JP2021143994A - Autoanalyzer and analysis method - Google Patents

Abstract

To realize a composite type autoanalyzer having high processing performance without causing an increase in device size, and an analysis method that uses this device.SOLUTION: Upon receiving a plurality of specimen analysis requests including a first specimen analysis request requesting the analysis of first analysis request item and second analysis request item for a first specimen and a second specimen analysis request subsequent to the first specimen analysis request and requesting the analysis of first analysis request item and second analysis request item for a second specimen, the autoanalyzer executes an analysis plan in order of the first analysis request items and the second analysis request items for each specimen analysis request. When a second analysis unit does not have a free reaction port at analysis planning time for the second analysis request item in the first specimen analysis request, the analysis plan for the second analysis request item in the first specimen analysis request is deferred; when the second analysis unit has a free reaction port at analysis planning time for the second analysis request item in the second specimen analysis request, the analysis plan for the second analysis request item in the second specimen analysis request is carried out.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6B

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that analyzes the amount of components contained in a sample such as blood or urine, and an analysis method using the same.

In recent years, in order to meet the demand for consistently measuring a sample of the same patient and reporting the result, a complex type automatic analyzer equipped with a plurality of analysis units has been known. In the combined automatic analyzer, for example, the first analysis unit such as an absorptiometer unit that analyzes the first analysis request item and the second analysis unit such as the coagulation unit that analyzes the second analysis request item are 1. It is installed in one device.

The first analysis request item is typically a biochemical analysis item (hereinafter referred to as a biochemical item) for a sample housed in a reaction vessel mounted on a rotating reaction disk. The analysis is carried out. Specifically, incident light of a specific wavelength is applied to the mixed solution of the sample and the reagent dispensed into the reaction vessel, and the absorbance of the mixed solution is determined from the intensity of the transmitted light transmitted to the opposite side according to Lambert-Beer's law. And measure the amount of components contained in the sample.

The second analysis request item is that the analysis is performed on the sample contained in the reaction vessel mounted on the fixed reaction port. The second analysis request item includes, for example, a blood coagulation time item (hemostatic function test item, hereinafter referred to as a coagulation item), an immunoassay item, a scattered light analysis item (hereinafter, referred to as a light scattering item), and the like. included. For example, in the case of a coagulation item, incident light of a specific wavelength is applied to a mixed solution of a sample and a reagent dispensed into a reaction vessel mounted on a fixed port, and the scattered light scattered by the blood coagulation reaction is measured. , The coagulation time until the scattered light intensity reaches a certain intensity can be determined and analyzed by a blood coagulation time measuring unit (hereinafter, abbreviated as a coagulation unit) that measures the amount of components contained in the sample.

Patent Documents 1 to 3 relate to control of a measurement order in a composite type automatic analyzer.

In Patent Document 1, when a plurality of different tests are requested for a sample, in order to promptly report to the clinical side, the measurement order is set so that the timing for obtaining the measurement result for each patient is included within a predetermined time. to manage. That is, for example, when the analysis request items of the same sample are requested by mixing the biochemical items and the coagulation items, even if the biochemical items are in an analyzable state, the coagulation unit before the start of dispensing of the corresponding sample. If there is no space in the sample, the sample is not dispensed, the analysis order is changed for each sample, and the analysis of the next sample is started first.
In Patent Document 2, when a biochemical item and a coagulation item are requested to be mixed in the same sample, if there is no space in the coagulation unit after the biochemical item of the corresponding sample is dispensed and before the coagulation item is dispensed, The sample is once dispensed into the reaction vessel, and the reaction vessel containing the sample is returned to the reaction vessel installation location to stand by without moving to the coagulation unit, thereby preventing stagnation due to waiting for the sample to be dispensed.

In Patent Document 3, when one cycle time in the analysis cycle of a coagulation item is longer than one cycle time in the analysis cycle of a biochemical item, the coagulation item of the corresponding sample is dispensed regardless of whether or not the coagulation unit is empty. In the meantime, the processing capacity will be improved by interrupting the dispensing of biochemical items of subsequent samples.

International Publication No. 2017/159359 International Publication No. 2016/017289 International Publication No. 2013/187210

In the method described in Patent Document 1, unless the number of free channels of the coagulation unit of the automatic analyzer is larger than the number of coagulation items among the analysis request items requested to the sample, the raw sample is requested. Analysis of both chemical and coagulation items is not initiated. Therefore, when a plurality of coagulation items are requested for the same sample, it is necessary to install many coagulation units in order to start the analysis early, which may lead to an increase in the size of the apparatus.

In Patent Document 2, since the reaction vessel in which the sample is dispensed is kept on standby on the apparatus until the coagulation unit is full and the analysis can be started, the sample in the reaction vessel evaporates and the analysis performance is improved. It may decrease.

In Patent Document 3, by interrupting the subsequent dispensing of the biochemical item of the sample between the dispensing of the coagulation item of the sample, the sample to be dispensed is frequently replaced, and carryover occurs. It will be easier to do. Further, in order to avoid this, special operations such as carry-over avoidance cleaning increase, and as a result, the total processing capacity may be affected.

An object of the present invention is to realize a composite automatic analyzer having high processing capacity and analysis performance without increasing the size, and an analysis method using the apparatus.

The automatic analyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a sample container for accommodating a sample, a sample dispensing probe for dispensing a sample into a first reaction container or a second reaction container, and a plurality of first reactions. A predetermined number of reaction disks in which a container is arranged and rotating, a first analysis unit for analyzing a first analysis request item for a sample contained in a first reaction container arranged in the reaction disk, and a predetermined number. A second analysis unit that has the reaction port of No. 2 and analyzes the second analysis request item for the sample contained in the second reaction vessel at the reaction port, and an analysis plan for a plurality of sample analysis requests. Having a computer to perform, the plurality of sample analysis requests include a first sample analysis request for the first sample and a second sample analysis request for the second sample following the first sample analysis request. Both the 1st sample analysis request and the 2nd sample analysis request include the 1st analysis request item and the 2nd analysis request item, and the computer performs the 1st analysis request item and the 2nd analysis request item for each sample analysis request. The analysis plan is carried out in the order of the items, and if there is no space in the reaction port of the second analysis unit at the time of the analysis plan of the second analysis request item in the first sample analysis request, the second sample analysis request in the first sample analysis request If the analysis plan of the analysis request item is suspended and the reaction port of the second analysis unit is empty at the time of the analysis plan of the second analysis request item in the second sample analysis request, the second in the second sample analysis request. Implement the analysis plan for the analysis request items.

A composite automatic analyzer having high processing capacity and analysis performance and an analysis method using the apparatus will be realized without increasing the size.

Other challenges and novel features will become apparent from the description and accompanying drawings herein.

It is a figure which shows the basic structure of the composite type automatic analyzer. It is a figure explaining an analysis plan. It is a figure explaining the sample status table and the item status table. It is a figure explaining the sample analysis request. It is a state transition diagram of the item status. It is a state transition diagram of the sample status. It is a flowchart of the analysis plan of Example 1. It is a flowchart of the analysis plan of Example 1. It is a figure which shows the status change of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the status change of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the status change of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the status change of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the status change of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the status change of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 2. FIG. It is a flowchart of the analysis plan of Example 3. It is a flowchart of the analysis plan of Example 3. It is a figure which shows the status change of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the status change of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the status change of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the status change of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the status change of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 3. FIG. This is an example of sample status display.

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

First, the overall configuration of the automatic analyzer will be described. FIG. 1A shows the basic configuration of the composite automatic analyzer. Here, as one aspect of the combined automatic analyzer, an example of an automatic analyzer including a turntable type biochemical analysis unit and a blood coagulation time analysis unit having a fixed port is shown.

The automatic analyzer 1 has a reaction disk 13, a sample disk 11, a first reagent disk 15, a second reagent disk 16, a blood coagulation time analysis unit 2, and a photometer 19 arranged as main configurations on the housing thereof. There is. The reaction disk 13 is a disk-shaped unit that can rotate clockwise and counterclockwise, and a plurality of reaction vessels 26 can be arranged on the circumference thereof. The sample disk 11 is a disk-shaped unit that rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, and a plurality of sample containers 27 for accommodating samples (samples) such as a standard sample and a test sample are arranged on the circumference thereof. can. The first reagent disc 15 and the second reagent disc 16 are disk-shaped units that rotate clockwise and counterclockwise, and are reagents containing a reagent containing a component that reacts with a predetermined component contained in the sample. Multiple containers can be placed on the circumference. Further, although not shown in this figure, the first reagent disk 15 and the second reagent disk 16 can be configured to be able to keep the reagents in the arranged reagent containers cold by providing the cold insulation mechanism.

A sample dispensing probe 12 is arranged between the sample disk 11 and the reaction disk 13. The rotational movement of the sample dispensing probe 12 moves it onto the sample vessel 27 on the sample disc 11, the reaction vessel 26 on the reaction disc 13, or the reaction vessel 28 at the sample dispensing position 18 of the blood coagulation time analysis unit 2. Performs dispensing operations such as sample suction and discharge.

Similarly, the first reagent dispensing probe 17 is arranged between the first reagent disk 15 and the reaction disk 13, and the second reagent dispensing probe 14 is arranged between the second reagent disk 16 and the reaction disk 13. By rotating, they move to the reaction vessel 26 on the reaction disk 13, the reagent container on the first reagent disk 15, or the reagent container on the second reagent disk 16, and dispense such as suction and discharge of the reagent. Perform the action.

The blood coagulation time analysis unit 2 has, as its main components, a blood coagulation time detection unit 21, a blood coagulation reagent dispensing probe 20, a disposable reaction vessel magazine 25, a sample dispensing position 18, a reaction vessel transfer mechanism 23, and a reaction vessel disposal port. 24, has an optical jig magazine 22.

Next, the control system and the signal processing system of the automatic analyzer 1 will be briefly described. The computer 105 uses the sample dispensing control unit 201, the first reagent dispensing control unit 206, the second reagent dispensing control unit 207, the blood coagulation reagent dispensing control unit 204, and the first A / via the interface 101. It is connected to the D converter 205, the second A / D converter 203, and the transfer mechanism control unit 202, and transmits a command signal to each control unit.

The sample dispensing control unit 201 controls the sample dispensing operation by the sample dispensing probe 12 based on the command received from the computer 105. The first reagent dispensing control unit 206 and the second reagent dispensing control unit 207 are the reagents by the first reagent dispensing probe 17 and the second reagent dispensing probe 14, respectively, based on the commands received from the computer 105. Control the dispensing operation. Based on the command received from the computer 105, the transfer mechanism control unit 202 has the reaction vessel magazine 25, the sample dispensing position 18, the reaction port 304 of the blood coagulation time detection unit 21, and the reaction vessel disposal port by the reaction vessel transfer mechanism 23. Controls the transfer operation of the disposable reaction vessel 28 for blood coagulation analysis between 24. The blood coagulation reagent dispensing control unit 204 is transferred to the reaction port 304 based on the command received from the computer 105, and blood is supplied to the reaction vessel 28 containing the sample dispensed by the sample dispensing probe 12. Coagulation reagent dispensing The reagent for blood coagulation is dispensed by the probe 20. Alternatively, the pretreatment solution, which is a mixture of the sample mixed in the reaction vessel 26 and the first reagent for blood coagulation analysis, is dispensed into the empty reaction vessel 28 by the blood coagulation reagent dispensing probe 20. .. In this case, after that, the second reagent for blood coagulation analysis is dispensed to the reaction vessel 28 containing the pretreatment liquid by the blood coagulation reagent dispensing probe 20. Here, the reagent for blood coagulation analysis is arranged on the first reagent disk 15 or the second reagent disk 16, and is optionally provided by the first reagent dispensing probe 17 or the second reagent dispensing probe 14. After being once dispensed into the reaction vessel 26 on the reaction disk 13, it is used for blood coagulation analysis.

The measured value of the transmitted light or scattered light of the reaction solution in the reaction vessel (for biochemical analysis) 26 converted into a digital signal by the first A / D converter 205, and the second A / D converter 203. The measured value of the transmitted light or the scattered light of the reaction solution in the disposable reaction vessel (for blood coagulation analysis) 28 converted into a digital signal is taken into the computer 105.

The interface 101 includes a printer 106 for printing when the measurement result is output as a report or the like, a memory 104 or an external output media 102 as a storage device, an input device 107 such as a keyboard for inputting an operation command, and a screen. A display device 103 for displaying is connected. The display device 103 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display and a CRT display.

The analysis of biochemical items by the automatic analyzer 1 is performed by the following procedure. First, the operator requests inspection items for each sample using the input device 107. In order to analyze the sample for the requested inspection item, the sample dispensing probe 12 dispenses a predetermined amount of the sample from the sample container 27 to the reaction vessel (for biochemical analysis) 26 according to the analysis parameters.

The reaction vessel (for biochemical analysis) 26 into which the sample is dispensed is transferred by the rotation of the reaction disk 13 and stopped at the reagent receiving position. The pipette nozzle of the first reagent dispensing probe 17 or the second reagent dispensing probe 14 dispenses a predetermined amount of the reagent solution into the reaction vessel (for biochemical analysis) 26 according to the analysis parameters of the corresponding test items. The order of dispensing the sample and the reagent may be opposite to that of this example, and the reagent may precede the sample.

Then, the sample and the reagent are stirred and mixed by a stirring mechanism (not shown). When the reaction vessel (for biochemical analysis) 26 crosses the photometric position, the photometer 19 measures the transmitted light or scattered light of the reaction solution. The metered transmitted light or scattered light is converted into numerical data proportional to the amount of light by the first A / D converter 205, and is taken into the computer 105 via the interface 101.

From this converted numerical data, the concentration data is calculated based on the calibration curve measured in advance by the analysis method specified for each inspection item. The component concentration data as the analysis result of each inspection item is output to the screen of the printer 106 or the display device 103.

Before the above measurement operation is executed, the operator needs to set various parameters necessary for analysis and register reagents and samples via the operation screen of the display device 103. In addition, the operator can confirm the analysis result after the measurement on the operation screen on the display device 103.

On the other hand, the analysis of the blood coagulation time item by the automatic analyzer 1 is performed by the following procedure. First, the operator requests inspection items for each sample using the input device 107. In order to analyze the sample for the requested test item, the reaction vessel transfer mechanism 23 transfers the disposable reaction vessel (for blood coagulation analysis) 28 from the reaction vessel magazine 25 to the sample dispensing position 18. The sample dispensing probe 12 dispenses a predetermined amount of sample from the sample container 27 to the reaction container (for blood coagulation analysis) 28 according to the analysis parameters.

The reaction vessel (for blood coagulation analysis) 28 into which the sample is dispensed is transferred to the reaction port 304 of the blood coagulation time detection unit 21 by the reaction vessel transfer mechanism 23, and the temperature is raised to a predetermined temperature. The first reagent dispensing probe 17 dispenses a predetermined amount of reagent into the reaction vessel (for biochemical analysis) 26 on the reaction disk 13 according to the analysis parameters of the corresponding test items. The reaction disk 13 is provided with a constant temperature bath (not shown), and the reagents dispensed into the reaction vessel (for biochemical analysis) 26 are heated to 37 ° C.

After that, the blood coagulation reagent dispensing probe 20 sucks the reagent dispensed into the reaction vessel (for biochemical analysis) 26, and brings the reagent to a predetermined temperature in the blood coagulation reagent dispensing probe 20 by a temperature raising mechanism (not shown). After the temperature is raised, it is discharged into the reaction vessel (for blood coagulation analysis) 28. From the time when the reagent is discharged, the measurement of the transmitted light or the scattered light of the light irradiated to the reaction vessel (for blood coagulation analysis) 28 is started. The metered transmitted light or scattered light is converted into numerical data proportional to the amount of light by the second A / D converter 203, and is taken into the computer 105 via the interface 101.

From this converted numerical data, the time required for the blood coagulation reaction (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as blood coagulation time) is obtained. For example, for test items such as ATPP (activated partial thromboplastin time), the blood coagulation time thus obtained is output as an analysis result. Here, for test items such as Fbg (fibrinogen), component concentration data is obtained based on the calibration curve measured in advance by the analytical method specified for each test item with respect to the obtained blood coagulation time. Obtain and output as an analysis result. The blood coagulation time and component concentration data as the analysis result of each test item are output to the screen of the printer 106 or the display device 103.

Similarly, before the above measurement operation is executed, the operator needs to set various parameters necessary for analysis and register reagents and samples via the operation screen of the display device 103. .. In addition, the operator can confirm the analysis result after the measurement on the operation screen on the display device 103.

The discharge destination of the sample discharged by the sample dispensing probe 12 may be the reaction vessel (for biochemical analysis) 26. In this case, as described above, after reacting with the pretreatment liquid in the reaction vessel (for biochemical analysis) 26 in advance, it is dispensed into the reaction vessel (for blood coagulation analysis) 28 by the blood coagulation reagent dispensing probe 20.

In the blood coagulation reagent dispensing probe 20, the sample contained in the reaction vessel (for blood coagulation analysis) 28 is placed in the reaction vessel (for blood coagulation analysis) 28 depending on the momentum when the reagent is discharged. Stirring called discharge stirring is performed, in which the sample is mixed with the sample in. Contrary to this example, the order of dispensing the sample and the reagent may be that the reagent precedes the sample. In this case, the reagent is mixed according to the momentum when the sample is discharged.

The automatic analyzer creates an analysis plan for executing analysis for a large number of sample analysis requests, each of which has a plurality of analysis request items, and operates each mechanism of the device according to the created analysis plan. The analysis plan will be described with reference to FIG. 1B. As an example, the operation reservation table 501 of the sample dispensing mechanism, the operation reservation table 502 of the reagent dispensing mechanism, and the operation reservation table 503 of the stirring mechanism are shown. One frame of the reservation table shows the cycle in which each mechanism operates. The blackened cycle indicates that it cannot be used for analysis request items for which analysis is planned because it is already reserved for other analysis. In addition, it is assumed that the analysis plan is created in cycle 1.

The analysis plan selects a sequence of specific operation patterns to be executed by each mechanism of the automatic analyzer to execute the analysis, and reserves a cycle for executing the selected sequence. Therefore, it is necessary to reserve a cycle to execute the analysis so as not to interfere with the sequence of analysis request items for which the operation required for executing the analysis has already been determined.

For example, in the analysis request item for which an analysis plan is created, it is assumed that the sample dispensing mechanism, the reagent dispensing mechanism, and the stirring mechanism are operated in a sequence such as an operation pattern 511, an operation pattern 512, and an operation pattern 513, respectively. The operation pattern of each mechanism in the selected sequence is defined to operate after a fixed predetermined cycle from the planned analysis time (in FIG. 1B, the cycle that does not operate is indicated by a dotted line frame). As shown in FIG. 1B, if the operation patterns 511 to 513 can be arranged on the operation reservation tables 501 to 503 while avoiding the reserved cycle, the analysis plan of the analysis request item is successful. In the operation reservation tables 501 to 503, the operation patterns 511 to 513 are reserved for, for example, sample dispensing in cycles 3 to 4, reagent dispensing in cycle 5, and stirring operation in cycle 6 (successful allocation). On the other hand, if it is not possible to find a cycle that can be reserved for at least one mechanism for the selected sequence, the analysis plan for the analysis request item must be postponed after the next analysis plan (assignment failure). ..

In the first embodiment, an example will be described in which an analysis plan for one analysis request item is created per cycle, with 4.5 seconds as one cycle, for the above-mentioned composite automatic analyzer.

Here, the samples to be analyzed are classified into the following four types, A to D.
-General sample (A): A sample obtained by collecting blood from a patient or the like, and the sample is analyzed in the order in which the analysis is requested.
-Emergency sample (B): A sample obtained by collecting blood from a patient, etc., but which is analyzed with priority over general samples.
-Standard solution sample (C): A sample with a known concentration for preparing a calibration curve (relationship between the measured value and the concentration of the test item).
-Control sample (D): A sample having a known concentration for confirming the accuracy of the calibration curve.

For these four types of samples, the priority in analysis by the automatic analyzer is determined in the order of standard solution sample (C)> control sample (D)> emergency sample (B)> general sample (A). There is. Therefore, when creating an analysis plan, if a sample is requested to be analyzed later than a certain sample but has a higher sample priority, the sample with the higher sample priority is created first. ..

In addition, general samples and emergency samples are subdivided according to the presence or absence of past analysis.
-General sample (first time (A-1)): A general sample that has never been analyzed.
-General sample (re-examination (A-2)): A general sample that has been analyzed in the past and is to be analyzed again.
-Emergency sample (first time (B-1)): An emergency sample that has never been analyzed.
-Emergency sample (re-examination (B-2)): An emergency sample that has been analyzed in the past and will be analyzed again.

Regarding these subclassifications, emergency sample (retest (B-2))> emergency sample (first time (B-1))> general sample (retest (A-2))> general sample (first time (A-1)) The sample priority order is set in the order of.

Further, when there are analysis requests for a plurality of samples having the same sample priority, if they are expressed as sample number 1, sample number 2, sample number 3, ... In the order of analysis request, the sample priorities are the same. Therefore, the analysis plan is created in the order of request, sample number 1, sample number 2, sample number 3, .... In the following, unless the sample priority is particularly mentioned, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, an example is obtained in which multiple samples having the same sample priority have analysis requests (thus, the priority is given in the analysis request order). Explain to.

Furthermore, this embodiment creates an analysis plan for a combined automatic analyzer, and there are two types of analysis items: biochemical items analyzed by the biochemical analysis unit and coagulation items analyzed by the blood coagulation time analysis unit. Has. Here, it is assumed that the item priority order is determined in the order of biochemical item (first analysis item)> coagulation item (second analysis item). On the other hand, there is no particular priority between biochemical items and coagulation items, and analysis plans are created in the order registered in the sample analysis request. For example, when coagulation item 1, coagulation item 2, coagulation item 3 ..., biochemical item 11, biochemical item 12, biochemical item 13 ... are registered in the analysis request for the same sample, the sample. For, an analysis plan is created in the order of biochemical item 11, biochemical item 12, biochemical item 13 ..., coagulation item 1, coagulation item 2, coagulation item 3 ...

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a sample status table 301 and an item status table 401 created based on the sample analysis request shown in FIG. The sample status table 301 and the item status table 401 are defined in the internal memory of the calculation unit of the computer 105. Each array of the item status table 401 is composed of the item status variable 402 and the item information structure variable 403. Further, each sequence of the sample status table 301 is composed of a sample status variable 302, a sample information structure variable 303, and an item status table 401 in which the required number of sequences A is secured. The sample status table 301 is also defined by the required number of sequences B. Here, as an example, the number of sequences A is 200 and the number of sequences B is 100, but a required number can be set according to the analysis situation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a sample analysis request. When the user requests analysis from the input device 107 in the order of sample number 1, sample number 2, sample number 3, ..., The computer 105 displays sample number 1, sample number 2, sample number 3 as shown in this figure. The analysis request data is created by storing the sample information of ... And the analysis request items of each sample in the sample information structure variable 303 and the item information structure variable 403 of the sample status table 301.

Specifically, in the sample status table 301, the sequence 0 (the beginning of the sequence, hereinafter, the sequence i of the sample status table 301 is referred to as the sample status table 301 [i]), the sample status table 301 [ 1], sample information of sample number 1, sample number 2, sample number 3 ... is stored in the sample status table 301 [2] ... In the order of analysis request (indicated as arrow 310 in FIG. 2). That is, in the sample status table 301, sample information is stored from the first sequence in the order of request.

Further, in the item status table 401 of the sample status table 301 [0], the sequence 0 (the beginning of the sequence, hereinafter, the sequence j of the item status table 401 shall be referred to as the item status table 401 [j]), Analysis request items sorted in item priority order (indicated by arrow 410 in FIG. 2) in item status table 401 [1], item status table 401 [2] ..., therefore, in this example, biochemical items. 11. The analysis request items of the biochemical item 12, the biochemical item 13, the coagulation item 1, and the coagulation item 2 are stored. That is, the item status table 401 stores the request information from the first array in the order of item priority. The same applies to the other sequences of the sample status table 301.

Subsequently, the sample status 302 and the item status 402 will be described. Each sample has four sample statuses: "unplanned", "planned", "planned", and "waiting for measurement channel availability". In addition, each analysis request item has three item statuses of "unplanned", "planned", and "waiting for measurement channel availability". One of the above four sample statuses is registered in the sample status 302, and any one of the above three item statuses is registered in the item status 402.

The definition of item status is as follows.
-"Unplanned": Items that are not planned for analysis.
-"Planned": Items that have been analyzed and planned.
-"Waiting for measurement channel availability": An item for which the analysis plan is pending because there is no space in the measurement channel at the stage of analysis planning.

The definition of sample status is as follows.
-"Unplanned": Specimens whose item status of all analysis request items is "Unplanned".
-"Planning": A sample in which "Unplanned", "Planned", and "Waiting for measurement channel availability" are mixed in the item status of the analysis request item.
-"Planned": A sample whose item status of all analysis request items is "Planned".
-"Measurement channel free wait": A sample that does not include "unplanned" in the item status of the analysis request item, but has "measurement channel free wait".

FIG. 4 is a state transition diagram of the item status. The item status sets the initial state to "unplanned" and transitions to another item status when the transition conditions shown below are met.
(1) First transition condition: When the analysis plan of the analysis request item that is "unplanned" is completed, the item status of the analysis request item transitions to "planned".
(2) Second transition condition: If there is no space in the measurement channel for the analysis request item that is "unplanned" and the analysis plan for the analysis request item cannot be created temporarily, the item status of the analysis request item is "measurement". Transition to "Waiting for free channel".
(3) Third transition condition: When replanning an analysis request item that is "waiting for measurement channel availability", the item status of the analysis request item transitions to "unplanned" before the analysis plan of the analysis request item is implemented. do.
(4) Fourth transition condition: When the dispensing of the "planned" sample is completed, the transition to "unplanned" is performed by collectively clearing the information of the sequence in the sample status table 301.

FIG. 5 is a state transition diagram of the sample status. As for the sample status, the initial state is set to "unplanned", and when the transition conditions shown below are met, the sample status transitions to another sample status.
(1) First transition condition The analysis plan of the "planned" sample is completed, the sample status transitions to "planned" or "waiting for measurement channel availability", and the sample whose sample status is "planned" In the non-existent state, the following conditions (i) or (ii)
(i) There is no sample whose sample status is "Waiting for measurement channel free".
(ii) There is a sample whose sample status is "Waiting for measurement channel free", but there is no space in the measurement channel.
When is satisfied, the sample status of the next sample that is "unplanned" is changed to "planned" according to the sample priority.
(2) Second transition condition: When the item status of all analysis request items of the "planned" sample changes to "planned", the sample status of the sample changes to "planned".
(3) Third transition condition: When the item status of all analysis request items of the "planned" sample changes to "planned" or "waiting for measurement channel availability" and there are no "unplanned" items. The status of the sample transitions to "Waiting for measurement channel free".
(4) Fourth transition condition The analysis plan of the "planned" sample is completed, the sample status transitions to "planned" or "waiting for measurement channel availability", and the sample whose sample status is "planned" In the non-existent state, the following conditions (iii)
(iii) There is a sample whose sample status is "Waiting for measurement channel free", and there is space in the measurement channel.
When the condition is satisfied, the sample status of the next sample, which is "waiting for measurement channel availability", is changed to "planning" according to the sample priority.
(5) Fifth transition condition: When the dispensing of the "planned" sample is completed, the transition to "unplanned" is performed by collectively clearing the information of the sequence in the sample status table 301.

The flowcharts in which the computer 105 executes the analysis plan based on the above item status and the state transition rule of the sample status are shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

S100: The analysis plan is carried out at regular intervals. Although it is assumed that an analysis plan for one analysis request item is created per cycle, an analysis plan for a plurality of analysis request items may be created per cycle.

S101: Check for the presence or absence of a "planning" sample. Due to the first transition condition of sample status, there is only one "planning" sample in the analysis planning. A flowchart in the absence of a "planned" sample is shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6A is a flowchart for determining one sample to be a “planned” sample among the samples requested for analysis.

S102: If the “planned” sample does not exist, the presence or absence of the “waiting for measurement channel availability” sample is confirmed.

S103: When there is a “waiting for measurement channel availability” sample, it is confirmed whether or not the measurement channel of the blood coagulation time analysis unit 2 is available.

S104: When there is a vacancy in the measurement channel of the blood coagulation time analysis unit 2, it is determined whether or not the “waiting for vacancy of measurement channel” sample is the sample planned for analysis last.

S105: If the "waiting for free measurement channel" sample is the last sample planned for analysis, the sample being analyzed will be tested by targeting the sample for the next analysis. Therefore, to prevent contamination. It is possible to eliminate the need for cleaning the sample dispensing probe 12 of the above. Therefore, the sample status of the “waiting for measurement channel availability” sample that was planned for analysis at the end is changed to “planning”.

S106: On the other hand, in step S104, if the “waiting for measurement channel availability” sample is not the sample planned for analysis last, a sample different from the sample being analyzed will be tested, and the sample has the highest priority. The sample status of the "waiting for measurement channel availability" sample is changed to "planning".

S107: Among the analysis request items of the sample whose sample status is changed to "planning" in step S105 or step S106, all the "measurement channel free waiting" items are updated to "unplanned" items. As a result, in the analysis plan of the next cycle, the "planned" sample will be the target of the analysis plan, and the analysis plan will be implemented for the highest priority analysis request item updated to the "unplanned" item (described later). 6B).

S108: (1) There is neither a "planning" sample nor a "measurement channel free waiting" sample, or (2) there is a "measurement channel free waiting" sample (there is no "planning" sample), but the measurement channel is free. If not, check for "unplanned" specimens. If there are no "unplanned" samples, the analysis plan ends (S120).

S109: If there is an "unplanned" sample in the confirmation in step S108, the sample status of the "unplanned" sample having the highest sample priority is changed to "planning".

S110: All analysis request items of the sample whose sample status is changed to "planning" in step S109 are updated to "unplanned". As a result, in the analysis plan of the next cycle, the "planned" sample will be the target of the analysis plan, and the analysis plan will be implemented for the highest priority analysis request item updated to the "unplanned" item (described later). 6B).

S120: The analysis plan is completed. As described above, according to the flowchart of FIG. 6A, as long as the sample requested for analysis includes a “waiting for measurement channel availability” sample or an “unplanned” sample, the sample status of one of the samples is always “planned”. In the analysis plan of the next cycle, the analysis plan is carried out according to the flowchart of FIG. 6B described later.

FIG. 6B is a flowchart in the case where the “planning” sample is present in step S101, and is a flowchart for executing the analysis plan for the “planning” sample.

S111: Perform an analysis plan for the highest priority "unplanned" item in the "planned" sample. Specifically, as described in FIG. 1B, the operation patterns of each mechanism corresponding to the sequence for executing the analysis are assigned on the operation reservation table.

S112: When the operation pattern allocation is successful, the item status of the successful "unplanned" item is updated to "planned".

S113: When the operation pattern allocation fails, the reason for the failure is that there is no space in the measurement channel (port) of the blood coagulation time analysis unit 2, and the analysis request item of "unplanned" for which the analysis plan was performed. If is a "coagulation item", the item status of the highest priority "unplanned" item in the "planned" sample is updated to "waiting for measurement channel availability".

If the reason for failure is other than that or the analysis request item is "biochemical item", the analysis plan is terminated as it is (S120). Since the sample status of this sample is still "planning", the analysis plan is carried out for this sample according to the flowchart of FIG. 6B in the analysis plan of the next cycle.

S114: After the end of step S112 or step S113, it is checked whether the "planned" sample still has "unplanned" items. If there is an "unplanned" item, the analysis plan is terminated as it is (S120). Since the sample status of this sample is still "planning", the analysis plan is carried out for this sample according to the flowchart of FIG. 6B in the analysis plan of the next cycle.

S115: If there is no “unplanned” item in the “planned” sample, check whether the “planned” sample still has the “waiting for measurement channel availability” item.

S116: If there are neither "unplanned" items nor "waiting for measurement channel availability" in the "planned" sample, it means that the item status of all analysis request items is "planned". , Update the sample status of the "planned" sample to "planned".

S117: If there is no "unplanned" item in the "planned" sample, but there is a "measurement channel free wait" item, the item status of the analysis request item for which the analysis plan has not been completed is "measurement channel free wait". , So update the sample status of the "planning" sample to "waiting for measurement channel availability".

S120: The analysis plan is completed. When the sample status is updated in steps S116 and S117, there is no “planned” sample in the sample requested for analysis. Therefore, in the analysis plan of the next cycle, the sample status is set according to the flowchart of FIG. 6A. One sample to be updated "in planning" is determined.

The analysis planning method in Example 1 has been described above. The computer creates an analysis plan so that the samples are tested in sample priority order and multiple analysis request items for the same sample are tested in item priority order. Therefore, the order in which the analysis plan is created is managed using both the sample status and the item status.

Specifically, the state transition is made so that there is up to one "planned" sample in the analysis plan, and the analysis plan is carried out only for the "unplanned" item of the "planned" sample.

Further, in the composite automatic analyzer, the reaction port (measurement channel) of the blood coagulation time detection unit 21 of the blood coagulation time analysis unit 2 tends to cause a stagnation wait. Therefore, for the sample currently under analysis plan, if there is a vacancy in the reaction port, the analysis plan is continued, but if the sample under analysis plan has no analysis request item, which is a coagulation item, the measurement with the highest sample priority is performed. Control so that an analysis plan is created for samples waiting for channel availability. That is, by assigning the "planned" sample to the reaction port of the blood coagulation time detection unit 21 in the order of priority, and if there is no "planned" sample, the analysis plan is efficient and adheres to the priority of the sample. Can be created.

In the inspection by the automatic analyzer, it is common to have a plurality of analysis request items for the same sample. In the flowchart described in the first embodiment, when the measurement channel of the blood coagulation time analysis unit 2 is full and the analysis plan of the analysis request item fails, the item is changed from the "unplanned" item to the "waiting for the measurement channel to be available". It has been updated to the item (see step S113 in FIG. 6B). At this time, if the analysis request items of the "planning" sample include a plurality of coagulation items, at the timing of the next analysis plan (for example, after one cycle), the other coagulation items are also included in the blood coagulation time analysis unit. There is a high possibility that the analysis plan of the analysis request item will fail because there is no space in the measurement channel of 2, and as a result, multiple coagulation items of the "planning" sample will be duplicated only to update the "waiting for measurement channel availability" item. It is inefficient because it uses a cycle. Therefore, in Example 2, when the measurement channel of the blood coagulation time analysis unit 2 is full and the analysis plan of the coagulation item fails, the analysis request items for other coagulation items in the same sample are also collectively “measured”. When the "waiting for channel free" item is set and the analysis plan for the "waiting for free measurement channel" sample is restarted, all the "waiting for free measurement channel" items for the same sample are updated to "unplanned" items. As a result, the time required to update the "unplanned" item to the "waiting for measurement channel availability" item can be shortened to one cycle regardless of the number of requests for the coagulation item.

Changes in the status of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7F. In this example, it is assumed that analysis is requested for four samples, and the analysis request items of sample numbers 1, 2, and 4 are colorimetric analysis (“colorimetry”) 1 to 4, which are biochemical items, and coagulation items. The coagulation time analysis (“coagulation”) is 5 to 8, and the analysis request item of the sample number 3 is the colorimetric color 1 to 4. Further, it is assumed that the request order (sample number order) of the samples 1 to 4 is the sample priority order.

The table shows the status status at each time point. In each table, the sample column shows the sample number and the sample status, and the analysis request item column shows the analysis request item and the item status for the analysis request item. The following explanation starts from the situation where the analysis plan for the color ratios 1 to 4 is completed in the sample 1 and the item status of the color ratios 1 to 4 becomes "planned" as shown in the table 701 of FIG. 7A. do. The display legend is shown in FIG. 7A. This legend is common to FIGS. 7A-F.

In FIG. 7A, table 701 shows the status status at the start of the analysis plan. If the measurement channel is free, the status status moves to table 702. That is, the analysis plan of the coagulation 5 of the sample 1 is carried out, and the item status of the coagulation 5 of the sample 1 is updated to "planned". On the other hand, if the measurement channel is full, the status status shifts to table 703. That is, the item status of the coagulation 5 to 8 of the sample 1 is updated to "waiting for free measurement channel", and thus the sample status of the sample 1 is updated to "waiting for free measurement channel". Table 702 or Table 703 shows the status status at the end of the analysis plan of FIG. 7A.

In FIG. 7B, the transition of the status status in the analysis plan (that is, the analysis plan after one cycle of FIG. 7A) when the table 703 is the status status at the start of the analysis plan is shown. The status status of the table 703b is the same as that of the table 703, but the sample number 1 is marked with a double circle. This notation is used to indicate the last dispensed sample (ie, the last sample that was planned for analysis at that time) if no sample has a sample status of "planning". The same applies thereafter.

At this time, if there is a vacancy in the measurement channel, the status status shifts to the table 704. That is, the sample status of the sample 1 which is the "waiting for free measurement channel" sample for which the analysis plan was finally performed is returned to "planning", the analysis plan of the coagulation 5 is carried out, and the item status of the coagulation 5 of the sample 1 is changed. Updated to "planned". At the same time, the coagulation 6 to 8 of the sample 1 is also updated from "waiting for free measurement channel" to "unplanned". On the other hand, if the measurement channel is full, the status status shifts to table 705. That is, the sample status of the sample number 2 is set to "planning", the analysis plan of the colorimetric 1 of the sample 2 is executed first, and the item status of the colorimetric color 1 of the sample 2 is updated to "planned".

In FIG. 7C, the transition of the status status in the analysis plan (that is, the analysis plan after one cycle of FIG. 7B) when the table 704 is the status status at the start of the analysis plan is shown.

At this time, if there is a vacancy in the measurement channel, the status status shifts to the table 706. That is, the analysis plan of the coagulation 6 of the sample 1 is carried out, and the item status of the coagulation 6 of the sample 1 is updated to "planned". On the other hand, if the measurement channel is full, the status status shifts to table 707. That is, the item statuses of coagulation 6 to 8 of the sample 1 are updated to "waiting for free measurement channel", and thus the sample status of sample 1 is updated to "waiting for free measurement channel".

FIG. 7D shows the transition of the status status at the start of the analysis plan after 4 cycles when the status status becomes the table 705 at the end of the analysis plan of FIG. 7B. From FIG. 7B to FIG. 7D, an analysis plan for colorimetric colors 2 to 4 of sample 2 which is a “planning” sample is carried out, and in table 708, the item statuses of colorimetric colors 2 to 4 are changed from the status status of table 705. Updated to "Planned".

At this time, if there is a vacancy in the measurement channel, the status status shifts to the table 709. That is, the analysis plan of the coagulation 5 of the sample 2 which is the “planning” sample is carried out, and the item status of the coagulation 5 of the sample 2 is updated to “planned”. On the other hand, if the measurement channel is full, the status status shifts to table 710. That is, the item status of the coagulation 5 to 8 of the sample 2 is updated to "waiting for free measurement channel", and thus the sample status of the sample 2 is updated to "waiting for free measurement channel".

In FIG. 7E, the transition of the status status in the analysis plan (that is, the analysis plan after one cycle of FIG. 7D) when the table 710 is the status status at the start of the analysis plan is shown. Table 710b shows that the sample status of the samples 1 and 2 is "waiting for measurement channel availability", there is no "planning" sample, and the sample 2 is the sample for which the analysis plan was last performed.

At this time, if there is a vacancy in the measurement channel, the status status shifts to the table 711. That is, the sample status of the sample 2 which is the “waiting for free measurement channel” sample for which the analysis plan was finally performed is returned to “planning”, the analysis plan of the coagulation 5 is carried out, and the item status of the coagulation 5 of the sample 2 is changed. Updated to "planned". At the same time, the coagulation 6 to 8 of the sample 2 is also updated from "waiting for free measurement channel" to "unplanned". On the other hand, if the measurement channel is full, the status status shifts to table 712. That is, the sample status of the sample number 3 is set to "planning", the analysis plan of the colorimetric 1 of the sample 3 is executed first, and the item status of the colorimetric color 1 of the sample 3 is updated to "planned".

FIG. 7F shows the transition of the status status at the start of the analysis plan after 4 cycles when the status status becomes the table 712 at the end of the analysis plan of FIG. 7E. From FIG. 7E to FIG. 7F, an analysis plan for the colorimetric colors 2 to 4 of the sample 3 which is the “planning” sample was carried out, and in Table 713, the item statuses of the colorimetric colors 2 to 4 were changed from the status status of Table 712. It is updated to "planned", the sample status of sample 3 is also updated to "planned", and there is no "planned" sample.

At this time, if there is a vacancy in the measurement channel, the status status shifts to the table 714. That is, since the sample status of the sample 3 for which the analysis plan was last performed is "planned", the sample priority is higher among the samples 1 and 2 which are the "waiting for free measurement channel" samples (here, the request order). The sample status of sample 1 is returned to "planning", the analysis plan of coagulation 5 is carried out, and the item status of coagulation 5 of sample 1 is updated to "planned". At the same time, the coagulation 6 to 8 of the sample 1 is also updated from "waiting for free measurement channel" to "unplanned". On the other hand, if the measurement channel is full, the status status shifts to table 715. That is, the sample status of the sample number 4 is set to "planning", the analysis plan of the colorimetric 1 of the sample 4 is executed first, and the item status of the colorimetric 1 of the sample 4 is updated to "planned".

In Examples 1 and 2, the creation of an analysis plan in an automatic analyzer having two types of analysis items, a biochemical item analyzed by the biochemical analysis unit and a coagulation item analyzed by the blood coagulation time analysis unit, has been described. .. In the third embodiment, the creation of an analysis plan in an automatic analyzer having a light scattering item and an immunoanalysis item as analysis items and having a total of four types of analysis items will be described. That is, the automatic analyzer of Example 3 has a first analysis unit that analyzes biochemical items, a second analysis unit that analyzes coagulation items, and a third analysis unit that analyzes light scattering items. , It is equipped with a fourth analysis unit that analyzes immunological analysis items. For example, the third analysis unit irradiates a mixture of a sample and a reagent dispensed into a reaction vessel mounted on a fixed port with incident light of a specific wavelength, and scatters forward on the opposite side according to the latex agglomeration method. It includes a scattered photometer unit that measures the amount of components contained in the sample from the scattered light intensity that has been generated. In addition, the fourth analysis unit utilizes the antigen-antibody reaction to emit a mixed solution of the sample and the reagent dispensed into the reaction vessel mounted on the fixed port by electrochemiluminescence, based on the emission intensity. Includes an immunoassay unit that measures the amount of components contained in the sample.

In the biochemical item, the first analysis unit is configured so that the measurement channel is always open. On the other hand, in the light scattering item, the coagulation item, and the immunoassay item, the number of measurement channels (reaction ports) is limited in order to prevent the device from becoming large, and a state in which the measurement channels are full may occur. Further, the measurement time required for the coagulation item changes depending on the sample even if the measurement item is the same. On the other hand, the measurement time required for the biochemical item, the light scattering item, and the immunoassay item is a fixed value regardless of the sample if the measurement items are the same.

For the sake of brevity, the priority of analysis request items for the same sample is biochemical item> light scattering item> coagulation item> immunoassay item, and the priority in the same analysis unit is the order of registration of analysis request items. And.

The item status, sample status, and their state transition rules are the same as those in Examples 1 and 2. A flowchart in which the computer 105 executes the analysis plan will be described with respect to the case of the third embodiment. The flowchart for determining the “planning” sample shown in FIG. 6A of Example 1 is the same as that of Example 3, and the description thereof will be omitted. 8A-B are flowcharts for implementing an analysis plan on a "planning" sample. Regarding the flowcharts of FIGS. 8A to 8B, the steps for performing the same processing as the flowchart of FIG. 6B are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Steps S201 to S205 are flows for determining "vacancy" of the analysis unit. For the light scattering item and the immunoassay item, since the analysis time for each measurement item is a fixed value, the analysis end time of the item being analyzed by the analysis unit can be calculated. Therefore, when making an analysis plan, the time (cycle) at which the sample is input to the analysis unit for the analysis request item is calculated, and if there is space in the measurement channel by the time when the sample is input to the analysis unit, there is space in the analysis unit. Can be regarded as. That is, in the case of coagulation items, the analysis time is indefinite, so if there is no space in the measurement channel at the time of analysis planning, it is judged that there is no space, whereas in the light scattering item and immunoanalysis item, the analysis of the analysis unit Determine the presence or absence of measurement channels based on future operating conditions rather than at the time of planning.

S201: At the time of analysis planning, it is confirmed whether or not there is a vacancy in the measurement channel of each analysis unit.

S202: If there is a vacancy in the measurement channel of the analysis unit at the time of analysis planning, the vacant channel is determined as the channel to be used for the analysis unit having the vacant measurement channel.

S203: There is no space in the measurement channel at the time of analysis planning If the analysis unit is a light scattering analysis unit or an immunoassay unit, is there space in the measurement channel before the sample of the analysis plan is input to the analysis unit? To confirm.

S204: Regarding the light scattering analysis unit or the immunoassay unit, if there is a vacancy in the measurement channel before the sample of the analysis plan is charged into the analysis unit, the vacant channel at the time of charging is determined as the channel to be used.

S205: When the analysis unit is a biochemical analysis unit or a blood coagulation time analysis unit, or for a light scattering analysis unit or an immunoanalysis unit, there is a vacancy in the measurement channel before the sample of the analysis plan is put into the analysis unit. If not, determine that the measurement channel is full.

Using the determined channels of use (S202, S204), an analytical plan is performed for the highest priority “unplanned” item of the “planned” sample (step S111). Specifically, as described in FIG. 1B, the operation patterns of each mechanism corresponding to the sequence for executing the analysis are assigned on the operation reservation table.

S211: When the assignment of the operation pattern fails, the reason for the failure is that there is no space in the measurement channel of the light scattering analysis unit, the immunoanalysis unit, or the blood coagulation time analysis unit, and the analysis plan is performed "not yet". If the analysis request items of "Plan" are "Light scattering item", "Immunity analysis item", and "Coagulation item", respectively, the item status of the highest priority "Unplanned" item in the "Planned" sample. Is updated to "Waiting for measurement channel free". If the reason for failure is other than that or the analysis request item is "biochemical item", the analysis plan is terminated as it is (S120).

S212: Further, in the “planned” sample, the item status of the “unplanned” item that uses the same unit is updated to “waiting for measurement channel availability”. As a result, as in Example 2, the "light scattering item", "immunoassay analysis item", and "coagulation item" are "unplanned" items regardless of the number of analysis request items requested using the same analysis unit. Can be shortened to one cycle in the time required to update the item to "Waiting for measurement channel free".

Changes in the status of the sample and the analysis request item in Example 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A to 9E. In this example, it is assumed that analysis is requested for three samples, and the analysis request items of sample number 1 are colorimetric analysis (“colorimetric”) 1 and 2 which are biochemical items, and coagulation time analysis (coagulation time analysis) which is a coagulation item. "Coagulation") 1-2, light scattering analysis ("scattering") 1-2 which is a light scattering item, immunoanalysis ("immunity") 1-2 which is an immunoanalysis item, and analysis of sample numbers 2 and 3. The requested items are colorimetric 1-2, scattering 1-2, and immunity 1-2. Further, it is assumed that the request order (sample number order) of the samples 1 to 3 is the sample priority order. Similar to FIGS. 7A to 7F, the status status at each time point is shown by the table.

In FIG. 9A, table 901 shows the status status at the start of the analysis plan. In the status status of Table 901, the analysis plan for the color ratios 1 and 2 is completed in the sample 1, and the item status of the color ratios 1 and 2 is "planned". If the measurement channel of the light scattering analysis unit is free, the status status shifts to Table 902. That is, the analysis plan of the scattering 1 of the sample 1 is carried out, and the item status of the scattering 1 of the sample 1 is updated to "planned". As described above, the vacancy of the measurement channel of the light scattering analysis unit includes the vacancy at the time of sample injection. On the other hand, if the measurement channel of the light scattering analysis unit is full, the status status shifts to Table 903. That is, the item status of the scattering 1 and 2 of the sample 1 is updated to "waiting for free measurement channel".

In FIG. 9B, the transition of the status status in the analysis plan (that is, the analysis plan after one cycle of FIG. 9A) when the table 903 is the status status at the start of the analysis plan is shown.

At this time, if there is a vacancy in the measurement channel of the blood coagulation time analysis unit, the status status shifts to Table 904. That is, the analysis plan of the coagulation 1 of the sample 1 is carried out, and the item status of the coagulation 1 of the sample 1 is updated to "planned". On the other hand, if the measurement channel of the blood coagulation time analysis unit is full, the status status shifts to Table 905. That is, the item status of coagulation 1 and 2 of the sample 1 is updated to "waiting for free measurement channel".

In FIG. 9C, the transition of the status status in the analysis plan (that is, the analysis plan after one cycle of FIG. 9B) when the table 905 is the status status at the start of the analysis plan is shown.

At this time, if there is a vacancy in the measurement channel of the immunoassay unit, the status status shifts to Table 906. That is, the analysis plan of immunity 1 of sample 1 is carried out, and the item status of immunity 1 of sample 1 is updated to "planned". As described above, the vacancy of the measurement channel of the immunoassay unit includes the vacancy at the time of sample injection. On the other hand, if the measurement channel of the immunoassay unit is full, the status status shifts to table 907. That is, the item status of immunity 1 and 2 of the sample 1 is updated to "waiting for measurement channel availability", and thereby the sample status of sample 1 is updated to "waiting for measurement channel availability".

In FIG. 9D, when the status status becomes table 907 at the end of the analysis plan of FIG. 9C, the transition of the status status at the start of the analysis plan after two cycles is shown. Between FIGS. 9C and 9D, an analysis plan for colorimetric 1-2 of sample 2 which is a "planning" sample was carried out, and in table 908, the colorimetric color 1-2 of sample 2 was determined from the status status of table 907. The item status has been updated to "Planned".

At this time, if there is a vacancy in the measurement channel of the light scattering analysis unit, the status status shifts to Table 909. That is, the analysis plan of the scattering 1 of the sample 2 which is the “planning” sample is executed, and the item status of the scattering 1 of the sample 2 is updated to “planned”. On the other hand, if the measurement channel of the light scattering analysis unit is full, the status status shifts to Table 910. That is, the item status of the scattering 1 and 2 of the sample 2 is updated to "waiting for free measurement channel".

9E shows the transition of the status status at the start of the analysis plan after two cycles when the status status becomes Table 910 at the end of the analysis plan of FIG. 9D. However, between FIGS. 9D and 9E, an analysis plan for immunity 1 of sample 2 which is a "planned" sample was carried out, and there was no space in the measurement channel of the immunoassay unit. It is assumed that the status is updated to "waiting for free measurement channel" and the sample status of sample 2 is updated to "waiting for free measurement channel". At this time, there is no sample whose sample status is "planning", and the sample dispensed last (that is, the sample for which the analysis plan was last performed at that time) is sample 2.

In the analysis plan of FIG. 9E, it is assumed that the measurement channel of the blood coagulation time analysis unit is vacant and the measurement channel of the light scattering analysis unit or the immunoassay unit is not vacant. In this case, the status status shifts to table 912. The analysis request item of the sample 2 which is the sample for which the analysis plan was finally performed does not include the coagulation item. Therefore, the sample status of the sample 1 having the highest sample priority in the "measurement channel waiting" sample is returned to "planning", the coagulations 1 and 2 are returned to the "unplanned" item, and the analysis plan for coagulation 1 is carried out. do. As a result, the item status of coagulation 1 of the sample 2 is updated to "planned".

On the other hand, if there is no space in any of the light scattering analysis unit, immunoanalysis unit, or blood coagulation time analysis unit, set the sample status of sample number 3 to "planning" and dispense the color 1 of sample 3. The plan is implemented first, and the item status of color 1 of sample 3 is updated to "planned".

A common modification of Examples 1 to 3 described above will be described.

(Modification example 1)
When updating the sample status or item status to "waiting for measurement channel availability" in the automatic analyzer, it is desirable to display a notification on the display device 103 notifying that the analysis has been postponed. FIG. 10 shows an example of a display screen. On the display screen 600, the sample status of the sample held in each sample container is displayed on the sample disk map 601. As a result, the sample whose sample status is "waiting for free measurement channel" can be recognized on the sample disk map 601. In this case, when resuming the analysis plan, it is more desirable to display the sample status indicating that the analysis is restarted. As a result, the user can recognize that the dispensing of the relevant sample has not been completed for all the analysis request items, and the dispensing of the remaining items of the relevant sample will be resumed in the future, and the relevant sample is mistaken. It is possible to prevent it from being taken out from the automatic analyzer. Note that FIG. 10 is an example and may be displayed using the item status.

(Modification 2)
In the automatic analyzer, when the sample to be dispensed changes, a function of washing the sample dispensing probe 12 (hereinafter, abbreviated as sample carry-over washing) may be set before dispensing a new sample. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 7A, if there is a vacancy in the measurement channel of the blood coagulation analysis unit for samples 1 and 2, the colorimetry of sample 1 is 1 to 4, coagulation is 5 to 8, and the color of sample 2 is 1 to 4. , Coagulation 5 to 8 are prepared in this order, and sample carryover washing may be performed before dispensing the sample of each colorimetric color 1.

However, there was no space in the measurement channel, and the analysis plan resumed after the dispensing for coagulation 5 to 8 of sample 1 was performed after the colorimetric 1 to 4 and coagulation 5 to 8 of sample 2 were dispensed. In that case, if the sample 1 is dispensed for coagulation 5 to 8 as it is, carryover from the sample 2 to the sample 1 may occur. Therefore, before the sample dispensing of the coagulation 5 of the sample 1, the sample carry-over washing is performed again, and then the dispensing of the sample 1 is restarted.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to three examples and modifications thereof, the present invention is not limited to the above description of the examples and modifications. For example, in Examples 1 and 2, although the analysis items have been described by an automatic analyzer having two types of analysis items, a biochemical item analyzed by the biochemical analysis unit and a coagulation item analyzed by the blood coagulation time analysis unit, blood coagulation has been described. Instead of the coagulation item analyzed by the time analysis unit, an automatic analyzer may be used to analyze the light scattering item analyzed by the light scattering analysis unit or the immunoanalyzing item analyzed by the immunoanalysis unit. In addition, a scattered photometer unit is provided near the reaction disk, and incident light of a specific wavelength is applied to the mixed solution of the sample and the reagent dispensed into the reaction vessel, and the scattered light scattered forward to the opposite side according to the latex agglomeration method. It may be an automatic analyzer that measures the amount of components contained in the sample from the strength. The analysis request item in this case is an immunoanalytical item, but an immunoassay item that is not performed in an analysis unit having a fixed port is treated in the same manner as a biochemical item in the present invention. In addition, although Example 3 has described an example including four analysis items, it is not limited to include all of these analysis items. In any case, high processing capacity and analysis performance can be realized by applying the embodiment of the present invention even if the device configuration has a small number of measurement channels in order to prevent the device from becoming large in size.

1 ... Automatic analyzer, 2 ... Blood coagulation time analysis unit, 11 ... Sample disk, 12 ... Sample dispensing probe, 13 ... Reaction disk, 14 ... Second reagent dispensing Probe, 15 ... 1st reagent disk, 16 ... 2nd reagent disk, 17 ... 1st reagent dispensing probe, 18 ... sample dispensing position, 19 ... photometric meter, 20 ... -Blood coagulation reagent dispensing probe, 21 ... Blood coagulation time detector, 22 ... Optical jig magazine, 23 ... Reaction vessel transfer mechanism, 24 ... Reaction vessel disposal port, 25 ... Reaction vessel Magazine, 26 ... Reaction vessel (for biochemical analysis), 27 ... Sample container, 28 ... Reaction vessel (for blood coagulation analysis), 101 ... Interface, 102 ... External output media, 103 ... Display device, 104 ... Memory, 105 ... Computer, 106 ... Printer, 107 ... Input device, 201 ... Sample dispensing control unit, 202 ... Transfer mechanism control unit, 203 ... 2nd A / D converter, 204 ... Blood coagulation reagent dispensing control unit, 205 ... 1st A / D converter, 206 ... 1st reagent dispensing control unit , 207 ... Second reagent dispensing control unit, 301 ... Specimen status table, 302 ... Specimen status, 303 ... Specimen information structure variable, 304 ... Reaction port, 310, 410.・ ・ Arrow, 401 ・ ・ ・ Item status table, 402 ・ ・ ・ Item status, 403 ・ ・ ・ Item information structure variable, 600 ・ ・ ・ Display screen, 601 ・ ・ ・ Sample disk map.

Claims (15)

A sample container for storing the sample and
With a sample dispensing probe that dispenses the sample into the first reaction vessel or the second reaction vessel,
A reaction disk in which a plurality of the first reaction vessels are arranged and operates in rotation,
A first analysis unit that analyzes a first analysis request item with respect to the sample contained in the first reaction vessel arranged on the reaction disk, and
A second analysis unit having a predetermined number of reaction ports and analyzing a second analysis request item for the sample contained in the second reaction vessel at the reaction port.
We have a computer that implements analysis plans for multiple sample analysis requests.
The plurality of sample analysis requests include a first sample analysis request for the first sample and a second sample analysis request for the second sample following the first sample analysis request, and the first sample analysis request and the plurality of sample analysis requests. The second sample analysis request includes both the first analysis request item and the second analysis request item.
The computer executes the analysis plan in the order of the first analysis request item and the second analysis request item for each sample analysis request.
If there is no space in the reaction port of the second analysis unit at the time of analysis planning of the second analysis request item in the first sample analysis request, the second analysis request item in the first sample analysis request If there is a vacancy in the reaction port of the second analysis unit at the time of the analysis planning of the second analysis request item in the second sample analysis request, the analysis plan of the second sample analysis request is made. Implement the analysis plan for the second analysis request item,
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. In claim 1,
If the reaction port of the second analysis unit is full at the time of analysis planning of the second analysis request item in the second sample analysis request, the computer performs the second in the second sample analysis request. Withhold the analysis plan of the analysis request item of
After executing the analysis plan for the sample analysis request for the third sample, when selecting the sample analysis request for executing the analysis plan, if there is a vacancy in the reaction port of the second analysis unit, the first The analysis plan of the second analysis request item in the sample analysis request for the sample having the higher sample priority among the sample and the second sample is carried out.
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. In claim 1,
When a plurality of items are included in the second analysis request item in the first sample analysis request,
If the reaction port of the second analysis unit is full at the time of analysis planning of one item having the second analysis request item in the first sample analysis request, the computer requests the first sample analysis. The analysis plan is withheld including other items of the second analysis request item for which the analysis plan has not been implemented.
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. In claim 1,
The second analysis request item is an analysis request item whose measurement time does not depend on the sample.
If the reaction port of the second analysis unit is vacant by the time the sample for which the analysis plan is to be executed is put into the reaction port of the second analysis unit, the computer may use the second analysis unit. Determining that the reaction port of the analysis unit is empty,
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. In claim 1,
Has a display device
When the computer suspends the analysis plan of the second analysis request item in the first sample analysis request, the display device displays that the analysis plan of the first sample is suspended.
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. In claim 2,
When the computer executes the analysis plan of the second analysis request item in the sample analysis request for the sample having the higher sample priority among the first sample and the second sample, the analysis plan is followed. Prior to dispensing the sample having the higher sample priority, carry-over washing of the sample dispensing probe is performed.
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. A sample container for storing the sample and
With a sample dispensing probe that dispenses the sample into the first reaction vessel or the second reaction vessel,
A reaction disk in which a plurality of the first reaction vessels are arranged and operates in rotation,
A first analysis unit that analyzes a first analysis request item with respect to the sample contained in the first reaction vessel arranged on the reaction disk, and
A second analysis unit having a predetermined number of reaction ports and analyzing a second analysis request item for the sample contained in the second reaction vessel at the reaction port.
We have a computer that implements analysis plans for multiple sample analysis requests.
The sample analysis request includes at least one of the first analysis request item and the second analysis request item.
The computer manages the order in which the analysis plan is executed according to the sample status given to the sample unit and the item status given to the analysis request item unit in response to the sample analysis request.
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. In claim 7,
The item status is analyzed by "unplanned" indicating an analysis request item that has not been analyzed, "planned" indicating an analysis requested item that has been analyzed, and that the reaction port of the second analysis unit is full. Includes "waiting for measurement channel availability" to indicate that the plan is pending
The sample status is "unplanned" indicating that all analysis request items included in the sample analysis request are "unplanned", and all analysis request items included in the sample analysis request are "planned". "Planned" indicating that there is, "Planning" indicating that "Unplanned", "Planned", and "Waiting for measurement channel availability" are mixed in the analysis request items included in the sample analysis request, the above. Includes "Waiting for measurement channel free" indicating that the analysis request item included in the sample analysis request is "Planned" or "Waiting for measurement channel free".
In the plurality of sample analysis requests for carrying out the analysis plan, the number of sample analysis requests whose sample status is "planning" is one or less at a certain point in time.
The computer executes an analysis plan for an analysis request item in a sample analysis request whose sample status is "planning".
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. In claim 8.
The computer has the highest sample priority when there is no sample analysis request whose sample status is "planning" and there are a plurality of sample analysis requests whose sample status is "waiting for measurement channel availability". Update the sample status of the sample analysis request to "Planning",
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. In claim 9.
When a plurality of items are included in the second analysis request item in the sample analysis request,
When the computer updates the item status of one item having the second analysis request item to "waiting for measurement channel availability", the item status in the sample analysis request is "unplanned". The item status of other items of the analysis request item is also updated to "Waiting for measurement channel free", and
The computer performs the second analysis in which the item status in the sample analysis request is "waiting for measurement channel availability" for the sample analysis request whose sample status is updated from "waiting for measurement channel availability" to "planning". The item status of other items of the request item is also updated to "Unplanned".
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. In claim 8.
The second analysis request item is an analysis request item in which the measurement time varies depending on the sample.
If the reaction port of the second analysis unit is full at the time of analysis planning, the computer determines that the reaction port of the second analysis unit is full, and sets the item status to "unplanned". To transition from to "waiting for free measurement channel",
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. In claim 8.
The second analysis request item is an analysis request item whose measurement time does not depend on the sample.
If the reaction port of the second analysis unit is vacant by the time the sample for which the analysis plan is to be executed is put into the reaction port of the second analysis unit, the computer may use the second analysis unit. Determining that the reaction port of the analysis unit is empty,
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. In claim 7,
Has a display device
The display device displays the sample status or the item status of the analysis request item included in the sample analysis request for a plurality of samples.
An automatic analyzer characterized by this. A sample container for accommodating a sample, a sample dispensing probe for dispensing the sample into a first reaction container or a second reaction container, and a reaction disk in which a plurality of the first reaction containers are arranged and rotate. The sample is contained in the first reaction vessel arranged on the reaction disk, and has a first analysis unit for analyzing a first analysis request item and a predetermined number of reaction ports. A second analysis unit that analyzes a second analysis request item for the sample housed in the second reaction vessel at the reaction port, and a computer that executes an analysis plan for a plurality of sample analysis requests. It is an analysis method in the automatic analyzer equipped with
The computer follows the first sample analysis request for analyzing the first analysis request item and the second analysis request item for the first sample, and the first sample analysis request, and the second Received a plurality of sample analysis requests including the second sample analysis request for analyzing the first analysis request item and the second analysis request item for the sample.
The computer executes the analysis plan in the order of the first analysis request item and the second analysis request item for each sample analysis request.
When the analysis plan of the second analysis request item in the first sample analysis request, the computer performs the second analysis request in the first sample analysis request when the reaction port of the second analysis unit is full. If there is a vacancy in the reaction port of the second analysis unit at the time of the analysis planning of the second analysis request item of the second sample analysis request, the second analysis request item is withheld. Implement the analysis plan for the second analysis request item in the sample analysis request.
An analysis method characterized by that. In claim 14,
If the reaction port of the second analysis unit is full at the time of analysis planning of the second analysis request item in the second sample analysis request, the computer performs the second in the second sample analysis request. Withhold the analysis plan of the analysis request item of
When the computer executes the analysis plan for the sample analysis request for the third sample and then selects the sample analysis request for executing the analysis plan, if there is a vacancy in the reaction port of the second analysis unit, the computer performs the analysis plan. , The analysis plan of the second analysis request item in the sample analysis request for the sample having the higher sample priority among the first sample and the second sample is carried out.
An analysis method characterized by that.

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