JP6047399B2 - Sample transport system in automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pretreatment apparatus and an analysis apparatus for processing and analyzing a biological sample (specimen) such as blood and urine, and more particularly, to a pretreatment apparatus or analyzer by a sample rack that holds one or a plurality of specimen containers simultaneously. The present invention relates to a sample transport system for transporting a sample to an analyzer.

  As the number of test items and the number of specimens increase in recent years, the size of a pretreatment apparatus that performs pretreatment necessary for analyzing a specimen and an analyzer that automates analysis of the specimen are increasing. Furthermore, in order to improve the efficiency of inspection work, the equipment is required to improve reliability, increase throughput, and reduce costs. To increase processing capacity, multiple pre-processing devices and analyzers are connected and connected. A sample transport system that transports samples between a plurality of apparatuses and a sample rack that enables simultaneous transport of a plurality of samples have been developed and commercialized.

Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic analysis system in which a plurality of processing units are connected. In this system, a sample rack carrying five sample containers is transported to perform automatic analysis of the sample. As input ports for loading the rack into the automatic analysis system, a plurality of input trays and emergency sample input ports are used. have.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-83866

  In an automatic analysis system such as Patent Document 1, when a rack is set on any of a plurality of input trays, priority is often given to the input trays. In this case, the rack loading from the low-priority loading tray is not started unless the rack loading from the high-priority loading tray is finished. If no setting has been made, racks from other input trays cannot be supplied until all racks installed in the input tray set with the highest priority are supplied.

  In addition, if a large number of racks are loaded into the preprocessing device or the analysis device at one time, there is an upper limit on the number of racks that can be loaded into the system because the transport line is congested. When the number of racks supplied into the sample transport system reaches the upper limit, the next rack cannot be carried in until the previously supplied rack is carried out. Therefore, depending on the analysis content, it takes a very long time to carry all the racks in the rack supply unit into the analyzer 2.

  In such a case, the analysis result is not output indefinitely even though the rack is set in the input tray or the rack supply port. If the operator is not aware, there is a possibility of delaying the reporting of the measurement result.

An object of the present invention is to avoid a situation in which a rack set in one rack supply port is not carried into the system indefinitely in a sample processing system having a plurality of rack supply ports.

  The configuration of the present invention for solving the above problem is as follows.

That is, in an automatic analyzer that includes a sample processing unit that processes a sample and a plurality of sample supply units that supply a sample to be processed by the sample processing unit, it should be supplied to any of the plurality of sample supply units When the sample is set, a control unit is provided for controlling to supply the sample alternately from these sample supply units.

According to the present invention, when it is necessary to further supply a sample in a state where a large number of samples are processed in the apparatus, each sample is not supplied from a supply port with a high priority. Samples are supplied in consideration of traffic congestion at the supply port and supply priority. As a result, it is possible to prevent a serious stagnation of the rack and to prevent the generation of a sample whose measurement is not started forever.

Configuration diagram of the sample transport system and analyzer connected Rack supply judgment when rack alternate transfer function is ON Rack alternate transfer function setting screen

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a sample processing system.

  In the sample processing system of this embodiment, a sample transport system 1 that performs pre-processing on a sample and an analyzer 2 that performs analysis are connected by a transport line, and the sample is transported by five racks. . Further, a rack supply unit 3 and a buffer 6 are provided between the sample transport system 1 and the analyzer 2 for loading samples that do not require pretreatment.

  The sample held in the sample rack is transported from the input unit of the sample transport system to the pretreatment device and the analysis device, and after necessary processing and analysis, is transported to the storage unit of the analysis device. Depending on the amount and condition of the sample, abnormalities such as clogging of the pipette that sucks the sample due to coagulum in the sample, or insufficient amount of sample liquid for the number of items to be analyzed occur during processing and analysis. There are things to do. The apparatus determines the state of the sample from the sensor information, and if an abnormality is detected, the apparatus immediately stops the analysis operation for the abnormal sample and proceeds to the analysis operation for the next sample. Abnormal specimens that have become clogged or have insufficient liquid volume are subjected to analysis again, for example, by being pretreated again.

  The flow of transport of a general sample rack is such that a rack that has been preprocessed by the sample transport system 1 is transported to the analyzer 2, analyzed, and transported to the rack storage unit 5. A sample that does not require pretreatment by the sample transport system 1 can be supplied from the rack supply unit 3.

  When a rack is supplied from the sample transport system 1 to the analyzer 2, the rack is first transported to the buffer 6, and the rack is temporarily put on standby. The racks are sequentially transported from the buffer 6 to the sample transport side rack supply port 4. When the sample transport side rack detector 7 detects that the rack has been transported, it is transported into the analyzer 2.

  When the operator directly supplies the rack to the analyzer 2, the rack is installed in the rack supply unit 3. The installed racks are transported one rack at a time into the analyzer 2 when a rack supply request is received. The racks transported into the analyzer 2 are sequentially analyzed, and are transported to the rack storage unit 5 when the analysis of the mounted sample is lost. The rack supply unit 3 may include a sensor that detects that a rack has been installed.

  When a rack supply request is generated at the same time that the rack is transferred to the sample transfer side rack supply port 4, the rack with the higher priority of the rack supply port is transferred into the analyzer 2.

  In FIG. 1, when a new rack to be supplied from the sample transport system 1 or the rack supply unit 3 into the analyzer 2 is loaded, the rack being processed in the analyzer 2 (unloaded to the rack storage unit 5). Count as the racks in the equipment. When the number of racks in the apparatus reaches the maximum number of racks in the apparatus, the normal state changes to the rack congestion state. When the rack in the apparatus is carried out to the rack storage unit 5 and the number of racks in the apparatus is less than or equal to the maximum number of racks in the apparatus, the rack is changed from a congested state to a normal state, and a new rack is allowed to be supplied.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of rack supply determination. According to the flowchart of FIG. 2, the rack supply port for supplying the rack is selected, and the rack is transported.

  When the start button of the analyzer 2 is pressed or the sample transport side rack detector 7 detects that the rack is transported from the sample transport system 1 to the sample transport side rack supply port 4, a rack supply request is generated. And rack supply determination is started (step 101).

  First, it is determined whether there is a rack supply request from the rack supply unit 3, that is, whether a new rack is set in the rack supply unit 3 (step 102). When there is no rack supply request from the rack supply unit 3, it is determined that “rack supply is not performed” (step 111), and the rack from the sample transport side rack supply port 4 is preferentially carried into the analyzer 2. Side loading is performed (step 107). If there is a rack supply request from the rack supply unit 3, it is determined that “rack supply is present” (step 112).

  If it is determined in step 102 that the rack is supplied, the status of the sample transport side rack supply port 4 is determined (step 103). Here, the sample transport side rack detector 7 determines whether or not a new rack is set in the sample transport side rack supply port 4, and if it is not detected (when it is determined that there is no rack), “no rack” is indicated. Judgment is made (step 113), the rack supply unit is carried in, and the rack is supplied (step 105).

  When the sample transport side rack detector 7 detects the presence of a rack, it is determined that there is a rack (step 114), and it is determined whether the rack is in a congested state (step 104). In step 104, as described above, the determination is made based on whether or not the number of racks in the analyzer 2 is equal to or less than the maximum number of racks in the apparatus. Since the maximum number of racks in the apparatus varies depending on the throughput and scale of the analyzer 2, it is desirable to set the rack in advance. In order to grasp the number of racks in the analyzer 2, a sensor for detecting the number of racks supplied to the analyzer 2 and the number of racks stored in the rack storage unit 5 after the analysis is completed, and the number of racks are determined. You may provide the memory | storage means to count and memorize | store.

  If the rack is not congested (normal state), it is determined that the rack is in a normal state (step 116), the rack supply unit is carried in, and the rack is supplied (step 105). On the other hand, when it is determined that the rack is congested (step 115), the rack supply unit and the sample transport side rack are alternately transported (step 106).

  In the present embodiment, the alternating conveyance is, as the name suggests, alternately conveying the racks of the rack supply unit 3 and the sample conveyance side rack supply port 4. In order to realize the alternate conveyance, the rack supply port from which the rack is supplied when the rack is supplied is stored. Based on this information, it is determined from which rack supply port the rack should be supplied next. When the alternate conveyance is to be performed without supplying the rack in advance, the rack of the rack supply unit 3 having a high priority is supplied first.

  When the normal state is determined, the rack supply speed is relatively fast, so that it is unlikely that the racks in the rack supply unit 3 and the sample transport side rack supply port 4 will not be supplied indefinitely without performing alternate transport. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a traffic jam, the rack supply speed decreases because the next rack cannot be supplied unless the processing of the previously input rack is completed. Therefore, by controlling so that alternate transport from each rack supply port is carried out only when there is a traffic jam, priority is given to the supply from the rack supply unit with a high priority, but to the rack supply unit with a low priority. Since it is possible to prevent the rack from being stagnant, it is possible to prevent a significant delay in the inspection report.

  FIG. 3 is a setting screen of the alternate rack conveyance function in the present embodiment.

  The rack alternate conveyance function is set on a start condition screen displayed on a control computer (not shown) of the analyzer 2. Various functions can be set on the start condition screen. By clicking the alternate conveyance function 202, the rack alternate conveyance function can be switched ON / OFF. After switching, clicking the start button 201 starts analysis under the set conditions.

  In the present embodiment, the alternate transport method for supplying the sample to the analyzer when the sample transport system for pre-processing the sample and the analyzer is connected as an integral unit has been described. The invention can also be applied to other device configurations. That is, a sample transport system that performs pre-processing on a sample may also be provided with a plurality of supply units that set a sample to be newly supplied. Even in such a case, the sample can be supplied to the sample processing system indefinitely if it is controlled so that it is alternately transported between the supply units according to the traffic congestion status of the sample transfer system and the status of the sample set in each supply unit. It is unlikely that the situation will not occur.

The sample supplied from the supply port may not be placed on the sample rack. For example, in a mode in which a tray in which specimens are arranged in an array can be set in a specimen transport system or an input unit of an analyzer, the specimen held in the tray is transferred to a transport rack or holder, Transport to the system side. Even in such a case, the same effect as described above can be obtained by carrying out alternate conveyance between trays.

  Another embodiment of the rack transport function for preventing rack congestion will be described.

When the rack cannot be carried into the analyzer 2 from the sample transport system 1 in FIG. 1, the rack can be temporarily stored in the buffer 6. When the rack is congested, the rack supply is handled in accordance with the status of the rack accumulated in the buffer 6. An example of rack supply is shown below.
Number of racks in buffer: Two racks in the large buffer are supplied and one rack is supplied from the rack supply unit.
-Number of racks in buffer: Racks in the middle buffer and racks in the rack supply unit are supplied alternately.
-Number of racks in buffer: One rack in the small buffer is supplied, and two racks are supplied from the rack supply unit.

As described above, by changing the ratio of alternate conveyance according to the number of racks in the buffer, racks can be supplied according to the processing capacity of the analyzer 2, so that it can be supplied into one supply port or buffer forever. It is possible to avoid a situation where a rack that is not used is left behind.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sample conveyance system 2 Analyzer 3 Rack supply part 4 Sample conveyance side rack supply port 5 Rack storage part 6 Buffer 7 Sample conveyance side rack detector 101 Rack supply request 102 Rack supply request of rack supply part 103 Sample conveyance side rack situation 104 Rack congested state 105 Loading of rack supply unit 106 Alternate transfer 107 Sample transport side loading 111 No rack supply 112 Rack supply present 113 No rack 114 Rack present 115 Congestion 116 Normal

Claims (5)

A pretreatment unit for pretreating a specimen;
An analysis unit for analyzing the sample after the pretreatment ;
A main transport line for transporting a sample from the pretreatment unit to the analysis unit;
A pre-processing in the pre-processing unit is completed, and a storage unit for temporarily storing the sample to be supplied to the analysis unit,
In an automatic analyzer comprising a sample supply unit that holds a sample that is not required to be processed by the preprocessing unit and is processed by the analysis unit , and supplies the sample through the main transport line ,
When a sample to be supplied is held in both the storage unit and the sample supply unit , the storage unit and the sample supply unit are used to determine whether the sample is to be supplied from the storage unit and the sample supply unit. An automatic analyzer including a control unit that automatically determines a ratio of the number of samples supplied to a main transport line and alternately transports samples from the storage unit and the sample supply unit based on the determined ratio .
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
Wherein, when the predetermined larger specimen than the maximum number being processed by the analysis portion, an automatic analyzer for controlling to convey from the reservoir and the specimen supplying section specimens alternately.
The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein
An automatic analyzer including a display unit for displaying a selection screen for selecting whether or not to convey alternately.
A sample pretreatment unit for preprocessing a sample;
A sample analyzer for analyzing the sample;
In a sample processing system comprising a transport belt connecting the sample pretreatment unit and the sample analysis unit,
The sample analyzer has a first sample supply port for supplying a sample to the sample analyzer from the outside of the sample processing system via the transport belt ,
The transport belt has a second sample supply port for waiting for a sample that has been pre-processed by the sample pre-processing unit and requested to be analyzed by the sample analyzing unit;
When there is a sample at both the first sample supply port and the second sample supply port , the first sample is determined based on the number of samples waiting at the second sample supply port. A ratio of the number of samples supplied from the supply port and the second sample supply port to the transport belt is determined, and the sample from the first sample supply port and the second sample supply port is determined based on the determined ratio A sample processing system comprising a control unit that alternately conveys the sample.
The specimen processing system according to claim 4 , wherein
A sample processing system comprising a sensor for detecting a setting state of samples at the first sample supply port and the second sample supply port.