A method comprises providing a microfluidic device including a reservoir; an injection nozzle at the bottom of the reservoir, the injection nozzle being wider at its top than at its bottom; an injection channel below the injection nozzle; and a microfluidic channel below the injection channel. The method further comprises placing fluid in the reservoir, and allowing the fluid to passively flow through the injection nozzle and the injection channel.

Provided is an automated analysis device with which sufficient reaction process data can be acquired irrespective of the scale of the device, and with which it is possible to ensure freedom of the device configuration. An automated analysis device 100 is provided with: a reaction disk 1 which circumferentially accommodates a plurality of reaction vessels 2; a specimen dispensing mechanism 11 which dispenses a specimen into the reaction vessels 2; a reagent dispensing mechanism 7 which dispenses a reagent into the reaction vessels 2; a measuring unit 4 which measures a reaction process of a mixture of the specimen and the reagent in the reaction vessels 2; and a cleaning mechanism 3 which cleans the reaction vessels 2 after measurement. Further, the automated analysis device 100 includes a controller 21 which controls the drive of the reaction disk 1 such that in one cycle the reaction vessels 2 move by an amount Ain the circumferential direction in such a way that N and A are mutually prime, B and C are mutually prime, and the relationship A×B=N×C±1 holds, where N is the total number of reaction vessels 2 accommodated in the reaction disk 1, the reaction disk 1 moves through C (where C>1) rotations+an amount equivalent to one reaction vessel after B (where B>2) cycles, and the number of reaction vessels 2 moved in one cycle is A (where N>A>N/B+1).

Stable operation of an ultrasonic vibrator of an ultrasonic cleaner and scattering prevention of a washing liquid are provided. The ultrasonic cleaner includes a washing tank 206 in which a washing liquid is reserved; an ultrasonic vibrator 205; a vibration head 209 provided with a neck 304 extended from the ultrasonic vibrator to the washing tank and a tip end portion 210 having a cylindrical hole 211 whose longitudinal direction is oriented to a perpendicular direction; and a first cover 601 having an opening corresponding to the neck and the cylindrical hole, in which the first cover is arranged to a height in contact with a liquid surface of the washing liquid such that it covers the washing tank.

Cradles for draining liquid from containers are described herein. An example apparatus includes a housing having a bottom wall, a side wall and an open top. The housing is to receive a container having liquid. The example apparatus includes a probe extending upward from the bottom wall toward the open top and is to drain the liquid from the container when the probe is inserted into the container. The example apparatus also includes a sliding lock slidably disposed within the housing that receives a cap or top of the container when the container is inserted into the housing. The sliding lock includes a key slot. The sliding lock is movable when a cap or top of the container has a matching key that engages the key slot, which enables the sliding lock to move downward to expose the probe and drain the liquid from the container.

A method of washing an aspiration probe of an in-vitro diagnostic system is disclosed. The aspiration probe comprises an outer surface and an inner surface forming an inner space for receiving a fluid. The method comprises dipping the aspiration probe into a first wash fluid so that the outer surface is immersed at least in part into the first wash fluid, aspirating an amount of the first wash fluid into the inner space of the aspiration probe, propagating an ultrasonic vibration to the outer surface of the aspiration probe via the first wash fluid, and rinsing the outer surface and the inner surface of the aspiration probe with a second wash fluid. Further, an in-vitro diagnostic method and an in-vitro diagnostic system are disclosed.

Cradles for draining liquid from containers are described herein. An example apparatus includes a housing having a bottom wall, a side wall and an open top. The housing is to receive a container having liquid. The example apparatus includes a probe extending upward from the bottom wall toward the open top and is to drain the liquid from the container when the probe is inserted into the container. The example apparatus also includes a sliding lock slidably disposed within the housing that receives a cap or top of the container when the container is inserted into the housing. The sliding lock includes a key slot. The sliding lock is movable when a cap or top of the container has a matching key that engages the key slot, which enables the sliding lock to move downward to expose the probe and drain the liquid from the container.

Provided is an automated analysis device with which sufficient reaction process data can be acquired irrespective of the scale of the device, and with which it is possible to ensure freedom of the device configuration. An automated analysis device 100 is provided with: a reaction disk 1 which circumferentially accommodates a plurality of reaction vessels 2; a specimen dispensing mechanism 11 which dispenses a specimen into the reaction vessels 2; a reagent dispensing mechanism 7 which dispenses a reagent into the reaction vessels 2; a measuring unit 4 which measures a reaction process of a mixture of the specimen and the reagent in the reaction vessels 2; and a cleaning mechanism 3 which cleans the reaction vessels 2 after measurement. Further, the automated analysis device 100 includes a controller 21 which controls the drive of the reaction disk 1 such that in one cycle the reaction vessels 2 move by an amount Ain the circumferential direction in such a way that N and A are mutually prime, B and C are mutually prime, and the relationship A×B=N×C±1 holds, where N is the total number of reaction vessels 2 accommodated in the reaction disk 1, the reaction disk 1 moves through C (where C>1) rotations+an amount equivalent to one reaction vessel after B (where B>2) cycles, and the number of reaction vessels 2 moved in one cycle is A (where N>A>N/B+1).

An automatic analyzer includes a cleaning pool, a discharge port, a waste fluid pipe, a valve, and a guiding unit. The cleaning pool is used to clean a predetermined member with a fluid. The discharge port discharges the fluid. The waste fluid pipe connects the cleaning pool and the discharge port. The valve is disposed to the waste fluid pipe. The guiding unit guides a cleaning fluid to the cleaning pool via the waste fluid pipe.

Disclosed is an automatic cleaning and separating device for removing uncombined components in reactants in a reaction container. The automatic cleaning and separating device includes: a liquid injection and uniform mixing mechanism, a removal assembly and a liquid suction mechanism; wherein a liquid injection driver is mounted on the liquid injection and uniform mixing mechanism, a liquid suction driver is mounted on the liquid suction mechanism, the liquid injection driver drives the liquid injection and uniform mixing mechanism to move up and down so as to complete liquid injection, the liquid suction driver drives the liquid suction mechanism to move up and down to complete liquid suction, and the removal assembly removes the reaction container from the liquid injection and uniform mixing mechanism under the relative motion of the liquid suction mechanism and the liquid injection and uniform mixing mechanism.

A centrifuge for cleaning a reaction vessel unit, having a rotor for holding at least one reaction vessel unit with its opening(s) directed outwardly, a motor for rotating the rotor around a rotation axis, a housing having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, wherein a drain is provided for discharging fluid expelled from the reaction vessel unit, wherein a gap is provided between the inner surface and the rotor so that by rotating the rotor a wind is generated which drives the expelled fluid on the inner surface to the drain wherein an aspiration pump is connected to the drain for discharging fluid.