Apparatus and Method for Automated Analysis

A method of automated analysis comprising the steps of:

• aspirating a liquid from a first container by a probe;
• dispensing the liquid aspirated in the probe into a second container;
• supplying a diluent into a diluent vessel;
• aspirating the diluent in the diluent vessel by the probe;
• and
• dispensing the diluent aspirated in the probe into the second container,
• wherein, when these steps are performed repeatedly in a given procedure, the diluent in the diluent vessel is aspirated by the probe and then the diluent in the diluent vessel is discharged.

An automated analyzer comprising:

• an analyte turntable for holding a plurality of analyte containers in which an analyte is stored;
• a dilution turntable for holding a plurality of diluent containers for storing the analyte diluted with a diluent;
• a reaction turntable for holding a plurality of reaction containers for reacting the analyte with a reagent;
• a dilution probe for aspirating the analyte from a selected one of the analyte containers held on the analyte turntable and injecting an aliquot portion of the aspirated analyte into the diluent containers on the dilution turntable together with a first diluent;
• a sample probe for aspirating the diluted analyte from a selected one of the dilution containers held on the dilution turntable and dispensing an aliquot of the aspirated diluted analyte into the reaction containers on the reaction turntable;
• a diluent vessel operative to store a second diluent and located in a position where the dilution probe can aspirate the analyte;
• a diluent supply mechanism for supplying the second diluent into the diluent vessel;
• a diluent discharging mechanism for discharging the second diluent in the diluent vessel;
• and
• a controller for controlling the dilution probe, the diluent supply mechanism, and the diluent discharging mechanism, the controller being operative to control the dilution probe such that the second diluent is aspirated from the diluent vessel and an aliquot portion is dispensed into the dilution containers and that the second diluent is discharged from the diluent vessel by the diluent discharging mechanism during a period beginning with end of an aspiration of the second diluent from the diluent vessel by the dilution probe and ending with start of a next aspiration and then the diluent vessel is filled with the second diluent by the diluent supply mechanism.

An automated analyzer comprising:

• an analyte turntable for holding a plurality of analyte containers in which analyte is stored;
• a reagent turntable for holding reagent containers holding reagents therein;
• a reaction turntable for holding a plurality of reaction containers each for reacting an analyte with a reagent;
• a sample probe for aspirating an analyte from a selected one of the analyte containers held on the analyte turntable and aliquotting the aspirated analyte into the reaction containers on the reaction turntable;
• a reagent probe for aspirating a reagent from a selected one of the reagent containers held on the reagent turntable and aliquotting the aspirated reagent into the reaction containers on the reaction turntable;
• a diluent vessel operative to store diluent and located in a position where the sample probe or the reagent probe can aspirate the analyte or the reagent;
• a diluent supply mechanism for supplying the second diluent into the diluent vessel;
• a diluent discharging mechanism for discharging the second diluent in the diluent vessel;
• and
• a controller for controlling the sample probe, the diluent supply mechanism, and the diluent discharging mechanism, the controller being operative to control the sample probe such that the second diluent is aspirated from the diluent vessel and dispensing an aliquot portion into the analyte containers and that the second diluent is discharged from the diluent vessel by the diluent discharging mechanism during a period beginning with end of an aspiration of the second diluent from the diluent vessel by the sample probe and ending with start of a next aspiration and then the diluent vessel is filled with the second diluent by the diluent supply mechanism.