Information processing device, analysis system, and method for proposing reagent configuration

Abstract

The purpose of the invention is to prevent the wasteful use of reagent containers that have been loaded on a device, such as reagent containers being loaded and reagent containers outside the device, by proposing a reagent configuration including the reagent containers being loaded and reagent containers outside the device. An operation unit PC1 can communicate with an analysis device 4 that has a reagent loading unit capable of loading multiple reagent containers, and proposes a reagent configuration indicating a combination of reagent containers to be loaded on the reagent loading unit. The operation unit PC1 includes a memory unit 22 that stores a management table 22a in which status information indicating the loading status of the reagent container on the reagent loading unit is registered for each reagent container, and a control unit 21 that selects a reagent container that has been loaded on the reagent loading unit according to the status information of the management table 22a stored in the memory unit 22 and proposes a reagent configuration including the selected reagent container.

Description

Information processing device, analysis system, and method for proposing reagent configuration

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device capable of communicating with an analyzer that analyzes specimens made of biological samples such as blood and urine, an analysis system including the analyzer and the information processing device, and a method for proposing a reagent configuration.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic analyzer that "calculates the predicted time it will take for multiple reagents to run out from a full state based on past measurement history, and proposes the number of reagent bottles to be installed so that the predicted time it will take for the multiple reagents to run out can be leveled out."

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-060327

[0004] Patent Document 1 attempts to reduce the number of times reagent bottles need to be replaced by proposing a number of reagent bottles to be installed that equalizes the expected time it takes for the reagent to run out from a full state. However, Patent Document 1 proposes a new reagent bottle configuration, and does not take into consideration reagent containers currently installed in the device (hereinafter referred to as "on-board reagent containers") or reagent containers outside the device that have been moved outside the device after being installed in the device (hereinafter referred to as "external reagent containers"). Since Patent Document 1 does not include on-board reagent containers or external reagent containers in the proposed reagent configuration, there is a possibility that these reagent containers will go unused and end up wasting.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to prevent reagent containers that have been loaded onto an apparatus, such as loaded reagent containers and external reagent containers, from going to waste by proposing a reagent configuration that includes loaded reagent containers and external reagent containers.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the information processing device of the present disclosure is capable of communicating with an analyzer having a reagent mounting section capable of mounting multiple reagent containers, and is an information processing device that proposes a reagent configuration indicating a combination of reagent containers to be mounted on the reagent mounting section, and is equipped with a memory section that stores management information in which status information indicating the mounting status of the reagent container on the reagent mounting section is registered for each reagent container, and a control section that selects a reagent container that has been mounted on the reagent mounting section in accordance with the status information of the management information stored in the memory section, and proposes a reagent configuration including the selected reagent container.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, by proposing a reagent configuration including on-board reagent containers and external reagent containers, it is possible to prevent reagent containers that have been loaded onto an apparatus, such as on-board reagent containers and external reagent containers, from going to waste. Other objects and novel features will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0008] 1 is a schematic diagram of an analytical system 100. It is a hardware block diagram of an operation unit PC1. It is a diagram showing a management table 22a stored in a storage unit 22. It is a flowchart showing a method of registering various information in the management table 22a. It is a flowchart showing details of a reagent container addition step of Example 1. It is a flowchart showing details of a number adjustment step. It is a diagram showing a reagent configuration proposal screen 700 displayed on a display unit 24. It is a diagram showing a priority condition setting screen 800 for setting priority conditions. It is a flowchart showing details of a reagent container addition step of Example 2.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The examples are illustrative for explaining the present disclosure, and for clarity of explanation, appropriate omissions and simplifications have been made. The present disclosure can also be implemented in various other forms. Unless otherwise specified, each component may be singular or plural.

[0010] To facilitate understanding of the invention, the position, size, shape, range, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may not represent the actual position, size, shape, range, etc. Therefore, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the position, size, shape, range, etc. disclosed in the drawings.

[0011] When there are multiple components with the same or similar functions, they may be described using the same reference numeral with different subscripts. When there is no need to distinguish between these multiple components, the subscripts may be omitted.

[0012] In the embodiments, processing performed by executing a program may be described. Here, a computer executes the program using a processor (e.g., a CPU or a GPU) and performs processing defined by the program using storage resources (e.g., a memory) and interface devices (e.g., a communication port). Therefore, the entity performing the processing by executing the program may be the processor. Similarly, the entity performing the processing by executing the program may be a controller, device, system, computer, or node having a processor. The entity performing the processing by executing the program may be any computing unit, and may include a dedicated circuit that performs specific processing. Here, the dedicated circuit may be, for example, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), or the like.

[0013] A program may be installed on a computer from a program source. The program source may be, for example, a program distribution server or a computer-readable storage medium. When the program source is a program distribution server, the program distribution server may include a processor and storage resources for storing the program to be distributed, and the processor of the program distribution server may distribute the program to be distributed to other computers. In addition, in the embodiments, two or more programs may be realized as one program, or one program may be realized as two or more programs.

[0014] (Analysis System 100) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the analysis system 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the analysis system 100 includes an operation unit PC1, an input unit 2, a transport line 3, and an analysis device 4. The operation unit PC1 and analysis device 4 are connected so that they can communicate with each other. A user places sample containers containing samples, etc., in a sample rack 5 and inserts the sample rack 5 with the sample containers into the input unit 2. The inserted sample rack 5 is transported to the analysis device 4 via the transport line 3. The analysis device 4 mixes and stirs the samples in the sample containers placed in the sample rack 5 with the reagents contained in the reagent containers 6a, and measures the reaction solution in which the samples and reagents are mixed and stirred. Measurement results by the analysis device 4 are sent to the operation unit PC1.

[0015] (Analyzing device 4) The analyzing device 4 mainly has a reagent mounting unit 6 and an analyzing unit 7. A plurality of reagent containers 6a can be mounted on the reagent mounting unit 6. When a reagent container 6a is mounted on the reagent mounting unit 6, code information (e.g., a barcode or two-dimensional barcode) affixed to the reagent container 6a is read by a reader 8. The code information includes container information (lot, sequence number) related to the reagent container 6a, and reagent information related to the reagent in the reagent container 6a (type of reagent (test item), remaining amount of reagent, expiration date of reagent). The container information and reagent information included in the code information read by the reader 8 are transmitted to the operating unit PC1 and recorded in a memory unit 22 (see FIG. 2 ) of the operating unit PC1.

[0016] (Operation Unit PC1) Figure 2 is a hardware block diagram of the operation unit PC1. The operation unit PC1 is an information processing device, such as a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet. The operation unit PC1 may be an on-premise server or a cloud server. The operation unit PC1 has a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, an input unit 23, a display unit 24, a communication unit 25, and a bus 26 that communicatively connects these components.

[0017] The control unit 21 has a processor 21a, a memory 21b, and an I / F 21c. The processor 21a is a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, etc. The memory 21b is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), etc., and is used as a working area for the processor 21a. The I / F 21c is an interface that connects the processor 21a to peripheral devices of the processor 21a so that they can communicate with each other.

[0018] The storage unit 22 is a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a combination thereof, and stores various programs and various data. The storage unit 22 stores, for each reagent container 6a, a management table 22a (management information) that manages container information, reagent information, and the like included in the code information read by the reader 8. Details of the management table 22a will be described later. The storage unit 22 also stores a registration program that registers container information, reagent information, and the like in the management table 22a, and a creation program that creates a reagent configuration.

[0019] The input unit 23 is a device such as a keyboard or a mouse for inputting instructions to the computer, and inputs instructions such as program start-up and process execution.

[0020] The display unit 24 is a display or the like, and displays the execution status and execution results of processing by the control unit 21. In this embodiment, the display unit 24 displays a proposal screen 700 (see FIG. 7 ) that proposes a reagent configuration showing a combination of reagent containers 6a that are recommended to be loaded on the reagent loading unit 6, a priority condition setting screen 800 (see FIG. 8 ) that sets priority conditions for selecting reagent containers 6a to be included in the reagent configuration, and the like.

[0021] The communication unit 25 exchanges various data and commands with external devices (for example, the analysis device 4) via a LAN (Local Area Network).

[0022] (Management Table 22a) Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the management table 22a stored in the storage unit 22. The management table 22a will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 3.

[0023] The management table 22a manages, for each record, the container information, reagent information, etc., included in the code information read by the reader 8. That is, the management table 22a manages the container information, reagent information, etc., for each reagent container 6a. The management table 22a includes status information 30, position information 31, item information 32, remaining amount information 33, lot information 34, sequence number information 35, expiration date information 36, registration date and time information 37, and an unusable flag 38.

[0024] The status information 30 indicates the loading status of the reagent container 6a on the reagent loading unit 6. When the reagent container 6a is loaded on the reagent loading unit 6, the status information 30 is "loaded." When the reagent container 6a was loaded on the reagent loading unit 6 but has since been removed from the reagent loading unit 6, the status information 30 is "out of device." When the reagent container 6a is loaded on the reagent loading unit 6 and the code information affixed to the reagent container 6a is read by the reader 8, a record corresponding to the reagent container 6a is generated, and the status information 30 of this record is set to "loaded." Furthermore, when it is detected that the reagent container 6a has been removed from the reagent loading unit 6, the status information 30 of the record corresponding to the reagent container 6a is set to "out of device." Here, an example has been described in which the status information 30 in the management table 22a is automatically registered. However, if there is no detection mechanism for the reader 8 or the reagent container 6a, the status information 30 in the management table 22a may be manually rewritten by a laboratory technician or the like when the reagent container 6a is loaded or removed.

[0025] The position information 31 indicates the position of the reagent container 6 a mounted on the reagent mounting section 6 .

[0026] The item information 32 indicates the test item to be performed using the reagent in the reagent container 6a. The item information 32 is, for example, "ALB" (albumin), "CRE" (creatinine), and "HDL" (good cholesterol).

[0027] The remaining amount information 33 indicates the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container 6a. The remaining amount information 33 is updated every time the reagent in the reagent container 6a is used.

[0028] The lot information 34 indicates the lot number of the reagent container 6a.

[0029] The sequence number information 35 indicates a serial number in the lot number of the reagent container 6a. The reagent container 6a is uniquely determined by the lot information 34 and the sequence number information 35.

[0030] The expiration date information 36 indicates the expiration date of the reagent in the reagent container 6a.

[0031] The registration date and time information 37 indicates the date and time when the reagent container 6a was registered in the management table 22a. When the reader 8 reads the code information attached to the reagent container 6a, a record for the reagent container 6a is generated, and the registration date and time is registered in the registration date and time information 37 of the record.

[0032] The unusable flag 38 indicates that the reagent container 6a is unusable. When the remaining amount of reagent in the reagent container 6a reaches 0, when the expiration date of the reagent has passed, or when the Delete button 702 is pressed on the screen of Fig. 7, information indicating that the reagent container 6a is unusable (for example, "1") is registered in the unusable flag 38.

[0033] (Method of Registering Various Information in Management Table 22a) Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of registering various information in the management table 22a. Next, the method of registering various information in the management table 22a will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Each step of the flowchart in Fig. 4 is executed by the processor 21a of the control unit 21 by executing a registration program that registers various information in the management table 22a stored in the storage unit 22, for example.

[0034] First, the control unit 21 determines whether the code information attached to the reagent container 6a has been read by the reader 8 (S401). When the reader 8 reads the code information, the read code information is transmitted to the control unit 21 via the communication unit 25. When the control unit 21 receives the code information, it determines that the code information has been read.

[0035] When the control unit 21 determines that the code information has been read (S401: YES), it determines whether the reagent container 6a to which the code information is affixed is a reagent container 6a to be newly loaded on the reagent loading unit 6 (S402). Specifically, if the set of lot and sequence number included in the read code information does not match any of the sets of lot information and sequence number information registered in the management table 22a, the control unit 21 determines that the reagent container 6a is a reagent container to be newly loaded on the reagent loading unit 6 (S402: YES). On the other hand, if the set of lot and sequence number included in the read code information matches any of the sets of lot information and sequence number information registered in the management table 22a, the control unit 21 determines that the reagent container 6a is a reagent container to be reloaded on the reagent loading unit 6 (S402: NO).

[0036] If the reagent container 6a is a reagent container to be newly loaded on the reagent loading unit 6 (S402: YES), the control unit 21 creates a new record in the management table 22a, registers "loaded" in the status information 30 of the record, and registers the reagent information (reagent type (test item), remaining amount of reagent, expiration date of reagent) and container information (lot, sequence number) contained in the read code information in the appropriate locations of the record (S403). The control unit 21 also registers the position where the reagent container 6a is loaded in the record.

[0037] On the other hand, if the reagent container 6a is to be loaded again on the reagent loading unit 6 (S402: NO), the control unit 21 updates the status information 30 of the record that matches the lot information 34 and sequence number information 35 in the management table 22a from "outside the device" to "loaded" (S404). The control unit 21 also registers the loaded position of the reagent container 6a in the record.

[0038] Next, the control unit 21 determines whether the reagent container 6a has been removed from the reagent mounting unit 6 (S405). The reagent mounting unit 6 is provided with a mechanism (not shown) such as a sensor that detects that the reagent container 6a has been removed. The control unit 21 receives the detection result from the mechanism and determines that the reagent container 6a has been removed from the reagent mounting unit 6.

[0039] When the control unit 21 determines that the reagent container 6a has been removed from the reagent loading unit 6 (S405: YES), it updates the status information 30 of the record of the removed reagent container 6a in the management table 22a from "mounted" to "outside the device" (S406). For example, when a mechanism (sensor) that detects the reagent container 6a at position "A-1" on the reagent loading unit 6 detects the removal of the reagent container 6a, the control unit 21 receives the detection result from the mechanism (sensor) and determines that the reagent container 6a has been removed from position "A-1" on the reagent loading unit 6. Then, the control unit 21 updates the status information 30 of the record in which "A-1" is registered in the position information 31 from "mounted" to "outside the device."

[0040] (Method for Proposing Reagent Configuration) Next, a method for proposing a reagent configuration will be described. The reagent configuration is a summary of the reagent containers 6a that are recommended to be installed in the device, and is created by calculation based on the amount of reagent to be used and the conditions for the reagent containers to be used preferentially. The reagent configuration proposal is made by summarizing the created reagent configuration in a table and displaying it on the display unit 24, thereby presenting the user with the reagent containers 6a that are recommended for use.

[0041] The reagent configuration proposal is executed in accordance with an execution instruction entered through the input unit 23 on the screen displayed on the display unit 24. The reagent configuration proposal can be executed at any time while the analyzer 4 is in standby mode. A new reagent configuration is created each time the reagent configuration proposal process is started. Before executing the reagent configuration proposal process, it is necessary to set priority conditions for determining which reagent containers should be used preferentially. The setting of priority conditions is explained in FIG. 8.

[0042] The process of creating a reagent configuration is divided into a reagent container addition step and a number adjustment step, and the details of each step will be explained with reference to FIGS.

[0043] (Reagent Container Addition Step) FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the details of the reagent container addition step. In the reagent container addition step, first, a reagent set is created that summarizes the reagent containers proposed for each reagent type. At this time, reagent containers 6a that have been loaded on the reagent loading unit 6 (loaded reagent containers 6a, external reagent containers 6a) are selected and included in the reagent set according to the status information 30 of the management table 22a stored in the memory unit 22. A reagent configuration is then created by combining the created reagent sets for each reagent type. A reagent set is created by adding reagent containers to the reagent set for each reagent type so that the total amount of reagent is equal to or greater than the predicted usage amount. The added reagent containers do not include unusable containers (reagent containers with the unusable flag 38). The predicted usage amount is calculated for each reagent type. The predicted usage amount is calculated, for example, from the daily usage amount of reagent recorded in the memory unit 22.

[0044] The detailed operation of the reagent container addition step will be described below based on the flowchart of Fig. 5. Each step of the flowchart of Fig. 5 is executed by the processor 21a of the control unit 21 executing, for example, a creation program that creates a reagent configuration to be stored in the storage unit 22.

[0045] First, the control unit 21 identifies the type of reagent (test item) (e.g., ALB, CRE, HDL, etc.) to be used for an arbitrary period (e.g., one day) (S501). The arbitrary period may be specified by the user or may be a default value.

[0046] Next, the control unit 21 sets a reagent set (for example, reagent set (ALB), reagent set (CRE), reagent set (HDL), etc.) for each type of the identified reagent (S502).

[0047] The control unit 21 adds all of the reagent containers 6a of reagent X from the reagent containers 6a mounted on the reagent mounting unit 6 to the reagent set of a certain reagent that has been set (here, the reagent set of reagent X is referred to as reagent set (X)) (S503).

[0048] The control unit 21 calculates the total amount of reagent in the reagent containers 6a in the reagent set (X) from the remaining amount information 33 in the management table 22a, and determines whether the calculated total amount of reagent is less than the estimated amount used (S504).

[0049] When the control unit 21 determines that the total amount of reagent is less than the predicted amount to be used (S504: YES), it performs a process of adding a reagent container 6a to the reagent set (X).

[0050] The control unit 21 checks whether there are any reagent containers (hereinafter referred to as outside-device reagent containers 6a) that have status information 30 of "outside device" from the reagent containers 6a managed in the management table 22a, excluding the reagent containers 6a included in the reagent set (X) (S505).

[0051] If there is an external reagent container 6a (S505: YES), the control unit 21 adds one external reagent container 6a selected according to the priority conditions to the reagent set (X) (S506). The priority conditions will be described later.

[0052] If there is no external reagent container 6a (S505: NO), the control unit 21 adds a new reagent container 6a (hereinafter referred to as new reagent container 6a) to the reagent set (X) (S507).

[0053] After adding the reagent container 6a to the reagent set (X), the control unit 21 checks the total amount of reagent in the reagent set (X) and determines whether the total amount of reagent in the reagent set (X) is equal to or greater than the estimated amount to be used (S508).

[0054] If the total amount of reagent in the reagent set (X) is less than the predicted amount to be used (S508: NO), the control unit 21 performs processing to add the reagent container 6a again (S505, S506, S507).

[0055] On the other hand, if the total amount of reagent in the reagent set (X) is equal to or greater than the predicted amount (S508: YES), the control unit 21 determines whether the addition of the reagent containers 6a to all types of reagent sets identified in S501 has been completed (S509).The control unit 21 also executes the process of S509 when it determines that the total amount of reagent is equal to or greater than the predicted amount (S504: NO).

[0056] If the addition of the reagent container 6a to all of the identified types of reagent sets has not been completed (S509: NO), the control unit 21 returns to the processing of S503 to add the reagent container 6a to the next type of reagent set.

[0057] When the addition of reagent containers 6a to all identified types of reagent sets is completed (S509: YES), the control unit 21 creates a reagent configuration by combining all identified types of reagent sets (e.g., reagent set (ALB), reagent set (CRE), reagent set (HDL), etc.) (S510).

[0058] (Number Adjustment Step) Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the details of the number adjustment step. In this number adjustment step, the number of reagent containers 6a in the reagent configuration created in the reagent container addition step is adjusted so that it is within the maximum number that can be mounted on the reagent mounting unit 6. In adjusting the number of reagent containers 6a, reagent containers 6a that are used least frequently and do not meet the priority conditions are removed from the reagent configuration in order. Whether a container is used less frequently is determined based on whether it meets conditions such as not being used every day for a certain period of time or not being used continuously for a certain period of time.

[0059] Furthermore, in the number adjustment step, reagent containers to be excluded are selected for each type of reagent from the reagent set with the largest difference between the total amount of reagent in the reagent set and the estimated amount of usage, so that the impact of excluding reagent container 6a is minimized. A large difference between the total amount of reagent in the reagent set and the estimated amount of usage means that the total amount of reagent in the reagent set has a surplus compared to the estimated amount of usage, so reagent containers can be excluded in order starting from the reagent set with the largest surplus in total amount.

[0060] The detailed operation of the number adjustment step will be described below based on the flowchart of Fig. 6. Each step of the flowchart of Fig. 6 is executed by the processor 21a of the control unit 21 executing a reagent container number adjustment program stored in the storage unit 22, for example.

[0061] First, the control unit 21 checks the total number of reagent containers 6a included in the reagent configuration created in S510, and if the total number of reagent containers 6a included in the reagent configuration is within the maximum number that can be mounted on the reagent mounting unit 6 (S601: NO), the number adjustment step is terminated because no number adjustment is necessary. If the total number of reagent containers 6a included in the reagent configuration exceeds the maximum number that can be mounted on the reagent mounting unit 6 (S601: YES), the control unit 21 executes the number adjustment process.

[0062] First, as part of the process for adjusting the number of reagents, the control unit 21 checks whether or not the reagents in the reagent containers 6a included in the reagent configuration include a type of reagent that is used less frequently (S602).

[0063] When the control unit 21 determines that there is a reagent of a type that is used less frequently (S602: YES), it selects the reagent set with the largest difference between the total amount of reagent and the estimated amount used from the reagent sets of the reagent of the type that is used less frequently (S603). Note that if there is only one reagent of a type that is used less frequently, the control unit 21 selects the reagent set of that one reagent.

[0064] When the control unit 21 determines that there is no reagent of a type that is used infrequently (S602: NO), it selects the reagent set that has the largest difference between the total amount of reagent in the reagent set and the estimated amount used from among the reagent sets that make up the reagent configuration (S604).

[0065] The control unit 21 then selects a reagent container 6a from the reagent set selected in S603 and S604 in accordance with the priority condition, and excludes the selected reagent container 6a from the reagent configuration and the selected reagent set (S605). The priority condition, which will be described later, is, for example, the remaining amount of reagent, expiration date, or registration date and time. If the priority condition is the remaining amount of reagent, the control unit 21 selects and excludes the reagent container 6a with the largest (or smallest) remaining amount of reagent from the reagent set. If the priority condition is the expiration date, the control unit 21 selects and excludes the reagent container 6a with the furthest (or nearest) expiration date from the reagent set. If the priority condition is the registration date and time, the control unit 21 selects and excludes the reagent container 6a with the latest (or earliest) registration date and time from the reagent set.

[0066] Thereafter, the control unit 21 checks the total number of reagent containers 6a included in the reagent configuration (S606), and ends the process if the total number of reagent containers 6a included in the reagent configuration is equal to or less than the maximum number that can be mounted on the reagent mounting unit 6 (S606: YES).On the other hand, if the total number of reagent containers 6a included in the reagent configuration exceeds the maximum number that can be mounted on the reagent mounting unit 6 (S606: NO), the process returns to the number adjustment process, and the processes of S602 to S606 are repeated.

[0067] Through the above process, a reagent configuration in which the number of reagent containers 6 a is within the maximum number that can be mounted on the device is proposed as the reagent configuration to be mounted on the reagent mounting section 6 .

[0068] Here, the processing of the number adjustment step may include the currently loaded reagent container 6a as an exclusion target, or may not include the currently loaded reagent container 6a as an exclusion target. If the currently loaded reagent container 6a is included as an exclusion target, there is a possibility that the currently loaded reagent container 6a will have to be replaced, but all reagent containers 6a included in the reagent configuration will be excluded according to the priority conditions. This makes it possible to suggest reagent containers that should be used with higher priority. Conversely, if the currently loaded reagent container 6a is not included as an exclusion target, there is a possibility that the currently loaded reagent container 6a may not meet the priority conditions, but there is no need to remove the currently loaded reagent container 6a from the device. This makes the task of replacing the reagent container 6a easier.

[0069] 7 shows an example of a reagent configuration proposal screen 700 displayed on the display unit 24. The proposal screen 700 has a reagent configuration table 701 showing a list of reagent containers 6a included in the reagent configuration, a delete button 702 for deleting a record in the reagent configuration table 701, and an OK button 703 for closing the proposal screen 700.

[0070] The reagent configuration table 701 has one or more records, each containing information about one or more reagent containers 6a included in the reagent configuration. Each record contains status information 710, location information 711, item information 712, remaining amount information 713, lot information 714, sequence number information 715, and expiration date information 716. The contents of this information 710 to 716 are the same as the information 30 to 36 in the management table 22a described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0071] A laboratory technician or the like operating the operation PC 1 can tell from the status information 710 of the reagent configuration table 701 whether a reagent container 6a is a loaded reagent container 6a, an external reagent container 6a, or a new reagent container 6a. The laboratory technician or the like can also uniquely identify the reagent container to be loaded on the reagent loading unit 6 from the lot information 714 and sequence number information 715 of the reagent configuration table 701. Note that the loaded reagent container 6a, the external reagent container 6a, and the new reagent container 6a may be colored in different colors in the reagent configuration table 701 to improve visibility and make it easier to distinguish between the reagent containers.

[0072] A laboratory technician or the like operating the operation PC 1 can select one or more records in the reagent configuration table 701 by operating the input unit 23. By operating the delete button 702 in FIG. 7 (delete instruction), the selected one or more records are deleted from the reagent configuration table 701. In addition, various information about the reagent container 6a corresponding to the deleted record is deleted from the management table 22a of the storage unit 22, making the reagent container 6a unusable and preventing it from being proposed in the reagent configuration. This function prevents a situation in which a reagent container 6a that the user has already discarded and no longer owns is repeatedly proposed in the reagent configuration. Note that, although an example of deleting information from the management table 22a has been described here, the information about the reagent container 6a related to the record may also be managed using an unusable flag 38 (see FIG. 3) so that it cannot be used.

[0073] Here, by operating the delete button 702, information is deleted from the management table 22a, or the unusable flag 38 is used to make the target information unusable. Note that an exclude button may be provided on the proposal screen 700 instead of or in addition to the delete button 702. By operating the exclude button, the target record is deleted from the proposed reagent configuration table 701, but by not operating the information in the management table 22a, it is possible to make the target information available for proposal in the next and subsequent reagent configurations.

[0074] 8 shows a priority condition setting screen 800 for setting priority conditions. On the priority condition setting screen 800, one of the conditions for determining which reagent container 6a is to be preferentially used can be selected, and the selected condition can be set as the priority condition.

[0075] The priority condition setting screen 800 has a condition selection section 801 with multiple priority conditions and radio buttons for selecting a priority condition, a cancel button 802 for closing the priority condition setting screen 800, and a setting button 803 for setting the selected priority condition.

[0076] The priority conditions that can be selected in the condition selection unit 801 are, for example, the remaining amount of reagent, expiration date, or registration date and time. If the remaining amount of reagent is set as the condition, priority is given to using reagent containers with a small amount of remaining reagent. If the expiration date is set as the condition, priority is given to using reagent containers that are close to expiration date. If the registration date and time is set as the condition, priority is given to using reagents with older registration dates and times. Each priority condition can be selected depending on the user's situation. The remaining amount of reagent is effective when you want to use up the reagent quickly and reduce the number of reagent containers to be managed. The expiration date is effective when you want to use the reagent without forgetting to waste it. The registration date and time is effective when you want to minimize the impact of reagent deterioration.

[0077] Effect of First Embodiment In the first embodiment, a reagent container 6a that has been loaded on the reagent loading unit 6 (a loaded reagent container 6a, an external reagent container 6a) can be selected according to the status information 30 in the management table 22a, and a reagent configuration including the selected reagent container 6a can be proposed. This makes it possible to prevent reagent containers 6a that have been loaded on the device, such as a loaded reagent container 6a or an external reagent container 6a, from going to waste.

[0078] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, not only the reagent containers 6a currently mounted on the reagent mounting section 6 but also the external reagent containers 6a that were mounted on the reagent mounting section 6 and are outside the apparatus can be used without waste.

[0079] Furthermore, in Example 1, if the total amount of reagent in the reagent set is less than the predicted amount, external reagent containers 6a or new reagent containers 6a can be added to the reagent set so that the total amount of reagent is equal to or greater than the predicted amount. This makes it possible to propose a reagent configuration for reagent containers 6a that has a total amount of reagent equal to or greater than the predicted amount of use.

[0080] Furthermore, in Example 1, by executing the number adjustment step, when the number of reagent containers 6a in the reagent configuration is greater than the mountable number of reagents in the reagent mounting unit 6, it is possible to exclude the reagent containers 6a from the reagent configuration so that the number of reagent containers 6a in the reagent configuration is equal to or less than the mountable number of reagents in the reagent mounting unit 6. This makes it possible to propose a reagent configuration that is within the mountable number of reagents in the reagent mounting unit 6.

[0081] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the reagent container 6a can be excluded from the reagent configuration according to the priority conditions, which makes it possible to create a reagent configuration according to the user's requests.

[0082] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the reagent container 6a can be excluded from the reagent set of the reagent that is used less frequently, thereby reducing the number of steps required to replace the reagent container 6a.

[0083] In the second embodiment, in the reagent set preparation process in the first embodiment, the on-board reagent container 6a is treated in the same way as the reagent container 6a outside the apparatus.

[0084] The hardware configuration of the analysis system 100 of Example 2, the display of the reagent configuration, the setting of priority conditions, etc. are the same as those of Example 1. The method of creating the reagent configuration of Example 2 differs from the method of creating the reagent configuration of FIG.

[0085] Figure 9 is a flowchart that partially modifies the flow of creating the reagent configuration in Figure 5, and is a flowchart in which the on-board reagent container 6a and the external reagent container 6a are treated as registered reagent containers and added to the reagent set in the same row.

[0086] In the flowchart of Example 2 in Fig. 9, S503 and S504 in Fig. 3 are not processed, and S901, S902, and S905 to S910 corresponding to S501, S502, and S505 to S510 in Fig. 5 are executed. In the flowchart of Fig. 9, a reagent container 6a selected from the reagent containers 6a registered in the management table 22a, including not only the external reagent container 6a but also the on-board reagent container 6a, is added to the reagent set.

[0087] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 9, the process different from that of the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0088] First, the control unit 21 executes the processes of S901 and S902 in the same manner as S501 and S502 in the flowchart of FIG.

[0089] Next, in Example 2, the control unit 21 checks whether there are any reagent containers 6a for reagent X among the reagent containers 6a managed in the management table 22a, excluding the reagent containers 6a included in the reagent set (X) (S905).

[0090] If there is a reagent container 6a for reagent X in the management table 22a (S905: YES), the control unit 21 adds one on-board reagent container 6a or an external reagent container 6a selected according to the priority conditions to the reagent set (X) (S906).

[0091] If there is no reagent container 6a for the reagent X in the management table 22a (S905: NO), the control unit 21 adds a new reagent container 6a to the reagent set (X) (S907).

[0092] Thereafter, the control unit 21 executes the processes of S908 to S910 in the same manner as S508 to S510 in the flowchart of FIG. 5, and creates a reagent configuration.

[0093] (Effects of Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, the reagent configuration allows preferential use of reagent containers that meet priority conditions from among all registered reagent containers, regardless of whether they are on-board reagent containers or reagent containers outside the device.

[0094] Furthermore, in Example 2, with regard to the two types of number adjustment step processing described in Example 1, either excluding reagent containers currently on board or not excluding reagent containers currently on board, excluding reagent containers currently on board is more effective because it allows reagent containers currently on board and reagent containers outside the device to be treated on the same level.

[0095] <Modifications> The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present disclosure, and are not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, or to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.

[0096] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the priority condition for adding an external reagent container 6a in S506 and the priority condition for excluding the reagent container 6a from the reagent set and reagent configuration in S605 were common priority conditions set on the priority condition setting screen 800 of Fig. 8. However, the priority condition for adding an external reagent container 6a in S506 and the priority condition for excluding the reagent container 6a from the reagent set and reagent configuration in S605 may be different conditions.

[0097] In the above-described embodiment, the reagent container 6a is excluded from the reagent set with the largest difference between the total amount of reagent and the estimated amount used, among the least frequently used reagents, by the processes of S602, S603, and S605. However, the reagent container 6a may also be excluded from the reagent set with the least frequently used reagent, or may be excluded from the reagent set with the largest difference between the total amount of reagent and the estimated amount used, regardless of the frequency of use.

[0098] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a desired priority condition is selected from a plurality of priority conditions on the priority condition setting screen 800, but a predetermined fixed priority condition may also be used.

[0099] 1: Operation unit PC, 2: Input unit, 3: Transport line, 4: Analysis device, 5: Sample rack, 6: Reagent loading unit, 6a: Reagent container, 7: Analysis unit, 8: Reader, 21: Control unit, 21a: Processor, 21b: Memory, 21c: I / F, 22: Storage unit, 22a: Management table, 23: Input unit, 24: Display unit, 25: Communication unit, 30, 710: Status information, 31, 711: Position information, 32, 712: Item information, 33, 713: Remaining amount information, 34, 714: Lot information, 35, 715: Sequence number information, 36, 716: Expiry date information, 37: Registration date and time information, 38: Unusable flag, 100: Analysis system, 700: Proposal screen, 701: Reagent composition table, 702: Delete button, 703: OK button, 800: Priority condition setting screen, 801: Condition selection section, 802: Cancel button, 803: Set button

Claims

1. 1. An information processing device capable of communicating with an analyzer having a reagent mounting unit capable of mounting a plurality of reagent containers, the information processing device proposing a reagent configuration indicating a combination of reagent containers to be mounted on the reagent mounting unit, a storage unit that stores management information in which status information indicating a loading status of the reagent container on the reagent loading unit is registered for each of the reagent containers; a control unit that selects a reagent container that has been loaded on the reagent loading unit in accordance with the status information of the management information stored in the storage unit, and proposes the reagent configuration including the selected reagent container, The control unit selecting, for each type of reagent, reagent containers containing the reagents that have been loaded on the reagent loading unit, including all of the reagent containers containing the reagents currently loaded on the reagent loading unit, in accordance with the status information of the management information, and creating a reagent set including the selected reagent containers; The reagent configuration is created by combining the created multiple reagent sets.

1. An information processing device comprising:

2. The reagent container that has been loaded on the reagent loading section is a reagent container that is currently loaded on the reagent loading section, or a reagent container that has been loaded on the reagent loading section and is outside the device.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The control unit selecting a reagent container currently loaded on the reagent loading section in accordance with the status information of the management information; If the total amount of reagent in the selected on-board reagent container is less than the predicted amount of use, select an external reagent container that was mounted on the reagent mounting section and is outside the device or a new reagent container so that the total amount of reagent becomes equal to or greater than the predicted amount of use; A reagent set including the selected on-board reagent container and the external reagent container or the new reagent container is created.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

4. When there are a plurality of external reagent containers, the control unit selects the external reagent container according to a predetermined priority condition and creates the reagent set including the selected external reagent container.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,

5. If the total amount of reagent in the selected on-board reagent container is less than the predicted amount of use, the control unit selects the external reagent container with priority over the new reagent container so that the total amount of reagent becomes equal to or greater than the predicted amount of use.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,

6. When the number of reagent containers in the reagent configuration is greater than the mountable number of the reagent mounting unit, the control unit removes reagent containers from the reagent configuration so that the number of reagent containers in the reagent configuration is equal to or less than the mountable number of the reagent mounting unit.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

7. The control unit excludes a reagent container from the reagent configuration according to a predetermined priority condition.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,

8. The control unit excludes a reagent container from the reagent set for a reagent that is used less frequently.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7,

9. The control unit excludes a reagent container from the reagent set in which there is a large difference between the total amount of the reagent in the reagent container included in the reagent set and the estimated amount of the reagent to be used.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,

10. The priority conditions are conditions relating to the expiration date of the reagent, the remaining amount of the reagent, or the registration date and time of the reagent container.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4,

11. The control unit Selectably displaying information about a reagent container included in the reagent configuration on a display unit; In accordance with a deletion instruction for the information on the selected reagent container, the information on the selected reagent container in the management information stored in the storage unit is deleted or made unusable.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

12. an analyzer having a reagent mounting unit capable of mounting a plurality of reagent containers; an information processing device capable of communicating with the analysis device and proposing a reagent configuration indicating a combination of reagent containers to be mounted on the reagent mounting unit, The information processing device includes: a storage unit that stores management information in which status information indicating a loading status of the reagent container on the reagent loading unit is recorded for each of the reagent containers; a control unit that selects a reagent container that has been loaded on the reagent loading unit in accordance with the status information of the management information stored in the storage unit, and proposes the reagent configuration including the selected reagent container, The control unit selecting, for each type of reagent, reagent containers containing the reagents that have been loaded on the reagent loading unit, including all of the reagent containers containing the reagents currently loaded on the reagent loading unit, in accordance with the status information of the management information, and creating a reagent set including the selected reagent containers; The reagent configuration is created by combining the created multiple reagent sets. An analysis system characterized by:

13. A method for proposing a reagent configuration that suggests a combination of reagent containers to be mounted on a reagent mounting unit of an analyzer capable of mounting a plurality of reagent containers, comprising: registering status information indicating a loading status of the reagent container on the reagent loading unit for each of the reagent containers; and selecting a reagent container that has been loaded on the reagent loading unit in accordance with the registered status information, and proposing the reagent configuration including the selected reagent container; Proposing the reagent configuration comprises: selecting, for each type of reagent, reagent containers containing the reagents that have been loaded on the reagent loading unit, including all of the reagent containers containing the reagents currently loaded on the reagent loading unit, in accordance with the status information, and creating a reagent set including the selected reagent containers; and combining the created plurality of reagent sets to create the reagent configuration. A method for proposing a reagent composition, comprising:

14. 1. An information processing device capable of communicating with an analyzer having a reagent mounting unit capable of mounting a plurality of reagent containers, the information processing device proposing a reagent configuration indicating a combination of reagent containers to be mounted on the reagent mounting unit, a storage unit that stores management information in which status information indicating a loading status of the reagent container on the reagent loading unit is registered for each reagent container; a control unit that selects a reagent container that has been loaded on the reagent loading unit in accordance with the status information of the management information stored in the storage unit, and proposes the reagent configuration including the selected reagent container, The control unit selecting a reagent container currently loaded on the reagent loading unit according to the status information of the management information for each type of reagent; If the total amount of reagent in the selected on-board reagent container is less than the predicted amount of use, select an external reagent container that was mounted on the reagent mounting section and is outside the device or a new reagent container so that the total amount of reagent becomes equal to or greater than the predicted amount of use; creating a reagent set including the selected on-board reagent container and the external reagent container or the new reagent container; The reagent configuration is created by combining the created multiple reagent sets.

1. An information processing device comprising:

15. an analyzer having a reagent mounting unit capable of mounting a plurality of reagent containers; an information processing device capable of communicating with the analysis device and proposing a reagent configuration indicating a combination of reagent containers to be mounted on the reagent mounting unit, The information processing device includes: a storage unit that stores management information in which status information indicating a loading status of the reagent container on the reagent loading unit is recorded for each of the reagent containers; a control unit that selects a reagent container that has been loaded on the reagent loading unit in accordance with the status information of the management information stored in the storage unit, and proposes the reagent configuration including the selected reagent container, The control unit selecting a reagent container currently loaded on the reagent loading unit according to the status information of the management information for each type of reagent; If the total amount of reagent in the selected on-board reagent container is less than the predicted amount of use, select an external reagent container that was mounted on the reagent mounting section and is outside the device or a new reagent container so that the total amount of reagent becomes equal to or greater than the predicted amount of use; creating a reagent set including the selected on-board reagent container and the external reagent container or the new reagent container; The reagent configuration is created by combining the created multiple reagent sets. An analysis system characterized by:

16. A method for proposing a reagent configuration that suggests a combination of reagent containers to be mounted on a reagent mounting unit of an analyzer capable of mounting a plurality of reagent containers, comprising: registering status information indicating a loading status of the reagent container on the reagent loading unit for each of the reagent containers; and selecting a reagent container that has been loaded on the reagent loading unit in accordance with the registered status information, and proposing the reagent configuration including the selected reagent container; Proposing the reagent configuration comprises: selecting a reagent container currently loaded on the reagent loading unit according to the status information for each type of reagent; If the total amount of reagent in the selected on-board reagent container is less than the predicted amount of use, selecting an external reagent container that is external to the device and that was mounted on the reagent mounting section or a new reagent container so that the total amount of reagent becomes equal to or greater than the predicted amount of use; creating a reagent set including the selected on-board reagent container and the external reagent container or the new reagent container; creating the reagent configuration by combining the created plurality of reagent sets; Contains A method for proposing a reagent composition, comprising: