JPH06160400A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To expedite formation of a data file for centralized data supervision, accurate supervision and formation of an inspection report, and to read and analyze a trouble cause in real time by transferring measured data, reaction time course data, trouble data, etc., to an external computer in real time. CONSTITUTION:An optical measuring unit 7 continuously measures all of reaction vessels 1 from a cleaning position e1 to a measurement finishing position of the vessel 1, and obtains a reaction time course of the vessel 1. The reaction time course data is automatically input to a CPU board. A controller CPU has an operation control circuit for controlling an operation of an automatic analyzer A and an arithmetic processor for calculating and deciding a measured signal. The board stores-preserves measured data, the reaction time course data, trouble data. The measured data are output to an external computer thereby to rapidly form an inspection report in real time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for performing biochemical analysis and immunological analysis, and in particular, even a small automatic analyzer can record and store a large amount of measurement data. The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer having a function of transferring the measured data not only to a printer but also to an external computer to quickly perform centralized management of data, creation of data files for quality control, and creation of inspection reports.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various kinds of automatic analyzers of this kind have been proposed, but in many recent automatic analyzers, the devices are extremely complicated, large, and expensive.
Since it is faster and the operation is very complicated, it is necessary to always have a specialized worker, and in regional hospitals and small and medium-sized hospitals that do not require so many blood tests, this type of Since it is not necessary to install a large-scale automatic analyzer, it is the current situation to request a blood test for a patient in charge of the hospital from a specialized blood test center, which is very inconvenient when urgent is needed. In addition, there is a problem that cost is likely to be wasted and it takes a lot of time to obtain results when collation work and retest of analysis data and patient blood are required. It was

In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, an automatic analyzer is provided with an operating IC card and a memory storage I.
A simple automatic analyzer configured to operate with two IC cards of C card is known.

This conventional simple automatic analyzer comprises means for transferring a plurality of samples to a sample suction position, means for sucking a required amount of sample at the sample suction position and dispensing it into a reaction container, and the reaction container. Means for sequentially transferring to the optical measurement position, a means for dispensing a reagent corresponding to the measurement item from the reagent container to the reaction container, a means for optically measuring the sample in the reaction container, and the measurement Means for cleaning the completed reaction container, an IC card to which a command signal for organically operating the above means corresponding to the measurement is inputted,
And a reader device for reading a command signal from the C card, and the measurement data was stored in an IC card for storage.

Therefore, in the conventional simple automatic analyzer described above, when a data file for quality control or an inspection report is created based on the measurement data stored in the IC card for storage, After stopping the automatic analyzer once, the memory card for storage is removed from the simplified automatic analyzer, and is set again in, for example, an external computer, so that the measurement data stored in the memory card for storage can be externally stored. The quality control data file and the inspection report cannot be created until the data is transferred to the control circuit of the computer, and the work is very complicated.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional simple type automatic analyzer, an IC card is used for storing and storing,
In the case of an automatic analyzer, the data to be saved is not limited to the above measurement data, but in addition to this, a huge amount of reaction time course data, operator analysis condition input data, trouble data at the time of failure, etc. Data must be saved and all such data must be stored in a single IC
There is naturally a limit to the capacity of storing and storing in a card, and in order to avoid this, it is necessary to frequently install a new memory storage IC card, and management of such IC card is extremely difficult. There is a problem that it is complicated and the cost is high.

Further, although the trouble data at the time of failure must be analyzed by a manager in real time, a memory storage IC like the conventional simple automatic analyzer described above is required. Only after removing the card from the simplified automatic analyzer and setting it again in an external computer and transferring the measurement data stored in the IC card for storage to the control circuit of the external computer In an unreadable configuration, the device must be stopped for a long time, and there is also a problem that reliability for the user side cannot be obtained.

The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to be small in size to meet the needs of regional hospitals and small and medium-sized hospitals, and to be extremely simple in operation and configuration. Needless to say, it is possible to store and store the huge amounts of data that are essential to automatic analyzers, and to transfer measurement data, reaction time course data, trouble data, etc. in real time to an external computer. In addition, the centralized management of data, the creation of data files for quality control, and the creation of inspection reports can be performed quickly, and the cause of failure can be read and understood in real time, so there is no need to worry about stopping the equipment for a long time. In addition, by providing a separate and independent RAM CPU board, even while the automatic analyzer is performing analysis work. The automatic analyzer can the perform maintenance service management without stopping, is intended to provide an automatic analyzer which can greatly increase the reliability for the user.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a means for transferring a plurality of samples to a sample suction position and a reaction for sucking a required amount of sample at the sample suction position. Means for dispensing to the container, means for sequentially transferring the reaction container to an optical measurement position, means for dispensing a reagent corresponding to a measurement item from the reagent container to the reaction container, and a sample in the reaction container Optically measuring means, means for cleaning the reaction container after the measurement, IC card to which a command signal for organically operating the above means corresponding to the measurement is input, and command signal of the IC card A RAMCPU for storing and storing the measurement data, which is a technical premise of an automatic analyzer configured to have a reader device for reading It is characterized in that it has configured to output simultaneously to the external output terminal side for transferring the measurement data to over de side and printer side and the external computer.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

The automatic analyzer A according to this embodiment is shown in FIG.
In general, as shown in FIG. 3, the analysis unit V and the control unit W are
It consists of and.

The analysis unit V includes a sample (serum) dispensing position a, a first reagent dispensing position b, a second reagent dispensing / stirring position c, an optical measuring position d, and a washing position of the reaction container 1 at a predetermined timing. Reaction container transfer device B for transferring e _{1 to} e ₄ and sample container 2 containing a required amount of sample (serum) to be measured
An auto sampler device (not shown) that intermittently transfers the sample container 2 to the sample suction position f, and a sampling pipette 3 that sucks a required amount of the sample in the sample container 2 and dispenses it into the reaction container 1. A first reagent pipette 4 for dispensing a first reagent corresponding to a measurement item into the reaction container 1, and a second reagent pipette 5 for dispensing a second reagent corresponding to a measurement item into the reaction container 1. A stirring device (not shown) that works in conjunction with the second reagent pipette 5, an optical measuring device 7, a washing device 8, and a reagent bottle 9 containing the first and second reagents as a first reagent suction. Position g or second
The reagent device 10 transfers the reagent to the reagent suction position h.

The control unit W has a CPU for controlling the drive of each mechanism corresponding to a measurement item, an IC card 11 in which the operation control program of the analysis unit V is input and stored, and the IC card 11 mounted therein. Reader / writer device 1
2, a selection switch group 13 for selecting a sample number or a sequential number, and an item switch 1 for selecting an analysis item corresponding to a designated sample number or a sequential number.
4, a display device 15 including a CRT or the like for displaying a designated sample number or selection item number, a start switch 16, a stop switch 17, a reset switch 18, and a printer 19 for issuing measurement results and the like. When,
A RAM CPU board 20 having a storage capacity of 1 megabyte or more for storing and storing measurement data, reaction time course data, and trouble data, and transferring the measurement data, reaction time course data, and trouble data to an external computer (not shown). External output terminal 22 for
It consists of In FIG. 1, reference numeral 24 indicates a main switch.

A plurality of reaction vessel transfer devices B (36
The individual reaction vessels 1 are intermittently transferred one pitch at a time to a desired position while being heated to a substantially living body temperature. This intermittent transfer mechanism is similar to a known intermittent transfer mechanism in that each reaction vessel 1 is intermittently transferred. Is configured to be rotated stepwise and sequentially transferred to the next processing position.

A plurality of sample containers 2 are held along the longitudinal direction of a chain belt 30 suspended like an endless belt, and each sample container 2 is sequentially sampled through a known chain belt intermittent transfer device. Intermittent transfer to the suction position f. A barcode label D is attached to the surface of each sample container 2, and the patient information, reception number, measurement item number, etc. recorded on the barcode label are arranged in front of the sample suction position f. It is configured to be read by the well-known bar code reader C. With such a configuration, it is possible to set the centrifugally-collected blood collection tube as it is in the autosampler device. Further, a cover (not shown) for preventing evaporation of the sample is detachably attached to the auto sampler device.

The sampling pipette 3 has one end with a shaft 31 similar to the configuration of a known sampling pipette.
An arm 32 pivotally supported on the arm 32, a pipette 33 arranged at the other end of the arm 32, and a sampling pump 20 which is connected to the pipette 33 and communicates with the pipette 33 to suck a required amount of the sample and discharge the sample into the reaction container 1. A driving device (not shown) for controlling the arm 32 from the sample suction position f to the sample dispensing position a and further to the cleaning position i at a predetermined timing and controlling the elevation of the arm 32 at each position. There is.

In this sample measuring method, the wicking system is filled with water, the sample and water are suctioned and measured in a state of being separated from each other via air, and then only the sample is discharged, and then the sample is washed from the inside. The inside of the pipette 33 is washed with water. During this cleaning, the pipette 33 is of course set at the pipette cleaning position i, and the sample attached to the outer surface of the pipette 33 is cleaned at the same position.

The reagent device 10 includes a first reagent bottle 9a containing a first reagent containing a reagent corresponding to a measurement item.
A second reagent bottle 9b containing a second reagent, a turntable 40 on which each reagent bottle 9a, 9b is placed, and a reagent corresponding to a measurement item by rotationally controlling the turntable 40. A bottle transfer device (not shown) for transferring to the first reagent suction position g or the second reagent suction position h, and the first reagent corresponding to the measurement item from inside the first reagent bottle 9a at the first reagent suction position g. The first reagent pipette 4 for sucking a required amount and the second reagent bottle 9b at the second reagent suction position h
The second reagent pipette 5 sucks a required amount of the second reagent corresponding to the measurement item from the inside.

The reagent bottles 9a and 9b arranged on the table 40 are set at predetermined positions,
The positions of these reagent bottles 9a and 9b are controlled by the control unit CP.
It is stored in U. In addition, this reagent bottle 9a, 9
In the case of b, for example, 24 containers are configured as one set, and when the measurement items are different, they can be exchanged with another set with one touch. The reagents in the reagent bottles 9a and 9b are cooled to 10 to 12 ° C.

In this way, when the reagent bottles 9a, 9b corresponding to the measurement items reach the predetermined reagent suction positions g, h, they enter the reaction container 1 via the first and second reagent pipettes 4, 5, respectively. Corresponding reagents are dispensed for each required amount.

The first and second reagent pipettes 4 and 5
Has a shaft 41, one end of which is similar to the configuration of a known pipette device.
Arm 42, 52 pivotally supported by 51, and this arm 4
Pipettes 43 and 53 arranged at the other ends of the pipes 52 and 52, pumps 21 and 22 which are connected to the pipettes 43 and 53 and are connected to the pipettes 43 and 53 to suck a required amount of reagent and discharge the reagent into the reaction container 1, and the arms 42, Drive units 52 for controlling the rotation of 52 from the reagent suction positions g, h to the cleaning positions j, k via the reagent dispensing positions b, c at a predetermined timing, and for raising and lowering the arms 42, 52 at each position ( (Not shown).

In this reagent measuring method, the wicking system is filled with water, the reagent and water are sucked and measured in a state of being separated from each other via air, and then only the reagent is discharged, and then the inside is washed. The inside of the pipettes 43 and 53 is washed with water.
At the time of this washing, the pipettes 43 and 53 are, of course, set at the pipette washing positions j and k.
The sample attached to the outer surface of 53 is washed at the same position.

Although not shown, the stirring device is fixed to the second reagent pipette 5 and is transferred with the rotation of the arm 52, and immediately inside the reaction container 1 immediately after the second reagent is dispensed. The sample is bubble-stirred, and then washed with the pipette 5 at the pipette washing position k of the second reagent pipette 5.

The optical measuring device 7 for forming the detecting portion or the observation point is of a diffraction grating type, and has a light source 70.
And a plurality of light receiving elements 71 arranged on a Rowland circle for measuring light emitted from the light source 70, and the light quantity received by the light receiving elements 71 corresponding to the measurement item is converted into a voltage and the analysis value thereof is processed. And a RAM CPU board 20 for storing the data. Of course, the optical measuring device 7 may be applied after being changed to a wavelength conversion system using a filter.

Therefore, this optical measuring device 7 is used in the reaction container 1 from the washing position e ₁ of the reaction container 1 to the measurement end position l.
(In the illustrated embodiment, 35 containers) can be continuously measured every 20 seconds to obtain the reaction time course of each reaction container 1. The reaction time course data is obtained from the RAMC.
It is automatically input to the PU board 20.

The control unit CPU has an operation control circuit for controlling the operation of the automatic analyzer A, and an arithmetic processing circuit 21 for arithmetic operation and determination of measurement signals.

The RAM CPU board 20 stores and saves measurement data, reaction time course data and trouble data, and has a storage capacity of at least 1 kilomegabyte or more. The measurement data is output to an external output terminal. By outputting from 22 to an external computer, an inspection report can be quickly created in real time.

In this way, by disposing the independent RAMCPU board 20 separate from the analysis unit CPU, even if the analysis unit CPU fails, the RAMCPU board 20 exerts a backup function to perform measurement. Data, reaction time course data, and trouble data can be saved, and these data can be retrieved to an external computer, etc., and even while the automatic analyzer is performing analysis work, it can be accessed via a communication line. Since necessary information can be freely sent to an external terminal from an external output terminal 23 which is separate from the external output terminal 22 connected to the RAMCPU board 20, maintenance is performed without stopping the automatic analyzer A. Service management can be performed. Of course,
The necessary information is sent from the RAM CPU board 20 to the printer 19
Or to the external output terminal 22.

Further, the reaction time course data is converted into the above R
By storing it in the AMCPU board 20 and outputting it from the external output terminal 22 to an external computer,
A data file for quality control of the automatic analyzer A can be quickly created in real time without stopping the automatic analyzer A.

Further, the trouble data is stored in the RAMC.
It is saved in the PU board 20 and is also stored in the external output terminal 2
By outputting from 2 to an external computer, the cause of the failure can be read and understood in real time without stopping the automatic analyzer A, and as a result, there is no need to worry about stopping the installed automatic analyzer for a long time. , The reliability for the user can be significantly increased.

The cleaning device 8 is for cleaning the inside of the reaction vessel 1 for which the optical measurement work has been completed for reuse.
It is composed of a known liquid suction mechanism and a cleaning water supply mechanism.

As the IC card 11, a known readable / writable known IC card is used, which is set in the reader / writer device 12 in a pre-installed state, and is stored in the storage section of the IC card. , An operation program signal for organically controlling the operation of each mechanism of the analysis unit V corresponding to a measurement item is input and stored in advance.
The stored operation program is configured so that information can be exchanged with the reader / writer device 12 by a contact contact method or a non-contact method.

The reader / writer device 12 is constructed in the same manner as a known card reader / writer. An example of the reader / writer device 12 will be described below. It has a connection terminal for outputting a control signal to the control unit CPU. While doing
Although not shown, a reader power supply unit, an oscillator, an IC card transmission / reception circuit, a calculation unit, and a light source are arranged inside thereof.

The reader / writer device 12 having the above-described structure is provided with the control unit C input to the IC card 11.
Reading a control signal for the PU and the operation information,
As a result, a list of analyzable items is displayed on the display device 15, and the operator selects a desired item from the analytical items displayed by the keyboard and the item switch 14 and selects all the analytical items. After the completion of the confirmation work, the start switch 16 is turned on.

When the start switch 16 is turned on, each mechanism of the analysis section carries out a predetermined analysis work based on the control signal selected by the item switch 14, and the analysis data is subjected to a predetermined calculation process by the calculation circuit 21. The arithmetically processed measurement data is simultaneously output to the printer 19, the RAM CPU board 20, and the external output terminal 22.

When the measurement data is output to the printer 19, the measurement data is printed out in a predetermined format, and the measurement data input to the RAM CPU board 20 is for each patient or each examination requesting facility. It is grouped or stored at random. By providing a separate independent RAM CPU board, maintenance service management can be performed without stopping the automatic analyzer even while the automatic analyzer is performing analysis work.

Next, the operation of the automatic analyzer constructed as above will be described.

First, when the IC card 11 into which the control operation program of the analysis unit V is input is set in the reader / writer device 12 of the automatic analysis device A in which the main switch 24 is turned on and set to the analysis enabled state, 3, the reader / writer device 12 reads the operation control program from the IC card 11, transfers the operation control program to the control unit CPU, and displays the operation control program on the display device 15
Shows the analysis conditions such as the items that can be analyzed.

At this stage, the operator looks at the display of the display device 15 and selects a desired analysis group for the sample by using the item switch 14 and the selection switch group 13, and the analysis unit V corresponds to the selected analysis item. Set to drive.

Next, when the start switch 16 is turned on from the above state, the auto sampler device intermittently transfers each sample container 2 to the sample suction position f, and during this time, necessary information is read from the bar code label D of the sample container 2. The information is read by the barcode reader device C and the information is automatically input to the control unit V, and at the sample suction position f, the sample suction work by the sampling pipette 3 is performed. After that, the sampling pipette 3 is rotated to dispense the aspirated sample into the reaction container 1 in a required amount.

When the above work is completed, the reaction container 1 is stepwise rotated in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 and transferred to a position advanced by one pitch (distance for one container) to the upstream side of the reaction container transfer path. To be done.

When the reaction container 1 arrives at the first reagent dispensing position b by such a transfer procedure, the reagent table 40 is rotationally controlled in synchronism with this and the first reagent corresponding to the measurement item.
The first reagent bottle 9a containing the reagent is transferred to the reagent suction position g, and the first reagent is placed in the first position at the reagent suction position g.
The required amount is aspirated through the reagent pipette 4, and the first
The required amount of the first reagent corresponding to the measurement item is dispensed into the reaction container 1 having arrived at the reagent dispensing position b via the first reagent pipette 4.

Thereafter, the reaction container 1 is transferred to the second reagent dispensing / stirring position c, and in response thereto, the reagent table 40.
Is controlled to rotate, the second reagent bottle 9b containing the second reagent corresponding to the measurement item is transferred to the second reagent suction position h, and at the same position h, a required amount of the second reagent bottle 9b is supplied through the second reagent pipette 5. After the second reagent is sucked, the required amount of the second reagent corresponding to the measurement item is dispensed into the reaction container 1 via the second reagent pipette 5, and the bubble stirring operation is performed by the stirring device. .

After that, the reaction container 1 is sequentially transferred by the reaction container transfer device B and traverses the light flux of the optical measuring device 7 at each step rotation, whereby a predetermined optical measurement corresponding to the measurement item is performed. The reaction time course of each reaction container 1 is required.

The reaction container 1 for which the optical measurement work has been completed in this manner is then transferred to the cleaning device 8 and subjected to a predetermined cleaning treatment, and then transferred again to the sample dispensing position a.

The analysis value obtained as described above is arithmetically processed by the control unit CPU, printed out on the printer 19, and simultaneously output to the RAM CPU board 20 and the external output terminal 22.

The stop switch 17 is turned on when the analysis process is stopped in the middle of the process, and the reset switch 1 is used when the device is restarted after the stop.
Turn on 8.

In the above embodiment, the case where the contactless optical card is applied to the IC card has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the contact type is used. The IC card of can also be used.

[0049]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to sufficiently store and save the enormous amount of measurement data, reaction time course data, trouble data and the like, which are essential for an automatic analyzer. By configuring the measurement data, reaction time course data, trouble data, etc. to be transferred to an external computer in real time, centralized data management, creation of data files for quality control and creation of inspection reports can be performed quickly. Moreover, since the cause of failure can be read and understood in real time, there is no need to worry about stopping the device for a long time.
By providing a separate and independent RAM CPU board, even while the automatic analyzer is performing analysis work,
Since maintenance service management can be performed without stopping the automatic analyzer, the reliability for the user can be greatly increased, and the operation is extremely simple, and the entire apparatus is compact and simple. You can
As a result, since there are few breakdowns and it can be provided at low cost, it is possible to provide an automatic analyzer that meets the requirements of small and medium-sized hospitals, etc. at a low price, and there are many excellent effects.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view showing a schematic configuration of the automatic analyzer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the configuration of the automatic analyzer.

[Explanation of sign]

 A automatic analysis device CPU control unit V analysis unit W control unit 1 reaction vessel 7 optical measuring device 10 reagent device 11 IC card 12 reader / writer device 19 printer 20 RAM CPU board 22, 23 external output terminal a sample dispensing position b first Reagent dispensing position c Second reagent dispensing / stirring position d Optical measurement position e Cleaning position f Sample suction position

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A means for transferring a plurality of samples to a sample suction position, a means for sucking a required amount of sample at the sample suction position and dispensing into a reaction container, and sequentially transferring the reaction container to an optical measurement position. Means, means for dispensing a reagent corresponding to the measurement item from the reagent container to the reaction container, means for optically measuring the sample in the reaction container, and means for cleaning the reaction container after the measurement In an automatic analyzer comprising an IC card to which a command signal for organically operating each of the above means corresponding to measurement is input, and a reader device for reading the command signal of the IC card, RAMCPU for storing and storing the measurement data, which is analyzed and arithmetically processed by the optical measuring device.
An automatic analyzer which is simultaneously output to a board side, a printer side, and an external output terminal side for transferring the measurement data to an external computer.