JP2015078923A - Specimen pretreatment apparatus and specimen test automatic analysis system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a specimen pretreatment apparatus and a specimen test automatic analysis system capable of quickly reporting an analysis result even if a plurality of analyzers is connected and used.SOLUTION: A specimen pretreatment apparatus includes: an analysis-item determination unit that determines analysis items that can be analyzed by a plurality of analyzers 210 and 220 for analyzing a specimen, respectively on the basis of reagent installation information including at least information on types of reagents installed in the respective analyzers 210 and 220; a dispensation instruction formation unit 101c that forms a dispensation instruction to dispense the specimen to sub-specimen containers so as to correspond to the respective analyzers 210 and 220 if analysis items designated as urgent analysis items having a high degree of urgency out of the analysis items set for the specimen are involved in at least two analyzers 210 and 220; and a specimen dispensation mechanism 106 dispensing the specimen pretreated by a pretreatment mechanism 103 from a specimen container to sub-specimen containers in accordance with the dispensation instruction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sample pretreatment apparatus that performs pretreatment of a sample for qualitative / quantitative analysis of biological samples such as blood and urine, and a sample test automatic analysis system using the same.

  In hospitals and laboratories, blood samples such as blood and urine obtained from patients by blood collection and urine collection (hereinafter referred to as specimens) are analyzed, and the patient's condition is determined based on the analysis results corresponding to each test item. I know. In general, analysis of a sample is performed by an automatic analyzer (hereinafter simply referred to as an analyzer) that automatically performs an analysis process corresponding to a test item.

  The analysis results (ie, test results) obtained by the analyzer are very important information for patients because they serve as criteria for diagnosing diseases and determining treatment strategies. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly report analysis results. Has been. Therefore, for the purpose of promptly reporting analysis results, for example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-153941), it is determined that priorities are given to inspection items in advance and analysis of all items cannot be performed. In this case, a technique related to an analysis device is disclosed in which the amount of a biological sample necessary for analysis is dispensed in order from an item with a higher priority in the pretreatment device into the sample container, and the analysis device analyzes from the item with a higher priority.

JP 2011-153941 A

  However, the above prior art has the following problems.

  That is, in the specimen test automatic analysis system, the specimen is pre-treated with a pre-treatment device in advance, such as centrifugation, and the serum and blood clot separated as it is or as a separate sample (only serum is used as an analysis sample) In the following, the sample dispensed into the child sample container is transported to the analyzer and used for the analysis process. Therefore, in the above prior art, a plurality of analyzers are connected and used, and in a situation where reagent bottles corresponding to inspection items with a high priority are installed in different analyzers, between each analyzer It is feared that a lot of time is required until the analysis is performed due to waste in the transport path of the sample container, and as a result, the report of the analysis result is delayed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a sample pretreatment device and a sample test automatic analysis system that can promptly report analysis results even when a plurality of analyzers are connected and used. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sample container for storing a sample to be analyzed, a preprocessing mechanism for performing a pretreatment for making the sample stored in the sample container ready for analysis, and the sample A reagent erection information storage unit for storing reagent erection information including at least information on the type of reagent mounted in each of the plurality of analyzers that perform the analysis, and the analysis by the plurality of analyzers based on the reagent erection information An analysis item determination unit that determines each possible analysis item, and an inspection item that is urgently designated as a highly urgent inspection item among the inspection items set for the sample spans at least two or more of the analyzers. A dispensing instruction creating unit that creates a dispensing instruction so that the sample is dispensed into the child sample corresponding to each of the analyzers, and the preprocessing mechanism performs preprocessing. A sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing the sample subjected to the dispensing from the sample container to the child sample container according to the dispensing instruction, and a transport instruction for controlling a transport mechanism for transporting the child sample container to the analyzer. In addition, a transport instruction creating unit that creates a transport instruction so as to transport each of the plurality of child sample containers to the corresponding analyzer is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly report analysis results even when a plurality of analyzers are connected and used.

1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a sample test automatic analysis system according to the present embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the sample test automatic analysis system concerning this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the processing function of the central control part in a sample pretreatment apparatus. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of the inspection request item information displayed on the monitor which is an output device. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the whole analysis in the sample test | inspection automatic analysis system of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the sample dispensing process in analysis operation | movement. It is a figure which shows roughly the conveyance path | route of the sample container in the periphery of an analyzer. It is a figure which compares and shows the passage order of the conveyance path of the sample container in this Embodiment, and the passage order of the conveyance path of the sample container in a comparative example. It is a figure explaining exchange of the carrying-out order of the sample container in the sample storage part of this Embodiment.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a sample test automatic analysis system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram thereof. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing processing functions of the central control unit 101 in the sample pretreatment apparatus.

  1 and 2, the sample test automatic analysis system includes a sample pretreatment apparatus 100 that performs pretreatment on a sample, and a plurality (for example, 2) of performing analysis processing on an analysis sample obtained by the pretreatment. And the host system 300 for controlling the operation of the entire specimen test automatic analysis system.

  The sample pretreatment device 100 is a loading unit for loading a sample rack 1a containing one or more sample containers 1 containing samples to be analyzed (for example, five in this embodiment) into the sample test automatic analyzer. 102, a pre-processing mechanism 103 that performs pre-processing so that the sample stored in the sample container 1 can be analyzed, an opening mechanism 104 that opens the sample container 1, and a sample stored in the sample container 1 A liquid volume measuring mechanism 105 for measuring the liquid volume of the liquid, a specimen dispensing mechanism 106 for dispensing the specimen pretreated by the pretreatment mechanism 103 from the specimen container 1 to the child specimen container 2, and the specimen pretreatment apparatus 100. A transport line (transport mechanism) 107 for transporting the sample container 1 (or child sample container 2), and a central control unit 101 for controlling the operation of the entire sample pretreatment apparatus 100.

  The central control unit 101, the preprocessing mechanism 103, the opening mechanism 104, the liquid volume measurement mechanism 105, and the sample dispensing mechanism 106 are connected by a communication path 101c such as a communication cable. Exchange of various types of information in the preprocessing apparatus 100, transport control of the sample container 1 or the child sample container 2, and the like are controlled. The central control unit 101 is also connected to the host system 300 through the communication path 300a, and includes inspection request item information (including inspection item information and emergency designation information described later) stored in the host system 300 and reagent installation. Information such as information is acquired.

  In FIG. 3, the central control unit 101 hosts reagent erection information including at least information related to the type of reagent mounted in each of a plurality (two in this embodiment) of analyzers 210 and 220 that analyze a sample. A reagent erection information storage unit 101a that is acquired and stored from the system 300, an analysis item determination unit 101b that determines analysis items that can be analyzed in the analyzers 210 and 220 based on the reagent erection information, and a sample dispensing mechanism 106 A dispensing instruction creating unit 101c that creates a dispensing instruction that is an instruction for dispensing contents in FIG. 5 and a conveyance instruction creating unit 101d that creates a conveying instruction that is an instruction for conveying contents in the transportation line 107.

  The reagent erection information storage unit 101a acquires and stores reagent erection information about each of the plurality of analyzers 210 and 220 constituting the sample test automatic analysis system from the host system 300. The reagent erection information has information on the type of reagent mounted on the analyzers 210 and 220 for each of the analyzers 210 and 220.

  The analysis item determination unit 101b reads the reagent installation information stored in the reagent installation information storage unit 101a, and determines analysis items that can be analyzed by each of the analyzers 210 and 220 based on the reagent installation information. The types of reagents installed in the analyzers 210 and 220 correspond to the analysis items, and the analysis items and the inspection items correspond to each other, and the determination of whether or not the analysis items are possible is the determination of whether or not the inspection items are possible.

  The dispensing instruction creating unit 101c is configured to provide information on the examination items of the specimen (examination request item information) obtained through the host system 300, reagent construction information in the analyzers 210 and 220, and the specimen obtained by the specimen pretreatment apparatus 100. Dispensing instruction creation processing is performed for creating a dispensing instruction based on information relating to the amount of liquid. The dispensing instruction includes information such as the number of child sample containers 2 to be dispensed from one sample container 1. For example, at least two or more (two in the present embodiment) analyzers 220 and 220 are designated as urgently designated test items among the test items set for the specimen. In this case, a dispensing instruction is created so as to dispense the sample into the child sample container corresponding to each of the analyzers 210 and 220.

  The transport instruction creating unit 101d performs a transport instruction creating process for creating a transport instruction so that the child sample container 2 dispensed by the sample dispensing mechanism 106 is transported to the corresponding analyzer. The transport instruction includes information on the transport destination of the sample container 1 or the child sample container 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as the sample containers 1 and 2 if it is not necessary to distinguish between them). For example, at least two or more (two in the present embodiment) analyzers 220 and 220 are designated as urgently designated test items among the test items set for the specimen. In this case, a transport instruction is generated so as to transport the sample containers 1 and 2 corresponding to the analyzers 210 and 220, respectively. The transport instruction created by the transport instruction creating unit 101b is sent to the entire sample test automatic analyzer via the host system 300 or the like.

  The input unit 102 is provided with an ID reading unit 102 a that reads an identifier (for example, a barcode) for identifying a sample contained in the sample container 1, and the read sample identification information is sent via the central control unit 101. It is sent to the host system 300 and stored.

  The preprocessing mechanism 103 performs preprocessing on the sample stored in the sample container 1. In the present embodiment, a centrifuge mechanism that centrifuges a specimen as preprocessing is shown as an example of the preprocessing mechanism 103.

  The liquid amount measuring mechanism 105 measures the amount of the sample accommodated in the sample container 1. For example, an image of the sample container 1 is acquired by a camera or the like, and image processing or the like is performed to obtain serum, a separating agent, or a clot. A method is used in which the position of each boundary surface is determined from the difference in gradation, etc., and the amount of liquid such as serum is obtained from information on the boundary surface position and the shape of the sample container 1 (for example, diameter, cross-sectional area, etc.). Information about each liquid amount obtained by the liquid amount measuring mechanism 105 is sent to the host system 300 via the central control unit 101 and stored therein.

  The sample dispensing mechanism 106 is a sample container that has been preprocessed by the pretreatment mechanism 103 and opened by the opening mechanism 104 based on the dispensing instruction created by the dispensing instruction creation unit 101 c of the central control unit 101. Dispense from 1 to the child sample container 2.

  The transport line 107 is connected to the input unit 102, the preprocessing mechanism 103, the opening mechanism 104, the liquid amount measuring mechanism 105, and the sample dispensing mechanism 106 of the sample pretreatment apparatus 100, and a sample container storage unit 230 described later. The sample container 1 and 2 are transported by the sample pretreatment device 100 based on the transport instruction created by the transport instruction creating unit 101d of the central control unit 101.

  The sample container storage unit 230 stores and holds the sample containers 1 and 2 that have been pre-processed by the sample pretreatment apparatus 100 before they are transported to the analyzer 240, and stores the sample containers 1 and 2 to the analyzer 240. A function of adjusting the transport amount and a function of changing the order of the sample containers 1 and 2 transported to the analyzer 240 are provided.

  The analyzer 210 includes a sample container storage unit 212, an analysis unit 213, a control unit 211, and transfer lines (transfer mechanisms) 241 and 242.

  The transport lines (transport mechanisms) 241 and 242 transport the sample containers 1 and 2 transported from the sample pretreatment apparatus 100 via the sample container storage unit 230 in the analyzer 210 and also to the analyzer 220.

  The analysis unit 213 performs an analysis process on the samples stored in the sample containers 1 and 2 that are transported by the transport line 242.

  The sample container storage unit 212 stores and holds one end of the sample containers 1 and 2 that are transported to the analysis unit 213 via the transport lines 241 and 242, and adjusts the transport amount of the sample containers 1 and 2 to the analysis unit 213. And a function of changing the order of the sample containers 1 and 2 conveyed to the analysis unit 213 by changing the order of the sample containers 1 and 2 sent out to the transfer line 242.

  The control unit 211, the sample container storage unit 212, and the analysis unit 213 are connected by a communication path 211c such as a communication cable. Similarly, the control unit 211 and the host system 300 are connected via the communication path 300b.

  The control unit 211 controls the operation of the analyzer 210, and controls the loading (loading) of the sample containers 1 and 2 from the transport line 242 by the sample container storage unit 212 and the sample containers 1 and 1 to the transport line 242. 2 and the control of the loading / unloading of the sample containers 1 and 2 to / from the analyzer 213.

  The analysis device 220 has the same configuration as the analysis device 210.

  That is, the analyzer 220 includes a sample container storage unit 222, an analysis unit 223, a control unit 221, and transfer lines (transfer mechanisms) 243 and 244.

  The transport lines (transport mechanism) 243 and 244 transport the sample containers 1 and 2 transported via the analyzer 210 in the analyzer 220 and to the sample container storage unit 250 via the transport line (transport mechanism) 245. Transport.

  The analysis unit 223 performs an analysis process on the samples stored in the sample containers 1 and 2 that are transported by the transport line 244.

  The sample container storage unit 222 stores and holds the sample containers 1 and 2 that are transported to the analysis unit 223 via the transport lines 243 and 244, and adjusts the transport amount of the sample containers 1 and 2 to the analysis unit 223. And a function of changing the order of the sample containers 1 and 2 to be transported to the analyzer 223.

  The control unit 221 is connected to the sample container storage unit 222 and the analysis unit 223 through a communication path 221c such as a communication cable. Similarly, the control unit 221 and the host system 300 are connected by a communication path 300c.

  The control unit 221 controls the operation of the analyzer 220, and controls the loading (loading) of the sample containers 1 and 2 from the transport line 244 by the sample container storage unit 222 and the sample containers 1 and 1 to the transport line 244. 2 and the control of the loading / unloading of the sample containers 1 and 2 to / from the analyzer 223.

  The sample container storage unit 250 stores and holds the sample containers 1 and 2 that have been subjected to the analysis processing by the analyzers 210 and 220 via the transport line 245.

  The host system 300 collectively manages information such as examination items, emergency designation information (examination request item information), analysis results, etc. set for the specimens contained in the specimen containers 1 and 2. . Input of inspection items and various information to the host system 300 and output of analysis results (inspection results) are performed by an input / output terminal 310 connected to the host system 300. The input / output terminal 310 is, for example, a PC or the like, and includes a keyboard and mouse that are input devices, a monitor that is an output device, a printer, and the like (not shown).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a setting screen for inspection request item information displayed on a monitor which is an output device.

  In FIG. 4, an examination request item information setting screen 302 includes a patient information setting unit 302a for setting various types of information such as an ID that is specimen identification information and a patient name corresponding thereto, and an examination item requested for the specimen. An inspection item information setting unit 302b that inputs and sets information related to inspection items (inspection item information), and an emergency designation information setting unit 302c that sets information (emergency designation information) about whether or not each inspection item is urgently designated ing. FIG. 4 illustrates a case where “Yes” is input when an emergency designation is made for an inspection item, and “No” is entered when no emergency designation is made. For example, in FIG. 4, “item 1” set as the inspection item of number 1 and “item 3” set as the inspection item of number 3 are designated urgently.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the entire analysis flow in the sample test automatic analysis system of the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the sample dispensing process in the analysis operation.

  As shown in FIG. 5, first, reagent bottle erection information (reagent erection information) is registered in the host system 300 via the input / output terminal 310 as basic information. The reagent erection information is read by the central control unit 101 and stored in the reagent erection information storage unit 101a (step S100). In this state, based on patient examination information by a doctor or the like, examination request item information including examination item information and emergency designation information for the patient is registered in the host system 300 via the input / output terminal 310 (step S200). . Thereafter, the sample container 1 containing the sample to be examined is held in the sample rack 1a and is loaded from the loading port 102 (step S300). A sample dispensing process (step S400), a sample replacement process (step S500), and an analysis process (step S600) are performed on the sample in the sample container 1 that has been input to the input port 102.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the sample dispensing process (step S400), first, an identifier (sample ID: sample identification information) arranged in the sample container 1 is read by the ID reading unit 102a (step S401). At this time, the read sample identification information is sent to the host system 300 via the central control unit 101 and stored.

  The central control unit 101 acquires sample request item information transmitted based on the sample identification information received by the host system 300 (step S402), and performs preprocessing by the preprocessing mechanism 103 (step S403).

  Subsequently, the dispensing instruction creating unit 101c determines whether there is an urgently designated inspection item (step S404). If the determination result is NO, the sample is transferred from the sample container 1 to one child sample container 2. A sample dispensing instruction (standard) to be dispensed is created (step S409), and the sample dispensing instruction is transmitted to the sample dispensing mechanism 106 (step S410).

  If the determination result in step S404 is YES, the analysis item determination unit 101b can analyze the analysis items that can be analyzed in the analyzers 210 and 220 based on the reagent erection information stored in the reagent erection information storage unit 101a. (Step S405), the dispensing instruction creating unit 101c determines whether or not the inspection item in the inspection item information extends over the plurality of analyzers 210 and 220 (step S406). If the determination result in step S406 is YES, a standard sample dispensing instruction for dispensing a sample from the sample container 1 to one child sample container 2 is created (step S408), and the sample dispensing instruction is issued. It transmits to the sample dispensing mechanism 106 (step S410). If the determination result in step S406 is NO, a special sample dispensing instruction for dispensing the sample from the sample container 1 to the child sample container corresponding to each of the analyzers over which the analysis item is straddled is created. (Step S407), and transmits the sample dispensing instruction to the sample dispensing mechanism 106 (Step S410). Note that the special sample dispensing instruction created at this time allows the analysis devices 210 and 220 to analyze the test item having the emergency designation information in parallel.

  The sample dispensing mechanism 106 then dispenses the sample from the sample container 1 to the child sample container 2 based on the sample dispensing instruction created in any of steps S407 to S409 in the dispensing instruction creating unit 101c. (Step S411).

  In the sample replacement process (step S500), the sample container storage unit 230 stores and holds the sample containers 1 and 2 that have been subjected to the pretreatment by the sample pretreatment apparatus 100 before they are transported to the analyzer 240, and is urgent. The designated sample containers 1 and 2 are transported with priority by changing the order of transport to the analyzer 240.

  In the analysis process (step S600), various analyzes based on the test item information are performed on the samples stored in the sample containers 1 and 2. Analysis results (inspection results) and the like are sent to the host system 300 for storage and displayed on the monitor of the input / output terminal 310.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the transport path of the sample container around the analyzer. FIG. 8 is a diagram comparing the passage order of the sample container transport path in the present embodiment and the order of passage of the sample container transport path in the comparative example.

  7 and 8, “test item 1”, “test item 2”, and “test item 5” are requested to the sample contained in the sample container, among which “test item 1” and “test item 5”. An example of the transport route when urgently is designated will be described. In the analysis device 210, “inspection item 1” to “inspection item 3” are items that can be analyzed, and in the analysis device 220, “inspection item 4” to “inspection item 5” are items that can be analyzed. An example will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the transport path 11 for transporting the sample containers 1 and 2 according to the present embodiment is transported from the feed lines 241 to 244 to the sample container storage unit 212 of the upstream analyzer 210. A transport path 12 that is transported from the sample container storage unit 212 to the feed line and loaded into the analysis unit 213, a transport path 13 that is transported from the analysis unit 213 to the feed line, and a sample of the analyzer 220 downstream from the feed line. The transport path 14 for carrying in the container storage section 222, the transport path 15 for transporting from the sample container storage section 222 to the feed line and transporting to the analysis section 223, the transport path 16 for transporting from the analysis section 223 to the feed line, and analysis On the downstream side of the apparatus 220, the transport path 17 that carries out from the feed line to the return line, and the sample containers 1 and 2 that are carried out to the return line are returned to the analyzer 210. The transport path 18 transports to the downstream side of the in-line (in other words, the upstream side of the feed line), the transport path 19 that transports from the return line to the feed line on the downstream side of the return line of the analyzer 220, and the upstream in the feed line And a transport path 10 for transporting from the upstream side of the analyzer 210 on the side to the downstream side (in other words, the upstream side of the downstream analyzer).

  First, the conveyance path of the sample container in the comparative example will be described. In the comparative example that does not use the reagent bottle erection information, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 8, the sample container changes from the sample container to one sample container (child sample container) A regardless of the analysis item of each analyzer. It is dispensed and sent to the analyzer.

  The specimen container A carried out from the pretreatment device is sent to the analysis device 210 in order to analyze the “examination item 1” that is designated urgently. The sample container A is once transported to the sample container storage unit 212 of the analyzer 210 (transport path 11) before being transported to the analyzer 210. Subsequently, the sample container A is transported from the sample container storage unit 212 of the analyzer 210 to the analysis unit 213 via the feed line, and the analysis of “test item 1” is performed (conveyance path 12), and the analysis is completed. Then, it is carried out to the feed line (conveyance path 13). Subsequently, the specimen container A is sent to the analyzer 220 for analyzing the “examination item 5” that is urgently designated. The sample container A is once transported to the sample container storage unit 222 of the analyzer 220 (transport path 14) before being transported to the analyzer 220. Subsequently, the sample container A is conveyed from the sample container storage unit 222 of the analyzer 220 to the analysis unit 223 via the feed line, and the analysis of “test item 5” is performed (conveyance path 15), and the analysis is completed. Then, it is carried out to the feed line (conveyance path 16). Then, in order to analyze the remaining “inspection item 2” that has not been urgently specified, it is carried out from the feed line to the return line (conveyance path 17), and conveyed to the upstream side of the feed line via the return line (conveyance path 18). , 19), and is transported to the analysis unit 213 via the sample container storage unit 212 (conveyance paths 11 and 12), and when the analysis of “test item 2” is completed, it is carried out to the feed line (conveyance path 13) and the analysis is finished To do.

  Subsequently, the transport path of the sample container in the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment using the construction information of the reagent bottles, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 8, a plurality (from the sample container) of the sample container is used in the pretreatment device 100 based on the items that can be analyzed by the analysis devices 210 and 220. In this embodiment, two specimen containers (child specimen containers) A and B are dispensed and sent to the analyzers 210 and 220 side.

  The sample container A carried out from the pretreatment apparatus 100 is sent to the analysis apparatus 210 to analyze “examination item 1” that is urgently designated and “examination item 2” that is not urgently designated. Further, the specimen container B is sent to the analyzer 220 in order to analyze the “examination item 5” that is urgently designated.

  The sample container A is once transported to the sample container storage unit 212 of the analyzer 210 (transport path 11) before being transported to the analyzer 210. At this time, the sample container B is transported to the analyzer 220 side via the feed line (transport path 10).

  Subsequently, the sample container A is transported from the sample container storage unit 212 of the analyzer 210 to the analysis unit 213 via the feed line, and the analysis of “test item 1” and “test item 2” is performed (transport route). 12) When the analysis is finished, it is carried out to the feed line (conveyance path 13), and the analysis is finished. At this time, the sample container B is once transported to the sample container storage unit 222 of the analyzer 220 (transport path 14) before being transported to the analyzer 220, and the sample container of the analyzer 220 is stored via the feed line. Then, the inspection item 5 is analyzed from the unit 222 to the analysis unit 223 (conveyance route 15). When the analysis is completed, the analysis is completed and the sample is unloaded to the feed line (conveyance route 16).

  As described above, in this embodiment, since dispensing control is performed in the pretreatment device in accordance with the dispensing instruction created based on the reagent bottle erection information, a plurality of reagents corresponding to the urgently designated inspection items are provided. Even in the case of being spanned across the analyzers, there is no waste in the transport path, and the sample container can be transported to the target analyzer. Moreover, since the analysis of the inspection item designated urgently can be analyzed in parallel by different analyzers, the result of the desired inspection item can be quickly reported.

  Subsequently, in the present embodiment, a process for changing the order of the samples (sample containers) transported from the sample container storage units 212 and 222 to the analysis units 213 and 223 will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the sample container is carried into the sample container storage units 212 and 222 standby unit before being analyzed by the analysis units 213 and 223. In the sample container storage units 212 and 222, the plurality of sample containers analyzed by the analysis units 213 and 223 can be temporarily stored to wait for the turn.

  The order of the sample containers carried out from the sample container storage units 212 and 222 to the analysis units 213 and 223 differs depending on whether or not there is an emergency designation. For example, in the case of a normal sample container that is not urgently specified, the sample containers are carried out to the analysis units 213 and 223 in the order of arrival at the sample container storage units 212 and 222. In addition, when a plurality of sample containers are stored in the sample container storage units 212 and 222, when a sample container having an inspection item designated urgently is loaded, the discharge order of the sample containers is changed. Preferentially carry out the designated specimen container.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the change of the order of carrying out the sample containers in the sample storage unit of the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 9, the analysis unit 213 in which reagent containers corresponding to “test item 1” to “test item 3” are installed from the sample storage unit 212 storing a plurality of sample containers will be described as an example. 7 etc.). In this example, a plurality of sample containers a, b, c, d,... Are waiting for analysis in the analysis unit 213 in the sample container storage unit 212. The sample containers are carried into the sample container storage unit 212 in the order of the sample containers a, b, c, d,... Consider a case where an emergency designation is made for “inspection item 2”.

  In the sample container storage unit 212, the unloading order is changed so that the test containers b and d having the urgently designated test items are transported with priority over the other sample containers a and c. In both the sample container b and the sample container d having the inspection item designated as urgent, the order of loading into the sample container storage unit 212 is the order of unloading. That is, the sample container b is replaced so as to be carried out first. In addition, the sample container a and the sample container c having only the test items that are not urgently specified are switched so that the loading order into the sample container storage unit 212 becomes the unloading order, that is, the sample container a is unloaded first.

  Therefore, when the order of loading the sample containers from the sample container storage unit 212 to the analysis unit 213 is the sample container a, the sample container b, the sample container c, the sample container d,. b, sample container d, sample container a, sample container c,...

  The sample container carried out from the sample container storage unit 212 is transported to the analysis unit 213 and analyzes analysis items that can be analyzed. As described above, the analysis unit 213 starts the analysis from the urgently designated inspection item. In the analysis in the analysis unit 213, the sample contained in the sample container and the reagent are mixed, and the absorbance, the light emission amount, etc. of the mixed solution are measured by an optical measuring means, and are included in the sample based on the measurement result. Measure the component concentration. The sample container moves to the sample standby unit and waits until the analysis is completed. When the analysis is completed, the analysis result is reported from the analysis unit to the host system and from the host system to the input / output terminal, and a retest instruction is inquired. The analysis result can be reported at any time when analysis results of all requested inspection items are obtained or when the results of each inspection item are obtained. In the input / output terminal or host system that received the analysis results, if it is determined that re-analysis is necessary, it is transported again to the analyzer under the transport instruction from the central control unit and re-examined. To implement. At the time of re-examination, it is possible to control the order in which the specimen containers are carried out in the specimen standby section, as in the first examination. After performing the retest, the sample container is moved to the sample storage unit and collected. Note that sample containers that do not require retesting are moved to the sample storage unit and collected at the end of the first analysis.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even if there are a large number of sample containers waiting to be analyzed in the analysis units 213 and 223 in the sample container storage units 212 and 222, any sample container having an urgently designated test item can be used. In this case, since the analysis is performed by being preferentially carried into the analysis unit, the waiting time for the analysis can be shortened.

  Note that the control of changing the order of carrying out the sample containers in the sample container storage units 212 and 222 is performed by the control units 211 and 221 of the analyzers 210 and 220, respectively.

  The effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  In a conventional specimen test automatic analysis system, a specimen is pre-treated by a pre-treatment device in advance, such as centrifugation, and separated into serum and blood clot as it is, or in a separate container using only serum as an analysis sample. What is dispensed (hereinafter referred to as a child sample container) is transported to an analyzer and used for analysis processing. Therefore, in the above prior art, a plurality of analyzers are connected and used, and in a situation where reagent bottles corresponding to inspection items with a high priority are installed in different analyzers, between each analyzer It is feared that a lot of time is required until the analysis is performed due to waste in the transport path of the sample container, and as a result, the report of the analysis result is delayed.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the dispensing control is performed using the information related to the test item set for the sample and the reagent erection information. In other words, in the present embodiment, analysis items that can be analyzed by a plurality of analyzers are determined based on reagent erection information, and urgent designation is made as a highly urgent test item among the test items set for the sample. When the inspection items that have been performed are spread over at least two analyzers, the dispensing instruction is created so as to dispense the sample to the child sample corresponding to each of the analyzers. Even when a plurality of analyzers are connected and used, it is possible to report analysis results quickly.

  In addition, since the analyzer is configured to perform transport control based on the emergency designation information, the analysis of the inspection item designated urgently at the time of the inspection item request at the input / output terminal is performed preferentially, and therefore It becomes possible to quickly report the analysis result of the corresponding inspection item.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sample container 1a Sample rack 2 Child sample container 100 Sample pretreatment apparatus 101 Central control part 101a Reagent construction information storage part 101b Analysis item determination part 101c Dispensing instruction creation part 101d Transport instruction creation part 102 Input part 103 Preprocessing mechanism 104 Open Plug mechanism 105 Liquid volume measuring mechanism 106 Sample dispensing mechanism 107 Transport line (transport mechanism)
210, 220 Analyzer 211, 221 Control unit 212, 222 Sample container storage unit 213, 223 Analysis unit 241, ..., 245 Conveyance line (conveyance mechanism)
300 Host system 310 Input / output terminal

Claims (4)

A sample container for storing a sample to be analyzed;
A pre-processing mechanism for performing pre-processing to make the sample contained in the sample container ready for analysis;
A reagent erection information storage unit for storing reagent erection information including at least information on the type of reagent mounted in each of the plurality of analyzers that analyze the specimen;
Based on the reagent erection information, an analysis item determination unit that determines each analysis item that can be analyzed in the plurality of analyzers;
When the test item urgently designated as the test item with high urgency among the test items set for the sample is straddling at least two or more of the analyzers, the analyzer corresponds to each of the analyzers. A dispensing instruction creating unit for creating a dispensing instruction so as to dispense a sample to the child sample;
A sample dispensing mechanism for dispensing the sample pretreated by the pretreatment mechanism from the sample container to the child sample container according to the dispensing instruction;
A transport instruction for controlling a transport mechanism for transporting the child sample containers to the analyzer, wherein a transport instruction is generated so as to transport the plurality of child sample containers to the corresponding analyzers. And a specimen pretreatment device. The specimen pretreatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A sample amount measuring unit for detecting the amount of the sample contained in the sample container;
A test item storage unit that stores a sample amount necessary for performing the test item set by the test item setting unit;
The sample pretreatment apparatus, wherein the dispensing instruction creating unit creates a dispensing instruction so that the amount dispensed to the child sample does not exceed the amount of the sample. The specimen pretreatment device according to claim 1,
A plurality of analyzers for analyzing the child sample dispensed from the sample;
A sample test automatic analysis system comprising: a transport mechanism for transporting the child sample from the pretreatment device to the analyzer. In the sample analysis automatic analysis system according to claim 3,
A container standby buffer mechanism for storing the child sample transported from the analyzer by the transport mechanism and waiting before the child sample is loaded into the analyzer;
A sample test automatic comprising: a buffer mechanism control unit that changes the order of the child sample containers that are unloaded from the container standby buffer mechanism and loaded into the analyzer based on an emergency designation by the emergency designation unit Analysis system.

Images