JP3760800B2 - Sample processing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sample processing system, and more particularly, a sample processing apparatus for processing a sample and a sample transport line for transferring a sample to the sample processing apparatus and transferring a sample that has been processed by the sample processing apparatus from the sample processing apparatus. And a sample standby unit that is provided between the sample processing apparatus and the sample transport line and temporarily controls the sample, and a control apparatus that controls the sample processing operation in the sample processing apparatus and the operation of the sample transport line attached to each sample processing apparatus The present invention relates to a sample processing system in which a plurality of sample processing modules including
[0002]
[Prior art]
Samples such as blood and urine that require clinical testing are processed by centrifugation, opening the lid of the sample container, dispensing from the parent sample container to the child sample container, and the child sample container is placed in the sample rack. In a held state, the sample is transferred to various analyzers that perform biochemical tests, immunological tests, and the like via a rack transfer unit (device). On the other hand, the parent sample undergoes processing such as closing the lid of the sample container for re-examination of the analysis processing and the like, and is then transferred to the storage device. A sample processing system configured to perform such sample processing under the control of a computer is referred to as a sample transport system. In this case, a device that performs processing such as centrifugation, opening, dispensing, closing, and analysis is a sample processing unit (module). These sample processing units are connected by a belt line, and when a sample is input, the sample processing unit is transported to a necessary sample processing unit, and processing suitable for each function is performed.
[0003]
As such a sample processing system, for example, an invention described in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-229081 is known. In the present invention, when the number of sample racks being processed in a certain processing unit is equal to the maximum allowable number of racks allowed to be processed at a time in the processing unit, the sample rack is prohibited from being carried into the processing unit. In this way, the transfer line is controlled.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By managing each sample processing unit so that the number of sample racks being processed is equal to or less than the maximum allowable number of racks, the processing proceeds without problems when the absolute amount of sample racks to be processed is small. In other words, in the normal use state, the above prior art system can be used almost without any problem. However, in a sample processing system with multiple sample processing units, when the number of sample racks increases, the number of sample racks being processed in all sample processing units becomes equal to the maximum allowable number of racks. The inventors have found that the sample rack cannot be moved and the system becomes deadlocked. This has a problem in comparing only the maximum allowable number of racks with the sample rack being processed in each processing unit. In addition, the processing speed of the sample processing unit usually varies from processing unit to processing unit, but how to arrange the processing units on the transport line (that is, the processing unit having a low processing speed is arranged downstream of the transport line). It has also been found that depending on whether it is provided or provided on the upstream side, problems such as a reduction in processing speed may occur even if deadlock does not occur.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a sample processing system that does not cause deadlock and can perform the most efficient processing.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sample processing apparatus for processing a test sample, and a sample that transfers a sample to the sample processing apparatus and transfers a sample that has been processed by the sample processing apparatus from the sample processing apparatus. A transport line; a sample standby section that is provided between the sample processing apparatus and the sample transport line and temporarily waits for a sample; a sample input section that supplies a sample to the sample processing apparatus via the sample transport line; A sample storage unit that stores a sample that has been processed by the sample processing apparatus via the sample transport line, and a part of the sample that has been processed by the sample processing apparatus is returned to the sample input position of the sample input unit. A control apparatus capable of arbitrarily setting a maximum value of the total number of samples that can be simultaneously transported by the sample transport line and the return sample transport line. Providing obtain sample processing system.
[0007]
Further, a sample processing apparatus for processing a test sample, a sample transport line for transferring a sample to the sample processing apparatus, and transferring a sample that has been processed by the sample processing apparatus from the sample processing apparatus, and the sample processing apparatus and the sample The processing is completed in the sample processing unit, which is provided between the transport lines, temporarily waits for the sample, the sample input unit that supplies the sample to the sample processing apparatus via the sample transport line, and the sample processing apparatus A sample storage unit that stores a sample via the sample transfer line, a return sample transfer line that returns a part of the sample that has been processed by the sample processing device to the sample input position of the sample input unit, and the sample processing device A sample processing system in which a plurality of sample processing modules, each of which includes a control device that controls a sample transport line, a return sample transport line, and a sample standby unit, are connected. It may be a sample processing system including a central control device that can arbitrarily set the maximum value of the total number of samples that can be simultaneously transported by the sample transport lines of the plurality of sample processing modules constituting the system and the return sample transport line. .
[0008]
Further, a sample processing apparatus for processing a test sample, a sample transport line for transferring a sample to the sample processing apparatus, and transferring a sample that has been processed by the sample processing apparatus from the sample processing apparatus, and the sample processing apparatus and the sample The processing is completed in the sample processing unit, which is provided between the transport lines, temporarily waits for the sample, the sample input unit that supplies the sample to the sample processing apparatus via the sample transport line, and the sample processing apparatus A sample storage unit that stores a sample via the sample transfer line, a return sample transfer line that returns a part of the sample that has been processed by the sample processing device to the sample input position of the sample input unit, and the sample processing device A sample processing system in which a plurality of sample processing modules, each of which includes a control device for controlling a sample transport line, a return sample transport line, and a sample standby unit, are connected. A function for reporting the number of samples currently transported by the sample transport line and the return sample transport line of a plurality of sample processing modules constituting the sample processing system from each of the control devices of the module to the central control device And calculating the total number of samples currently transported in the central control unit, comparing the total number with an arbitrarily determined number of designated samples, and when the total number exceeds the designated number of racks A sample processing system having a function of instructing the sample input unit to stop the input of the sample into the transport line may be used.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A main transport line and a return transport line are mounted on the transport line for transporting the sample. Various functional modules (processing units) receive the sample from the main transport line, perform processing for each functional module, and then return the sample to the main transport line. At a certain point, the main transport line can be joined to the return transport line that transports in the negative direction, and conversely, the return transport line that transports in the negative direction also joins the main transport line. It can be done. The transfer line is divided for each functional module, and each of them is operated independently for each functional module. While operating, the transport line reports the number of samples currently transported to the transport controller. The transfer control unit calculates the number of samples that can be held in the system and the number of samples that can be transferred from the system configuration (the number of samples that can be transferred is less than the number of samples that can be held), and the number of samples that can be transferred from the reported number of samples. In such a case, the transfer line and the sample input unit are restricted from loading the sample onto the transfer line. The transport line performs loading restrictions according to this restriction, so that the sample is not loaded from the functional module. During that time, only the sample is transported from the upstream transport line, so when the number of samples is less than the number of samples that can be transported by the sample storage unit etc., the transport control unit releases the transport restriction, Receiving samples will resume. This prevents the system from creating a state where it cannot be transported due to traffic jams, and prevents the sample from stagnation. The number of samples that can be transported (the number of sample racks) can be arbitrarily changed according to the difference in processing speed between various function modules (processing units) connected to the sample processing system and the absolute number of samples to be processed. In this case, the operator may set it arbitrarily, or the central controller can automatically set the optimum value according to the processing speed difference of various function modules (processing units) and the absolute number of samples to be processed. Also good. When the central controller automatically sets, various conditions (difference in processing speed of various function modules (processing units), absolute number of samples to be processed) are simulated in advance, and the most efficient processing under each situation It is desirable to obtain “the number of samples that can be transported (number of sample racks)” that can be set, and set it accordingly. Even in such a case, the operator may determine the processing status and further change the automatically set “number of samples that can be transported (number of sample racks)”.
[0010]
Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sample transport system to which the present invention is applied. In this system, the main conveyance / merging mechanism 13 and the return conveyance / merging mechanism 12 are connected by a main conveyance line 10 and a return conveyance line 11. Connected to the main transport line 10 are a sample loading device 20, a sample plugging device 30, a take-out empty rack supply device 40, a sample storage device 50, a take-out sample alignment device 60, and a sample storage device 70. These components are controlled by the transport control unit 1 based on a predetermined operation program. The conveyance control unit 1 includes a computer and an input unit for inputting information necessary for the operation of each unit. The conveyance control unit 1 and each component are connected by a communication cable (not shown), and information from each component is collected via this communication cable and transferred to the conveyance control unit 1 via the communication cable. Then, the instruction from the conveyance control unit 1 is transferred to each component.
[0011]
The sample loading device 20 loads a sample from the tray installed on the loaded sample erection tray 22 into the main transport line 10 in units of racks, reads the identification information of the loaded sample by the sample identification information reader 21, and performs transport control. By reporting to the section 1, the specimen transport destination is determined and transported to the adjacent main transport line 10.
[0012]
The sample capping device 30 receives a rack carrying a sample that needs to be capped from the main transport line 10 and performs capping processing for each sample. The rack loaded with the sample for which the capping process has been completed moves to the capping device rack unloading standby position 31 and waits until the main transport line 10 is ready to receive the rack. When the main transport line 10 is ready to be received, the rack at the closing device rack unloading standby position 31 moves to the main transport line 10.
[0013]
The take-out empty rack supply device 40 supplies the main transport line 10 to an empty rack when a request for taking out a sample from the sample storage device 50 is generated. The empty racks are installed on an empty rack installation tray 41 for taking out. Further, when an empty rack is transported from the main transport line 10 on the front side, it can be stored in the take-out empty rack erection tray 41 by receiving a refill instruction from the transport control unit 1.
[0014]
The sample storage device 50 receives from the main transport line 10 a rack that has been transported in a state where the sample is mounted, extracts only the sample from the rack, and stores it in a refrigerator. Move to. It is also possible to carry out the refrigerated specimen in accordance with an instruction from the transport control unit 1. In this case, an empty rack is received from the empty rack supply device 40 for removal via the main transport line 10, and the rack The sample is transferred onto the storage device rack and moved to the storage device rack unloading standby position 51. When the main transport line 10 becomes ready to receive a rack, the rack at the storage device rack unloading standby position 51 moves to the main transport line 10.
[0015]
The taken-out sample aligning device 60 receives the sample carried out from the sample storage device 50 from the main transport line 10, removes only the sample from the rack and aligns it inside the device, and the removed rack is the alignment device rack unloading standby position 61. Move to. When the main transport line 10 is ready to receive a rack, the rack at the alignment device rack unloading standby position 61 moves to the main transport line 10.
[0016]
The sample storage device 70 stores the empty rack after being loaded into the sample storage device 50 transported from the main transport line 10 in the storage sample erection tray 71.
[0017]
The return transport merging mechanism 12 receives an empty rack transported from the take-out empty rack supply device 40 received from the main transport line 10 connected to the sample storage device 70. When this rack is received, it moves to the return transfer position, and the rack is transferred to the return transfer line 11. When the empty rack in the return transport merging mechanism 12 moves to the return transport line 11, the return transport merging mechanism 12 moves to the main transport line receiving position.
[0018]
The main transport merging mechanism 13 receives an empty rack transported from the return transport line 11 of the sample input device 20. When this rack is received, it moves to the main transport position and transports the rack to the main transport line 10. When the empty rack in the main transport merging mechanism 13 moves to the main transport line 10, the main transport merging mechanism 13 moves to the return transport line receiving position.
[0019]
The main transport line 10 and the return transport line 11 connected to each can have a maximum of one rack on one line. For this reason, in order to perform processing in one line, the next rack cannot be received until the rack on the own line is transported onto the transport line connected in the transport direction. For example, in order for the sample loading apparatus 20 to move a rack loaded with a new sample from the loaded sample erection tray 22 onto the main transport line 10, the sample on the main transport line 10 is transported and does not exist It must be. This is because the other devices (here, the sample capping device 30, the removal empty rack supply device 40, the sample storage device 50, the removal sample alignment device 60, the sample storage device 70) receive the rack for processing. The same conditions must be applied to the removal of the specimen.
[0020]
An example of a configuration showing a logical position where the rack stops in the sample transport system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. A logical rack stop position 101 exists in the control range 100 in each processing unit (processing module). An arrow indicating a plurality of (0 or more) carry-in and a plurality (0 or more) carry-out is connected to one logical rack stop position 101. The rack is transported in the direction indicated by the arrow. One logical rack stop position 101 can have a maximum of one rack as described above. For this reason, a logical rack stop position having one carry-in and one carry-out can transport a rack on its own logical rack stop position if a rack exists at the logical rack stop position of the carry-out destination. Absent. Since the logical rack stop position having a plurality of carry-out destinations is transported to the transport destination determined by the transport control unit 1 based on the sample identification information read in advance by the sample input device 20, the branch destination is uniquely Will be determined. Here, the storage logical rack stop position is a position at which a plurality of racks can be stopped at a time. The rack is not carried out, and when it is carried out, the operator removes the rack. It is in a position that will be. Also, the loading standby logical rack stop position is a position where a plurality of racks can exist at one time, and racks are not loaded, but only one rack is unloaded at the time of unloading. In the case of carrying in, the operator is placed at a position where a rack is to be installed.
[0021]
An example of the configuration of the sample rack used in the sample transport system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the perspective view of FIG. A sample rack 200 as a support for holding one or more sample containers 202 has an elongated box shape. Although FIG. 3 shows an example in which five sample containers 202 are held as a sample rack, the number of containers that can be held is not limited to this, and one or more containers may be used, and ten or more containers can be used. It is. The sample rack is provided with a label 201 displaying information for identifying each sample rack (for example, bar code, number, character, etc.). A sample identification label 203 is displayed on the outer wall of the sample container 202. The sample identification label 203 displays a sample information including a sample reception number, patient information such as a patient name and age, and a test item name by a barcode.
[0022]
If there are racks for all the stop positions of the logical rack stop position shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus cannot operate. This is because a rack exists at the above-mentioned transport destination. In such a situation, the sample is not transported and the apparatus stops. If there are multiple racks at the storage logical rack stop position and they are stopped by the existence limit value, this problem can be solved by removing the rack at the storage logical rack stop position by the operator. When the logical rack stop position is not the limit value, and the rack existing at the main logical rack stop position connected to the storage logical rack stop position is in a state of being transported toward the merged logical rack stop position. Removing the rack at the storage logical rack stop position does not solve the problem. Therefore, control is performed so that the samples on the transport sample number management target range 102 in FIG. 2 do not exceed a certain threshold value (hereinafter referred to as traffic congestion monitoring number). Specifically, each independent dispersion unit within the transport sample number management target range reports the number of racks currently held by the own device to the transport control unit 1. If a rack is loaded at a logical stop position within the jurisdiction range of its own device, the presence of a rack is reported at the logical stop position. When unloading is performed at a logical stop position of another device, the absence of rack is reported to the logical stop position. Thereby, the transport control unit 1 grasps the number of racks existing in the transport sample number management target range 102. If the number of racks existing in the transport sample number management target range exceeds the traffic congestion monitoring number, an instruction indicating that loading cannot be performed is issued to the autonomous distributed units in the transport sample number management target range 102. The sample processing unit that has received this instruction does not receive the rack from the carry-in restriction target range 103. If this state continues for a while and the number of racks within the management target range falls below the number of traffic congestion monitoring by carrying it into each device or carrying it out for storage, the instruction indicating that the carry-in is not possible is canceled and the carry-in restriction target range is entered. The rack that was waiting to be carried out can be carried out.
[0023]
The number of traffic congestion monitoring is set on the traffic congestion monitoring setting screen 300 shown in FIG. This screen is displayed on the transport control unit input / output device 2, and the traffic congestion monitoring function is activated by pressing the traffic congestion monitoring function setting button 301, and the traffic congestion monitoring number input to the traffic congestion monitoring rack number 302 is the traffic congestion in this system. Treated as a monitoring number. For this reason, if there is no need to monitor traffic due to the operation of the facility, it is possible to operate without using this function, and it is possible to change the number of traffic monitoring settings according to the system scale .
[0024]
According to the above-described embodiment, even if more racks than the number of logical stop positions are inserted, it is possible to prevent the rack from being stopped due to the state in which the rack cannot be transported. Since the empty rack for taking out the storage device can be automatically collected, the burden on the operator is reduced.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in a sample processing system in which functional modules are connected by a main transport line and a return transport line, and the functional modules are independently controlled, stagnation (deadlock, processing speed) of the sample in the system. Can be prevented).
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sample transport system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a logical rack stop position in the sample transport system in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a configuration of a sample rack.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a congestion monitoring function setting screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Transfer control part, 2 ... Transfer control part input / output device, 10 ... Main transfer line, 11 ... Return transfer line, 12 ... Return transfer merging mechanism, 13 ... Main transfer merging mechanism, 20 ... Sample input device, 21 ... Sample Identification information reader, 22... Specimen loading tray, 30... Sample capping device, 31... Closing device rack unloading standby position, 40... Ejecting empty rack supply device, 41. 51 ... Storage device rack unloading standby position, 60 ... Extraction sample alignment device, 61 ... Alignment device rack unloading standby position, 70 ... Sample storage device, 71 ... Storage sample erection tray, 100 ... Control range in each self-supporting dispersion unit, 101 ... Logical rack stop position, 102 ... Transport sample number management target range, 103 ... Transport restriction target range, 200 ... Sample rack, 201 ... Sample rack identification Distribution, 202 ... sample container, 203 ... specimen identification information, 300 ... congestion monitoring setting screen, 301 ... congestion monitoring setting button, 302 ... congestion monitor racks.

Claims (4)

A sample processing apparatus for processing a test sample;
A sample transport line for transferring the sample to the sample processing apparatus and transferring the sample that has been processed by the sample processing apparatus from the sample processing apparatus;
A sample waiting unit that is provided between the sample processing apparatus and the sample transport line and temporarily waits for the sample;
A sample input unit for supplying a sample to the sample processing apparatus via the sample transport line;
A sample storage section for storing a sample processed by the sample processing apparatus via the sample transport line;
A return sample transport line that returns a part of the sample processed by the sample processing apparatus to the sample input position of the sample input unit;
A control device that controls to prevent a sample from being carried into the sample transport line and the return sample transport line when the total number of samples on the sample transport line and the return sample transport line exceeds a preset maximum value; ,
Sample processing system characterized by comprising a. The specimen processing system according to claim 1,
A sample processing system, comprising setting means for arbitrarily setting the maximum value. The specimen processing system according to claim 1,
A sample processing system comprising a function of reporting the current number of samples on the sample transport line and the return sample transport line. The specimen processing system according to claim 1,
A sample processing system comprising a selection unit for determining whether to activate the function of the control device.

Images