JP3505078B2 - Clinical testing system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a clinical examination system,
In particular, the present invention relates to a clinical test system that is suitable for use in collectively and automatically analyzing a sample composed of a biological sample such as blood or urine and managing the analysis result.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows the structure of a normal clinical examination system. In the figure, 1 is a host computer that controls the entire system, and 2 is a main controller that controls the processing units 40 to 46. 30a to 30g is the main controller 2
Between the processing units 40 to 46 and the processing units 40 to 46 and the transfer line units 50a to 50g connected to the processing units are sequentially controlled. 3 is a main controller 2 and sequencers 30a-3
It is a network 3 for connecting 0g.

The processing units 40 to 46 are specifically units having the following processing functions. That is, 40
Is a sample input that sorts the input sample according to the inspection item /
Sorting unit, 41 is a centrifuge unit for centrifuging a sample, 42 is a capping unit for uncapping a test tube containing a sample, 43 is an online dispenser for dispensing a sample to be analyzed by this system A unit, 44 is an analysis unit that analyzes a reaction liquid of a sample and a reagent, 45 is an offline dispensing unit that dispenses a sample that is not analyzed by this system, and 46 is a sample for storing and storing the sample It is a storage unit.

The specimens are put into a test tube and collected in a container called a rack in units of several tubes.
Sample loading / sorting unit 40, centrifuge unit 4
1, capping unit 42, online dispensing unit 43,
The analysis unit 44, the offline dispensing unit 45, and the sample storage unit 46 are conveyed along a path. In addition, according to the processing schedule of the host computer 1,
Control data is transmitted from the main controller 2 to the sequencers 30a to 30g, and the sequencers 30a to 30g are transferred to the transport line 5.
0a to 50g and the processing units 40 to 46 are controlled.

[0005]

In a normal clinical examination system, since the main controller needs to monitor the status of a large number of sequencers by polling or the like, control is performed by increasing the load of the main controller due to polling or the like. Real-time performance may be impaired.

Further, since the transfer line and the processing unit are controlled by one sequencer, the control of the transfer line and the processing unit cannot be separated. For this reason,
If either the transport line or the processing unit fails, the remaining control may be affected.
For example, if only the processing unit fails and the transfer line is normal, it is preferable to bypass the failed processing unit and transfer the sample to the adjacent processing unit, but without failing to relocate the system. There is a problem that the transport of the sample to the processing unit downstream of the processing unit is stopped.

In a normal clinical examination system, the system configuration is fluid and diversified depending on the equipment installation space and examination scale on the user side, which is the first cause of complicating the system and raising the price. Has become.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clinical examination system suitable for reducing the load on the main controller and improving the real-time property.

[0009]

The present invention includes a transport line for transporting a sample and a processing unit for processing the sample, and the transport line is a transport line unit to which the processing units are connected and can form a pair. In a clinical examination system including: a main controller, and a unit controller for each pair of the processing unit and a transfer line unit to which the processing unit is connected, the unit controller corresponding to the processing unit. Control unit and a control unit for the transport line unit to which the corresponding processing unit is connected, each said control unit being connected to said main controller via a communication network, whereby said processing unit It is characterized in that distributed processing is performed for each.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a clinical test system according to the present invention. In the figure, 10
Is a host computer that controls the entire system, 20
Is a main controller that controls each processing unit. Thirty
Is a communication network, which is a mechanism control data communication network 30a for transmitting and receiving mechanism system data between the main controller 2, the carrier line unit 500, and each of the control units 40 to 46, and the main controller 2. Conveyance sign 50
0 and the treatment units 400a to 400g, and a sample data communication network 30b for transmitting and receiving sample data.

The processing units 400a to 400g are specifically units having the following processing functions. 400
a is a sample loading / distributing unit that sorts the loaded samples according to the inspection item, 400b is a centrifuge unit that centrifuges the sample, 400c is a capping unit that opens the test tube containing the sample, and 400d is An online dispensing unit that dispenses a sample to be analyzed by this system, 400e is an analysis unit that analyzes a reaction liquid of a sample and a reagent, and 400f is an offline that dispenses a sample that is not analyzed by this system. Dispensing unit, and 4
00g is a sample storage unit for storing and storing the sample.

The transfer line 500 is a transfer line unit 5
00a to 500g, to which processing units 400a to 400g are detachably connected, respectively, and a transport line unit and a processing unit which are connected to each other form a pair. Further, the widths of the transfer line units 500a to 500g are the same as those of the processing units 400a to 400g.
It is unified so that any of 400g can be connected.

The specimens are put into a test tube and collected in a container called a rack in units of several tubes.
The sample loading / sorting unit 400a, the centrifugal separation unit 400b, the capping unit 400c, the online dispensing unit 400d, the analysis unit 400e, the offline dispensing unit 400f, and the sample storage unit 400g are transported and processed.

As described above, the communication network 30 includes the mechanism system control data communication network 30a and the sample data communication network 30b, and the former is the transport line units 500a to 500g and the processing units 400a to.
400 g is connected to the main controller 2 to perform mutual mechanical system control data communication, and the latter connects the mechanical system control data communication network 30 a and the processing units 400 a to 400 g to the main controller 2 for mutual sample data communication. I do.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the unit controller.
Reference numeral 401 denotes a unit controller, which is a pair of a processing unit and a transfer line unit (the number of pairs of the processing unit and the transfer line unit is 7 in the example of FIG. 1).
However, only one unit controller 401 is shown in FIG. 2 for simplification. Figure 1
Each of the transport line units 500a to 500g has a transport line unit mechanism control unit 401a, and
Each of the processing units 400a to 400g has a processing unit controller 401b, and the processing unit controller 401b.
Includes a processing unit mechanism control unit 401b1 and a sample processing data unit 401b2. Each of the unit controllers 401 provided for each pair of the processing unit and the transport line unit includes the transport line unit mechanism system control unit 4 in the transport line units forming a pair.
01a and the processing unit controller 40 in the processing unit
1b and.

Mechanism system controller 401 for the transfer line unit
The mechanical system control MPU 62 of a and the mechanical system control unit 62 of the processing unit mechanical system control unit 401b1 can perform mechanical system data communication via the mechanical system control data communication network 30a. The data communication network I / F 61 is an interface therefor. Further, the sample data communication MPU 82 of the sample data processing unit 401b2 is the sample data communication network 3
It is possible to perform sample data communication via 0b, and the sample data communication network I / F 81
Is the interface for that.

Mechanism system controller 401 for the transfer line unit
a is a data interface of a mechanical system data communication network I / F 61, which is an interface between the mechanical system control data communication network 30a and the mechanical system control MPU 62, and data on the mechanical system control data communication network 30a. To the mechanical system control MPU 62, a pulse generator 63 that outputs a pulse to the stepping motor, and a pulse output voltage level of the pulse generator 63.
A motor drive circuit 6 for driving by supplying an exciting current to each phase of
4. It is composed of a stepping motor 65 used to drive the conveyor line belt. Further, in the pulse generator 63, a storage element that stores a plurality of drive pattern data for the stepping motor 65 and is capable of reading, writing, and holding data, represented by a flash memory, is incorporated. By using this element,
Also in the field, the drive pattern data can be changed via the mechanism system control data communication network 30a.

As described above, the processing unit device control unit 401b is composed of the processing unit mechanism system control unit 401b1 and the sample data control unit 401b2. The internal structure of the processing unit mechanism system control unit 401b1 is the transport line unit. It is the same as the mechanical system control unit 401a. The sample data processing unit 401b2 is connected to the sample data communication network 3
0b and the sample data communication MPU 82, which is an interface between the sample data communication network I / F 81 and the sample sensor information.
It is composed of a sample data communication MPU 82 for converting into the above data and a sample detection sensor 83 for analyzing the sample.

FIG. 3A shows an operation flow at the time of executing the initial operation on the main controller side. A status transmission request is issued to each unit controller by broadcast communication (1).
It is judged whether or not there is a response from all the unit controllers (2), and if the result is "YES", the process ends. If the determination result is "NO", it is further determined whether or not the timeout has occurred (3), and the result is "Y.
If "ES", it is considered to be abnormal, and if "NO", the flow returns to step (2).

FIG. 3B shows an operation flow at the time of executing the initial operation on the unit controller side. The status check inside the processing unit is performed (1), and it is judged whether the result is OK (2). If the result is "NO", it is considered to be abnormal, and if "YES", it is judged whether or not there is a transmission request from the main controller (3). If the result is "YES", then the process ends, and if "NO", it is further judged whether or not a timeout has occurred (4). If the result is "YES", it is considered to be abnormal, and if "NO", the flow returns to step (3).

More specifically, after the power is turned on, the mechanical system control MPU 62 inside the unit controller 401 issues a self-diagnosis command to the pulse generator 63.
The pulse generator 63 has a built-in function for reading data,
The self-diagnosis data is read from a writable and writable storage device and converted into pulses. Pulse generator 63
The voltage level of the output pulse is converted by the motor drive circuit 64, and an exciting current is passed through each phase of the stepping motor 65 to set the mechanical system to the neutral position.

When the mechanical system initial is completed, the mechanical system control MPU 62 issues a motor status check command to the pulse generator 63 and holds the result. Here, when the mechanical system control MPU 62 detects an abnormality in the unit mechanical system control unit 401b1 and determines that only the transport line unit mechanical system control unit 401a is operable, the unit controller 401 detects the sample,
The bypass operation mode is entered, which is an operation mode of simply carrying to the adjacent control unit.

The main controller 20 waits for a certain time until the self-diagnosis of the mechanical system of each unit controller is completed, and then,
A status transmission request is made by broadcast communication to the processing units 400a to 400g through the mechanism system control data communication network 30a. On the other hand, the mechanical system control MPU 62 in the processing units 400a to 400g reports the self-diagnosis result. Thereby, the main controller 2 grasps the states of all the processing units 40 to 46.

FIG. 4 shows an operation flow when executing a unit controller event. Unit controller No. , Sample No. And event no. Is input to the host computer 10, the information is transferred from the main controller 20 to the unit controller 401.
Sent to (1). The unit controller determines whether or not there is a response (2), and the result is "YE
If "S", the unit controller executes the designated event (3), and it is judged whether the execution is completed normally (4). If the result is “YES”, the end report is made from Nara (5), then it is judged whether all the events are finished (6), and if the result is “YES”, the process is finished.

In step (2), the judgment result is "N
If it is "O", it is judged whether it is time-out (7). If the result is "YES", abnormal processing is performed (8), and if "NO", the flow returns to step (2).
In step (4), if the judgment result is "NO", it is judged whether or not retry is possible (9). If the result is "YES", the flow returns to step (3),
If "NO", the abnormality is reported (10) and the abnormality is processed (8).

More specifically, upon receiving a command from the host computer 10 after completion of the initial operation, the main controller 20 instructs the processing units 40 to 46 to generate an event No.
And sample No. To send. The MPU 62 for controlling the mechanical system inside the unit controller 401 displays the event number. And sample N
o. Event No. to the pulse generator 63 in the transport line unit mechanism control unit 401a. The operation command corresponding to is issued. The pulse generator 63 has a built-in storage device capable of reading, writing, and holding data and pre-registering event-based mechanism system control data corresponding to each event. Therefore, the mechanical system control data corresponding to the issued command is read and converted into a pulse. The output pulse of the pulse generator 63 has its voltage level converted by the motor driving circuit 64, and the stepping motor 65
By passing an exciting current to each phase of the stepping motor 65
To rotate. With the above operation, the transport line 500 is operated, and the loading of the sample is completed.

After the loading of the sample is completed, the MPU for controlling the mechanical system
62 is the event number for the pulse generator 63 in the processing unit mechanism control unit 401b1. The operation command corresponding to is issued. Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the syringe, sampling arm, and the like inside the processing unit are operated, and operations such as sample sorting, dispensing, and analysis, which are operations specific to the processing unit, are performed.

After the end of the operation peculiar to the processing unit, the mechanical system control MPU 62 sends a normal completion report to the unit controller 401 located downstream of the system through the mechanical system control data communication network 30a, and the sample data communication network. Sample No. 30 through 30b. And the operation result report. Also, adjacent to the unit controller 401,
In addition, it is confirmed to the unit controller 401 located downstream whether or not the unit controller 401 can be carried in through the same path. When it is determined that the mechanical system control MPU 62 can be carried out, the event number is sent to the pulse generator 63 in the transport line unit mechanical system control unit 401a. The operation command corresponding to is issued. Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the transport line is operated to complete the transport of the sample.

When an abnormality occurs during these series of operations, the mechanical system control MPU 62 is operated by the pulse generator 63.
It is determined whether or not a retry is possible, based on the status information from, and if possible, a retry operation is performed a prescribed number of times. If the retry is successful, the process is continued. If it is determined that the retry is impossible or if the retry is unsuccessful, the main controller 2 is notified and the process proceeds to the abnormal process.

FIG. 5 shows a code system of a mechanism control data communication network as a reference. The code of the mechanical system control data communication network 30a is LENGTH indicating the number of bytes of the MSG, and MSG. No, MPU for mechanical system control
It is composed of MSG which is a message such as a command and data between 62 and the main controller 20. Also, M
SG is the command number. CODE, LENGTH indicating the number of bytes of DATA, and DATA which is a data area.

As can be understood from the above description, by enabling distributed processing in processing unit units, not only the load on the main controller is reduced and the real-time property is improved, but also the communication network. Separation into a mechanical communication network and a sample data network further improves real-time performance, and allows the sample to be transferred to the adjacent processing unit only by the transfer line during maintenance of the processing unit. did. Further, the mechanical system control data that has been converted into an event is registered in advance between the transfer line and the processing unit, and this is transmitted from the host computer to the event number. Since the transfer line and the processing unit are controlled by reading by specifying, the traffic on the mechanical system network can be reduced, and thereby the real-time property can be further improved. In addition, since the transport units are unified so that the processing units can be connected to each other, it is possible to reduce the system price.

[0032]

According to the present invention, there is provided a clinical examination system suitable for reducing the load on the main controller and improving the real-time property.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a clinical test system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a unit controller.

FIG. 3 is an operation flow chart when executing an initial operation on the main controller side and the unit controller side.

FIG. 4 is an operation flow diagram when executing a unit controller event.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a code system of a mechanism control data communication network.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a normal clinical examination system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Host computer, 20: Main controller, 30: Communication network, 30a: Mechanism system control data communication network, 30b: Specimen data communication network,
400a to 400g: processing unit, 500: transfer line, 500a to 500g: transfer line unit, 40
1: unit controller, 401a: transport line unit mechanism control unit, 401b: processing unit control unit, 401
b1: processing unit mechanism control unit, 401b2: sample data processing unit.

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-9-274044 (JP, A) JP-A-5-264558 (JP, A) JP-A-9-54095 (JP, A) JP-A-9-33539 (JP , A) JP 9-43249 (JP, A) JP 9-43248 (JP, A) JP 9-54096 (JP, A) JP 11-94838 (JP, A) JP 10-62426 (JP, A) JP-A-8-15267 (JP, A) JP-A-11-148940 (JP, A) JP-B 4-66439 (JP, B2) JP-B-6-27745 (JP, A) B2) Japanese Patent Publication 1-42384 (JP, B2) Japanese Patent Publication 8-33400 (JP, B2) International Publication 96/25712 (WO, A1) Hiroshi Mimaki, Ryuichiro Kodama, Hiroyuki Kuriyama, “Efficiency of clinical examination Automatic blood analyzer of modular combination type suitable for general operation ”, Nikkei Review, Japan, Hitachi Hyoronsha, October 1, 1997, Vol. 79, No. 10, p. 757-762 (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 35/00-35/10 JISST file (JOIS)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of processing units for processing a sample and a transfer line for transferring the sample, wherein the transfer lines are provided in pairs with respect to the plurality of processing units and are separable from each other. In the clinical examination system connected as described above, a unit control unit is provided for each pair of the processing unit and the transfer line unit to which the processing unit is connected, and the unit control unit performs processing for the corresponding processing unit. A unit control section and a transfer line unit control section for a transfer line unit to which the corresponding processing unit is connected, and the processing unit control section and the transfer line unit control section are connected to a main controller via a communication network. A clinical test system characterized by being performed. 2. The clinical examination system according to claim 1, wherein the communication network is composed of a mechanism control data communication network and a sample data communication network, and the mechanism control data communication network is the main controller. A clinical laboratory system, which is connected between the processing unit controller and the transport line unit controller, and the sample data communication network is connected between the main controller and the processing unit controller. . 3. The clinical examination system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit control unit includes a processing unit mechanism system control unit and a sample data processing unit, and the transport line unit control unit is a transport line unit mechanism system. Including a controller, the communication network includes a mechanism system control data communication network and a sample data communication network,
The transport line unit mechanism system control unit and the processing unit mechanism system control unit are via the mechanism system control data communication network, and the sample data processing unit is via the sample data communication network. A clinical test system characterized by being connected to. 4. The clinical examination system according to claim 3 , wherein the main controller is connected to a host computer, and the transport line unit mechanism control unit and the processing unit mechanism control are provided. The unit is provided with a storage device in which the event-based mechanism system control data is registered in advance, and the transport line unit and the processing are performed based on the mechanism system control data stored in the storage device by designating an event from the host computer. A clinical examination system characterized by mechanically controlling a unit. 5. A clinical test system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the width of the transport line unit the
A clinical examination system characterized by being unified so that each processing unit can be connected.