JPH06138132A - Automatic analytical apparatus and automated sample inspection system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An object of the present invention is to provide an efficient separation / disposal device for specimens according to the degree of contamination of the specimens. [Structure] 1 is a sample loading unit for loading a sample transport rack 2 into a sample transport line, and the maximum number of sample transport racks 2 is five.
A sample container 4 of a book can be mounted. 5 is a centrifuge, 6 is a dispenser, 7 is an automatic analyzer, 8 is a sample storage / storing device that stores and stores the sample after analysis, 9 and 10 are sample container processing devices, 11 is a specific sample in the sample. A sample extracting section for a sample having a high component concentration, 12 is a judging section, 13 is a sample transport line,
Reference numeral 14 is an input device for inputting patient information, and 15 is a sample distribution device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic analysis and automatic transportation of a sample in a clinical laboratory department, and an automatic analyzer and an automatic transportation system incorporating a sample separation device according to the degree of contamination of the sample, The present invention relates to an automatic transport system incorporating a sample disposal device according to the degree of contamination and an automatic sample selection device for extracting a specific component in the sample.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional apparatus is divided into groups according to processing items, as described in JP-A-4-127063.
Although we focus on reducing the processing time and improving efficiency, we do not focus on the separate storage of the samples that have been analyzed and the subsequent processing.

[0003]

The above-mentioned prior art does not consider the treatment of the specimen and the specimen container for which analysis has been completed, and when treating the specimen container which is medical waste, a high level is required. Expensive and time-consuming sterilization of all specimen containers assuming contamination, or laboratories in the laboratory need high levels of sterilization and costly and time-consuming sterilization. There is no choice but to manually select and transfer the sample that seems to be the sample, the sample container, and the sample to be taken out in order to extract a specific component in the sample, which is costly and troublesome, and there is a risk of worker infection. I had a problem with.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for efficiently separating and discarding a sample according to the degree of contamination of the sample.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device having an automatic sample selection function for extracting a specific component in a sample and a sample transport line incorporating the same.

Furthermore, in a sample inspection automation system in which a plurality of sample containers are mounted on one sample transport rack and samples run along the sample transport line, special sterilization of sample containers and extraction of specific components are efficiently performed. Therefore, a sample inspection automation system equipped with a sample distribution device that automatically transfers samples according to the information from the determination unit to a sample transport rack according to the sample information, for example, a highly sterilization rack or a specific component extraction rack To provide.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a determination unit for determining the risk of sample contamination from an analysis result from an automatic analyzer is provided, or an input device for inputting patient information is used. A sample extraction unit that includes a determination unit that determines the risk of sample contamination based on the patient information and the analysis result from the automatic analyzer, and that can extract the sample extraction locations according to the sample contamination level according to the determination of the determination unit. Was newly added.

Further, a sample container processing device for automatically processing a sample container having a high degree of contamination of the sample with high temperature steam or the like is provided at the position of the sample extracting section.

[0009] In order to achieve another object, a sample take-out place is provided in which the decision section makes a decision based on the analysis result to select and take out a sample which is considered to have a high specific component in the sample.

Further, in a sample inspection automation system in which a plurality of sample containers are mounted on one sample transport rack and samples run along the sample transport line, in order to efficiently perform special sterilization processing and extraction of specific components, According to the information from the determination unit, the sample, the sample transport rack according to the sample information,
For example, a highly sterilization treatment rack or a specific component extraction rack,
A sample distribution device for automatic transfer was provided.

[0011]

[Function] The sample is managed by the bar code label attached to the sample container and the rack number of the sample transport rack on which the sample is mounted. From the patient information input from the input device and the analysis result of the automatic analyzer, the determination unit determines the degree of contamination of the sample and the concentration of the specific component. What is the content of the patient information input from the input device? For example, a sample that is known to have been collected from a patient who is hospitalized or hospitalized for hepatitis has a high degree of contamination even if the analysis result is good. Input by the doctor, nurse, or person concerned that it is a sample that must be handled. The determination unit determines whether the sample is highly contaminated and needs special handling, or whether the sample has a high concentration of a specific component and is to be stored separately for extraction of the component. Based on this determination result, the storage place of the sample is divided, and the sample container is processed.

As a result, the sample can be separated and discarded, and the sample can be automatically selected for extracting the specific component in the sample.

Further, in a sample inspection automation system in which a plurality of sample containers are mounted on one sample transport rack and samples run along the sample transport line, in order to efficiently perform special sterilization processing and extraction of specific components, Judgment unit moves specimens that require special sterilization treatment to a highly sterilization treatment rack, specimens with a high concentration of a specific component to a specific component extraction rack, and specimens to a specimen transport rack according to the specimen information. Is instructed to the sample distribution device, and the sample distribution device executes it, thereby making it possible to avoid the labor of the worker in the clinical laboratory department and the risk of infection.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a sample loading unit for loading the sample transport rack 2 into the sample transport line, and a maximum of five sample containers 4 can be mounted on the sample transport rack 2. 5 is a centrifuge for centrifuging the sample, 6 is a portion for dispensing the amount of the centrifuge sample necessary for the analysis of the next automatic analyzer 7 into another sample container mounted on another sample transport rack 3. An injector, 7 is an automatic analyzer for analyzing a sample, 8 is a sample storing / storing device for storing and storing the sample after analysis, 9 and 10 are sample container processing devices,
Reference numeral 11 is a sample extraction unit for a sample having a high concentration of a specific component in the sample, 12 is a determination unit, 13 is a sample transport line, 14 is an input device for inputting patient information, and 15 is a sample distribution device. Further, a highly sterilization treatment rack 16, a specific component extraction rack 17, and a general rack 18 for transferring samples are preset in the sample distribution device 15. High sterilization treatment rack 16 and specific component extraction rack 1
7. A maximum of 5 sample containers 4 can be mounted on the general rack 18. The operation of the sample test automation system having the above configuration will be described below.

The sample collected from the patient is the sample transport rack 2
And is set in the sample loading unit 1. The sample container 4 that can be mounted on the sample transport rack 2 may be a vacuum blood collection tube or a sample cup. The sample transport rack 2 set in the sample loading unit 1 is carried to the centrifuge 5 by the sample transport line 13 and centrifuged. Again, the sample is transported to the dispenser 6 by the sample transport line 13, and the amount required for the next analysis by the automatic analyzer 7 is dispensed to another sample container mounted on another sample transport rack 3. Here, in order to distinguish the sample transport rack 2 on which the sample collected from the patient is placed and the sample transport rack 3 dispensed from the sample transport rack 2, the former is referred to as the sample transport rack (parent rack) 2 and the latter is referred to as the latter. Is referred to as a sample transport rack (child rack) 3. The sample transport rack (child rack) 3 is carried to the automatic analyzer 7 by the sample transport line 13 and analyzed. The samples for which all the samples mounted on one sample transport rack (child rack) 3 have been analyzed are carried by the sample transport line 13 together with the sample transport rack (child rack) 3 to the sample storage / storage device 8 and stored and stored for each rack. It The sample transport rack (parent rack) 2 that has been dispensed to the sample transport rack (child rack) 3 is similarly transported to the sample storage and storage device 8 by the sample transport line 13 and stored and stored together with the rack. When the storage period ends, both the sample transport rack (parent rack) 2 and the sample transport rack (child rack) 3 are carried to the sample distribution device 15 by the sample transport line 13. From the patient information from the input device 14 and the analysis result from the automatic analyzer 7, the determination unit 12 determines the degree of contamination of the sample or the concentration of a specific component in the sample, and determines that the degree of contamination of the sample is high. Samples are judged to be in the highly sterilized rack 16, samples judged to be high in specific components in the sample are judged to be in the specific component extraction rack 17, and samples judged to be low in the degree of contamination of the samples or judged to be low in specific components in the samples The sample distribution device 15 is instructed to transfer the prepared sample to the general rack 18. Here, the content of the patient information input from the input device 14 means, for example, a sample known to be collected from a patient who is hospitalized or hospitalized for hepatitis, even if the analysis result is good, the contamination level of the sample. It is entered by the doctor, nurse, or person concerned with the content that the sample must be treated as high. The highly sterilization treatment rack 16, the specific component extraction rack 17, and the general rack 18 on which the five sample containers are mounted are carried to their respective destinations by the sample transport line 13. That is,
The highly sterilized rack 16 is used for the sample container processing apparatus 10 for samples with high contamination, the specific component extraction rack 17 is used for the sample extraction section 11 for samples with high concentration of specific components, and the general rack 18 is used for samples with low contamination. The determination unit 12 issues an instruction to the sample transport line 13 to carry the sample container processing device 9. The sample container processing device 9 for samples with low contamination level is like a waste tank for discarding samples and a poly bucket or plastic bag for discarding sample containers, so that the sample container can be discarded together with other medical waste. Further, the sample container processing apparatus 10 for a sample having a high degree of contamination is an apparatus for automatically sterilizing a sample and a sample container with high temperature steam or the like, and avoids the labor of a worker in the clinical laboratory department and the risk of infection.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The embodiment shown here is an automatic analyzer for transporting and analyzing samples in a state where five sample containers are mounted on one sample transport rack.

Reference numeral 31 is a sample loading unit for setting the sample transport rack 32, and a maximum of five sample containers 33 can be mounted on the sample transport rack 32. The analysis unit 34 includes a reaction disk 36 holding a reaction container 35 around it and a reaction container 3
Pipette 37 for dispensing sample to 5 and sampling mechanism 3
8. A dispenser 41 and a reagent nozzle 4 for quantitatively discharging the reagent 40 stored at low temperature in the cool box 39 into the reaction container 35.
2, the stirring mechanism 43 for stirring the sample and the reagent in the reaction container 35, the photometer 44 for measuring the absorbance of the reaction solution and the LOG converter 45, the A / D converter 46, the reaction container 35 after the analysis are Cleaning mechanism 47, which can be used for analysis
The analysis unit CPU 48 controls the operation of each unit of the analysis unit 34 and analyzes the components of the sample from the absorbance. The operation unit 49 includes a CRT 50, a printer 51, and an information processing unit 5.
It consists of 2. Numerals 53 and 54 are sample removal sections, 55 is a rack transfer line, 56 is a rack standby position, and 57 is a judgment section.

The operation of the automatic analyzer having the above structure will be described below.

The sample collected from the patient is the sample transport rack 3
No. 2 is mounted on the sample loading unit 31. The sample container 33 that can be mounted on the sample transport rack 32 may be a vacuum blood collection tube or a sample cup. The sample transport rack 32 set in the sample loading unit 31 is carried to a dispensing position (not shown) of the analysis unit 34 by a rack transfer mechanism (not shown), and the sample is dispensed and analyzed.

When all the samples in the sample containers 33 mounted on the sample transport rack 32 have been dispensed, the sample transport rack 3
2 is carried to the rack standby position 56 on the rack transfer line 55. In parallel with this series of operations, another sample transport rack is carried from the sample loading unit 31 to the dispensing position of the analysis unit 34, and similarly, the sample is dispensed and analyzed.

The analysis requires about 10 minutes after the sample is dispensed, and the analysis result is sent from the information processing section 52 to the judgment section 57 in the same manner as when the analysis result is output to the printer 51.

Based on the analysis result sent from the information processing unit 52, the judgment unit 57 judges the degree of contamination of the sample, and the sample transport rack 32 carrying only the sample judged to have the low degree of contamination of the sample is contaminated. It is said that the sample transport rack 32 for transferring the sample having a low degree of contamination is transferred to the sample removing section 54 for the sample having a high degree of contamination, and the sample transport rack 32 having even one sample determined to have a high degree of contamination of the sample is transferred. As described above, the determination unit 57 determines that the sample take-out place is divided according to the degree of contamination of the sample.
Gives instructions.

[0025]

According to the present invention, according to the degree of contamination of the sample and the concentration of the specific component, the determination unit determines the extraction place and processing of each sample, and the sample can be automatically stored according to the determination. Automatically select the sample you want to take out as needed,
It can be transferred. As a result, highly contaminated specimens are automatically transferred to the highly sterilized treatment rack, and are automatically transferred to the specimen container treatment device for highly contaminated specimens for processing, so efficient specimen container processing is possible. Therefore, the problems of cost and labor, and the risk of infection of workers are solved.

Similarly, a sample determined to have a high concentration of a specific component in the sample is automatically transferred to a specific component extraction rack and automatically carried to the sample extraction section of the sample having a high concentration of the specific component. The operator of the clinical laboratory department can replace the conventional manual transfer work with the device of the present invention, and the problem of cost and labor and the risk of infection of the worker is solved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Sample loading section, 2 ... Sample transport rack (parent rack), 3
... Sample transport rack (child rack), 4 ... Sample container, 5 ... Centrifuge, 6 ... Dispenser, 7 ... Automatic analyzer, 8 ... Sample storage / storage device, 9 ... Sample container processing for samples with low contamination Apparatus, 10 ... Sample container processing apparatus for samples with high contamination, 11
… Sample extractor for samples with high concentration of specific components, 12
... Judgment unit, 13 ... Sample transport line, 14 ... Input device, 1
5 ... Sample distribution device, 16 ... High sterilization processing rack, 1
7 ... Specific component extraction rack, 18 ... General rack, 31 ... Sample loading section, 32 ... Sample transport rack, 33 ... Sample container, 3
4 ... Analysis part, 35 ... Reaction container, 36 ... Reaction disk, 3
7 ... Pipettor, 38 ... Sampling mechanism, 39 ... Cold storage box, 40 ... Reagent, 41 ... Dispenser, 42 ... Reagent nozzle, 43 ... Stirring mechanism, 44 ... Photometer, 45 ... LOG converter, 46 ... A / D converter, 47 ... Cleaning mechanism, 48 ...
Analytical unit CPU, 49 ... Operation unit, 50 ... CRT, 51 ... Printer, 52 ... Information processing unit, 53 ... Specimen removal unit for samples with low contamination level, 54 ... Sample extraction unit for samples with high contamination level, 55 ... Rack Transfer line, 56 ... Rack standby position, 57 ... Judgment section.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sample input unit for setting a sample collected from a patient, an analysis unit for analyzing the sample, an information processing unit for calculating and outputting the analysis result, a sample extracting unit for taking out the sample after analysis, the sample An automatic analyzer comprising a sample transfer mechanism for transferring a sample from an input part to an analysis part and a sample removal part, wherein a sample removal part different from the sample removal part is provided, and further the analysis result from the information processing part A sample determination unit that determines the contamination level of the sample is provided, and the sample determined to have a low sample contamination level is placed in the previous sample removal unit, and the sample determined to have a high sample contamination level is the newly installed sample. An automatic analyzer characterized by being transferred to a take-out section. 2. A sample input section for inputting a sample collected from a patient to a sample transport line, a centrifuge for centrifuging the sample, and an amount necessary for analysis of the next automatic analyzer from the centrifuged sample. Dispenser for dispensing into a sample container, an automatic analyzer for analyzing a sample, a sample storage / storing device for storing and storing the sample after analysis, a sample extractor for extracting the sample when the sample storage period ends, the above In a sample inspection automation system comprising a sample transport line that connects a sample loading unit, a centrifuge, an automatic analyzer, a sample storage / storage device, and a sample removal unit, a sample storage / storage device different from the sample storage / storage device, and the sample A sample take-out unit other than the take-out unit and an input device for inputting patient information are provided, and further, the contamination of the sample based on the patient information from the input device and the analysis result from the automatic analyzer. If a judgment unit for judging the degree of risk of the sample is provided and the sample is judged to have a low contamination level, the sample is stored in the previous sample storage / storage device, and when the storage period is over, the sample extraction unit is in The specimen test automation system is characterized in that the specimen judged to be high is transferred to a newly installed specimen storage / storage device, and when the storage period ends, it is also transferred to a newly added specimen extraction unit. 3. The sample inspection automation according to claim 2, wherein a sample container processing apparatus for automatically sterilizing a sample having a high degree of contamination of the sample and its sample container with high temperature steam is provided at the sample extraction location. system. 4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, for the purpose of extracting a specific component in the specimen, not the degree of contamination of the specimen.
A sample test automation system, comprising: a judgment unit for judging a sample having a high component based on patient information or an analysis result, and separating the sample taking place according to the information from the judgment unit. 5. The sample inspection automation system according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein a plurality of sample containers are mounted on one sample transport rack, and the samples run along the sample transport line. Samples that are highly contaminated and require special sterilization treatment, or samples that have been determined to have high concentrations of specific components in the sample, are transferred to a sample transport rack that corresponds to the sample information, for example, highly sterilized. An automated sample inspection system characterized by transfer to a processing rack or a specific component extraction rack.