JP3616744B2 - Sample transport system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sample transport system that sequentially supplies a sample to a plurality of automatic analyzers by a transport device, for example, a blood test system in which a blood analyzer, a blood smear preparation device, and a transport device are connected.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Blood tests and urine tests performed in clinical laboratories such as hospitals are required to be efficient in order to quickly return test results. Therefore, in recent years, in order to efficiently perform a large amount of sample testing, a sample transport system that sequentially transfers samples such as blood and urine to an automatic analyzer using a transport device such as a belt conveyor has been used. . For example, in the HST series (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation), a stationary transfer device is connected to each automatic analyzer such as a blood analyzer, and it can be connected to other units as one unit. This is a flexible sample transport system in which an arbitrary number of analyzers can be connected, and is used in a large-scale examination room. The Alpha series (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation) is a sample transport system that can be installed on a desktop by connecting a desktop transport device between the samplers of an automatic analyzer, and is used in medium-sized laboratories. ing. (See Figure 7)
[0003]
In such a sample transport system, a space for maintenance adjustment work is required around the automatic analyzer, and if that space is not available, the automatic analyzer is disconnected from the sample transport system and moved for maintenance. Adjustment work must be done. Then, after the maintenance adjustment work is completed, it must be moved to the original position and connected to the sample transport system.
Some automatic analyzers have increased in weight to around 100 kg as performance is improved, and since they are precision instruments, care must be taken not to give an impact when moving them. If the transport system is insufficiently connected, the sample transfer operation will not be successful, so the position of the connection itself must be adjusted, and the relative positions of each other are adjusted by the sample transport system equipped with a plurality of automatic analyzers. It is not easy. For this reason, it is not preferable to move the automatic analyzer because a large number of man-hours are required to include the operation confirmation work after connection, and it takes a long time to stop the sample transport system, and the influence on the examination is great.
[0004]
Therefore, the sample transport system is configured so that a sufficient space is taken around the automatic analyzer in consideration of maintenance and adjustment work. Therefore, as in the sample transport system of FIG. 7, a space for maintenance adjustment work is opened between the automatic analyzers, and between the transport devices connected to the autoanalyzer, the length between the autoanalyzers is changed. It was made to connect and comprise the conveyance apparatus of this.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order to increase the efficiency of examination by spreading the sample transport system, a more space-saving sample transport system is required. The present invention provides a space-saving sample transport system that can efficiently perform maintenance and adjustment work by making the first analyzer and the second analyzer separable .
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a transport device having a transport line for transporting a sample, first and second analyzers arranged along the transport device, a base on which the first analyzer is placed, There is provided a sample transport system including a moving path for moving the base in the horizontal direction, and by moving the base in the horizontal direction, the first analyzer and the second analyzer can be separated from each other.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The transport device in the present invention refers to a device that transports a sample rack containing one or more blood collection tubes, urine spitzs, and the like by a transport line such as a belt conveyor. The automatic analyzer in the present invention refers to an automatic analyzer that aspirates a sample such as blood and analyzes its components and the like, and refers to, for example, a blood analyzer and a urine analyzer. In addition, an apparatus for aspirating a specimen and processing the specimen, such as a blood smear preparation apparatus, is also included in the automatic analyzer .
[0008]
The base in the present invention refers to a base on which an automatic analyzer is placed, and is configured integrally with a moving path. The moving path is configured to move the base in the horizontal direction, and is provided with a guide for designating the moving direction. And a fixing part is provided so that a base can be fixed in the position of at least two places. The fitting part in the present invention refers to a part that fixes the first transport unit and the second transport unit . When the fitting portion is fixed, the relative positions of the first transport unit and the second transport unit are determined so that the sample can be delivered . It is preferable that the fitting portion is composed of a member extending in the moving direction of the base and a concave portion corresponding thereto so as to be fixed by the movement of returning the base to the position at the time of operation . Further, the conveying device can be separated as a unit for each automatic analyzer, a first automatic analyzer and the first conveying unit is preferably configured integrally. In that case, a fitting part is provided between the 1st conveyance unit and the 2nd conveyance unit.
[0009]
The sample transport system according to the present invention includes a detection unit that detects that the first analyzer has moved from the sample transport system, and operations of the transport device and / or the plurality of analyzers based on information from the detection unit. It is preferable to provide a control unit for controlling the above. As a result, when the analyzer is moved despite the sample being transported, the transport of the transport line can be stopped by the control of the control unit, and the sample is removed from the transport line. Can be prevented.
[0010]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the sample transport system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sample transport system according to the present invention during normal use. The mode during normal use will be briefly described below. First, a blood analyzer (XE-2100 manufactured by Sysmex Corporation) is used as the analyzer 3. This blood analyzer is a blood analyzer that can selectively analyze leukocyte 5 classification data and reticulocyte data using blood count items such as red blood cell count and hemoglobin concentration as basic measurement items. Further, as the analyzer 4, a smear preparation device (SP-100 manufactured by Sysmex Corporation) is used. The smear preparation apparatus is an apparatus that smears blood on a slide glass to create a specimen. As a smearing method, a wedge method (mounting glass method), that is, a method of smearing by moving the pulling glass in the longitudinal direction of the slide glass is used. At that time, in order to prepare an optimum specimen by the wedge method, the amount of blood dripped onto the slide glass, the angle of the pulling glass, the speed of the pulling glass, etc. are determined based on the blood analysis data obtained by the analyzer 3 It is configured so that smearing can be performed under optimum conditions for each.
[0011]
The operation of the sample transport system according to the present invention will be briefly described below. First, the sample container 40 with the barcode 41 shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the sample rack 42 shown in FIG. When this sample rack 42 is set on the sample loading table 45 of the transport unit 1, the sensor provided in the sample loading table senses the sample rack 42, and the sample rack 42 is automatically conveyed to the analyzer 3 side, and the belt It is laterally fed by a conveyor system. When the specimen container 40 arrives at the specimen aspirating position 47, the barcode reader reads the barcode 41 of the specimen container, the specimen container 40 is agitated by the agitation / aspiration unit (not shown), and blood is aspirated by the aspiration needle. Is done. The sample is agitated and aspirated sequentially, and the completed sample rack 42 is delivered from the sample aspiration position 47.
[0012]
The sample rack sent from the transfer line of the transfer unit 1 is transferred to the next transfer unit 2. Similarly, in the transport unit 2, when the sample container 40 arrives at the sample suction position 49, the barcode reader reads the barcode 41 of the sample container 40. If there is an instruction for preparing a smear of the specimen, the specimen is agitated / aspirated by the agitation / aspiration unit (not shown). This instruction can be instructed in advance, or can be automatically instructed according to the analysis result of the analyzer 3. The sample rack 42 for which the sample has been agitated and aspirated is automatically transferred to the sample stock table 51. In this way, the specimen can be continuously and automatically measured. Three or more automatic analyzers are connected as necessary.
[0013]
The analyzers 3 and 4 need to periodically maintain and inspect the mechanical unit. In addition, a failure may occur in the mechanism unit. In such a case, since the distance L1 between the analysis device 3 and the analysis device 4 is short, it is difficult to perform maintenance adjustment work inside the analysis devices 3 and 4 by opening the covers 5 and 6 therebetween. Further, for example, the XE-2100 has a weight of 93 kg and is very heavy. Therefore, it takes a great effort to move the analyzer 3 without giving an impact such as vibration.
[0014]
The analyzer 3 is mounted on the base 10 with screws or the like. The analyzer 3 and the transport unit 1 are connected and fixed by a shaft so that their relative positions do not change.
The base 10 is mounted on a transfer path 11 via wheels 12, and two grooves 13 for moving the wheels 12 in a predetermined manner are dug in the movement path 11. As a result, the base 10 can move horizontally and smoothly in a straight line. The base 10 is fixed to the transfer path 12 by a fixing portion (not shown) so as not to move during sample transport.
On the base 10, a personal computer (not shown) that controls the analysis device 3 and accumulates analysis results is arranged next to the analysis device 3.
[0015]
Hereinafter, a mode at the time of disconnection will be briefly described. First, an instruction to perform a connection release operation is input. The sample transport system performs processing for interrupting the transport operation and the analysis operation, and displays that the connection can be released. In this sample transport system, the analyzer 3 and the transport unit 1 are fixed by a shaft and integrated. In the sample transport system, a transport unit 1 and a transport unit 2 are connected. The transport unit 1 and transport unit 2 includes a fitting portion 21 (a) and 21 (b), the relative position therebetween is fitted to be fixed. First, the fixed part of the base 10 and the transfer path 11 is released so that the automatic analyzer 3 and the transport unit 1 placed on the base can move. Next, the connection between the transport unit 1 and the transport unit 2 is released by pushing the analyzer 3 in the right direction (arrow direction shown in FIG. 1). If it continues to be pushed as it is, the analyzer 3 and the transport unit 1 are integrated together and move easily along the groove 13 in the direction in which the distance L between the analyzers becomes longer on the moving path 11. Thus, if the base 10 is moved to the position of the distance L2 between the analyzers shown in FIG. 2, the base 10 is fixed to the transfer path 13 at that position.
[0016]
In this way, since the analyzer 3 and the analyzer 4 are fixed with a sufficient distance L2, the cover of the left side surface 5 of the analyzer 3 or the right side surface 6 of the analyzer 4 is opened. It becomes possible to work with the hand inside the analyzer 3 or the analyzer 4. Moreover, since the wheel 12 is attached to the base 10, since it can move easily horizontally, it does not give an impact to the analyzer 3 and the personal computer placed on the base 10.
[0017]
When the maintenance / adjustment work is completed and the original state is restored, the fixing portion between the base 10 and the transfer path 11 is released and moved in the left direction. The fitting portion 21 (b) is a member that extends in the moving direction of the base 10, and the position of the transport unit 1 and the transport unit 2 can be adjusted if they are fitted with the movement. If the analyzer 3 is returned to the normal position by the fitting and the base 10 and the transfer path 11 are fixed, it is not necessary to adjust the position, and the operation of the sample transport system can be resumed.
[0018]
Further, if the connection of the transport unit is mistakenly released during the operation of the sample transport system, the sample rack 42 is transported in the state shown in FIG. 2, and the sample rack 42 falls from the transport unit 1 or the like. Trouble may occur.
In order to solve this problem, in the state of normal use shown in FIG. 1, the light shielding rod 22 is inserted into the concave portion of the light shielding sensor 23, and the light shielding sensor 23 is shielded from light. When the analyzer 3 moves, the transport unit 1 and the light blocking bar 22 move together, so that the light blocking of the light blocking sensor 23 by the light blocking bar 22 is released, and the light blocking sensor 23 transmits this information to the control unit 24. Note that the information transmission destination may be the control units 23, 25, and 26.
[0019]
The control unit 24 having received the information controls to stop the operation of the sample transport system urgently. At this time, the operations of the transport units 1 and 2 are immediately stopped, and the analyzers 3 and 4 are controlled such that the operation of the analyzer is stopped after the processing for the sample being stirred / aspirated and the sample being analyzed is completed. Can do. It is also possible to display a message such as “The transport unit has been disconnected. Turn off the power” on the display units 31, 32, 33, and 34. Then, when the transport unit is returned to the predetermined position again, the fact that the position of the transport unit has been returned is transmitted to the control unit 24, and it is displayed that the sample transport system can start the operation again. Displayed in the sections 31, 32, 33, and 34.
[0020]
In the present embodiment, the example in which the analyzer 3 and the transport unit 1 are integrated and the fitting portion 21 is attached to the transport unit 1 and the transport unit 2 has been described. However, the analyzer 3 and the transport unit are described. 1 is not necessarily integrated, and only the analyzer placed on the base 10 can be moved by attaching the fitting portion to the base 10 and the moving path 11.
Further, it is possible to configure a sample transport system in which three or more automatic analyzers are connected and a number of bases corresponding to the number of the automatic analyzers are provided.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a space-saving detection member transport system, since the separation between the first analyzer and the second analyzer may be easily performed, is possible to work for maintenance adjustments efficiently it is possible to provide a specimen transport system that can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sample transport system according to the present invention during normal use.
Is [2] sample transportable Okushi analyzer 3 of the stem according to the present invention is a perspective view when moved.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear surface of the unit 1 of the transport apparatus of the sample transport system according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front surface of the unit 2 of the transport apparatus of the sample transport system according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an example of a sample rack used in the sample transport system according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an example of a sample container used in the sample transport system according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an example of a conventional sample transport system.

Claims (3)

A transport apparatus having a transport line for transporting a sample;
Arranged along the conveying device. 1 And second 2 An analysis device;
First 1 A base on which the analyzer is placed;
And a moving path for moving the base horizontally.
By moving the base horizontally, 1 Analytical equipment and the first 2 A sample transport system that can be separated from the analyzer. The transfer device 1 Connected to the analyzer 1 Transport unit and 2 Connected to the analyzer 1 Next to the transport unit 2 And a transport unit, 1 The transport unit moves the base 1 Configured to move together with the analyzer, 1 And second 2 The transport unit can be 1 And second 2 The sample transport system according to claim 1, further comprising a fitting unit that determines a relative position of the transport unit. First 1 The sample transport according to claim 1, further comprising: a detection unit that detects that the analyzer has moved from a predetermined position; and a control unit that controls the transport device and / or the analyzer according to information from the detection unit. system.

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