Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method and/or a device for carrying out chemical, biochemical and/or immunochemical analyses of liquid samples, which are present in a sample store of an automatic analyzer, with the aid of liquid reagents which are present in at least one reagent store of the analyzer. In one example embodiment, the automatic analyzer includes cuvettes, a first pipettor, a device with an optical measurement unit, a device for heterogenous immunoassays, a cuvette washing unit, a needle washing unit, a temperature control unit.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an automated analyzer that is capable of photographing operations at a plurality of processing units while suppressing manufacturing cost growth. This automated analyzer comprises a plurality of processing units for carrying out operations related to analysis, a plurality of measurement instrument mounting parts that are disposed in each of the plurality of processing units and upon which a measuring instrument for measuring the operations of the plurality of processing units can be mounted, and a control unit for controlling the plurality of processing units. The plurality of measurement instrument mounting parts are configured such that the measuring instrument can be removed from each of the measurement instrument mounting parts and such that after being removed from one measurement instrument mounting part, the measuring instrument can be mounted on another measurement instrument mounting part.

To obtain a highly reliable measurement result, this invention is characterized by comprising: an automated analyzer (100) having a sample probe (122) for drawing in and discharging a sample and a sample probe cleaning unit (110) having a sample dispensing unit (121) for at least moving the sample probe (122) from the position of a sample container (152) in which the sample is accommodated to the position of a reaction container (131) into which the sample is to be dispensed, and being configured to carry out first cleaning in which cleaning water is discharged around the sample probe (122) between the drawing in of the sample from the sample container (152) and the discharging of the sample into the reaction container (131); and a controller (200) for controlling the discharging and stopping of the cleaning water in the first cleaning for a prescribed inspection item.

An automatic analyzing apparatus according to an embodiment includes first and second conveyance paths, a sample dispensing mechanism, and processing circuitry. The first conveyance path conveys a first container rack that holds a container housing the sample. The second conveyance path conveys a second container rack that holds a container housing at least one of a detergent solution for cleaning a probe that dispenses the sample, a diluent for diluting the sample, a buffer solution for mixing the sample, a solution used for a blank test with the sample, and a solution for performing calibration measurement for the apparatus. The sample dispensing mechanism is configured so that the probe can aspirate a liquid in the container of the first container rack and the second container rack. The processing circuitry controls operations of the first conveyance path, the second conveyance path, and the sample dispensing mechanism.

The object of the invention is to avoid a decrease in dispensing accuracy of a sample, a reagent, or the like as a temperature changes. In an automatic analyzer, a dispensing nozzle sucks the sample from a sample container holding the sample and discharges the sample to a reaction container. A syringe pump controls an amount of change in a volume of water. A first pipe connects the dispensing nozzle and the syringe pump. An electromagnetic valve flows or stops the water. A second pipe connects the electromagnetic valve and the syringe pump. A branch pipe branches the water. A third pipe connects the electromagnetic valve and the branch pipe. A case accommodates at least the syringe pump, the first pipe, the electromagnetic valve, the second pipe, the branch pipe, and the third pipe. Further, the third pipe includes a heat exchange unit that performs heat exchange of the water.

The purpose of the present invention is to constantly keep a state in a flow cell steady by filling a detection flow channel with a liquid. The configuration of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is as follows. Specifically, the present invention is an automatic analysis apparatus provided with a detection unit including a flow cell that accommodates a liquid serving as an analysis subject; a suction nozzle that is positioned upstream of the flow cell and that sucks the liquid to be introduced into the flow cell; a pump that is positioned downstream of the flow cell and that supplies the liquid to the flow cell; flow channels that connect the flow cell, the suction nozzle, and the pump; a power source; and a power-cutting instructing unit that gives an instruction to cut the power supply at least to the pump. The automatic analysis apparatus is characterized by being provided with a control unit that performs first liquid supply processing when the power-cutting instruction from the power-cutting instructing unit is not received, and that performs second liquid supplying processing when the power-cutting instruction from the power-cutting instructing unit is received, thus supplying the liquid to the flow cell.

When the automatic analyzer is installed in an environment with a high altitude and different external atmospheric pressures, there is a problem that an amount of vacuum suction decreases due to a decrease in suction performance of a vacuum pump and it is difficult to perform vacuum suction of an analyzed reaction liquid. In view of the above, by newly providing a pressure adjustment mechanism within a flow path connecting a vacuum tank to vacuum pump, it possible to control the pressure difference between a pressure in the vacuum tank and an external atmospheric pressure where the analyzer is installed to be constant regardless of the installation environment. Additionally, by providing a hole in communication with the outside in the vacuum tank or a vacuum bin, it possible to control the pressure difference between the pressure in the vacuum tank and the external atmospheric pressure where the analyzer is installed to be constant regardless of the installation environment.

A dispensing assembly and related methods to facilitate dispensing of a fluid sample from a sample cylinder may include a sensor connected to one or more of conduits of the dispensing assembly and configured to provide indication of a leak in the conduits. A cap assembly may include a cap body and one or more cap conduits positioned to engage with a flush fluid source and provide fluid flow between the flush fluid source and a flush conduit. The cap assembly further may include a first quick connect coupler for connection and disconnection to a second quick connect coupler connected to a flush conduit. A pressure control device may be provided to prevent damage resulting from pressure to containers containing flush fluid. Inlet and outlet conduits connecting to the sample cylinder may configured to be flexible and align with corresponding connectors on the sample cylinder.

This automated analyzer comprises a first system 11 that does not need to use degassed water, a second system 12 for which it is preferable to use degassed water and that comprises a degassing device 21 for producing degassed water and a second pump 19 for delivering the degassed water, and a tank 1 having formed therein a first compartment 4 for storing water to supply to the first system 11 and a second compartment 5 for storing degassed water to supply to the second system 12. The second system 12 comprises a circulation system, which comprises a suction flow path 20 and return flow path 24 for connecting the degassing device 21, the second pump 19, and the second compartment 5 of the tank 1, and a usage system, which comprises a discharge flow path 22 and connection flow path 27 for connecting the degassing device 21 and a usage unit for using the degassed water. Provided inside the tank 1 are a partition 3 for forming the first compartment 4 and second compartment 5 and a water passage part 6 where water moves between the first compartment 4 and second compartment 5.

The inventive concept relates to a device for detecting particles in air, said device comprising a receiver for receiving a flow of air comprising particles, a sample carrier, and a particle capturing arrangement. The particle capturing arrangement is configured to separate the particles from the flow of air for and to collect a set of particles on a surface of the sample carrier. The device further comprises a light source configured to illuminate the particles on the sample carrier, such that an interference pattern is formed by interference between light being scattered by the particles and non-scattered light from the light source. The device further comprises an image sensor configured to detect the interference pattern. The device further comprises a cleaner configured for cleaning the surface of the sample carrier for enabling re-use of the surface for collection of a subsequent set of particles.