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 apparatus comprising:
 an aspirating tube configured to aspirates a specimen, wherein the aspirating tube is movable between a first region in which an automatic aspiration is performed and a second region in which a manual aspiration is performed;   a processing unit configured to process the specimen aspirated by the aspirating tube;   a housing; and   a controller configured to causes the aspirating tube to aspirate a specimen disposed inside the housing in the first region and to aspirate a specimen from a specimen container disposed outside the housing in the second region.   
     
     
         22 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the controller is configured to cause the aspirating tube to descend to the specimen container in the second region in response to a status that the specimen in the specimen container disposed outside the housing is ready to be aspirated.   
     
     
         23 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the status that the specimen in the specimen container disposed outside the housing is ready to be aspirated is a status that a disposition of the specimen container outside the housing is detected by a sensor.   
     
     
         24 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the status that the specimen in the specimen container disposed outside the housing is ready to be aspirated is a status that an instruction to start aspiration is received from a user.   
     
     
         25 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the status that the specimen in the specimen container disposed outside the housing is ready to be aspirated is a status that a disposition of the specimen container outside the housing is detected by a sensor or a status that an instruction to start aspiration is received from a user.   
     
     
         26 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the aspirating tube to move linearly between the first region and the second region. 
     
     
         27 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the specimen comprises a plurality of specimens, the specimen processing apparatus further comprising: a specimen transporting mechanism configured to transport, to the first region, a holder holding the plurality of specimens. 
     
     
         28 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the aspirating tube to move in a first direction linearly connecting the first region and the second region and to cause the aspirating tube to aspirate the plurality of specimens sequentially, and the specimen transporting mechanism is configured to transport the holder in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. 
     
     
         29 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the housing accommodates the specimen transporting mechanism. 
     
     
         30 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the housing accommodates a setting position in which the holder is set and a transporting path in which the holder is transported from the setting position to the first region. 
     
     
         31 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the housing comprises a lid, and the holder can be set in the setting position in a condition in which the lid is open. 
     
     
         32 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising: a cleaner configured to clean the aspirating tube on a straight line connecting the first region and the second region. 
     
     
         33 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the cleaner is located between the first region and the second region. 
     
     
         34 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein in a condition in which the controller receives an instruction for the manual aspiration, the controller causes the aspirating tube to move to the second region. 
     
     
         35 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the controller causes the aspirating tube to move to the first region after the manual aspiration is completed or a predetermined period of time passes after the manual aspiration is started. 
     
     
         36 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein in a condition in which the controller receives an instruction for the automatic aspiration during the manual aspiration, the controller causes the aspirating tube to move to the first region after the manual aspiration is completed or a predetermined period of time passes after the manual aspiration is started. 
     
     
         37 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the specimen contains nucleic acid, and the processing unit processes the nucleic acid. 
     
     
         38 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein in the automatic aspiration, the aspirating tube agitates the specimen before the aspirating tube aspirates the specimen. 
     
     
         39 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the specimen comprises a plurality of specimens, and in the automatic aspiration, the aspirating tube aspirates the plurality of specimens from a holder holding the plurality of specimens. 
     
     
         40 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein in the manual aspiration, the aspirating tube aspirates the specimen from the specimen container held by a user. 
     
     
         41 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein in the manual aspiration, the aspirating tube aspirates the specimen from the specimen container held by a user while interrupting an operation of the automatic aspiration. 
     
     
         42 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the housing comprises an opening, and the controller is configured to cause the aspirating tube to move so that a tip of the aspirating tube is located outside the housing through the opening. 
     
     
         43 . The specimen processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein processing unit comprises a flow cytometer. 
     
     
         44 . A specimen processing method with a specimen processing apparatus comprising an aspirating tube configured to aspirate a specimen, the method comprising:
 performing, in a first region, automatic aspiration for a specimen disposed inside a housing by the aspirating tube; and   performing, in a second region, manual aspiration for a specimen in a specimen container disposed outside the housing by the aspirating tube.   
     
     
         45 . The specimen processing method according to  claim 44 , wherein
 the aspirating tube is descended to the specimen container in the second region in response to a status that the specimen in the specimen container disposed outside the housing is ready to be aspirated.