JPH01284759A - Automatic chemical analysis apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To start reinspection without being kept waited before the measurement of all samples ends by synchronously passing the samples in the same position and forming a work order for reinspection at the point of the time when the reinspection is decided to be necessary. CONSTITUTION:A turn table 4 makes rotating motion at a specified cycle to intermittently move sample vessels 5 and sample racks 6. A sample diluting and carrying means carries the diluted liquids of the samples and a sample measuring means dispenses reagents to the diluted liquids and measures specific components. The measured data are stored in a data memory means 16. The work order for reinspection is formed by a means 18 for forming the work order for reinspection when the sample requiring the reinspection is decided in accordance with the results of the measurement. This work order is filed into a work order filing means 17. The turn table 4 is rotated by referencing this work order for reinspection and the corresponding sample is retrieved and is subjected to the reinspection.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a re-examination function for re-measuring necessary samples based on measurement results.

(Prior art) For example, serum collected from a human body is used as a sample, a desired reagent is reacted with it, and the concentration of a specific component in this reaction solution is measured by, for example, a colorimetric method, and the total concentration is determined as an example of a desired item. Protein (TP>, uric acid (UA), neutral fat (-r
There are known automatic chemical analyzers designed to analyze G) and the like. When measuring multiple types of samples using such an analyzer, if the measurement results show clearly unreliable data due to various reasons, the measurement is re-done (re-examination).
will be held.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the retest routine using a conventional analyzer, in which the sample prepared for analysis in step A is transferred to the work order (
Based on the work order sheet (work order sheet), a measurement routine is performed as in step C, and a measurement result is obtained in step D. For samples that are determined to require retesting based on the measurement results, a work order for retesting is created automatically or manually in step E. Subsequently, in step F, a search for the relevant sample is performed, and then in step G, this sample is reset, and in step H, a measurement routine is carried out and a second measurement, so-called retesting, is performed. This measurement result is determined in step I, and when it is determined that reliable data has been obtained, it is outputted as in step G. On the other hand, if this re-examination still yields only data with low reliability, the process returns to step E and a similar re-examination (third and subsequent measurements) is performed.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, with conventional analyzers, it is necessary to prepare a retest work order separately from the work order used in the normal routine and perform measurements in the retest routine, which causes the problem of poor measurement efficiency. be. For example, after all samples have been measured in the measurement routine performed in step C, the measurement results are determined in step D and a retest work order is created for the samples that require retesting. must wait until the measurement is completed.

In addition, it is necessary to extract samples to be retested from a group of samples that have been measured twice, and this work is also quite complicated.

The present invention was made in response to the above circumstances.
The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic chemical analyzer that improves measurement efficiency.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sample transport means that periodically transports a sample so that it can pass through the same position, and a sample transport means that transports a sample so that it can pass through the same position periodically, and a sample measurement means for performing measurements; a work order file means capable of filing multiple types of work orders for the same sample; a work order creation means for retest; and a sample measurement means for searching for a sample to be retested from the sample transport means. and control means for causing the supply to the means.

(Function) Since samples to be analyzed periodically pass through the same position, a work order for re-examination is created and filed in the work order file means when it is determined that re-examination is necessary for samples to be re-examined. As a result, the corresponding sample is searched and can be immediately retested in the normal routine. Therefore, retesting is started without having to wait until the measurement of all samples is completed, so that measurement efficiency can be improved.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention. , a sample dilution transport means 2 that dilutes the supplied sample and transports it first; and a sample dilution transport means 2 that takes out the diluted sample, reacts it with a desired reagent, and measures the concentration of a specific component in the reaction solution by, for example, a colorimetric method. and a sample measuring means 3 for measuring the sample. The sample transport means 1 includes a rotary table 4, on which sample containers 5 containing samples to be analyzed are arranged, for example, five in one.
A plurality of sample racks 6 held as a set are set. As shown in FIG. 2, the sample container 5 is provided with a barcode label 7 indicating the ID of the sample, and a so-called sample ID method is adopted. Each sample rack 6 is also provided with a barcode label 8 indicating the rack ID. The rotary table 4 rotates in a constant cycle to move the sample container 5 and the sample rack 6 intermittently.

An ID reader 9 is provided at a predetermined position around the rotary table 4, and reads the barcode label 8 of the sample rack 6 passing through this position or the barcode label 7 of the sample.

Further, a sample dispensing arm 10 that can move back and forth in the direction of the arrow is provided at another predetermined position, and sucks a desired sample from the sample container 5 and dispenses it into the dilution container 11 of the sample dilution conveyance means 2.

The sample dilution conveyance means 2 uses a belt conveyor 12 to move the dilution container 11 in the direction of the arrow, and uses a dilution nozzle 13 to dilute the sample in the dilution container 11 to a desired ratio. A sample dispensing nozzle 14 is provided at a predetermined position around the sample dilution conveyance means 2 and sucks a desired sample from the dilution container 11 to the reaction container 15 of the sample measurement means 3.
Dispense. The sample measuring means 3 dispenses a desired reagent into the reaction container 15 and causes it to react with the sample, and measures the concentration of a specific component in the reaction solution by, for example, a colorimetric method to perform a chemical analysis of a desired item.

The data measured in this way is stored in the data storage means 16.
The information is stored in the memory and read out as needed.

The work order file means 17 files (stores) the work orders of samples to be analyzed, and as shown in FIG. 3(a), A.

Multiple types of work orders B, C, . . . are filed. In addition to the original work orders Ao, So, Go, etc., the work orders for each sample include re-examination work orders A1゜8z as shown in Figure 3(b).
, CI, ... or A2, 82, C2,
... has been added and configured to allow files. Further, when a sample that requires retesting is determined based on the measurement results, a retest work order for this sample is automatically created by the retest work order creating means 18 and filed in the work order file means 17.

The control means 19 is composed of a dedicated microprocessor, etc., and is in charge of overall control operations, and performs necessary control operations based on data input from the input means 20. Input means 2
0 consists of a keyboard, etc., and the control means 1 is used to input data necessary for creating reexamination work orders, etc.
9, the reexamination work order creation means 18 is caused to perform necessary operations. Furthermore, among the plural types of work orders for the same sample, such as An, A1, and A2, which are filed in the work order file means 17, the work order referred to when sampling a desired sample from the sample transport means 1 is It is now marked as sampled (used). In this way, used work orders are skipped when performing new sampling, and only unused work orders are always referenced.

Once a work order for reexamination is created, a reexamination operation is automatically performed based on this work order. This is based on the control of the control means 19, the retest work order filed in the work order file means 17 is referred to, the corresponding sample is searched from the sample transport means 1, and the sampled sample is transported for sample dilution. The sample is supplied to the sample measuring means 3 via the means 2 and retested. Since each sample is assigned an ID and the rotary table 4 of the sample transport means 1 is operated intermittently so as to periodically pass the samples through the same position, the search for the relevant sample can be easily performed.

The measurement data obtained by the retest is stored in the data storage means 16 together with the measurement data obtained by the normal routine. Therefore, measurement data of the same sample can be read from this data storage means 16 as needed and output to the display means 21. The display means 21 is a printer, C
It consists of an RT display and the like, and the operator can edit the displayed data into any format by observing the displayed data. The editing results are submitted as a report and used as diagnostic materials.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to a flowchart.

The sample prepared for analysis in Step A of Figure 4 is passed through the measurement routine as in Step C based on the work order prepared in Step B, and measurements are performed, and the measurement results are obtained in Step D. It will be done. Samples that are determined to require retesting based on this measurement result will be
When it is determined that reexamination is necessary, a reexamination work order is automatically created in step E and added to the original work order.

Subsequently, in step F, the relevant sample is transported based on this work order for reexamination, and in step G, the relevant sample is searched.

As a result, the relevant sample is sampled and retested in the normal routine at step C.

The work order used for this reexamination is given a mark indicating that it has been used. This measurement result is determined in step D, and when it is determined that reliable data has been obtained, it is outputted as in step H. On the other hand, if it is determined that the data is still insufficient after this re-examination,
Returning to step E, a new work order for reexamination is created, and the same reexamination is repeated.

However, the work orders used in the previous reexamination are skipped.

According to this embodiment, the sample to be analyzed is periodically moved to the same position like a rotating table.

Since the sample is transported by a passing transport means and can be searched arbitrarily, the sample to be retested can be searched by creating a work order for retesting and adding it to the original work order when it is determined that retesting is necessary. Sample retrieval is easy and retesting can be performed immediately in the normal routine. Therefore, the normal routine can also serve as a retest routine without providing a separate retest routine, making it possible to perform a speedy retest and perform efficient measurements. This makes it easier to create reports based on measurement results.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the normal routine is also used to perform the retest without providing a separate retest routine, measurement efficiency can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a sample rack and a sample container used as the main parts of the apparatus of this embodiment, Fig. 3 (a),
(b) is a diagram for explaining the operation of this embodiment, FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the conventional example. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Sample transport means, 3...Sample measurement means 4...Rotary table, 5...Sample container, 6...
- Sample rack, 16... Data storage means, 17... Work order file means, 18... Work order creation means for retesting, 19... Control means. Agent Patent Attorney Masayoshi Misawa 1 Figure 1 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an automatic chemical analyzer equipped with a re-examination function to re-measure the necessary samples based on the measurement results, a sample transport means for setting a plurality of ID-equipped samples and transporting these samples periodically so as to pass through the same position; A sample/measuring means that receives a desired sample from the means and measures the desired item based on the work order, a work order file means that can file multiple types of work orders for the same sample, and the need for re-inspection based on the measurement results. retest work order creation means for creating a retest work order for a sample and filing it in the work order file means; and retrieving a corresponding sample from the sample transport means based on the retest work order and supplying it to the sample measuring means. An automatic chemical analyzer characterized by comprising a control means.