US 11,860,177 B2
Analysis method of automatic analyzer
Satoshi Shibuya, Tokyo (JP); Tsuguhiko Satou, Tokyo (JP); and Toshihide Hanawa, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jul. 7, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/921,997.
Application 16/921,997 is a continuation of application No. 15/552,809, granted, now 10,746,755, previously published as PCT/JP2016/052846, filed on Feb. 1, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 2015-033482 (JP), filed on Feb. 24, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2020/0333367 A1, Oct. 22, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 35/02 (2006.01); G01N 35/04 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 33/48 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/026 (2013.01) [G01N 33/48 (2013.01); G01N 35/00 (2013.01); G01N 35/02 (2013.01); G01N 35/04 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00752 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0493 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An analysis method of an automatic analyzer, the automatic analyzer including an insertion unit into which a rack is inserted, a transport line that transports the rack, a detection unit that detects a rack identifier from the rack or an attribute from a sample container which accommodates therein a sample as an object to be examined and which is mounted on the rack, an analysis module that includes a light source and a spectrometer which measures a measurement value to analyze a sample, a rack standby unit in which the rack stands by, and a rack recovery unit that recovers the rack, wherein a rack stands by in the rack standby unit until a measurement result in the analysis module is output and is then transported to the rack recovery unit, the analysis method comprising:
a step of transporting the rack from the rack insertion unit to the transport line, making the transported rack stand by in the rack standby unit until the measurement result in the analysis module is output, and then transporting the rack to the rack recovery unit according to a first mode of automatic reexamination;
a step of detecting an identifier from the rack or an attribute from the sample container accommodating the sample and mounted on the rack;
a step of determining that a predetermined rack of interest is transported from the rack insertion unit to the transport line, and in response to determining that the predetermined rack of interest is transported from the rack insertion unit to the transport line, change the first mode to a second mode of invalidating the automatic reexamination;
a step of transporting a subsequent rack transported subsequent to the predetermined rack of interest to the analysis module for examination;
a step of determining the examination mode is the second mode; and
a step of transporting the subsequent rack from the analysis module to the rack recovery unit without standing by in the rack standby unit according to the second mode.