Patent ID: 8926901
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A sample analyzer for analyzing a sample using a reagent in a reagent container, comprising: a first reagent container holding unit formed to a substantially circular shape in plan view and configured to hold a plurality of first reagent containers arranged in the horizontal direction, each of the first reagent containers includes a first electronic tag having reagent information recorded therein; a second reagent container holding unit formed to a substantially circular shape on an inner peripheral side of the first reagent container holding unit in plan view and configured to hold a plurality of second reagent containers arranged in the horizontal direction, each of the second reagent containers includes a second electronic tag having reagent information recorded therein; an antenna section configured to transmit a radio wave to an electronic tag of a reagent container held by the first and second reagent container holding unit and receive a radio wave from an electronic tag of a reagent container held by the first and second reagent container holding unit, the antenna section is arranged between the first reagent container holding unit and the second reagent container holding unit; an RFID module in electrical communication with the antenna and configured to obtain the reagent information recorded on the first electronic tag based on a radio wave received from the first electronic tag via the antenna, and to obtain the reagent information recorded on the second electronic tag based on a radio wave received from the second electronic tag via the antenna; and a first metal plate is arranged in a vertical direction between the antenna section and the first electronic tag of the reagent container held by the first reagent container holding unit, and a second metal plate is arranged between the second electronic tag and the antenna section, the first metal plate is provided with a cutout in the first metal plate for passing the radio wave emitted from the antenna section to the first electronic tag, wherein the cutout is formed to extend in a vertical direction to an end of the first metal plate and the second metal plate is provided with a cutout in the second metal plate for passing the radio wave emitted from the antenna section to the second electronic tag, wherein the metal plate prevents the radio wave emitted by the antenna section from reaching an electronic tag adjacent to the electronic tag which is the target of the reading or writing of the RFID module; and a detector configured to measure a component contained in a measurement sample prepared by the sample and the reagent.