Automatic analyzer

The automatic analyzer relating to the invention is characterized in that since drive and control of the automatic analyzer and storage of the measuring data are realizable on the IC card, operability of such kind of automatic analyzer is sharply simplified, the system can be miniaturized substantially to a low cost, moreover, in case the automatic analyzer gets damaged, portion and cause of the damage can be found easily and quickly.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to an automatic analyzer operating automatically for 
biochemical analysis and immunological analysis. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Various kinds of automatic analyzers have been proposed. However, many of 
the recent automatic analyzers are rather complicated, large-sized, 
high-cost and high-speed operating, and moreover, involve an exceedingly 
complicated operation, and therefore a specialized operator must be 
attendant thereon all the time, and personnel expenses are a problem. 
This kind of large-sized automatic analyzer is not always required by local 
hospitals and clinics where a large amount of blood examination is not 
necessary, and in such circumstances a specialized examination center is 
requested to carry out blood examination of respective patients. 
Consequently, where an urgent examination is required, an inconvenience may 
result in such local hospitals and clinics, a waste of money is quite 
unavoidable, and moreover, in case work for comparing an analysis with the 
patient's blood or reexamination is required, a long time will be needed 
for obtaining a result. 
This invention has been made in view of the situation described above, and 
its object is to provide a simple automatic analyzer, miniaturized to cope 
with a need by local hospitals and clinics, which is very simple in 
operation and construction, and moderate in cost. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
In order to attain the aforementioned object, the automatic analyzer 
relating to the invention comprises a means for moving a plurality of 
samples to a sample sucking position, a means for sucking a predetermined 
quantity of sample at the sample sucking position and pouring the 
predetermined quantity into a reaction cell, a means for moving the 
reaction cell to an optical measuring position, a means for pouring a 
reagent corresponding to a charactristic to be measured into the reaction 
cell, a means for moving a reagent container in which the reagent 
corresponding to a characteristic to be measured is contained to a reagent 
sucking position, a means for measuring a sample in the reaction cell 
optically, a means for washing the reaction cell after completion of the 
measurement, an IC card storing various starting command signals and 
measurement data, a reader/writer for reading command signals of the IC 
card and writing the measurement data. 
In the invention, the IC card comprises a starting IC card in which command 
signals for actuating and controlling a sample moving means, a sampling 
means, a reaction cell moving means, a reagent pouring means, an optical 
measuring means and washing means are inputted, and a memory IC card 
storing data measured by the optical measuring means. Needless to say, a 
single IC card may be so constructed as to work for both starting and 
memory at the same time. 
In the invention, a thermostat is provided having a plurality of heating 
members at predetermined intervals on the bottom of a thermostatic oven 
constituted by a heating medium, and the temperature in the thermostatic 
oven is made uniform by controlling the heating members separately by a 
temperature controller. 
Further, in the invention, a table holding the reaction cells thereon turn 
in steps the number of which is one less than the number of the reaction 
cells held on the table so that the reaction cells will be moved relative 
to a fixed point one by one intermittently counter to the direction in 
which the table turns.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the 
accompanying drawings representing one preferred embodiment thereof. 
As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and FIG. 12, a simple automatic analyzer A according 
to the invention comprises roughly an analyzing portion V and a 
controlling portion W. 
The analyzing portion V comprises a reaction cell moving device for moving 
a reaction cell 1 at predetermined timed intervals to a sample (serum) 
pouring position a, a first reagent pouring position b, a second reagent 
pouring/stirring position c, an optical measuring position d and washing 
positions e.sub.1 to e.sub.4, a sample container 2 in which a sample to be 
measured is contained in a quantity as required, a sample container moving 
device (not shown) for moving the sample container 2 linearly to a sample 
sucking position f, a sampling pipette means 3 for sucking up a necessary 
quantity of sample from the sample container 2 and pouring it into the 
reaction cell 1, a first reagent pipette means 4 for pouring a first 
reagent corresponding to the characteristic to be measured into the 
reaction cell 1, a second reagent pipette 5 for pouring a second reagent 
corresponding to the characteristic to be measured into the reaction cell 
1, a stirring device (not shown) interlocking with the second reagent 
pipette means 5, an optical measuring device 7, a washing device 8, a 
reagent moving device 10 for moving reagent container 9 having cells in 
which the first and second reagents are contained to a first reagent 
sucking position g and a second reagent sucking position h. 
On the other hand, the controlling portion W comprises a CPU for 
controlling the drive of the aforementioned devices corresponding to the 
characteristics to be measured, an operation IC card 11 ready for reading 
and writing, a reader/writer 12 in which the operation IC card 11 is 
installed, a switch assembly 13 for selecting the analyzing 
characteristics of a respective sample, a sequential No. and a specified 
sample No. or sequential No., a display unit 15, a start switch 16, a stop 
switch 17, a reset switch 18, a memory IC card 120 for storing information 
and for reading thereinto and writing out therefrom data obtained by the 
optical measuring device 7, a reader/writer 121 in which the memory IC 
card 120 is installed, a printer 19 for printing out measured results and 
so forth. Reference numeral 100 in the drawings denotes a double closing 
cover mounted rotatably on a case body 101, reference numeral 20 in FIG. 3 
denotes a sampling pump, 21 denotes a first reagent pump, 22 denotes a 
second reagent pump, 23 denotes a washing pump, and 24 in FIG. 4 denotes a 
main switch. 
The reaction cell moving device B moves a plurality (36 in number) of 
reaction cells 1 held on a reaction cell table (not shown) intermittently 
one pitch at a time and successively to required positions for heating up 
to almost biological temperature (37.degree. C.) under the control of a 
thermostatically controlled heater 60 described hereinafter. The reaction 
cells 1 move counterclockwise in FIG. 2 through a number of positions one 
less than the number of cells, thus moving the reaction cells 1 one by one 
intermittently in the opposite direction, i.e. clockwise in FIG. 2. A 
well-known pulse motor is used as the reaction cell moving means. 
The sample containers 2 are held in a sample cassette 30 in two rows of 10 
or 20 containers all told, and the sample cassette 30 is moved so as to 
move the axial centers of the containers in succession and intermittently, 
to the sample sucking position f on the path of swinging movement of the 
sampling pipette means 3. 
The sample cassette 30 holding the sample containers 2 therein is moved by 
the sample container moving device consisting of a cross feed means. 
As in the case of a well-known sampling pipette, the sampling pipette means 
3 comprises an arm 32 with its one end journaled on a shaft 31, a pipette 
33 disposed on the other end of the arm 32, a sampling pump 20 connected 
to the pipette 33 for sucking up the required quantity of a sample and to 
discharge it to the reaction cells 1, a driving device (not shown) for 
turning the arm 32 from the sample sucking position to the sample 
discharging position a and further to a washing position i with a 
predetermined timing and then lifting it at each position. 
The sample measuring system operates by filling a suction system with 
water, sucking in the sample for measurement while isolating it from the 
water by a volume of air, then discharging the sample, and washing the 
inside of the pipette 33 with washing water led therethrough. For such 
washing, the pipette 33 is set at the pipette washing position i, and 
hence any remainder of the sample sticking on the surface of the pipette 
33 is washed down at the position i. 
The thermostatically controlled heater 60 comprises, as shown in FIG. 5, a 
heating medium 61 mounted on an oven (not shown) in which a lower portion 
of the reaction cells 1 soak, and a constant temperature controller 62 
disposed on the heating medium 61. 
The constant temperature controller 62 comprises, as shown in FIG. 6, a 
plurality of temperature detecting elements 63 for detecting temperature 
at each position of the heating medium 61, a plurality of heating elements 
64, a temperature control device 65 for controlling the heating elements 
64 according to temperature information obtained through the temperature 
detecting elements 63. 
Each temperature detecting element 63 is constituted of a thermistor or the 
like and a plurality are mounted on a bottom portion of the heating medium 
separately at predetermined intervals. 
The temperature information obtained through each temperature detecting 
element 63 as a variation of its resistance value is converted into 
voltage by a temperature-voltage converter 66, and an output from the 
temperature-voltage converter 66 is inputted to the temperature control 
device 65 for controlling voltage and current to the heating elements 64. 
Further, the temperature-voltage converter 66 has its output voltage 
converted into a digital value by an A/D converter 67, an output from the 
A/D converter 67 and an output from an input device 68 are processed by an 
arithmetic operation processing circuit, i.e. a calculator, 69, and the 
result thus obtained is converted into an analogue value by a D/A 
converter 67' and inputted to the temperature control device 65. 
The aforementioned heating elements 64 are each constituted by a heater 
producing heat generated by a resistance wire. Further, the temperature 
control device 65 operates for unifying temperature at each heater 
mounting position of the heating medium 61 by subjecting each heating 
element 64 to on/off control according to information from the 
corresponding temperature detecting element 63. 
Therefore, when temperature information corresponding to a set temperature 
is inputted to the input device 68, the output from the input device 68 is 
inputted to the aforementioned arithmetic operation processing unit 69, 
and a corresponding resistance value (for generating a heating power 
necessary for liquid to be heated and retained at 37.degree. C.) in each 
temperature detecting element 63 is obtained according to a predetermined 
arithmetic expression. On the other hand, a change in resistance value of 
each temperature detecting element 63 is converted into voltage by the 
temperature-voltage converter 66, converted further into a digital signal 
by the A/D converter 67, and the digital value is inputted to the 
arithmetic operation processing unit 69. The arithmetic operation 
processing unit 69 operates for the aforementioned arithmetic processing 
according to a conversion coefficient determined by the 
temperature-voltage converter 66, the result of the operation is output to 
the D/A converter 67', and the D/A converter 67' generates a comparison 
voltage. That is, the processing unit 69 compares the output voltage from 
the temperature-voltage converter 66 through converter 67 with the voltage 
of the input 68 generating the aforementioned comparison voltage to the 
D/A converter 67', the temperature control device 65 controls voltage and 
current to each temperature detecting element 63 according to the 
comparison information and the sensed temperature from elements 63 to heat 
to the desired temperature, thus heating the liquid in the oven uniformly. 
By constructing the heater 60 as described, the temperature distribution in 
the heater is easily made uniform, and a chemical reaction of the sample 
with the reagent can be equalized. 
The reagent moving device 10 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the 
reagent containers 9 each having a cell 9a in which the first reagent is 
contained and further cell 9b in which a second reagent is contained, a 
container moving device (not shown) turning and controlling a table 40 on 
which the reagent containers 9 are placed and moving a reagent 
corresponding to the item being measured to the first reagent sucking 
position g or the second reagent sucking position h, the first reagent 
pipette 4 for sucking the first reagent as required in quantity from 
inside the cell 9a at the first reagent sucking position g, the second 
reagent pipette 5 for sucking the second reagent as required in quantity 
from inside the cell 9b at the second reagent sucking position h. The 
reagent containers 9 disposed on the table 40 are set at predetermined 
positions, and the positions are stored in the CPU. Further, there are a 
set of 12 reagent containers 9, and when the characteristic to be measured 
changes, one set can be replaced with another set. The reagents in the 
reagent containers 9 are cooled down to 10.degree.-12.degree. C. in a 
liquid cooling device 80. 
The liquid cooling device 80 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 7-10, a heat 
insulating case 83 circular in plan view which is provided with a 
plurality of chambers 82 for containing the reagent containers 9 radially 
therein, a cover 84 installed detachably on an upward opening of the heat 
insulating case 83, an electronic cooling unit 85 disposed in a center 
cylindrical part 83a of the heat insulating case 83, and a fan 86 for 
forcedly blowing heat generated in the electronic cooling unit 85 out of 
the unit. 
The heat insulating case 83 is constituted by a heat insulating material, 
and comb-toothed radiation fins 87 are formed on the chamber side of the 
center cylindrical part 83a as shown in FIG. 8. 
As in the case of the aforementioned heat insulating case 83, the cover 84 
is circular in plan, an opening 84b communicating with a central space 83b 
of the heat insulating case 83 is formed at the central portion thereof, 
and a peripheral wall portion 84a of the opening 84b projects upward to 
form a grip. A plurality of openings (not shown) communicating with holes 
(not shown) for sucking liquid in the reagent containers 9 contained in 
the heat insulating case 3 are provided in the cover 84 at positions 
corresponding thereto. 
The electronic cooling unit 85 is constructed fundamentally, as shown in 
FIG. 9, of an N-type semiconductor 88 and a P-type semiconductor 89 formed 
of two different materials joined together through metals 81a, 81b, 81c, 
and when DC current is carried from a supply, for example, in the 
direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 9, a junction q with the metal 81a 
becomes cool according to an endothermic effect, and a junction r with the 
metals 81b, 81c becomes hot according to a heating effect, thus producing 
the Peltier effect. 
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, the N-type semiconductor 88 and the 
P-type semiconductor 89 are arrayed alternately in the circumferential 
direction of the center cylindrical part 83a, the chamber sides of the 
pair of N-type semiconductor 88 and P-type semiconductor 89 are connected 
by the metal 81a, and the metals 81b, 81c are each connected in DC current 
flow connection to the center space side of the N-type semiconductor 88 
and the P-type semiconductor 89, thereby producing a low-temperature 
region on the chamber side through an endothermic effect and a 
high-temperature region on the center space side. 
Another method for arraying the N-type semiconductor 88 and the P-type 
semiconductor 89 is shown in FIG. 11, in which the pair of an N-type 
semiconductor 88 and a P-type semiconductor 89 are disposed longitudinally 
of the center cylindrical part 83a, the chamber sides of the pair of the 
N-type semiconductor 88 and the P-type semiconductor 89 are connected 
through the metal 81a, the metals 81b and 81c are connected to the center 
space sides of the N-type semiconductor 88 and the P-type semiconductor 89 
respectively, and a plurality of such sets is arrayed on the center 
cylindrical part 83a in the circumferential direction thereof and then the 
sets are connected to a current source, thus obtaining a low-temperature 
region on the chamber side through an endothermic effect and a 
high-temperature region on the center space side. 
Needless to say, the Peltier effect is reversible by reversing the 
direction in which the DC current flows, and a similar effect will be 
obtainable from forming the N-type semiconductor 88 and the P-type 
semiconductor 89 of an N-type conductor and a P-type conductor, 
respectively. 
The cold thus generated at the junction q is conducted to the chamber 82 
from the radiation fins 87, and heat generated at the junction r heats air 
in the space 83b which is exhausted forcedly outside the cooling device, 
thereby cooling down the liquid in the reagent containers 9 contained in 
the chamber 2 efficiently. 
The liquid temperature can be set arbitrarily by regulating the voltage of 
the DC current. Needless to say, heat generated on the junction r can be 
used, for example, for preliminary heating of the sample. 
Because the liquid cooling device is constructed as described, an 
evaporator, a condenser and a long passage for guiding cold air are not 
required, unlike a conventional liquid cooling device, and the device can 
be greatly miniaturized, and cold air can be provided directly at the 
cells, thus enhancing the cooling efficiency at the same time. 
When the reagent container 9 corresponding to the sample to be analyzed 
arrives at predetermined reagent sucking positions g, h, the reagents are 
transformed into the reaction cells 1 by the first and second reagent 
pipettes 4 and 5. 
As in the construction of a known pipette device, the first and second 
reagent pipettes 4 and 5 comprise arms 42, 52 with one end journaled on 
shafts 41, 51 and pipettes 43, 53 disposed on the other ends of the arms 
42, 52, pumps 21, 22 connected to the pipettes 43, 53 for sucking a 
necessary quantity of the reagent for discharge into the reaction cell 1, 
each having driving device (not shown) for turning the arms 42, 52 from 
the reagent sucking positions g, h to the reagent pouring positions b, c 
and further to the washing positions j, k at a predetermined timing and 
controlling the lifting at each position. 
For measuring the reagent, the suction system is filled with water,, the 
reagent and water are separated from each other by air during suction and 
measurement, the reagent only is then discharged, and washing water is put 
through the inside thereafter to wash the interior of the pipettes 43, 53. 
When washing, the pipettes 43, 53 are set at the pipette washing positions 
j, k, and amounts of the sample and material sticking to the outer 
surfaces of the pipettes 43, 53 are washed off at the positions j, k. 
Although not shown, a stirring device is provided on the second reagent 
pipette 5, moved as the arm 52 is turned, which bubbles the sample in the 
reaction cell 1 immediately after the second reagent is transferred 
thereinto, and is then washed together with the second reagent pipette 5 
at the pipette washing position k. 
The optical measuring device 7 forming the detecting unit or observation 
means is constructed as a diffraction grating system, comprising a light 
source 70, a plurality of light receiving elements 71 for measuring light 
irradiated from the light source 70 and passed through the reaction cells 
1 and arrayed on a Rowland circle, the aforementioned CPU receiving the 
output of the elements and converting the quantity of light received on 
the light receiving element 71 corresponding to a measured material in a 
reaction cell 1 into voltage and processing the value obtained through 
analysis, and a memory (not shown) for storing the data. Needless to say, 
the optical measuring device 7 may be changed into a wave-length 
conversion system through a filter. 
Accordingly, the optical measuring device 7 operates for measuring 
continuously light passed through all the reaction cells 1 (35 all told in 
the illustrated embodiment) from the washing position e.sub.1 to a 
measurement finishing position l, thus obtaining a reaction time course of 
each reaction cell 1. 
The washing device 8 washes the interior of each reaction cell 1 for which 
the optical measuring is finished so that it can be used again by using a 
known liquid suction motion and a washing water feed motion. 
Known readable/writable IC cards are used for the starting IC card 11 for 
driving and controlling the automatic analyzer A constructed as above and 
the memory IC card 120 for storing measured data. 
As exemplified in FIG. 13, a data storage 112 on integrated circuit is 
buried in a card substrate 110, to enable interchanging information with 
the reader/writer units 12, 121. 
That is, the starting IC card 11 and the memory IC card 120 are provided 
basically with light receiving elements 113 buried in the card substrate 
110 for receiving optical signals according to data signals sent from the 
reader/writer units 12, 121 and transmitting them to the data storage 112, 
a light emitting element 114 buried in the card substrate 110 for 
converting data signals generated from the data storage 112 and sending 
them to the reader/writer units 12, 121, a driving power supply 115 for 
generating driving voltages for the data storage 112 and the light 
receiving element 113 buried in the card substrate 110. 
The starting IC card 11 and the memory IC card 120 have a CPU constituting 
the data storage 112 which is not illustrated, an integrated circuit 
forming a data storage part, a plurality of light receiving elements 113 
consisting of a photo transistor for receiving a crystal oscillation 
signal sent as an optical signal from the reader/writer units 12, 121, a 
data input signal and a reset signal, a light emitting element 114 
consisting of a light emitting diode for converting a data output signal 
from the integrated circuit into an optical signal and outputting it to 
the reader/writer units 12, 121, a driving power supply 115 such as a 
mercury cell or the like arrayed within the card substrate 110 formed of a 
synthetic resin such as polyester, vinyl chloride or the like at 
predetermined positions. 
The aforementioned integrated circuit is constituted by an E-EPROM 
(Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) not only readable but 
also rewritable electrically, wherein a drive controlling means 
coordinating with a plurality of grouped analysis items is inputted, for 
example, for six groups as shown in FIG. 14, and also various data such as 
name, registration no., office, post and other information operators using 
the automatic analyzer A are inputted. 
The analysis items may be grouped by dividing only such items as are 
necessitated by facilities to install properly into a plurality of groups. 
However, in consideration of the construction of the automatic analyzer 
and other factors, it is preferable that the items be grouped by objects 
of analysis such as hepatic function analysis group such as GOT, GPT and 
the like, kidney function analysis groups such as BUN, CRNN, UA and the 
like, or electrolyte analysis groups. 
In this case, a particular of the grouped items which can be analyzed by 
the starting IC card 11 is indicated together with a sequential no. on the 
left side of a display portion as shown in FIG. 14, of a display unit 90 
of the automatic analyzer A, and an analysis group no. and a particular of 
examination of the analysis group are indicated on the right side of the 
display portion. The sequential no. refers to a machine serial number of 
the sample cell 2, and the sequential no. of the sample cells (20 cells in 
the illustrated embodiment) set on the automatic analyzer A is indicated 
vertically. The sequential no. will be selected by turning on a suitable 
switch in the switch group 13. On the other hand, the analysis group no. 
and the particular of examination of the analysis group indicate which 
switch of the switch group 13 indicates "what" analysis no., i.e. for 
example, "1" indicates the hepatic function examination group, "3" 
indicates the kidney function examination group and so forth. 
Accordingly, if the switch "3" of the switch group 13 is turned on for the 
sample of sequential no. 2, then the selected analysis item no. "3" is 
indicated by the sequential no. "2" of the display portion. 
Then, after selection of the analysis item to all the sequential nos. is 
over and the ensuing work is completed therefor, a start switch 93 is 
turned on. When the start switch 93 is turned on, each mechanism of an 
analyzing portion V operates for carrying out predetermined analyzing work 
according to the control signal selected by the switch group 13, the 
analysis data is sent to the CPU, printed out on the printer 19 
thereafter, and is inputted to the memory IC card 120 for storage through 
the reader/writer 121. 
Then, operation data read by the reader/writer 121 and the operation 
procedure of the switch group 13 are inputted in detail to the memory IC 
card 120, and the construction is such that the stored data cannot 
normally be retrieved from within the reader/writer 121 disposed in the 
automatic analyzer A by anyone other than a particular person (maintenance 
personnel, for example). 
The reader/writer units 12, 121 are constructed similarly to a known card 
reader/writer, which are characterized by a construction comprising a 
ready access terminal for outputting control signals to the memory IC card 
120 and another ready access terminal for inputting and outputting 
operation data and operation procedure of the switch group 13 to the 
starting IC card 11, disposing a reader pack, an IC card 
transmitting/receiving circuit, an arithmetic operation part and a light 
source in the interior, which are not illustrated. 
The reader/writer units 12, 121 constructed as above operate for optically 
reading operation data inputted to the starting IC card 11 and the memory 
IC card 120, setting the switch group 13 of the automatic analyzer A to a 
state ready for use according to the read data, inputting measured data 
obtained through the optical measuring device 7 and the operation 
procedure of the switch group 13 to the starting IC card 11 and the memory 
IC card 120. 
The automatic analyzer A of the embodiment is set to on (ready) state only 
when the starting IC card 11 and the memory IC card 120 are set normally 
in the reader/writer units 12, 121 respectively, when the subswitch (not 
shown) which is only an actuating switch of the switch group 13 is off. 
The subswitch is a switch for setting the switch group 13 to a ready state 
only when the starting IC card 11 and the memory IC card 120 are set at 
predetermined positions of the reader/writer units 12, 121, and further 
when the operation data read by the reader/writer units 12, 121 is 
determined to be proper, and is inputted to the memory IC card 120 for 
storage. 
The operation of the above-described construction will be described. 
First, when the starting IC card 11 with predetermined operation data 
inputted therein is inserted in the reader/writer 12 through a 
corresponding card insertion port, the reader/writer 12 irradiates light 
on a power pack of the starting IC card 11 from the ight source, thereby 
generating an electromotive force in the card power pack. Thus the 
starting IC card 11 produces a driving voltage from the electromotive 
force, and all the circuit parts in the starting IC card 11 are set to a 
ready state. 
Then, starting data stored in the aforementioned storage feeds an 
oscillation signal generated from an oscillator of the reader/writer 12 to 
a predetermined light receiving element of the starting IC card 11, and 
the CPU of the starting IC card 11 is actuated to read out the operation 
data from the data storage. The data read by the CPU is converted into an 
optical signal by the predetermined light receiving element and sent to 
the reader/writer 12. The data sent to the reader/writer 12 is subjected 
to the necessary data processing in the reader/writer 12, the 
reader/writer 12 then generates an on actuation signal of the switch group 
13 to the subswitch, and the operation data is inputted to the memory IC 
card 120 set in the reader/writer 121. 
On the other hand, when the switch group 13 is set to a ready state by the 
starting IC card 11, the operator manipulates the switch group 13 to input 
desired analysis conditions and other such conditions, and the automatic 
analyzer A operates to carry out predetermined analysis processing 
according to the inputted operation procedure. However, the operation 
procedure by the switch group 13 is also inputted automatically in 
sequence to the memory IC card 120 through the reader/writer 121. 
Accordingly, if a fault occurs in the operation of the automatic analyzer 
A, the maintenance personnel will set the memory IC card 120 extracted 
from within the reader/writer 121 in a predetermined reader installed in 
another place, dump the data inputted within the memory IC card 120 to a 
CRT, printer or the like so that it can be read, thus finding the cause of 
fault in the operation of the automatic analyzer A easily and quickly. 
Next, by actuating the start switch 16, the sample cassette 30 moves each 
sample cell 2 to the sucking position f, and the operation of sucking the 
sample is carried out by the sampling pipette 3 at the sample sucking 
position f. The sampling pipette 3 is turned thereafter and discharges the 
desired quanity of sample into the reaction cell 1. 
When the above operation is over, the reaction cell 1 turns 35 pitches 
counterclockwise in FIG. 2 and stops, so that each reaction cell 1 is a 
position one pitch clockwise from its position in the preceding stopped 
condition in FIG. 2. Thus each reaction cell 1 turns through 35 pitches 
counterclockwise in FIG. 2 for every discharge of a sample into a cell, 
i.e. every 20 seconds, and then stops. 
When a reaction cell 1 arrives at the first reagent pouring position b on 
the reaction cell moving device, the reagent table 40 is controlled for 
rotation synchronously therewith, the reagent cell 9a containing a first 
reagent corresponding to the characteristic to be measured is moved to the 
reagent sucking position g, a desired quantity of the first reagent is 
then sucked up and discharged into the reaction cell 1 which has arrived 
at the first reagent pouring position b. 
After that, the reaction cell 1 is moved to the second reagent 
pouring/stirring position c, the reagent table 40 is controlled for 
rotation in concert therewith, the reagent cell 9b containing a second 
reagent corresponding to the characteristic to be measured is moved to the 
second reagent sucking position h, a desired quantity of the second 
reagent is sucked up by the second reagent pipette 5, discharged into the 
reaction cell 1, and is then bubbled by the stirring device. 
Next, the aforementioned reaction cell 1 is moved successively by the 
reaction cell moving device B, and crosses the light beam of the optical 
measuring device 7 once during every 35-pitch rotation counterclockwise in 
FIG. 2, so that optical measurements are carried out over the course of 
the reaction time in each reaction cell 1. 
The reaction cell 1 for which the optical measuring work is completed as 
described is then moved to the washing device 8, and after a predetermined 
washing is performed therefor, it is again moved to the sample pouring 
position a. 
The analysis value obtained as described above is subjected to data 
processing in the CPU, printed out on the printer 19, and is then inputted 
to the memory IC card 120. If the analysis processing is suspended during 
the course of being carried out, a stop switch 17 is turned on, and when 
using the next starting IC card 11, a reset switch 18 is turned on. 
In the above-described embodiment, the case where a contactless optical 
card is used as the IC card is described. However, the invention is not 
necessarily limited thereto, and an IC card of the contact type, for 
example, can also be used. 
Further, in the embodiment described above, the case where one group is 
selected from among a plurality of analysis groups by an item switch 14 is 
described. However, a single item such as GOT, GPT, ZTT or the like may be 
selected. 
Still further, the invention may be constructed so that the automatic 
analyzer may be controlled and the measuring data may also be stored by an 
IC card or magnetic card of large capacity instead of inputting operator's 
information and control signals and storing measuring data all on two IC 
cards. 
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
As described in detail above, according to the invention, a desired 
analysis can be selected from an IC card, and an item corresponding to the 
sample can be selected by operating switches on/off accordingly, and hence 
the operation is extremely simplified, the system can generally be 
constructed simply and compactly as well, a simple automatic analyzer 
which is trouble-free and moderate in cost can thus be provided, and 
therefore an automatic analyzer complying with requirements of hospitals 
and clinics can be provided at low cost.