Sample analyzer, reagent aspirating method, and computer program product

• US 8,277,729 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuo, Naohiko, Fujino, Hiroyuki, Naito, Takamichi, Kitagawa, Nobuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US12/079,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20080241939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/63, 422/64, 422/65, 422/66, 422/67, 422/81, 422/82, 422/82.01, 422/82.05, 422/68.1, 436/43, 436/47, 436/54, 436/63, 436/66, 436/67, 436/68, 436/69, 436/70, 436/71, 436/174, 436/180
• US Class Current: 422/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1009 Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids
• 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 436/119163 with aspirator of claimed structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The present invention is to present a sample analyzer which is capable of respond immediately when a need to perform analysis of multiple items arises. The sample analyzer 1 includes a table 12 capable of holding a first rack 320 and a second rack 330; a reagent dispensing arm 120 which comprises a pipette part 121; a reagent dispensing driving section 120a for moving the reagent dispensing arm 120; a reagent barcode reader 350; and a control section 501 for controlling the reagent dispensing driving section 120a so as to move the pipette part 121 to a predetermined reagent aspirating position according to the identification information obtained by the reagent barcode reader 350.

Claims

1. A sample analyzer for analyzing a sample using a reagent corresponding to a predetermined analysis item, comprising:

a table configured to hold a first rack and a second rack, each of the first and second racks comprising a rack identifier and a plurality of reagent container holders, wherein a number of the reagent container holders of the first rack is different from a number of the reagent container holders of the second rack;

a table rotating part configured to move the table;

an aspirator which comprises an aspirating pipette in which a reagent from a reagent container held by a reagent container holder is aspirated and a driver configured to move the aspirating pipette;

an identification information obtainer configured to obtain identification information of a rack holding a target reagent container which contains a target reagent used for analysis, from a rack identifier of the rack;

a controller configured to determine a type of the rack holding the target reagent container based on the identification information obtained by the identification information obtainer, to control the driver so as to move the aspirating pipette to a predetermined reagent aspirating position according to the determined type of the rack holding the target reagent container and to control the table rotating part so as to move the target reagent container to the reagent aspirating position; and

an analyzing section configured to analyze a sample using the target reagent aspirated by the aspirating pipette at the reagent aspirating position.

2. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the identification information, obtained from the rack identifier by the identification information obtainer, includes information specifying a type of the rack.

3. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein,

the table rotating part is configured to rotate the table.

4. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the controller;

controls the driver so as to move the aspirating pipette to a first reagent aspirating position and controls the table rotating part so as to move the target reagent container to the first reagent aspirating position, when the rack holding the target reagent container is the first rack; and

controls the driver so as to move the aspirating pipette to a second reagent aspirating position different from the first reagent aspirating position and controls the table rotating part so as to move the target reagent container to the second reagent aspirating position, when the rack holding the target reagent container is the second rack.

5. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

each of the reagent container holders of the first rack is configured to hold a reagent container which comprises a reagent identifier;

each of the reagent container holders of the second rack is configured to hold a reagent container which comprises a reagent identifier;

the identification information obtainer obtains an identification information which specifies a reagent contained in a reagent container on the table from a reagent identifier of the reagent container on the table; and

the controller obtains a position information of the target reagent container on the table based on the identification information obtained by the identification information obtainer and

controls the table rotating part so as to move the target reagent container to the predetermined reagent aspirating position based on the position information of the target reagent container on the table.

6. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the number of the reagent container holders of the first rack is greater than the number of the reagent container holders of the second rack, and a size of each reagent container holder of the first rack is smaller than a size of each reagent container holder of the second rack.

7. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the first rack has the same outer shape as that of the second reagent container rack.

8. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the first and second racks respectively arranges the reagent container holders concentrically.

9. The sample analyzer of claim 8, wherein

each of the reagent container holders of the first rack is moved to the first reagent aspirating positions, and each of the reagent container holders of the second rack is moved to the second reagent aspirating position;

and

the first rack comprises a plurality of second reagent container holders arranged on a circular arc of a concentric circle with the table, each of the second reagent container holders being moved to a third reagent aspirating position different from the first and second reagent aspirating positions.

10. The sample analyzer of claim 9, wherein

the reagent container holders and the second reagent container holders of the first rack are arranged in zig-zag manner.

11. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein

the controller obtains a value indicating a rotation angle of the table from an origin position of the table to the target reagent container on the table as the position information of the target reagent container.

12. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

each of the reagent container holders of the first and second racks comprises a holder identifier;

and

the identification information obtainer obtains identification information specifying each of the reagent container holders from the holder identifiers of the reagent container holders of the first and second racks.

13. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the aspirating pipette is capable of rotating in a horizontal plane;

and

the first reagent aspirating position is an intersecting position of a trajectory of a rotation movement of the aspirating pipette and a trajectory of a rotation movement of the reagent container holders of the first rack by a rotation movement of the table, and

the second reagent aspirating position is an intersecting position of a trajectory of the rotation movement of the aspirating pipette and a trajectory of a rotation movement of the reagent container holders of the second rack by the rotation movement of the table.

14. The sample analyzer of claim 1, further comprising

a memory that stores a position information of each reagent container holder of the first and second racks.

15. The sample analyzer of claim 4, wherein

the table is formed as a circular rotating table, and

the sample analyzer further comprising

a second table being arranged inside the table concentrically, being rotatable independent from the table and being capable of holding a third rack,

wherein

the third rack comprises a rack identifier and a reagent container holder configured to hold a reagent container, the reagent container holder being moved to a third reagent aspirating position different from the first and second reagent aspirating positions and having a holder identifier.

16. The sample analyzer of claim 5, wherein

the rack identifiers of the first and second racks, and the reagent identifiers of the reagent containers held in the first and second racks are barcodes.

17. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the controller obtains an order information including analysis items of the sample,

the analyzing section is configured to analyze the sample according to the order information obtained by the controller.

18. The sample analyzer of claim 17, wherein

the sample is a blood sample;

and

the analyzing section performs analysis related to coagulation function of the blood sample.