Patent ID: 9506940
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. An automatic analysis apparatus comprising: a control section; a reaction container supply section holding a plurality of reaction containers; a plurality of detection sections, each of which has a reaction container installation section in which a respective reaction container of the plurality of reaction containers is placed; a respective light source installed in a bottom surface of the reaction container installation section in each of the detection sections for projecting light; a first detector installed in the reaction container installation section in each of the detection sections and positioned out of optical alignment with the light source to detect light scattered from the reaction container of the light projected from the light source; a reaction container transfer mechanism configured to be used commonly for the plurality of detection sections and for holding, transferring, and placing respective reaction containers of the plurality of reaction containers in each of the detection sections; and one second detector installed in the reaction container transfer mechanism, configured to be used commonly for the plurality of detection sections and positioned to detect the light projected from each respective light source without the light passing through the reaction container, wherein the control section is connected to the reaction container transfer mechanism, the first detector, and the second detector, and the control section is programmed to: cause the reaction container transfer mechanism to move the second detector relative to the plurality of detection sections and to position the second detector above and in optical alignment with the light source in the respective reaction container installation sections, cause the second detector to detect the light projected from the light source, cause the reaction container transfer mechanism to transfer a reaction container of the plurality of reaction containers to a detection section of the plurality of detection sections and place the reaction container in the reaction container installation section of the detection section, cause the first detector to detect light scattered from a reaction container that is placed in a reaction container installation section of a respective detection section, and analyze the scattered light to obtain an analysis result.