US 12,326,459 B2
Automatic analyzer
Yuki Yokota, Tokyo (JP); Koshin Hamasaki, Tokyo (JP); and Yoshihiro Yamashita, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to Hitachi High-Tech Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Appl. No. 17/277,373
Filed by Hitachi High-Tech Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
PCT Filed Aug. 29, 2019, PCT No. PCT/JP2019/033908
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 18, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/066449, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-178425 (JP), filed on Sep. 25, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0034929 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 35/10 (2006.01); B01L 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/1016 (2013.01) [B01L 3/0293 (2013.01); G01N 35/1097 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0622 (2013.01); G01N 2035/1025 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatic analyzer comprising:
a liquid sensor that measures a liquid amount of a container containing liquid;
a flow path system;
a liquid discharging unit that discharges liquid from the flow path system;
a syringe that is connected to a branch portion of the flow path system and changes an internal pressure of the flow path system; and
a controller, wherein
the flow path system includes a first flow path, a second flow path, a first electromagnetic valve, and a second electromagnetic valve, the first flow path ranging from a nozzle to the branch portion, the nozzle aspirating or dispensing liquid from or to the container, the second flow path ranging from the branch portion to the liquid discharging unit, the first electromagnetic valve being provided on the first flow path and opening and closing the first flow path, and the second electromagnetic valve being provided on the second flow path and opening and closing the second flow path,
the controller is configured to operate the syringe, the first electromagnetic valve, and the second electromagnetic valve such that a predetermined aspirating, dispensing and discharging liquid operation is performed in the container, the liquid discharging unit, and the flow path system, and
the controller is further configured to determine whether or not an abnormality occurs in the flow path system by
measuring a first liquid amount in the container using the liquid sensor before any of the aspirating liquid operations have been performed;
measuring a second liquid amount in the container using the liquid sensor after the aspirating, dispensing and discharging liquid operation has been performed a plurality of times;
calculating an aspirated liquid amount by subtracting the first liquid amount from the second liquid amount; and
determining the abnormality occurrence when the calculated aspirated liquid amount deviates from a target value by a predetermined threshold amount.