JP2007285888A - Liquid surface detector and autoanalyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid surface detector capable of accurately detecting the surface of a liquid, and to provide an autoanalyzer equipped with the liquid surface detector. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid surface detector includes a probe, having conductivity and that sucks or discharge the liquid housed in a container; the electrode integrally arranged to the container or arranged in the vicinity of the container; a liquid surface detection means for detecting the surface of the liquid, on the basis of a change in the electrostatic capacity between the probe and the electrode; a pressure detection means for detecting the change in the pressure in the probe, caused by the contact of the end of the probe with the electrode; and a determining means for determining whether the liquid surface detected by the liquid surface detection means is the real surface of the liquid by referring to the changing mode of the pressure in the probe detected by the pressure detection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid level detection device that detects a liquid level of a liquid contained in a predetermined container, and an automatic analyzer including the liquid level detection device.

  Conventionally, in an automatic analyzer that analyzes the components of a sample by reacting the sample with a reagent, as a technique for detecting the liquid level of the liquid when the liquid such as the sample or the reagent is aspirated by a thin tube probe, Technology for detecting the liquid level by detecting a change in capacitance between the probe itself or an electrode provided in the vicinity of the probe and an electrode disposed in the vicinity of the container or in the vicinity of the container. Is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-6-241862

  In the conventional liquid level detection technology described above, the end of the probe comes into contact with the liquid bubbles generated above the liquid level, or the end of the probe comes into contact with the opening of the container containing the liquid. In some cases, the liquid level of the liquid may be erroneously detected, for example, when one of the paired electrodes is affected by static electricity.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid level detection device capable of accurately detecting the liquid level of a liquid and an automatic analyzer including the liquid level detection device. To do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is a liquid level detection device for detecting the liquid level of a liquid contained in a container, and has conductivity, and the liquid Detecting the liquid level based on a change in capacitance between the probe and the electrode, and a probe that sucks or discharges the liquid, an electrode that is integrated with or in the vicinity of the container, and the probe Liquid level detecting means, pressure detecting means for detecting a change in pressure inside the probe caused by contact between the end of the probe and the liquid, and pressure inside the probe detected by the pressure detecting means. And determining means for determining whether or not the liquid level detected by the liquid level detecting means with reference to the mode of change is the true liquid level of the liquid.

  The “liquid” in the present invention includes a liquid containing a trace amount of a solid component.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the determination means starts within a predetermined time after the liquid level detection means starts to detect a change in capacitance between the probe and the electrode. When the pressure detection means starts to detect a change in pressure inside the probe, it is determined that the liquid level detected by the liquid level detection means is a true liquid level of the liquid.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the probe includes a fluorine-based resin and carbon powder.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample dispensing unit for dispensing the sample, a reagent dispensing unit for dispensing the reagent, in order to analyze the components of the sample by reacting the sample with a reagent. The sample dispensing means and the reagent dispensing means each have the liquid level detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

  According to the liquid level detection device and the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, the probe has conductivity and is disposed in the vicinity of the container, or a probe that sucks or discharges the liquid contained in the container. And the liquid level detecting means for detecting the liquid level based on a change in capacitance between the probe and the electrode, and the end of the probe and the liquid are brought into contact with each other. With reference to pressure detection means for detecting a change in pressure inside the probe, and a change in pressure inside the probe detected by the pressure detection means, the liquid level detected by the liquid level detection means is true of the liquid. And determining means for determining whether or not the liquid level is present, the liquid level of the liquid can be accurately detected.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a liquid level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. A liquid level detection device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a device that detects whether or not the tip of a probe that sucks or discharges liquid has reached the liquid level. The “liquid” here includes a liquid containing a small amount of a solid component.

  The liquid level detection device 1 includes a narrow tubular probe 2 made of a conductive material such as a metal, and a probe transfer unit 3 that transfers the probe 2 by causing the probe 2 to perform vertical movement and horizontal movement. And a liquid surface that detects the liquid surface of the sample Sp by detecting a change in capacitance between the electrode 5 provided in the vicinity of the container 4 containing the liquid sample Sp and the probe 2 and the electrode 5. A detection unit 6; a pressure detection unit 7 that detects a change in pressure inside the probe 2 caused by contact between the end of the probe 2 and the liquid level of the sample Sp; and the probe 2 detected by the liquid level detection unit 6 Whether or not the probe 2 is in contact with the true liquid surface of the sample Sp by comparing the aspect of the capacitance change between the electrode 5 and the aspect of the pressure change inside the probe 2 detected by the pressure detector 7. Determination unit 8 for determining To control the operation of the sensing device 1 includes a control unit 9 constituted with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a.

  The liquid level detection unit 6 includes an oscillation circuit 61 that oscillates and applies an AC signal having a predetermined frequency, a capacitance detection circuit 62 that detects a capacitance between the probe 2 and the electrode 5, and a capacitance. And a signal processing circuit 63 that outputs a liquid level detection signal generated by performing predetermined signal processing on the output from the detection circuit 62 to the control unit 9.

  The pressure detector 7 is provided in the vicinity of the base end of the probe 2 and detects clogging of the tip of the probe 2 due to contact between the tip of the probe 2 and the liquid surface of the sample Sp as a change in pressure inside the probe 2. The pressure detector 7 is a signal that sends a pressure sensor 71 that detects the pressure inside the probe 2 and a pressure detection signal generated by performing predetermined signal processing to the output from the pressure sensor 71 to the controller 9. And a processing circuit 72.

  Although FIG. 1 shows a case where the electrode 5 has a flat plate shape, the shape of the electrode 5 is not limited to this, and may be a shape that covers the container 4, for example. Moreover, you may combine the function of the electrode 5 by forming the container 4 with an electroconductive material. Furthermore, a part of the metal portion (sheet metal) constituting the casing of the liquid level detection device 1 may be used as the electrode 5.

  Next, the configuration of the liquid level detection device 1 will be described. The liquid level detection device 1 includes a tube 10 that forms a flow path for the cleaning liquid Lq, and a pressure that is applied to the probe 2 to suck or discharge the sample Sp and is applied via the cleaning liquid Lq that flows in the tube 10. A syringe 11 is provided. The syringe 11 has a cylinder 11a and a piston 11b, and should be transmitted to the probe 2 via the cleaning liquid Lq when the piston 11b slides up and down in FIG. Change the pressure. The cleaning liquid Lq as the pressure transmission liquid is made of an incompressible fluid such as ion exchange water or distilled water.

  Further, the liquid level detection device 1 includes a tube 13 that is another flow path whose end is connected to the syringe 11. The tube 13 is sequentially provided with a solenoid valve 14 for controlling the flow of the cleaning liquid Lq and a pump 15 for performing the suction / discharge operation of the cleaning liquid Lq. The end of the tube 13 that is different from the side connected to the syringe 11 reaches the inside of the cleaning liquid tank 16 that stores the cleaning liquid Lq. The operations of the electromagnetic valve 14 and the pump 15 are controlled by the control unit 9.

  The liquid level detection device 1 having the above configuration opens the electromagnetic valve 14 before sucking or discharging the sample Sp, sucks the cleaning liquid Lq by the pump 15, and in the order of the tube 13, the syringe 11, the tube 10, and the probe 2. After sequentially flowing the cleaning liquid Lq, the solenoid valve 14 is closed and the operation of the pump 15 is ended. Thereafter, when the sample Sp is sucked or discharged, under the control of the control unit 9, the piston 11b of the syringe 11 moves, so that an appropriate suction pressure or pressure is applied to the tip of the probe 2 via the cleaning liquid Lq. Generate discharge pressure. Note that an air layer is interposed between the sample Sp and the cleaning liquid Lq in a state where the sample Sp is sucked by the tip of the probe 2. For this reason, when the sample Sp is sucked or discharged, the sample Sp is not mixed with the cleaning liquid Lq.

  Next, an outline of the liquid level detection process performed by the liquid level detection device 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the probe transfer unit 3 is driven in response to a control signal from the control unit 9 to start the probe 2 descending (step S1), and the probe 2 is lowered (step S2).

If the descent amount Δh of the probe 2 from the start of the descent of the probe 2 to the stop of the descent does not reach the predetermined upper limit value h _max (Yes in step S3), the process proceeds to the subsequent step S4. On the other hand, when the descending amount Δh of the probe 2 exceeds the upper limit value h _max (No in step S3), the descending of the probe 2 is stopped (step S5), and the liquid level detection process is terminated. In this sense, the upper limit value h _max determined in step S3 is a value that should stop the descent even when the sample Sp is not accommodated in the container 4.

If Δh ≦ h _max in step S3 (Yes in step S3), the probe 2 continues to descend, but the liquid level detector 6 changes the capacitance between the probe 2 and the electrode 5 during the descending. Is detected (Yes in step S4), the control unit 9 controls the probe transfer unit 3 to stop the descent of the probe 2 (step S6). FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the capacitance detection signal P ₁ (vertical axis) detected by the liquid level detection unit 6 and the descent time t (horizontal axis) of the probe 2. In the case shown in the figure, the capacitance detection signal P ₁ increases rapidly as it approaches the liquid level, and eventually takes a constant value. Hereinafter, the time when the capacitance detection signal P ₁ starts to change is assumed to be t ₀ .

When the tip of the probe 2 reaches the true liquid level, the opening at the tip of the probe 2 is blocked by the liquid level of the sample Sp, and as a result, the pressure inside the probe 2 increases. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the pressure detection signal P ₂ (vertical axis) detected by the pressure detector 7 and the descent time t (horizontal axis) of the probe 2 when the probe 2 reaches the true liquid level. is there. In the case shown in the figure, the pressure inside the probe 2 is measured as a negative pressure. As shown in FIG. 4, the pressure detection signal P ₂ when the tip of the probe 2 reaches the true liquid level is delayed in time t ₁ (> t ₀ ) from the capacitance detection signal P _1. ) Begin to change. This is because when the tip of the probe 2 reaches the liquid level of the sample Sp, the capacitance change between the probe 2 and the electrode 5 is faster than the pressure change due to the clogging of the tip of the probe 2. This is to respond.

The determination unit 8 calculates a time difference (delay) Δt = t ₁ −t ₀ between the time t ₁ when the pressure detection signal P ₂ starts to change and the time t ₀ when the capacitance detection signal P ₁ starts to change. Then, by comparing the calculated time difference Δt with a predetermined time T, it is determined whether or not the signal detected by the liquid level detection unit 6 is a true liquid level.

  The time difference Δt from when the liquid level detection unit 6 starts to detect the capacitance change between the probe 2 and the electrode 5 to when the pressure detection unit 7 starts to detect the pressure change inside the probe 2 is within a predetermined time T ( If Δt ≦ T) (Yes in step S7), the determination unit 8 determines that the liquid level detected by the liquid level detection unit 6 is a true liquid level (step S8). In this case, the piston 11b is driven to generate a suction pressure (negative pressure) at the tip of the probe 2, and a predetermined amount of the sample Sp is sucked. Thereafter, the probe transfer unit 3 transfers the probe 2 to a predetermined position, drives the piston 11b to generate a discharge pressure (positive pressure) at the tip of the probe 2, and holds the sample held at the tip of the probe 2. Sp is discharged into a predetermined container.

  On the other hand, when the pressure detection unit 7 does not start detecting the pressure change within the predetermined time T after the liquid level detection unit 6 starts detecting the change in capacitance (No in step S7), the determination unit 8 It is determined that the liquid level detected by the liquid level detection unit 6 is not a true liquid level (step S9). In this case, the control part 9 returns to step S1 and performs control which repeats the process mentioned above.

  According to the liquid level detection apparatus 1 described above, when a liquid is sucked, the liquid level can be detected with a higher accuracy by detecting a pressure change in the probe 2 in addition to the liquid level detection by the capacitive method. Surface detection can be realized.

  The liquid level detection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can be applied to an automatic analyzer that analyzes the components of a specimen. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a main part of the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention. An automatic analyzer 100 shown in the figure includes a measurement mechanism 101 that dispenses a specimen and a reagent corresponding to a sample Sp into predetermined containers, and performs optical measurement on a liquid contained in the container. And a control analysis mechanism 102 for controlling the automatic analyzer 100 including the measurement mechanism 101 and analyzing the measurement result in the measurement mechanism 101, and by coordinating these two mechanisms, the components of a plurality of specimens are analyzed. It is a device that performs biochemical analysis automatically and continuously.

  First, the measurement mechanism 101 of the automatic analyzer 100 will be described. The measurement mechanism 101 includes a sample transport unit 31 that houses and sequentially transfers a plurality of racks 22 on which sample containers 21 that mainly store general samples are mounted, and various samples other than general samples (standard samples for creating calibration curves, A sample container holding part 32 for holding a sample container 23 for storing a quality control specimen, an emergency specimen, a STAT specimen, a retest specimen, etc.), a reagent container holding part 33 for holding a reagent container 24, and a specimen and a reagent. A reaction container holding unit 34 that holds the reaction container 25 that is a reaction container, a stirring unit 35 that stirs the liquid contained in the reaction container 25, and the intensity for each wavelength component of light that has passed through the reaction container 25. And a photometric unit 36 for measuring and the like.

  In addition, the measurement mechanism 101 includes a sample dispensing unit 37 that dispenses a sample contained in the sample container 21 on the sample transfer unit 31 and the sample container 23 on the sample container holding unit 32 into the reaction container 25, and a reagent container holding A reagent dispensing unit 38 that dispenses the reagent contained in the reagent container 24 on the unit 33 into the reaction container 25, and a cleaning unit 39 that cleans the reaction container 25 are provided. Among these, the sample dispensing unit 37 and the reagent dispensing unit 38 have the same functional configuration as the liquid level detection device 1 described above, and detect the liquid level of the liquid contained in the reaction container 25. be able to.

  Each of the sample containers 21 and 23 is affixed with an information code recording medium (not shown) in which identification information for identifying a sample accommodated therein is encoded and recorded in an information code such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code. . Similarly, an information code recording medium in which identification information for identifying a reagent contained in the reagent container 24 is encoded and recorded in an information code is also attached to the reagent container 24 (not shown). Therefore, the measurement mechanism 101 is affixed to the information code reader CR1 that reads the information code affixed to the sample container 21, the information code reader CR2 that reads the information code affixed to the sample container 23, and the reagent container 24. An information code reading unit CR3 for reading the information code is provided.

  The sample container holding part 32, the reagent container holding part 33, and the reaction container holding part 34 are attached to a wheel for accommodating and holding the sample container 23, the reagent container 24, and the reaction container 25, and the center of the bottom surface of the wheel. Driving means for rotating the wheel about the vertical line passing through the rotation axis (not shown).

  The inside of each container holding part is kept at a constant temperature. For example, the inside of the reagent container holding unit 33 is set to a temperature lower than room temperature in order to suppress deterioration and denaturation of the reagent. In addition, the inside of the reaction container holding unit 34 is set to a temperature that is comparable to the human body temperature.

  The photometry unit 36 is a light source that emits white light, a spectroscopic optical system that splits the white light that has passed through the reaction vessel 25, and a light receiving device that receives light separated by the spectroscopic optical system for each component and converts it into an electrical signal. Device.

  Note that when performing biochemical analysis of the components of the specimen, two types of reagents are often used for one specimen, so the reagent container holding unit 33 for the first reagent and the reagent for the second reagent You may provide the container holding | maintenance part 33 separately. In this case, two reagent dispensing units 38 corresponding to the individual reagent container holding units 33 may be provided. More generally, a plurality of reagent container holding portions 33 and reagent dispensing portions 38 can be provided.

  A plurality of agitation units 35 may be provided in order to simultaneously agitate the liquid in the plurality of reaction vessels 25 at an appropriate timing after dispensing of the specimen or reagent.

  By the way, in FIG. 1, since the main purpose is to schematically show the main components of the measurement mechanism 101, the positional relationship between the components is not necessarily accurate. The exact positional relationship between the components is a design matter that should be determined according to various conditions such as the number of reagent container holding portions 33 and the rotation mode of the wheel of the reaction container holding portion 34 in the interval of the dispensing operation.

  Next, the control analysis mechanism 102 of the automatic analyzer 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The control analysis mechanism 102 includes an input unit 51 that receives input of information necessary for analyzing a sample, an operation instruction signal for instructing the operation of the automatic analyzer 100, and an output unit 52 that outputs information related to analysis of the sample. A data generation unit 53 that generates analysis data of the sample based on the measurement result in the measurement mechanism 101, a storage unit 54 that stores various types of information including information on analysis of the sample and information on the automatic analyzer 100, and control analysis And a control unit 55 that controls each function or each means in the mechanism 102 and performs drive control of the measurement mechanism 101.

  The input unit 51 has a keyboard and a mouse. The input unit 51 may further include a pointing device such as a trackball or a trackpad, or a user interface such as a voice input microphone.

  The output unit 52 includes a display device such as liquid crystal, plasma, organic EL, or CRT that displays various types of information. Further, the output unit 52 may be provided with a voice output speaker or a printer that prints and outputs information on paper or the like.

  The data generation unit 53 performs an analysis operation on the measurement result received from the photometry unit 36 of the measurement mechanism 101. In this analytical calculation, the absorbance of the liquid inside the reaction vessel 25 is calculated based on the measurement result sent from the photometry unit 36, or the reaction is performed using the absorbance calculation result and various information such as a calibration curve and analysis parameters. Analytical data for each specimen is generated by performing a component amount calculation process for quantitatively determining the liquid components in the container 25. The analysis data generated in this way is output from the output unit 52 and is written and stored in the storage unit 54.

  The storage unit 54 is realized by using a hard disk that magnetically stores various information and a memory that loads a program related to the process from the hard disk and electrically records the process when the automatic analyzer 100 executes the process. Analysis items, sample information, reagent types, sample and reagent dispensing volumes, sample and reagent expiration dates, information on calibration curves used for analysis, calibration curve expiration dates, reference values and tolerances for each analysis item Parameters necessary for analysis such as values and analysis data generated by the data generation unit 53 are stored and managed.

  The control unit 55 is realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like having control and calculation functions, and reads out a program stored in the storage unit 54 from the storage unit 54 to control and perform various operations of the automatic analyzer 100. Execute. For this reason, the control part 55 has the function of the control part 9 of the liquid level detection apparatus 1 together.

  According to the automatic analyzer 100 according to the present embodiment described above, since the tip of the probe 2 can accurately detect the liquid level of the specimen or reagent, the probe 2 can be sucked or sprinkled ( It is not necessary to perform a malfunction such as discharging without actually sucking. Therefore, the reliability of analysis data can be improved.

  According to the liquid level detection device and the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the probe that has conductivity and sucks or discharges the liquid contained in the container, and the container is integrated or An electrode disposed in the vicinity of the container; a liquid level detecting means for detecting a liquid level of the liquid based on a change in capacitance between the probe and the electrode; an end of the probe; Detected by the liquid level detecting means with reference to a pressure detecting means for detecting a change in pressure inside the probe caused by contact with the liquid, and a change in pressure inside the probe detected by the pressure detecting means. And determining means for determining whether or not the liquid level is the true liquid level of the liquid, the liquid level of the liquid can be detected with high accuracy.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described in detail so far, but the present invention should not be limited only by the above-described embodiment. For example, in the present invention, a probe formed by mixing a fluororesin such as tetrafluoroethylene and carbon powder may be applied. In general, the fluorine-based resin is excellent in water repellency, and dirt such as protein is less likely to adhere as compared with the case where a metal probe is applied. Therefore, in this case, contamination due to the contamination of the probe can be reduced and dispensing failure can be prevented, and it can be used semipermanently.

  When the probe is formed by mixing the fluororesin and the carbon powder, the conductivity may vary depending on the production lot, and there is a possibility that the detection sensitivity for detecting the liquid level may vary. Therefore, it is more preferable that the liquid level detection unit has a function of correcting the detection sensitivity of the probe to a predetermined sensitivity. Specifically, a sensitivity detection unit that detects the detection sensitivity of the probe with respect to the liquid level detection unit, and a sensitivity correction unit that performs correction to a predetermined detection sensitivity by feeding back a detection result by the sensitivity detection unit. It may be provided. As a result, variations in detection sensitivity due to differences in probe production lots can be eliminated, and liquid level detection accuracy can be maintained accurately.

  Further, the liquid level detection device according to the present invention may be applied to a dispensing mechanism of an automatic analyzer for immunoassay. In this case, the automatic analyzer includes a B / F cleaning unit that performs B / F cleaning necessary for immunoassay using a heterogeneous reaction, and a photomultiplier tube that counts the light emission amount of the luminescent substance as a photometric unit. May be provided. Except for these points, the configuration of the automatic analyzer is almost the same as the configuration of the automatic analyzer described above.

  As is clear from the above description, the present invention can include various embodiments and the like not described herein, and within the scope not departing from the technical idea specified by the claims. Various design changes and the like can be made.

It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the liquid level detection apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the liquid level detection process which the liquid level detection apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention performs. It is a figure which shows the time change of the electrostatic capacitance between a probe and an electrode in case a probe contacts a liquid level. It is a figure which shows the time change of the pressure inside a probe when a probe contacts a liquid level (when it is a true liquid level). It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the automatic analyzer principal part which concerns on one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid level detection apparatus 2 Probe 3 Probe transfer part 4 Container 5 Electrode 6 Liquid level detection part (liquid level detection means)
7 Pressure detector (pressure detector)
8 Judgment part (judgment means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9,55 Control part 10,13 Tube 11 Syringe 11a Cylinder 11b Piston 12 Piston drive part 14 Electromagnetic valve 15 Pump 16 Washing liquid tank 21, 23 Sample container 22 Rack 24 Reagent container 25 Reaction container 31 Specimen transfer part 32 Specimen container holding part 33 Reagent container holding section 34 Reaction container holding section 35 Stirring section 36 Photometry section 37 Sample dispensing section 38 Reagent dispensing section 39 Washing section 51 Input section 52 Output section 53 Data generation section 54 Storage section 61 Oscillation circuit 62 Capacitance detection circuit 63, 72 Signal processing circuit 71 Pressure sensor 100 Automatic analyzer 101 Measurement mechanism 102 Control analysis mechanism CR1, CR2, CR3 Information code reading unit Lq Cleaning liquid Sp Sample

Claims (4)

A liquid level detection device for detecting a liquid level of a liquid contained in a container,
A probe having conductivity and sucking or discharging the liquid;
An electrode disposed integrally with or in the vicinity of the container;
A liquid level detecting means for detecting a liquid level of the liquid based on a change in capacitance between the probe and the electrode;
Pressure detecting means for detecting a change in pressure inside the probe caused by contact between an end of the probe and the liquid;
Determination means for determining whether or not the liquid level detected by the liquid level detection means with reference to the pressure change inside the probe detected by the pressure detection means is the true liquid level of the liquid;
A liquid level detection device comprising: The determination means includes
When the liquid level detection means starts detecting a change in the pressure inside the probe with the pressure detection means within a predetermined time from the start of detecting the change in capacitance between the probe and the electrode, the liquid level detection means The liquid level detection device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level detected by the surface detection unit is determined to be a true liquid level of the liquid. The probe is
The liquid level detection device according to claim 1, comprising a fluorine-based resin and carbon powder. In order to analyze the components of the specimen by reacting the specimen with a reagent, an automatic analyzer equipped with a specimen dispensing means for dispensing the specimen and a reagent dispensing means for dispensing the reagent There,
The said sample dispensing means and the said reagent dispensing means each have the liquid level detection apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3, The automatic analyzer characterized by the above-mentioned.

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