Patent Publication Number: US-2010119415-A1

Title: Dispensing device and automatic analyzer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of PCT international application Ser. No. PCT/JP2008/062913 filed on Jul. 17, 2008 which designates the United States, incorporated herein by reference, and which claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-191306, filed on Jul. 23, 2007, incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a dispensing device and an automatic analyzer that has the dispensing device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, an automatic analyzer has been known, in which a specimen such as blood or the like contained in a specimen vessel and a reagent contained in a reagent vessel are dispensed in a reaction vessel and reaction caused in the reaction vessel is optically measured to analyze the specimen. In such an automatic analyzer, a liquid surface detecting device that detects a liquid surface of the specimen vessel or the reaction vessel is used for accurately performing dispensing of the specimen or the reagent. For example, a technology is known in which air is discharged using an air nozzle and a liquid surface is detected based on the change in discharge pressure (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-254983). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A dispensing device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a probe that suctions and discharges liquid contained in a vessel; a probe control unit that moves the probe downward in a stepwise fashion by a predetermined amount by controlling a lowering operation of the probe to an inside of the vessel and controls a suction operation and a discharge operation of the probe in each step; a pressure detecting unit that detects a pressure in the probe; a suction-and-discharge-state judging unit that judges a suction state or a discharge state of the liquid by the probe based on a detection result by the pressure detecting unit; and a liquid-surface detecting unit that detects a liquid surface position of the liquid based on a lowering amount of the probe when the suction-and-discharge-state judging unit judges that the probe suctions the liquid or the probe discharges the liquid. 
     An automatic analyzer according to another aspect of the present invention includes the dispensing device, wherein liquid in a vessel is dispensed into a reaction vessel by the dispensing device, and a reaction liquid that is obtained by mixing and reacting different liquids in the reaction vessel is analyzed. 
     The above and other features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example internal configuration of an automatic analyzer; 
         FIG. 2  is an explanatory diagram explaining suction of a reagent by a reagent dispensing system; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram explaining a configuration of the reagent dispensing system; 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram explaining a liquid-surface detecting operation; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating one example of strength of a discharge pressure; and 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of each unit of the reagent dispensing system in the liquid-surface detecting operation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.  FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example internal configuration of an automatic analyzer  1  according to the present embodiment. The automatic analyzer  1  is an apparatus that performs an immunological test, such as an antigen-antibody reaction of a test blood, by using an immunological agglutination. The automatic analyzer  1  includes a sample-rack conveying unit  11 , a sample dispensing system  15 , a diluted-sample rack conveying unit  17 , a diluent dispensing system  21 , a diluted-sample dispensing system  23 , a plate conveying unit  25 , a reagent dispensing system  29 , a reagent containing unit  31 , a measuring unit  33 , and a plate collecting unit  35 . 
     The sample-rack conveying unit  11  conveys a sample rack  13 , which is arranged on a rack feeder  111 , under the control of a later-described control unit  4 . On the sample rack  13 , a plurality of sample vessels  131  containing samples (specimens) is mounted. The sample-rack conveying unit  11  sequentially moves the sample rack  13  to convey the sample vessels  131  to a predetermined sample suction position. Samples in the sample vessels  131  conveyed to the predetermined sample suction position are dispensed into diluted sample vessels  191  by the sample dispensing system  15 . 
     The sample dispensing system  15  includes a probe that performs suction and discharge of a sample. The sample dispensing system  15  suctions a sample in the sample vessel  131 , which is conveyed to the sample suction position, by the probe and transfers it to a predetermined sample discharge position under the control of the control unit  4 . At the sample discharge position, a diluted sample rack  19 , on which a plurality of the diluted sample vessels  191  is mounted, is placed. The sample dispensing system  15  performs dispensing by sequentially discharging the suctioned sample into each of the diluted sample vessels  191 . 
     The diluted-sample rack conveying unit  17  conveys the diluted sample rack  19  to a predetermined diluent dispensing position and subsequently conveys it to a predetermined diluted-sample suction position under the control of the control unit  4 . In each of the diluted sample vessels  191  on the diluted sample rack  19  conveyed to the diluent dispensing position, a diluent is dispensed by the diluent dispensing system  21 . Then, the diluted sample in each of the diluted sample vessels  191  on the diluted sample rack  19  conveyed to the diluted-sample suction position is transferred to a predetermined diluted-sample discharge position by the diluted-sample dispensing system  23 . 
     The diluent dispensing system  21  includes a plurality of probes that performs discharge of a diluent. The diluent dispensing system  21  dispenses a predetermined amount of a diluent by each probe into each of the diluted sample vessels  191  on the diluted sample rack  19  conveyed to the diluent dispensing position. 
     The diluted-sample dispensing system  23  includes a plurality of probes that performs suction and discharge of diluted samples. The diluted-sample dispensing system  23  suctions a diluted sample by each probe from each of the diluted sample vessels  191  on the diluted sample rack  19  conveyed to the diluted-sample suction position and transfers it to the diluted-sample discharge position under the control of the control unit  4 . At the diluted-sample discharge position, a microplate  27 , in which a plurality of reaction vessels  271  called “well” is arranged in a matrix manner, is placed. The diluted-sample dispensing system  23  performs dispensing by discharging each diluted sample into each of the reaction vessels  271  in the microplate  27 . 
     To dispense a diluted sample and a reagent into each of the reaction vessels  271  in the microplate  27  and to perform a measurement on a mixture of the diluted sample and the reagent in each of the reaction vessels  271 , the plate conveying unit  25  moves the microplate  27  at the diluted-sample discharge position to convey each of the reaction vessels  271  to a reagent discharge position. The plate conveying unit  25  subsequently conveys the microplate  27  to a measurement position under the control of the control unit  4 . In the reaction vessels  271  conveyed to the reagent discharge position, a reagent is dispensed by the reagent dispensing system  29 . 
     The reagent dispensing system  29  includes a probe unit  291  that includes a plurality of probes. Each probe performs suction and discharge of a reagent. The reagent dispensing system  29  suctions a reagent in each of reagent vessels  311  of the reagent containing unit  31  by each probe and transfers it to the reagent discharge position. The reagent dispensing system  29  discharges the reagent into the reaction vessels  271  in the microplate  27  conveyed to the reagent discharge position by the plate conveying unit  25  under the control of the control unit  4 . In the reagent containing unit  31 , a plurality of the reagent vessels  311  each containing a predetermined reagent that causes the antigen-antibody reaction with a sample is arranged and housed. 
       FIG. 2  is an explanatory diagram explaining suction of a reagent by the reagent dispensing system  29 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the probe unit  291  is configured such that a plurality of probes  293  arranged in a plurality of lines is fixed by a holder  295 . In the suction of a reagent, the probe unit  291  moves to an upper position of the reagent containing unit  31  to perform an elevating operation and causes each of the probes  293  to move up and down relative to the inside of the reagent vessels  311  below. The reagent vessels  311  of the same number as the probes  293  in the probe unit  291  are housed in the reagent containing unit  31 . Each of the reagent vessels  311  is housed in the reagent containing unit  31  such that the arrangement of an insertion opening  313 , into which the probe  293  of the probe unit  291  is inserted at the time of the reagent suction, corresponds to the alignment of each of the probes  293  of the probe unit  291 . Because each of the probes  293  suctions a reagent in the same reagent vessel  311 , contamination in the dispensing needs not be considered unless the reagent vessel  311  is replaced. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , a diluted sample is dispensed into each of the reaction vessels  271  in the microplate  27  by the diluted-sample dispensing system  23  and a reagent is dispensed into each of the reaction vessels  271  by the reagent dispensing system  29 . Upon completing the antigen-antibody reaction of the samples in the reaction vessels  271  after a necessary reaction time has passed, the microplate  27  is conveyed to the measurement position by the plate conveying unit  25 . With the antigen-antibody reaction, an agglutination reaction pattern is formed on the bottom surface of each of the reaction vessels  271 . 
     The measuring unit  33  includes an imaging unit  331 , such as a CCD camera, that is provided above the measurement position and images the microplate  27  conveyed to the measurement position from above. The measuring unit  33  also includes a light source  333  that is provided below the measurement position and irradiates each of the reaction vessels  271  of the microplate  27  with irradiation light. The imaging unit  331  images the agglutination reaction pattern formed on the bottom surface of each of the reaction vessels  271  by receiving light intensity transmitted through each of the reaction vessels  271 . The obtained measurement result (image information) is output to the control unit  4 . Typically, agglutination of a sample and a reagent is caused if the sample is positive and agglutination of a sample and a reagent is not caused if the sample is negative. 
     The plate collecting unit  35  collects the microplate  27 , of which measurement by the measuring unit  33  is finished. The collected microplate  27  is cleaned by a not-shown cleaning unit and is reused. Specifically, a mixture in each of the reaction vessels  271  is discharged and the microplate  27  is cleaned by discharge and suction of cleaning liquid such as detergent or cleaning water. The microplate  27  is wasted in some cases after finishing one measurement depending on the content of the test. 
     The automatic analyzer  1  includes the control unit  4  that performs the overall control of the operation of the entire apparatus by controlling each unit by performing an instruction of operation timing, data transfer, and the like to each unit included in the apparatus. The control unit  4  includes a microcomputer and the like incorporating a memory that stores therein various data necessary for the operation of the automatic analyzer  1  in addition to the analysis result. The control unit  4  is arranged at an appropriate position in the apparatus. The control unit  4  is connected to an analyzing unit  41  and outputs the measurement result by the measuring unit  33  to the analyzing unit  41 . The analyzing unit  41  analyzes the antigen-antibody reaction based on the measurement result by the measuring unit  33  and outputs the analysis result to the control unit  4 . For example, the analyzing unit  41  performs image processing on the image information obtained by the measuring unit  33  and detects and judges the agglutination reaction pattern formed on the bottom surface of each of the reaction vessels  271 . The control unit  4  is also connected to an input unit  43  that includes an input device, such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting information necessary for analysis including the number of samples and analytical items, and a display unit  45  that includes a display device, such as an LCD or an ELD for displaying an analysis result screen, a warning screen, an input screen for inputting various settings, and the like. 
     Next, the detailed configuration of the reagent dispensing system  29  is described. The reagent dispensing system  29  in the present embodiment, for example, performs a liquid-surface detecting operation for detecting a liquid-surface position of each of the reagent vessels  311  at the timing at which each of the reagent vessels  311  in the reagent containing unit  31  is replaced.  FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram explaining a configuration of the reagent dispensing system  29 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the reagent dispensing system  29  includes a probe driving unit  301 , pressure detecting units  303 , suction and discharge systems  305 , a memory  307 , and a dispensing-system control unit  309 . 
     The probe driving unit  301  moves the probe unit  291  including the probes  293  between the reagent discharge position and a position above the reagent containing unit  31  and moves each of the probes  293  up and down by performing the elevating operation of the probe unit  291 . 
     The pressure detecting unit  303  is provided near the base end portion of each of the probes  293  and detects the pressure change inside the probe  293  due to the contact of the tip portion of the probe  293  with a liquid surface of a reagent L contained in the reagent vessel  311 . The pressure detecting unit  303  includes a pressure sensor  303   a  that detects the pressure inside the probe  293 , an amplifier  303   b  that amplifies the output from the pressure sensor  303   a , and an A/D converter  303   c  that converts the output from the amplifier  303   b  into a digital signal. The output of the pressure sensor  303   a  is output to the dispensing-system control unit  309  via the A/D converter  303   c  after being amplified in the amplifier  303   b . The detection result by the pressure detecting unit  303  is used for detecting clogging of the probe  293  by judging a suction state by the probe  293  in addition to the liquid-surface detecting operation in the present embodiment. 
     The suction and discharge system  305  is connected to each of the probes  293  via the pressure sensor  303   a , and suctions and discharges the reagent L in the reagent vessel  311 . The suction and discharge system  305  includes a syringe  305   a  that has a cylinder and a piston and a syringe driving unit  305   b  that controls a suction and discharge operation by the syringe  305   a.    
     The memory  307  is realized by various IC memories such as a ROM, such as an flash memory capable of updating and storing, and a RAM, and stores therein various data necessary for the operation of the reagent dispensing system  29 . The memory  307  stores therein reagent data  307   a  storing a remaining amount of a reagent while correlated with a vessel ID of each of the reagent vessels  311  housed in the reagent containing unit  31 . 
     The dispensing-system control unit  309  includes a CPU and the like, and controls the operation of each unit included in the reagent dispensing system  29  under the control of the control unit  4 . The dispensing-system control unit  309  controls the probe driving unit  301  to control the movement and the elevating operation of the probe unit  291 . The dispensing-system control unit  309  controls each of the syringe driving units  305   b  to cause the corresponding syringe  305   a  to perform the suction and discharge operation and causes each of the probes  293  to suction and discharge the reagent L in the reagent vessel  311 , thereby dispensing the reagent in each of the reaction vessels  271  of the microplate  27 . At this time, the dispensing-system control unit  309  moves the probe unit  291  downward so that the tip of each of the probes  293  is positioned near the bottom surface of the reagent vessel  311  and performs the suction of the reagent L. Then, the dispensing-system control unit  309  newly calculates a remaining amount in each of the reagent vessels  311  by subtracting an amount of suctioned reagent from the remaining amount of each of the reagent vessels  311  stored in the reagent data  307   a , and updates the reagent data  307   a.    
     The dispensing-system control unit  309  includes a liquid-surface detection processing unit  309   a  that detects the liquid-surface position of the reagent L in the reagent vessels  311  and a probe control unit  309   b  that controls the elevating operation of the probe unit  291  by the probe driving unit  301  in the liquid-surface detecting operation and also controls the suction operation and the discharge operation of the probes by the syringe driving units  305   b.    
       FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram explaining the liquid-surface detecting operation according to the present embodiment. In the liquid-surface detecting operation in the present embodiment, first, as shown in (a) in  FIG. 4 , the tip of the probe  293  is inserted into the reagent vessel  311  by the lowering operation of the probe unit  291  to move to an initial position. The initial position is set in advance based on an approximate height of the liquid surface of a reagent contained in the reagent vessel  311  before unsealed. Then, the probe  293  performs the suction operation by the suction and discharge operation of the syringe  305   a . At this time, the probe  293  suctions the air when the tip thereof is not in contact with the liquid surface and suctions the reagent when the tip thereof is in contact with the liquid surface. 
     Next, as shown in (b) in  FIG. 4 , the tip of the probe  293  moves upward by a predetermined amount d by the rising operation of the probe unit  291 . Then, the probe  293  performs the discharge operation by the suction and discharge operation of the syringe  305   a , and the discharge state of the reagent is judged by detecting the discharge pressure of the probe  293  at this time. In other words, when the tip of the probe  293  is not in contact with the liquid surface of the reagent at the initial position in (a) in  FIG. 4 , only the air is discharged by the discharge operation in (b) in  FIG. 4 . In contrast, when the tip of the probe  293  is in contact with the liquid surface of the reagent at the initial position in (a) in  FIG. 4  and the regent is suctioned by the suction operation, the reagent is discharged by the discharge operation in (b) in  FIG. 4 , so that the change in the discharge pressure in the probe  293  is different from the case of discharging only the air.  FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating one example of strength of the discharge pressure when a reagent is discharged and strength of the discharge pressure when only the air is discharged, in which the change in the discharge pressure when the reagent is discharged is denoted by a solid line, and the change in the discharge pressure when only the air is discharged is denoted by a dashed-dotted line. The discharge condition (presence or absence of discharge) of a reagent by the probe  293  can be judged based on the difference of the change in the discharge pressure. 
     The downward movement and the suction operation of the probe  293  and the upward movement and the discharge operation of the probe  293  are repeated little by little until the probe  293  discharges a reagent, and detects the liquid surface position while moving the probe  293  downward in a stepwise fashion by the predetermined amount d. As shown in (c) in  FIG. 4 , the tip of the probe  293  moves downward to the position lower than the last suction position ((a) in  FIG. 4 ) by the predetermined amount d by the lowering operation of the probe unit  291 , and the probe  293  performs the suction operation by the suction and discharge operation of the syringe  305   a . Next, as shown in (d) in  FIG. 4 , the tip of the probe  293  moves upward by the predetermined amount d by the rising operation of the probe unit  291  and the probe  293  performs the discharge operation by the suction and discharge operation of the syringe  305   a . If the probe  293  does not discharge the reagent at the time of this discharge operation, as shown in (e) in  FIG. 4 , the tip of the probe  293  is further moved downward to the position lower than the last suction position ((c) in FIG.  4 ) by the predetermined amount d and the probe  293  performs the suction operation. Next, as shown in (f) in  FIG. 4 , the tip of the probe  293  moves upward by the predetermined amount d and the probe  293  performs the discharge operation. If the probe  293  discharges the reagent at the time of the discharge operation, the tip position of the probe  293  at the time of the suction operation is detected as the liquid surface position of the reagent. 
     The rising operation of the probe unit  291  is performed before the discharge operation in order to always perform the discharge operation of the probe  293  in the air. The discharge pressure is different between the case of performing the discharge operation in the state where the tip of the probe  293  is in contact with the liquid surface and a case of performing the discharge operation in the air, so that the detection accuracy of the liquid surface detection can be kept constant by moving the tip of the probe  293  to the air in this manner. The probe  293  is not necessarily required to be moved upward by performing the rising operation of the probe unit  291 ; however, it is preferable because the detection accuracy of the liquid surface detection can be maintained to the detection accuracy in the discharge detection during analyzing. The lowering amount and the rising amount of the probe  293  need not be the same. 
     Next, the control procedure of the dispensing-system control unit  309  in the liquid-surface detecting operation by the reagent dispensing system  29  is explained.  FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of each unit of the reagent dispensing system  29  in the liquid-surface detecting operation. First, the probe control unit  309   b  controls the probe driving unit  301  to perform the lowering operation of the probe unit  291  to thereby insert the tip of each of the probes  293  to the initial position in the reagent vessel  311  (Step S 11 ). Then, the probe control unit  309   b  controls the syringe driving unit  305   b  of each of the suction and discharge systems  305  to cause each of the probes  293  to perform the suction operation (Step S 13 ). 
     Next, the probe control unit  309   b  controls the probe driving unit  301  to perform the rising operation of the probe unit  291  to thereby move the tip of each of the probes  293  upward by a predetermined amount (Step S 15 ). Then, the probe control unit  309   b  controls the syringe driving unit  305   b  of each of the suction and discharge systems  305  to cause each of the probes  293  to perform the discharge operation (Step S 17 ). 
     Next, the liquid-surface detection processing unit  309   a  detects the change in the discharge pressure in each of the probes  293  based on the detection result input from the pressure detecting unit  303  of each of the probes  293  at the time of the discharge operation at Step S 17 , and judges the discharge condition of a reagent (Step S 19 ). When it is judged that the reagent is discharged from any of the probes based on the change in the discharge pressure of each of the probes  293  at the time of the discharge operation (Yes at Step S 21 ), the liquid-surface detection processing unit  309   a  proceeds to Step S 25 . In contrast, when it is judged that the reagent is not discharged from any of the probes  293  (No at Step S 21 ), the liquid-surface detection processing unit  309   a  proceeds to Step S 23 . Then, the probe control unit  309   b  controls the probe driving unit  301  to perform the lowering operation of the probe unit  291  to thereby move the tip of each of the probes  293  downward to the position lower than the last suction position by a predetermined amount, and returns to Step S 13 . 
     At Step S 25 , the liquid-surface detection processing unit  309   a  detects the liquid surface position of the reagent based on the lowering amount of the tip position of the probe  293  from the initial position when it is judged that the reagent is discharged, i.e., the lowering amount of the probe unit  291  from the initial position. Then, the liquid-surface detection processing unit  309   a  determines the liquid amount of the reagent in the reagent vessel  311  from the height of the liquid surface of the detected reagent and stores it in the reagent data  307   a  of the memory  307  while correlating it with the vessel ID thereof (Step S 27 ). 
     When all of the probes  293  discharge the reagent and the liquid amount of the reagent is determined for all of the reagent vessels  311  in the reagent containing unit  31  (Yes at Step S 29 ), the process ends. In contrast, when there is the probe  293  that has not discharged the reagent (No at Step S 29 ), the system control proceeds to Step S 23 . In the process after proceeding to Step S 23 , the dispensing-system control unit  309  does not control the syringe driving units  305   b  of the suction and discharge systems  305  for the probes  293  that are judged to have already discharged the reagent at Step S 19  and does not cause the probes  293  to perform the suction operation and the discharge operation. 
     As explained above, according to the present embodiment, the probes are moved downward in a stepwise fashion by a predetermined amount and the probes are caused to perform the suction operation and the discharge operation to judge the discharge condition of a reagent based on the change in the discharge pressure in the probes, thereby enabling to detect the liquid surface position of the reagent. It is possible to use a pressure sensor to detect the change in the discharge pressure in the probes, which is conventionally provided in a reagent dispensing system for detecting whether suction and discharge of the reagent by the probes are normally performed and detecting clogging of the probes. Accordingly, it is not needed to provide devices such as an air nozzle that is conventionally needed for detecting the liquid surface, a pump for supplying air to the air nozzle, and the like. Thus, detection of the liquid surface position can be achieved with a simple configuration without increasing the cost of the device. 
     Incidentally, a liquid-surface detecting device that detects the liquid surface position by detecting the change in capacitance of the liquid surface in a vessel is conventionally known, which is useful because of the low contamination of a reagent. However, in the configuration in which a plurality of probes arranged close to each other performs suction and discharge simultaneously as in the reagent dispensing system in the present embodiment, liquid-surface detection signals of the change in capacitance interfere between adjacent probes, and therefore it is impossible to detect the liquid surface position stably. On the contrary, in the present embodiment, the liquid surface position can be detected based on whether each probe discharges a reagent, so that interference of liquid surface detection signals does not need to be considered even with the configuration in which a plurality of probes performs suction and discharge simultaneously, and detection of the liquid surface position can be achieved with a simple configuration. 
     In the above embodiment, the liquid surface position is detected by detecting the change in pressure in the probe at the time of the discharge operation and judging the discharge condition of a reagent; however, the configuration can be such that the discharge condition (presence or absence) of a reagent is judged based on the change in pressure in the probe at the time of the suction operation, and the liquid surface position of the reagent can be detected based on the lowering amount of the probe when it is judged that the probe suctions the reagent. 
     In the above embodiment, it is explained that the reagent dispensing system has a configuration including a plurality of probes; however, the number of probes included in the reagent dispensing system can be one, with which the liquid surface position can be detected in the similar manner. 
     Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the liquid-surface detecting operation for detecting the liquid surface position of each of the reagent vessels  311  is performed at the timing at which each of the reagent vessels  311  in the reagent containing unit  31  is replaced; however, it is also possible to perform the liquid-surface detecting operation on each of the reagent vessels  311  before the analysis process and detect a remaining amount of a reagent. Moreover, it is also possible to judge the number of samples that can be analyzed based on the liquid amount of a reagent in reagent vessels detected by the liquid-surface detecting operation and cause the display unit  45  to display it to a user. 
     Moreover, the automatic analyzer in the present invention is not limited to an apparatus that performs the immunological test, and can be applied to an automatic analyzer that performs a biochemical analysis of a specimen, a blood transfusion test, or the like in the similar manner. 
     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.