# US 2022/0034918 A1 · Automatic analyzer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0034918 A1 - Document ID: US20220034918A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/276,941 - Filed: 2019-10-18 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-31 - Assignees: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation - Applicants: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation - Inventors: Yuichi IWASE; Kohei NONAKA; Tetsuji KAWAHARA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220034918A1 ## CPC - G01N 35/0092: {Scheduling} - G01N 35/1004: {Cleaning sample transfer devices} - G01N 35/1009: {Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids} - G01N 35/1016: {Control of the volume dispensed or introduced} - G01N 2035/00425: {Heating or cooling means associated with pipettes or the like, e.g. for supplying sample/reagent at given temperature} - G01N 2035/1006: {Rinsing only the inside of the tip} - 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) ## Abstract The fluid temperature within piping of a sample dispensing system is stabilized in order to maintain stable dispensing performance with high precision in an automatic analyzer. A controller executes a first operation sequence to operate the sample dispensing system in a standby state continued until the sample is transported to the sample dispensing position, and executes a second operation sequence to operate the sample dispensing system in an analysis state in which the sample located in the sample dispensing position is dispensed. A time period during interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the first operation sequence is set to be shorter than a time period during interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the second operation sequence. Alternatively, the first operation sequence is configured to perform interior cleaning at a rate of once every multiple of cycles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic analyzer, comprising: a sample dispensing system that uses a sample probe to dispense a sample located in a sample dispensing position; and an apparatus controller that controls the sample dispensing system, wherein the apparatus controller executes a first operation sequence to operate the sample dispensing system in a standby state continued until the sample is transported to the sample dispensing position, and the apparatus controller executes a second operation sequence to operate the sample dispensing system in an analysis state in which the sample located in the sample dispensing position is dispensed, and a time period during interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the first operation sequence is set to be shorter than a time period during interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the second operation sequence. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the time period during interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the first operation sequence is set to 20% or more and 80% or less of the time period during interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the second operation sequence. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the first operation sequence is configured to perform the interior cleaning of the sample probe at a rate of once every multiple cycles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus controller has a database stored therein, the database being registered with a relationship between an interior-cleaning time period which is the time period during the interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the first operation sequence and an equilibrium temperature of in-pipe fluid of the sample dispensing system when the interior cleaning is performed on the sample probe for the interior-cleaning time period, and the apparatus controller performs an actual measurement of a temperature of in-pipe fluid of the sample dispensing system in the analysis state to estimate an average equilibrium temperature of the in-pipe fluid in the analysis state, and the apparatus controller references the database to determine a time period to perform interior cleaning on the sample probe in a single cycle of the first operation sequence. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a time period of a single cycle of the first operation sequence is equal to a time period of a single cycle of the second operation sequence, and timing to start the interior cleaning of the sample probe in a single cycle of the first operation sequence is set to be earlier than timing to start the interior cleaning of the sample probe in a single cycle of the second operation sequence. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The automatic analyzer according to claim 5, wherein the first operation sequence is configured to perform the interior cleaning on the sample probe immediately following a start of a single cycle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the first operation sequence is configured to perform the interior cleaning on the sample probe multiple times in a single cycle, and total time of the time period during the interior cleaning performed on the sample probe multiple times in a single cycle of the first operation sequence is set to be shorter than the time period during the interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the second operation sequence. ### Claim 8 An automatic analyzer, comprising: a sample dispensing system that uses a sample probe to dispense a sample located in a sample dispensing position; and an apparatus controller that controls the sample dispensing system, wherein the apparatus controller executes a first operation sequence to operate the sample dispensing system in a standby state continued until the sample is transported to the sample dispensing position, and the apparatus controller executes a second operation sequence to operate the sample dispensing system in an analysis state in which the sample located in the sample dispensing position is dispensed, and the first operation sequence is configured to perform interior cleaning on the sample probe at a rate of once every multiple cycles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The automatic analyzer according to claim 8, wherein a time period during interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the first operation sequence is set to be shorter than a time period during interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the second operation sequence. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The automatic analyzer according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus controller has a database stored therein, the database being registered with a relationship between an interior-cleaning frequency of performing the interior cleaning on the sample probe in the first operation sequence and an equilibrium temperature of in-pipe fluid of the sample dispensing system when the interior cleaning is performed on the sample probe at the interior-cleaning frequency, and the apparatus controller performs an actual measurement of a temperature of in-pipe fluid of the sample dispensing system in the analysis state to estimate an average equilibrium temperature of the in-pipe fluid in the analysis state, and references the database to determine a frequency of performing interior cleaning on the sample probe in the first operation sequence. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The automatic analyzer according to claim 8, wherein a time period of a single cycle of the first operation sequence is equal to a time period of a single cycle of the second operation sequence, and timing to start the interior cleaning of the sample probe in a single cycle of the first operation sequence is set to be earlier than timing to start the interior cleaning of the sample probe in a single cycle of the second operation sequence. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The automatic analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the first operation sequence is configured to perform the interior cleaning on the sample probe immediately following a start of a single cycle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The automatic analyzer according to claim 8, wherein the first operation sequence is configured to perform the interior cleaning on the sample probe multiple times in a single cycle, and total time of time periods during interior cleaning performed on the sample probe multiple times in a single cycle of the first operation sequence is set to be shorter than a time period during the interior cleaning performed on the sample probe in a single cycle of the second operation sequence.