sensor and the reagent probe, and has a function for confirming the levelness of the reaction tank or an apparatus on which the reaction tank is installed.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer (100) includes: a storage unit (21b) that stores various parameters of the automatic analyzer (100) in association with each of elevations used in the automatic analyzers (100), the parameters being optimized for each of the elevations; an input unit (21d) that acquires information of an elevation at which the automatic analyzer (100) is provided; and a controller (21a) that reads the parameters stored in the storage unit (21b) and sets the read parameters to the automatic analyzer (100) based on the elevation acquired by the input unit (21d). As a result, various parameters can be easily adjusted according to a usage environment of the device.

Abstract: A nozzle cleaner includes: a cleaning tank which stores a cleaning solution; a first conductive member that is disposed to be immersed into the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank when the nozzle is cleaned; an ultrasonic wave generating mechanism which is disposed so that at least a part of a second conductive member is immersed into the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank when the nozzle is cleaned and generates an ultrasonic vibration in the cleaning solution stored in the cleaning tank; a first voltage control unit which controls a potential applied to the first conductive member; and a second voltage control unit which controls a potential applied to the second conductive member, wherein the first voltage control unit applies a second potential V2 higher than a first potential V1 applied to the nozzle when the nozzle is cleaned to the first conductive member.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer (100) includes: a storage unit (21b) that stores various parameters of the automatic analyzer (100) in association with each of elevations used in the automatic analyzers (100), the parameters being optimized for each of the elevations; an input unit (21d) that acquires information of an elevation at which the automatic analyzer (100) is provided; and a controller (21a) that reads the parameters stored in the storage unit (21b) and sets the read parameters to the automatic analyzer (100) based on the elevation acquired by the input unit (21d). As a result, various parameters can be easily adjusted according to a usage environment of the device.

Abstract: Dilution of a sample occurring in a sample dispensing operation is a problem in terms of analysis accuracy. Although the dilution amount is alleviated to some extent by a technique of sucking the sample excessively, the problem may emerge along with a requirement for reducing the sample dispensing amount, an increase of sucking and discharging speed in response to improvement of a processing capability, and an increase of the number of items to be analyzed simultaneously. Provided is an automatic analyzer including a mechanism monitoring conductivity of system water filled in a nozzle and an electro-physical amount such as voltage and capacitance of a probe to enable detection of mixture of the sample and a reagent into the system water and dilution of the sample and the reagent.

Abstract: Dilution of a sample occurring in a sample dispensing operation is a problem in terms of analysis accuracy. Although the dilution amount is alleviated to some extent by a technique of sucking the sample excessively, the problem may emerge along with a requirement for reducing the sample dispensing amount, an increase of sucking and discharging speed in response to improvement of a processing capability, and an increase of the number of items to be analyzed simultaneously. Provided is an automatic analyzer including a mechanism monitoring conductivity of system water filled in a nozzle and an electro-physical amount such as voltage and capacitance of a probe to enable detection of mixture of the sample and a reagent into the system water and dilution of the sample and the reagent.