# US 2014/0193918 A1 · Automatic analyzer

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- Number: US 2014/0193918 A1
- Document ID: US20140193918A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/238,205
- Filed: 2012-07-19
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-09-06
- Assignees: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Kenichi Takahashi; Isao Yamazaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193918A1

## CPC

- G01N 35/1011: {Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device}
- G01N 35/1016: {Control of the volume dispensed or introduced}
- G01N 35/025: {having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes}
- G01N 2035/0441: {for samples}
- G01N 2035/0443: {for reagents}
- G01N 2035/1025: {Fluid level sensing}
- Y10T 436/115831: Condition or time responsive
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An automatic analyzer adapted to enhance sample/reagent dispensing accuracy, regardless of a difference in sample/reagent dispensing height of a dispensing probe. When the amount of sample in a sample container is small, tip height “h1” of a sample dispensing probe positioned immediately after it has aspirated the sample decreases below tip height “h′” of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately before it discharges the sample. The sample in this state takes a concave shape at the tip of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately before it discharges the sample. When the amount of sample in a sample container is large, tip height “h2” of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately after it has aspirated the sample increases above the tip height “h′” and the sample takes a convex shape at the tip of the sample dispensing probe positioned immediately before it discharges the sample.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automatic analyzer comprising:
a sample dispensing probe that dispenses a sample into a reaction cell from a sample container holding the sample;
a reagent dispensing probe that dispenses a reagent into the reaction cell from a reagent container holding the reagent; and
an analyzing unit that analyzes a solution from the reaction of the sample with the reagent, wherein
the automatic analyzer further comprises a controller configured to
detect a position where the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe stops in the vertical direction when the dispensing probe aspirates a predetermined amount of the sample or reagent from the sample container or the reagent container, and
control operation of the sample or reagent dispensing probe so that, in accordance with the detected vertical stopping position, the amount of the sample or reagent to be aspirated/discharged into/from the sample or reagent dispensing probe may be corrected.

### Claim 2

An automatic analyzer comprising:
a sample dispensing probe that dispenses a sample into a reaction cell from a sample container holding the sample;
a reagent dispensing probe that dispenses a reagent into the reaction cell from a reagent container holding the reagent; and
an analyzing unit that analyzes a solution from the reaction of the sample with the reagent, wherein
the automatic analyzer further comprises a controller for controlling operation of the sample or reagent dispensing probe, the controller configured to detect a position where the sample dispensing probe or reagent dispensing probe stops in the vertical direction when the dispensing probe aspirates a predetermined amount of the sample or reagent from the sample container or the reagent container, and
the analyzing unit corrects measurement results output in association with each of the detected vertical stopping positions of the sample or reagent dispensing probe.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising:
a screen display unit that displays a screen whereat a specific amount with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent can be set in association with each of the controller-detected vertical stopping positions of the sample or reagent dispensing probe.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
the controller calculates a correction amount with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent in association with each of the detected vertical stopping positions of the sample or reagent dispensing probe.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 4, further comprising:
a screen display unit that displays a screen for selecting a measurement item, entering the correction amount with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent, and deriving a calculation expression for the correction amount.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising:
a screen display unit that displays a screen for selecting beforehand whether the correction, with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent, or to the measured data, will be applied to analytical items to be measured.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising:
a screen display unit that displays a screen for selecting on an analytical item basis whether the correction, with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent, or to the measured data, will be applied.

### Claim 8

A liquid dispensing method for use in an automatic analyzer including a sample dispensing probe that dispenses a sample into a reaction cell from a sample container holding the sample, a reagent dispensing probe that dispenses a reagent into the reaction cell from a reagent container holding the reagent, and an analyzing unit that analyzes a solution from the reaction of the sample with the reagent, the dispensing method comprising the steps of:
detecting a position where the sample dispensing probe or the reagent dispensing probe stops in the vertical direction when the dispensing probe aspirates a predetermined amount of the sample or reagent from the sample container or the reagent container; and
controlling operation of the sample or reagent dispensing probe so that, in accordance with the detected vertical stopping position, the amount of the sample or reagent to be aspirated/discharged into/from the sample or reagent dispensing probe may be corrected.

### Claim 9

A liquid dispensing method for use in an automatic analyzer including a sample dispensing probe that dispenses a sample into a reaction cell from a sample container holding the sample, a reagent dispensing probe that dispenses a reagent into the reaction cell from a reagent container holding the reagent, and an analyzing unit that analyzes a solution from the reaction of the sample with the reagent, the dispensing method comprising the steps of:
controlling operation of the sample or reagent dispensing probe;
detecting a position where the sample dispensing probe or reagent dispensing probe stops in the vertical direction when the dispensing probe aspirates a predetermined amount of the sample or reagent from the sample container or the reagent container; and
correcting measurement results output in association with each of the detected vertical stopping positions of the sample or reagent dispensing probe.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The liquid dispensing method for use in an automatic analyzer according to claim 8, further comprising:
displaying a screen whereat a specific amount with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent can be set in association with each of the controller-detected vertical stopping positions of the sample or reagent dispensing probe.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The liquid dispensing method for use in an automatic analyzer according to claim 8, further comprising:
calculating a correction amount with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent in association with each of the detected vertical stopping positions of the sample or reagent dispensing probe.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The liquid dispensing method for use in an automatic analyzer according to claim 11, further comprising:
displaying a screen for selecting a measurement item, entering the correction amount with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent, and deriving a calculation expression for the correction amount.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The liquid dispensing method for use in an automatic analyzer according to claim 8, further comprising:
displaying a screen for selecting beforehand whether or not the correction, with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent, or to the measured data, is applied to analytical items to be measured.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The liquid dispensing method for use in an automatic analyzer according to claim 8, further comprising:
displaying a screen for selecting on an analytical item basis whether or not the correction, with respect to the aspiration or discharge of the sample or reagent, or to the measured data, is applied.