Abstract: [Task] To provide an automatic analysis apparatus including a photomultiplier tube which controls a sensitivity of the photomultiplier tube without adjusting a high voltage value. [Solution] An automatic analysis apparatus according to the present invention includes a photomultiplier tube which detects light from a reaction vessel; a determination unit which determines an output signal of the photomultiplier tube in a case where the photomultiplier tube is irradiated with first light; and a control unit which irradiates the photomultiplier tube with second light to lower a sensitivity of the photomultiplier tube in accordance with a determination result by the determination unit.

Abstract: To provide an automated analyzer capable of shortening analysis time. The automated analyzer includes a vessel which contains a mixed solution of a specimen and a reagent; and a control unit which controls a first operation performed on the vessel, a second operation performed on the vessel after the first operation, and a third operation performed on a predetermined mechanism of the automated analyzer before the second operation, in which the control unit performs the first operation and the third operation in parallel. Alternatively, the automated analyzer includes a control unit which controls a first operation performed on the vessel, a second operation performed on the vessel after the first operation, and a third operation performed on a predetermined mechanism of the automated analyzer after the first operation, in which the control unit performs the second operation and the third operation in parallel.

Abstract: A state of a sample surface is accurately determined without lowering analysis efficiency. There is provided an apparatus for determining a state of a sample to be analyzed contained in a container, in which the apparatus acquires an image of the sample, analyzes a position and a size of an object to be detected with respect to a detection range set in the image by using the image of the sample, and determines the state of the sample based on a result of the analysis.

Abstract: The automatic analyzer includes: a sample dispensing unit that dispenses a sample into a reaction vessel; a reagent dispensing unit that dispenses a reagent into the reaction vessel; a control unit that controls the sample dispensing unit and the reagent dispensing unit; and a measurement unit that measures a mixed solution of the sample and the reagent mixed in the reaction vessel. The reagent includes three types of reagents of: a first reagent that specifically binds to an antigen in the sample; a second reagent that specifically binds to a site different from that to which the first reagent binds with respect to the antigen and has a label to be detected by the measurement unit; and a third reagent that specifically binds to a site different from the binding site of the first reagent and the antigen and contains insoluble carriers.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic analysis device that can easily realize introduction and replacement of additional reagents in operation even in a small-scale configuration. The automatic analysis device includes a reagent dispensing mechanism 107 that dispenses a reagent from a reagent container 113 containing a reagent, and a normal reagent storage portion 130 that stores a reagent container and an additional reagent storage portion 111. The normal reagent storage portion 130 is positioned in a normal movable area 132, which is a portion of a movable area 131 of the reagent dispensing mechanism 107 and the additional reagent storage portion 111 is positioned in an area excluding the normal movable area 132 in the movable area 131 of the reagent dispensing mechanism 107.

Abstract: A blood collecting device collects blood in a short time after puncture without scattering the blood into the open air other than a container for collecting the blood. One of representative blood collecting devices has a container unit that includes a screw portion, a holder that holds the container unit serving as a system whose one end is closed, a puncture unit that can be attached to the container or the holder, a through-hole of the puncture unit, and a puncture unit protection member that protects the puncture unit and the container unit.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic analysis technique that prevents liquid contained in a reaction container from locally contacting with liquid added afterward and has less occurrence frequency of equipment malfunction and high performance.

Abstract: An analyzer that has a simple configuration, that is inexpensive, that can improve safety, and that can inhibit proliferation of microorganisms using ultraviolet light is realized. A first electric power switch, a second electric power switch, and a third electric power switch are connected in series between an ultraviolet LED that irradiates an interior of a shared reagent storage container with ultraviolet light and a power supply that supplies electric power to the ultraviolet LED. The first electric power switch, the second electric power switch, and the third electric power switch are configured with two contact points and a connection section that connects and disconnects the two contact points. The first electric power switch is opened when a reagent storage door is opened, and the second electric power switch is opened in response to an action of extracting an ultraviolet irradiation section from a shared reagent storage container.

Abstract: An electrochemiluminescence method of detecting an analyte in a liquid sample and a corresponding analysis system. An analyte in a liquid sample is detected by first providing a receptacle containing a fluid comprising protein coated magnetic microparticles to a stirring unit. Stirring of the fluid is necessary since the density of the microparticles is usually higher than the density of the buffer fluid. Thus the microparticles tend to deposit on the bottom of the receptacle leading to an aggregation of the microparticles because of weak interactions. To obtain representative measurements a homogeneous distribution of the microparticles in the buffer fluid is necessary to ensure a constant concentration of microparticles for each analysis cycle. It is further necessary to provide disaggregation of the microparticles, which is also realized by stirring the fluid. Stirring is conducted with a rotational frequency that is adapted to the amount of fluid to be stirred.

Abstract: The present invention provides a column exchange device for simpler column exchange and a column suitable for this column exchange device. A column exchange mechanism according to the present invention is provided with a column having inward-facing threads at both ends thereof and a first joining part and second joining part for fixing the ends of the column. The column exchange mechanism is characterized in that the first joining part and second joining part have screw parts that are joined to the ends of the column and the direction in which the screw of the screw part of the first joining part is to be turned to tighten the same and the direction in which the screw of the screw part of the second joining part is to be turned to tighten the same are opposite directions.

Abstract: An electrochemiluminescence method of detecting an analyte in a liquid sample and a corresponding analysis system. An analyte in a liquid sample is detected by first providing a receptacle containing a fluid comprising protein coated magnetic microparticles to a stirring unit. Stirring of the fluid is necessary since the density of the microparticles is usually higher than the density of the buffer fluid. Thus the microparticles tend to deposit on the bottom of the receptacle leading to an aggregation of the microparticles because of weak interactions. To obtain representative measurements a homogeneous distribution of the microparticles in the buffer fluid is necessary to ensure a constant concentration of microparticles for each analysis cycle. It is further necessary to provide disaggregation of the microparticles, which is also realized by stirring the fluid. Stirring is conducted with a rotational frequency that is adapted to the amount of fluid to be stirred.

Abstract: In order to aspire to higher sensitivity in an automatic analysis device, it is important to prevent the mixing of dust and the like in a reaction part in which a sample and a reagent react. The present invention presents an automatic analysis device that is provided with a configuration for making the pressure inside a specific block in the device such as a reaction part, or inside the device become positive. By making the pressure become positive and forming an air flow that flows out from the inside of the reaction part or the device, it is possible to limit, to a certain amount or less, the amount of dust penetrating into the reaction part.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to constantly keep a state in a flow cell steady by filling a detection flow channel with a liquid. The configuration of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is as follows. Specifically, the present invention is an automatic analysis apparatus provided with a detection unit including a flow cell that accommodates a liquid serving as an analysis subject; a suction nozzle that is positioned upstream of the flow cell and that sucks the liquid to be introduced into the flow cell; a pump that is positioned downstream of the flow cell and that supplies the liquid to the flow cell; flow channels that connect the flow cell, the suction nozzle, and the pump; a power source; and a power-cutting instructing unit that gives an instruction to cut the power supply at least to the pump.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the effort in placement and extraction of samples in observations using transmitted charged particles. A charged particle beam device (601) is characterized by having: a charged particle optical lens tube that irradiates a sample (6) with a primary charged particle beam; a sample stage on which a light emitting member (500) that emits light because of charged particles that have come by transmission internally in the sample (6) or scattering therefrom or a sample platform (600) having the light emitting member (500) is attachably and detachably disposed; and a detector (503) that detects the light emitted by the light emitting member.

Abstract: A blood collecting device collects blood in a short time after puncture without scattering the blood into the open air other than a container for collecting the blood. One of representative blood collecting devices has a container unit that includes a screw portion, a holder that holds the container unit serving as a system whose one end is closed, a puncture unit that can be attached to the container or the holder, a through-hole of the puncture unit, and a puncture unit protection member that protects the puncture unit and the container unit.

Abstract: A cartridge for dispensing a fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a reservoir chamber for receiving the fluid. The reservoir chamber has a fluid outlet. The cartridge further comprises a controllable dispenser component for dispensing a dispensing volume of the fluid from the reservoir chamber. The dispenser component is connected to the fluid outlet of the reservoir. The cartridge further comprises a single compressible fluid pump with a single elastic pumping element and a conduit extending from the fluid pump towards the fluid outlet. The fluid pump discharges a mixing volume of the fluid from the conduit into the reservoir chamber upon compression of the elastic pumping element. The mixing volume depends on the degree of compression of the elastic pumping element. The fluid pump sucks in the mixing volume from the reservoir into the conduit upon decompression of the elastic pumping element.

Abstract: Provided are an electrode, an electrolysis cell, and an electrochemical analyzer that improve the long-term stability of analysis data. A working electrode, a counter electrode, and reference electrode are disposed in an electrolysis cell. The working electrode is obtained by forming a lead wire in a composite material having platinum or a platinum alloy as a base material, in which a metal oxide is dispersed, or in a laminated material obtained by laminating a valve metal and platinum such that the cross sectional crystal texture in the thickness direction of the platinum is formed in layers and the thickness of each layer of the platinum is 5 micrometers or less. The metal oxide is selected from among zirconium oxide, tantalum oxide, and niobium oxide, and the metal oxide content of the platinum or the platinum alloy is 0.005 to 1 wt % in terms of the zirconium, tantalum, or niobium metal.

Abstract: Stepped portions of a flow channel are reduced by completely fixing the channel that extends to the measuring unit, and reducing connections in the channel, thereby to suppress a disturbance in the flow of the liquid suctioned into the measuring unit. A means is provided so that the reaction solution and reagent suctioned will move towards the channel through which the liquids are suctioned.

Abstract: This invention provides a sample analyzing device and sample analyzing method designed to suppress nonuniform capture of magnetic particles (10) and detect a desired substance with higher accuracy.

Abstract: An electron microscope has a large depth of focus in comparison with an optical microscope. Thus, information is superimposed on one image in the direction of depth. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately specify the three-dimensional position and density of a structure in a specimen so as to observe the three-dimensional structure of the interior of the specimen by using the electron microscope. Furthermore, a specimen that is observed with the optical microscope on a slide glass is not put into a TEM device of the related art. Thus, performing three-dimensional internal structure observation with the electron microscope on a location that is observed with the optical microscope requires very cumbersome preparation of the specimen.