Abstract: A valve bridge portion, in which four valves A to D are connected in a bridge shape, is interposed between sample lines to a rotor of a continuous centrifuge. A microcomputer is able to open and close the valves A to D independently and is capable of switching between top feed and bottom feed to the sample line. When sample supply is started, switching between the top feed and the bottom feed is performed multiple times, and in the middle of switching and sending a sample liquid, the microcomputer executes an operation of temporarily increasing a liquid pressure multiple times by temporarily closing an outlet valve (C or D) and then immediately opening the valve. As a result of repeating the operation of switching between the said sample feed directions and temporarily increasing the liquid pressure, air that accumulates inside the rotor can be effectively discharged.

Abstract: A continuous centrifuge includes: a cylindrical rotor configured to separate a specimen; a centrifuging chamber accommodating the rotor; a driving unit configured to rotate the rotor; a specimen line configured to continuously supply and discharge the specimen to and from the rotor during rotation of the rotor; and a controller configured to control the driving unit. The control unit has a cleansing mode which flows a liquid chemical through the specimen line so as to conduct sterilization and/or cleansing while rotating the rotor.

Abstract: A centrifuge including: a rotor configured to separate a sample; a driving unit configured to rotate the rotor; a control device configured to control the driving unit and generate operation data; a data storage device configured to store the operation data; and a communication unit configured to connect the centrifuge with another centrifuge, wherein the storage device has a first storage area configured to store the operation data of the centrifuge, and a second storage area configured to store operation data of the other centrifuge acquired through the communication unit.

Abstract: A centrifugal machine including: a rotor which is configured to accommodate a sample; a driving part which is configured to rotate the rotor; a control part which is configured to control the driving part; an operating part; and a record part, wherein the operating part is provided with a login screen to which first user information is configured to be inputted at the start of an operation, and a user change screen to which second user information different from the first user information inputted to the login screen is configured to be inputted, and wherein the record part is configured to record the first user information, the second user information, a change time at which the user information is changed, and a rotating speed of the rotor.

Abstract: A continuous centrifuge including: a rotor configured to separate a sample; a centrifuge chamber configured to accommodate the rotor; a driving part configured to rotate the rotor; a sample line configured to continuously supply and discharge the sample to and from the rotor during rotation of the rotor; and an air detecting sensor provided to a supply side and a discharge side of the sample line.

Abstract: A centrifuge includes a rotor, a rotation shaft which has a through-hole communicated with an interior of the rotor, a face seal which slidingly contacts an end of the rotation shaft and has a path communicated with the through-hole of the rotation shaft, a wall member which accommodates the face seal, a sample transfer unit which transfers a sample through the rotor, and a coolant circulation unit which circulates a coolant to the wall member. The sample transfer unit transfers the sample by pressure so that a pressure of the sample flowing through a portion where the rotation shaft and the face seal slidingly contact with each other is higher than a pressure of the coolant flowing through the wall member.

Abstract: A continuous centrifuge includes: a cylindrical rotor configured to separate a specimen; a centrifuging chamber accommodating the rotor; a driving unit configured to rotate the rotor; a specimen line configured to continuously supply and discharge the specimen to and from the rotor during rotation of the rotor; and a controller configured to control the driving unit. The control unit has a cleansing mode which flows a liquid chemical through the specimen line so as to conduct sterilization and/or cleansing while rotating the rotor.

Abstract: A centrifuge includes a rotor, a rotation shaft which has a through-hole communicated with an interior of the rotor, a face seal which slidingly contacts an end of the rotation shaft and has a path communicated with the through-hole of the rotation shaft, a wall member which accommodates the face seal, a sample transfer unit which transfers a sample through the rotor, and a coolant circulation unit which circulates a coolant to the wall member. The sample transfer unit transfers the sample by pressure so that a pressure of the sample flowing through a portion where the rotation shaft and the face seal slidingly contact with each other is higher than a pressure of the coolant flowing through the wall member.

Abstract: An automatic dispenser includes a dispensing head, a transporter, a controller, sensors, and an adjustor. The dispensing head accommodates a plurality of dispensing tips and draws liquid into and ejects liquid from the dispensing tips. The transporter moves the dispensing head within an XYZ space. The controller controls drawing and ejecting of liquid by the dispensing head and movement of the dispensing head by the transporter. The sensors detect whether dispensing tips are mounted in the dispensing head. The adjustor aligns the reference positions of the dispensing head and the sensors in the XY plane.

Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, a desired period of time can be set for determining the time to introduce a reaction stop solution after introduction of a reagent. The set time is measured starting from the introduction of the reagent and the reaction stop solution is introduced immediately after expiration of the set time. A control device for an automatic liquid handling system having the above-described reaction time managing feature is also provided with a self-diagnosing function that is capable of determining whether scheduled processes are executable or not during the time set before execution of the processes and informing an operator of the results of determination.

Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, the operator cannot just set dispensing tips in all the fixing holes of the dispensing tip container. It is necessary to carry out the time-consuming task of deciding in advance on a suitable arrangement of positions for the dispensing tips. It is also necessary for the operator to carry out the time-consuming task of determining in advance the quantity of reagent used and how the reagent is to be arranged. These problems are solved by providing a control device that includes a dispensing tip arrangement calculator and reagent quantity and arrangement calculator, and that can inform the operator of these results. The dispensing tip arrangement, the reagent quantity used, and the reagent arrangement is calculated from the information set in advance on specific reagent, the quantity of reagent dispensed into one well of the microplate, the range of wells in the microplate into which reagent is dispensed, and the direction of dispensing.

Abstract: A microplate liquid handling system requiring minimum installation area, helping to avoid waste of various reagents, and making it possible to perform dispensing the various reagents in the shortest possible time. The microplate liquid handling system has a main frame body provided with a moving mechanism, a dispensing mechanism, and a stage. On the stage, a microplate, two dispensing tip containers, and two reagent vessels are mounted. Formed in the microplate are 12×8 wells, i.e., 96 wells in total, arranged in matrix. The microplate, the dispensing tip containers, and the reagent vessels are substantially of the same, rectangular configuration. Each of the two dispensing tip containers is capable of accommodating 12×8 dispensing tips in total in a matrix fashion.

Abstract: A microplate liquid handling system capable of automatically performing both longitudinal collective suction/discharge and lateral collective suction/discharge on a single microplate. The microplate liquid handling system has a main body equipped with a moving device, a rotating mechanism, a dispensing mechanism, and a stage. Connected to the moving device is the dispensing mechanism for performing dispensing on wells in a microplate on the stage through the rotating mechanism. A plurality of cylinders are arranged in a row in the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism is capable of moving forwards and backwards and to the right and left with respect to the main body, and is rotatable about a vertically directed rotation axis, making it possible to change the direction of the cylinder array from origin position to 90 degrees position and vice versa.

Abstract: An automatic dispenser includes a dispensing head, a transporter, a controller, sensors, and an adjustor. The dispensing head accommodates a plurality of dispensing tips and draws liquid into and ejects liquid from the dispensing tips. The transporter moves the dispensing head within an XYZ space. The controller controls drawing and ejecting of liquid by the dispensing head and movement of the dispensing head by the transporter. The sensors detect whether dispensing tips are mounted in the dispensing head. The adjustor aligns the reference positions of the dispensing head and the sensors in the XY plane.

Abstract: In order to eliminate any mistakes regarding attachment or removal of dispensing tips to and from a dispensing head provided in an automatic liquid handling system used for dispensing an object to be examined, reagent, enzymes or the like into wells of a microplate, a dispensing tip sensor is provided to sense if the dispensing tips are attached to the head. The sensor includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which are disposed above and diagonally opposite positions of a disposal container in which used dispensing tips are disposed of. The dispensing head with some dispensing tips attached thereto moves to traverse the light path of the sensor, thereby enabling sensing of the dispensing tips attached to the head.

Abstract: A microplate liquid handling system requiring minimum installation area, helping to avoid waste of various reagents, and making it possible to perform dispensing the various reagents in the shortest possible time. The microplate liquid handling system has a main frame body provided with a moving mechanism, a dispensing mechanism, and a stage. On the stage, a microplate, two dispensing tip containers, and two reagent vessels are mounted. Formed in the microplate are 12×8 wells, i.e., 96 wells in total, arranged in matrix. The microplate, the dispensing tip containers, and the reagent vessels are substantially of the same, rectangular configuration. Each of the two dispensing tip containers is capable of accommodating 12×8 dispensing tips in total in a matrix fashion.

Abstract: A microplate liquid handling system capable of automatically performing both longitudinal collective suction/discharge and lateral collective suction/discharge on a single microplate. The microplate liquid handling system has a main body equipped with a moving device, a rotating mechanism, a dispensing mechanism, and a stage. Connected to the moving device is the dispensing mechanism for performing dispensing on wells in a microplate on the stage through the rotating mechanism. A plurality of cylinders are arranged in a row in the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism is capable of moving forwards and backwards and to the right and left with respect to the main body, and is rotatable about a vertically directed rotation axis, making it possible to change the direction of the cylinder array from origin position to 90 degrees position and vice versa.

Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, a desired period of time can be set for determining the time to introduce a reaction stop solution after introduction of a reagent. The set time is measured starting from the introduction of the reagent and the reaction stop solution is introduced immediately after expiration of the set time. A control device for an automatic liquid handling system having the above-described reaction time managing feature is also provided with a self-diagnosing function that is capable of determining whether scheduled processes are executable or not during the time set before execution of the processes and informing an operator of the results of determination.

Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, the operator cannot just set dispensing tips in all the fixing holes of the dispensing tip container. It is necessary to carry out the time-consuming task of deciding in advance on a suitable arrangement of positions for the dispensing tips. It is also necessary for the operator to carry out the time-consuming task of determining in advance the quantity of reagent used and how the reagent is to be arranged. These problems are solved by providing a control device that includes a dispensing tip arrangement calculator and reagent quantity and arrangement calculator, and that can inform the operator of these results. The dispensing tip arrangement, the reagent quantity used, and the reagent arrangement is calculated from the information set in advance on specific reagent, the quantity of reagent dispensed into one well of the microplate, the range of wells in the microplate into which reagent is dispensed, and the direction of dispensing.