JP3646531B2 - Sample transport system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sample transport system, and more particularly to a sample transport system in which a plurality of types of pretreatment units are arranged along a rack transport apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A sample transport system generally includes a transport line including a plurality of types of sample pretreatment devices and a belt line that couples the pretreatment devices. A container containing a specimen such as blood is provided in a state of being held in a specimen rack or a box-shaped holder called simply a rack. After the unprocessed parent sample is centrifuged, the container is unplugged, the part of the parent sample is dispensed into one or more child sample containers, and the dispensed child sample container In contrast, the process of attaching an ID label displaying a barcode or the like, the capping process of plugging the child sample or the parent sample, the classification process of sorting the child sample rack according to the subsequent process, and the child sample rack being transported to the analyzer The processing for analyzing and measuring the child sample is appropriately combined. A plurality of devices having the functions of these processes are connected by a transfer line to constitute an automated system.
[0003]
"Hitachi Review, vol.41, No.4, pp. 167-172 (1992)" is composed of a plurality of transport routes for transporting specimens and branching the transport lines into a plurality of routes. An automated sample handling system is taught that distributes samples to various processing units.
[0004]
The processing unit placed in this system is an automatic centrifuge unit for separating blood into serum and sediment, a capping unit for automatically removing the lid on the sample container, and a child sample from the parent sample container A dispensing unit for dispensing serum into the container, a barcode label unit for attaching a barcode label having the same sample ID as the parent sample to the child sample container, a capping unit for covering the sample container, These include a sample classification unit for classifying sample containers into groups according to examinations, a chemical analysis unit for automatically performing chemical analysis of samples, and the like.
[0005]
In JP-A-7-167866, a parent sample rack centrifuged at a centrifuge station is transported to a parent sample storage section by a belt line through a dispensing station, while receiving a part of the sample at the dispensing station. An example is shown in which a child sample rack is transported to a plurality of analyzers by different belt lines. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-167866 discloses that a plurality of belt sample lines are joined to a single belt line to transport various child sample racks to a branching device, and the subsequent devices are connected to each analyzer. It shows that a child sample is conveyed by a plurality of dedicated belt lines.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the sample transport system performs physical processing on the analysis unit that samples and analyzes the sample prepared for analysis, and the sample in the sample container held in the rack or the sample container itself. And a preprocessing unit for preparing a rack in which a sample for analysis can be sampled.
[0007]
If a trouble occurs during operation on the transport line or the preprocessing unit in the system, the subsequent preprocessing operation cannot be continued, and therefore the rack holding the sample container needs to be recovered from the transport line. Such an insufficiently processed rack has not been preprocessed after the occurrence of a trouble, and therefore must be reintroduced into the transport line and preprocessed after the system is restored.
[0008]
However, in the conventional sample transport system, since the preprocessing station of each preprocessing unit is formed on the transport line, the preprocessing is already completed when the unprocessed rack is transported again. As a result, the overall processing speed is reduced. In addition, since the rack that holds the parent sample that is the source of the dispensing process is different from the child rack that holds the child sample formed by receiving a part of the parent sample by dispensing, The inspection engineer sorts each processing form and manages the input to the system, or requires a special device structurally for the system.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide a sample transport system that can efficiently process a rack in which preprocessing is not completed due to a trouble during operation by transporting it again to a transport line in the system. It is in.
[0010]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a special pre-processing suitable for the processing mode of the rack when re-transporting, regardless of whether the rack that has not been pre-processed holds either a parent sample or a child sample. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sample transport system that can be automatically performed without requiring a special structure.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sample transport system that can re-execute the same pretreatment when the result of the pretreatment is poor.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A sample transport system according to the present invention is disposed along a transport device having a transport line for transporting a rack that holds a sample container, a rack supply unit that supplies the rack to the transport line, and the transport device. A plurality of types of preprocessing units that perform preprocessing for analysis preparation on a container or a sample in the sample container, and an identification information reading device that reads identification information of a rack sent from a rack supply unit.
[0013]
One concept based on the present invention is provided with a control unit that has a storage unit and controls to transport each rack to a pre-processing unit of a transport destination determined for each rack. When the pre-processing in the pre-processing unit is completed successfully, the processing completion information relating to the pre-processing unit is stored in the storage unit of the control unit, and is re-introduced in the transport line through the rack supply unit By referring to the processing completion information stored in the storage unit with the reading of the identification information reading device with respect to the rack, the processing completion preprocessing unit is bypassed, and the processing is resumed so as to stop at the processing incomplete preprocessing unit. It is characterized by controlling the transfer of the input rack.
[0014]
More specifically, a pre-processing station that is formed in each of a plurality of types of pre-processing units and that performs pre-processing on racks loaded from the transfer line, and a plurality of pre-processing in which each rack is to be loaded. A control unit that manages rack transport destination information about the unit, and a rack take-out unit that takes out from the transport device a rack that has been transported in a state where preprocessing by any of the preprocessing units that are transport destinations is incomplete. It has. Then, for example, the transfer destination information related to the preprocessing unit corresponding to the completion of the preprocessing is changed when the preprocessing is completed or not completed for the specific rack carried into the plurality of preprocessing units in the first transfer. The pre-processing unit corresponding to the incomplete pre-processing according to the changed rack transport destination information which is read along with the reading of the rack identification information of the specific rack by the identification information reading device for the re-transport of the specific rack In this case, the specific rack is carried in and pre-processing is performed, and the specific rack is transported so that the specific rack does not stop at the pre-processing unit in which the pre-processing is completed.
[0015]
With such a configuration, a rack that has not been pre-processed by a pre-processing unit scheduled due to a trouble during the previous operation is already pre-processed when transported by the system again. Therefore, the processing efficiency is high as a whole.
[0016]
Further, in the sample transport system according to the present invention, the transport device has a return line that returns the rack transported on the transport line to the start end side of the transport line, and the rack that has passed through the feedback line is transported again by the transport line. When this is done, the transport of the rack is controlled so as to return to at least one of the preprocessing units that stopped by before returning. In other words, if the result when the pre-processing for the rack is executed is not good, the pre-processing can be performed again. In this case, the stop of the rack is the stop of the rack when the rack is re-transported after the trouble occurs. Is different. In other words, even with the same rack, the transport route is different when a trouble occurs and when it is processed again.
[0017]
The plurality of types of preprocessing units provided in the sample transport system according to the present invention include at least a centrifugal separation unit and a dispensing processing unit, and whether the target rack is a parent rack as a result of reading by the identification information reading device. It is determined whether it is a child rack, and if the target rack is a child rack, the rack is transported so as to bypass the dispensing unit. Furthermore, if it is a child rack, it does not stop at the centrifuge processing unit. If the target rack is the parent rack, it is determined whether or not the rack has completed pretreatment by the centrifuge processing unit and the dispensing processing unit.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a sample transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this system, the transport device 3 is configured to transport a rack for transporting a rack from the rack supply unit 2 to the analysis unit 6 and a rack that passes through the transport line to the start end side of the transport line. Has a return line to return. In this example, a conveyance line is formed by connecting a plurality of line sections 3A to 3F in series. The feedback line is formed by connecting line sections 3a-3f in series. The transport line may include a reading line 17 attached to the rack supply unit 2, and the return line may include a transfer line 18. Each line section has a belt conveyor and its drive. Line sections 3A and 3a form a pair and function as one line section unit. The line sections 3B and 3b, 3C and 3c, 3D and 3d, 3E and 3e, and 3F and 3f also function as a line section unit.
[0019]
The rack 9 holding a specimen such as blood or urine is supplied from the rack supply unit 2 to the transport line of the transport device 3. In this example, the rack supply unit 2 includes a reading line 17, a transfer line 18, a rack delivery mechanism 2A, a rack take-out unit 2B, a supply unit control unit 14, and the like. A plurality of preprocessing units 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D and a rack storage unit 4 are arranged along the transport device 3. The preprocessing unit 5A connected to the division unit composed of the line divisions 3A and 3a has a unit controller 15a and a preprocessing station 20a. The preprocessing unit 5B connected to the division unit composed of the line divisions 3B and 3b has a unit controller 15b and a preprocessing station 20b. The preprocessing unit 5C connected to the division unit composed of the line divisions 3C and 3c has a unit controller 15c and a preprocessing station 20c. The preprocessing unit 5D connected to the division unit composed of the line divisions 3D and 3d has a unit controller 15d and a preprocessing station 20d.
[0020]
The rack storage unit 4 connected to the division unit composed of the line divisions 3E and 3e includes a default rack extraction unit 4A, two processed rack extraction units 4B and 4C, a unit control unit 15e, and the like. The analysis unit 6 connected to the division unit composed of the line divisions 3F and 3f has an analysis processing unit (not shown) and a unit control unit 15f, and is formed by a dispensing process which is one of the preprocessing. Samples are sampled and analysis processing is executed. Each unit control part 15a-15f controls the operation | movement in the unit to which it belongs.
[0021]
The overall control unit 1 having the storage unit 1A is composed of a computer, and can communicate information with an upper computer in a facility such as a hospital via a communication line. Connected to the overall control unit 1 are an operation input unit 31 for an operator to input various information, and a screen display unit 32 for displaying the status of preprocessing and analysis results. The unit control unit, the supply unit control unit 14, and the unit control units 15 a to 15 f of each line division unit exchange information with the overall control unit 1 through the communication line 10. Sample information including analysis items for each sample is downloaded from the upper computer to the overall control unit 1. Here, the overall control unit 1, the supply unit control unit 14, and the unit control unit may be collectively referred to as a control unit.
[0022]
If the sample is blood, a parent sample container containing whole blood is held in the parent rack 9 that has not been subjected to any pretreatment. FIG. 3 shows an example of a rack for holding a specimen. The box-shaped rack 9 is assigned rack identification information, that is, a rack ID 11. In this rack, one or more sample containers, for example, five sample containers 12 are loaded. On the outer wall of each sample container 12, sample identification information, that is, a sample ID 13 is attached. For the rack ID and the sample ID, a barcode is used in this example, but another binary code, an IC card, or the like can also be used.
[0023]
A barcode reader 7 for reading the rack ID and a barcode reader 8 for reading the sample ID are arranged near the reading line 17 of the rack supply unit 2. Bar code readers 7 </ b> A to 7 </ b> E for reading the rack ID are arranged in the vicinity of the rack entrance in each processing unit. The bar code readers 7 and 8 may be shared.
[0024]
The parent racks input to the rack delivery mechanism 2A of the rack supply unit 2 for the first time are sent one by one to the reading line 17, and the rack ID is read by the barcode reader 7 and the sample ID is read by the barcode reader 8. The read sample ID and rack ID are transmitted to the overall control unit 1 via a communication line. The overall control unit 1 creates rack transport destination information based on the identification information, and sends a rack transport instruction to each unit control unit via the control unit 14 of the rack supply unit 2. The rack 9 in which the reading of the rack ID or the sample ID is defective is taken out to the rack taking-out unit 2B according to an instruction from the overall control unit 1. The rack take-out portion 2B is disposed adjacent to the reading line.
[0025]
As an example of the combination of the pretreatment units, in the example of FIG. 1, 5A is a centrifuge unit for separating the parent sample of whole blood into serum and clot, and 5B is an opening unit for removing the cap of the parent sample container. 5C is a dispensing unit that dispenses a portion of the serum, which is a sample, from a parent sample container to a child sample container, and 5D is a barcode attaching unit that attaches a barcode label to the sample container that has been dispensed. Suppose there is. In the dispensing processing unit 5C, in order to form a child sample rack, a rack for holding a new empty container is supplied to the preprocessing station (dispensing station in this case) 20c. One or more child sample racks are created by dispensing the sample from the parent rack.
The rack whose transport destination, that is, the pre-processing unit at the stop-off destination is determined by the overall control unit 1 is moved from the reading line 17 to the transport line. If this rack is determined to stop at the preprocessing units 5A to 5C, the rack is temporarily stopped on the line section 3A, and the rack ID is read by the rack ID reader 7A. Various pre-processing units can carry in and out the racks with the transfer line. The read rack ID is transferred to the overall control unit 1, and based on this, the overall control unit 1 determines whether or not to carry the rack into the centrifuge unit 5A. In this case, since it can be carried in, the rack is carried into the centrifuge station 20a through a pull-in line, and subjected to a centrifugal separation process there.
[0026]
The rack that has been subjected to the centrifugal separation process is returned to the line section 3A of the transport line and transported to the next designated pre-processing unit. Similarly, on the next line section 3B, the rack ID is read by the rack ID reading device 7B, and based on this, loading is instructed from the overall control unit 1. The rack from which the plug of the parent sample container is removed at the preprocessing station 20b of the opening unit 5B is returned to the line section 3B again.
[0027]
This rack also stops at the next dispensing unit 5C in the same manner, and dispenses a part of the sample from the parent sample container on the opened parent rack to the empty container on the new rack. Both the parent rack and the newly created child rack are carried out to the line section 3C of the transport line. Thereafter, the parent rack is transported to the rack storage unit 4 without stopping at the barcode pasting unit 5D, but the child rack stops at the barcode pasting device 5D via the line section 3D and has the same specimen ID as the parent specimen. A label is attached to each child sample container.
[0028]
A rack that has been subjected to predetermined preprocessing is selectively stored in the processed rack take-out section 4B or 4C according to an instruction from the overall control section 1. For example, the parent rack is stored in 4B and the child rack is stored in 4C. The child rack having the child sample that needs to be analyzed is conveyed to the analysis unit 6 through the line section 3F.
[0029]
During the operation of the processing as shown in FIG. 1, there are a preprocessing unit that has been preprocessed due to a trouble and a preprocessing unit that has not been preprocessed due to the occurrence of a trouble. Shall be. In this case, the overall control unit 1 changes the transport destination information of the rack with respect to the preprocessing unit corresponding to the completion of the preprocessing. A rack having such incomplete preprocessing is taken out to the default rack take-out unit 4A.
[0030]
Such a rack is installed in the rack delivery mechanism 2A of the rack supply unit 2 so that it can be transported again by the transport line. In either the parent rack or the child rack, the rack ID reading device 7 reads the rack ID and collates the changed transport destination information. The rack transport destination information instructs the preprocessing unit corresponding to the rack that has not been preprocessed to stop, but the preprocessing unit that has completed preprocessing has no stop instruction. For this reason, the rack moved to the transport line stops only at the preprocessing unit that has not been preprocessed, and the necessary preprocessing is performed at the preprocessing station. This rack passes through the transport line in front of the preprocessing unit that has completed preprocessing, but bypasses the unit without stopping.
[0031]
On the other hand, although the preprocessing is executed, a rack with a poor result may occur. Such a rack can be transported again to the same pretreatment unit. In this case, the rack transported by the transport line reaches the transfer line 18 via the feedback line composed of the line sections 3 a to 3 d and is transferred to the reading line 17. Then, the transport of the rack is controlled so as to stop again at the preprocessing unit where the preprocessing is not good.
[0032]
Here, the modification of the control method in FIG. 1 is shown. The system configuration is almost the same as in FIG. 1, and the overall control unit 1 communicates only with the rack supply unit 2. Information on each line section, rack storage unit 4 and the like is exchanged with the rack supply unit 2 by internal information transmission means. Each line sorting unit includes storage means, and can store information sent from the rack supply unit in the storage means. When the rack supply unit 2 reads the sample ID and the rack ID and transmits them to the overall control unit 1, the overall control unit 1 returns the rack transport information to the supply unit. The rack transport information received by the supply unit is stored in the storage unit of the transport line via the internal transmission unit. The rack transported to the transport line reads the rack ID with a rack ID bar code reader, reads the corresponding rack transport information stored in the storage means, and determines whether or not to load the rack accordingly. Furthermore, instead of this modification, the control unit 1 may be built in the rack supply unit 2.
[0033]
Next, an example of a rack transfer mechanism for moving the rack between the transport line and the pretreatment unit used in the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0034]
The rack transfer mechanism includes a rack pull-in mechanism 22A that is attached to the preprocessing unit 5 and pulls the rack into the preprocessing unit, and a rack push-out mechanism 22B that returns the rack to the transport line. The rack pull-in mechanism 22A normally waits for the sample rack 9 to arrive in the preprocessing unit. When the rack 9 arrives at the carry-in port 101, the rack pull-in mechanism 22A is moved to the transfer line as indicated by a broken line, and the rack 9 is received. When the rack 9 is received, the rack pulling mechanism 22A is returned to the preprocessing unit, and the rack 9 is pulled into the preprocessing unit. The rack 9 drawn into the preprocessing unit moves to the preprocessing station 102 and is processed. After the sample is processed, the rack 9 moves to the push standby position 103, and the push mechanism 22B moves in the direction of the carry-out port 104 as indicated by a broken line, thereby moving the rack 9 to the transport line. Reference numeral 105 denotes a rack detector.
[0035]
Next, a database included in the overall control unit 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The overall control unit 1 stores the sample information database 24, the parent rack information database 26, and the child rack information database 28 in the storage unit 1A inside the control unit.
[0036]
The specimen information database is shown in FIG. The sample information database 24 holds processed preprocessing unit information for the parent sample. The processed preprocessing unit information associates various preprocessing units connected to the sample transport system in order of arrangement from the left. In FIG. 4, the preprocessing unit indicated by ◯ means a processed preprocessing unit. Further, the preprocessing unit indicated by x means an unprocessed preprocessing unit. The processed preprocessing unit information is written when the parent rack is processed by the preprocessing unit and the processing result is reported to the overall control unit 1.
[0037]
The parent rack information database is shown in FIG. The parent rack information database 26 holds transport destination information of the parent rack. Also, by holding the information of the reference information database of each parent sample held by the parent rack, the information of the parent sample of each position held by the rack 9 is referred from the sample information database 24 from the read rack ID. be able to.
[0038]
The child rack information database is shown in FIG. The child rack information database 28 holds the transport destination of the child rack and the processed preprocessing unit information of the rack. Further, it holds the sample information database reference destination of the parent sample that is the parent of each child sample held by the child rack, and the parent rack information database reference information of the parent rack that holds the parent sample. The processed preprocessing unit information associates various preprocessing units connected to the sample transport system in order of arrangement from the left. In FIG. 6, the preprocessing unit indicated by ◯ means a processed preprocessing unit. Further, the preprocessing unit indicated by x means an unprocessed preprocessing unit. The processed preprocessing unit information is written at the timing when the child rack is processed by the sample processing unit and the processing result is reported to the overall control unit 1.
[0039]
Next, a rack information table provided in the control unit will be described with reference to FIG.
[0040]
In FIG. 7, the rack information table 30 holds a start rack ID, an end rack ID, a sample type indicating a parent rack or a child rack, transport information, storage information, and the like.
[0041]
The sample type stores a code for identifying whether the rack to which the rack ID defined in the range from the start rack ID to the end rack ID is attached is the parent rack or the child rack.
[0042]
In the storage information, information on which take-out section of the rack storage section 4 is to be taken out is held.
[0043]
The transport information holds information on which pre-processing unit the rack is transported to and transport destination information of a rack that has not been processed (default). In FIG. 7, the preprocessing unit indicated by ◯ means a conveyance instruction or setting to the preprocessing unit. Further, the rack is not transported to the preprocessing unit indicated by “x”.
[0044]
Next, the processing flow after the rack is supplied to the supply unit will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0045]
FIG. 8 shows a rack flow in this embodiment. In the example of the system configuration in FIG. 8, a centrifuge unit 5A, an opening unit 5B, an online dispensing unit 5C, a barcode pasting unit 5D, a closing unit 5E, and an offline dispensing unit are provided between the rack supply unit and the rack storage unit. Assume that 5F and a classification unit 5G are provided.
[0046]
First, the flow of the parent rack will be described. The parent rack loaded from the rack supply unit 2 is then centrifuged in the centrifuge unit 5A, the sample container is unplugged in the opening unit 5B, and dispensed into the child rack in the online dispensing unit 5C. It is assumed that the sorting and dispensing process is performed by the offline dispensing unit 5 </ b> F and stored in the rack storage unit 4.
[0047]
If the system does not stop while processing the rack, the rack is processed in the order described above. Here, it is assumed that an alarm at a stop level due to nozzle jamming occurs during processing in the online dispensing unit 5C and the online dispensing unit 5C is stopped. When the online dispensing unit is reset by operator intervention, the rack is carried out to the default rack take-out unit 4A of the rack storage unit. When the rack is put into the rack supply unit 2 again, the centrifuge unit 5A and the opening unit 5B are bypassed because they have already been processed, and are transported to the online dispensing unit 5C. In the online dispensing unit 5C, a sample that has not been dispensed due to nozzle jamming is dispensed, and then the rack is transported to the offline dispensing unit 5F, and after processing, the rack take-out unit 4B of the rack storage unit 4 is processed. It is stored in.
[0048]
Next, the flow of the child rack will be described. The child racks in FIG. 8 are generated by the online dispensing unit 5C, and then stored in the rack storage unit 4 via the barcode pasting unit 5D and the classification unit 5G. If the system does not stop while processing the rack, the rack is processed in the order described above. Here, it is assumed that the system is stopped while the child rack carried out from the online dispensing unit 5C is being conveyed to the barcode pasting unit 5D. When the system is reset by operator intervention, the rack is carried out to the default rack take-out section 4A of the rack storage section 4. When the rack is loaded into the rack supply unit 2, the centrifuge unit 5A, the opening unit 5B, and the online dispensing unit 5C are bypassed and conveyed to the barcode pasting unit 5D. After the barcode label is pasted by the barcode pasting unit 5D, the rack is classified by the sorting unit 5G through the closing unit 5E, and the container is moved to a new rack. Are stored in the processed rack take-out section 4C.
[0049]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the rack supply unit 2. In S <b> 1, when the rack 9 is installed in the rack supply unit 2, the sample ID 13 and the rack ID 11 are read by the ID readers 7 and 8, and the read rack ID and sample ID are transmitted to the overall control unit 1. In S2, the rack information table 30 is referred to using the rack ID as a key to determine whether the read rack ID is a parent rack or a child rack. If it is a parent rack, the process proceeds to S3, and if it is a child rack, the process proceeds to S9.
[0050]
When the rack 9 is a parent rack, the sample information database 24 is searched using the sample ID read in S1 as a key, and processed preprocessing unit information is extracted (S6). When two or more sample containers 12 are held in the rack 9, S4 to S8 are repeated in S8. The result of completing the union of all the processed preprocessing unit information (S10) is the processed preprocessing unit of the rack.
[0051]
If the rack 9 is a child rack, the child rack information database 28 is searched using the rack ID as a key in S9 to S10, and the processed preprocessing unit information is extracted.
[0052]
In S11 to S12, the default rack transport destination information of the rack is extracted by referring to the rack information table 30 using the rack ID read in S1 as a key.
[0053]
In S13, an exclusive union of S10 and S12 is taken, and the result is transport destination information S14 of the rack. The transport destination information calculated in S14 is stored in the parent rack information database 26 if it is a parent rack, and is stored in the child rack information database 28 if it is a child rack.
[0054]
FIG. 10 shows a processing flow in the transfer line. When the rack 9 is carried out to the transport line, the rack ID reading device 7 reads the rack ID 11 (S15), and the read rack ID is transmitted to the overall control unit 1. In S16, using the received rack ID as a key, the rack information table 30 is referenced to determine whether the rack 9 is a parent rack or a child rack. In the case of a parent rack, the parent rack information database 26 is searched in S17 to extract rack transport destination information. In the case of a child rack, the child rack information database 28 is searched to extract the rack transport destination information. In the transfer line, based on the rack transfer destination information, the loading of the rack 9 to each pre-processing unit connected to the transfer line is determined and processed (S19).
[0055]
FIG. 11 shows a processing flow in the preprocessing unit. When processing of all the samples held by the rack 9 is completed in the preprocessing unit, the processing result is transmitted to the overall control unit 1 (S22). It is assumed that the result information transmitted from the preprocessing unit includes the rack ID of the rack. In S23, the rack information table 30 is referred to using the transmitted rack ID as a key to determine whether the rack 9 is a parent rack or a child rack.
[0056]
In the case of the parent rack, in S24 to S28, the sample information database reference destination of each position of the rack 9 is extracted from the parent rack information database 24 using the rack ID as a key. If the result in S22 is a normal processing result, “processed” is set for the preprocessing unit in the processed preprocessing unit information in the sample information database 24 of the sample (S28). When two or more sample containers 12 are held in the rack 9, S25 to S29 are repeated in S29.
[0057]
Here, if the sample is not processed normally, an alarm flag is added to the result, and when the overall control unit 1 receives the alarm flag, the processed preprocessing unit information of the sample indicates “ Leave as “Unprocessed”.
[0058]
In the case of the child rack in S23, if the processing results of all the child samples held by the rack 9 are normal results, the processed preprocessing unit information in the child rack information database 28 is set to “processed”. Otherwise, leave “unprocessed”.
[0059]
According to the above-described embodiment, even if a rack that has undergone incomplete processing once processed due to a trouble is supplied again from the rack supply unit after the trouble is solved, the preprocessing unit that has finished processing is bypassed, The rack can be transported only to the pretreatment unit that requires processing, and a more efficient and high throughput sample transport system can be constructed.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to cause preprocessing to be executed with high processing efficiency by transporting again a rack in which preprocessing has not been completed due to a trouble during operation of the preprocessing to a transport line in the system. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a rack transfer mechanism.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a rack.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a specimen information database.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a parent rack information database.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a child rack information database.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a rack information table.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a rack flow;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing in a rack supply unit.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing in a transport line.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of processing in a preprocessing unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... General control part, 2 ... Rack supply part, 3 ... Rack conveying apparatus, 3A-3F ... Line division, 4 ... Rack storage part, 4A ... Default rack taking-out part, 4B, 4C ... Processed rack taking-out part, 5A- 5D: Pretreatment unit, 6: Analysis unit, 7, 7A to 7E ... Rack ID reader, 8 ... Sample ID reader, 9 ... Rack, 15a-15f ... Unit controller, 20a-20d ... Pretreatment station.

Claims (2)

A transport device having a transport line for transporting a rack that holds a sample container, a rack supply unit that supplies the rack to the transport line, and the transport device are arranged along the transport device. In the sample transport system comprising a plurality of types of pre-processing units for performing pre-processing for analysis preparation on a sample of the sample, and an identification information reader for reading the identification information of the rack sent out from the rack supply unit, the plurality of types Each of the preprocessing units, and a preprocessing station that performs preprocessing on the racks loaded from the transport line, and rack transport destination information on a plurality of preprocessing units into which each rack is to be loaded. Pre-processing by the control unit to be managed and any of the pre-processing units that are transport destinations is carried in an incomplete state. A rack take-out section for taking out the rack to be sent out from the transfer device,
When the pre-processing is completed or not completed for the specific racks carried into the plurality of pre-processing units, the transport destination information regarding the pre-processing unit corresponding to the completion of the pre-processing is changed, and the specific rack The rack identification information of the specific rack is read by the identification information reader for transport, and the specific rack is placed in the preprocessing unit corresponding to incomplete preprocessing according to the changed rack transport destination information recognized along with the reading. A sample transport system configured to carry in and perform preprocessing, and transport the specific rack so that the specific rack does not stop at a preprocessing unit that has been preprocessed. The specimen transport system according to claim 1, wherein
The plurality of types of pre-processing units include at least a centrifugal separation unit and a dispensing processing unit, and determine whether the target rack is a parent rack or a child rack in accordance with reading by the identification information reader. If the rack is a child rack, the sample transport system transports the rack so as to bypass the dispensing unit.

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