JP7307758B2 - SAMPLE ANALYSIS SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD AND SAMPLE ANALYSIS SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sample analysis system control method and a sample analysis system.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sample analysis system equipped with an analyzer that analyzes a sample containing living body-derived cells such as blood cells is widely known. In such a system, it is necessary to periodically check that there are no abnormalities in the measurement results of the analyzer using a quality control substance containing cells of a known concentration, and to manage the measurement accuracy.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a sample analysis system that includes a plurality of analyzers and an activation controller. The activation controller is configured to selectively activate a device to be activated among the plurality of analyzers at a designated time.

JP 2020-094843 A

In laboratories, quality control of analyzers is generally performed by measuring quality control substances before routine tests of specimens are started. In the system of Patent Document 1, the analyzer can be started automatically, but in order to perform quality control before the start of routine testing, the user needs to prepare quality control substances and perform measurements, which reduces the user's man-hours. There is room for improvement in terms of

An object of the present invention is to reduce the man-hours of the user.

A control method for a sample analysis system of the present invention is a control method for a sample analysis system including at least one measurement unit. This method automatically activates one or more measurement units included in the sample analysis system according to a schedule registered in advance by the user, automatically supplies quality control samples to the activated measurement units, and activates including measuring quality control specimens with the specified measurement unit.

The sample analysis system of the present invention includes one or more measurement units, a supply unit that stores quality control samples and supplies the quality control samples to the measurement units, a storage unit that stores a schedule registered in advance by a user, and a control unit. The control unit activates one or more measurement units according to the schedule stored in the storage unit, the supply unit automatically supplies the quality control sample to the activated measurement unit, and the measurement unit is supplied Measure quality control samples.

A control method for a sample analysis system according to the present invention includes accepting designation of one or more of a plurality of devices from a user and shutting down the designated device.

A sample analysis system of the present invention comprises a plurality of devices for processing samples, and a control unit, wherein the control unit accepts designation of one or more of the plurality of devices from a user, and to shut down.

According to the present invention, the activation of the measurement unit and the measurement of the quality control substance can be automated, thereby reducing the user's man-hours required to start the inspection. Moreover, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the user's man-hours required for shutting down the sample analysis system.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a sample analysis system; FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a sample analysis system; FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the interconnection relationship of each unit that configures the sample analysis system; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a sample container and a sample rack in which the sample container is accommodated; FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing configurations of a measurement unit and a transport unit that configure the sample analysis system; 4 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a measurement unit and a transport unit; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a supply unit that configures the sample analysis system; FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration (internal layout) of the supply unit, showing a state in which sample racks are set on the conveyor section. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the input section that constitutes the supply unit, showing a state in which the QC sample container is set in the input port. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the input section, showing a state in which the QC sample container is transported inside the storage adjustment unit; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cold insulation section that constitutes the supply unit, showing a state in which the cover is closed; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cold insulation part, showing a state in which the cover is open; It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a supply unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the supply unit, and is a view of the rack accommodating section as seen from the front side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the supply unit, and is a view of the rack accommodating section as seen from the rear side; FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration (internal layout) of a supply unit that is an example of an embodiment, showing how QC sample racks are supplied. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration (internal layout) of a supply unit that is an example of an embodiment, showing how QC sample racks are collected. It is an example of the home screen displayed on the monitor of the supply unit. It is an example of the device status screen displayed when the device status icon on the home screen is pressed. It is an example of a shutdown screen displayed when the shutdown icon of the device status screen is pressed. It is an example of the QC specimen extraction screen displayed when the extraction icon of an apparatus state screen is pushed. It is an example of the input screen displayed when the input icon of the apparatus status screen is pressed. It is an example of the schedule screen displayed when the schedule icon of the home screen is pressed. It is an example of the schedule registration screen displayed when the registration icon of the schedule screen is pressed. It is an example of a confirmation screen displayed when an automatic QC schedule is input and an OK button is pressed on the schedule registration screen. It is an example of the operation menu displayed when the schedule list of the schedule screen is pressed. 1 is an example of a portal screen including a schedule display area and an inventory display area; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the supply unit, and also shows the connection relationship between the supply unit, the measurement unit, and the transport controller. It is an example of a database of QC samples stored in the controller of the supply unit. 4 is a flow chart showing a series of processes of the sample analysis system; 4 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of automatic wakeup; 4 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of automatic QC in the supply unit; 4 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure for determining a combination of QC sample containers to be used for quality control measurement in automatic QC. 4 is a flow chart showing the procedure of automatic cleaning in the supply unit. 4 is a flow chart showing the procedure of processing for storing QC sample containers in the cold storage section of the supply unit. 4 is a flow chart showing the procedure of processing for taking out a QC sample container from the cold storage section of the supply unit. 4 is a flow chart showing a procedure for measuring a sample container in a measurement unit; 4 is a flow chart showing a measurement procedure for a QC sample container in a measurement unit; 4 is a flow chart showing a procedure of cleaning processing using a cleaning agent container in the measurement unit; 4 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of rack transportation/storage; 4 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure for collecting racks. FIG. 10 illustrates the operation of the supply unit in automatic QC; It is a figure which shows the operation|movement of the supply unit in automatic washing. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the operation of the supply unit when the QC sample container is accommodated in the cold storage section; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the operation of the supply unit when accommodating an empty rack in the rack accommodating section; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a combination of QC sample containers; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a combination of QC sample containers; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a combination of QC sample containers; It is an example of a screen for comparing the quality control results of the old lot and the new lot displayed on the monitor of the sample analysis system. FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating processing of the supply unit when a shutdown instruction is received; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a first modified example of the sample analysis system; FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a second modified example of the sample analysis system; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a first modification of the supply unit; FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a first modified example of the supply unit; FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a second modified example of the supply unit;

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a sample analysis system control method and a sample analysis system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Further, the scope of the present invention encompasses selective combinations of constituent elements of a plurality of embodiments and modifications described below.

1 and 2 are diagrams schematically showing the overall configuration of a sample analysis system 1 that is an example of an embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sample analysis system 1 includes a first measurement unit 10A, a second measurement unit 10B, a transport unit 20, and a control unit 30. FIG. The first measurement unit 10A and the second measurement unit 10B are analyzers that analyze a sample containing biological cells, and are arranged adjacent to each other. Hereinafter, the two measurement units that constitute the analyzer are collectively referred to as a "measurement block". A transport unit 20 is arranged in front of the measuring block. In this specification, for convenience of explanation, terms indicating directions such as front and back, left and right, and up and down shown in the drawings are used.

The sample analysis system 1 includes two modules 10 each including a measurement block, transport unit 20 and control unit 30 . The two modules 10 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The module 10 is provided with one control unit 30 for two measuring units. The first measurement unit 10A and the second measurement unit 10B are configured as devices for counting blood cells in a blood sample, and have the same hardware configuration. Whole blood is used as a blood sample.

The sample analysis system 1 includes a supply unit 80 in which a sample rack 110 is set upstream of the two modules 10 . A plurality of sample containers 100 are accommodated in the sample rack 110 . The sample container 100 is a container containing a blood sample for blood count, that is, whole blood. The supply unit 80 is arranged adjacent to one of the two modules 10 arranged on the upstream side. The supply unit 80 includes a conveyor section 81 for transporting the sample racks 110 to the modules 10 . In this embodiment, the sample rack 110 is set on the conveyor section 81 by the user.

The conveyor section 81 is connected to the transport unit 20 of the module 10 and configured to transfer the set sample rack 110 to the transport unit 20 . Although the details will be described later, in addition to the sample container 100, the supply unit 80 is set with a QC sample container 150 containing a quality control substance containing cells of a known concentration. The supply unit 80 includes a storage adjustment unit 82 that cools and stores the QC sample container 150 , adjusts the temperature of the quality control substance to the measurement temperature, and then delivers it to the conveyor section 81 . The QC sample container 150 contains a quantity of quality control material that can be used for multiple measurements. For example, one QC sample container 150 contains an amount of quality control substance that allows 24 measurements by the measurement unit. Hereinafter, the quantity corresponding to one measurement is also referred to as "one test".

The upstream side of the sample analysis system 1 means the side where the sample rack 110 is set and serves as the starting point of transportation, that is, the side where the supply unit 80 is arranged. Further, the downstream side of the sample analysis system 1 means the end point of transport of the sample rack 110 . 1 and 2, the right side of the paper surface is the upstream side of the sample analysis system 1, and the left side of the paper surface is the downstream side of the sample analysis system 1. FIG. The sample rack 110 set in the supply unit 80 is sent to the transport unit 20 and delivered to the measurement unit by the function of the transport unit 20 .

The transport unit 20 has a plurality of rack transport paths, and can distribute and supply the sample containers 100 to the first measurement unit 10A and the second measurement unit 10B. The transport unit 20 includes a first transport path 21 for receiving the sample rack 110 from the upstream side (right side) of the sample analysis system 1 and transporting it to the downstream side (left side). and a second transport path 22 arranged closer to the measurement block side than the first transport path 21 . The second transport path 22 transports the sample rack 110 in the left-right direction. In the second transport path 22, there is a take-out position P2 (see FIG. 5, etc., which will be described later) where the sample container 100 is taken out from the sample rack 110 and taken into the measurement unit.

The transport unit 20 further includes a third transport path 23 . The third transport path 23 extends parallel to the first transport path 21 and is arranged in front of the sample analysis system 1 relative to the first transport path 21 . That is, the transport unit 20 is provided with three rack transport paths arranged in the front-rear direction in the order of the third transport path 23, the first transport path 21, and the second transport path 22 from the front. Although details will be described later, the third transport path 23 is configured to transport racks from the downstream side of the sample analysis system 1 to the upstream side. Therefore, when the third transport path 23 is viewed alone, the left side is the upstream side of the transport path, and the right side is the downstream side of the transport path.

The sample analysis system 1 further includes a processing unit 40 , a transport unit 50 and a recovery unit 60 . The processing unit 40 is a device that prepares smears of blood specimens. The collection unit 60 is a device that collects used sample containers 100 (sample racks 110). The processing unit 40 is arranged adjacent to one module 10 arranged downstream of the two modules 10 , and the recovery unit 60 is located downstream of the sample analysis system 1 from the processing unit 40 . are placed next to each other.

The transport unit 50 has a rack transport path for transporting the sample rack 110 to the processing unit 40 and is arranged in front of the processing unit 40 . Also, the transport unit 50 is connected to the transport unit 20 and the recovery unit 60 of the module 10 . If the sample rack 110 does not contain the sample container 100 required to prepare a smear, the sample rack 110 passes through the processing unit 40 and is transported from the transport unit 50 to the collection unit 60 .

In the sample analysis system 1, as units for transporting samples, from the upstream side, there are a supply unit 80, a transport unit 20 corresponding to the modules 10 on the upstream and downstream sides, and a transport unit 50 arranged in front of the processing unit 40. , and recovery unit 60, and adjacent units are connected to each other. A continuous rack transport path is formed in the sample analysis system 1 to transport the sample rack 110 in the horizontal direction from the supply unit 80 to the collection unit 60 . In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, adjacent units are directly connected to each other, but other transport paths or other units may be interposed between these units.

In sample analysis system 1 , measurement block and transport unit 20 are placed on wagon 18 . The wagon 18 houses reagent containers 19 containing reagents used in the measurement unit. A wagon 90 is similarly provided for the processing unit 40 , the transport unit 50 , the collection unit 60 and the supply unit 80 . The wagons 18, 51, 61, 90 preferably have the same height or can be adjusted to the same height so that the rack transport path is along a horizontal plane. A wagon 51 on which the processing unit 40 and the transport unit 50 are placed also contains a reagent container 52 containing a reagent such as a staining solution.

The sample analysis system 1 further comprises a transportation controller 70 for managing transportation of the sample rack 110 and QC sample rack 160 . The transport controller 70 is housed in a wagon 90 below the supply unit 80 . The transport controller 70 transmits and receives signals to and from the transport units 20 , 50 , 81 , the collection unit 60 and the supply unit 80 to control rack transport on the rack transport path of each unit. Further, in the sample analysis system 1, each unit and the transport controller 70 are communicably connected to the host computer 120 via a communication network.

The sample analysis system 1 is installed, for example, in an examination room of a hospital. In this case, an example of the host computer 120 is a laboratory information system (LIS) that is connected to a plurality of testing devices and centrally manages specimen information and measurement orders. Information on each sample container 100 and each QC sample container 150 is registered in the host computer 120 .

In this specification, a rack in which no container is stored is called an empty rack 170 (see FIG. 8, etc., which will be described later). An empty rack 170 containing sample containers 100 is referred to as a sample rack 110 . An empty rack 170 containing QC sample containers 150 is referred to as a QC sample rack 160 .

In the sample analysis system 1 , the sample rack 110 set in the supply unit 80 is transported to the first transport path 21 of the adjacent transport unit 20 . The sample rack 110 carried into the first transport path 21 is transported to the transport unit 20 of the downstream module 10 via the first transport path 21 if the transport destination is not the module 10 on the upstream side. When the transport destination is the module 10 on the upstream side, the sample rack 110 is transported from the first transport path 21 to the second transport path 22 of this module 10, and the measurement block of this module 10 performs an initial inspection and, if necessary, a retest. done. The control unit 30 is configured to send the results of the initial and retests to the host computer 120 .

When all the sample containers 100 accommodated in the sample rack 110 have undergone the initial test and necessary retests, the transport controller 70 determines whether or not the processing unit 40 needs to prepare a smear for each sample container 100. Query the host computer 120 . When the sample rack 110 includes the sample container 100 for which smear preparation is required, the transport destination of the sample rack 110 is the processing unit 40, and the sample rack 110 is transported via the transport paths of the transport units 20 and 50. It is supplied to the processing unit 40 .

When the sample rack 110 does not include the sample container 100 for which smear preparation is required, the transport destination of the sample rack 110 is the collection unit 60, and the sample rack 110 is transported via the transport paths of the transport units 20 and 50. It is transported to the recovery unit 60 . Also when a smear is prepared in the processing unit 40, the sample rack 110 is transported to the collection unit 60 after the smear is prepared.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the connection relationship of each unit that configures the sample analysis system 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the control unit 30 is communicatively connected to the measurement units in the same module 10 and controls the measurement units in the same module 10. FIG. The control unit 30 controls, for example, the first measurement unit 10A and the second measurement unit 10B, and also controls part of the transport unit 20 . The control unit 30 is configured to receive sample measurement data from the first measurement unit 10A and the second measurement unit 10B and generate sample measurement results according to measurement items.

The transport unit 20 includes a first transport mechanism 20 a whose transport operation is controlled by the transport controller 70 and a second transport mechanism 20 b whose transport operation is controlled by the control unit 30 . The first transport mechanism 20a includes a first transport path 21 and a third transport path 23, which are related to rack transport. The second transport mechanism 20b includes parts related to rack transport by the second transport path 22, the first storage section 24, and the second storage section 25 (see FIG. 5). The control unit 30 is communicably connected to the first measurement unit 10A, the second measurement unit 10B, the first transport mechanism 20a, and the second transport mechanism 20b.

The control unit 30 is, for example, a personal computer. The control unit 30 has a control section 31 . The control unit 31 includes a processor, a storage unit, and an input/output interface as main components. The processor is composed of, for example, a CPU, and reads and executes a control program installed in the storage section to control the operation of each section of the measurement unit and the transport unit. The processor further analyzes the measurement data sent from the measurement unit by executing an analysis program installed in the storage unit, and counts blood components such as red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin contained in the sample. or quantify. The storage unit includes nonvolatile memory such as ROM, HDD, and SSD, and volatile memory such as RAM. The control unit 30 is connected to the measurement unit and the transport unit by LAN cables.

Each unit constituting the sample analysis system 1 is communicably connected via a line concentrator 130 . The line concentrator 130 is configured by, for example, a hub. In this embodiment, the first transport mechanism 20a, the transport unit 50, the collection unit 60, the transport controller 70, and the supply unit 80 of the two modules 10 are communicably connected via the line concentrator . Also, as described above, each unit and the transport controller 70 are communicably connected to the host computer 120 . The control unit 30 (control section 31), for example, inquires about the measurement order to the host computer 120 to obtain the measurement order, and controls the measurement unit based on the obtained measurement order.

The processing unit 40 includes a control section 41 and a production section 42 . The control unit 41 includes, for example, a processor and a storage unit incorporated in the processing unit 40, and controls the production unit 42 based on a control program installed in the storage unit. The preparation unit 42 is configured to aspirate the sample from the sample container 100 and prepare a smear when the sample container 100 for which a smear is to be prepared is transported to a predetermined position on the rack transport path of the transport unit 50 . there is The operation of the production unit 42 is controlled by the control unit 41 . The collection unit 60 collects the sample racks 110 for which measurements have been completed in either of the two modules 10 and the sample racks 110 for which smear preparation has been completed via the processing unit 40 . The recovery unit 60 has a rack transport path and is controlled by a transport controller 70 .

The transport controller 70 is, for example, a personal computer. The transport controller 70 has a control section 71 . The hardware configuration of the control section 71 is the same as that of the control section 31 of the control unit 30 . The control unit 71 transmits control signals to the supply unit 80, the first transport mechanism 20a, the transport unit 50, and the recovery unit 60 via the concentrator 130, and controls transport of the sample rack 110 and the QC sample rack 160. . The control section 71 is communicably connected to the control unit 30 . The control unit 71 grasps the positions of each sample rack 110 and each QC sample rack 160 on the transport path based on the detection signals of the sensors of each unit.

The control section 82 a of the supply unit 80 mainly controls the operation of each component of the storage adjustment unit 82 . Further, in this embodiment, automatic wake-up and automatic shutdown of each unit of the sample analysis system 1 are performed by the function of the control section 82a. The hardware configuration of the controller 82a is the same as that of the controllers 31 and 71 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a sample rack 110 in which a plurality of sample containers 100 are accommodated. In this specification, for convenience of explanation, with the sample rack 110 set in the sample analysis system 1, the side facing the front of the system is the front side of the sample rack 110, and the side facing the rear is the rear side of the sample rack 110. .

As shown in FIG. 4, the sample container 100 includes a bottomed tube 101 containing a blood sample collected from a subject, and a cap 102 that closes the opening of the tube 101 . The tube 101 is, for example, a bottomed cylindrical container made of translucent glass or resin. The opening of the tube 101 is closed with a rubber cap 102 to seal the internal space containing the specimen. In addition, the sample container 100 is provided with a machine-readable label 103 . The machine-readable label 103 is, for example, a barcode label printed with a barcode indicating the specimen ID, and is attached to the side surface of the tube 101 . The sample ID is identification information that can individually identify the sample.

The sample rack 110 (empty rack 170) is a case that stores the sample container 100 and is used for transporting the sample container 100, and includes a plurality of storage units 111 that can hold a plurality of sample containers 100 in an upright state. Prepare. Although the number of accommodating portions 111 is not particularly limited, ten accommodating portions 111 (No. 1 to No. 10) are arranged in a line in the left-right direction in this embodiment. The sample rack 110 is also provided with a machine-readable label 112 . The machine-readable label 112 is, for example, a bar code label printed with a bar code indicating the rack ID. The rack ID is identification information that can individually identify the sample rack 110 .

The sample rack 110 includes a bottom plate portion 113 that is rectangular in bottom view, and a wall portion 114 that extends in the height direction of the sample container 100 and supports the sample container 100 . In the sample rack 110 , the sample container 100 stands substantially vertically with respect to the bottom plate portion 113 . The wall portion 114 is formed with a height lower than that of the upright specimen container 100 . The wall portion 114 includes a pair of side walls 115 formed at both left and right ends of the bottom plate portion 113 , a front wall 116 formed along the front end portion of the bottom plate portion 113 and connecting the two side walls 115 , and a front wall 116 extending from the front wall 116 . and a plurality of partition walls 117 extending to the rear end side of the bottom plate portion 113 . A plurality of partition walls 117 partition the housing space for the specimen container 100 and form a plurality of (10 in FIG. 4) housing sections 111 .

Nine partition walls 117 are formed in the rack illustrated in FIG. Each housing portion 111 is wide open upward and rearward. Therefore, the machine-readable label 103 can be read even when the sample container 100 is housed in the housing portion 111 . Note that the machine-readable labels 103 and 112 are not limited to one-dimensional bar code labels as shown in FIG. 4, and may be two-dimensional codes. Machine-readable labels 103, 112 may be IC tags readable by an RFID reader.

The configuration of the measurement block and the transport unit 20 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. In FIG. 5, the plate 272 of the first delivery section 27A is at a position retracted from the first conveying path 21, and in FIG.

[Measurement block (first measurement unit 10A, second measurement unit 10B)]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first measurement unit 10A and the second measurement unit 10B are arranged behind the transport unit 20 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. The first measurement unit 10A and the second measurement unit 10B take out the sample container 100 from the sample rack 110 transported to the second transport path 22 of the transport unit 20, and measure the blood sample contained in the sample container 100. 5 and 6 illustrate the configuration of the first measurement unit 10A, the second measurement unit 10B also has the same device structure.

The first measurement unit 10A is capable of measuring CBC items and DIFF items, for example. The CBC items are WBC (white blood cell count), RBC (red blood cell count), HGB (hemoglobin content), HCT (hematocrit value), MCV (mean corpuscular volume), MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin content), MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration). , PLT (platelet count), etc. DIFF items include NEUT# (neutrophil count), LYMPH# (lymphocyte count), MONO# (monocyte count), EO# (eosinophil count), BASO# (basophil count), and the like. The second measurement unit 10B can, for example, measure RET items, PLT-F items, and WPC items in addition to CBC items and DIFF items. The RET item includes RET# (reticulocyte count) and the like. PLT-F entries include, for example, PLT# (platelet count). In the WPC item, for example, blasts and abnormal leukocytes of the lymphocytic system are detected and flagged.

In one embodiment, the first measurement unit 10A measures the CBC item and the DIFF item as the initial examination. Also, the second measurement unit 10B measures the CBC item and the DIFF item as the initial inspection, and measures the RET item, the PLT-F item, or the WPC item as the re-inspection as necessary. That is, the first measurement unit 10A is a measurement unit dedicated to the initial inspection, and the second measurement unit 10B is a measurement unit capable of performing re-examination in addition to the initial inspection.

The first measurement unit 10A includes a container transfer section 11, an information reading section 12, a sample preparation section 13, and a measurement section . The first measurement unit 10A takes out the sample container 100 from the storage part 111 of the sample rack 110 at the predetermined take-out position P2 of the second transport path 22, shakes the sample container 100 taken out a predetermined number of times, inverts and agitates, and agitates. A robot hand 15 for setting the sample container 100 in the container transfer section 11 is provided. The container transfer section 11 has a holding section 11a capable of holding the specimen container 100 in an upright state, and is configured to move along with the container transfer section 11 in the front-rear direction. The information reading unit 12 is arranged at a position between an installation position where the sample container 100 is installed by the robot hand 15 and a suction position by the suction tube 13a described later in the transfer path of the sample container 100 by the container transfer unit 11, A sample ID is read from the machine-readable label 103 of the sample container 100 set in the holding portion 11a.

The sample preparation section 13 includes a suction tube 13a. The sample preparation unit 13 penetrates the cap 102 of the sample container 100 set in the holding unit 11a with the aspiration tube 13a, and aspirates the sample through the aspiration tube 13a. The sample preparation unit 13 includes, for example, a reaction tank, and prepares a measurement sample by mixing the aspirated specimen and the reagent in the reaction tank. Reagents are, for example, diluents, hemolytic agents, staining solutions. The measurement unit 14 includes, for example, an optical detection unit, an electrical resistance detection unit, and a hemoglobin measurement unit, and measures the measurement sample. After the aspiration of the sample is completed, the sample container 100 is transported forward by the container transfer section 11 and returned to the original storage section 111 of the sample rack 110 by the robot hand 15 .

The control unit 30 controls the first measurement unit 10A, the second measurement unit 10B, and the second transport mechanism 20b (see FIG. 3) which is part of the transport unit 20. FIG. When performing the first test, the control unit 30 inquires of the host computer 120 about the measurement order of the first test based on the read sample ID, and acquires the sample measurement order from the host computer 120 . The control unit 30 stores a retest rule for determining whether or not to perform a retest based on the measurement result of the first test, and generates a retest measurement order when it is determined to perform a retest according to the rule. .

The plurality of sample containers 100 accommodated in the sample rack 110 are taken into the first measurement unit 10A or the second measurement unit 10B in order from the leftmost container 111 to the rightmost container 111 at the time of the first test, and the samples are stored. Measurements are taken. At this time, the measurement unit that takes in the sample container 100 is determined so that the load of the measurement units is distributed. For example, the sample containers 100 with odd accommodation position numbers shown in FIG. 4 are taken into the second measurement unit 10B, and the sample containers 100 with even accommodation position numbers are taken into the first measurement unit 10A.

[Conveyance unit 20]
The transport unit 20 includes the first transport path 21, the second transport path 22, and the third transport path 23, as described above. The three transport paths extend in the left-right direction and are arranged parallel to each other. The first transport path 21 transports the sample rack 110 from the upstream side of the sample analysis system 1 to the downstream side (from right to left). The second transport path 22 can transport the sample rack 110 both from right to left and from left to right.

The third transport path 23 transports the QC sample rack 160 from the downstream side of the sample analysis system 1 to the upstream side (from left to right). The QC sample container 150 contains a quality control substance that is used for multiple measurements, and the quality control substance needs to be stored in the supply unit 80 by cooling. be In this embodiment, the used sample rack 110 is transported to the collection unit 60, so the third transport path 23 does not transport the sample rack 110. FIG.

The transport unit 20 is provided with movable stoppers 21c and 23b at the downstream end of the first transport path 21 and the downstream end of the third transport path 23, respectively. Further, a movable stopper 21d is provided between the first transport path 21 and the third transport path 23 and aligned in the front-rear direction with the second storage section 25, which will be described later. The configuration of the transport unit 20 will be described below using the sample rack 110 as an example for the contents common to the transport of the sample rack 110 and the QC sample rack 160 .

The first transport path 21, the second transport path 22, and the third transport path 23 are spaced apart in the front-rear direction. Between the first transport path 21 and the second transport path 22, a first storage part 24 and a second storage part 25, which are spaces in which the sample racks 110 can be stored, are provided. The right end of the second transport path 22 is connected to the upstream end of the first transport path 21 via the first reservoir 24, and the left end of the second transport path 22 is connected to the first transport via the second reservoir 25. It is connected to the downstream end of the channel 21 .

The transport unit 20 further includes a plurality of rack sending units for delivering the sample rack 110 between the transport paths and between the transport path and the storage part, and for detecting the position of the sample rack 110 in the transport path and the storage part. and a plurality of sensors of The transport unit 20 includes an information reader 26 that reads the sample ID and the rack ID from the machine-readable label 103 of the sample container 100 and the machine-readable label 112 of the sample rack 110, respectively. The information reading section 26 is arranged at the center in the length direction of the second transport path 22, and is located at a right take-out position P2 corresponding to the first measuring unit 10A and a left take-out position P2 corresponding to the second measuring unit 10B. are positioned so as to read the machine-readable labels 103, 112 described above.

The transport unit 20 includes a first delivery section 27A, a second delivery section 27B, a third delivery section 27C, and a fourth delivery section 27D as rack delivery sections. Each of the four rack delivery units is a rack transfer device configured to be movable in the front-rear direction. The first delivery section 27A is configured to push out the sample rack 110 from the upstream position of the first transport path 21 to the first storage section 24 . The second delivery section 27B transports the sample rack 110 from the first storage section 24 to the right end position of the second transport path 22, and the third delivery section 27C transports the sample rack 110 from the left end position of the second transport path 22 to the second storage section 25. , the sample rack 110 is transported. Also, the fourth delivery section 27D transports the sample rack 110 from the second storage section 25 to the downstream position of the first transport path 21 .

The transport unit 20 includes four sensors 28 a , 28 b , 28 c and 28 d as sensors for detecting the sample racks 110 on the first transport path 21 and the second transport path 22 . Sensors 28 e and 28 f are provided as sensors for detecting the sample rack 110 on the third transport path 23 . The transport unit 20 includes sensors 28 g , 28 h and 28 i as sensors for detecting the sample racks 110 of the first storage section 24 and the second storage section 25 .

Each component of the transport unit 20 will be described below along the transport path of the sample rack 110 . 5 and 6, of the two modules 10, the module 10 arranged on the upstream side of the sample analysis system 1 will be illustrated and explained.

The first transport path 21 includes transport belts 21a and 21b for transporting the sample rack 110 loaded from the supply unit 80 to the module 10 on the downstream side. The conveyor belts 21a and 21b are independently driven by corresponding stepping motors. That is, the first transport path 21 has two conveyor belts. The conveying belt 21 b is provided from the front position of the second storage section 25 to the downstream end of the first conveying path 21 . The transport belt 21a extends from the upstream end of the first transport path 21 to the vicinity of the transport belt 21b.

Transport of the sample rack 110 on the first transport path 21 is performed under the control of the transport controller 70 . Specifically, the transport controller 70 transmits control signals to the stepping motors connected to the transport belts 21a and 21b, and the motors are driven based on the control signals. The transport of the sample rack 110 in other transport paths and rack delivery units is also performed under the control of the transport controller 70 or the control unit 30 in the same manner.

The sample rack 110 transported from the supply unit 80 to the upstream position of the first transport path 21 is transported downstream by the transport belt 21a. The sample rack 110 is detected by the sensor 28a and sent to the first storage section 24 by the first delivery section 27A. The sensor 28a is, for example, an optical sensor having a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, and the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion are arranged so as to sandwich the first transport path 21 from the front and rear. The sensor 28a detects the sample rack 110 when the light emitted from the light emitting section is blocked by the sample rack 110 and the light receiving level of the light receiving section decreases. An optical sensor similar to the sensor 28a can be applied to other sensors installed in the transport unit 20 as well.

The first delivery section 27A provided at the upstream position of the first transport path 21 includes a plate 271 along the length direction of the first transport path 21 and a first transport and a plate 272 along the width of the channel 21 . The plates 271 and 272 are, for example, connected to each other and arranged in a substantially L shape in plan view. The first sending unit 27A has a retracted position where the plates 271 and 272 do not interfere with the transport of the sample rack 110 along the first transport path 21 (see FIG. 5), and a position where the sample rack 110 being transported along the first transport path 21 stops. The sample rack 110 is movable in the front-rear direction between a stop position (see FIG. 6) where the sample rack 110 is pushed out and a position where the sample rack 110 is pushed out to the first storing section 24 .

When the first delivery section 27A is at the stop position, only the plate 272 is arranged on the first transport path 21, as shown in FIG. The sample rack 110 transported by the transport belt 21a is caught by the plate 272 and stopped. From this state, the sample rack 110 is pushed out into the first storage section 24 by moving the first delivery section 27A (plate 271) backward. The sample rack 110 transported to the first storage section 24 is detected by the sensors 28g arranged to sandwich the first storage section 24 from the left and right.

The first storage section 24 is a space for storing the sample racks 110 received from the first transport path 21. For example, a plate having a top surface parallel to the horizontal plane is provided between the first transport path 21 and the second transport path 22. It is configured by arranging shaped members. The sample rack 110 delivered to the first storage section 24 is detected by the sensor 28g and delivered to the second transport path 22 at an appropriate timing by the second delivery section 27B. The second sending section 27B has, for example, an engaging section that abuts on the front surface of the sample rack 110, and pushes both left and right ends of the front surface of the sample rack 110 backward to move the sample rack 110 to the right end position of the second transport path 22. push out to A sensor 28c is installed near the right end position of the second transport path 22, and the sample rack 110 transported to the right end position is detected by the sensor 28c.

The second transport path 22 includes two transport belts 22a and 22b that independently transport the sample rack 110 in the left-right direction. The conveying belts 22a and 22b are independently driven by stepping motors provided corresponding to them. The transport belts 22 a and 22 b are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction and extend in the left-right direction from the right end position to the left end position of the second transport path 22 . The transport belt 22a is provided with two projections 22c between which the sample rack 110 is fitted. Similarly, the transport belt 22b is also provided with two projections 22d between which the sample rack 110 is fitted. The sample rack 110 is delivered to the second delivery section 27B so as to fit between these protrusions 22c. The sample rack 110 is transported left and right by driving the transport belts 22a and 22b while being fitted between the protrusions 22c.

According to the second transport path 22, two sample racks 110 can be separately transported in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 6, two sample racks 110 can be carried into the second transport path 22 at the same time. Hereinafter, the sample rack 110 that is sent to the second transport path 22 first is referred to as the "preceding rack", and the sample rack 110 that is transported to the second transport path 22 after the preceding rack is referred to as the "following rack". In this case, it is possible to measure the following rack in parallel while performing the sample measurement for the preceding rack.

The information reading section 26 includes rollers 26a and 26b and a reading section 26c arranged to sandwich the second conveying path 22 therebetween. The rollers 26a and 26b can move toward each other, and the rollers 26a rotate while sandwiching the sample container 100 in the front-rear direction. This causes the sample container 100 to rotate. The reading unit 26c reads the machine-readable label 103 of the rotating sample container 100 through the gap between the rollers 26b. The reading unit 26 c can also read the rack ID of the sample rack 110 . The reading unit 26c is, for example, a barcode reader. The reading of the sample ID and the rack ID by the information reading section 26 and the measurement of the sample by the measurement unit are performed under the control of the control unit 30 .

The sample container 100 whose sample ID has been read is transported to the pick-up position P2 corresponding to either the first measurement unit 10A or the second measurement unit 10B, picked up by the robot hand 15 from the sample rack 110, and sent to the measurement unit. It is captured. At this time, the measurement unit that takes in the sample container 100 is determined so that the load of each measurement unit is distributed. An initial test is performed in the measurement unit, and when the initial test is completed, the sample container 100 is returned to the original storage section 111 at the take-out position P2. When all the sample containers 100 accommodated in the sample rack 110 are subjected to the initial inspection and necessary re-inspection, the sample rack 110 is transported to the downstream end of the second transport path, that is, to the rear of the second storage section 25 . , to the second storage section 25 by the third delivery section 27C.

Note that even if the initial inspection of all the sample containers 100 in the preceding rack is completed, the preceding rack must remain on the second transport path 22 until it is decided whether or not all the sample containers 100 need to be retested. At this time, since it takes a predetermined time to determine whether or not the sample container 100 that has undergone the last initial inspection needs to be retested, the trailing rack is sent to the second transport path 22 in order to improve the measurement efficiency. The first inspection of the trailing rack is started. The waiting preceding rack is retracted to the left end position of the second conveying path 22 so as not to interfere with the conveying of the succeeding rack.

A sensor 28 d is installed near the left end position of the second transport path 22 . The sample rack 110 for which the initial test and necessary retests have all been completed is pushed out from the left end position to the second storage part 25 provided in front thereof by the third sending part 27C. The second storage section 25 is a space for storing the sample racks 110 received from the second transport path 22, and, like the first storage section 24, is configured by arranging a plate-like member whose upper surface is parallel to the horizontal plane. be. The sample rack 110 in the second storage section 25 is detected by the sensors 28h and 28i and pushed out to the first transport path 21 by the fourth delivery section 27D at an appropriate timing.

Racks in the second reservoir are transported to either the first transport path 21 or the third transport path depending on the next transport destination determined by the transport controller 70 .

For example, if the rack in the second storage unit is the sample rack 110 containing the sample container 100 and the next transport destination is the processing unit 40 or the recovery unit 60, the sample rack 110 needs to be transported leftward. Therefore, it is sent to the first transport path 21 . For example, when the rack in the second storage part is the QC sample rack 160 containing the QC sample container 150 and the next transport destination is the adjacent measurement block, the QC sample rack 160 is transported leftward. Since it needs to be processed, it is sent to the first transport path 21 . When the next transport destination is the supply unit 80, the QC sample rack needs to be transported rightward, so it is sent to the third transport path.

When the rack in the second storage section 25 is conveyed to the first conveying path 21, the stopper 21d is raised to a position higher than the belt of the first conveying path 21, and the fourth delivery section 27D pushes the rack forward. The rack pushed forward hits the stopper 21 d and stops at the downstream position of the first transport path 21 . When the conveyor belt 21b is driven with the stopper 21c lowered, the rack is conveyed leftward.

When the rack in the second storage section 25 is conveyed to the third conveying path 23, the stopper 21d is lowered to a position equal to or lower than the height of the belt on the first conveying path 21, and the fourth delivery section 27D is moved. Push the rack forward. The rack pushed forward passes over the stopper 21 d and is sent to the upstream position of the third transport path 23 .

The third transport path 23 includes a transport belt 23a. The transport belt 23a is driven by a stepping motor, like the transport belts 21a and 21b described above. The rack transported to the third transport path 23 is transported rightward by the transport belt 23a.

[Supply unit 80]
The configuration of the supply unit 80 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 29. FIG.

The supply unit 80 is a device for supplying the sample rack 110 containing the sample container 100 to the measurement unit, as described above. The supply unit 80 further cools and stores the QC sample container 150 containing the quality control substance, and adjusts the temperature of the quality control substance to the measurement temperature according to a schedule registered in advance by the user. After that, the QC sample container 150 containing the temperature-controlled quality control material is set in the rack and transported to the target measurement unit. The QC sample container 150 is accommodated in the empty rack 170 and transported to the second transport path 22 of the transport unit 20 as the QC sample rack 160 containing the QC sample container 150 in the same manner as the sample rack 110 .

The QC sample container 150 differs from the sample container 100 in that it contains a quality control substance containing cells of known concentration. The QC sample container 150 includes a tube 101 and a cap 102 like the sample container 100 . Also attached to the side of the tube 101 is a machine readable label 103 indicating the sample ID including lot number, concentration level and expiration date of the QC sample. Machine readable label 103 is a barcode label. For the QC sample container 150, a container having a shape different from that of the sample container 100 may be used, and for the sample container 100 and the QC sample container 150, two or more types of containers may be used.

Quality control materials are also commonly referred to as control samples or QC specimens. In the sample analysis system 1, it is necessary to periodically confirm that there are no abnormalities in the measurement results of the analyzer using a quality control substance, and to manage the measurement accuracy. For example, the sample analysis system 1 transports the QC sample container 150 to the first measurement unit 10A and the second measurement unit 10B, which are analyzers, before starting sample measurement at a frequency of once a day, and performs quality control. Measure substances. Measured values of quality control substances, such as red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts, platelet counts, hemoglobin concentrations, etc., are compared, for example, with upper and lower limits stored in the controller 31 of the controller unit 30 in advance. If the measured value of the quality control substance is within the range of the upper limit and the lower limit, the quality control result is judged to be normal, and if it is out of the range, it is judged to be abnormal.

The quality control substance is control blood suitably used for quality control of an automatic blood cell counter, and contains whole blood components adjusted to have known concentrations. Whole blood components are, for example, blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. XN-CHECK (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation) is an example of such a quality control substance. The quality control material may include three types of quality control material adjusted to three concentration levels: low concentration, standard concentration, and high concentration. Hereinafter, a low-concentration quality control substance is referred to as level 1, a standard-concentration quality control substance is referred to as level 2, and a high-concentration quality control substance is referred to as level 3.

In the supply unit 80, for example, a plurality of QC sample containers 150 are cold stored. The supply unit 80 preferably stores two or more types of containers each containing a plurality of types of quality control substances with different concentration levels.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the supply unit 80. As shown in FIG. The supply unit 80 includes a first transport path 811 (see FIG. 8 described later) of the conveyor section 81 accessible from the outside for the user to set the rack. The front surface of the supply unit 80 is provided with a first inlet 831A in which the QC sample container 150 is set, and a first cover 832A that covers the first inlet 831A.

The first cover 832A covers the entire first inlet 831A and is opened and closed by the user. The first cover 832A, for example, is configured such that the left end thereof is rotatably pivoted with respect to the housing and is rotated leftward to open. When the first cover 832A is opened, a transfer holder 834 (see FIG. 8, etc.) that holds the QC sample container 150 and transfers it to the inside of the supply unit 80 is exposed. The QC sample container 150 is set on the transfer holder 834, which will be described later in detail.

The supply unit 80 further includes a second inlet 831B in which the cleaning agent container 180 (see FIG. 8, etc.) is set, and a second cover 832B covering the second inlet 831B. The second inlet 831B is arranged adjacent to the right side of the first inlet 831A. The second cover 832B is, for example, rotatably supported at its rear end with respect to the housing, and is configured to rotate upward and open.

A monitor 91 is provided on the front surface of the supply unit 80 . The monitor 91 is a display device for displaying, for example, information on the state of the supply unit 80 including information on the QC sample container 150 that has been put in, information necessary for operating the supply unit 80, and the like. The monitor 91 is composed of a touch panel that can also be used as an operation unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the internal layout of the supply unit 80. As shown in FIG. The supply unit 80 includes a conveyor section 81 and a storage adjustment unit 82 as main components. The storage adjustment unit 82 includes an input section 83 , a cold insulation section 84 , a transfer section 85 , a heating section 86 , an information reading section 87 and a rack accommodating section 88 . In the following description, the content common to the transportation of the sample rack 110 and the transportation of the QC sample rack 160 will be explained by taking the transportation of the sample rack 110 as an example.

[Conveyor section 81]
The conveyor section 81 includes a plurality of rack transport paths that transport the sample racks 110 within the supply unit 80 . The conveyor section 81 includes a first transport path 811, a second transport path 812, a third transport path 813, and a fourth transport path 814 in order from the upstream side. These four transport paths are connected, and the sample rack 110 set on the first transport path 811 is sent to the fourth transport path 814 via the second transport path 812 and the third transport path 813 . The fourth transport path 814 is connected to the transport unit 20 of the module 10 , and the sample rack 110 is transported from the fourth transport path 814 to the first transport path 21 of the transport unit 20 .

The conveyor section 81 is further connected to the third transport path 23 of the transport unit 20, and the fifth transport path for receiving the QC sample rack 160 returning via the third transport path 23 of the adjacent transport unit 20. 815. The fifth transport path 815 is arranged in front of the conveyor section 81 relative to the fourth transport path 814 . The fifth transport path 815 is a rack transport path for returning the QC sample rack 160 to the storage adjustment unit 82 and is connected to the first transport path 811 .

A sixth transport path 819 is provided between the first transport path 811 and the fifth transport path 815 in the conveyor section 81 . The sixth transport path 819 is used when carrying in the sample rack 110 from the additional supply unit when the additional supply unit is provided as shown in FIG. 49 described later. The sixth transport path 819 includes a transport belt 819a that transports the sample rack 110 from right to left. A sensor 819 b that detects the sample rack 110 is installed near the left end position of the sixth transport path 819 .

The first transport path 811 and the third transport path 813 are arranged parallel to each other. The first transport path 811 is a transport path for transporting the sample rack 110 from the front to the rear, and the third transport path 813 is a transport path for transporting the sample rack 110 from the rear to the front. The second transport path 812 extends in the left-right direction. aligned with the rear end. With such a configuration, the second transport path 812 can receive the rack sent out from the first transport path 811 and transport it in the left-right direction. The third transport path 813 can receive the rack transported to the left end by the second transport path 812 .

The first transport path 811 and the third transport path 813 are elongated in the front-rear direction, and can store a plurality of sample racks 110 at once. The first transport path 811 is provided with a stopper 811 a for supplying the sample racks 110 to the second transport path 812 one by one. The stopper 811 a is a movable stopper that moves vertically, and is arranged at the boundary with the second transport path 812 .

The stopper 811a is rotatable in the front-rear direction, protrudes upward when rotated from the rear to the front, and retracts downward when rotated in the opposite direction. When the sample rack 110 on the first transport path 811 is transported to the second transport path 812, the stopper 811a does not protrude from the upper surface. When the transport of the rack to the second transport path 812 is completed, the stopper 811 a rotates forward so that it is interposed between the sample rack 110 on the second transport path 812 and the sample rack 110 on the first transport path 811 . Positioned in By inserting the stopper 811a between the sample racks 110, the two racks are separated. The third conveying path 813 is also provided with a movable stopper 813a similar to the stopper 811a at the boundary with the fourth conveying path 814 .

The second transport path 812, the fourth transport path 814, and the fifth transport path 815 extend in the left-right direction and are arranged parallel to each other. The second transport path 812 includes a transport belt 812b capable of transporting the sample rack 110 both from right to left and from left to right. The fourth transport path 814 is a transport path for transporting the sample rack 110 to the first transport path 21 of the transport unit 20 , and the third transport path 813 is connected to the right end side of the fourth transport path 814 . The fifth transport path 815 includes a transport belt 815b capable of transporting the QC sample rack 160 carried in from the third transport path 23 of the transport unit 20 rightward.

The conveyor section 81 includes a plurality of rack delivery sections for delivering the sample racks 110 between the transport paths, and a plurality of sensors for detecting the positions of the sample racks 110 on the transport paths. The conveyor section 81 also includes a first information reading section 817A, a second information reading section 817B, and a third information reading section 817C.

The conveyor section 81 includes, as rack delivery sections, a first delivery section 816A, a second delivery section 816B, a third delivery section 816C, a fourth delivery section 816D, and a fifth delivery section 816E. The first delivery section 816A includes an engaging section 816f that contacts the front surface of the sample rack 110 and pushes the sample rack 110 backward, and a drive mechanism that moves the engaging section 816f in the front-rear direction along the first transport path 811. and configured to push the sample rack 110 from the first transport path 811 to the second transport path 812 .

The first delivery section 816A includes, as the drive mechanism, a belt 816g arranged along the first conveying path 811, a connecting member 816h connecting the engaging section 816f and the belt 816g, and a motor 816i for driving the belt 816g. . A stepping motor, for example, is used for the motor 816i. In the first transport path 811, the sample rack 110 pushed by the engaging portion 816f hits and stops at the preceding rear sample rack 110, so the first delivery portion 816A is provided with a torque sensor 816j capable of detecting this state. ing.

The first delivery portion 816A is configured to return the engagement portion 816f to the origin position shown in FIG. 8 when the torque sensor 816j is actuated. For example, when returning to the origin position, the engaging portion 816f is moved backward with respect to the connecting member 816h so as not to push the sample rack 110 forward even if the engaging portion 816f hits the following sample rack 110. It is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable toward it. The third delivery section 816C has the same structure as the first delivery section 816A, and is configured to push the sample rack 110 from the third transport path 813 to the fourth transport path 814.

The second delivery section 816B transports the sample rack 110 from the second transport path 812 to the third transport path 813, and the fourth delivery part 816D transports the sample from the fourth transport path 814 to the first transport path 21 of the transport unit 20. The rack 110 is transported. Also, the fifth sending unit 816E transports the QC sample rack 160 from the fifth transport path 815 to the first transport path 811. FIG.

The conveyor section 81 includes sensors 818 a and 818 b as sensors for detecting the sample rack 110 on the first transport path 811 . Sensors 818 c and 818 e are provided as sensors for detecting the sample rack 110 on the second transport path 812 , and sensors 818 f and 818 g are provided as sensors for detecting the sample rack 110 on the third transport path 813 . A sensor 818 h is provided as a sensor for detecting the sample rack 110 on the fourth transport path 814 , and sensors 818 i and 818 j are provided as sensors for detecting the sample rack 110 on the fifth transport path 815 .

Conveyor section 81 further includes sensor 818 d that detects containers accommodated in racks moving on second transport path 812 . A sensor 818 d is provided in the middle portion of the second transport path 812 . Since the detection information of the sensor 818d indicates the presence or absence of a container in the rack moving on the second transport path 812, it can be determined that the rack on the second transport path 812 is an empty rack 170 when the sensor 818d does not detect a container. The information detected by the sensor 818 d is used to determine the transport destination of the rack moving on the second transport path 812 .

For the sensors 818a, 818c, 818e, 818f, 818i, and 818j, for example, reflective optical sensors in which a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion are integrated are used. Further, the sensors 818b, 818d, 818g, and 818h are photo-interrupter type optical sensors in which a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion are separated. The fourth transport path 814 is formed with an opening 814d of a size that does not interfere with the transport of the sample rack 110. Under the opening 814d, the light emitting part of the sensor 818h is arranged. A light-receiving portion is arranged near the right end position of .

When the sample rack 110 is set on the first transport path 811, it is detected by the sensor 818b and transported to the right end position of the second transport path 812 by the first delivery section 816A. The sample rack 110 carried into the right end position of the second transport path 812 is detected by the sensor 818c and transported to the left end position of the second transport path 812 by the transport belt 812b. For the sample rack 110 moving from right to left along the second transport path 812, a sensor 818d arranged in the middle of the second transport path 812 detects the presence or absence of a container accommodated in the rack.

At the left end position of the second transport path 812, the sample rack 110 is detected by the sensor 818e. Behind the second conveying path 812, a first information reading section 817A and a second information reading section 817B are provided. The first information reading section 817A and the second information reading section 817B are provided so as to be movable toward each other, and sequentially read the sample IDs of the sample containers 100 accommodated in the sample rack 110 . The first information reading section 817A and the second information reading section 817B have, for example, the same structure as the information reading section 87, and two rollers are arranged so as to sandwich the second conveying path 812 therebetween. The rollers are omitted in FIG. 8 for simplicity of illustration.

The first information reading unit 817A reads the sample IDs of the sample containers 100 with storage position numbers 6 to 10 shown in FIG. read. The first information reading section 817A further reads the rack ID from the machine-readable label 112 of the sample rack 110. FIG.

The third information reading unit 817C has a reading unit, for example, a barcode reader, and reads the rack ID. The third information reading section 817C is arranged behind the fourth transport path 814 .

The sample rack 110 transported from the second transport path 812 to the third transport path 813 by the second transport part 816B is detected by the sensors 818f and 818g, and transported to the fourth transport path 814 by the third transport part 816C. . Also, the sample rack 110 carried into the fourth transport path 814 is detected by the sensor 818h and transported to the first transport path 21 of the transport unit 20 by the fourth delivery section 816D. Note that the sample rack 110 transported to the transport unit 20 is recovered by the recovery unit 60 arranged downstream of the sample analysis system 1 as described above, and therefore does not return to the supply unit 80 .

The QC sample rack 160 accommodating the QC sample container 150 is supplied from the rack accommodation unit 88 to the right end position of the second transport path 812, and then, similarly to the sample rack 110, the second transport path 812 and the third transport path It is conveyed to the first conveying path 21 of the conveying unit 20 via 813 and the fourth conveying path 814 . The QC sample rack 160 is recovered from the third transport path 23 of the transport unit 20 to the fifth transport path 815 . The QC sample rack 160 carried into the fifth transport path 815 is detected by the sensor 818i and transported to the right end position of the fifth transport path 815 by the transport belt 815b. The QC sample rack 160 is detected by the sensor 818j at the right end position of the fifth transport path 815, and transported to the first transport path 811 by the fifth delivery section 816E.

[Insert part 83]
As shown in FIG. 8, the input unit 83 includes a first input unit 83A that transfers the QC sample container 150 from the first input port 831A to the extraction position P5, and a cleaning agent container 180 that is transferred from the second input port 831B to the extraction unit 839. and a second input portion 83B that transfers the The take-out position P5 is a position where the QC sample container 150 accessible by the transfer section 85 is taken out, and the rear end portion of the first input section 83A serves as the take-out position P5. The take-out portion 839 includes a transfer plate 839d, a sensor 839h, etc., and is provided at the rear end portion of the second input portion 83B.

The first input section 83A includes a transfer path 830A for the QC sample container 150 extending in the front-rear direction. Similarly, the second input section 83B has a transfer path 830B for the cleaning agent container 180 extending in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, transfer paths 830A and 830B are formed parallel to each other. Sensors 835f and 835g for detecting the transfer holder 834 are provided near the first inlet 831A and near the pick-up position P5, respectively. Proximity sensors such as magnetic sensors and eddy current sensors are used for the sensors 835f and 835g.

A plurality of sensors 833e are installed in the first inlet 831A of the first inlet 83A. A plurality of sensors 836d are installed along the transfer path 830B in the second input section 83B. The transfer path 830B of the second input portion 83B is a passage for transferring the cleaning agent container 180 and also functions as a storage portion for storing a plurality of cleaning agent containers 180. As shown in FIG. Therefore, a plurality of sensors 836d are installed along the transfer path 830B to detect the cleaning agent container 180 existing on the transfer path 830B. The number of cleaning agent containers 180 stored in the transfer path 830B can be confirmed from the detection information of the plurality of sensors 836d.

9 and 10 are perspective views of the input portion 83. FIG. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the transfer holder 834 is positioned at the first loading section 83A, and FIG. 10 shows a state in which the transfer holder 834 is positioned at the pick-up position P5. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the input section 83 is a device in which a first input section 83A and a second input section 83B are integrated, and transfer paths 830A and 830B inclined from front to back are provided. It has a shaping frame 833,836.

83 A of 1st injection|throwing-in parts are provided with the transfer holder 834 and the drive mechanism 835 which moves the transfer holder 834 to the front-back direction. The transfer holder 834 is provided with a plurality of storage sections 834a that can store QC sample containers 150 one by one. The transfer holder 834 is formed in a block shape as a whole, and a plurality of housing portions 834a, which are holes into which the QC sample containers 150 can be inserted, are formed on the upper surface thereof. The storage section 834a is preferably formed to a depth such that the upper portion of the tube 101 gripped by the arm 85b of the transfer section 85 protrudes from the upper surface of the transfer holder 834 when the QC sample container 150 is inserted.

A side surface of the transfer holder 834 is formed with a through hole 834b that communicates with the housing portion 834a. The through holes 834b are formed on both sides of the transfer holder 834 so as to be aligned in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, there are three housing portions 834a arranged in a row in the front-rear direction, and a total of six through holes 834b are formed in each housing portion 834a, one on each side. The light-emitting portion and light-receiving portion that constitute the sensor 833e are installed on both side surfaces of the frame 833d so that light passes through the housing portion 834a through the through hole 834b. As a result, the presence or absence of the QC sample container 150 in each container 834a can be detected at the first inlet 831A.

The driving mechanism 835 includes an endless belt 835a extending along an inclined portion 833c, a connecting member 835b connecting the transfer holder 834 and the belt 835a, a motor 835c including a rotating shaft around which the belt 85c is suspended, and the belt 85c. It has a suspended pulley 835d and a rail 835e that guides the movement of the transfer holder 834 . The transfer holder 834 is movably attached to the frame 833 via this drive mechanism 835 .

The transfer holder 834 is configured to automatically move from the first input port 831A to the extraction position P5 when the QC sample container 150 is stored in at least one of the storage portions 834a and the first cover 832A is closed. It is When the transfer holder 834 reaches the take-out position P5, the QC sample container 150 is taken out from the container 834a by the transfer section 85 and transferred to the information reading section 87. FIG. When all QC sample containers 150 are removed from the transfer holder 834, the transfer holder 834 automatically moves to the first inlet 831A, for example.

As described above, the first cover 832A covering the first inlet 831A is locked so as not to open when the transfer holder 834 is not at the position shown in FIG. 9 (also referred to as the origin position). When the transfer holder 834 reaches the first inlet 831A and is detected by the sensor 835f, the first cover 832A is unlocked.

The second loading section 83B has a facing plate 837 attached to the frame 836 with a gap between which the detergent container 180 can be sandwiched. A rail 838 is provided between the frame 836 and the opposing plate 837 to support the flange 181 of the cleaning agent container 180 so that the cleaning agent container 180 can slide. The cleaning agent container 180 is stored in the transfer path 830B while being slid along the transfer path 830B with the flange 181 supported and suspended by the rails 838 .

The take-out portion 839 includes a transfer plate 839d that moves in the left-right direction while holding the cleaning agent container 180. When the transfer plate 839d moves to the left end side of the take-out portion 839, the cleaning agent container 180 protrudes upward. is configured as The take-out part 839 includes two support plates 839a and 839b that movably sandwich the transfer plate 839d, an inclined block 839c fixed to the lower part of the support plates 839a and 839b, and a drive mechanism for the transfer plate 839d. Prepare. A belt 839e, a motor 839f, a pulley 839g, and the like are provided in the take-out portion 839 as a driving mechanism.

The transfer plate 839d is formed with a holding portion capable of accommodating the detergent container 180 in the central portion of the plate. When the transfer plate 839d moves leftward while holding the cleaning agent container 180, the lower end of the cleaning agent container 180 contacts the upper surface of the inclined block 839c. Since the upper surface of the inclined block 839c is inclined so as to become higher toward the left side, the detergent container 180 is pushed up along the upper surface of the inclined block 839c and becomes ready to be gripped by the transfer section 85. FIG.

The extractor 839 is provided with a sensor 839h that detects upward protrusion of the cleaning agent container 180 . A light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion that constitute the sensor 839h are attached to the support plate 839a and arranged so that an optical axis extending in the horizontal direction is formed on the transfer plate 839d. When the upward protrusion of the detergent container 180 is detected by the sensor 839 h , the transfer portion 85 transfers the detergent container 180 from the removal portion 839 to the empty rack 170 of the rack accommodating portion 88 .

[Cooling part 84]
11 and 12 are perspective views of the cold insulator 84. FIG. 11 shows a state in which the cover 842 of the cold insulation section 84 is closed, and FIG. 12 shows a state in which the cover 842 of the cold insulation section 84 is opened. Also, FIG. 12 shows a state where a part of the intake duct 846 is removed. The cold storage unit 84 is a storage for storing the QC sample container 150 and has a function of cooling the QC sample container 150 . The cold insulation unit 84 includes a block-shaped cold insulation unit main body 841 forming a cold insulation chamber 841 a for cold storage of the QC sample container 150 , a cover 842 covering the cold insulation chamber 841 a , and an opening/closing mechanism 843 for the cover 842 . The cold insulator main body 841 and the cover 842 have a rectangular shape elongated in the left-right direction. The cold insulator 84 includes a pedestal 848 on which the cold insulator main body 841 is placed.

In the cold insulation section 84, the temperature of the cold insulation chamber 841a, the opening and closing of the cover 842, and the like are controlled by the control section 82a. The temperature of the cold insulation chamber 841a is, for example, 2° C. to 8° C., and is always controlled to a substantially constant temperature. Cooling of the cold insulation unit 84 is continued even after the sample analysis system 1 is shut down. The cover 842 is automatically opened and closed at the timing when the QC sample container 150 is put in and taken out.

The cold insulation unit main body 841 includes a plurality of storage units 841b that store QC sample containers 150 in an upright state one by one in a cold storage chamber 841a covered with a cover 842 . The accommodating portion 841b is a hole into which the QC sample container 150 can be inserted, which opens upward. In the example shown in FIG. 12, nine accommodating portions 841b are formed in a line in the left-right direction. The accommodating portion 841b is formed to a depth such that the upper portion of the tube 101 gripped by the arm 85b of the transfer portion 85 protrudes from the upper surface of the cold insulator main body 841 with the QC sample container 150 inserted therein.

The cold insulation unit body 841 may use a evaporative compression type cooling device equipped with a compressor as a cooling means, but in the present embodiment, a Peltier element is incorporated in order to reduce the size of the device. there is A fan 845 is provided in the cold insulation section main body 841 as heat dissipation means for the Peltier element. In addition, the cold insulation unit main body 841 is provided with a metal cooling block cooled by a Peltier element, heat radiation fins, a temperature sensor, and the like.

The cover 842 closes the opening of the cold storage chamber 841a to keep the inside of the cold storage chamber 841a airtight and at a low temperature. The cover 842 is formed in the same block shape as the cold insulator main body 841 and has a concave portion 842a formed on the inner surface facing the cold insulator main body 841 side. The inner surface of the cover 842 has a flat peripheral portion contacting the upper surface of the cold insulation main body 841, and a concave portion 842a is formed in the central portion along the longitudinal direction of the cover 842. As shown in FIG. A rubber packing may be attached to the periphery of the inner surface of the cover 842 .

The cover 842 is configured to be opened by rotating rightward by an opening/closing mechanism 843 provided at the right end of the cold insulator main body 841 .

The opening/closing mechanism 843 includes a rotating shaft 843a, a bearing member 843b that is fixed to the right end of the cold insulator main body 841 and rotatably supports the rotating shaft 843a, and a connection that connects the right end of the cover 842 and the rotating shaft 843a. It includes a member 843c and a drive mechanism that rotates the rotating shaft 843a. The open/close mechanism 843 has an endless belt 843d suspended at the rear end of the rotating shaft 843a as a drive mechanism for the rotating shaft 843a, and a rotating shaft around which the belt 843d is suspended. and are provided. The rotating shaft 843a extends in the front-rear direction. Also, the motor 843 e is fixed to the pedestal 848 .

The opening/closing mechanism 843 includes two sensors 843f and 843g attached to the bearing member 843b, and a metal plate 843h fixed to the front end of the rotating shaft 843a. Examples of suitable sensors 843f, 843g are proximity sensors such as magnetic sensors, eddy current sensors, and the like. The sensors 843f and 843g are configured to be able to detect opening and closing of the cover 842, for example, by detecting proximity of a metal plate 843h that moves with the rotation of the rotating shaft 843a. In this embodiment, the sensor 843f detects that the cover 842 is open, and the sensor 843g detects that the cover 842 is closed.

The fan 845 is heat radiation means for releasing heat from the Peltier element, and is installed behind the cold insulation section main body 841 . An intake duct 846 and an exhaust duct 847 are connected to the fan 845. Above the fan 845 is an intake duct 846 extending rightward, and below the fan 845 is an exhaust duct 847 extending downward. is provided. When the fan 845 operates, air is sucked from the intake port of the intake duct 846, passes through the heat generating portion, and is exhausted from the exhaust port of the exhaust duct 847.

[Transfer section 85]
As shown in FIG. 13 , the transfer section 85 includes a vertically elongated plate-shaped base section 85 a and a pair of arms 85 b for gripping the QC sample container 150 . The base portion 85a is provided so that the plate surface extends along the vertical direction and the front-rear direction. The pair of arms 85b are spaced apart in the front-rear direction and are movable toward and away from each other. The QC sample container 150 is gripped when the pair of arms 85b approach, and the QC sample container 150 is released when the pair of arms 85b separate.

The transfer section 85 is configured to take out the QC sample container 150 from the transfer holder 834 of the first input section 83A and transfer it to the cold storage section 84 via the information reading section 87 . Also, the QC sample container 150 is taken out from the cold insulation section 84 and transferred to the rack accommodation section 88 via the heating section 86 . The transfer unit 85 returns the QC sample container 150 collected in the rack housing unit 88 after the measurement by the measurement unit to the cooling unit 84, or puts the used QC sample container 150 into the first collection unit 89A. and discard.

Further, the transfer section 85 is configured to take out the cleaning agent container 180 from the second loading section 83B and transfer it to the rack accommodating section 88 . The cleaning agent container 180 is taken out from the take-out part 839 (see FIG. 8 etc.) of the second input part 83B and directly transferred to the front end rack of the rack accommodating part 88 . The transfer section 85 throws the used cleaning agent container 180 collected in the rack housing section 88 after the cleaning of the measuring unit into the second collection section 89B for disposal.

The base portion 85a includes, as a drive mechanism for the arm 85b, an endless belt 85c extending in the front-rear direction, a pair of connecting members 85d connecting the pair of arms 85b and the belt 85c, and a rotation shaft around which the belt 85c is suspended. A motor 85e including a belt 85c and a pulley 85f on which a belt 85c is suspended are provided. The pair of arms 85b are movably attached to the base portion 85a by this drive mechanism. A stepping motor, for example, is used for the motor 85e.

The pair of arms 85b can also move in three directions: front and back, left and right, and up and down. The transfer section 85 includes a first driving mechanism that moves the base portion 85a to which the arm 85b is attached in the front-rear direction, and a second driving mechanism that moves the base portion 85a in the left-right direction. The base portion 85a is suspended by engaging the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism 2 at its upper end, and is supported in a state in which it can move back and forth and left and right with respect to the frame 82f. Further, the base portion 85a is provided with a third driving mechanism 853 (see FIG. 14 described later) for vertically moving a driving mechanism for the arm 85b including a pair of arms 85b and a belt 85c.

The pair of arms 85b grips the upper portion of the tube 101 of the QC sample container 150, for example. Since the QC sample container 150 has a cap 102 with a larger outer diameter than the tube 101, the arm 85b grips the upper part of the tube 101 so that the arm 85b is caught on the cap 102 and the QC sample container 150 is more reliably dropped. can be prevented. Further, since the cleaning agent container 180 is formed with a flange 181 projecting radially outward at the upper end of the container, the pair of arms 85b grips a portion slightly below the flange 181 .

[Heating section 86]
As shown in FIG. 13 , the heating unit 86 includes a block-shaped heating unit main body 86 a and an accommodating portion 86 b that accommodates the QC sample container 150 . The accommodating portion 86b is a hole into which the QC sample container 150 can be inserted. The storage section 86b stores the QC sample containers 150 one by one in an upright state. In the example shown in FIG. 13, six accommodating portions 86b are formed in a row in the left-right direction.

The containing portion 86b is preferably formed with a depth such that the upper portion of the tube 101 gripped by the arm 85b of the transfer portion 85 protrudes from the upper surface of the heating portion main body 86a when the QC sample container 150 is inserted. . The heating part 86 does not have a cover, and there is no large protrusion on the upper surface of the heating part main body 86a. The number and arrangement of the accommodating portions 86b are not particularly limited, and for example, the accommodating portions 86b may be arranged in a zigzag pattern.

As described above, the heating unit 86 has a function of heating the QC sample container 150 that has been stored in the cold storage unit 84 and adjusting the temperature of the quality control substance contained in the QC sample container 150 to the measurement temperature in the measurement unit. have The measurement temperature is 23°C ± 3°C. Since a suitable cold storage temperature is 2° C. to 8° C., the heating unit 86 needs to raise the temperature of the quality control substance by about 12° C. to 24° C., for example. The heating unit 86 heats the QC sample container 150 inserted into the storage unit 86b so that the quality control substance in the QC sample container 150 reaches the measurement temperature.

The heating unit 86 includes a heater that generates heat by electric power. The heater is preferably an aluminum block heater. Since the aluminum block heater uses an aluminum block as a heat medium, it is suitable because it does not stain the container as compared with the case where a liquid medium is used. In addition, since the aluminum block has high heat conductivity, the time required for temperature rise can be shortened. By providing the heater, it is possible to quickly adjust the temperature even in an environment where the room temperature is low.

The set temperature of the heater is set to a temperature higher than the measurement temperature within a range that does not degrade the accuracy control substance, and is preferably 23°C ± 3°C. Note that the heating unit 86 may be provided with a blower such as a fan that blows air to the storage unit 86b, and heating of the quality control substance is performed by blowing air to the QC sample container 150 with the blower. good too. The heating section 86 may include a heater and a fan.

[Information reading unit 87]
As shown in FIG. 13 , the information reading unit 87 reads the QC sample ID from the rollers 87 a and 87 b arranged to sandwich the housing portion 87 d of the QC sample container 150 and the machine-readable label 103 of the QC sample container 150 . Includes portion 87c. At least one of the rollers 87a and 87b is configured to be movable toward each other and to rotate. The information reading unit 87 drives at least one of the rollers 87a and 87b to rotate the QC sample container 150 placed in the storage unit 87d, and the reading unit 87c reads the QC sample ID. The reading unit 87c is, for example, a barcode reader.

The QC sample container 150 is transferred from the first loading unit 83A to the information reading unit 87, and the QC sample container 150 whose QC sample ID is read by the information reading unit 87 is transferred to the cold insulation unit 84 and stored in a cold storage. The information reading unit 87 transmits the read information of the QC sample ID to the control unit 82a, and the control unit 82a uses the information to execute processing related to quality control. Although details will be described later, the control unit 82a uses the QC sample ID to manage the housing positions of the QC sample containers 150 in the cold storage unit 84, and enables selection of the QC sample container 150 to be used for quality control measurement.

[Rack accommodating portion 88]
14 and 15 are perspective views showing the internal structure of the storage adjustment unit 82, showing an enlarged view of the rack accommodating portion 88. FIG. The rack accommodating section 88 has a transport path 88a capable of transporting an empty rack 170 in the front-rear direction and storing a plurality of empty racks 170. As shown in FIG. The transport path 88 a extends long in the front-rear direction at the right end of the storage adjustment unit 82 . In this embodiment, a maximum of seven empty racks 170 can be stored in the transport path 88a.

The conveying path 88a is provided with three stoppers 88b, 88c, and 88d in order from the front. The stopper 88c is arranged in the front-back direction central portion of the transport path 88a, and restricts the forward movement of the empty racks 170 stored in the transport path 88a. The stopper 88d is arranged closer to the rear end of the transport path 88a than the stopper 88c, and restricts the rearward movement of the empty rack 170. As shown in FIG. The area sandwiched between the stoppers 88c and 88d becomes an area in which the empty rack 170 can be stored. corresponds to

The rack accommodating section 88 is also a place to accommodate the QC sample container 150 and the detergent container 180 in the empty rack 170 as described above. Since the QC sample container 150 and the detergent container 180 are accommodated in the front end rack located at the frontmost position among the plurality of empty racks 170, the transport section 85 is located above the front end rack of the transport path 88a and its vicinity. A space is reserved for the passage. The position of the front end rack is determined by a stopper 88c that stops the forward movement of the empty rack 170. In this embodiment, the position of the front end rack is aligned with the first recovery section 89A, the second recovery section 89B, and the heating section 86 in the left-right direction. there is

The rack storage unit 88 transports the empty rack 170, the QC sample rack 160 containing the QC sample container 150, and the rack containing the detergent container 180 (hereinafter referred to as "cleaner rack") in the front-rear direction. A transfer arm 881 is provided for. The transport arm 881 can push the empty rack 170 or the like forward and pull the empty rack 170 or the like backward. A pair of transfer arms 881 are provided in the rack accommodating portion 88 so as to sandwich the transfer path 88a from both left and right sides. Further, claw portions 881a projecting toward the inside of the transport path 88a are formed at the tips of the pair of transport arms 881. As shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the rack accommodating portion 88 will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. The transport path 88 a of the rack housing section 88 is connected to the second transport path 812 of the conveyor part 81 and arranged to face the first transport path 811 with the second transport path 812 interposed therebetween. That is, the first transport path 811 and the transport path 88a are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction. The transport path 88 a is connected to the right end side of the second transport path 812 and connected to the first transport path 811 and the third transport path 813 via the second transport path 812 .

The stopper 88b of the transport path 88a is a movable stopper arranged at the front end of the transport path 88a. prevent you from doing so. The stopper 88b is lowered so as not to protrude from the upper surface of the transport path 88a when the empty rack 170 or the like is carried into the transport path 88a. Since the empty rack 170 and the like are conveyed behind the stopper 88c, the stopper 88c is lowered in conjunction with the stopper 88b. The stoppers 88b and 88c may be mechanically connected by, for example, a link mechanism.

The transport arm 881 is movable to the front of the second transport path 812 along the front-rear direction, pushes the QC sample rack 160 and the like to the second transport path 812, and moves the QC sample rack 160 and the like from the second transport path 812. It is possible to pull into the transport path 88a. The QC sample rack 160 is transported from the rack accommodating section 88 to the third transport path 813 and the fourth transport path 814 via the second transport path 812 . Also, the QC sample rack 160 returned to the supply unit 80 by the fifth transport path 815 is recovered to the rack accommodating section 88 via the first transport path 811 and the second transport path 812 .

The transport arm 881 is moved in the front-rear direction by a drive mechanism similar to that of the first delivery section 816A. In addition, the two transport arms 881 are configured to be movable toward and away from each other, and can deliver QC sample racks 160 and the like to the second transport path 812 one by one. Specifically, there is an engagement position where the claw portion 881a of the transport arm 881 is positioned on the transport path 88a and engages with the rack on the transport path 88a, and a retracted position where the claw portion 881a is retracted from the transport path 88a. It is possible to move left and right between

For example, when the transport arm 881 is moved from the back of the transport path 88a to the front beyond the empty rack 170 to push the QC sample rack 160 (front end rack) onto the second transport path 812, the transport arm 881 at the retracted position is moved to the QC position. It is moved to the position of the sample rack 160 . Then, the transport arm 881 is moved to the engagement position, and the claw portion 881a is inserted between the QC sample rack 160 and the empty rack 170 one behind. By moving the transport arm 881 forward in this state, the rear surface of the front end rack is pushed by the claw portion 881 a of the transport arm 881 and the QC sample rack 160 is pushed out to the second transport path 812 .

The rack accommodating portion 88 is provided with four sensors 882a, 882b, 882c, and 882d in order from the front along the transport path 88a. The sensor 882a detects the rack between the stoppers 88b and 88c on the front end side of the transport path 88a, and the sensor 882b detects the front end rack. When an empty rack 170 is stored in the rack accommodating section 88, the transport arm 881 transfers the empty rack 170 forward so that there is always a front end rack capable of accommodating the QC sample container 150 and the detergent container 180.

Sensor 882c senses QC sample containers 150 and detergent containers 180 contained in the front end rack. The sensor 882d detects the presence or absence of a rack on the rear end side of the transport path 88a, specifically, the empty rack 170 immediately before the stopper 88d (see FIG. 15). If the empty rack 170 is not detected by the sensor 882d, the rack containing the QC sample container 150 or the detergent container 180 is transported to the measurement unit, or otherwise, the empty rack 170 is placed in the rack container 88. It means that there is room to accommodate.

Optical sensors can be used for the sensors 882a, 882b, 882c, and 882d, similarly to the sensors of the conveyor section 81. FIG. For example, the sensors 882a and 882c are optical sensors in which the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are separated, and the sensors 882b and 882d are reflection type optical sensors in which the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are integrated. Although the details will be described later, the controller 82a controls the stoppers 88b and 88c and the transport arm 881 based on the detection information of each sensor, etc., and carries out the rack transport in the rack accommodating part 88. FIG.

[Operation screen of monitor 91]
Screens displayed on the monitor 91 of the supply unit 80 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 18 to 27. FIG.

FIG. 18 is an example of a home screen 1000 displayed on the monitor 91 of the supply unit 80. As shown in FIG. The home screen 1000 includes a toolbar 1000A, a main area 1000B displaying an operation menu, and a status display area 1000C displaying status. As described above, the monitor 91 is configured by a touch panel, and all icons displayed on the screen 1000 are displayed so as to be selectable by the user. A portal screen display icon 1005 for displaying a portal screen 2600 shown in FIG. 27, which will be described later, is arranged on the toolbar 1000A.

The main area 1000B displays an apparatus status icon 1001 for checking the status of the supply unit 80 or replenishing the supply unit 80 with consumables, and a schedule icon 1002 for registering and editing a schedule. be. Main area 1000B may further include other icons, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 shows an example of a device status screen 2000 displayed when the device status icon 1001 is selected. The apparatus status screen 2000 has a QC status window 2001, a detergent container inventory window 2006, an empty rack inventory window 2007, a waste box window 2008, and a temperature display window 2009 as contents displayed in the main area.

The QC status window 2001 includes a QC sample list 2001A that displays a list of information on QC samples under the control of the supply unit 80, and a remaining amount display section 2001B that displays the remaining amount of the QC samples under control for each concentration level. including.

The QC sample list 2001A displays a list of information on the QC sample containers 150 under the control of the supply unit 80. FIG. The QC sample list 2001A includes, for example, nine rows corresponding to the nine storage sections 841b provided in the cold insulation section 84, as shown in FIG. In the QC sample list 2001A, in order from the leftmost column, a first column indicating the position number of the container 841b, a second column indicating the concentration level of the QC sample, a third column indicating the lot number, and a remaining test A fourth column showing the number and a fifth column showing the expiration date are included.

In the example of FIG. 19, for example, the information of the QC sample container 150 accommodated in the accommodation section 841b with the position number 1 is displayed in the row corresponding to the position number "1". In the example of FIG. 9, the QC sample container 150 housed in position number “1” has a concentration level of “Level 1”, a lot number of “A001XXXX”, a remaining amount of 20 tests, and a valid Information is registered with a deadline of “March 30, 2021”.

The information of the QC sample list 2001A is registered by the information reading unit 87 reading the information of the QC sample container 150 set via the input unit 83 described above. The machine-readable label 103 of the QC sample container 150 stores attribute information including the concentration level of the QC sample, the lot number, the number of remaining tests, and the expiration date. The information reading unit 87 acquires the above information based on the information read from the machine-readable label 103, and transmits the information to the control unit 82a. The QC sample container 150 from which information has been read is accommodated in one empty accommodating portion 841b of the cold insulation portion 84 by the transfer portion 85 . The control unit 82a stores the information read by the information reading unit 87 in the database 820 (see FIG. 28 described later) in association with the position number of the storage unit 841b in which the QC sample container 150 is stored.

The information of the QC sample list 2001A lists the information of the QC sample containers 150 under the control of the supply unit 80. FIG. Even when the QC sample container 150 is taken out from the cold storage unit 84 (for example, while being transported for quality control measurement), the QC sample container is displayed in the row of the position number corresponding to the QC sample container 150. 150 pieces of information are displayed. Information on the QC sample container 150 taken out of the cold storage unit 84 is displayed in a different background color to distinguish it from the QC sample container 150 stored in the cold storage unit 84, as shown by hatching in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 19, the QC sample list 2001A highlights the corresponding cell in the fourth column displaying the remaining amount when the number of remaining tests is less than a predetermined value. For example, in the example of FIG. 19, the color of the cell corresponding to the QC sample container 150 of the position number 3 whose number of remaining tests is less than 1 is highlighted. The threshold for highlighting can be set as appropriate. For example, when the number of remaining tests is less than 5, the highlighting may be performed. This allows the user to easily grasp the existence of the QC sample container 150 whose remaining amount is low or whose remaining amount is zero.

As shown in FIG. 19, in the QC sample list 2001A, when the expiration date of the QC sample container 150 housed in the cold storage unit 84 has passed, the corresponding cell in the fifth column displaying the expiration date is highlighted. For example, in the example of FIG. 19, the color of the cell corresponding to the expired QC sample container 150 of position number 6 is highlighted. The condition for highlighting can be set as appropriate. For example, highlighting may be performed when the number of days remaining until the expiration date falls below a threshold. For example, when the number of remaining days until the expiration date is less than 10 days, it may be highlighted. This allows the user to easily grasp the existence of the QC sample container 150 whose expiration date is approaching or whose expiration date has passed.

In the example of FIG. 19, only the cells in the fourth or fifth column are highlighted, but the entire row may be highlighted.

A remaining amount display section 2001B is provided above the QC sample list 2001A. The remaining amount display section 2001B displays the total number of remaining uses for each type of control blood, that is, for each concentration level of the QC sample container 150 . In the example of FIG. 19, 44 tests, 53 tests, and 1 test are displayed as the remaining test numbers of QC samples of concentration levels 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The value of the remaining amount display portion 2001B is equal to the sum of the remaining test numbers of the QC samples displayed in the QC sample list 2001A for each concentration level. According to the remaining amount display section 2001B, the user does not need to calculate the number of remaining tests for each density level, which facilitates management.

A cleaning agent container inventory window 2006 displays the remaining number of cleaning agent containers 180 stored in the supply unit 80 . As described above, a plurality of sensors 836d are installed along the transfer path 830B in the second input section 83B. Among them, the sensor 836d located in front of the apparatus (lower side of the paper surface of FIG. 8) is arranged at a position where the 15th detergent container from the top can be detected. The controller 82a displays the remaining number of detergent containers 180 based on the output from the front sensor 836d. For example, when the cleaning agent container 180 is detected by the sensor 836d, as shown in FIG. 19, "15+" indicating that the remaining number is 15 or more is displayed. Once the sensor 836d detects the cleaning agent container 180, when the sensor 836d no longer detects the cleaning agent container 180 due to the consumption of the cleaning agent container 180, the controller 82a reduces the number of bottles used from 15 to the number of inventory. display.

In addition, in the supply unit 80K of a modified example to be described later, the number of all cleaning agent containers set in the unit is recognized by the control unit 82a. The number of displayed inventory is changed.

The empty rack inventory window 2007 displays the number of empty racks 170 accommodated in the rack accommodating section 88 . The control unit 82a recognizes the number of empty racks 170 based on the outputs of the sensors 882c and 882d, and displays the number in the empty rack inventory window 2007. FIG.

The discard box window 2008 displays the number of containers that can be discarded in the first collection section 89A and the second collection section 89B, which are the disposal boxes.

The temperature display window 2009 displays the internal temperature of the cold insulation section 84, the temperature of the heating block of the heating section 86, and the temperature of the outside air temperature.

A shutdown icon 2003 , an eject icon 2004 , and an insert icon 2005 are displayed on the toolbar of the device status screen 2000 . A shutdown icon 2003 is used when shutting down all or part of the sample analysis system 1 . A takeout icon 2004 is used when taking out the QC sample container 150 stored in the cold storage unit 84 . The takeout icon 2004 will be described later with reference to FIG. The loading icon 2005 is used when setting the QC sample container 150 in the first loading section 83A of the loading section 83. FIG.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a shutdown screen 2100 displayed when the shutdown icon 2003 on the device status screen 2000 is pressed. The shutdown screen 2100 displays a shutdown menu. The shutdown menu includes three options: "designated device", "whole system", and "supply unit (BT-50) single end".

When "designated device" is selected on the shutdown screen 2100, a device selection screen 2101 is displayed. The device selection screen 2101 includes a device selection area 2101A that displays a plurality of devices, that is, the measurement units 10A and 10B and the processing unit 40, in a selectable manner according to the layout of the sample analysis system. The user selects the device to be shut down according to the guidance on the screen. Screen 2101 also displays an automatic activation schedule 2101B scheduled next, and a button 2101C for calling the details of the next automatic activation schedule. When the user confirms the next automatic startup schedule displayed on the screen and presses the OK button at the bottom of the screen, the selected device is shut down. Shutting down the measurement unit and the processing unit means, for example, as will be described later with reference to FIG. is to turn off Hereinafter, the four measurement units constituting the sample analysis system 1 will be referred to as "XN-1", "XN-2", "XN-3", and "XN-4" respectively, and the processing unit 40 will be referred to as "SP-1 ”.

When "whole system" is selected on the shutdown screen 2100, a system shutdown confirmation screen 2102 is displayed. On the screen 2102, a schedule of the next scheduled automatic activation and a button for calling the details of the next schedule are displayed in the same manner as the screen 2101. FIG. When the OK button at the bottom of the screen is pressed, the entire system is shut down.

When "Supply unit single end" is selected, a supply unit shutdown screen 2103 is displayed to reconfirm the user about shutting down only the supply unit 80 . When the OK button at the bottom of screen 2103 is pressed, only supply unit 80 is shut down alone. Shutting down the supply unit 80 means turning off the power of the supply unit 80 and not transporting the detergent rack.

When the OK button is pressed on screens 2101 to 2103, and the consumables used for automatic QC associated with the next automatic activation schedule are insufficient, screen 2104 is displayed. The screen 2104 includes the message "The consumables required to carry out the contents of the next scheduled implementation registered in the schedule are insufficient.". This screen 2104 shows that the QC sample container 150 stored in the cold storage unit 84 and the empty rack 170 stored in the rack storage unit 88 when a shutdown instruction is received via screens 2101 to 2103 will be automatically started next time. Displayed when the amount is insufficient for performing automatic QC according to the schedule. The control section 82a of the supply unit 80 stores the number of remaining tests for each concentration level of the QC sample containers 150 stored in the cold storage section 84, as described with reference to FIG. The control unit 82 a also stores the number of empty racks 170 accommodated in the rack accommodating unit 88 . The control unit 82a determines whether the inventory of the QC sample containers 150 is sufficient and whether the inventory of the empty racks 110 is sufficient based on the QC conditions of the automatic QC to be executed at the next automatic activation. If there is, a screen 2104 is displayed on the monitor 91 . The user presses Cancel to cancel the shutdown and replenish the consumables. If the user presses the OK button to continue the shutdown, the shutdown continues as instructed. By displaying the screen 2104 before shutdown, for example, it is possible to prevent the supply unit 80 from shutting down without replenishing consumables necessary for automatic QC on the next day.

On the device selection screen 2101, a desired device can be shut down simply by designating the device on the screen and pressing the OK button. This eliminates the need for the user to shut down the devices one by one, which is highly convenient. It is also convenient in that it eliminates the need for manual user intervention, such as using a cleaner rack with a rack barcode specific to a particular device to supply the cleaner container 180 to a particular device.

Also, when shutting down the entire system, the user only needs to press the OK button on the screen 2102 . Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to shut down all devices. Moreover, even if the sample analysis system 1 includes a large number of devices, it is not necessary to manually prepare the cleaning agent container 180 necessary for cleaning all the devices, which is convenient.

FIG. 21 is an example of a QC specimen extraction screen 2200 displayed in response to selection of the extraction icon 2004 on the apparatus status screen 2000. FIG. Screen 2200 includes the same QC specimen list as that included in apparatus status screen 2000 and location selection button 2201 . While confirming the QC sample list, the user can select the position selection button 2201 corresponding to the position number of the QC sample container 150 to be taken out, and select the OK button at the bottom of the screen. A maximum of three position selection buttons 2201 can be selected simultaneously, corresponding to the maximum number of containers that the transfer holder 834 can place, which is three. In the example of FIG. 21, QC sample containers 150 with position numbers 2, 6, and 7 are selected. As described with reference to FIG. 19, the QC sample containers 150 at position numbers 1, 4, and 5 have been taken out of the cold insulation unit 84 and cannot be taken out. Therefore, the position selection buttons 2201 corresponding to these position numbers are disabled and the check boxes are grayed out.

When the QC sample container 150 to be taken out is selected by the position selection button 2201 and the OK button is pressed, the selected QC sample container 150 is taken out from the cold insulation unit 84 and placed at the take-out position P5 (position shown in FIG. 10) of the loading unit 83. ) in the transfer holder 834 . Thereafter, the transfer holder 834 with the QC sample container 150 set thereon moves to the first inlet 831A (the position shown in FIG. 9). When the transfer holder 834 moves to the first input port 831A, the monitor 91 displays a notification screen 2210 notifying the user that the QC sample container 150 (XN CHECK) has arrived at the first input port 831A. A user can open the first cover 832A and take out the QC sample container 150 .

FIG. 22 is an example of an input screen 2300 displayed in response to selection of the input icon 2005 on the device status screen 2000. FIG. When the input icon 2005 is selected, the transfer holder 834 is positioned in the first input port 831A and the first cover 832A is unlocked. The screen 2300 is a screen for prompting the user to set the QC sample container 150, and is displayed on the monitor 91, for example, at the timing when the first cover 832A is unlocked. When the user sets the QC sample container 150 on the transport holder 834 and presses the OK button at the bottom of the screen, the QC sample container 150 is transported inside the supply unit 80 and stored in the cold storage section 84 . This processing will be described later.

FIG. 23 is an example of a schedule screen 2400 displayed in response to selection of the schedule icon 1002 on the home screen 1000 . The schedule screen 2400 includes seven day tabs 2401 provided corresponding to each day of the week, and a schedule list 2402 displaying a list of schedules. A day of the week tab 2401 displays seven tabs that display names of seven days of the week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, in a selectable manner. The user can specify the day of the week to set the schedule by selecting any tab. Note that FIG. 23 shows an example of registering a schedule for each day of the week, but for example, a schedule may be registered by designating a date. For example, a weekly or monthly calendar may be displayed so that a schedule can be registered by designating a specific date on the calendar.

FIG. 23 illustrates a state in which the Monday tab is selected. The schedule list 2402 displays schedules scheduled to be executed on the designated days of the week in chronological order. In the example of FIG. 23, wake-up (automatic activation) is scheduled at 7:30 am on Monday, quality control measurement (automatic QC) at 13:00, and automatic cleaning at 23:00. A button 2403 for switching ON/OFF is provided for each schedule in the schedule list 2402 . The user operates the button 2403 to set it to "ON" if the registered schedule is to be executed, and sets it to "OFF" if it is not to be executed. A schedule set to ON is automatically executed at the same time every week unless set to OFF.

A registration icon 2404 for registering a schedule is displayed in a selectable manner on the toolbar of the schedule screen 2400 . The user presses the registration icon 2404 when adding a new automatic execution schedule to the schedule list 2402 .

FIG. 24 is an example of a schedule registration screen 2500 displayed in response to selection of registration icon 2404 on schedule screen 2400 . A screen 2500 displays a menu for selecting a process to be automatically executed. In the example of FIG. 24, three menus of "start", "quality control" and "cleaning" are selectably displayed. In this embodiment, registered schedule information is stored in the storage unit of the control unit 82a.

When the "Start" menu on the schedule registration screen 2500 is selected, a registration screen 2501 is displayed. Screen 2501 is a screen for registering an automatic wake-up schedule. Screen 2501 includes multiple pull-down buttons for entering the day of the week and time for automatic wake-up. When the day of the week pull-down button is selected, a pull-down menu containing seven days of the week Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as options is displayed. The user can select any day of the week. The time pull-down menu includes a pull-down button for specifying the time in units of one hour and a pull-down button for specifying the time in units of minutes. The user can specify the time by operating the pull-down menu. Although only the pull-down menu is illustrated in the example of FIG. 24, a software keyboard may be displayed to receive numerical input from the user. By operating the screen 2501, the user can specify the day of the week and the time for automatic wakeup.

Registration screen 2501 further includes a button for turning on/off the execution of automatic QC. The user operates the button to turn "ON" when automatic QC is to be performed, and "OFF" when not. Automatic QC is automatic quality control measurement using the QC sample container 150 housed in the cold storage unit 84 .

When an automatic wake-up schedule with automatic QC set to ON is registered, one or more measurement units included in the sample analysis system 1 are automatically activated according to the schedule, and the activated one or more units are automatically activated. Alternatively, QC sample containers 150 are automatically supplied to a plurality of measurement units to perform quality control measurements. When an automatic wake-up schedule with automatic QC set to OFF is registered, each unit of the sample analysis system 1 is automatically powered on, but quality control measurement is not performed.

When the automatic QC button is set to “ON” on the registration screen 2501 and the “OK” button at the bottom of the screen is pressed, the screen transitions to the registration screen 2502 . The registration screen 2502 is also displayed when the "quality control" menu of the schedule registration screen 2500 is selected. In the sample analysis system 1, the registration screen 2502 accepts the setting of the quality control measurement conditions (QC conditions) from the user. Although the details will be described later, the sample analysis system 1 selects one or more QC sample containers 150 stored in the cold storage unit 84 to be used for quality control measurement according to the QC conditions and the information of the QC sample containers 150 . A plurality of QC sample containers 150 are determined, and the determined QC sample containers 150 are transported to the measurement unit to measure the QC sample.

The registration screen 2502 is a screen for creating an automatic QC schedule. Screen 2502 includes a plurality of pull-down buttons for designating the day of the week and time, similar to screen 2501 described above. Below the pull-down buttons, three concentration level buttons of "Level 1", "Level 2" and "Level 3" are provided as buttons for selecting the type of QC sample used in one automatic QC. Below the concentration level button, a unit selection image is displayed for selecting a measurement unit to be subjected to quality control measurement in automatic QC. The unit selection image includes an image showing a plurality of units arranged according to the layout of sample analysis system 1 .

On the registration screen 2502, the user sets the day of the week and time for automatic QC. The operation for setting the day of the week and time is as described above. The user operates the concentration level buttons to select the type of QC sample to be used for automated QC. In the example of FIG. 24, level 1 and level 2 are specified as the concentration levels of the QC sample. Level 3 is undesignated and off. From the unit selection image, the user selects a measurement unit on which to perform quality control measurements in automated QC.

In FIG. 24, the rightmost measurement unit XN-1 and the third and fourth measurement units NX-3 and NX-4 from the right are selected. In the setting example shown in FIG. 24, the automatic QC conditions are set at 8:30 am on Monday for three measurement units XN-1, XN-3, and XN-4, level 1 and level 2 QC measurements using two QC specimen containers 150 are set up. When the "OK" button at the bottom of the screen 2502 is selected, a confirmation screen 2510, which will be described later, is displayed, and the entered schedule is registered in the list when a confirmation operation is performed. In this embodiment, the registered automatic QC conditions are stored in the storage unit of the control unit 82a.

When the "cleaning" menu on the schedule registration screen 2500 is selected, a registration screen 2503 is displayed. Screen 2503 is a screen for registering an automatic cleaning schedule. Automatic cleaning is automatic cleaning of the measurement unit and the processing unit using the cleaning agent container 180 stored in the second loading section 83B. The registration screen 2503 differs from the registration screen 2502 in that it does not have a concentration level button for selecting the type of QC sample and that it includes the processing unit 40 (SP-10), which is a smear preparation device, as a selectable unit. However, other than that, it has the same configuration as the screen 2502 .

On the registration screen 2503, the user operates the pull-down buttons at the top of the screen to specify the day of the week and time for automatic cleaning. The user selects a unit selection image and designates a unit to be automatically cleaned. When the "OK" button at the bottom of the registration screen 2503 is selected, the input schedule is registered in the schedule list through the operation on the confirmation screen.

FIG. 25 is an example of a confirmation screen 2510 displayed in response to inputting an automatic QC schedule on the registration screen 2502 and pressing the “OK” button. As shown in FIG. 25, a confirmation screen 2510 displays the designated day of the week, time, and content to be automatically executed. When an automatic QC schedule specifying a plurality of concentration levels is created on the registration screen 2502, a combination of the plurality of concentration levels is displayed as the content of the automatic execution schedule, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 26 illustrates operations for an automatic execution schedule displayed in the schedule list from the schedule screen 2400 of FIG. When the user selects an automatic execution schedule that the user wants to operate on screen 2400, an operation menu 2410 is displayed. Operation menu 2410 includes three items: "execute", "edit", and "delete".

"Execute" is used to execute the selected schedule ahead of schedule. When "execute" of the operation menu 2410 is pressed, a confirmation screen 2420 including the contents of the scheduled automatic execution is displayed together with the confirmation message "Do you want to execute the contents of the selected schedule now?" . When the "OK" button is pressed on this confirmation screen 2420, the quality control measurement is started according to the scheduled QC conditions. If a schedule is executed earlier than the scheduled time by operating the "execute" menu, the schedule is not executed at the originally scheduled time.

"Edit" is used to change the contents of an already registered schedule. For example, it is used when changing the time to perform automatic QC, or when changing the concentration level used in automatic QC or the unit for quality control measurement. When "Edit" is pressed, the same screen as one of the screens 2501, 2502, and 2503 shown in FIG. 24 is displayed according to the type of schedule to be edited, and editing is possible through the screen. When editing is performed, the contents of the schedule list are updated based on the edited contents.

"Delete" is used to delete an already registered schedule. When deleted, the target schedule is deleted from the schedule list.

FIG. 27 is an example of a portal screen 2600. As shown in FIG. The portal screen 2600 includes a schedule display area 2601 that displays a list of schedules scheduled for the day, and an inventory display area 2602 that displays the inventory status of consumables stored by the supply unit 80 . The content displayed in the schedule display area 2601 is a chronological list of scheduled schedules corresponding to the day of the week on the day of operation among the automatic execution schedules registered in the schedule registration screen 2500 .

In the inventory display area 2602, the status of the inventory of consumables stored by the supply unit 80 is displayed as a graph. In the example of FIG. 27, the remaining amounts of a plurality of types of consumables are displayed as bar graphs on the horizontal axis on which future dates are arranged toward the right from the current point in time. The bar graph displays how long the consumables will be sufficient if the registered schedule is executed as planned using the consumables inventory stored in the supply unit 80 . In the example of FIG. 27, a bar graph representing the amount of inventory of QC sample containers 150 and cleaning agent containers (CCA) 180 at concentration levels 1, 2, and 3 is displayed. Below the graph is a message about consumable inventory. For example, when the number of empty racks 170 stored in the rack accommodating section 88 falls below a predetermined number, for example, as shown in FIG. The message also includes an alert prompting the user to replenish consumables in the event of a shortage of consumables required to run the scheduled automatic execution schedule. For example, in FIG. 27, when the number of remaining tests for QC specimens with concentration level 3 is insufficient for the automatic QC schedule scheduled for the next day, "L3: The number of tests required for automatic QC tomorrow is insufficient. Please refill." is displayed. The automatic execution schedule to be alerted may be, for example, the one scheduled for the current day, the next day, or the next working day, or the next scheduled automatic activation schedule. By confirming the alert, the user can replenish the consumables in advance. In FIG. 27, the dates on which the schedule can be executed within the inventory of consumables are displayed by bar graphs, but the display format need not be a graph, and only the dates may be displayed. Moreover, the display is not limited to the date, and the remaining number of days or the remaining number of times that the schedule can be executed based on the inventory may be displayed as a numerical value or a graph.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the supply unit 80, and also shows the connection relationship between the supply unit 80, the module 10, and the transport controller 70. As shown in FIG. The controller 82 a is connected to each of the input section 83 , cold insulation section 84 , transfer section 85 , heating section 86 , information reading section 87 and rack accommodating section 88 . The control unit 82a sends control signals to these devices to control the operation of each device. In this embodiment, among the processes related to quality control measurement, the processes performed by the storage adjustment unit 82 are executed under the control of the control section 82a. The transportation of the QC sample rack 160 by the conveyor unit 81 and the transportation unit 20 of the module 10 is mainly performed under the control of the transportation controller 70, and the measurement of the quality control substance in the measurement unit is performed under the control of the control unit 30. be done.

Like the control unit 31 of the control unit 30 and the control unit 71 of the transport controller 70, the control unit 82a is composed of a computer, and includes a processor, storage unit, input/output ports, and the like. The control unit 82a is installed with a control program for executing processes such as cooling storage, transfer, and heating of the QC sample container 150, for example. The control unit 82a further stores a database 820 that stores information on quality control specimens. The database 820 is information on each QC sample container 150 associated with the position number of the storage section 841b of the cold insulation section 84, as described above.

The control section 31 of the control unit 30 stores a database 310 relating to the results of quality control measurements. The database 310 stores QC files, which are measurement results of QC specimens and are measurement results for each date and time of measurement, and for each concentration level and lot of QC specimens. An example of the QC file stored in the database 310 is shown in FIG. 49, which will be described later. Using this database 310, the user can check, for example, the state of the measurement unit, differences between QC sample lots, which will be described later, and the like.

FIG. 29 is an example of the database 820 stored in the control unit 82a. The database 820 includes attribute information and remaining amount information of each QC sample container 150 accommodated in the cold storage unit 84 . The attribute information preferably includes at least one of QC specimen concentration level, lot information, and expiration date. In the example of FIG. 29, from the leftmost column, the first column indicates the position number of the storage portion 841b of the cold insulation portion 84, the second column indicates the concentration level of the QC sample container 150, and the third column indicates the lot number. A fourth column indicating the number of remaining tests, which is remaining information, and a fifth column indicating an expiration date. Based on this database 820, the QC sample list 2001A described above is created, and one or more QC sample containers 150 to be used for quality control measurement are determined.

Hereinafter, an example of processing related to automatic QC and automatic cleaning of the sample analysis system 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 30 to 41. FIG. Processing related to automatic QC and automatic cleaning is mainly performed by the functions of the control section 31 of the control unit 30 and the control section 82 a of the supply unit 80 . 42 to 45 showing the operation of the supply unit 80 will be referred to below as appropriate.

FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing a series of processes of the sample analysis system 1. FIG. The processing of FIG. 30 is executed by the control section 82a of the supply unit 80. FIG. When an automatic wake-up schedule is registered, the control unit 82a determines whether or not the current time is a predetermined time before the designated time (step S1). When the current time is a predetermined time before the specified time, the control unit 82a performs automatic wakeup (step S2). The processing of S2 will be described later with reference to FIG.

When the power of each unit constituting the system is turned on by the automatic wakeup, the control unit 82a determines whether or not the scheduled automatic QC time has come (step S10). This determination is made based on the registration information of the automatic QC schedule saved in the control section 82a. When the controller 82a determines that the automatic QC time has come, it starts the quality control measurement using the QC sample container 150 (step S100). The processing of S100 will be described later with reference to FIG.

In the case of NO in step S10, the controller 82a determines whether or not the scheduled automatic cleaning time has arrived (step S20). This determination is made based on the registration information of the automatic cleaning schedule stored in the control unit 82a. When the controller 82a determines that it is time for automatic cleaning, it starts automatic cleaning using the cleaning agent container 180 (step S200). The processing of S200 will be described later with reference to FIG.

In the case of NO in step S20, the control unit 82a determines whether or not the addition of the QC sample container 150 has been instructed by the user (step S30). For example, the control unit 82a determines whether or not the input icon 2005 on the device status screen 2000 of FIG. 19 has been operated. When the input icon 2005 is operated (YES in step S30), the control unit 82a performs processing for storing the QC sample container 150 in the cold insulation unit 84 (step S300). The processing of S300 will be described later with reference to FIG.

In the case of NO in step S30, the control unit 82a determines whether or not the user instructs to take out the QC sample container 150 (step S40). For example, the control unit 82a determines whether or not the eject icon 2004 on the device status screen 2000 of FIG. 19 has been operated. When the takeout icon 2004 is operated (YES in step S40), the control unit 82a performs processing to take out the QC sample container 150 from the cold insulation unit 84 (step S400). The processing of S400 will be described later with reference to FIG.

In the case of NO in step S40, the control section 82a determines whether or not a rack is set on the conveyor section 81 of the supply unit 80 (step S50). When the controller 82a determines that a rack has been set (YES in step S50), the controller 82a performs rack storage or rack transport according to the type of rack (step S500). The processing of S500 will be described later with reference to FIG.

In the case of NO in step S50, the control section 82a determines whether or not the rack sent out from the supply unit 80 has returned to the conveyor section 81 (step S60). When the controller 82a determines that the rack has returned (YES in step S60), it performs a predetermined collection process according to the type of rack (step S600). The processing of S600 will be described later with reference to FIG.

31-36, 40 and 41 are flow charts showing the operation of the supply unit 80. FIG.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing automatic wakeup processing. In step S2A, the control section 82a turns on the power of the supply unit 80. As shown in FIG. As a result, power supply to the heater of the heating unit 86 is started, and the temperature inside the heating unit 86 is raised to the set temperature (23° C.). In step S2B, the control unit 82a transmits an activation command to each unit of the sample analysis system 1 when the current time is a predetermined time before the designated time. As a result, all the units that make up the sample analysis system 1 are powered on. Note that the screen 2501 of FIG. 24 may be configured so that a unit that performs automatic wakeup can be specified, and the activation command is transmitted only to the specified unit based on the registration information of the schedule.

The predetermined time is preferably longer than the time required for the heating unit 86 to heat the QC sample container 150 stored in the cold insulation unit 84 to a measurable temperature (hereinafter referred to as heating time). For example, if the heating time is 10 minutes, the predetermined time is preferably at least 10 minutes or more. More preferably, the predetermined time includes the time required for measuring the heated QC sample by the measurement unit and obtaining the measurement result in addition to the heating time. In one example, the predetermined time is 30 minutes, for example. That is, when the wake-up time is set to 8:30, the control unit 82a transmits the activation command at 8:00. By doing this, the user can complete the QC sample heating to measurement at the time specified as the wake-up time, and the user can immediately start the test using the measurement unit at the specified time. can. The predetermined time may be fixed, or may be variable depending on the presence or absence of automatic QC and QC conditions.

In step S2C, the controller 82a determines whether automatic QC is set to ON. When the automatic QC is set to ON as shown in the screen 2501 of FIG. 24, the control unit 82a executes the automatic QC in step S100 following the automatic wakeup. That is, when an automatic wake-up schedule with automatic QC set to ON is registered, the power of each unit of the sample analysis system 1 is automatically turned on at a specified time on a specified day of the week, and the QC sample container is turned on. Quality control measurements using 150 are automatically initiated. When automatic QC is set to OFF, only automatic wake-up is performed and quality control measurements are not performed.

FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing the automatic QC processing in the supply unit 80 (step S100 in FIG. 30). The procedure shown in this flow chart applies not only to automatic QC that is executed following automatic wakeup, but also to automatic QC that is executed at timings other than wakeup. In step S101, the control unit 82a determines a combination of QC sample containers 150 to be used for quality control measurement based on quality control measurement conditions (QC conditions) and information on QC samples being stored. Although one QC sample container 150 may be used for quality control measurements, generally two or more QC sample containers 150 with different concentration levels of QC samples are used.

The QC conditions include designation of one or more measurement units for quality control measurements. When one or more measurement units for quality control measurement are designated, the control section 82a determines one or more QC sample containers 150 to be used according to the number of designated measurement units. The QC sample information includes information on the type of QC sample, and the QC conditions include designation of the type of QC sample to be used. The control unit 82a determines one or a plurality of QC sample containers 150 to be used based on the designated QC sample type and information on the QC sample type.

The QC conditions may include designation of a plurality of concentration levels as types of QC specimens, designation of lots of QC specimens to be used, and the like. The control unit 82a determines a combination of the plurality of QC sample containers 150, for example, based on the designated plurality of concentration levels. Also, one or a plurality of QC sample containers 150 are determined based on the designated lot and the lot information of the QC sample. The QC sample information may include remaining amount information of the QC sample in each QC sample container 150, based on the number of designated measurement units and the remaining amount information, one or more QC sample containers 150 may be determined.

Although details will be described later, when the remaining amount of the first QC sample container 150 used for quality control measurement is less than the number of tests to be performed based on the specified number of measurement units, the container to be used is A combination of one QC sample container 150 and a second QC sample container 150 is determined. In this case, a container with the same concentration level as the first QC sample container 150 is selected for the second QC sample container 150 . The remaining amount of the QC sample container 150 is determined based on, for example, at least the concentration level and lot information of the QC sample, and QC conditions.

The QC sample information includes attribute information and remaining amount information of each QC sample as described above. Examples of attribute information include QC specimen concentration levels, lot information, and expiration dates. The remaining amount information is, for example, the number of times the QC sample can be used. Information on QC samples is stored as a database 820 in the storage unit of the control unit 82a. The QC conditions are similarly stored in the storage unit.

In step S<b>102 , the control unit 82 a controls to take out the QC sample container 150 from the cold insulation unit 84 and transfer it to the heating unit 86 . Specifically, the control unit 82 a controls the cold insulation unit 84 to open the cover 842 . The control unit 82 a controls the transfer unit 85 to take out the QC sample container 150 determined in S<b>101 from the cold insulation unit 84 . The control unit 82a stores information on the QC sample container 150 in the database 820 in association with the position numbers of the nine storage units 841b in the cold insulation unit . The control unit 82 a controls the transfer unit 85 to take out the container from the storage unit 841 b corresponding to the determined position number of the QC sample container 150 and set it in the heating unit 86 . When the QC sample container 150 is set in the heating unit 86, the control unit 82a starts clocking.

In step S103, when a predetermined period of time has passed since the QC sample container 150 was set in the heating unit 86, the control unit 82a transfers the QC sample container 150 whose temperature has been adjusted to the measurement temperature from the heating unit 86 to the rack storage unit 88. to the empty rack 170 of the The control unit 82 a controls the transfer unit 85 to accommodate the QC sample container 150 in the empty rack 170 . When a plurality of QC sample containers 150 are used for quality control measurement, each QC sample container 150 is accommodated in the empty rack 170 based on the automatic QC conditions stored in the storage unit.

In step S<b>104 , the control unit 82 a controls the QC sample rack 160 containing the QC sample container 150 to be transported from the supply unit 80 . The control unit 82 a controls the rack storage unit 88 to send out the QC sample rack 160 to the second transport path 812 of the conveyor unit 81 . The control unit 82 a controls the conveyor unit 81 to transport the QC sample rack 160 from the supply unit 80 through the third transport path 813 and the fourth transport path 814 . The controller 82 a notifies the controller 71 of the transport controller 70 of the measurement unit that is the destination of the QC sample rack 160 . The control section 71 of the transport controller 70 controls each transport unit 20 so that the QC sample rack 160 is transported to the notified measurement unit.

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing the operation of the supply unit 80 in steps S102-S104 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 42(a), the transfer section 85 takes out the QC sample container 150 from the storage section 841b of the cold insulation chamber 841a under the control of the control section 82a, and stores it in the storage section 86b of the heating section 86. . Thereafter, when a predetermined time has passed since the QC sample container 150 was transferred to the heating unit 86, the transfer unit 85 transfers the QC sample container 150 to the empty rack storage unit 88 as shown in FIG. 42(b). Transfer to rack 170 .

When the number of QC sample containers 150 required for quality control measurement is accommodated in the accommodation portion 111 of the empty rack 170 (front end rack), as shown in FIG. QC sample rack 160 , which is a front-end rack containing , is delivered to the second transport path 812 of the conveyor section 81 . The QC sample rack 160 is transported from the supply unit 80 through the third transport path 813 and the fourth transport path 814 of the conveyor section 81 .

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the process (step S101 in FIG. 32) for determining the combination of QC sample containers 150 used for quality control measurement. In step S1000, the controller 82a sets 1 to a variable N relating to the density level. In step S1001, the control unit 82a determines whether measurement of the QC sample at the concentration level N is necessary. When the variable N is 1, it is determined whether or not the QC sample of concentration level 1 needs to be measured. The determination in step S1001 is made based on the specification of the concentration level of the QC conditions stored in the storage unit. For example, if the QC conditions include the measurement of a QC sample at concentration level 1 as shown in screen 2502 of FIG. 24, YES is determined in step S1001. If measurement of the QC sample at concentration level 1 is not designated, steps S1002 and S1003 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S1004.

In step S1002, the control unit 82a identifies one QC sample container 150 from the QC sample containers 150 stored in the cold storage unit 84 based on the concentration level and lot number registered in the database 820. FIG. For example, the QC sample container 150 that can be used is identified from among the QC sample containers 150 having the same lot number as the QC sample container 150 of concentration level 1 in operation. If there are a plurality of QC sample containers 150 with the same lot number, the container with the smallest number of remaining tests is identified.

In step S1003, the control unit 82a determines whether or not the number of remaining tests for the specified QC sample container 150 is equal to or greater than the number of tests for quality control measurement. This determination is made based on information on the number of remaining tests of the QC sample container 150 registered in the database 820 . That is, the number of remaining tests of the identified QC sample container 150 is compared with the number of scheduled tests for the quality control measurement to be performed, and if the number of remaining tests is equal to or greater than the number of scheduled tests to be performed, the determination is YES. .

At step 1004, the control unit 82a determines whether or not the QC sample containers 150 of all the concentration levels required for the quality control measurement have been identified. This determination is made based on the specification of the concentration level of the QC conditions stored in the storage unit. For example, if the QC conditions specify the measurement of density levels 1 and 2, steps S1001 to S1003 are executed for density level 2. FIG.

If the control unit 82a determines NO in step S1003, that is, if the number of remaining tests for the identified QC sample container 150 is less than the number of scheduled tests to be performed, then in step S1005, other available It is determined whether or not the QC sample container 150 is stored in the cold storage section 84 . This determination is made based on database 820 . If another usable QC sample container 150 with the same concentration level is stored (YES in step S1005), the control unit 82a stores the number of remaining tests in the other QC sample container 150 according to the previously identified QC sample container 150. It is summed with the number of remaining tests of the specimen container 150 (step S1006). Then, the process returns to step S1003 to determine whether or not the total number of remaining tests is greater than or equal to the number of tests scheduled to be performed.

The procedures of steps S1003, S1005, and S1006 are repeated until YES is determined in step S1003. If other QC sample containers 150 that have the same concentration level and can be used are not stored in the cold storage unit 84 (NO in step S1005), the control unit 82a outputs an automatic QC error in step S1007, and changes the automatic QC schedule. to cancel. The automatic QC error is information output when the stored QC samples are insufficient for the registered automatic QC schedule. A notification of the automatic QC error is displayed on the monitor 91, for example. In this case, the user needs to set the QC sample container 150 of concentration level 1 in the supply unit 80 .

FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing the automatic cleaning process in the supply unit 80 (step S200 in FIG. 30). Automatic cleaning is performed based on an automatic cleaning schedule, and cleaning agent racks containing cleaning agents are transported to units specified in the schedule. In step S201, the control unit 82a controls the transfer unit 85 to move the cleaning agent container 180 stored in the second input unit 83B to a position where it can be gripped. The control section 82a controls the extraction section 839 of the second input section 83B so that the cleaning agent container 180 can be gripped by the transfer section 85. As shown in FIG.

In step S202, the control unit 82a transfers the cleaning agent container 180 to the empty rack 170 of the rack accommodating unit 88, and in step S203, controls to transfer the cleaning agent rack containing the cleaning agent container 180 from the supply unit 80. do.

FIG. 43 shows the operation of the supply unit 80 in steps S201-S203 of FIG. The cleaning agent container 180 is transferred by the second input portion 83B from the second input port 831B (see FIG. 9 and the like) to the take-out portion 839 accessible by the transfer portion 85. As shown in FIG. When the plate 839 d is positioned on the right end side of the extraction portion 839 , the transfer portion 85 cannot grip the cleaning agent container 180 . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 43(b), the transfer plate 839d accommodating the cleaning agent container 180 is moved to the left end side of the take-out portion 839. Then, as shown in FIG.

As a result, the lower end of the cleaning agent container 180 is pushed up by coming into contact with the upper surface of the inclined block 839c (see FIG. 9, etc.) arranged below the transfer plate 839d, so that the transfer portion 85 can grip it. At this time, the cleaning agent container 180 pushed up is detected by the sensor 839h. When the cleaning agent container 180 is detected by the sensor 839h, the transfer unit 85 takes out the cleaning agent container 180 from the taking-out unit 839 and transfers it to the empty rack 170, as shown in FIG. 43(c). As with the QC sample containers 150 , the number of cleaning agent containers 180 required for cleaning is transferred from the take-out section 839 and accommodated in the front end rack of the rack accommodating section 88 . As with the QC sample rack 160, the detergent rack housing the detergent container 180 is transported from the rack housing section 88 through the second transport path 812, the third transport path 813, and the fourth transport path 814 of the conveyor part 81 to the supply unit 80. from the measuring unit to the measuring unit.

FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing the process of storing the QC sample container 150 in the cold insulation section 84 of the supply unit 80 (step S300 in FIG. 30). 35 is executed when the user operates the input icon 2005 on the device status screen 2000, as described above. In step S301, the control unit 82a controls the locking mechanism of the first cover 832A of the first insertion unit 83A to unlock the first cover 832A. When the first cover 832A is unlocked, in step S302, the control unit 82a displays a screen prompting the setting of the QC sample container 150. FIG. An example of this screen is the input screen 2300 in FIG. 23, which is displayed on the monitor 91. FIG.

In step S303, the control unit 82a controls to lock the first cover 832A when the QC sample container 150 is set in the transfer holder 834, the first cover 832A is closed, and the OK button on the input screen 2300 is pressed. do. The controller 82 a controls the transfer holder 834 to transfer it inside the storage adjustment unit 82 . At this time, the transfer holder 834 moves to the take-out position P5 of the first input section 83A. In step S304, the control section 82a controls the transfer section 85 to transfer the QC sample container 150 from the extraction position P5 to the information reading section 87. FIG. In step S305, the information reading section 87 reads the information of the QC sample container 150 under the control of the control section 82a.

In step S<b>306 , the control unit 82 a controls the transfer unit 85 to transfer the QC sample container 150 from the information reading unit 87 to the cold insulation unit 84 . The transfer section 85 stores the QC sample container 150 in the storage section 841b of the cold storage chamber 841a under the control of the control section 82a. In step S307, the control unit 82a registers the information on the QC sample container 150 acquired by the information reading unit 87 in the database 820 in association with the position number of the storage unit 841b storing the QC sample container 150. FIG. At the time when the information reading unit 87 acquires the information, the accommodation position of the QC sample container 150 in the cold insulation unit 84 may be determined. Sometimes information on the QC sample container 150 may be registered in the database 820 in association with the position number of the container 841b.

FIG. 44 shows the operation of the supply unit 80 in steps S301-S306 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 44(a), when storing the QC sample container 150 in the cold insulation section 84 of the supply unit 80, the user puts the QC sample container 150 in the transfer holder 834 at the first input port 831A of the first input section 83A. set. Since the first inlet 831A is covered with the first cover 832A, the user needs to open the first cover 832A and set the QC sample container 150 thereon. A locking mechanism for the first cover 832A is provided in the first input portion 83A, and when the transfer holder 834 is present in the first input port 831A, the first cover 832A is unlocked and the first cover 832A is opened. can be opened.

At the first slot 831A, the transfer holder 834 is detected by a sensor 835f. When the sensor 835f detects the transfer holder 834, for example, the input icon 2005 (see FIG. 23) on the monitor 91 becomes operable, and when the input icon 2005 is pressed, the first cover 832A is unlocked. By making it possible to open the first cover 832A only when the transfer holder 834 exists in the first input port 831A, the QC sample container 150 is mistakenly input into the first input port 831A where the transfer holder 834 does not exist. can be prevented.

When the QC sample container 150 is set in the storage portion 834 a of the transfer holder 834 and the first cover 832 A is closed, the control unit 82 a moves the transfer holder 834 to move the QC sample container 150 inside the storage adjustment unit 82 . transfer. Since a sensor 833e is installed in the first input port 831A corresponding to each container 834a, the presence or absence of the QC sample container 150 and the number of input QC sample containers 150 can be detected from the detection information of the sensor 833e.

As shown in FIG. 44(b), the transfer holder 834 moves from the first inlet 831A to the take-out position P5 inside the storage adjustment unit . When the transfer holder 834 reaches the take-out position P5 and is detected by the sensor 835g, the transfer unit 85 takes out the QC sample containers 150 from the transfer holder 834 and transfers them to the information reading unit 87 one by one. In the information reading section 87, rollers 87a and 87b rotate the QC sample container 150 placed in the storage section 87d, and the reading section 87c reads the QC sample ID from the machine-readable label 103. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 44(c), the transfer section 85 transfers the QC sample container 150 from the information reading section 87 to the cold insulation section 84 and stores it in the storage section 841b of the cold insulation chamber 841a. When all the QC sample containers 150 have been transferred to the cold storage unit 84 , the cold storage unit 84 closes the cover 842 and starts cold storage of the QC sample containers 150 . In the example of FIG. 44(c), after all the QC sample containers 150 are taken out from the transfer holder 834, the transfer holder 834 is returned to the first inlet 831A. Information on the read QC sample ID is transmitted to the control unit 82a. The QC sample ID contains the QC sample concentration level, lot number and expiration date information. The control unit 82a updates the database 820 based on the received QC sample ID information. In addition, since the number of remaining tests of the QC sample container 150 is 24 tests if it is in an unused state, the control unit 82a sets the initial value of the number of remaining tests to Enter 24.

FIG. 36 is a flow chart showing the process (S400 in FIG. 30) of taking out the QC sample container 150 from the cold insulation section 84 of the supply unit 80. As shown in FIG. As described above, the processing in FIG. 36 is executed when the eject icon 2004 on the device status screen 2000 is operated. In step S<b>401 , the controller 82 a controls the transfer holder 834 to move inside the storage adjustment unit 82 . At this time, the transfer holder 834 moves to the take-out position P5 of the first input section 83A. In step S402, the control unit 82a controls the transfer unit 85 to take out the QC sample container 150 stored in the storage unit 841b corresponding to the position number designated on the screen 2200 of FIG. It is set in the transfer holder 834 at the position P5.

In step S403, the controller 82a controls to move the transfer holder 834 in which the QC sample container 150 is set to the first inlet 831A. The control unit 82a unlocks the first cover 832A in step S404, and displays a screen notifying the arrival of the QC sample container 150 in step S405. An example of this screen is the notification screen 2210 in FIG. 21, which is displayed on the monitor 91. FIG.

37-39 are flow charts showing the operation of the measurement unit. The operation of the measurement unit is mainly controlled by the control section 31 . Although the operation of the first measurement unit 10A will be described below as an example, the same applies to the second measurement unit 10B.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing an example of the measurement procedure for the sample container 100, and steps S1101 and S1102 are also common to the QC sample container 150 and the detergent container 180. FIG. In step S1101, the control unit 31 transports the sample rack 110 to the second transport path 22 arranged in front of the first measurement unit 10A, and in step S1102, causes the information reading unit 26 to read the sample ID and the rack ID. . The sample container 100 whose sample ID has been read is transported to the extraction position P2 corresponding to either the first measurement unit 10A or the second measurement unit 10B. Here, it is assumed that the wafer is transported to the pick-up position P2 of the first measuring unit 10A.

In step S1103, the control unit 31 determines the type of container based on the sample ID read in step S1102. If it is determined that the container transported to the pick-up position P2 is the sample container 100, the process proceeds to step S1104. If the container transported to the take-out position P2 is the QC sample container 150, the process proceeds to step S1201 in FIG. 38, and if it is the detergent container 180, the process proceeds to step S1301 in FIG.

In step S1104, the control unit 31 inquires about the measurement order to the host computer 120 and acquires the measurement order. . Under the control of the control unit 31, the robot hand 15 inverts and agitates the sample container 100 taken out in step S1106, and the suction tube 13a of the sample preparation unit 13 aspirates the sample from the sample container 100 in step S1507. After the aspiration of the sample is completed, the sample container 100 is returned to the original container 111 of the sample rack 110 by the robot hand 15 in step S1108.

Under the control of the control unit 31, in step S1109, the sample preparation unit 13 prepares a measurement sample from the aspirated specimen, and the measurement unit 14 performs sample measurement (first test) and analyzes the measurement data. In step S1110, the control unit 31 determines whether or not to perform a retest based on the measurement result of the first test. If retesting is to be performed, the process returns to step S1105, and if retesting is not to be performed, the results of the first test are sent to the host computer 120 (step S1111). When all the sample containers 100 accommodated in the sample rack 110 have undergone the initial test and necessary retests, smear samples are prepared via the processing unit 40 as necessary, and then transported to the collection unit 60 (step S1112).

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure when the container is the QC sample container 150 in step S1103 of FIG. In step S1201, the control unit 31 acquires the QC conditions by inquiring the control unit 82a of the supply unit 80 about the QC conditions, and performs the first measurement for the QC sample container 150 to be measured based on the QC conditions. It is transported to the take-out position P2 of the unit. Under the control of the control unit 31, the robot hand 15 takes out the QC sample container 150 from the storage unit 111 of the QC sample rack 160 in step S1202, and inverts and agitates the QC sample container 150 taken out in step S1203. Information on the registered QC conditions may be provided to the control unit 31 in advance, in which case the inquiry in step S1201 is unnecessary.

Under the control of the control unit 31, in step S1204, the aspiration tube 13a of the sample preparation unit 13 aspirates the QC sample from the QC sample container 150, and in step S1205, the robot hand 15 moves the original storage unit 111 of the QC sample rack 160. Return the QC specimen container 150 to the . In step S1206, the sample preparation unit 13 prepares a measurement sample from the aspirated QC sample, and the measurement unit 14 performs sample measurement (first test) and analyzes the measurement data. When the QC sample is aspirated in step S1204, the controller 31 notifies the controller 82a of the supply unit 80 of the information. Information on the number of QC sample aspirations is used when updating the number of remaining tests in the database 820 . Alternatively, the control unit 82a may update the database 820 by reducing the number of remaining tests for the corresponding QC sample container 150 when receiving this notification.

When retesting for remeasurement of the QC sample is set as the QC condition, the control unit 31 determines whether or not retesting is necessary (step S1207). For example, if the measured value is out of a predetermined allowable range, or if the error from the previous value is out of the allowable range, or if the measured value is abnormal, it is determined that re-inspection is necessary. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the re-examination is automatically performed up to once. In other words, when steps S1201 to S1206 are repeated due to re-inspection, the process proceeds to step S1208 regardless of the result of the re-inspection.

The control unit 31 determines whether or not to output a QC error in step S1208. QC error is when the measured value of the QC specimen is still abnormal even after retesting, for example, when the measured value of the QC specimen is out of the predetermined allowable range, or when the error with the previous value is out of the allowable range output. QC errors are displayed, for example, on monitor 91 of supply unit 80 .

When outputting the QC error, the control unit 31 notifies the transport controller 70 (step S1209). The predetermined notification includes information identifying the measurement unit that generated the QC error. The transport controller is programmed to prohibit the transport of the sample container 100 to the measuring unit in which the QC error has occurred. Since a plurality of measurement units exist in the sample analysis system 1, only the measurement unit with normal measured values of the QC sample is supplied to the sample container 100, and the measurement unit with the abnormal measured value of the QC sample receives the sample. It is excluded from the supply destination of the container 100 . For example, if a QC error occurs in either of the measurement units 10A and 10B of the upstream measurement block 10 in the sample analysis system 1 of FIG. , and the sample container can be supplied only to the measurement block 10 on the downstream side. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the sample from being erroneously measured by a measurement unit that has a QC error and whose accuracy is not guaranteed. Furthermore, while a QC error occurs and the measurement unit is being restored, measurement can be started by another normal measurement unit, which is highly convenient.

The control unit 31 creates a QC file based on the measured values of the QC sample (step S1210). As described above, QC files are measurement results of QC specimens created for each concentration level and lot and stored in database 310 . If a QC file has already been created for the same concentration level and lot as the measured QC specimen, update the file by adding the new measurements to the QC file. In step S1211, the control unit 31 determines whether or not all the quality control measurements of the first measurement unit have been completed based on the QC conditions. Steps S1201-S1211 are repeated if all measurements have not been completed, for example, if measurements of QC specimens at different concentration levels are required.

When all the measurements in the first measurement unit are completed (YES in step S1211), the control section 31 updates the status of the first measurement unit based on the QC result (step S1212). The status includes, for example, standby and error. Standby is a state in which the measurement unit can measure a sample. An error is a state in which an error has occurred in the measurement unit, and is a state in which sample measurement is impossible or prohibited. If the QC result is normal, that is, if there is no QC error, the controller 31 sets the status of the measurement unit to standby. The controller 31 is programmed to control the transport unit 20 so that when the sample rack 110 containing the sample container 100 is transported, the sample container 100 is supplied to the measurement unit whose status is standby. If there is a QC error, the control section 31 sets the status of the measurement unit to error. The controller 31 is programmed so as not to supply the sample to the measuring unit whose status is error. An errored measurement unit can be placed on standby, for example, by the user manually performing a QC sample measurement or performing an error recovery.

The control unit 31 inquires of the control unit 82a of the supply unit 80 about the transport destination of the QC sample rack 160 (step S1213), and determines the transport destination (step S1214). If there is the next measurement unit as the transport destination of the QC sample rack 160 (YES in step S1214), the transport unit 20 transports the QC sample rack 160 to the next measurement unit under the control of the control unit 31 (step S1215). ). For example, if the next measurement unit is the second measurement unit 10B, the transport unit 20 transports the QC sample rack 160 from the first measurement unit 10A toward the second measurement unit 10B via the second transport path 22. do. If the next measurement unit is an adjacent measurement block, the transport unit 20 transports the QC sample rack 160 downstream by the belt 21 b (see FIG. 5) of the first transport path 21 . If the transport destination of the QC sample rack 160 is the supply unit (NO in step S1214), the transport unit 20 transports the QC sample rack 160 through the third transport path 23 to transport the QC sample rack 160 to the supply unit 80. (step S1216).

FIG. 39 is a flow chart showing an example of a processing procedure when the container is the cleaning agent container 180 in step S1103 of FIG. In this case, the cleaning agent container 180 is taken into the first measurement unit 10A and the cleaning process is performed. In step S1301, the controller 31 removes the detergent container 180 from the container 111 of the detergent rack by the robot hand 15, and in step S1302, inserts the suction tube 13a into the detergent container 180 to suck the detergent, The suction tube 13a and the flow path are washed.

After a predetermined time has passed, the cleaning agent container 180 is returned to the rack (step S1303), and the cleaning agent rack containing the cleaning agent container 180 is transported to the supply unit 80 (step S1304). After that, the control unit 82a determines whether or not execution of automatic shutdown is set to ON (step S1305). This determination is made based on the schedule registration information stored in the control unit 82a. When the automatic shutdown is set to ON, for example, after the processing of the used cleaning agent container 180 is completed, the control unit 82a turns off the power of the measurement unit 10A or 10B that has been cleaned (step S1306). ).

FIG. 40 is a flow chart showing the processing of the rack set on the first transport path 811 of the conveyor section 81 (S500 in FIG. 30). As described above, the supply unit 80 has the first transport path 811 accessible from the outside for the user to set the racks, and the sample rack 110 and the empty rack 170 are set on the first transport path 811 by the user. A rack set on the first transport path is detected by the sensor 818b.

In step S501, the controller 82a executes control to transport the rack from the first transport path 811 to the second transport path 812, and the sensor 818d detects the container. In step S502, the controller 82a determines whether the rack set on the first transport path 811 is the sample rack 110 or the empty rack 170. FIG. The control unit 82a determines the type of rack based on whether or not containers are accommodated in the rack. The control unit 82a determines that the rack is a sample rack when the container is detected, and determines that the rack is empty when the container is not detected. 40 is executed when a rack is set on the first transport path 811 by the user. In this embodiment, the QC sample rack 160 accommodating the QC sample container 150 is placed on the fifth transport path. Since it is assumed to return to the supply unit 80 via path 815, there is no branch corresponding to the QC sample rack 160 in the judgment of S501.

When the rack set on the first transport path 811 is the sample rack 110, the sample rack 110 is transported to the measurement unit under the control of the controller 82a and the transport unit 70 (step S503). If the rack set on the first transport path 811 is the empty rack 170, the empty rack 170 is transported to the rack housing section 88 and stored therein (step S504).

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing operations of the supply unit 80 in steps S502 and S504 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 45(a), when the user sets an empty rack 170 on the first transport path 811, the empty rack 170 is detected by the sensor 818b, and is transported from the first transport path 811 to the second transport path by the first delivery section 816A. It is pushed out to the right end side of the transport path 812 . Next, as shown in FIG. 45(b), the empty rack 170 is detected by the sensor 818c at the right end position of the second transport path 812, moved to the left end position by the belt 812b of the second transport path 812, and detected by the sensor. 818e.

In the second conveying path 812, when no container is detected by the sensor 818d and it is confirmed to be an empty rack 170, the empty rack 170 is conveyed again by the belt 812b as shown in FIG. 45(c). It is returned to the right end position of path 812 . Then, as shown in FIG. 45(d), it is detected by the sensor 818c and pulled into the transport path 88a by the transport arm 881. As shown in FIG. The empty rack 170 is pulled by the transfer arm 881 to the position of the front end rack behind the stopper 88c. At this time, the stoppers 88b and 88c are lowered together so as not to hinder the transportation of the empty rack 170. As shown in FIG.

FIG. 41 is a flow chart showing the processing (S600 in FIG. 30) when the rack returns to the supply unit 80. As shown in FIG. As described above, the supply unit 80 includes a fifth transport path 815 for receiving racks from adjacent transport units 20 and the QC sample racks 160 and detergent racks return to the supply unit 80 .

In step S601, the control unit 82a controls the second transport path 812 to transport the rack, and the IDs of the containers housed in the rack are read by the first information reading unit 817A and the second information reading unit 817B.

The control unit 82a controls the second transport path 812 and the rack storage unit 88 so that the rack whose container ID has been read is collected in the rack storage unit 88 (step S602). Based on the ID read in step S601, the controller 82a determines whether the returned rack is the QC sample rack 160 or the detergent rack (step S603). The controller 82 a determines that the rack is the QC sample rack 160 if the container accommodated in the rack is the QC sample container 150 . If the container accommodated in the rack is the detergent container 180, the controller 82a determines that the rack is the detergent rack.

When the collected rack is the QC sample rack 160 that accommodates the QC sample container 150, the control unit 82a controls the transfer unit 85 and the cold insulator 84 so that the QC sample container 150 is accommodated in the cold insulator 84 and stored again. control (step S604). The control unit 82a updates the database 820 based on the processing in step S602 (step S605). Specifically, the control unit 82a updates the number of QC sample remaining tests in the database 820 based on the notification of aspiration from the QC sample container 150 received from the measurement units 10A and 10B. In the above embodiment, the QC sample container 150 is stored again regardless of the remaining amount in step S602, but the QC sample container 150 may be processed based on remaining amount information, for example. For example, the QC sample containers 150 with the number of remaining tests of 1 or more are transferred to the cold storage unit 84 and stored, and the QC sample containers 150 with the number of remaining tests of less than 1 are transferred to the first collection unit 89A and discarded. good too.

If the collected rack is a detergent rack containing the detergent container 180, the controller 82a controls the transfer part 85 to transfer the detergent container 180 from the rack to the second collection part 89B and discard it ( step S606).

46 to 48 are diagrams for explaining in detail the process of determining the combination of QC sample containers 150 based on the QC conditions and the information on QC sample containers 150 being stored in step S101 of FIG. The following description assumes that the QC sample containers 150 shown in the database 820 of FIG. 29 are stored in the cold insulation unit 84. FIG.

FIG. 46 shows cases AC.
<Case A>
In case A, the following QC conditions are set.
・Density level to be used: Level 1, 2
・Target units for accuracy control measurement: XN1, XN2, XN3, XN4
・Block straddling: Yes

Block straddling is a setting related to whether or not to perform quality control measurements for a plurality of measurement blocks using one QC sample rack 160 . If block crossing is “permissible”, QC sample container 150 set in one QC sample rack 160 is used for quality control measurement of the entire sample analysis system. Whether block crossing is permitted or not is changed according to the user's preference, such as whether to prioritize the efficiency of automatic QC or to prioritize the ease of management of QC samples.

For example, when the block crossing is set to "impossible", the QC sample rack 160 is transported to each of the plurality of measurement blocks. Since quality control measurements can be performed on a plurality of measurement blocks in parallel, quality control measurements can be efficiently performed for the sample analysis system as a whole.

When the block crossing is set to “permitted”, the QC sample container 150 set in one QC sample rack 160 can be used for accuracy control of a plurality of measurement blocks. When quality control measurements are performed in parallel, for example, a plurality of QC sample containers 150 having the same concentration level are used at the same time, which may complicate management of expiration dates and lot numbers. In this regard, if block crossing is set to “permitted”, for example, the same QC sample container 150 is used in the first measurement block and the second measurement block, so the number of QC sample containers 150 consumed at once is It becomes possible to reduce and manage easily.

In case A, since block crossing is set to "permitted", the QC sample containers 150 of level 1 and level 2 are accommodated in one rack. The control unit 82a identifies usable QC sample containers 150 from among the QC sample containers 150 having the same lot number as the lot number in operation. Here, the lot numbers in operation are "A01XXXX" for level 1 and "A02XXXX" for level 2. In this case, for level 1, the QC specimen containers 150 at position numbers 1 and 2 are identified as available containers. For level 2, QC sample containers 150 at position numbers 4 and 5 are identified as available containers.

If only one QC sample container 150 is determined based on the lot number, the control unit 82a determines whether the number of remaining tests in that container is equal to or greater than the number of scheduled tests scheduled for automatic QC. . As described above, when the number of remaining tests is less than the number of tests scheduled to be performed, the control unit 82a outputs an automatic QC error and cancels the schedule. If the number of remaining tests is equal to or greater than the number of tests, the specified QC sample container 150 is set on the rack.

If there are two or more QC sample containers 150 that can be used based on the lot number, it is determined whether the number of remaining tests in the container with the smallest number of remaining tests is greater than or equal to the number of tests scheduled for automatic QC. If the number of remaining tests is greater than or equal to the number of tests to be performed, the specified container, that is, the container with the smallest number of remaining tests, is set on the rack. If the number of remaining tests is less than the planned number of tests to be performed, the number of remaining tests (total number of remaining tests) that is the sum of the number of remaining tests of the container with the lowest number of remaining tests and the number of other containers with the second lowest number of remaining tests will be performed. Determine if the planned number of tests is exceeded.

If the total number of remaining tests is equal to or greater than the number of tests scheduled to be performed, these two QC sample containers 150 are set on the rack. If the total number of remaining tests for the two QC sample containers 150 is less than the number of tests to be performed, the number of remaining tests for the third QC sample container 150 is further added and the same determination is repeated. Output an automatic QC error and cancel the schedule if the total number of remaining tests in the QC sample container 150 identified as available based on the lot number is less than the number of tests scheduled to be performed. .

In case A, for level 1, 4 tests of 4 units XN1 to XN4 are required. Of the QC sample containers 150 with position numbers 1 and 2 specified based on the lot number, position number 1, which has a smaller number of remaining tests, is preferentially used. The number of remaining tests "3" for the QC sample container 150 of position number 1 is compared with the number of tests scheduled to be performed "4". The number of remaining tests for the QC sample container 150 with the position number 1 is 3, which is less than the planned number of tests to be performed, which is 4. Therefore, with only the QC sample container 150 with the position number 1, the QC sample container 150 with the position number 1 alone requires 1 to perform quality control measurement at XN1 to XN4. Lack of testing. Therefore, the number of remaining tests "24" of the QC sample container 150 of position number 2, which has the second smallest number of remaining tests, and the number of remaining tests "3" of the QC sample container 150 of position number 1 are added together. "27" is compared to the number of tests scheduled to be performed, "4". Since 27 tests are more than the number of tests to be performed, automatic QC errors are avoided in this case, and the QC sample containers 150 with position numbers 1 and 2 are combined and set in the rack. In other words, position number 1 and 2 QC specimen containers 150 are combined to perform a level 1 quality control measurement.

In case A, level 2 also requires 4 tests for 4 units XN1 to XN4. The available QC specimen containers 150 identified based on lot number are the containers at position numbers 4 and 5. The number of remaining tests for the QC sample container 150 of position number 4 is 7, which is greater than or equal to the planned number of tests to be performed, which is 4. Therefore, only the QC sample container 150 of position number 4 is sufficient. Therefore, the QC sample container 150 with position number 4 is set on the rack.

Therefore, in case A, the QC sample containers 150 with position numbers 1, 2, and 4 are combined and set in one rack.

<Case B>
In case B, the following QC conditions are set.
・Density level to be used: Level 2, 3
・Target units for accuracy control measurement: XN1, XN2, XN3, XN4
・Block straddling: Yes

For level 2, as in case A, only the QC sample container 150 with the position number 4 can be used for quality control measurement of four units. identified as

For level 3, only the QC sample container 150 at position number 8 is stored in the cold storage section 84 . The number of remaining tests for the QC sample container 150 at position number 8 is 5, and the number of usable tests is 4 or more, so the QC sample container 150 at position number 8 is specified as a container used for quality control measurement. .

Therefore, in case B, the QC sample containers 150 with position numbers 4 and 8 are combined and set in one rack.

<Case C>
In case C, the following QC conditions are set.
・Density level to be used: Level 1, 2, 3
・Target units for accuracy control measurement: XN1, XN2, XN3, XN4
・Block straddling: Yes

In case C, the algorithm described for cases A and B above identifies QC specimen containers 150 at position numbers 1, 2, 4, and 8 as containers to be used for quality control measurements. Therefore, in case C, the identified four QC sample containers 150 are combined and set in one rack.

FIG. 47 shows cases D and E.
<Case D>
In case D, the following QC conditions are set.
・Density level to be used: Level 1, 2
・Target units for accuracy control measurement: XN1, XN2, XN3, XN4
・Block straddling: Impossible

In case D, unlike case A, block crossing is set to "impossible". In this case, the number of measurement blocks to which one QC sample rack 160 is transported is limited to one. That is, it is necessary to transport a separate QC sample rack 160 to each measurement block.

A QC sample container 150 used for the quality control measurement of the first measurement block is set in the first QC sample rack 160 . In the first QC sample rack 160, QC sample containers 150 with two or more remaining tests are specified for each of level 1 and level 2, and they are combined and set. The same is true for the second QC sample rack 160 . In case D, a combination of QC sample containers 150 with position numbers 1 and 4 are set in the first QC sample rack 160, and QC sample containers with position numbers 2 and 5 are set in the second QC sample rack 160. 150 combinations are set.

<Case E>
In case E, the following QC conditions are set.
・Density level to be used: Level 1, 2
・Target units for accuracy control measurement: XN1, XN2, XN3, XN4
・Block straddling: Possible ・Re-examination setting: Available

In case E, unlike case A, a condition of "with reexamination" is added. “With retest” means a condition for automatically retesting when retesting becomes necessary as a result of measuring the QC sample. Examples of cases where retesting is necessary include, for example, when the QC sample is measured in the measurement unit and the measured value is outside the allowable range, or when the error from the previous value is outside the allowable range. be.

In case E, it is assumed that when retesting becomes necessary as a result of quality control measurement by automatic QC, retesting is automatically performed up to once. In other words, it is assumed that one measurement unit measures one QC sample container 150 at most twice, including the first test and the retest. After the QC sample container 150 is taken out from the cold insulation unit 84, it is heated in the heating unit 86 for a certain period of time (for example, 15 minutes) before it is used. Therefore, when the number of remaining tests of the QC sample containers 150 set in the rack is less than the number of tests required for retesting and retesting becomes necessary, a new QC sample container 150 is placed in the cold storage unit 84. It becomes necessary to take out from the container and heat for a certain period of time, resulting in a loss of time. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the QC condition includes "with retest setting", the number of tests required for automatic retest is set in the rack.

In case E, four measuring units XN1 to XN4 are designated as targets. Therefore, for each concentration level, 8 tests should be secured including the first test and the repeat test. For level 1, the QC sample container 150 with position number 1 has 3 remaining tests, which is less than 8. Therefore, for level 1, the QC sample containers 150 with position numbers 1 and 2 are combined and set on the rack. For level 2, the QC sample container 150 at position number 4 has 7 remaining tests, which is less than 8. Therefore, for level 2, the QC sample containers 150 with position numbers 4 and 5 are combined and set on the rack.

48 shows case F. FIG.
<Case F>
In case F, the following QC conditions are set.
・Density level to be used: Level 1, 2
・Target units for accuracy control measurement: XN1, XN2, XN3, XN4
・Block crossing: Possible ・Lot-to-lot difference check: ON

In case F, unlike case A, a condition of "on the difference check function between lots" is added. The inter-lot difference check function is a function for measuring both the QC sample of the lot in operation and the QC sample of the new lot in one automatic QC schedule. When the QC sample lot is switched, both the QC sample of the current lot and the QC sample of the new lot are measured with the same measurement unit for a certain period of time (e.g. 1 week), and the quality control results of the two lots are compared. I have something to do. In other words, a certain overlap period may occur between the usage period of the lot in operation and the new lot. This is done to ensure that there are no significant deviations between the active lot and the new lot. The lot-to-lot difference check function is a function for automatically performing automatic QC using these two lots.

In case F, it is assumed that the QC sample list shown in FIG. 48 is stored in the database 820 of the controller 82a. As shown in FIG. 48 , for concentration level 1, the QC sample containers 150 of lot P001 and lot P002 are stored in the cold storage unit 84 . For level 1, P001 is the lot in operation and P002 is the new lot. For level 2, the QC sample containers 150 of lot Q001 and lot Q002 are stored. Q001 is a lot in operation, and Q002 is a new lot. In this case, one in-service lot and one new lot are combined for each concentration level.

In case F, for example, for level 1, QC sample containers 150 with position numbers 1 and 2 are combined, and for level 2, QC sample containers 150 with position numbers 4 and 5 are combined. That is, QC sample racks 160 containing QC sample containers 150 with position numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5 are transported to measurement units XN1 to XN4, and four QC samples are measured in each measurement unit.

FIG. 49 is an example of a screen 3000 for comparing the quality control results of the old lot and the new lot. Screen 3000 is displayed, for example, on monitor 92 (see FIG. 7) of supply unit 80 . Note that the monitor 92 may be provided at another location such as the measurement unit. A screen 3000 displays a QC chart 3001 for confirming day-to-day fluctuations in measured values of QC samples as a result of quality control. As shown in FIG. 49, when the QC file of the old lot and the QC file of the new lot are read and superimposed, the QC chart 3002 of the old lot and the QC chart 3003 of the new lot are superimposed and displayed. can be done. The user can confirm the lot-to-lot difference in quality control results by comparing and confirming the two QC charts. By using the lot-to-lot difference check function of the present embodiment, troublesome lot switching can be performed smoothly.

FIG. 50 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the supply unit 80 when a shutdown instruction is received. The control unit 82a determines whether or not a shutdown instruction has been received (step S700). As described with reference to FIG. 20, the controller 82a of the supply unit 80 can accept a shutdown instruction from the user when the OK button is pressed on screens 2100-2103. When the OK button is pressed on any screen, the control unit 82a determines that a shutdown instruction has been given (YES in step S700).

The control unit 82a determines the shutdown mode selected by the user (step S701). When a shutdown instruction is given via the designated device screen 2101 of FIG. , and controls each part of the supply unit 80 to transport the detergent rack toward the designated unit (step S702). Note that the control of the supply unit 80 regarding setting and transport of the cleaning agent is as described with reference to FIG. The control of the measurement units 10A and 10B that have received the detergent container 180 is as described with reference to FIG. be. Although FIG. 39 exemplifies the shutdown of the measurement unit, the power of the processing unit 40 is also automatically turned off after cleaning.

When the cleaning agent rack transported in step S702 returns, the control unit 82a stores the rack in the rack storage unit 88 and controls each part of the supply unit 80 to discard the used cleaning agent container 180 (step S703). ) and terminate the process. From this, only the devices specified by the user are shut down.

When a shutdown of the entire system is instructed via the system screen 2102 of FIG. (step S704).

As in step S703, the controller 82a controls each part of the supply unit 80 so that the returned detergent rack is stored in the rack storage part 88 and the used detergent container 180 is discarded (step S705). The control unit 82a transmits a power-off command to all units of the sample analysis system 1 (step S706). As a result, all the devices that make up the sample analysis system 1 are shut down.

In step S707, the controller 82a powers off the supply unit 80 and terminates the process (step S707). However, as described above, the cooling unit 84 is kept in the power-on state even after the supply unit 80 is shut down, and the QC samples are continuously stored in the cold.

When the shutdown of the supply unit 80 alone is instructed via the screen 2103 of FIG. 20, the control section 82a skips steps S702 to S706, executes the process of step S707, and ends the process.

As described above, according to the sample analysis system control method described above, one or more measurement units are activated according to the schedule set by the user, and the quality control sample is automatically transported to the target measurement unit. measurement is started. Therefore, when the quality control measurement is performed, the user does not need to set the quality control substance in the system, the burden on the user is reduced, and the usability is greatly improved.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the control method and the sample analysis system according to the present invention can be appropriately modified in design other than the above-described embodiments and modifications without impairing the purpose of the present invention.

FIGS. 51 and 52 are diagrams schematically showing configurations of sample analysis systems 1X and 1Y which are first and second modifications. As shown in FIG. 51, the sample analysis system 1X differs from the sample analysis system 1 in that the collection unit 60 is provided adjacent to the module 10 on the opposite side of the supply unit 80 on the right side. In the case of the sample analysis system 1X, the rack transport path of the recovery unit 60 is connected to the fifth transport path 815 of the conveyor section 81 . The third transport path 23 and the fifth transport path 815 of the transport unit 20 were transport paths for collecting the QC sample rack 160 and the detergent rack in the sample analysis system 1, but in the sample analysis system 1X, the sample rack 110 is also used to collect

As shown in FIG. 52, the sample analysis system 1Y differs from the sample analysis systems 1 and 1X in that an additional second supply unit 140 is provided adjacent to the supply unit 80 on the right side. The second supply unit 140 is a unit in which the sample rack 110 and the like are set by the user, and does not have a cooling storage function for the QC sample container 150 or the like. In the example shown in FIG. 52 , the second supply unit 140 is arranged sandwiched between the supply unit 80 and the collection unit 60 . The rack transport path of the second supply unit 140 is connected to the sixth transport path 819 of the conveyor section 81 . In this case, the sixth transport path 819 functions as a transport path for carrying in the sample rack 110 and the like from the second supply unit 140 .

53 and 54 are diagrams showing a supply unit 80K as a first modification. The supply unit 80K includes a conveyor section 81K including a first transport path 811K on which racks are set by the user. The configuration of the conveyor section 81K is the same as that of the supply unit 80. As shown in FIG. The supply unit 80K further includes a cold insulation section 84K, a transfer section 85K, a heating section 86K, a rack accommodation section 88K, and a wagon 90K. FIG. 54 shows a carousel-type cold storage unit 84K, but these configurations may be the same as in the case of the supply unit 80. FIG. Also, the configuration (not shown) of the information reading section 86 and the like may be the same as that of the supply unit 80 .

The supply unit 80K differs from the supply unit 80 in the structure of the input section 83K in which the QC sample container 150 and the detergent container 180 are set. The input section 83K is arranged adjacent to the first transport path 811K and has a drawer-type structure capable of sliding in the front-rear direction of the supply unit 80K. The input section 83K has a first storage section 831K in which a plurality of QC sample containers 150 are set and a second storage section 832K in which a plurality of detergent containers 180 are set. For example, three QC sample containers 150 can be set in the first container 831K.

The loading section 83K is configured to be manually pulled forward when setting the QC sample container 150 and the detergent container 180 in the supply unit 80K. Alternatively, the input part 83K may be electrically driven. When the input section 83K is pulled out to the front of the device, the QC sample container 150 is set in the first storage section 831K, and the input section 83K is pushed to a predetermined position in the rear of the device, the transfer section 85K is moved to the first position as in the case of the supply unit 80. 1 Transfer the QC sample container 150 from the storage unit 831K to the cold storage unit 84K. The cleaning agent container 180 is stored in the second container 832K. The supply unit 80K is provided with, for example, a sensor for detecting the number of cleaning agent containers 180, and the number of cleaning agent containers 180 is displayed in the cleaning agent container inventory window 2006 shown in FIG.

FIG. 55 is a diagram schematically showing a supply unit 80X as a second modification. As shown in FIG. 55, the supply unit 80X includes a first-floor portion 81X provided with a transport path 811X for transporting the sample rack 110 and the QC sample rack 160 to the measurement unit, a cold storage section 84X, and a detergent container storage section. and a second-floor portion 82X where 193 and the like are provided. In addition, an elevating type moving unit 190 that transports racks between the first-floor portion 81X and the second-floor portion 82X, and an information reading unit 194 that reads the rack ID and the sample ID of the sample container 100 or the like from the rack that moves on the moving unit 190. and

In the second floor portion 82X, as in the case of the supply unit 80, a transfer section 85X for gripping and transferring the QC sample container 150 and an information reading section 87X for reading the QC sample ID of the QC sample container 150 are provided. A plurality of empty racks 170 for storing and transporting QC sample containers 150 and detergent containers 180 are housed. In addition, on the second floor portion 82X, a first input/recovery unit 191 functioning as an input/recovery port for the QC sample container 150 and a second input/recovery unit 192 functioning as an input/recovery port for the detergent container 180 are provided. is provided.

As described above, the QC sample container 150 is adjusted to the measurement temperature in the supply unit, then stored in the rack and transported to the measurement unit. Preferably, the QC sample rack 160 is only transported to active measuring units and not to inactive measuring units.

In addition, the control unit of the supply unit measures the time T1 during which the QC sample container 150 is taken out from the cold insulation unit 84 and placed in the room temperature environment, and when the time T1 exceeds the predetermined time T2, the QC sample container 150 is removed. A process of returning to the cold insulation unit 84 may be executed. In this case, when the time T1 exceeds the time T2, regardless of the measurement result of the QC sample, that is, even if the measurement result is abnormal when retesting is set as the QC condition, QC is performed without retesting. The specimen container 150 is returned to the cold insulation section 84 . This treatment prevents the QC sample from being placed in the room temperature environment for a long period of time, and can keep the QC sample in good condition. Alternatively, the container may be discarded when the time T1 exceeds the predetermined time T2.

In addition, the control unit of the supply unit determines whether or not the QC sample container 150 satisfies a predetermined continuous use condition in the process of collecting the QC sample container 150, and discards the QC sample container 150 that does not satisfy the continuous use condition. (eg, step S602 in FIG. 41). Alternatively, the QC sample container 150 that does not satisfy the continuous use condition may be returned to the cold storage unit 84 and kept in cold storage as unusable. Since QC samples are expensive, automatic disposal of the QC sample container 150 may not be desirable, and this configuration can meet this need.

The predetermined continuous use condition is a condition for determining whether or not the QC sample container 150 can be used in subsequent quality control measurements, and includes the remaining amount of the QC sample and the expiration date. For example, if the next quality control measurement is to be performed the next day, the QC sample container 150 whose expiration date is today may be discarded as not meeting the continuous use condition.

In the above-described embodiment, the cold storage unit 84 having a cooling function was exemplified as the storage of the supply unit that stores the QC sample container 150. However, depending on the type of QC sample to be used, etc., the storage may have a cooling function. It doesn't have to be. In addition to heaters and fans, the heating unit that heats the QC sample and adjusts it to the measurement temperature may be provided with a device that assists the heating, such as a stirrer, a vibration generator, and a rotating device such as a carousel. good. In addition to heaters and fans, the heating unit that heats the QC sample and adjusts it to the measurement temperature may be provided with a device that assists the heating, such as a stirrer, a vibration generator, and a rotating device such as a carousel. good.

The heating of the QC sample is performed by heating the QC sample container 150 by the heating means of the heating unit 86 in the above embodiment, but is performed by exposing the QC sample container 150 to the room temperature atmosphere. good too. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cold insulation unit 84 and the heating unit 86 are configured as separate devices and provided at separate locations. Since the Peltier element built into the cold insulation part generally has not only a cooling function but also a heating function, when the above-mentioned predetermined conditions are satisfied, the Peltier element is switched from the cooling mode to the heating mode to perform the QC sample. Warming can be performed.

In the above embodiment, the blood cell counter is used as an example of the measurement unit, but the measurement unit is not limited to this, and may be a blood coagulation test, an immunological test, a biochemical test, or the like. Moreover, the sample supplied to the measurement unit is not limited to whole blood, and may be plasma, serum, urine, lymph, body cavity fluid, or the like.

1 sample analysis system 10 module 10A first measurement unit 10B second measurement unit 20 transport unit 21 first transport path 22 second transport path 23 third transport path 30 control unit 40 processing unit 50 transport unit 60 recovery unit 70 transport controller 80 Supply Unit 81 Conveyor Section 811 First Conveying Path 812 Second Conveying Path 813 Third Conveying Path 814 Fourth Conveying Path 815 Fifth Conveying Path 819 Sixth Conveying Path 82 Storage Adjustment Unit 82a Control Section 83 Input Section 83A First Input Section 83B Second input section 830A, 830B Transfer path 831A First input port 831B Second input port 832A First cover 832B Second cover 834 Transfer holder 839 Extraction section 84 Cooling section 85 Transfer section 86 Heating section 87 Information reading section 88 Rack Storage unit 89A First collection unit 89B Second collection unit 90 Wagon 91 Monitor 100 Sample container 110 Sample rack 120 Host computer 130 Concentrator 150 QC sample container 160 QC sample rack 170 Empty rack 180 Cleaning agent container

Claims (28)

A control method for a sample analysis system including at least one measurement unit, comprising:
automatically activating one or more of the measurement units included in the sample analysis system according to a schedule registered in advance by a user;
Automatically supplying a quality control sample to the activated measurement unit,
measuring the quality control sample by the activated measurement unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, comprising placing the measurement unit in a standby state in which the subject sample can be measured when the measurement result of the quality control sample satisfies a predetermined condition. 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising not placing said measurement unit in said standby state when the measurement result of said quality control sample does not satisfy said predetermined condition. the measurement unit comprises first and second measurement units;
When the measurement result of the quality control specimen by the first measurement unit satisfies a predetermined condition and the measurement result of the quality control specimen by the second measurement unit does not satisfy the condition, the 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second measurement unit is excluded from supply destinations of the subject specimen. The sample analysis system includes a storage for storing the quality control sample,
The supply of the quality control specimen according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising supplying the quality control specimen by taking it out of the storage and transporting it to the activated measurement unit. Method. 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising transporting the quality control sample aspirated by the measurement unit to the storage and re-storing it in the storage. The sample analysis system includes a heating unit that heats the quality control sample,
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein supplying the quality control sample includes supplying the heated quality control sample by transporting it to the activated measurement unit. The schedule includes specifying a time to automatically activate one or more of the measurement units,
8. The method of claim 7, wherein supplying the quality control sample comprises starting the warming of the quality control sample before the specified time. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein providing the quality control sample comprises beginning the warming of the quality control sample at least 10 minutes prior to the designated time. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising displaying a screen for accepting schedule registration. 11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the screen is configured to enable registration of a schedule for automatic activation of one or more of the measurement units and automatic supply of the quality control sample. The screen accepts designation of one or more measurement units for measuring the quality control sample,
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein supplying said quality control specimen comprises supplying said quality control specimen to said designated measurement unit. The screen is configured to allow further registration of a cleaning schedule for automatically cleaning one or more of the measurement units,
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising automatically performing cleaning of one or more of said measurement units according to said cleaning schedule registered via said screen. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein automatically performing cleaning comprises transporting cleaning fluid containers to one or more of the measurement units according to the cleaning schedule. 15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising displaying a screen displaying a plurality of scheduled execution schedules in chronological order. 15. The method of any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising storing inventory information of said quality control specimens and displaying said inventory information. The quality control specimens include a plurality of types of quality control specimens with different concentrations,
In the case where one type of quality control specimen includes a plurality of quality control specimens housed in a plurality of containers, the inventory information includes displaying the total remaining amount of quality control specimens for each type. Item 17. The method according to Item 16. 18. The method according to claim 17, comprising displaying a list of information of a plurality of quality control specimens stored in a storage as said inventory information. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the information on the plurality of quality control samples stored in the storage includes at least attribute information on the quality control samples and information on the remaining amount of quality control samples. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said attribute information includes at least the type or lot number of said quality control sample. 21. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 20, further comprising: highlighting at least part of the information of the quality control specimen when the remaining amount of at least one of the quality control specimens contained in the inventory is less than a predetermined value. or the method described in paragraph 1. 22. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein at least one of the number of days, the number of times, and the date on which the schedule can be executed within the range of the inventory is displayed based on the registered schedule and the inventory information. The method described in section. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the schedule can be registered for each day of the week. 24. The method of any one of claims 1 to 23, further comprising providing notification when consumables required to run a registered schedule run out. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the consumables include quality control specimens and racks for containing and transporting the quality control specimens. receiving an instruction from a user to shut down one or more devices included in the sample analysis system;
When the shutdown instruction is received and the inventory of the quality control sample is insufficient for the next automatic measurement of the quality control sample scheduled to be performed based on the registered schedule, notify 26. A method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein performing 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said notification includes a message prompting replenishment of said quality control specimen. one or more measurement units;
a supply unit that stores quality control samples and supplies the quality control samples to the measurement unit;
a storage unit that stores a schedule registered in advance by a user;
a control unit;
The control unit activates one or more of the measurement units according to the schedule stored in the storage unit;
The supply unit automatically supplies the quality control sample to the activated measurement unit,
The sample analysis system, wherein the measurement unit measures the supplied quality control sample.

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