JP2018189542A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic analyzer with which it is possible to improve measurement throughput without raising the revolving speed of a reagent storage for holding a reagent container that contains a reagent.SOLUTION: According to an embodiment, the automatic analyzer comprises a reagent storage, a position determining unit, and an order of measurement changing unit. The reagent storage rotatably holds a reagent container that contains a reagent. The position determining unit determines the position of the reagent container in the reagent storage so that an angle between two adjacent reagent containers, out of a plurality of reagent containers that contain a reagent used in basic inspection items, is smaller than or equal to a prescribed limit angle. The order of measurement changing unit changes the order of inspection pertaining to inspection items set to a prescribed sample for which inspection is requested, on the basis of the array of a plurality of reagent containers whose positions have been determined.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an automatic analyzer.

  The automatic analyzer is a device for measuring components related to test items such as biochemical test items and immunological test items included in a sample contained in a sample container. In the automatic analyzer, a sample accommodated in a sample container is dispensed into a reaction tube by a sample dispensing probe. Moreover, the reagent accommodated in the reagent container is dispensed into the reaction tube by the reagent dispensing probe. The sample and the reagent are mixed in the reaction tube, and a predetermined component in the mixed solution of the sample and the reagent is optically measured.

  In an automatic analyzer, an improvement in measurement throughput that represents the number of tests that can be measured in a certain time is desired. In order to improve the measurement throughput, for example, there is a technique for increasing the rotation speed of a reagent container in which reagent containers are arranged in a ring shape. When the rotation speed of the reagent storage is increased, for example, the movement time of the reagent containers arranged in the reagent storage can be shortened, so that the measurement throughput can be improved.

  However, in order to increase the rotational speed of the reagent storage, a high torque motor is required separately. Moreover, a high torque motor is large and requires a large amount of power consumption. Further, when the rotation speed of the reagent store is increased, the foaming of the reagent stored in the reagent container held in the reagent store tends to occur. Furthermore, when the reagent container rotating at high speed stops, the undulation of the reagent in the reagent container held in the reagent container becomes large, and a time until the undulation is settled, that is, a settling time also occurs.

JP-A-57-039352 JP 2010-048827 A

  An object of the embodiment is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of improving the measurement throughput without increasing the rotation speed of a reagent container that holds a reagent container that contains a reagent.

  According to the embodiment, the automatic analyzer includes a reagent store, a position determining unit, and a measurement order changing unit. The reagent storage holds a reagent container that accommodates the reagent in a rotatable manner. The position determination unit includes a plurality of reagent containers that store reagents used in the basic test items, so that the angle between two adjacent reagent containers is equal to or less than a predetermined limit angle. Determine the position. The measurement order changing unit changes the order of the inspection related to the inspection item set for the predetermined sample requested to be inspected based on the arrangement of the plurality of reagent containers whose positions are determined.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an automatic analyzer according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the analysis mechanism in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow in which the control circuit according to the embodiment determines the position of the reagent container. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method in which the control circuit according to the embodiment determines the position of the reagent container. FIG. 5 is a layout diagram showing the positions of the reagent containers in the reagent container rack displayed on the display circuit according to the embodiment. FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining a specific example in which the control circuit according to the embodiment associates reagent identification information with information indicating a position where each reagent container is arranged. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow in which the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment measures a predetermined component contained in a sample related to order information by changing the order of examination. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method in which the control circuit according to the embodiment changes the order of inspection. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an automatic analyzer corresponding to a case where the rotation angle per cycle time exceeds the limit angle in the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow in which the automatic analyzer sets a free cycle time and measures a predetermined component contained in a sample when the rotation angle per cycle time exceeds the limit angle in the embodiment. is there. FIG. 10 illustrates that in the embodiment, when the rotation angle per cycle time exceeds the limit angle, the control circuit can set the rotation angle per cycle time to be equal to or less than the limit angle by providing an empty cycle. FIG.

  Hereinafter, an automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an automatic analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment. The automatic analyzer 1 includes an analysis mechanism 2, an analysis circuit 3, a drive mechanism 4, an input interface circuit 5, an output interface circuit 6, a storage circuit 7, and a control circuit 8.

  The analysis mechanism 2 executes a series of operations related to measurement of a predetermined component contained in the test sample by the drive mechanism 4 according to a preset cycle time. The cycle time is one of the parameters for determining the measurement throughput of the automatic analyzer 1, that is, the number of examinations that the automatic analyzer 1 can measure in a certain time.

  The analysis mechanism 2 mixes a standard sample used for a predetermined inspection item and a reagent used for the inspection item set for the standard sample. The analysis mechanism 2 measures a mixed solution of a standard sample and a reagent, and generates standard data represented by, for example, absorbance. The analysis mechanism 2 mixes a test sample used for a predetermined test item and a reagent used for the test item set for the test sample. The analysis mechanism 2 measures a mixed solution of a test sample and a reagent, and generates test data represented by, for example, absorbance. The generated standard data and test data are output to the analysis circuit 3.

  The analysis circuit 3 is a processor that analyzes calibration data, analysis data, and the like based on the standard data and test data generated by the analysis mechanism 2. The analysis circuit 3 reads the operation program from the storage circuit 7 and generates calibration data, analysis data, and the like according to the operation program. For example, the analysis circuit 3 generates calibration data indicating the relationship between the standard data and a standard value preset in the standard sample. The analysis circuit 3 generates analysis data represented as a concentration value and an enzyme activity value based on the test data and the calibration data of the test item corresponding to the test data. The analysis circuit 3 outputs the generated calibration data and analysis data to the control circuit 8.

  The drive mechanism 4 is realized by a gear, a stepping motor, a belt conveyor, a lead screw, and the like. The drive mechanism 4 drives the analysis mechanism 2 under the control of the control circuit 8.

  The input interface circuit 5 is realized by, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, and a touch pad on which an instruction is input by touching the operation surface. The input interface circuit 5 receives, for example, settings of analysis parameters and the like of each inspection item related to the sample requested to be measured by the operator. The input interface circuit 5 is connected to the control circuit 8, converts an operation instruction input from the operator into an electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal to the control circuit 8. In the present specification, the input interface circuit 5 is not limited to one having physical operation parts such as a mouse and a keyboard. For example, an electrical signal processing circuit that receives an electrical signal corresponding to an operation instruction input from an external input device provided separately from the automatic analyzer 1 and outputs the electrical signal to the control circuit 8 is also an input interface. An example of circuit 5 is included.

  The output interface circuit 6 includes a display circuit 61 such as a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, and a plasma display, and a printing circuit 62 such as a printer. The output interface circuit 6 is connected to the control circuit 8 and outputs a signal supplied from the control circuit 8.

  For example, the display circuit 61 displays calibration data and analysis data supplied from the control circuit 8.

  The printing circuit 62 prints the calibration data and analysis data supplied from the control circuit 8 on printer paper or the like according to a preset format.

  The storage circuit 7 includes a processor-readable recording medium such as a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage circuit 7 stores an operation program executed by the analysis circuit 3 and an operation program executed by the control circuit 8. The storage circuit 7 stores the calibration data output from the analysis circuit 3 for each inspection item. The storage circuit 7 stores the analysis data output from the analysis circuit 3 for each test sample.

  The control circuit 8 is a processor that functions as the center of the automatic analyzer 1. The control circuit 8 executes an operation program stored in the storage circuit 7, thereby realizing a function corresponding to the operation program.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the analysis mechanism 2 shown in FIG. The analysis mechanism 2 shown in FIG. 2 includes a reaction disk 201, a sample disk 202, a first reagent storage 203, a reagent container rack 203a, a reader 203b, a second reagent storage 204, a reagent container rack 204a, and a reader 204b.

  The reaction disk 201 holds a plurality of reaction tubes 2011 arranged in an annular shape. The reaction disk 201 repeats rotation and stop alternately at a predetermined time interval corresponding to the cycle time. The reaction tube 2011 is made of, for example, glass. The reaction tube 2011 is moved by a predetermined angle, for example, in a predetermined direction by rotating and stopping the reaction disk 201 by the drive mechanism 4 every cycle time.

  The sample disk 202 holds a plurality of sample containers 100 in which samples are stored. The sample disk 202 is rotated by the drive mechanism 4.

  The first reagent storage 203 keeps the reagent container 101 that contains the first reagent that reacts with the predetermined components included in each of the standard sample and the test sample. The first reagent storage 203 holds a plurality of reagent containers 101 circumferentially by a reagent container rack 203a. The reagent container rack 203a is rotated by the drive mechanism 4 about the center of the first reagent storage 203 as the rotation center. The reagent container rack 203a is rotated and stopped by the drive mechanism 4 every cycle time with the back surface of the reagent container 101 facing the outside of the first reagent storage 203. As a result, the reagent container 101 moves the reagent container 101 containing the necessary first reagent in the order of the inspection items instructed by the control circuit 8 to a predetermined position, for example, a position for aspirating the reagent.

  The reagent container 101 held in the reagent container rack 203a includes, for example, a container for storing a first reagent used for basic test items. The basic inspection items are inspection items requested for almost all samples, for example, and are inspection items frequently requested. Preferably, basic inspection items are requested for all samples. The basic inspection items include, for example, inspection items that are requested in common by all examinees in medical examinations and the like. Specific examples of basic test items include GOT (Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase), GPT (Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase), HDL (High Density Lipoprotein), LDH (Low Density Lipoprotein), Cre (Creatinine) and the like.

  As for basic inspection items, for example, a basic inspection item list indicating which inspection items are basic inspection items is stored in the storage circuit 7 in advance. The basic inspection item list includes, for example, a character string representing the name of the inspection item that is the basic inspection item. The contents of the basic inspection item list may be set by the operator via the input interface circuit 5.

  Of the plurality of reagent containers 101 that contain the first reagent used in the basic test item, the angle between two adjacent reagent containers 101 is equal to or less than a predetermined limit angle.

  The reagent container 101 is provided with a recording medium on which identification information of the reagent accommodated in the reagent container 101 is recorded. Here, the reagent identification information includes, for example, the reagent name, the inspection item name corresponding to the reagent represented by the reagent name, the lot number, the type of the reagent container, the expiration date of the reagent, and the like. The recording medium is, for example, an optically readable optical mark, an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag readable by wireless communication, or the like. Hereinafter, a case where an optical mark is provided on the reagent container 101 will be described. The optical mark is a mark obtained by encoding the identification information of the reagent accommodated in the reagent container 101, for example, a bar code, a one-dimensional pixel code, a two-dimensional pixel code, and the like.

  The reader 203b is configured to read the optical mark attached to the back surface of the reagent container 101 held in the reagent container rack 203a through a detection window (not shown) provided on the outer wall of the first reagent storage 203. Provided near the outside of the reagent storage 203.

  The reader 203b reads the optical mark attached to the reagent container 101, for example, at the timing when the reagent container 101 is loaded in the reagent container rack 203a, with an instruction to start reading from the control circuit 8. The reader 203 b supplies reagent identification information described in the read optical mark to the control circuit 8.

  For example, the second reagent storage 204 keeps the reagent container 102 containing the second reagent paired with the first reagent of the two reagent system cold. The second reagent storage 204 holds a plurality of reagent containers 102 in a circumferential shape by a reagent container rack 204a. The reagent container rack 204a is rotated about the center of the second reagent storage 204 by the drive mechanism 4. Similarly to the reagent container 101, the reagent container rack 204a is rotated and stopped by the drive mechanism 4 every cycle time with the back surface of the reagent container 102 facing the outside of the second reagent storage 204. . As a result, the reagent container 102 moves the reagent container 102 containing the necessary second reagent in the order of the inspection items instructed to the control circuit 8 to a predetermined position, for example, a position for sucking the reagent.

  The reagent container 102 held in the reagent container rack 204a includes, for example, a container for storing a second reagent used for basic test items.

  Of the plurality of reagent containers 102 containing the second reagent used in the basic test item, the angle between two adjacent reagent containers 102 is not more than a predetermined limit angle.

  The reagent container 102 is provided with a recording medium on which identification information of the reagent stored in the reagent container 102 is recorded. The recording medium is, for example, an optically readable optical mark and an RFID tag readable by wireless communication. Hereinafter, a case where an optical mark is provided on the reagent container 102 will be described.

  The reader 204b is configured to read the optical marks attached to the back surface of the reagent container 102 held by the reagent container rack 204a through a detection window (not shown) provided on the outer wall of the second reagent storage 204. It is provided near the outside of the reagent storage 204.

  For example, the reader 204b reads the optical mark attached to the reagent container 102 in response to an instruction to start reading from the control circuit 8 at the timing when the reagent container 102 is loaded in the reagent container rack 204a. The reader 204 b supplies reagent identification information described in the read optical mark to the control circuit 8.

  The analysis mechanism 2 shown in FIG. 2 includes a sample dispensing arm 205, a sample dispensing probe 206, a first reagent dispensing arm 207, a first reagent dispensing probe 208, a second reagent dispensing arm 209, and a second A reagent dispensing probe 210, a first stirring unit 211, and a second stirring unit 212 are provided.

  The sample dispensing arm 205 is provided between the reaction disk 201 and the sample disk 202 so as to be vertically movable and rotatable in the horizontal direction. The sample dispensing arm 205 holds a sample dispensing probe 206 at one end. The sample dispensing arm 205 is rotated by the drive mechanism 4. As the sample dispensing arm 205 rotates, the sample dispensing probe 206 rotates along an arcuate rotation trajectory. A sample suction position at which the sample dispensing probe 206 sucks the sample from the sample container 100 is set on the rotating track. A sample discharge position for discharging the sample sucked by the sample dispensing probe 206 to the reaction tube 2011 is set at a position different from the sample suction position on the rotation trajectory.

  The sample dispensing probe 206 is driven by the drive mechanism 4 and moves in the vertical direction at the sample suction position and the sample discharge position. Further, the sample dispensing probe 206 sucks the sample from the sample container 100 located at the sample suction position according to the control of the control circuit 8. The sample dispensing probe 206 discharges the sucked sample to the reaction tube 2011 located at the sample discharge position according to the control of the control circuit 8.

  The first reagent dispensing arm 207 is provided in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the reaction disc 201 so as to be vertically movable and rotatable in the horizontal direction. The first reagent dispensing arm 207 holds the first reagent dispensing probe 208 at one end. The first reagent dispensing arm 207 is rotated by the drive mechanism 4. As the first reagent dispensing arm 207 is rotated, the first reagent dispensing probe 208 is rotated along an arcuate rotation trajectory.

  A first reagent dispensing position at which the first reagent dispensing probe 208 aspirates the first reagent corresponding to each inspection item from the reagent container 101 disposed in the first reagent storage 203 and the aspiration are on the rotation trajectory. A first reagent discharge position for discharging the first reagent to the reaction tube 2011 is set. The rotation trajectory of the first reagent dispensing probe 208 is the movement trajectory of the reagent suction port of the reagent container 101 held in the reagent container rack 203a in the first reagent storage 203, and the reaction tube held in the reaction disk 201. Crosses each of the 2011 trajectories. The intersections with the respective movement trajectories are the first reagent suction position and the first reagent discharge position.

  The first reagent dispensing probe 208 is driven by the drive mechanism 4 and moves in the vertical direction at the first reagent suction position and the first reagent discharge position on the rotation path. Further, the first reagent dispensing probe 208 aspirates the first reagent from the reagent container 101 located at the first reagent aspirating position according to the control of the control circuit 8. The first reagent dispensing probe 208 discharges the aspirated first reagent to the reaction tube 2011 located at the first reagent discharge position under the control of the control circuit 8.

  The second reagent dispensing arm 209 is provided between the reaction disk 201 and the second reagent storage 204 so as to be vertically movable in the vertical direction and rotatable in the horizontal direction. The second reagent dispensing arm 209 holds the second reagent dispensing probe 210 at one end. The second reagent dispensing arm 209 is rotated by the drive mechanism 4. When the second reagent dispensing arm 209 is rotated, the second reagent dispensing probe 210 is rotated along an arcuate rotation trajectory.

  The second reagent dispensing probe 210 aspirates the second reagent corresponding to each inspection item from the reagent container 102 held in the reagent container rack 204a disposed in the second reagent storage 204 on the rotating track. The second reagent aspirating position to be discharged and the second reagent discharging position for discharging the aspirated second reagent to the reaction tube 2011 are set. The rotation trajectory of the second reagent dispensing probe 210 is the movement trajectory of the reagent suction port of the reagent container 102 held in the reagent container rack 204a in the second reagent storage 204, and the reaction tube held in the reaction disk 201. Crosses each of the 2011 trajectories. The intersections with the respective movement trajectories are the second reagent suction position and the second reagent discharge position.

  The second reagent dispensing probe 210 is driven by the drive mechanism 4 and moves in the vertical direction at the second reagent suction position and the second reagent discharge position on the rotation path. Further, the second reagent dispensing probe 210 aspirates the second reagent from the reagent container 102 located at the second reagent aspirating position according to the control of the control circuit 8. Further, the second reagent dispensing probe 210 discharges the aspirated second reagent to the reaction tube 2011 located at the second reagent discharge position according to the control of the control circuit 8.

  The first stirring unit 211 and the second stirring unit 212 are provided in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the reaction disk 201. The first stirring unit 211 includes a first stirring arm and a first stirring bar provided at the tip of the first stirring arm. The first stirring unit 211 stirs the sample and the first reagent accommodated in the reaction tube 2011 disposed at the first stirring position on the reaction disk 201 with the first stirring bar.

  The second stirring unit 212 further includes a second stirring arm and a second stirring bar provided at the tip of the second stirring arm. The second stirring unit 212 stirs the sample, the first reagent, and the second reagent accommodated in the reaction tube 2011 disposed at the second stirring position on the reaction disk 201 by the second stirring bar.

The analysis mechanism 2 shown in FIG. 2 includes a photometric unit 220 and a cleaning unit 230.
The photometric unit 220 is provided in the vicinity of the photometric position. The photometric position is preset on the reaction disk 201. The photometric unit 220 optically measures components such as a liquid mixture contained in the reaction tube 2011. The photometric unit 220 has a light source and a photodetector. The light source and the light detector are provided at positions facing each other across the reaction tube 2011 located at the photometric position.

  The photometry unit 220 irradiates light from the light source under the control of the control circuit 8. The photodetector detects the light emitted from the light source, for example, at a sampling period synchronized with the cycle time. As a result, light transmitted through the liquid mixture discharged to the reaction tube 2011 is detected. The photodetector generates standard data or test data represented by, for example, absorbance based on the detected light intensity. The photometry unit 220 outputs the generated standard data and test data to the analysis circuit 3.

  The cleaning unit 230 includes a waste liquid nozzle, a cleaning nozzle, and a drying nozzle. The cleaning unit 230 sucks the mixed liquid in the reaction tube 2011 located at the reaction tube cleaning position as waste liquid by the waste liquid nozzle. The cleaning unit 230 cleans the reaction tube 2011 by discharging the cleaning liquid to the reaction tube 2011 located at the reaction tube cleaning position by the cleaning nozzle. The cleaning unit 230 dries the reaction tube 2011 cleaned with the cleaning liquid by supplying dry air to the reaction tube 2011 with a drying nozzle.

  The control circuit 8 according to the present embodiment implements various functions shown in FIG. 1 by executing the operation program read from the storage circuit 7. That is, the control circuit 8 includes a system control function 81, a position determination function 82, a measurement order switching function 83, and an output control function 84. In the present embodiment, a case where the system control function 81, the position determination function 82, the measurement order switching function 83, and the output control function 84 are realized by a single processor will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a control circuit is configured by combining a plurality of independent processors, and each processor executes an operation program, thereby realizing a system control function 81, a position determination function 82, a measurement order changing function 83, and an output control function 84. It doesn't matter.

  The system control function 81 is a function that controls each part in the automatic analyzer 1 based on input information input from the input interface circuit 5. When the system control function 81 is executed, the control circuit 8 controls, for example, the drive mechanism 4 to rotate and stop the reagent container rack 203a every cycle time. As a result, the control circuit 8 moves the reagent container 102 containing the necessary first reagents in the order of predetermined test items to a predetermined position, for example, the first reagent suction position.

  The control circuit 8 controls the driving mechanism 4 to rotate and stop the reagent container rack 204a every cycle time. As a result, the control circuit 8 moves the reagent container 102 containing the necessary second reagent in the order of predetermined test items to a predetermined position, for example, the second reagent aspirating position.

  For example, a limit angle of 120 degrees is set as the rotation angle of the reagent container racks 203a and 204a. At this time, the angle at which the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a can rotate in one cycle time is limited to 120 degrees. Thereby, the time required for the rotation of the reagent container rack 203a in the first reagent storage 203 and the time required for the rotation of the reagent container rack 204a in the second reagent storage 204 are set by the time required for the rotation of 120 degrees. It can be made shorter than the time set by the conventional 180 degree rotation.

  The lower limit of the limit angle is set based on, for example, the angle between two adjacent reagent containers 101 or two reagent containers 102 related to the basic test item. The limit angle can be set in a range of (360 / N) degrees or more and less than 180 degrees, where N is the number of basic inspection items (N is an integer of 3 or more).

  The position determination function 82 is a function for determining the positions of the reagent container 101 and the reagent container 102 held in the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a, respectively. When the position determination function 82 is executed, the control circuit 8, for example, among the plurality of reagent containers 101 related to the basic test item, the angle between two adjacent reagent containers 101 is equal to or less than the limit angle. The position of the reagent container 101 related to the basic inspection item in the reagent container rack 203a is determined. Further, the control circuit 8 determines the position of the reagent container 101 related to the basic test item in the reagent container rack 203a so that the angles between the two adjacent reagent containers 101 are substantially the same, for example.

  Specifically, when the number of reagent containers 101 related to the basic inspection item is N, the control circuit 8 sets the reagent container 101 so that the interval between the reagent containers 101 is approximately (360 / N) degrees, for example. The position of the reagent container 101 related to the basic inspection item in the container rack 203a is determined.

  Further, the control circuit 8 relates to the basic test item in the reagent container rack 204a so that the angle between two adjacent reagent containers 102 among the plurality of reagent containers 102 related to the basic test item is equal to or less than the limit angle. The position of the reagent container 102 is determined. Further, the control circuit 8 determines the position of the reagent container 102 related to the basic test item in the reagent container rack 204a so that the angles between the two adjacent reagent containers 102 are substantially the same, for example.

  The control circuit 8 stores information on the determined position of the reagent container 101 and information on the position of the reagent container 102 in the storage circuit 7. The information related to the position of the reagent container 101 is represented by, for example, an identifier, an angle, or an order indicating the position of the reagent container 101 in the reagent container rack 203a. The information regarding the position of the reagent container 102 is represented by, for example, an identifier, an angle, or an order indicating the position of the reagent container 102 in the reagent container rack 204a.

  The measurement order changing function 83 is a function for changing the designated inspection order for each sample. When the measurement order changing function 83 is executed, the control circuit 8 changes the order of the inspection specified based on the arrangement of the plurality of reagent containers whose positions are determined by the position determination function 82 for each sample, for example. Specifically, the control circuit 8 is recognized from the order information stored in the storage circuit 7 so as to follow the arrangement in the reagent container rack 203a of the plurality of reagent containers 101 whose positions are determined by the position determination function 82. Change the order of inspection for each sample. Further, the control circuit 8 determines the order of examinations recognized from the order information stored in the storage circuit 7 so as to follow the arrangement in the reagent container rack 204a of the plurality of reagent containers 102 whose positions are determined by the position determination function 82. Is replaced for each sample. As a result, the control circuit 8 can set the rotation angle of the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a per cycle time to be equal to or less than the limit angle.

  The output control function 84 is a function for outputting information relating to the position of the reagent container 101 and information relating to the position of the reagent container 102. Specifically, for example, the control circuit 8 causes the display circuit 61 to display the position where the reagent container 101 should be arranged in the reagent container rack 203a based on the information regarding the position of the reagent container 101 in the reagent container rack 203a. Further, the control circuit 8 causes the display circuit 61 to display the position where the reagent container 102 should be arranged in the reagent container rack 204a based on the information regarding the position of the reagent container 102 in the reagent container rack 204a.

  Further, the control circuit 8 causes the printing circuit 62 to print the position where the reagent container 101 should be arranged in the reagent container rack 203a based on the information regarding the position of the reagent container 101 in the reagent container rack 203a. Further, the control circuit 8 causes the printing circuit 62 to print the position where the reagent container 102 should be arranged in the reagent container rack 204a based on the information regarding the position of the reagent container 102 in the reagent container rack 204a.

  Next, the operation of the automatic analyzer 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

  First, the flow in which the control circuit 8 determines the positions of the reagent containers 101 arranged in the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a will be described. In the following description, the case where the positions of the reagent containers 101 arranged in the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent containers 102 arranged in the reagent container rack 204a are determined in the same manner will be arranged in the reagent container rack 203a as an example. A flow for determining the position of the reagent container 101 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow in which the control circuit 8 according to the present embodiment determines the position of the reagent container 101 arranged in the reagent container rack 203a.

  For example, when an execution instruction for determining the position of the reagent container 101 is input via the input interface circuit 5, the control circuit 8 executes the position determination function 82. By executing the position determination function 82, the control circuit 8 reads information related to the basic inspection item from the storage circuit 7 (step SA1). The control circuit 8 recognizes the number of basic inspection items from the list of inspection item names that are basic inspection items included in the information related to the read basic inspection items. At this time, it is assumed that the number of basic inspection items recognized by the control circuit 8 is 12, for example.

  Based on the number of recognized basic test items, the control circuit 8 determines the position of the reagent container 101 in the reagent container rack 203a (step SA2). The control circuit 8 is configured such that, among the plurality of reagent containers 101 related to the basic test item, the angle between two adjacent reagent containers 101 is equal to or smaller than the limit angle, for example, the angle between each two adjacent reagent containers 101 is substantially the same. In other words, the position of the reagent container 101 related to the basic test item is determined so that the interval becomes 360/12 = 30 degrees.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method by which the control circuit 8 according to the present embodiment determines the position of the reagent container 101 in the reagent container rack 203a. FIG. 4 shows a position where the reagent container 101 is arranged in the reagent container rack 203a. The reagent container 101 is disposed at any one of 72 positions B1 to B72 in the reagent container rack 203a.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the control circuit 8 includes positions B1, B7, B13, B19, B25, B31, B37, B43, B49, B55, B61, which are marked with “◯” at intervals of 30 degrees, and B67 is set as a position where the reagent container 101 related to the basic test item is arranged.

  Subsequently, the control circuit 8 sets the position of the reagent container 101 containing the first reagent used for the inspection item other than the basic inspection item to a position other than the position of the reagent container 101 related to the basic inspection item, that is, the positions B1, B7, B13. , B19, B25, B31, B37, B43, B49, B55, B61, and B67. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the control circuit 8 basically includes positions B5, B10, B15, B22, B29, B34, B40, B45, B52, B59, B65, and B69 marked with “Δ”. A position where the reagent container 101 related to the inspection item other than the inspection item is arranged is set. In the present embodiment, the number of inspection items other than the basic inspection items is 12 corresponding to the number of positions marked with “Δ”, but may be larger than 12.

  Then, the control circuit 8 stores in the storage circuit 7 information relating to the determined basic test item and the position of the reagent container 101 related to the test item other than the basic test item.

  When determining the position of the reagent container 101 in the reagent container rack 203a, the control circuit 8 executes the output control function 84. By executing the output control function 84, the control circuit 8 reads information related to the position of the reagent container 101 from the storage circuit 7. Based on the information about the position of the reagent container 101, the control circuit 8 arranges the reagent container 101 related to the inspection item other than the basic inspection item and the position where the reagent container 101 related to the basic inspection item should be arranged in the reagent container rack 203a. The position to be displayed is displayed on the display circuit 61 (step SA3).

  FIG. 5 is an example of a layout diagram showing the position of the reagent container 101 displayed on the display circuit 61 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, for example, in the reagent container rack 203a, a position where the reagent container 101 related to the basic inspection item should be arranged and a position where the reagent container 101 related to the inspection item other than the basic inspection item should be arranged are displayed.

  Specifically, the reagent containers 101 relating to the basic test items should be arranged at the positions B1, B7, B13, B19, B25, B31, B37, B43, B49, B55, B61, and B67 shown in FIG. The symbol “◯” indicating the position is added and displayed. In addition, the reagent containers 101 relating to the test items other than the basic test items are arranged at the positions B5, B10, B15, B22, B29, B34, B40, B45, B52, B59, B65, and B69 shown in FIG. A symbol “Δ” indicating the power position is added and displayed.

  When the cursor is positioned on the arrangement completion button 611 shown in FIG. 5 via the input interface circuit 5, the control circuit 8 is attached to the reagent container 101 held in the reagent container rack 203a with respect to the reader 203b. Instruct to start reading optical mark. The control circuit 8 controls the drive mechanism 4 to read all the optical marks attached to the reagent container 101 held on the reagent container rack 203a, for example, while rotating the reagent container rack 203a. The control circuit 8 stores the reagent identification information described in the optical mark read by the reader 203b in the storage circuit 7 in association with information indicating the position where each reagent container 101 is arranged.

  FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining a specific example in which the control circuit 8 according to the present embodiment associates reagent identification information with information representing the position where each reagent container 101 is arranged. As shown in FIG. 5A, the control circuit 8 performs the inspection item name “for the basic inspection item” for the positions B1, B7, B13, B19, B25, B31, B37, B43, B49, B55, B61, and B67. Associating A ”,“ B ”,“ C ”,“ D ”,“ E ”,“ F ”,“ G ”,“ H ”,“ I ”,“ J ”,“ K ”, and“ L ” Store in the storage circuit 7. Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the control circuit 8 performs inspection items other than the basic inspection items for the positions B5, B10, B15, B22, B29, B34, B40, B45, B52, B59, B65, and B69. Inspection item names “M”, “N”, “O”, “P”, “Q”, “R”, “S”, “T”, “U”, “V”, “W”, and “X” is associated and stored in the storage circuit 7.

  Next, a flow in which the automatic analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment changes the order of inspection recognized from the order information and measures a predetermined component included in the sample according to the changed order of inspection will be described. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the method of changing the order of the inspection relating to the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a is the same. An example in which the automatic analyzer 1 changes the order of examination based on the position of the reagent container 101 placed in the reagent container rack 203a will be described.

  Further, it is assumed that the order information related to the sample for which the inspection is requested is stored in the storage circuit 7 in advance. At this time, the order information includes a character string represented by the inspection item name in a format in which the inspection order can be recognized. The order information includes all inspection item names related to basic inspection items stored in the storage circuit 7.

  In addition, the initial value in the rotation direction of the reagent container rack 203a is assumed to be set, for example, counterclockwise.

  The cycle time corresponding to the reagent dispensing operation includes a movement time for the reagent container rack 203a to rotate by a limit angle (for example, 120 degrees), and a movement time for the reagent container rack 204a to rotate by a limit angle (for example, 120 degrees). It is assumed that a value corresponding to is set. The value of this cycle time can be made smaller than that of the conventional apparatus in which the maximum angle at which the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a rotate is 180 degrees.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow in which the automatic analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment measures a predetermined component contained in a sample related to order information by changing the order of examination.

  First, the control circuit 8 reads one piece of order information related to the sample requested for inspection from the storage circuit 7 from the top (step SB1). Here, the control circuit 8 extracts a character string represented by the inspection item name from the read order information. Thereby, the control circuit 8 has, for example, the inspection order in the order of inspection item names “G → A → H → B → I → C → J → D → K → E → N → Q → X → F → L”. Recognize that there is.

  After reading the order information, the control circuit 8 sets the rotation direction of the reagent container rack 203a (step SB2). Specifically, when the read order information is the order information related to the first analysis, the control circuit 8 sets the rotation direction of the reagent container rack 203a counterclockwise as an initial value. The initial value in the rotation direction may be clockwise.

  The control circuit 8 executes the measurement order switching function 83 after the rotation direction of the reagent container rack 203a is set. By executing the measurement order changing function 83, the control circuit 8 changes the order of inspection recognized from the order information read in step SB1 (step SB3). Specifically, the control circuit 8 reads out information about the position of the reagent container 101 associated with the test item name from the storage circuit 7.

  The control circuit 8 changes the order of the inspection recognized in step SB1 based on the relationship between the read information regarding the position of the reagent container 101, the order of inspection recognized in step SB1, and the first reagent suction position. Hereinafter, a specific example in which the control circuit 8 changes the order of inspection will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method in which the control circuit 8 according to the present embodiment changes the order of inspection. A symbol P <b> 1 shown in FIG. 7 represents a first reagent suction position preset in the first reagent storage 203.

  In FIG. 7, since the initial value in the rotation direction of the reagent container rack 203a is counterclockwise in FIG. 7, the control circuit 8 relates to the reagent container 101 arranged at the position “B1” closest to the first reagent suction position P1. The inspection item represented by the inspection item name “A” is set as the first inspection item. Subsequently, when the reagent container rack 203a is rotated counterclockwise, the control circuit 8 starts from the position closer to the first reagent suction position, that is, the positions “B1 → B7 → B10 → B13 → B19 → B25 → B29 → B31”. In order of → B37 → B43 → B49 → B55 → B61 → B67 → B69 ”, the order of the tests related to the second and subsequent test items is set so that the first reagent related to the test items can be aspirated. The control circuit 8 updates the inspection order stored in the storage circuit 7 with the set inspection order.

  After changing the inspection order, the control circuit 8 measures a predetermined component included in the sample related to the read order information for each inspection item according to the inspection order after the replacement (step SB4). That is, the control circuit 8 executes a series of operations related to sample dispensing, reagent dispensing, stirring, photometry, washing, and the like for each inspection item. Hereinafter, of the operations related to reagent dispensing, the rotation operation of the reagent container rack 203a will be specifically described.

  The control circuit 8 controls the drive mechanism 4 to move the reagent container 101 arranged at the position B1 in the reagent container rack 203a for the first inspection item related to the inspection item name “A” to the reagent during one cycle time. By rotating the container rack 203a counterclockwise by 5 degrees, the container rack 203a is moved to the first reagent suction position P1.

  After the reagent container 101 arranged at the position B1 in the reagent container rack 203a has been moved to the first reagent suction position, the control circuit 8 controls the drive mechanism 4 to perform the next inspection relating to the inspection item name “B”. For the item, during the next one cycle time, the reagent container 101 arranged at the position B7 in the reagent container rack 203a is rotated 30 degrees counterclockwise by moving the reagent container rack 203a counterclockwise, so that the first reagent suction position P1 is reached. To move.

  The control circuit 8 has the inspection item names “N”, “C”, “D”, “E”, “Q”, “F”, “G”, “H”, “I”, “J”, “K”. For the third and subsequent inspection items related to “L” and “X”, the reagent container rack 203a is rotated in the same manner as the inspection items related to the inspection item names “A” and “B”. That is, the control circuit 8 moves the reagent container rack 203a counterclockwise by 15 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 30 degrees, 20 degrees, 10 degrees, 30 in each cycle time according to the inspection order after replacement. Rotate degrees, 30 degrees, 30 degrees, 30 degrees, 30 degrees, 30 degrees, and 10 degrees. Accordingly, the reagent containers 101 arranged at the positions B10, B13, B19, B25, B29, B31, B37, B43, B49, B55, B61, B67, and B69 in the reagent container rack 203a are respectively in the first reagent suction position. Move to P1. At this time, B69 is finally located at the first reagent suction position P1.

  Thus, in any of the inspection items, the angle at which the reagent container rack 203a is rotationally moved per cycle time does not exceed the limit angle (120 degrees in this description).

  The control circuit 8 determines whether there are other unmeasured samples after measuring predetermined components included in the sample for all the inspection items included in the read order information (step SB5).

  When there is another sample that has not been measured (Yes in Step SB5), the control circuit 8 determines that the measurement is continued, and reads the next order information from the storage circuit 7 (Step SB1). Here, the control circuit 8 extracts a character string represented by the inspection item name from the read order information. Accordingly, the control circuit 8 determines that the inspection order is, for example, in the order of inspection item names “G → A → H → B → I → C → J → D → K → E → N → Q → F → L”. recognize.

  After reading the order information, the control circuit 8 sets the rotation direction of the reagent container rack 203a (step SB2). When the read order information is the order information read for the second time or later, the control circuit 8 sets the rotation direction of the reagent container rack 203a to a rotation direction opposite to the set rotation direction, for example. Specifically, since the read order information is the order information read for the second time and thereafter, the control circuit 8 changes the rotation direction of the reagent container rack 203a in the clockwise direction that is opposite to the counterclockwise direction that is the initial value. Set to. Thereby, for example, it is possible to suppress deterioration of gears and the like provided in the drive mechanism 4 that rotates the reagent container rack 203a.

  The control circuit 8 executes the measurement order switching function 83 after the rotation direction of the reagent container rack 203a is set. By executing the measurement order changing function 83, the control circuit 8 changes the order of inspection recognized from the read order information (step SB3). Specifically, the control circuit 8 reads out information about the position of the reagent container 101 associated with the test item name from the storage circuit 7.

  The control circuit 8 determines the rotation angle of the reagent container rack 203a per cycle time based on the relationship between the read information regarding the position of the reagent container 101, the order of the inspection recognized in step SB1, and the first reagent suction position. The order of the inspections recognized in step SB1 is changed so that is less than the limit angle.

  In FIG. 7, for example, since the rotation direction of the reagent container rack 203a is clockwise, the control circuit 8 checks the test item related to the reagent container 101 arranged at the position “B67” closest to the first reagent suction position P1. The inspection item represented by the name “L” is set as the first inspection item. Subsequently, when the reagent container rack 203a is rotated clockwise, the control circuit 8 starts from the position closest to the first reagent suction position, that is, the positions “B67 → B61 → B55 → B49 → B43 → B37 → B31 → B29 → In order of B25 → B19 → B13 → B10 → B7 → B1 ”, the order of the tests related to the second and subsequent test items is set so that the first reagent related to the test items can be aspirated. The control circuit 8 updates the inspection order stored in the storage circuit 7 with the set inspection order.

  After changing the inspection order, the control circuit 8 measures, for each inspection item, a predetermined component included in the sample related to the order information read in accordance with the inspection order after the replacement (step SB4). That is, the control circuit 8 executes a series of operations related to sample dispensing, reagent dispensing, stirring, photometry, washing, and the like for each inspection item. Hereinafter, of the operations related to reagent dispensing, the rotation operation of the reagent container rack 203a will be specifically described.

  The control circuit 8 controls the drive mechanism 4 to move the reagent container 101 arranged at the position B67 in the reagent container rack 203a to the reagent for the first inspection item related to the inspection item name “L” during the one cycle time. By rotating the container rack 203a 10 degrees clockwise, the container rack 203a is moved to the first reagent suction position P1.

  After the reagent container 101 arranged at the position B67 in the reagent container rack 203a is moved to the first reagent suction position P1, the control circuit 8 controls the drive mechanism 4 to perform the next test item name “K”. With respect to the inspection item, during the next one cycle time, the reagent container 101 arranged at the position B61 in the reagent container rack 203a is rotated 30 degrees clockwise by the reagent container rack 203a, thereby the first reagent suction position P1. To move.

  The control circuit 8 has the inspection item names “J”, “I”, “H”, “G”, “F”, “Q”, “E”, “D”, “C”, “N”, “B” ”And the third and subsequent inspection items related to“ A ”, the reagent container rack 203a is rotated in the same manner as the inspection items related to the inspection item names“ L ”and“ K ”. That is, the control circuit 8 rotates the reagent container rack 203a clockwise by 30 degrees, 30 degrees, 30 degrees, 30 degrees, 30 degrees, 10 degrees, and 20 degrees for each cycle time according to the inspection order after replacement. , 30 degrees, 30 degrees, 15 degrees, 15 degrees, and 30 degrees. As a result, the reagent containers 101 arranged at the positions B55, B49, B43, B37, B31, B29, B25, B19, B13, B10, B7, and B1 in the reagent container rack 203a respectively reach the first reagent suction position P1. Moved.

  When there is no other sample that has not been measured (No in step SB5), the control circuit 8 ends the measurement.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the control circuit 8 sets the basic test item such that the angle between two adjacent reagent containers 101 among the plurality of reagent containers 101 related to the basic test item is equal to or less than the limit angle. The position of the reagent container 101 in the reagent container rack 203a and the position of the reagent container 102 related to the basic test item in the reagent container rack 204a are determined. The control circuit 8 performs the inspection items so as to follow the arrangement in the reagent container rack 203a of the plurality of reagent containers 101 whose positions are determined and / or the arrangement in the reagent container rack 204a of the plurality of reagent containers 102 whose positions are determined. The order of inspections related to is changed.

  Thereby, for example, with respect to the reagent dispensing operation in the first reagent storage 203, the angle at which the reagent container rack 203a is rotated can be limited to a limit angle or less (at this time, the limit angle is less than 180 degrees). Become. For this reason, it is possible to make one cycle time assigned to the reagent dispensing operation smaller than the cycle time when the maximum rotation angle is 180 degrees when the rotation angle is not limited.

  Therefore, it is possible to improve the measurement throughput without increasing the rotation speed of the reagent container that holds the reagent container that contains the reagent.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the control circuit 8 is configured so that, for example, the reagent containers 101 related to the inspection items other than the basic inspection items are arranged between the positions of the reagent containers 101 related to the determined basic inspection items. The position of the reagent container 101 relating to the inspection item other than the basic inspection item is determined in the reagent container rack 203a. Thereby, for example, with respect to the reagent container 101 related to the inspection item other than the basic inspection item, the interval between the reagent container 101 and the adjacent reagent container 101 can always be made equal to or less than the limit angle.

  In general, when the cycle time is set to be small in order to improve the measurement throughput, the time allocated to the rotation of the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a becomes small. Then, it is necessary to rotate the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a up to 180 degrees within the allocated time. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the rotational speed of the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a. In the present embodiment, the angle at which the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a rotate in one cycle time is limited, and the cycle time corresponding to the limited angle is set, so there is no need to increase the rotation speed.

  This eliminates the need to use a high torque motor to increase the rotational speed of the reagent container rack 203a and reagent container rack 204a. In the present embodiment, the first reagent contained in the reagent container 101 held in the reagent container rack 203a and the second reagent contained in the reagent container 102 held in the reagent container rack 204a are increased while increasing the measurement throughput. Generation of foaming can be suppressed. Furthermore, the time until the undulations of the first reagent and the second reagent that are problematic when the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a rotating at high speed are stopped, that is, the problem of the settling time can be suppressed. .

  In this embodiment, when the cycle time is not changed, the rotation speed of the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a can be reduced by limiting the rotation angle. Thereby, in this embodiment, size reduction of a motor and reduction of power consumption are realizable.

  Note that, for example, when all or some of the basic items are not inspected by re-inspection, the rotation angle per cycle time of the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a may exceed the limit angle. Hereinafter, a case where the rotation angle per cycle time exceeds the limit angle will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the automatic analyzer 1A corresponding to a case where the rotation angle per cycle time exceeds the limit angle in the present embodiment. The automatic analyzer 1A includes an analysis mechanism 2, an analysis circuit 3, a drive mechanism 4, an input interface circuit 5, an output interface circuit 6, a storage circuit 7, and a control circuit 8A.

  The control circuit 8A implements the various functions shown in FIG. 8 by executing the operation program read from the storage circuit 7. That is, the control circuit 8A includes a system control function 81, a position determination function 82, a measurement order switching function 83, an output control function 84, a determination function 85, and an empty cycle setting function 86.

  The determination function 85 is a function for determining whether or not the rotation angles of the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a per cycle time are larger than a predetermined limit angle. When the determination function 85 is executed, the control circuit 8A, for example, among the inspection items arranged in the inspection order replaced by the measurement order replacement function 83, the reagent container 101 related to the inspection item whose measurement order has arrived. It is determined whether the rotation angle from the position where the is placed to the first reagent suction position P1 is larger than a predetermined limit angle.

  The empty cycle setting function 86 is a function for setting an empty cycle so that the rotation angle of the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a per cycle time is always equal to or less than the limit angle. The empty cycle setting function 86 is executed when the determination function 85 determines that the rotation angle of the reagent container 101 related to the test item whose measurement order has arrived is larger than the limit angle. When the empty cycle setting function 86 is executed, the control circuit 8A newly sets, for example, a time related to the empty cycle for rotating the reagent container related to the test item whose measurement order has arrived toward the reagent suction position. Set.

  The idle cycle is a cycle in which the reagent is not sucked and discharged, that is, a cycle in which the sample is not measured. The control circuit 8A rotates the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a during this empty cycle. During one cycle time set as an empty cycle, for example, operations other than reagent aspiration and discharge are performed. The operations other than the reagent aspiration and discharge are operations such as cleaning of the reaction tube 2011, for example.

  Next, the operation of the automatic analyzer 1A when the rotation angle per cycle time exceeds the limit angle will be described. In the following description, it is necessary to measure one inspection item related to the inspection item name “Z”, and the position where the reagent container 101 for the inspection item related to the inspection item name “Z” is held is measured. It is assumed that it is 180 degrees away from the first reagent suction position P1 at the time immediately before.

  FIG. 9 shows a flow in which the automatic analyzer 1A sets a free cycle time and measures a predetermined component contained in a sample when the rotation angle per cycle time exceeds the limit angle in this embodiment. It is a flowchart.

  For example, the control circuit 8A executes the determination function 85 after changing the order of inspection in step SB3 shown in FIG. By executing the determination function 85, the control circuit 8A determines whether there is an inspection item that requires a rotation angle larger than 120 degrees that is the limit angle (step SC1). Specifically, the control circuit 8A determines whether or not the angle between the first reagent suction position and the position at which the reagent container 101 is disposed for the test item related to the test item name “Z” is greater than 120 degrees. judge.

  At this time, the control circuit 8A reads, for example, information on the position of the reagent container 101 associated with the test item name and the test order replaced by the measurement order replacement function 83 from the storage circuit 7. The control circuit 8 determines the test item relating to the first reagent suction position and the test item name “Z” based on the relationship between the read information inspection order regarding the position of the reagent container 101 and the position of the first reagent suction position P1. It is determined whether or not the angle between the reagent container 101 and the position where the reagent container 101 is located is larger than the limit angle of 120 degrees.

  FIG. 10 illustrates that in the embodiment, when the rotation angle per cycle time exceeds the limit angle, the control circuit can set the rotation angle per cycle time to be equal to or less than the limit angle by providing an empty cycle. FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, for example, the control circuit 8A recognizes that the reagent container 101 related to the test item related to the test item name “X” is located at the position B36 where “x” is added. The control circuit 8A recognizes that the angle between the position B36 and the first reagent suction position P is 180 degrees.

  Since the control circuit 8A has an angle between the first reagent suction position and the position where the reagent container 101 in which the first reagent is accommodated for the test item related to the test item name “Z” is 180 degrees, It is determined that there is an inspection item that requires a rotation angle larger than 120 degrees that is the limit angle, and the idle cycle setting function 86 is executed (Yes in step SC1).

  By executing the empty cycle setting function 86, the control circuit 8A sets, for example, an empty cycle for one cycle time before the cycle time assigned to the reagent dispensing operation for the inspection item relating to the inspection item name “Z” ( Step SC2).

  The control circuit 8A measures the predetermined component included in the sample related to the read order information for each inspection item according to the order after the replacement after the replacement of the inspection order and the setting of the empty cycle (step SC3).

As shown in FIG. 10, the control circuit 8A controls the drive mechanism 4 so that the test arranged at the position B36 in the reagent container rack 203a during the empty cycle for one cycle time set in step SC2. The reagent container 101 for the inspection item related to the item name “Z” is rotated by an angle θ _A , for example, 120 degrees which is a limit angle, by the reagent container rack 203a. Then, the control circuit 8A rotates the reagent container 101 rotated by the angle θ _{A to} the first reagent suction position P1 by rotating the reagent container rack 203a by the angle θ _B , for example, the remaining 60 degrees, in the next cycle.

  As described above, the control circuit 8A determines that the angle between the first reagent suction position P1 and the position where the reagent container 101 for the inspection item related to the inspection item name “Z” is arranged is larger than the limit angle of 120 degrees. For example, an empty cycle for one cycle time is set before the cycle time assigned to the reagent dispensing operation for the test item associated with the test item name “Z”. The control circuit 8A controls the drive mechanism 4 to rotate the reagent container rack 203a by 120 degrees, which is the limit angle, during the set empty cycle time for one cycle time. As a result, the rotation angle of the reagent container rack 203a per cycle time can always be limited to 120 degrees or less of the limit angle.

  If the rotation angle of the reagent container rack 203a per cycle time and / or the rotation angle of the reagent container rack 204a per cycle time cannot be made equal to or less than the limit angle even if an empty cycle time for one cycle time is set, the control circuit For 8A, a plurality of empty cycles for one cycle time may be set. Then, the control circuit 8A rotates the reagent container rack 203a and / or the reagent container rack 204a by a predetermined angle equal to or less than the limit angle for each cycle time set as an empty cycle. As a result, the number of empty cycles can be adjusted so that the rotation angle of the reagent container rack 203a and the rotation angle of the reagent container rack 204a per cycle time can always be less than the limit angle.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the control circuit 8 performs measurement every time one piece of order information related to one sample is read, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the control circuit 8 may read the plurality of pieces of order information and perform the measurement after changing the inspection order for all the samples related to the plurality of pieces of order information.

  In the above embodiment, the control circuit 8 prompts the operator to place the reagent container 101 by causing the display circuit 61 to display the position of the reagent container 101 in the reagent container rack 203a determined by the position determination function 82, for example. Although the reagent container 101 is arranged on the reagent container rack 203a, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is conceivable to introduce a robot arm capable of placing the reagent container 101 on the reagent container rack 203a.

  At this time, the control circuit 8 places the reagent container 101 on the reagent container rack 203a by the robot arm according to the position of the reagent container 101 in the reagent container rack 203a determined by the position determination function 82. As a result, the burden on the operator to place the reagent container 101 on the reagent container rack 203a can be reduced. The control circuit 8 may arrange the reagent container 102 on the reagent container rack 204a by a robot arm.

  In the above embodiment, the control circuit 8 displays the position where the reagent container 101 is to be arranged in the reagent container rack 203a on the display circuit 61 based on, for example, information on the position of the reagent container 101 in the reagent container rack 203a. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the control circuit 8 may cause the display circuit 61 to display the reagent name corresponding to each reagent container 101 in addition to the position where the reagent container 101 should be arranged in the reagent container rack 203a. Further, for example, the control circuit 8 may cause the display circuit 61 to display the reagent name corresponding to each reagent container 102 in addition to the position where the reagent container 102 should be arranged in the reagent container rack 204a.

  In the above-described embodiment, for example, the reagent container rack 203a is provided with the reagent containers 101 related to basic test items that are not all spare, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, for example, in the reagent container rack 203a, the bottle-side reagent container 101 that serves as a reserve for the reagent container 101 related to the basic inspection item may be arranged. Thereby, for example, even if the first reagent accommodated in the reagent container 101 related to the basic test item is insufficient, the measurement of the predetermined component contained in the sample requested for the inspection is continued without replacing the reagent container 101. It becomes possible to do.

  In the above embodiment, the control circuit 8 determines the positions of the reagent container 101 and the reagent container 102 in the reagent container rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a without considering the occurrence of carryover. Not. The control circuit 8 considers the occurrence of carry-over, for example, the reagent container so that the reagent container related to the basic test item that does not affect the carry-over is arranged between the reagent containers containing the reagent that becomes the reagent carry-over pair. The positions of the reagent container 101 and the reagent container 102 in the rack 203a and the reagent container rack 204a may be determined, respectively. Thereby, the occurrence of carryover can be avoided.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated as an example the example which rearranges an inspection item in order of a rotation direction, it is not limited to this. For example, the order of inspection items may be rearranged by any method as long as it is within the limit angle.

  That is, at least some basic inspection items may not be measured among the basic measurement items. At this time, if there is an inspection item that requires a rotation angle larger than 120 degrees, which is the limit angle, the control circuit 8 determines the reagent distribution of all the inspection items related to the sample for which the inspection related to the inspection item is requested. The cycle time may be set separately for the ordering operation. The separately set cycle time is larger than the cycle time set corresponding to the limit angle, and is, for example, the cycle time corresponding to the moving time for the reagent container rack 203a to rotate 180 degrees.

  The term “processor” used in the above description is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), a programmable logic device (for example, It means a circuit such as a simple programmable logic device (SPLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The processor implements a function by reading and executing a program stored in the storage circuit. Note that each processor of the present embodiment is not limited to being configured as a single circuit for each processor, but may be configured as a single processor by combining a plurality of independent circuits to realize the function. Good. Furthermore, a plurality of components in FIGS. 1 and 8 may be integrated into one processor to realize the function.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A ... Automatic analyzer, 2 ... Analysis mechanism, 3 ... Analysis circuit, 4 ... Drive mechanism, 5 ... Input interface circuit, 6 ... Output interface circuit, 7 ... Memory circuit, 8, 8A ... Control circuit, 61 ... Display Circuit: 62: Printing circuit, 81: System control function, 82: Position determination function, 83: Measurement order switching function, 84: Output control function, 85: Determination function, 86: Empty cycle setting function, 100: Sample container, 101 , 102 ... Reagent container, 201 ... Reaction disk, 202 ... Sample disk, 203 ... First reagent storage, 203a ... Reagent container rack, 203b ... Reader, 204 ... Second reagent storage, 204a ... Reagent container rack, 204b ... Reader, 205 ... Sample dispensing arm, 206 ... Sample dispensing probe, 207 ... First reagent dispensing arm, 208 ... First reagent dispensing probe, 209 ... First Reagent dispensing arm, 210 ... second reagent dispensing probe, 211 ... first stirring unit, 212 ... second stirring unit, 220 ... photometric unit, 225 ... washing unit, 230 ... washing unit, 611 ... placement complete button, 2011 ... reaction tube.

Claims (8)

A reagent container for rotatably holding a reagent container for storing the reagent;
A position for determining the position of the reagent container in the reagent storage so that the angle between two adjacent reagent containers is equal to or less than a predetermined limit angle among a plurality of reagent containers containing reagents used in basic test items A decision unit;
Based on the arrangement of the plurality of reagent containers whose positions have been determined, a measurement order changing unit for changing the order of the inspection related to the inspection item set for the predetermined sample requested for inspection,
An automatic analyzer comprising:   The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that determines whether a rotation angle per cycle time of the reagent container is larger than the limit angle.   The automatic analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the measurement order changing unit changes the order of the inspection so as to follow an arrangement of a plurality of reagent containers whose positions are determined.   4. The automatic analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the measurement order changing unit changes the order of the inspection so that a rotation angle per cycle time of the reagent container is equal to or less than the limit angle.   The measurement order changing unit first measures a test item related to the first reagent container at a position closest to the reagent suction position from which the reagent is sucked out of the plurality of reagent containers whose positions are determined. The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 2 to 4, which is set as one inspection item.   The measurement order changing unit is measured after the measurement related to the first inspection item and the first inspection item from the first reagent container along the rotation direction of the first reagent container. The automatic analyzer according to claim 5, wherein an inspection order related to the inspection items after the first is set. The determination unit is configured such that a rotation angle per cycle time of the second reagent container related to a test item whose measurement order has reached among the test items arranged in the replaced test order is the predetermined limit angle. Determine whether it is greater than
When it is determined that the rotation angle per cycle time of the second reagent container is larger than the predetermined limit angle, the rotation angle per cycle time of the second reagent container is equal to or less than the predetermined limit angle. The automatic analyzer according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising an empty cycle setting unit for newly setting a time for rotating the second reagent container toward the reagent suction position.   The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays an arrangement of the plurality of reagent containers whose positions are determined in the reagent storage.