Automatic analysis device and method for distributing analysis tank

Abstract

The automatic analysis device calculates, for each of a plurality of analysis cells (106), a target number of times that the analysis cell is used for each predetermined period on the basis of the remaining energy measurement number of the ion-selective electrode (112) and the remaining period up to the expiration date, and if there are a plurality of analysis cells that can be used for analysis request, calculates the target number of times that the analysis cell is used for each predetermined period. The use ratio of the analysis tank is determined on the basis of the ratio of the target number of times that can be used to analyze the requested plurality of analysis tanks. As a result, in an automatic analysis device provided with a plurality of analysis cells, the remaining energy measurement number is digested as much as possible within the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer including a plurality of analysis cells for measuring electrolyte concentrations of samples and a method for allocating the analysis cells. Background Art

[0002] Electrolyte measurements are performed using ion-selective electrodes (sodium (Na) / potassium (K) / chloride (Cl)). Ion-selective electrodes are consumables used in electrolyte measurements and have an expiration date and a remaining capacity. However, these expiration dates and remaining capacity are rarely managed. Ion-selective electrodes that have exceeded their expiration date or have no remaining capacity cannot be used for electrolyte measurements. Therefore, even if the remaining capacity is high, an ion-selective electrode cannot be used because it has exceeded its expiration date.

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses an electrolyte analysis device that allocates analysis cells for analysis by using the remaining energy measurement number and the expiration date, thereby appropriately exchanging consumables. Specifically, for an analysis request that comes to the electrolyte analysis device, the control computer first determines whether the number of measurement requests processed within a given time is greater than or less than the maximum processing capacity. In the case of less than the maximum processing capacity, the analysis cells are allocated so that the analysis cell with the largest number of remaining energy measurements of the ion-selective electrode is given priority. At this time, the allocation can be based on the remaining energy measurement number, or alternatively, the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode is used. In this case, the analysis cell to be used first is determined based on the two criteria of the remaining energy measurement number and the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode. In addition, the user can select the analysis cell to be used first based on the remaining energy measurement number and the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode.

[0004] In this way, when analysis requests are nearing maximum processing capacity, priority is given to maintaining processing capacity and performing analysis operations. When requests are intermittent, analysis cells with the highest number of ion-selective electrodes remaining in the analysis state are prioritized. This allows the remaining number of measurements to be evened out across multiple analysis cells. This allows users to more consistently replace ion-selective electrodes across multiple analysis cells, streamlining the frequency of consumable replacement.

[0005] Prior art literature

[0006] Patent Literature

[0007] Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2022 / 014096 Summary of the Invention

[0008] -Problems to be solved by the invention-

[0009] Patent Document 1 reduces the number of consumable replacements by aligning the replacement timing of ion-selective electrodes across analysis cells. However, by making the remaining energy available uniform across multiple analysis cells, depending on the analysis request, there is a possibility that, despite a high remaining energy available, the ion-selective electrodes may exceed their expiration date and require replacement. As consumables, ion-selective electrodes should preferably use up as much of their remaining energy available as possible within their expiration date.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to minimize the number of remaining energy measurements within the useful life of an ion selective electrode in an automatic analyzer equipped with a plurality of analysis cells.

[0011] -Methods for solving the problem-

[0012] An automatic analysis device as one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a plurality of analysis tanks, each having an ion-selective electrode for measuring the electrolyte concentration of a sample; and a control computer for allocating the analysis tanks for analysis requests, wherein the control computer calculates, for each of the plurality of analysis tanks, a target number of times the analysis tank is to be used in a given period based on the remaining measurable number of the ion-selective electrode and the remaining period until the expiration date, and, when there are a plurality of analysis tanks that can be used for analysis requests, the usage ratio of the analysis tanks is determined based on the ratio of the target number of times the plurality of analysis tanks that can be used for analysis requests.

[0013] -Effects of the Invention-

[0014] In an automatic analyzer equipped with a plurality of analysis cells, the remaining energy measurement number can be digested within the effective period of the ion selective electrode. Other problems, structures, and effects than those described above will become clear from the following description of the embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an automatic analyzer.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a flowchart showing the overall processing of analysis slot allocation.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a flowchart showing the process of determining the analysis tank to be used.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a flowchart showing a process of determining the usage ratio of a plurality of analysis tanks determined to be usable.

[0019] Figure 5 This is an example of the analysis tank selection screen for specifying the analysis tank to be used.

[0020] Figure 6This is an example of an analysis tank priority use setting screen for enabling / disabling the function of this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The following describes embodiments of an automatic analyzer using the accompanying drawings. While the following embodiments illustrate an automatic analyzer equipped with an electrolyte analyzer (analysis module) having multiple analysis cells, the device configuration is not limited to this. An automatic analyzer may also be configured by connecting multiple electrolyte analyzers each having a single analysis cell.

[0022] use Figure 1 The following describes an example of the structure of an automatic analyzer. The automatic analyzer includes a control computer 101, a sample loading unit 102, a sample collection unit 103, an ID reader 104, a transport line 105, an analysis tank 106, a dispensing mechanism 107, and an analysis module (electrolyte analyzer) 110. The analysis module 110 includes multiple (two in this example) analysis tanks 106.

[0023] A carrier 109 carrying a sample container 108 containing a sample such as blood or urine collected from a subject is loaded into the sample loading unit 102. The loaded carrier 109 is transported to the ID reader 104 via the transport line 105. The ID reader 104 is a device that reads the carrier ID attached to the carrier 109 and the sample ID attached to the sample container 108 loaded on the carrier 109. For example, the ID reader 104 is a barcode reader or RFID reader. Based on the information indicated by the carrier ID and sample ID, the ID reader 104 is associated with the analysis item requested in advance by the user.

[0024] After the ID reader 104 obtains the sample and establishes a correspondence with the requested analysis item, the carrier 109 is transported to the analysis module 110 via the transport line 105. The analysis module 110 receives the carrier 109 from the transport line 105 and transports it to the dispensing position using the intra-analysis unit transport line 111. Subsequently, based on the requested analysis item, the dispensing mechanism 107 aspirates the sample contained in the sample container 108 and dispenses it into one of the multiple analysis tanks 106. The dispensed sample is measured by the detector in the analysis tank 106.

[0025] After the aliquoting is completed, the carrier 109 is transferred to the transport line 105 using the transport line 111 within the analysis unit. Thereafter, the carrier 109 is recovered to the specimen recovery unit 103 via the transport line 105 .

[0026] Each analysis cell 106 is equipped with an ion-selective electrode 112 for electrolyte analysis. Each ion-selective electrode 112 is set with a remaining energy measurement count and an expiration date. The automatic analyzer of this embodiment uses a target number of times calculated based on the remaining energy measurement counts and expiration dates of the ion-selective electrodes 112 to allocate analysis cells 106 for analysis requests. As mentioned above, there are three types of ion-selective electrodes: sodium, potassium, and chloride. Therefore, if the remaining energy measurement counts and expiration dates of the three ion-selective electrodes differ, the remaining energy measurement count and expiration date of the ion-selective electrode with the shortest remaining time until expiration date are preferably used in the analysis cell selection process described below. However, the structure of the electrolyte analyzer uses all ion-selective electrodes for each measurement, regardless of the analysis item. Therefore, ion-selective electrode replacement often occurs simultaneously for all three types of ion-selective electrodes. In an automatic analyzer employing this approach, the remaining energy measurement counts and expiration dates of any ion-selective electrode can be used to allocate analysis cells.

[0027] Figure 2 A flowchart showing the overall analysis tank allocation process of this embodiment is shown. This flowchart is executed by the control computer 101.

[0028] First, the control computer 101 determines the analysis tank 106 to be used for analysis (S01). This allows the analysis tank to be used first, and reduces the number of remaining energy measurements of the ion selective electrode within its effective period. Figure 3 Next, when there are a plurality of usable analysis tanks determined in step S01 , the control computer 101 determines the usage ratio of each analysis tank 106 ( S02 ).

[0029] The details of step S02 are as follows: Figure 4 shown.

[0030] use Figure 3 , the details of the process of determining the analysis cell to be used (step S01) will be described.

[0031] Step S11: Determine whether the remaining period until the expiration date of the ion-selective electrodes is longer than a given period in all analysis cells 106 included in the automatic analyzer. The given period is not particularly limited, but is assumed to be 24 hours for the purposes of this description. In this case, the control computer 101 determines whether the remaining period of the ion-selective electrodes 112 in the analysis cells 106 is longer than 24 hours. If the remaining period of the ion-selective electrodes 112 is longer than 24 hours in all analysis cells 106, all analysis cells 106 are deemed usable, and the process proceeds to step S15. On the other hand, if any analysis cell 106 has an ion-selective electrode 112 with an expiration date of less than 24 hours, the process proceeds to step S12.

[0032] Step S12: The control computer 101 shields the analysis cells 106 in which the remaining period of the ion-selective electrode 112 is longer than a predetermined period. In this case, the analysis cells 106 in which the remaining period of the ion-selective electrode 112 is longer than 24 hours are shielded. Therefore, among the analysis cells included in the automatic analyzer, the analysis cells 106 in which the remaining period of the ion-selective electrode 112 is longer than the predetermined period are excluded from the usable analysis cells.

[0033] Step S13: Determine whether only one analysis cell 106 is available for use. If only one analysis cell 106 is available, it is not possible to further narrow down the analysis cells 106 used for measurement, so the process proceeds to step S14. If multiple analysis cells 106 are available for use at the time of step S13, the multiple analysis cells 106 whose remaining periods of the ion selective electrodes 112 are less than the predetermined period are considered available analysis cells, and the process proceeds to step S15.

[0034] Step S14: Decide to use the unmasked analysis tank (tank 1).

[0035] Step S15: The control computer 101 determines whether the available analysis tanks 106 include the analysis tank designated by the user.

[0036] Users can access the Figure 5 In the analysis cell selection screen 501 shown, the state of each analysis cell 106 at that time is confirmed in the ion selective electrode information display field 502 , and the analysis cell 106 to be used is selected.

[0037] Figure 5This is an example of a screen display when the automatic analyzer includes two analysis cells, analysis cell 1 and analysis cell 2. Information related to each is displayed in the ion-selective electrode information display field 502. The ion-selective electrode information display field 502 contains at least the remaining measurement capacity and expiration date of the analysis cell 106. For ease of interpretation, this example displays the remaining period until the expiration date, the remaining measurement capacity divided by the target number of times remaining, the number of times used at the time the analysis cell selection screen 501 is displayed, and the achievement rate (number of times used / target number of times). Based on the information in the ion-selective electrode information display field 502, the user can select an analysis cell 106 by pressing the analysis cell selection button 506 for any analysis cell and then by pressing the apply button 503 or the release button 504. The user can use the ion-selective electrode information display field 502 to confirm the status of the ion-selective electrode 112, such as those that are clearly not exhausted. Furthermore, by specifying an analysis cell 106, only the analysis cell 106 that is desired to be used first can be used. To close the analysis cell selection screen 501, press the close button 505.

[0038] The most recent user selection is used in the determination in step S15. However, if, for example, a user selection has expired, the user selection may be invalidated. If there is no user-specified analysis slot, or if the user's selection is invalid, the process proceeds to step S18. If there is a user-specified analysis slot, the process proceeds to step S16.

[0039] Step S16: The control computer 101 masks the analysis wells 106 other than the one designated by the user. Thus, the analysis wells 106 other than the one designated by the user among the analysis wells included in the automatic analyzer are excluded from the usable analysis wells.

[0040] Step S17: Determine the use of the unmasked analysis slots, ie, the analysis slots designated by the user.

[0041] Step S18: Determine the use of the available analysis tank 106. In this case, there are a plurality of available analysis tanks.

[0042] Figure 3 In the example, priority is set for analysis slots based on both expiration dates and user specifications. However, analysis slots may be set based on only one of these criteria, and step S01 may be omitted. However, by executing step S01, analysis slots that are being used, such as user-specified analysis slots and analysis slots with approaching expiration dates, can be limited to analysis slots that are intended for priority.

[0043] In the process of step S01, multiple analysis tanks may be determined as usable analysis tanks (steps S17 and S18). In such a case, the control computer 101 executes step S02. If only one analysis tank is determined to be usable (step S14), the execution of step S02 is omitted. Figure 4 The following describes the details of the process of determining the usage ratio of the plurality of analysis cells that have been determined to be usable (step S02). In step S02, the usage ratio of each analysis cell 106 is calculated based on the remaining measurable number of the ion selective electrode 112 and the remaining period until the expiration date.

[0044] Step S21: The control computer 101 calculates the target number of uses for each analysis cell per a given period. The given period is not particularly limited and is hereinafter assumed to be one day for illustration. First, the remaining period until the expiration date is calculated based on the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode 112 of each analysis cell and the current time. If the given period is set to one day, the remaining days are treated as the remaining period. The target number of uses is the number of remaining measurements of the ion-selective electrode 112 divided by the remaining days. Alternatively, the target number of uses can be calculated as a simple average, or after weighting based on, for example, the day of the week.

[0045] Step S22: The control computer 101 determines the usage ratio of each analysis tank 106. The usage ratio is determined based on the ratio of the target number of times per given period for each analysis tank 106. For example, if there are two analysis tanks 106, one with a target number of times per given period of 100 and another with a target number of times per given period of 200, the ratio of the target number of times can be calculated as 1:2.

[0046] Step S23: A determination is made as to whether the usage ratios of the analysis tanks 106 calculated in step S23 are considered balanced, and whether the difference between the target counts per given period calculated in step S21 is greater than a threshold. This step is used to eliminate the difference even when the target counts per given period for multiple analysis tanks are close.

[0047] For example, suppose there are two analysis slots 106, one with a target number of times per given period of 97 and the other with a target number of times per given period of 103. In step S22, the usage ratio is 1:1, meaning the usage ratios of the two analysis slots are considered balanced. However, the difference in the target number of times per given period between the two is 6. Therefore, a threshold for the difference in the target number of times per given period is pre-set, and if there is a difference greater than the threshold, the usage ratio is changed to eliminate the difference.

[0048] Step S24: If the conditions of step S23 are met, the process proceeds here. The usage ratio is changed so that the analysis slot 106 with the highest target number of measurements per given period is prioritized. For example, if the threshold for the difference between the target number of measurements per given period is set to 3 for two analysis slots 106, namely, analysis slot 106 with a target number of measurements per given period of 97 and analysis slot 106 with a target number of measurements per given period of 103, the usage ratio is changed to 1:2. This ensures that the usage ratios of the analysis slots 106 calculated in step S21 do not differ, preventing the difference in the number of remaining measurable measurements from increasing.

[0049] Step S25: If the condition of step S23 is not satisfied, the process proceeds to this step. The usage ratio of each analysis tank 106 is determined to be the usage ratio calculated in step S22.

[0050] This makes it possible to determine an appropriate usage ratio so that the remaining number of measurements of the ion selective electrode 112 is used up within the validity period.

[0051] Figures 2 to 4 The processing described in is performed at the timing of the date change or the timing of the first automatic analysis device startup on that day. Afterwards, when the control computer 101 determines the analysis slot 106 to be used for the analysis request, the analysis slots excluded from the available analysis slots are blocked. Therefore, the control computer 101 does not need to select the analysis slot 106 to be used for each analysis request. If there is only one analysis slot available, the analysis slot is fixedly selected. If there are multiple analysis slots available, the analysis requests are allocated to the analysis slots so that the usage ratio is calculated together. In addition, when the user selects the analysis slot from the analysis slot selection screen 501 (see Figure 5 ) is also executed when the specified analysis slot is changed Figures 2 to 4 processing.

[0052] However, this embodiment may inhibit the processing capacity of an automated analyzer (electrolyte analyzer) equipped with multiple analysis cells. Therefore, it is also effective to switch between analysis-priority mode and consumables-efficient utilization mode. In analysis-priority mode, the functions of this embodiment are not executed, maximizing the number of analyses per given period to improve the throughput of analysis requests. In consumables-efficient utilization mode, the functions of this embodiment are executed to achieve efficient use of consumables.

[0053] For example, users can Figure 6The illustrated analyzer slot priority use setting screen 601 shows a mode switch between the Enable and Disable buttons 602 and 603. Specifically, the function of this embodiment is enabled or disabled using the Apply and Release buttons 606 and 607. If the function is enabled using the Enable button 602, the Time setting button 604 can be used to further set whether or not to specify the time. If the Time setting button 604 specifies the time for enabling the function, the valid time can be set in the Specified Time input field 605. To close the analyzer slot priority use setting screen 601, press the Close button 608.

[0054] This allows the function to be enabled or disabled, and selectively applied according to the analysis request status, thereby achieving effective use of consumables without reducing the actual throughput of the automatic analyzer.

[0055] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments and variations, but includes various other variations. For example, the aforementioned embodiments are described in detail to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not necessarily limited to the entirety of the described configuration. For example, if an automated analyzer includes analysis cells with ion-selective electrodes 112 whose expiration dates are approaching, a function may be provided to shield the other analysis cells and to allow the user to confirm this fact.

[0056] -Description of Reference Numerals-

[0057] 101…control computer, 102…sample loading section, 103…sample recovery section, 104…ID reader, 105…conveying line, 106…analysis tank, 107…dispensing mechanism, 108…sample container, 109…carrier, 110…analysis module, 111…conveying line within analysis unit, 501…analysis tank selection screen, 502…ion selective electrode information display bar, 503, 606…apply button, 504, 607…release button, 505, 608…close button, 506…analysis tank selection button, 601…analysis tank priority setting screen, 602…valid button, 603…invalid button, 604…time designation setting button, 605…designated time input bar.

Claims

1. An automatic analysis device, characterized in that have: a plurality of analysis cells, each having an ion-selective electrode for measuring the electrolyte concentration of the sample; as well as Control computer, allocate analysis slots for analysis commissions, The control computer calculates, for each of the multiple analysis cells, a target number of times the analysis cell is to be used in a given period based on the remaining measurement capacity of the ion selective electrode and the remaining period until the expiration date. When there are multiple analysis cells that can be used for analysis requests, the control computer determines the usage ratio of the analysis cells based on the ratio of the target number of times of the multiple analysis cells that can be used for analysis requests.

2. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, wherein The plurality of analysis cells are respectively provided with a plurality of ion selective electrodes, The control computer calculates the target number of times using the remaining measurement capacity and the expiration date of the ion selective electrode having the shortest remaining period until the expiration date among the plurality of ion selective electrodes included in the analysis cell.

3. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, wherein When the usage ratios of the plurality of analysis slots available for analysis requests obtained based on the ratio of the target times are deemed balanced and the difference between the target times is greater than a threshold, the control computer changes the usage ratios of the analysis slots so that the analysis slots with the greater target times are preferentially used.

4. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, wherein The control computer excludes analysis cells in which the remaining period of the ion selective electrodes in the plurality of analysis cells is equal to or longer than a predetermined period from analysis cells that can be used for analysis requests.

5. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, wherein The control computer excludes analysis slots other than the analysis slot designated by the user from analysis slots that can be used for analysis requests. The automatic analysis device according to claim 5 , wherein: The control computer has: an analysis priority mode for maximizing the number of analyses per given period; and a consumables effective utilization mode, in which, for each of the multiple analysis tanks, the target number of times is calculated based on the remaining number of measurements that the ion selective electrode can make and the remaining period until the expiration date, and when there are multiple analysis tanks that can be used for analysis requests, the usage ratio of the analysis tanks is determined based on the ratio of the target number of times of the multiple analysis tanks that can be used for analysis requests.

7. The automatic analysis device according to claim 6, wherein A time period for setting the consumables effective utilization mode can be specified.

8. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, wherein When the automatic analysis device is started, the control computer calculates the target number of times for each of the multiple analysis tanks based on the remaining measurement capacity of the ion selective electrode and the remaining period until the expiration date. When there are multiple analysis tanks that can be used for analysis requests, the usage ratio of the analysis tanks is determined based on the ratio of the target number of times of the multiple analysis tanks that can be used for analysis requests.

9. A method for allocating analysis cells for analysis requests in an automatic analysis device, the automatic analysis device comprising: a plurality of analysis cells, each of which is equipped with an ion-selective electrode for measuring the electrolyte concentration of a sample; and a control computer for allocating the analysis cells for analysis requests. The method for allocating analysis slots is characterized in that: The control computer performs the following processing: For each of the plurality of analysis cells, a target number of uses per given period is calculated based on the remaining measurable number of the ion selective electrode and the remaining period until the expiration date. When there are multiple analysis slots that can be used for the analysis request, the usage ratio of the analysis slots is determined based on the ratio of the target number of times of the multiple analysis slots that can be used for the analysis request. Analysis slots for analysis commissions are allocated according to the usage ratio.

10. The method for allocating analysis slots according to claim 9, wherein: When the usage ratios of the plurality of analysis slots available for analysis requests obtained based on the ratio of the target times are deemed balanced and the difference between the target times is greater than a threshold, the control computer changes the usage ratios of the analysis slots so that the analysis slots with the greater target times are preferentially used.

11. The method for allocating analysis slots according to claim 9, wherein: The control computer excludes analysis cells in which the remaining period of the ion selective electrodes in the plurality of analysis cells is equal to or longer than a predetermined period from analysis cells that can be used for analysis requests.

12. The method for allocating analysis slots according to claim 9, wherein: The control computer excludes analysis slots other than the analysis slot designated by the user from analysis slots that can be used for analysis requests.

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