Abstract: A heating device includes a first rotator, a heater including a base and a heat generator, and a second rotator contacting the first rotator. The heat generator adjacent to the base defines a heat generation area having one edge close to one edge of the base in a longitudinal direction of the base. A length between the one edge of the base and the one edge of the heat generation area is longer than a length between the other edge of the base and the other edge of the heat generation area. The second rotator has one edge close to the one edge of the heat generation area. A length between the one edge of the second rotator and the one edge of the heat generation area is shorter than a length between the other edge of the second rotator and the other edge of the heat generation area.

Abstract: When taking in outside air with a fan to control the temperature inside a covered portion where a specimen is installed, the internal temperature may change depending on an environment temperature to cause a difference in temperature control. The wind generated by the fan may blow against a reaction container depending on its loading position and it may influence the temperature control over individual specimens and lead to problems with temperature accuracy, temperature rise speed, and temperature drop speed. A reaction container avoiding these problems has a covered portion which performs temperature control on the reaction container and in which a cover and a fin cover have a heat insulating structure. A heat source is provided for controlling an internal temperature of an internal covered space. The internal temperature is kept constant and the influence of the environment temperature over the temperature control of the reaction container is minimized.

Abstract: A nucleic acid analysis device is provided that is capable of quickly detecting device abnormalities, and the like. This device is provided with a temperature control block (1) for holding a tube (10) that includes a sample, a photometer (6), and a device diagnosis unit. The photometer (6) is provided with an LED (11) for irradiating light toward the temperature control block (1) in a state in which the tube (10) is held and a fluorescence detector (20) for receiving light emitted by the sample in response to the irradiation of light from the LED (11). The device diagnosis unit causes the LED (11) to irradiate light toward the temperature control block (1) in a state in which the tube (10) is not held, causes the fluorescence detector (20) to detect the resulting scattered light, and diagnoses the photometer (6) on the basis of the intensity of the scattered light.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method by which failure or performance deterioration of a temperature adjustment unit can be detected while specifying a cause part in a state where a nucleic acid amplification process is being performed. In order to achieve said purpose, an initial value of the level of control signals input to a temperature adjustment element during temperature maintenance, temperature rise, and temperature fall is set in advance and an error determination threshold is set on the basis of this value. Errors (malfunctions, performance deterioration) in the temperature adjustment unit are diagnosed and components causing said errors are identified, by comparing current control signal levels and threshold values monitored in a state in which the nucleic acid amplification process is being undertaken.

Abstract: A temperature regulating container handles multiple samples which can be optically measured in real time while regulating the temperature of the samples. The samples can be moved at high speed by, for example, shaking without requiring a complicated mechanism. A cell culture container is a combination of three kinds of members: a temperature regulating liquid-holding member, a sample-holding member, and a lid. The cell culture container ensures that multiple samples are contacted with a temperature regulating liquid so that the temperature of the samples can be maintained at a uniform temperature, or quickly increased. The lid contacts the surface of the samples, preventing the samples from drying and contamination and, preventing dew formation on an optical path for performing optical measurement. The distance the light passes through the samples can be held constant to thereby assure accurate optical measurement; and sample containers can be easily moved.

Abstract: A nucleic acid extractor reducing the possibility of cross contamination and a gene analysis apparatus having a nucleic acid amplification function and a detection function are provided. The nucleic acid extractor has a kit for nucleic acid extraction using silica-coated magnetic beads under the presence of a chaotropic agent, and includes a magnet cover 52 accommodating a magnet 42 in the inside and separating the magnet 42 and a reaction container 2, a wall part 53 covering the outside of the reaction container 2 in a state of accommodating at least a portion of the magnet cover 52 in the reaction container, and a upper portion 54 covering a space above the reaction container 2 in a state of accommodating at least a portion of the magnet cover 52 in the reaction container. Scattering of liquid and aerosol can be prevented and the possibility of cross contamination can be reduced.

Abstract: A nucleic acid analysis device is provided that is capable of quickly detecting device abnormalities, and the like. This device is provided with a temperature control block (1) for holding a tube (10) that includes a sample, a photometer (6), and a device diagnosis unit. The photometer (6) is provided with an LED (11) for irradiating light toward the temperature control block (1) in a state in which the tube (10) is held and a fluorescence detector (20) for receiving light emitted by the sample in response to the irradiation of light from the LED (11). The device diagnosis unit causes the LED (11) to irradiate light toward the temperature control block (1) in a state in which the tube (10) is not held, causes the fluorescence detector (20) to detect the resulting scattered light, and diagnoses the photometer (6) on the basis of the intensity of the scattered light.

Abstract: When taking in outside air with a fan to control the temperature inside a covered portion where a specimen is installed, the internal temperature may change depending on an environment temperature to cause a difference in temperature control. The wind generated by the fan may blow against a reaction container depending on its loading position and it may influence the temperature control over individual specimens and lead to problems with temperature accuracy, temperature rise speed, and temperature drop speed A reaction container avoiding these problems has a covered portion which performs temperature control on the reaction container and in which a cover and a fin cover have a heat insulating structure. A heat source is provided for controlling an internal temperature of an internal covered space. The internal temperature is kept constant and the influence of the environment temperature over the temperature control of the reaction container is minimized.

Abstract: Nucleic acid analysis apparatus includes a plurality of temperature adjustment apparatuses, a rotating mechanism, a delivery base and an ejection base, a delivery drive mechanism, an ejection drive mechanism, and a detection apparatus. The rotating mechanism can include a rotating shaft and a plurality of pressing portions that rotate around the rotating shaft. The reaction plate assembly can move over the temperature adjustment apparatuses along the circumferential direction in a state of being pressed onto the temperature adjustment apparatuses by the pressing portions. The delivery drive mechanism can cause the reaction plate assembly to be moved radially inward and delivered between the pressing portions and temperature adjustment apparatuses. The ejection drive mechanism can cause the reaction plate assembly to be moved radially outward and ejected from between the pressing portions and temperature adjustment apparatuses onto the ejection base.

Abstract: A nucleic acid extractor reducing the possibility of cross contamination and a gene analysis apparatus having a nucleic acid amplification function and a detection function are provided. The nucleic acid extractor has a kit for nucleic acid extraction using silica-coated magnetic beads under the presence of a chaotropic agent, and includes a magnet cover 52 accommodating a magnet 42 in the inside and separating the magnet 42 and a reaction container 2, a wall part 53 covering the outside of the reaction container 2 in a state of accommodating at least a portion of the magnet cover 52 in the reaction container, and a upper portion 54 covering a space above the reaction container 2 in a state of accommodating at least a portion of the magnet cover 52 in the reaction container. Scattering of liquid and aerosol can be prevented and the possibility of cross contamination can be reduced.

Abstract: Provided is a technology such that, in nucleic acid analysis, a high degree of freedom in loading or unloading a reaction plate can be obtained and a sample can be efficiently analyzed. A reaction plate assembly includes a reaction plate with one or more reaction wells, a visible light transmissive cover mounted on the reaction plate and covering the reaction wells, and a visible light transmissive weight member covering the cover. The reaction wells are disposed in an arc shape along the circumference of a circle with a predetermined radius r1.

Abstract: The first glass substrate having the first pressure admitting entrance for leading the pressure of fluid to be measured, is arranged at a side of a diaphragm of a pressure sensor, for measuring differential pressure. The second glass substrate is arranged at the side opposite to the first glass substrate, a spacer being sandwiched therebetween. The second pressure admitting entrance is formed at the second glass substrate, at the position opposite to the first presser admitting entrance of the first glass substrate. The first conductive film and the second conductive film are formed on two surfaces facing to each other, of the first and second glass substrates, respectively. By measuring the specific conductance and the dielectric constant of the object fluid between the two conductive films, these physical constants indicating the quality of the fluid, the quality of the fluid can be also detected.