JPH11304815A - Carrying system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the search of a specimen rack by an operator by storing the housing designation where a housing unit is registered, and designating beforehand the housing designation of the specimen rack, on the basis of the instruction from a host computer to house it. SOLUTION: This system is formed of an input unit 1, a housing unit 7, a centrifugal unit 2 between them, a plug opening unit 3, a dispensing unit 4, a plugging unit 5, and a classifying unit 6. In this system, the processing unit to be stopped over is preset for each every specimen rack, the carrying is performed according to it, and the housing place is fixed every stopping manner. The stopping manner is set up to four, or processing type A15, processing type B16, processing type C17, and processing type D18. As a result of this, a means capable of designating the tray to house and detecting the tray replacement is provided, and the housing designation retrieval function for the specimen is further added, so that the specimen rack can be retrieved easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample transport system in the field of clinical testing, and more particularly to an operation of storing a sample rack after processing by an automatic preprocessing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional storage method for a sample rack for holding a container containing a sample such as blood or urine is sequential, and a storage location is not specified. That is, the storing operation is performed on the empty line, in the order in which they are transported to the storing unit (the order in which they are processed). In addition, monitoring of the storage location of the sample rack has not been performed.

Usually, a storage unit has a plurality of storage destination lines (trays), and the order of storage is fixed.
For example, when there are three storage destinations, a fixed control method is adopted in which storage is performed in order from line 1. When line 1 is full, it is stored in line 2. Line 3 is similar.

[0004]

In the transport system, various processes are performed between the input unit and the storage unit, and the processes performed for each sample rack are different.

For example, charging, centrifugal separator, opening, dispensing,
In the case of a system having the function of storing, the order of storing differs depending on the presence or absence of centrifugation in a centrifuge. This sample rack should be skipped over the centrifuge, since urine samples do not actually require a centrifuge.

In addition, since the parent sample rack and the child sample rack are separated during dispensing, the order of storage is mixed with the parent sample rack and the child sample rack.

[0007] As can be seen from the above, in the transport system, the order of the sample racks installed in the input unit and the order of storage are not always the same. However, since the storage unit does not monitor where the rack is stored, the storage unit cannot easily find out where the processed sample rack is.

An object of the present invention is to make it easy for an operator to search for a sample rack by easily knowing where the processed sample rack is stored, or by designating a storage destination by an operator. It is in.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problem, an operator designates a storage destination of a sample rack in advance, and the storage unit performs storage according to the designation. Further, even when the storage destination is not specified, the search means is provided, and the sample rack can be easily searched.

[0010]

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a transport system according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 24 denotes a host computer for controlling the entire system. Host computer 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes an input unit for controlling the transport system, which sets the transport procedure set here and the processing method for the processing unit.

Each of the processing units 25a to 25e is paired with a transfer line 26a to 26e.
a to 25e, the transport lines 26a to 26e, the input unit 27, and the storage unit 28 each have a control CPU.
A communication network 29 for transmitting and receiving carrier system data is configured. Further, a communication network 30 different from the aforementioned communication network is formed between the processing units 25a to 25e and the host computer 24, and the processing unit 2
The sample data and the processing method information data of 5a to 25e are transmitted and received.

The communication network 30 has its main control unit in the input unit 27. The main control unit and the host computer 24 are connected by a communication network 29. Information of the communication network 30 is transmitted to the host computer 24 together with the information 29. Connected.

The processing units 25a to 25e are located between an input unit 27 for separating input samples into processing units according to test items and a storage unit 28 for storing sample racks after the processing is completed. It has the function of

[0015] The centrifugal separation unit 25a performs centrifugal separation when blood is a specimen, and separates serum and blood clots. The opening unit 25b opens a test tube in which a stopper such as a rubber or a seal containing a sample is plugged. The dispensing unit 25c
The sample is dispensed into another test tube, sample cup, or the like based on an instruction from the host computer 24. Usually, the sample to be dispensed from the input unit 27 is called a parent sample, and the sample dispensed by the dispensing unit 25c is called a child sample. The closing unit 25d plugs the test tube containing the child specimen dispensed by the dispensing unit 25c. Classification unit 25
“e” stores the child sample plugged by the plugging unit in a specified storage tray based on an instruction from the host computer 24.

The specimens are put into test tubes and collected in a sample rack, which can hold a plurality of test tubes.
The charging unit 27 and the centrifugal unit 25 are arranged in order from the left of the figure.
a, opening unit 25b, dispensing unit 25c, closing unit 25d, classification unit 25e, storage unit 28
It is processed in the route of. As described above, this transport control is performed by the network 30. Input unit 2
Reference numeral 7 denotes a barcode reader 31, which reads a rack ID consisting of a barcode attached to a sample rack and inquires of the host computer 24 about a processing unit to which the rack ID should drop in. Host computer 24
, The input unit 27 starts to carry. This transport control, that is, the way to drop in and drop-in processing end information is transmitted and received by the communication network 30 and is sequentially transported to the processing unit to be dropped in. At this time, the rack ID information is also sequentially passed to each drop-off unit. Each unit transmits / receives processing data for the sample rack to / from the host computer 24 via the communication network 29 based on the rack ID information.

In the dispensing unit, a child sample is added.
The same control as that of the input unit is performed based on the read ID.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the storage unit. The storage units are storage trays 33a to 33d, belt line 3
4, an extruding mechanism 35. The belt line 34 and the pushing mechanism 35 are provided with stepping motors 36 and 3.
7, and the stepping motors 36 and 37 are
It is controlled by the storage CPU. The belt line 34 includes stoppers 38a for transporting the sample rack for each storage line.
３８38d. There is no actuator in the storage trays 33a to 33d, and the sample racks are accumulated by the push-out mechanism 35. There are rack fullness detections 40a to 40d on the transport line side of each storage tray, and control is performed to determine that storage is impossible. And change the storage location. Also,
There are also tray presence / absence detections 39a to 39d, which monitor tray replacement.

FIG. 5 shows a storage method in the case of sequence control. The sample rack 42 is stored in the storage tray 33a one by one along the path 41a, and when it becomes full, the path is changed to the path 41b, the storage tray 33b, the paths 41c and 41d are sequentially taken, and the control returns to the path 41a. Is going. When the storage destination is specified, the control is such that the paths 41a to 41d are selected for each sample rack.

FIG. 1 shows a flow of transporting a sample rack of the transport system in one embodiment of the present invention.

The transport system in this embodiment comprises a charging unit 1, a storage unit 7, a centrifugal unit 2 therebetween, an opening unit 3, a dispensing unit 4, a closing unit 5, and a classification unit 6. As described above, each unit between the input unit 1 and the storage unit 7 is paired with the transport line 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e.

The storage unit 7 is provided with storage trays 9a, 9b, 9c, which can store the transported sample rack.
9d is provided.

As described above, the processing units to be stopped by each sample rack are set in advance, thereby carrying out the transportation, and fixing the storage location according to the way of stopping. In FIG. 1, four drop-in methods are set, including a processing type A15, a processing type B16, a processing type C17, and a processing type D18.

In the processing type A15, the sample rack is stored in the storage tray 9a. Of the five processing units, using the paths 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d,
Centrifugal unit 2, Opening unit 3, Dispensing unit 4-3
Those processed by the three units are stored in the storage tray 9a.

In the processing type B16, the sample rack is stored in the storage tray 9b. Using the paths 11a, 11b, and 11c among the five processing units, those processed by the two units of the opening unit 3 and the dispensing unit 4 are stored in the storage tray 9b.

In the processing type C17, the sample rack is stored in the storage tray 9c. Of the five processing units, those processed only by the dispensing unit 4 are stored in the storage tray 9c using the paths 12a and 12b.

The processing type D18 is a case where the above-mentioned child sample rack dispensed by the dispensing unit 4 is stored in the storage tray 9d. Of the two units after the dispensing unit 4, the paths 13a and 13b are used, and the child sample rack processed only by the plugging unit 5 is stored in the storage tray 9d.

FIG. 2 is a screen for setting the drop-off route shown in FIG.

The input consists of three types: processing type 20, processing unit selection 21, and storage tray selection 22, and is input according to input parameters 23. For each setting of the processing type 20, an input 21a to 21e for each unit of a processing unit selection 21 for which unit to perform processing is performed. Further, it is possible to set whether or not the storage line is selected. When there is no storage tray, the storage tray is subjected to sequential processing. When there is a storage tray, the storage destination line is specified 22b.

With the above setting, the processing unit display 19 for each processing type is performed, and the operator confirms the setting. The setting of this processing type is set for each rack ID, and the processing unit and storage destination for each sample rack are set.

FIG. 6 shows a tray replacement detection detecting method.
When the storage tray 43 is placed, the detection plate 44 in the tray installation part is lowered, shuts off the transmission type detector 45, and detects that the tray is installed. Transmission type detector 4
5 is connected to a CPU 46 and further connected to a host computer 48 via the above-described communication network I / F 47, and is constantly monitored.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for detecting tray replacement.

Monitoring with the tray is performed every 100 ms (flows 49 and 50). If it is determined that there is no tray (flow 49), the process waits for 1 second (flow 5).
1) The presence or absence of the tray is confirmed again (flow 52). Here, if there is no tray again, it is determined that the tray has been replaced,
It becomes tray exchange mode (flow-53). In this mode, tray presence / absence monitoring is performed again every 100 ms (flow 5
4, 55), when it is determined that there is a tray, the process waits for 1 s (flow 51), and confirms the presence or absence of the tray again. here,
If there is a tray again, it is determined that the tray replacement has been completed, and the normal mode (flows 49 and 50) is set.

FIG. 8 shows a search result screen in the case where a full tray among the stored sample racks and a search tray in the storage unit for search have a search tray.

In the search screen, the input sequence No. 56
a, a sample ID 56b, a name 56c, a tray No. 56d, an input section for four items of search conditions, an execution instruction 57a or a button 57b for canceling this search, and a search result when a search is selected, that is, the number of times of tray replacement 58a, A search result output unit consisting of five items: tray No. 58b, tray position 58c, state 58d, rack No., and position 58e. In the search result, the tray position 58c is stored in the corresponding location 61 by the storage unit monitors 60a to 60d. To change the color and display. In a search for a tray that is in the storage unit at the time of searching and is full, tray replacement is displayed as 0 (62) and the state is tray full (63).

FIG. 9 shows a case where the tray in which the storing operation is being performed is a search target. The search result indicates that the tray position 58c is stored in the storage monitors 60a to 60a as described with reference to FIG.
The color of the corresponding portion 65 is changed by 60d, but the status item of the display search result is displayed as being stored (64). If the rack is stored during the search, the re-search input section 59b flashes,
By selecting, the screen is changed to a new screen.

FIG. 10 shows a case where the tray containing the searched sample is replaced with another tray. The search result is shown in FIG.
As described in the above, the tray position 58c is
The color of the corresponding portion 68 is changed according to 0a to 60d, but the number of tray replacements in the table search result is displayed as 1 (66), and the state is displayed as tray replacement (67).

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A sample rack can be easily pushed by providing a means for designating a storage destination tray and detecting tray replacement and further adding a sample storage destination search function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of transporting a sample rack.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a processing unit setting screen.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a transport system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a storage unit configuration.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of transporting a sample rack in a storage unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a storage tray replacement detection configuration.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a storage tray replacement detection flow.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a sample rack search screen in a storage unit.

FIG. 9 is a sample rack search screen in the storage unit (when searching in the tray during storage processing).

FIG. 10 shows a sample rack search screen in the storage unit (when searching for a replaced tray).

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 27 ... input unit, 2 ... centrifugal unit, 3 ... opening unit, 4 ... dispensing unit, 5 ... closing unit, 6 ...
Classification unit, 7, 28 ... storage unit, 8a to 8e,
26a to 26e: transport line, 9a to 9d, 33a to 3
3d, 43: storage tray, 24: host computer,
25a to 25e: Processing module, 29: Processing module data communication network, 30: Carrier data communication network, 31, 32: Bar code reader, 34: Bell line, 35: Extruding mechanism, 36, 37: Stepping motor, 38a to 38d: stoppers, 39a to 39
d: tray presence detection, 40a to 40d: rack full detection, 41a to 41d: storage path, 42: sample rack, 4
4: Detection plate, 45: Detector, 46: Storage unit CPU,
47 unit information I / F, 48 host computer, 56a-56d search condition input unit, 57a, 57b
... search condition input determination input unit, 58a to 58e ... search result output unit, 59a to 59c ... search result next processing input unit, 60
a to 60d: Storage monitor.

Claims (5)

[Claims] A sample loading unit for installing a sample rack holding a sample container containing a sample, a transport line for transporting the sample container, a processing unit for processing the sample container,
The processing unit includes a storage unit having a plurality of lines capable of storing sample racks after processing, a network of a control unit of each processing unit is connected to a host computer, and each processing unit performs control instructions from the host computer. By controlling the mechanism system, comprises a means capable of pre-registering the storage destination line of the storage unit the sample rack processed in the processing unit, the storage unit comprises a storage device for storing the registered storage destination, A transport system for storing the sample rack based on an instruction from the host computer. 2. A storage tray according to claim 1, wherein said storage line of said storage unit includes a replaceable tray, and means for detecting replacement when said tray is replaced. A transport system characterized in that it is configured to be able to determine the storage order of the leading tray. 3. The transport system according to claim 2, wherein the storage destination tray has a barcode, and tray exchange and identification of the storage destination tray are performed. 4. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein an alarm is output before the storage tray becomes full. 5. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein a storage destination of a sample rack that cannot be processed due to an error or the like in said processing unit is similarly processed.