Patent ID: 9164021
Filing Date: 2015-10-20
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A reagent preparing device configured to supply a mixed solution, which is a mixture of water and concentrated reagent containing an antiseptic agent, to a measurement section that uses the mixed solution as a reagent to analyze a specimen, the reagent preparing device comprising: a supply chamber in which the mixed solution of a desired concentration is storable for stable supply of the mixed solution to the measurement section; a first diluting chamber configured to perform a diluting process in which the concentrated reagent is diluted with the water to prepare the mixed solution of the desired concentration, the first diluting chamber being communicable, by operation of a first valve set, with the supply chamber via a mixed solution path to supply the mixed solution from the first diluting chamber to the supply chamber; a second diluting chamber configured to perform the diluting process, the second diluting chamber being communicable, by operation of a second valve set, with the supply chamber via the mixed solution path to supply the mixed solution From the second diluting chamber to the supply chamber; a water chamber in which the water is storable, the water chamber being communicable, by operation of a water valve set, with the first and second diluting chambers via a water/reagent path to supply the water to the first and second diluting chambers, the water chamber being equipped with a drain valve for draining the water from the water chamber; a concentrated reagent chamber in which the concentrated reagent is storable, the concentrated reagent chamber being communicable, by operation of a reagent valve set, with the first and second diluent chambers via the water/reagent path to supply the concentrated reagent to the first and second diluting chambers; and a controller programmed to operate the water valve set to supply the water from the water chamber selectively to the first or second diluting chamber via the water/reagent path, and operate the reagent valve set to supply the concentrated reagent from the concentrated reagent chamber selectively to the first or second diluting chamber via the water/reagent path, wherein the controller is further programmed to perform, when the controller receives a shutdown instruction, operations which include: (a) when the controller receives the shutdown instruction, if the diluting process is in progress in one of the first diluting chamber and the second diluting chamber, operate the water valve set and the reagent valve set to continue supply of the water and the concentrated reagent via the water/reagent path from the water chamber and the concentrated reagent chamber to the one diluting chamber until the one diluting chamber receives sufficient supply of the water and the concentrated reagent to prepare the mixed solution of the desired concentration; (b) after the one diluting chamber receives sufficient supply of the water and the concentrated reagent to prepare the mixed solution of the desired solution, operate the drain valve to discard the water from the water chamber without discarding the mixed solution reagent in the supply chamber; (c) after the water is discarded from the water chamber, terminate operation of the reagent preparing device according to the received shutdown instruction; and (d) when the controller receives the shutdown instruction, if the supply chamber stores sufficient supply of the mixed solution of the desired concentration, and the diluting process is in progress in neither the first nor second diluting chamber, operate the drain valve to discard the water from the water chamber without discarding the mixed solution in the supply chamber and terminate operation of the reagent preparing device according to the received shutdown instruction.