Abstract:
In a pipetting apparatus for pipetting a sample with a nozzle, imperfect nozzle clotting condition can be detected in addition to perfect nozzle clotting condition. ÄStructureÜ The pressure in the air hose 12 connected to the nozzle 10 for aspirating a sample 18 is detected by the pressure sensor 20, and the detected pressure value is transmitted to the clot detecting section 26. In this clot detecting section 26, a plurality of pressure calculation periods are set to calculate the pressure difference in each of the calculation periods. When at least one of the calculated pressure differences exceeds at least one of the predetermined threshold values corresponding to the calculation periods respectively, a clot alarm is generated. Since a plurality of the pressure calculation periods are set, an imperfect clotting condition can be detected in addition to the perfect clotting condition, thus improving pipetting accuracy.
Abstract:
A leakage detection method in an automatic pipetting apparatus for objectively judging leakage by measuring an internal pressure of a pump connected to a nozzle tip. At Step 202, distilled water (90) is sucked, and when an internal pressure P1 of a pump after completion of suction is near the atmospheric pressure, leakage is identified. At Step 203, the tip (36) is kept at halt for 30 seconds, for example, without allowing it to rise after the internal pressure P1 of the pump after completion of suction is measured at Step 202. The internal pressure P2 of the pump is again measured by a pressure sensor. When this internal pressure P2 is different from the internal pressure P1 previously measured, leakage is identified. Further, at Step 204, sucked distilled water (90) is discharged into the same test tube (62), and the internal pressure of the pump is monitored by the pressure sensor. If any sharp fluctuation of the internal pressure is found, leakage is judged. When leakage is detected, leakage detection measurement is terminated.
Abstract:
This invention aims at speeding up dilution when an erythrocyte component as a highly viscous liquid is diluted in a dispenser for a blood sample. A diluent is poured into a diluting vessel (66) at step (212), and suction of the diluted solution is made by a nozzle chip (36) holding thereinside the erythrocyte component at step (213). A first stage of dilution is thus carried out inside the nozzle chip (36). A mixed solution inside the nozzle chip (36) is discharged at step (214), and discharge and suction are repeated at steps (215 and 216), and dilution (mixing) is completed.
Abstract:
Purpose: to judge shortage of a discharge quantity, by identifying the presence of any bubbles at the time of discharge. Constitution: characteristics (101) involving bubbles provides a different internal pressure of a nozzle at nearly the end of discharge of a sample than that provided by characteristics (100) not involving bubbles. The nozzle internal pressure is detected at the time of judgement (105), and this detection value is compared with a threshold value. Accordingly, the occurrence of the bubbles can be judged, and shortage of a discharge quantity is judged on the basis of this judgement to give an alarm.
Abstract:
Viscosity of red corpuscles is measured while suction of the red corpuscles is performed in a dispensing device of blood specimen. In the process of dispensing red corpuscles as specimen, the control unit (84) draws the piston (76) at first to produce a specified initial suction pressure. The pressure sensor (54) monitors the internal pressure of the air tube (44). The viscosity measuring unit (88) measures the length of time from the application of initial suction pressure to achievement of a predetermined pressure value beta and, referring to the table (88) and on the basis of the measured length of time, find a viscosity of the red corpuscles. The table (88) stores the correlation between a length of time and a viscosity which are proportional to each other.