JPH09211004A - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To grasp the amt. of the initial reagent in a reagent container necessary for controlling the residual amt. of a reagent by setting the reagent container at a reagent amt. detection position separately from a predetermined set position and obtaining the data related to the amt. of the reagent in the container. SOLUTION: At a reagent amt. detection postion, the reagent container wt. detection part 33 of a reagent container confirming part 11 measures the wts. of a reagent container 21, the reagent contained in the contrainer and other belongings. A reagent container attahced data reading part 31 reads the reagent container attached data 35 attached to the reagent container 21 and a printing part 32 applies printing to the reagent container 21. The confirming part display part 34 provided in the vicinity of the confirming part 11 displays the residual amt. of the reagent contained in the reagent container. Further, the residual amts. of the respective reagents in a plurality of the reagent containers are displayed on a whole display part and, at the same time, the warning related to the determined residual amt. of a reagent is collectively displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer, and more particularly to an automatic analyzer suitable for use as, for example, a discrete-type multi-item multi-sample in which a plurality of kinds of analysis items are reacted on the same reaction line. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic analyzer used for analyzing a biological sample such as blood or urine, a sample is dispensed into a reaction container, and a reagent is further dispensed into the reaction container in which the sample is dispensed. . As a result, the sample reacts with the reagent, and the reacted reaction solution is optically measured, for example, to analyze the analysis item in the sample.

According to a certain method of reagent dispensing, a plurality of reagent containers are held on a reagent disc, the reagent disc is driven to move a predetermined reagent container to a reagent dispensing position, and the reagent is placed at this position. The reagent in the container is dispensed into the reaction container in which the sample is dispensed. According to another method of reagent dispensing, a plurality of reagent containers are set at predetermined positions in a reagent cooler, and the reagents in the set reagent containers are provided in each reagent container. It dispenses into each reaction container via a channel. The size of each reagent container in the latter method of reagent dispensing is generally much larger than that of the reagent container in the former method of reagent dispensing. As a known example of an automatic analyzer adopting the latter method, there is, for example, JP-A-5-10958.

[0004]

Regardless of the type of reagent dispensing, the reagent residual amount management is extremely important in an automatic analyzer. This is because it is necessary to avoid a situation in which the analysis result becomes defective due to the reagent running out. In the case of the reagent dispensing of the previous method described above, since the reagent container is a free-setting method, it is relatively easy to manage the remaining amount of the reagent. Therefore, various measures are taken to manage the remaining amount of the reagent. Automation is underway. However, in the case of the reagent dispensing of the latter method described above, the reagent container is fixedly arranged, so that the development of means for effectively managing the remaining amount of the reagent is delayed.

In order to properly manage the remaining amount of the reagent, it is important to grasp the so-called initial amount of reagent in the reagent container when the analysis is started. This is because the subsequent management of the remaining reagent amount is practically possible without the troublesome work of measuring the remaining reagent amount. A typical example of the above method is the dispensing method. This has a unique reagent flow path from the reagent container to the reagent discharge unit for each reagent container. In the case of this dispensing method reagent dispensing, when starting the analysis, it is necessary to fill the reagent flow path from the reagent container to the reagent dispensing position via the reagent dispenser with the reagent in each reagent container. There is (so-called priming water). In addition, the reagent in the reagent container includes components left in the reagent channel that are used for washing, components that have been denatured due to being left in the reagent channel and cannot be used for analysis, etc. Some more must be consumed to avoid impact. In addition, it is routinely performed to add the reagent remaining in the other used reagent container to the reagent container set at a predetermined position. Therefore, in order to grasp the initial reagent amount in the reagent container prior to the analysis, it is actually desirable to measure the initial reagent amount.

According to the technique described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-10958, the liquid level of the reagent is detected by using electrodes. Using this technique, it is possible to measure the initial amount of reagent. However, in this technique, since the liquid level detecting means is required for each reagent container, there is a big problem in terms of economy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic analyzer suitable for grasping the initial amount of reagent in a reagent container necessary for managing the remaining amount of reagent while solving such an economical problem.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a plurality of reagent containers each containing a reagent are fixedly set at predetermined positions, and the reagents in the set reagent containers are used by a reagent dispenser. In an automatic analyzer that dispenses into a reaction container, reacts with a sample therein, measures the reacted liquid, and analyzes the sample, the plurality of reagent containers are fixed at the respective predetermined set positions. Prior to the setting, the reagent amount detection position independent of the predetermined setting position is set, and in this state, information about the reagent amount in the reagent container is obtained.

According to this, the initial reagent amount in the reagent container can be grasped, and the grasp can be grasped at the reagent amount detecting position independent from the position where the reagent container is set for the analysis. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the liquid level detection means for each reagent container as described above. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic analyzer which is suitable for grasping the initial reagent amount in the reagent container necessary for the reagent residual amount management while solving the economical problem.

In the present invention, a plurality of reagent containers each containing a reagent are fixedly set at respective predetermined positions, and the reagents in the set reagent containers are divided into reaction containers by using a reagent dispenser. In an automatic analyzer for pouring and reacting with a sample therein, measuring the reacted liquid and analyzing the sample, the reagent container can read information regarding the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container. And has information used to calculate the remaining amount of the reagent, and reads the information regarding the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container in a state where the reagent container is set to the predetermined position. Information read by the information reading means is used to calculate the remaining amount of the reagent, and the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container is calculated based on the read information. There.

According to this, the amount of the initial reagent in the reagent container is grasped at the position where the reagent container is to be set for analysis, but for that reason, the reagent container has a residual amount of the reagent therein. Since it is configured such that the information on the liquid can be read, it is not necessary to provide the liquid level detecting means for each reagent container as described above. Therefore, also in this case, it is understood that an automatic analyzer suitable for grasping the initial reagent amount in the reagent container necessary for the reagent residual amount management while solving the economical problem can be provided.

Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description made with reference to the drawings.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a first embodiment will be described in which the remaining amount of the reagent contained in the reagent container is obtained by summing the weights of the reagent container and the reagents contained therein.

(Overall Structure) FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the entire automatic analyzer. 11 is a reagent container recognition unit, 12 is a reagent cooler,
13 is an analysis unit, 14 is a mechanism unit, 15 is a sample input unit, 16
Is an operation unit, and 17 is an entire display unit. FIG. 2 shows details around the reagent container installation portion.

By measuring the weight of the reagent container 21, the reagent container 21 and the reagents and other accessories contained in the reagent container 21, by installing the reagent cooler 12 in which a plurality of reagent containers 21 are fixedly held and stored. Reagent container weight detection unit 33, reagent container attachment information 3 attached to reagent container 21
Reagent container attached information reading unit 3 capable of reading 5
1. Reagent container recognition unit 11 provided with reagent container printing unit 32 having a function of printing on reagent container 21, and the remaining amount of the reagent contained in reagent container 21 provided near the recognition unit 11 A recognition unit display unit 34 for displaying is provided. Further, there is provided an overall display unit 17 which indicates the remaining amount of each reagent contained in the plurality of reagent containers 21 and collectively displays a warning regarding the determined reagent remaining amount.

(Installation and Recognition of Reagent in Recognition Mechanism) Installation and recognition of a reagent in the recognition mechanism will be described in accordance with a work procedure together with the flowchart shown in FIG.

Prior to analysis, first, items to be set are determined (50). The reagent of the item is prepared by a procedure such as dissolution (51), and the reagent container 21 containing the prepared reagent is installed in the reagent container recognition unit 11 provided near the reagent cooler 12 (52). . Reagent container attachment information 35 including the shape of the reagent container 21 is attached to the reagent container 21, and the reagent container attachment information reading unit 31 reads the reagent container attachment information 35 (53), and the data is displayed.
Stored in the space 65. A barcode or the like is generally considered as the information attached to the reagent container, but an appropriate reading means may be provided by attaching an IC chip or the like. At the same time, the portion of the reagent container recognition unit 11 where the reagent container 21 is installed is provided with a weight detection unit 33 for measuring the weight, and this detection unit measures the weight of the reagent container 21.

The total weight of the reagent container is the sum of the weight of the reagent container and the amount of the reagent therein, and the weight of the reagent container is the weight of the reagent container itself (tare) and the weight of the accessory such as the reagent container information lid. Is the weight of the reagent container other than the reagent, which is labeled on the reagent container. Therefore, based on the previously-recognized reagent container attached information 35, the shape of the reagent container and the weight of the reagent container itself and its accessories, that is, the weight of the reagent container 21 other than the substantial reagent (the weight of the reagent container (5) is extracted from the database 65 (54), and the amount of the reagent substantially contained in the reagent container is calculated (58). The reagent container recognition unit 11 may include a unit for detecting the presence / absence of the lid provided on the reagent container 21.

The height of the liquid surface inside the reagent container 21 may be detected by, for example, optical means regardless of the weight. In this case, it is necessary to read the relationship between the attitude of the reagent container and the shape and liquid level of the reagent container from, for example, the reagent container attached information 35 and store it in the operation unit 16.

Further, the preparation operation consumption information is extracted (55) and the analysis operation consumption information is extracted (56) from the database section 65, and the operation section 1 is extracted from the substantial reagent amount.
In 6, the dead volume that is not used as an inhalable amount is excluded from the reagent container 21, and the number of analyzable tests is calculated based on the dispensed amount of the reagent in the analysis (59). At this time, the consumption amount of the reagent used in the reagent preparation operation should be excluded for one preparation operation (55)
Is also possible. That is, the control unit shows in advance the number of analysis tests that can be used at the time when the reagent container is put in the reagent cooler, in consideration of the consumption amount up to the analysis. By displaying the result as the remaining test number on the recognizing unit display section 34 provided in the reagent container recognizing section 11 (60), the operator can easily recognize the remaining test number. Further, the recognition unit display unit 34 displays the predetermined installation position of the corresponding reagent, and informs the operator of the installation position. Further, the reagent container printing unit 32 prints a position to be installed in the reagent container and prints the reagent container installation position 36.
By (61), the installation information of the reagent container can be made reliable. The information displayed on the recognition unit display unit 34 is also displayed on the overall display unit 17 and can be checked collectively.

(Installation of reagent) After the recognition operation is completed by the reagent container recognition unit, the operator removes the reagent container recognition unit from the reagent container recognition unit (62) and displays the recognition unit display unit 34 or the whole display unit 17, Alternatively, the reagent container 21 is set according to the reagent container installation position display section 37 at the installation position corresponding to the number shown on the reagent container installation position print 36 (6
3). The easily recognizable reagent position display enables the operator to reliably set the reagent, and enters the state of waiting for the reagent preparation operation (64).

(Calculation of Remaining Amount of Reagent and Alarm Display) The reagent container installed in the apparatus is subtracted by the control unit according to the amount of the reagent that is sucked and consumed from the reagent container by the preparatory operation and the actual inspection. Further, when a certain remaining amount level is reached as a result of the subtraction, the entire display unit 1 is displayed via the operation unit 16.
Alarm is displayed on 7.

Further, when the amount of liquid that cannot be analyzed is reached, the analysis of the item is forcibly stopped automatically or by the operation unit 16, that is, the analysis operation of the pediatrician item, for example, the sample dispensing operation is performed. Stop. This processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, at the stage where the reagent container is replaced, an analysis preparation operation execution wait (71) is started. An analysis preparation operation is executed according to an instruction from the control unit (72).
The analysis preparation operation includes, for example, updating the reagent in the channel. After this analysis preparation operation, the database is
Based on the analysis preparation operation information stored in the space 65,
Subtract the amount of reagent consumed in the analysis preparation operation (7
3). The reagent remaining amount is calculated by this calculation (74) and updated. It is determined whether this updated value is a value that can be analyzed (7
5) If analysis is possible, wait for analysis operation execution (7
6).

If there is no remaining reagent that can be analyzed, the replacement of the reagent container is awaited (77). This action
This is effective when, for example, some sort of trouble necessitates multiple preparations for analysis.

Continuing with the analysis preparation operation described above, FIG.
Shows the processing in the analysis execution operation. The analysis operation is started and executed (82) from the state where the analysis preparation is completed and the analysis operation execution waiting (81) is performed. As a result of this operation, the consumed amount is subtracted (83). Based on this result, the reagent remaining amount is calculated, and the number of tests that can be analyzed thereafter is updated (8
4). Then, the remaining amount of the reagent is compared with a predetermined number of remaining tests (85), and if it is less than that value, the fact that the number of analyzable tests is small is displayed as an alarm (8).
6). In this case, the alarms may be classified into sufficient, caution, lack, etc., and set in multiple stages. Among them, N
When it is discriminated whether the analysis of = 1 is possible or impossible (87), an alarm is issued, and further, the execution of the analysis is stopped (88) and the reagent replacement is waited (89). If the analysis is possible, the process returns to waiting for the analysis operation execution (81).

Next, referring to FIG. 6, the reagent container attached information 3
A description will be given of an embodiment using an input device with a handy scanner 75 having both a reagent container attached information reading unit 31 for recognizing 5 and an input unit 74 capable of inputting the remaining amount of reagent.

(Installation of reagent) Prepared reagent container 21
Is installed at a predetermined position. Reagent container attachment information 35 provided in the reagent container at the installation location
Is read by the input device with a handy scanner 75 which is a movable recognition means. The preset position is
Reagent container installation position recognition label 7 on the part where the reagent is stored
3 may be provided, or a list printed by the operation unit 16 may be used. Further, the recognition unit display unit 34 provided in the input device with a handy scanner 75
The label provided on the reagent may be read, and the installation position may be selected and displayed from the information.

(Reading of reagent information) Next, the reagent container 2
The information of the installation position of 1 is read. At the same time, if the reading is performed by the same recognition means, the coincidence between the reagent container 21 and the reagent container installation position can be more surely confirmed. Then, this result is transferred to the operation unit 16 via the information transfer contact 76 provided in the input device with a handy scanner 75, and the installation position of the reagent container 21 and the measurement item of the reagent container 21 are stored in the operation unit 16. To do. Further, the input key 74 provided on the input device 75 with a handy scanner allows the operator to check the remaining amount of the reagent according to the reagent container scale 72 provided on the reagent container 21.
Check and enter the reagent level 71. By this operation, information regarding the remaining amount of the reagent contained in the reagent container is transferred to the operation unit 16 via the information transfer contact 76 provided in the input device with a handy scanner 75, and stored in the operation unit 16.

(Calculation of Remaining Amount of Reagent) Based on the information recognized by the input device 75 with a handy scanner and the liquid level information input by the operator, the operation unit 16 causes the reagent container 21
The remaining amount of the reagent is calculated from the information on the shape and posture of the liquid and the information on the liquid level. The relationship between the liquid level and the remaining amount of the reagent in the state where the reagent container is installed is stored in advance in the operation unit 16 according to the shape of the reagent container, and the shape of the reagent container is included in the reagent container label provided in the container. It can be calculated from information. As a means for reading the reagent container attached information, an automatically moving reagent container attached information reading unit provided in the cool box may be used. In this case, the position of the reagent container attached information reading unit and the reagent container attached information are read. The coincidence of information is detected by the operation unit 16, and the installation position of the reagent container 21 is recognized.

According to the described embodiment, it is possible to grasp the initial amount of the reagent in the reagent container necessary for the reagent residual amount management while solving the economical problem. Further, by reading the information provided in the reagent container, it is possible to accurately measure the remaining amount of the reagent contained in the reagent container when the reagent container is installed. Furthermore, during use, depending on the usage information,
By appropriately managing the remaining amount based on the initial reagent amount, it is possible to display an appropriate warning or the like. Furthermore, it is possible to make the operator surely install the reagent at the apparatus installation position.

[0032]

According to the present invention, there is provided an automatic analyzer suitable for grasping the initial reagent amount in a reagent container required for reagent residual amount management while solving the economical problem.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed enlarged view of a reagent container recognition unit and a cool box of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for recognizing a reagent container and installing the reagent container in a cool box.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to an analysis preparation operation in the reagent remaining amount management.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart relating to an analysis operation of the reagent remaining amount management.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of main parts of an automatic analyzer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: reagent container recognition unit, 12: reagent cold storage, 13: analysis unit, 14: mechanism unit, 15: sample input unit, 16: operation unit,
17: Overall display unit, 21: Reagent container, 22: Reagent suction unit, 23: Reagent syringe, 31: Reagent container attached information reading unit, 32: Reagent container printing unit, 33: Weight detection unit, 3
4: recognition unit display unit, 35: reagent container attached information, 36: reagent container installation position printing, 37: reagent container installation position display unit,
71: Reagent liquid level, 72: Reagent container scale, 73: Reagent container installation position recognition label, 74: Input key, 75: Input device with handy scanner, 76: Information transfer contact.

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of reagent containers each containing a reagent are fixedly set at predetermined positions, and the reagents in the set reagent containers are dispensed into a reaction container using a reagent dispenser. In the automatic analyzer for reacting with the sample in the inside, measuring the reacted liquid and analyzing the sample, prior to fixedly setting the plurality of reagent containers at the respective predetermined set positions, An automatic analyzer characterized by being set at a reagent amount detection position independent of a predetermined set position, and in that state, information on the reagent amount in the reagent container is obtained. 2. A plurality of reagent containers each containing a reagent are fixedly set at predetermined positions, and the reagents in the set reagent containers are dispensed into a reaction container by using a reagent dispenser. In an automatic analyzer for reacting with a sample in the reaction solution and measuring the reacted reaction solution, the total weight of the reagent containers is measured at a reagent amount detection position independent of the set position where the plurality of reagent containers are to be set. The reagent container is configured to measure, and the reagent container has information regarding the reagent container weight of the reagent container, the information is read by the information reading means at the reagent amount detection position, and the read information and the measured reagent An automatic analyzer, wherein the amount of reagent in the reagent container is calculated based on the total weight of the container. 3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level of the reagent is detected in order to obtain information on the amount of the reagent in the reagent container. 4. A reagent amount in a reagent container to be set at the predetermined set position is obtained at the reagent amount detection position, and the reagent container is set at the predetermined set position from the obtained reagent amount. The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the consumption amount of the reagent therein is sequentially subtracted, and thereby the remaining amount of the reagent is calculated. 5. The automatic analyzer according to claim 4, which is configured to display the calculated remaining amount of the reagent. 6. The automatic analyzer according to claim 4, wherein the calculated remaining amount of the reagent is monitored and a warning regarding the remaining amount of the reagent is displayed according to a predetermined standard. 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein the calculated reagent remaining amount is monitored, and when the reagent remaining amount reaches a liquid amount at which the analysis is substantially impossible, the analysis of the sample is stopped. The automatic analyzer according to item 4. 8. The number of remaining tests of the reagent in the reagent container is calculated from the substantial remaining amount of the reagent and the amount of the reagent consumed by the analysis operation and the analysis preparation operation, and the value is displayed. The automatic analyzer according to claim 4. 9. The liquid level of the reagent in the reagent container is detected by determining the liquid level of the reagent therein which is determined by the posture of the reagent container when the reagent container is set at the reagent amount detecting position. It is done by detecting by contact,
The automatic analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the liquid level height in the posture of the reagent container and the reagent liquid amount at the liquid level height are calculated from the detected liquid level. 10. The automatic analyzer according to claim 9, wherein when detecting the liquid level of the reagent in the reagent container, the presence or absence or the open / closed state of the lid of the reagent container is detected. 11. A plurality of reagent containers each containing a reagent are fixedly set at predetermined positions, and the reagents in the set reagent containers are dispensed into a reaction container using a reagent dispenser. In the automatic analyzer for reacting with a sample in the sample, measuring the reacted reaction solution, and analyzing the sample, the reagent container is configured so that information regarding the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container can be read. Along with the information used to calculate the remaining amount of the reagent, while reading the information regarding the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container in the state where the reagent container is set to the predetermined position, An automatic analyzer characterized in that information used for calculating the remaining amount is read by an information reading means, and the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container is calculated based on the read information. 12. The automatic analyzer according to claim 11, wherein information indicating the predetermined position is read by the information reading means at the predetermined position where the reagent container is set. 13. The reagent according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the information regarding the remaining amount of the reagent is the liquid level of the reagent, and the reagent container has a scale so that the liquid level can be read. Automatic analyzer. 14. The remaining amount of the reagent is the remaining amount of the reagent at the time when the reagent container is set at the predetermined position, and the reagent amount due to consumption of the reagent is sequentially subtracted from the remaining amount of the reagent, The automatic analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the remaining amount can be calculated. 15. The automatic analyzer according to claim 14, wherein the reagent remaining amount is displayed based on the information of the reagent remaining amount obtained by the subtraction. 16. The automatic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a warning regarding the remaining amount of the reagent is displayed according to a predetermined standard based on the information of the remaining amount of the reagent obtained by the subtraction. Analysis equipment. 17. A liquid in which the reagent remaining amount is calculated according to a predetermined standard based on the information of the reagent remaining amount obtained by the subtraction, and the reagent remaining amount cannot analyze the sample. 15. The automatic analyzer according to claim 14, wherein when the amount is reached, the analysis of the sample is stopped. 18. The information reading means can be independently moved independently, and the read information can be transmitted to other parts of the automatic analyzer other than the information reading means. The automatic analyzer described.