Analyzer

An analyzer that has a simple configuration, that is inexpensive, that can improve safety, and that can inhibit proliferation of microorganisms using ultraviolet light is realized. A first electric power switch, a second electric power switch, and a third electric power switch are connected in series between an ultraviolet LED that irradiates an interior of a shared reagent storage container with ultraviolet light and a power supply that supplies electric power to the ultraviolet LED. The first electric power switch, the second electric power switch, and the third electric power switch are configured with two contact points and a connection section that connects and disconnects the two contact points. The first electric power switch is opened when a reagent storage door is opened, and the second electric power switch is opened in response to an action of extracting an ultraviolet irradiation section from a shared reagent storage container. The third electric power switch is opened when an amount of the reagent within the shared reagent storage container is equal to or smaller than a constant value. When one of the first electric power switch, the second electric power switch, and the third electric power switch is opened, supply of the electric power to the ultraviolet LED is intercepted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an analyzer that analyzes a specimen by using a reagent.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is known a type of analyzer, among analyzers, that adds a reagent to a sample to be analyzed for deriving an analysis result. The reagent mentioned herein is not limited to a reaction reagent that produces a reaction with the sample but a diluent, a detergent, a buffer solution, and a surface-active agent that activates an interface between an object to be analyzed and the reaction reagent are also reagents in a broad sense.

It is, therefore, necessary to hold reagent containers that store these reagents in an interior of or near an exterior of the analyzer.

The analysis result depends on components contained in the reagent to be added; thus, alteration of the components of the reagent to be added over time reduces the reproducibility of the analysis result. Examples of causes for a change over time include decomposition or alteration of the components of the reagent with a change in a reagent temperature, a change in an ambient humidity, and activity of microorganisms entering an interior of a reagent storage container.

Owing to this, measures are taken for avoiding the change of the reagent within the reagent container over time or delaying the change of the reagent over time. Specifically, there is known a method of alleviating the change of the reagent over time by managing the reagent in preset temperature and humidity ranges or by intercepting the entry of microorganisms into the reagent. A feature mounted for making the proliferation of the entering microorganisms impossible or inhibiting the metabolism of the microorganisms in case of the entry of microorganisms into the reagent is often more cost effective than a feature mounted for completely preventing the entry of the microorganisms into the reagent.

JP-2001-247108-A does not relate to an analyzer but particularly discloses a container sterilization method that does not need many processes and does not need a wastewater treatment as means for sterilizing an object stored in a container.

Furthermore, JP-1997-099921-A does not relate to an analyzer like JP-2001-247108-A but discloses a food container sterilization method for sterilizing a food container without the need of heat sterilization and without the loss of flavor of a food in the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technique described in JP-2001-247108-A is configured with a controller that controls an ultraviolet flash lamp in such a manner as to irradiate an inner side surface of a container to be sterilized with an optical pulse after a sensor detects the insertion of the ultraviolet flash lamp into the container.

However, with the technique described in JP-2001-247108-A, there is a concern that the optical pulse is emitted from the ultraviolet flash lamp even in a state in which the ultraviolet flash lamp is not inserted into the container to be sterilized during a failure of the sensor or the controller.

Furthermore, the technique described in JP-1997-099921-A uses an optical fiber for guiding an ultraviolet laser beam. In addition, the technique uses elevating means for inserting or extracting the optical fiber into or from the container to be sterilized. This elevating means is provided with a position sensor that detects an elevation position and turns on or off oscillation of the ultraviolet laser beam in response to a vertical position of a tip end portion of the optical fiber attached to the elevating means using control means.

With the technique described in JP-1997-099921-A, there is a concern that the ultraviolet laser beam is emitted even when the tip end portion of the optical fiber is located outside of the container to be sterilized during a failure of the control means or the elevating means.

Although it is conceivable that a cold insulation device that provides entire cold insulation is installed in an analyzer in a case of performing a treatment for inhibiting the proliferation of microorganisms in the reagent, the installation undesirably increases a cost of the analyzer.

Thus, it is preferable to apply a treatment for inhibiting the proliferation of microorganisms using ultraviolet light to the analyzer like JP-2001-247108-A and JP-1997-099921-A; however, when the use of ultraviolet light is applied to the analyzer, it is desirable to prevent an operator or the like from being irradiated with the ultraviolet light and achieve further improvement of safety.

However, applying the techniques described in JP-2001-247108-A and JP-1997-099921-A to the analyzer involves a large increase in the cost of the analyzer since the controller exercises light emission control to make a configuration complicated in the techniques described in JP-2001-247108-A and JP-1997-099921-A. As a result, it has been difficult to improve safety measures without involving the large cost increase.

An object of the present invention is to provide an analyzer that can improve safety by performing a microorganism inactivation treatment using ultraviolet light and using a simple, inexpensive configuration.

To attain the object, the present invention is configured as follows.

An analyzer includes: an analysis section that analyzes a specimen within a reaction container that accommodates a reagent and the specimen; a liquid storage container that stores a liquid for use in analysis; an ultraviolet irradiation section that irradiates the liquid in the liquid storage container with ultraviolet light; a power supply that supplies electric power to the ultraviolet irradiation section; a liquid storage container storage room that stores the liquid storage container and the ultraviolet irradiation section; and a first electric current switch that closes connection between the power supply and the ultraviolet irradiation section when a storage door of the liquid storage container storage room is closed, and that opens the connection between the power supply and the ultraviolet irradiation section and stops supply of the electric current to the ultraviolet irradiation section when the storage door is opened.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve safety by performing a microorganism inactivation treatment using ultraviolet light and using a simple, inexpensive configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

An outline of an analyzer to which a first embodiment is applied will first be described.

Analysis mentioned herein refers to clinical chemical analysis. That is, in the analysis, gathered blood is separated into a serum and a blood clot by centrifugation and the obtained serum is mixed with various reagents. Furthermore, in the analysis, electrical signal conversion values of a chemical reaction produced as a result of mixture are acquired as time series variations and component concentrations of the serum are determined. A system that automates part of or all of these series of work is referred to as either “automatic analyzer” or simply “analyzer.”

FIG.1is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an analyzer100.

InFIG.1, the analyzer100includes a specimen transport mechanism101, a reaction reagent storage section102, a reaction tank103where reaction containers104are disposed, a reaction reagent dispensing mechanism105, a specimen dispensing mechanism106, a shared reagent dispensing mechanism107, a shared reagent storage container110, a syringe108, and a control section109.

The specimen transport mechanism101transports a specimen to be analyzed to an operating range of the specimen dispensing mechanism106. The reaction reagent storage section102stores various reaction reagents necessary for analysis. The reaction tank103includes a plurality of reaction containers104each producing a reaction between the specimen and the reaction reagent.

The reaction reagent dispensing mechanism105performs suction of any of the reagents stored in the reaction reagent storage section102and delivery thereof to the reaction tank103. The specimen dispensing mechanism106performs suction of the specimen transported by the specimen transport mechanism101and delivery thereof to each reaction container104provided in the reaction tank103.

The shared reagent dispensing mechanism107performs suction of a shared reagent stored in the shared reagent storage container110and delivery thereof to each reaction container104.

The control section109controls each constituent component of the analyzer to operate. In addition, the control section109has a function to analyze the specimen and store an analysis result, and a function to indicate the analysis result. The control section109can be defined as an analysis section.

In the analyzer100configured as described above, an ultraviolet irradiation section according to the first embodiment inhibits the proliferation of microorganisms in the reagent stored in the shared reagent storage container110.

WhileFIG.1shows that the shared reagent storage container110is disposed in a housing interior of the analyzer100, the shared reagent storage container110may be disposed in a housing exterior. The shared reagent storage container110needs to be able to continuously supply a specified amount of the reagent for analysis operation by the analyzer100.

The first embodiment of inactivating bacteria within the shared reagent storage container110shown inFIG.1will be described with reference toFIG.2. The shared reagent will be simply referred to as “reagent,” hereinafter.

FIG.2is a schematic configuration diagram of the ultraviolet irradiation section according to the first embodiment.

InFIG.2, the shared reagent storage container110has a reagent storage container opening portion201, and an ultraviolet irradiation section202and a reagent suction nozzle203are inserted into the shared reagent storage container110from this opening portion201. The reagent absorbed from the reagent suction nozzle203by suction is fed to the shared reagent dispensing mechanism107(FIG.1) for use in an analytical reaction.

The ultraviolet irradiation section202includes an ultraviolet LED204that emits light at a wavelength in an ultraviolet range to a neighborhood of a bottom surface of the shared reagent storage container110, and the ultraviolet LED204is connected to a power supply206by a normal interconnection line205. Furthermore, the ultraviolet irradiation section202is stored in a storage cylinder216for preventing the ultraviolet LED204and the normal interconnection line205from contacting the reagent. A material, such as quartz glass, that transmits ultraviolet light and that is not decomposed by the ultraviolet light is appropriate as a material of the storage cylinder216.

On the other hand, a resin higher in strength than the quartz glass may be used if the resin can prevent the ultraviolet LED204and the normal interconnection line205from contacting the reagent, transmits the ultraviolet light, and is not decomposed by the ultraviolet light. Using the resin higher in strength than the quartz glass as the material of the storage cylinder216can reduce a concern of damaging the ultraviolet irradiation section202when a user of the analyzer100operates the shared reagent storage container110.

The ultraviolet LED204emits ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 200 to 300 nm. The ultraviolet light at this wavelength damages genes (DNAs or RNAs) of bacteria of interest. The ultraviolet light in this wavelength range stops metabolism of the genes of the bacteria. As a result, the ultraviolet light inhibits the proliferation of microorganisms. It is desirable that the ultraviolet LED204is configured to selectively emit ultraviolet light at a wavelength that is effective for inhibition of the proliferation of microorganisms and that does not alter components of the reagent.

Specifically, the ultraviolet LED204can appropriately select the wavelength by selecting a type of the ultraviolet LED204itself and thereby selecting an irradiation wavelength or by using a filter (not shown inFIG.2) that transmits or interrupts ultraviolet light at specific wavelengths for the ultraviolet LED204.

It is noted that the ultraviolet LED204is disposed such that an ultraviolet generation direction thereof is oriented to an opposite direction215to a direction toward a reagent storage door210. This is intended to avoid exposure of the user of the analyzer100, who opens the reagent storage door210and approaches the shared reagent storage container110, to ultraviolet light by limiting an ultraviolet irradiation direction to the opposite direction to the direction in which this user approaches the shared reagent storage container110.

The power supply206supplies a current necessary for the ultraviolet LED204to emit ultraviolet light to the ultraviolet LED204via the normal interconnection line205. The normal interconnection line205includes lines connecting electric power switches207,208, and209and the power supply206to one another.

The first electric power switch207operates as the reagent storage door210is opened and closed, and supplies and intercepts electric power. That is, the first electric power switch207supplies the electric power to the ultraviolet LED204when the reagent storage door210is in a closed state, and intercepts the electric power when the reagent storage door210is in an open state. It is noted that the reagent storage door210is intended to prevent penetration of mine dust into the analyzer100and to avoid contact of the user with an operating section within the analyzer100.

In addition to purposes of preventing the penetration of the mine dust and avoiding the contact, the reagent storage door210also function to shield the user of the analyzer100from exposure to the ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet LED204. The reagent storage door210may be used as temperature insulation means when it is necessary to keep constant a temperature of an analyzer housing interior212with respect to a temperature of an analyzer housing exterior211.

The reagent storage container110, the ultraviolet irradiation section202, a holding stand213, the first electric power switch207, the second electric power switch208, and the third electric power switch209are disposed within a reagent storage room220. The reagent storage room220is configured to be opened and closed by the reagent storage door210.

The first electric power switch207will be described with reference toFIG.3. It is noted thatFIG.3shows the simplified second switch208.

FIG.3shows that the reagent storage door210, which splits off the analyzer housing interior212from the analyzer housing exterior211, is in the open state. InFIG.3, the first electric power switch207is mounted such that the first electric power switch207turns into a closed state and supplies the electric power to the ultraviolet irradiation section202when the reagent storage door210is in the closed state, and turns into an open state, intercepts the electric power, and prevents the ultraviolet irradiation section202from emitting ultraviolet light when the reagent storage door210is in the open state. Therefore, when the reagent storage door210is in the open state, the switch207does not supply the electric power.

Configuring the first electric power switch207in this way enables supply of the electric power to be stopped immediately when the user of the analyzer100opens the reagent storage door210for replacement or the like of the shared reagent storage container110even during the supply of the electric power to the ultraviolet LED204and irradiation with the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet LED204to inactivate bacteria within the shared reagent storage container110. The ultraviolet LED204thereby stops emitting ultraviolet light and it is possible to avoid exposure of the user to the ultraviolet light.

The second electric power switch208supplies and intercepts the electric power as the ultraviolet irradiation section202is inserted into and extracted from the shared reagent storage container110. That is, the second electric power switch208supplies the electric power to the ultraviolet LED294when the ultraviolet irradiation section202is in a state of being inserted into the shared reagent storage container110, and intercepts the electric power when the ultraviolet irradiation section202is in a state of being extracted from the shared reagent storage container110. The ultraviolet irradiation section202is fixed to the reagent suction nozzle203, and the second electric power switch208turns into an open state when the reagent suction nozzle203is extracted from the shared reagent storage container110.

A purpose of using the second electric power switch208is to prevent portions other than an interior of the shared reagent storage container110from being irradiated with the ultraviolet light. It is known that transmittance of the ultraviolet light is low. The transmittance of the ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 300 nm or shorter transmitted by even polyethylene terephthalate (PET) normally used for a storage container is less than 5% (Fabrication of concave gratings by curved surface UV-nanoimprint lithography, Yung-Pin Chen, et al., 2008 American Vacuum Society).

In a state in which the ultraviolet irradiation section202is inserted into the shared reagent storage container110, it is possible to reduce irradiation of surrounding constituent components other than the shared reagent storage container110with the ultraviolet light. Using this second switch208can dispense with the sensor that is disclosed in JP-2001-247108-A and that detects the insertion of the ultraviolet flash lamp into the container to be irradiated with the ultraviolet light.

The second electric power switch208will next be described with reference toFIG.4.

FIG.4shows a state in which the ultraviolet irradiation section202and the reagent suction nozzle203are extracted from the shared reagent storage container110installed on the holding stand213.

InFIG.4, the second electric power switch208is fixed to the opening portion201of the shared reagent storage container110. Furthermore, the opening portion201is fixed to the holding stand213using an opening portion fixture214. Fixing the second electric power switch208and the opening portion201in this way enables the second electric power switch208to change from the closed state to the open state when the ultraviolet irradiation section202and the reagent suction nozzle203are extracted from the shared reagent storage container110. Turning the second electric power switch208into the open state makes it possible to realize a structure of preventing irradiation with the ultraviolet light in a state in which the ultraviolet irradiation section202is extracted from the shared reagent storage container110.

In a state in which the ultraviolet irradiation section202is inserted into the shared reagent storage container110and disposed within the shared reagent storage container110, the second electric power switch208turns into the closed state.

The user of the analyzer100turns the reagent storage door210into the open state and feeds the reagent from the shared reagent storage container110to outside of this shared reagent storage container110for analysis. As a result, the shared reagent storage container110becomes empty. Owing to this, when the reagent suction nozzle203is extracted from the shared reagent storage container110for replacement of the shared reagent storage container110by a reagent storage container filled with the reagent, a state becomes the state shown inFIG.4.

In the state shown inFIG.4, when the first electric power switch207fails and the ultraviolet LED204continues to emit ultraviolet light, there is a concern that a person who replaces the shared reagent storage container110is exposed to the ultraviolet light.

The second electric power switch208functions to remove this concern. That is, even if the first electric power switch207fails, the second electric power switch208turns into the open state, intercepts the supply of the electric power to the ultraviolet LED204, and can secure operator's safety at a time of extracting the reagent suction nozzle203from the shared reagent storage container110.

In addition, it is possible to dispense with the position sensor provided in the elevating means disclosed in JP-1997-099921-A. Dispensing with the position sensor produces effects that the configuration is simple and inexpensive and reduction of a failure frequency can be expected.

The third electric power switch209will next be described.

The third electric power switch209supplies the electric power to the ultraviolet LED204and intercepts the electric power in accordance with a liquid amount of the reagent within the shared reagent storage container110. That is, when a state of the liquid amount is such that the ultraviolet LED (ultraviolet generation section)204installed near the bottom surface of the shared reagent storage container110is located below a liquid level, to be irradiated with the ultraviolet light, of the reagent within the shared reagent storage container110, the third electric power switch209supplies the electric power to the ultraviolet LED204.

On the other hand, when the state of the liquid amount is such that the ultraviolet LED204is located above the lowered liquid level of the reagent as a result of feeding the reagent to outside of the shared reagent storage container110for analysis, the third electric power switch209intercepts the electric power to be supplied to the ultraviolet LED204. This is intended to effectively execute irradiating the reagent, which is an object to be irradiated with ultraviolet light, within the shared reagent storage container110with the ultraviolet light.

The third electric power switch209will be described with reference toFIG.5.FIG.5shows a state in which the amount of the reagent within the shared reagent storage container110is reduced and the ultraviolet LED204is located upward of the liquid level of the reagent.

A weight switch is an appropriate example of the mounted electric power switch209. The weight switch is incorporated into the holding stand213of the shared reagent storage container110, and supplies the electric power to the ultraviolet LED204when a weight of the reagent exceeds a specified weight. WhileFIG.5shows a state in which the third electric power switch209is opened,FIG.5is a conceptual view of an open state of the electric power switch209.

Reagents having an identical specific gravity have an identical volume relative to a weight. Therefore, reagents that are stored in the shared reagent storage containers110having an identical cross-sectional area and that have the identical specific gravity and the identical volume are identical in a height from the bottom surface of each shared reagent storage container110. Using this fact, when the weight of the reagent stored in the shared reagent storage container110is heavier than the specified weight, then it is determined that the ultraviolet LED204is located below the liquid level within the shared reagent storage container110, and the third electric power switch209turns into the closed state.

On the other hand, when the weight of the reagent stored in the shared reagent storage container110is lighter than the specified weight, then it is determined that the ultraviolet LED204is located above the liquid level within the shared reagent storage container110, and the third electric power switch209turns into the open state.

Detection of the liquid level of the reagent stored in the shared reagent storage container110may be executed by a capacitance scheme using a capacitance of the residual reagent within the shared reagent storage container110or by a scheme of imaging a side surface of the shared reagent storage container110and detecting the liquid level.

As described so far, according to the first embodiment, the first electric power switch207, the second electric power switch208, and the third electric power switch209are connected in series between the ultraviolet LED204that emits ultraviolet light into the shared reagent storage container110for inhibiting the proliferation of microorganisms in the reagent within the shared reagent storage container110, and the power supply206that supplies the electric power to this ultraviolet LED204. The first electric power switch207, the second electric power switch208, and the third electric power switch209are simply configured with two contact points and a connection section that connects and disconnect these two contact points.

The first electric power switch207is opened when the reagent storage door210is opened, and the second electric power switch208is opened in response to an action of extracting the ultraviolet irradiation section202from the shared reagent storage container110. In addition, the third electric power switch209is opened when the amount of the reagent within the shared reagent storage container110is equal to or smaller than the certain value. With this configuration, when any one of the first electric power switch207, the second electric power switch208, and the third electric power switch209is opened, the supply of the electric power to the ultraviolet LED204is intercepted.

Furthermore, the ultraviolet LED204is disposed in the shared reagent storage container110in such a manner that the irradiation direction of the ultraviolet LED204is the opposite direction to the direction toward the reagent storage door210approached by the operator.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to realize the analyzer that has the simple configuration, that is inexpensive, that can improve safety, and that can inhibit the proliferation of microorganisms using ultraviolet light.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment will next be described.

The electric power switches207,208, and209in the first embodiment produce an effect of reducing the probability of exposure of the user of the analyzer100to the ultraviolet light in normal use of the analyzer100; however, the electric power switches207,208, and209possibly complicate work for an operation check to the ultraviolet LED204.

That is, in the first embodiment, it is necessary to simultaneously turn the first electric power switch207, the second electric power switch208, and the third electric power switch209into the closed state in the operation check to the ultraviolet LED204. To satisfy the necessity, it is necessary that the reagent storage door210is in the closed state, the ultraviolet LED204is being inserted into the shared reagent storage container110, and the liquid amount of the reagent is such that the ultraviolet LED204within the shared reagent storage container110is located below the liquid level of the reagent.

Loading a measurement system that can measure a dose of ultraviolet light even in a state of normally using the analyzer100into the analyzer100is a disadvantage from the viewpoint of a cost relative to a frequency of use.

Then, for the purpose of an operation check to the ultraviolet LED204in advance, an example of the second embodiment is configured such that, even when the first electric power switch207, the second electric power switch208, and the third electric power switch209are all in the open state, the electric power is supplied to the first ultraviolet irradiation section202by bypassing those switches, i.e., by making the connection in parallel to the first electric power switch207, the second electric power switch208, and the third electric power switch209and in series to the first ultraviolet irradiation section202.

FIG.6is a schematic explanatory diagram of the second embodiment. Since a configuration of the analyzer100and configurations of the first electric power switch207, the second electric power switch208, and the third electric power switch209are similar to those in the first embodiment, detailed description of the configurations will be omitted.

FIG.6represents that the first electric power switch207, the second electric power switch208, and the third electric power switch209are all in the open state. Interconnection lines601,602, and603and a fourth electric power switch600are provided such that it is possible to execute the operation check to the ultraviolet LED204in this state. That is, the analyzer100is configured such that the interconnection lines601,602, and603and the fourth electric power switch600are connected to the power supply206and the ultraviolet LED204and that the electric power can be supplied from the power supply206to the ultraviolet LED204by closing the fourth electric power switch600.

It is thereby possible to apply the electric power to the ultraviolet LED204by turning the fourth electric power switch600into a closed state even when the first to third electric power switches207,208, and209are opened.

If the reagent storage door210is in the open state while the fourth electric power switch600is in the closed state, an effect of shielding the ultraviolet light by the shared reagent storage container110and the reagent storage door210cannot be obtained. There is a concern that a person responsible for the operation check to the ultraviolet LED204is continuously exposed to the ultraviolet light. This is because the ultraviolet light is out of a visible light range and it is difficult for the operator to recognize whether the ultraviolet light is emitted from the ultraviolet LED204.

To address the concern, according to the second embodiment, a material that discolors by exposure to the ultraviolet light is applied to a reagent storage room inner wall700of the reagent storage room where the shared reagent storage container110is accommodated.

FIG.7is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the material that discolors by exposure to the ultraviolet light is applied to the reagent storage room inner wall700. The sensitive material may be applied directly to the ultraviolet LED204.

The fourth electric power switch600is installed in the analyzer housing exterior211, the shared reagent storage container110is moved to an exterior of the reagent storage door210, the reagent storage door210is opened, the first to third electric power switches207,208, and209are opened, and the fourth electric power switch600is closed at a position at which the operator is not irradiated with the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet LED204. Subsequently, the fourth electric power switch600is opened and the supply of the electric power to the ultraviolet LED204is stopped. Even in this state, the person responsible for the operation check can check the irradiation from the ultraviolet LED204when the material that discolors by exposure to the ultraviolet light discolors.

It is, therefore, possible to avoid continuous exposure of the person responsible for the operation check to the ultraviolet light.

Furthermore, the analyzer100according to the second embodiment has a display section that indicates that irradiation of the analyzer housing interior212with the ultraviolet light is ongoing during execution of the irradiation with the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet LED204. Detection as to whether the irradiation with the ultraviolet light is ongoing can be performed by, for example, determining whether the electric power is delivered through the normal interconnection line205, the interconnection line601,602, or603.

FIG.8Ashows an example in which a display section803of the control section109in the analyzer100indicates whether irradiation with the ultraviolet light is ongoing (and an example in which the display section is disposed in the control section109serving as the analysis section), andFIG.8Bis a schematic perspective view of an example in which a display section800is provided on a side surface of the housing of the analyzer100. In addition,FIG.8Cshows an example of indicating whether the irradiation with the ultraviolet light is ongoing.

In the examples shown inFIGS.8A and8B, it is indicated in the display section800or803by a mark (circle)801shown inFIG.8Cthat the irradiation with the ultraviolet light is ongoing and it is indicated by a mark (crossbar)802shown inFIG.8Cthat the irradiation with the ultraviolet light is not ongoing.

As described above, indicating whether the irradiation with the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet irradiation section202is ongoing enables the operator to easily check whether or not the ultraviolet light is ongoing.

The analyzer100may be configured such that any one of or each of the display section803of the control section109and the display section800on the side surface of the housing of the analyzer100indicates whether the irradiation with the ultraviolet light is ongoing.

If a main body of the analyzer100and the control section109are disposed at positions apart from each other, indicating whether the irradiation with the ultraviolet light is ongoing in the two display sections803and800can ensure that the operator checks the irradiation situation.

Alternatively, not signs such as the indications801and802shown inFIG.8Cbut text representing content to the effect that the irradiation is ongoing or not ongoing may be indicated. In another alternative, the analyzer100may be configured such that an indication such as an indicator is lighted up or turned off.

The second embodiment produces not only similar effects to those of the first embodiment but also an effect that the operation check to the ultraviolet irradiation section202can be performed easily and safely.

While the embodiments described above relate to a case in which the present invention is applied to inhibiting the proliferation of microorganisms in the reagent within the shared reagent storage container110, the present invention is also applicable to inhibiting the proliferation of microorganisms in a liquid (liquid used in the analyzer such as a diluent, a detergent, a buffer solution, or a surface-active agent) using the ultraviolet light. In the latter case, the analyzer is configured such that the liquid is irradiated with the ultraviolet light in a state of storing the liquid in a liquid storage container.

For example, the present invention is also applicable to inhibiting the proliferation of microorganisms in a reagent and system water within a pipe connected to a reagent dispensing probe of either the reaction reagent dispensing mechanism105or the shared reagent dispensing mechanism107on an interface between the system water and the reagent. In this case, a switch or the like are installed for turning on the ultraviolet LED204when an upper cover covering the analyzer100is closed and turning off the ultraviolet LED204when the upper cover is opened. It is noted that the pipe can be also defined as the liquid storage container.

Furthermore, while the analyzer100includes the first electric power switch207, the second electric power switch208, and the third electric power switch209in the first embodiment described above, the analyzer according to the present invention may include at least the first electric power switch207that is opened or closed in accordance with opening or closing of the reagent storage door210.

An analyzer according to the present invention is configured to include: a liquid storage container (a reagent storage container110, a pipe connected to a probe of a reaction reagent dispensing mechanism105); an ultraviolet irradiation section202; a power supply206that supplies electric power to the ultraviolet irradiation section202; a liquid storage container storage room (a reagent storage room220) that stores the liquid storage container and the ultraviolet irradiation section202; a storage door (a reagent storage door210, an upper cover covering the analyzer100) that opens or closes the liquid storage container storage room220and that intercepts ultraviolet light; and a first electric power switch that supplies the electric power from the power supply206to the ultraviolet irradiation section202when the storage door is closed, and that stops supply of the electric power from the power supply206to the ultraviolet irradiation section202when the storage door is opened.