CPC G01N 35/1004 (2013.01) [G01N 35/025 (2013.01); B08B 3/00 (2013.01); B08B 7/04 (2013.01); B32B 5/02 (2013.01); C12M 1/34 (2013.01); G01N 1/14 (2013.01); G01N 35/00 (2013.01); G01N 35/00584 (2013.01); G01N 35/02 (2013.01); G01N 35/04 (2013.01); G01N 35/10 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
1. An automated analyzer comprising:
a measuring section comprising:
a receptacle holding portion for holding a plurality of receptacles in which analytes are stored as aliquots of liquid;
an immersion cleaning solution holding portion for storing an immersion cleaning solution; and
an analyte dispenser equipped with a drive mechanism for holding a dispensing probe operative to collect the analytes from the receptacles held to the receptacle holding portion such that the dispensing probe can be moved between the receptacle holding portion and the immersion cleaning solution holding portion;
a measurement controller configured to control the drive mechanism of the analyte dispenser and the dispensing probe to successively collect the analytes at given cycles from the receptacles held to the receptacle holding portion;
an immersion cleaning controller configured to control the drive mechanism of the analyte dispenser and the dispensing probe to execute an immersion cleaning operation comprising immersing the dispensing probe in the immersion cleaning solution stored in the immersion cleaning solution holding portion for an immersion time that is at least twice as long as a period of each of the given cycles; and
an immersion cleaning execution decision portion configured to:
determine a current state of the automated analyzer based on whether a new analyte is being transported into the measuring section;
in response to determining the current state indicates the new analyte is not being transported into the measuring section, determine that the immersion cleaning operation is executable and instruct the immersion cleaning controller to carry out the immersion cleaning operation; and
in response to determining the current state indicates the new analyte is being transported into the measuring section, determine that the immersion cleaning operation is inexecutable and prioritize normal measurement operations.
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