WO2015056649A1

WO2015056649A1 - System for automating specimen inspection, capacity checking module, and method for checking biological sample

Info

Publication number: WO2015056649A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/077228
Authority: WO
Inventors: 孝浩佐々木; 巌鈴木; 元末成; 樹生中川; 佳奈子江崎
Original assignee: 株式会社日立ハイテクノロジーズ
Priority date: 2013-10-17
Filing date: 2014-10-10
Publication date: 2015-04-23
Also published as: JP6470691B2; JPWO2015056649A1

Abstract

　Provided are a system for automating specimen inspection, a capacity checking module, and a method for checking a biological specimen, whereby enhanced throughput can be achieved. An image is taken of a container (101) by a camera (221), and the type of the container (101) or type of a stopper (102) of the container (101) is specified by a container information specifying unit (19d1). A sensing mechanism (12) is then moved down, a power source (64) of an electrostatic capacity sensor (31) is turned ON at the timing at which the sensor approaches a bottom of the stopper (102) from specified type information of the stopper (102), and a top surface (114) of blood serum (111) is detected. Using a light detection system, a boundary surface (116) between a blood clot (113) and a separating agent (112) is sensed through use of a transmitted light quantity acquired by a photodiode (22). The height and volume of the blood serum (111) are then measured from the top surface (114) and the boundary surface (116).

Description

Specimen test automation system, volume check module and method of checking biological sample

The present invention relates to a sample inspection automation system, a volume check module, and a method for checking a biological sample, which are used for pretreatment before input to an automatic analyzer that analyzes component concentrations.

In Patent Document 1, the liquid level of serum is detected based on the amount of change in capacitance in order to detect whether or not the tip of a probe that sucks or discharges liquid has reached the liquid level of liquid. There is also disclosed an automatic analyzer provided with a liquid level detection device that detects the true liquid level by referring to the liquid level detection based on a change in pressure in the probe at the time of dispensing.

Patent No. 4898270

Advances in the technology of automatic analyzers that automatically analyze the concentration of components of biological samples have increased the number of analysis items. And, by shortening the measurement time for individual analysis items, the number of biological samples to be processed in each laboratory per day, that is, the processing capacity is overwhelmingly increased as compared with the conventional case.

By the way, together with the provision of the automatic analyzer, there is provided as a pretreatment system a technology for automatically performing a pretreatment necessary for introducing a biological sample into the automatic analyzer and a technology for carrying out automatic conveyance to the automatic analyzer.

Heretofore, it has been the mainstream that the same processing is uniformly applied to all the biological samples, and then sequentially conveyed from upstream to downstream to the connected automatic analyzer.

In recent years, with the increase in the number of items mentioned above, we will respond individually, such as optimization of the transport order to the automatic analyzer taking into account the volume of the biological sample, and extraction of inappropriate samples taking into account the state of the biological sample. It has been changed to In response to the increase in the number of samples to be processed, the workflow of the biological sample has become comprehensively complicated, and the operation of the user has also been diversified such as being different for each facility.

However, the check of the volume and the state of the biological sample is largely based on visual confirmation (manual work) by the user, and is easily influenced by the user's experience and sense. In addition, there is a limit in the human method to judge at the appropriate timing in line with the improved processing power.

A condition that occurs due to factors other than the patient, such as a hemolyzed sample, and a condition not suitable for being input to an automatic analyzer, requires re-bleeding. In order to reduce the burden on patients, it is necessary to grasp the status as quickly and accurately as possible.
In order to cope with such a need, it is conceivable to apply an automatic determination technique in an automatic analyzer such as Patent Document 1 for the purpose of reducing the burden on the operator and preventing human error.

By the way, a barcode label with important information such as patient ID, personal information, and parameters necessary for device operation is described on the surface of the blood collection tube, but it depends on the type of blood collection tube and the size of the label. There are many cases where the entire tube wall of the blood collection tube is covered, and in many cases, the contents are obscured by being repeatedly stacked and labeled.

Certainly, the technique described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 seems to be able to cope with a container which is covered with a barcode and can not be seen inside.

However, in the technology using the capacitance described in Patent Document 1, although the liquid level can be detected, no consideration is given to the method of determining the liquid amount.
Since the liquid level can be detected in advance as in Patent Document 1, there is an advantage in that collision of the dispensing probe with the separating agent can be prevented during dispensing. However, the purpose of providing information for controlling the workflow for grasping the state quickly and accurately as described above can not be achieved.
In addition, in order to detect the liquid level, it is necessary to open the lid of the blood collection tube, and there are many problems such as contamination of the sample, cleaning of the probe, and extra time for opening and closing the plug. doing.

The object of the present invention is to provide a sample automated system for performing pretreatment of a sample to be input to an automatic analyzer for performing qualitative and quantitative analysis of component concentration of a biological sample, the sample capable of achieving improvement in processing capacity An inspection automation system and a capacity check module and a method of checking a biological sample.

In order to solve the above problems, for example, the configuration described in the claims is adopted.
The present invention includes a plurality of means for solving the above-mentioned problems, and an example thereof is a sample inspection automation system for checking a biological sample stored in a container, which is an upper surface of a sample in the container A measuring unit that detects the contact by a non-contact capacitance method, a moving unit that moves the measuring unit up and down with respect to the container, and the moving unit moves the measuring unit up and down with respect to the container And a control unit configured to control to detect the upper surface of the sample in the container.

The effects obtained by typical ones of the present invention will be briefly described as follows.
That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the conventional visual confirmation work, and thus to obtain information contributing to the reduction of manual work and the optimization of a complex processing flow consisting of a plurality of analysis items. It is possible to improve the detection accuracy of the above, and the processing capacity can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the test | inspection test automation system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the positional relationship with an automatic analyzer. It is a figure showing an example of an outline of a sample container checked with a sample examination automation system in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of an outline of a sample container checked with a sample examination automation system in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of an outline of a sample container checked with a sample examination automation system in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of a module provided with the function to measure the capacity | capacitance of the biological sample in the specimen test automation system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the front of the structure which measures the volume of the biological sample in the specimen test automation system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the side of the structure which measures the capacity | capacitance of the biological sample in the specimen test automation system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining control of a sensor of measurement of a volume of a living body sample in a sample container in a sample examination automation system concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention, and a relation of an output. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of measurement of a volume of a biological sample in a sample container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the module provided with the function to measure the capacity | capacitance of the biological sample in the specimen test automation system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of a module provided with the function to measure the capacity | capacitance of the biological sample in the specimen test automation system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of a module provided with the function to measure the capacity | capacitance of the biological sample in the specimen test automation system which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a sample test automation system, a volume check module, and a biological sample check method of the present invention will be described using the drawings. Note that, in all the drawings for describing the following embodiments, the same reference numeral is attached to the same member in principle, and the repeated description thereof will be omitted.

First Embodiment
A first embodiment of the sample test automation system and the biological sample check method of the present invention will be described using FIGS. 1 to 9.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the sample test automation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the positional relationship with an automatic analyzer, and FIG. 2 is the sample test automation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention FIG. 3 shows an example of a sample container to be checked, FIG. 3 shows an example of a sample container to be checked by the sample test automation system in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows a first example of the present invention. The figure which shows an example of the outline of the sample container checked by the test | inspection test automation system in embodiment, FIG. 5 was provided with the function to measure the volume of the biological sample in the test | inspection test automation system concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a module, FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the front of a configuration for measuring the volume of a biological sample in the specimen test automation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. The figure which shows the outline of the side of the structure which measures the capacity | capacitance of the biological sample in the test | inspection automatic system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of invention, FIG. 8: The test object in the test | inspection automatic system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention The figure explaining the control of the sensor of measurement of the volume of the living body sample in a container, and the relation of an output, FIG. 9 is a measurement of the volume of the living body sample in the sample inspection automation system sample container concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention FIG.

In FIG. 1, a sample test automation system for checking a biological sample stored in a container 101 includes the transfer line 2, the input module 201, the centrifugal separation module 202, the biological sample check module 203 a, the opening module 204, the labeler 205, and the minute The system comprises a sample pretreatment system 200 including a plurality of modules having the injection module 206, the plugging module 207, the classification module 208, and the storage module 209 as basic elements, and a control personal computer 210 for controlling the entire sample pretreatment system 200. ing.
Connected to the end of the sample pretreatment system 200 is an automatic analyzer 211 that performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of component concentrations of a biological sample.

The loading module 201 is a module for loading the container 101 containing a sample into the sample pretreatment system 200, and includes a camera (container information acquisition unit) 221. The centrifugation module 202 is a module for performing centrifugation on the input sample. The opening module 204 is a module for opening the stopper of the container 101 containing the centrifuged sample. The dispensing module 206 analyzes the uncentrifuged sample by the automatic analyzer 211 or the like based on the information on the sample volume calculated in the volume calculating unit 19d2 described later, or the sample in the centrifuged container 101. It is a module to divide. The labeler 205 is a module for attaching a barcode to the container divided by the dispensing module 206. The plugging module 207 is a module for plugging a stopper into the subdivided container or the container 101 of the dispensing source. The classification module 208 is a module that performs classification of the dispensed containers. The storage module 209 is a module for storing a closed container.
The control personal computer 210 controls the operation of each module in the sample pretreatment system 200 and each mechanism in each module.
The transport line 2 is a line for transporting the input blood collection tube 1 to each module.

Next, an object to be measured will be described.
Here, blood is taken as an example for a biological sample which is the contents of the container 101.

For the container 101, one having a separating agent 112 is used. The blood is separated into three layers of serum 111, separating agent 112, and blood clot 113 from the top by centrifugation after blood collection. The container 101 is attached with a stopper 102 and a barcode 103 regardless of the type. In the attached state of the bar code, the state in which the size of the bar code 103 as shown in FIG. 2 is smaller than the diameter of the container 101 and attached on only one side, that is, the state 104 where the contents can be seen from the gap A state in which the contents can not be viewed by a bar code 103 as shown in FIG. 3 being attached to the entire side so as to cover the container 101 or by attaching a bar code sticker in double and triple. There is.
Moreover, the container 101 in which the centrifugation process was not performed after blood collection also exists in a measuring object. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, it becomes a state 106 of a two-layer structure of whole blood 117 and separating agent 112 sunk downward.
The present invention can be uniformly adapted to any of the states shown in FIGS. This will be described below with reference to the example of the three-layer structure of FIGS. 2 and 3. The example of FIG. 4 will be described later.

First, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, the configuration of a mechanism for measuring the volume of a biological sample will be described.

The biological sample capacity measuring device 1 is installed in a biological sample check module 203a of a sample pretreatment system 200 as shown in FIG.

The transport line 2 related to the biological sample check module 203a is a main line 2d for transporting the container 101 that stops by the biological sample check module 203a, an overtaking line 2c that transports the passing container 101 without stopping at the biological sample check module 203a, and waiting for measurement. While making container 101 stand by temporarily, buffer line 2b which can be made to stop for measurement, and container 101 after measurement are constituted by four lines of return line 2a which returns to main line 2d.
The device 1 is installed on the buffer line 2 b shown in FIG. 5, and the position of the device 1 is the measurement position 7. Below the measurement position 7, a sensor (for example, an RFID) for detecting the arrival of the holder 4 holding the container 101 and a stopper for stopping the holder 4 at the measurement position 7 are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the biological sample volume measuring device 1 includes, as main components, a detection mechanism 12, a rotary rod 17 for moving the detection mechanism 12 up and down, and a motor 11 for rotating the rotary rod 17. have. The rotary rod 17 is screwed, and the detection mechanism 12 connected to the rotary rod 17 operates in the direction of the arrow 13.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the detection mechanism 12 is symmetrical with respect to the center line of the capacitance sensor 31 with respect to the center line of the irradiation unit 21 and the photodiode 22 as a light receiving unit. Each has. In the present embodiment, an LED light source (infrared light with a wavelength range of about 940 nm) is used for the irradiation unit 21.

Here, details of the detection mechanism 12 which is a measurement system in the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

The capacitance sensor 31 provided in the device 1 is a sensor that detects the upper surface of the sample in the container 101 from the outside of the container 101 by a non-contact capacitance method, and is excellent in detection of liquid.
The non-contacting capacitance method will be briefly described below.

When a positive voltage is applied to a certain conductor (hereinafter referred to as an electrode) with respect to the ground, a positive charge is generated in the electrode and an electric field is generated between the electrode and the ground. If an object is present in this electric field, it receives electrostatic induction, and a negative charge different from that of the electrode appears on the side close to the electrode, and a positive charge appears on the opposite side. This phenomenon is called polarization. If the object is far from the electrode, the electric field is weak and the polarization is also small, but as the electrode approaches the electrode, the electric field becomes stronger and the polarization also becomes larger. Then, the positive charge on the electrode side increases due to the induction of the negative charge generated in the object. Therefore, an increase in charge Q from the relationship of C = Q / V means an increase in capacitance C of the electrode.

Here, in the non-contact electrostatic capacitance system, considering a switch for detecting the approach of an object, the oscillation circuit is used as a detection circuit, and the capacitance C of a terminal (electrode) of the oscillation circuit is used. The oscillation circuit is configured to be an element of the oscillation condition, and oscillation is started or stopped according to the change of C of the electrode to detect an object approaching the electrode.

By the way, the change in capacitance of the electrode is related to the size and thickness of the object, the relative dielectric constant εs in the case of a dielectric, etc. The operating distance is also increased. The relative dielectric constant ε s indicates the degree to which the charge in the object is polarized due to electrostatic induction, and assuming that it is 1 based on the case of vacuum, the liquid is relatively large including about 80 in water, and 10 in solid There are many of the following. From this, the capacitance change of the electrode when the object approaches the detection electrode is detected, and the difference in the capacitance is detected, whereby the liquid phase and the other layer (gas phase, solid layer) Detect boundaries

Here, the capacitance sensor 31 is used to detect the upper surface 114 of the serum 111 (the boundary between the serum 111 and the air layer).

The irradiation unit 21 irradiates the side surface of the container 101 with light. The photodiode 22 measures the amount of light transmitted from the irradiation unit 21 and transmitted through the container 101. That is, the light detection system including the irradiation unit 21 and the photodiode 22 detects the boundary of the layer from the difference in transmitted light, and is excellent in detecting the boundary between the optically thick layer and the layer that is not so. .

Infrared light can easily pass through relatively optically thin layers such as serum 111 and separation agent 112. On the other hand, an optically thick layer such as the blood clot 113 is difficult to permeate. Here, this feature is used to detect the interface 116 between the optically thick blood clot 113 and the relatively thin separating agent 112. In addition, infrared light passes through the paper relatively well, particularly in the wavelength band of 940 nm selected in the present embodiment. Therefore, it can be used effectively even in the state where the barcode 103 is attached. Moreover, in recent years, the performance in the general meaning of the LED light source has also been improved, and even with the LED light source, it is possible to obtain a necessary and sufficient light quantity.
In addition, in order to obtain the above-mentioned purpose, the irradiation part 21 does not necessarily need to be limited to LED, and a fluorescent light, a halogen light source, etc. are effective if it is a strong light source of a laser or a beam or a light beam. is there. The wavelength range is not necessarily limited to the infrared range, and the effect can be obtained in a wide range of wavelength ranges such as X-ray, ultraviolet, visible light, near infrared, millimeter wave or white light.

Therefore, the signal amount acquisition unit 19b is provided in advance with a threshold for discriminating the transmitted light amount of the LED (infrared light) for the serum 111 and the separating agent 112 and the transmitted light amount of the LED (infrared light) for the blood clot 113 I have installed it. The amount of light transmitted by the LED (infrared light) to the blood clot 113 is extremely small compared to the amount of light transmitted by the infrared light to the serum 111 or the separating agent 112. Can.

Even when the upper surface 114 and the boundary surface 116 can not be seen by the bar code 103, the capacitance sensor 31 and the light detection system can stably detect the upper surface 114 and the boundary surface 116.

In the present invention, the detection of the upper surface 114 and the boundary surface 116 is performed by moving the detection mechanism 12 including the capacitance sensor 31 and the light detection system from the upper side to the lower side of the container 101.
In general, a method of fixing the detection mechanism 12 with a sensor and moving the container 101 up and down is generally used. However, when the container 101 is moved up and down, the serum 111 is shaken, which causes a measurement error. Therefore, in the present invention, without moving the container 101, the detection mechanism 12 is moved up and down for measurement.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the distance between the center of the capacitance sensor 31 and the center of the irradiation unit 21 is set to the interval h0 according to the width of the biological sample housed in the container 101. This interval h0 is determined as follows.
In this embodiment, although it will be described in detail later, after the upper surface 114 of the serum 111 is detected by the capacitance sensor 31, detection of the boundary surface 116 of the separating agent 112 and the blood clot 113 by the irradiation unit 21 is performed. The detection mechanism 12 is controlled.
Therefore, as soon as the detection by the capacitance sensor 31 is completed, the boundary surface 116 is detected, that is, as the scanning time by the irradiation unit 21 is shorter, the processing performance is improved. For this reason, when the sensor 31 of the capacitance reaches the upper surface 114 of the serum 111, it is desirable that the irradiation unit 21 be in the vicinity of the boundary surface 116.
In this respect, since the container 101 (blood collection tube) has a recommended blood collection volume by the manufacturer of the blood collection tube, the average volume of blood generally collected in the examination room can be defined with a certain degree of accuracy. From this general amount, the average value of the height of serum 111 can be determined to some extent. A value obtained by adding the average value of the height of the serum 111 and the height of the separating agent 112 is the distance between the serum upper surface 114 and the interface 116. Let this distance be the above-mentioned interval h0.

6 and 7, the device 1 includes a control unit 19a, a signal amount acquisition unit 19b, a data storage unit 19c, an analysis operation unit 19d, and a communication line 18 for transmitting and receiving control signals and sensor signals. .

The control unit 19a controls the operation of each element in the device 1 described above. Further, when recognizing that the container 101 containing the sample is inserted into the insertion module 201, the control unit 19a controls the camera 221 to perform imaging of the inserted container 101. Furthermore, while moving the capacitance sensor 31 up and down with respect to the container 101, the motor is configured to detect the upper surface of the sample in the container 101 according to the information on the type of the plug 102 specified by the container information specifying unit 19d1. 11 and the capacitance sensor 31 are controlled.

Details of the control of the operation of the detection mechanism 12 by the control unit 19a in the present embodiment will be described below using FIG.

An arrow 61 in FIG. 8 is an axis indicating a position, and is drawn toward the bottom of the sample container 101 with a position 68 at the bottom of the stopper as a base point.

As a state before the start of measurement, the capacitance sensor 31 is stationary at a position above the plug 102. In this state, the power supply 64 is off.

The control unit 19a moves the detection mechanism 12 downward, and switches the power supply 64 of the sensor from OFF to ON at timing when the capacitance sensor 31 reaches the bottom of the plug 102 (62a). The reason for performing such control is that if the power supply 64 of the capacitance sensor 31 is always turned on, the output 65 may be turned on due to the presence of the plug 102, whereby the position of the plug It is misrecognized as the upper surface of serum. Therefore, in order to prevent this erroneous recognition, a control method is adopted in which the power supply 64 is turned off at first and the power supply 64 is turned on only after the capacitance sensor 31 passes through the plug 102. The position of the bottom of the stopper 102 is determined depending on the container 101, and the information is specified in a container information specification unit 19d1 described later.

Then, the detection mechanism 12 is moved further downward. The capacitance sensor 31 is normally set to be OFF and to be ON with respect to the detection of the serum 111. Therefore, when the capacitance sensor 31 reaches the serum top surface 114, the output 65 of the sensor is switched from OFF to ON (62b). By switching the output, the serum top surface 114 is detected.

After the serum top surface 114 is recognized, the control unit 19a turns off the power supply 64 of the electrostatic sensor (63a), and simultaneously turns on the power supply 66 of the irradiation unit 21 from off to on (62c). By turning off the power supply 64 of the electrostatic sensor, the output 65 returns to OFF (63b), and since the irradiation unit 21 is at the position of the serum 111, the output of the photodiode 22 is turned ON (62d).

Here, the output 67 of the photodiode 22 is the amount of light transmitted through the container 101. A threshold for discriminating the transmitted light amount of the LED (infrared light) to the serum 111 and the separating agent 112 and the transmitted light amount of the infrared light to the blood clot 113 is installed in the data storage unit 19c in advance.

The control unit 19a moves the detection mechanism 12 further downward, and when the photodiode 22 reaches the interface 116 between the separating agent 112 and the blood clot 113, the infrared light 23 is blocked by the blood clot 113 and the transmitted light amount is reduced. It becomes smaller than the threshold value, and the output 67 is turned off (63d). By switching the output, the interface 116 between the separating agent 112 and the blood clot 113 is detected.

After the boundary surface 116 of the clot and the separating agent is recognized, the control unit 19a turns off the power of the irradiation unit 21 (63c).

When both the electrostatic sensor 31 and the irradiation unit 21 are in the OFF state, the control unit 19a returns the detection mechanism 12 to the original position, that is, the upper position of the plug 102, in preparation for the measurement of the next sample.

Referring back to FIGS. 6 and 7, the signal amount acquisition unit 19b acquires the signal amounts of the capacitance sensor 31 and the photodiode 22 (both collectively referred to as a sensor signal).

The data storage unit 19c stores the signal amounts of the capacitance sensor 31 and the photodiode 22 acquired by the signal amount acquisition unit 19b, and the information processed by each unit of the operation analysis unit 19d described later.

The analysis operation unit 19 d includes a container information identification unit 19 d 1 and a capacity operation unit 19 d 2.

The container information identification unit 19d1 identifies the type of the container 101 loaded into the loading module 201 and the type of the stopper 102 of the container 101.
The container information identification unit 19d1 recognizes the type of the container 101 by performing image processing on the photographed image of the container 101 inserted into the insertion module 201 and captured by the camera 221. As a method of recognition, for example, there is a method of providing a database obtained by imaging a container to be used in advance, and performing matching with the imaged image. Further, the container information identification unit 19 d 1 acquires, from the type of the container 101, information on the position of the bottom of the stopper 102 attached to the container 101 and the diameter of the container 101. The obtained information is transmitted to the control personal computer 210. This information is also transmitted to the analysis operation unit 19d of the biological sample capacitance measuring device 1 via the biological sample check module 203a, the stage 15b, and the communication line 18. Among these pieces of information, the position of the bottom of the stopper 102 of the container 101 is used as information for determining the position at which the power source 64 of the capacitance sensor 31 in the control unit 19a is turned on. Further, the information of the diameter of the container 101 is combined with the height information of the serum 111 and the whole blood 117 obtained by the measurement of the biological sample volume measuring device 1 to calculate the volume of the serum 111 and the whole blood 117 in the volume calculation unit 19 d 2 Used when

The capacity calculating unit 19d2 specifies the diameter of the container 101 and the presence or absence of the separating agent 112 from the type of the container 101 specified by the container information specifying unit 19d1, and obtains the boundary surface 116 between the blood clot 113 and the separating agent 112. Then, the volume of the sample in the container 101 is calculated from the identification result, the information on the interface 116, and the information on the upper surface of the sample in the container 101 detected by the capacitance sensor 31.
Specifically, the capacitance calculation unit 19d2 first determines the height of the detection mechanism 12 from the signal amount of the capacitance sensor 31 acquired by the signal amount acquisition unit 19b (whether the capacitance sensor 31 is off or on). Find the information h1. The height (h1) is calculated by subtracting the movement distance corresponding to the number of rotations of the motor 11 from the initial position. Further, the height information h2 of the detection mechanism 12 is obtained from the signal amount of the photodiode 22 (the value at which the value of the transmitted light detected by the photodiode 22 decreases rapidly), and the container 22 is obtained based on the amount of the transmitted light measured by the photodiode 22. The interface 116 between the blood clot 113 and the separating agent 112 in 101 is determined. The height (h2) is calculated by subtracting the movement distance corresponding to the number of rotations of the motor 11 from the initial position. Thereafter, arithmetic processing of the height hs of the h1-h2- separation agent 112 is performed to calculate the height of the serum 111. In addition, since it is known that the quantity of the separating agent 112 is a substantially constant value according to the kind of container 101, it is memorize | stored in the analysis calculating part 19d as a fixed value previously. Therefore, the height hs of the separating agent 112 can be obtained by calculating from the information on the diameter of the container 101 and the information on the amount of the separating agent 112 from the container information specified in the container information specifying unit 19d1. Thereafter, by using information on the diameter of the container 101, the volume of the serum 111 is calculated as a specific volume value.

The device 1 further includes a stage 15 b for physically communicating with other modules of the sample pretreatment system 200 and the control personal computer 210.

Next, the measurement order will be described along the sample processing procedure.

The user first inserts the container 101 containing blood into the input module 201. There, the camera 221 recognizes the type of the container 101.

Thereafter, the container 101 containing the biological sample is placed on a dedicated holder 4 and moved on the transfer line 2 and transferred to the centrifugation module 202 as necessary. For example, if it corresponds to an item such as a blood cell counter, the centrifugation module 202 is skipped and passed without being centrifuged. The container that has been subjected to the centrifugal separation processing is transported to the biological sample check module 203a to measure the volume. The measured capacity is transmitted by the control personal computer 210.

At this point, the control personal computer 210 starts the process of determining the division plan (number of divisions, the amount of division, etc.). The subdivision schedule basically depends on the requested measurement item, but in the present embodiment, the capacity is further taken into consideration. For example, if all the analysis is possible in the measured volume among the requested items, or if it is not possible, the number of items that can be analyzed is appropriately divided with the parameters as parameters.

The container 101 whose capacity measurement has been completed in the biological sample check module 203a is carried to the opening module 204 for opening processing. Preparation of the dispensing container based on the above-mentioned schedule is performed by the labeler 205, and then actual dispensing is performed by the dispensing module 206. Thereafter, depending on the application, it is transported to the automatic analyzer 211 and the plugging process by the plugging module 207, and the classification in the classification module 208 or the storage in the storage module 209 is performed.

Next, the operation of the mechanism associated with the biological sample capacity measuring device 1 in the biological sample check module 203a will be described.

The container 101 transported to the biological sample check module 203a is transported to the measurement position 7 through the buffer line 2b. When the holder 4 arrives, the sensor detects the holder 4 and transmits the information to the control personal computer 210, and the control personal computer 210 transmits a processing start instruction signal to the control unit 19a of the device 1. At the same time, the stopper is operated, and the container 101 is stopped at the measurement position 7 during measurement.

Next, the details of the measurement will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, when the container 101 is stopped at the center position (measurement position 7) of the detection mechanism 12 in a state where the container 101 is placed on the holder 4, measurement of the container 101 is started (step S41). The height of the detection mechanism 12 from the stage is a fixed position (hereinafter referred to as an initial position) to be taught in advance in the manufacturing stage.

When the motor 11 is operated by the control unit 19a, the rotary rod 17 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 16, and the detection mechanism 12 is lowered (step S42).

When the capacitance sensor 31 reaches the bottom position of the plug 102, the power of the capacitance sensor 31 is switched on. This position depends on the type of the stopper 102 of the container 101, and is known in advance by the container information identification unit 19d1. After that, the signal acquisition unit 19b is constantly sent down to the signal acquisition unit 19b through the communication line 18, and it is continuously determined whether the output information of the capacitance sensor 31 is ON or OFF (step S43). Continue to descend until it is turned on.

When the capacitance sensor 31 reaches the serum top surface 114, the capacitance sensor 31 outputs a top surface detection signal. At this moment, assuming that the upper surface of the serum 111 is detected, the control unit 19a gives a stop signal to the motor 11 through the communication line 18, and stops the detection mechanism 12 instantaneously (step S46). The motor 11 having received this signal is stopped, and in conjunction with this, the rotary rod 17 and the detection mechanism 12 are stopped. At this time, the data storage unit 19c records the height information (h1) of the detection mechanism 12 (step S47).

After the height h1 is recorded, the control unit 19a then sends a light emission signal to the irradiation unit 21 through the communication line 18 for detection of the boundary surface 116 between the separating agent 112 and the blood clot 113, and A signal to turn off the power of the sensor 31 is output. The capacitance sensor 31 receiving this signal is turned off, and the irradiation unit 21 starts infrared light irradiation (step S48). At the same time, the control unit 19a again gives an operation signal to the motor 11 through the communication line 18, and the motor 11 receiving this signal starts to rotate, and the detection mechanism 12 resumes the lowering interlocking with this (step S49) ).

While the detection mechanism 12 is lowered, the value of the transmitted light is measured by the photodiode 22 on the light receiving side, and this information is constantly transmitted to the signal acquiring unit 19b via the communication line 18, and the value is below the predetermined threshold. It is monitored whether there is any (step S50). When it is larger than the predetermined threshold value, the detection mechanism 12 continues to descend (in the case of NO at step S50).

When the irradiation unit 21 reaches the boundary surface 116, the value of the transmitted light detected by the photodiode 22 decreases rapidly, and becomes equal to or less than the threshold previously installed in the signal amount acquisition unit 19b. In this case, the control unit 19a sends a stop signal to the motor 11 through the communication line 18, and the motor 11 receiving this signal stops, and the rotary rod 17 and the detection mechanism 12 stop in conjunction with this (step S53) . At this time, the data storage unit 19c records the height information (h2) of the detection mechanism 12 (step S54).

After the height h2 is recorded, the control unit 19a sends a stop signal to the irradiating unit 21 through the communication line 18, and stops the irradiation of the infrared light by the irradiating unit 21. It is a measure not to shorten the life of the light source.

Next, the control unit 19a controls the detection mechanism 12 to return to the initial position in preparation for the measurement of the next container 101 (step S55). Specifically, the operation signal is again applied to the motor 11 through the communication line 18. The motor 11 having received this signal starts to rotate, and interlockingly, the detection mechanism 12 starts to ascend. In addition, when raising detection mechanism 12, it is good to operate motor 11 in the reverse direction to the case of descent.

During this operation, the capacitance operation unit 19d2 of the analysis operation unit 19d and the height information (h1) of the detection mechanism 12 based on the information of the state (OFF or ON) of the capacitance sensor 31 recorded in step S47. The height of the serum 111 is calculated using the information with the height information (h2) of the detection mechanism 12 recorded in step S54. Next, the volume calculating unit 19d2 uses the information on the diameter of the container 101 specified in the container information specifying unit 19d1 and the information on the height of the serum 111 obtained above to obtain the serum volume as a specific volume value. Calculate the capacity.

Thus, the acquisition of data for one container 101 is completed (step S56).

As described above, in the first embodiment of the sample test automation system and the biological sample check method of the present invention, the container 221 is imaged by the camera 221, and the type of the container 101 and the container 101 are measured by the container information identification unit 19d1. The type of plug 102 is identified. Then, the detection mechanism 12 is moved downward, the timing at which the capacitance sensor 31 reaches the bottom of the plug 102 is specified from the specified type information of the plug 102, and the power supply 64 of the sensor is turned on from this timing. The upper surface 114 of the serum 111 is detected by the capacitance sensor 31. Further, in addition to the detection of the upper surface 114 of the serum 111 by the capacitance sensor 31, the blood clot 113 is detected by the transmitted light amount acquired by the photodiode 22 using a light detection system including the irradiation unit 21 and the photodiode 22. The interface 116 between the and the separating agent 112 is detected. Then, the height and volume of serum 111 are measured from the upper surface 114 and the interface 116.

Therefore, in the apparatus for performing the pretreatment of the sample to be input into the automatic analyzer, even if the inside of the container 101 is not visible with a bar code label, it is assumed that the container 101 has been inserted without the user being aware in advance. Also, the volume of the serum 111 in the sample in the container 101 can be measured with high accuracy, and the height of the measurement object and hence the volume can be calculated with only one scan, and volume information can be acquired more quickly than in the past. can do. Therefore, while being able to aim at reduction of a manual operation of a user, the information regarding the capacity | capacitance of a biological sample is obtained, the prioritization of measurement items becomes possible, and the optimization of a processing order can be achieved. Therefore, a sample test automation system and a method of checking a biological sample can be provided which can achieve reduction of burden on the patient and prevention of delay in reporting of the processing result. Furthermore, it can contribute to reduction of burden on patients and prevention of delay in reporting of treatment results because instructions for re-bleeding can be issued promptly as needed. In conjunction with this, the possibility of infection associated with worker contact can be reduced.

Furthermore, the capacitance sensor 31, the irradiation unit 21, and the photodiode 22 are disposed at intervals according to the width of the biological sample housed in the container 101, whereby the detection of the capacitance by the sensor 31 is completed. After that, the boundary surface 116 is immediately detected, and the scanning time by the irradiation unit 21 can be shortened, which leads to the improvement of the processing capacity.

If measurement by the biological sample check module 203a is unnecessary, such as when a reinspection request is made or when the user's judgment is prioritized, the holder 4 is transported to the overtaking line 2c according to the instruction of the control PC 210, etc. Can be processed without measurement.

The irradiation direction 23 of the infrared light in the irradiation part 21 may be reverse to the direction shown in FIG.

Second Embodiment
A second embodiment of the sample test automation system, the volume check module, and the biological sample check method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The configuration of the sample test automation system according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the sample test automation system according to the first embodiment except for the input module and the biological sample check module, and the details will be omitted.
FIG. 10 is a view schematically showing a module having a function of measuring the volume of a biological sample in the sample test automation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the second embodiment of the sample test automation system of the present invention, the biological sample check module (capacity check module) 203b, not the input module 201, is provided with a camera 221b.

In the sample inspection automation system provided with the biological sample check module 203b of the present embodiment, when the container 101 stops in the biological sample check module 203b, first, the camera 221b grasps the shape of the container 102.
Specifically, first, the outside diameter of the container 101 is imaged by photographing with the camera 221, and the type of the container 101 is recognized in the container information identification unit 19d1 of the analysis operation unit 19d. Similar to the first embodiment, the method of recognition includes, for example, a method of preparing a database in which a container to be used is photographed in advance and performing matching with the photographed image. Thereafter, by recognizing the type of the container 101 in the container information identification unit 19d1, the diameter of the container 101, the type of the stopper 102, and the position of the bottom of the stopper 102 are identified. These pieces of information are used as information for calculating the position at which the power supply 64 of the capacitance sensor 31 is turned on and the volume of the serum 111. The subsequent operation is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment.

Also in the second embodiment of the sample test automation system and the biological sample check method of the present invention, substantially the same effects as the first embodiment of the sample test automation system and the biological sample check method described above can be obtained.

In addition, it is possible to grasp the state of the sample in the blood collection tube by the volume check module alone, and it can be made a module suitable for adding to the existing sample pretreatment system.

Furthermore, the capacity check module of the present embodiment can be applied to measurement of the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container stored in the reagent storage of the automatic analyzer 211.
Reagents The reagents stored in the reagent cooler are usually placed in a colored container for light shielding purposes and can not be visually checked for the remaining amount.
However, by providing the capacity check module as in this embodiment in the reagent storage compartment of the automatic analyzer 211 or in the vicinity thereof, even in a situation where visual confirmation of the reagent volume can not be performed, the check of the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container is performed. It becomes possible.

Third Embodiment
A third embodiment of the sample test automation system and the biological sample check method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The configuration of the sample test automation system in the third embodiment is substantially the same as that of the sample test automation system in the first embodiment except for the biological sample check module and the dispensing module, and the details will be omitted.
FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a module having a function of measuring the volume of a biological sample in the specimen test automation system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 11, the biological sample check module 203c of the third embodiment of the sample test automation system of the present invention is added to the biological sample capacitance measuring device 1 etc., with the camera 5 and the light shielding plate sandwiching the buffer line 2b. 6 are disposed to face each other.

The camera 5 picks up an image of the container 101 located in front of the light shielding plate 6.

The light shielding plate 6 is disposed at a position facing the camera 5 across the buffer line 2 b for the purpose of making the background uniform in order to acquire color information without variation when imaging with the camera 5.

Furthermore, the analysis operation unit 19d has a data analysis unit 19d3. The data analysis unit 19 d 3 determines the color of the biological sample contained in the container 101 based on the image captured by the camera 5. Mainly, color information of serum 111 is requested. In addition, the data analysis unit 19d3 determines the height of each component of the sample, mainly the height of the serum 111, from the image captured by the camera 5, and the height of the serum 111 measured by the biological sample capacity measuring device 1 Compare with the information. If the height information obtained by the data analysis unit 19d3 and the height information of the serum 111 measured by the biological sample container measuring device 1 differ from each other by a predetermined amount or more, the measurement result in the biological sample container measuring device 1 is prioritized Do.

Furthermore, the dispensing module 206 uses the information on the sample volume calculated in the volume calculator 19d2 and / or the information on the color of the sample determined in the data analyzer 19d3 to use the container 101. Divide the sample inside.

In the sample inspection automation system provided with the biological sample check module 203c of the present embodiment, when the container 101 is transported to the biological sample check module 203c, first, the holder 4 holding the container 1 in front of the light shielding plate 6 stops. . Next, the container 5 is photographed by the camera 5, and the photographed image data is transmitted to the data analysis unit 19d3 of the analysis operation unit 19d via the communication line 18, and the photographed image data is stored in the data storage unit 19b.

The data analysis unit 19 d 3 acquires color information of the biological sample in the container 101 based on the transmitted captured image data.
As described above, the volume of the serum 111 is determined by each measurement in the biological sample volume measuring device 1 and the processing of the volume calculator 19 d 2.

The color information obtained by the data analysis unit 19 d 3 is stored in the data storage unit 19 d 2 and transmitted to the control personal computer 210, and is used for the division of the sample in the dispensing module 206.
For example, if the biological sample is blood and reddish, it indicates the possibility of hemolysis, and it is used in such a way as to give priority to flag processing and items not dependent on the degree of hemolysis. In addition, when the degree of hemolysis is strong, the user can instruct the patient to redraw blood more quickly by notifying the user with an alarm or the like.

Further, the data analysis unit 19d3 obtains the height of the target area (serum 111) based on the acquired color information. Further, the obtained height information is compared with the height information of the serum 111 measured by the biological sample volume measuring device 1.

Also in the third embodiment of the sample test automation system and the biological sample check method of the present invention, substantially the same effects as in the first embodiment of the sample test automation system and the biological sample check method described above can be obtained.

In addition to this, in the present embodiment, by acquiring color information from an image captured by the camera 5 attached to the module 203c, it is possible to acquire information on the state of the serum 111. Therefore, if there is a problem with serum, it is possible to analyze the test item not depending on the problem or to notify the user by an alarm etc. to carry out re-bleeding, and the waste of biological sample or reagent is wasted. Can be implemented to reduce the burden on patients. Further, both the color information and the capacity information can be acquired by one module 203c, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, by obtaining the height of each component of the sample from the image captured by the camera 5 in the data analysis unit 19d3, it can be compared with the height information of the serum 111 measured by the biological sample capacitance measuring device 1 It plays a double check role, and more reliable capacity calculation processing becomes possible.

In the case where the camera 5 for imaging the container 101 is provided as in the present embodiment, the camera 5 may be configured to also serve as the

camera

221 and 221 b when recognizing the shape of the stopper 102 of the container 101. it can. As a result, the imaging mechanism can be reduced, and downsizing and cost reduction of the apparatus can be realized.

Fourth Embodiment
A fourth embodiment of the sample test automation system and the biological sample check method of the present invention will be described. The sample test automation system and the biological sample check method of the present invention can also be adopted for a sample test automation system and an automatic analyzer that use a rack 72 as shown in FIG. 12 instead of the holder 4. The following description will be made using an example of a system that uses a rack 72 for transporting five sample containers 101.
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a module having a function of measuring the volume of a biological sample in the specimen test automation system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Unlike the holder 4, in the rack 72, the entire container 101 is in the hole of the rack 72. For this reason, in order to measure the volume by the biological sample volume measuring device 1, a lifting mechanism 71 is provided. Control of each operation of the lifting mechanism 71 is performed by the control unit 19a. Specifically, after the container 101 is gripped by the lifting mechanism 71, the lifting mechanism 71 is raised and stopped in the direction of the arrow 73 until the bottom of the container 101 becomes higher than the rack 72. After that, in the stopped state, the capacity measurement by the biological sample capacity measuring device 1 is performed as in the first embodiment.

Also in the fourth embodiment of the sample test automation system and the biological sample check method of the present invention, substantially the same effect as the first embodiment of the sample test automation system and the biological sample check method described above can be obtained.

<Others>
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. The above-described embodiments have been described in detail in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the described configurations.

For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the target of the check was described on the assumption that the sample was centrifuged and separated into three layers, the sample test automation system, the volume check module and the biological sample of the present embodiment The check method of is applicable.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 4 described above, it has a two-layer structure of whole blood 117 and separating agent 112 sunk downward, so that blood clot 113 does not exist. For this reason, the amount of transmitted light does not decrease and h2 is not detected, or the infrared light 23 descends to the height of the back of the holder 4 by continuing searching for the blood clot 113 and this back interrupts transmission. As a result, the back of the holder 4 is erroneously detected as the blood clot 113, and a lower value h2 is detected.
In order to cope with these, a threshold value (for example, h2 min) for h2 is provided in advance, and when h2 <h2 min or h2 is not found, the control unit is uniformly regarded as an uncentrifugal sample 19a, a signal amount acquisition unit 19c, and an analysis operation unit 19d are set.
Further, in the data analysis in the volume operation unit 19d2 of the analysis operation unit 19d, the height of the h1-separating agent is taken as the height of the whole blood 117. Then, the volume of the whole blood 117 is calculated as a specific volume value by using the information on the diameter of the container 101 specified in the container information specifying unit 19d1.

Furthermore, even when the container without the separating agent is mixed, the sample test automation system, the volume check module and the biological sample check method of the present embodiment can be applied.
It will be described below.

The types of containers 101 include those without a separating agent, and the sample pretreatment system 200 is transported in a mixed state of a container with a separating agent and a container without a separating agent.

In the container without separation agent, the sample has a two-layer structure of plasma and clot when centrifuged, or one layer of whole blood when not centrifuged.

Therefore, when centrifugation has been completed, the upper surface of the plasma is detected by the capacitance sensor 31 to obtain h1 and the boundary between the plasma and the blood clot is detected by the light detection system to obtain h2.

In the case of non-centrifugation, the upper surface of whole blood is detected by the capacitance sensor 31 to be h1, but the boundary surface detection by the light detection system is impossible because there is no boundary surface.

However, in the camera 221 such as the input module 201 or the like and the container information specification unit 19d1, the type of the inserted container 101 can be specified. Further, since the presence or absence of the separating agent is determined by the type of the container, if the type can be specified, the presence or absence of the separating agent is known.

Therefore, if it is determined that the container does not have a separating agent, replace the height of the separating agent with 0 and calculate the height of h1-h2-separating agent (= 0) for centrifugal separation. Do. Also, for uncentrifugation, calculate the height of h 1-separating agent (= 0). This makes it possible to measure the height of the object with the same algorithm as in the first embodiment regardless of the presence or absence of the separating agent.

Thus, by identifying the presence or absence of the separating agent from the specification of the container information, it is possible to cope with the same measuring method even under conditions without the separating agent, and the container with and without the separating agent It is possible to cope with the coexistence, and it becomes a highly versatile system.

In addition, the control unit 19a, the signal amount acquisition unit 19b, the data storage unit 19c, and the analysis operation unit 19d (the container information identification unit 19d1, the capacity operation unit 19d2, the data analysis unit 19d3) explain an example separate from the control PC 210. However, these can be provided inside the control personal computer 210.

Further, in addition to the detection of the upper surface 114 by the capacitance sensor 31, the boundary surface 116 is detected using a light detection system, and the height and volume of the serum 111 are measured from the upper surface 114 and the boundary surface 116 However, the volume of the serum 111 may be determined from the information on the upper surface 114 without detecting the interface 116 by the light detection system.

In this case, the container information identification unit 19d1 can identify the presence or absence of the separating agent 112 in the container 101, and information on the diameter of the container 101. In addition, the amount of blood collected in the container 101 is substantially the same without being largely different for each container 101, and the solid layer (for example, the amount and height of the blood clot 113) in the blood amount should be grasped to some extent Can. Therefore, by detecting the upper surface 114 by the capacitance sensor 31, the amount of liquid in the container 101 (for example, the volume of the serum 111) can be grasped with a certain degree of accuracy by using these pieces of information.

1 ... Biological sample capacity measuring device,
2 ... Transport line,
2a ... unloading line,
2b: Buffer line,
2c ... overtaking line,
2d ... main line,
3 ... Transport direction,
4 ... holder,
5 ... Camera,
6 ... shading plate,
7 ... Measurement position,
11: Motor,
12 ... detection mechanism,
13 ... arrow (arrow indicating the operating direction of the mechanical version),
14 ... backboard,
15a ... stage,
15b ... stage,
17 ... rotating rod,
18 ... communication line,
19a ... control unit,
19b: Signal amount acquisition unit,
19c ... data storage unit,
19d ... analysis operation unit,
19d1 ... container information identification unit,
19d2 ... capacity calculation unit,
19d3 ... data analysis unit,
21: Irradiator,
22 ... photodiode,
23 ... infrared light,
31 ... Capacitance sensor,
41 ... start,
42 ... detection mechanism descent,
43 ... State of capacitance sensor,
46 ... detection mechanism pause,
47 ... position (height h1) recording,
48 ... Infrared light irradiation start,
49 ... descent of detection mechanism,
50 ... The value of the photodiode is below the threshold
53 ... Infrared light irradiation stop,
54 ... position (height h2) recording,
55 ... return to detection mechanism initial position,
56 ... end,
61 ... axis representing position,
62a, 62b, 62c, 62d ... switching from OFF to ON,
63a, 63b, 63c, 63d ... switching from ON to OFF,
64 ... State of power supply of electrostatic sensor,
65 ... output of electrostatic sensor,
66 State of power supply of irradiation unit (LED (infrared light) source)
67 ... output of photodiode,
68 ... position of the bottom of the stopper,
71 ... lifting mechanism,
72 ... rack,
73 ... arrow,
101 ... container (blood collection tube),
102 ... stopper,
103 ... bar code,
104 ... a container whose side is coated with a barcode,
105 ... A container in which the barcode is coated on all sides,
106 ... not centrifuged sample,
111 ... serum,
112 ... separation agent,
113 ... blood clot,
114 ... top of serum,
115: interface,
116 ... interface,
117 ... Whole blood sample,
200 ... sample pretreatment system,
201 ... input module,
202 ... centrifuge module,
203a, 203b, 203c ... biological sample check module,
204 ... opening module,
205 ... Labeler,
206 ... dispensing module,
207 ... closing module,
208 ... classification module,
209 ... storage module,
210 ... PC for control,
211: Automatic analyzer,
221, 221 b: Camera (container information acquisition unit).

Claims

A sample test automation system for checking a biological sample stored in a container, comprising:
A measurement unit that detects the upper surface of the sample in the container by a noncontact capacitance method;
A moving unit for moving the measuring unit up and down with respect to the container;
And a control unit configured to control to detect the upper surface of the sample in the container while moving the measurement unit up and down with respect to the container by the moving unit.
In the sample test automation system according to claim 1,
An identifying unit that identifies the type of the container inserted into the sample test automation system and the type of plug of the container;
The container diameter and the presence or absence of the separating agent are identified from the information on the container type identified by the identification unit, and the information in the container is identified from the identification result and the information on the upper surface of the sample in the container detected by the measuring unit. And an operation unit for calculating the volume of the sample
The control unit is controlled to detect the upper surface of the sample in the container according to the information on the type of plug specified by the specifying unit while moving the measurement unit up and down with respect to the container by the moving unit. A sample test automation system characterized by:
In the sample test automation system according to claim 2,
An irradiation unit that irradiates light to the side surface of the container;
A light receiving unit that measures the amount of transmitted light that has passed through the container;
The moving unit moves the irradiating unit and the light receiving unit up and down with the measuring unit with respect to the container.
The calculation unit determines the solid-liquid separation surface of the sample in the container based on the amount of the transmitted light measured by the light receiving unit, and the calculated solid-liquid separation surface, the container diameter, and the presence or absence of the separation agent A sample test automation system, which calculates the volume of a sample in the container from the identification result and the information on the upper surface of the sample in the container detected by the measurement unit.
In the sample test automation system according to claim 2,
The sample inspection automation system, wherein the measurement unit, the irradiation unit, and the light receiving unit are arranged at intervals according to the width of the biological sample housed in the container.
In the sample test automation system according to claim 2,
A light shield,
An imaging unit for imaging the container located in front of the light shielding plate;
And a data analysis unit that determines the color of the sample in the container based on a captured image captured by the imaging unit.
In the sample test automation system according to claim 5,
The sample inspection automation system, wherein the data analysis unit further determines the height of each component of the sample from the captured image captured by the imaging unit.
In the sample test automation system according to claim 5,
The system further comprises a dispensing module for dividing the sample in the container using at least one of the volume of the sample calculated in the calculation unit and the information on the color of the sample determined in the data analysis unit. A sample test automation system characterized by
A volume check module for checking a sample or reagent contained in a container, comprising:
A measurement unit that detects the upper surface of the sample or reagent in the container by a noncontact capacitance method;
A moving unit for moving the measuring unit up and down with respect to the container;
A control unit configured to control to detect an upper surface of a sample or a reagent in the container while moving the measurement unit up and down with respect to the container by the moving unit.
In the capacity check module according to claim 8,
A specification unit that specifies the type of the container transported into the capacity check module and the type of plug of the container;
The container diameter and the presence or absence of the separating agent are specified from the container type specified by the specifying unit, and the inside of the container is determined from the specification result and the information on the upper surface of the sample or reagent in the container detected by the measuring unit. And an operation unit for calculating the volume of the sample or reagent,
The control unit detects the upper surface of the sample or the reagent in the container according to the information on the type of plug specified by the specifying unit while moving the measurement unit up and down with respect to the container by the moving unit. A capacity check module characterized by controlling.
A method of checking a biological sample contained in a container, the method comprising:
A method of checking a biological sample, comprising a detection step of detecting an upper surface of a sample in the container by moving a noncontacting capacitance type measuring unit up and down with respect to the container.
In the method for checking a biological sample according to claim 10,
Identifying the type of the container, and identifying the type of closure of the container from the information on the identified container type;
The container diameter and the presence or absence of a separating agent are identified from the container type identified in the identification step, and the identification result of the sample in the container from the identification result and the information on the upper surface of the sample in the container detected in the detection step And an operation process for calculating a capacity,
In the detection step, the upper surface of the sample in the container is moved by moving the non-contact capacitance type measurement unit up and down with respect to the container in accordance with the information on the plug type specified in the identification step. A method of checking a biological sample, comprising detecting the biological sample.
In the method for checking a biological sample according to claim 11,
The side of the container is irradiated with light from the irradiation unit, and the amount of the transmitted light passing through the container is measured by the light receiving unit, and the irradiation unit and the light receiving unit are vertically moved in the longitudinal direction of the container And a measurement process,
In the calculation step, a solid-liquid separation surface of the sample in the container is determined based on the amount of the transmitted light measured in the irradiation step, and the calculated solid-liquid separation surface, the container diameter, and the presence or absence of a separation agent A method of checking a biological sample, comprising calculating the volume of a sample in the container from the identification result and the information on the upper surface of the sample in the container detected in the detection step.
In the method for checking a biological sample according to claim 11,
A method of checking a biological sample, comprising: arranging the measuring unit, the irradiating unit, and the light receiving unit at intervals according to the width of the biological sample housed in the container.
In the method for checking a biological sample according to claim 11,
An imaging step of imaging the container located in front of the light shielding plate;
And a data analysis step of determining the color of the sample in the container based on the captured image captured in the imaging step.
In the biological sample check method according to claim 14,
The method for checking a biological sample, wherein the data analysis unit further determines the height of each component of the sample from the captured image captured in the imaging step.