Specimen processing apparatus and specimen processing method

Abstract

A specimen processing apparatus may include: an aspirating tube configured to aspirates a specimen in automatic aspiration and manual aspiration; an aspirating tube moving mechanism configured to move the aspirating tube between a first region in which the automatic aspiration is performed and a second region in which the manual aspiration is performed, the first region covered with a wall, the second region separated from the first region; and a processing unit that processes the specimen aspirated by the aspirating tube.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A specimen processing method with a specimen processing apparatus comprising a housing, an aspirating tube configured to aspirate a specimen, and a processing unit configured to process the aspirated specimen, the method comprising:
 performing, in a first region inside the housing, automatic aspiration for a specimen by the aspirating tube; and   performing, in a second region separated from the first region, manual aspiration for a specimen by the aspirating tube moved to the second region from the first region, a tip of the aspirating tube being located outside the housing for the manual aspiration.   
     
     
         22 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 21 , further comprising
 moving the aspirating tube from the first region to the second region for the manual aspiration.   
     
     
         23 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 22 , wherein
 the moving the aspirating tube comprises
 moving the aspirating tube linearly in a horizontal direction; and 
 moving the aspirating tube linearly in a vertical direction. 
   
     
     
         24 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 23 , wherein
 the housing comprises an opening; and   the aspirating tube is moved in the vertical direction through the opening.   
     
     
         25 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 21 , wherein the specimen comprises a plurality of specimens, the method further comprising
 transporting a holder holding the plurality of specimens to the first region for the automatic aspiration.   
     
     
         26 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 25 , further comprising
 moving the aspirating tube linearly in a first direction to aspirate the plurality of specimens sequentially, wherein the holder is transported in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.   
     
     
         27 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 25 , wherein
 the holder is transported in the housing.   
     
     
         28 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 21 , wherein the specimen processing apparatus further comprises a cleaner configured to clean the aspirating tube, the method further comprising
 moving the aspirating tube from the first region or the second region to the cleaner; and   cleaning the aspirating tube by the cleaner.   
     
     
         29 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 28 , wherein the cleaner is located between the first region and the second region. 
     
     
         30 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 21 , further comprising
 receiving an instruction for the manual aspiration during sequential automatic aspirations; and   in response to the instruction for the manual aspiration, interrupting the sequential automatic aspirations and moving the aspirating tube to the second region for the manual aspiration.   
     
     
         31 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 30 , further comprising
 moving the aspirating tube to the first region after the manual aspiration is completed or a predetermined period of time passes after the manual aspiration is started.   
     
     
         32 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 21 , further comprising
 receiving an instruction for the automatic aspiration during the manual aspiration; and   in response to the instruction for the automatic aspiration, moving the aspirating tube to the first region after the manual aspiration is completed or a predetermined period of time passes after the manual aspiration is started.   
     
     
         33 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 21 , further comprising
 agitating the specimen by the aspirating tube before the automatic aspiration of the specimen.   
     
     
         34 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 21 , wherein in the manual aspiration, the specimen is aspirated from a specimen container held by a user. 
     
     
         35 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 21 , wherein in the manual aspiration, the tip of the aspiration tube is retraced into the housing in case the manual aspiration is failed. 
     
     
         36 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 35 , further comprising
 displaying an error massage in case the manual aspiration is failed.   
     
     
         37 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 21 , further comprising
 processing the specimen manually aspirated by the aspirating tube; and   processing the specimen automatically aspirated by the aspirating tube.   
     
     
         38 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 37 , wherein
 the processing the specimen manually aspirated by the aspirating tube comprises measuring the specimen by a flow cytometer; and   the processing the specimen automatically aspirated by the aspirating tube comprises measuring the specimen by the flow cytometer.   
     
     
         39 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 38 , wherein
 the measuring the specimen by the flow cytometer comprises detecting a fluorescence from a fluorescent dye labeled to an antibody.   
     
     
         40 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 21 , wherein the specimen contains a nucleic acid, and the method further comprising
 processing the nucleic acid in the specimen manually aspirated by the aspirating tube; and   processing the nucleic acid in the specimen automatically aspirated by the aspirating tube.