Patent Publication Number: US-2012039748-A1

Title: Automatic analysis apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an automatic analysis apparatus that automatically analyzes components of blood and others, and more particularly relates to techniques effectively applied to an apparatus which carries out a plurality of test items such as a biochemical test, an immunoserological test and a blood coagulation test. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, the efficiency of clinical test has been bad because tests such as an immunoserological test and a blood coagulation test are separately carried out in respectively dedicated apparatuses and it has been required to carry out a plurality of tasks such as moving specimens between the apparatuses, setting the specimens to the apparatuses, operations for requesting analysis, and summarizing output results. Therefore, laborsaving of the tests and speeding-up of test reports by carrying out the series of tests more efficiently and downsizing by integration of the test apparatuses have been desired. 
     There is known an apparatus configured to be able to carry out a plurality of test items such as a biochemical test, an immunoserological test and a blood coagulation test in the same apparatus in consideration of these demands. Also in such an apparatus, proposals for further simplifying the configuration thereof have been made, and for example, Patent Document 1 has proposed an apparatus made up of a first test mechanism which carries out biochemical and immunoserological tests and a second test mechanism which carries out an immunological coagulation test. Patent Document 2 has proposed a test method in which many reaction containers are sequentially moved by a container-by-container moving operation and light intensity is calculated in reciprocating operation at the photometric intervals in accordance with each sample. 
     Moreover, in the clinical test, various pretreatments such as specimen (sample) dilution, hemolysis of HbA1c and B/F separation of antigen-antibody reactions in an immunoserological test are required. Since the pretreatment is carried out in a dedicated machine of each test in many cases, in order to carry out pretreatment and analysis in one apparatus, mutually-independent dedicated machines are connected by a specimen rack conveyance line and operated like in, for example, a modular method. The modular method can connect various dedicated machines almost freely and is excellent in terms of readiness to handle analysis varieties and processing ability, but on the other hand, the method has problems such as increase in the size of the apparatus and increase in the apparatus price. 
     Therefore, a pretreatment disk which commonly carries out the pretreatments of the tests is convenient for carrying out such various analyses in one apparatus. However, if reaction disks for respective test items are present in addition to the pretreatment disk, there is a problem that the size of the apparatus is increased. 
     In consideration of such problems, recently, an apparatus provided with a multi-purpose disk which can not only carry out a plurality of test items but also carry out the pretreatment with a reaction disk for performing the reactions between samples and reagents is commercially sold. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-13151 
         Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-27639 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, in both of the proposals of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the pretreatment is carried out by a different apparatus, and the apparatus configuration including the pretreatment cannot be simplified. 
     Also, in the above-described apparatus provided with the multi-purpose disk which is recently commercially sold, disposable containers are used in both a single-use fashion and a reusing fashion. Therefore, when used in a reusing fashion, there is a problem that the surface accuracy of a light projection surface in highly accurate colorimetric analysis becomes insufficient, and when used in a single-use fashion, there is a problem that cost is increased by the degree corresponding to the processing performed for improving the surface accuracy so that the container can be reused. 
     Herein, although there is an apparatus which carries out the pretreatment with a reused reaction container of a reaction disk for a biochemical test, the apparatus cannot handle a plurality of test items. 
     Therefore, it has been desired that a multi-purpose disk of an apparatus which handles a plurality of test items is provided with high-accuracy containers to be cleaned and reused and low-cost disposable containers. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analysis apparatus capable of testing a plurality of items with high accuracy and at low cost without increasing the size of the apparatus. 
     The above and other objects and novel characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     The following is a brief description of an outline of the typical invention disclosed in the present application. 
     An automatic analysis apparatus according to the present invention is an automatic analysis apparatus including: containers for carrying out a reaction between a sample and a reagent and/or pretreatment of the sample by pretreatment liquid; a disk for the reaction and the pretreatment, on which the containers are disposed; a sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing the sample into the container; and a test mechanism for carrying out a plurality of items based on the reaction, and a fixed container fixed to the disk for the reaction and the pretreatment and a disposable container detachably provided on the disk for the reaction and the pretreatment are disposed as the containers on the disk for the reaction and the pretreatment. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     The effects obtained by typical embodiments of the invention disclosed in the present application will be briefly described below. 
     That is, since fixed containers and detachably-provided disposable containers are disposed on a disk for reaction and pretreatment of an automatic analysis apparatus having mechanisms for carrying out a plurality of test items, the containers to be used can be selected in accordance with the test items in such a manner that the fixed containers are used as high-accuracy containers to be cleaned and reused and the disposable containers are used as low-cost disposable containers. Accordingly, the plurality of test items can be carried out with high accuracy and at low cost without increasing the size of the apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view showing an outline of an embodiment of an automatic analysis apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a drawing showing the flows of samples, pretreatment liquid, reagents and disposable containers in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flows of operations in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3B  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flows of operations in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3C  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flows of operations in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flows of operations in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4B  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flows of operations in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4C  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flows of operations in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5A  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flows of operations in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5B  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flows of operations in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5C  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flows of operations in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic plan view showing an outline of an embodiment of an automatic analysis apparatus to which a different sample dispensing mechanism is applied; 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory drawing for describing a basic cycle of a common disk; 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory drawing for describing a rotating operation of the common disk in A-cycles; 
         FIG. 9A  is an explanatory drawing for describing rotating operations of the common disk in B-cycles; 
         FIG. 9B  is an explanatory drawing for describing rotating operations of the common disk in B-cycles; 
         FIG. 10A  is an explanatory drawing for describing an example of operations in the case of the shortest cycle with the basic cycle of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10B  is an explanatory drawing for describing an example of operations in the case of the shortest cycle with the basic cycle of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10C  is an explanatory drawing for describing an example of operations in the case of the shortest cycle with the basic cycle of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10D  is an explanatory drawing for describing an example of operations in the case of the shortest cycle with the basic cycle of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a drawing showing an example of the rotating operation of the common disk in the case in which 20 containers are disposed; 
         FIG. 12  is a drawing showing an example of the rotating operation of the common disk in the case in which 20 containers are disposed; 
         FIG. 13  is a drawing showing an example of the rotating operation of the common disk in the case in which 20 containers are disposed; 
         FIG. 14A  is a main-part side view showing a main part of a sample dispensing probe in the case in which it is used with cleaning; 
         FIG. 14B  is a main-part side view showing a main part of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which a disposable chip is used; 
         FIG. 15A  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which it is used with cleaning; 
         FIG. 15B  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which it is used with cleaning; 
         FIG. 15C  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which it is used with cleaning; 
         FIG. 15D  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which it is used with cleaning; 
         FIG. 15E  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which it is used with cleaning; 
         FIG. 15F  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which it is used with cleaning; 
         FIG. 15G  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which it is used with cleaning; 
         FIG. 15H  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which it is used with cleaning; 
         FIG. 16A  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used; 
         FIG. 16B  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used; 
         FIG. 16C  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used; 
         FIG. 16D  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used; 
         FIG. 16E  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used; 
         FIG. 16F  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used; 
         FIG. 16G  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used; 
         FIG. 16H  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used; 
         FIG. 17A  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used; 
         FIG. 17B  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used; and 
         FIG. 17C  is an explanatory drawing for describing the flow of the operations of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiments, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted as much as possible. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view showing an outline of an embodiment of an automatic analysis apparatus of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a drawing showing the flows of samples, pretreatment liquid, reagents, and disposable containers in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , illustration of sample dispensing mechanisms is intentionally omitted in order to facilitate understanding. Also, illustration of a control unit, a display unit, an input unit and a memory unit is also intentionally omitted in all of the drawings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the automatic analysis apparatus  1  is provided with: a sample disk  10 ; a common disk (disk for reaction and pretreatment)  20 ; a biochemical-test reagent disk  30 ; flow analysis mechanisms  40   a  and  40   b  serving as mechanisms for carrying out a plurality of test items; a pretreatment liquid and flow analysis reagent container storage unit (hereinafter, pretreatment liquid container storage unit)  50 ; and a disposable container storage unit  60 . 
     In the sample disk  10 , sample containers  11  retaining samples are disposed on the outer circumferential  10   a  side and on the center  10   b  side at predetermined intervals. 
     The common disk  20  is provided on a lateral side of the sample disk  10  and is configured to carry out both the reactions between samples and reagents and the pretreatment of the samples by the pretreatment liquid. Note that “pretreatment” described in the present invention includes dilution of a sample. 
     The common disk  20  is provided with, on the outer circumferential  20   a  side, a photometric mechanism (test mechanism)  70  for biochemical tests serving as one of test mechanisms for a plurality of items, a container cleaning mechanism  80 , and though not shown in the drawing, an agitating mechanism which agitates the sample with the pretreatment liquid or the reagent. The photometric mechanism  70  includes a light source which delivers analysis light for analyzing the reaction liquid in the containers, a detector which disperses and detects the analysis light transmitted through the reaction liquid and others though not shown. The photometric mechanism  70  may be used for the test items other than those of biochemical. 
     Along the circumferential direction of the common disk  20 , fixed containers  21  fixed to the common disk  20  and disposable containers  22  which are detachably provided are alternately disposed. The fixed containers  21  are reused through cleaning by the container cleaning mechanism  80 , and the disposable containers  22  are discarded after use. 
     Publicly-known containers having high surface accuracy so as to support the calorimetric analysis can be used as the fixed containers  21 , and publicly-known containers can also be used as the disposable containers  22 . In the example shown in the drawings, the fixed containers  21  and the disposable containers  22  are alternately disposed from the viewpoint for facilitating control. However, they are only required to be regularly disposed, for example, the disposable container  22  is disposed for every two containers. Also, the number of the disposed containers can be arbitrarily increased/decreased in accordance with needs. 
     On the inner circumferential  20   b  side of the common disk  20 , the biochemical-test reagent disk  30  is provided. In the biochemical-test reagent disk  30 , biochemical-test reagent cassettes  31  each of which retains a first reagent and a second reagent for biochemical tests in one container are disposed along the circumferential direction. By virtue of this, the need for separately storing the first reagent and the second reagent is eliminated. However, the first reagent and the second reagent may be separately retained by containers such as test tubes. Also, the biochemical-test reagent disk  30  may be provided at a different position in the automatic analysis apparatus  1 . Furthermore, the biochemical-test reagent disk  30  and the biochemical-test reagent cassettes  31  may retain a reagent for a different test item. 
     The flow analysis mechanisms  40   a  and  40   b , the pretreatment liquid container storage unit  50  and the disposable container storage unit  60  are provided on the front side of the apparatus compared with the common disk  20 . 
     The flow analysis mechanisms  40   a  and  40   b  are capable of arbitrarily selecting and carrying out publicly-known tests as flow analysis such as an immunoserological test, a blood coagulation test, and an electrolyte test in accordance with requested items. The number of the flow analysis mechanisms may be arbitrarily increased, reduced or eliminated in accordance with requested items, and by this means, the apparatus can be further downsized. 
     As a matter of course, a container  51  stored in the pretreatment liquid container storage unit  50  retains pretreatment liquid when pretreatment is to be carried out and retains a corresponding flow analysis reagent when flow analysis is to be carried out. 
     The disposable containers  22  stored in the disposable container storage unit  60  can be arbitrarily exchanged with the disposable containers  22  of the common disk  20  by a disposable container transporting mechanism (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     As described above, in the automatic analysis apparatus  1 , as shown by arrows L 1  to L 4  shown in  FIG. 2 , the flows of dispensing the samples, reagents and pretreatment liquid from the containers of the sample disk  10 , the biochemical-test reagent disk  30  and the pretreatment liquid container storage unit  50  to the fixed containers  21  or the disposable containers  22  of the common disk  20  are formed. Moreover, the flow of transportation of the disposable containers  22  from the disposable container storage unit  60  to the common disk  20  is formed. 
     Subsequently, the flow of the operation of the automatic analysis apparatus  1  will be described with taking the case in which pretreatment is required in a biochemical test as an example.  FIGS. 3A to 3C ,  FIGS. 4A to 4C , and  FIGS. 5A to 5C  are explanatory drawings for describing the flow of the operation in the automatic analysis apparatus of  FIG. 1  in this order. 
     First of all, as shown in  FIG. 3A , the actual automatic analysis apparatus  1  is further provided with a sample dispensing mechanism  15 , a first reagent dispensing mechanism  35 , a second reagent dispensing mechanism  45  and a disposable container transporting mechanism  65 . 
     The sample dispensing mechanism  15  is a so-called XY-rail type dispensing mechanism provided with a sample dispensing arm  16 , a horizontal rail (first guide member)  17  provided along the width direction of the apparatus, in other words, the horizontal direction (first direction) and a perpendicular rail (second guide member)  18  provided along the depth direction of the apparatus (second direction orthogonal to the first direction). Therefore, the sample dispensing mechanism  15  is capable of arbitrarily approaching the container at any position on the common disk  20  and dispensing a sample thereat. Note that the state of being orthogonal to the horizontal direction is expressed as “perpendicular” herein. 
     The horizontal rail  17  is provided from the sample disk  10  to the common disk  20  in the rear end of the apparatus. The perpendicular rail  18  is attached so as to extend from the horizontal rail  17  toward the inner side of the apparatus and slides on the horizontal rail  17 . The sample dispensing arm  16  is attached to the perpendicular rail  18  and slides on the perpendicular rail  18 . In other words, the horizontal movement of the sample dispensing arm  16  is guided by the horizontal rail  17  via the perpendicular rail  18 , and the depth-direction movement of the arm is directly guided by the perpendicular rail  18 . 
     The first reagent dispensing mechanism  35 , the second reagent dispensing mechanism  45  and the disposable container transporting mechanism  65  are all XY-rail type dispensing mechanisms like the sample dispensing mechanism  15 . 
     The first reagent dispensing mechanism  35  is made up of a first reagent dispensing arm  36 , perpendicular rails  37   a  and  37   b  provided at both ends in the horizontal direction so as to interpose the common disk  20  therebetween and a horizontal rail  38  installed between the perpendicular rails  37   a  and  37   b . The horizontal rail  38  slides on the perpendicular rails  37   a  and  37   b , and the first reagent dispensing arm  36  slides on the horizontal rail  38 . The perpendicular rail  37   b  is formed to be longer toward the front side of the apparatus than the perpendicular rail  37   a  because the rail  37   b  is shared with the disposable container transporting mechanism  65 . 
     The second reagent dispensing mechanism  45  shares the perpendicular rails  37   a  and  37   b  with the first reagent dispensing mechanism  35  and is provided with a second reagent dispensing arm  46  and a horizontal rail  48  installed between the perpendicular rails  37   a  and  37   b . Also, like the first reagent dispensing mechanism  35 , the horizontal rail  48  slides on the perpendicular rails  37   a  and  37   b , and the second reagent dispensing arm  46  slides on the horizontal rail  48 . The second reagent dispensing mechanism  45  is configured to function also as a pretreatment liquid dispensing mechanism, and by this means, the apparatus can be further downsized. 
     The disposable container transporting mechanism  65  is provided with a container holding arm  66 , which holds the disposable container  22  at the distal end thereof, and a horizontal rail  68  attached so as to extend from the perpendicular rail  37   b . The horizontal rail  68  slides on the perpendicular rail  37   b , and the container holding arm  66  slides on the horizontal rail  68 . 
     In the automatic analysis apparatus  1  provided with these mechanisms, when a biochemical test which requires pretreatment is started, the sample dispensing arm  16  of the sample dispensing mechanism  15  is moved to above the sample container  11  of the sample disk  10  by the horizontal rail  17  and the perpendicular rail  18  and sucks a sample in the sample container  11 . 
     After the sample suction, as shown in  FIG. 3B , the sample dispensing arm  16  is moved to above the disposable container  22  of the common disk  20  and discharges the sample into the disposable container  22 . 
     After the sample discharge, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the common disk  20  rotates clockwise (see an arrow in the drawing) to move the sample (at the black-colored positions in the drawing, and both of the positions before the movement and after the movement are colored in black in order to facilitate understanding). Also, the second reagent dispensing arm  46  of the second reagent dispensing mechanism  45  is moved to above the container  51  of the pretreatment liquid container storage unit  50  by the perpendicular rails  37   a  and  37   b  and the horizontal rail  48  and sucks pretreatment liquid in the container  51 . 
     After the sample movement and the pretreatment liquid suction, as shown in  FIG. 4A , the second reagent dispensing arm  46  is moved to above the disposable container  22  containing the sample of the common disk  20  and discharges the pretreatment liquid into the disposable container  22 . 
     After the pretreatment liquid discharge, when the pretreatment is finished, as shown in  FIG. 4B , the common disk  20  rotates clockwise (see an arrow in the drawing) to move the pretreated sample. In the example shown in the drawings, the second reagent dispensing mechanism  45  is moved toward the flow analysis mechanism  40   a.    
     After the pretreated sample is moved, as shown in  FIG. 4C , the sample dispensing arm  16  is moved to above the disposable container  22  containing the pretreated sample and sucks the pretreated sample in the disposable container  22 . 
     After the pretreated sample is sucked, as shown in  FIG. 5A , the sample dispensing arm  16  is moved to above the fixed container  21 , which is next to the disposable container  22  containing pretreated sample in the counterclockwise direction, and discharges the pretreated sample into the fixed container  21 . 
     After the pretreated sample is discharged, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the common disk  20  rotates clockwise (see an arrow in the drawing) to move the pretreated sample of the fixed container  21  (the black-colored positions in the drawing, and both of the positions before the movement and after the movement are colored in black in order to facilitate understanding). 
     Also, the first reagent dispensing arm  36  of the first reagent dispensing mechanism  35  is moved to above the biochemical-test reagent cassette  31  of the biochemical-test reagent disk  30  by the perpendicular rails  37   a  and  37   b  and the horizontal rail  38  and sucks the first reagent in the biochemical-test reagent cassette  31 . The first reagent dispensing arm  36  sucks the first reagent from the biochemical-test reagent cassette  31  opposed to the fixed container  21  containing the pretreated sample via the edge of the inner circumference  20   b  of the common disk  20  in order to reduce the moving distance thereof. 
     After the pretreated sample movement and the first reagent suction, as shown in  FIG. 5C , the first reagent dispensing arm  36  is moved to above the fixed container  21  containing the pretreated sample and discharges the first reagent into the fixed container  21 . After the first reagent is discharged, as shown in the drawing, the second reagent dispensing arm  46  is moved to above the biochemical-test reagent cassette  31  in accordance with needs. 
     After the second reagent dispensing arm  46  is moved, though not shown, the arm sucks the second reagent, is then moved to above the fixed container  21  containing the pretreated sample and the first reagent, and discharges the second reagent into the fixed container  21 . Note that the dispensing of the second reagent is carried out normally when about five minutes have elapsed after the discharge of the first reagent. 
     The reaction liquid after the above-described reaction between the sample and the first reagent and, in accordance with needs, the second reagent is moved to the photometric mechanism  70  by the rotation of the common disk  20 , and the reaction liquid is analyzed. After the analysis is finished, the fixed container  21  is cleaned by the container cleaning mechanism  80 . Meanwhile, the disposable container  22  is transported to the disposable container storage unit  60  by the container holding arm  66  of the disposable container transporting mechanism  65  and then discarded thereto. 
     In the case in which the pretreatment is sample dilution, there is no risk of contamination between samples, and therefore, the sample may be dispensed into the fixed container  21  from the beginning. 
     In the biochemical test that does not need pretreatment, operation approximately similar to that of the biochemical test that needs pretreatment is carried out except that the sample is discharged into the fixed container  21  instead of the disposable container  22  in  FIG. 3B  and the operations shown in  FIG. 3C  to  FIG. 5A  are not carried out. 
     The flow analysis in an immunoserological test and the like is similar to the biochemical test that needs pretreatment except that a flow reagent is dispensed instead of the pretreatment liquid in the operations of  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 4A . Then, after the reaction between the sample and the flow reagent, the reaction liquid is sucked by the flow analysis mechanisms  40   a  and  40   b.    
     In the automatic analysis apparatus  1 , the sample dispensing mechanism  15  may employ another publicly-known mechanism as long as the mechanism is capable of arbitrarily approaching the container at any position on the common disk  20  and dispensing the sample thereinto.  FIG. 6  is a schematic plan view showing an outline of an embodiment of an automatic analysis apparatus to which another sample dispensing mechanism is applied. 
     The sample dispensing mechanism  25  shown in  FIG. 6  is a multi-joint arm, which is provided with a rotation shaft  25   a  at the center of the common disk  20  and has a first joint  25   b  and a second joint  25   c  sequentially from the distal end thereof. More specifically, the sample dispensing mechanism  25  is capable of approaching an arbitrary container to dispense a sample because the first joint  25   b  is extended/contracted with using a joined part  25   d  between the first joint  25   b  and the second joint  25   c  as a rotation axis, and the second joint  25   c  rotates about the rotation shaft  25   a . In the automatic analysis apparatus  1  of the present invention, it is preferred that the sample dispensing mechanism  15  shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5  and the sample dispensing mechanism  25  shown in  FIG. 6  are applied from the viewpoint of control easiness. 
     In the example shown in the drawings, the second reagent dispensing mechanism  45  also serves as a pretreatment liquid dispensing mechanism in the automatic analysis apparatus  1 . However, the automatic analysis apparatus  1  is not limited thereto, and the first reagent dispensing mechanism  35  may also serve as a pretreatment liquid dispensing mechanism, or both of the reagent dispensing mechanisms may also serve as pretreatment liquid dispensing mechanisms arbitrarily. 
     Subsequently, the rotating operation of the common disk  20  in the case in which pretreatment is carried out will be described.  FIG. 7  is an explanatory drawing for describing a basic cycle of the common disk,  FIG. 8  is an explanatory drawing for describing the rotating operation of the common disk in A-cycles, and  FIGS. 9A and 9B  are explanatory drawings for describing the rotating operation of the common disk in B-cycles.  FIGS. 10A to 10D  are explanatory drawings for describing an example of the operation in the case of the shortest cycle with the basic cycle of  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 11  to  FIG. 13  are drawings showing examples of the rotating operation of the common disk in the case in which 20 containers are disposed. In  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIGS. 11 to 13 , the disposition of the common disk is arbitrarily omitted or changed intentionally in order to facilitate understanding. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , in the operation of the common disk, the A-cycles of carrying out a pretreatment operation and the B-cycles of carrying out a re-sampling (pretreated sample dispensing) operation to an analysis unit are combined to provide the basic cycle. Each of the A-cycles and the B-cycles is independently controlled, but by making the cycle times thereof equal to each other, the operation timing of pretreatment and the operation timing to the analysis unit are standardized. In the example of  FIG. 7 , the two B-cycles are provided after the A-cycle, but the number of the B-cycles after the A-cycle may be arbitrarily changed in accordance with test items, the number of samples and others. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , in the A-cycles, each of sampling (sample dispensing), pretreatment liquid dispensing, agitating and cleaning is carried out in one cycle, respectively. The common disk  20  rotates regularly in one direction by a step serving as a common factor of the number obtained by adding one to the number of disposed containers such as that corresponding to N units of the disposable containers. 
     The B-cycle is operated at the point when the series of operations of the pretreatment up to the agitating in the A cycles is finished and the sample to be re-sampled is prepared. As shown in  FIG. 9 , in the B-cycle, no matter where the container to be subjected to re-sampling next is at any position on the common disk  20 , the container is moved to a re-sampling position. The moving distance in this case is arbitrary, but the common disk  20  is configured to be able to select any of the clockwise rotation shown in  FIG. 9A  and the counterclockwise rotation shown in  FIG. 9B  so that the moving distance and time can be shortened. 
     In the case in which an untouched period or heating for a certain period of time is not required in the pretreatment, for example, the common disk is operated with respect to samples in the procedure as shown in  FIGS. 10A to 10D . 
     First, as shown in  FIG. 10A , in the first A-cycle, the disposable container for sampling a first sample (sample  1 ) is set, and in the next A-cycle, the sample  1  is sampled. 
     In the third A-cycle, the pretreatment liquid is dispensed into the sample  1 , and as shown in  FIG. 10B , the disposable container for sampling a sample  2  subsequent to the sample  1  is set. In the second A-cycle, the disposable container is not set because the fixed container is at a container setting position. 
     In the fourth A-cycle, the sample  1  is agitated, and the sample  2  is sampled. Also, the sample  1  is re-sampled in the two B-cycles subsequent to the A-cycle. Then, since there are six biochemical test items in the example shown in the drawings, re-sampling is carried out also in the two B-cycles of the next basic cycle and the basic cycle after the next basic cycle. 
     In the fifth A-cycle, the pretreatment liquid is dispensed into the sample  2 , and as shown in  FIG. 10C , the disposable container for sampling a sample  3  subsequent to the sample  2  is set. In the sixth A-cycle, the sample  2  is agitated, and the sample  3  is sampled. In the B-cycle subsequent to this A-cycle, re-sampling of the sample  1  is carried out, and therefore, re-sampling of the sample  2  is not carried out, but it is carried out in the B-cycles of the next and subsequent basic cycles. 
     In the seventh A-cycle, the pretreatment liquid is dispensed into the sample  3 , and as shown in  FIG. 10D , the disposable container for sampling a sample  4  subsequent to the sample  3  is set. 
     In this manner, sampling, pretreatment liquid dispensing, agitating and re-sampling are sequentially repeated.  FIG. 10  shows the example of the case of the shortest cycle, and empty cycles may be arbitrarily provided in order to avoid overlapping or carry-over of the dispensing mechanisms. 
     For example, in the case in which a total of 20 fixed containers and disposable containers are disposed on the common disk  20 , the common disk  20  is operated to rotate in the manner shown in  FIG. 11  to  FIG. 13 . In  FIG. 11  to  FIG. 13 , circular containers denoted by odd numbers represent the disposable containers, and rectangular containers denoted by even numbers represent the fixed containers. 
     First, as shown in  FIG. 11 , at the timing of the A-cycle, the common disk  20  rotates counterclockwise by the distance corresponding to three containers, and the disposable container  22  denoted by the number “1” set at the position of “g” is subjected to sampling at the position of “a”. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the common disk  20  further rotates counterclockwise by the distance corresponding to three containers, and the pretreatment liquid is dispensed thereinto at the position of “b”. 
     Then, the common disk  20  further rotates counterclockwise by the distance corresponding to three containers, and the pretreatment liquid is agitated at the position of “c”. Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the common disk  20  rotates to the position of “d” at the timing of the B-cycle, and at this position, re-sampling from the disposable container denoted by the number “1” to the next fixed container denoted by the number “2” is carried out. At this time, in the flow analysis, the flow reagent is dispensed at the position of “b”, and re-sampling to the flow analysis mechanisms  40   a  and  40   b  is carried out at the position of “d”. Note that, in the state of  FIG. 13 , a sample has been already dispensed also into the disposable container denoted by the number “15”. 
     After the re-sampling is finished, again at the timing of the next A-cycle, the fixed container is subjected to sample suction, cleaning liquid discharge and cleaning sequentially at the positions of “e”, “f” and “h” of the cleaning mechanism, and the disposable container is discarded. 
     Incidentally, the sample dispensing arm  16  of the above-described sample dispensing mechanism  15  retains a sample dispensing probe. The sample dispensing probe is configured to allow both the use with cleaning and the use of a disposable chip. 
       FIG. 14A  is a main-part side view showing a main part of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which it is used with cleaning, and  FIG. 14B  is a main-part side view showing a main part of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used.  FIGS. 15A to 15H  are explanatory drawings for describing the flow of the operation of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which it is used with cleaning, and  FIGS. 16A to 1611  and  FIGS. 17A to 17C  are explanatory drawings for describing the flow of the operation of the sample dispensing probe in the case in which the disposable chip is used. In these drawings, all elements are shown by solid lines for the convenience of understanding. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14A , the sample dispensing probe  19  is provided with a probe main body  19   a  exposed at the distal end and a probe guard  19   b  protecting the probe main body and is configured to suck and discharge a sample by the probe main body  19   a  when it is used with cleaning. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14B , the disposable chip  90  can be detachably attached to the probe guard  19   b . The disposable chip  90  is provided with a probe inserting part  91  formed into a slit shape having the same diameter as the diameter of the probe guard  19   b , a probe retaining part  92  formed to be thick at both ends of the probe inserting part  91 , and a sample retaining part  93  extending so as to be tapered from the probe inserting part  91  to the distal end. 
     Since the probe inserting part  91  is formed to have the same diameter as the diameter of the probe guard  19   b  and the probe retaining part  92  abuts the both ends of the probe guard  19   b , the disposable chip  90  can be attached without being fallen off from the probe guard  19   b . In addition, since the probe retaining part  92  is formed to be thick, the disposable chip can be easily detached by pushing the part from the base end thereof toward the distal end. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15A , when dispensing a sample  12  in the case of the use with cleaning, first, the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved to above the sample container  11  containing the sample  12 . After the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved, as shown in  FIG. 15B , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved down, and the probe main body  19   a  enters and sucks the sample  12  in the sample container  11 . After the sample is sucked, as shown in  FIG. 15C , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved up. 
     After the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved up, as shown in  FIG. 15D , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved to above the fixed container  21  in the example shown in the drawing. After the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved, as shown in  FIG. 15E , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved down, enters the fixed container  21 , and discharges the sample  12 . After the sample is discharged, as shown in  FIG. 15F , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved up. 
     After the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved up, as shown in  FIG. 15G , the probe is moved to a probe cleaning mechanism  85 . After the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved, as shown in  FIG. 15H , cleaning liquid is discharged from a cleaning-liquid discharging part  86  of the probe cleaning mechanism  85 , and the probe main body  19   a  is cleaned. Then, after the cleaning, the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved again to above the sample container  11 , and the same operations are repeated. The probe cleaning mechanism  85  is present in the automatic analysis apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6 , but the mechanism is omitted in these drawings. 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 16A , when dispensing the sample  12  in the case of using the disposable chip  90 , first, the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved to above the disposable chip  90  placed on a chip supplying board  95 . After the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved, as shown in  FIG. 16B , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved down, and the disposable chip  90  is attached thereto. After the disposable chip  90  is attached, as shown in  FIG. 16C , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved up. 
     After the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved up, as shown in  FIGS. 16D to 16F , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved, is moved down, sucks the sample  12 , and is moved up in the same manner as the case shown in  FIGS. 15A to 15C  in which the probe is used with cleaning. After the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved up in  FIG. 16F , as shown in  FIG. 16G , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved to above the disposable container  22  in the example shown in the drawing. After the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved, as shown in  FIG. 16H , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved down and discharges the sample  12  into the disposable container  22 . 
     After the sample is discharged, as shown in  FIG. 17A , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved up. After the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved up, as shown in  FIG. 17B , the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved to above a disposable chip discarding unit  96 . After the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved, as shown in  FIG. 17C , the disposable chip  90  is discarded into the disposable chip discarding unit  96 . Then, after the disposable chip  90  is discarded, the sample dispensing probe  19  is moved again to above the chip supplying board  95 , and the same operations are repeated. The chip supplying board  95  and the disposable chip discarding unit  96  are present in the automatic analysis apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6 , but the board and the unit are omitted in these drawings. 
     From the viewpoint of both the analysis accuracy and the cost, it is preferred that the disposable chip  90  is used in a highly-sensitive analysis such as an immunoserological test and the probe main body  19   a  of the sample dispensing probe  19  is cleaned and used in an analysis that does not require high sensitivity such as a biochemical test, a blood coagulation test and an electrolyte test. 
     A reagent probe of the reagent arm of the reagent dispensing mechanism may be similarly configured to be able to use the disposable chip. 
     As described above, in the automatic analysis apparatus  1  of the present invention, the pretreatment and reactions of the samples are carried out on the common disk  20 , and the fixed containers  21  and the disposable containers  22  are disposed on the common disk  20 . Therefore, a plurality of items can be tested with high accuracy and at low cost without increasing the size of the apparatus. 
     In other words, since the common disk  20  which is a multi-purpose disk capable of carrying out the pretreatment and reactions of the samples is provided, the apparatus can be downsized. In addition, when the fixed containers  21  are used in the case in which the containers are required to have high surface accuracy like in the case of colorimetric analysis and the disposable containers  22  are used in the case in which there is a high degree of necessity to prevent contamination among samples, highly accurate analysis can be carried out in any of test items while achieving the downsizing of the apparatus. Furthermore, when the fixed containers  21  are used in the case in which the containers are required to have high surface accuracy, since the disposable containers  22  are not required to be processed for improving surface accuracy, the cost of the disposable containers  22  can be reduced. 
     Moreover, in the automatic analysis apparatus  1  of the present invention, since the fixed containers  21  and the disposable containers  22  are regularly disposed on the common disk  20 , arbitrary settings such as those described below can be implemented in accordance with requested contents. 
     (1) While biochemical tests are carried out in the fixed containers  21 , the rates and the number of containers for carrying out pretreatment of the biochemical tests and flow tests are determined in accordance with the number of the requested items in the disposable containers  22 . (2) In accordance with the quantity of the number of requested items of flow tests, the disposed rate of the disposable containers  22  is increased/decreased. 
     In other words, if the fixed containers and the disposable containers are irregularly disposed, it is difficult to synchronize the timing of the rotation cycle of the disk and the operations of the dispensing mechanisms, and therefore, it is difficult to carry out the control corresponding to a plurality of test items. On the other hand, since the fixed containers  21  and the disposable containers  22  are regularly disposed on the common disk  20 , the rotation cycle of the common disk and the operations of the dispensing mechanisms can be easily controlled, and arbitrary settings can be implemented. Moreover, by virtue of this regular disposition, the control for the cleaning in the container cleaning mechanism  80  can also be facilitated. 
     Furthermore, in the automatic analysis apparatus  1  of the present invention, the sample dispensing mechanism  15  is capable of approaching an arbitrary container and dispensing a sample thereat. Therefore, by dispensing a sample for retest into the disposable container  22  in advance, re-sampling can be preferentially carried out for the analysis when the retest is required. 
     More specifically, since the rotation of a pretreatment disk has cycles, if the movement of a sample dispensing mechanism is restricted, re-sampling can be carried out only at the timing when the pretreatment disk comes close. Also, if the rotation cycle of the pretreatment disk is changed in accordance with the movement of the sample dispensing mechanism, it becomes difficult to control the analysis timing in a photometric mechanism. On the other hand, since the sample dispensing mechanism  15  can be moved without any restriction to an arbitrary container on the common disk  20 , such preferential re-sampling can be carried out. 
     Furthermore, in the automatic analysis apparatus  1  of the present invention, the sample dispensing probe  19  of the sample dispensing arm  16  of the sample dispensing mechanism  15  is configured to allow both the use with cleaning and the use of the disposable chip  90 . Therefore, a sample dispensing mechanism dedicated to the disposable chips is not required to be additionally provided, and the apparatus can be further downsized. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention can be utilized in an automatic analysis apparatus that automatically analyzes components of blood and others.