Sample analysis system, cleaning liquid preparation apparatus, sample analyzer, and cleaning liquid supply method

Abstract

Disclosed is a sample analysis system comprising a cleaning liquid preparation apparatus that prepares a cleaning liquid, and a sample analyzer that comprises a measurement unit that measures a sample and a reservoir that stores the cleaning liquid prepared by the cleaning liquid preparation apparatus. The sample analyzer cleans at least a part of the measurement unit with the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid preparation apparatus selectively executes a first supply mode to supply the cleaning liquid to the reservoir when a liquid amount in the reservoir reaches a first amount, and a second supply mode to supply the cleaning liquid to the reservoir when the liquid amount in the reservoir reaches a second amount less than the first amount.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of supplying a cleaning liquid to a reservoir of a sample analysis system, the method comprising:
 supplying, in a first supply mode, the cleaning liquid to the reservoir, in response to a level of the cleaning liquid in the reservoir reaching a first level through a consumption of the cleaning liquid by the sample analysis system; and   supplying, in a second supply mode, the cleaning liquid to the reservoir, in response to the level of the cleaning liquid in the reservoir reaching a second level lower than the first level and higher than a bottom of the reservoir through a consumption of the cleaning liquid by the sample analysis system.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein
 in the first supply mode, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the reservoir in response to a first detector detecting that the level of the cleaning liquid in the reservoir reaches the first level, and   in the second supply mode, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the reservoir in response to a second detector detecting that the level of the cleaning liquid in the reservoir reaches the second level.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the cleaning liquid comprises diluted high-concentration cleaning liquid. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising
 preparing the cleaning liquid by mixing the high-concentration cleaning liquid with a diluent, wherein   the supplying the cleaning liquid to the reservoir in the first and second supply modes comprises supplying the cleaning liquid prepared by the mixing.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein
 the preparing the cleaning liquid comprises storing the cleaning liquid prepared in a second reservoir connected to the reservoir, and   wherein the supplying in the first and second supply modes comprises supplying the cleaning liquid in the second reservoir to the reservoir.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the second supply mode is executed in response to a preset condition being met. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein
 the preset condition is that the sample analysis system is activated, that the date changes to the next date, or that a time previously set by a user arrives.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the cleaning liquid is consumed by the sample analysis system to wash a reagent dispenser comprising a probe to dispense a reagent for measurement of a sample.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein
 the second level is a level that corresponds to an amount that enables cleaning of the probe two or more times.   
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the supplying the cleaning liquid to the reservoir supplies a less amount of cleaning liquid than that stored in the reservoir to the reservoir in the first supply mode, and   the supplying the cleaning liquid to the reservoir supplies a more amount of cleaning liquid than that stored in the reservoir to the reservoir in the second supply mode.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the sample analysis system is capable of performing an immunological testing on a blood sample.   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the second level corresponds to an amount less than half of an amount corresponding to the first level.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the second level corresponds to an amount less than half of an volume of the reservoir.   
     
     
         33 . A method of preparing a cleaning liquid for storing a cleaning liquid in a reservoir for a sample analysis system, the method comprising:
 selectively executing at a programmed processor:   a first mode to repeat consuming the cleaning liquid and supplying the cleaning liquid to the reservoir to maintain a liquid amount in the reservoir at least a first amount; and   a second mode to let the cleaning liquid be consumed until the liquid amount in the reservoir is reduced to a second amount more than zero and less than the first amount.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the second supply mode is executed in response to a preset condition being met. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein
 the preset condition is that the sample analysis system is activated, that the date changes to the next date, or that a time previously set by a user arrives.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein
 The sample analyze system is configured to perform immunological testing on a blood sample.   
     
     
         37 . A sample analysis system comprising:
 a cleaning liquid preparation apparatus that prepares a cleaning liquid; and   a reservoir that stores the cleaning liquid prepared by the cleaning liquid preparation apparatus, wherein   the sample analysis system selectively executes:   a first supply mode to supply the cleaning liquid to the reservoir in response to a level of the cleaning liquid in the reservoir reaching a first level; and   a second supply mode to supply the cleaning liquid to the reservoir in response to the level of the cleaning liquid in the reservoir reaching a second level less than the first level.   
     
     
         38 . The sample analysis system according to  claim 37 , wherein the reservoir comprises:
 a first detector that detects the first level of the cleaning liquid; and   a second detector that detects the second level of the cleaning liquid.   
     
     
         39 . The sample analysis system according to  claim 37 , wherein the cleaning liquid preparation apparatus comprises
 a reagent dispenser comprising a probe to dispense a reagent for measurement of a sample, and   the measurement unit cleans the probe with the cleaning liquid.