The present invention relates to a sample analyzer and sample analyzing method, and particularly relates to a sample analyzer and sample analyzing method which aspirate a liquid in a container after analyzing a target substance.
In sample analyzers which analyze target substances contained in a sample, such as blood or the like, using reagents, the analyzer becomes contaminated by reaction solution when the reaction container which is holding the reaction solution is discarded, and the reaction solution stored in the disposal unit may adhere to the user who touches the disposal unit.
Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. H1-25321 discloses a separator-disposal apparatus which aspirates a liquid within a container after a target substance has been analyzed. The separator-disposal apparatus disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. H1-25321 is configured to aspirate a reaction liquid accommodated in a reaction container after use in a sample analyzer or the like by an aspiration-drainage means, and separate and dispose of the reaction container and the reaction liquid respectively.
In some cases, a sample analyzer may use a reagent which contains magnetic particles in an analysis of a target substance.
However, when the separator-disposal apparatus of Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. H1-25321 is applied to the sample analyzer which performs analysis using the reagent that includes magnetic particles, the magnetic particles disadvantageously jammed the aspiration-drainage means because the aspiration-drainage means aspirates the magnetic particles together with the reaction liquid. When magnetic particles are included in a reagent, therefore, this separator-disposal apparatus cannot reliably aspirate the reaction liquid, and as a result a problem arises inasmuch as the reaction container and the reaction liquid cannot be separated and discarded.
A first aspect of the present invention is a sample analyzer for analyzing a target substance contained in a sample by using a reagent containing a magnetic particle, comprising: a detector for detecting the target substance by using a container which contains the target substance captured by the magnetic particle; an adsorption section for magnetically adsorbing the magnetic particle in the container, the target substance in the container having been detected by the detector; a liquid aspiration section for aspirating a liquid in the container in a state in which the magnetic particle in the container is magnetically adsorbed by the adsorption section, the target substance in the container having been detected by the detector; and a disposal section for accommodating the container, the liquid in the container having been aspirated by the liquid aspiration section.
A second aspect of the present invention is a sample analyzer for analyzing a target substance contained in a sample by using a reagent containing a magnetic particle, comprising: a detector for detecting the target substance by using a container which contains the target substance captured by the magnetic particle; an adsorption section for magnetically adsorbing the magnetic particle in the container; a liquid aspiration section for aspirating a liquid in the container; a disposal section for accommodating a used container; and a controller for controlling the detector, the adsorption section and the liquid aspiration section so as to magnetically adsorb the magnetic particle in the container after detecting the target substance in the container, and to aspirate the liquid in the container while magnetically adsorbing the magnetic particle in the container.
A third aspect of the present invention is a sample analyzing method for analyzing a target substance contained in a sample by using a reagent containing a magnetic particle, comprising steps of: (a) detecting the target substance by using a container which contains the target substance captured by the magnetic particle; (b) magnetically adsorbing the magnetic particle in the container after performing the step (a); (c) aspirating a liquid in the container while magnetically adsorbing the magnetic particle in the container; (d) disposing of the container after performing the step (c).
An embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter based on the drawings.
The overall structure of an immunoanalyzer of an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to
An immunoanalyzer 1 of an embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus which performs examinations for various items such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tumor markers, thyroid hormone and the like using samples such as blood. In the immunoanalyzer 1, magnetic particles (R2 reagent) are bound to a capture antibody (R1 reagent) which is already bound to an antigen object of measurement contained in a sample such as blood or the like, and thereafter the R1 reagent, which includes any unreacted (free) capture antibody, is eliminated by attracting the bound antigen, the capture antibody, and the magnetic particles to a magnet (not shown in the drawing) disposed in a BF (bound free) separation section 15 (refer to
As shown in
As shown in
The controller 2a is mainly configured by a CPU 2b, ROM 2c, RAM 2d, and a communication interface 2e, as shown in
The CPU 2b is capable of executing computer programs which are stored in the ROM 2c, and computer programs which are read from the RAM 2d. The ROM 2c stores the computer programs which are to be executed by the CPU 2b, as well as the data used in the execution of the computer programs. The RAM 2d is used when reading the computer programs that are stored in the ROM 2c. The RAM 2d is also used as a work area of the CPU 2b when the computer programs are executed.
The communication interface 2e is connected to the control device 4, and has the functions of sending the sample optical information (data of the amount of light emitted by the reaction of the labeling antibody and the luminous substrate) to the control device 4, and receiving signals from a controller 4a of the control device 4. The communication interface 2e also has the function of sending commands from the CPU 2 in order to drive the various parts of the measuring device 2 and the sample transporting unit 3.
As shown in
The control device 4 (refer to
The structure of the control device 4 is described below. The control device 4 is a computer 401 mainly configured by a controller 4a, a display unit 4b, and a keyboard 4c, as shown in
The CPU 401a is capable of executing the computer programs stored in the ROM 401b, and the computer programs loaded in the RAM 401c. The computer 401 functions as the control device 4 when the CPU 401a executes an application program 404a which is described later.
The ROM 401b is configured by a mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM or the like, and stores the computer programs executed by the CPU 401a and data and the like used in conjunction therewith.
The RAM 401c is configured by an SRAM, DRAM or the like. The RAM 401c is used when reading the computer program recorded in the ROM 401b and stored on the hard drive 401d. The RAM 401c is also used as a work area of the CPU 401a when the computer programs are being executed.
The hard drive 401d contains various installed computer programs to be executed by the CPU 401a such as an operating system and application program and the like, as well as data used in the execution of these computer programs. The application program 404a used for immunoanalysis in the present embodiment is also installed on the hard disk 401d.
The reading device 401e is configured by a floppy disk drive, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive or the like, and is capable of reading the computer programs and data stored on a portable recording medium 404. The portable recording medium 404 stores the immunoanalysis application program 404a, and the application 404a is read from the portable recording medium 404 by the computer 401, which installs the application program 404a on the hard disk 401d.
The application program 404a is not only provided through the portable recording medium 404 inasmuch as the application program 404a may also be provided from an external device which is connected to the computer 401 over an electric communication line so as to be capable of communication by this electric communication line (whether wire line or wireless). For example, when the application program 404a is stored on the hard disk of a server computer on the Internet, the computer 401 may access the server computer and download the application program 404a, which is then installed on the hard disk 401d.
An operating system which provides a graphical user interface, such as Windows (registered trademark) or the like, a product of Microsoft Corporation, USA, is installed on the hard disk 401d. In the following description, the application program 404a operates on this operating system.
The I/O interface 401f is configured by a serial interface such as a USB, IEEE1394, RS232C or the like, a parallel interface such as SCSI, IDE, IEEE1284 or the like, or an analog interface such as a D/A converter, A/D converter or the like. The keyboard 4c is connected to the I/O interface 401f, so that a user can input data in the computer 401 using the keyboard 4c.
The communication interface 401g is, for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface. The computer 401 can send and receive data to and from the measuring device 2 via the communication interface 401g using a predetermined communication protocol.
The image output interface 401h is connected to the display unit 4b which is configured by an LCD, CRT or the like, so that image signals corresponding to the image data received from the CPU 401a can be output to the display unit 4b. The display unit 4b displays images (screens) in accordance with the input image signals.
The immunoanalysis application program 404a, which is installed on the hard disk 401d of the controller 4a, is used to measure the amount of antigen in the measurement sample using the amount of light emitted by the measurement sample (digital signal data) received from the detector 16 of the measurement device 2.
The pipette supplying device 5 (refer to
The sample dispensing arm 6 (refer to
As shown in
The reagent accommodating section 8 is provided to accommodate reagent containers which contain R2 reagent that includes magnetic particles. The reagent accommodating section 8 includes a top surface 8a which is mounted above the reagent containers so that foreign matter such as dust will not invade the reagent containers, and a lid 8b which is mounted on the top surface 8a so as to be openable. Formed on the top surface 8a is a channel 8c, into which a pipette 10e of a reagent dispensing arm 10 (to be described later) is inserted.
The reagent dispensing arm 9 has the function of aspirating the R1 reagent which is disposed in the reagent accommodating section 7, and dispensing the aspirated R1 reagent into a cuvette 300 which holds a dispensed sample in the primary reaction section 12. The reagent dispensing arm 9 includes a motor 9a, a drive transmission 9b which is connected to the motor 9a, and an arm 9d which is mounted on the drive transmission 9b through a shaft 9c. The drive transmission 9b is configured so as to be capable of centrally rotating the shaft 6c so as to move the arm 6d in vertical directions (Z direction) by the drive force from the motor 9a. A pipette 9e, which aspirates and discharges the R1 reagent, is mounted on the leading end of the arm 9d. That is, the pipette 9e aspirates the R1 reagent which is disposed in the reagent accommodating section 7, and thereafter dispenses the aspirated R1 reagent into a cuvette 300 which has previously received a dispensed sample in the primary reaction section 12.
The reagent dispensing arm 10 has the function of dispensing the R2 reagent, which is disposed in the reagent accommodating section 8, into the cuvette 300 which has already received the dispensed sample and R1 reagent in the primary reaction section 12. The reagent dispensing arm 10 includes a motor 10a, a drive transmission 10b which is connected to the motor 10a, and an arm 10d which is mounted on the drive transmission 10b through a shaft 10c. The drive transmission 10b is configured so as to be capable of centrally rotating the shaft 10c so as to move the arm 10d in vertical directions by the drive force from the motor 10a. A pipette 10e, which aspirates and discharges the R2 reagent, is mounted on the leading end of the arm 10d. The pipette 10e is thus configured to aspirate the R2 reagent of the reagent accommodating section 8, and thereafter dispense the aspirated R2 reagent into the cuvette 300 which has previously received the dispensed sample and the R1 reagent in the primary reaction section 12.
A reagent dispensing arm 11 has the function of aspirating R3 reagent which is disposed in the reagent accommodating section 7, and dispensing the aspirated R3 reagent into the cuvette 300 which has previously received the dispensed sample, the R1 reagent, and the R2 reagent in the primary reaction section 12. The reagent dispensing arm 11 includes a motor 11a, a drive transmission 11b which is connected to the motor 11a, and an arm 11d which is mounted on the drive transmission 11b through a shaft 11c. The drive transmission 11b is configured so as to be capable of centrally rotating the shaft 11c so as to move the arm 11d in vertical directions (Z direction) by the drive force from the motor 11a. A pipette lie, which aspirates and discharges the R3 reagent, is mounted on the leading end of the arm 11d. The pipette 11e is thus configured to aspirate the R3 reagent of the reagent accommodating section 7, and thereafter dispense the aspirated R3 reagent into the cuvette 300 which has previously received the dispensed sample, the R1 reagent, and the R2 reagent in the secondary reaction section 13.
The primary reaction section 12 is provided to rotate the cuvette 300, which is held by the holder 12b of the rotating table 12a, through a predetermined angle at predetermined intervals (every 18 seconds in the present embodiment) so as to mix the sample, the R1 reagent, and the R2 reagent within the cuvette 300. That is, the primary reaction section 12 is provided to induce a reaction between the antigen in the sample and the R2 reagent which includes magnetic particles within the cuvette 300. The primary reaction section 12 is configured by a rotating table 12a which transports, in a rotational direction, the cuvette 300 containing the sample, the R1 reagent, and the R2 reagent, and a cuvette conveyor 12c which mixes the sample, the R1 reagent and the R2 reagent within the cuvette 300 and transports the cuvette 300 that contains the mixed sample, R1 reagent and R2 reagent to a BF separation section 15 (to be described later).
The rotating table 12a is configured to rotate the cuvette 300 held in the holder 12b through a predetermined angle every 18 seconds. The various devices (sample dispensing arm 6, reagent dispensing arms 9 and 10 and the like) of the immunoanalyzer 1 are therefore controlled so as to perform operations on the cuvette 300 as the cuvette is conveyed to predetermined positions in accordance with the timing by which the rotating table 12a transports the cuvette 300 to the predetermined positions.
The cuvette conveyor 12c is arranged in the central area of the rotating table 12a so as to be rotatable. The cuvette conveyor 12c has the functions of holding the cuvette 300, which is held in the holder 12b of the rotating table 12a, and mixing the sample within the cuvette 300. The cuvette conveyor 12c also has the functions of mixing the sample, the R1 reagent and the R2 reagent, and transporting the cuvette 300 which contains the incubated sample to the BF separation section 15.
The secondary reaction section 13 has a configuration identical to the primary reaction section 12, and is provided to rotate the cuvette 300, which is held by a holder 13b of a rotating table 13a, through a predetermined angle at predetermined intervals (every 18 seconds in the present embodiment) so as to mix the sample, the R1 reagent, the R2 reagent, the R3 reagent, the R4 reagent, and the R5 reagent within the cuvette 300. That is, the secondary reaction section 13 is provided to induce a reaction between the antigen in the sample and the R3 reagent which includes a labeling antibody in the cuvette 300, and to induce a reaction between the labeling antibody of the R3 reagent and the R5 reagent which include a luminous substrate. The R4 reagent and the R5 reagent are configured so as to be dispensed into a cuvette 300, which contains the sample, the R1 reagent, the R2 reagent, and the R3 reagent in the secondary reaction section 13, by an R4 reagent dispensing arm (not shown in the drawing) and an R5 reagent dispensing arm (not shown in the drawing) that are provided near the secondary reaction section 13. The secondary reaction section 13 is configured by a rotating table 13a which transports, in a rotational direction, the cuvette 300 containing the sample, the R1 reagent, the R2 reagent, the R3 reagent, the R4 reagent, and the R5 reagent, and a cuvette conveyor 13c which mixes the sample, the R1 reagent, the R2 reagent, the R3 reagent, the R4 reagent, and the R5 reagent within the cuvette 300 and transports the cuvette 300 that contains the mixed sample and the like to the BF separation section 15. The cuvette conveyor 13c has the function of returning the cuvette 300, which has been processed by the BF separation section 15, back again to a holder 13b of the rotating table 13a. The structural details of the secondary reaction section 13 are omitted since they are identical to the primary reaction section 12.
The cuvette supplying section 14 is configured to be capable of sequentially supplying a plurality of cuvettes 300 (refer to
The cuvette catcher 144 has the function of transporting a cuvette 300 which is seated in the concavity (refer to
The BF separation section 15 has the function of separating the magnetic particles and the unreacted R1 reagent (unnecessary component) from the sample within a cuvette 300 which has been transported by the cuvette conveyor 12c of the primary reaction section 12, and the function of separating the magnetic particles and the unreacted R3 reagent (unnecessary component) from the sample within the cuvette 300 which has been transported by the cuvette conveyor 13c of the secondary reaction section 13.
The detector 16 is provided to measure the amount of antigen contained in a sample by measuring, using a photomultiplier tube, the amount of light generated during the reaction process between a luminous substrate and a labeling antibody which has been bound to the antigen of the sample by a predetermined process. The detector 16 internally includes placement sites (not shown in the drawing) for the placement of the cuvette 300 which contains a sample, and R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 reagents. The detector 16 is also configured to block external light from entering a cuvette 300 which has been installed in the internal placement site while measurement are performed.
The cuvette transporting unit 17 is provided on the top surface of the detector 16, and is configured to transport the cuvette 300 from the detector 16 to a predetermined position in the liquid aspiration section 18 after the measurement has been performed, and transport the cuvette 300 from the predetermined position of the liquid aspiration section 18 to a predetermined position in the cuvette disposal section 19 which is to be described later.
The liquid aspiration section 18 is configured to aspirate liquid from a cuvette 300 containing a sample, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 reagents and which has been transported to a predetermined position by the cuvette transporting unit 17.
The cuvette disposal section 19 is provided for the disposal of the cuvette 300 after the liquid has been aspirated by the liquid aspiration section 18.
Details of the structures of the cuvette transporting unit 17, the liquid aspiration section 18, and the cuvette disposal section 19 of the embodiment of the present invention are described below with reference to
As shown in
The rotating member 177 is configured to be rotated by the stepping motor 174 using the center 01 (refer to
The moving member 178 is configured to both rotate and move from the center 01 of the rotating member 177 to the outer side in the radial direction (the direction away from the center 01) in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member 177, as shown in
The vertical moving member 179 moves in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 178 from the center 01 of the moving member 177 and in the rotation direction of the rotating member 177 by mounting the moving member 178 as shown in
In the present embodiment, the vertical moving member 179a is provided with a gripper 179c to grip the cuvette 300 (refer to
The liquid aspiration section 18 is provided to aspirate and dispose of the liquid from the cuvette 300 which contains a sample, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 reagents after a measurement has been performed by the detector 16. The liquid aspiration section 18 also includes, as shown in
The adsorption section 183 includes a concave cuvette placement site 183a which has an interior diameter that is somewhat larger than the exterior diameter of the barrel 300b of the cuvette 300 so as to accommodate the cuvette 300 at position counter to the nozzle 184, a magnet 183b (refer to
In the present embodiment, the magnet 183b (refer to
The washing unit 183c (refer to
As shown in
As shown in
The vertical moving member 188 includes a detection piece 188c (refer to
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
When the control device 4 is started by a user, a computer program is initialized by the controller 4a of the control device 4 in step S1. When the user starts the measuring device 2, a computer program is initialized and the operation of the various parts of the measuring device 2 is checked by the controller 2a of the measuring device 2 in step S11. In step S2 the controller 4a determines whether or not a measurement start instruction has been received from the user, and the routine moves to step S7 when a measurement start instruction has not been received. When a measurement start instruction has been received, however, a measurement start signal is sent to the controller 2a in step S3 to start the measurement by the measuring device 2.
In step S12 the controller 2a determines whether or not a measurement start signal has been received from the controller 4a of the control device 4, and the routine moves to step S19 when a start signal has not been received. When a measurement start signal has been received, however, a predetermined measurement process is performed in step S13, and the measurement data from this process is sent to the controller 4a of the control device 4 in step S14.
In this case, the controller 4a of the control device 4 repeats the determination when it has been determined in step S4 that the measurement data have not been received from the controller 2a. When the measurement data have been received, however, the measurement data are analyzed in step S5, and the analysis results obtained by this analysis process are stored on the hard disk 401d in step S6. In step S7 a determination is made as to whether or not a shutdown instruction has been received from the user, and when no instruction has been received, the routine moves to step S2 and a determination is made as to whether or not a re-measurement start instruction has been received. When a shut down instruction has been received in step S7, a shutdown signal is sent to the controller 2a of the control device 2 to end the start condition of the measurement device 2 in step S8.
In the present embodiment, the operations of steps S15 through S18 are performed on the measurement device 2 side at the same time as the operations of steps S4 through S8 are performed on the control device 4 side after the measurement data have been sent to the controller 4a of the control device 4. Specifically, in step S15 after the measurement has been performed by the detector 16, the a cuvette 300 which contains the sample, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 reagents is transported from the detector 16 to the cuvette placement site 183a of the liquid aspiration section 18 in a state in which the cuvette 300 is gripped by the gripper 179c of the cuvette transporting unit 17 and accommodated there, as shown in
In the present embodiment, after the liquid has been completely aspirated, the cuvette 300 is transported from the cuvette placement site 183a to the cuvette disposal hole 191a by the cuvette transporting unit 17 and discarded in step S17 as shown in
As shown in
In step S19 a determination is made as to whether or not a shutdown signal has been received from the controller 4a of the control device 4, and the routine moves to step S12 when no signal has been received. When a shutdown signal has been received, however, the shutdown process of the measuring device 2 is performed and the operation ends in step S20.
At this time on the control device 4 side, the shutdown process of the control device 4 is performed and the operation ends in step S9.
Since in the present embodiment as described above the aspiration of magnetic particles can be suppressed by providing an adsorption section 183 to magnetically adsorb the magnetic particles within the cuvette 300 after the detector 16 has performed the measurement, and a liquid aspiration section 18 to aspirate the liquid within the measured cuvette 300 in a state in which the magnetic particles within the cuvette 300 are magnetically adsorbed by the adsorption section 183, the liquid aspiration section 18 is not jammed by the magnetic particles, and the liquid within the cuvette 300 can be reliably aspirated. Furthermore, the cuvette 300, which has been measured and had the liquid separated therefrom, can be discarded in the cuvette disposal section 19 by providing a cuvette transporting unit 17 to transport the cuvette 300 from which the liquid has been aspirated by the liquid aspiration section 18, and a cuvette disposal section 19 to accommodate the cuvette 300 which has been transported by the cuvette transporting unit 17. In the immunoanalyzer 1, therefore, the cuvette and the measured liquid can be respectively separated and discarded even when the liquid contains magnetic particles.
In the present embodiment, the magnetic particles are prevented from accumulating at the bottom of the cuvette 300 because the magnetic particles within the cuvette 300 can be magnetically adsorbed to the side of the cuvette 300 by arranging the magnets 183b of the adsorption section 183 in the lateral direction of the cuvette 300 which is accommodated at the cuvette placement site 183a. As a result, the liquid can be aspirated with the liquid aspiration section 18 in contact with the bottom of the cuvette 300 so that the liquid aspiration section 18 does not aspirate the magnetic particles and the liquid is completely aspirated.
In the present embodiment, unnecessary material accumulated in the liquid aspiration section 18 can be eliminated by providing a washing unit 183c to wash the liquid aspiration section 18. Therefore, the liquid aspiration section 18 is not jammed by the unnecessary material, and the liquid within the cuvette 300 can be reliably aspirated.
In the present embodiment, it is not necessary to move the liquid aspiration section 18 in different directions when washing the aspiration section 18 and when aspirating the liquid within the cuvette 300 because the washing unit 183c is disposed on an extended line in the direction in which the liquid aspiration section 18 is moved to aspirate the liquid within the cuvette 300. Therefore, the liquid aspiration section 18 can be washed without providing a separate mechanism to move the liquid aspiration section 18 in a different direction.
In the present embodiment, the cuvette 300 can be easily discarded through the cuvette disposal hole 191a to the used cuvette receptacle 192, and the used cuvette receptacle 192 can be easily removed from the apparatus by a configuration in which the cuvette disposal section 19 includes a cuvette disposal hole 191a, and a used cuvette receptacle 192 which can be removed from the apparatus and is disposed below the cuvette disposal hole 191a. Therefore, the cuvettes 300 discarded in the used cuvette receptacle 192 can be easily discarded.
In the present embodiment described above, the aspiration of magnetic particles can be prevented so that the magnetic particles do not cause a jam, and the liquid within the cuvette 300 can be reliably aspirated by providing a step of magnetically adsorbing the magnetic particles within the cuvette 300, and a step of aspirating the measured liquid from the cuvette 300 with the magnetic particles in a magnetically adsorbed state. Furthermore, the cuvette 300 from which the liquid has been separated after measurement can be discarded in the cuvette disposal section 19 by providing a step to transport the cuvette 300 from which the liquid has been aspirated to the cuvette disposal section 19. Therefore the cuvette 300 and the measured liquid can be respectively separated and discarded even when a reagent contains magnetic particles.
In the present embodiment, unnecessary material is eliminated and does not stay in the liquid aspiration section 18 after the liquid within the cuvette 300 has been aspirated by providing a step of washing the liquid aspiration section 18 after the measured liquid has been aspirated from the cuvette 300 by the liquid aspiration section 18. Therefore, the liquid aspiration section 18 is not jammed by the unnecessary material, and the liquid within the cuvette 300 can be reliably aspirated.
In the present embodiment, the magnetic particles within the cuvette 300 are reliably adsorbed magnetically by a magnet by accommodating the cuvette 300 at the concavity of the cuvette placement site 183a.
The embodiment of the present disclosure is exemplary in all aspects and should not be considered limiting in any way. The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the claims and not be the description of the embodiment, and includes all modifications within the scope of the claims and the meanings and equivalences therein.
For example, although the immunoanalyzer 1 is described as an example of the sample analyzer in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this immunoanalyzer inasmuch as the invention is applicable to other sample analyzers insofar as the sample analyzer uses reagent that contains magnetic particles.
Although the present embodiment has been described in terms of an example using a luminous substrate (R5 reagent) to quantitatively measure an antigen, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement insofar as the antigen can be quantitatively measured, for example, a luminous substance may also be bound to the labeling antibody (R3 reagent) without using the luminous substrate (R5 reagent).
Although an antigen contained in a sample is detected using a capture antibody or the like in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement inasmuch as an antibody generated in relation to an antigen within the sample may also be detected depending on the measurement item.
Although the present embodiment has been described by way of an example of a used cuvette bag 192b provided in a used cuvette receptacle as a container for accommodating used cuvettes 300, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement since, for example, a container such as a used cuvette box or the like may also be used insofar as such a container is capable of accommodating the used cuvettes 300.
Although the cuvette 300 is discarded through the cuvette disposal hole 191a while the cuvette 300 still contains magnetic particles after the analyzed liquid has been aspirated by the nozzle 184 in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement inasmuch as, for example, a mechanism may also be provided to remove the magnetic particles in the cuvette 300 before the cuvette 300 is discarded through the cuvette disposal hole 191a after the analyzed liquid has been aspirated by the nozzle 184.
Although the above embodiment has been described in terms of aspirating a liquid in a cuvette 300 while the cuvette 300 is accommodated at the cuvette placement site 183a, and thereafter the cuvette 300 is transported from the cuvette placement site 183a to the cuvette disposal hole 191a by the cuvette transporting unit 17 where the cuvette 300 is discarded, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement inasmuch as, for example, the cuvette 300 may also be discarded through the cuvette disposal hole 191a by aspirating the liquid within the cuvette 300 while the cuvette 300 is gripped by the gripper 179c of the cuvette transporting unit 17 above the cuvette disposal hole 191a, after which the gripper 179c releases the cuvette 300.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2007-158577 | Jun 2007 | JP | national |