JPH06201536A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To interrupt a control sample easily by retaining a sample for controlling accuracy for confirming analysis accuracy at a retention mechanism and then performing sampling at a specific timing. CONSTITUTION:An operator collectively places control samples at the start of a sample 1. Therefore, the control samples are transported according to a lane 2 before the measurement and stop at sampling positions 12 and 13. Then, they are retained by retention mechanisms 17 and 18 by a specific control command. When the title analyzer is started, a sample 10 is sent out to the side of analysis measurement parts 3 and 4 by the transport lane 2. Then, the type of the sample is identified by a sample identification detector 11, the sample stops at the positions 12 and 13, and then the sample 10 is sampled at a reaction pipe 6 by a sampling probe 5. A reaction pipe 6 moves successively, a reaction reagent is dispensed, and measurement is made by a concentration measurement part 8. Then, a control sample is sampled at a specific timing and the measurement is performed.

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 automatically analyzing samples such as serum and urine from many patients.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, automatic analyzers have been widely used in order to test a large amount of serum, urine, and other samples collected for medical examinations in a short time.

An automatic analyzer uses a plurality of samples at dedicated positions (this is called a sampler) in order to measure the concentration of the samples.
The samples are sequentially sent out from the sampler onto the lane in accordance with the measurement cycle and transferred to a predetermined analysis and measurement unit. Then, the transferred sample is sucked by a sampling probe or the like in the analysis and measurement unit, dispensed to the reaction line and measured.

In such an automatic analyzer, in order to guarantee the operation of the device and the accuracy of the measurement, a sample of known concentration (this is called a control sample) is measured every several samples (for example, every 10 samples), The result confirms the condition of the device. That is, the concentration of a sample having a known concentration is actually measured, and the measurement error is obtained from the difference between this measured value and the actual concentration.

Therefore, the control sample must be interrupted during the sample measurement at a predetermined interval or a predetermined timing. Therefore, conventionally, there is a method of interrupting a control sample container into a large number of sample containers of a sampler at predetermined intervals (hereinafter referred to as a first method), and a control sample dedicated position is provided to measure a predetermined number of samples each time. The method of measuring the control sample at the dedicated position (hereinafter referred to as the second method) is adopted.

However, in the first method, a large number of identical control samples must be prepared according to the number of samples, and it takes a lot of labor to interrupt the control samples at predetermined intervals. To do.

In the second method, the user of the apparatus must go to each analysis and measurement section to set the control sample and confirm the remaining amount as a preparation before the measurement. Usually, the sampling position is often located on the back surface of the analysis unit for reasons of configuration, safety, and operability, and the user of the apparatus has to walk around the apparatus.

[0008]

As described above, the conventional automatic analyzer has a drawback that much labor is required to interrupt the control sample.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of easily interrupting a control sample.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention conveys a plurality of samples on a lane and sequentially performs automatic analysis in an analysis unit near the route of the lane,
In an automatic analyzer that obtains measurement results, a sample detection unit that detects when a quality control sample for confirming the analysis accuracy is transferred and a quality control sample that is provided at a predetermined position of the analysis unit and holds the quality control sample Holding means for holding the transferred quality control sample according to a predetermined control command in the holding means of the analysis unit, and control means for controlling the sampling of the quality control sample at a predetermined timing. Is.

[0011]

According to the present invention constructed as described above, the control sample (quality control sample) is transferred on the lane, and after being discriminated by the sample detecting means, automatically held. Then, the control sample is measured at a predetermined timing. Therefore, the labor of the operator is significantly reduced.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic analyzer to which the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, this automatic analyzer is roughly divided into a sampler 1, a lane 2, and analysis and measurement units 3 and 4.

The sampler 1 stores a large number of samples 10 to be measured and sends them to the lane 2, and also the lane 2
The sampler control section 15 holds the measured sample sent from the sampler.

In lane 2, the sample 10 sent from the sampler 1 is sampled at the sampling positions 12,
13 and is controlled by the lane control unit 16. A sample identification detector 11 that decodes an identification symbol such as a bar code attached to each sample 10 is provided on the upstream side of the analysis and measurement unit 3.

The analysis / measurement unit 3 collects the sample transferred to the sampling position 12 to perform a desired measurement, and stores the sampling probe 5 for collecting the sample from the sample container and the collected sample. It has a plurality of reaction tubes 6, a reagent setting section 7 in which reagents necessary for measurement are stored in advance, and a concentration measuring section 8 for measuring the concentration of the sample dispensed in each reaction tube 6. Then, it is controlled by the analysis control unit 9. Further, in this embodiment, a holding mechanism 17 for holding a predetermined control sample is provided on the side opposite to the analysis and measurement unit 3 at the sampling position 12, and the control sample is sampled every predetermined number of measurements or every predetermined time. It is supposed to be done. Further, reference numeral 14 is an integrated control unit,
It controls the analyzer as a whole. Since the analysis and measurement unit 4 has the same configuration as the analysis and measurement unit 3, the description of the configuration is omitted.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a detailed structure of the holding mechanisms 17 and 18. As shown in the figure, the holding mechanisms 17 and 18 have a table 20 disposed in a circular protective wall 22, and the table 20 has four claws 23 having a shape into which a container of a control sample 30 can be fitted. Has been drilled. Further, a drive source 21 is provided in the center of the table 20 to rotate the table 20, and the control sample 30 is held in the claw 23 at a position corresponding to each claw 23 around the table 20. A sample detector 28 for determining whether or not there is provided.

The control sample 30 transferred by the transfer belt 19 of the transfer lane 2 is transferred to the table 2.
In order to hold the control sample 30 within 0, two holding pins 27 that press and hold the control sample 30 and an extruding pin 29 that is provided between them and that pushes out the control sample 30 to the tab 23 side of the table 20 are provided in the transfer lane It is provided on the side of.

The sample arm 24 and the sample hook 25 are for separating the control sample 30 from the claw 23, and the table controller 26 is for controlling the operation of the table 20.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the detailed construction of the integrated control unit 14. As shown in the figure, the overall control unit 14 displays a screen 37 for confirming data and operating conditions, a keyboard 31 for inputting data and operating conditions, and a storage unit 32 for storing data and operating conditions. And a CPU 33 as a control center for these components, a time measuring unit 34 for measuring time, a transmission line 36 for communicating with other control units, and an interface 35.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
First, prior to the measurement, it is necessary to perform a preparatory operation so that the analyzer can normally perform the measurement operation. This is called a startup operation, and the contents of the startup operation are input from the keyboard 31 and the display unit 37 shown in FIG.
When the start is instructed, the CPU 33 transmits necessary information and an operation start command to the respective control units 9, 15, 16, 26 shown in FIGS.

At the start-up, the purpose is to perform a preparatory operation so that measurement can be performed, and a cleaning operation for the sampling probe 5 and the reaction tube 6 is performed. In addition, it is checked whether unnecessary samples are held in the sample holding mechanisms 17 and 18, and if there is, the table 20 is rotated and the sample arm 24, the transfer belt 19 and the like are operated to perform the discharging operation. . The fact that the sample has been discharged is reported to the operator by the display unit 30, and the discharged sample moves on the transfer lane 2 and returns to the sampler 1.

Thereafter, the sample 10 was placed on the sampler 1 shown in FIG.
Is set and sent to the transfer lane 2, the sample 10
The transfer belt of the transfer lane 2 is used for the analysis and measurement units 3 and 4.
Sent to the side. Then, the sample identification detector 11 identifies the type of the sample, stops at the sampling positions 12 and 13 of the analysis and measurement units 3 and 4, and the sampling probe 5 dispenses the sample 10 into the reaction tube 6 in a required amount.

The reaction tube 6 moves sequentially, and the reaction reagent corresponding to the measurement item is dispensed by the reagent setting section 7 into the reaction tube 6 containing the sample, and the reaction process is measured by the concentration measuring section 8. Then, the measurement result is sent to the overall control unit 14 via the analysis control unit 9. Further, the analysis control unit 9
The overall control unit 14 receives information necessary for measurement (sample amount, reagent type, etc.) in advance or during measurement, and controls the overall operation of the analysis and measurement units 3 and 4.

Normally, the sample 10 moves in the lane 2, and is first sampled in the analytical measuring section 3 and then in the transfer lane 2.
And is sampled by the analysis and measurement unit 4. The sample to be sampled is used for the measurement of different items which the analytical measurement units 3 and 4 are responsible for. Then, the sample 10 sampled by the analysis and measurement unit 4 moves in the transfer lane 2 and is returned to the sampler 1.

In the sampler 1, the sample group is divided into a new sample group that has not been measured yet and a sample group that has been sampled and held. Further, even if the sample has been sampled, the sample for which the re-inspection is instructed is automatically inserted into a new sample group under the control of the sampler controller 15. The information that is the basis of the control is transmitted and received by data transmission with the general control unit 14.

The transfer lane 2 is controlled by the lane controller 16
The information that is the basis of this control is also obtained by data transmission / reception with the general control unit 14. Then, the overall control unit 14 determines, for example, that a new sample remains in the sampler 1 based on information from the sampler control unit 15,
If the sampler control unit 15 obtains that it is ready to be sent out, the general control unit 14 instructs the transfer lane control unit 16, and if the transfer lane control unit 16 can receive the sample, the sample 10 Is sent to the sampler control unit 15 and the lane control unit 16 so as to send to the transfer lane. As a result, the sample 10 is sent to the transfer lane 2. The information stored in the general control 14 is as shown below, for example. (1) Information as to what kind of sample is to be held in the holding mechanism sections 17 and 18 for each analytical measurement section (holding sample type information) (2) When the holding sample is a control sample, sampling is performed at what cycle Information (for example, sampling interval information such as elapsed time every time a sample of a patient is measured) (3) The time when the sample is held in the holding mechanisms 17 and 18 is set to the time of the time measuring unit 32. Based on the above, a portion to be stored in each (holding time information) (4) Information on presence / absence and type of sample held in the holding mechanism sections 17 and 18 (actual holding sample type information) (5) Holding mechanism sections 17 and 18 Information on the remaining amount of each sample held in the (remaining sample remaining amount information) These information are stored in the storage unit 32, can be confirmed on the CRT display unit 37, and the contents can be rewritten at any time in the keyboard 31. Rukoto can.

When carrying out the measurement with the control sample, the operator collectively arranges a predetermined control sample at the head portion of the sampler 1 shown in FIG. Therefore, when the instrument is started up, the control sample is transferred by the transfer lane 2 prior to the measurement,
It stops at each sampling position 12, 13. Then, it is held by the holding mechanisms 17 and 18 according to a predetermined control command. Also, if this operation is performed during the startup operation, time efficiency will be improved.

The sent control sample moves in the transfer lane 2 and is discriminated by the sample discrimination detector 11 for classification.
The information is transmitted from the transfer lane controller 16 to the integrated controller 14. Then, the CPU 33 refers to the retained sample type information in the storage unit 32 and, if they match, notifies the transfer lane control unit 16 and the table control unit 26 of this result. As a result, the control sample is at the sampling position 1
When it reaches 2, it is held by the tab 23 of the table 20 which is pushed out by the push-out pin 29 and rotationally moved to a predetermined position.

After that, when the general sample 10 is sequentially transferred and sampled, the number of times of sampling is measured, and the CPU 33 compares the number of times of measurement with the number of times of the sampling interval information stored in the storage unit 32. When the match is found, the match information is analyzed by the analysis control unit 9,
The information is transmitted to the table control unit 26 and the lane control unit 16.
When the control sample is measured not by the number of times of measurement but by the elapsed time, the measurement start time and the previous control sample measurement time are stored, and when the predetermined time has passed, the control unit 9, 26, Tell 16.

When the coincidence information is given, the holding pin 27 operates so that a new general sample does not reach the sampling positions 12 and 13. After that, the corresponding sample is opposed to the sampling position 12 by the rotation of the table 29, and is pushed to the sampling position by the sample arm 24 and the sample hook 25. Then, the control probe is sampled by the sampling probe 5 shown in FIG. At this time, information on the retention time of the sampled control sample is added to the measurement result.

After that, when the sample is sampled the required number of times, the sample arm 24 returns to the table 20 side, and the push-out pin 25 returns the sample to the original position of the claw 23 of the table 20. Then, the table 20 moves to the position of the next required control sample, if any, and repeats the above operation. When the sampling of all the samples on the table 20 is completed, the holding pins 27 return, and the sampling of the samples on the transfer lane 2 is restarted.

The control sample to be held on the table 20 can be placed on the sampler 1 at an arbitrary timing. That is, the operator does not have to consider the position where the control sample is placed, and it is sufficient to prepare a new control sample while looking at the time when the remaining amount of the control sample held in 20 is low. The newly placed control sample is moved to the transfer lane 2 and moved to the table 20, and if this control sample corresponds to that position, the table 20 rotates and the sample to be exchanged is the sample arm 24. It is discharged to the transfer lane 2 by the sample hook 25. At this time, the sample to be replaced is the holding pin 27.
Is waiting in the front position. And the holding pin 2
The right side of 7 opens, and the sample discharged from the table 20 moves in the transfer lane 2. After that, the holding pin 27 right closes and the holding pin 27 left opens this time, and the new control sample waiting is moved to the sampling position 12 and held on the table 20 by the push pin 25. Then, the holding time is updated. This is the control sample exchange procedure. In addition, the elapsed time of holding the control sample on the table is always calculated from the holding time by the integrated control unit 14.

When the elapsed time is exceeded, the total control unit 14
Displays an alarm message on the display unit 37. (The buzzer also sounds.) The operator specifies the control sample by this message and sets a new control sample in the sampler 1. After that, the operation similar to the above-mentioned control sample exchange procedure is performed, and the old control sample is exchanged.

In addition to the control sample, it may be held on the table 20. In such a case, the detergent is suctioned and the probe is washed every time the patient sample is sampled a designated number of times, as in the case of the control sample. Further, when the measurement operation is completed and the WASH operation is performed, the detergent held on the table 20 can be used. These detergents are set on the sampler 1 to be held on the table 20 via the transfer lane 2. The detergent may be set in the sampler 1 not only during the WASH operation but also during the measurement as described above.
This reduces the execution time of the WASH operation. Moreover, since a plurality of detergents can be held, a detergent suitable for the purpose of washing can be used.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A quality control sample (control sample) for confirming analysis accuracy is automatically held and sampling is performed at a predetermined timing. Therefore, the labor of the operator is significantly reduced, and the amount of the control sample used can be saved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic analyzer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a holding mechanism for a control sample.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of an integrated control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Sampler 2 Transfer lane 3, 4 Analytical measurement part 10 Sample 11 Sample identification detector 12, 13 Sampling position 14 General control part 17, 18 Holding mechanism 20
table

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of samples are transported on a lane, and automatic analysis is sequentially performed in an analysis unit near the route of the lane,
In an automatic analyzer that obtains measurement results, a sample detection unit that detects when a quality control sample for confirming analysis accuracy is transferred, and a quality control sample that is provided at a predetermined position of the analysis unit and holds the quality control sample Holding means for holding the transferred quality control sample in accordance with a predetermined control command in the holding means of the analysis unit and controlling the sampling of the quality control sample at a predetermined timing. Characteristic automatic analyzer. 2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the holding means can hold a cleaning liquid. 3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the control means records the time when the quality control sample is held in the holding means and adds the time to the measurement result. 4. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the control means outputs an alarm when the time after the quality control sample is held by the holding means exceeds a predetermined time set in advance. 5. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the control means outputs an alarm when the remaining amount of the quality control sample held by the holding means becomes a predetermined amount or less.