Patent ID: 9255938
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. A sample analyzer comprising: a first measurement unit configured to perform a first aspiration operation on a sample in a sample container in which the sample in the sample container is aspirated at a first aspiration position for the first measurement unit to perform a first measurement on the aspirated sample; a second measurement unit arranged downstream of the first measurement unit along a transport direction and configured to perform a second aspiration operation on the sample in the sample container in which the sample in the sample container is aspirated at a second aspiration position for the second measurement unit to perform a second measurement which is different from the first measurement; a transporting apparatus configured to transport a plurality of racks in series in a length direction of the rack along the transport direction from the first measurement unit to the second measurement unit, each rack having a line of holders at a regular pitch for holding a plurality of sample containers including a target sample container, the transporting apparatus being configured to position respective sample containers in each rack at the first and second aspiration positions for the first and second aspiration operations, respectively, by: the first and second measurement units; a detection section configured to detect an amount of a sample in each target sample container positioned at the first aspiration position; and a control section having a memory that stores a program programming the control section to: determine, responsive to a detection result by the detection section whether an amount of a sample left in each target sample container is less than a threshold amount, wherein the threshold amount represents a minimum amount of the sample sufficient for both the first and second measurement units to perform the first and second measurements, respectively, on the sample; and upon a respective determination by the control section that a target sample container is a sample-sufficiency container in which the amount of the sample therein is greater than the threshold amount, operate the first and second measurement units and the transporting apparatus to transport the sample-sufficiency container through the first and second measurement units such that the first and second aspiration operations are performed on the sample-sufficiency container, and upon a respective determination by the control section that a target sample container is a sample-shortage container in which the amount of the sample therein is less than the threshold amount, implement a selected one of a plurality of different operation settings that represent different policies to be implemented to direct the control section as to how differently to handle sample containers held on racks each holding the sample-shortage container, wherein the plurality of different operation settings includes first and second operation settings, the control section further programmed to: store the first operation setting in the memory; operate the first and second measurement units and the transporting apparatus under the first operation setting to transport a first rack holding a sample-shortage container through the first and second measurement units with neither of the first and second aspiration operations performed on the sample-shortage container held on the first rack; replace the first operation setting stored in the memory with the second operation setting; and operate the first and second measurement units and the transporting apparatus under the second operation setting to transport a second rack holding a sample-shortage container through the first and second measurement units with only one of the first and second aspiration operations performed on the sample-shortage container held on the second rack.