JP2526645B2 - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer capable of automatically performing analysis.

An automatic analyzer is used, for example, in a hospital or the like to automatically and continuously analyze a liquid sample (sample) such as serum or urine.

(Prior art) In the automatic analyzer, in order to maintain the analytical performance, maintenance such as washing of reaction cell / replacement of constant temperature circulating water, washing of sample dispenser, washing of reagent dispenser, washing of stirring rod, etc. It is necessary to perform (maintenance) operation before and after the daily analysis operation.

In order to automate these maintenance operations as much as possible, the analyzer gives an instruction to the analyzer to start the maintenance operation, so that the analyzer automatically performs the maintenance operation (manual operation). There is. There is also an automatic analyzer that automatically performs a maintenance operation in conjunction with the analysis operation.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In an automatic analyzer having a manual operation function, it is only a human who gives an instruction to start a maintenance operation, and at least a human is required to give an instruction to start a maintenance operation. Therefore, for example, it is not possible to perform the maintenance operation at midnight when no work is generally performed.

With automatic analyzers that automatically perform maintenance operations in conjunction with analysis operations, maintenance operations that are not directly linked to the analysis are performed even during the analysis period, reducing the operating rate of the analyzer. I have a problem to do.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention makes it possible to automatically perform a maintenance operation, and to automatically start the maintenance operation by selecting a time period that does not interfere with the analysis operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic analyzer having a function capable of saving manpower without lowering it.

(Means for Solving the Problems) As shown in FIG. 1 showing an embodiment, the present invention is an analysis mechanism for automatically performing an analysis and a maintenance mechanism for automatically performing a maintenance operation in response to a maintenance start signal. In the main body 2 of the analyzer, which is equipped with a mechanism, a mechanism part operation frequency / time measuring means 4 for measuring the operation frequency and operation time of mechanical elements such as a sample dispensing mechanism, a reagent dispensing mechanism, and a measuring mechanism, and the measured operating mechanism. A time-dependent operation mechanism storage means 6 for storing parts by time, and a time-dependent operation probability determination means 8 for determining whether or not it is a time zone suitable for a maintenance operation based on the stored contents of the time-dependent operation mechanism storage means 6. Be prepared.

(Operation) As shown in FIG. 2 (A), the analyzer body 2 is used for a certain period of time, for example, for one month, in accordance with normal analysis work. During the period, the mechanism operation number / time measuring means 4 measures how many times or how many times the analyzer operates in preparation for analysis, analysis, and cleaning up after the analysis. It is stored in the separate operating mechanism storage means 6.

After the elapse of a certain period of time, the time-dependent actuation probability determination means 8 determines, based on the stored content of the time-dependent actuation mechanism storage means 6, whether the analyzer is not used in daily work or a time period in which it is highly probable that it will not be used. judge. For example, when the time-dependent operation probability determining means 8 determines that a certain time is a time zone when the analyzer is not used, the time-dependent operation probability determining means 8 starts maintenance so that the analyzer main body 2 performs a maintenance operation. A signal is given. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2 (B), the analysis preparation is already completed before the daily analysis work is started, and the post-analysis cleanup is automatically performed after the daily work is completed. Become.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment.

In the analyzer body 2, reaction cells 12 are arranged around the reaction disk 10. A turntable 14 is provided near the reaction disk 10, and a cup containing a sample is arranged on the turntable 14. 16 is a sampler,
The sample is sucked from the sample cup on the turntable 14 and injected into the reaction cell 12. Reference numeral 18 is a pipette pump for sucking the sample into the sampler 16 and injecting it into the reaction cell 12, and a diluter pump for pushing out the sample with degassed water. The turntable 14 and the pipettor pump diluter pump 18 are controlled by a microcomputer 24 via a sampler control computer 22 and an interface 20. Reference numeral 17 denotes a cleaning tank for cleaning the probe and the flow path of the sampler 16 from which a cleaning liquid is spouted.

A dispenser 26 and a reagent storage 28 are provided to inject a reagent that reacts with the sample in the reaction cell 12 into the reaction cell 12. Dispensers from reagent bottles arranged in reagent storage 28
The reagent is sucked by 26 and injected into the reaction cell 12.
30 is a dispenser pump for sucking the reagent with the dispenser 26 and injecting it into the reaction cell 12, and the dispenser 26 and the dispenser pump 30 are dispenser control computers.
Microcomputer through 32 and interface 20
Controlled by 24. Reference numeral 27 is a cleaning bottle for cleaning the probe and the flow path of the dispenser 26, in which the cleaning liquid is spouted.

A stirring mechanism 34 is provided near the reaction disk 10 for stirring the sample and the reagent injected into the reaction cell 12, and in the vicinity of the reaction disk 10 for optically detecting the reaction in the reaction cell 12. Is provided with a spectroscope 36 that can reciprocate.

To clean the reaction cell 12, a cleaning mechanism 38 is provided near the reaction disk 10. 40 is a cleaning mechanism 38
A cleaning pump for injecting and recovering a cleaning liquid into the reaction cell 12 from the nozzle of. The cleaning mechanism 38 first sucks the reaction liquid in the reaction cell 12 and sends them to a waste liquid tank (not shown).

The stirring mechanism 34, the cleaning mechanism 38, and the cleaning pump 40 are controlled by the microcomputer 24 via the reaction part control computer 42 and the interface 20.

The detection output of the spectroscope 36 is a log converter and an A / D converter 44,
In addition, it is taken into the microcomputer 24 via the interface 20.

46 is a reservoir for keeping the temperature of the constant temperature circulating water constant.

Further, a printer 48, a keyboard 50, a CRT 52, and a floppy disk drive 54 are connected to the interface 20.

The maintenance operation includes, for example, cleaning the reaction cell 12 by the cleaning mechanism 38, cleaning the probe and flow path of the sampler 16, and cleaning the probe and flow path of the dispenser 26. These maintenance operations are maintenance operations that can be automatically performed. In addition to the above, the maintenance operation includes, for example, replacement of constant temperature circulating water in a portion where the reaction cells 12 are arranged, cleaning of the reaction disk cover, replenishment of water for preventing evaporation of the sample in the reaction disk 10, and cleaning mechanism 38. , Inspection of various tanks, replacement of parts, etc., some of which are difficult to automate.

For the maintenance operation, the interface 20 is provided with a mechanism section operation frequency / time measuring means 4, a time-dependent operation mechanism storage means 6, and a time-dependent operation probability determination means 8.
These can be configured by an electric circuit, but can also be implemented by using a CPU and a memory device.
Since the mechanism section operation frequency / time measuring means 4, the time-dependent operation mechanism storage means 6, and the time-dependent operation probability determination means 8 need to operate even when the analyzer main body 2 is not operating, a CPU and a memory device Even in the case of the above configuration, it is provided separately from the microcomputer 24 of the analyzer main body 2 and the power supply is always on.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 shows an operation for storing data in the time-dependent operation mechanism storage means 6 by the mechanism operation number / time measuring means 4. This operation shall be triggered every 10 milliseconds.

It is checked whether or not the analyzer body 2 is energized (step S1), and if the energization is not detected, it is determined that the analyzer body 2 is not operating and the time is recorded (step S1).
2). If it is energized, it is checked whether the mechanical section is in operation. If it is in operation, the operation location and operation time are stored (steps S3, S4). It is checked whether or not the processing is being performed, and if the data processing is performed, the fact that the data processing is being performed and the processing time thereof are stored (steps S5 and S4).

By the operation shown in FIG. 3, a time-dependent operation mechanism table as shown in FIG. 4 is created in the time-dependent operation mechanism storage means 6.

An operation for executing the maintenance operation based on the created time-dependent operating mechanism table will be described with reference to FIG. The operation of FIG. 5 is assumed to be activated every minute.

First, the maintenance table for each mechanism is inspected (step S10). The mechanism-specific maintenance table is as shown in FIG. 6, and is held in a separately provided memory device. The items of the mechanism name, maintenance required interval and required time are fixed values, and the items that require maintenance are flagged to indicate that maintenance is required when the mechanism is used for the required maintenance interval time.
When maintenance is performed, it is replaced with a flag that maintenance is not required. This maintenance can be done automatically, such as cleaning the mechanism,
Some require labor such as replacing parts. As a result of the inspection of the mechanism-specific maintenance table, when it is determined that maintenance of the mechanism or parts is necessary, for example, when a certain part has reached the end of its life (step S11), it is determined whether the analyzer main body 2 is in operation. (Step S14). If it is running, maintenance cannot be executed, so it is reserved (step S15). If it is not in operation, it is judged whether or not maintenance of the mechanism or parts is possible (step S16), and if possible, it is executed (step S17). If maintenance is not possible, factors that are not possible are analyzed (step S1
8) If the automatic recovery is possible without requiring human intervention, the automatic recovery is executed (steps S19, S20), and if the automatic recovery is not possible, the CRT52 displays a message to call the operator's attention ( Step S21).

If maintenance of the mechanism or parts is not required in step S11, the time-dependent operating mechanism table 6 is inspected (step S12). Then, it is checked whether or not daily maintenance is required (step S13), and if necessary, the mechanism required for the maintenance is selected from the maintenance determination table as shown in FIG. 7, for example. The maintenance decision table is also held in a memory device provided separately. After that, like the above-mentioned maintenance of the mechanism and parts, it is possible to perform automatic restoration depending on whether the analyzer body 2 is in operation (step S14), whether maintenance is possible (step S16), or not. Depending on whether or not there is (step S19), maintenance is reserved, executed, automatic return is executed, and displayed.

When the maintenance execution is reserved in step S15, the maintenance is executed when the maintenance operation becomes possible.

Even if after performing normal analysis work for a certain period of time and after starting the automatic maintenance operation, it is possible to always store the latest data for a certain period of time in the time-dependent operating mechanism storage means. We can flexibly respond to changes in business content.

(Effects of the Invention) In the present invention, a normal analysis work is performed for a certain period of time to automatically determine a time period that does not interfere with the analysis work, and the performance of the analysis device during analysis preparation and analysis after the analysis is determined during the time period. Since the maintenance operation and the mechanism check for maintenance are performed, the maintenance operation does not hinder the daily analysis work, the operation rate of the analyzer is not reduced, and the maintenance operation is automatically performed. Since it is activated, manpower can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment, FIG. 2 (A) is a flow chart diagram showing a normal operation of an analyzer, and FIG. 2 (B) is an analysis when a maintenance operation is automatically performed by the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of storing data in the time-dependent operating mechanism storage means in one embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the time-dependent operating mechanism table, FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation for executing a maintenance operation in one embodiment, FIG. 6 is a view showing a mechanism-specific maintenance table, and FIG. 7 is a view showing a maintenance determination table. 2 ... Analysis device main body, 4 ... Mechanism operation number / time measuring means, 6 ... Time-dependent operation mechanism storage means, 8 ... Time-dependent operation probability determination means.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An analyzer having an analysis mechanism for automatically performing an analysis and a maintenance mechanism for automatically performing a maintenance operation in response to a maintenance start signal. The number of times / time measuring means, the time-dependent operating mechanism storing means for storing the measured operating mechanism parts by time, and the stored contents of the time-dependent operating mechanism storing means determine whether or not the time zone is suitable for the maintenance operation. And an operating probability determining means for each time of day.