IP Library Granted Patent US 12699112
Granted Patent B2
US 12699112 · App. 18/318,849 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Automatic analyzer, and dispensing method and program thereof

Inventor: Shozo Hashimoto (Nasushiobara, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
G01N35/1067G01N35/02G01N35/1002G01N2035/0401
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12699112
App. No.
18/318,849
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic analyzer includes a transporter, a first dispensing probe, a second dispensing probe, a reagent dispenser, a first reaction container transporter, a fluid dispenser, and a second reaction container transporter. The reagent dispenser is configured to dispense the reagent into the first reaction container at a first dispensing position by the first dispensing probe. The first reaction container transporter is configured to move the first reaction container, from the first dispensing position to a sucking position by the transporter. The fluid dispenser is configured to dispense the fluid including the reagent from the first reaction container at the sucking position into the second reaction container at a second dispensing position by the second dispensing probe. The second reaction container transporter is configured to transport the second reaction container containing the fluid from the second dispensing position to the first dispensing position by the transporter.

Claims (35)

1 . An automatic analyzer comprising:

a transporter configured to hold a first reaction container and a second reaction container and to transport the first reaction container and the second reaction container;

a first dispensing probe configured to dispense a first reagent;

a second dispensing probe configured to dispense a fluid including the first reagent; and

processing circuitry configured to:

cause the first dispensing probe to dispense the first reagent into the first reaction container at a first dispensing position,

cause the transporter to transport the first reaction container including the dispensed first reagent from the first dispensing position to a sucking position,

cause the second dispensing probe to dispense the fluid from the first reaction container at the sucking position into the second reaction container at a second dispensing position, and

cause the transporter to transport the second reaction container containing the fluid from the second dispensing position to the first dispensing position.

2 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the second dispensing probe to suck a sample from a sample container, to suck the first reagent in the first reaction container with the sample being contained in the second dispensing probe, and to dispense the sample and the first reagent into the second reaction container.

3 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the second dispensing probe to form an air gap between the sample and the first reagent by sucking the sample, sucking outside air after sucking the sample and sucking the first reagent after sucking the outside air.

4 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause a cleaning unit to clean an outer surface of the second dispensing probe after the second dispensing probe sucks the sample and before the second dispensing probe sucks the first reagent.

5 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the second dispensing probe to form an air gap between the first reagent and a tip of the second dispensing probe by sucking outside air after sucking the first reagent.

6 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the first dispensing probe to dispense the first reagent into the first reaction container containing a sample, and to cause the second dispensing probe to dispense the fluid including the sample and the first reagent from the first reaction container at the sucking position into the second reaction container at the second dispensing position.

7 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 6 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the second dispensing probe to form an air gap between the fluid and a tip of the second dispensing probe by sucking outside air after sucking the fluid.

8 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the first dispensing probe to dispense a second reagent into the second reaction container that has been transported to the first dispensing position.

9 . A dispensing method of dispensing a fluid using an automatic analyzer including a first dispensing probe, a second dispensing probe and a transporter configured to hold and to transport a first reaction container and a second reaction container, the method comprising:

dispensing a first reagent into the first reaction container at a first dispensing position using the first dispensing probe;

transporting the first reaction container including the dispensed first reagent, from the first dispensing position to a sucking position using the transporter;

dispensing a fluid including the first reagent from the first reaction container at the sucking position to the second reaction container at a second dispensing position using the second dispensing probe; and

transporting the second reaction container containing the fluid from the second dispensing position to the first dispensing position using the transporter.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

sucking a sample from a sample container using the second dispensing probe;

sucking the first reagent in the first reaction container using the second dispensing probe with the sample being contained in the second dispensing probe; and

dispensing the sample and the reagent into the second reaction container using the second dispensing probe.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising forming an air gap between the sample and the first reagent by sucking outside air after sucking the sample from the sample container using the second dispensing probe and before sucking the first reagent using the second dispensing probe.

12 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising cleaning an outer surface of the second dispensing probe after sucking the sample from the sample container using the second dispensing probe and before sucking the first reagent in the first reaction container using the second dispensing probe with the sample contained in the second dispensing probe.

13 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising forming an air gap between the first reagent and a tip of the second dispensing probe by sucking outside air after sucking the first reagent in the first reaction container using the second dispensing probe with the sample contained in the second dispensing probe.

14 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

dispensing the first reagent into the first reaction container containing a sample using the first dispensing probe; and

dispensing the fluid including the sample and the first reagent from the first reaction container at the sucking position into the second reaction container at the second dispensing position using the second dispensing probe.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising sucking a fluid and forming an air gap between the fluid and a tip of the second dispensing probe using the second dispensing probe by sucking outside air after sucking the fluid.

16 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising dispensing a second reagent into the second reaction container using the first dispensing probe after transporting the second reaction container containing the fluid from the second dispensing position to the first dispensing position using the transporter.

17 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising a driver configured to drive the transporter rotatably and wherein

the transporter has a circumference and comprises a plurality of reaction container holders disposed on the circumference and holding a plurality of reaction containers including the first reaction container and the second reaction container.