A circulation device causes gas to circulate between a sample storage space and a temperature adjustment space through the first and second opening regions in a separating member. A temperature of gas flowing in the temperature adjustment space is adjusted by a heat exchanger, so that the temperature of gas surrounding a sample in the sample storage space is adjusted. The separating member further has first and second unit regions. The second opening region includes a first portion located in the first unit region and a second portion located in the second unit region. The shortest distance between the first portion and the first opening region is larger than the shortest distance between the second portion and the first opening region, and an aperture ratio of the first portion in the first unit region is larger than an aperture ratio of the second portion in the second unit region.

Provided is an automatic analyzer having a rapid start-up of a heat block while precisely controlling a temperature of a reaction solution. In the automatic analyzer equipped with a reaction-vessel-holding part, a heat block having a heat source to heat the reaction vessel, and a cooling system having a low temperature region and a high temperature region, an outer peripheral part of or below the reaction-vessel-holding part is defined as a heat transfer space, there are provided a heat transfer passage connecting the heat transfer space and the high temperature region, a heat medium circulating through the high temperature region, the heat transfer passage, and the heat transfer space, and a flow rate control means configured to control a flow rate of the heat medium in the heat transfer passage, and a temperature detection means is provided on a downstream side of the high temperature region.

GT Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling humidity and/or temperature during chemical analysis of a sample material. Specifically, the present application relates to microfluidics systems and methods, e.g. involving ADE, open port interface (OPI) and/or mass spectrometry (MS), for controlling humidity and/or temperature during chemical analysis of a sample material. The present systems and methods allow a user to modify the temperature of a microplate during dispensing. This allows the user to study reactions that occur at temperatures different than room temperature, e.g. at body temperature. Additionally, modifying and/or controlling the temperature of a microplate during dispensing can allow a user to maintain quality of a sample through maintaining a proper temperature, e.g. a cool temperature to prevent degradation of a sample. As part of the present invention, Applicant determined how to avoid phase changes, e.g. evaporation, that are particularly concerning because of the small amounts of sample involved.

An apparatus for thermal processing of nucleic acid in a thermal profile. The apparatus employs a reactor holder for holding reactors to accommodate reaction material containing nucleic acid. The apparatus includes at least two baths separated by thermally insulating partition plate(s) where bath mediums are each maintainable at a predetermined temperature; and a transfer means for allowing the reactors to change position once or plurality of times between any two adjacent baths by selectively opening the partition plate(s) and without lifting the reactors out of the baths.

Apparatus and method for thermal processing of nucleic acid in a thermal profile is provided. The apparatus employs a reactor holder for holding reactor(s) each accommodating reaction material containing the nucleic acid. The apparatus comprises a first bath; and a second bath, bath mediums in the baths being respectively maintainable at two different temperatures T.sub.HIGH and T.sub.LOW; and a transfer means for allowing the reactor(s) to be in the two baths in a plurality of thermal cycles to alternately attain: a predetermined high target temperature T.sub.HT, and a predetermined low target temperature T.sub.LT, while the apparatus adapts to a temperature-offset feature defined by at least one condition from the group consisting: a) the T.sub.HT is lower than the T.sub.HIGH, b) the T.sub.LT is higher than the T.sub.LOW, and c) the conditions at a) and b).

An apparatus for thermally processing reaction material containing nucleic acid is provided. A reaction material is contained in reactors. The apparatus includes a reactor holder for statically holding the reactors; at least two heating means each being maintainable at a user specifiable temperature; and a transport means for positioning the heating means to make a contact with the reactors one at a time for specified duration. The positioning is conductable once or over a plurality of times for thermally processing the reactors between a plurality of temperatures.

An apparatus for thermal processing nucleic acid in a thermal profile. The apparatus employs a reactor holder for holding reactor(s) each accommodating reaction material containing the nucleic acid. The apparatus includes a first bath; and a second bath, bath mediums in the baths being respectively maintainable at two different temperatures; and a transfer means for allowing the reactor(s) to be in the two baths in a plurality of thermal cycles to alternately attain: a predetermined high target temperature T.sub.HT, and a predetermined low target temperature T.sub.LT; and reciprocating means to enable relative reciprocating motion between the holder and at least one bath while the reactor(s) is/are placed in the at least one bath, the relative reciprocating motion being executable by shaking the bath or the holder or both.

A method and an apparatus for thermal processing of nucleic acid in a thermal profile. The method employs at least a first bath and a second bath, the method further employing a reactor holder for holding reactor(s) accommodating reaction material containing the nucleic acid. The method includes maintaining bath mediums in the baths at two different temperatures; and alternately allowing the reactor(s) to be in the two baths in a plurality of thermal cycles to alternately attain a predetermined high target temperature T.sub.HT, and a predetermined low target temperature T.sub.LT, wherein the bath medium in at least one of the baths is a high thermal conductivity powder.

The automatic analyzer includes a sample storage section for accommodating a plurality of samples, a reagent storage section for accommodating a plurality of reagents, an analysis section for carrying out an analysis by reacting the sample with the reagent, a display, a storage section for storing a setting of an operation item to be automatically executed, which is effective only at restarting, and a control section which displays a screen for setting the operation item to be automatically executed upon acceptance of power shutdown operation by an operator during the analysis on the display to accept the setting from the operator, and automatically executes or omits execution of the operation item to be automatically executed, which has been set by the operator in accordance with the setting read from the storage section at the restarting.

The reagent refrigerator includes a reagent disc that forms a reagent container holder as a space for holding the reagent container, an inner wall disposed while being kept apart from the reagent disc by a predetermined distance, and a lid for closing the upper part of the reagent refrigerator. The reagent disc has a hole formed in the bottom surface of the reagent container holder, a first surface along a vertical direction, and a second surface formed along a horizontal direction. The lid includes a reagent aspiration hole through which a reagent aspiration nozzle is inserted for aspirating the reagent, and an openable lid for opening and closing an opening. The warm air is introduced at a predetermined angle so that the introduced warm air is split into the one along the first surface and the one along the second surface.