JP2009210304A - Analyzer and analyzing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an analyzer for properly performing the delivery of a specimen rack while eliminating or reducing the rewriting troublesomeness of a control program in a case used in combination with another analyzer. <P>SOLUTION: The analyzer A1 includes a control means 4 having a signal input and output part 40 for executing data communication with respect to another analyzer A2. The control means 4 outputs a first signal from the signal input and output part 40 when the specimen rack 3 is transferred to the terminal region Ea of a sampler 2, orders operation for discharging the specimen rack 3 of the terminal region Ea to the outside of the sampler 2 when a second signal is subsequently received from the outside, determines whether a start end region Sa is filled with a condition for receiving the specimen rack 3 when the first signal is received in the signal input and output part 40, and outputs the second signal when the start end region Sa is determined to be filled with the condition for receiving the specimen rack. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an analyzer used for analyzing a desired specimen such as blood and urine, and an analysis system using the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an analyzer for analyzing a sample such as blood, an analysis apparatus main body capable of analyzing a sample and a sampler (transfer apparatus) for transferring a sample rack to a predetermined location of the analysis apparatus main body ). According to such a configuration, it is possible to automate the operation of sequentially transferring a plurality of sample racks to a predetermined location of the analyzer main body, thereby facilitating and speeding up the sample analysis process.

  On the other hand, instead of being used alone, the analyzer as described above may be used by being connected to other analyzers and transferring sample racks between these analyzers. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2). According to such a configuration, analysis processing of a plurality of items can be performed continuously, so that analysis processing efficiency is good.

  However, in the prior art, there are points to be improved as described below.

  In other words, as described above, the analyzer is not only used alone, but may be used in combination with other analyzers, so that the latter case can be suitably dealt with. It is requested. However, in the past, there has been no actual proposal of an analysis apparatus that can accurately meet such demands. More specifically, when the first and second analysis devices are used in combination, the first analysis device performs the second analysis because of the contents of analysis processing items of these devices and other reasons. In some cases, the device may be disposed on the upstream side of the apparatus, and sometimes on the downstream side. Therefore, it is desirable for the analyzer to have a control function that can deliver the sample rack at an appropriate timing, regardless of whether the analyzer is placed on the upstream side or the downstream side of another analyzer. However, the conventional analyzer does not have such a control function. For this reason, conventionally, when a plurality of analyzers are used in combination, a control program for appropriately delivering the sample rack in the system is prepared, and then this program is stored in the memory of the plurality of analyzers. This is annoying. In particular, this annoyance occurs when the user uses an analyzer installed in a hospital or the like, and the control program must be written locally at the hospital or the like. It becomes more prominent.

Japanese Patent No. 3616744 JP-A-7-92171

  The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances as described above, and when used in combination with other analyzers, it is troublesome to write a new program for controlling the delivery of the sample rack. It is an object of the present invention to provide an analyzer capable of appropriately performing a sample rack delivery operation, and an analysis system provided with the analyzer rack, while eliminating or reducing the above.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical means.

  The analyzer provided by the first aspect of the present invention includes an analyzer main body capable of analyzing a sample, and a sample rack supplied to a predetermined start end region, transferred toward the analyzer main body. A sampler that can be transported to a predetermined termination region, and comprising a control means having a signal input / output unit capable of performing data communication with other analyzers. The control means outputs a predetermined first signal from the signal input / output unit to the outside when the sample rack is transferred to the terminal area, and then outputs a predetermined second signal in the signal input / output unit. Is received from outside, when the sampler is instructed to discharge the sample rack in the termination region to the outside of the sampler, and the signal input / output unit receives the first signal from outside Determining whether or not a predetermined condition for receiving the sample rack in the start end region is satisfied, and determining that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the second signal is input to the signal input / output It is characterized by being configured to output from the unit.

  According to such a configuration, the following effects can be obtained. That is, when a plurality of analyzers to which the present invention is applied are connected to each other, a sample rack is placed in the terminal region of the upstream analyzer regardless of which analyzer is upstream or downstream. After the first signal is output after being transferred, the condition for receiving the sample rack in the start end region of the downstream analyzer is satisfied, and at the timing when the second signal is sent to the upstream analyzer, the upstream side The operation of delivering the sample rack from the analyzer to the downstream analyzer is executed. The analyzer of the present invention can suitably cope with the case where it is arranged upstream or downstream of another analyzer, and when it is used in combination with another analyzer, the sample rack is delivered. It is possible to eliminate or reduce the troublesomeness of rewriting the program for controlling the control.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined condition is that a sample rack does not exist in the start end region of the sampler and that the start end region is in a stationary state in which the sample rack cannot be transferred.

  According to such a configuration, the effect of preventing the sample rack supplied from the other analyzer from colliding with the sample rack existing in the start end region of the sampler, and the supply from the other analyzer. As a result, it is possible to obtain an effect of preventing a problem that a part of the sample rack is transferred by the sampler as soon as the sample rack enters the start end region and is inclined obliquely.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the start end region is located near one end in the width direction of the sampler, and the end region is located near the other end in the width direction of the sampler, and the width of the sampler First and second notch recesses or weak portions for forming the first and second notch recesses are provided on the side walls at both ends in the direction, and from the outside of the sampler to the start end region The operation of supplying the sample rack can be performed via the first notch recess, and the operation of discharging the sample rack from the end region to the outside of the sampler is performed by the second notch recess. It is set as the structure which can be performed via this.

  According to such a configuration, the sample rack can be appropriately transferred to and from another analyzer using the first and second cutout recesses.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sampler includes a movable member capable of reciprocating in the width direction of the sampler in the vicinity of the terminal region, and the sample rack in the terminal region is moved by the operation of the movable member. It is configured such that it can be discharged to the outside through the second notch recess.

  According to such a configuration, the operation of discharging the sample rack from the end region of the sampler to the outside can be suitably performed using the movable member and the second notch recess.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a connecting member that is configured separately from the sampler and that connects the sampler to a sampler of another analyzer. When the sampler is connected to a sampler of another analyzer, the sample rack passing through the first notch recess or the second notch recess can be guided by the connecting member.

  According to such a configuration, the analyzer according to the present invention is appropriately connected to another analyzer using the connecting member, and relative positioning is achieved so that these analyzers are not displaced from each other. it can. In addition, since the sample rack is guided by the connecting member, stable delivery of the sample rack is also realized.

  An analysis system provided by the second aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of analyzers, and connection means for connecting the plurality of analyzers so that a sample rack can be transferred between the plurality of analyzers. An analysis system provided by the first aspect of the present invention is used as each of the plurality of analysis devices.

  According to such a configuration, the same effect as described for the analyzer provided by the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained, and the arrangement of the plurality of analyzers can be easily changed. .

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an analyzer to which the present invention is applied. The analyzer A1 of the present embodiment has an analyzer main body 1 and a sampler 2 connected to the lower front portion of the analyzer main body 1. The analyzer main body 1 has a device (not shown) for measuring the concentration of glycohemoglobin such as hemoglobin A1c in blood, for example, and arranges the blood collection tube 30 in a region directly below the suction nozzle 10 that can be raised and lowered. Thus, the blood in the blood collection tube 30 can be sampled by the suction nozzle 10 and the measurement process of the glycated hemoglobin concentration can be executed.

  The sampler 2 is for transferring the sample rack 3 for standing and holding a plurality of blood collection tubes 30 along a fixed path. The transfer path 20A is divided into two transfer paths 20A and 20B partitioned by a partition 23. , 20B and a frame portion 21 surrounding both sides. The two transfer paths 20A and 20B can transfer the sample rack 3 by arranging one or a plurality of freely circulated belts 22a and 22b on the upper surfaces thereof. In the sampler 2, by supplying the sample rack 3 to the start end region Sa that is closest to the transfer path 20A, the sample rack 3 can be transferred along a route indicated by arrows N1 to N3. More specifically, the sample rack 3 is transferred in the direction of arrow N1 from the start end region Sa, transferred to the inner part of the transfer path 20A, and then pressed and transferred in the direction of arrow N2 by a pusher (not shown). In the process, sampling by the suction nozzle 10 is performed. Thereafter, the sample rack 3 is transported in the direction of the arrow N3 along the transport path 20B, and reaches the end region Ea closest to the transport path 20B.

  On the side walls 21a, 21b at both ends in the width direction of the frame portion 21, weak portions 24A, 24B provided with two slits 240 are provided. These fragile portions 24A and 24B are for forming notch recesses 25A and 25B, as will be described later. The sampler 2 is also provided with a pusher 26 that can reciprocate in the direction of arrow N10 along the front wall portion 21c of the frame portion 21. As will be described later, the pusher 26 is used to discharge the sample rack 3 located in the terminal area Ea to the outside of the sampler 2 when the notch recess 25B is formed.

  The analyzer main body 1 includes a control unit 4 that performs operation control and data processing control necessary for the blood analysis processing described above, and also controls the operation of the sampler 2. The control unit 4 includes a CPU and various memories, and also includes a signal input / output unit 40 for performing data communication with other analyzers using the communication line L. Yes. Regardless of whether the analyzer A1 is connected to the upstream side or the downstream side of the other analyzer, the control unit 4 appropriately executes the transfer of the sample rack 3 with the other analyzer. It is comprised so that control for making it execute is possible. However, the specific control content will be described later.

  Next, the operation of the analyzer A1 will be described.

  First, this analyzer A1 can of course be used alone, but as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the analyzer A1 is connected to another analyzer A2 to construct an analysis system AS. Can also be used. Here, the analyzer A2 can measure, for example, the glucose concentration in the blood, and the analysis content is different from that of the analyzer A1, but the analyzer A2 is also one to which the present invention is applied. The configuration is the same as that of the analysis device A1 except for the configuration directly related to the blood analysis process (the same or similar elements of the analysis device A2 are the same as or similar to those of the analysis device A1, except for some parts). Sign).

  The analysis system AS has a configuration in which the analysis device A1 is connected to the upstream side of the analysis device A2, and can be constructed as follows. First, notch recesses 25B and 25A for allowing the sample rack 3 to pass through are formed in the samplers 2 of the analyzers A1 and A2. The notch recess 25B can be easily formed by removing the weakened portion 24B shown in FIG. 1 from the side wall 21b. In the analyzer A2, a weak portion similar to the weak portion 24A shown in FIG. 1 is provided in advance, and by removing this portion, the notch recess 25A can be easily formed. The connection member 5 is used for the connection between the analyzers A1 and A2. As shown by the phantom line in FIG. 2, the connecting member 5 has a concave groove 50 in the upper part, and both ends of the connecting member 5 are attached to the samplers 2 of the analyzers A1 and A2 by screwing means or the like. Link. At the time of this connection, the concave groove 50 is set so as to coincide with the notched concave portions 25A and 25B, and a step is not formed between the upward bottom surface 50a of the concave groove 50 and the upper surfaces of the transfer paths 20A and 20B. The control units 4 and 4 ′ of the analyzers A 1 and A 2 are connected using a communication line L.

  The sample rack 3 is transferred as follows. First, in the analyzer A1, as already described, the sample rack 3 supplied to the start end region Sa is transferred along the path indicated by the arrows N1 to N3, and reaches the end region Ea. Thereafter, the sample rack 3 is pressed in the direction indicated by the arrow N4 by the pusher 26, passes through the notched recesses 25A and 25B, and the recessed groove 50 of the connecting member 5, and is supplied to the starting end region Sa ′ of the analyzer A2. Is done. At this time, since the sample rack 3 is guided by the connection member 5, the delivery of the sample rack 3 between the analyzers A1 and A2 can be stabilized. In the analyzer A2, the sample rack 3 in the start end region Sa ′ is transferred as indicated by arrows N5 to N7 and reaches the end region Ea ′.

  When the sample rack 3 is delivered, the control unit 4 of the analyzer A1 performs the first control as shown in FIG. 4A, and the control unit 4 ′ of the analyzer A2 receives the control shown in FIG. The second control as shown in FIG. The control contents will be described. First, in the control unit 4, when the sample rack 3 reaches the end region Ea and is detected by a sensor (not shown), the control unit 4 'notifies the control unit 4' to that effect. 1 signal is output from the signal input / output unit 40 (S1: YES, S2). Next, the control unit 4 waits for the operation of the pusher 26 (S3: NO) until the signal input / output unit 40 receives a second signal as a response signal to the first signal (S3: NO). When the signal is received, the pusher 26 is driven (S3: YES, S4). As a result, the sample rack 3 is supplied from the end region Ea of the analyzer A1 to the start end region Sa 'of the analyzer A2.

  On the other hand, when receiving the first signal from the control unit 4, the control unit 4 ′ of the analyzer A 2 determines whether or not the conditions for accepting the sample rack 3 are satisfied (S 5: YES, S 6). Here, the acceptance conditions include, for example, two conditions that the sample rack 3 does not exist in the start end region Sa ′ and that the belt 22a ′ of the transfer path 20A including the start end region Sa ′ is in a driving stop state. . When such an acceptance condition is not satisfied, the control unit 4 ′ waits for the output of the second signal (S7: NO), and when the condition is satisfied, the control unit 4 causes the control unit 4 to (S7: YES, S8).

  According to the control as described above, after the sample rack 3 arrives at the end region Ea of the analyzer A1, there is no other sample rack 3 in the start end region Sa ′ of the analyzer A2, and the belt 22a. When 'is in the drive stop state, the sample rack 3 is quickly supplied to the start end region Sa'. When the sample rack 3 exists in the start end area Sa ′, if the pusher 26 is operated to supply a new sample rack 3 to the start end area Sa ′, the sample racks 3 collide with each other, resulting in a failure or the like. There is a fear. Also, if the sample rack 3 is supplied while the belt 22a ′ of the analyzer A2 is being driven, this portion is transferred in the direction of arrow N5 when the tip of the sample rack 3 is placed on the belt 22a ′. As a result, the sample rack 3 may be tilted obliquely. According to the control described above, such a problem can be avoided appropriately.

  The control units 4 and 4 'can both execute the first and second controls shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and have a control program for that purpose. Therefore, unlike the analysis system AS shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, even if the analysis apparatus A1 is connected so as to be located downstream of the analysis apparatus A2, it is between the analysis apparatuses A1 and A2. As in the case described above, the sample rack 3 can be delivered at an appropriate timing. For the analyzers A1 and A2, it is necessary to rewrite the contents of the control program stored in the control units 4 and 4 ′ depending on whether they are connected upstream or downstream with respect to other analyzers. Absent.

  The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above-described embodiment. The specific configuration of each part of the analysis apparatus and analysis system according to the present invention can be varied in design in various ways.

  For example, with reference to the analysis system AS shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a stocker (not shown) for loading and unloading the sample rack 3 is connected upstream of the analyzer A1 and downstream of the analyzer A2. It can also be set as the structure which carried out. According to such a configuration, the plurality of sample racks 3 loaded in the loading stocker can be automatically and sequentially supplied to the start end region Sa of the analyzer A1, and the sample rack reaches the end region Ea ′ of the analyzer A2. 3 can be discharged sequentially to a discharge stocker and stored in an appropriate amount.

  In the analysis system according to the present invention, the number of connected analyzers is not limited to two, and may be three or more. In addition, the analyzer according to the present invention is not limited to a device that measures the concentration of a specific component of blood, but may be a device that measures the concentration of a specific component of urine. The specific content of is not limited.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows an example of the analyzer which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows an example of the analysis system which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of FIG. 2. (A), (b) is a flowchart which shows the example of the operation control procedure performed with the analysis system shown to FIG. 2 and FIG.

Explanation of symbols

A1, A2 Analyzer AS Analysis system n1 Area immediately below the suction nozzle (sample processing unit)
Sa, Sa ′ Start end area Ea, Ea ′ End area 1 Analyzer main body 2 Sampler 3 Sample rack 4, 4 ′ Control section (control means)
5 Connection members 24A, 24B Weak parts 25A, 25B Notch recess 26 Pusher (movable member)
40 Signal input / output section

Claims (6)

An analyzer body capable of analyzing samples, and
A sampler capable of transferring a sample rack supplied to a predetermined start end region to a predetermined end region after being transferred toward the analyzer main body;
An analysis device comprising:
Comprising a control means having a signal input / output unit capable of executing data communication with other analyzers;
The control means outputs a predetermined first signal from the signal input / output unit to the outside when the sample rack is transferred to the terminal area, and then outputs a predetermined second signal in the signal input / output unit. When a signal is received from the outside, the sampler is instructed to discharge the sample rack in the termination region to the outside of the sampler, and
When the signal input / output unit receives the first signal from the outside, it is determined whether or not a predetermined condition for receiving the sample rack in the start end region is satisfied, and the predetermined condition is satisfied. The analyzer is configured to output the second signal from the signal input / output unit when it is determined that the signal is input.   2. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is that a sample rack does not exist in a start end region of the sampler and that the start end region is in a stationary state in which the sample rack cannot be transferred. The start end region is located near one end in the width direction of the sampler, and the end region is located near the other end in the width direction of the sampler,
The side walls at both ends in the width direction of the sampler are provided with first and second notch recesses, or weak portions for forming these first and second notch recesses,
The operation of supplying the sample rack from the outside of the sampler to the start end region can be performed through the first notch recess, and the operation of discharging the sample rack from the end region to the outside of the sampler. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the analyzer is configured to be able to be performed through the second notch recess.   The sampler includes a movable member that can reciprocate in the width direction of the sampler in the vicinity of the termination region, and the sample rack in the termination region is moved through the second notch recess by the operation of the movable member. The analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the analyzer is configured to be discharged to the outside. It is configured separately from the sampler, and further includes a connecting member for connecting the sampler to a sampler of another analyzer,
When the sampler is connected to a sampler of another analyzer through this connection member, the sample rack passing through the first notch recess or the second notch recess can be guided by the connection member. The analyzer according to claim 3 or 4. A plurality of analyzers;
Connection means for connecting the plurality of analyzers so that a sample rack can be transferred between the plurality of analyzers;
An analysis system comprising:
6. An analysis system, wherein the analysis device according to claim 1 is used as each of the plurality of analysis devices.

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