Sample analyzer and its components

• US 7,988,914 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshida, Takashi, Nagai, Takaaki, Kaneko, Shuhei, Yoshida, Noriyoshi, Takaoka, Hidenari, Fukuju, Toshikatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): SIEFKE, SAMUEL P
• Application Number:
  US12/038,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20080219886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 422/68.1, 422/500
• US Class Current: 422/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/02 Burettes; Pipettes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/13 Details pertaining to apertures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/012 Red blood cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/016 White blood cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/018 Platelets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1024 Counting particles by non-optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1018 Detecting inhomogeneities, e.g. foam, bubbles, clots
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1032 Dilution or aliquotting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1004 Cleaning sample transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1016 Control of the volume dispensed or introduced
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums

Abstract

A sample analyzer includes a liquid aspirator to be stuck into the closed container for aspirating a sample from a closed container; a preparing section for preparing an analysis sample using the aspirated sample; and an analyzing section for analyzing the prepared analysis sample; the liquid aspirator including an elongated pipe, the pipe having a liquid flow path extending therein and a plurality of communicating sections provided in an outer surface thereof, at least one of the communicating sections communicating between an inside and an outside of the container when the pipe is stuck into the container.

Claims

1. A blood cell analyzer, including,

a pipette for dispensing a blood sample contained in a sample vessel,

a preparing section for preparing an analysis sample to be analyzed using the blood sample dispensed by the pipette, a diluent, and a hemolyzing agent, and

a detector for detecting signals from white blood cells in the analysis sample,

the preparing section having a liquid transfer unit, comprising:

a pump connected to a first liquid retaining section for storing the diluent and a second liquid retaining section for storing the hemolyzing agent;

a flow path for connecting between the pump and the second liquid retaining section;

a third liquid retaining section placed in the flow path; and

a liquid discharge section connected to the third liquid retaining section,

wherein the pump transports the hemolyzing agent from the second liquid retaining section to the third liquid retaining section and discharges the hemolyzing agent with the diluent via the liquid discharge section to the detector.

2. The blood cell analyzer of claim 1, wherein the third liquid retaining section is tubular.

3. The blood cell analyzer of claim 1, wherein the flow path comprises:

a first flow path provided between the second and third liquid retaining sections; and

a second flow path provided between the third liquid retaining section and the pump, and

wherein the liquid transfer unit further comprises;

a third flow path provided between the pump and the first liquid retaining section;

a fourth flow path provided between the third liquid retaining section and the liquid discharge section; and

first, second, third and fourth valves for opening and closing the first, second, third and fourth flow paths, respectively.

4. The blood cell analyzer of claim 1, wherein the liquid transfer unit comprises an air flow path for supplying air to the third liquid retaining section, the pump supplying the air to the third liquid retaining section through the air flow path before transporting the hemolyzing agent to the third liquid retaining section.

5. The blood cell analyzer of claim 1, further comprising:

a first valve for connecting and isolating the first liquid retaining section and the pump; and

a second valve for connecting and isolating the second liquid retaining section and the pump,

wherein the first valve is opened and the second valve is closed when the pump sucks the diluent, and the second valve is opened and the first valve is closed when the pump sucks the hemolyzing agent.

14. The blood cell analyzer of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller that counts the white blood cells on the basis of a detected result by the detector.

6. A blood cell analyzer, comprising:

a pipette for dispensing a blood sample contained in a sample vessel,

a chamber for preparing an analysis sample by mixing the blood sample dispensed by the pipette, a diluent and a hemolyzing agent;

a detector for detecting a signals from white blood cells in the analysis sample supplied from the chamber;

a pipette for supplying the blood sample to the chamber;

a liquid transfer unit for supplying the diluent and the hemolyzing agent to the chamber; and

a controller for controlling the liquid transfer unit,

wherein the liquid transfer unit comprises,

a pump controlled by the controller,

a first liquid retainer for storing the diluent,

a first flow path connected between the pump and the first liquid retainer,

a second liquid retainer for storing the hemolyzing agent,

a third liquid retainer,

a second flow path connected between the pump and the third liquid retainer,

a liquid discharge port for discharging the diluent and the hemolyzing agent to the chamber, and

a third flow path connected to the second liquid retainer, the third liquid retainer, and the liquid discharge port.

7. The blood cell analyzer of claim 6, wherein the third liquid retainer is tubular.

8. The blood cell analyzer of claim 6, wherein the third flow path comprises an air flow path for supplying air to the third liquid retainer.

9. The blood cell analyzer of claim 6, wherein the first flow path comprises a first valve for opening and closing the first flow path, the second flow path comprises a second valve for opening and closing the second flow path, and the third flow path comprises a third valve for opening and closing a flow path between the second liquid retainer and the third liquid retainer, and a fourth valve for opening and losing a flow path between the third liquid retainer and the liquid discharge port, wherein the first to fourth valves are controlled by the controller.

10. The blood cell analyzer of claim 8, wherein the air flow path comprises a fifth valve for opening and closing the air flow path, the fifth valve controlled by the controller.

11. The blood cell analyzer of claim 9, wherein the controller controls the pump, the first valve, and the second valve so that the first valve is opened and the second valve is closed when the pump sucks the diluent.

12. The blood cell analyzer of claim 11, wherein the controller controls the pump and the first to fourth valves so that the second and third valves are opened and the first and fourth valves are closed when the pump sucks the hemolyzing agent.

13. The blood cell analyzer of claim 12, wherein the controller controls the pump and the first to fourth valve so that the second and fourth valves are opened and the first and third valves are closed when the pump discharges the diluent and the hemolyzing agent.

15. The blood cell analyzer of claim 6, wherein the controller counts the white blood cells on the basis of a detected result by the detector.