Sample analyzer
First Claim
1. A sample analyzer, comprising:
- an imaging device for imaging a sample container which has translucency and contains a sample;
a measuring device for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container and measuring the aspirated sample;
a transporting device for transporting the sample container to a supply position for supplying the sample contained in the sample container to the measuring device, wherein the transporting device is capable of transporting the sample container in a transport path which includes the supply position; and
a controller for performing operations comprisingobtaining sample volume information relating to volume of the sample in the sample container, based on an image obtained by imaging the sample container by the imaging device,obtaining sample volume information relating to necessary volume of the sample for the measurement by the measuring device, andperforming a first transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container via the supply position such that the sample in the sample container is supplied to the measuring device when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a first relationship, and performing a second transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container via the supply position such that the sample in the sample container is not supplied to the measuring device when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a second relationship different from the first relationship.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is to present a sample analyzer, comprising: an imaging device for imaging a sample container which has translucency and contains a sample; a measuring device for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container and measuring the aspirated sample; a transporting device for transporting the sample container to a supply position for supplying the sample contained in the sample container to the measuring device; a sample volume obtainer for obtaining sample volume information relating to volume of the sample in the sample container, based on an image obtained by imaging the sample container by the imaging device; and a transport controller for controlling the transporting device to perform a transport operation in accordance with the sample volume information obtained by the sample volume obtainer.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A sample analyzer, comprising:
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an imaging device for imaging a sample container which has translucency and contains a sample; a measuring device for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container and measuring the aspirated sample; a transporting device for transporting the sample container to a supply position for supplying the sample contained in the sample container to the measuring device, wherein the transporting device is capable of transporting the sample container in a transport path which includes the supply position; and a controller for performing operations comprising obtaining sample volume information relating to volume of the sample in the sample container, based on an image obtained by imaging the sample container by the imaging device, obtaining sample volume information relating to necessary volume of the sample for the measurement by the measuring device, and performing a first transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container via the supply position such that the sample in the sample container is supplied to the measuring device when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a first relationship, and performing a second transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container via the supply position such that the sample in the sample container is not supplied to the measuring device when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a second relationship different from the first relationship. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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9. A sample analyzer, comprising
an imaging device for imaging a sample container which has translucency and contains a sample; -
a measuring device for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container and measuring the aspirated sample; a transporting device for transporting the sample container to a supply position for supplying the sample contained in the sample container to the measuring device, wherein the transporting device is capable of transporting the sample container in a first transport path for transporting the sample container to the supply position and a second transport path for not transporting the sample container to the supply position; and a controller for performing operations comprising obtaining sample volume information relating to volume of the sample in the sample container, based on an image obtained by imaging the sample container by the imaging device, obtaining sample volume information relating to necessary volume of the sample for the measurement by the measuring device; and performing a first transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container in the first transport path when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a first relationship, and performing a second transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container in the second transport path when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a second relationship different from the first relationship.
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17. A sample analyzer, comprising:
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an imaging device for imaging a sample container which has translucency and contains a sample; a measuring device for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container and measuring the aspirated sample; a transporting device for transporting the sample container to a supply position for supplying the sample contained in the sample container to the measuring device; and a controller for performing operations comprising obtaining sample volume information relating to volume of the sample in the sample container, based on an image obtained by imaging the sample container by the imaging device; obtaining sample volume information relating to necessary volume of the sample for the measurement by the measuring device, and controlling the measuring device so as to perform an aspirating operation for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container when the volume of the sample in the sample container is equal to or larger than the necessary volume of the sample, and controlling the measuring device so as not to perform the aspirating operation when the volume of the sample in the sample container is smaller than the necessary volume of the sample. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A sample analyzer, comprising:
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a volume information obtaining device for obtaining sample volume information relating to volume of a sample contained in a sample container; a measuring device for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container and measuring the aspirated sample; a transporting device for transporting the sample container to a supply position for supplying the sample contained in the sample container to the measuring device, wherein the transporting device is capable of transporting the sample container in a transport path which includes the supply position; and a controller for performing operations comprising obtaining sample volume information relating to necessary volume of the sample for the measurement by the measuring device, and performing a first transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container via the supply position such that the sample in the sample container is supplied to the measuring device when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a first relationship, and performing a second transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container via the supply position such that the sample in the sample container is not supplied to the measuring device when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a second relationship different from the first relationship.
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20. A sample analyzer, comprising
a volume information obtaining device for obtaining sample volume information relating to volume of a sample contained in a sample container; -
a measuring device for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container and measuring the aspirated sample; a transporting device for transporting the sample container to a supply position for supplying the sample contained in the sample container to the measuring device, wherein the transporting device is capable of transporting the sample container in a first transport path for transporting the sample container to the supply position and a second transport path for not transporting the sample container to the supply position; and a controller for performing operations comprising obtaining sample volume information relating to necessary volume of the sample for the measurement by the measuring device; and performing a first transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container in the first transport path when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a first relationship, and performing a second transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container in the second transport path when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a second relationship different from the first relationship.
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21. A sample analyzer, comprising:
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a volume information obtaining device for obtaining sample volume information relating to volume of a sample contained in a sample container; a measuring device for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container and measuring the aspirated sample; a transporting device for transporting the sample container to a supply position for supplying the sample contained in the sample container to the measuring device; and a controller for performing operations comprising obtaining sample volume information relating to a necessary volume of the sample for the measurement by the measuring device, and controlling the measuring device so as to perform an aspirating operation for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container when the volume of the sample in the sample container is equal to or larger than the necessary volume of the sample, and controlling the measuring device so as not to perform the aspirating operation when the volume of the sample in the sample container is smaller than the necessary volume of the sample.
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Specification