US 10,041,964 B2Granted

Method for stirring a mixed liquid in an automatic analyzer including first and second stirring mechanisms

AssigneeHitachi High-Technologies Corporation

InventorsChie Yabutani, Shigeki Matsubara

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Abstract

In the field of automatic analyzers, as items to be analyzed are increase, various reagents differing in such properties as liquid viscosity and contact angle are being used more frequently, and this trend is expected to continue. Also, reagents now take various forms (e.g., a concentrated reagent to be diluted by the water of an automatic analyzer), and so does dilution water. Such being the case, the invention provides an automatic analyzer capable of sufficient stirring regardless of items to be analyzed. To sufficiently stir a substance to which a reagent has been added, the automatic analyzer is designed to alter stirring conditions after a given amount of time has passed since the addition of that reagent.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method for stirring a mixed fluid liquid consisting of a sample and a reagent in an automatic analyzer including a reaction vessel to which the sample and the reagent are injected, a reaction disk for holding the reaction vessel, a first stirring mechanism and a second stirring mechanism for stirring the mixed liquid consisting of the sample and the reagent in the reaction vessel, and a control unit for controlling operations of the reaction disk and the first stirring mechanism and the second stirring mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a first stirring condition and a second stirring condition in a storing unit, wherein the first stirring condition and the second stirring condition are each set according to a viscosity of the mixed liquid;
stirring the mixed liquid consisting of the sample and the reagent by the first stirring mechanism applying only the first stirring condition stored in the storing unit, and thereafter, moving the reaction vessel with the mixed liquid by rotating the reaction disk holding the reaction vessel;
and
stirring the mixed liquid consisting of the sample and the reagent by the second stirring mechanism applying only the second stirring condition stored in the storing unit,
wherein the first stirring condition is different from the second stirring condition.

2 more elements

A method for stirring a mixed liquid consisting of a sample, a first reagent, and a second reagent in an automatic analyzer including a reaction vessel to which the sample, the first reagent and the second reagent are injected, a reaction disk for holding the reaction vessel, a first stirring mechanism and a second stirring mechanism for stirring the mixed liquid consisting of the sample, the first reagent and the second reagent in the reaction vessel, and a control unit for controlling operations of the reaction disk and the first stirring mechanism and the second stirring mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a first stirring condition and a second stirring condition in a storing unit, wherein the first stirring condition and the second stirring condition are each set according to a viscosity of the mixed liquid;
stirring the mixed liquid consisting of the sample, the first reagent and the second reagent by the first stirring mechanism applying only the first stirring condition stored in the storing unit, and thereafter, moving the reaction vessel with the mixed liquid by rotating the reaction disk holding the reaction vessel;
and
stirring the mixed liquid consisting of the sample, the first reagent and the second reagent by the second stirring mechanism applying only the second stirring condition stored in the storing unit,
wherein the first stirring condition is different from the second stirring condition.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/083,809Filed 29 Mar 2016 · continuation
Priority: JP 2008-1217688 May 2008
Published: US 2016/0209437 A121 Jul 2016
Granted: 7 Aug 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

G01N 35/0092
Control arrangements for automatic analysers: scheduling
B01F 27/806
Wherein the stirrers or the receptacles are moved in order to bring them into operative position; Means for fixing the receptacle: with vertical…
B01F 31/87
Mixing by means of high-frequency vibrations above one kHz, e.g. ultrasonic vibrations: transmitting the vibratory energy by means of a fluid,…
B01F 35/2209
Characterised by the type of control technique used: controlling the mixing process as a whole, i.e. involving a complete monitoring and…

Family

PCT/JP2009/058589Parent of this continuation · filed 1 May 2009
US 2016/0209437 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 Jul 2016
Application12/867,795Parent of this continuation
US 9,347,966 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2011/0020949 A1Published application
US 10,041,964 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.