JP2006284610A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a phenomenon that a specimen is replaced with another specimen until the dispensation of the specimen is started after the bar code of the specimen is read. <P>SOLUTION: If the specimen is added, the bar codes of all of the specimens on a sample disk are read. The second reading is performed immediately before dispensation to be collated with the first reading. A specimen tentacle preventing plate is provided above a reading position and a dispensing position so as to prevent the replacement of the specimen after the second reading. The specimen tentacle preventing plate is formed into a damage preventing structure in order to protect fingers from a sampling probe. By this constitution, the addition of the specimen can be performed simply and the load of an operator is reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that automatically executes qualitative / quantitative analysis of biological samples such as blood and urine, and in particular, the occurrence of a situation in which a sample does not match the analysis result of the sample due to sample replacement by an operator or the like. The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that can be prevented.

  In an automated analyzer that performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of the components in each sample collected from multiple people, analysis is performed by placing the sample in a sample (specimen) container and setting the sample container in the automated analyzer. It is common to execute. At this time, in order to identify which person (or what kind of sample (serum, urine, etc.)) is contained in a certain sample container, an ID using an information recording medium such as a barcode is assigned to each sample container. It is popular. According to this method, the occurrence of mistakes in which a person who has an abnormality in a specific component of a sample is determined to be normal is reduced due to a sample mix. Further, it is possible to save the operator from registering sample information to the automatic analyzer for each sample container. Such a conventional technique is described in Patent Document 1, for example.

Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 6-64070

  Samples to be examined are sporadically generated at an examination center, a hospital, or the like where an automatic analyzer is used, and the operator of the device may add or remove samples from the automatic analyzer as needed. In the automatic analyzer described in Patent Document 1, even if the ID is once identified and the identified sample ID is stored in association with the identified sample ID, the analysis is actually performed when the operator changes the position of the sample container. There is a possibility that the sample and the sample recognized by the automatic analyzer may be different.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer that reduces the occurrence of a discrepancy between a sample ID once identified and a sample actually measured.

  The configuration of the present invention for solving the above-described problems is as follows.

  A sample container for holding a sample, a sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing a sample in the sample container, a sample container transfer mechanism for transporting the sample container to a sample dispensing position of the sample dispensing mechanism, and the sample dispensing In an automatic analyzer equipped with a reaction container that discharges a sample separated by the injection mechanism and mixes it with a reagent, and a measurement mechanism that measures a reaction in the reaction container, the sample container contains the sample in the container Affixing an information recording medium that records information for identifying, reading the information recorded on the information recording medium before sorting the sample by the sample dispensing mechanism, and identifying the sample in the specimen container, Thereafter, immediately before or after the sample is dispensed by the sample dispensing mechanism, the sample in the sample container is identified by reading the information recorded on the information recording medium affixed to the sample container again. Before or just before the note And another is a sample, are trying to preparative now worth, or automatic analyzer preparative finished sample with a mechanism to verify that the same thing.

  Since it is possible to eliminate the risk of sample mistakes due to operator error, the mental burden on the operator can be extremely reduced. When adding a sample, it is only necessary to place a sample and give a disk scan command.Because sample identification reading is possible in a short time, the operator only needs to operate for a short time and can perform another work away from the front of the device. it can. The operator's hand and fingers can be prevented from being damaged. It also protects against external electrostatic noise on the sampling probe and helps prevent malfunction of the liquid level detector.

  Samplers of automatic analyzers (mechanisms for transferring a specimen container containing a sample to a sample dispensing position are called samplers) are roughly classified into a disk sampler type and a rack sampler type. First, the present invention will be described using a disk sampler type as an example. In the disk sampler type, sample containers are arranged on a circular disk, and it is only necessary to rotate the disk to the sample dispensing position, the structure of the drive mechanism is simple, and automatic retesting can be performed with the sample still on the disk. Therefore, it does not require a special mechanism and is used in small and medium automatic analyzers. Generally, when trying to add a sample during analysis in the form of a disk sampler, there is a drawback that the operation becomes troublesome and very difficult. If there is an empty position on the sample disk, it is necessary to place a sample in the empty position and additionally input the position number for each sample from the operation screen. (Or, it is necessary to input information that what number was added.) Sampling stop where the device has dispensed all the specimens on the disk and is waiting for the analysis result for re-examination. In the case of the state, the apparatus recognizes that there is no new sample, so it is necessary to notify the user again and restart dispensing. If there are empty positions on the disk, it is still easy to do, but if the disk is full and there are no empty positions, it is displayed on the screen which sample has been analyzed including re-examination and has not been completed. However, because the disk rotates from time to time and the stop position changes, replacement work while searching for the location of the sample position to be taken out is a mental burden for the operator. Also, if the sample is mistakenly exchanged after reading the sample identification information, a serious mistake will be made in that the sample is mixed and analyzed. Therefore, it is a mental burden to the operator that there is a fear that the sample may be mixed because there are some people who do the batch processing for each disk in some discs because of fear of the sample difference. .

  After the additional specimen is placed on the sample disk during analysis, the first reading of a large number of specimen identification label information is performed while rotating the sample disk in response to an instruction input from the operator. Inquires about the items to the host computer based on this first information (inquiries about which items this sample will analyze. To manage data collectively in large hospitals and examination centers that use multiple automatic analyzers in combination) In many cases, such a host computer is used, but such an inquiry is not necessary when one automatic analyzer is used in a stand-alone manner, and information read in advance is stored in the information storage unit of the automatic analyzer. To stay). This item inquiry to the host computer needs to be performed about 50 seconds before dispensing at the shortest because the preparation time of the analysis unit is necessary and a certain amount of time is given to the reply from the host. In other words, barcode reading needs to be completed 50 seconds before dispensing (preceding reading).

  In the present invention, the second reading of the identification label information of the sample to be dispensed is performed immediately before the sampling probe starts dispensing after about 50 seconds (before about 4 seconds). The second reading is performed for each sample. The first reading and the second reading are collated. With this configuration, it can be confirmed that the sample to be actually dispensed and the sample stored in advance are the same, so there is no mistake in the sample. If the sample information stored in advance is different from the sample information read before dispensing, the analysis results can be correlated based on the sample information read before dispensing. it can. If the sample information read for the second time is different from the sample information previously read and stored for the first time, an alarm may be given to the operator of the device or a function for stopping the analysis operation of the device may be added. good.

  The second reading may be performed immediately after dispensing. In this case, it is impossible to alert the operator in advance or stop the analysis operation, but it is possible to confirm that the sample actually analyzed was the same as the sample recorded in advance. Can be improved.

  After completing the second reading, until the sample is dispensed, or after dispensing the sample, until the second reading is completed, the sample container should not be replaced by the operator. It is desirable to provide a tentacle prevention plate (cover).

  This is because the effect of the present invention will be reduced if the structure allows the operator to change the sample container before or after the second dispensing operation even after the second reading. With such a mechanism, in addition to preventing malfunction due to the replacement of the specimen by the operator, it is possible to correct even if the specimen ID is erroneously read by the first reading (due to malfunction of the information reading mechanism). There is also an effect that it can be done. That is, if the first reading result is different from the second reading result, an alarm is issued to alert the operator, and whether this is caused by the replacement of the sample by the operator, the malfunction of the information reading unit It becomes possible to judge whether it is due to.

  Also, a sample container presence / absence detector may be provided, and the container presence / absence detection may be performed simultaneously with the first reading of a large number of specimen identification label information while rotating the sample disk. Since this presence / absence detection is performed while rotating the disk, the output of the detection signal varies depending on the relative position of the container depending on the light reflection state. That is, the signal undulates. It is also preferable to latch the detection signal so that the peak of the reflected signal when the container is present is captured so that the detection can be reliably performed. In the first reading while rotating the disk, the identification information is read again only at the position where the reading of the specimen identification label information has failed although the container is set, and the sample disk at the time of the re-reading It is possible to improve the reading rate of the specimen identification information by setting the rotation speed of the sample to be lower than the rotation speed at the time of the first reading operation.

  The specimen tentacle prevention plate preferably has a structure having a protective function so that the tip of the sampling probe does not damage the operator.

  The specimen tentacle prevention plate has a structure in which it is retracted from the sample disk when the operator presses it with a hand, and has a detector for detecting the retracting, and when the retract detection is activated, the sampling probe is moved. It is preferable to prevent the operator's hand and fingers from being damaged by the sampling probe.

  The rack sampler type is an automatic analysis system of a system in which a plurality of analysis units are coupled by a transport line, and the transport line transports the sample rack supplied to the rack supply unit to the target analysis unit. The sample is dispensed in each target analysis unit, and then collected again in another analysis unit or a sample rack collection unit via the transport line.

  In the rack sampler type automatic analysis system, before introducing a sample rack having a plurality of (around 5) sample containers into the transport line, the information recording medium affixed to the sample rack is read to identify the rack ID, In general, a mechanism for determining which analysis unit to transport the sample rack based on the identified information is provided. In this case, the ID of the sample rack and the ID of the sample container placed on the sample rack are associated with each other and stored in the system. Even in the case of such a rack sampler type, if the sample container is exchanged in the sample rack on the transport line, the rack ID and the sample ID cannot be matched. Even in such a system, after reading the ID for registering the sample rack or sample container ID with the host computer, the sample for confirmation immediately before or after the sample dispensing position in each analysis unit. By performing container or sample rack ID identification, it is possible to effectively prevent an error due to an erroneous operation of the ID reading unit or an error due to the replacement of the sample by the operator.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the configuration near the sample disk, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the configuration near the sample disk.

  A sample container 2 is set on a sample disk 1 having holes for holding a large number of sample containers. A specimen identification label 15 (barcode label) is attached to each specimen container. A reader 7 (bar code reader) for this sample identification label is installed on the side of the sample disk so that the barcode attached to the sample container can be read while rotating the sample disk. Since recent barcode readers can read at high speed, a large number of sample labels can be read instantaneously while passing through the read zone 13 without stopping the disk for each sample.

  Even if a sample disk on which 50 specimens can be installed per revolution is rotated at a rotational speed of about 5 seconds per revolution, 50 specimens can be read sufficiently.

  A sample container presence / absence detector 8 (light reflection sensor) is newly provided, and while the sample disk is rotated, the first reading of a large number of sample identification label information is performed at the same time, and the presence / absence detection of the container is also instantaneously performed to identify the sample. Check whether label information was successfully read or not and whether or not a container is present, and at the position where reading of the sample identification label information has failed because the container is not set, the reading failure alarm is not issued (the container is set (It is natural that reading of the sample identification label information has failed because it has not been performed).

  Reading of the sample identification label information failed even when the container is set (only when the barcode label has failed due to some damage or dirt), the identification information is read again. Perform the action. The rotation speed of the sample disk when the position where reading has failed crosses the lead zone 13 is set to be lower than the rotation speed at the time of the first reading operation, thereby improving the success rate of reading the specimen identification information. Crossing the read zone at a low speed increases the number of scans of the reader (the number of retries) and improves the read success rate.

  Positions that have been successfully read are passed at high speed to reduce the reread time.

  The sampling probe 18 is operated by the sampling mechanism 3 to dispense the sample in the specimen container into the reaction container 10. A specimen tentacle prevention plate 9 is provided at a position 5 where the specimen identification label is read and a position 4 where the sampling probe is inserted into the container in order to dispense the specimen so that the specimen cannot be accessed during the analysis. After the additional specimen is placed on the sample disk during the analysis, the specimen identification label information of all the specimens on the disk is read for the first time by rotating the sample disk in response to an operator command input (sample disk scan). This reading is performed instantaneously while all the specimens pass through the lead zone 13 without stopping the disk. By comparing the information before and after the disk scan, you can see which is the newly added sample. In addition, if a sample that was previously placed on the disk is simply replaced with another position, it can be analyzed as a new position, and a sample that should not be taken out as a sample waiting for re-examination has been removed. In some cases, it can be detected immediately after a disk scan and an alarm can be issued. Such safety protection equipment from the device side has the advantage that the operator can operate it with peace of mind. Based on this first information, the host computer is inquired about an item related to a new additional sample (inquiry as to which item this new sample is analyzed). This item inquiry to the host computer needs to be performed approximately 50 seconds before sampling because preparation time of the analysis unit is required. The sample to be dispensed (one sample) is moved to the front of the reader immediately before the sampling probe starts dispensing after about 50 seconds, and the identification label information is read for the second time. The first reading by the sample disk scan is compared with the second reading. There was a risk that the sample would be mistaken if the sample was exchanged between the completion of the reading by the first sample disk scan and the sampling. By doing so, this risk is completely eliminated. Only the sample that matches the collation is shifted to the dispensing operation. In this way, after the second reading is completed, the sample container is always located under the sample tentacle prevention plate until the end of sampling, and the operator cannot access the sample. , It is possible to completely prevent sample mistakes due to operational mistakes.

  A sample container presence / absence detector 8 is provided to perform the first reading of a large number of specimen identification label information while rotating the sample disk, and at the same time to detect the presence / absence of the container. Since the presence / absence detection is performed while the disk is rotating, the output of the detection signal varies depending on the light reflection state or the relative position of the container. This is also a difficult part in the method of stopping the disk and viewing the status. When the signal is observed while moving the disk, the signal undulates. The detection signal is latched so that the peak of the reflection signal when the container is present is captured so that the detection can be reliably performed. In FIG. 2, a rotation detection plate 21 is attached under the disk drive unit 17, and a groove corresponding to a specimen installation hole provided in the detection plate is detected by the detector 22. A signal latching method will be described with reference to FIG. Three specimens are installed in (1), (2), and (4), and (3) is empty. When the disk is rotated in this state, the raw signal of the container detector 8 appears with a large wave as shown in FIG. 3A. This is because the reflection state varies depending on the position because the container is round. If the status check is simply performed at the timing of b or c, in the case of c, it is erroneously determined that there is no container. D shows the signal of the detector 22 by the groove of the rotation detection plate. Based on this signal, latch start is started at timing e, and latch release is performed at f, so that signal A is reborn as signal G. If the signal G is checked at the timing of the arrow, the container presence / absence can be reliably detected.

  Since the tip of the sampling probe 18 is sharp like a needle, it is dangerous. Since the sampling probe moves on the sample disk or descends into the specimen container, it is dangerous to access the sample disk during analysis.

  The sample tentacle prevention plate 9 is provided with a vertical wall 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the tip of the sampling probe is hidden on the vertical wall on the movement trajectory, and has a protective function to prevent injury to the operator. Structured.

  The specimen tentacle prevention plate is configured to be retracted from the sample disk when the operator presses it with a hand. It has a detector 19 that detects that it has been retracted with the fulcrum 20 as a retraction position 14 as it is retracted, and when the retraction is detected, the sampling probe 18 is moved. This prevents the operator's hand and fingers from being damaged by the sampling probe, and also prevents the probe from bending due to the probe colliding with the specimen tentacle prevention plate. This evacuation function is also necessary when the sample disk is removed or set in the apparatus. When the sample disk rotates, a warning light (not shown) blinks a few seconds ago to notify the danger, but in the unlikely event that the sample disk is being accessed without being aware of the flashing, the sample disk is being accessed. Even if the disk starts to rotate and the hand is carried to the disk and the hand collides with the specimen tentacle prevention plate, the specimen tentacle prevention plate is retractable with a weak force as shown in FIG. There is very little risk of damage. In addition, by making the specimen tentacle prevention plate with a conductive material and dropping it to ground, in the case of a sampling probe of a capacitive liquid level sensor, it also protects against external electrostatic noise to the sampling probe, It also helps prevent malfunction of the liquid level detector.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a rack sampler type automatic analyzer. A sample rack 102 on which five sample containers are installed is set in the rack supply unit 100 and is transported to the analyzers 106 and 114 by the transport line 103. The sample rack 102 placed on the transport line 103 is first read by the bar code reader 105 to read the information recorded on the information recording medium affixed to the sample rack 102, and the information is recorded on the information recording medium. Based on the information, the control computer 133 determines which analysis unit performs the analysis. If analysis is performed by the analysis unit 106, the rack is pulled into the rack pull-in line 108 from the rack pull-in portion 107 of the rack pull-in line 108. First, prior to the dispensing of the sample from the sample container on the sample rack by the dispensing mechanism 109, the information of the sample rack is read by the first rack information reading mechanism (barcode reader) 150. The result read by the first rack information reading mechanism 150 is sent to the host computer (not shown) via the control computer 133 and the data is collated. Thereafter, immediately before the dispensing by the dispensing mechanism 109, the rack information is read again by the second rack information reading mechanism 151 and collated with the first reading result of the rack information. That is, the sample was not replaced by the operator between the first rack information reading (with sample data collation with the host computer) and the second rack information reading, or the first rack information reading result is incorrect. A double check is made to see if there was any. Of course, the second rack information reading may be performed immediately after dispensing.

  Although illustration of the rack information reading mechanism on the analysis unit 114 is omitted in FIG.

  The sample rack dispensed by the analysis unit 106 is returned again to the rack transport line 103 by the rack return mechanism 113 of the rack pull-in line 108. Reference numeral 110 denotes a sample disk on which a specimen container for temporarily storing a specimen is mounted, 111 denotes a reagent disk for storing a reagent to be mixed and reacted with the specimen, and 112 denotes a reaction disk on which a reaction container for reacting the specimen and the reagent is mounted. Since the analysis unit 114 has the same configuration, the description using the reference numerals is omitted.

  The sample rack that has been analyzed by each analysis unit waits in the buffer line 124 until an analysis result is obtained, and is then collected by the rack collection unit 126 via the rack transfer mechanism 129 or there is a problem in the analysis result and again. When it is determined that the inspection is necessary, the rack is returned to the vicinity of the rack supply unit by the rack return line 130 via the rack sorting mechanism 128 and returned to the rack transport line 103 via the rack transfer mechanism 131.

The top view of the structure of the sample disc vicinity. The front view of the structure of the sample disc vicinity. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of latch processing of a detection signal for presence / absence of a sample container. An example in which the present invention is applied to a rack sampler type automatic analyzer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sample disk, 2 ... Sample container, 3 ... Sampling mechanism, 4 ... Sample dispensing suction position, 5 ... Sample identification reading position, 6 ... Sample container presence detection position, 7 ... Bar code reader, 8 ... Sample container presence detection 9 ... Sample tentacle prevention plate, 10 ... Reaction vessel, 11 ... Sampling probe washing tank, 12 ... Vertical wall, 13 ... Lead zone (plan view), 14 ... Sample tentacle prevention plate (retraction position), 15 ... Barcode Label: 16 ... Lead zone (front view), 17 ... Sample disk drive unit, 18 ... Sampling probe, 19 ... Retract detector of specimen tentacle prevention plate, 20 ... Rotation fulcrum of specimen tentacle prevention plate, 21 ... Sample disk groove detection Plate, 22 ... Sample disk groove detector.

Claims (4)

A sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing the sample in the specimen container;
A sample container transfer mechanism for arranging the sample containers on a circular disk and rotating and transferring the disk to a sample dispensing position of the sample dispensing mechanism;
In an automatic analyzer equipped with
An information recording medium that records information for identifying the sample in the sample container is provided in the sample container,
And a sample container detection mechanism for detecting whether or not there is a sample container at a position where the sample container of the sample transfer mechanism can be placed.
An automatic analyzer comprising: means for collating a detection result of the sample container detection mechanism with a reading result of reading information on an information recording medium of the sample container. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
As a result of the collation, at the position where reading of the sample identification information has failed even though the container is set, the identification disk is read again by rotating the sample disk at a lower speed than the rotation speed at the time of the first reading operation. Automatic analyzer characterized by performing. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
As a result of the collation, an automatic analyzer is provided that does not issue a reading failure alarm at a position where reading of the sample identification information has failed because no container is set. In the automatic analyzer in any one of Claims 1-3,
An automatic analyzer characterized in that the specimen container detection mechanism includes a light reflection type sensor.

Images