Automatic analyzer

Abstract

An automatic analyzer comprises selection means for selecting whether a preparatory operation, specified from a plurality of analysis preparation processes of the automatic analyzer, should be executed in an initial process at the powering on of the analyzer or after the start of the actual analysis (i.e., in parallel with the sample analysis operation). For example, the automatic analyzer is equipped with means which allows the analyzer to execute a “system liquid replacement operation”, a “sample nozzle pressure sensor checking operation”, a “reaction vessel discarding operation” and a “pre-cleaning liquid replacement operation” which among various operations that are executed in the preparation process in conventional immunological analyzing apparatus in processes other than the preparation process.

1 . An automatic analyzer comprising:
 selection means for selecting whether a preparatory operation, specified from a plurality of analysis preparation processes necessary before the start of analysis by the automatic analyzer, should be executed in an initial process at the powering on of the analyzer or after the start of analysis.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic analyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein the analysis preparation processes include at least one selected from a system liquid replacement operation, a sample nozzle pressure sensor checking operation, a reaction vessel discarding operation and a pre-cleaning liquid replacement operation. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic analyzer according to  claim 2 , wherein timing for executing the specified preparatory operation is in the initial process after the powering on of the analyzer, in a preparation process, or in sample analysis. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic analyzer according to  claim 3 , wherein the automatic analyzer has a function of automatically executing the system liquid replacement operation at the start of the measurement in cases where the timing has been selected to be in the initial process after the powering on of the analyzer and elapsed time since the latest system liquid replacement till the start of the measurement has exceeded a preset time period. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic analyzer according to  claim 3 , wherein the automatic analyzer has a function of automatically executing the system liquid replacement operation at the start of the measurement in cases where the timing has been selected to be in the initial process after the powering on of the analyzer and the system liquid in its channel has been lost before the start of the measurement due to execution of a apparatus maintenance operation such as water replacement in the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic analyzer according to  claim 4 , comprising display means which displays whether the elapsed time since the latest system liquid replacement till the start of the measurement has exceeded the preset time period or not.