JP2006308432A - Method and apparatus for dispensing specimen - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a working method for dispensing specimens accurately, and to provide an apparatus having improved working efficiency in the minimum installation space for dispensation in a microplate shape measurement vessel. <P>SOLUTION: The target vessel and sample information are registered before dispensing work by using a computer having an output device for guiding and displaying a dispensing position. A barcode affixed to the vessel and dispensing sample is read in dispensing work. A dispensing position is retrieved from the previously registered information. The retrieval dispensing position information is displayed on the output device, thus guiding the dispensing position and work process to a worker. A universal display represented by a liquid crystal display, or the like is used for the output device for guiding and displaying the dispensing position, each different dispensing management program is used for each vessel, and diversified vessels can be dispensed and managed by a single apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a processing method and apparatus for guiding an inspection body and an inspection reagent to a designated place on a device by manual work, and particularly to a technique for preventing a dispensing error. It is.

In the medical field, specimens, reagents, etc. are dispensed into devices called microplates (one device has multiple sample holding parts, and one device has eight, 12 vertical 96 sample holding parts). And doing medical measurement work. This work is generally performed as a pre-measurement work, not only in the medical field, where analysis work is performed using a microplate-shaped device.

The operation of dispensing a required sample to a designated position in a microplate-shaped device is dispensed without error by using an automatic dispensing processing device linked with an inspection and measurement device. However, for small-scale inspection facilities, simple and small measuring devices that cannot be linked to dispensing devices, and for dispensing operations that do not allow the preparation of automatic dispensing devices due to the small number of target objects to be introduced. Dispensing work is carried out manually. Since the dispensing target device does not have an index indicating the dispensing position and recognizes the dispensing position only by the position of the well, the dispensing work is performed depending on the experience and confirmation ability of the operator. In a microplate-shaped device, a sample dispensing position generally represents an attribute of a measurement result. When the sample to be measured X to be dispensed into the nth well (sample holding site) is dispensed to the (n + 1) th sample, the measured value is not the sample X but is handled as the value of another sample to be measured. In the medical field, it may develop into a legal case as a medical error. Under the working conditions for recognizing the dispensing position only at the position of the well, it is impossible to know even if such an accident occurs, and no accident will be detected after the completion of the measurement work. For this reason, the person in charge of dispensing processes the work with great mental concentration. However, since it is an artificial work, errors cannot be avoided completely. In addition, since one or more types of samples must be dispensed multiple times in one well, the person in charge of dispensing needs to confirm and memorize the position, type of sample, and number of times, and proceed with the dispensing operation. Depending on the work content, there are many possibilities of errors.

Inspection devices are standardized on a device-by-device basis, but their shapes differ depending on the measurement method and measuring machine. Assuming that there is a device that supports the dispensing work, if the device is required for each device, the device installation space needs to be as large as the device type. It is wasteful to secure installation space for a device that operates only during a specific time of day. Also, if an apparatus is required for each device, preparation of the apparatus is required every time the device changes, and work efficiency is not good.

A device is an assembly of at least two sample holding parts, and a microplate and an analyzer measurement rack are known in the medical industry.
Dispensing described here means putting a sample in a sample holding site,
The state of a substance distinguished from liquid, solid, or gas is not limited. In the medical industry, a sample is a test object or a test reagent, and the substance state is generally liquid or solid.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above disadvantages and inefficiencies, and in performing manual dispensing, clearly indicate the position, frequency, and contents of the sample to be dispensed in advance. An object of the present invention is to provide an operation method and an apparatus used therefor, in which the contents are conveyed to an operator and the dispensing process is performed accurately. In addition, even if the device individual information is different, the device to be provided functions according to the information, and it is possible to perform dispensing work management for multiple types of devices with a single device. Efficient dispensing work can be provided in the installation space.

The present invention comprises the following means. When dispensing a sample to a specified position on the device, the dispensing target device, the dispensing position of the sample, and identification information are registered in the calculation storage device from the information medium before the dispensing operation. When the device is installed in the dispensing work processing apparatus, information is read from the identification display member attached to the device, and the arithmetic storage device determines whether the device is a dispensing target device. If it is not subject to dispensing, information is output so that the operator selects the correct device. If it is an object to be dispensed, it outputs information indicating that dispensing is possible and guides the user to install the device. The device to be dispensed is installed on a work guidance device. Information is read from the identification display member attached to the sample, and the arithmetic storage device determines whether the sample is a dispensing target sample. If the sample is not subject to dispensing, information is output to the operator so that the correct sample is selected. If it is a dispensing target, information indicating that dispensing is possible is output, and information that can be recognized at a previously registered dispensing position and information that can identify the sample are displayed. The worker dispenses a sample that matches the identification information at the position indicated by the information. If the sample needs to be dispensed multiple times or multiple types at the same position, the operator inputs the work completion for each dispensing process and registers the process status in the arithmetic storage device. Information indicating the next process content is output. When the target dispensing process or analyzer does not use a plurality of devices, the device work target confirmation can be omitted.

When calculating the dispensing position according to a defined method and dispensing the sample, when installing the device in the dispensing work processing device, the information is read from the identification display member attached to the device and the information of the dispensing device is calculated and stored Register with. The device to be dispensed is installed on a work guidance device. The information is read from the identification display member on the sample, the dispensing position is calculated according to a predetermined method, and the information for recognizing the position and the information for identifying the sample are output. The worker dispenses a sample that matches the identification information at the position indicated by the information. When it is necessary to dispense a sample multiple times or multiple types at the same position, the operator inputs the work completion for each dispensing process, registers the process status in the arithmetic storage device, and the process up to the present to the worker Outputs information indicating the status and next process contents. Upon completion of the work, the device identification, dispensing position, and sample attribute are registered in the calculation storage device. From the registered information, the device identification, dispensing position, and sample attribute can be searched for and referenced from the device identification, dispensing position, and sample attribute. Also with this means, confirmation information may be registered in advance in the arithmetic storage device, and the device / sample work target may be determined. The output of the dispensing position may be either before or after reading the identification display member attached to the sample. The identification display member attached to the device or sample does not necessarily need to be registered. If it does not exist, registration management is performed with substitute information by a calculation storage device represented by a counting process that starts from the start numerical value and counts every work. You may do it. If there is a need to distinguish between devices using multiple dispensing devices or analyzers, the device work target confirmation process can be performed at the stage where the devices are installed in the dispensing work processing equipment. good.

The present invention has the following configuration.
(1) In a method of manually dispensing a sample to each sample holding portion on one device having at least two sample holding portions, information for collating the sample holding portion and the dispensed sample is dispensed. The device to be dispensed from the information read in the process (first process) to be registered in the management apparatus, the process of reading information from the identification display member attached to the dispensing target device (second process), and the second process If the third step is a non-dispensing determination, the operator confirms the information indicating the error and reselects the dispensing target device to perform the third step. Returning to step 3, if the third step is a dispensing target determination, the step of installing the dispensing target device at the designated position on the dispensing position output device (fourth step), information from the identification display member attached to the selected sample Reading process (fifth process) Step (sixth step) for determining whether the sample is a sample to be dispensed from the information read in the fifth step. If the sixth step is a non-dispensable decision, the operator confirms information indicating an error. Re-select the sample to be dispensed and return to the fifth step, and if the sixth step is a dispensing target determination, perform the dispensing operation according to the dispensing position guide information output on the device (seventh step) A dispensing method characterized by comprising:
(2) Dispensing information for collating the sample holding part with the dispensed sample in the device for manually dispensing the sample to each sample holding part on one device having at least two sample holding parts The device to be dispensed from the information read in the step (first step) registered in the management apparatus, the step of reading information from the identification display member attached to the dispensing target device (second step), and the second step If the third step is a non-dispensing determination, information indicating an error is output, and if the third step is a dispensing target determination, a sample holding position output is performed. A process for outputting guidance information on the device installation position on the apparatus (fourth process), a process for reading information from an identification display member attached to the selected sample (fifth process), and a fifth process. Dispensing vs. information If it is a non-dispensing determination in the sixth step, the process for determining whether it is a sample or not, information indicating an error is output if it is a non-dispensing determination in the sixth process, and registered in the first process if it is a dispensing target determination A dispensing operation management device, wherein a step (seventh step) of searching for a sample holding position from collation information and outputting dispensing guidance information is linked.
(3) In a method of registering a sample holding position and sample identification information dispensed for each manual dispensing into a device having at least two sample holding parts, in order to collate the sample holding part and the dispensed sample From the information read in the second step, the step of reading information from the identification display member attached to the dispensing target device (second step), the step of registering the information in the dispensing work management device (first step), If the process determines whether the device is to be dispensed (third process) or the third process is not to be dispensed, the operator confirms the information indicating the error and re-applies the dispensed device. Select and return to the third step, and if the third step is a dispensing target determination, install the dispensing target device at the specified position on the sample holding position output device (fourth step), and attach it to the selected sample Information from the identification display member Process (fifth process), a process for determining whether the sample is a sample to be dispensed from the information read in the fifth process (sixth process), and work if the sixth process is a non-dispensable target The person confirms the information indicating the error, reselects the sample to be dispensed, returns to the fifth step, and if the sixth step is the dispensing target determination, dispenses according to the dispensing position guide information output on the device. A dispensing work processing method comprising: a step of performing work (seventh step), and a step of registering dispensing target device information and sample information of the seventh step in a dispensing work management apparatus (eighth step).
(4) To collate a sample holding part and a dispensed sample in an apparatus for registering a sample holding position and sample identification information dispensed for each manual dispensing into a device having at least two sample holding parts. From the information read in the second step, the step of registering information in the dispensing work management device (first step), the step of reading information from the identification display member attached to the dispensing target device (second step), If the device determines whether or not the device is a dispensing target (third step), if the third step is a non-dispensing determination, an error is output and the third step is a dispensing target determination. If there is a step (fourth step) of outputting guidance information of the device installation position on the sample holding position output device, a step of reading information from the identification display member attached to the selected sample (fifth step), Read in the fifth step If it is determined whether the sample is a sample to be dispensed from the received information (sixth step), or if the sixth step is a non-dispensable decision, information indicating an error is output, and the sixth affirmative is the subject If the determination is made, the sample dispensing position is obtained by the designated calculation or position information retrieval process, and the result is output as dispensing guidance information (seventh process), the dispensing target device information and the sample in the seventh process A dispensing operation management device characterized by linking a process (eighth step) for registering information in a dispensing operation management device.
(5) It has a function capable of correcting and determining position guidance information indicating a sample dispensing position and an information output function of the dispensing position output device based on the individual information of the target device and the dispensing process step information. The dispensing work processing apparatus described in any one of the preceding description 2 or 4.
(6) The dispensing work processing apparatus described in any one of the preceding descriptions 2, 4, or 5, wherein a general-purpose display device of a computer is used as an output device indicating a sample dispensing position.
(7) Described in any one of the preceding descriptions 2, 4, 5 or 6, characterized by having a function of visually confirming a sample dispensing position by irradiating a light source from the bottom of the sample holding portion of the device Dispensing work management device.
(8) In the dispensing work processing method using the apparatus according to claim 7, the state of the dispensing work on the device and the process can be visually confirmed by a composite color of the sample color and the position display color. Or the dispensing work processing method described in any one of 3.
(9) Any one of the preceding descriptions 2, 4, 5, 6 or 7 characterized by having a function of visually confirming a dispensing operation status and process to the device by a composite color of the sample color and the position display color The dispensing work management apparatus described in one.
(10) Based on sample dispensing position information registered in advance, the sample dispensing position and the sample information are output, thereby having a function capable of guiding the dispensing operation and managing the process. The program with which the dispensing operation | work apparatus described in any one of previous description 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9 is equipped.
(11) Based on the individual information of the dispensing target device or the dispensing process step, the position guidance information indicating the sample dispensing position and the information output function of the apparatus that outputs the position guidance information are corrected and determined. A program provided in a dispensing work device described in any one of the preceding descriptions 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9.

The position guide information indicates information that allows the operator to recognize information indicating the physical position of the sample holding portion and the content of the dispensing process, which is information that can identify the sample to be dispensed. The information output function of the dispensing position output device is, if the output device is a general-purpose display device represented by a liquid crystal display, display character / graphic, size, color, presence / absence of blinking, volume or sound quality. Indicates the output capability that can have.

The dispensing work processing apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus that can output information for specifying the device and sample dispensing target and specifying the dispensing position, and can register and view the dispensing work process. A first input unit for reading the identification display member, a second input unit for reading basic information of the device / sample from the information medium, a storage unit for registering and browsing information read from the second input unit, and a dispensing position And a control unit for calculating / determining a work target confirmation / dispensing position.

The present invention is characterized in that a general-purpose computer can be used for the dispensing work processing apparatus, and the management operation can be created and changed by a program. Therefore, by replacing the program corresponding to each work, dispensing work corresponding to the type of device can be performed without changing the mechanical part of the apparatus.

According to the present invention, a general-purpose display device such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display can be used as an output device for clearly indicating a dispensing position. Color, brightness, size, etc.) can be freely set and changed. Therefore, the dispensing management work can be performed on two or more types of devices even with one dispensing work processing apparatus under the control of the program.

The present invention is characterized in that the dispensing position can be visually confirmed by irradiating a light source from the bottom of the bottom of the reagent holding portion made of a transparent material. Therefore, the dispensing position can be accurately notified to the dispensing operator.

The present invention is characterized in that the dispensing position can be visually confirmed by irradiating a light source from the bottom of the reagent holding portion made of a material capable of transmitting light. Therefore, when the dispensing liquid is transparent, the dispensing status and the next dispensing process can be notified by changing the display color that informs the position.

In this invention, since the bottom of the reagent holding part is made of a material that can transmit light, since the dispensing position can be visually confirmed by irradiating the light source from the bottom, when the dispensing liquid is translucent and colored, It is characterized in that information is clearly indicated by a composite color with a light source color that informs the position from the bottom. Therefore, if two or more types of samples need to be dispensed and the samples are colored, it is possible to know which process was dispensed when.

The dispensing work management program according to the present invention is capable of outputting information for specifying the device and sample to be dispensed and specifying the dispensing position, and can change the format of the explicit information according to the device shape. A management unit that performs storage determination on device / sample information captured from the input device, an output unit that outputs information that specifies the dispensing position based on the information from the input device, and an output unit that outputs information to the output device. A maintenance section is provided for correcting and registering output contents.

The dispensing work management program according to the present invention can freely set the number of samples, the dispensing physical position, the arrangement of dispensing positions, and the information output function of the output device based on the definition data of the output definition information file registered in advance. It is characterized by what is possible. Accordingly, by preparing the definition data, dispensing work management of two or more device types can be performed on the same hardware without changing the hardware.

The function for managing the dispensing position of the dispensing work management program according to the present invention includes a management function for guiding a position determined in advance with respect to the sample and a method determined in advance for each dispensing work. It has a management function that determines the position and provides guidance, and registers the target sample information and the dispensing position after each dispensing operation.

The present invention is capable of dispensing a target sample to the reagent holding part of the target device without error in the dispensing process carried out manually, and in the case of a plurality of types of dispensing work, the work process Can be managed and operated, and has the effect of avoiding human error.

The apparatus of the present invention includes position guidance information indicating a dispensing position, and an information output function of an output device represented by display color, display shape, size, blinking, sound, and the like, as device-specific information to be dispensed Since it has a function that can be corrected and determined according to the dispensing process information, there is no need for a device-specific dispensing management device, so installation space is saved, purchase costs are saved, and operational efficiency is not switched for each device. Improvement and reduction of the operator's burden by selecting the dispensing position information that is easy to recognize are brought about.

The dispensing processing method and the dispensing work management apparatus according to the present invention are not particularly limited as long as the reagent holding position of the device and the dispensing sample are paired. This applies to specimens and reagent dispensing in inspection and research work. Especially, it is suitable for the manual dispensing operation | work of the device which has at least 2 reagent holding positions represented by the microplate.

In measurement work using a device with at least two reagent holding positions represented by a microplate, the measurement result value is managed at the dispensing position of the device, so the dispensing position of the device and the measurement sample / reagent are a pair. It is necessary to manage as tied. There are two types of management methods, which are linked and managed according to prior information that links the dispensing position to the sample / reagent to be dispensed, and the device dispensing position is determined by a general-purpose computer for each dispensing operation. There are those that are linked and managed by registering the dispensing execution position and the dispensed sample / reagent information after the dispensing operation based on the calculation result. The present invention provides a processing method and apparatus for carrying out the above association management.

(1) Overall configuration and operation overview of the apparatus.
In FIG. 1, the whole structure of the dispensing operation | work management apparatus which is embodiment of this invention is shown. The 1st input part 1 is for reading dispensing operation | work basic information from an information medium. The 2nd input part 2 is for reading the identification display member attached to the device and the sample. The control unit 3 is for delivering output information such as device / sample work target determination, sample dispensing position search or calculation, dispensing position, sample attribute information, and the like to the output unit 5. The storage unit 4 is for registering the management information when the dispensing work management program registration, device / sample work determination information, and management information are postponed. The output unit 5 is for outputting information for work support, such as sample dispensing position, sample attribute output, and work process.

In the medical industry, a bar code seal is generally known as an identification display member attached to a device / sample. In addition, an IC chip or the like can be used.

Dispensing basic information is information that identifies the device and information that identifies the dispensing sample corresponding to the dispensing position of the device, and is dispensing sample information typified by the color, shape, and number of dispensing of the sample. Yes, it is information that should be searched and viewed in the dispensing process.

The apparatus operation for dispensing a sample to a device having at least two reagent holding positions represented by a microplate is represented by a floppy disk before dispensing work from the first input unit 1 of FIG. The device information and the sample information are read from the information medium. The read information is arranged in a state that is easy to use for work via the control unit 3 in FIG. 1, and is registered and stored in the storage unit 4 in FIG. The identification display information attached to the device is read from the second input unit 2 in FIG. 1, and the control unit 3 in FIG. 1 performs a search / collation operation based on the information registered in the storage unit 4 in FIG. Do. If it is a work target, the device is installed in the output unit 5 of FIG. The sample is taken out, the identification display information attached to the sample is read from the second input unit 2 in FIG. 1, and the control unit 3 in FIG. 1 performs the search collation operation based on the information registered in the storage unit 4 in FIG. Judgment is made. If it is a work target, the control unit 3 in FIG. 1 reads the position to be dispensed and the information to be specified from the information registered in the storage unit 4 in FIG. 1, and transmits the output information to the output unit 5 in FIG. The output unit 5 in FIG. 1 outputs information transmitted from the control unit 3 in FIG. Accordingly, the worker performs a manual dispensing operation.

Before the dispensing operation, the information read from the information medium from the first input unit 1 in FIG. 1 is arranged into a state that is easy to use for work via the control unit 3 in FIG. 1, and the storage unit 4 in FIG. "Register and save" indicates the operation of registering information by classifying and rearranging the basic information of the dispensing work according to the work of collation determination, output display, and dispensing position calculation. The database of processing information corresponds to it.

(2) Hardware configuration.
FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration when the dispensing work management apparatus of FIG. 1 is implemented by a general-purpose computer. 2, the first input unit 1 of FIG. 1 uses a USB interface type portable flash memory, but a virtual storage device via a magnetic medium represented by a floppy disk or a network can also be used. The second input unit 2 in FIG. 1 uses a barcode reader, but an apparatus suitable for an identification display member attached to a device / sample such as an IC reader or a magnetic card reader should be prepared. The control unit 3 in FIG. 1 is not particularly specified as long as it has an arithmetic / storage / information input / output function and can execute a program, which is a general-purpose computer main body. However, if there is a restriction on the expression capability (color, display size, etc.) of the output control function, the dispensing position may become ambiguous. is required. The storage unit 4 of FIG. 1 uses a fixed disk, but a readable / writable mass storage device represented by an optical disk or a virtual storage device via a network can also be used. The output unit 5 of FIG. 1 uses a liquid crystal display, but is not particularly specified as long as it can perform general-purpose output and satisfies the dispensing management work. If the device is a material that dispenses a light source such as glass or plastic, a general-purpose display device such as a CRT or plasma display can be used, and the output capability (color, display size, etc.) is limited. If there is, there is a possibility that the position of the dispensing position may be ambiguous, so it is necessary to pay attention to the ability to satisfy the dispensing management work. A device similar to a laser pointer can be used as long as the material does not allow the light source to pass through, such as wood or Seto. The output unit 5 is the central presence of this device, and it is necessary to select an output device that is optimal for the target device material. When creating a dispensing management device based on this, a notebook computer in which the first input unit 1, the control unit 3, the storage unit 4, and the output unit 5 of FIG. 1 are integrated is optimal. The barcode reader as the second input unit 2 in FIG. 1 is not particularly limited as long as it can be connected to the apparatus.

(3) How to clearly indicate the dispensing location.
3 and 4 show a dispensing position specifying method using a general-purpose computer display device typified by a liquid crystal display. FIG. 3 clearly shows the dispensing position by illuminating from the bottom with a light source when the sample holding part bottom of the target device is made of a transparent material. The device is placed in accordance with the display origin of the apparatus so that the sample holding position of the device is always the same display position of the display device. By executing the dispensing management program, the dispensing position on the device is calculated by physical values from the sample attribute information, the index value is converted into display point (dot) information, and information for recognizing the dispensing position is displayed. Since the light from the light source passes through the bottom of the sample holding portion of the device and can be confirmed from the dispensing port, the operator can accurately know the dispensing position.

FIG. 4 shows that dispensing position information is output from around the device when the target device is not a transparent material and the sample holding portion is not three or more rows. The device is installed in accordance with the display origin of the display device so that the sample holding position of the device is always the same display position of the display device. By executing the dispensing management program, the dispensing position on the device is calculated by physical values from the sample attribute information, the index value is converted into display point (dot) information, and information for recognizing the dispensing position is displayed. Since the dispensing position information is displayed in the vicinity where the sample holding site can be recognized, the operator can accurately know the dispensing position.

In the case of FIG. 4, processing is possible even if the dispensing ports are three or more rows. The information indicating the dispensing mouth can be displayed by displaying it at the nearest position, and displaying the row / column position as supplementary information with a numerical value to inform the operator. However, with this method, the work content is indirectly recognized, which may cause erroneous work. As a fundamental solution, it is desirable to irradiate position information from the top with something like a laser pointer.

In the explicit method of FIGS. 3 and 4, the position where the dispensing target device is installed on the general-purpose display device is important. What connects the physical position to be dispensed with the dispensing display position is a display point on the general-purpose display device. The dispensing position of the dispensing target device must be located at the same position display point on the general-purpose display device. If the display point indicating the dispensing position differs for each work, the management program cannot inform the worker of the correct dispensing position. Therefore, the device installation position must be the same fixed position as the origin coordinate. If the device to be dispensed may move after installation, the device to be dispensed must be fixed with something that fills the movement space.

In the clarification method of FIGS. 3 and 4, since the device is directly installed on the general-purpose display device, the general-purpose display device may be damaged due to erroneous dispensing of the sample. When implementing this method, it is necessary to consider measures against damage caused by incorrect dispensing. When an operator accidentally dispenses a sample outside the target device during the dispensing operation, the general-purpose display device that is grounded to the device is damaged. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to cover the general-purpose display device with a protective material for protecting the device. The protective material is a transparent material typified by glass or plastic and has a hardness capable of preventing breakage, can read dispensing position information, and protects against breakage due to a sample. In addition, when damage due to heat storage due to covering the device with a protective material is expected, the range of mounting should be limited to places where there is a risk of damage.

(4) Confirmation of the dispensing process using the indication of the dispensing location.
The dispensing process can be confirmed by the explicit method of FIG. The confirmation of the dispensing process is to inform the worker of the current dispensing work status and to avoid work errors when there are at least two dispensing works. The implementation method includes a mixing method of the sample color and the position display color and a recognition method using the position display color. The mixing method of the sample color and the position display color corresponds to the case where the sample is translucent and different in color. If the sample 1 is yellow, the sample 2 is blue, and the position display color is red The color development confirmed by the user is red → orange → black or red → purple → black. Thereby, the order of sample operations and the current sample can be recognized. The position display color recognition method corresponds to when each sample to be dispensed is transparent or the same color, and the dispensing status management program stores the work status from the input device to the computer for each dispensing work process. By changing the dispensing position display color according to, it is possible to recognize the order of sample operations and the current dispensed sample.

In carrying out the above method, light transmission becomes difficult as the number of dispensing steps increases, so the dispensing operation management program needs to control the luminance of the display unit in accordance with the number of operation steps. (Dark color → Light color) In addition, since the above method is considered on the assumption that the device and the sample transmit light, this method cannot be used unless one of the devices can transmit the light source.

(5) Overall software configuration.
The dispensing work management apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes the dispensing work management program shown in FIG. The output format output process 12 of FIG. 6 reads device installation origin position information, device dispensing port number, interval, and dispensing port calculation information from the output format definition file registered in the storage unit 4 of FIG. The device installation position and work information are initially output to the output unit 5 in FIG. 1 to set basic data for sample position calculation. The classification, rearrangement, and registration processing 10 of the dispensing work basic information in FIG. 6 reads the dispensing work basic information of the information medium from the first input unit 1 in FIG. 1, and performs collation determination, output display, and dispensing position calculation. The information is classified and rearranged for each work, and the information is registered. The work is to be carried out as a pretreatment for the dispensing work. The device / sample confirmation and work output processing 11 in FIG. 6 reads an identification display member such as a bar code seal attached to the device / sample from the second input unit 2 in FIG. 1 and registers it in the storage unit 4 in FIG. When the collation information is read from the dispensed work basic information file 14 of FIG. 6 and the identification target member of the dispensed sample is read, the dispensing position and sample information are shown in the output section of FIG. 5 for output. The output format registration / modification process 13 in FIG. 6 is for registering physical information of a device to be worked on in an output format definition file.

The dispensing operation management program shown in FIG. 6 is generally registered in the storage unit 4 of FIG. 1 of the dispensing operation management device, but is registered in an external storage medium or a virtual storage device on the network. May be.

In the dispensing work management program of FIG. 6, the function of obtaining the dispensing position on the device from the sample information and obtaining the output position on the output device from the value is essential in the program. A program having this function is called an output position conversion program.

(6) Output position conversion program.
The output position conversion program is a part of the device / sample confirmation and work output processing 11 of FIG. 6, and coefficient setting (first step) for converting the physical position into display position data is attached to the sample. The dispensing position of the device is obtained from collation of identification display member information such as a barcode seal and dispensing work basic information (second step), and the output position on the output device is calculated from the dispensing position obtained in the second step. (Third step), the display information is output to the output unit 5 at the dispensing display position obtained in the third step (fourth step).

In addition to the above description, the second step includes determining the dispensing position by a regulation method for each dispensing operation. The prescribed method is represented by a calculation method represented by a method of adding one by one for each work and determining a position in order, and a determination according to a collation table in which the number of work and the dispensing position are set in advance. If either method is used, there is a need to record information that can identify the device / sample and the dispensing position for each operation.

An embodiment of a method for collating the identification display member information of the output position conversion program and the dispensing work basic information is shown in the display device example of FIG. 7 and the device example of FIG. The following embodiments can be applied to other methods by replacing the collation part with other methods.

The display device example of FIG. 7 is a general-purpose display device typified by a liquid crystal display, which can be installed horizontally and upward with a flat display surface. In this embodiment, the size of the display surface is 384 mm in length and 512 mm in width, and the display capability is 768 dots in length and 1024 dots in width. At least eight colors can be displayed, and characters and graphic information can be displayed. . The minimum display unit dot is a square that is physically the same in both vertical and horizontal directions. The display origin is the first dot of the X and Y coordinates.

The device example of FIG. 8 is a device having at least two sample holding sites represented by a microplate. In this embodiment, the device shape is rectangular, the size is 90 millimeters long and 128 millimeters wide, and the outer margin is 5 millimeters long and 4 millimeters wide. The dispensing port of the device is circular, the inner diameter of the dispensing port is 8 millimeters, and the spacing between the dispensing ports is 3 millimeters long and 2 millimeters wide. The arrangement of dispensing ports is 8 in the vertical direction and 12 in the horizontal direction, for a total of 96. The arrangement of the dispensing ports is made by adding the devices one by one from the upper left to the lower side. Accordingly, the position of the dispensing port width 5 × 3 is the dispensing port # 35. According to the conditions of the display device in FIG. 7, the upper left corner of the display screen is the installation device origin position 16. One of the four corners of the device must be aligned with the device origin position of the display device. The device corner must be fixed for each operation. The calculation method in the third step varies depending on which corner is the origin position. In the embodiment, the installation display device origin position 17 is determined at the upper left of the device.

In the implementation of the present invention, the installation device origin position 16 in the display apparatus example of FIG. 7 is the 1st dot of the upper left X and Y coordinates, which is the display origin (sometimes expressed as the 0th dot depending on the OS / apparatus). desirable. Other than that, since it is necessary to consider the clogging value for the X and Y coordinates when calculating the position, the number of program steps and management data are expected to increase.

When the device has a shape that does not have four corners represented by a circle, an adapter having corners is created and attached to the general-purpose apparatus surface, and the corresponding device is installed in the adapter. In this case, the installation display device origin position 17 is the corner of the adapter.

The coefficient setting (first step) for converting the physical position into display data is obtained by the following function.
Vertical conversion coefficient = vertical length of general-purpose display device ÷ vertical display dot number of general-purpose display device Horizontal conversion coefficient = horizontal length of general-purpose display device ÷ number of horizontal display dots of general-purpose display device

In the embodiment, since the minimum display unit dot is a square that is physically the same in the vertical and horizontal directions, the actual length in the vertical or horizontal direction / the number of display dots can be obtained. Therefore, in the embodiment, 1024/512 or 768/384, and the conversion coefficient is 2. If the vertical and horizontal sizes of the display dot are different, it is necessary to obtain conversion coefficients individually.

Since the dispensing position of the device is determined from the identification display member information typified by the barcode sticker affixed to the sample and the basic information of the dispensing operation (second process), it depends on the content of the dispensing operation. However, it is essential to determine the sample holding position to be dispensed. As a method of obtaining, it is conceivable to calculate from a prescribed function that searches from a registered file and counts the number of operations. The embodiment is a case where the file is searched from an already registered file. The content of the barcode sticker of the sample is 0001, and the dispensing work basic information file 14 of FIG. 6 registered in the storage unit 4 of FIG. By searching with the value 0001, the registered dispensing position is determined as the 26th dispensing port. The dispensing port indicates a mouth portion into which a sample at a sample holding position on the device is inserted.

The calculation of the display point position from the obtained vertical / horizontal position (third step) is to calculate the millimeter value as the physical position with respect to the value obtained in the second step. The required position is the center point of the dispensing port. The following function can be used.
Variable A = INT ((Dispensing mouth sequence number + (Dispensing mouth length-1)) ÷ Dispensing mouth length)
Variable B = Dispense length-Variable A
Variable C = length of dispensing port + distance between dispensing ports Variable D = length of dispensing port ÷ 2
Horizontal physical position of dispensing port (mm) = (variable B × variable C) + variable D + length of horizontal margin Variable E = spouting port sequence number−INT (spouting port sequence number ÷ number of dispensing ports) × Side of dispensing port Variable F = Variable E-1
Variable G = vertical length of dispensing port + vertical interval of dispensing port Variable H = horizontal length of dispensing port ÷ 2
Vertical physical position of dispensing port (millimeter) = (variable F × variable G) + variable H + length of vertical margin

INT () is a function for rounding off the decimal point used in the BASIC language, and any other function or program subroutine may be used as long as the value after the decimal point is truncated to the calculation result value.

Variable A is the lateral position of the dispensing port in the device. Variable B is the number of dispensing spouts counted from the installation display device origin position 17 in the horizontal direction and excluding the self spout. Variable C is the length of one dispensing port in the lateral calculation. Variable D is the length to the horizontal center of the dispensing port. The length of the horizontal margin is the length from the installation display device origin position 17 in the horizontal direction until it hits the first dispensing port.

Variable E is the vertical position of the dispensing port in the device. The variable F is the number of dispensing ports counted in the vertical direction from the installation display device origin position 17 and excluding the own injection port. The variable G is the length of one dispensing port in the vertical direction calculation. Variable H is the length to the vertical center of the dispensing port. The length of the vertical margin is the length from the installation display device origin position 17 in the vertical direction until it hits the first dispensing port.

In the embodiment, the 26th physical position of the dispensing port is obtained.
4 [variable A] = INT ((26 [spouting mouth sequence number] + (8 [spouting mouth length] -1)) ÷ 8
[Length of dispensing port])
8 [variable B] = 12 [length of dispensing side] -4 [variable A]
10 [variable C] = 8 [length of the side of the dispensing port] +2 [horizontal distance of the dispensing port]
4 [variable D] = 8 [length of dispensing port side] ÷ 2
88 millimeters [horizontal physical position of dispensing port] = (8 [variable B] × 10 [variable C]) + 4
[Variable D] +4 [Length of horizontal margin]
2 [variable E] = 26 [number of dispensing ports] −INT (26 [number of dispensing ports] ÷ 12
Lower port length]) x 12 [spout port length]
1 [variable F] = 2 [variable E] -1
11 [variable G] = 8 [length of dispensing port] +3 [length of dispensing port]
4 [variable H] = 8 [length of dispensing port side] ÷ 2
20 millimeters [horizontal physical position of the dispensing port] = (1 [variable F] × 11 [variable G]) + 4
[Variable H] +5 [Length of vertical margin]
Therefore, the physical position is 20 millimeters long and 88 millimeters wide.

The display information is output to the output unit 5 at the dispensing port physical position obtained in the third step. The display position is converted from the calculated physical position millimeter and the output format definition registered in the storage unit 4 is output. The dispensing position is clearly output to the output unit 5 according to the contents. The final output position needs to consider the display size and the output start position of the output device. The output position can be obtained by the following function.
Variable J = vertical physical position (millimeter) × vertical conversion coefficient vertical display position (dot) of dispensing port = variable J − ((length of dispensing port divided by 2) × vertical conversion coefficient)
Variable K = horizontal physical position (millimeter) × horizontal conversion coefficient horizontal explicit display position (dot) = variable K − ((length of dispensing port vertical ÷ 2) × horizontal conversion coefficient)

The variable J is a converted value of the vertical display position. The vertical display position of the dispensing port is a value adjusted according to the device specifications of the output unit 5. The variable K is a converted value of the horizontal display position. The horizontal explicit display position of the dispensing port is a value adjusted according to the device specification of the output unit 5. The variable M is a value adjusted according to the device specification of the output unit 5 and is an X coordinate (lateral) position to be actually output. In a general general-purpose display device, the upper left of the output object is the display start position. Therefore, the adjustment processing of the variables K and M is multiplied by a conversion coefficient to ½ of the actual size in order to move from the center point to the upper left. Adjustment is performed by subtracting the value. This conversion formula needs to be changed according to the device specifications.

In the embodiment, the calculation result in the third step, the physical position of 20 mm in length and 88 mm in width is converted into the display position by the conversion process.
40 [variable J] = 20 [vertical physical position (millimeter)] × 2 [vertical conversion coefficient]
32 dots [Vertical display position of dispensing port] =
40 [variable J]-((8 [length of dispensing spout length] ÷ 2) × 2 [vertical conversion coefficient])
176 [variable K] = 88 [lateral physical position (millimeter)] × 2 [lateral transformation coefficient]
168 [Horizontal display position of dispensing port] =
176 [variable K] − ((8 [length of dispensing port side] ÷ 2) × 2 [horizontal conversion coefficient])
The color, size, blinking presence / absence, display character / graphic information specified in the output format definition are output at the display position X coordinate 168 dots and Y coordinate 32 dots.

The program for converting the measurement sample dispensing position described above to the general-purpose display device position converts the measurement sample dispensing position into a millimeter value and then converts the display position from the millimeter value. Unifying. Therefore, by having each conversion process as a program part, a combination of a device and an output device can be freely performed by a combination of program parts.

(7) Correction of registration of output format definition.
The device / sample confirmation and work output process 11 shown in FIG. 6, which is a component of the dispensing work management program shown in FIG. 6, and the output format output process 12 linked to the output format definition file 15 shown in FIG. By doing so, it is characterized by the ability to change the output format that clearly shows the dispensing port according to the type of device. Therefore, even if the type of device changes, the dispensing management work can be performed without changing the hardware. In order to realize this function, the device / sample confirmation / work output process 11 in FIG. 6 and the output format output process 12 at the start of the work in FIG. As external data handling, it must be created so as to be taken in from the output format definition file 15 of FIG. The vertical / horizontal conversion coefficients, the arrangement / number / intervals of the dispensing ports, and the device size, which are fixed information of the output position conversion program described above, are to be imported from external data.

The output format definition registration / modification process 13 in FIG. 6 is for registering and modifying information in the output format definition file 15 in FIG. Thereby, the general function which is the feature of the output format output processing 12 at the start of the device / sample confirmation / work output processing 11 in FIG. 6 and the work in FIG. 6 can be realized. The implementation of the output format definition registration / correction processing 13 in FIG. 6 is performed by measuring basic information representing the device itself and registering it as numeric data. Basic elements such as fine adjustment of the output device and intervals between dispensing ports For the adjustment of the approximate device that does not change, the dispensing related information is virtually output sequentially to the output unit 5 in FIG. 1 in conjunction with the operator's correction input operation, and the output contents are collated with the actual device. This is possible by deriving an appropriate value and making corrections.

In the embodiment, the basic information to be actually measured is the vertical and horizontal lengths of the device, the length of the margin, the vertical and horizontal lengths of the device dispensing port, the interval, and the number of arrangements, and the output device. The vertical and horizontal conversion coefficients and the number of display units (dot). In the adjustment method, the output unit 5 in FIG. 1 virtually outputs information indicating the explicit position of the dispensing port and the installation position of the device, and the installation display device origin position 17 in FIG. X, Y coordinate movement, vertical / horizontal conversion coefficient of the output device, vertical / horizontal length, spacing, and number of arrangement of the device dispensing port can be corrected while being sequentially confirmed.

The program corresponding to the adjustment method described above fetches data from an input device that can be sequentially input by an operator represented by a keyboard, executes an output position conversion program with the fetched data, and synchronizes with the input device. Virtually output all dispensing position information to the output unit 5, and information appropriate for the operator's instruction is registered in the output format definition file 15 of FIG.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is used as a manual dispensing processing method and apparatus for test specimens / reagents of test and measurement machines used in medical institutions.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the dispensing operation | work management apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions at the time of implementing this invention with a general purpose computer. It is a figure which shows the practice method which specifies a dispensing position when a work object device permeate | transmits a light source. It is a figure which shows the practice method which specifies dispensing position when a work target device does not permeate | transmit a light source. It is a figure which shows the example of a general purpose computer system corresponding to the practice method which specifies a dispensing position when a work object device permeate | transmits a light source. It is a figure which shows the whole software structure of the dispensing operation | work management program by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display apparatus for the program Example which calculates dispensing position. It is a figure which shows the example of a device for the program Example which calculates dispensing position. It is a figure which shows the example of a combination of the conversion program components of an Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st input part 2 ... 2nd input part 3 ... Control part 4 ... Memory | storage part 5 ... Output part 6 ... General-purpose computer display apparatus 7 ... General-purpose computer display apparatus Display point (dot)
8 ... Microplate-shaped device 10 ... Classification, rearrangement and registration process 11 of dispensing work basic information ... Dispensing position, sample attribute output process 12 ... Output format output process 13 at the start of work・ ・ ・ Output format definition correction and change processing 14 ・ ・ ・ Dispensing work basic information file 15 ・ ・ ・ Output format definition file 16 ・ ・ ・ Display device, installation device origin position 17 ・ ・ ・ Device, installation display device origin position 18 ・ ・ ・ Sample dispensing port 19 ・ ・ ・ Light source non-transmissive device

Claims (11)

In a method of manually dispensing a sample to each sample holding part on one device having at least two sample holding parts, information for collating the sample holding part and the dispensed sample is provided to the dispensing work management device. Whether the device is to be dispensed from the information to be registered (step 1), information read from the identification display member attached to the device to be dispensed (second step), and information read in the second step If the third step is a non-dispensing determination, the operator confirms the information indicating the error and reselects the dispensing target device, and returns to the third step. If the third step is a dispensing target determination, a step of installing a dispensing target device at a designated position on the dispensing position output device (fourth step), a step of reading information from an identification display member attached to the selected sample (5th process), 5th Step (6th step) for determining whether or not the sample is a sample to be dispensed from the information read in the process. If the 6th step is a non-dispensable decision, the operator confirms the information indicating the error and distributes the sample. Re-select the sample to be poured and return to the fifth step, and if the sixth step is a dispensing target determination, the step consists of a step (seventh step) in which dispensing work is performed according to the dispensing position guide information output on the apparatus. A dispensing method characterized by the above. In a device that manually dispenses a sample to each sample holding part on one device having at least two sample holding parts, information for collating the sample holding part and the dispensed sample is supplied to the dispensing work management apparatus. Whether the device is to be dispensed from the information to be read in the step of registering (first step), the step of reading information from the identification display member attached to the dispensing target device (second step), and the second step If the third step is a non-dispensing determination, information indicating an error is output, and if the third step is a dispensing target determination, the information is output on the sample holding position output device. From the information read in the fifth step, the step of outputting the guidance information of the dispensing target device installation position (fourth step), the step of reading information from the identification display member attached to the selected sample (fifth step) Sample to be dispensed If it is determined that there is no dispensing target in the sixth step or the sixth step, information indicating an error is output, and if it is a dispensing target determination, verification information registered in the first step A dispensing operation management device characterized in that a step (seventh step) of searching for a sample holding position and outputting dispensing guidance information is linked. In a method of registering the sample holding position and sample identification information for each manual dispensing to a device having at least two sample holding parts, information for comparing the sample holding part and the dispensed sample is provided. From the information read in the step (first step) to be registered in the dispensing operation management device, the step (second step) of reading information from the identification display member attached to the dispensing target device, the device is Step (3rd step) for determining whether or not to be a dispensing target, if the third step is a non-dispensing decision, the operator checks the information indicating the error and reselects the dispensing target device. Returning to the third step, if the third step is a dispensing target determination, the step of installing the dispensing target device at the specified position on the sample holding position output device (fourth step), the identification display attached to the selected sample Read information from member The process (fifth process), a process (sixth process) for determining whether or not the sample is a sample to be dispensed from the information read in the fifth process, and if the sixth process is a non-dispensable target, Check the information indicating the error, reselect the sample to be dispensed, return to the fifth step, and if the sixth step is the dispensing target determination, perform the dispensing operation according to the dispensing position guide information output on the device. A dispensing work processing method comprising: a process to be performed (seventh process), and a process (eighth process) for registering dispensing target device information and sample information of the seventh process in a dispensing work management apparatus. In a device that registers the sample holding position and sample identification information for each manual dispensing into a device having at least two sample holding parts, information for comparing the sample holding part and the dispensed sample is provided. From the information read in the step (first step), the step of reading information from the identification display member attached to the dispensing target device (second step), and the information read in the second step Step (3rd step) for determining whether or not to be a dispensing target. If the third step is a non-dispensing determination, an error information is output. If the third step is a dispensing target determination, a sample is output. A step of outputting guide information of the device installation position on the holding position output device (fourth step), a step of reading information from the identification display member attached to the selected sample (fifth step), and a fifth step Read in If the process determines whether it is a sample to be dispensed from the report (sixth process), if the sixth process is a non-dispensable determination, information indicating an error is output, and the sixth affirmation is a dispensing target determination If there is, the step of obtaining the sample dispensing position by the designated calculation or position information retrieval processing and outputting the result as dispensing guidance information (seventh step), the dispensing target device information and the sample information of the seventh step A dispensing work management apparatus, wherein a process (eighth process) registered in the dispensing work management apparatus is linked. 3. A function capable of correcting and determining position guide information indicating a sample dispensing position and an information output function of a dispensing position output device based on individual information of a target device and dispensing process step information. Or the dispensing operation processing device described in any one of 4 above. 6. The dispensing work processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a general-purpose display device of a computer is used as an output device that indicates a sample dispensing position. 7. The dispensing operation management device according to claim 2, wherein the dispensing operation management device has a function of visually confirming a sample dispensing position by irradiating a light source from a bottom of a sample holding portion of the device. . The dispensing work processing method using the apparatus of claim 7, wherein the dispensing work status and process to the device can be visually confirmed by a composite color of the sample color and the position display color. The dispensing work processing method described in any one of the items. 8. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device has a function capable of visually confirming a dispensing operation status and a process to the device by a composite color of the sample color and the position display color. Dispensing work management device. 3. A function capable of guiding a dispensing operation and managing a process by outputting a sample dispensing position and sample information based on sample dispensing position information registered in advance. The program with which the dispensing operation | work apparatus described in any one of 4-7 or 9 is equipped. It has a function that can correct and determine the position guidance information indicating the sample dispensing position and the information output function of the device that outputs the position guidance information based on the individual information of the dispensing target device or the dispensing process step. The program with which the dispensing operation | work apparatus as described in any one of Claim 2, 4-7, or 9 is used.