Patent ID: 8920722
Filing Date: 2014-12-30
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A sample analyzer for analyzing a measurement sample prepared by a sample and a reagent, comprising: a rotatable first holding section for holding a plurality of reagent containers circularly; a rotatable second holding section for holding a plurality of reagent containers circularly, the second holding section being arranged concentrically relative to the first holding section; wherein the first holding section and the second holding section are mutually and independently rotatable; a sample dispenser for dispensing a sample into a measurement sample container; a reagent dispenser for dispensing a reagent from any one of the first and the second holding sections into the measurement sample container for preparing a measurement sample; and an analysis section for analyzing the measurement sample; an input section that is operable by a user; a display; and a controller configured to perform operations comprising: outputting a screen on the display, the screen showing a reagent placement region which depicts each arrangement of the first holding section and the second holding section, a relative arrangement between the first holding section and the second holding section, and a plurality of reagent display areas depicting each reagent container arranged to correspond to each physical position of the reagent containers held by the first and second holding sections to visually identify positions and arrangements of the reagent containers, wherein each of the reagent display areas is displayed in a manner selectable by the user using the input section such that upon selection of a reagent display area, information relevant to a reagent container corresponding to the selected reagent display area is displayed next to the reagent placement region, wherein the screen further shows a replacement-add command button for instructing a replacement of a reagent container corresponding to one of the reagent displaying areas selected by a user and after a reagent container to be replaced is selected by a user, selection of the replacement-add command button causes the first holding section or the second holding section holding the selected reagent container to move to a position to be picked up from the sample analyzer; obtaining order information which indicates an analysis item of the sample, wherein the analysis item requires a predetermined reagent; receiving a replacement instruction for replacement of a reagent container held by the first holding section by the user using the input section after the sample dispenser has dispensed the sample into the measurement sample container; in response to receiving the instruction for replacement, when the predetermined reagent is available from the second holding section, rotating the first holding section for the replacement of the at least one reagent container while dispensing the predetermined reagent from the second holding section into the measurement sample container; and in response to receiving the instruction for replacement, when the predetermined reagent is available only from the first holding section, rotating the first holding section for the replacement of the at least one reagent container after the predetermined reagent is dispensed into the measurement sample container from the first holding section.