Patent Document ID: 9377383
Application ID: 14538462
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for aspirating a specimen accommodated in a cap-sealed container by using a pipette having a sharp edge, comprising steps of: arranging a cap-sealed container accommodating a specimen at a predetermined position; capturing an image of at least a part of the cap-sealed container arranged at the predetermined position; extracting characteristics of a cap of the cap-sealed container from the captured image; determining a movement distance among a plurality of movement distances each customized for respective types of cap-sealed containers, on the basis of the extracted characteristics and a predetermined correspondence relationship of a plurality of characteristics of caps, types of cap-sealed containers and movement distances, the movement distance defined by a distance between an initial position of the pipette and an aspirating position of the pipette; moving the pipette from the initial position to the aspirating position on the basis of the determined movement distance, thereby piercing a cap of the cap-sealed container with the sharp edge and positioning a tip end of the pipette at the aspirating position within the cap-sealed container; and aspirating the specimen in the cap-sealed container via the pipette.