Automatic sample analyzer and its components
First Claim
1. An automatic sample analyzer comprising:
- a pipette;
a pipette driving device which moves the pipette to a sample vessel present in a predetermined position to cause the pipette to suck up a sample from the sample vessel, and then moves the pipette to an open vessel provided in another predetermined position to cause the pipette to discharge the sample into the open vessel; and
an analyzing section for analyzing the discharged sample;
the pipette driving device comprising a vertically movable main arm and an elongated guide arm cantilevered by the main arm and extending horizontally;
the guide arm having a smaller flexural rigidity than the main arm;
wherein the main arm vertically moves the pipette when the sample is to be sucked up from the sample vessel, and the guide arm guides the pipette to the open vessel and then vertically moves the pipette when the sample is to be discharged into the open vessel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic sample analyzer includes: a pipette, a pipette driving device which moves the pipette to a sample vessel present in a predetermined position to cause the pipette to suck up a sample from the sample vessel, and then moves the pipette to an open vessel provided in another predetermined position to cause the pipette to discharge the sample into the open vessel, and an analyzing section for analyzing the discharged sample, the pipette driving device comprising a vertically movable main arm and an elongated guide arm cantilevered by the main arm and extending horizontally, the guide arm having a smaller flexural rigidity than the main arm, wherein the main arm vertically moves the pipette when the sample is to be sucked up from the sample vessel, and the guide arm guides the pipette to the open vessel and then vertically moves the pipette when the sample is to be discharged into the open vessel.
68 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. An automatic sample analyzer comprising:
- a pipette;
a pipette driving device which moves the pipette to a sample vessel present in a predetermined position to cause the pipette to suck up a sample from the sample vessel, and then moves the pipette to an open vessel provided in another predetermined position to cause the pipette to discharge the sample into the open vessel; and
an analyzing section for analyzing the discharged sample;
the pipette driving device comprising a vertically movable main arm and an elongated guide arm cantilevered by the main arm and extending horizontally;
the guide arm having a smaller flexural rigidity than the main arm;
wherein the main arm vertically moves the pipette when the sample is to be sucked up from the sample vessel, and the guide arm guides the pipette to the open vessel and then vertically moves the pipette when the sample is to be discharged into the open vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- a pipette;
-
9. A pipette driving device comprising:
- a pipette holder for holding a pipette;
a pipette horizontally driving section supporting the pipette holder in a vertically slidable manner for horizontally moving the pipette holder;
a main arm to which the pipette holder is fastened in a horizontally disengageable manner;
a guide arm horizontally extending from the main arm; and
a pipette vertically driving section for vertically moving the main arm and the guide arm;
wherein the pipette holder is vertically moved by the main arm when being fastened to the main arm, and vertically moved in engagement with the guide arm when being disengaged from the main arm.
- a pipette holder for holding a pipette;
-
10. A pipette stopping device for a pipette driving device, which comprises:
- a pipette vertically sliding section having a pipette holder for holding a pipette and a support member supporting the pipette holder in a vertically slidable manner;
a pipette horizontally driving section to which the pipette vertically sliding section is attached in a replaceable manner; and
a stopper member to be attached to the pipette vertically sliding section for prevention of vertical sliding of the pipette when the pipette vertically sliding section is replaced.
- a pipette vertically sliding section having a pipette holder for holding a pipette and a support member supporting the pipette holder in a vertically slidable manner;
-
11. A sample vessel setting device comprising:
- a sample rack having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of a sample vessel for holding a lower portion of the sample vessel; and
first and second resilient members for resiliently holding a side face of the sample vessel from opposite sides to support the sample vessel coaxially with the sample rack.
- a sample rack having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of a sample vessel for holding a lower portion of the sample vessel; and
-
12. A sample rack locking device comprising:
- a sample rack movably supported for holding a sample vessel; and
a lock member for mechanically preventing movement of the sample rack in association with a pipette inserting operation when a pipette is inserted into the sample vessel held by the sample rack.
- a sample rack movably supported for holding a sample vessel; and
-
13. A negative pressure pump comprising:
- an air pump having an air inlet and an air outlet;
an enclosure cover having first and second through-holes and covering the air pump;
a suction tube extending from the outside of the enclosure cover to be connected to the air inlet through the first through-hole; and
a silencing exhaust tube connected to the second through-hole and extending to the outside.
- an air pump having an air inlet and an air outlet;
-
14. A liquid mixing vessel comprising:
- a cylindrical interior surface;
an interior bottom; and
a liquid supply port provided in the vicinity of an upper end thereof for supplying a liquid to the bottom along the interior surface;
the liquid mixing vessel being composed of a chemically resistant resin with the interior surface thereof roughened.
- a cylindrical interior surface;
-
15. A liquid suction tube comprising an elongated pipe, the pipe having a liquid flow path extending therein parallel to an axis thereof and a groove provided in an outer surface thereof as extending longitudinally thereof.
-
16. A pipette cleaning device comprising:
- a cleaner body having a pipette through-path through which a pipette is inserted from an inlet to an outlet thereof;
the pipette through-path comprising a pipette guide hole formed in an inlet portion thereof coaxially therewith and a pipette cleaning hole formed in an outlet portion thereof coaxially therewith;
the pipette cleaning hole having first, second and third openings formed in an interior surface thereof in this order from the inlet to the outlet;
the cleaner body comprising a vent path for communication between the first opening and the atmosphere, a cleaning liquid supply path communicating with the third opening, and a cleaning liquid drain path communicating with the second opening.
- a cleaner body having a pipette through-path through which a pipette is inserted from an inlet to an outlet thereof;
-
17. A liquid suction device comprising:
- a pipette having a lateral suction port provided in the vicinity of a tip thereof;
a sucking section for sucking a liquid through the pipette; and
a cleaner for cleaning the pipette;
the cleaner comprising a through-path through which the pipette is inserted, a cleaning liquid supply path communicating with the through-path for supplying a cleaning liquid, and a cleaning liquid drain path communicating with the through-path for draining the cleaning liquid;
wherein the cleaner is positioned so that an angle defined between an axis of the lateral suction port of the pipette and an axis of an inlet of the cleaning liquid drain path is greater than 90 degrees as viewed axially of the pipette.
- a pipette having a lateral suction port provided in the vicinity of a tip thereof;
-
18. An automatic sample analyzer operable in a plurality of analysis modes, the automatic sample analyzer comprising:
- an analysis mode selection button for selecting the analysis modes;
a start button for outputting a command for starting an analytic operation in the selected analysis mode;
a color changing section for changing a color of the start button;
a color change controlling section for controlling the color changing section for changing the color of the start button according to the selected analysis mode; and
an analyzing section for analyzing a sample upon reception of the command from the start button.
- an analysis mode selection button for selecting the analysis modes;
-
19. An automatic sample analyzer comprising:
- an orifice through which a sample liquid passes;
a DC power supply;
a constant electric current circuit for supplying a constant electric current to the sample liquid passing through the orifice from the DC power supply;
a resistance-type detecting section for detecting a change in impedance of the sample liquid passing through the orifice; and
an analyzing section for analyzing components of the sample liquid on the basis of the detected impedance change;
wherein the DC power supply comprises a Cockcroft power supply.
- an orifice through which a sample liquid passes;
-
20. A container which is a first container used with second and third containers, comprising:
-
a first body for containing liquid therein, first neck and shoulder portions formed on a upper portion of the first body, the first neck portion having a mouth communicating inside the first body, and a first projection projecting from the first neck portion to the first shoulder portion, wherein the second container is formed in the same configuration as the first container and includes a second body, second neck and shoulder portions and a second projection which correspond to the first container, the third container includes a third body for containing liquid therein, the third body having two opposite recesses formed on an outside thereof, and a mouth portion and a third shoulder portion which are formed on an upper portion of the third body, the mouth portion having a mouth communicating inside the third body, and the first container cooperates with the second container to hold the third container on the first and second shoulder portions and fix the third container by engaging the first and second projections to the opposite recesses and the third shoulder portion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 28)
-
-
23. A container which is a third container used with first and second containers, comprising:
-
a third body for containing liquid therein, the third body having two opposite recesses formed on an outside thereof, and a mouth portion and a third shoulder portion which are formed on an upper portion of the third body, the mouth portion having a mouth communicating inside the third body wherein the first container includes a first body for containing liquid therein, first neck and shoulder portions on a upper portion of the first body, the first neck portion having a mouth communicating inside the first body, and a first projection projecting from the first neck portion to the first shoulder portion, the second container is formed in the same configuration as the first container and includes a second body, second neck and shoulder portions and a second projection which correspond to the first container, and the first container cooperates with the second container to hold the third container on the first and second shoulder portions and fix the third container by engaging the first and second projections to the opposite recesses and the third shoulder portion. - View Dependent Claims (24, 29)
-
-
25. A flow path connection mechanism comprising:
-
a lever pivotally mounted on a supporting member; and
a nozzle pivotally mounted on the lever, the nozzle having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end is connected with an outer suction tube and the distal end is connected with a mouth of a container when the lever pivots. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
-
Specification