Patent ID: 9470570
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: G01F,G01L,G01N

Claim Text:
1. An automatic analyzer which performs a suction operation a plurality of times on a same sample, the automatic analyzer comprising: a sample dispensing unit; a liquid level sensor for detecting a liquid level of the sample in a sample container; calculation means for calculating a height of a liquid level at an end of a first suction operation of two consecutive suction operations from a height of a liquid level and a sample suction volume detected at a start of the first suction operation; storage means for storing the height of the liquid level calculated by the calculation means; and malfunction determination means for comparing a height of a liquid level detected at the start of a second suction operation following the first suction operation with the height of the liquid level at the end of the first suction operation and determining presence or absence of a failure in the first or second suction operation according to whether a difference between both liquid level heights exceeds a threshold value set in advance.