JP2014153179A - Specimen dispensation processing device and specimen preprocessing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dispensation processing device and a dispensation planning device for dispensing a specimen such as blood or urine collected for inspection from a container containing the specimen to another container, the dispensation processing device and the dispensation planning device capable of reducing a delay risk of an inspection result report when an amount of a main specimen is smaller than a total dispensation amount, through dispensing in a chronological order required for the inspection result.SOLUTION: In a method, when dispensing a specimen such as blood or urine collected for inspection, a priority is set by each dispensation sub-specimen container according to request items requested for the specimen, and dispensation planning is performed according to the priority, and then dispensation is performed.

Description

The present invention relates to a sample dispensing apparatus that dispenses a sample contained in a parent sample container into a child sample container, and a sample pretreatment apparatus that includes the sample dispensing apparatus in part.

  In Patent Document 1, as an apparatus for subdividing samples such as blood and urine before the start of analysis, an amount necessary for analysis / test is automatically transferred from one container (parent sample container) to the other container (child sample container). In particular, there is disclosed a sample dispensing processing apparatus that uses a disposable nozzle tip for each sample to once suck the sample into the nozzle tip and then discharges the sample into a child sample container.

  In the case of a serum sample, before the subdivision processing by the sample dispensing processing device, it is separated into serum and clot by centrifugation, and only the serum component is dispensed. A separation agent is present between the serum and the clot in the parent sample container so that the separated serum component and clot component do not remix. Therefore, when the sample is sucked into the nozzle tip, if the amount of the sample is not sufficient, the tip of the nozzle tip may come into contact with the separating agent and become clogged.

  In the case of a urine sample, since no separating agent is used in the parent sample container, the clogged state of the nozzle tip is unlikely to occur. It may reach and cannot be sucked.

JP 2010-281634 A

  In the sample dispensing processing device, when all of the requested dispensing processes cannot be executed because the amount of the parent sample is not sufficient, the dispensing process is performed at that time even if all of the dispensing plans are not completed. It ends. When a human confirms that creation of a child sample is incomplete by an alarm notification of the apparatus or the like, a re-dispensing process is performed from the parent sample, resulting in a loss of examination time. In other words, if the sample volume of the input parent sample is smaller than the total dispense volume of the analysis items requested for the sample, the sample volume of the parent sample is insufficient before dispensing to all the child sample containers is completed. End the note.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to reduce the risk of delay in reporting test results when the sample amount of the parent sample is insufficient by reliably dispensing the test results in the required order. To do.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and includes a dispensing mechanism that creates a child sample from a parent sample contained in a parent sample container, and a storage unit that stores a priority to be created for each child sample. Control means for controlling the dispensing mechanism so as to collectively aspirate an amount of a parent sample necessary for creating a child sample having the same priority based on the priority stored in the storage unit. It is characterized by having prepared.

As described above, each child sample container to be dispensed has a priority based on the requested item requested for the sample. By dispensing according to the priority, the total amount of the sample of the parent sample can be obtained. Even when the amount is less than the dispensing amount, a child sample with a high priority can be created reliably, and the risk of delay in reporting the test results can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the dispensing part which is a part of structure of a sample test pre-processing system. It is a functional block diagram of an operation part. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen display which sets dispensing priority. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen display which sets dispensing process mode. It is a figure which shows the processing flow from child sample preparation to dispensing. It is a figure which shows the processing flow from child sample preparation to dispensing when the sample amount of a parent sample is known. It is a figure which shows the processing flow which changes dispensing order with dispensing amount.

  A configuration example of the apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration of a dispensing unit that is a part of the configuration of the sample test pretreatment system. The sample examination pretreatment system is a device for adding pretreatment (centrifugation treatment, capping / closure treatment, dispensing treatment, sorting treatment, etc.) to a specimen prior to analysis. The operation of the sample test pretreatment system is managed by the operation unit 1 including the external input device 21 and the external output device 22. In particular, in FIG. 1, in order to prepare a child sample container before creating a child sample from the parent sample in the sample test pretreatment system, a label attaching module 2 for attaching an identifier such as a barcode label to the child sample container. And a dispensing module 3 for subdividing a part of the sample contained in the parent sample container into child sample containers. Each of these modules transmits and receives information via the operation unit 1 and the communication cable 4.

The holder on which the parent sample container is mounted stops at each module according to the stop information defined in the operation unit 1 and appropriate processing is performed at the stop destination module. Note that a single sample container may be mounted on the holder, or a plurality of sample containers may be mounted. When the holder arrives, the module reads an identifier such as an RFID tag or a barcode label of the holder and reports it to the operation unit 1. The operation unit 1 searches the database for information on the sample mounted on the holder that has received the report, determines a process to be executed for the corresponding parent sample, and instructs each module.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the operation unit 1, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow from child sample preparation to dispensing in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  When the holder carrying the parent sample container arrives at the label attaching module 2 via the parent sample transport line 11, the operation unit 1 receives the arrival report of the parent sample from the label attaching module 2 at the communication processing unit 31. The operation unit 1 refers to the request item of the corresponding parent sample stored in the request item storage DB 37, and the child sample number calculation unit 32 calculates the number of child samples to be created and the dispensing amount required for each child sample. (Step 51 in FIG. 5).

  Thereafter, the dispensing order determination unit 33 refers to the child sample priority order storage DB 38, and each child sample dispensed in the child sample dispensing line 12 and each child sample dispensed in the child sample dispensing line 13 are The items are rearranged in descending order of priority (step 52).

  The child sample preparation instructing unit 34 instructs the label sticking module 2 to attach labels to the child sample containers in descending order of priority created in the child samples. When a label application completion report is received from the label application module 2, label application to the next child sample container is instructed.

  The label pasting instruction and the result report transmission / reception are repeated until the child sample to be dispensed on the child sample dispensing line is created (step 53). By this processing, the child sample containers generated in the order of high priority are arranged for each child sample dispensing line.

  Next, in the dispensing module 3, when the holder loaded with the parent sample container arrives, the operation unit 1 receives the arrival report of the parent sample from the dispensing module 3 with the communication processing unit 31. After confirming the reception, the child sample preparation instructing unit 34 instructs to carry in the holder having the child sample containers rearranged in the order of priority, and when the carry-in report is received from the dispensing module 3, the next holder is brought in. An instruction is given (step 53).

  When the parent sample container and the child sample container to be dispensed by the child sample dispensing lines 12 and 13 arrive at the dispensing position 14, the dispensing instruction unit 35 of the operation unit 1 dispenses the dispensing module 3. An instruction is given (step 54).

  Here, the sample holder 15 at the dispensing position 14 has a structure for holding and fixing a plurality of sample containers during the dispensing process in the parent sample transport line 11 and the child sample dispensing lines 12 and 13. . In the case of FIG. 1, a structure in which three specimens can be pressed is shown. In this case, the maximum number of parent specimens that can be dispensed at one time is three and the maximum number of child specimen containers is six. That is, the dispensing module 3 can create a maximum of six child samples from one parent sample. In this case, with a single nozzle, an amount of the parent sample corresponding to the total amount dispensed of the child sample to be created is sucked, and the child samples at the dispensing positions 14 on the child sample dispensing lines 12 and 13 are sequentially placed. Discharge. It is also possible to create a child sample from a plurality of parent samples simultaneously.

  In this embodiment, the child samples that can be created at the same time by one dispensing process (a sample is once aspirated from the parent sample container and discharged once or multiple times to the child sample container) have the same priority. It is assumed that child samples having different priorities are not dispensed simultaneously. That is, among the child sample containers waiting on the child sample dispensing line 12, the child sample having the highest priority to be created is at the “medium” level, and the child sample container waiting on the child sample dispensing line 13. Of these, when the child sample having the highest priority to be created is at the “high” level, the dispensing module 3 has an amount sufficient for dispensing the child sample waiting on the child sample dispensing line 13 from the parent sample container. The parent sample is aspirated and a dispensing instruction is given only to the child sample container on the child sample dispensing line 13. After the dispensing process is completed, the child sample container on the child sample dispensing line 13 is carried out downstream, and the next child sample container is carried into the dispensing position 14 of the child sample dispensing line 13. Thereafter, the priority to be created is confirmed for the child sample containers waiting on the child sample dispensing line 12 and the child sample dispensing line 13, and the child sample with the highest priority waiting is counted. The dispensing process is executed for the injection line.

  In any child sample dispensing lines 12 and 13, if the priority for creating the child sample is the same, a dispensing instruction is simultaneously given to the child sample dispensing lines 12 and 13. In this case, the dispensing nozzle aspirates the parent sample in consideration of the total amount of dispensing required for the requested items requested for the child sample containers waiting on the child sample dispensing lines 12 and 13. And it discharges continuously with respect to the child sample container waiting on the child sample dispensing lines 12 and 13.

  As described above, a dispensing instruction is issued for each group having a high priority, and the child sample containers that have been dispensed are transported to the next module (step 55). When the dispensing process for the requested item to the parent sample is completed, the sample holder 15 holding the parent sample is released, the holder carrying the parent sample container is transported downstream, and the next parent sample container is removed. Carry into the dispensing area 14.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen for setting the dispensing priority.

  This setting screen is provided for each child sample that is requested to be created by the parent sample, and the user can input a numerical value to the dispensing priority input location 41 for any child sample. By providing such a screen, priority can be set for each child sample, so in the case of an urgent sample or re-examination, for samples that want to know the analysis results quickly, other child samples The priority can be set higher than.

  In the case of FIG. 3, the priority is set so that 1 represents the highest priority, and the priority is set to be lower as the numerical value is larger. However, the priority setting method is not limited to this method, and the same function is used. It is of course possible to set in other ways that can be achieved. It shall be permitted to set duplicate priorities. The dispensing order determination unit 33 determines the order in which child samples are prepared based on this value.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen for setting the dispensing process mode.

  This screen is a setting screen of the dispensing module 3, and the user selects two types of “dispersion priority mode” or “priority use mode” as the dispensing processing mode from the dispensing processing mode selection place 42 by radio buttons. can do.

  When the importance of efficiency is selected, the dispensing plan is performed by the conventional method, and when the priority use is selected, the dispensing plan is performed by the method of the present invention.

As in this example, child samples created by a single dispensing process are grouped into groups with the same priority, so that a child sample with a high priority can be reliably created and the total amount of the parent sample can be reduced. When the amount is less than the injection amount, it is possible to avoid a state in which all the child samples are not created.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing flow from child sample preparation to dispensing in the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that a description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment is omitted.

  In the sample pretreatment system, when a sample checker or the like is provided on the upstream side of the dispensing module, the amount of the parent sample accommodated in the parent sample container can be known before the child sample is created. Also, when the user inputs the amount of the parent sample from the external input device 21, the amount of the parent sample can be known prior to the creation of the child sample. As described above, when the amount of the parent sample is found in advance before the dispensing process and stored in the parent sample information storage DB, step 61 is replaced with step 52 as compared with the first embodiment. Have.

  Details of step 61 are shown in the flowchart of FIG. The operation unit 1 sets the initial dispensed total amount of child samples = 0, and adds the necessary dispensed amount to the dispensed total amount of child samples in order from the child sample with the highest priority (step 71). The total amount added is compared with the parent sample amount stored in the parent sample information storage DB (step 72). If the calculated total dispense amount is smaller than the parent sample amount, the child sample dispense total amount is calculated. Replace with the calculated total dispensing amount (step 77).

  On the other hand, if the calculated total dispensed amount is larger than the parent sample amount, the dispensed amount of the child sample added last is canceled and the dispensed amount of the child sample with the next highest priority is added (step 73). The total amount of the dispensed amount obtained in step 73 is compared with the parent sample amount (step 74). If the amount is smaller than the parent sample amount, the total amount is increased first to increase the parent sample amount. The order of creation of the sample and the child sample is switched (step 75), and the total amount of child sample dispensed is replaced with the total amount of dispensed amount (step 76). Similar processing is performed up to the child sample with the lowest priority of the child sample. After the child sample having the lowest priority is investigated, the child sample immediately before the dispensing amount exceeds the amount of the parent sample is flagged as dispensing completion.

  As an example, the total amount of the parent sample is 1000 μL, and the child samples S1 (300 μL), S2 (200 μL), S3 (300 μL), S4 (400 μL), S5 (100 μL), S6 (150 μL), S7 in descending order of priority. The case of preparing (50 μL) will be described (the dispensed amount is in parentheses).

  When the dispensing amounts from S1 to S3 are added, it is 800 μL, which does not exceed the total amount (1000 μL) of the parent sample. However, if the dispensing amount of S4 is further added to this, it becomes 1200 μL, which exceeds the total amount of the parent sample. In this case, if the dispensing amount of S5 is added to the dispensing amounts of S1 to S3 without adding the dispensing amount of S4, the total dispensing amount becomes 900 μL, which is equal to or less than the total amount of the parent sample. Dispensing is possible. Thereafter, when the dispensing amount of S6 is further added, the total dispensing amount becomes 1050 μL and exceeds the total amount of the parent sample, so that S6 cannot be dispensed. On the other hand, when the dispensed amount of S7 is added, the total dispensed amount is 950 μL, so that it can be dispensed. Therefore, the order in which child samples are finally prepared is S1 (300 μL) → S2 (200 μL) → S3 (300 μL) → S5 (100 μL) → S7 (50 μL) → S4 (400 μL) → S6 (150 μL). Can be dispensed in descending order, and child samples with lower priorities can be dispensed in a range where the dispensed amount does not exceed the amount of the parent sample, so the number of child samples that can be dispensed can be increased. it can.

In the above example, it is assumed that the priorities of all the samples are different. However, if the priorities overlap, the order can be determined by the consistent number registered in the child sample priority storage DB 38. A child sample can be prepared in the same manner as in the previous example. In this case, basically, as described above, the child samples having the same priority are dispensed at the same time, but the amount of the child sample having a low priority is also taken into consideration so that the total amount of the parent sample is not exceeded. In this dispensing process, five child samples S1, S2, S3, S5, and S7 are created. On the other hand, when a child sample is created in consideration of only the priority as in the conventional case, out of the seven child samples that need to be created for the parent sample, six of the six samples in descending order of priority are dispensed. Since a child sample is to be created, a sample amount is insufficient when the parent sample is aspirated, and one sample cannot be dispensed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation part, 2 ... Label sticking machine, 3 ... Dispensing machine, 4 ... Communication cable, 11 ... Parent sample conveyance line, 12 ... Child sample dispensing line, 13 ... Child sample dispensing line, 14 ... Dispensing position , 15, sample press, 21, external input device, 22, external output device, 31, communication processing unit, 32, child sample calculation unit, 33, dispensing order determination unit, 34, child sample preparation instruction unit, 35, minute Note instruction unit 36 ... Priority order setting unit 37 ... Request item storage DB 38 ... Child sample priority order storage DB 39 ... Parent sample information storage DB 41 ... Dispensing priority input place 42 ... Dispensing processing mode Selection location

Claims (9)

A dispensing mechanism for creating a child sample from a parent sample contained in a parent sample container;
Storage means for storing a priority to be created for each child sample;
Control means for controlling the dispensing mechanism so as to collectively aspirate an amount of a parent sample necessary for creating a child sample having the same priority based on the priority stored in the storage unit. A specimen dispensing apparatus characterized by that.
The specimen dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The control means further controls the order of the child samples created by the dispensing mechanism based on the aspiration amount of the parent sample necessary for creating the child sample for each child sample. Processing equipment.
The specimen dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A parent sample transporting means for positioning a parent sample container at a suction position by the dispensing mechanism;
A child sample transporting means for positioning a child sample container for containing a child sample created from the parent sample at a discharge position of the dispensing mechanism;
A sample dispensing processing apparatus, wherein a plurality of child sample containers can be positioned at a time at the dispensing position.
The specimen dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The sample dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a plurality of nozzles for sucking the parent sample from the parent sample container and discharging the same to the child sample container.
A child sample container preparation device for preparing a child sample container for storing a child sample created from a parent sample;
A dispensing device that creates a child sample by subdividing a portion of the parent sample contained in the parent sample container into the child sample container;
A transport device for transporting a child sample container from the child sample container preparation device to the dispensing device;
A communication means for communicating information about the priority of creating a child sample for the parent sample arriving at the dispensing device;
Control means for controlling the order of the child sample containers prepared by the child sample container preparation device based on the priority,
A specimen pretreatment apparatus comprising:
The specimen pretreatment apparatus according to claim 5,
The control means further controls the order of the child sample containers prepared by the child sample container preparation device based on the aspiration amount of the parent sample necessary for creating a child sample from the parent sample. Pre-processing device.
The specimen pretreatment apparatus according to claim 5,
The sample preparation apparatus is characterized in that the child sample container preparation device has a function of assigning an identifier to a child sample container.
The specimen pretreatment apparatus according to claim 5,
A sample pretreatment apparatus comprising setting means capable of setting the priority.
The specimen pretreatment apparatus according to claim 5,
A sample pretreatment apparatus comprising: selection means for selecting one of a case where a child sample is created based on the priority and a case where a child sample is created based on the priority.