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 present invention reduces the turnaround time of an automated analyzer. During a period when cyclic measurement by a measurement unit is unnecessary, a controller washes a reaction vessel using a washing cycle having a cycle time shorter than that of an analysis cycle. A single analysis cycle and a single washing cycle both include a reaction disc stopping period and rotation period. In the washing cycle, there is no time during the stopping period when a sample dispensing mechanism, reagent dispensing mechanism, or stirring mechanism operates but there is a time when a washing mechanism operates. The washing cycle stopping period is shorter than the analysis cycle stopping period. The amount of rotation of the reaction disk in the analysis cycle rotation period is the same as the amount of rotation of the reaction disk in the washing cycle rotation period.

A laboratory instrument for processing a sample and a method for automatic surveillance of at least one pipetting procedure of at least one laboratory instrument for processing a sample are disclosed. The laboratory instrument includes at least one pipetting device with at least one pipetting head configured for being coupled to a plurality of pipetting tips. The laboratory instrument further includes a compartment configured for receiving, storing, and/or releasing at least one sample holder. The pipetting device is configured for performing at least one pipetting procedure on the sample holder and the laboratory instrument includes at least one sensor unit configured for gravimetric measuring of the sample holder.

A method that enables handling whole blood for assays where the whole blood is directly taken from a patient without any prior treatment and being put in a collection tube or other container ready to use for further analysis. The method can enable simple processing of the whole blood while avoiding any clots or aggregates and without damaging white cells in a reproducible and automatable way. The method can furthermore enable an automatic and reproducible pipetting of whole blood cells inside several wells to be tested.

To provide an automatic analyzer capable of relaxing the effect of a previously created mixed liquid when a new mixed liquid is created. An automatic analyzer according to the present disclosure: is configured so as to create a second mixed liquid after a first mixed liquid is created; and introduces a relaxation reagent to relax the effect of a first reagent remaining in a mixed liquid chamber when the second mixed liquid is created into the mixed liquid chamber on the basis of characteristics of the first mixed liquid.

Provided is an automatic analysis device capable of replenishing consumables without loss of a specimen and without stopping analysis. The state of an automatic analysis device 100 includes a replenishment prohibition state in which replenishment of consumables (reaction vessel 8, specimen dispensing tip 10a and external reagent vessels 21a, 21b, 21c) is prohibited, and a replenishment permission state in which replenishment of consumables is permitted. In the replenishment prohibition state, a specimen dispensing mechanism 10 performs dispensing, and detection units 18a and 18b perform analysis. In the replenishment permission state, the specimen dispensing mechanism 10 does not perform dispensing, and the detection units 18a and 18b perform analysis. A device state control unit 119d causes the automatic analysis device 100 to transition to the replenishment permission state when the remaining amount or the remaining number of the consumables predicted by a consumables remaining amount prediction unit 119b becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.

A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to positon the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.

An automatic liquid transfer optimization pipetting apparatus and method is disclosed. Namely, a liquid handling apparatus includes a pump supplying a nozzle (i.e., a pipette tip) via a conduit, one or more pressure sensors, and an electronic controller, and wherein the pipette tip is submerged in a liquid. Further, a method of automatic liquid transfer optimization pipetting includes the steps of actuating the pump to move a designated volume of liquid and then allowing the system to settle to a steady state after completion of pump actuation.

Manually operated pipettors, widely used in clinical, forensics, pharmaceutical research, hospital and biotech laboratories to transfer small volumes of liquid, may be subject to positional errors, operator use errors and hidden performance degradation. Manual pipette performance cannot be accepted without monitoring and reporting. This invention concerns a computer controlled vision tracking and lighting system working in conjunction with a sensor controlled fluid dispensing device and controller to confirm pipette tip positional locations during aspiration and dispensing operations with automatic monitoring of liquids entering and leaving a pipette apparatus to digitally track a manual pipetting operation with a digital output file of validated liquid transfer results. The invention may also monitor possible error conditions and prevent improper liquid transfers during the manual process.

A control section causes one dispensing mechanism of either a reagent dispensing mechanism or a sample dispensing mechanism to first discharge a predetermined amount of a liquid into the reaction container, and then, with respect to the cases where the amount of a liquid to be discharged by the other dispensing mechanism is larger or smaller than the amount of the liquid in the reaction container, causes the other dispensing mechanism to discharge the liquid such that the discharge speed in the case where the amount of the liquid to be discharged is larger is decreased relative to the discharge speed in the case where the amount of the liquid to be discharged is smaller.