A container containing unit includes a housing and a lid member. The lid member has a probe insertion hole and a droplet guide portion. The droplet guide portion is formed at an edge of an opening end of the probe insertion hole and has a plurality of groove portions. The plurality of groove portions extend from the edge of the opening end to an outside of a locus through which the mouth of the container is moved.

There is provided a receptacle carrier unit and automated analyzer capable of suppressing generation of temperature nonuniformities among liquid aliquots received in plural receptacles without increasing the parts count. The receptacle carrier unit has a turntable, a turntable drive, a cool box, a cooling portion, and a control section. The control section controls the turntable drive, based on the number and installation locations of the receptacles installed in the cool box and on temperature distribution information, to homogenize the effects that the individual receptacles receive from the cool box.

A diagnostic analyzer includes a rotating device, a first optical reader, and a second optical reader. The rotating device includes a first darkened compartment, a second darkened compartment, and an optical path along which the first darkened compartment and the second darkened compartment travel. The first optical reader is operable to read the first darkened compartment and the second optical reader is operable to read the second darkened compartment.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzing device capable of carrying in/out a reagent suitable for the intended use of a user according to the state of the device. An automatic analyzing device has a reagent refrigerator for movably holding reagent containers and a reagent loader for carrying in/out the reagent containers to/from the reagent refrigerator through movement in a direction perpendicular to the reagent refrigerator. A reagent refrigerator cover covers an upper surface of the reagent refrigerator and has an opening through which the reagent loader can pass. A storage unit stores a device state of the automatic analyzing device and a reagent-carry-in/out-method is selected on the basis of the device state. A control unit controls the reagent holder and the reagent loader according to the selected reagent carry-in/out method so as to carry in/out a target reagent container.

An automated analysis device is provided with a casing accommodating an analysis device. A cover is axially supported with freedom to pivot, between a closed position and an upwardly-open open position, about a support shaft provided at one side of the casing. A closing device is capable of inhibiting opening of the cover in the closed position, and is provided with a lock accepting means, which is a projecting portion that protrudes from a front surface of the cover toward the rear, a lock lever which is axially supported with freedom to pivot about a pivoting support shaft, and which pivots from the work surface in a direction approaching the lock accepting means to engage with the lock accepting means, thereby inhibiting opening of the cover, and a driving means for driving the lock lever. A safety cover can thus be locked securely.

A sample receiving assembly capable of receiving a fluid sample from sample containers having different sizes and shapes includes an arm, an arm holder, a sample probe, and a support member, the support member having a bore therethrough and a plurality of linear grooves. The arm is disposed within the arm holder and the sample probe is disposed within the arm. The arm holder includes a hollow pivot pin insertable through the bore in the support member. The sample probe has a first portion extendable through a distal end of the arm, and a second portion extending axially through the hollow pivot pin. The plurality of linear grooves in the support member are sized and positioned to receive a guide pin on the arm and guide retraction of the arm into the arm holder from an extended position to a retracted position.

Maintenance time for an automated analysis device is reduced by executing a plurality of maintenance items in parallel. An automated analysis system 10 is provided with an automated analysis device 11 and a terminal device 38. The automated analysis system 11 measures a sample. The terminal device 38 includes a display unit 32, an operation unit 32, and a control unit provided in a computer 30. The display unit 32 displays maintenance items for maintaining the automated analysis device 11. The operation unit 31 selects one or more of the maintenance items displayed on the display unit 32. The control unit controls the automated analysis device 11 to execute in parallel all the maintenance items selected by the operation unit 31.

An apparatus for pretreatment of a desired sample in a discrete fluid analyzing instrument includes a frame rotatably mounted on or within the discrete fluid analyzing instrument with a column for immobilizing at least one substance or analyte from the sample. The substance or analyte is reversibly immobilized. A first fluid transport line is provided for aspirating the sample into the column and for ejecting the substance or analyte eluted from the column. A pump is provided for pumping the sample through the column with a second fluid transport line connecting the pump to the column. A member is providing to supply the eluted substance or analyte to the discrete fluid analyzing instrument for measurement of at least one property of the substance or analyte. A device is provided for simultaneously or consecutively directing any non-pretreated sample or any subsample directly to the discrete fluid analyzing instrument.

A sample analyzer is configured to execute a liquid surface detection of detecting a liquid surface in a container by a liquid surface detector prior to a lowering operation of an aspirating tube for aspirating the liquid if a liquid level information is not stored in a memory, and store a liquid level information of a container in the memory based on a detection result by the liquid surface detection. Also, a liquid aspirating method by a sample analyzer.

According to one embodiment, an automatic analyzing apparatus includes a reagent depository, a reagent storage unit and a probe. The reagent depository stores a first reagent vessel. The reagent storage unit is provided separately from the reagent depository and in which a second reagent vessel is placeable. The probe suctions a reagent contained in the first reagent vessel at a first position which is located above the reagent depository, suctions a reagent contained in the second reagent vessel at a second position which is located above the reagent storage unit, and discharges the reagent suctioned from the first reagent vessel or the second reagent vessel into a reaction vessel at a third position.