Analyzer system having sample rack transfer line

• US 6,733,728 B1
• Filed: 12/24/1998
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Mimura, Tomonori, Sakazume, Taku, Mitsumaki, Hiroshi, Ohishi, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): WARDEN, JILL ALICE
• Application Number:
  US09/220,371
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 422/65, 422/67, 436/43, 436/47, 436/48, 436/49, 436/50
• US Class Current: 422/65
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00326 Analysers with modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00673 of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0453 Multiple carousels working in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00663 of consumables
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/02 using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations G01N35/0098 and G01N35/0099 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 Condition or time responsive

Abstract

A plurality of analyzer units for serum, a plurality of analyzer units for blood plasma and a plurality of analyzer units are arranged along a main transfer line for transferring a sample rack from a rack delivery portion to a rack returning portion. A reagent bottle for inspecting liver function is contained in each of reagent delivery mechanisms of two analyzer units among the plurality of analyzer units for serum. When reagent for inspecting liver function in one of the two analyzer units is to be short, analysis for liver function analysis item to samples can be continued by transferring a sample rack from the rack delivery portion to the other analyzer unit.

Claims

1. A multiple sample analyzing system, comprising:

a transfer line;

a plurality of analyzer units arranged along the transfer line, the transfer line transferring a sample rack holding a plurality of samples to the analyzer units for analysis thereby, wherein the same reagent used for one specific analysis is included in those analyzer units that perform that specific analysis;

means for reading out identification information of the sample rack transferred by the transfer line;

a controller for judging which analyzer unit to send the sample rack on the basis of the read-out identification information;

instruction means for instructing a start-up operation and a shutdown operation of each analyzer unit;

means for communicating instruction information regarding the start-up status or shutdown status of each analyzer unit to said controller;

wherein the controller controls the transfer line to transfer the sample rack to an analyzer unit other than an analyzer unit whose operation is shut down on the basis of the judgement of the controller from the read-out identification information and the start-up or shutdown status instruction information from the instruction means.

2. A multiple sample analyzing system according to claim 1, wherein the specific analysis is a liver function inspection analysis item or an emergency analysis item.