Abstract: A chromatogram analyzer which analyzes a chromatogram obtained by applying a sample containing n analytes (wherein n is a natural number of at least 2) to chromatography to detect peaks attributable to the n analytes.

Abstract: A chromatogram analyzer is provided which analyzes a chromatogram obtained by applying a sample containing an analyte. The chromatogram analyzer can be used after peak detection, for example, based on predicted peak emergence times for respective analytes of interest and can determine proper baselines even in the presence of peaks attributable to components other than the analytes or ghost peaks. The chromatogram analyzer is used for an analysis of a chromatogram developed by chromatography, namely by separating and detecting analytes in a sample. Although chromatography is divided into various types of liquid chromatography and gas chromatography according to the principles for separation and development, a chromatogram obtained by any type of chromatography can be analyzed. For example, an electrophoretically obtained result stained with a proper dye can be analyzed by using the present invention after photometric scanning.

Abstract: A method of rate calculation in which, in connection with a reaction in which the substrate of an enzyme undergoes the action of the enzyme to be converted to a reaction product, a signal correlated to the concentration of the reaction product is measured at different points of time, those measured values obtained which exceed the upper limit preset in accordance with the detection limit of a detector to be used are excluded while selecting those measured values obtained at different points of time at least equal in number to the independent parameters of the approximating function and which are not greater than said upper limit and the measured values thus selected are weighted by a finite value to effect approximation by said function, provided that said finite value for weighting at least a portion of the measured values are changed continuously in accordance with the magnitudes of said specific measured values.

Abstract: A fluorescence detection apparatus is provided which has a partial reflection mirror 8 for transmitting a part of fluorescence light emitted from a fluorescent substance by projecting excitation light and reflecting the rest of the fluorescence light, and a pair of a first and a second photodiode 2,3 for measuring the light transmitted through or reflected by partial reflection mirror 8 respectively at a selected wavelength, and the pair of the first and the second diodes are arranged to be optically equivalent relative to the partial reflection mirror 8. This fluorescence detection apparatus is affected less by positional deviation of the measurement cell relative to the optical measurement system.

Abstract: An apparatus has a holder unit for sample vessels and reaction vessels, a dispensing unit and a washing unit; wherein, (i) the holder unit involves a sample-vessel holder including a linear array of holes for receiving the sample vessels, a reaction-vessel holder including a linear array of holes for receiving the reaction vessels, a coupling arrangement for coupling together the sample-vessel holder and the reaction-vessel holder so that the linear arrays of the holes of the holders are arranged parallel to each other, and a moving arrangement for horizontally moving the coupled sample-vessel holder and the reaction-vessel holder, (ii) the dispensing unit is movable in the direction orthogonal to the horizontal-moving direction of the sample-vessel holder and the reaction-vessel holder, and (iii) the washing unit supplies cleaning liquid to the reaction vessels and absorbs the liquid-phase component from the reaction vessels.

Abstract: An automatic sample pretreatment device is provided which is capable of conducting a series of treatments or reactions from pretreatment to measurement automatically in a short time by employing a separate reaction system from the reaction system for measurement.

Abstract: A reaction apparatus is provided which is suitable for automatic immunoassay equipment and is capable of conducting treatments in reaction vessels for different reaction conditions such as reaction time and treatment method like a one-step method and a two-step method. The apparatus comprises a conveying mechanism for conveying vessels containing a objective measurement substance around a rotation center. The conveying mechanism comprises a fixed disk 1 for guiding the vessels 5 along a spiral lane 2, and a rotation disk 3 for guiding the vessels 5 along radial lanes. The vessels 5 are inserted at intersection points of the spiral lane and the radial lanes, and are conveyed with the rotation of the radial lanes along the spiral lane. The mechanism is constituted such that the vessels 5 for long-time treatment and the vessels for short-time treatment are inserted to the same insertion position and the vessels 5 for short-time treatment is taken out from an intermediate way of the conveying route.

Abstract: A method for determining a fluorescent substance in a broader concentration range with higher measurement accuracy is provided which is applicable to assay of enzyme activity in enzyme-label immunoassay, enzyme-label DNA hybridization, etc. A method for assaying enzyme activity is also provided which employs the above fluorescence measurement.

Abstract: Method of assay of enzymatic activity, comprising projecting excitation light to a sample containing an enzyme, a substrate which forms a product by action of the enzyme, and a reference substance which is insensitive to the action of the enzyme but emits fluorescence; obtaining a first measured value of fluorescence intensity of the sample at a first wavelength region which includes fluorescence emitted by the substrate or the product at least, obtaining a second measured value of fluorescence intensity at a second wavelength region which is different from the first wavelength region for the first measured value and includes fluorescence emitted by the reference substance; and assaying the enzymatic activity from the ratio of the first measured value to the second measured value and apparatus for performing the method. The method assures high accuracy and high sensitivity of measurement in enzyme labeled immunoassay and enzyme labeled DNA hybridization.

Abstract: Method of assay of enzymatic activity, comprising projecting excitation light to a sample containing an enzyme, a substrate which forms a product by action of the enzyme, and a reference substance which is insensitive to the action of the enzyme but emits fluorescence; obtaining a first measured value of fluorescence intensity of the sample at a first wavelength region which includes fluorescence emitted by the substrate or the product at least, obtaining a second measured value of fluorescence intensity at a second wavelength region which is different from the first wavelength region for the first measured value and includes fluorescence emitted by the reference substance; and assaying the enzymatic activity from the ratio of the first measured value to the second measured value and apparatus for performing the method. The method assures high accuracy and high sensitivity of measurement in enzyme labeled immunoassay and enzyme labeled DNA hybridization.

Abstract: Method of assay of enzymatic activity, including projecting excitation light to a sample containing an enzyme, a substrate which forms a product by action of the enzyme, and a reference substance which is insensitive to the action of the enzyme but emits fluorescence; obtaining a first measured value of fluorescence intensity of the sample at a first wavelength region which includes fluorescence emitted by the substrate or the product at least, obtaining a second measured value of fluorescence intensity at a second wavelength region which is different from the first wavelength region for the first measured value and includes fluorescence emitted by the reference substance; and assaying the enzymatic activity from the ratio of the first measured value to the second measured value and apparatus for performing the method. The method assures high accuracy and high sensitivity of measurement in enzyme labeled immunoassay and enzyme labeled DNA hybridization.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a discharge of a liquid comprises the steps of: measuring a presence or absence of a liquid discharged at an optional area of a passage for the liquid during discharging the liquid of a vessel through the passage; comparing a measurement result obtained in said measuring step with a reference measurement result which are to be obtained when a discharge of the liquid is reliably carried out; and determining as to whether a discharge operation for the liquid has been reliably performed. And an apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: An automated analyzer for automatically assaying a specific component in a sample by utilizing a top-opened reaction vessel containing a reagent capable of reacting with the specific component, and which is sealed with a seal foil on which a symbol for the reagent is shown: said analyzer comprising a seal foil breaker for breaking the seal foil, a sample dispenser for dispensing the sample to the vessel, and a detector for detecting a reaction signal caused by a reaction with the specific component and the reagent; a transfer device for transferring the reaction vessel and a symbol discriminator for discriminating the symbol shown on the seal foil, which is placed at a position on a transfer route of the reaction vessels transferred by the transfer device and at a position before the seal-foil breaker.

Abstract: An automated immunoassay analyzser comprising a transfer route on which test plates each having a plurality of chambers for immunological reaction opened upwards are transferred continually with a constant interval of time, and devices of at least A, B, C and D described below which are arranged on the transfer route from upstream to downstream in the order referred to in which the device A is for injecting the sample comprising a vertically and horizonally driven support, a pipet fixed to the support, and a nozzle tip usable for a single sample and removably attached to the lower end of the pipet, the device B is for B/F separation and the device C is for injecting the substrate solution and both devices are integratedly combined and comprise a vertically and horizontally driven support, a washing tube supported by the support, a temperature controllable solution reservoir block fixed to the support, a substrate injection tube provided to the lower side of the reservoir block, the washing tube and the substr

Abstract: A biochemical reaction analyzing apparatus having a reaction cup and a suction head for carrying the reaction cup, wherein the suction head can carry a reaction cup of light weight used for biochemical reaction analysis by hanging it by suction, wherein the head is provided with a cylindrical cavity as an air passage having a diameter approximately equal to that of an air suction and discharge opening formed at the lower end of the head body and extending up from the opening in the head body; further, if necessary, a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the inner wall surrounding the cylindrical cavity or a vertically movable weight fitted in the cylindrical cavity is provided.

Abstract: A biochemical reaction measuring apparatus wherein many cups providing reaction cells for biochemical reaction measurement are held and conveyed in arrays on a carrying plate, a cup unloading mechanism is installed which hangs up and unloads the cups from the carrying plate after the measuring processes have been completed, and the cup unloading mechanism has channels into which the cups on the carrying plate being conveyed are fitted automatically and bar members which are engaged with the cups to be hung up at both sides of channels.

Abstract: A quantitative dispenser for a liquid includes a pipette having a downwardly directed nozzle which serves to pick up and deliver a predetermined quantity of a liquid and a mechanism for moving the pipette downwardly to dip the lower end of the pipette into the liquid supply. A detector is provided for detecting reflection of light which is projected downwardly to the surface of the liquid while the pipette is moved downwardly to approach the surface. A control circuit is connected to the detector to determine the stop point for the downwardly moving pipette with the aid of information received from the detector. The detector is provided with a spot type reflection sensor having a light convergent optical element having a focal point at a certain distance below the detector whereby the stop point of the downwardly moving pipette is determined so as to correspond to a point of maximum intensity of the incoming reflected light.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus for enzyme reaction rates comprising optical detection means for detecting in time series the intensity of fluorescence derived from fluorescent materials obtained through enzyme reactions, a first arithmetic circuit having time series signals of the intensity of the fluorescence detected by the optical detection means as an input for calculating apparent increasing rate of the fluorescent materials by utilizing a predetermined computation equation, and a second arithmetic circuit having an apparent increasing rate of the fluorescent materials computed through the first arithmetic circuit as an input information for calculating a true increasing rate of the fluorescent materials by utilizing a predetermined correction equation, wherein enzyme contributing to the aforementioned reaction is obtained through enzyme immunoreaction.

Abstract: Process for injecting a minute volume of a solution from a nozzle device by positive pressure applied from a source of compressed air with or without positive pressure applied in parallel from a cylinder device, comprising applying the positive pressure from the compressed air source at least in a final period of injection. The process enables in injecting minute volumes of solution to remarkably decrease the injection error due to a small fraction of solution remaining at the lower end of the nozzle and can be applied to advantage to those apparatus for analyses and measurements which strictly require precision in injection.

Abstract: A reciprocable vertical shafts 21 has a pyramid shaped lower tip for piercing a sealing foil 8d secured across the top of an analyzer test cup containing an active substance. The edges of the pyramid divide the foil into triangular segments which are pressed against the inner wall of the cup by the cylindrical root portion of the shaft such that they do not engage any of the active substance or interfere with subsequent injections into or withdrawals from the cup.