1. An automatic analysis apparatus having
a first sample-container loading module which installs a sample container storing an analysis sample,
a sample-container conveying module for conveying the sample container installed in the first sample-container loading module to a sample dispensing position, and
a sample-container storing module which collects and stores the sample container whose sample dispensing has been finished,
the automatic analysis apparatus comprising:
a second sample-container loading module different from the first sample-container loading module which installs the sample container,
wherein the sample-container conveying module includes a sample-container switching module which switches the sample container installed in the second sample-container loading module and the sample container being in a process of sample dispensing, and
the analysis sample of the sample container installed in the second sample-container loading module is preferentially conveyed to the sample dispensing position different from a position of the sample-container switching module and is subjected to sample dispensing.
2. The automatic analysis apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the sample-container switching module has three or more slots, and
the sample container is introduced into one slot selected from among the slots by sliding operation of the sample-container switching module.
3. The automatic analysis apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the sample-container conveying module is divided into a first sample-container conveying module connected to the first and second sample-container loading modules and a second sample-container conveying module connected to the sample-container storing module, with interposing the sample-container switching module therebetween, and
the second sample-container conveying module conveys the sample container in both the direction toward the sample-container switching module and the direction toward the sample-container storing module.
4. The automatic analysis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a sample-container conveying module different from the sample-container conveying module,
wherein the sample-container switching module is connected to the respective sample-container conveying modules, and
a rack mounted with the sample container is withdrawn into the sample-container conveying module via the sample-container switching module and is conveyed to the sample dispensing position.
5. The automatic analysis apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the analysis sample is a medical liquid sample.
6. An automatic analysis method for analyzing an analysis sample by an automatic analysis apparatus having a first sample-container loading module, a sample-container conveying module, a sample-container storing module, a second sample-container loading module different from the first sample-container loading module and a sample-container switching module in the sample-container conveying module, the automatic analysis method comprising:
(a) a step of installing a sample container which stores the analysis sample into the first sample-container loading module;
(b) a step of conveying the sample container installed in the first sample-container loading module to a sample dispensing position by the sample-container conveying module;
(c) a step of collecting and storing the sample container whose sample dispensing has been finished, by the sample-container storing module; and
(d) a step of, if the sample container is installed in the second sample-container loading module, switching the sample container installed in the second sample-container loading module and the sample container being in a process of sample dispensing by the sample-container switching module, preferentially conveying the analysis sample of the sample container installed in the second sample-container loading module to the sample dispensing position different from a position of the sample-container switching module, and subjecting the sample to sample dispensing.
7. The automatic analysis method according to claim 6,
wherein the sample-container switching module has three or more slots, and
the sample container is introduced into one slot selected from among the slots by sliding operation of the sample-container switching module.
8. The automatic analysis method according to claim 6,
wherein the sample-container conveying module is divided into a first sample-container conveying module connected to the first and second sample-container loading modules and a second sample-container conveying module connected to the sample-container storing module, with interposing the sample-container switching module therebetween, and
the second sample-container conveying module conveys the sample container in both the direction toward the sample-container switching module and the direction toward the sample-container storing module.
9. The automatic analysis method according to claim 6,
wherein the analysis sample is a medical liquid sample.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A mapping-measurement apparatus for applying mapping measurement to a predetermined area on a surface of a sample, comprising:
a light illumination unit for illuminating the sample with light;
a photodetector for detecting, through an aperture, reflection light or transmission light coming from the sample; and
a detection-side scanning mirror provided in the optical path from the sample to the aperture,
wherein the aperture restricts light to be detected by the photodetector only to light coming from a given measurement portion only on the surface of the sample,
the detection-side scanning mirror is structured such that the direction of a reflection plane thereof can be changed, and
the direction of the reflection plane of the detection-side scanning mirror is changed with respect to the incident direction of the reflection light or the transmission light coming from the sample to change the measurement portion on the surface of the sample where measurement is performed by the photodetector, to apply mapping measurement to the predetermined area of the sample.
2. A mapping-measurement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination-side scanning mirror for directing the light emitted by the light illumination unit to the sample,
wherein the illumination-side scanning mirror is structured such that the direction of a reflection plane thereof can be changed, and
the direction of the reflection plane of the illumination-side scanning mirror is changed with respect to the incident direction of the light emitted by the light illumination unit to change an illumination portion on the surface of the sample.
3. A mapping-measurement apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the detection-side scanning mirror has two rotation axes independent from each other, and
further comprising a controller for controlling the amounts of rotation on the rotation axes of the scanning mirror.
4. A mapping-measurement apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the illumination-side scanning mirror has two rotation axes independent from each other, and
further comprising a controller for controlling the amounts of rotation on the rotation axes of the scanning mirror.
5. A mapping-measurement apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an objective mirror disposed in the optical path between the illumination-side scanning mirror and the sample, for focusing the light emitted by the light illumination unit on a specific minute portion on the surface of the sample.
6. A mapping-measurement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an objective mirror disposed in the optical path between the sample and the detection-side scanning mirror, for collecting reflection light andor transmission light coming from a specific minute portion on the surface of the sample.
7. A mapping-measurement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the photodetector is a single-element detector.
8. A mapping-measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photodetector is a multi-element detector.
9. A mapping-measurement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the photodetector is a multi-element detector.