Patent Description:
An automatic analyzer adds reagent to a reaction container to which a biological body sample such as blood and urine is dispensed, and allows the biological body sample and the reagent to react with each other. Also, the automatic analyzer performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of the biological body sample by performing measurement of the light absorbance and the light emission amount of a reaction liquid.

The automatic analyzer requires a pump supplying a predetermined amount of liquid at predetermined timing from a container to another container. For example, such example can be cited with respect to reagent used for measurement that the reagent in an amount consumed in the previous cycle is supplied for each measurement cycle from a bottle to an analyzing unit. At this time, there is a case of using a simple and inexpensive tube pump. The tube pump is a pump delivering liquid inside a tube by squashing the tube by a roller and moving the roller to squeeze the tube. After the roller moves, although the squashed tube returns to an original shape by a restoring force, a negative pressure is generated inside the tube at that time. Thus, the liquid is aspired. By performing such motion continuously, the liquid is supplied in sequence.

As described above, since liquid is supplied while the tube is squashed by the roller, degradation of the tube affects the life of the pump. When the deterioration of the tube proceeds, the liquid supply amount gradually drops, and it is also probable that the tube bursts and the liquid leaks. Therefore, a function of performing feedback control of the liquid supply amount and a function of performing determination of the maintenance timing of the pump by measuring the degradation state of the tube become important.

Here, in Patent Literatures <NUM> and <NUM>, there are disclosed technologies for properly determining the replacement timing of a consumable component (tube) of a tube pump and reducing a cost and effort incurred for the maintenance.

According to Patent Literature <NUM>, a function of detecting the liquid amount of the liquid supplied to the container is provided, a time for supplying to a defined liquid amount is measured, and variation of the liquid supply amount namely degradation state of the tube is determined from variation of the liquid amount supply time. At the time the liquid supply amount exceeds a set threshold, an event that the maintenance timing has come is notified. According to Patent Literature <NUM>, based on the measured supply time of the calibration sample, the supply operation is feedback-controlled in order that the supply time falls into a normal supply time range that is set beforehand.

<CIT> discloses an automatic analyzer with the features in the preamble of present claim <NUM>. Another conventional analyzer is described in <CIT>.

However, according to the prior arts, it was necessary to measure the supply time until the liquid was supplied to the container and was detected, detailed positional adjustment between the container and the detection unit was required, and therefore it could not be said that the effort incurred for the maintenance could be reduced sufficiently.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of easily determining the degradation state of a tube pump.

The object is met by the automatic analyzer defined in claim <NUM>. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments.

An effect obtained by a representative one out of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly explained below.

That is to say, according to a representative embodiment of the present invention, it is allowed to easily determine the degradation state of a tube pump.

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained below referring to the drawings. The embodiment explained below is an example for achieving the present invention, and does not limit the technical range of the present invention. Also, in the embodiment, members having a same function will be marked with a same reference sign, and repeated explanation thereof will be omitted excluding a case of being especially necessary.

<FIG> is a diagram showing an exemplary schematic configuration of an automatic analyzer. An automatic analyzer <NUM> includes a rack transport line <NUM> transporting a rack <NUM> accommodating plural number of sample containers <NUM> that accommodate a biological body sample such as blood and urine, a reagent holding unit (reagent disk) <NUM> holding a reagent container accommodating a reagent while cooling it, an incubator (reaction disk) <NUM>, a sample dispensing unit <NUM>, a reagent dispensing unit <NUM>, a transport unit <NUM> transporting a consumable component, an analyzing unit <NUM>, a first liquid bottle <NUM>, a cleaning fluid bottle <NUM>, a first liquid delivery pump (tube pump) <NUM>, a cleaning fluid delivery pump (tube pump) <NUM>, and a controller <NUM> configured to controlling an operation of the entire automatic analyzer <NUM>.

At least a part of the upper surface of the reagent holding unit <NUM> is covered by a reagent disk cover <NUM>. The incubator <NUM> includes a reaction container holding portion to which plural number of reaction containers <NUM> for allowing a sample and a reagent to react with each other are held, and a temperature adjusting mechanism (illustration is omitted) adjusting the temperature of the reaction container <NUM> to a desired temperature. The reaction container holding portion is plural number of holes arranged on the disk in order to hold the reaction containers <NUM>. The sample dispensing unit <NUM> dispenses a sample from the sample container <NUM> to the reaction container <NUM> by a drive mechanism such as a rotational drive mechanism and a vertical drive mechanism, the reaction container <NUM> being accommodated in the incubator <NUM>. In a similar manner, the reagent dispensing unit <NUM> dispenses a reagent from the reagent container <NUM> to the reaction container <NUM> by a drive mechanism such as a rotational drive mechanism and a vertical drive mechanism, the reaction container <NUM> being accommodated in the incubator <NUM>. The analyzing unit <NUM> includes a photoelectron multiplier tube, a light source lamp, a spectrometer, a photodiode, and the like (illustration of all of them is omitted) for example, has a function of adjusting the temperature of them, and performs analysis of the reaction liquid.

The controller <NUM> includes a control unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, an operation unit <NUM>, and a display unit <NUM>. The controller <NUM> controls respective processes related to the automatic analyzer <NUM> such as a process related to dispensing of a sample and a reagent and so on, a process of temperature management in the incubator <NUM> and so on, a process related to the analyzing unit <NUM>, and a process related to maintenance of the first liquid delivery pump and the cleaning fluid delivery pump <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured of a processor and the like, performs a control program read out from the storage unit <NUM>, and thereby performs these processes. The storage unit <NUM> includes a non-volatile memory, and stores an operation program and setting information of the automatic analyzer <NUM>, a computation result by the control unit <NUM>, and so on. Further, the storage unit <NUM> also stores a determination condition related to maintenance of the first liquid delivery pump <NUM> and the cleaning fluid delivery pump <NUM>, and so on.

Also, X-direction and Y-direction shown in <FIG> are orthogonal directions configuring a horizontal plane, X-direction is to be the lateral direction of the apparatus, and Y-direction is to be the depth direction of the apparatus. Z-direction is the vertical direction and is the height direction of the apparatus.

The analyzing unit <NUM> is a detection mechanism for an immunological inspection, and performs optical measurement for the reaction liquid at the time of the immunological inspection. The transport unit <NUM> moves the reaction container <NUM> to the analyzing unit <NUM>, the reaction liquid reacted for a predetermined time on the incubator <NUM> being accommodated in the reaction container <NUM>. The analyzing unit <NUM> performs optical measurement for the reaction liquid of the reaction container <NUM>. As a method for detecting a labeled substance in the immunological inspection, there is one using electrochemical luminescence and chemical luminescence for example. According to each method, the first liquid, the labeled substance, the structure and the property of the detection region are selected. The analyzing unit <NUM> measures a light emission amount derived from a light emission reaction of the labeled substance using a photoelectron multiplier tube as a detector.

The first liquid bottle <NUM> is a container holding the first liquid related to the analysis. The cleaning fluid bottle <NUM> is a container holding a cleaning fluid. The first liquid delivery pump <NUM> is a pump supplying the first liquid in the first liquid bottle <NUM> to the analyzing unit <NUM>. The cleaning fluid delivery pump <NUM> is a pump supplying the cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid bottle <NUM> to the analyzing unit <NUM>. In the analyzing unit <NUM>, a predetermined amount of the first liquid and the cleaning fluid is used for every measurement cycle. Therefore, the first liquid and the cleaning fluid in an amount consumed in the previous cycle are replenished respectively to the analyzing unit <NUM> by the first liquid delivery pump <NUM> and the cleaning fluid delivery pump <NUM>.

Also, with respect to the dispensing pump not illustrated, high dispensing accuracy is required. On the other hand, with respect to the first liquid delivery pump <NUM> and the cleaning fluid delivery pump <NUM> for replenishing the liquid, such high accuracy as that of the dispensing pump is not required. Therefore, with respect to the first liquid delivery pump <NUM> and the cleaning fluid delivery pump <NUM>, a tube pump is used which is inexpensive and easy in maintenance.

The tube pump is a pump delivering liquid inside a tube by squashing the tube by a roller and moving the roller to squeeze the tube. After the roller moves, although the squashed tube returns to an original shape by a restoring force, a negative pressure is generated inside the tube at that time and the liquid is aspired. By performing such motion continuously, the liquid is delivered in sequence.

<FIG> is a diagram showing exemplary configurations of an analyzing unit and components around the analyzing unit. In <FIG>, a hardware configuration for determining a degradation state of the tube pump is mainly shown. Further, although explanation will be given exemplifying a route for supplying the first liquid from the first liquid bottle <NUM> to the analyzing unit <NUM> by the first liquid delivery pump <NUM>, a case of supplying the cleaning fluid by the cleaning fluid delivery pump <NUM> is also applicable in a similar manner.

As shown in <FIG>, the analyzing unit <NUM> includes a liquid surface detection sensor (will be hereinafter referred to as a sensor) <NUM>, an aspiration nozzle <NUM>, a liquid delivery target container <NUM>, an operation stage (mounting unit) <NUM>, a drive mechanism <NUM>, a detection processing unit <NUM>, and the like. The first liquid delivered from the first liquid bottle <NUM> by the first liquid delivery pump <NUM> is supplied to the liquid delivery target container <NUM> through a first flow passage <NUM> and a second flow passage <NUM>.

The liquid delivery target container <NUM> to which the first liquid or the cleaning fluid is supplied is mounted on the operation stage <NUM>. The drive mechanism <NUM> moves the operation stage <NUM> and the liquid delivery target container <NUM> in the vertical direction by a vertical drive mechanism.

The sensor <NUM> is a sensor performing detection of the liquid surface of the first liquid and the cleaning fluid supplied to the liquid delivery target container <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> is formed into a bar shape for example, and is arranged to extend in the vertical direction above the liquid delivery target container <NUM>. One end portion of the sensor <NUM> is connected to the detection processing unit <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM> is fixed in a state of being hung from the detection processing unit <NUM>. When the liquid delivery target container <NUM> is moved in the vertical direction along with the operation stage <NUM> and the liquid surface of the liquid delivery target container <NUM> touches the other end portion on the lower side of the sensor <NUM>, the liquid surface is detected. The sensor <NUM> outputs a liquid surface detection signal when the liquid surface is detected.

The aspiration nozzle <NUM> is a nozzle aspiring and removing the liquid (the first liquid and the cleaning fluid) remaining in the liquid delivery target container <NUM>. The aspiration nozzle <NUM> is connected to a pump <NUM> through a third flow passage <NUM>. When the pump <NUM> is driven, the aspiration nozzle <NUM> aspires the liquid inside the liquid delivery target container <NUM>. The liquid aspired by the aspiration nozzle <NUM> is delivered to the outside of the analyzing unit <NUM> through the third flow passage <NUM> and a fourth flow passage <NUM>, and is discharged to a waste liquid bottle and the like not illustrated.

The detection processing unit <NUM> is a unit performing optical measurement related to the immunological inspection mainly in the analyzing unit <NUM>, and includes a basic circuit related to the liquid surface detection. In this case, the controller <NUM> controls the liquid surface detection process. The detection processing unit <NUM> is connected to the controller <NUM>, and transmits the liquid surface detection result related to the liquid surface detection process to the controller <NUM>. Alternatively, the detection processing unit <NUM> may be a functional block performing a process related to the liquid surface detection inside the liquid delivery target container <NUM>. In this case, the detection processing unit <NUM> includes a processor, a memory, and the like for example. The processor performs a program stored in the memory, and a process related to the liquid surface detection is thereby performed.

In the explanation below, there is a case that the first liquid bottle <NUM> and the cleaning fluid bottle <NUM> are referred to as a liquid bottle <NUM>. Also, there is a case that the first liquid delivery pump <NUM> and the cleaning fluid delivery pump <NUM> are referred to as a tube pump <NUM>.

With respect to the tube pump, since the tube is squashed by the roller, the tube goes to degrade as the tube pump is used. With respect to the tube pump having been used for a long time, the liquid delivery amount gradually reduces by drop of the restoring force of the tube and so on. When the degradation proceeds further, the tube bursts, a function as a pump cannot be exerted, and the liquid leaks. Therefore, it is required to regularly replace the tube of the tube pump.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, determination for maintenance options based on a degradation state of the tube is performed. The determination process for maintenance options is performed before start and after completion of an analysis operation of one day. Also, the determination process for maintenance options is performed is performed every day, or once or several times in a week.

<FIG> is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a controller involved in a determination process for maintenance options. The control unit <NUM> includes a liquid surface detection unit <NUM>, a moving amount computation unit <NUM> for vertical drive of the drive mechanism <NUM>, an actual liquid delivery amount computation unit <NUM>, an actual liquid delivery time computation unit <NUM>, a determination unit <NUM> for maintenance options, a liquid delivery time setting unit <NUM>, a maintenance timing notification unit <NUM>, and the like. Also, a part of the functional block such as the liquid surface detection unit <NUM> may be arranged within the detection processing unit <NUM>.

The liquid surface detection unit <NUM> is a functional block performing liquid surface detection of the liquid delivery target container <NUM> in cooperation with the sensor <NUM>. The moving amount computation unit <NUM> is a functional block computing a moving amount of vertical driving of the drive mechanism <NUM>. The moving amount computation unit <NUM> computes a moving amount of the operation stage <NUM> based on a pulse number imparted to the drive mechanism <NUM> for example.

The actual liquid delivery amount computation unit <NUM> is a functional block computing a liquid amount of the liquid delivered by the tube pump <NUM>. The actual liquid delivery time computation unit <NUM> is a functional block computing an actual liquid delivery time required for delivering a liquid in an amount of a design liquid delivery amount Vi. The design liquid delivery amount Vi is an actual liquid delivery amount before the tube of the tube pump is degraded.

The determination unit <NUM> is a functional block performing determination for maintenance options based on a degradation state of the tube. The liquid delivery time setting unit <NUM> is a functional block setting an actual liquid delivery time computed by the actual liquid delivery time computation unit <NUM> as a time for driving the pump. The maintenance timing notification unit <NUM> is a functional block notifying a user of maintenance timing based on the determination result by the determination unit <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the storage unit <NUM> stores a designed amount of movement Di of the operation stage <NUM>, a design pulse number Pi, a design liquid delivery amount Vi (ml), a design liquid delivery time Ti (sec), an actual liquid delivery time Tr (sec), a liquid delivery time threshold Tth (sec), and the like. These are values used in a determination process for maintenance options. The designed amount of movement Di is a value showing a moving amount of the operation stage <NUM> (the liquid delivery target container <NUM>) when a liquid of the design liquid delivery amount Vi is delivered. The designed amount of movement Di is set according to a use amount of each liquid of each measurement cycle. Also, the design pulse number Pi is a value corresponding to the designed amount of movement Di, and is a pulse number of a motor required for raising the operation stage <NUM> by an amount of the designed amount of movement Di. In other words, the design pulse number Pi is a pulse number when a liquid in an amount of a design liquid delivery amount Vi described below is supplied.

The design liquid delivery amount Vi is a value showing a liquid delivery amount of a liquid (the first liquid, the cleaning fluid) that should be delivered using the tube pump at each measurement cycle. In other words, the design liquid delivery amount Vi is a value showing a use amount of a liquid of each measurement cycle.

The design liquid delivery time Ti is a value showing a time required for delivering a liquid in an amount of a design liquid delivery amount before the tube is degraded. The actual liquid delivery time Tr is a value showing a time actually required for delivering a liquid in an amount of a design liquid delivery amount, and is a value computed in a determination process for maintenance options of the previous time. Also, an actual liquid delivery time in a determination process for maintenance options of the present time explained below is also expressed Tr. The liquid delivery time threshold Tth (sec) is a value used in determination of maintenance options with respect to the tube pump <NUM> using the actual liquid delivery time Tr.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing an exemplary determination process for maintenance options. In <FIG>, a determination process for maintenance options is performed by steps S101 to S111. Also, the determination process for maintenance options is performed for each of the first liquid delivery pump <NUM> and the cleaning fluid delivery pump <NUM>.

In the determination process for maintenance options, first, a liquid remaining in the liquid delivery target container <NUM> should be removed. The control unit <NUM> drives the drive mechanism <NUM> to raise the operation stage <NUM>. Also, when the bottom surface of the liquid delivery target container <NUM> reaches the vicinity of the aspiration nozzle <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> stops the operation stage <NUM> (step S101).

Next, the control unit <NUM> drives the pump <NUM> to aspire a liquid remaining in the liquid delivery target container <NUM> from the aspiration nozzle <NUM>. The liquid having been aspired is discharged to a waste liquid tank and the like through the third flow passage <NUM> and the fourth flow passage <NUM> (step S102).

After the liquid remaining in the liquid delivery target container <NUM> is discharged, the control unit <NUM> lowers the operation stage <NUM> and stops it at a predetermined position by the drive mechanism <NUM> (step S103). The stop position this time (the first position) is made H1. The process up to here is the preparatory work before liquid delivery by the tube pump <NUM>.

In step S104, the control unit <NUM> drives the tube pump <NUM> to supply the liquid in the liquid bottle <NUM> to the liquid delivery target container <NUM> through the first flow passage <NUM> and the second flow passage <NUM>. In concrete terms, the control unit <NUM> refers to the design liquid delivery time Ti stored in storage unit <NUM>, and delivers the liquid by the design liquid delivery time Ti (sec). Also, when the tube has not been degraded, the liquid in an amount of the design liquid delivery amount Vi (ml) comes to be delivered to the liquid delivery target container <NUM> in the design liquid delivery time Ti (sec).

Next, the control unit <NUM> raises the operation stage <NUM> from the position H1 (step S105). When the sensor <NUM> detects the liquid surface inside the liquid delivery target container <NUM> and the liquid surface detection signal is inputted to the liquid surface detection unit <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> stops the operation stage <NUM>. The stop position this time (the second position) is made H2.

In step S106, the moving amount of the operation stage <NUM> is computed. From the stop position H1 before raising and the stop position H2 after raising, the moving amount computation unit <NUM> computes an actual amount of movement Dr (=H2-H1) of the operation stage <NUM>. The moving amount computation unit <NUM> may compute the actual amount of movement Dr as the moving amount, and may compute an actual pulse number Pr of the motor required for raising the operation stage <NUM>. The moving amount computation unit <NUM> stores the actual amount of movement Dr and the actual pulse number Pr having been computed in the storage unit <NUM>.

In step S107, based on the actual amount of movement Dr or the actual pulse number Pr having been computed by the moving amount computation unit <NUM>, an actual liquid delivery amount Vr of a liquid supplied to the liquid delivery target container <NUM> is computed. In concrete terms, for example, the actual liquid delivery amount computation unit <NUM> compares the designed amount of movement Di having been stored in the storage unit <NUM> and the actual amount of movement Dr having been computed by the moving amount computation unit <NUM>, and computes the actual liquid delivery amount Vr. Alternatively, for example, the actual liquid delivery amount computation unit <NUM> compares the design pulse number Pi stored in the storage unit <NUM> and the actual pulse number Pr having been computed by the moving amount computation unit <NUM>, and computes the actual liquid delivery amount Vr.

In step S108, the actual liquid delivery time Tr required for delivering a liquid in an amount of the design liquid delivery amount Vi is computed. The actual liquid delivery time computation unit <NUM> computes the difference of the design pulse number Pi and the actual pulse number Pr for example, and an extension time ΔT of the liquid delivery time is computed from the difference of the pulse number. Also, by adding the extension time ΔT to the design liquid delivery time Ti, the actual liquid delivery time computation unit <NUM> computes the actual liquid delivery time Tr (=Ti+ΔT).

In step S109, determination for maintenance options is performed. The determination unit <NUM> performs the determination by whether or not the actual liquid delivery time Tr computed by the actual liquid delivery time computation unit <NUM> is smaller than the liquid delivery time threshold Tth stored in the storage unit <NUM> (Tr<Tth). When the actual liquid delivery time Tr is equal to or larger than the liquid delivery time threshold Tth (Tr≥Tth) (No), the determination unit <NUM> determines that the tube has been deteriorated to the limit and maintenance for the tube pump <NUM> is required. In this case, the maintenance timing notification unit <NUM> notifies the outside of the fact that the replacement timing of the tube has come by a means of displaying on a screen, the voice, and the like (step S110), and the determination process for maintenance options is finished.

On the other hand, when the actual liquid delivery time Tr is smaller than the liquid delivery time threshold Tth (Yes) in step S109, the determination unit <NUM> determines that the tube is not deteriorated to the limit and maintenance for the tube pump <NUM> is not required.

In this case, the liquid delivery time setting unit <NUM> updates the actual liquid delivery time Tr stored in the storage unit <NUM> to the actual liquid delivery time computed by the actual liquid delivery time computation unit <NUM> (step S111). Also, the determination process for maintenance options is finished.

In the time chart of the analysis operation such as an immunological inspection, the actual liquid delivery time Tr having been updated is set as the liquid delivery time. Therefore, the time chart of the immunological inspection is designed considering an extension time so that the liquid delivery time of the liquid can be extended. The limit of time beyond which the liquid delivery time cannot extend is the liquid delivery time threshold Tth.

According to the present embodiment, the control unit <NUM> computes the actual liquid delivery amount Vr of the liquid in the design liquid delivery time Ti based on the stop position H1 before raising of the operation stage <NUM> and the stop position H2 at the time of detection of the liquid surface after raising, and determines the deterioration state of the tube pump <NUM> based on the design liquid delivery amount Vi and the actual liquid delivery amount Vr.

In the past, when the deterioration state of the tube was to be determined, variation of the flow rate (the liquid delivery time per unit time) was confirmed by measuring the supply time after starting of delivery of the liquid to the container becoming the liquid delivery target until detection of the liquid surface. According to this method, positional adjustment between the container becoming the liquid delivery target and the liquid surface detection unit had to be performed strictly, and difficult work was involved in determination of the deterioration state of the tube pump.

On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, since the stop positions H1 and H2 of the operation stage <NUM> before and after raising only have to be measured, the deterioration state of the tube pump can be determined easily.

Also, according to the present embodiment, the control unit <NUM> computes the actual amount of movement Dr of the operation stage <NUM> based on the stop position H1 and the stop position H2, and computes the actual liquid delivery amount Vr based on the actual amount of movement Dr and the designed amount of movement Di before the tube pump <NUM> is deteriorated. In concrete terms, the control unit <NUM> computes the actual moving amount Vr based on the rotational speed of the motor of the drive mechanism <NUM> while the operation stage <NUM> moves from the stop position H1 to the stop position H2. To be more specific, the control unit <NUM> computes the actual moving amount Vr based on the pulse number supplied to the motor.

According to this configuration, by counting the rotational speed and the pulse number of the motor, the actual liquid delivery amount Vr of the liquid in the design liquid delivery time Ti can be computed easily.

Also, according to the present embodiment, the control unit <NUM> computes the actual liquid delivery time Tr required for delivering a liquid in an amount of the design liquid delivery amount Vi based on the actual liquid delivery amount Vr and the design liquid delivery amount Vi. Further, the control unit <NUM> compares the actual liquid delivery time Tr and the liquid delivery time threshold Tth, and determines maintenance options for the tube pump <NUM>. According to this configuration, computation of the actual liquid delivery time Tr can be performed more easily compared to the prior art.

Also, according to the present embodiment, the control unit <NUM> compares the actual liquid delivery time Tr and the liquid delivery time threshold Tth, and determines maintenance options for the tube pump <NUM>. According to this configuration, determination of maintenance options using the actual liquid delivery time Tr can be performed easily.

Also, according to the present embodiment, when the actual liquid delivery time Tr is smaller than the liquid delivery time threshold Tth, the control unit <NUM> determines that maintenance for the tube pump <NUM> is not required, and sets the actual liquid delivery time Tr to the time chart of the analysis operation.

In the past, when the deterioration state of the tube was to be determined, the liquid delivery amount was not controlled by extending the liquid delivery time but was controlled by accelerating the speed of the feeding operation of the pump. In this case, the rotational speed of the roller squashing the tube came to be increased, and the load to the tube was increased.

On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the rotational speed of the roller is not changed, and the liquid delivery amount is controlled by extending the actual liquid delivery time Tr. According to this configuration, the time chart can be set to a proper state in accordance with the deterioration state of the tube pump <NUM>, and the liquid delivery amount can be corrected to a design value without increasing the load to the tube.

When the actual liquid delivery time Tr is equal to or larger than the liquid delivery time threshold Tth, the control unit <NUM> determines that maintenance for the tube pump <NUM> is required, and notifies the outside of the fact that the replacement timing of the tube has come. Thereby, the user can recognize the replacement timing of the tube.

By executing the tube deterioration state determination flow described above every day or once a week before the analysis operation, the life of the tube pump can be checked easily. Also, by controlling the liquid delivery amount of the pump based on the deterioration state of the tube, the consumable component (tube) can be used without a loss until the life expires.

Further, although the automatic analyzer <NUM> was explained to be an apparatus for an immunological inspection, it may be other inspection apparatus such as an apparatus for a biochemical inspection, and may be a complex type apparatus combining an apparatus for a biochemical inspection, an apparatus for an immunological inspection, and the like. When a biochemical inspection is to be performed, a spectral photometer including a light source and a detector is provided and comes to be arranged at a predetermined position around the incubator <NUM> for example. The spectral photometer measures the light absorbance of the reaction liquid by dispersing and detecting transmitted light obtained by irradiating the light from the light source to the reaction liquid of the reaction container <NUM>. Further, although <FIG> shows a dispensing mechanism of one system, in the case of the complex type apparatus described above, dispensing mechanisms of two systems or more may be provided such as a biochemical dispensing mechanism and an immunological dispensing mechanism for example.

Claim 1:
An automatic analyzer (<NUM>) comprising:
a tube pump (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to deliver a liquid from a liquid bottle (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) accommodating the liquid to a liquid delivery target container (<NUM>);
a mounting unit (<NUM>) configured to mount the liquid delivery target container (<NUM>);
a liquid surface detecting unit (<NUM>) configured to detect a liquid surface of the liquid in the liquid delivery target container (<NUM>); and
a control unit (<NUM>),
wherein:
the tube pump (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to deliver the liquid to the liquid delivery target container (<NUM>) during a design liquid delivery time (Ti) necessary to deliver the liquid in a design liquid delivery amount (Vi) before the tube pump (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is degraded; and
the control unit (<NUM>) being configured to determine a degradation state of the tube pump (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) based on the design liquid delivery amount (Vi) and an actual liquid delivery amount,
characterised in that:
the automatic analyzer (<NUM>) comprises a drive mechanism (<NUM>) configured to drive the mounting unit (<NUM>) in a vertical direction;
the drive mechanism (<NUM>) is configured to move the mounting unit (<NUM>) mounting the liquid delivery target container (<NUM>) to which the liquid has been delivered from a first position (H1) to a second position (H2) at which the liquid surface is to be detected by the liquid surface detecting unit (<NUM>);
the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to compute the actual liquid delivery amount (Vr) of the liquid for the design liquid delivery time (Ti) based on the first position (H1) and the second position (H2); and
the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to compute an actual liquid delivery time (Tr) necessary to deliver the liquid in the design liquid delivery amount (Vi) based on the actual liquid delivery amount (Vr) and the design liquid delivery amount (Vi).