# US 2024/0201218 A1 · Automatic analyzer and control method therefor

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- Number: US 2024/0201218 A1
- Document ID: US20240201218A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/555,737
- Filed: 2022-01-27
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2021-04-20
- Assignees: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
- Applicants: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
- Inventors: Mayuko ITO; Shinya MATSUOKA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201218A1

## CPC

- G01N 35/1004: {Cleaning sample transfer devices}
- G01N 35/1002: {Reagent dispensers}
- G01N 2035/00277: {Special precautions to avoid contamination (e.g. enclosures, glove- boxes, sealed sample carriers, disposal of contaminated material)}
- 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

Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of preventing precipitation of a solute in a cleaning liquid in a reservoir used for cleaning a dispensing probe. The automatic analyzer for analyzing a sample includes a dispensing probe configured to dispense the sample or a reagent, a reservoir configured to reserve a cleaning liquid used for cleaning the dispensing probe, a flow path connected to the reservoir and through which the cleaning liquid flows, and a control unit configured to control each unit. The control unit draws the cleaning liquid in the reservoir into the flow path, and then supplies system water to the reservoir.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automatic analyzer for analyzing a sample, the automatic analyzer comprising:
a dispensing probe configured to dispense the sample or a reagent;
a reservoir configured to reserve a cleaning liquid used for cleaning the dispensing probe;
a flow path connected to the reservoir and through which the cleaning liquid flows; and
a control unit configured to control each unit; wherein
the control unit draws the cleaning liquid in the reservoir into the flow path, and then supplies system water to the reservoir.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
the control unit draws the cleaning liquid into the flow path so that a liquid level of the cleaning liquid is located below an upper end of the flow path.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
the control unit forms an air layer between the cleaning liquid and the system water.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
the control unit suctions, before drawing the cleaning liquid into the flow path, at least a part of the cleaning liquid in the reservoir by the dispensing probe and discharges the cleaning liquid to an outside of the reservoir.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
the control unit supplies, before drawing the cleaning liquid into the flow path, the cleaning liquid to the reservoir and overflows the cleaning liquid from the reservoir.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
when the system water supplied to the reservoir is replaced with the cleaning liquid, the control unit suctions at least a part of the system water by the dispensing probe and discharges the cleaning liquid to an outside of the reservoir.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
when waiting time until cleaning of the dispensing probe is longer than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit draws the cleaning liquid into the flow path and supplies the system water to the reservoir.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The automatic analyzer according to claim 7, wherein
the threshold value is set according to a type of the cleaning liquid.

### Claim 9

A method for controlling an automatic analyzer for analyzing a sample, the method comprising:
drawing a cleaning liquid reserved in a reservoir, the cleaning liquid being used for cleaning a dispensing probe for dispensing the sample or a reagent, into a flow path connected to the reservoir and through which the cleaning liquid flows; and
supplying system water to the reservoir.