Parts management system, automatic analyzer, and parts management method

Abstract

A parts management system comprising: a display unit 14 that displays information relating to a parts management system 1; an automatic analyzer storage unit 23 that, for each of a plurality of analytical devices 25, stores the ID of the corresponding analytical device 25 and state information indicating the state of the analytical device 25 in association with each other; an input unit 13 that receives a request for replacement of the analytical device 25; and a parts management device control unit 11 that causes a display unit 14 to display the ID of the analysis device 25 for which the state information satisfies a predetermined condition and the first state information of the position where the analysis device 25 is used when the input unit 13 receives the request for replacement of the analytical device 25. This provides a parts management system, an automatic analyzer, and a parts management method that can support identification of parts to be removed even when the parts of the same type are used in multiple applications or locations.

Description

Parts management system, automatic analyzer, and parts management method

[0001] The present invention relates to a parts management system, an automatic analyzer, and a parts management method.

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a chromatography system that comprises an apparatus main body having a flow path through which a liquid sample passes, and an analytical column that is positioned midway along the flow path and separates the sample into multiple components, and that is capable of analyzing the sample under multiple analytical conditions, and that comprises replaceable parts that are attached to the apparatus main body, and a memory unit that stores first position information regarding the attachment position of the parts relative to the apparatus main body.

[0003] International Publication No. 2020 / 183760

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional technology, the mounting position of a part is stored in a memory unit in association with the part's name and lot number, and even if the same type of part is used for multiple purposes or in multiple positions, mounting position information can be obtained by inputting the name and lot number of the part to be removed when replacing the part.

[0005] However, when a part used for multiple purposes or in multiple locations is replaced due to a malfunction or other reason, simply searching by part name or lot number makes it difficult to identify the actual part to be replaced from among the parts that are candidates for removal and meet the search criteria, and there is room for improvement.

[0006] In order to manage the replacement records of equipment components, when replacing a part, even if the same type of part is used for multiple purposes or positions within the equipment, it is necessary to identify the purpose or position of the part that needs to be removed for replacement, and to replace and record it accurately.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a parts management system, an automatic analyzer, and a parts management method that can support the identification of parts that should be removed even when the same type of part is used for multiple purposes or in multiple locations.

[0008] The present invention includes multiple means for solving the above-mentioned problems. One example is a parts management system that manages multiple parts used in a device, and includes a display unit that displays information about the parts management system, a memory unit that stores, for each of the multiple parts, an ID of the corresponding part and status information indicating the status of the part in association with each other, a reception unit that receives a request to replace the part, and a control unit that, when the reception unit receives the request to replace the part, causes the display unit to display the ID of the part whose status information satisfies a predetermined condition and first status information indicating the location where the part is used.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to support identification of a part to be removed even when the same type of part is used for multiple purposes or locations. Objects, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments.

[0010] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a component management system of an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of a component component database in the component management system of an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an interface between component management systems in the component management system of an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of a component management device when replacing a component in the component management system of an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of record information in the component management system of an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit in the component management system of an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of record information when there are multiple candidate parts for removal in the component management system of an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit when there are multiple candidate parts for removal in the component management system of an embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for selecting status information to be displayed in the component management system of an embodiment.

[0011] Examples of the component management system, automatic analyzer, and component management method of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9. It goes without saying that, in the following embodiments, the components (including element steps, etc.) are not necessarily essential unless otherwise specified or considered to be fundamentally essential. Furthermore, in the drawings used in this specification, identical or corresponding components are designated by the same or similar reference numerals, and repeated description of these components may be omitted.

[0012] First, the overall configuration of the parts management system will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 shows the overall configuration of the parts management system in this embodiment.

[0013] In this embodiment, the device is an automatic analyzer 20 that measures the physical properties of biological samples, and the components are two or more analytical instruments 25 used to measure the physical properties. However, the components that are the target of the component management system and component management method of the present invention are not limited to automatic analyzers.

[0014] 1 is a system for managing a plurality of analytical instruments 25 used in an automatic analyzer 20, and is made up of a parts management device 10, an automatic analyzer 20, a management server 30, and a parts center 40. The parts management device 10 and the automatic analyzer 20, the automatic analyzer 20 and the management server 30, and the management server 30 and the parts center 40 can communicate with each other via wired or wireless communication.

[0015] Although the case where there is one automatic analyzer 20 is shown, there may be a plurality of automatic analyzers.

[0016] The parts management device 10 includes a parts management device control unit 11, an ID tag read unit 12, an input unit 13, a display unit 14, and a parts management device communication unit 15, and in this embodiment is configured as a portable personal computer owned by a service engineer of the manufacturer of the automatic analysis device 20 or the like.

[0017] The parts management device control unit 11 is composed of a CPU, RAM, and ROM, and can load and execute programs stored in the ROM into the RAM. For example, the parts record management described below, which is performed in the component parts database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 when a part is replaced, is executed by a program in the parts management device control unit 11. The parts management device control unit 11 is also connected to other components, and can not only exchange data with them, but also relay data exchange between components. For example, the display unit 14 displays information from ID tags read by the ID tag reading unit 12.

[0018] In this embodiment, when the input unit 13 receives a request to replace an analytical device 25, the parts management device control unit 11 causes the display unit 14 to display the ID of the analytical device 25 whose status information satisfies a predetermined condition, and the first status information of the location where the analytical device 25 is being used. The predetermined condition may be a state in which the analytical device 25 is ready for replacement and can be replaced ("Status 3"). Details of this will be described later.

[0019] The ID tag reading unit 12 is a reading device for reading ID tags attached to the analytical equipment 25 or the packaging material of the analytical equipment 25 , and can output information read from the ID tags to the parts management device control unit 11 .

[0020] The input unit 13 is configured with input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, as well as a scanner that reads the ID of the analytical device 25 to be replaced, and can transmit user input to the parts management device control unit 11. In this embodiment, the input unit 13 accepts a request to replace the analytical device 25.

[0021] The display unit 14 is a display such as a liquid crystal display, and can display information related to the component management system 1 transmitted from the component management device control unit 11. Note that the display unit 14 may be a touch panel type and may also function as part of the input unit 13.

[0022] The parts management device communication unit 15 can communicate with the automatic analyzer communication unit 22. For example, it communicates with the automatic analyzer 20 and acquires information from the component parts database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20.

[0023] The automatic analyzer 20 is an apparatus for reacting a sample with a reagent and measuring the physical properties of the resulting reaction solution, and includes an automatic analyzer control unit 21, an automatic analyzer storage unit 23 including a component parts database 24, an automatic analyzer communication unit 22, and two or more analytical instruments 25 used to measure the physical properties of biological samples. The detailed configuration of this automatic analyzer 20 is not particularly limited, and various configurations are possible, such as a single module configuration, a multiple module configuration, or a configuration in which multiple modules are connected by a transport line or the like, and is not particularly limited.

[0024] The automatic analyzer control unit 21 is composed of a CPU, RAM, and ROM, and can load and execute programs stored in the ROM into the RAM. It is also connected to other components, and can not only exchange data with them, but also relay data exchange between components.

[0025] The automatic analyzer storage unit 23 is configured with a storage medium such as a flash memory, etc. The automatic analyzer storage unit 23 includes a component database 24 that records information about one component (analytical equipment 25) as one record.

[0026] In this embodiment, the automatic analyzer storage unit 23 stores, for each of the plurality of analytical instruments 25, the ID of the corresponding analytical instrument 25 and status information indicating the status of the analytical instrument 25 in association with each other.

[0027] 2 shows an example of the data structure recorded in a part record in the component parts database 24. In the example of Fig. 2, the following part information is recorded: "Part Name": name information of the part, "Part ID": ID information identifying the type of the part, "Use or Position": information on where the part is used within the device, "Status": status information of the part, "Lot Number": lot information of the part, "Replacement Type": replacement type information of the part, "Insertion Date and Time": time information when the part was installed into the device, and "Replacement Interval": information on the number of days the part can be used.

[0028] As the part use location information, the "part name" and "part ID" of all parts that are in the upper layer of the part in question are basically recorded in order from the part in the highest layer.

[0029] However, when multiple parts of the same type are used at the same level, it may not be possible to distinguish where the parts are used based solely on the part information at the higher level. Therefore, by using "detailed location" (recording only parts with multiple parts with the same "use or location") and combining "detailed location" and "use or location" for parts with the same "use or location," it is possible to distinguish where the parts are used. Furthermore, if you want to distinguish based solely on "use or location," you can distinguish where the parts are used by recording detailed location information for the use location instead of "part name" and ID information representing the use location instead of "part ID" as information at one level.

[0030] The part status information is as follows: "Status 1 (second status information)" indicates that the part is properly installed in the device and operating normally; "Status 2 (third status information)" indicates that a part installed in the device needs to be replaced and the device is waiting for the part to be arranged; "Status 3 (first status information)" indicates that the part has been arranged and is ready for replacement and is waiting for the replacement; and "Status 4 (fourth status information)" indicates that the part has been removed due to part replacement and is not currently installed in the device.

[0031] The part lot information records the lot number assigned when the part is shipped. When a problem occurs due to a defective lot, parts manufactured in the same lot as the part causing the problem or in a nearby lot are likely to cause the problem and therefore need to be recalled. Therefore, in Figure 2, it is desirable to combine this information with the equipment installation information (equipment ID information and installation location information) recorded in the component parts database 33 of the management server 30 to identify the equipment in which the part requiring recall is installed.

[0032] The part replacement type information records two types of part replacement reasons: "regular" for periodic replacement and "fault" for fault replacement. Since fault replacement is more urgent, this is effective when determining replacement priority based on the part inventory status, etc.

[0033] Furthermore, since the part record in the component parts database 24 remains even after the part is removed from the device ("Status" is "State 4"), recording the replacement type information is also useful when collecting information, such as investigating the relationship between the part's lifespan and the customer's environment.

[0034] The time information when a part is installed in a device and the number of days the part can be used can be used to determine whether or not a part needs to be replaced. For example, if the "insertion date and time" + "replacement interval" - "current date and time" is less than or equal to the "number of days until part replacement is recommended," then the part needs to be replaced.

[0035] 1, the automatic analyzer communication unit 22 can communicate with the management server communication unit 35. For example, the automatic analyzer communication unit 22 transmits information from the component parts database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 to the management server 30.

[0036] The management server 30 includes a management server control unit 31 , a management server storage unit 32 including a component part database 33 , an analysis unit 34 , and a management server communication unit 35 .

[0037] The management server control unit 31 is composed of a CPU, RAM, and ROM, and can load and execute programs stored in the ROM into the RAM. It is also connected to other components, and can not only exchange data with them, but also relay data exchange between components.

[0038] The management server storage unit 32 is configured from a recording medium such as a flash memory, and this management server storage unit 32 has a component parts database 33, just like the automatic analyzer 20. The component parts database 33 of the management server 30 aggregates information recorded in the component parts databases 24 of the automatic analyzers 20 operating at all customer sites, so information on the components (analytical equipment 25) of all the automatic analyzers 20 can be confirmed from the component parts database 33 of the management server 30.

[0039] In addition, the component parts database 33 of the management server 30 may record information necessary for using the aggregated information, such as the above-mentioned equipment installation information, in addition to the information recording the component records of the component parts database 24 of the automatic analysis device 20.

[0040] The analysis unit 34 can analyze information received from the management server control unit 31 and transmit the results to the management server control unit 31. For example, the analysis unit 34 receives information from the component parts database 33, analyzes whether there are any parts that require replacement arrangements, such as parts that satisfy the condition "insertion date" + "replacement interval" - "current date and time" ≦ "number of days until part replacement recommendation notification" and whose "status" is state 1, and transmits the results to the management server control unit 31.

[0041] The management server communication unit 35 can communicate with the automatic analyzer communication unit 22 of the automatic analyzer 20 and the parts center communication unit 41 of the parts center 40. For example, information from the component parts database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 is acquired.

[0042] The parts center 40 includes a parts center communication unit 41 and an ID tag creation unit 42 .

[0043] The parts center communication unit 41 can communicate with the management server communication unit 35. For example, it receives a parts arrangement request from the management server 30.

[0044] The ID tag creation unit 42 creates a label including an ID tag to be attached to the packaging box of the analytical instrument 25 or to the analytical instrument 25 itself when the replacement analytical instrument 25 is transported. Two types of information are recorded in the ID tag.

[0045] The first information is information for identifying a part to be removed from the component parts database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 when replacing the part. In this embodiment, this corresponds to the "part ID."

[0046] The second is information for generating records of embedded parts when parts are replaced. When generating records of embedded parts, most of the information can be recorded without obtaining information from outside by referencing record information of removed parts or entering default values.

[0047] For example, since an embedded part is operating normally immediately after replacement, the status information can always be recorded as "Status 1."

[0048] However, there is some information, such as lot numbers, that is difficult to record without external information acquisition. By recording this information on an ID tag, it is possible to automatically acquire the information when it is read, eliminating the need for manual input by the user.

[0049] For the reasons mentioned above, in this embodiment, the "part ID" and "lot number" are recorded as information in the ID tag. However, it is possible to change the information to be recorded depending on the use case.

[0050] For example, since the "part name" and "replacement interval" can basically be obtained from the record of the removed part, the information is not usually recorded in the ID tag.

[0051] However, this information may change when parts are discontinued or replaced, making it difficult to obtain the information from the removed part record. In preparation for such cases, by recording this information in an ID tag, the user can reduce the effort of manually entering and correcting the information.

[0052] However, the size of the ID tag depends on the performance of the reading device of the ID tag reading unit 12 of the component management device and the amount of information recorded in the ID tag, and the larger the amount of information, the larger the ID tag size becomes. Therefore, as the amount of information to be recorded increases, it becomes difficult to attach ID tags to components.

[0053] However, as mentioned above, the ID tag is necessary for managing the record information in the component parts database 24 when replacing parts. Therefore, it is preferable to attach the ID tag to the analytical equipment 25 and store it in an external storage unit (component parts databases 24, 33), but it is also acceptable to store it in the packaging box alone.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows the interface between the parts management systems in this embodiment, from when a part that is installed in the automatic analyzer 20 and operating normally to when it is removed for replacement.

[0055] (1) First, the automatic analyzer control unit 21 of the automatic analyzer 20 periodically transmits device information such as information from the automatic analyzer component parts database 24, alarm information, and parts signal information to the management server 30 via the automatic analyzer communication unit 22. This step (1) and steps (4), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10) described below correspond to a storage step that associates and stores, for each of the multiple analytical devices 25, the ID of the corresponding analytical device 25 and status information indicating the status of the analytical device 25.

[0056] (2) The management server 30 analyzes the device information received from the automatic analyzer 20, and if the number of days until the replacement deadline for a part reaches a set number of days, or if the number of days falls below a certain threshold and it is assumed that replacement will be necessary soon, or if a part failure is detected, the management server 30 updates the “status” of the corresponding part record in the component parts database 33 of the management server 30 from “status 1” to “status 2” and records that the part needs to be procured.

[0057] (3) The information recorded in the component parts database 33 of the management server 30 and the information recorded in the component parts database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 need to be synchronized. At this timing, the information in the component parts database 33 of the management server 30 becomes the latest version, so information on the part record whose "status" has been updated in the component parts database 33 of the management server 30 is sent to the automatic analyzer 20. In addition, the management server 30 sends a parts arrangement request to the parts center 40 for the part whose "status" has been updated to "Status 2." This step (3) and the above-mentioned step (2) correspond to the acceptance step of accepting a replacement request for the analytical equipment 25.

[0058] (4) The automatic analyzer 20 updates the component part database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 with the record information received from the management server 30 (updates the "status").

[0059] (5) Upon receiving the parts arrangement request, the parts center 40 arranges for the parts. When the parts arrangement is complete, a parts arrangement completion notice is sent to the management server 30, and the parts are transported. In addition, a label including an ID tag created by the parts center 40 is affixed to either the packaging box or the parts when transporting the parts.

[0060] (6) Based on the parts arrangement completion notification received from the parts center 40, the management server 30 updates the “status” of the arrangement completed part record in the component parts database 33 of the management server 30 from “status 2” to “status 3.” The management server 30 also transmits the information of the updated record to the automatic analysis device 20.

[0061] (7) The automatic analyzer 20 updates the component part database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 with the record information received from the management server 30 (updates the "status").

[0062] (8) As soon as the procured part arrives at the installation location of the automatic analyzer 20, the user performs the part replacement. At this time, a screen such as that shown in FIG. 6 or 8 (described later) is displayed on the display unit 14 of the parts management device 10, and the user performs the replacement work in accordance with the information displayed on the screen. Furthermore, the component parts database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 updates the "status" of the record of the part removed from the device due to the replacement from "status 3" to "status 4," and creates a new record for the part newly installed in the device due to the replacement. At this time, the "status" of the newly created installed part record is set to "status 1." This step (8) corresponds to a display step of displaying the ID of the analytical device 25 whose status information satisfies a predetermined condition and the first status information of the location where the analytical device 25 is used, when a replacement request for the analytical device 25 is accepted in the accepting step.

[0063] (9) As in (1), device information including information from the component database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 reflecting the part replacement record is sent to the management server 30 at the timing of periodic information transmission.

[0064] (10) The management server 30 analyzes the received device information in the same manner as in step (2). At this time, the record information updated or newly generated in the component database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 in step (8) is updated in the component database 33 of the management server 30.

[0065] FIG. 4 shows the processing procedure of the parts management device 10 when replacing parts in the above-mentioned step (8).

[0066] First, the information recorded in the ID tag attached to the packaging box of the part to be incorporated into the device due to replacement is acquired by the ID tag reading unit 12 of the part management device 10 (S10).

[0067] In a normal part replacement, the same type of part is replaced, and the "part ID" of the removed part matches that of the installed part. Furthermore, the "status" of the removed part record at the time of part replacement is updated to status 3 when the management server 30 receives a notification of order placement completion from the parts center 40.

[0068] Therefore, the component parts database 24 is searched for a record whose "part ID" matches the "part ID" obtained from the ID tag and whose "status" is "state 3" (S20), thereby identifying the part to be removed.

[0069] However, if the "parts ID" is changed due to part revision or abolition, the "parts ID" of the incorporated part (ID tag) may not match the "parts ID" of the removed part. Therefore, the parts management device 10 determines whether or not a record that satisfies the conditions exists (S30). If it is determined that a record that meets the search conditions exists in the component parts database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20, the process proceeds to step S50.

[0070] On the other hand, if it is determined that there are no records matching the search criteria in the component parts database 24, the part to be removed cannot be identified from the "parts ID" of the built-in part. In such a case, another method must be used to identify the part to be removed. For example, the user manually inputs the "parts ID" of the part to be removed. Alternatively, the change history of the "parts ID" is recorded in the management server 30, and if the "parts ID" of the built-in part is not in the component parts database 24, a "parts ID" that matches the part to be removed before the change is obtained from the management server 30. The "parts ID" of the part to be removed is obtained by these methods (S40), and this information is used to search the component parts database 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 again (S20) to identify the part to be removed.

[0071] If there are multiple parts with the same "Part ID" and "Status" set to "Status 3," it may not be possible to identify a single part to be removed simply by searching using the above conditions. Therefore, the parts management device 10 associates the "Part ID" and "Use or Location" information of all records that satisfy the conditions and displays them on the display unit 14 (S50).

[0072] Next, the user determines whether there are multiple parts that are candidates for removal displayed on the display unit 14 in the previous step S50 (S60). If it is determined that there is only one record, rather than multiple records, the part to be removed from the automated analyzer 20 by replacement can be identified, and the process proceeds to step S80.

[0073] On the other hand, if a plurality of parts are displayed, a button for selecting the part to actually be removed from among the candidate parts for removal is displayed (S70).

[0074] After identifying one part to be removed, the user carries out part replacement (S80).

[0075] Next, an example of information in the component parts database 24 and an example of display on the display unit 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. FIG.

[0076] First, an example will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 in which, when the "part ID" (0000008) of motor X is acquired from the ID tag, three records of motor X are recorded in the component parts database, and the ID of one analytical device 25 and first status information of the position where the analytical device 25 is used are displayed on the display unit 14. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of record information, and Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 5, motor X(2) whose "status" is "status 1" and motor X(3) whose "status" is "status 4" are not candidates for removal parts, and therefore are not displayed on the display unit 14.

[0078] 5, since motor X(1) is in "state 3," as shown in FIG. 6, an identification screen 14A is displayed on the display unit 14, which displays the part ID "0000001" of "application or position 1" and its position information "analysis device A," the part ID "0000002" of "application or position 2" and its position information "analysis unit A," the part ID "0000003" of "application or position 1" and its position information "drive unit A," the part ID "0000005" of "application or position 1" and its position information "motor A assembly," the part ID "0000006" of "motor X," which is the corresponding analytical device 25, its part name "motor X," and its position information "SP1," so that the location can be identified gradually from the largest frame. This allows the user to easily identify the installation location of the candidate part for removal.

[0079] Next, an example of a display on the display unit 14 when three records of motor X are recorded in the component parts database when the "part ID" (0000008) of motor X is acquired from the ID tag will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of record information when there are multiple candidates for removal parts, and Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit when there are multiple candidates for removal parts.

[0080] As in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 7, the motor X(3) whose "status" is state 4 is not a candidate for removal, and is therefore not displayed on the display unit 14.

[0081] In contrast, as shown in Figure 7, the same information is recorded for both Motor X(1) and Motor X(2) from "Use or Position 1" to "Use or Position 2." However, for Motor X(1), "Use or Position 3" is "0000003 (Drive Unit A)" and "Use or Position 4" is "0000005 (Motor A Assembly)," while for Motor X(2), "Use or Position 3" is "0000004 (Drive Unit B)," so the "Use or Position" is different. In this way, even if the "Parts ID" is the same, the location of use within the device will not match.

[0082] Therefore, by displaying the "use or position" in association with the "part ID" on the specific screen 14A1 displayed on the display unit 14, the user can distinguish between removal candidate parts based on differences in the places of use.

[0083] As a method for specifying parts to be removed, as shown in FIG. 8, a check box 14a is placed to the left of the "parts ID" of the parts to be removed, so that the user can specify the parts to be removed by selecting them.

[0084] Furthermore, if an ID tag is attached directly to a higher-level component, by reading this ID tag, it is possible to limit the candidate components for removal to those whose "use or position" includes the same "part ID" as the ID tag.

[0085] In the example of Figure 7, the use or position information 1 and 2 are common, so if an ID tag is directly affixed to any of the components "0000003 (drive unit A)," "0000005 (motor A assembly)," or "0000004 (drive unit B)," then by reading that ID tag it is possible to identify which motor X to remove.

[0086] When replacing a part, the "part ID" and "purpose or location" of the removed part record identified in the same manner as in Figure 6 or Figure 8 are associated and displayed on the display unit 14 to create a support screen that shows the user the part to be replaced.

[0087] In the above example, the part to be removed is identified when the status information of the part to be removed at the time of part replacement is "Status 3." However, when replacing a kit product in which multiple types of parts are sold together or when replacing parts sold in multiple units of the same type, there is a possibility that the part will be replaced together with other parts, and the status information of the part to be removed will not necessarily be "Status 3."

[0088] In such cases, the search conditions can be freely set so that not only parts in "State 3" but also parts in either "State 1" or "State 2" are candidates for removal parts.

[0089] For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, it is desirable that the parts management device control unit 11 display a selection screen 14B on the display unit 14 so as to display at least one of the ID of the analytical equipment 25 in "Status 1" where the analytical equipment 25 is properly installed and second status information of the location where the analytical equipment 25 is being used, and the ID of the analytical equipment 25 in "Status 2" where the analytical equipment 25 is waiting to be arranged and third status information of the location where the analytical equipment 25 is being used.

[0090] On selection screen 14B, when one of check boxes 14b1 is selected and OK button 14b2 is pressed, the ID and position of the part in the "state" where check box 14b1 is checked are displayed. When cancel button 14b3 is selected, selection screen 14B is closed.

[0091] However, since the parts in "Status 4" have already been removed and are not installed in the device, they will not be candidates for removal in the future. Therefore, it is desirable that the parts management device control unit 11 hide and not display on the display unit 14 the ID of the analytical equipment 25 in a state where the analytical equipment 25 is not already installed in the device, and the fourth status information indicating the location where the analytical equipment 25 is being used.

[0092] In the above embodiment, the component management system 1 is described as being composed of the component management device 10, the automatic analysis device 20, the management server 30, and the component center 40. However, the component management system 1 may also be configured such that the automatic analysis device 20 comprises the components of either the component management device 10 or the management server 30, and is configured as a standalone component.

[0093] In this case, the automatic analyzer may be configured to include two or more analytical instruments 25 used to measure physical properties, a display unit 25a that displays information related to the automatic analyzer, an automatic analyzer memory unit 23 that stores, in association with each other, the ID of the analytical instrument 25 and status information indicating the status of the analytical instrument 25 for each of the multiple analytical instruments 25, an input unit 25b that accepts a request to replace an analytical instrument 25, and an automatic analyzer control unit 21 that, when the input unit 25b accepts a request to replace an analytical instrument 25, causes the display unit 25a to display the ID of the analytical instrument 25 whose status information satisfies a predetermined condition and first status information of the location where the analytical instrument 25 is being used.

[0094] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0095] The parts management system 1 that manages the multiple analytical instruments 25 used in the device of this embodiment described above includes a display unit 14 that displays information about the parts management system 1, an automatic analyzer memory unit 23 that associates and stores, for each of the multiple analytical instruments 25, the ID of the corresponding analytical instrument 25 and status information indicating the status of the analytical instrument 25, an input unit 13 that accepts a request to replace an analytical instrument 25, and a parts management device control unit 11 that, when the input unit 13 accepts a request to replace an analytical instrument 25, causes the display unit 14 to display the ID of the analytical instrument 25 whose status information satisfies a predetermined condition and first status information of the location where the analytical instrument 25 is used.

[0096] Therefore, even if the same type of part is used for multiple purposes or locations, the status information of the analytical equipment 25 is used, and information identifying the analytical equipment 25 that should be removed when replacing it and its location information are displayed to the user, making it easy to identify the analytical equipment 25 that should be removed.

[0097] Parts that can be managed by such a parts management system 1 are not limited to, for example, the analytical equipment 25 of the automatic analyzer 20 used in clinical testing, but can also be applied to various multi-function equipment whose components change due to replacement or repair of consumable parts, such as ships and aircraft used in the fields of traffic and transportation, and machine tools used in parts manufacturing and processing, thereby enabling efficient management of components.

[0098] Furthermore, the specified condition is that the analytical equipment 25 is ready for replacement and can be replaced, so information about parts for which replacement work can be started immediately can be displayed, resulting in a display that is easier for the user to understand.

[0099] Furthermore, the parts management device control unit 11 displays on the display unit 14 one or more of the ID of the analytical equipment 25 when it is properly installed and second status information of the location where the analytical equipment 25 is being used, and the ID of the analytical equipment 25 when it is waiting to be arranged and third status information of the location where the analytical equipment 25 is being used, thereby making it possible to grasp the status of other parts as well as to easily grasp the parts to be replaced when replacing a kit product in which multiple types of parts are sold together or parts of the same type sold in multiple units.

[0100] Furthermore, the parts management device control unit 11 hides the ID of the analytical device 25 when the analytical device 25 has not yet been installed in the device and the fourth status information indicating the location where the analytical device 25 is being used from the display unit 14. This prevents unnecessary information from being displayed, and only the information the user needs is displayed, making it easier for the user to understand how to perform the replacement work.

[0101] Furthermore, if the replacement deadline for an analytical instrument 25 that is operating normally within the device has been reached or is approaching, or if a malfunction occurs, the second status information can be updated to the third status information, so that replacement parts are automatically arranged without the user having to update the information, thereby preventing oversights or delays in replacement.

[0102] Furthermore, when the replacement part for the analytical equipment 25 is ready and can be replaced, the third status information can be updated to the first status information, eliminating the need for the user to update the information, further reducing the burden on the user.

[0103] Furthermore, when the replacement of the analytical equipment 25 is completed, the first status information is updated to the fourth status information, eliminating the need for the user to update the information and preventing unnecessary information from being displayed, making it easier for the user to grasp only the information they need.

[0104] Furthermore, when the analytical equipment 25 has been replaced, new status information can be added, eliminating the need for the user to update the information.

[0105] <Others> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible. The above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all of the described configurations.

[0106] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Component management system 10... Component management device 11... Component management device control unit (control unit) 12... ID tag reading unit 13... Input unit (reception unit) 14... Display unit 14A, 14A1... Identification screen 14a, 14b1... Check box 14B... Selection screen 14b2... OK button 14b3... Cancel button 15... Component management device communication unit 20... Automatic analyzer 21... Automatic analyzer control unit 22... Automatic analyzer communication unit 23... Automatic analyzer memory unit 24... Automatic analyzer component parts database 25... Analytical equipment (component) 25a... Display unit 25b... Input unit 30... Management server 31... Management server control unit 32... Management server memory unit 33... Management server component parts database 34... Analysis unit 35... Management server communication unit 40... Parts center 41... Parts center communication unit 42... ID tag creation unit

Claims

1. A parts management system for managing a plurality of parts used in an apparatus, A display unit that displays information related to the component management system; a storage unit that stores, for each of the plurality of parts, an ID of the corresponding part and status information indicating a status of the part in association with each other; A reception unit that receives a request for replacing the part; a control unit that, when the reception unit receives a replacement request for the part, causes the display unit to display, in addition to the status information indicating an ID of the part in a state where a replacement for the part is ready and replaceable, and first status information indicating a location where the part is used, any one or more of an ID of the part in a state where the part is normally installed, second status information indicating a location where the part is used, an ID of the part in a state where the part is waiting to be arranged, and third status information indicating a location where the part is used; a selection unit that selects whether or not to display at least one of the second status information and the third status information on the display unit. Parts management system.

2. (delete)

3. (delete)

4. 2. The parts management system according to claim 1, The control unit hides the ID of the part when the part is not already installed in the device and the fourth state information indicating the position where the part is used on the display unit. Parts management system.

5. 2. The parts management system according to claim 1, When the part operating normally in the device reaches or is approaching its replacement deadline, or when a failure occurs, the second status information is updated to the third status information. Parts management system.

6. 2. The parts management system according to claim 1, When the preparation of a replacement part for the part is completed and the part is in a replaceable state, the third status information is updated to the first status information. Parts management system.

7. 5. The parts management system according to claim 4, When the replacement of the part is completed, the first status information is updated to the fourth status information. Parts management system.

8. 2. The parts management system according to claim 1, When the replacement of the part is completed, add new status information. Parts management system.

9. 2. The parts management system according to claim 1, The device is an automatic analyzer that measures the physical properties of a biological sample. Parts management system.

10. An automatic analyzer for reacting a biological sample with a reagent and measuring physical properties of the resulting reaction solution, comprising: Two or more parts used to measure the physical properties; A display unit that displays information regarding the automatic analyzer; a storage unit that stores, for each of the plurality of parts, an ID of the corresponding part and status information indicating a status of the part in association with each other; A reception unit that receives a request for replacing the part; a control unit that, when the reception unit receives a replacement request for the part, causes the display unit to display, in addition to the status information indicating an ID of the part in a state where a replacement for the part is ready and replaceable, and first status information indicating a location where the part is used, any one or more of an ID of the part in a state where the part is normally installed, second status information indicating a location where the part is used, an ID of the part in a state where the part is waiting to be arranged, and third status information indicating a location where the part is used; a selection unit that selects whether or not to display at least one of the second status information and the third status information on the display unit. Automatic analyzer.

11. A parts management method for managing a plurality of parts used in an apparatus, comprising: a storage step of storing, for each of the plurality of parts, an ID of the corresponding part and status information indicating a status of the part in association with each other; a receiving step of receiving a request for replacing the part; a display step of displaying, when a request for replacing the part is received in the receiving step, at least one of the following: an ID of the part in a state where the preparation of a replacement part for the part is completed and the part is in a replaceable state, and first status information on a location where the part is used, an ID of the part in a state where the part is normally installed, second status information on a location where the part is used, an ID of the part in a state where the part is waiting to be arranged, and third status information on a location where the part is used; a selection step of selecting whether or not to display at least one of the second status information and the third status information in the display step. Parts management method.