Abstract: This automated analyzer 100 comprises: a sample probe 11a for dispensing a substance to be dispensed into a plurality of reaction vessels 2 for causing a sample to be analyzed to react with a reagent, a measurement unit (light source 4a, spectrophotometer 4, and control device 21) for measuring a reaction liquid produced from the sample and reagent in a reaction vessel 2, a cleaning tank for probe cleaning, and a control device 21 for controlling the operation of the probe, measurement unit, and cleaning tank 13. The cleaning tank 13 comprise a cleaning pool 36 for storing cleaning water for immersing and cleaning the probe and a drying tank 37 for sucking up the cleaning water on the surface of the probe after the probe has been immersed in the cleaning water of the cleaning water pool 36 and cleaned. As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of cleaning water used to clean the probe.

Abstract: It is possible to maintain, in clean condition, a solenoid valve for discharge of cleaning fluid accumulated in a vacuum bottle in which the cleaning fluid adhering to a probe collects. An automatic analyzer includes: a cleaning bath that has a cleaning fluid outlet from which cleaning fluid is discharged for cleaning a probe, and a vacuum suction port into which the probe is inserted; a cleaning tank that stores the cleaning fluid; a vacuum tank; a vacuum pump that causes the vacuum tank to be placed under negative pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure; a vacuum bottle placed between the vacuum suction port and the vacuum tank; and, as channels through which the cleaning fluid flows into the vacuum bottle, a first channel connected to the vacuum suction port and a second channel connected to the cleaning tank.

Abstract: To clean a reagent probe 7a, 8a or a sample probe 11a, 12a with a heated cleaning solution, after a first cleaning solution is caused to overflow from a first cleaning container 23 or a second cleaning container 24, the first cleaning solution is temporarily drawn back into the cleaning-solution heating passage 125 to be heated by the heating mechanism 123. After the heating, the first cleaning solution thus heated is re-supplied to the first cleaning container 23 or the second cleaning container 24. As a result, the cleaning solution heated to clean a dispensing probe can be supplied to a cleaning bath with efficiency.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer includes: a reagent mounting unit 103 in which a plurality of reagent bottles 10 are installed when a reagent bottle 10 is loaded into the automatic analyzer; a reagent conveying mechanism 101 including a gripper mechanism 106; and a reagent mounting mechanism 102 for moving the reagent mounting unit 103 between an installation position at which an operator installs the reagent bottle 10 in the reagent mounting unit 103 and a position at which the gripper mechanism 106 grips the reagent bottle 10. It is thereby possible to achieve saving of a mechanism installation space and reduction of the number of constituent components, automatically carry out an operation from opening of the reagent bottle to loading of the reagent bottle into the reagent disk, and alleviate an operator's burden.

Abstract: The present invention provides silver nanoparticles that form a sintered body having a high shear strength and a low specific resistance when sintered at a low temperature (for example, 200° C. or less), even though the silver nanoparticles have an average particle diameter as large as 200 nm or more. Silver nanoparticles having an average particle diameter of 200 to 600 nm, wherein an exothermic peak due to binding of the silver nanoparticles in thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis appears at less than 175° C., and a weight loss on heating from 30 to 500° C. by thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis is 0.4% by weight or less.

Abstract: A method of washing an aspiration probe of an in-vitro diagnostic system is disclosed. The aspiration probe comprises an outer surface and an inner surface forming an inner space for receiving a fluid. The method comprises dipping the aspiration probe into a first wash fluid so that the outer surface is immersed at least in part into the first wash fluid, aspirating an amount of the first wash fluid into the inner space of the aspiration probe, propagating an ultrasonic vibration to the outer surface of the aspiration probe via the first wash fluid, and rinsing the outer surface and the inner surface of the aspiration probe with a second wash fluid. Further, an in-vitro diagnostic method and an in-vitro diagnostic system are disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer includes a cleaning mechanism performing cleaning to drying of a probe in a short time even with a wide cleaning range of the probe. The automatic analyzer includes: a cleaning tank into which a probe is insertable and which has a cleaning port provided with suction openings; a vacuum tank; a vacuum pump that causes the vacuum tank to enter a negative pressure state, compared to atmospheric pressure; a vacuum bin; a suction nozzle that connects the suction opening of the cleaning port and the vacuum bin; a vacuum nozzle that connects the vacuum tank and the vacuum bin; and a controller. The controller causes the vacuum tank which is in the negative pressure state and the cleaning port to be conducted via the vacuum bin in a period during which a cleaning solution, with which the probe is cleaned, is discharged through the cleaning port.

Abstract: To suppress precipitation of a cleaning solution to a vibration head of an ultrasonic cleaner. An ultrasonic cleaner includes: a cleaning tank which stores a cleaning solution; an ultrasonic transducer; and a vibration head which extends from the ultrasonic transducer toward the cleaning tank and of which a tip portion includes a cylindrical hole having a longitudinal direction aligned to a vertical direction, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is driven at a frequency at which the vibration head is vibrated resonantly, and wherein the vibration head is provided with a hydrophobic or hydrophilic coating film 502 which has an interface between an area 223 corresponding to a vibration antinode and area corresponding to a vibration node during the resonant vibration of the vibration head, and covers the area 222 corresponding to the vibration node.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a test method capable of efficiently performing a step of evaluating a surface state of a dispensing probe provided in a dispensing apparatus. In the test method according to the present invention, a first solution in which a coloring matter is dissolved is dispensed to a first container in advance by a first dispensing probe, a second solution in which a coloring matter is not dissolved is dispensed to a second container in advance by the first dispensing probe and then the first solution and the second solution are respectively sucked and discharged by a second dispensing probe. After that, a surface state of the second dispensing probe is evaluated by acquiring an amount of the coloring matter collected by the second solution (see FIG. 2).

Abstract: Provided is an automatic analyzer that has a plurality of mechanisms including a mechanism that suctions reaction waste liquid and a mechanism that suctions cleaning liquid, etc. on a sample and a probe surface, the automatic analyzer reducing pressure in a vacuum tank using a pressure-reducing pump, etc., and suctioning waste liquid by negative pressure in the vacuum tank. A contact point of a vacuum switch that is provided in the vacuum tank is closed when the pressure in the vacuum tank reaches a specified negative pressure, and then the analyzer becomes ready for analysis. If any flow path portion of any mechanism that connects with the vacuum tank becomes clogged, suctioning operation cannot be performed properly and analysis performance is affected. The vacuum pump is switched off at a timing at which each solenoid valve connecting to the vacuum pump is individually opened, and the time that elapses before the pressure in the vacuum tank reaches the specified negative pressure is measured.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technology in which an amount of pigment carried from a pigment solution can be accurately measured at the time of testing a surface state of a dispensing probe on the basis of the amount of carried pigment. In a test method according to the present invention, a surface state of a dispensing probe is evaluated on the basis of an amount of pigment carried from an acidic pigment solution into a solution including no pigment.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaner according to the present invention includes a vibrating part 222 for enlarging ultrasonic vibration of a bolt-clamped Langevin type transducer (BLT) 100 on a side surface side in a cleaning tank 211, generates cavitation by the ultrasonic vibration with respect to cleaning liquid supplied into the cleaning tank 211 by driving the BLT 100 on the periphery of a nozzle without unevenness, and is capable of performing effective nozzle cleaning.

Abstract: When the automatic analyzer is installed in an environment with a high altitude and different external atmospheric pressures, there is a problem that an amount of vacuum suction decreases due to a decrease in suction performance of a vacuum pump and it is difficult to perform vacuum suction of an analyzed reaction liquid. In view of the above, by newly providing a pressure adjustment mechanism within a flow path connecting a vacuum tank to vacuum pump, it possible to control the pressure difference between a pressure in the vacuum tank and an external atmospheric pressure where the analyzer is installed to be constant regardless of the installation environment. Additionally, by providing a hole in communication with the outside in the vacuum tank or a vacuum bin, it possible to control the pressure difference between the pressure in the vacuum tank and the external atmospheric pressure where the analyzer is installed to be constant regardless of the installation environment.

Abstract: Since a detergent is a consumption article, it is desirable that a use amount of the detergent be as small as possible in a limit that the washing effect is not substantially reduced. Provided is an automatic analyzer which includes a syringe pump which is connected to a probe and performs the body aspiration and discharge, a feed pump which feeds washing water for washing the inside of the probe to the probe via the syringe pump and a controller which controls the dispensing mechanism and the syringe pump, in which the controller, in a case of washing the probe by sucking a detergent in the probe a plurality of times, controls the syringe pump so as to discharge the detergent after sucking the detergent and to suck the next detergent without feeding the washing water to the probe by the feed pump.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaner according to the present invention includes a vibrating part 222 for enlarging ultrasonic vibration of a BLT 100 on a side surface side in a cleaning tank 211, generates cavitation by the ultrasonic vibration with respect to cleaning liquid supplied into the cleaning tank 211 by driving the BLT 100 on the periphery of a nozzle without unevenness, and is capable of performing effective nozzle cleaning.

Abstract: A positively chargeable toner includes toner particles. The toner particles each include a toner mother particle containing a binder resin, and an external additive adhering to a surface of the toner mother particle. The external additive includes specific silica particles, specific titania particles, and specific crosslinked resin particles. The specific silica particles each include a silica base, and a first surface treatment layer present on a surface of the silica base. The first surface treatment layer has an alkyl group having a carbon number of at least 8 and no greater than 16, and an amino group. The specific titania particles each include a titania base, and a second surface treatment layer present on a surface of the titania base. The second surface treatment layer has an alkyl group having a carbon number of at least 3 and no greater than 8.

Abstract: A needle for forming a cut in a reagent bottle lid is shaped such that an expansion portion which pushes and opens a cut and a piercing portion which forms the cut are integrated with each other. Consequently, only a single operation for moving the needle downwardly will form a cut using the needle and expand the cut using the expansion portion. Further, the smaller diameter of the expansion portion than the diameter of a circumscribed circle of a cross section of the piercing portion but equal to or greater than the diameter of the reagent probe can form cuts uniformly.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic analyzer that has a plurality of mechanisms including a mechanism that suctions reaction waste liquid and a mechanism that suctions cleaning liquid, etc. on a sample and a probe surface, the automatic analyzer reducing pressure in a vacuum tank using a pressure-reducing pump, etc., and suctioning waste liquid by negative pressure in the vacuum tank. A contact point of a vacuum switch that is provided in the vacuum tank is closed when the pressure in the vacuum tank reaches a specified negative pressure, and then the analyzer becomes ready for analysis. If any flow path portion of any mechanism that connects with the vacuum tank becomes clogged, suctioning operation cannot be performed properly and analysis performance is affected. The vacuum pump is switched off at a timing at which each solenoid valve connecting to the vacuum pump is individually opened, and the time that elapses before the pressure in the vacuum tank reaches the specified negative pressure is measured.

Abstract: An automatic analyzing apparatus is provided which includes a member 401 fixed at a predetermined level which presses down the sample container sealed with the sealing plug that is floated from the rack due to friction between the probe and the sealing plug when pulling out the probe from the sample container sealed with the sealing plug, and a mechanism 402 that pushes down, toward the rack, the sample container sealed with the floated sealing plug in which the sample container sealed with the floated sealing plug is transported by the transport line, and disposed on a path of the transport line until re-inspection is performed after pulling out the probe from the sample container sealed with the sealing plug.

Abstract: Provided is a connection module with a high degree of freedom for an automatic analyzer which does not depend on a device as a discharge destination. For this purpose, a module to be connected to an automatic analyzer with a rack rotor mechanism includes: a rack discharge mechanism for moving a rack from the rack rotor mechanism to a rotation holder; a rack rotating mechanism for rotating the rack moved to the rotation holder; a conveyor mechanism for transporting the rack from the rack rotating mechanism to a discharge port; and a feeder mechanism for pushing the rack out of the rotation holder to the conveyor mechanism, in which the rack rotating mechanism rotates the rotation holder from a direction parallel to the rack discharge mechanism to a direction parallel to the feeder mechanism and the conveyor mechanism in the selected rotation direction.