JPH0378584B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that performs biochemical analysis and immunological analysis, and in particular, it is simple and compact, and is capable of obtaining highly accurate analytical data. The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer suitable for a so-called single method or single multi method.

[Conventional technology and its issues]

Various automatic analyzers of this type have been proposed in the past, but in recent years many automatic analyzers have become more complex, larger, more expensive, and faster. Regional and small and medium-sized hospitals that do not require blood tests do not have the necessity to install this type of large-scale automatic analyzer, so they currently request specialized blood testing centers to conduct blood tests for their own patients. Therefore, it is very inconvenient when an emergency is required, and it is easy to waste costs, and when it is necessary to check the analysis data with the patient's blood or perform a retest, it is difficult to obtain the results. The problem is that it takes a lot of time to complete.

Furthermore, in general, automatic analyzers that clean reaction vessels for reuse are equipped with a cleaning device that cleans the reaction vessels after measurement work has been completed for the above purpose. In addition, in the case of immunological analysis in particular, it is difficult to clean and reuse reaction vessels due to poor cleaning. It also had the problem of being affected by blood.

This invention was devised in view of the current situation, and its purpose is to provide a compact design that meets the needs of local and small-to-medium-sized hospitals, simple operation and configuration, and a low-cost, cross-sectional design. The aim is to provide an automatic analyzer that does not cause contamination and is suitable for all types of analysis.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automatic analyzer with a sheet-like structure in which a plurality of bottomed reaction vessels are formed in series, and a plurality of rows of such reaction vessels are integrally formed. a reaction container body, a cutter device for cutting the reaction container body row by row;
A cutter device that cuts the reaction vessels cut in each row in units of one vessel, and a cutter device that cuts the reaction vessels cut in each line in a straight line at a predetermined timing at a sample dispensing position, a reagent dispensing position, and an optical A reaction vessel transfer device that sequentially transfers the sample to the measurement position and the reaction vessel disposal position, a sample dispensing device that dispenses the required amount of sample at the sample dispensing position, and a reagent dispensing position that dispenses the required amount of reagent corresponding to the measurement item at the reagent dispensing position. This system is characterized by being composed of a reagent dispensing device for dispensing the reagent, an optical measurement device, and a disposal device for discarding the reaction container after measurement.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic analyzer A according to this embodiment has a required number of reaction vessels 1 (in the illustrated embodiment, 10 reaction vessels 1 in the horizontal direction per sheet) each having a contraction part in the shape of a rectangular cylinder with a bottom. , a sheet-like reaction container body H formed of 5 pieces in the vertical direction (50 pieces in total), a stocker B that stores the sheet-like reaction containers H in a layered manner, and a stocker B that stores the separated reaction containers 1 in a predetermined position. A reaction vessel is transferred in a straight line to a sample (serum) dispensing position a, a first reagent dispensing position b, a second reagent dispensing position c, a stirring position d, an optical measurement position e, and a reaction vessel disposal position f at the timing of Transfer device C and the reaction container body H
A cutter device E that cuts the reaction container row by row (that is, 10 reaction containers 1), a cutter device F that cuts the reaction container row cut by the cutter device E into one container unit, and a sample sucked from the sample container 5. a sample dispensing device G that dispenses a required amount of the sample into the reaction container 1 at the sample dispensing position a, and a reagent corresponding to the measurement item aspirated from the reagent containers 30, 30' at the reagent dispensing positions b and c. A first reagent dispensing device J ₁ and a second reagent dispensing position for dispensing the required amount into the reaction container 1
J ₂ , a stirring device M that bubbles the reaction liquid in the reaction container 1 in conjunction with the second reagent dispensing position J ₂ , an optical measurement device K, and the reaction container 1 after the optical measurement is discarded. It consists of a disposal device L.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reaction container H is made of a transparent material such as plastic that is flexible and has excellent reagent resistance.
It is formed into a sheet shape with a thickness of about mm, and has a rectangular planar shape and a concave cross-section. 50 reaction vessels 1 in total, 10 in the horizontal direction and 5 in the vertical direction, are formed by injection or vacuum forming. ing.

In addition, at both ends in the width direction of each row of reaction vessels 1, as shown in FIG.
Engagement holes 2 are respectively formed to engage with the respective feed claws 11b, 11b provided in the.

Note that this reaction container 1 has a thin film adhered to its opening that can be easily broken with a sample pipette or reagent pipette, which will be described later, so that the inside of the reaction container 1 is sealed when not in use. It may also be configured to prevent dust and the like from entering.

The sheet-like reaction container body H configured in this way
As shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of sheets are stored in a stacker B in a stacked state, and at the beginning of the measurement, the uppermost reaction container H is transferred through an intermittent transfer device (not shown). one row at a time, reaction container transfer device C
The paper is transferred toward the transfer side end (lower right side in FIG. 1), and cut line by line by the cutter device E at this position. The row of reaction vessels H thus cut is set at the transfer start side end of the reaction vessel transfer device C.

The stocker B is configured to store a required number of reaction containers H in a stacked state, and the uppermost reaction container H is transported by an intermittent transfer device (not shown) as described above. One pitch at a time is transferred to the transfer side end of the reaction container transfer device C, and after all of the uppermost reaction containers H have been transferred, the next reaction container H is transferred via the lifting device N to the above-mentioned Each reaction vessel H is transferred so that it is set at the top position.

The line of reaction containers H cut by the cutter device E is cut one container at a time by the cutter device F at least one pitch before the sample dispensing position a. Cutting the reaction vessels 1 one by one with the cutter device F in this way is possible when the reaction vessels 1 are transferred line by line while remaining continuous, when the analysis request is completed. , since the analysis work cannot be said to have been completed unless the reaction container containing the final sample to be analyzed has been transferred to the disposal position, This is because a plurality of unused reaction vessels would be wasted, and furthermore, it is easier to handle if they are cut up for disposal purposes.

Note that the cutter devices E and F have the same structure as a known cutter mechanism, so a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here.

The reaction vessels 1 cut one by one by the cutter device F are transferred to the reaction vessel transfer device C described above.
is sequentially transferred toward the optical measurement position along a linearly formed transfer path.

The transfer path of the reaction container transfer device C is formed with a U-shaped cross section on the top surface of a heating block 10, and the heating block 10 is fixed to the bottom of the transfer path so as not to move, and the heating block 10 is fixed to the bottom of the transfer path so as not to move. Walls 11, 11 are disposed on both sides of the block 10 and are connected so as to be able to cooperate in the horizontal and vertical directions.

The walls 11, 11 configured in this way are supported at their lower ends 11a, 11a by elastic supports 12, 12, respectively.

The elastic supports 12, 12 include a roller 14 having a groove 13 formed at its upper end into which the lower ends 11a, 11a of the side walls 11, 11 are fitted, and a holder that rotatably supports the roller 14. 15, and a spring 16 that normally biases the holder 15 upward.

Elastic supports 12, 12 configured in this way
are arranged at each of the four corners of the transfer path, and support the walls 11, 11 so as to be movable left and right and up and down.

The walls 11, 11 supported by the elastic supports 12, 12 in this way are moved to the left and right by the motor 17.
Driven to move up and down.

That is, the motor 17 has a cam 1 at the tip of its drive shaft.
8 is fixed to the cam 18, and an eccentric body 18 is attached to the cam 18.
a is arranged.

The eccentric body 18a engages with a square engagement notch 19 formed in one wall 11, and as the eccentric body 18a is driven to rotate, the walls 11, 11
is driven horizontally and vertically, and as a result, wall 1
Each feed claw 11b formed at the upper end of 1, 11,
11b engages with the engagement hole 2 of the reaction vessel 1 and moves the reaction vessel 1 one pitch at a time in the direction of the optical measurement position.

Incidentally, regarding the upward movement of the side walls 11, 11 among the horizontal and vertical movements by the motor 17, as described above, the both side walls 11, 11 are biased upwardly by the elastic supports 12. , is configured such that its rise is regulated by a lid body 20, which will be described later.

Further, a plurality of cams 18 and motors 17 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the transfer path.

When the reaction vessels 1 are transferred by the reaction vessel transfer device C configured as described above, the reaction vessels 1 cut one by one by the cutter device F are cut as shown in FIG. 6A. When set in the transfer path, the eccentric body 18a of the cam 18 is set at a 90 degree position, so that the eccentric body 18a of the cam 18
is in contact with the upper right side of the engagement notch 19 formed in the wall 11. In this case, the respective feeding claws 11b, 11b formed at the upper end portions of the walls 11, 11 do not engage with the engagement hole 2 of the reaction vessel 1.

From this state, the cam 18 rotates clockwise in FIG. 6 to the position where the angle is 0 degrees, and the walls 11, 11 are pressed and lowered.
Each feed claw 11b, 11 formed at the upper end of 11
b engages with the engagement hole 2 of the reaction vessel 1.

Then, as the eccentric body 18a contacts the lower right side of the notch 19 as shown in FIG.

After this, as shown in FIG. 6C, the eccentric body 18a
When rotated further clockwise to the 270 degree position,
The walls 11, 11 are pressed by the eccentric body 18a against the biasing force of the spring 16 of the elastic support 12, and the walls 11, 11 are moved one pitch to the left in the figure, and as a result, the reaction vessel 1 is also moved one pitch to the left in the figure.

Thereafter, as the eccentric body 18a rotates to the 180 degree position as shown in FIG.
11 is raised by the biasing force of the spring 16 and returns to its original position. After this, the cam 18
The wall 11, 11 rotates to the position shown in Figure A.
rises until it collides with the lid 20, so the wall 1
Each feed claw 11b formed at the upper end of 1, 11,
11b and the engagement hole 2 of the reaction vessel 1 is released, and as a result, only the reaction vessel 1 is transferred one pitch.

Reaction container 1 transferred one pitch in this way
is transferred pitch by pitch by a similarly constructed motor and cam (not shown) located at the next transfer position.

Note that the lid 20 has the sample dispensing position a,
At the reagent dispensing positions b and c and the stirring position d, through holes (not shown) through which each pipette is inserted into the reaction vessel 1 are provided.

The heating block 10 is also equipped with a heating element made of nichrome wire, etc., so that the sample in the reaction vessel 1 transferred along the transfer path is
During transportation, it is heated to, for example, the temperature of a living body (approximately 37° C.).

The sample dispensing device G is connected to the first
A sample holder 22 rotated clockwise in the figure,
A sampling pipette 23 aspirates a required amount of the sample in the sample container 5 held by the sample holder 22 at a sample suction position g, and the sample holder 22 has a required number of samples on its outer periphery. The containers 5 are held in a loop shape, and a required number of sample containers 5' are also held in a loop shape on the inner peripheral side of the loop row.
The sample container 5 is a container for storing general samples, and the sample container 5' stores samples for a calibration curve and emergency samples (specimens).

The sample holder 22 intermittently transports the sample container 5 or 5' to the sample suction position g via the drive device 24. As shown in FIG. 7, this sample holder 22 is pivotally supported on a support base 24 that can linearly slide upward in FIG. This is performed when the sample in the sample container 5' is aspirated. The amount of sliding in this case is set to be the same as the distance between the long axes of the sample containers 5 and 5' held by the sample holder 22.

When the predetermined sample container 5 or 5' is thus transferred to the predetermined sample suction position g, the sample in the sample container 5 or 5' is aspirated in the required amount via the sampling pipette 23, and then , is dispensed into the reaction vessel 1.

The sampling pipette 23 has an arm 26 whose one end is pivotally supported by a shaft 25, a pipette 27 disposed at the other end of the arm 26, and a pipette 27 connected in communication with the pipette 27, similar to the structure of a known sampling pipette. The sampling pump 28 that aspirates the required amount of the sample and discharges it into the reaction container 1, and the arm 26 are controlled to rotate from the sample suction position g to the sample dispensing position a and further to the washing position h at a predetermined timing. and a drive device (not shown) that controls the lifting and lowering at each position.

This sample measurement method involves filling the suction system with water, separating the sample and water via air, and then suctioning and measuring the sample. Only the sample is then discharged. After this, washing water is passed from inside the system and pipetted. Clean the inside of 27. During this cleaning, the pipette 27 is of course set at the pipette cleaning position h, and the sample adhering to the outer surface of the pipette 27 is cleaned at the same position. Note that this pipette 27 is equipped with a suction amount confirmation device (not shown) having a known configuration for checking the amount of sample, etc. sucked up, and detects the absolute amount of sample, etc. each time sampling is performed. , if the sample amount is insufficient, this is automatically corrected.

The reagent device R includes a first reagent bottle 30 and a second reagent bottle 3 containing reagents corresponding to measurement items.
0', and a bottle transfer in which each bottle 30 or 30' is transferred to the first reagent suction position i or the second reagent suction position j by controlling the rotation of the table 33 on which the reagent bottles 30 or 30' are placed. Equipment (not shown)
, a first reagent pipette 31 that aspirates a required amount of the first reagent corresponding to the measurement item from the first reagent bottle 30 at the first reagent suction position i, and a second reagent bottle 30' at the second reagent suction position j. It is comprised of a second reagent pipette 32 for aspirating a required amount of a second reagent corresponding to the measurement item from inside the pipette. Note that the first and second reagent bottles 3 disposed on the table 33 are
0,30' are set at predetermined positions,
These positions are each stored in the controller CPU. Further, in FIG. 1, the reference numeral 38 is a reagent cooler, and the reagents in the reagent bottles 30, 30' are
Cooled to 10-12 degrees Celsius.

In this way, when the reagent bottles 30, 30' corresponding to the measurement item arrive at the predetermined reagent suction positions i, j, the first and second reagent pipettes 31, 32
The corresponding reagents are dispensed into the reaction vessel 1 in required amounts.

These first and second reagent pipettes 31 and 32
, arms 35, 35' whose one ends are pivotally supported by shafts 34, 34', similar to the structure of known pipetting devices;
The pipettes 31, 32 disposed at the other ends of the arms 35, 35' are connected in communication with the pipettes 31, 32, and are connected to the pipettes 31, 32 to suck a required amount of reagent into the reaction vessel 1.
pumps 36, 36', and the arm 3
5 and 35' from the reagent suction positions i and j to the reagent dispensing positions b and c, and further to the washing positions k and m, at predetermined timing, and each drive device (not shown) controls the movement up and down at each position. ) and consists of.

This method of measuring reagents involves filling the suction system with water, separating the reagent and water via air, then suctioning and measuring the reagent, then discharging only the reagent, and then pouring washing water from inside the pipette. Clean the inside of 31 and 32. During this washing, the pipette 31,
Of course, the pipettes 32 are set at pipette cleaning positions k and m, and the samples adhering to the outer surfaces of the pipettes 31 and 32 are cleaned at the same positions.

Note that the pipettes 31 and 32 are equipped with a suction amount confirmation device (not shown) having a known configuration for checking the amount of reagents, etc. sucked up. The reagent amount is automatically corrected by detecting the absolute amount of the reagent.

The stirring device M includes an arm 41 that can rotate around a shaft 40, a Geneva gear 42 fixed to the arm 41, a tube 43 that sends air into the sample in the reaction vessel 1, and a It consists of a cutter (not shown) that cuts the contact portion of the tube 43, a feeding means (not shown) that feeds out the tube 43 by a certain length, and a tube stocker 44 that stores the tube 43 in a wound state. The Geneva gear 42 meshes with a gear 38 disposed on the arm 35' of the second reagent pipette 32.

Therefore, when the arm 35' is set at the cleaning position m as shown in FIG.
The arm 41 of the stirring device M is set in a standby state. Thereafter, when the arm 35' rotates to the second reagent suction position i (counterclockwise in FIG. 1), the Geneva gear 42 fixed to the arm 41 and the gear 38 disposed on the arm 35' The meshing state of the arm 41 is released, and therefore the arm 41 maintains the set state at the above-mentioned standby position.

From this state, when the pipette 32 aspirates the required amount of the second reagent and the arm 35' rotates in the direction of the reaction container 1 (clockwise in Figure 1), the Geneva gear 42 fixed to the arm 41 and the arm 35' are connected again. The arm 41 is set in mesh with the provided gear 38, so that the arm 41 is directed toward the reaction vessel 1 (counterclockwise in FIG. 1).
The tip of the tube 43 is set directly above the reaction vessel 1 at the stirring position d.

Next, when the arm 35' is lowered from the above state and the dispensing operation of the second reagent is started, the arm 35'
5', the arm 41 also descends, so that the tip of the tube 43 is immersed in the sample in the reaction vessel 1, supplying air bubbles into the sample and stirring it.

When the reagent dispensing operation by the pipette 32 is completed, the arm 35' rises, and accordingly the arm 41 rises due to the biasing force of a spring (not shown), and the pipette 32 further rotates to the washing position m. (counterclockwise in FIG. 1), the arm 41 also rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 and returned to its original position. At this time, the tube 43 is cut by a cutter (not shown) using the rotational force of the arm 41. This cutting is done to eliminate contamination during measurement by cutting off the contact portion of the tube 43 that has once contacted the sample as described above.

The optical measurement device k forming a detection part or an observation point includes a light source 50, a filter device 51 that converts the measurement light irradiated from the light source 50 into a wavelength corresponding to the measurement item, and a reaction vessel in which the wavelength-converted measurement light is transmitted. A light receiving element 52 that receives the amount of light after passing through the light receiving element 52
, a control unit CPU that converts the amount of light received by the light receiving element 52 into voltage and processes the analysis value, a storage unit 53 that stores the data, and a display unit 54.
Printer 55 and stabilized power supply/detection circuit 56
and the stabilized power supply/detection circuit 56 and light source 50,
It is composed of a unit 57 in which a filter device 51 and a light receiving element 52 are housed, and a detector moving device 58 that slides the unit 57 back and forth along the transfer path of the reaction vessel 1. Of course, the light source 50 and the light receiving element 52 are set at positions facing each other across the transfer path of the reaction vessel 1.

Further, in the optical measuring device K, the reaction container 1 is connected to the optical path q.
The absorbance of the sample in the reaction vessel 1 that crosses the light path q is measured colorimetrically as it crosses the light beam.

The detector moving device 58 is composed of a known linear sliding guide mechanism consisting of, for example, a ball screw, a slide guide, and a wire, and has a maximum luminous flux of 17
It is slidably guided across the interior of each reaction vessel 1. That is, the light beam is configured to pass through the 17 reaction vessels 1 from the second reagent dispensing position c toward the reaction vessel disposal position f. This is because the sample blank before dispensing the second reagent can be measured at the second reagent dispensing position c. Therefore, if a sample blank is not required, the light beam may be configured to start from the stirring position d.

Therefore, this optical measurement device K continuously measures all of the 17 reaction vessels 1 from the second reagent dispensing position c, for example, every 20 seconds for 5 minutes to obtain the reaction time course of each reaction vessel 1. be able to.

The disposal device L is disposed at the end of the transfer path of the reaction container 1, and its configuration uses a bottomed container with an open top. It is discarded into the discard device L at position f.

The control unit CPU controls the operation of the automatic analyzer A, calculates and judges measurement signals, and the like. Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 60 indicates a power supply, 61 indicates a cooling control section, and 62 indicates a constant temperature control section. The sample in each reaction container 1 transferred along the path is heated to the biological temperature (approximately 37° C.).

Next, when performing automatic analysis using the automatic analyzer A according to this embodiment, first turn on the power supply 60.
When the start switch (not shown) is turned on,
A sheet-like reaction container body H is pushed out from the stocker B in the direction of the transfer path, cut into rows (10 reaction containers) by a cutter device E, and set on the transfer path.

A row of reaction vessels 1 set on this transfer path
is intermittently transferred one container at a time toward the left in FIG. disconnected.

The reaction containers 1 cut into individual containers in this manner are transported to the sample dispensing position a. on the other hand,
Correspondingly, the sample dispensing position G is rotated and transferred to the sample dispensing position a after aspirating the required amount of sample from within the sample container 5 set at the sample suction position g. Dispense the above sample into

Next, the reaction container transfer device intermittently transfers the reaction container 1 into which the sample has been dispensed to the first reagent dispensing position b for each pitch.

When the reaction container 1 reaches the first reagent dispensing position b, the reagent table 33 is rotated in synchronization with this, and the first reagent bottle 30 containing the reagent corresponding to the measurement item is moved to the reagent suction position i. A required amount of the first reagent is aspirated from inside the bottle 30 via the first reagent pipette device 31, and is dispensed into the reaction container 1 that has arrived at the first reagent dispensing position b. .

The reaction containers 1 are then transferred by a predetermined pitch (16 containers in the illustrated embodiment) to the second reagent dispensing position c. In response, the reagent table 33 is controlled to rotate, and the reagent bottle 30' containing the second reagent corresponding to the measurement item is transferred to the second reagent suction position j, and the second reagent pipette 32 is used to collect the required amount. The second reagent is aspirated into the reaction vessel 1.
It is dispensed within.

Further, at a position e which is one pitch ahead of the second reagent suction position j, bubble stirring of the sample is performed by the stirring device M.

Thereafter, the reaction container 1 held in the heating block 10 is sent to the optical measurement device e by the transfer device C, where a predetermined optical measurement is performed corresponding to the measurement item, and the scanning operation of the unit 57 is performed. Then,
The reaction time course for each reaction vessel 1 is determined.
Note that the principle of colorimetric measurement by filter conversion of the filter device 51 is the same as a known one, so detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here.

The analysis values obtained in the above manner are
Data is processed by the CPU and displayed on the display unit 54,
Alternatively, it may be printed out using the printer 55 if necessary.

After the optical measurement is completed, the reaction vessel 1 is discarded as it is in the disposal device L at the reaction vessel disposal position f.

Further, in the above embodiments, an example was explained in which an eccentric cam was used as the reaction vessel transfer means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same effect can be achieved even if gears or endless belts are used, for example. In addition, a diffraction grating system can be used as an optical measuring device. Furthermore, the cutter device may be located immediately before the disposal location.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since this invention is configured as described above, the entire device can be configured compactly and easily.
As a result, it is possible to provide a low-cost automatic analyzer with few failures, and also to provide a single or single-multi type automatic analyzer that meets the requirements of small and medium-sized hospitals.

Furthermore, since the present invention is a so-called disposable type in which the reaction container is not washed and reused, cross-contamination does not occur, and therefore it is suitable for immunological analysis. The device is simplified and simplified to the extent that it is not required, and the automatic analyzer can be made more compact.
The reaction container is formed into a sheet shape by injection or vacuum forming, and is cut with a cutter device for use, so it can be manufactured at low cost, and the reaction container can be cut into individual containers. By doing so, you can eliminate waste of reaction vessels, etc.
It has many excellent effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view schematically showing the overall configuration of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is an overall perspective view of the reaction vessel body, Figure 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a row of reaction vessels in which the reaction vessel body has been cut, and Figure 4 is a stocker and the reaction vessel body accommodated in this stocker. A cross-sectional view showing the relationship between
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the reaction container transfer device with some parts omitted; FIGS.
The figure is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a sample holder moving device. Explanation of symbols, A...Automatic analyzer, H...Reaction container body, C...Reaction container transfer device, E...Cutter device, F...Cutter device, G...Sample dispensing device, R...Reagent Dispensing device, K... optical measuring device,
L... Disposal device, 1... Reaction container, a... Sample dispensing position, b... First reagent dispensing position, c... Second reagent dispensing position, e... Optical measurement position, f... Disposal position.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sheet-like reaction container body in which a plurality of bottomed reaction containers are formed in series and a plurality of rows of such reaction containers are integrally formed, and a cutter device for cutting the reaction container body row by row; A cutter device that cuts the reaction containers cut in each row in units of one container, and a cutter device that cuts the reaction containers cut in each row in a straight line at a predetermined timing at a sample dispensing position, a reagent dispensing position, and an optical A reaction vessel transfer device that sequentially transfers the sample to the measurement position and the reaction vessel disposal position, a sample dispensing device that dispenses the required amount of sample at the sample dispensing position, and a reagent dispensing position that dispenses the required amount of reagent corresponding to the measurement item at the reagent dispensing position. This automatic analyzer is comprised of a reagent dispensing device, an optical measurement device, and a disposal device that directly discards the reaction container after measurement.