JP2000028622A - Multi-specimen analyzing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To analyze the analytical items of a specimen by feeding a specimen rack to a plurality of analyzers having different reagent supply system. SOLUTION: A dispenser type analyzer 3A, wherein reagent emitting nozzles are specialized at every reagents and pipetter type analyzers 3B, 3C successively distributing reagents corresponding to analytical items by pipetting nozzles are arranged along a main feed line 20. The reagent description data for respective bottles are registered in a control part, corresponding to the numbers of the analyzers and the control part decides which analyzer for treating a specimen on the basis of the rack of a fed specimen rack or the discrimination data of a container.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-sample analysis system, and more particularly, to a system for transporting a sample rack to a plurality of analyzers via a transport line and analyzing desired analysis items of a large number of samples. The present invention relates to a multi-sample analysis system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A multi-sample analysis system is known in which a sample rack containing a sample is transported to a plurality of analyzers via a transport line in order to perform an analysis test of a body fluid sample such as blood or urine.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-271164, two or three types of analyzers are installed along a circulating transport line formed by a belt conveyor. After the sample rack is stopped in front of the necessary analyzer identified by the code reader and the sample is dispensed to that analyzer, the sample rack is transported to the next analyzer, and the sample is dispensed. An automatic analysis system for recovery is described.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 25755/1990 discloses a method in which a plurality of reaction units having different analysis functions are provided along a main transfer line, and a bypass line for taking a sample rack from the transfer line to a sampling position of each reaction unit is provided. An analysis system for sampling a sample from a bypass line to an analysis unit is shown. In this analysis system, a sample container containing a sample is provided with a barcode label indicating ID information, and a sample rack containing a plurality of sample containers is also provided with a barcode label. The ID information of the sample on the sample rack that is intermittently transferred is read, and the corresponding reaction unit is designated. When the corresponding reaction section is sampling another sample, the sample rack is returned to the upstream side of the main transport line again through the return transport line, and the sample rack is circulated until the corresponding reaction section becomes empty.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned JP-A-63-2711
Although there is a suggestion in Japanese Patent Publication No. 64 that a sample is subjected to biochemical analysis by an analyzer, there is no specific description about how to handle an analysis item and a reagent to be used. Further, in the analysis system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 25755/1990, each analysis unit is configured to have a different function, so that each analysis item is analyzed by a dedicated analysis unit according to its type. Will be processed. For this reason, an analysis item with a large number of test requests is forced to wait for the dispensing process of the preceding sample compared to an analysis item with a small number of test requests, and it takes a long time to obtain data of the analysis result. Become.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-sample analysis system which can transport a sample rack to a plurality of analyzers having different reagent supply systems and analyze and analyze sample analysis items.

[0007]

The present invention comprises a main transport line for transporting a sample rack from a rack sending section to a rack collecting section, and a sample dispensing section for dispensing a sample on the sample rack to a reaction section. A plurality of analyzers each having a reagent supply unit for supplying a reagent corresponding to an analysis item to a reaction unit are arranged along a main transport line, and are applied to an analysis system that analyzes and processes a multi-sample by the plurality of analyzers. . In the present invention, the plurality of analyzers have a fixed analysis channel, and the plurality of reagent discharge nozzles are each dedicated to each reagent.A dispenser type analyzer, and the analysis channel is not fixed. Includes pipettor-type analyzers that dispense reagents according to the analysis items one after another with the reagent pipetting nozzle, and associates the reagent identification information of each reagent bottle stored in the reagent supply section of each analyzer with the analyzer number. The analysis unit of the sample on the sample rack is analyzed based on the reading of the identification information on the sample rack or the sample container when the sample rack is transported by the main transport line. The control unit determines whether the sample rack can be processed, and transports the sample rack to the designated analyzer via the main transport line based on the determination result.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a multi-sample analysis system capable of analyzing samples of serum, plasma, and urine as sample types. In the analysis system of FIG. 1, an analyzer that supplies a reagent by a dispenser method as shown in FIG. 2 and an analyzer that supplies a reagent by a pipettor method as shown in FIG. 3 are mixed. Analyzers 3A and 3F in FIG.
And 3G are dispenser-type analyzers each having a fixed analysis channel and each of a plurality of reagent discharge nozzles being dedicated for each reagent. Analyzer 3B, 3
C, 3D, and 3E are pipettor-type analyzers in which the analysis channels are randomly accessed without being fixed, and the reagents according to the analysis items are sequentially dispensed by one reagent pipetting nozzle.

In FIG. 1, analyzers 3A, 3B and 3
For C, the analysis conditions are set so as to analyze a sample whose sample type is serum, and the analyzers 3D and 3E analyze the plasma sample, and the analyzers 3F and 3G analyze the urine sample. Analysis conditions are set respectively. The analyzers 3A to 3G correspond to the sampling lines 4A to 4G, which are transfer paths having a function of returning the sample rack 1 taken in from the main transfer line 20 to the main transfer line 20 after positioning the sample rack 1 at the sampling position, and correspond to each sampling line. The identification information reading devices 51 to 57 for reading the identification information of the sample rack 1 or the identification information of each sample container on the sample rack 1 react with a reaction according to an analysis item between the sample and the reagent. The apparatus includes reaction units 5A to 5G that proceed in a container and optically measure a reaction solution, and a reagent supply unit. 26, 2 of the reagent supply units of each analyzer
7, 28 and 29 are of the pipettor type, and 32, 3
Reference numerals 3 and 34 denote dispenser systems.

The rack sending section 17 is provided with a large number of sample racks 1.
And an output mechanism for sending out the sample racks 1 one by one toward the main transport line 20. The rack collecting section 18 has an area for collecting the sample racks 1 containing the samples analyzed and processed by the respective analyzers, and has an alignment mechanism for arranging the sample racks in an orderly manner. The temporary storage unit 22 temporarily stores the sample rack 1 sampled by the analyzer until a measurement result is output, and when a retest is necessary, the retest rack transport line 2
The sample rack is sent out again via the main transfer line 20 via the reference numeral 5, and the sample rack is sent out to the rack collection unit 18 when re-examination is unnecessary.

The control device is a computer 40 for overall control.
And an analyzer-side computer 6A to 6G provided corresponding to each analyzer, and a floppy disk memory 41. The analyzer-side computers 6A to 6G share the processing of the output signals from the photometers of the respective analyzers, and the overall control computer 40 connected to them performs the operation of each analyzer, the operation of the rack transport system, and the operation of the system. In addition to controlling the operation of necessary parts, it performs calculations and controls necessary for various types of information processing. The role assignment between the computers is not limited to this, and can be changed to various modes according to the necessity of the configuration, or the computer for the analyzer can be eliminated by using only the overall control computer 40. It is. The overall control computer 40 has a storage unit 45.
And an operation unit 42 for data input, a CRT 43 for displaying information on a screen, and a printer 44 capable of outputting a measurement result are connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the sample rack 1 is formed of a box-shaped container holder into which a plurality of, for example, five sample containers 2 each containing a sample are loaded. Various things can be used. An identification information medium indicating rack identification information is provided on an outer wall of the sample rack 1, and an identification information medium indicating sample identification information is provided on an outer wall of the sample container 2. Barcode labels, magnetic recording media, and the like are used as these identification information media. The barcode provided on the sample rack 1 has information on the rack number and the sample type. The barcode provided on the sample container 2 has information on each sample, for example, information such as a reception number, a reception date, a patient name, a patient number, a sample type, and a sample request analysis item.

The identification information reading device 50 shown in FIG. 1 inputs the result of reading the identification information (bar code) of the sample rack 1 or the sample container 2 before being transported by the main transport line 20 to the computer 40. In addition, the temporary storage unit 22
When the sample rack 1 enters and exits the temporary storage unit 22, the identification information reading device 58 reads the barcode of the sample rack or the sample container and transmits the barcode to the overall control computer 40.

Reagent bottles 12, 12A, 12 for various analysis items stored in the reagent supply sections of the analyzers 3A to 3G.
In B, reagent identification information is displayed on the outer wall thereof in the form of a barcode or the like. The reagent identification information includes a reagent manufacturing lot number, a size of a reagent bottle, a usable amount of a reagent solution, an expiration date, a sequence number different for each bottle, an analysis item code, and the like. Such reagent identification information is read by the barcode reader, and each of the analyzers 3A to 3A is read.
Corresponding to G, the setting position of the reagent bottle in the reagent supply unit, the number of times the reagent can be analyzed calculated from the usable liquid amount and one dispensed amount, the type of analysis item, and the analysis in which the reagent is stored The device number and the like are registered in the storage unit 45.

The main transport line 20 includes a transport belt on which the sample rack 1 is mounted and a belt drive motor, and is controlled by a control unit to continuously transport the sample rack to a desired position. Each of the sampling lines 4A to 4G can intermittently move the conveyor belt so as to stop the rack at the rack retraction position, the dispensing position, and the rack delivery position. The sample rack 1 transported by the main transport line 20 is moved along the rows of the analyzers, stopped in front of the analyzers designated by the controller, and immediately sampled by the rack transfer mechanism (not shown). To the rack retracted position. The sample rack 1 for which the sample dispensing operation has been completed at the dispensing position is delivered from the rack sending position of the sampling line onto the main transport line 20 by the rack transfer mechanism. As the rack transfer mechanism, a transfer robot having a rack gripping arm, a mechanism having an extruding lever for pushing a sample rack from one of the main transport line and the sampling line to the other, or the like is used.

An example of the configuration of a dispenser type analyzer is as follows.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Reaction unit 5A of analyzer 3A
Is a multi-wavelength luminous intensity which comprises two concentric rows of reaction vessels having translucent reaction vessels 46a, and separates light transmitted through the reaction vessel 46A from the light source 14a for each reaction vessel row to receive a plurality of wavelengths. A total of 15a is provided. A sample dispenser 48a having a pipette nozzle connected to a sample pipettor pump 47a and a first reagent nozzle connected to a reagent dispenser pump 60 are provided near the reaction section 5A so as to act on each reaction vessel row. A group holding unit 64 and a second reagent nozzle group holding unit 66, a first stirring mechanism 65 and a second stirring mechanism 67,
A reaction vessel cleaning mechanism 19a is provided. In the reagent cool box 62, reagent bottles 12 of a first reagent and a second reagent (only for necessary analysis items) for a plurality of analysis items are arranged, and are cooled to a predetermined temperature. Each reagent bottle 1
The reagent liquid in 2 is supplied to the corresponding reagent discharge nozzle on the reaction vessel row by the reagent dispenser pump 60 via a tube. In this case, the dispenser type reagent supply unit 32 of the analyzer 3A shown in FIG. 1 includes the reagent dispenser pump 60 of FIG. 2, a reagent cooler 62 having a large number of reagent bottles 12, a first reagent nozzle group holding unit 64, It includes a second reagent nozzle group holding unit 66 and the like.

The individual sample racks 1 supplied from the rack sending section 17 are transported by the main transport line 20 and are transferred to the sampling line 4A of the analyzer 3A when an analyzer is required by the analyzer 3A. Is done. A predetermined amount of the sample on the sample rack 1 that has reached the dispensing position is pipetted and dispensed into the reaction container 46a by the pipette nozzle of the sample dispenser 48a. The reagent corresponding to the analysis item is discharged into the reaction container at a predetermined position on the reaction container row, and the reaction proceeds. After a predetermined time, the optical characteristics of the reaction solution in the reaction vessel 46a are measured by the multi-wavelength photometer 15a. The signal output from the multi-wavelength photometer 15a is converted into a logarithmic converter 30a under the control of the analyzer-side computer 6A.
And the processing of the analog / digital converter 31a,
It is transmitted to the computer 40 for overall control. The dispenser-type analyzers 3F and 3G have the same configuration as the analyzer 3A.

Next, an example of the configuration of a pipettor type analyzer will be described with reference to FIG. Reaction unit 5 of analyzer 3B
In the reaction container 46b arranged in B, the reaction between the sample and the reagent related to a predetermined analysis item proceeds. The sample rack 1 moved from the main transport line 20 to the sampling line 4B (FIG. 1) is positioned at the dispensing position and the sample dispenser 4
The sample indicated by the pipette nozzle 8b is collected, and a predetermined amount of the sample is discharged to the reaction container 46b. The sample dispenser 48b has a sample pipettor pump 47b. The reaction unit 5B is maintained at a constant temperature (for example, 37 ° C.) by a constant temperature liquid supplied from the constant temperature bath 10.

The pipettor type reagent supply section 26 of the analyzer of FIG. 3 has two reagent disks 26A and 26B for a first reagent and a second reagent. Reagent bottles 12A and 12 containing various reagents prepared for a number of analysis items
B, the reagent identification information is indicated by a barcode on their outer wall surfaces. After the reagent bottles 12A and 12B are placed on the reagent disks 26A and 26B, the reagent identification information of each reagent bottle is read by a barcode. The information is read by the devices 23A and 23B, and the information is registered in the storage unit 45 together with the set position of the reagent bottle on the reagent disk, the corresponding analysis item, the number of the analyzer to which the reagent bottle is set, and the like. Each of the reagent dispensers 8A and 8B includes a reagent pipette pump 11 connected to each of the pipette nozzles that can rotate and move up and down.

The row of the reaction containers 46b into which the sample has been dispensed is rotated and moved, and a predetermined amount of the reagent solution is sucked by the reagent dispenser 8A from the reagent bottle 12A positioned at the reagent suction position according to the analysis item. The first reagent is discharged to the reaction container 46b at the reagent addition position. After the contents are agitated by the agitating mechanism 13A at the agitating position, the reaction vessel row is transported a plurality of times, and when the reaction vessel 46b reaches the second reagent adding position, the reagent dispenser 8B sets the reagent according to the analysis item. The reagent solution is sucked from the reagent bottle 12B positioned at the suction position, and the reagent is discharged into the reaction container. Next, the contents of the reaction vessel are stirred by the stirring mechanism 13B. Thereafter, the reaction vessel 46b is driven by the light source 14 with the rotation of the reaction vessel row.
Light that has passed through the light flux from b and passed through the reaction solution in the reaction vessel 46b is detected by the multi-wavelength photometer 15b. The signal of the wavelength corresponding to the analysis item is processed by the logarithmic converter 30b and the analog / digital converter 31b controlled by the analyzer-side computer 6B, and the digital signal is transmitted to the overall control computer 40. The measured reaction vessel 46b is cleaned by the cleaning mechanism 19b and reused. The analyzers 3C, 3D and 3E are:
It has the same configuration as the analyzer 3B.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described.

Before the sample rack 1 is set in the rack sending section 17, the analysis item for which a test request has been made from the request source for each sample is sent from the operation section 42 to the overall control computer 40 together with each sample number in advance. be registered. The analysis condition information of each analysis item is stored in the floppy disk memory 41. Among the analysis conditions, the analysis item code is composed of five digits. The analysis condition parameters that should be used in common by multiple analyzers for the same type of analysis items include the measurement wavelength in the photometer, the sample collection amount, the calibration curve calibration method, the standard solution concentration, the number of standard solutions, and abnormal analysis values. Check limit value. Among the analysis condition parameters, the parameters stored corresponding to each reagent bottle are the required number of reagents from the first reagent to the fourth reagent, the code of the reagent bottle consisting of a five-digit number, and the dispensed amount of the reagent. , The number of analyzable tests per reagent bottle. The analyzers 3A, 3B and 3C transfer the serum sample to the analyzers 3D and 3C.
E is a plasma sample, and the analyzers 3F and 3G are set to accept the respective urine samples. The conditions of the respective devices are set, and the accepting sample type is registered in the overall control computer together with the analyzer number.

As the reagent bottles are stored in the reagent supply sections of the analyzers 3A to 3G, the reagent identification information of each reagent bottle is registered in the overall control computer 40 in association with the analyzer number. In this case, reagents for the same type of analysis item are stored in a plurality of analyzers of the same group that handle the same sample type. For example, in the case of a serum sample, 3A,
The analyzers 3B and 3C are treated as the same group. Among them, the reagent supply unit 32 of the analyzer 3A includes, for example, GOT and GPT, which are liver function test items with a large number of sample requests.
And reagent bottles for calcium, UA, and BUN, which are urgent test items, are stored in the reagent supply unit 26 of the analyzer 3B, for example, GOT, GPT, which are liver function test items.
And reagent bottles for other analysis items with a small number of test requests are stored in the reagent supply unit 27 of the analyzer 3C. For example, calcium, UA, BUN, which are urgent test items, and other analysis items with a small number of test requests. A reagent bottle for the item is stored. Therefore, the liver function test item can be analyzed and processed by the two analyzers 3A and 3B, and the urgent test item can be analyzed and processed by the two analyzers 3A and 3C. The number of analyzers and what kind of reagents for analysis items are to be stored in an overlapping manner is determined by the operator according to the actual conditions of the examination room in each facility.

As each of the reagent bottles 12, 12A, 12B is stored in each reagent supply unit, the reagent identification information provided on the reagent bottle is read, and the reagent bottle code is used as a key, and the reagent bottle code is used as an analysis condition parameter. The registered information is searched, and the analysis item corresponding to the reagent bottle,
The size of the bottle, the number of tests that can be analyzed, the set position of the reagent bottle, and the like are associated with each other and registered in the overall control computer 40. At the same time, the maximum number of times of analysis based on the total number of reagent bottles for the same type of analysis item in a plurality of analyzers capable of performing the analysis processing of the same type of analysis item is also registered, and displayed on the CRT 43 as necessary.

After the corresponding reagents for the analysis items necessary for each analyzer are stored, the calibration curves for all the analysis items which can be analyzed by the analyzer before each sample are analyzed. The calibration operation is performed respectively.
Since the calibration value of the calibration curve differs depending on the difference of the reagent bottle set in each analyzer, the calibration curve calibration results obtained by each analyzer for each analysis item are stored in the overall control computer 40.
Is stored in the storage unit 45. These calibration results are used for the concentration calculation when the corresponding analysis item is analyzed in each analyzer.

As one of the sample racks 1 placed on the rack sending section 17 is pushed out toward the main transport line 20, the identification information of the sample rack 1 or the sample container 2
Is read by the identification information reading device 50. The sample type on the sample rack 1 is determined by the overall control computer 40 based on the read information,
An analyzer group that is set in advance for the sample type is selected, and one of the analyzer groups is determined as a sample transport destination based on a subsequent determination result.
Here, for example, it is assumed that a serum sample is determined and a group of the analyzers 3A, 3B, and 3C to which the sample rack is to be transported is selected.

Further, with the reading of the sample identification information, the registration status of the sample number and the analysis item is collated, and the analysis item instructed to be measured for each sample on the sample rack 1 is determined. Whether the analysis item is to be analyzed by any of the analyzers 3A, 3B and 3C is determined by the overall control computer 40. In this case, the overall control computer 40 monitors the number of analysis items for which analysis processing has already been instructed for each analyzer and how long it takes to dispense those samples. In particular, for a specific analysis item that can be analyzed by a plurality of analyzers, it is determined which analyzer is more efficient to analyze and process the analysis item. For example, the specific analysis items GOT and G
Regarding the PT, it is determined which of the analyzers 3A and 3B has the smallest number of samples waiting to be processed at that time, and the one with the shorter waiting time is designated as the designated analyzer. In addition to such a method of automatically designating an analyzer to be analyzed for a specific analysis item according to the degree of busyness between a plurality of analyzers, the operator may use the operation unit 42 to perform processing of each analysis item in advance. A designation method in which the priority order of the analyzer to be used is input is also possible.

A sample rack 1 having a sample to be analyzed for a specific analysis item and having a transport destination (for example, the analyzer 3B) determined.
Is continuously transported by the main transport line 20 to the designated analyzer 3B, and stopped before the entrance of the analyzer 3B to the sampling line 4B. Next, sample rack 1
Is moved to the sampling line 4B, and after a predetermined sample is dispensed to the reaction section 5B by the sample dispenser 48b at the dispensing position, the sample is returned to the main transport line. When the analysis items to be analyzed by another analyzer remain in the sample on the sample rack 1, the sample rack 1 is connected to the main transport line 2.
The sample is conveyed to the analyzer 3C by 0, moved to the sampling line 4C and dispensed.

The remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent bottle for each analysis item in each analyzer is monitored by the general control computer 40. As a method of monitoring the remaining amount of the reagent, a method based on detecting the reagent liquid level in the reagent bottle when dispensing the reagent by a liquid level detector provided in the reagent pipette nozzle, or dispensing the reagent Each time is used, a method of subtracting the number of analyzable times input in advance is adopted.
In either case, whether or not the amount of reagent for the analysis item is insufficient is determined by determining by the overall control computer 40 whether or not the remaining number of analyzable times has reached a predetermined value. You. In this case, the predetermined value is set such that the remaining number is small, such as zero, one, or two. Further, for example, when it is determined that the GOT reagent in the designated analyzer 3B is insufficient, the GOT analysis processing by the analyzer 3B is stopped, and at the same time, the GOT analysis processing by the analyzer 3A in which the GOT reagent sufficiently remains. The switching operation of the analyzer is controlled so as to be possible. Therefore, a sample to be subjected to GOT analysis processing thereafter is transported to another analyzer 3A having the next priority, and GOT analysis processing is performed.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation flow when the reagent shortage is determined.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In step 101, a reagent bottle is selected in a designated analyzer that contains a reagent bottle for an analysis item for which analysis has been instructed. Step 102
At step 103, the reagent remaining amount is calculated by detecting the reagent liquid level for the analysis item. At step 103, the number of remaining tests for the analysis item is set in the storage unit 45. Step 10
In step 4, the number of remaining tests of the number of analyzable times reduced with the dispensing of the reagent is calculated. In step 105, the number of remaining tests is checked with the repetition of the reagent dispensing operation. If the number of remaining tests is zero, the process proceeds to step 106, but if the number of remaining tests is 1 or more, the process returns to step 104.

In step 106, it is determined whether or not another reagent bottle for the same type of analysis item is set in the reagent supply section of the same analyzer. The code of the reagent bottle is reset, and the process returns to step 101 to select a new reagent bottle for the same type of analysis item. If it is not set, the process proceeds to step 108, where it is determined whether or not another analyzer contains a reagent bottle for the same type of analysis item. If there is a corresponding reagent bottle in another analyzer, the process proceeds to step 109, and the control device specifies another analyzer so that another analyzer performs a subsequent analysis process on a sample for the analysis item. At this time, the control device masks the analysis processing function of the analysis item by the original designated analyzer. As a result, the sample for which the analysis item is to be analyzed is transported from the rack sending section 17 to another analyzer via the main transport line 20.
At 0, the subsequent analysis operation is continued by another analyzer. If it is determined in step 108 that there is no corresponding reagent bottle, the process proceeds to step 111, and masking is performed so that the analysis processing of the analysis item in the entire analysis system is stopped.

The control device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 knows which analysis device is instructing the analysis processing of each analysis item, and the data is stored in the storage unit 45. The overall control computer 40 stores information on which analysis apparatus each analysis item is being processed in a memory table. When a request from an operator is made, the information is listed and a screen is displayed on the CRT 43. Let me display.

In the apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG.
For the 3G, start and stop of each operation are performed by the operation unit 4
2 can be instructed by the key operation, and based on such instruction information from the operation unit, the overall control computer 40 sends only the remaining analyzers excluding the analyzers whose operation has been stopped from the rack sending unit 17. The sample rack 1 is transported via the main transport line 20. In particular, when the number of requested samples is small and the urgent sample testing is mainly performed, such as at night, for example, only the analyzer 3C for serum samples and the analyzer 3G for urine samples are operated. It can be operated in such a state that the remaining analyzers are stopped.
During the time period in which the number of requested samples increases, the plurality of stopped analyzers are restarted.

In the apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when an abnormal situation occurs in one of the analyzers and the analysis processing by the analyzer becomes impossible, the same analysis processing is replaced by another analyzer. As described above, the control device instructs the transport of the sample rack to another analyzer and the analysis processing by another analyzer. For example, by setting reagents for a plurality of analysis items in duplicate in the two analyzers 3B and 3C, analysis processing can be performed without interrupting the analysis operation for the plurality of analysis items.

[0035]

According to the present invention, there is provided a multi-sample analysis system capable of analyzing the analysis items of a sample on a sample rack by any of a plurality of analyzers having different reagent supply systems.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multi-sample automatic analysis system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a dispenser-type analyzer in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a pipettor type analyzer in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow when a reagent shortage is determined.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... sample rack, 2 ... sample container, 3A-3G ... analyzer, 4A-4G ... sampling line, 5A-5G ... reaction part, 12, 12A, 12B ... reagent bottle, 15a, 15
b: multi-wavelength photometer, 17: rack sending section, 18: rack collecting section, 20: main transport line, 26A, 26B: reagent disk, 26 to 29, 32 to 34: reagent supply section, 40:
Computer for overall control, 50 to 58 ... Identification information reading device.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tadashi Oishi 882, Ma, Ichiki, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Pref.Measurement Division, Hitachi, Ltd. Measuring Instruments Division

Claims (2)

[Claims] A main transport line for transporting a sample rack from a rack sending section to a rack collecting section; a dispensing section for dispensing a sample on the sample rack to a reaction section; and an analysis item corresponding to the reaction section. A plurality of analyzers each having a reagent supply unit for supplying a reagent to be provided are arranged along the main transport line, and the plurality of analyzers are analyzed and processed by the plurality of analyzers, wherein the plurality of analyzers are fixed. A dispenser-type analyzer that has an analysis channel and each of a plurality of reagent ejection nozzles is dedicated to each reagent, and reagents corresponding to the analysis item one after another with a reagent pipetting nozzle where the analysis channel is not fixed. Including the pipettor type analyzer to be dispensed, the reagent identification information of each reagent bottle stored in the reagent supply unit of each analyzer is registered in association with the analyzer number. When the sample rack is transported by the main transport line, the analysis item of the sample on the sample rack is determined based on reading of the identification information on the sample rack or the sample container. A multi-sample analysis system, wherein the control unit determines whether analysis processing is possible, and transfers the sample rack to an analysis device designated based on a result of the determination via the main transfer line. 2. The multi-sample analysis system according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser-type analyzer includes a reagent supply unit in which a reagent bottle for an analysis item having a large number of test requests is stored, and the pipetter-type analysis device is provided. A multi-sample analysis system, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a reagent supply unit in which reagent bottles for analysis items with a small number of test requests are stored.