Method for allocating automated analyzers and analyzer tanks

Abstract

This automatic analysis device calculates, for each of a plurality of analysis tanks 106, a target number of uses of the analysis tank per predetermined period of time on the basis of the number of remaining executable measurements of an ion selective electrode 112 and a remaining period of time up to an expiration date thereof, and when there are a plurality of analysis tanks usable for an analysis request, determines a ratio of usage for each analysis tank on the basis of a ratio of the target number of uses of each of the plurality of analysis tanks usable for the analysis request. This allows as many of the number of remaining executable measurements as possible to be used in the automatic analysis device comprising the plurality of analysis tanks before the expiration date of the ion selective electrode.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer provided with a plurality of analysis cells for measuring an electrolyte concentration of a sample, and an analysis cell allocation method. [Background Art]

[0002] Electrolyte measurement is performed using ion-selective electrodes (sodium (Na) / potassium (K) / chloride (Cl)). Ion-selective electrodes are one type of consumable for electrolyte measurement, and each has an expiration date and a remaining number of measurable tests. However, almost no management is performed on the expiration date and remaining number of measurable tests of ion-selective electrodes. An ion-selective electrode whose expiration date has passed or whose remaining number of measurable tests has been exhausted cannot be used for electrolyte measurement. Therefore, for example, even if the remaining number of measurable tests is large, an ion-selective electrode becomes unusable once its expiration date is exceeded.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an electrolyte analyzer that appropriately manages consumable replacement by allocating analysis cells to be used for analysis based on the remaining number of measurable tests and the expiration date. Specifically, in response to an analysis request received by the electrolyte analyzer, a control computer first determines whether the number of measurement requests to be processed within a predetermined time is equal to or greater than the maximum processing capacity, or less than the maximum processing capacity. When the number is less than the maximum processing capacity, the analysis cells are allocated such that the analysis cell with the largest remaining number of measurable tests of the ion-selective electrode is preferentially used. In this case, it is stated that allocation can be performed using the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode in addition to or instead of the remaining number of measurable tests. In this case, the analysis cell to be preferentially used is determined based on two criteria: the remaining number of measurable tests and the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode. In addition, a user can select an analysis cell to be preferentially used based on the remaining number of measurable tests and the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode.

[0004] In this way, when the number of analysis requests is close to the maximum processing capacity, the analysis operation is prioritized to maintain processing capacity, and when the number of requests is intermittent, the analysis tank with a large number of remaining measurable ion-selective electrodes is used preferentially, thereby equalizing the number of remaining measurable electrodes across multiple analysis tanks. This allows users to synchronize the timing of replacing ion-selective electrodes in multiple analysis tanks, and optimizes the frequency of consumable replacement by users. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2022 / 014096 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] Patent Document 1 describes how the frequency of consumable replacements can be reduced by synchronizing the replacement timing of ion-selective electrodes in each analyzer. However, by equalizing the number of remaining measurables across multiple analyzers, depending on the analysis request situation, it may be possible for the ion-selective electrode to need to be replaced even if there are many remaining measurables, due to exceeding its expiration date. It is desirable to use up as many remaining measurables as possible of the ion-selective electrode, which is a consumable, within its expiration date.

[0007] The present invention aims to utilize as many remaining measurable samples as possible within the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode in an automated analyzer equipped with multiple analyzers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An automated analyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of analyzers, each equipped with an ion-selective electrode for measuring the electrolyte concentration of a sample, and a control computer that assigns the analyzers to be used for analysis requests. The control computer calculates the target number of times each of the plurality of analyzers will be used per predetermined period based on the remaining number of measurable ion-selective electrodes and the remaining period until the expiration date. If there are multiple analyzers available for analysis requests, the control computer determines the usage ratio of the analyzers based on the ratio of the target number of uses for the multiple analyzers available for analysis requests. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] In an automated analyzer equipped with multiple analysis chambers, it is possible to use up the remaining number of measurements within the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode. Other issues, configurations, and effects will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of an automated analyzer. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart showing the overall process for assigning analysis tanks. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart showing the process for determining which analytical tank to use. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows the process of determining the usage ratio of multiple analysis tanks that have been determined to be available. [Figure 5] This is an example of an analysis tank selection screen where you specify which analysis tank to use. [Figure 6] This is an example of the analyzer priority usage setting screen for enabling / disabling the functions of this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] An example of an automated analyzer will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following example, an example of an automated analyzer equipped with an electrolyte analyzer (analysis module) having multiple analysis chambers will be described, but the device configuration is not limited to these forms. An automated analyzer may also be one in which multiple electrolyte analyzers, each having a single analysis chamber, are connected together.

[0012] An example of the configuration of an automated analyzer will be explained using Figure 1. The automated analyzer includes a control computer 101, a sample input 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 is equipped with multiple (two in this example) analysis tanks 106.

[0013] A carrier 109, carrying a sample container 108 containing a sample such as blood or urine collected from a subject, is inserted into the sample input unit 102. The inserted carrier 109 is then 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 mounted on the carrier 109, and is, for example, a barcode reader or an RFID reader. Based on the information indicated by the carrier ID and sample ID, it is associated with the analysis items requested in advance by the user.

[0014] After the ID reader 104 associates the sample with the requested analysis items, the carrier 109 is transported to the analysis module 110 via the transport line 105. The analysis module 110 receives the carrier 109 transported via the transport line 105 and transports the carrier 109 to the dispensing position using the internal transport line 111 of the analysis unit. Then, based on the requested analysis items, the dispensing mechanism 107 aspirates the sample contained in the sample container 108 and dispenses it into one of the multiple analysis chambers 106. The dispensed sample is measured by the detector in the analysis chamber 106.

[0015] After the dispensing is completed, the carrier 109 is transferred to the transport line 105 using the transport line 111 in the analysis unit. Thereafter, the carrier 109 is recovered to the sample recovery unit 103 via the transport line 105.

[0016] Each analysis cell 106 is equipped with an ion-selective electrode 112 for performing electrolyte analysis, and each ion-selective electrode 112 is set with a remaining number of measurable times and an expiration date. The automatic analyzer according to the present embodiment allocates the analysis cell 106 to be used for an analysis request using a target number of times determined based on the remaining number of measurable times and the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode 112. As mentioned above, there are three types of ion-selective electrodes: sodium, potassium, and chloride. Therefore, when there is a difference in the remaining number of measurable times and expiration dates among the three types of ion-selective electrodes, it is desirable to use the remaining number of measurable times and expiration date of the ion-selective electrode with the shortest remaining period until expiration in the following analysis cell selection flow. However, due to the configuration of the electrolyte analyzer, all ion-selective electrodes are used for each measurement regardless of the content of the analysis item, so replacement of ion-selective electrodes is often performed for all three types of ion-selective electrodes at the same time. In an automatic analyzer operated in such a manner, the remaining number of measurable times and expiration date of any ion-selective electrode may be used for allocating analysis cells.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart illustrating the overall processing of analysis cell allocation in the present embodiment. This flowchart is executed by the control computer 101.

[0018] First, the control computer 101 determines the analysis cell 106 to be used for analysis (S01). This makes it possible to use the analysis cell that is desired to be preferentially used for analysis, and to reduce the remaining number of measurable times of the ion-selective electrode within the expiration date. Details of step S01 are shown in FIG. 3. Subsequently, when there are a plurality of available analysis cells determined in step S01, the control computer 101 determines the usage rate of each analysis cell 106 (S02). Details of step S02 are shown in FIG. 4.

[0019] Details of the process for determining the analysis cell to be used (step S01) will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0020] Step S11: It is determined whether the remaining period until the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode is equal to or longer than a predetermined period in all analysis cells 106 provided in the automatic analyzer. The predetermined period is not particularly limited, but the following description is based on the assumption that the predetermined period is 24 hours. In this case, the control computer 101 determines whether the remaining period of the ion-selective electrode 112 of the analysis cell 106 is 24 hours or more. When the remaining period of the ion-selective electrode 112 is 24 hours or more in all analysis cells 106, the process proceeds to step S15 with all analysis cells 106 regarded as usable analysis cells. On the other hand, if there is an analysis cell 106 in which the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode 112 is less than 24 hours, the process proceeds to step S12.

[0021] Step S12: The control computer 101 masks analysis cells 106 in which the remaining period of the ion-selective electrode 112 is equal to or longer than the predetermined period. In this case, analysis cells 106 in which the remaining period of the ion-selective electrode 112 is 24 hours or more are masked. Therefore, among the analysis cells provided in the automatic analyzer, analysis cells 106 in which the remaining period of the ion-selective electrode 112 is equal to or longer than the predetermined period are excluded from usable analysis cells.

[0022] Step S13: It is determined whether there is only one usable analysis cell 106. If there is only one usable analysis cell 106, it is impossible to further narrow down the analysis cell 106 to be used for measurement, so the process proceeds to step S14. If a plurality of analysis cells 106 are usable at the time of step S13, the process proceeds to step S15 with the plurality of analysis cells 106 in which the remaining period of the ion-selective electrodes 112 is less than the predetermined period regarded as usable analysis cells.

[0023] Step S14: Use of the unmasked analysis cell (one cell) is determined.

[0024] Step S15: The control computer 101 determines whether a user-specified analysis cell is included in the usable analysis cells 106.

[0025] At any time, the user can check the status of each analyzer 106 at that moment in the ion-selective electrode information display section 502 from the analyzer selection screen 501 shown in Figure 5, and select the analyzer 106 to use.

[0026] Figure 5 shows an example screen for an automated analyzer equipped with two analyzers, analyzer 1 and analyzer 2. The ion-selective electrode information display area 502 displays information for each analyzer. The ion-selective electrode information display area 502 includes at least the remaining number of measurements possible for analyzer 106 and its expiration date. In this example, to facilitate decision-making, the remaining period until the expiration date, the target number of measurements (remaining number of measurements divided by the remaining period), the number of measurements used at the time of displaying the analyzer selection screen 501, and the achievement rate (number of measurements used / target number of measurements) are shown. Based on the information in the ion-selective electrode information display area 502, the user can specify analyzer 106 by pressing the analyzer selection button 506 for either analyzer and then pressing the apply button 503 or the release button 504. The user can also check the status of the ion-selective electrode 112, such as whether it is clearly not going to be used up, from the ion-selective electrode information display area 502. Furthermore, by specifying analyzer 106, it becomes possible to use only the analyzer 106 that the user wants to use preferentially. To close the analysis tank selection screen 501, press the close button 505.

[0027] In determining step S15, the most recent user selection is used. However, if the user selection has expired, for example, the specified expiration date has passed, the user selection may be treated as invalid. If there is no user-specified analyzer, or if the user specification is invalid, proceed to step S18. If a user-specified analyzer exists, proceed to step S16.

[0028] Step S16: The control computer 101 masks all analyzers 106 except those specified by the user. Therefore, of the analyzers provided by the automated analyzer, all analyzers 106 other than those specified by the user are excluded from the available analyzers.

[0029] Step S17: Determine the use of an unmasked analyzer, i.e., a user-specified analyzer.

[0030] Step S18: Determine which of the available analyzers 106 to use. In this case, there are multiple analyzers available.

[0031] The example in Figure 3 limits the analyzer to be used preferentially based on two criteria: expiration date and user designation. However, it is also possible to limit the analyzer to be used based on only one of these criteria, or to omit step S01. Nevertheless, by executing step S01, it becomes possible to limit the analyzer used to those that should be used preferentially, such as user-designated analyzers or analyzers nearing their expiration date.

[0032] In the process of step S01, multiple analyzers may be determined to be available for use (steps S17, S18). In such cases, the control computer 101 executes step S02. If only one analyzer is determined to be available for use (step S14), the execution of step S02 is omitted. Figure 4 illustrates the details of the process (step S02) for determining the usage ratio of the multiple analyzers determined to be available for use. In step S02, the usage ratio of each analyzer 106 is calculated based on the remaining number of measurable ion-selective electrodes 112 and the remaining period until the expiration date.

[0033] Step S21: The control computer 101 calculates the target number of times each analyzer should be used per predetermined period. The predetermined period is not particularly limited, but in the following explanation it will be described as 1 day. First, the remaining period until the expiration date is calculated from the expiration date and current time of the ion-selective electrode 112 of each analyzer. If the predetermined period is 1 day, the remaining number of days is treated as the remaining period. The target number of uses is the number of uses obtained by dividing the remaining number of measurable uses of the ion-selective electrode 112 by the remaining number of days. Note that the target number of uses may be calculated as a simple average in this way, or it may be calculated after weighting by, for example, the day of the week.

[0034] Step S22: The control computer 101 determines the usage ratio of each analysis tank 106. The method for determining the usage ratio is based on the ratio of the target number of uses per predetermined period for each analysis tank 106. For example, if there are two analysis tanks 106, one with a target number of uses per predetermined period of 100 and the other with a target number of uses of 200, the ratio of target uses can be calculated as 1 to 2.

[0035] Step S23: Determine whether the usage ratio of each analysis tank 106 calculated in Step S23 is considered equal, and whether the difference in the target number of times per predetermined period calculated in Step S21 is greater than or equal to a threshold. This step is a process to eliminate the difference even when the target number of times per predetermined period for multiple analysis tanks is close.

[0036] For example, suppose there are two analyzers 106, one with a target number of uses per predetermined period of 97 and the other with a target number of uses per predetermined period of 103, and in step S22, the usage ratio is considered to be 1:1, that is, the usage ratio of the two analyzers is considered equal. However, there is a difference of 6 uses per predetermined period between the two. Therefore, a threshold for the difference in the target number of uses per predetermined period is set in advance, and if the difference exceeds the threshold, the usage ratio is changed to eliminate that difference.

[0037] Step S24: Proceed to step S23 if the conditions of step S23 are met. The usage ratio is changed to prioritize the use of the analyzer 106 with the highest number of target uses per predetermined period. For example, for two analyzers 106, one with a target of 97 uses per predetermined period and the other with a target of 103 uses, if the threshold for the difference in the number of target uses per predetermined period is set to 3, the usage ratio is changed to 1:2. This prevents the difference in the number of remaining measurable samples from widening because there is no difference in the usage ratio of each analyzer 106 calculated in step S21.

[0038] Step S25: Proceed if the conditions of Step S23 are not met. Determine the usage ratio of each analysis tank 106 to the usage ratio calculated in Step S22.

[0039] Based on the above, it becomes possible to determine an appropriate usage ratio for the ion-selective electrode 112 in order to use up the remaining number of measurements within its expiration date.

[0040] The process described in Figures 2 to 4 is performed when the date changes or when the automated analyzer is started for the first time on that day. After that, when the control computer 101 determines which analyzer 106 to use for an analysis request, analyzers that have been excluded from the available analyzers are masked. Therefore, the control computer 101 does not need to select which analyzer 106 to use for each analysis request. If there is one analyzer that is deemed available, it will be fixedly selected. If there are multiple analyzers that are deemed available, the analysis requests can be assigned to the analyzers in accordance with the calculated usage ratio. The process in Figures 2 to 4 is also performed when the user changes the analyzer specified on the analyzer selection screen 501 (see Figure 5).

[0041] However, this embodiment may limit the processing capacity of an automated analyzer (electrolyte analyzer) equipped with multiple analysis chambers. Therefore, it is also effective to enable switching between an analysis priority mode, which improves the throughput of analysis requests by maximizing the number of analyses per predetermined period without executing the functions of this embodiment, and a consumables utilization mode, which executes the functions of this embodiment to make effective use of consumables.

[0042] For example, the user can switch modes using the enable button 602 and disable button 603 on the analysis tank priority usage setting screen 601 shown in Figure 6. Specifically, the user selects whether to enable or disable the function of this embodiment and sets it using the apply button 606 and release button 607. When enabling this function with the enable button 602, the user can further set whether or not to specify a time using the time specification setting button 604. When specifying the time for which this function is enabled using the time specification setting button 604, the time to be enabled can be set in the specified time input field 605. To close the analysis tank priority usage setting screen 601, press the close button 608.

[0043] This allows the function to be enabled or disabled, enabling its selective application according to the analysis request status. This allows for the efficient use of consumables without reducing the actual throughput of the automated analyzer.

[0044] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, but includes various other modifications. For example, the embodiments described above are described in detail to make the present invention easier to understand, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. For example, if an automated analyzer has an analyzer in which the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode 112 is approaching, it may have a function to mask other analyzers, and a function to allow the user to confirm this. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 101...Control computer, 102...Sample input unit, 103...Sample collection unit, 104...ID reader, 105...Transport line, 106...Analyzer chamber, 107...Dispensing mechanism, 108...Sample container, 109...Carrier, 110...Analysis module, 111...Transport line within analysis unit, 501...Analyzer chamber selection screen, 502...Ion selectivity electrode information display area, 503, 606...Apply button, 504, 607...Release button, 505, 608...Close button, 506...Analyzer chamber selection button, 601...Analyzer chamber priority usage setting screen, 602...Enable button, 603...Disable button, 604...Time specification setting button, 605...Specified time input field.

Claims

1. Multiple analyzers, each equipped with an ion-selective electrode for measuring the electrolyte concentration of a sample, It has a control computer that assigns the analytical tank to be used for the analysis request, The control computer calculates a target number of times to use each of the plurality of analyzers per predetermined period based on the remaining number of ion-selective electrodes and the remaining period until the expiration date, and if there are multiple analyzers available for analysis, the automated analyzer determines the usage ratio of the analyzers based on the ratio of the target number of uses for the multiple analyzers available for analysis.

2. In claim 1, Each of the aforementioned analyzers is equipped with multiple types of ion-selective electrodes, The control computer is an automated analyzer that calculates the target number of measurements using the remaining number of measurements and the expiration date of the ion-selective electrode with the shortest remaining time until expiration among the multiple types of ion-selective electrodes provided in the analyzer.

3. In claim 1, The control computer is an automated analyzer that, based on the ratio of the target number of times, determines that the usage ratio of multiple analyzers available for analysis requests is equal, and if the difference in the target number of times is greater than or equal to a threshold, changes the usage ratio of the analyzers so that the analyzer with the most target number of times is used preferentially.

4. In claim 1, The control computer is an automated analyzer that excludes from the plurality of analyzers any analyzer in which the remaining period of the ion-selective electrode is longer than a predetermined period from the analyzers available for analysis requests.

5. In claim 1, The control computer is an automated analyzer that excludes from the plurality of analyzers that are not specified by the user from the analyzers available for analysis requests.

6. In claim 5, The control computer includes an analysis priority mode that maximizes the number of analyses per predetermined period and a consumables efficient use mode, and in the consumables efficient use mode, for each of the plurality of analyzers, the target number of analyses is calculated based on the remaining number of ion-selective electrodes and the remaining period until the expiration date, and if there are multiple analyzers available for analysis requests, the automated analyzer determines the usage ratio of the analyzers based on the ratio of the target number of analyses for the multiple analyzers available for analysis requests.

7. In claim 6, An automatic analyzer capable of specifying a time period for the aforementioned consumables utilization mode.

8. In claim 1, When the automated analyzer is started, the control computer calculates the target number of uses for each of the plurality of analyzers based on the remaining number of measurable ion-selective electrodes and the remaining period until the expiration date, and if there are multiple analyzers available for use in the analysis request, the automated analyzer determines the usage ratio of the analyzers based on the ratio of the target number of uses for the multiple analyzers available for use in the analysis request.

9. An automated analyzer having multiple analyzers, each equipped with an ion-selective electrode for measuring the electrolyte concentration of a sample, and a control computer for assigning analyzers to be used for analysis requests, wherein the method for assigning analyzers to be used for analysis requests is as follows: The control computer is For each of the aforementioned analyzers, the target number of times the analyzer is used per predetermined period is calculated based on the remaining number of ion-selective electrodes that can be measured and the remaining period until their expiration date. If there are multiple analytical tanks available for analysis, the usage ratio of the analytical tanks is determined based on the ratio of the target number of uses for each of the multiple analytical tanks available for analysis. A method for allocating analytical tanks to be used for analysis requests, according to the aforementioned usage ratio.

10. In claim 9, The control computer provides a method for assigning analytical tanks to change the usage ratio of analytical tanks so that, if the usage ratio of multiple analytical tanks available for analysis requests, determined based on the ratio of the target number of times, is considered equal and the difference in the target number of times is greater than or equal to a threshold, the analytical tank with the higher target number of times is used preferentially.

11. In claim 9, The control computer provides a method for allocating analyzers, wherein the analyzer in which the remaining period of the ion-selective electrode is longer than a predetermined period is excluded from the analyzers available for analysis requests.

12. In claim 9, The control computer provides a method for allocating analyzers, which excludes from the plurality of analyzers that are not specified by the user from the analyzers available for use in response to an analysis request.

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