Automated analyzer

Abstract

The consumable container setting unit is provided with a first position and a second position, the consumable contained in the consumable container set at the first position is used for analyzing the specimen, and when the consumable container set at the first position is used up, the consumable container set at the second position is transferred to the first position. When it is determined that the consumable stored in the consumable storage container provided in the second position is not usable, it is determined that the sample can be analyzed only using the consumable stored in the consumable storage container provided in the first position before the analysis of the sample starts. The consumables contained in the consumables containing containers arranged at the first position and the second position need to be used. Therefore, the situation that analysis started by using the first consumables cannot use the second consumables and is interrupted due to the reasons such as the expiration date of the consumables in standby is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for performing quantitative or qualitative analysis of biological samples such as blood and urine, and particularly to an automatic analyzer that uses consumables such as reaction vessels for analysis. Background Art

[0002] Among automatic analyzers, there are automatic analyzers that use reaction containers as consumables as containers for reacting the specimen with the reagent when analyzing blood or urine (hereinafter referred to as the specimen). The reaction container is disposable and is no longer used and discarded after being used for one analysis. Usually, the reaction container is set in the device in a state where a predetermined number of reaction containers are stored in a storage container (reaction container tray) for storing the reaction containers, and the reaction container used for analysis is transported to the specimen dispensing position or the reagent dispensing position for use using a clamping mechanism or the like. In addition, for the purpose of managing the expiration date of the reaction container, there is also a situation where an identifier (RFID or barcode) with expiration date information is given to the reaction container tray. In addition, the reaction container is not limited to being used only one for one analysis, and sometimes two or more reaction containers are used for one analysis at a predetermined time interval.

[0003] Reaction vessels are essential consumables for analysis. Without available reaction vessels, analysis cannot be performed. Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic analyzer capable of accommodating multiple (e.g., two) consumable storage containers. The system determines the usage status of each consumable storage container and prioritizes the consumable storage container for use.

[0004] Prior art literature

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2020 / 044790 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] Patent Document 1 prioritizes the use of consumable storage containers based on the status of the containers and consumables in the automated analyzer. For example, whether a container is in use or unused is determined by whether the consumable has been removed from the container, and the age of the container is determined by whether it was installed in the automated analyzer. There is no disclosure of determining whether the container is in use based on information such as the expiration date obtained from the identifier assigned to the consumable container. To properly analyze specimens, it is desirable to control the use of consumables that have expired.

[0009] In particular, when two or more reaction vessels are used in a single analysis, a situation may arise where the first reaction vessel is taken from a reaction vessel tray placed in the first consumable container storage location (the active position), and the second reaction vessel is taken from a reaction vessel tray placed in the second consumable container storage location (the standby position). In this case, if the expiration date of the reaction vessel tray placed in the second consumable container storage location is determined to have expired, the analysis started using the first reaction vessel cannot be used with the second reaction vessel, and the analysis must be interrupted.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to prevent the analysis from being interrupted by not using the second reaction container when an analysis started using the first reaction container even when the consumables on standby cannot be used due to expiration of their validity period.

[0011] Means for solving problems

[0012] An automatic analyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: an analyzing unit that analyzes a specimen using consumables; and a control unit that controls the analysis of the specimen performed by the analyzing unit. The consumables are held in a consumables storage container setting unit of the analyzing unit in a state in which they are stored in consumables storage containers assigned identifiers. The consumables storage container setting unit includes a first position and a second position. The consumables stored in the consumables storage container set at the first position are used for analyzing the specimen. When the consumables storage container set at the first position is completely used, the consumables storage container set at the second position is moved to the first position. The consumables storage container setting unit includes an identification unit that identifies the identifier assigned to the consumables storage container set at the second position. When the identification unit determines that the consumables stored in the consumables storage container set at the second position are unusable, the control unit determines, before starting analysis of the specimen, whether analysis of the specimen can be performed using only the consumables stored in the consumables storage container set at the first position, or whether analysis of the specimen requires the use of consumables stored in both the first and second positions.

[0013] Effects of the Invention

[0014] This prevents analysis started with the first consumable from being interrupted due to the inability to use the second consumable due to the expiration date of the consumables on standby, etc. Other issues and new features will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 This is a diagram schematically showing the basic structure of an automatic analyzer.

[0016] Figure 2It is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the sample introduction section.

[0017] Figure 3A This is a schematic diagram showing position 1 of the injection valve.

[0018] Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram showing position 2 of the injection valve.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a reaction container tray installation unit.

[0020] Figure 5 It is a diagram for explaining the reaction container tray replacement process.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit when the reaction container tray is replaced. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The following describes embodiments of the present invention using the accompanying drawings. In addition, descriptions of identical components across the various figures may be omitted. Here, an example of an automated analyzer is described. This automated analyzer reacts a sample with a reagent, performs a pretreatment using magnetic beads to separate its components, separates the components of the pretreated sample using a liquid chromatograph (LC), and analyzes the mass of the ionized sample.

[0023] Figure 1 This figure schematically illustrates the basic structure of an automatic analyzer 100. The automatic analyzer 100 includes an analyzer 101 and a controller 102. The analyzer 101 primarily includes a preprocessor 110, a separator 111, and a detector 112, while the controller 102 primarily includes an interface 1, a display 2, a keyboard 3, a microcomputer 4, a memory 5, an external storage device 6, and a printer 7.

[0024] The pretreatment unit 110 has the following functions: for the sub-samples aliquoted from the parent sample, it uses reagents, magnetic beads (hydrophobic interaction), and an extraction solvent to remove unnecessary substances other than the analyte, and then introduces the sample into the separation unit. As the main structure, the pretreatment unit 110 includes a conveyor line 24, a sample dispensing mechanism 25, a reagent disk 26, an incubator 27, a reaction vessel tray setting unit (consumables storage container setting unit) 28, a conveying mechanism 29, a reagent dispensing mechanism 30, a magnetic particle stirring mechanism 31, a cleaning unit 32, an elution unit 37, a supernatant separation unit 38, a liquid property adjustment unit 39, an LC transfer mechanism 40, and a reaction vessel waste unit 41. In addition, the cleaning unit 32, the elution unit 37, the supernatant separation unit 38, and the liquid property adjustment unit 39 are respectively composed of a combination of a cleaning liquid nozzle 33, a chamber 34, a magnetic separator 35, and a mixer 36.

[0025] The transport line 24 is used to transport racks capable of holding multiple specimen containers to the specimen dispensing position, etc. The specimen dispensing mechanism 25 is a dispensing mechanism that aspirates the specimen from the specimen container at the specimen dispensing position using a nozzle and ejects the sample into the reaction container on the incubator 27. The incubator 27 is a tray for reacting the specimen with the reagent at a constant temperature. The incubator is maintained at a predetermined temperature by a heater (not shown), thereby promoting the reaction between the specimen and the reagent.

[0026] The reaction container is configured to be able to hold a plurality of reaction containers in the incubator 27, and serves as a place for mixing and reacting the specimen and the reagent. The reaction containers are stored in a reaction container tray (consumable storage container), and the reaction container tray is set in the reaction container tray setting part 28. The structure of the reaction container tray setting part 28 will be described later. The reaction container is made disposable, and the conveying mechanism 29 conveys the unused reaction container set in the reaction container tray setting part 28 to the incubator 27, and conveys the used reaction container to the reaction container disposal part 41 and discards it. In addition, the conveying mechanism 29 is not limited to the incubator 27 as the transfer destination of the reaction container, and also conveys it to the magnetic separator 35, the mixer 36, and the LC transfer mechanism 40.

[0027] The reagent tray 26 is a tray that stores reagent containers containing magnetic particles and reagents used in specimen pretreatment and analysis, and is kept cold to prevent reagent degradation. The reagent dispensing mechanism 30 draws the reagents stored in the reagent containers on the reagent tray 26 through a nozzle and dispenses the reagents into the reaction vessels on the incubator 27. The magnetic particle stirring mechanism 31 stirs the magnetic particle solution in the reagents on the reagent tray 26.

[0028] The cleaning unit 32, elution unit 37, supernatant separation unit 38, and liquidity adjustment unit 39 are described. First, the elements that constitute them are described. While the following description uses the cleaning unit 32 as an example, in other units, liquids corresponding to the intended use are supplied to the chamber 34 for processing. The cleaning liquid used in the cleaning unit 32 is a cleaning liquid used to remove impurities other than the substance bound to the magnetic beads (the substance to be measured).

[0029] The chamber 34 is a container for mixing cleaning liquid supplied from a cleaning liquid reservoir (not shown) through a cleaning liquid supply mechanism (not shown). There are many types of cleaning liquids, and they are mixed for use according to the impurities.

[0030] The cleaning liquid nozzle 33 is composed of two nozzles: a suction nozzle and a discharge nozzle, and can perform both drainage after cleaning and supply of cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid supplied to the chamber 34 is dispensed into the reaction container through the cleaning liquid discharge nozzle.

[0031] The mixer 36 stirs the liquid (mixed liquid of the washing liquid and the specimen) in the reaction container by rotating.

[0032] The magnetic separator 35 performs magnetic separation of the reaction container into which the magnetic particle solution and the cleaning liquid are dispensed. After a certain period of time, when the magnetic separation is completed, the cleaning liquid suction nozzle is used to drain the water after cleaning to remove impurities.

[0033] In the washing unit 32 , impurities originating from the biological sample remaining in the mixed solution of the specimen, reagent, and magnetic beads are removed while the magnetic beads are immobilized together with the substance bound to the magnetic beads in the magnetic separator 35 .

[0034] In the elution unit 37 , an organic solvent is ejected into the reaction container after the magnetic beads have been cleaned by the cleaning unit 32 , thereby eluting the analyte adsorbed on the magnetic particles.

[0035] In the supernatant separation unit 38 , the separated measurement target substance (the measurement target substance eluted by the elution unit 37 ) is dispensed into a new reaction container transported by the transport mechanism 29 .

[0036] In the liquid property adjustment unit 39 , a diluent or the like is dispensed and stirred in order to adjust the liquid properties of the separated measurement target substance to be suitable for separation by liquid chromatography.

[0037] Through the above-described processes, the sample (the separated measurement target substance) that has undergone a series of sample pretreatments is transferred from the pretreatment unit 110 to the separation unit 111 by the LC transfer mechanism 40 .

[0038] The separation unit 111 has a function of separating the components of the sample purified by the pre-treatment unit 110 using liquid chromatography. The separation unit 111 includes a sample introduction unit 8 and a column oven 9 as main components.

[0039] like Figure 2 As shown, the specimen introduction section 8 includes: a specimen introduction solvent 301; a solvent delivery pump 302 for conveying the specimen introduction solvent 301; a solvent switching valve 303 for controlling the composition of the specimen introduction solvent 301; an injection valve 304; a sample loop 305; a pipette 306; and a syringe 307 for aspirating the specimen from the reaction container conveyed from the pretreatment section 110 via the LC transfer mechanism 40 and introducing it into the sample loop 305.

[0040] use Figure 3A 、 Figure 3B The injection valve 304 is described. The injection valve 304 is a six-way valve that can form two modes of flow paths by switching the flow path. Figure 3A In the position 1 shown, the flow paths of port 1 and port 6, port 2 and port 3, and port 4 and port 5 are connected. Figure 3B In position 2 shown, the flow paths of port 1 and port 2, port 3 and port 4, and port 5 and port 6 are connected.

[0041] When the specimen is aspirated, the position of the injection valve 304 is controlled to position 1 ( Figure 3A ), connecting the pipette 306, the sample loop 305, and the syringe 307. After the LC transfer mechanism 40 transports the reaction vessel to the predetermined position, the pipette 306 descends, aspirating the specimen from the reaction vessel, filling the sample loop 305 with the sample. The speed at which the syringe 307 aspirates the specimen can be controlled by the microcomputer 4, enabling optimal settings for each analyte. Simultaneously, the sample introduction solvent 301, the solvent switching valve 303, the solvent delivery pump 302, and the column selection valve 20 are connected, allowing the mobile phase to flow through the chromatographic column.

[0042] When the sample is introduced into the chromatographic column, the position of the injection valve 304 is controlled to position 2 ( Figure 3B ), connect the specimen introduction solvent 301-solvent switching valve 303-solvent liquid delivery pump 302-sample loop 305-chromatographic column selection valve 20, and the sample can be introduced into the chromatographic column along with the flow of the mobile phase.

[0043] A column oven 9 holds chromatographic columns 10 to 14 for separating the target analyte from impurities within the oven and regulates the temperature of these columns. Furthermore, column selection valves 20 and 21 are held outside the oven for arbitrarily connecting any of these columns to a flow path. These valves are controlled by the microcomputer 4 of the control unit 102 to select the column to be used for separation.

[0044] The detection unit 112 has a function of measuring and analyzing the mass of the sample after the separation of components by the separation unit 111. The detection unit 112 includes a detector 22 and an A / D converter 23 as main components.

[0045] The detector 112 ionizes the sample separated by the separator 111 and causes it to fly within a vacuum. The flying ions are electrically separated into analytes according to their mass-to-charge ratio (m / z) and detected by the detector 22. As a result, the relative intensity change of the analytes over time can be obtained as a detection peak (mass spectrum).

[0046] The mass spectrum of the analyte obtained by detector 22 is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by A / D converter 23, and then input to microcomputer 4 via interface 1. The digital signal is converted to the concentration of the analyte in the sample through quantitative calculation processing using the area value of the detected peak. The converted concentration data is printed out via interface 1 from an output device such as printer 7 or displayed on the screen of display 2. The operation of detector 22 is controlled by microcomputer 4 of control unit 102.

[0047] The user can use the display 2 and the keyboard 3 to input various information. The measurement results of the analysis items can be displayed on a printer 7 or a display 2 as an example of an output device. The information of the external storage device 6 is read by a reading device not shown and stored in a corresponding storage area in the memory 5 or the microcomputer 4. The information stored in the external storage device 6 is as follows. That is, the analysis item code, the parameters used in the analysis item, etc. Among them, the parameters used in the analysis item include pretreatment methods, separation methods, detection methods, etc. In addition to storing the information read from the external storage device 6, the memory 5 also stores the operating conditions of each mechanism part of the automatic analyzer 100, the analysis parameters of each analysis item, the judgment logic for managing each reagent, the analysis results, etc.

[0048] Figure 4 1 shows the structure of the reaction container tray installation part 28 of the pre-processing part 110. Figure 4 As shown, the reaction vessel tray setting unit 28 includes a use position 201 (first position) for setting a reaction vessel tray in use and a standby position 202 (second position) for setting a reaction vessel tray on standby. Furthermore, the unit includes an identification unit 203 for identifying an identifier assigned to a reaction vessel tray on standby placed in the standby position 202.

[0049] Here, the identifier includes an optically readable identifier such as a barcode, an identifier that can be read using radio waves such as an RFID (IC tag, wireless tag), etc., but any identifier that can read information may be used. In addition, if the identifier is a barcode (one-dimensional barcode, two-dimensional barcode), the recognition unit 203 is a barcode reader that irradiates the barcode with laser light and detects the reflected light. If the identifier is an RFID, the recognition unit 203 is an RFID reader, etc., but any identifier that can read the information of the identifier may be used.

[0050] A reaction vessel tray discarding section 204 for discarding used reaction vessel trays is provided below the active position 201, and a reaction vessel tray supplying section 205 for storing unused reaction vessel trays is provided below the standby position 202. The reaction vessel tray setting section 28 includes a reaction vessel tray conveying mechanism (not shown) capable of transferring reaction vessel trays located in the active position 201 to the reaction vessel tray discarding section 204, transferring reaction vessel trays located in the standby position 202 to the active position 201, and transferring reaction vessel trays located in the reaction vessel tray supplying section 205 to the standby position 202.

[0051] The following describes the replacement process of the reaction container tray in this embodiment. Figure 5 Indicates the replacement process of the reaction vessel tray. Here, the reaction vessel is provided to the automatic analyzer in a state of being stored in the reaction vessel tray, and the reaction vessel is managed based on the data of the identifier of the reaction vessel tray. The following describes an example using RFID as an identifier and using an RFID reader / writer capable of reading and writing RFID as the identification unit 203. The identifier (RFID) holds an ID that uniquely identifies the reaction vessel tray, as well as management information (management data) such as an expiration date, a used / unused distinction (status), and a code indicating that it is a genuine product, which are associated with the ID. However, if a non-writable identifier such as a barcode is used, or if a non-writable RFID reader is used as the identification unit 203, the control unit 102 can manage the reaction vessel tray by associating the management information (management data) about the reaction vessel tray with the ID and pre-saving it in the memory 5.

[0052] State a: State a is a state in which the reaction container tray at the use position 201 is being used.

[0053] State b: When the reaction vessel tray at the use position 201 is free of reaction vessels, the reaction vessel tray conveying mechanism discards the used reaction vessel tray to the reaction vessel tray discarding portion 204. State b indicates that the used reaction vessel tray has been discarded.

[0054] State c: The reaction vessel tray at the standby position 202 is transferred to the active position 201 by the reaction vessel tray transport mechanism. Immediately before transferring the reaction vessel tray at the standby position 202, the identification unit 203 rewrites the status stored in the reaction vessel tray identifier from "unused" to "in use." State c indicates that the reaction vessel tray has been transferred from the standby position 202 to the active position 201.

[0055] State d: The reaction vessel tray transport mechanism supplies an unused reaction vessel tray from the reaction vessel tray supply unit 205 to the standby position 202. At this point, the identification unit 203 recognizes the identifier of the reaction vessel tray in the standby position 202 and confirms the management information for the reaction vessel tray. State d indicates that a new reaction vessel tray has been transferred from the reaction vessel tray supply unit 205 to the standby position 202.

[0056] The timing for supplying the reaction vessel tray to the standby position 202 is not particularly limited. For example, the reaction vessel tray may be supplied before the start of analysis using the reaction vessels in the reaction vessel tray moved to the active position 201, or it may be supplied concurrently with the start of analysis using the reaction vessels in the reaction vessel tray moved to the active position 201. However, in the latter case, it is preferred that a new reaction vessel tray be supplied to the standby position 202 while a sufficient number of reaction vessels remain in the reaction vessel tray in the active position 201.

[0057] Next, the operation flow of the control unit 102 during replacement of the reaction container tray according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 6 This section shows the control unit operation flow when the reaction vessel tray is replaced.

[0058] In step S101, a determination is made as to whether the reaction vessel tray in the use position 201 (hereinafter referred to as the use position tray) has been used up. If the use position tray is empty or the number of reaction vessels remaining in the use position tray is less than a predetermined number, the tray is determined to be used up. If the tray is used up, the process proceeds to step S102; if not, the process returns to step S101.

[0059] In step S102 , the used position tray is discarded into the reaction container tray discarding unit 204 .

[0060] In step S103, the reaction vessel tray at the standby position 202 (hereinafter referred to as the standby position tray) is transferred to the use position 201. At this time, the identification unit 203 rewrites the status of the standby position tray from "unused" to "used" based on the identifier. If the identifier cannot be rewritten and the control unit 102 manages the management information of the reaction vessel tray, the status of the standby position tray in the memory 5 is rewritten from "unused" to "used."

[0061] In step S104 , a new reaction container tray located in the reaction container tray supply unit 205 is supplied to the standby position 202 .

[0062] In step S105, the identification unit 203 identifies the identifier of the new standby position tray located at the standby position 202 and determines whether the new standby position tray can be used. Based on the management information of the new standby position tray identifier or the management information of the new standby position tray stored by the control unit 102, the new standby position tray is determined to be unusable if, for example, the new standby position tray has expired, has been used, or is a non-genuine product.

[0063] If the result of the usability determination of the new standby position tray is that it can be used (step S106: Yes), the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, analysis is performed using the usable position tray as usual in accordance with the analysis request. On the other hand, if the result of the usability determination of the new standby position tray is that it cannot be used (step S106: No), the process proceeds to step S108.

[0064] In step S108, the control unit 102 that has received the analysis commission determines whether the analysis is to be performed using only the reaction vessels stored in the active position tray or also using the reaction vessels stored in the standby position tray. The control unit 102 can make a determination based on the number of reaction vessels remaining in the active position tray, the number of reaction vessels used in the analysis performed before the analysis, and the number of reaction vessels used in the analysis. If the result of the determination is that the analysis is to be performed using only the reaction vessels stored in the active position tray, the analysis is performed (step S109). On the other hand, if the analysis is to be performed using the reaction vessels stored in the standby position tray, the analysis is started without using the reaction vessels stored in the active position tray (step S109). For example, the analysis is not performed.

[0065] Until the active position tray is discarded, the determination in step S108 is performed before analysis begins. Furthermore, when the active position tray is discarded (step S102), the standby position tray determined to be unusable is also discarded. The reaction vessel tray transport mechanism supplies reaction vessel trays from the reaction vessel tray supply unit 205 to both the active position 201 and the standby position 202.

[0066] As described above, according to this embodiment, if the management information for a reaction vessel tray placed in the standby position indicates that the reaction vessel tray is unusable, a determination is made before analysis begins whether the reaction vessels used in the analysis are solely those stored in the reaction vessel tray placed in the active position or whether reaction vessels also need to be stored in the reaction vessel tray placed in the standby position. Furthermore, analysis is performed only when the reaction vessels used in the analysis are solely those stored in the reaction vessel tray placed in the active position. This avoids the situation where an analysis initiated using the first reaction vessel becomes unavailable for the second reaction vessel, leading to the analysis being interrupted.

[0067] In addition, although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0068] For example, if it is determined that the standby position tray is unusable, the user may be notified of this fact, and if the reaction vessel tray transport mechanism is not used and the user directly sets a new reaction vessel tray at the standby position 202, a determination may be made based on the management information of the new reaction vessel tray, and if it is determined that the reaction vessel tray is usable, analysis may be performed as usual (step S107).

[0069] If the standby position tray is determined to be unusable, the following process may be performed in place of step S110. At the start of the analysis, the reaction vessel tray conveyor mechanism discards the active position tray and the standby position tray into the reaction vessel tray discarding unit 204, and the reaction vessel tray supply unit 205 supplies the reaction vessel tray to the standby position 202. The identification unit 203 determines whether a new standby position tray is available. If the new standby position tray is determined to be usable, the reaction vessel tray conveyor mechanism transfers the new standby position tray to the active position 201, and the analysis begins.

[0070] Furthermore, if the standby position tray is determined to be unusable, analysis may be performed using the reaction vessels stored on the standby position tray in place of step S110, with the analysis results appended with information indicating that the reaction vessels determined to be unusable were used. Alternatively, analysis may be performed only when the reason for unusability is, for example, expiration of the expiration date, with the analysis results appended with information indicating that the reaction vessels determined to be unusable were used.

[0071] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and encompasses various variations. For example, the above-described embodiments are described in detail to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not necessarily limited to the entirety of the described configuration. Furthermore, portions of the configurations of the embodiments may be added, deleted, or replaced with other configurations. For example, similar processing can be performed on consumables other than reaction vessels, such as dispensing tips.

[0072] Description of Reference Signs

[0073] 1: Interface, 2: Display, 3: Keyboard, 4: Microcomputer, 5: Memory, 6: External storage device, 7: Printer, 8: Sample introduction unit, 9: Column oven, 10-14: Chromatographic column, 20, 21: Chromatographic column selection valve, 22: Detector, 23: A / D converter, 24: Transport line, 25: Sample dispensing mechanism, 26: Reagent disk, 27: Incubator, 28: Reaction vessel tray installation unit, 29: Transport mechanism, 30: Reagent dispensing mechanism, 31: Magnetic particle stirring mechanism, 32: Cleaning unit, 33: Cleaning liquid nozzle, 34: Chamber, 35: Magnetic separator, 36: Mixer, 37: Elution unit, 38: Supernatant separation unit, 39: Liquidity adjustment unit, 40: LC transfer mechanism, 41: Reaction vessel disposal unit, 100: Automatic analyzer, 101: Analysis unit, 102: Control unit, 110: Pretreatment unit, 111: Separation unit, 112: Detection unit, 201: Use position, 202: Standby position, 203: Identification unit, 204: Reaction vessel tray disposal unit, 205: Reaction vessel tray supply unit, 301: Specimen introduction solvent, 302: Solvent delivery pump, 303: Solvent switching valve, 304: Injection valve, 305: Sample loop, 306: Pipette, 307: Syringe.

Claims

1. An automatic analysis device, characterized in that have: an analysis unit that analyzes a sample using consumables; and a control unit that controls analysis of the sample by the analysis unit, The consumables are stored in a consumables storage container assigned with an identifier and are held in the consumables storage container setting portion of the analysis unit. The consumables storage container setting portion includes a first position and a second position. The consumables stored in the consumables storage container set at the first position are used for analyzing the specimen. When the consumables storage container set at the first position is used up, the consumables storage container set at the second position is moved to the first position. The consumables storage container setting portion includes an identification portion that identifies an identifier assigned to the consumables storage container set at the second position. When the control unit determines through identification by the identification unit that the consumables stored in the consumables storage container set at the second position are unusable, before the analysis of the specimen begins, the control unit determines whether the analysis of the specimen can be performed using only the consumables stored in the consumables storage container set at the first position, or whether the consumables stored in the consumables storage containers set at the first position and the second position are required.

2. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, characterized in that The control unit starts analysis of the specimen when it determines that analysis of the specimen can be performed using only the consumables stored in the consumables storage container set at the first position, and does not start analysis of the specimen when it determines that analysis of the specimen requires use of the consumables stored in the consumables storage containers set at the first position and the second position.

3. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, characterized in that The control unit starts analysis of the sample when it determines that analysis of the sample can be performed using only the consumables stored in the consumables storage container set at the first position, and discards the consumables storage containers set at the first position and the second position before starting analysis of the sample.

4. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, characterized in that The control unit notifies the user that the consumables stored in the consumables storage container set at the second position cannot be used through identification by the identification unit. When the user replaces the consumables storage container at the second position with a new consumables storage container, the control unit identifies the consumables storage container at the second position after replacement and determines whether it can be used.

5. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1, characterized in that The identifier at least holds an ID that uniquely identifies the consumables storage container. The control unit determines whether the consumables stored in the consumables storage container can be used based on the management information associated with the ID.

6. The automatic analysis device according to claim 5, characterized in that The control unit determines that the consumables stored in the consumables storage container located at the second position are unusable when it is determined based on the management information that the consumables storage container has expired, has been used, or is a non-genuine product.

7. The automatic analysis device according to claim 5, characterized in that The management information includes the status of the consumables storage container, When the consumable supply storage container set at the second position is moved to the first position, the management information of the consumable supply storage container is changed from unused to used.

8. The automatic analysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The consumables storage container installation unit includes a consumables storage container supply unit, a consumables storage container disposal unit, and a consumables storage container conveying mechanism. The consumable storage container conveying mechanism moves the consumable storage container set at the first position to the consumable storage container disposal section, moves the consumable storage container set at the second position to the first position, or moves the consumable storage container of the consumable storage container supply section to the second position.

9. The automatic analysis device according to claim 8, characterized in that The consumables are reaction containers into which a sample and a reagent that reacts with the sample are dispensed.

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