Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Sample mechanical transport means in or for automated...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-07
2001-07-17
Warden, Jill (Department: 1743)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Sample mechanical transport means in or for automated...
C422S063000, C422S065000, C436S043000, C436S047000, C436S048000, C436S050000, C700S266000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261521
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sample analysis system and a method for operating the same, and in particular, it relates to a sample analysis system set up to allow a sample on a conveyor line to be transferred to at least one of a plurality of analysis units for analysis thereof, and a method for operating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Related sample analysis systems have been proposed for analyzing a plurality of analysis items for biological samples such as blood or urine using a plurality of analysis units arranged along a conveyor line which conveys such samples. For example, J-A 7-92171 discloses that a plurality of analysis units, each having a different processing number of samples to be analyzed per unit time, are arranged along a main conveyor line, and that a subline is provided between the main conveyor line and each of the plurality of analysis units.
J-A 7-92171 discloses an analysis system in which information in a bar code labeled on each sample container is read at an inlet of a main conveyor line, then the container being carried on the main conveyor line is transferred to a corresponding subline of one of the plurality of analysis units, and after sample processing, the container is returned from the subline to the main conveyor line. Then, the sequence of transfer of each container is controlled such that a mean time of analysis processing in each analysis unit becomes equal.
The above-mentioned analysis systems of the related art, however, have a problem that when there occurs a change in sample test environments in laboratories, its test efficiency will decrease.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a sample analysis system which can change its system configuration for a sample processing function without need of changing arrangements of a plurality of analysis units in the sample analysis system.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sample analysis system which can change a combination of a plurality of analysis items which can be processed therein depending on changes in sample test environments.
A sample analysis system according to the invention includes : a first memory means for storing analysis items to be analyzed for each sample on each sample rack; a screen display means for displaying an analysis item entry screen for each type of reagent supply unit to be used in each analysis unit; a second memory means for storing analysis items information for each analysis unit having been entered through the screen display unit; a determination means for determining for each sample rack, on the basis of its analysis items information stored in the first memory means, to stopover at which analysis unit of the plurality of analysis units according to data stored in the second memory means; and a control means for controlling operations of conveyor and transfer lines such that the sample rack is transferred to a designated analysis unit.
In this sample analysis system, its reagent supply types include two types, namely, a pipetter reagent supply type and a dispenser reagent supply type. Further, this sample analysis system is provided with a third memory means for storing information on a combination of analysis units having been set up preferably through the screen display means. This screen display means displays, on its screen for setting up a combination of the plurality of analysis units, positions of installation of respective analysis units and their reagent supply types.
A method of configuration for the sample analysis system of the invention includes the steps of displaying a screen having an analysis item setup block for setting up analysis items corresponding to its reagent supply type of each analysis unit on the display; and storing in the memory the combination of the plurality of analysis units which have been assigned with analysis items.
Further, the method of operating the sample analysis system according to the invention includes the steps of displaying a screen having an analysis unit setup button and an analysis item setup button on a display in response to an instruction to display a system setup screen; displaying a screen on the display for setting up a combination of a plurality of analysis units to be used upon selection of the analysis unit setup button; displaying a screen having a reagent supply type indication block and an analysis items setup block on the display corresponding to each analysis unit upon selection of the analysis item setup button on the system setup screen; storing the combination of the plurality of analysis units having been set up and their analysis items having been set up for each analysis unit in the memory means; and changing a destination of the sample rack containing samples on the conveyor line to stopover between the plurality of analysis units in accordance with analysis items of the sample to be analyzed.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, analysis items information of each sample on the sample rack to be delivered to the conveyor line is read by an ID information reader before the sample rack is conveyed by the conveyor line, and in the analysis unit which is destined to stop over for the sample rack which contains the sample, the analysis items information of which has been read, a sampling operation of the sample for its analysis is executed. Further, when an analysis item display instruction occurs after the analysis items for each analysis unit have been set, a table indicating analysis items, the processing of which can be shared by plural analysis units having been set up, is displayed corresponding to each analysis unit on the display.
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Kodama Ryuichiro
Mimura Tomonori
Mitsumaki Hiroshi
Takahashi Atsushi
Bex Kathryn
Hitachi , Ltd.
Mattingly, Stanger & Malur
Warden Jill
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