Automatic sample analyzer and its components Number:6,772,650 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent 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.<H components, Automatic, Automatic, sampl, 6772650.html, Patent, pto, 6772650

Title: Automatic sample analyzer and its components

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.

Patent Number: 6,772,650 Issued on 08/10/2004 to Ohyama, et al.

Inventors: Ohyama; Yasuhiro (Kobe, JP), Sakurai; Kazuyuki (Akashi, JP), Nakamura; Yoichi (Kobe, JP), Yoshida; Noriyoshi (Kobe, JP), Tokunaga; Kazutoshi (Kakogawa, JP), Kasuya; Kouji (Tokyo, JP), Tanoshima; Eiji (Kobe, JP), Kubota; Toshihiro (Miki, JP), Nagai; Takaaki (Kobe, JP), Kaneko; Shuhei (Kobe, JP), Shibata; Masaharu (Kobe, JP), Biwa; Seido (Kobe, JP), Ootani; Toshihiro (Kobe, JP)
Assignee: Sysmex Corporation (Hyogo, JP)

Appl. No.: 10/235,955

Filed: September 6, 2002

Foreign Application Priority Data


Sep 06, 2001 [JP]			2001-270543
Sep 07, 2001 [JP]			2001-272483
Sep 07, 2001 [JP]			2001-272484
Sep 07, 2001 [JP]			2001-272485
Sep 07, 2001 [JP]			2001-272486
Sep 07, 2001 [JP]			2001-272487
Sep 11, 2001 [JP]			2001-275375
Sep 11, 2001 [JP]			2001-275385
Sep 11, 2001 [JP]			2001-275397
Nov 20, 2001 [JP]			2001-355093
Nov 28, 2001 [JP]			2001-362979
Apr 10, 2002 [JP]			2002-108113
Apr 26, 2002 [JP]			2002-126640

Current U.S. Class: 73/864.24

Current International Class: G01N 1/00 (20060101); G01N 33/483 (20060101); G01N 35/10 (20060101)

Field of Search: 73/863.01,864.02,864.24,864.25 422/100

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


4166483	September 1979	Nordlund
4422151	December 1983	Gilson
4757437	July 1988	Nishimura
5055263	October 1991	Meltzer
5443791	August 1995	Cathcart et al.
5482863	January 1996	Knobel
5483843	January 1996	Miller et al.
5592959	January 1997	Nagai
5744729	April 1998	Tanaka
5969272	October 1999	Tanaka
6171280	January 2001	Imazu et al.
6599476	July 2003	Watson et al.
2002/0189373	December 2002	Lipscomb et al.

Foreign Patent Documents


11-094842	Apr., 1999	JP
WO 92/22798	Dec., 1992	WO

Primary Examiner: Garber; Charles D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP

Claims

What is claimed is:

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.

2. An automatic sample analyzer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pipette driving device further comprises: a pipette holder for holding the pipette; a pipette horizontally driving section supporting the pipette holder in a vertically slidable manner for horizontally moving the pipette holder; and a pipette vertically driving section for vertically moving the main arm and the guide arm; wherein the pipette holder is fastened to the main arm in a horizontally disengageable manner, and the pipette holder is vertically moved by the main arm when being fastened to the main arm, and is vertically moved in engagement with the guide arm when being disengaged from the main arm.

3. An automatic sample analyzer as set forth in claim 2, wherein the pipette holder has a projection, and the main arm has a recess to be horizontally brought into engagement with the projection.

4. An automatic sample analyzer as set forth in claim 2, wherein the pipette holder comprises a roller which is movable along the guide arm in engagement with the guide arm.

5. An automatic sample analyzer as set forth in claim 2, wherein the pipette horizontally driving section comprises a pipette vertically sliding section which supports the pipette holder in a vertically slidable manner.

6. An automatic sample analyzer as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a quantifying pump connected to the pipette for sucking the sample from the sample vessel after the pipette holder is lowered by the main arm, and discharging the sample after the pipette holder is moved apart from the main arm.

7. An automatic sample analyzer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sample vessel is a capped sample vessel.

8. An automatic sample analyzer as set forth in claim 2, wherein the pipette vertically driving section comprises a stepping motor as a drive source, wherein a driving electric current to be supplied to the stepping motor for vertically moving the pipette holder is greater when the pipette holder is moved in engagement with the main arm than when the pipette holder is moved in engagement with the guide arm.

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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2001-270543 (filed in Sep. 6, 2001), 2001-272483 (filed in Sep. 7, 2001), 2001-272484 (filed in Sep. 7, 2001), 2001-272485 (filed in Sep. 7, 2001), 2001-272486 (filed in Sep. 7, 2001), 2001-272487 (filed in Sep. 7, 2001), 2001-275375 (filed in Sep. 11, 2001), 2001-275385 (filed in Sep. 11, 2001), 2001-275397 (filed in Sep. 11, 2001), 2001-355093 (filed in Nov. 20, 2001), 2001-362979 (filed in Nov. 28, 2001), 2002-108113 (filed in Apr. 10, 2002) and 2002-126640 (filed in Apr. 26, 2002), whose priorities are claimed under 35 USC .sctn.119, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a sample analyzer and its components and, particularly, to a highly versatile and small-scale sample analyzer for analyzing a blood sample, a urine sample and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Art hitherto known in relation to this invention is as follows. A small-scale automatic analyzer comprising a reaction vessel disk having a reaction table with its circumferential portion equidistantly divided into a plurality of portions, a plurality of reaction vessels held by the reaction vessel disk, means for transporting the respective reaction vessels to a sample dispenser, to an agent dispensing position and to an optically measuring position, means for sucking and dispensing a required amount of a sample into the reaction vessel, and means for optically analyzing the sample in the reaction vessel (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-94842 (1999)); A liquid suction device adapted to move a pipette with respect to an open sample vessel by utilizing the torque of a first motor and move the pipette with respect to a closed sample vessel by utilizing the torque of a second motor (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,280); An assembly comprising a longitudinally compressible and extendible hollow cleaning chamber, a pipette which is adapted to be accommodated in the cleaning chamber when the cleaning chamber is expanded and to project from the cleaning chamber when the cleaning chamber is compressed, and a lock device for locking the cleaning chamber in an expanded state (see International Publication No. 92/22798); A pipette comprising a hollow pipe having an end sealed with a seal member, and a suction port provided in a side wall of the pipe adjacent in the vicinity of the end (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,272); A pipette comprising a thin suction pipe for sucking a liquid sample, and a thin vent pipe for ventilation during the suction, the suction pipe and the vent pipe being disposed in side-by-side relation (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,272); A pipette cleaning device comprising a pipette generally vertically disposed with a liquid sample intake port thereof being oriented downward, a pipette exterior cleaning member having a generally vertical through-path in which the pipette is loosely fitted, a feed path for feeding a cleaning liquid into the through-path, and a drain path for draining a waste cleaning liquid from the through-path, pipette interior cleaning means connected to the pipette for feeding the cleaning liquid into the interior of the pipette, a cleaning liquid reservoir chamber connected to the feed path of the cleaning member and the pipette interior cleaning means, suction means connected to the drain path of the cleaning member for sucking the waste cleaning liquid from the pipette, a waste liquid reservoir chamber connected to the drain path for storing the waste cleaning liquid sucked out by the suction means, and driving means for moving up and down at least one of the cleaning member and the pipette to change a positional relationship between the cleaning member and the pipette, wherein the through-path has a smaller diameter portion spaced a smaller distance from the pipette and a greater diameter portion provided below the smaller diameter portion and spaced a greater distance from the pipette than the smaller diameter portion, wherein the feed path and the drain path communicate with the greater diameter portion and the smaller diameter portion, respectively (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,959); and A pipette cleaning device comprising a through-path in which a pipette having a suction port provided at a tip end thereof is inserted, a feed path for supplying a cleaning liquid into the through-path, and a drain path for draining a waste cleaning liquid from the through-path (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,959).

There have been proposed various types of automatic sample analyzers such as automatic blood analyzers. Most of the recent automatic analyzers have a greater size and a higher operation speed to handle a multiplicity of samples in a short time. In addition, the operation of the automatic analyzers is complicated, so that special operators should be employed as regular staff. Local hospitals and private clinics which do not frequently need clinical analyses currently commission a special analysis center to perform the clinical analyses. However, it is impossible to immediately obtain the results of clinical analyses in an emergency case. Therefore, there is a demand for a highly versatile, easy-to-operate and small-scale automatic sample analyzer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to simplify the operation of an automatic sample analyzer for easy handling of the analyzer by doctors and nurses, reduce the size and weight of the analyzer for easy transportation of the analyzer to diagnostic and medical treatment sites, suppress the noises of the analyzer for a quiet environment, and ensure safe and easy maintenance and inspection of the analyzer, and energy saving of the analyzer.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an automatic sample analyzer, which comprises: 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container housing unit attached to the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a sample setting section of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a holder claw of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the holder claw of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a view from an A--A arrow direction in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a smaller sample vessel in a sample rack according to this invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sample setting section of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sample setting section of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sample setting section of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 12 is a front view of a detecting section of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 13 is a front view of a pipette horizontally driving section of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 14 is a front view of a pipette vertically sliding section of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 15 is a view from a B--B arrow direction in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a front view of the pipette vertically sliding section of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 17 is a front view of major portions of the pipette vertically sliding section and the pipette horizontally driving section according to this invention;

FIG. 18 is a left side view of major portions of the pipette vertically sliding section and the pipette horizontally driving section according to this invention;

FIG. 19 is a left side view of a pipette vertically driving section according to this invention;

FIG. 20 is a view from a C--C arrow direction in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the pipette vertically driving section according to this invention;

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the pipette vertically driving section according to this invention;

FIG. 23 is a partly cut-away front view of major portions of a detector according to this invention;

FIG. 24 is a partly cut-away side view of major portions of the detector according to this invention;

FIGS. 25(a) and 25(b) are a sectional view and a plan view, respectively, of a mixing chamber according to this invention;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of a cleaner body according to this invention;

FIG. 27 is a view from a D--D arrow direction in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a sectional view of a negative pressure pump according to this invention;

FIG. 29 is a system diagram of a fluid circuit of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 30 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical circuit of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIGS. 31(a) and 31(b) are flow charts for explaining the operation of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 32 is a view from an E--E arrow direction in FIG. 26;

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the cleaner body corresponding to FIG. 27;

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaner body shown in FIG. 27;

FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaner body shown in FIG. 27;

FIG. 36 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaner body shown in FIG. 27;

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining a positional relationship between a pipette and the cleaner body shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 38 is a vertical sectional view of the pipette according to this invention;

FIG. 39 is a vertical sectional view illustrating another exemplary pipette according to this invention;

FIG. 40 is a cross sectional view of the pipette shown in FIG. 39;

FIGS. 41(a) to 41(e) are diagrams for explaining a process for producing the pipette shown in FIG. 39;

FIGS. 42(a) to 42(e) are diagrams illustrating screen images to be successively displayed on the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary main screen (to be displayed when a whole blood mode is selected);

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary main screen (to be displayed when a pre-diluted mode is selected);

FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating further another exemplary main screen (to be displayed in a measurement impossible state);

FIG. 46 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary measurement screen (to be displayed immediately after the start of an analysis);

FIG. 47 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary measurement screen (to be displayed after completion of WBC measurement);

FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating further another exemplary measurement screen (to be displayed after completion of RBC measurement);

FIG. 49 is a diagram illustrating still another exemplary measurement screen for displaying all analysis items (8 items);

FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating further another exemplary measurement screen (for displaying statistic data obtained by the WBC measurement);

FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating still another exemplary measurement screen (for displaying statistic data obtained by the RBC and PLT measurement);

FIG. 52 is a diagram illustrating further another exemplary measurement screen (to be displayed when analysis items are selected as desired);

FIG. 53 is a circuit diagram of a detection circuit of the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 54 is a circuit diagram of a Cockcroft power supply employed in the blood analyzer according to this invention;

FIG. 55 is a diagram of an experimental circuit employed for confirming the performance of the Cockcroft power supply;

FIG. 56 is a circuit diagram of a booster circuit employing a commercially available DC--DC converter;

FIG. 57 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a switching frequency and an output voltage;

FIG. 58 is a graph illustrating a relationship between the capacitance of capacitors and the output voltage;

FIG. 59 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a load electric current and a power supply voltage;

FIG. 60 is a diagram of waveforms obtained at terminals in FIG. 54;

FIG. 61 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of the container housing unit held in a container holder according to this invention;

FIG. 62 is a diagram illustrating the construction of a large container employed for the container housing unit according to this invention;

FIG. 63 is a diagram illustrating the construction of a small container employed for the container housing unit according to this invention;

FIG. 64 is a sectional view of the large container fitted with an inner cap;

FIG. 65 is a sectional view of the small container fitted with an inner cap;

FIG. 66 is a perspective view illustrating a state where two large containers and one small container are housed in an inner case;

FIG. 67 is a front view illustrating the state where the two large containers and the one small container are housed in the inner case;

FIG. 68 is a plan view illustrating the state where the two large containers and the one small container are housed in the inner case;

FIG. 69 is a front view of the container holder to which flow path connection mechanisms are attached;

FIG. 70 is a diagram for explaining the construction and operation of a guide mechanism of the flow path connection mechanism;

FIG. 71 is a diagram for explaining the construction and operation of the guide mechanism of the flow path connection mechanism;

FIG. 72 is a diagram for explaining the construction and operation of the guide mechanism of the flow path connection mechanism;

FIG. 73 is a diagram for explaining the construction and operation of the guide mechanism of the flow path connection mechanism;

FIG. 74 is a central sectional view of the guide mechanism;

FIG. 75 is a diagram for explaining how biasing members are provided in the guide mechanism;

FIG. 76 is a diagram for explaining how a biasing member is provided in the guide mechanism; and

FIG. 77 is a diagram for explaining how a biasing member is provided in the guide mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The automatic sample analyzer according to this invention comprises: 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.

According to this invention, the pipette driving device achieves the vertical movement of the pipette with respect to the sample vessel by means of the main arm when the sample is to be sucked up, and achieves the vertical movement of the pipette with respect to the open vessel by means of the guide arm. This makes it possible to reduce the rigidities of the guide arm and associated components and the weight of the pipette driving device.

The pipette driving device may further comprise: a pipette holder for holding the pipette; a pipette horizontally driving section supporting the pipette holder in a vertically slidable manner for horizontally moving the pipette holder; and a pipette vertically driving section for vertically moving the main arm and the guide arm; wherein the pipette holder is fastened to the main arm in a horizontally disengageable manner; wherein the pipette holder is vertically moved by the main arm when being fastened to the main arm, and is vertically moved in engagement with the guide arm when being disengaged from the main arm.

The pipette holder may have a projection, and the main arm may have a recess to be horizontally brought into engagement with the projection.

The pipette holder may comprise a roller which is movable along the guide arm in engagement with the guide arm.

The pipette horizontally driving section may comprise a pipette vertically sliding section which supports the pipette holder in a vertically slidable manner.

The sample analyzer may further comprise a quantifying pump connected to the pipette for sucking the sample from the sample vessel after the pipette holder is lowered by the main arm, and discharging the sample after the pipette holder is moved apart from the main arm.

The sample vessel may be a capped sample vessel.

The pipette vertically driving section may comprise a stepping motor as a drive source, wherein a driving electric current to be supplied to the stepping motor for vertically moving the pipette holder is greater when the pipette holder is moved in engagement with the main arm than when the pipette holder is moved in engagement with the guide arm.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention, there is provided a pipette driving device, which comprises: 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.

In accordance with further another aspect of this invention, there is provided an automatic sample analyzer, which comprises: 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 pipette vertically sliding section having a pipette holder for holding the 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.

According to this invention, the movement of the pipette is prevented by the stopper member, so that the pipette vertically sliding section which holds the pipette can safely and easily be replaced.

The stopper member may be engaged with the pipette holder and the support member in a disengageable manner.

The pipette vertically sliding section may comprise a cleaning section for cleaning the pipette, wherein a tip of the pipette is accommodated in the cleaning section when the stopper member is attached to the pipette vertically sliding section.

In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, there is provided 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.

In accordance with further another aspect of this invention, there is provided an automatic sample analyzer, which comprises: a housing having an opening and housing an analyzer body; a cover for opening and closing the opening; a sample rack vertically disposed inward of the opening for holding a sample vessel; a coupling member for tilting the sample rack toward the opening in association with the opening of the cover, and returning the sample rack in a vertical state in association with the closing of the cover; a resilient member for resiliently supporting the sample vessel set in the sample rack; and an analyzing section for sampling a sample from the sample vessel and analyzing the sample.

According to this invention, the sample rack is tilted toward the opening when the cover is opened, so that the sample vessel can easily be set in the sample rack. The sample vessel is supported from opposite sides thereof by the resilient member coaxially with the sample rack. Thus, sample vessels having different outer diameters can easily be set in the sample rack.

The sample rack may have an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the sample vessel for holding a lower portion of the sample vessel, and the resilient member may comprise 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.

The sample analyzer may further comprise a support member for moving the first resilient member apart from the second resilient member in association with the opening of the cover.

The support member may be supported pivotally about a shaft.

The sample rack may have a bottom supported pivotally about the shaft, and be pivotal in the same direction as the support member in association with the support member.

The sample analyzer may further comprise a biasing member for biasing the cover in a cover opening direction, and a button to be brought into engagement with the cover in a disengageable manner against a biasing force of the biasing member.

In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, there is provided a sample vessel setting device, which comprises: 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.

In accordance with further another aspect of this invention, there is provided an automatic sample analyzer, which comprises: a housing having an opening and housing an analyzer body; a cover for opening and closing the opening; a sample rack vertically disposed inward of the opening for holding a sample vessel; a coupling member for tilting the sample rack toward the opening in association with the opening of the cover, and returning the sample rack in a vertical state in association with the closing of the cover; a pipette driving device which moves a pipette to the 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; a locking device for locking the cover when the pipette is inserted into the sample vessel from an upper side of the sample rack by the pipette driving device; and an analyzing section for analyzing the sample in the open vessel.

According to this invention, the locking device prevents the movement of the sample rack during a pipette inserting operation. Therefore, a sample sucking operation can stably be performed, and the pipette and the sample vessel are prevented from being damaged.

The pipette driving device may comprise a pipette vertically driving section for inserting the pipette into the sample vessel, and the locking device may comprise a lock rod extending parallel to the pipette vertically downward from a main arm and a projection piece projecting inward from the cover and having an engagement hole to which the lock rod is inserted when the pipette is inserted into the sample vessel.

In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, there is provided a sample rack locking device, which comprises: 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.

In accordance with further another aspect of this invention, there is provided an automatic sample analyzer, which comprises: an analyzing section comprising a vessel for containing a sample, and a detector for analyzing constituents of the sample contained in the vessel; a waste liquid chamber for storing an analysis waste liquid including the sample, a reagent and a diluent; a negative pressure pump for applying a negative pressure to the waste liquid chamber to suck the analysis waste liquid out of at least one of the vessel and the detector; the negative pressure pump comprising an air pump having an air inlet and an air outlet, an enclosure cover which has first and second through-holes and covers 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.

According to this invention, the negative pressure pump is enclosed in the cover and has the silencing exhaust tube thereby to be effectively silenced.

The analyzer may further comprise an elastic support base which supports the air pump.

The analyzer may further comprise a sensor for sensing the negative pressure applied to the waste liquid chamber, and a control section for controlling the negative pressure pump for regulating the negative pressure within a predetermined pressure range.

The predetermined pressure range may be 100 to 300 mmHg.

In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, there is provided a negative pressure pump, which comprises: 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.

In accordance with further another aspect of this invention, there is provided a sample analyzer, which comprises: a pipette; a liquid mixing vessel provided in a predetermined position; a sample supplying section for sucking a sample into the pipette and supplying the sample into the liquid mixing vessel; a diluent supplying section for supplying a diluent into the liquid mixing vessel; and a sample analyzing section for analyzing the sample diluted with the diluent; wherein the liquid mixing vessel is composed of a chemically resistant resin and has a roughened interior surface.

The sample supplying section may comprise a pipette driving device which moves the pipette to a sample vessel present in another predetermined position to cause the pipette to suck up the sample from the sample vessel, and then moves the pipette to the liquid mixing vessel to cause the pipette to discharge the sample into the liquid mixing vessel. Alternatively, the sample supplying section may comprise a negative pressure supplying section for applying a negative pressure to the liquid mixing vessel to suck up the sample into the liquid mixing vessel. In this case, the sample to be supplied into the liquid mixing vessel is preferably quantified by a quantifying device such as a sampling valve.

A vessel composed of the chemically resistant resin typically has a smooth interior surface and is highly repellent, i.e., has a lower wettability. When a sample retained in the bottom of the vessel is mixed with a diluent supplied into the vessel along the interior surface of the vessel, the diluent is liable to remain as water drops on the interior surface. Therefore, the amount of the diluent to be mixed with the sample is correspondingly reduced, resulting in inaccurate dilution. Accordingly, the accuracy of the sample analysis is reduced.

In general, the wettability of a resin surface relies on the chemical composition of the surface, the type and number of functional groups exposed to the surface, the acidic property or basic property of the surface, the crystallinity of the surface and the roughness of the surface.

This invention reveals that the wettability of the interior surface of the vessel is improved by roughening the interior surface. That is, the roughening of the interior surface of the vessel prevents the supplied diluent from remaining on the interior surface of the vessel when the sample is mixed with the diluent, whereby the sample is diluted at an improved dilution accuracy. Thus, the analysis accuracy can be improved.

In this invention, a relationship between the surface roughness and the wettability has been examined on the basis of an experiment, and it has been found that the wettability of the surface does not adversely influence the dilution accuracy if the surface has an arithmetic average surface roughness Ra of not smaller than 0.16 .mu.m. It has also been found that an upper limit of the roughness Ra is preferably about 0.65 .mu.m.

The roughening of the interior surface of the vessel is achieved, for example, in the following manner. A round rod having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the vessel is attached to a chuck of a ball mill, and sand paper lined with a sponge is wrapped around a distal side portion of the round rod so that the outer diameter of the resulting round rod becomes slightly greater than the inner diameter of the vessel.

While the round rod is rotated, the distal end of the round rod is gradually inserted into the vessel, whereby the interior surface of the vessel is roughened by the sand paper. Usable as the sand paper is #400 to #1500 sand paper. A buff with a sponge (Model 320 available from Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.) may be employed instead of the aforesaid sand paper.

The roughness Ra (.mu.m) is herein defined as calculated from the following expression (see JIS B0601), wherein a portion of a roughness curve having a reference length m is cut out along an average line and expressed by y=f(x) with the average line taken as an X-axis and with a longitudinal magnification taken as a Y-axis: ##EQU1##

The roughness curve is herein defined as a curve obtained by removing a surface undulation component having a wavelength greater than a predetermined level from a cross section curve by a phase compensation high band filter, and the cross section curve is herein defined as a contour of a cross section obtained by perpendicularly cutting a surface portion to be examined.

In the present invention, the liquid mixing vessel is produced by injection-molding a thermoplastic resin having a chemical resistance. Exemplary materials for the liquid mixing vessel include: acryl-acrylonitrile-styrene resins; acryl-acrylonitrile-styrene/polyamide alloys; acryl-acrylonitrile-styrene/polycarbonate alloys; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/alloys; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/polyvinyl chloride alloys; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/polyamide alloys; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/polybutylene terephthalate alloys; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/methacrylate resin alloys; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/polycarbonate alloys; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/maleimide-styrene resin alloys; modified acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins; acrylonitrile-chlorinated polyethylene-styrene resins; acrylonitrile-ethylene propylene rubber-styrene resins; acrylonitrile resins; acrylonitrile-styrene resins; chlorinated polyethylenes; ethylene-vinyl alcohol resins; crystalline polymers; styrene-butadiene resins; styrene-maleic acid resins; biodegradable resins (based on cellulose acetate); biodegradable resins (based on high molecular weight thermoplastic polycaprolactone); polytrifluoroethylenes; tetrafluoroethylene/ethylene resins; tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene resins; amorphous fluorinated resins; tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoroalcoxyethylene resins; polytetrafluoroethylenes; polyfluorovinylidenes; modified polytetrafluoroethylenes; tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene/fluorovinylidene alloys; tetrafluoroethylene/polypropylene alloys; polyamide 11; polyamide 12; polyamide 40; polyamide-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene alloys; polyamide-maleimide-styrene resin alloys; polyamide-polypropylene alloys polyamide6; polyamide 6/amorphous polyolefin alloys; polyamide 6/special rubber alloys; polyamide 6.66; polyamide 610; polyamide 66; modified polyamide 66; polyamide 66/thermoplastic elastomer alloys; polyamide 6T; amorphous polyamide; polyamide MXD6; polyallylether ketons; polyamide imides; polyallylates; polyarylsulfones; thermoplastic polyimides; polycyclohexanedimethylene terephthalates; high density polyethylenes; low density polyethylenes; very high molecular weight polyethylenes; polyetherether ketones; polyether imides; polyethylene naphthalates; polyether nitrites; polyether sulfones; polyethylene terephthalates; polyvinyl chlorides; modified polyvinyl chlorides; polyvinyl chloride/acrylonitrile-butadiene alloys; polybenzimidazoles; polybutylene terephthalates; polybutylene terephthalate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene alloys; polymethylmethacrylimides; polymethylpentenes; polycarbonates; polycarbonate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene alloys; polycarbonate-polyimide alloys; polycarbonate-polyethylene terephthalate alloys; amorphous polyolefins; polyacetals; polypropylenes; polypropylene-polyamide alloys; polyphthalamides; polysulfones; modified polyphenylene ethers; modified polyphenylene ether/polyamide alloys; modified polyphenylene ether/polybutylene terephthalate alloys; modified polyphenylene ether/polyphenylene sulfide alloys; modified polyphenylene ether/special rubber alloys; polyphenylene sulfides; polyphenylene sulfide/polyamide 66 alloys; general-purpose polystyrenes; high impact resistance polystyrenes; intermediate impact resistance polystyrenes; modified polystyrenes; syndiotactic polystyrenes; polythioether sulfones; maleimide-styrene resins; maleimide-styrene/polyamide alloys; methacryl-styrene resins; methacryl resins; and modified methacryl resins.

In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, there is provided 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.

The vessel may have an open top, and may be produced by injection-molding the chemically resistant resin.

The interior surface of the vessel preferably has an arithmetic average surface roughness Ra of not smaller than 0.16 .mu.m.

It is further preferred that the interior surface of the vessel has an arithmetic average surface roughness Ra of 0.16 .mu.m.ltoreq.Ra.ltoreq.0.65 .mu.m.

The chemically resistant resin may be a polyether imide.

The vessel may further comprise a liquid drain port provided at the bottom thereof for draining the liquid, and further comprise an air supply port provided at the bottom thereof for injecting a gas.

In accordance with further another aspect of this invention, there is provided an automatic sample analyzer, which comprises: a liquid suction tube; a quantifying section for sucking a sample through the liquid suction tube and quantifying the sample; and an analyzing section for analyzing the quantified sample; the liquid suction tube comprising an elongated pipe, which has a liquid flow path (i.e., a suction path) extending therein parallel to an axis thereof, and a groove provided in an outer surface thereof as extending longitudinally thereof.

According to this invention, when a cap of a capped vacuum blood sampling tube (sample vessel) is pieced with the liquid suction tube (pipette), the inside of the blood sampling tube immediately communicates with the atmosphere through the groove by a minimum distance. Therefore, the sample can smoothly be sucked and quantified through the liquid suction tube, so that the analysis of the sample can be performed accurately. In addition, the liquid suction tube has a simplified construction with the groove longitudinally formed in the outer surface of the pipe. Therefore, the groove and the exterior of the liquid suction tube can simultaneously be cleaned.

In this invention, the groove preferably extends parallel to the axis of the pipe. Thus, the formation of the groove can easily be achieved.

The groove preferably has a cross section increasing toward the outer surface of the pipe. Thus, the groove is prevented from being clogged with rubber scum of the cap and the sample.

Further, the groove preferably has a cross section having a round bottom. Thus, the groove is prevented from being clogged with rubber scum of the cap and the sample.

The liquid flow path (suction path) is preferably offset from the axis of the pipe. Thus, the groove can be formed in a greater cross section. Therefore, the cross sectional area, configuration and position of the groove can more flexibly be determined, so that the ventilating efficiency and the cleaning efficiency can be improved.

In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, there is provided a liquid suction tube comprising an elongated pipe, which has a liquid flow path extending therein parallel to an axis thereof and a groove provided in an outer surface thereof as extending longitudinally thereof.

In the liquid suction tube, the groove may extend parallel to the axis of the pipe.

The groove may have a cross section increasing toward the outer surface of the pipe.

The groove may have a cross section having a round bottom.

The liquid flow path may be offset from the axis of the pipe.

In accordance with further another aspect of this invention, there is provided an automatic sample analyzer, which comprises: a pipette; an analyzing section for analyzing a sample sucked from the pipette; a pipette cleaning device having a cleaner body having a pipette through-path through which the pipette is inserted from an inlet to an outlet thereof; and a driving device for moving at least one of the pipette and the cleaner body; wherein the pipette through-path provided in the cleaner body includes 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; wherein the pipette cleaning hole has first, second and third openings formed in an interior surface thereof in this order from the inlet to the outlet; wherein the cleaner body comprises 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.

According to this invention, the opening communicating with the atmosphere is formed in the interior surface of the pipette through-path of the pipette cleaning device, so that a cleaning liquid is less liable to remain in the pipette cleaning device for efficient cleaning of the pipette. Thus, the analysis of the sample can be performed accurately.

The analyzer may further comprise: a supplying section for supplying the cleaning liquid into the cleaning liquid supply path; a sucking section for sucking the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid drain path; and a driver circuit section for driving the supplying section and the sucking section; wherein the driving device comprises a vertically driving section for vertically moving at least one of the pipette and the cleaner body; wherein the driver circuit section drives the supplying section and the sucking section for cleaning the exterior of the pipette when the pipette is moved up or the cleaner body is moved down.

Alternatively, the analyzer may further comprise: a supplying section for supplying the cleaning liquid into the pipette; a sucking section for sucking the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid drain path; and a driver circuit section for driving the supplying section and the sucking section; wherein the driving device comprises a vertically driving section for vertically moving at least one of the pipette and the cleaner body; wherein the driver circuit section drives the supplying section and the sucking section for cleaning the interior of the pipette when a tip of the pipette is present in the pipette through-path.

In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, there is provided a pipette cleaning device, which comprises: 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.

The pipette through-path may have a round cross section, and the pipette cleaning hole may include first and second through-holes serially connected in this order from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the first and second openings are formed in the interior surface of the first through-hole, and the third opening is formed in the interior surface of the second through-hole, wherein the inner diameter of the pipette through-path increases in the order of the pipette guide hole, the first through-hole and the second through-hole.

Alternatively, the pipette through-path may have a round cross section, and the pipette cleaning hole may include first, second and third through-holes serially connected in this order from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the first and second openings are formed in the interior surface of the first through-hole, and the third opening is formed in the interior surface of the third through-hole, wherein the pipette guide hole and the second through-hole have smaller inner diameters than the first through-hole and the third through-hole.

In accordance with further another aspect of this invention, there is provided an automatic sample analyzer, which comprises: a pipette having a suction port provided at a tip thereof; a quantifying section for sucking and quantifying a sample through the pipette; a supplying section for supplying a liquid into the pipette; an analyzing section for analyzing the quantified sample; and a control section for controlling the quantifying section and the supplying section; wherein the control section controls the supplying section to fill the suction port of the pipette with the liquid before the suction of the sample.

According to this invention, the suction port of the pipette is filled with the liquid before the suction of the sample. Therefore, the sample is prevented from entering the suction port when the pipette is inserted into the sample before the suction. This improves the quantifying accuracy.

The analyzer may further comprise a cleaner for cleaning the pipette, wherein the suction port is provided in a side wall of the pipette in the vicinity of a tip of the pipette, wherein the cleaner comprises 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 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.

With this arrangement, the suction port is not influenced by a negative pressure applied from the cleaning liquid drain path when the pipette is cleaned in the cleaner before the suction of the sample through the pipette. Therefore, the liquid filled in the suction port of the pipette is not sucked out into the cleaning liquid drain path. Thus, the suction port is kept filled with the liquid, so that the sample can accurately be quantified.

In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, there is provided a liquid suction device, which comprises: a pipette having a suction port provided in a side wall thereof in the vicinity of a tip thereof; a sucking section for sucking a liquid through the pipette; and a cleaner for cleaning the pipette; wherein the cleaner comprises 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 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.

The liquid suction device preferably further comprises a liquid supplying section for supplying the liquid into the pipette, wherein the liquid supplying section fills the suction port of the pipette with the liquid before the suction of the sample through the pipette.

In accordance with further another aspect of this invention, there is provided a pipette cleaning device, which comprises a cleaner for cleaning a pipette having a suction port provided in a side wall thereof in the vicinity of a tip thereof, wherein the cleaner comprises 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 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.

In accordance with still another aspect of this invention, there is provided a liquid suction device, which comprises: a pipette having a suction port provided in a tip portion thereof; a sucking section for sucking a first liquid through the pipette; a supplying section for supplying a second liquid to the pipette; and a control section for controlling the sucking section and the supplying section; wherein the control section controls the supplying section to fill the suction port of the pipette with the second liquid before the suction of the first liquid.

The liquid suction device may further comprise a cleaner for cleaning the pipette, wherein the suction port is provided in a side wall of the pipette in the vicinity of a tip of the pipette, wherein the cleaner comprises 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 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.

In accordance with further another aspect of this invention, there is provided an automatic sample analyzer operable in a plurality of analysis modes, the automatic sample analyzer comprising: an analysis mode selection button for selecting one of 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.

According to this invention, the color of the start button is changed according to the analysis mode selected by a user. Thus, the user can confirm the analysis mode on the basis of the color of the button when pressing the start button to start the analysis. Therefore, an erroneous operation attributable to a mistake in mode selection can be suppressed.

The analyzer may further comprise a touch panel input/display sect