JP2008032493A - Autoanalyzer, failure cause analysis support method for autoanalyzer, and failure cause analysis support program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an autoanalyzer for achieving speedup of occurrence cause analysis performed by a user when a failure occurs without complicating its structure, a failure cause analysis support method for the autoanalyzer, and its program. <P>SOLUTION: If the failure occurs in this autoanalyzer used for analyzing components of a specimen by reacting the specimen with a reagent, the autoanalyzer displays its occurrence spot and then displays a cause candidate which is a candidate for the cause of occurrence corresponding to the failure. If a conformity input is done showing that the displayed cause candidate is the cause of occurrence, this autoanalyzer displays a handling method for the cause of occurrence. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that automatically analyzes a component of a specimen by reacting the specimen with a reagent, and an abnormality cause analysis support of the automatic analyzer that supports analysis of the cause of the abnormality that has occurred in the automatic analyzer. The present invention relates to a method and an abnormality cause analysis support program for causing a computer to execute the method.

  An automatic analyzer that automatically analyzes a component of a sample by reacting the sample with a reagent includes various mechanisms for analyzing the sample. When an abnormality occurs in such an automatic analyzer and the analysis operation is stopped, the user often has to spend a lot of time in the cause analysis for identifying the cause of the abnormality. Therefore, there has been a long-awaited technique that can quickly identify the cause of occurrence of an abnormality.

  As a technology that can solve the above-mentioned problems, there is a technology in which device failure information and service base information are stored in association with the device in advance, and the device automatically reports to the service base when a failure occurs or when a maintenance period expires. It is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  A technique for automatically analyzing the cause of occurrence from data at the time of failure occurrence is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-258426 A JP 2002-65099 A

  However, in the above prior art, the analysis and determination of the failure location is generally automated, and therefore a detection means such as a sensor must be further provided in order to perform the analysis and determination. There is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated by adding new hardware.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an automatic analyzer and an automatic analyzer that can realize a quick analysis of the cause of occurrence performed by a user when an abnormality occurs without complicating the configuration An object of the present invention is to provide an abnormality cause analysis support method and an abnormality cause analysis support program.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a measurement unit that reacts a sample with a reagent and measures the reaction, and automatically analyzes the components of the sample. An automatic analyzer, an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality that occurs in the measurement unit, one or a plurality of cause candidates that are candidates for occurrence of an abnormality that can be detected by the abnormality detection unit, and each cause candidate Storage means for storing a coping method, an occurrence location of the abnormality detected by the abnormality detection means, a cause candidate according to the content of the abnormality, and a coping method for the cause candidate selected as the cause of the abnormality from the storage means And display means for reading and displaying.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the display unit displays the content of the abnormality detected by the abnormality detection unit and any one of the cause candidates according to the content of the abnormality. In addition, a content prompting a selection input as to whether or not the cause candidate is in conformity with the state of the place where the abnormality has occurred is displayed, and a countermeasure for the cause candidate is selected according to the content selected and input according to the display. A cause candidate different from the cause candidate is displayed.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the storage means stores an occurrence frequency for each cause of occurrence of an abnormality occurring in the apparatus, and a display order of cause candidates to be displayed by the display means is The frequency is determined based on the frequency of occurrence of each cause candidate in the device.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the display unit collectively displays the content of the abnormality detected by the abnormality detection unit and all cause candidates according to the content of the abnormality. It is characterized by that.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, the storage means stores an occurrence frequency for each cause of occurrence of an abnormality occurring in the apparatus, and the display means sets each cause candidate as an occurrence frequency. It is characterized by being displayed in association with each other.

  A sixth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the display means graphically displays a location where the abnormality detection means has detected an abnormality.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the measurement unit includes a dispensing unit that sucks and discharges the specimen and / or reagent, and the specimen and / or reagent. A liquid level detecting means for detecting the liquid level, wherein the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality in the liquid level detecting means.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the measurement unit has a transport means for transporting a rack on which a sample container for storing a sample is placed, The abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality in the conveying means.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the measurement unit irradiates light to the reaction container for reacting the specimen and the reagent, and passes through the reaction container. Photometric means for detecting light is provided, and the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality in the photometric means.

  The invention according to claim 10 is an abnormality cause analysis support method for an automatic analyzer that supports analysis of a cause of an abnormality that has occurred in an automatic analyzer that analyzes a component of the sample by reacting the sample with a reagent. An occurrence location display step for displaying the location where the abnormality has occurred; a cause candidate that is a candidate for the occurrence according to the abnormality; and at least one or more cause candidates according to the abnormality that can be detected by the device A cause candidate display step that is read out from the storage unit and displayed, an input step that receives an input as to whether or not the cause candidate displayed in the cause candidate display step is in conformity with the state of the location where the abnormality has occurred, And a countermeasure display step for displaying a countermeasure for the cause of the occurrence.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 10, wherein the cause candidate display step displays the content of the abnormality and any one of the cause candidates according to the content of the abnormality, and the cause Displaying the content prompting selection input whether or not the candidate is in conformity with the state of the location where the abnormality has occurred, and input indicating that the cause candidate does not conform to the state of the location where the abnormality has occurred in the input step If it has been made, it returns to the cause candidate display step and displays a cause candidate different from the cause candidate.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the eleventh aspect, the display order of the cause candidates is determined based on the occurrence frequency of each cause candidate in the device.

  The invention according to claim 13 is the invention according to claim 10, wherein the cause candidate display step collectively displays the contents of the abnormality and all the cause candidates according to the contents of the abnormality. .

  The invention according to claim 14 is the invention according to claim 13, wherein the cause candidate display step displays each cause candidate in the device in association with an occurrence frequency.

  An abnormality cause analysis support program according to a fifteenth aspect of the invention causes a computer to execute the abnormality cause analysis support method of the automatic analyzer described in any one of claims 10 to 14.

  According to the present invention, when an abnormality has occurred in the automatic analyzer, after the occurrence location is displayed, the cause candidates that are candidates for the occurrence according to the abnormality are displayed. When a matching input indicating that there is an error is made, by displaying a countermeasure for the cause, it is possible to speed up the analysis of the cause caused by the user when an abnormality occurs without complicating the configuration. It becomes possible.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automatic analyzer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a device that automatically performs biochemical analysis of the components of a specimen by reacting a specimen such as blood or body fluid with a reagent according to the examination item of the specimen. The automatic analyzer 1 dispenses a specimen and a reagent into predetermined containers, and performs a measurement unit 101 for optical measurement of a liquid contained in the container, and an automatic including the measurement unit 101. A data processing unit 102 that controls the analysis apparatus 1 and analyzes the measurement result in the measurement unit 101, and is an apparatus that continuously analyzes the components of a plurality of specimens by cooperation of these two mechanisms. is there.

  The measurement unit 101 includes a transport unit 2 that stores and sequentially transfers a plurality of racks 22 on which sample containers 21 that store samples are mounted, a reagent container holding unit 3 that mainly holds a reagent container 31 of a first reagent, A reagent container holding unit 4 that mainly holds a reagent container 41 of a second reagent and a reaction container holding unit 5 that holds a reaction container 51 for reacting a sample and a reagent are provided.

  Further, the automatic analyzer 1 is accommodated in a sample dispensing unit 6 that dispenses a sample accommodated in the sample container 21 on the transport unit 2 into the reaction container 51 and a reagent container 31 on the reagent container holding unit 3. Reagent dispensing unit 7 for dispensing a reagent into reaction container 51, reagent dispensing unit 8 for dispensing a reagent contained in reagent container 41 on reagent container holding unit 4 into reaction container 51, and reaction container holding unit 5 and a photometric unit for receiving the light irradiated from the light source and passing through the reaction vessel 51 and measuring the intensity of a predetermined wavelength component, etc. 11 and a cleaning section 12 that cleans the reaction container 51 on the reaction container holding section 5.

  The sample container 21 is affixed with an information code recording medium (not shown) in which identification information for identifying a sample contained therein is encoded and recorded in an information code such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code. Similarly, an information code recording medium in which identification information for identifying a reagent contained in the reagent containers 31 and 41 is encoded and recorded in an information code is also attached (not shown). For this reason, the measurement unit 101 is provided with information code reading units for reading the information codes attached to the sample container 21 and the reagent containers 31 and 41 in the transport unit 2 and the reagent container holding units 3 and 4 ( Not shown).

  The reagent container holding parts 3 and 4 and the reaction container holding part 5 are attached to a wheel for accommodating and holding the reagent container 31 or the reaction container 51, respectively, and the center of the bottom surface of the wheel, and a vertical line passing through the center is used as a rotation axis. Drive means for rotating the wheel (not shown). The inside of each container holding part is kept at a constant temperature. For example, the interiors of the reagent container holding units 3 and 4 are set to a temperature lower than room temperature in order to suppress reagent deterioration and denaturation. Further, the inside of the reaction container holding unit 5 is set to a temperature that is about the same as the human body temperature.

  The photometry unit 11 includes a light source 11a that emits white light, a spectroscopic optical system 11b that splits white light that has passed through the photometry window 5a of the reaction vessel 51 and the reaction vessel holding unit 5, and light that is spectrally separated by the spectroscopic optical system 11b. And a light receiving element 11c that receives each component and converts it into an electrical signal.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the reagent dispensing unit 7. The reagent dispensing unit 7 shown in FIG. 1 connects a reagent nozzle 71 that forms a hollow thin tube and sucks and discharges a reagent, an arm 72 to which the base end of the reagent nozzle 71 is attached, and an arm 72. 72 includes a connecting portion 73 for moving up and down 72 and rotating about the vertical axis O, and a drive portion 74 for driving the arm 72 and the connecting portion 73. The reagent dispensing unit 7 is disposed in the vicinity of the reagent nozzle 71, is connected to the electrode 75 having a rod shape, and the reagent Rg (first reagent) in which the tip of the electrode 75 is accommodated in the reagent container 31. ) Is provided with a liquid level detection unit 76 that sends a predetermined liquid level detection signal to the control unit 16 (described later) of the data processing unit 102 when the liquid level is touched. The drive unit 74 and the liquid level detection unit 76 are driven under the control of the control unit 16.

  Connected to the upper end of the reagent nozzle 71 is a tubular tube 91 serving as a flow path for the cleaning liquid Wa that transmits pressure to the tip of the reagent nozzle 71 during suction or discharge. The other end of the tube 91 is connected to a syringe 77 that generates a pressure to be transmitted through the cleaning liquid Wa (made of ion exchange water or the like) during suction or discharge. The syringe 77 includes a cylinder 77 a and a piston 77 b, and the piston 77 b is moved by driving the piston driving unit 78. The syringe 77 is also connected to a tube 92 different from the tube 91. An electromagnetic valve 79 is connected to the other end of the tube 92. The electromagnetic valve 79 and the pump 7A are connected by a tube 93, and the pump 7A is connected via a tube 94 to a cleaning liquid tank 7B that stores the cleaning liquid Wa. The piston drive unit 78, the electromagnetic valve 79, and the pump 7A are driven under the control of the control unit 16.

  The reagent nozzle 71, the syringe 77, and the tubes 91 and 92 are filled with the cleaning liquid Wa. When the reagent Rg is aspirated or discharged, the piston drive unit 78 is driven to move the piston 77b of the syringe 77. Then, an appropriate suction pressure or discharge pressure is applied to the tip of the reagent nozzle 71 via the cleaning liquid Wa. Since the air layer is interposed between the cleaning liquid Wa and the reagent Rg at the tip of the reagent nozzle 71, the reagent Rg is not mixed with the cleaning liquid Wa when the reagent Rg is sucked.

  The sample dispensing unit 6 (comprising the sample nozzle 61) and the reagent dispensing unit 8 (comprising the reagent nozzle 81), which form part of the dispensing means, also have the same configuration as the reagent dispensing unit 7. .

  Next, the functional configuration of the data processing unit 102 will be described with reference to FIG. The data processing unit 102 includes an input unit 13 that receives information including information necessary for analyzing the sample and an operation instruction signal for the automatic analyzer 1, an output unit 14 that outputs at least information related to the analysis of the sample, The storage unit 15 that stores various information including information related to abnormalities occurring in the analyzer 1 and information related to sample analysis, controls and calculates each function or means in the data processing unit 102, and in the measurement unit 101 And a control unit 16 that performs drive control of each function or each means.

  The input unit 13 has a keyboard and a mouse. The input unit 13 may further include a pointing device such as a trackball or a trackpad, or a user interface such as a voice input microphone.

  The output unit 14 includes a display unit 141 including a display device such as liquid crystal, plasma, organic EL, or CRT that displays various information. The output unit 14 may further include an audio output speaker or a printer that prints and outputs information on paper or the like. In addition, it is good also as a structure which the display part 141 is made into a touch panel format, comprises a part of function of the input part 13, and a user can directly perform desired input on a screen.

  The storage unit 15 stores the content of an abnormality that is assumed to occur in advance, one or a plurality of cause candidates that are candidates for the occurrence according to the content of the abnormality, and a countermeasure for each cause candidate. The storage unit 15 also includes analysis items, sample information, reagent types, sample and reagent dispensing amounts, sample and reagent expiration dates, information on calibration curves used for analysis, calibration curve expiration dates, and each analysis item. In addition to storing parameters necessary for analysis, such as reference values and allowable values, and analysis data, various programs are stored. This program includes an abnormality cause analysis program for executing an abnormality cause analysis method (described later) of the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment and a program for controlling the operation of the measurement unit 101.

  The control unit 16 reads various programs from the storage unit 15 and executes control and calculation of various operations of the automatic analyzer 1. The control unit 16 includes a calculation unit 161 that performs analysis calculation based on the measurement result of the measurement unit 101 and generates analysis data of the sample. The analysis operation performed by the calculation unit 161 includes quantitative calculation of liquid components in the reaction vessel 51 using various information such as calculation of the absorbance of the liquid in the reaction vessel 51, the calculation result of the absorbance, and a calibration curve and analysis parameters. Calculation is included. The calculation result of the calculation unit 161 is output from the output unit 14 (including display from the display unit 141) as analysis data, and is written and stored in the storage unit 15.

  The data processing unit 102 having the above functional configuration is realized by a computer which is an electronic device including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

  The storage unit 15 may include an auxiliary storage device that reads information recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a flash memory. It is also possible to record various programs including the above-described abnormality cause analysis program.

  By the way, the automatic analyzer 1 reacts the sample and the reagent in the measurement unit 101, and detects abnormalities including malfunctions, false detections, failures, etc. of various operating mechanisms that are operated to measure this reaction. Detection means are provided. As such an abnormality detection means, in addition to a mechanism for determining the detection signal of the liquid level detection unit 76 by the reagent dispensing unit 7, a rotation sensor for detecting the amount of movement of the belt that conveys the rack 22 by the conveyance unit 2, A position sensor for determining the stop position of the reaction vessel 51 in the reaction vessel holding unit 5, various sensors for monitoring operations of the stirring units 9 and 10 and the washing unit 12 are included. Such an abnormality detection means is provided in a conventional automatic analyzer. Therefore, the automatic analyzer 1 does not add special hardware as in the case of applying a method such as a process monitor that automatically performs failure analysis.

  Next, an outline of the analysis operation of the automatic analyzer 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. After the automatic analyzer 1 starts analysis (step S101), when the abnormality detection means detects the occurrence of some abnormality (Yes in step S102), the automatic analyzer 1 displays an abnormality occurrence on the display unit 141, for example, After displaying “occurrence of liquid level detection error” (step S103), the analysis is stopped (step S104), and the cause analysis support process is performed (step S105).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an overview of the process of step S105, that is, the abnormality cause analysis support method of the automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment. First, the location where the abnormality is detected in step S102 is displayed on the display unit 141 (step S1). FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an abnormality detection location on the display unit 141. The abnormal part display screen P shown in FIG. 5 is a graphic display of the configuration of the measurement unit 101 of the automatic analyzer 1 schematically. FIG. 5 shows a display when a liquid level detection error occurs during dispensing by the reagent dispensing unit 7, and an area corresponding to the reagent container holding unit 3 and the reagent dispensing unit 7 is an abnormality detection region Q. Displayed with a dotted line. In the display unit 141, the abnormality detection area Q may be displayed in a color different from other areas, or may be displayed so that the abnormality detection area Q blinks on the screen. Thereby, the user of the automatic analyzer 1 can visually recognize that the detected abnormality, that is, the liquid level detection error has occurred in the reagent container holding unit 3 or the reagent dispensing unit 7.

  In the lower area of the abnormal part display screen P shown in FIG. 5, a message “Please select one. 1. Cause candidate display, 2. End” is displayed. The user selects and inputs the choice “1” or “2” from the input unit 13 in accordance with this message, and proceeds to processing according to the input content. First, a case where “1. Cause candidate display” is selected (Yes in step S2) will be described. In this case, cause candidates stored in advance in the storage unit 15 are sequentially displayed from the display unit 141 in accordance with the detected abnormality content. After viewing the display content on the display unit 141, the user investigates whether there is an abnormality according to the display content. The display unit 141 displays a cause candidate and a message prompting the user to input whether or not an actual abnormality matches the cause candidate as a result of the investigation by the user.

  Hereinafter, a more specific example will be described with reference to a case where the detected abnormality is a liquid level detection error in the reagent dispensing unit 7. First, the contents of the first cause candidate 1 are displayed (step S3-1). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a screen transition example in the display unit 141 according to the selection result of the display content of the cause candidate of the liquid level detection error in the reagent dispensing unit 7. In step S3-1, as shown in the cause candidate display screen P1 of FIG. 6, a message “Is there too much reagent in the reagent container?” Is displayed as the cause candidate 1, and too much for the user ( The contents prompting the selection input of “Yes: y input” or appropriate (No: n input) are displayed.

  If the user recognizes that the amount of the reagent solution is too large as a result of checking the corresponding portion, if the user inputs y (adapted input) from the input unit 13 assuming that this is the cause of the abnormality (Yes in step S4-1) In response to this input, the display unit 141 displays a countermeasure for cause candidate 1 (reagent excess) (step S5-1). In this step S5-1, for example, as shown in the countermeasure display screen P1A of FIG. 6, a message “Cause: Too much reagent remaining. Operation: Set the amount of reagent solution to an appropriate amount” is displayed.

  On the other hand, when the user confirms that the amount of the reagent solution is appropriate, if the user performs n input from the input unit 13 (No in step S4-1), the display unit 141 causes the cause according to this input. The cause candidate 2 different from the candidate 1 is displayed (step S4-2). In the cause candidate display screen P2 shown in FIG. 6, a message “Are the reagent container tilted?” Is displayed and the user is tilted (Yes: y input) or not tilted (No: n input). The contents prompting for the selection input are displayed.

  Thereafter, when the user inputs y (adapted input) from the input unit 13 (Yes in step S4-2), a countermeasure for the cause candidate 2 (container inclination) is displayed from the display unit 141 (step S5-2). . In step S5-2, for example, as shown in the countermeasure display screen P2A of FIG. 6, a message “Cause: The reagent container is tilted. Operation: Set the reagent container correctly” is displayed.

  When the user inputs n while displaying the cause candidate display screen P2 in step S4-2 (No in step S4-2), the contents of the next cause candidate are displayed. Hereinafter, the processing contents for each cause candidate are the same as those in the case of cause candidates 1 and 2 described above. In FIG. 4, a case where there are N cause candidates corresponding to the detected abnormality is omitted. On the other hand, in the case shown in FIG. 6, the total number of cause candidates (N in FIG. 4) is 3. Specifically, the cause candidate 3 is a bending of the reagent nozzle as shown in the cause candidate display screen P3. When y input (adaptation input) is made by the user while the cause candidate display screen P3 is displayed, the display unit 141 displays a “cause: reagent nozzle is bent” as a countermeasure display screen P3A for the cause candidate 3 (nozzle bending). “Operation: Replace the reagent nozzle” is displayed. In the case illustrated in FIG. 6, the display order of the cause candidates 1 to 3 is determined in advance.

  When the cause is not specified by all the cause candidates 1,..., N, that is, there is no matching input from the input unit 13 while the cause candidate display screen P1,. In that case, the process proceeds to step S6 to display the contact information. Specifically, for example, as shown on the contact display screen PF in FIG. 6, the message “Please call our service man. TEL: 03-xxxx-xxxx” is displayed to prompt the user to contact the service man. The liquid level detection error corresponding to such a case includes a case where a liquid level detection signal is generated when the reagent nozzle 71 is positioned considerably above the original liquid level due to external noise such as static electricity. Can be mentioned.

  When the automatic analyzer 1 has a configuration capable of communicating with a communication device such as a telephone, instead of displaying the contact information in step S6, a call to the contact information is automatically made. It is good also as composition which performs generated control. In addition, when the automatic analyzer 1 has a configuration capable of transmitting and receiving information via a communication network (including the Internet, an intranet, a dedicated line, etc.), information on the abnormality that has occurred in step S6 is transmitted in a predetermined manner. It is good also as a structure which transmits automatically to the tip (for example, support center).

  Up to this point, the case where “1. cause candidate display” is selected in step S2 has been described, but when “2. end” is selected (No in step S2), the abnormality cause analysis support processing is ended. To do. This corresponds to, for example, processing when the user can immediately identify the cause of the abnormality without receiving support from the automatic analyzer 1.

  In the abnormality cause analysis support process described above, as a specific method for inputting a signal from the user to the automatic analyzer 1, a keyboard or mouse of the input unit 13 or a touch panel method on the display unit 141 is used. It is good also as a structure which can be input, and it is good also as a structure which can input by a user's audio | voice. Moreover, when the output part 14 is equipped with the microphone, it is good also as a structure which outputs the same or equivalent content as what is output with the display part 141 with an audio | voice.

  After the abnormality cause analysis support process (step S105) is completed, the user performs work for removing the cause of the abnormality, or contacts a service person to come to repair or the like. Thereafter, when the analysis of the sample is resumed (Yes in step S106), the process returns to step S101 and the process is repeated. On the other hand, when the analysis is interrupted (No in step S106), the series of processing ends.

  If no abnormality is detected in step S102 (No in step S102), if the analysis operation has not ended (No in step S107), the process returns to step S102. On the other hand, when the predetermined analysis operation is completed (Yes in step S107), the series of processes is ended.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when an abnormality occurs in the automatic analyzer, after displaying the occurrence location, a cause candidate that is a candidate for the occurrence according to the abnormality is displayed. When a conforming input indicating that the displayed cause candidate is the cause of the occurrence is made, analysis of the cause that is made by the user when an abnormality occurs is displayed without complicating the configuration by displaying a countermeasure for the cause. Can be achieved.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when an abnormality occurs in the automatic analyzer, the user can visually (in some cases audibly) recognize the contents to be checked, and the cause investigation can be performed with the apparatus side. Because it is possible to proceed with the interactive form of, it is possible to analyze the cause of the abnormality by searching for the corresponding description part from a vast number of articles described in the manual of the device or referring to the help function on the screen It is possible to remarkably reduce labor and the mental stress felt by the user at that time.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the user can easily and quickly investigate the cause of the failure, so that the number of calls to the service person can be reduced without finding the cause of the abnormality. As a result, the burden on both the user and the serviceman is reduced, and the running cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

  In addition, the display example of the cause candidate in the display part 141 is not limited to the said one Embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example in a case where the cause candidates assumed corresponding to the detected abnormality are collectively displayed as another cause candidate display example (second example) on the display unit 141. The cause candidate display table T1 shown in the figure collectively displays all the cause candidates assumed in the case of the liquid level detection error and the countermeasures for each cause candidate. In this case, the user can see all the possible cause candidates at one time, which is particularly suitable when the user wants to quickly analyze the cause of the abnormality.

FIG. 8 shows, as yet another display example (third example) of cause candidates on the display unit 141, cause candidates corresponding to abnormalities previously detected in the automatic analyzer 1 are associated with the occurrence frequency of each cause candidate. It is a figure which shows the case where it displays. In the occurrence frequency display screen Ph shown in the figure, all cause candidates are displayed by a histogram corresponding to the occurrence frequency. Specifically, on the occurrence frequency display screen Ph, the number of times that the reagent liquid level detection error has occurred due to “reagent excess” is n ₁ times, the number of times that the reagent liquid level detection error has occurred due to “container inclination” is n ₂ times, The number of occurrences due to “bending” is n ₃ times, the number of occurrences due to “others” is n ₄ times, and n ₃ > n ₁ > n ₂ > n ₄ . In this case, it goes without saying that the storage unit 15 also stores the frequency of occurrence of each abnormality that has occurred so far.

  According to the display example shown in FIG. 8, the user can investigate the cause from the highest occurrence frequency, for example, with reference to the relationship between the cause candidate and the occurrence frequency displayed on the occurrence frequency display screen Ph. it can. In the case where the display unit 141 is in a touch panel format, a countermeasure may be displayed when the histogram is touched.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a fourth display example of cause candidates on the display unit 141. Specifically, when the relationship between the cause candidate of the liquid level detection error and the occurrence frequency is the relationship shown by the occurrence frequency display screen Ph in FIG. 8, the cause candidate of the liquid level detection error in the reagent dispensing unit 7. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen transition in the display part 141 according to the selection result of a display content, and is a figure corresponding to FIG. FIG. 9 illustrates a case where the display unit 141 sequentially displays the cause candidates having a high occurrence frequency. By performing such customization processing, the user can analyze the cause of the abnormality in descending order of the possibility of the cause, so that the cause can be investigated more quickly.

  It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the user can select a desired display method from among the display methods shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of cause candidates when a photometry error occurs in the photometry unit 11 as an example when an abnormality other than the liquid level detection error is detected. The cause candidate display table T2 shown in the figure displays all the cause candidates when the photometric error occurs and the countermeasures for each cause candidate, and corresponds to the cause candidate display table T1 shown in FIG. is there. In the case of a metering error, it is also possible to display the cause candidates one by one as in the case shown in FIG. 6, or the display can be customized according to the frequency of occurrence as in the case shown in FIG. Is possible. Further, similarly to the case shown in FIG. 8, a histogram indicating the relationship between the cause candidates and the occurrence frequency in the device may be displayed.

  Up to this point, the case of an automatic analyzer that performs biochemical analysis has been described, but the present invention is also applicable to an automatic analyzer that performs immunological or genetic analysis.

  As is clear from the above description, the present invention can include various embodiments and the like not described herein, and within the scope not departing from the technical idea specified by the claims. Various design changes and the like can be made.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the main part of the automatic analyzer which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of a reagent dispensing part. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the analysis operation | movement of the automatic analyzer which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the abnormality cause analysis assistance method of the automatic analyzer which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the abnormality detection location in a display part. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the cause candidate of the liquid level detection error in a display part. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the cause candidate of the liquid level detection error in a display part (2nd example). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the cause candidate of the liquid level detection error in a display part (3rd example). It is a state transition diagram which shows the example of a display (4th example) of the cause candidate of the liquid level detection error in a display part. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the cause candidate of the photometry error in a display part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic analyzer 2 Conveying part 3, 4 Reagent container holding part 5 Reaction container holding part 5a Photometric window 6 Specimen dispensing part 7, 8 Reagent dispensing part 7A Pump 7B Washing liquid tank 9, 10, Stirring part 11 Photometric part 11a Light source 11b Spectroscopic optical system 11c Light receiving element 12 Washing unit 13 Input unit 14 Output unit 15 Storage unit 16 Control unit 21 Sample container 22 Rack 31 Reagent container 41 Reagent container 51 Reaction container 61 Sample nozzle 71, 81 Reagent nozzle 72 Arm 73 Connecting unit 74 Drive Part 75 Electrode 76 Liquid level detection part 77 Syringe 77a Cylinder 77b Piston 78 Piston drive part 79 Electromagnetic valve 91, 92, 93, 94 Tube 101 Measurement unit 102 Data processing unit 141 Display part 161 Calculation part P Abnormal location display screen P1, P2 , P3 Cause candidate display screen P1A, P2A P3A Remedy display screen PF contact display screen Ph frequency of occurrence display screen Q anomaly detection area Rg reagent T1, T2 cause candidate display table Wa cleaning solution

Claims (15)

An automatic analyzer equipped with a measurement unit that reacts a sample with a reagent and measures this reaction, and automatically analyzes the components of the sample,
An abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality occurring in the measurement unit;
Storage means for storing one or a plurality of cause candidates that are candidates for occurrence of an abnormality that can be detected by the abnormality detection means, and a countermeasure for each cause candidate;
A display means for reading out and displaying from the storage means an occurrence location of the abnormality detected by the abnormality detection means, a cause candidate according to the content of the abnormality, and a countermeasure for the cause candidate selected as the cause of the abnormality;
An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising: The display means includes
The contents of the abnormality detected by the abnormality detection means and any one of the cause candidates according to the contents of the abnormality are displayed, and whether or not the cause candidate is compatible with the state where the abnormality has occurred Display the prompt for selection input,
2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a coping method for the cause candidate is displayed according to contents selected and input in accordance with the display, or a cause candidate different from the cause candidate is displayed. The storage means stores an occurrence frequency for each cause of an abnormality that has occurred in the device,
The automatic analysis apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display order of the cause candidates displayed by the display means is determined based on the occurrence frequency of each cause candidate in the apparatus. The display means includes
2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the content of the abnormality detected by the abnormality detection means and all cause candidates corresponding to the content of the abnormality are displayed together. The storage means stores an occurrence frequency for each cause of an abnormality that has occurred in the device,
The automatic analysis apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display unit displays each cause candidate in association with an occurrence frequency.   The automatic analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit graphically displays a location where the abnormality detection unit has detected an abnormality. The measurement unit has a dispensing means for sucking and discharging the specimen and / or reagent, and a liquid level detecting means for detecting the liquid level of the specimen and / or reagent,
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in the liquid level detection unit. The measurement unit has transport means for transporting a rack on which a sample container for storing a sample is placed,
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in the transport unit. The measurement unit has a photometric means for irradiating light to a reaction container for reacting a specimen and a reagent, and detecting light transmitted through the reaction container,
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in the photometry unit. An abnormality analysis support method for an automatic analyzer that supports analysis of the cause of an abnormality that has occurred in an automatic analyzer that analyzes the components of a sample by reacting a sample with a reagent,
An occurrence location display step for displaying the location where the abnormality has occurred;
A cause candidate display step of reading out and displaying a cause candidate that is a candidate for an occurrence according to the abnormality from a storage unit that stores at least one or more cause candidates according to the abnormality detectable by the device;
An input step of receiving an input as to whether or not the cause candidate displayed in the cause candidate display step is compatible with the state of the location where the abnormality has occurred;
A countermeasure display step for displaying a countermeasure for the cause when the input is made as conforming;
An abnormality cause analysis support method for an automatic analyzer, characterized by comprising: The cause candidate display step displays the content of the abnormality and any one of the cause candidates according to the content of the abnormality, and whether or not the cause candidate matches the state of the location where the abnormality has occurred. To prompt you to select and enter
When an input indicating that the cause candidate does not match the state of the location where the abnormality has occurred in the input step is performed, the cause candidate display step is displayed to display a cause candidate different from the cause candidate. An abnormality cause analysis support method for an automatic analyzer according to claim 10.   12. The abnormality cause analysis support method of the automatic analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the display order of the cause candidates is determined based on an occurrence frequency of each cause candidate in the device. The cause candidate display step includes:
11. The abnormality cause analysis support method for an automatic analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the contents of the abnormality and all the cause candidates corresponding to the contents of the abnormality are collectively displayed. The cause candidate display step includes:
14. The abnormality cause analysis support method for an automatic analyzer according to claim 13, wherein each cause candidate in the device is displayed in association with an occurrence frequency.   An abnormality cause analysis support program that causes a computer to execute the abnormality cause analysis support method for an automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 10 to 14.

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