# US 11,079,402 B2 · Automatic analyzing apparatus, and method for detecting flow path clogging of the automatic analyzing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,402 B2 - Document ID: US11079402B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/645,600 - Filed: 2019-01-23 - Published: 2020-09-03 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-15 - Assignees: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation - Applicants: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation - Inventors: Yudai Fukushi; Takamichi Mori - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079402B2 ## CPC - G01N 35/1095: {for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers (for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00)} - G01M 3/26: by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors - G01N 35/1004: {Cleaning sample transfer devices} - G01N 35/1016: {Control of the volume dispensed or introduced} - G08B 5/36: using visible light sources - A61B 1/00: Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes (examination of body cavities or body tracts using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/12; endoscopic instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/04); Illuminating arrangements therefor (for the eyes A61B3/00) - B23Q 11/10: Arrangements for cooling or lubricating tools or work - B23Q 17/09: for indicating or measuring cutting pressure or {for determining} cutting-tool condition, e.g. cutting ability, load on tool (arrangements preventing overload of tools B23Q11/04; devices for indicating failure of drills during boring B23B49/00) - G01F 1/74: Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid - G01M 1/36: by adjusting position of masses built-in the body to be tested - G01N 33/543: with an insoluble carrier for immobilising immunochemicals - G01N 35/00: Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor - G01N 35/00623: {of instruments} - G01N 35/00871: {Communications between instruments or with remote terminals} - G01N 35/02: using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations {(G01N35/0098 and G01N35/0099 take precedence)} - G01N 35/10: Devices for transferring samples {or any liquids} to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices {(G01N35/0099 takes precedence)} - G01N 35/1002: {Reagent dispensers} - G01N 2035/00633: {logging process history of individual samples} - G01N 2035/1018: {Detecting inhomogeneities, e.g. foam, bubbles, clots} - G08B 21/18: Status alarms (G08B21/02 takes precedence) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## 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. The measured time is compared with parameters in a normal case, and the presence or absence of an anomaly is determined. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic analyzer comprising: a vacuum tank and a vacuum pump that vacuum suctions liquid; a first solenoid valve provided in a flow path connected to the vacuum tank; a vacuum switch provided in the vacuum tank, the vacuum switch comprising a pressure receiving portion having a spring which senses a pressure value present in the vacuum tank and which switches a contact point of the vacuum switch when the sensed pressure reaches a set value; and a processor coupled to the vacuum pump, the first solenoid valve, and the vacuum switch, wherein the processor is configured to receive a signal from said vacuum switch indicating the pressure value present within said vacuum tank; determine whether said received pressure value in the vacuum tank is equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure value threshold, or whether said received pressure value is smaller than the predetermined pressure value threshold; and detect clogging in the flow path by executing a sequence of programmed instructions which change the vacuum pump from ON to OFF with the first solenoid valve being in a closed state, and thereafter, change the first solenoid valve from the closed state to an open state, and detect presence and absence of clogging in the flow path by comparing, to a first predetermined time threshold, a time that elapses before the processor determines that said received pressure value in the vacuum tank is equal to or greater than the predetermined pressure value threshold from a time point when the first solenoid valve is changed from the closed state to the open state based on the signal received from the vacuum switch indicating that the spring of the pressure sensing portion of the vacuum switch has switched the contact point of the vacuum switch; a plurality of waste liquid bottles each accommodating waste liquid from a side closer to the vacuum tank, and a reaction vessel, on an opposite side of the first solenoid valve with respect to the vacuum tank, wherein each said waste liquid bottle is provided with a second solenoid valve on a discharge side from which waste liquid is discharged, and a second flow path from the reaction vessel to the vacuum tank is provided for each of the waste liquid bottles, wherein when the processor determines that the flow path is clogged, the processor is further configured to close the first solenoid valve, change the vacuum pump from OFF to ON, confirm that the received pressure value in the vacuum tank is smaller than the predetermined pressure value threshold, and thereafter, change the vacuum pump from ON to OFF, change the first solenoid valve and any one of the second solenoid valves from the closed state to the open state, and detect presence and absence of the clogging in the flow path by comparing, to a second predetermined time threshold, a time that elapses before the processor determines that the received pressure value in the vacuum tank is equal to or greater than the predetermined pressure value threshold from a time point when the valves are changed from the closed state to the open state based on the signal received from the vacuum switch indicating that the spring of the pressure sensing portion of the vacuum switch has switched the contact point of the vacuum switch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising: a cleaning waste liquid suction mechanism that suctions cleaning liquid on a surface of a sample probe by the vacuum pump, on an opposite side of the first solenoid valve with respect to the vacuum tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The automatic analyzer according to claim 2, further comprising: a cleaning tank that accommodates cleaning liquid for a reagent probe and that is adjacent to the cleaning waste liquid suction mechanism. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of combinations of the first solenoid valve and the flow path are provided, and the processor is configured to sequentially perform the clogging detection for each flow path by controlling opening and closing of the first solenoid valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein which flow path is clogged is detected by sequentially performing operation of changing the first solenoid valve and any one of the second solenoid valves from the closed state to the open state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the pressure value threshold used when the clogging is detected is set based on a height of an altitude at which the apparatus is installed. ### Claim 7 A method for detecting flow path clogging of an automatic analyzer comprising: controlling, using a processor, a vacuum pump that vacuum suctions liquid from a vacuum tank; controlling, by the processor, a first solenoid valve provided in a flow path connected to the vacuum tank; receiving a signal from a vacuum switch provided in the vacuum tank, the vacuum switch comprising a pressure receiving portion having a spring which senses a pressure value present in the vacuum tank and which switches a contact point of the vacuum switch when the sensed pressure reaches a set value; determining, by the processor, whether the pressure value in the vacuum tank is equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure threshold, or whether the pressure value is smaller than the predetermined pressure threshold; and detecting clogging in the flow path, by the processor by changing the vacuum pump from ON to OFF with the first solenoid valve being in a closed state, and thereafter, changing the first solenoid valve from the closed state to an open state, and detecting presence and absence of clogging in the flow path by comparing, to a first predetermined time threshold, a time that elapses before the processor determines that the pressure value in the vacuum tank is equal to or greater than the predetermined pressure threshold from a time point when the first solenoid valve is changed from the closed state to the open state based on the signal received from the vacuum switch indicating that the spring of the pressure sensing portion of the vacuum switch has switched the contact point of the vacuum switch a plurality of waste liquid bottles each accommodating waste liquid from a side closer to the vacuum tank, and a reaction vessel, on an opposite side of the first solenoid valve with respect to the vacuum tank, wherein each said waste liquid bottle is provided with a second solenoid valve on a discharge side from which waste liquid is discharged, and a second flow path from the reaction vessel to the vacuum tank is provided for each of the waste liquid bottles, wherein when the processor determines that the flow path is clogged, closing the first solenoid valve, changing the vacuum pump from OFF to ON, confirming that the received pressure value in the vacuum tank is smaller than the predetermined pressure value threshold, and thereafter, changing the vacuum pump from ON to OFF, changing the first solenoid valve and any one of the second solenoid valves from the closed state to the open state, and detecting presence and absence of the clogging in the flow path by comparing, to a second predetermined time threshold, a time that elapses before the processor determines that the received pressure value in the vacuum tank is equal to or greater than the predetermined pressure value threshold from a time point when the valves are changed from the closed state to the open state based on the signal received from the vacuum switch indicating that the spring of the pressure sensing portion of the vacuum switch has switched the contact point of the vacuum switch.