JP2013108955A - Specimen pretreatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a specimen pretreatment device having a plurality of modules, preventing reduction in work efficiency by minimizing a moving distance of an operator and allowing the respective modules to be installed in such a direction that the operator can easily use them.SOLUTION: The specimen pretreatment device comprises eight modules (a specimen application module 201, a tap opening module 202, an online dispensing module 204, a barcode sticking module 205, an offline dispensing module 206, a tap closing module 207, a specimen classification module 208, and a specimen storage module 209) for performing a pretreatment process of a specimen. In the device, there are arranged four fan-shaped lines 203a-203d capable of optionally changing connection angles (central angles θ) between the respective modules in accordance with a layout of a room in which the pretreatment device is installed when the pretreatment device is installed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a specimen pretreatment apparatus.

  A sample pretreatment device is a device that performs a pretreatment step for analysis of blood, urine, etc., and a processing module (input module, centrifuge module, opening module, dispensing module) that performs the pretreatment necessary before the test. , Barcode labeling module, closure module, classification module, storage module, etc.) and a transfer line connecting these processing modules, a combination of a plurality of processing modules, a combination of a processing module and a transfer line, and a plurality of transfer lines Constructed from a combination.

Usually, in the sample pretreatment apparatus, the apparatus is configured by arranging these modules in a straight line in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, the lateral length of the apparatus depends on the number of modules, and becomes longer as the number of modules increases.
When an automatic analyzer is connected online to the sample pretreatment device, it is generally connected directly behind the sample pretreatment device.

  The connection of each module of the sample pretreatment device and the connection between the sample pretreatment device and the automatic analyzer include a straight line and a connection angle of 90 degrees or 270 degrees (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-148940

Here, the operator needs to access each module of the sample pretreatment device and the automatic analyzer in order to confirm the sample installation and the sample processing status in the routine work. Among them, the operator periodically accesses when performing sample loading into the sample pretreatment device, sample classification and sample storage, and sample loading into the automatic analyzer and sample storage.
Therefore, the operator periodically goes back and forth between the places where the specimen is loaded, specimen classification, and specimen storage.

However, when the arrangement of the apparatus is linear as described above, the operator needs to go back and forth on the straight line from the working position to the target place many times, and it takes time to move, and the work efficiency Has led to a decline.
Further, since the layout as the sample pretreatment apparatus is fixed, there is a problem that it cannot be accommodated in the examination room. That is, the conventional specimen pretreatment apparatus has a problem that consideration for the installation layout is lacking.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sample pretreatment apparatus having a plurality of processing modules by disposing each module in a direction that is easy to use for an operator without minimizing the movement distance of the operator and reducing the work efficiency of the examination. An object of the present invention is to provide a sample pretreatment apparatus capable of performing the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sample pretreatment apparatus for performing a pretreatment step necessary for analyzing a sample such as blood or urine when the sample is analyzed. A center angle for connecting a plurality of modules for carrying out a processing step and the rack in which the specimen is installed from the previous module to the next module by connecting between the plurality of modules and the module. And a variable fan-shaped line.

  According to the present invention described above, in the sample pretreatment apparatus having a plurality of modules, the connection angle between the modules can be freely changed by the fan-shaped line, so that the sample pretreatment apparatus can be freely installed so as to be easy to use. It is possible to shorten the moving distance in the routine work of the operator, and to avoid a decrease in work efficiency. Also, each module can be installed in a direction that is easy for the operator to use.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sample pretreatment apparatus according to a first embodiment including a fan-shaped line. It is the schematic which shows an example of the fan-shaped line of 1st Example. It is the figure which showed the outline of the mode of the rack conveyance by the swing mechanism of the fan-shaped line of 1st Example. It is the figure which showed the outline of the mode of the rack conveyance by the swing mechanism of the fan-shaped line in the modification of 1st Example. It is the figure which showed the outline of the mode of the rack overtaking conveyance by the swing mechanism of the fan-shaped line of 1st Example. It is the figure which showed the outline of the mode of the rack conveyance by the belt rotation mechanism of the fan-shaped line of 2nd Example. It is the figure which showed the outline of the mode of the rack conveyance by the belt rotation mechanism of the fan-shaped line of the modification of 2nd Example. It is the figure which showed the outline of the mode of the rack conveyance by the roller mechanism of the fan-shaped line of 3rd Example. It is the figure which showed the outline of the mode of the rack conveyance by the roller mechanism of the fan-shaped line of the modification of 3rd Example.

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

<First embodiment>
(overall structure)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a sample pretreatment apparatus according to a first embodiment incorporating a fan-shaped line.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sample pretreatment apparatus of this embodiment is configured to perform a pretreatment process (a process for pretreating a sample for analysis by an automatic analyzer 212 or an off-line analyzer) on the sample. In addition to the configuration of two modules (specimen loading module 201, opening plug module 202, online dispensing module 204, barcode pasting module 205, offline dispensing module 206, closing module 207, sample classification module 208, sample storage module 209), Four fan-shaped lines 203a to 203d are arranged.

  The sample loading module 201 loads a sample container (parent sample) for storing blood, urine, and the like mounted in the rack into the sample pretreatment device, and a barcode attached to the rack and the sample container. Is a module for recognizing the sample and transports the loaded rack to the opening module 202.

  The unplugging module 202 is a module that automatically removes and discards the stopper of the sample container, and conveys the rack on which the opened sample container is mounted to the online dispensing module 204.

  The online dispensing module 204 dispenses blood, urine, and the like in a sample container (parent sample) to a plurality of containers on a child sample rack with a pipette or the like for online analysis and storage. It is a module. The child sample dispensed by the online dispensing module 204 is conveyed to the barcode pasting module 205.

  The barcode pasting module 205 is a module for pasting a barcode label to the child sample dispensed by the online dispensing module 204, and offline dispensing the rack including the child sample to which the label is attached. Transport to module 206.

  The off-line dispensing module 206 is different from the automatic analyzer 212 connected to the sample pretreatment device, and is used for analysis in an off-line analyzer (outside the on-line system) or an outsourced analysis facility. Etc. are dispensed into separate containers (child samples), and the rack is transported to the closure module 207. The separate container (child sample) dispensed by the offline dispensing module 206 is manually transported to an offline analyzer or the like.

  The capping module 207 is a module for automatically capping the storage containers dispensed by the online dispensing module 204, and transports the capped rack to the sample classification module 208.

  The sample classification module 208 is a module that classifies and stores the child samples dispensed by the online dispensing module 204 according to use (according to the test purpose), and transports the classified and stored rack to the sample storage module 209. .

  The sample storage module 209 is a module for storing a rack that stores sample containers that have been preprocessed, and transports the rack to the sample buffer unit 211 through the transport line 210a.

The sample buffer unit 211 is a unit that waits for an analysis-waiting sample transported to the automatic analyzer 212 when transporting a sample that has been pre-processed by the pre-processing device to the automatic analyzer 212. The sample is transported from the sample buffer unit 211 to the automatic analyzer 212 through the transport line 210b.
The automatic analyzer 212 automatically performs tests such as biochemical analysis and clinical tests, and outputs the test results.

  The fan-shaped lines 203a to 203d are provided for transporting the rack on which the specimen is installed from the previous module to the next module. The fan-shaped line 203 a connects between the opening module 202 and the online dispensing module, the fan-shaped line 203 b connects between the online dispensing module 204 and the barcode pasting module 205, and the sector line 203 c is connected to the closing module 207. And the sample classification module 208 are connected, and the fan-shaped line 203 d connects the sample storage module 209 and the sample buffer unit 211. The configuration of the sector lines 203a to 203d will be described below.

(Structure of fan-shaped line, operation and effect)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an outline of a sector line in the automatic analyzer according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fan-shaped line 203 has a rack carry-in port 101, a rack branch carry-out port 102, and a rack carry-out port 103. In addition, the fan-shaped line 203 is configured such that the connection angle (center angle θ) between the modules can be arbitrarily changed when the sample pretreatment device is installed, and the usage environment (the layout of the room in which the sample pretreatment device is installed). Etc.), the central angle θ can be appropriately changed.

The rack carry-in port 101 is an opening for receiving a rack from the previous module, and the rack carry-out port 103 is an opening for delivering the rack to the next module.
The rack branching / unloading unit 102 is an opening for removing the specimen from the fan-shaped line without sending it to the next module, and is configured to be arranged at a desired position on the arc according to the size of the central angle. . The rack branching / unloading unit 102 is mainly used for branching processing (details will be described later) for taking out a sample to be analyzed by the offline analyzer from the sample pretreatment device.

  FIG. 3A is a schematic view of a form in which a swing mechanism is employed as a mechanism for transporting a rack in the sector line of the first embodiment.

In the fan-shaped line 302 shown in FIG. 3A, the rack transported from the previous module 301a is placed on a swing arm 303 provided in the fan-shaped line at the carry-in entrance, and the swing arm rotating shaft to which the swing arm 303 is attached. Rotate 304. The rack is moved from the previous module 301a to the next module 301b by moving the swing arm to the position 303 ′ and carrying it out from the carry-out port.
As shown in FIG. 3A, when the connection angle between the modules is small, the conveyance processing can be performed by one swing arm 303.

  Here, like the fan-shaped line 203d, the fan-shaped line is also provided at the rearmost position of the sample pretreatment apparatus, that is, at a position where the automatic analysis apparatus 212 is connected. The connection angle can be arbitrarily set, and the sample pretreatment device and the automatic analyzer can be arranged more flexibly according to the indoor layout.

  Furthermore, the fan-shaped lines 203a to 203d can include, for example, non-volatile storage devices 213a to 213d in order to hold operation parameters optimized according to the connection angles between the modules and the branch carry-out angles. .

  By providing such fan-shaped lines 203a to 203d, the sample pretreatment apparatus of this embodiment is configured so as to be arranged in a C shape as shown in FIG. 208, a layout in which the specimen storage module 209 is as close as possible is realized. With this arrangement, it is possible to minimize the movement distance of the operator and install each module in an easy-to-use direction.

  In addition, it is not necessary to arrange the specimen pretreatment apparatus in a horizontal straight line in the examination room, and the specimen pretreatment apparatus can be flexibly arranged according to the shape of the examination room, which is necessary for the installation of the specimen pretreatment apparatus. The straight space can be shortened, and an arrangement suitable for the layout of the examination room becomes possible.

(Modification of the first embodiment)
FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram showing a state of rack transport by a fan-shaped line swing mechanism in a modification of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, when the connection angle between modules is large, the fan-shaped line 306 has a structure having a plurality (four) of swing arms 307a to 307d. Also in this case, the swing arms 307a to 307d rotate around the rotation shaft 308, thereby transporting the rack from the previous module 305a to the next module 305b.

  Further, the fan-shaped line 306 of the present embodiment is configured such that the swing arms 307a to 307d can also approach the branch carry-out transfer line 309, and by this configuration, the rack can be carried out of the fan-shaped line. It has a configuration.

  Further, in the fan-shaped line 306, a branch carry-out transfer line 309 can be provided in a fan-shaped arc portion. When the branch carry-out transfer line 309 is provided, the swing arms 307a to 307d are connected to the branch carry-out transfer line 309. Is also configured to be accessible. As a result, it is possible to easily take out the sample for the offline analyzer by branching the rack on which the necessary pretreatment has been performed, making it easy to perform offline analysis while effectively using the pretreatment in the sample pretreatment device. It can be implemented and flexible analysis processing can be realized.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a state of overtaking the rack by the fan-shaped line swing mechanism in the first embodiment.

  There are two types of swing arm paths provided in the fan-shaped line: an emergency sample transport path 401 and a general sample transport path 402 on the forward path, and an empty swing arm transport path 403 on the return path.

  In such a fan-shaped line, the urgency level of the sample installed in the rack received from the rack inlet is determined based on information read by the barcode reader 214 provided at the fan-line inlet or information input from the outside. Depending on the degree of urgency, the forward path is switched from the general sample transport path 402 to the emergency sample transport path 401, or from the emergency sample transport path 401 to the general sample transport path 402, and the rack is transported. Unload from the rack exit. For example, a rack in which only a general sample is erected passes through the general sample transport path 402 and is transported to the rack transport outlet and transported to the next module. On the other hand, the rack in which the emergency sample is installed is transferred to the rack exit through the emergency sample transfer path 401, and is transferred to the next module, overtaking the rack in which only the general sample is installed.

In actual hospitals and laboratories, specimens to be pre-processed by the specimen processing system must be analyzed in preference to general specimens that do not require urgent action and general specimens due to changes in the medical schedule or emergency medical examinations. There is an emergency sample. When such an urgent sample is generated, pre-processing by each module is preferentially finished with respect to the general sample, and it is required to apply to the automatic analyzer at an early stage.
However, in the conventional configuration in which the apparatus is arranged on a straight line, a configuration for overtaking the general sample cannot be sufficiently performed in order to perform the process in each module with priority over the emergency sample. For this reason, it has been handled by a method in which an operator performs a process for each module separately on an emergency sample.
On the other hand, by providing an overtaking mechanism for overtaking an emergency specimen in the sector line as in the present embodiment, a general specimen can be overtaken in the sector line between modules. In particular, by disposing a fan-shaped line having the above-described emergency sample overtaking mechanism before the online dispensing module 204, only a general sample is provided for a rack in which a sample that must be processed urgently is placed. Therefore, it is possible to carry out the process of overtaking the rack, and to transport the emergency sample to the online dispensing module 204 at an early stage, which makes it easier to deal with an emergency situation and is more preferable.

  The swing arm that has become empty passes through the transport path 403 of the empty swing arm, returns to the rack carry-in entrance, and transports the next rack.

  In the fan-shaped line, as in this embodiment, when a swing arm is adopted as a rack transport mechanism, it is possible to cope with a change in the center angle by simply changing the swing angle of the swing arm and the number of swing arms, and an emergency It is also easy to provide an overtaking mechanism.

In addition, barcodes (in general, identification information (specimen ID, test items, necessary pretreatment, specimen type (emergency / general), etc.)) based on the request contents of a doctor or the like are recorded on the specimen container or rack. (Not shown, the barcode can be directly printed on the sample container) and the RC-IF tag (not shown) (collectively referred to as sample information recording means) are attached. d, 302, and 306 can be provided with barcode readers 214a to 214d (information reading means) for reading the information of the barcode and the RF-ID tag.
By providing such a barcode reader, the fan-shaped line can easily carry out the overtaking process for racks containing specimens that need to be processed urgently based on the information read by the barcode reader. In addition, a branching process for taking out a sample to be analyzed by the off-line analyzer from the fan-shaped line can be easily performed.

Furthermore, the swing arms 307a to 307d have a rotation mechanism for rotating the tip end portion that holds the rack, and a mechanism that can change the leading position (part) with respect to the traveling direction of the rack during unloading to position 1 or position 5. (Advancing direction changing rotation mechanism).
For example, in a sample pretreatment apparatus, a method of loading a rack with position 1 of five racks at the top is common. In addition, since most devices connected to the branching / unloading destination use the method of carrying in the rack with position 1 as the head, usually it is possible to carry out and carry in as it is, but some devices have position 5 as the head. There is something to carry in. When there is an apparatus of this type, conventionally, a rotation mechanism is added in the middle of the transfer line after branching to some apparatuses. However, as in the present embodiment, by providing a structure that changes the traveling direction of the rack at the tip of the swing arm, the position of the rack can be changed as appropriate according to the device at the carry-out destination. There is an advantage that it is not necessary to separately add a rotation mechanism to the transport line, and it is not necessary to make the transport line a complicated mechanism.

<Second embodiment>
A sample pretreatment apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. The sample pretreatment apparatus in the present embodiment is a case where the mechanism for transporting the rack in the sector line is different, and the configuration other than the sector line is substantially the same as the sample pretreatment apparatus of the first embodiment, Details are omitted.

  FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a state of rack transport by the belt rotation mechanism of the fan-shaped line of the second embodiment.

  In FIG. 5A, the fan-shaped line 502 of this embodiment has belt rotation mechanisms 503a to 503c. By rotating the belts of the belt rotation mechanisms 503a to 503c, the module 501a passes through the belt rotation mechanisms 503a, 503b, and 503c. The rack 504 is transported to the module 501b.

(Modification of the second embodiment)
FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a state of rack transport by the belt rotation mechanism of the fan-shaped line according to a modification of the second embodiment.

  The fan-shaped line 506 in FIG. 5B has belt rotation mechanisms 507a-h, and the fan shown in FIG. 5A conveys the rack 508 from the module 505a to the module 505b by rotating the belts of the belt rotation mechanisms 507a-h. Same as mold line 502. The difference is that the number of belt rotation mechanisms is eight (507a to h), and the number of belt rotation mechanisms is changed according to the connection angle between modules. When the belt rotation mechanism is adopted as the transport mechanism, the number of belt rotation mechanisms is reduced when the fan line connection angle (center angle) is small, and the number of belt rotation mechanisms is increased when it is large.

  Further, by providing a mechanism for rotating the belt rotation mechanism 507 itself, a function of changing the direction of the rack can be provided, and the rack can be carried out to the branch carry-out conveyance line 509. The mechanism for rotating the belt rotation mechanism 507 itself can also serve as a traveling direction changing rotation mechanism for switching the front and rear of the rack.

<Third embodiment>
A sample pretreatment apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. The sample pretreatment apparatus in the present embodiment is a case where the mechanism for transporting the rack in the sector line is different, and the configuration other than the sector line is substantially the same as the sample pretreatment apparatus of the first embodiment, Details are omitted.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a state of rack transport by the roller mechanism of the fan-shaped line of the third embodiment.

  The fan-shaped line 602 in FIG. 6A is configured to convey the rack 604 from the previous module 601a to the next module 601b along the rack guide 605 by rotating a roller mechanism 603 attached to the rack guide 605. .

(Modification of the third embodiment)
FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a state of rack transport by a roller mechanism of a fan-shaped line according to a modified example of the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the sector line 606 conveys the rack 609 from the previous module 612a to the next module 612b by the roller mechanism 607 attached to the rack guide 611. The sector line 602 shown in FIG. Is the same. In this embodiment, the number of roller mechanisms is increased as compared to the third embodiment. When a roller mechanism is employed as the transport mechanism, the structure can change the number of rollers of the roller mechanism in accordance with the connection angle, thereby corresponding to the size of the connection angle.

  Further, by providing the transport path switching mechanism 608 in the middle of the rack guide 611, it is possible to carry out the rack to the branch transporting line 609 with the function of branching the rack in the transport path switching mechanism 608. It becomes. The transport path switching mechanism 608 is a mechanism that exists at a branch point of the transport path of the rack and has a function of blocking the opposite path by a slide function and a function of transporting the rack by a roller.

<Others>
In each of the above-described embodiments and variations thereof, the rack for holding the sample may be a five-rack that can store five samples, a one-rack that stores one sample, or any other mode. The form of the rack is not particularly limited.

101 ... Rack entrance, 102 ... Rack exit, 103 ... Rack branch exit,
201 ... Sample input module, 202 ... Opening module, 203, 203a to 203d ... Fan line, 204 ... Online dispensing module, 205 ... Bar code pasting module, 206 ... Offline dispensing module, 207 ... Capping module, 208 Specimen classification module 209 Specimen storage module 210a to 210b Transport line 211 Specimen buffer unit 212 Automatic analyzer 213 213a to 213d Nonvolatile storage 214, 214a to 214d Bar code / RFID reader,
301a to 301b, 305a to 305b ... module, 302, 306 ... fan-shaped line, 303, 307a to 307d ... swing arm, 304, 308 ... swing arm rotating shaft, 309 ... branch carry-out conveyance line,
401 ... Emergency sample transport path 402 ... General sample transport path 403 ... Empty swing arm transport path,
501a to 501b, 505a to 505b ... module, 502,506 ... fan-shaped line, 503a-503c, 507a-507h ... belt rotation mechanism, 504,508 ... rack, 509 ... branch carry-out conveyance line,
601a to 602b, 612a to 612b ... modules,
602, 606 ... Fan type line, 603, 607 ... Roller mechanism, 604, 609 ... Rack, 608 ... Conveyance path switching mechanism, 610 ... Conveyance line for branch carry-out, 605, 611 ... Rack guide,
θ: Center angle.

Claims (11)

A sample pretreatment device for performing a pretreatment step necessary for analyzing a sample such as blood or urine,
A plurality of modules for performing the pretreatment step;
A fan-shaped line having a variable central angle is provided for connecting the plurality of modules to each other and transporting the rack in which the specimen is installed from the previous module to the next module. Specimen pretreatment device. The specimen pretreatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The fan-shaped line further includes an overtaking mechanism for overtaking the rack in which only the general specimen is installed in the rack in which the emergency specimen is installed when there is a rack in which the specimen that needs to be pretreated urgently is installed. A specimen pretreatment apparatus comprising: The specimen pretreatment apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The specimen preprocessing apparatus, wherein the fan-shaped line includes a rotating shaft and at least one swing arm that swings about the rotating shaft as a mechanism for transporting the rack. The specimen pretreatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The specimen pretreatment apparatus, wherein the fan-shaped line includes a belt rotation mechanism that conveys the rack by rotating at least one belt as a mechanism for conveying the rack. The specimen pretreatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The fan-shaped line includes, as a mechanism for transporting the rack, a rack guide and a roller mechanism that transports the rack by a plurality of rollers attached to the rack guide. In the sample pretreatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The specimen preprocessing apparatus, wherein the sector line further includes a branching mechanism for taking out the rack from the sector line. In the sample pretreatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The specimen pretreatment apparatus, wherein the fan-shaped line further includes a moving direction changing rotation mechanism for changing the moving direction of the rack. The specimen pretreatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The specimen pretreatment device, wherein the fan-shaped line can hold a plurality of racks simultaneously. In the specimen pretreatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The sample preprocessing apparatus, wherein the fan-shaped line further includes information reading means for reading information in a sample information recording means provided in the rack for recording information of the sample. In the sample pretreatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The sample pretreatment apparatus is characterized in that the fan-shaped line can transport five racks for storing five of the samples and one rack for storing one of the samples. In the sample pretreatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The specimen preprocessing apparatus, wherein the fan-shaped line further includes a storage device for storing a connection angle between the plurality of modules and a transporting operation of the specimen according to the connection angle.

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