JPH04329359A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To properly rearrange the analysis order according to the type of a specimen. CONSTITUTION:A specimen reception section 1, a pre-procession section 2, a primary storage section 3, analysis sections 4a, 4b, a decantation stage 5, a specimen storage section 6, a specimen discard section 7 and an outside order inspection stage 10 are arranged along a conveyance line 12. These sections are connected to a CPU 8 via signal lines 9 and controlled by the CPU 8. The specimen number and the report time to a doctor are displayed on a specimen container storing a specimen with a bar code, for example. A bar code reader for recognizing the specimen number and report time is provided on the specimen reception section 1. The information of the report time is read by the bar code reader at the specimen reception section 1 to identify the priority, and the analysis order is determined according to it.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer capable of automatically performing analysis. Automatic analyzers are used, for example, in the field of clinical medicine to automatically analyze biological samples such as blood and urine.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic analyzer, a sample is placed in a sample container such as a vacuum blood collection tube and placed in the automatic analyzer. Barcode labels displaying necessary information such as the sample number are pasted on the sample containers to display information. When a sample container is installed in an automatic analyzer, the display is automatically recognized by a barcode reader or the like, and analysis of the analysis items input in advance corresponding to the sample number is automatically proceeded. Sample containers containing samples are placed in a sample rack or turntable in any order, and the analysis order after the samples are placed is determined by the order in which the sample racks are arranged, the order of the position of the turntable, etc., and the analysis is performed.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Being able to place sample containers in a sample rack or the like in any order is effective in preventing human operational errors. However, since the analysis order is determined by the order in which the sample racks are arranged or the order in which the turntable is positioned, it is not possible to perform operations such as rearranging the analysis order depending on the sample. For example, the specimens to be analyzed may be from inpatients, outpatients, health checkup patients, or from people who are subject to urgent testing or scheduled outpatient testing. It is included. Sample analysis results are reported to the doctor in charge, but the time at which they should be reported varies depending on the sample. Some specimens require priority analysis and reporting within a short period of time, but conventional automatic analyzers do not take the priority of analysis order into consideration at all. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer that can appropriately rearrange the analysis order depending on the type of specimen.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, information regarding the analysis time is included in the display contents of the sample container, and the analysis order is determined on the automatic analyzer side based on the information regarding the analysis time. Therefore, in the present invention, the flow necessary for subsequent analysis is managed by knowing the sample number and information regarding the analysis time (for example, the time at which the analysis results are to be reported) when the sample is received. Samples that require urgent reporting will be analyzed immediately. Furthermore, for example, in the case of inpatient specimens, those received in the morning and required to be reported in the afternoon are analyzed in the order in which they are received if they can be processed based on the processing capacity of the analysis section. For example, if a report is required within 30 minutes of reception, such as an outpatient sample or a sample for a scheduled test, it will be analyzed immediately as an urgent report.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing one embodiment. Reference numeral 12 denotes a transport line, which can transport the sample container in the direction indicated by the arrow. Conveyance line 12
A sample reception section 1, pretreatment section 2, primary storage section 3, analysis sections 4a, 4b, decantation stage 5, sample storage section 6, sample disposal section 7, and outsourced testing stage 10 are arranged along the . Each part is connected to the CPU 8 by a signal line 9 and is controlled by the CPU 8. It is assumed that the sample container containing the sample is displayed with the sample number and the time of report to the doctor, for example, by a bar code.

[0006] The sample receiving section 1 is equipped with a barcode reader for recognizing the sample number and reporting time. The sample receiving unit 1 also has a function of determining the analysis order based on the analysis priority according to the report time. Pretreatment section 2 includes a centrifuge. The analysis sections 4a and 4b are equipped with barcode readers that automatically identify the sample number, and an analysis is performed according to the analysis items of the sample stored in the controller 8. Analysis items corresponding to the sample numbers are input into the controller 8 separately from a keyboard or the like.

The operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. Once the specimen and analysis request form are received, a barcode will be issued. The barcode displays the sample number and designated reporting time. The barcode is pasted on the sample container, and the sample container is installed in the sample receiving section 1. In the sample receiving section 1, the barcode reader reads information on the reporting time, identifies the priority of the sample, and determines the analysis order accordingly. Samples with priority A, which has the highest priority, are samples for urgent test requests, samples for 30-minute tests, and samples for retests. A sample with priority B, which has the next highest priority, is, for example, a sample from an inpatient. A sample with priority C, which has the next highest priority, is, for example, a sample that must be reported within today. The specimen with priority D, which is the lowest priority, is, for example, a specimen to be subjected to an outsourced test.

[0008] Once the analysis order is determined, the specimen is sent to the pretreatment section 2 via the transport line 12, centrifuged if necessary, and then stored in the primary storage section 3 for storage if necessary. be done. The specimen sent through the transport line 12 is dispensed into the analysis section 4a or 4b. In the analysis sections 4a and 4b, the sample number is automatically identified by a barcode reader. Analysis items corresponding to the sample numbers are input into the controller 8 separately from a keyboard or the like, and the analysis sections 4a and 4b execute analysis according to the analysis items for the sample stored in the controller 8, and the analysis results are displayed. is reported.

The remaining sample dispensed in the analysis section is sent to the decantation stage 5 where it is decanted, if necessary. Thereafter, the specimen is transferred to and stored in the specimen storage section 6, and then the unnecessary specimen is exhausted to the specimen disposal section 7. Specimens that require re-examination are transported to transport route 1.
2, the sample is sent from the sample storage section 6 again through the preprocessing section 2 or directly to the analysis section 4a or 4b, where it is dispensed again and reanalyzed. After the specimen for outsourced testing is received and identified by the specimen receiving section 1, it is sent to the outsourced testing stage 10 via a transport line 12.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a mechanism for recognizing the information regarding the result report time in the sample receiving section 1 of FIG. 1, determining the analysis order, and rearranging the sample containers. In FIG. 3, a barcode reader 22 is provided to identify a sample container 20a to which a barcode label including a reporting time is pasted at a predetermined position, and a sample container 20a after identification is provided.
A rack 24 is provided to accommodate the. In order to accommodate the sample containers in the rack 24 and take them out in accordance with the analysis order, the sample container 20a can be freely moved between the installed position, any position on the rack 24, and the position where the sample container 20b is sent to the transport line 12. , and a transport device 26 capable of gripping and releasing a sample container is attached so as to be freely movable along a guide rod 28. Further, the guide rod 28 can freely move along the guide rail 30 in a direction perpendicular to the rod 28. A CPU 32 is provided to recognize the information read by the barcode reader 22 and control the storage of the sample containers 20a in the rack 24 and the removal of the sample containers 20b from the rack 24 in accordance with the order of analysis. 34 is a memory device that temporarily stores the identified information.

FIG. 4 shows another example of a mechanism for recognizing information regarding the result report time in the sample receiving section 1, determining the analysis order, and rearranging the sample containers. In FIG. 4, a barcode reader 22 reads barcode information of the accepted sample container 20a, and an installation turntable 4 temporarily holds the accepted sample container 20a.
0. Place the accepted sample container 20a on the turntable 4.
0, an output turntable 42 to which the sample container is transferred from the turntable 40 in accordance with the analysis order determined according to the information regarding the read report time, and an output turntable 42 to which the sample container is transferred from the turntable 40 to the turntable 42. The arm mechanism 48 includes an arm mechanism 46 for changing sample containers from the turntable 42 and an arm mechanism 48 for sending sample containers from the turntable 42 to the transport line 12, and recognizes information read by the barcode reader 22, and stores the sample container 20a onto the turntable 40 and from the turntable 40. It also includes a CPU 32 for controlling transfer to the turntable 42 and removal of the sample container 20b from the turntable 42, and a memory device 34 for temporarily storing identified information.

0012

[Effects of the Invention] In the present invention, information regarding the analysis time is also displayed on the sample container, and the analyzer side determines the analysis order from the information regarding the time and executes the analysis.
It is no longer necessary to immediately analyze everything that is received, and it becomes possible to recognize the time at which analysis should be performed and perform analysis at an appropriate time without unnecessarily increasing the processing capacity of the analyzer. Therefore, even analyzers with low processing capacity can handle rapid tests that require a report within 30 minutes. Optimum efficiency of the throughput of the analyzer can be achieved. Additionally, the person requesting the analysis, such as a doctor, will be able to obtain the results at the desired time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart diagram showing the operation of one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a mechanism for sorting sample containers in a sample receiving section.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a mechanism for sorting sample containers in a sample receiving section.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Sample receiving section 4a
,4b Analysis Department

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sample container on which at least information regarding the sample number and analysis time is displayed, a reading means for reading the information on the accepted sample container, and an analysis order of the specimen based on the information regarding the analysis time read by the reading means. and an analyzer that automatically analyzes a specimen in accordance with the order determined by the means for determining the analysis order.