Blood collection assistance system

Abstract

The present invention provides a blood collection assistance system that enables the selection of blood collection methods and can consistently secure the blood collection volume required for a blood test and reduce the burden on a blood collection subject. The blood collection assistance system assists blood collection from a blood collection subject. The blood collection assistance system comprises: a reception unit connected via communication lines to an electronic medical record system that manages medical records and receives a test order for a blood test, a blood collection registration machine that registers a blood collection subject and displays information on blood collection, and a biological information acquisition device that acquires biological information on the blood collection subject, the reception unit receiving data on blood collection; a transmission unit that transmits the data on blood collection; and a suitability determination unit that determines the suitability of each blood collection subject for finger blood collection in which blood collection is performed on a finger. The reception unit receives the biological information from the biological information acquisition device, the determination unit determines the suitability of the blood collection subject for finger blood collection on the basis of the biological information, and the transmission unit transmits the result of suitability determination to the blood collection registration machine and causes the blood collection registration machine to display the result of suitability determination.

Description

Blood collection support system

[0001] The present invention relates to a blood collection support system for supporting blood collection from a blood donor.

[0002] In the fields of medicine and health management, it is considered important to know the state of blood from the perspective of disease diagnosis and prevention. In general hospitals and the like, blood tests are performed by blood collection during medical treatment or medical examinations. At the time of blood collection, various operations associated with blood collection are required, such as preparation and confirmation of blood collection tubes, calling and verification of blood donors, etc. Since blood collection places a large physical and mental burden on blood donors and blood collectors, reduction of the burden and improvement of work efficiency are required.

[0003] Blood collection for blood tests is generally performed by collecting blood from the radial cutaneous vein, median cubital vein, ulnar cutaneous vein, etc. targeting the forearm or cubital fossa. As a puncture needle for blood collection, a straight needle or a winged needle is used. As a method of collecting blood from the puncture site, a vacuum blood collection method using a vacuum blood collection tube, a syringe blood collection method of sucking and dispensing using a syringe, etc. are used.

[0004] As a blood collection method, instead of blood collection from the forearm or cubital fossa, the use of finger puncture for blood collection from the finger is being considered. As a puncture device for finger puncture, a single-use automatic safety lancet has been put on the market. Such a puncture device does not require advanced techniques and is therefore used for blood glucose monitoring by self-blood collection of diabetic patients and for mail-in blood test services by self-blood collection.

[0005] Finger puncture for blood collection from the finger is considered to have fewer complications such as vasovagal reflex, accidents such as nerve injury, and pain caused by puncture compared to blood collection from the arm. However, finger puncture has problems in that the amount of blood collected is small and it is difficult to stabilize the amount of blood collected compared to blood collection from the arm. When preparing a specimen for a blood test by finger puncture, it is necessary to pay attention to whether a sufficient amount of blood can be secured.

[0006] Patent Document 1 describes a blood collection volume calculation processing device that calculates the amount of blood to be collected according to the test items of a blood test. In this device, a test order is sent from the ordering / electronic medical record system to the laboratory department system, and the blood collection volume calculation processing unit in the laboratory department system extracts the patient's test items from the test order. Then, using a test item table in which the amount of serum required for each test item is recorded in advance, the device calculates the amount of blood to be collected for the patient's test.

[0007] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-202451

[0008] Finger blood sampling, which involves drawing blood from the fingers, has advantages over arm blood sampling, such as fewer complications like vasovagal syncope, fewer accidents like nerve damage, and less pain from puncture. Therefore, its use as a blood sampling method for preparing blood test samples is expected to expand. However, finger blood sampling has challenges compared to arm blood sampling, such as the smaller amount of blood drawn and the difficulty in maintaining a stable blood volume. Currently, the types of tests that can be measured with a single blood sample are limited.

[0009] For tests that can be measured using the amount of blood collected via finger blood sampling, finger blood sampling may be recommended over arm blood sampling to obtain the advantages of each method. Furthermore, the person receiving the blood may prefer finger blood sampling. Therefore, it is desirable to accurately identify cases where finger blood sampling is suitable and to allow patients to choose this method.

[0010] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for calculating the amount of blood to be collected by referring to the amount of serum required for a blood test. However, Patent Document 1 does not particularly consider the suitability of the person to have blood drawn from their finger or the selection of the site from which blood will be collected. When selecting the site from which blood will be collected, it is necessary to consider the suitability of the person to have blood drawn. There is a need for a technique that allows for the selection of a blood collection method according to the suitability of the person to have blood drawn from their finger, etc.

[0011] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a blood collection support system that enables the selection of a blood collection method according to the suitability of the person to be collected, thereby ensuring a stable supply of the blood volume required for blood tests and reducing the burden on the person to be collected.

[0012] To solve the above problems, the blood collection support system according to the present invention is a blood collection support system that supports blood collection from a person to be collected, and is connected via a communication line to an electronic medical record system that manages medical records and accepts orders for blood tests, a blood collection reception machine that accepts people to be collected and displays information related to blood collection, and a biometric information acquisition device that acquires the biometric information of the person to be collected, and comprises a receiving unit that receives data related to blood collection, a transmitting unit that transmits data related to blood collection, and a determination unit that determines the suitability for finger blood collection targeting the fingers of each person to be collected, wherein the receiving unit receives biometric information for each person to be collected from the biometric information acquisition device, the determination unit determines the suitability for finger blood collection of the person to be collected based on the biometric information for each person to be collected received from the biometric information acquisition device, and the transmitting unit transmits the suitability determination result to the blood collection reception machine so that the suitability determination result is displayed on the blood collection reception machine.

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a blood collection support system that enables the selection of blood collection methods, thereby ensuring a stable supply of the blood volume required for blood tests and reducing the burden on the person receiving the blood.

[0014] This figure shows the configuration of a blood collection system with a blood collection support system. This is a flowchart showing the flow of the blood collection method using the blood collection system. This figure shows an example of the configuration of a blood collection device that collects blood from the fingers of a person being collected. This figure shows an example of a blood collection reception screen for performing the blood collection reception procedure. This figure schematically shows a finger vascular image taken of the fingers of a person being collected. This figure schematically shows a finger vascular image taken of the fingers of a person being collected. This figure shows an example of a blood collection result display screen showing the blood collection results. This figure shows an example of a blood collection history display screen showing the history of blood collection. This figure schematically shows an image taken of the fingers of a person being collected. This figure schematically shows an image taken with the fingers of a person being collected under pressure. This figure shows the correlation between the amount of blood collected from the fingertip puncture site and an index value (V) that shows a correlation with the amount of blood in the fingertip.

[0015] The following describes a blood collection support system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the following figures, common components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0016] Figure 1 shows the configuration of a blood collection system with an integrated blood collection support system. As shown in Figure 1, the blood collection support system 2 according to this embodiment can be integrated into a blood collection system 100 that manages blood collection operations and blood collection tests. The blood collection system 100 can be constructed, for example, throughout a hospital.

[0017] The blood collection system 100 comprises an electronic medical record system 1, a blood collection support system 2, and a laboratory information system 3. These systems are connected to each other via a communication line 4, such as a local area network (LAN). These systems can send and receive data from each other via the communication line 4.

[0018] The electronic medical record system 1, the blood collection support system 2, and the laboratory information system 3 each function as servers. These systems manage, transfer, and share data. These systems are composed of computers such as workstations.

[0019] The electronic medical record system 1, the blood collection support system 2, and the laboratory information system 3 each include a computing device for processing and calculating data, a storage device for storing data, input means for inputting data, output means for outputting data, a receiving unit for receiving data, and a transmitting unit for transmitting data, etc.

[0020] In Figure 1, the blood collection system 100 is connected to one each of the following systems: the electronic medical record system 1, the blood collection support system 2, and the laboratory information system 3. However, any number of these systems, one or more, can be connected. When the blood collection system 100 is to be managed comprehensively, an additional management server can be installed.

[0021] The electronic medical record system 1 is a system for managing electronic medical records, which are digitized medical records. It performs functions such as writing information to and reading information from electronic medical records. The blood collection system 100 can receive blood test orders entered by the attending physician or other personnel through the electronic medical record system 1. At least one or any number of input terminals 11 are connected to the electronic medical record system 1 via a communication line.

[0022] The input terminal 11 is a terminal for performing operations on the electronic medical record, and is used for inputting and outputting data related to medical treatment. The input terminal 11 is composed of a computer, tablet, etc. The input terminal 11 includes a processing unit for processing and calculating data, a storage device for storing data, input means such as a keyboard and mouse for inputting data, output means such as a display for outputting data, and communication means for sending and receiving data.

[0023] The input terminal 11 has functions for receiving medical data from the electronic medical record system 1 and for transmitting medical data to the electronic medical record system 1. The input terminal 11 is operated by doctors and medical staff. The input terminal 11 can be used to input and view blood test order information, and to edit and view electronic medical records.

[0024] The test order information is information that represents the contents of a blood test order, and includes a requester ID that identifies the requester, such as the physician who requested the test order; request date and time information indicating the date and time the test order was requested; a blood sample recipient ID that identifies the person whose blood will be collected for the blood test; blood collection date and time information indicating the date and time the blood will be collected; and test item information indicating the types of blood test items specified in the test order.

[0025] The test item information identifies the type of test item in a blood test. Types of test items include complete blood count tests, which measure the quantity and size of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, etc., and hemoglobin concentration; biochemical tests, which measure blood protein levels, blood lipid levels, etc.; immunological tests, which measure infectious diseases, allergies, hormones, tumor markers, etc.; blood glucose tests, which measure blood glucose levels (glucose concentration), hemoglobin A1c levels, etc.; and electrolyte tests, which measure various blood ions.

[0026] Blood collection tubes containing anticoagulants are used for blood count tests and blood glucose tests. However, since glucose is consumed even after blood collection, it is necessary to measure it as soon as possible after collection. Therefore, if time is required, it is necessary to use blood collection tubes containing a glycolysis inhibitor (sodium fluoride). For biochemical and immunological tests, blood collection tubes containing coagulation accelerators or plain tubes without anticoagulants are used. After the blood collected in the blood collection tube has coagulated, it is separated into blood cell components and serum by centrifugation before being analyzed.

[0027] Anticoagulants include sodium citrate, EDTA, sodium fluoride, and heparin. Generally, sodium citrate is used for coagulation and fibrinolysis tests, EDTA for complete blood counts, sodium fluoride for blood glucose tests, and heparin for electrolyte tests and pH measurements. Depending on their mechanism of action, anticoagulants may inhibit the detection reagents. Therefore, it is necessary to select the appropriate anticoagulant depending on the test item.

[0028] The blood collection support system 2 is a system that supports blood collection from the person to be collected, and performs tasks such as registering blood collection-related data, updating blood collection-related data, managing blood collection-related data, and issuing sample IDs to identify blood test samples. The blood collection support system 2 is directly or indirectly connected via a communication line to a blood collection reception machine 21, a blood collection tube preparation device 22, a blood collection guidance display device 23, at least one or any number of blood collector terminals 24, a biological information acquisition device 25, and at least one or any number of blood collection devices 26. In addition, at least one or any number of blood collection stations 27 are installed under the supervision of the surrounding area.

[0029] In the blood collection support system 2, the test item information is registered with associated information for each type of test item, including blood collection tube information indicating the type of blood collection tube to be used for blood collection, required blood collection volume information indicating the required amount of blood to be collected from the person to be collected into the blood collection tube, and maximum blood collection time information indicating the maximum blood collection time, which is the upper limit of the time required from the start to the end of blood collection into the blood collection tube. The test item information can also include information on the measurement priority for combinations of multiple test items included in the test order information. The priority information can be used to determine whether or not to collect blood again if the amount of blood collected is insufficient to measure all the ordered test items. In blood tests, it is necessary to use a predetermined type of blood collection tube for each type of test item. For each type of blood collection tube, it is necessary to satisfy predetermined conditions for the required blood collection volume and maximum blood collection time.

[0030] In the blood collection system 100, the blood collection support system 2 determines the suitability of the person to have their blood drawn from their finger. The suitability for finger blood collection is determined from the perspective of the possibility of securing a sufficient blood volume. The person to have their blood drawn can refer to the suitability determination result and select the blood collection method to be used for their blood collection. The options for blood collection methods include finger blood collection, which targets the finger, and arm blood collection, which targets the arm.

[0031] Compared to arm blood sampling from the forearm, cubital fossa, or upper arm, finger blood sampling has the advantage of a lower risk of complications such as vasovagal syncope, pain from puncture, and nerve damage. On the other hand, arm blood sampling has advantages over finger blood sampling, such as a larger blood volume collected in a single puncture and more stable blood volume. By appropriately selecting the blood sampling method, individuals can obtain the necessary blood volume for blood tests while also benefiting from the advantages of each method.

[0032] The blood collection support system 2 functions as a server that processes data related to blood collection, and includes a receiving unit that receives data related to blood collection, a transmitting unit that transmits data related to blood collection, and a determination unit that determines the suitability of each person for finger blood collection. The function of the determination unit is realized by the execution of a predetermined program by a calculation unit. The calculation unit consists of, for example, a calculation device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage device such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The program is stored in the storage device of the blood collection support system 2 or in a storage medium that can be read by the blood collection support system 2.

[0033] The blood collection support system 2 manages a blood collection registration information database, which is a collection of data on multiple blood collection registration information; a blood collection tube registration information database, which is a collection of data on multiple blood collection tube registration information; and a specimen ID database, which is a collection of data on multiple specimen IDs. The patient registration information database, the blood collection tube registration information database, and the specimen ID database are stored in the storage device of the blood collection support system 2.

[0034] Blood collection registration information includes details about the person receiving the blood and the content of the blood collection. This includes a person ID to identify the person receiving the blood, blood type information indicating the person's blood type, blood collection date information indicating the date of collection, blood collection location information indicating the location of collection, and test item information indicating the types of tests performed in blood tests after collection. The person ID is associated with blood type information, blood collection date information, blood collection location information, test item information, specimen ID, and blood collection reception number. The types of tests are specified by the test order. Test orders are entered by doctors and medical staff.

[0035] Blood collection tube registration information is information that describes the contents and conditions of a blood collection tube, and includes blood collection tube information indicating the type of blood collection tube, required blood collection volume information indicating the amount of blood that should be collected from the person to be collected into the blood collection tube, and maximum blood collection time information indicating the maximum blood collection time, which is the upper limit of the time required from the start to the end of blood collection into the blood collection tube. Required blood collection volume information and maximum blood collection time information are associated with the blood collection tube information.

[0036] The type of blood collection tube is specified for each blood test item. The blood collection support system 2 stores the test item information and the blood collection tube information in a related manner in its memory. The type of blood collection tube to be used and the number of blood collection tubes to be used are determined by the test item information associated with the blood collection tube information.

[0037] The blood collection reception machine 21 is a device that accepts patients for blood collection, and performs procedures such as blood collection registration, verification of the patient's ID, and acceptance of the selection of blood collection method. The blood collection reception machine 21 is equipped with display devices such as a touch panel, liquid crystal display, and organic EL display, and displays information related to blood collection and the results of the suitability assessment for each patient. In addition, it presents the options for blood collection methods as selectable options using buttons on the touch panel or mechanical keys.

[0038] The blood collection reception machine 21 has functions such as assigning a reception number to the person receiving blood collection according to the order of blood collection, receiving a blood collection ID for verification from the blood collection support system 2, transmitting the reception number for each person receiving blood collection to the blood collection support system 2, transmitting biological information acquired by the biological information acquisition device 25 to the blood collection support system 2, and transmitting the selection result of the blood collection method selected by the person receiving blood collection to the blood collection support system 2. The blood collection reception machine 21 is operated, for example, by the person receiving blood collection. The blood collection reception machine 21 allows for the reception procedure for blood collection and the selection of the blood collection method by the person receiving blood collection.

[0039] The blood collection tube preparation device 22 is a device that prepares blood collection tubes, including stocking, preparing, attaching information labels to the blood collection tubes, and registering information about the blood collection tubes. The blood collection tube preparation device 22 also has a function to receive test order information from the blood collection support system 2. The blood collection tube preparation device 22 prepares a set of blood collection tubes for each person whose blood is collected, according to the test items of the blood test specified by the test order and the blood collection method selection.

[0040] Blood collection tubes used for blood tests are identified from each other by attaching information labels. The information labels are attached to the side surface or the like of the blood collection tube so as to be readable from the outside. The information label can be attached, for example, by pasting a barcode label or the like, or by printing a barcode or the like. The specimen ID and the blood collection tube information are encoded in the information label.

[0041] The specimen ID is information for identifying the specimen of the blood test, and is assigned to each blood collection tube used for blood collection. Information for identifying the specimen includes information for identifying the blood donor who provided the specimen, information for identifying the blood collection date, and the like. As the specimen ID, for example, a combination of a code for identifying the blood donor and a code for identifying the blood collection date can be assigned.

[0042] When the specimen ID is assigned to the blood collection tube, the blood collection tube installed in the blood collection device 26 and the registration information for each pre-registered blood donor can be collated by reading the specimen ID in the blood collection device 26. Since it is possible to prevent the misplacement of the blood collection tubes for each blood donor, the specimen for each blood donor can be collected in an appropriate blood collection tube. Also, in a blood test, the specimens for each blood donor can be properly distinguished.

[0043] The blood collection tube information is information indicating the type of the blood collection tube, and is assigned to each type of blood collection tube used for blood collection. The types of blood collection tubes include types according to the use of the blood collection tube, types according to the manufacturer that manufactured the blood collection tube, types according to the model number of the blood collection tube, and the like. The uses of the blood collection tubes include types distinguished by the test items of the blood test. The model numbers of the blood collection tubes include types distinguished by the shape, inner diameter, outer diameter, height, and other sizes of the blood collection tubes.

[0044] When the blood collection tube information is assigned to the blood collection tube, the type of the blood collection tube installed in the blood collection device 26 and the registration information for each pre-registered blood collection tube can be collated by reading the blood collection tube information in the blood collection device 26. Since it is possible to prevent the misplacement of the types of blood collection tubes for each test item, blood can be collected in an appropriate type of blood collection tube for each test item. Also, the blood collection conditions specified for each type of blood collection tube can be properly observed by identifying the type of the blood collection tube.

[0045] The blood collection guidance display device 23 is a device for calling out to patients and guiding them to the blood collection area. The blood collection guidance display device 23 is equipped with a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and displays the reception number of patients who have completed registration on the screen. When it is a patient's turn to have their blood collected, the device calls them to have their blood collected by changing the color of the reception number displayed on the screen or by using voice. The blood collection guidance display device 23 is equipped with a function to receive reception numbers corresponding to the blood collection order from the blood collection support system 2. The blood collection guidance display device 23 is installed in the blood collection reception area or waiting room.

[0046] The blood collection terminal 24 is a terminal for performing operations related to blood collection, including inputting and outputting data related to blood collection. The blood collection terminal 24 consists of a computer, tablet, etc. The blood collection terminal 24 is equipped with a computing device for processing and calculating data, a storage device for storing data, input means such as a keyboard and mouse for inputting data, output means such as a display for outputting data, and communication means for sending and receiving data.

[0047] The blood collector terminal 24 has functions such as receiving test order information from the blood collection support system 2 and transmitting blood collection results to the blood collection support system 2. The blood collector terminal 24 is operated by medical staff. The blood collector terminal 24 can relay data to the blood collection device 26, check information related to the person being collected, the order of blood collection for multiple people, the contents of the test order, the order of blood collection for multiple blood collection tubes, the operating status of the blood collection device 26, and assist in processing abnormalities in the blood collection device 26, such as reading information labels with a manual reader.

[0048] The biological information acquisition device 25 is a device that measures and acquires the biological information of the blood donor. The biological information acquisition device 25 includes an infrared camera and performs measurements on the fingers or the like of the blood donor during the blood collection acceptance procedure. The biological information acquisition device 25 has functions such as transmitting the biological information of each blood donor to the blood collection support system 2. The biological information acquisition device 25 may include other image sensors, optical sensors, temperature sensors, thermographs, touch panel sensors, etc. The biological information acquisition device 25 may be connected to the blood collection acceptance machine 21 separately or may be integrally incorporated.

[0049] The biological information is used for determining the suitability of finger blood collection for the blood donor. For determining the suitability of finger blood collection, the body temperature of the blood donor, the surface temperature of the finger of the blood donor, the thickness of the finger of the blood donor, the length of the finger of the blood donor, the blood vessel running pattern in the finger of the blood donor, etc. can be used. It can also be determined that the suitability for finger blood collection exists when the suitability for arm blood collection for the blood donor is relatively low (the suitability for finger blood collection exists for the blood donor). For determining the suitability of arm blood collection, the blood vessel running pattern in the arm of the blood donor, an image obtained by photographing the appearance of the arm of the blood donor, etc. can be used. As the biological information, one of these may be used, or a combination of multiple types may be used.

[0050] The surface temperature of the finger is correlated with the blood circulation of the finger. When the surface temperature of the fingertip is low, the blood circulation of the finger tends to be poor, and the amount of blood that can be collected by finger blood collection tends to be small. It is known that when the blood circulation of the finger is poor, the heat transport to the periphery decreases, so the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the finger and the body temperature increases. By measuring the surface temperature of the finger and making a determination based on comparison with a reference value or the temperature difference from the body temperature, the suitability can be determined from the perspective of the blood circulation state of the finger.

[0051] The body temperature and the surface temperature of the finger may be measured by a contact-type device or a non-contact-type device. The body temperature and the surface temperature of the finger can be measured by appropriate devices such as a thermistor-type, thermocouple-type, infrared-type temperature sensor, or an infrared camera.

[0052] Finger thickness and length are correlated with the amount of blood flowing through the veins in the fingers. Larger finger volume tends to correlate with a greater amount of blood flowing through the finger veins, resulting in a larger blood sample volume that can be collected via finger blood sampling. Measuring finger thickness and length allows for the assessment of suitability from the perspective of the blood sample volume tending to be higher, based on the correlation between finger size / volume and blood volume.

[0053] Finger thickness and length can be measured by appropriate methods such as photographing the fingers with a camera and measuring the image through image analysis, measuring using a scale, or detecting finger contact. RGB digital cameras and infrared cameras can be used as cameras. Capacitive, resistive, and ultrasonic methods can be used to detect finger contact.

[0054] The vascular patterns in the fingers and arms are imaged as shadows caused by the absorption of near-infrared light by hemoglobin in the blood vessels. The clearer the vascular pattern, that is, the thicker and darker the shadow, the greater the blood flow in the vessels, and the greater the amount of blood that can be collected. By measuring the vascular pattern, the suitability can be determined from the perspective of blood circulation status and the tendency of blood collection volume by quantifying the diameter of the vessels and the amount of blood flowing through the vessels using image processing.

[0055] The vascular patterns in the fingers can be measured using an infrared camera, for example, by irradiating the fingertips with near-infrared light and detecting the transmitted light. More specifically, a semiconductor sensor equipped with a two-dimensional array of detection elements can be used, combined with an optical filter that transmits near-infrared wavelengths and a camera lens. The vascular patterns in the arms can be measured by irradiating the forearm, cubital fossa, upper arm, etc., with near-infrared light and detecting the reflected light. Since hemoglobin in blood vessels absorbs near-infrared light, the blood vessels running beneath the skin can be imaged by detecting the attenuation of near-infrared light irradiated onto the blood vessels.

[0056] The blood collection device 26 is a finger blood collection device that automatically collects blood from the fingers of the person being collected. The blood collection device 26 automatically performs the blood collection operation, which involves puncturing the finger of the person being collected with a lancet and collecting blood from the puncture site into a blood collection tube, as well as the procedure operation, which involves stopping the bleeding at the puncture site with a hemostatic material such as gauze, and the procedure operation, which involves protecting the puncture site with a protective material such as an adhesive bandage. The blood collection device 26 is equipped with a turntable on which the blood collection tube is placed, a drive mechanism that drives the movement of the blood collection tube, lancet, hemostatic material and protective material, and a reader that reads information labels attached to the blood collection tube.

[0057] The blood collection device 26 has functions such as receiving test item information from the blood collector terminal 24 and transmitting the blood collection results from the blood collection device 26 to the blood collector terminal 24. The blood collection support system 2 can be connected to any number of blood collector terminals 24, at least one or more. When performing arm blood collection, one blood collector is required to handle one patient. In contrast, the blood collection device 26 allows one person to handle multiple patients, thus streamlining the blood collection process.

[0058] The blood collection table 27 is a table on which the patient's arm is placed for manual blood collection, and is used for arm blood collection targeting the forearm, cubital fossa, upper arm, etc. At least one or any number of blood collection tables 27 can be installed under the management of the blood collection support system 2. When the blood collection system 100 determines that the patient is not suitable for finger blood collection, it can perform arm blood collection using the blood collection table 27.

[0059] The blood collection table 27 may be equipped with a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display device can show information related to the person being collected, the order in which multiple people are being collected, the contents of the test order, and the order in which blood is collected into multiple blood collection tubes when blood is being collected from the arm. Displaying such information can support manual blood collection from the arm.

[0060] The Inspection Information System 3 is a system for managing inspection information related to blood tests, and it performs tasks such as registering data related to blood tests, updating data related to blood tests, and managing data related to blood tests. It can also receive blood collection results from the blood collection device 26 and perform blood test sample matching. At least one or any number of inspection terminals 31 and at least one or any number of analyzers 32 are connected to the Inspection Information System 3 via a communication line.

[0061] The testing terminal 31 is a terminal for performing operations related to blood tests, and is used for operating the analyzer 32, inputting data related to blood tests, outputting data related to blood tests, viewing data related to blood tests, searching for data related to blood tests, etc. The testing terminal 31 is composed of a computer, etc. The testing terminal 31 is equipped with a computing device for processing and calculating data, a storage device for storing data, input means such as a keyboard and mouse for inputting data, output means such as a display for outputting data, and communication means for sending and receiving data.

[0062] The testing terminal 31 has functions for receiving data related to blood tests from the testing information system 3, and for transmitting data related to blood tests to the testing information system 3. The testing terminal 31 is operated by the person performing the blood test. The testing terminal 31 can be used to check the progress of the blood test, the operating status of the analyzer 32, the results of the blood test, manage and search for information related to the blood test, and input data for reporting the test results to the requesting party.

[0063] The analyzer 32 is a device that performs analyses related to blood tests. The analyzer 32 is composed of various automated analyzers that analyze the components of blood. The analyzer 32 stores in advance information for each test item, such as the type of blood collection tube used for the test, the amount of sample to be dispensed for each test, the minimum amount of sample required for analysis, the amount of reagent to be added for the test, and the reaction conditions for each test. The analyzer 32 uses the blood collected in the blood collection tube as a sample and performs analysis for each test item according to the pre-set conditions.

[0064] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the blood collection method using the blood collection system. As shown in Figure 2, the blood collection system 100 determines the suitability of the person to have blood collected from their fingers when they register for blood collection, and allows the selection of a blood collection method based on the determination result. As for the blood collection method, the user can choose between finger blood collection, which targets the fingers, or arm blood collection, which targets the arm.

[0065] In the blood collection system 100, for example, during a patient's medical examination or health checkup, a blood test order is entered into the input terminal 11 by the attending physician or other medical professional. The test order information is transmitted from the input terminal 11 to the electronic medical record system 1 and stored in the storage device of the electronic medical record system 1.

[0066] Each person receiving blood is issued a blood collection ID to identify them. When receiving blood collection, the person carries an ID card coded with their blood collection ID. The ID card records information about the person receiving blood collection, such as their name and blood collection ID, using barcodes, RFID tags, magnetic tags, etc. The blood collection ID is stored as registered information in the storage device of the blood collection support system 2. If an electronic medical record has been created for the person receiving blood collection, the patient ID from the electronic medical record can be used as the blood collection ID.

[0067] First, the person to be collected for blood collection undergoes a registration procedure at the blood collection reception machine 21 (step S101). At the blood collection reception machine 21, the person's ID is read by holding their ID card over the card reader. After the registration procedure, the person to be collected for blood collection is assigned a registration number according to the order of registration. The reading result of the person to be collected for blood collection is displayed on the blood collection reception machine 21 for the person to confirm and is also transmitted to the blood collection support system 2.

[0068] When the blood collection support system 2 receives the reading result of the blood recipient ID, it compares the reading result of the blood recipient ID with the blood recipient's registration information stored in the database beforehand. If the reading result and the registration information do not match as a result of the comparison, a warning that the blood recipient could not be authenticated can be displayed on the blood collection reception machine 21. On the other hand, if the reading result and the registration information match as a result of the comparison, a message that the blood recipient had been authenticated can be displayed on the blood collection reception machine 21.

[0069] After the person to be collected for blood collection confirms that they have been authenticated by the blood collection reception machine 21, they proceed to the next step S102. When the blood collection support system 2 finds that the reading result and the registered information match, it begins preparing to collect blood from the person who has received the registration procedure. By comparing the reading result with the registered information, the person to be collected for blood collection is properly identified, thus preventing the misuse of blood collection tubes for each person.

[0070] Next, the person to be collected for blood sampling undergoes measurement of their biological information using the biological information acquisition device 25 (step S102). After completing the registration procedure, the person to be collected for blood sampling places their fingers or other body parts on the measurement area of ​​the biological information acquisition device 25, and undergoes measurement of their fingers or other body parts. The measurement by the biological information acquisition device 25 acquires biological information that is used to determine suitability for finger blood sampling or arm blood sampling.

[0071] As for biological information, one or more of the following are measured: the patient's body temperature, the surface temperature of the patient's fingers, the thickness of the patient's fingers, the length of the patient's fingers, the vascular pattern in the patient's fingers, the vascular pattern in the patient's arm, and the appearance of the patient's arm. From the viewpoint of accurately determining suitability for finger blood collection, it is preferable that at least one of the following is measured: a combination of body temperature and finger surface temperature, finger thickness, finger length, and the vascular pattern in the fingers.

[0072] Biological information may be measured using contact-type or non-contact-type devices. Biological information can be measured by placing fingers or arms in a camera's imaging area and taking a picture, or by placing fingers or arms in a sensor's measurement area and taking a measurement. Alternatively, the person being measured may measure the thickness and length of their fingers using a scale displayed as an image, and then input the measurement results using a keyboard or similar method.

[0073] For example, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) publishes statistical results on hand dimensions of Japanese people (https: / / www.airc.aist.go.jp / dhrt / hand / data / list.html). The width of the distal joint of the third finger, which is the width of the fingertip side of the middle finger, is 14.4 mm (5th percentile) to 17.2 mm (95th percentile) for men and 13.1 mm (5th percentile) to 15.2 mm (95th percentile) for women.

[0074] Therefore, when measuring the thickness and length of fingers, for example, by preparing a scale with markings in the range of 12 to 18 mm, it is possible to measure the size of the middle finger of most blood subjects. Furthermore, if the interval between markings is about 1 mm, most blood subjects can be classified into several groups according to their size. Because finger size, which correlates with the amount of blood flowing through the blood vessels, can be classified in detail, more accurate determination becomes possible. The thickness and length of other fingers can be measured and classified in a similar manner.

[0075] The measurement results of biological information obtained by the biological information acquisition device 25 are transmitted from the biological information acquisition device 25 to the blood collection support system 2. The receiving unit of the blood collection support system 2 receives biological information for each blood recipient from the biological information acquisition device 25. The biological information for each blood recipient received from the biological information acquisition device 25 is stored in the storage device of the blood collection support system 2. The measurement results of the biological information are registered in association with the blood recipient ID of the blood recipient who has undergone the reception procedure.

[0076] Next, the blood collection support system 2 determines the suitability of the person to have their blood drawn from their finger (step S103). Based on the biological information of each person to be collected from the biological information acquisition device 25, the determination unit of the blood collection support system 2 determines the suitability of the person to have their blood drawn from their finger, from the perspective of the possibility of securing a sufficient amount of blood.

[0077] The determination unit of the blood collection support system 2 reads from the storage device of the blood collection support system 2 the biometric information associated with the blood collection recipient ID of the person who has received the registration procedure, in order to determine the suitability for finger blood collection. Then, based on the biometric information for each person measured by the biometric information acquisition device 25, it quantifies a quantity indicated by the biometric information that correlates with the amount of blood flowing through the blood vessels of the fingers.

[0078] Quantities indicated by biological information can, for example, be quantified as having a positive correlation with the amount of blood flowing through the blood vessels of the fingers. Specific examples of such quantities include the surface temperature of the fingers, the dimensions of the fingers, and the signal intensity of pixels in images of the blood vessels of the fingers.

[0079] The determination unit of the blood collection support system 2 compares a quantity correlated with the amount of blood flowing through the finger veins, as indicated by biological information, with a preset threshold when determining suitability for finger blood collection. By determining whether the quantity indicated by biological information that shows a positive correlation with blood volume exceeds the threshold, the suitability of the person to have their blood collected for finger blood collection can be determined. The threshold can be set in advance based on actual measurement results, etc., and can be any value corresponding to a good blood circulation condition or any value corresponding to a large amount of blood that can be collected.

[0080] When using body temperature or finger surface temperature as biological information, for example, it is possible to compare the finger surface temperature of the person from whom blood is collected with a threshold, or to compare the temperature difference between body temperature and finger surface temperature with a threshold. A small absolute value of the temperature difference between body temperature and finger surface temperature indicates good peripheral blood flow and high suitability for finger blood collection. Body temperature can be calculated by measuring the surface temperature of the forehead and converting it, for example, using axillary body temperature. Finger surface temperature can be determined, for example, as the average value over a predetermined range or multiple measurement points on a measurement area.

[0081] When using finger thickness and finger length as biological information, for example, it is possible to compare the finger thickness of the blood sampler with a threshold, compare the finger length of the blood sampler with a threshold, or compare the calculated finger volume based on finger thickness and finger length with a threshold. Finger thickness can be determined as the maximum width of the proximal joint or the maximum width of the distal joint of any finger. Finger length is the straight-line distance at the midpoint in the width direction of any finger, and can be determined as the distance between the fingertip and the crease at the base of the finger, or the distance between the fingertip and the phalangeal point.

[0082] When using the vascular network pattern as biological information, for example, a vascular image representing the vascular network captured by detecting transmitted or reflected near-infrared light can be used to compare the signal intensity of the pixel representing the widest vessel with a threshold, the signal intensity of the pixel representing the vessel with the largest blood volume with a threshold, the total area of ​​pixels representing vessels whose signal intensity is above a predetermined lower limit with a threshold, or the sum or average of signal intensities within a predetermined range on the vascular image with a threshold. The signal intensity can be the intensity of each pixel corresponding to the absorption of near-infrared light, for example, the brightness of each pixel can be used.

[0083] If the determination shows that the quantity indicated by the biological information that shows a positive correlation with the blood volume is above a threshold, the system can determine that the person to be collected for blood sampling is suitable for finger blood sampling and display this information on the blood collection reception machine 21. On the other hand, if the determination shows that the quantity indicated by the biological information that shows a positive correlation with the blood volume is below a threshold, the system can determine that the person to be collected for blood sampling is not suitable for finger blood sampling and display this information on the blood collection reception machine 21.

[0084] The blood collection support system 2 determines the suitability of the person to have their blood drawn from their hand, and then transmits the suitability determination result to the blood collection reception machine 21. The blood collection reception machine 21 displays the suitability determination result for hand blood collection and presents the options for the blood collection method to be used for each person to have their blood drawn. The person to have their blood drawn can check the suitability determination result for hand blood collection at the blood collection reception machine 21 during the reception procedure and select the blood collection method they will receive.

[0085] The blood collection reception machine 21 receives input from the person to be collected regarding their selection of a blood collection method and transmits the selection result to the blood collection support system 2. Based on the selection result of the blood collection method transmitted from the blood collection reception machine 21, the blood collection support system 2 can begin preparing for blood collection for the person who has received the reception procedure.

[0086] In step S103, the blood collection support system 2 may determine the suitability for arm blood collection in addition to finger blood collection. Examples of arm blood collection include blood collection from the forearm, cubital fossa, upper arm, etc. In arm blood collection, blood is collected by puncturing the radial cephalic vein, median cubital vein, ulnar cephalic vein, etc., from the forearm to the upper arm. By determining the suitability for arm blood collection, the system can identify individuals for whom arm blood collection is difficult, such as those whose arm veins are difficult to see, are thin, or are fragile, and recommend the use of finger blood collection as an alternative.

[0087] The determination unit of the blood collection support system 2 reads from the storage device of the blood collection support system 2 the biometric information associated with the blood collection recipient ID of the person who has received the registration procedure, in order to determine the suitability for arm blood collection. Then, based on the biometric information for each blood collection recipient measured by the biometric information acquisition device 25, it quantifies a quantity indicated by the biometric information that correlates with the amount of blood flowing through the blood vessels in the arm.

[0088] Quantities indicated by biological information can, for example, be quantified as having a positive correlation with the amount of blood flowing through the blood vessels in the arm. Specific examples of such quantities include the surface temperature of the fingers, the dimensions of the fingers, the signal intensity of pixels in images of the blood vessels in the fingers, and the signal intensity of pixels in images of the blood vessels in the arm.

[0089] The determination unit of the blood collection support system 2 compares a quantity correlated with the amount of blood flowing through the blood vessels in the arm, as indicated by biological information, with a preset threshold when determining suitability for arm blood collection. By determining whether the quantity indicated by biological information that shows a positive correlation with blood volume exceeds the threshold, the suitability of the person to have blood collected from their arm can be determined. The threshold can be set in advance based on actual measurement results, etc., and can be any value corresponding to a good blood circulation condition or any value corresponding to a large amount of blood that can be collected.

[0090] When using the vascular course pattern as biological information, for example, using a vascular image captured by detecting transmitted or reflected near-infrared light, it is possible to compare the signal intensity of pixels representing the vessel with the maximum blood volume with a threshold, compare the total area of ​​pixels representing vessels whose signal intensity is above a preset lower limit with a threshold, or compare the sum or average of signal intensities within a predetermined range on the vascular image with a threshold. The signal intensity can be the intensity of each pixel corresponding to the absorption of near-infrared light, and for example, the brightness or chromaticity of each pixel can be used.

[0091] When using an image of the arm's appearance as biological information, it is possible to compare the signal intensity of the pixel representing the largest blood vessel with a threshold, the signal intensity of the pixel representing the blood vessel with the largest blood volume with a threshold, the total area of ​​pixels representing blood vessels with a threshold, or the sum or average of signal intensities within a predetermined range on the image with a threshold. The signal intensity can be the intensity of each pixel corresponding to a blood vessel, and for example, the brightness or chromaticity of each pixel in RGB display can be used.

[0092] If the determination shows that the quantity indicated by the biological information that shows a positive correlation with the blood volume is above a threshold, the system can determine that the person to be collected for blood collection is suitable for arm blood collection and display this information on the blood collection reception machine 21. On the other hand, if the determination shows that the quantity indicated by the biological information that shows a positive correlation with the blood volume is below a threshold, the system can determine that the person to be collected for blood collection is not suitable for arm blood collection and display this information on the blood collection reception machine 21.

[0093] The blood collection support system 2 determines the suitability of the person to have blood drawn from their arm and then transmits the suitability determination result to the blood collection reception machine 21. The blood collection reception machine 21 displays the suitability determination result for arm blood collection and presents the options for the blood collection method to be used for each person to have blood drawn. The person to have blood drawn can check the suitability determination result for arm blood collection at the blood collection reception machine 21 during the reception procedure and select the blood collection method they will receive. If it is determined that the person is not suitable for arm blood collection, the blood collection reception machine 21 may display a message recommending finger blood collection.

[0094] In step S103, the determination of suitability for blood collection may be made by referring to blood collection history information in addition to biological information. The blood collection support system 2 can also determine the suitability of a person for finger blood collection based on the biological information for each person received from the biological information acquisition device 25, and the blood collection history information for each person that has been registered in advance. By referring to the blood collection history information, suitability can be determined by taking into account the trends shown in past blood collection history.

[0095] Blood collection history information represents the past blood collection history for each individual, and includes information indicating the date of past blood collection, information indicating the amount of blood collected in past finger blood collections, information indicating the blood collection time (the time taken from the start to the end of blood collection into the blood collection tube in past finger blood collections), information indicating the amount of blood collected in past arm blood collections, and information indicating whether or not there were any special events in past arm blood collections. Special events include complications such as vasovagal syncope, worsening of mood, and syncope. Blood collection history information is stored chronologically in the storage device of the blood collection support system 2.

[0096] A determination based on blood collection history information may be made as a preliminary determination or as a post-determination determination based on biological information. For example, a determination based on blood collection history information may be made for all individuals who have undergone the registration procedure for blood collection, for individuals who have been determined to be suitable based on biological information, or for individuals who have been determined to be unsuitable based on biological information.

[0097] Based on blood collection history information, if past blood collection records show insufficient blood volume, excessive collection time, or other special events, and if the specified conditions are met, it can be determined that the person is unsuitable for manual blood collection. For example, if the current required blood volume has not been properly collected in past blood collection records, the person can be determined to be unsuitable for manual blood collection. Furthermore, if there has been a shortage of blood volume by more than the specified amount, an excess of collection time by more than the specified amount, or a specified special event has occurred in the most recent blood collection record, or has occurred more than the specified number of times in past blood collection records, the person can be determined to be unsuitable for manual blood collection.

[0098] Next, the blood collection support system 2 acquires the blood collection support system's test order information (step S104). The test order information is transmitted from the electronic medical record system 1 to the blood collection support system 2 and stored in the blood collection support system 2's storage device. The test order information is retrieved by searching using the blood collection recipient's ID as the key after the registration procedure is completed.

[0099] When the blood collection support system 2 obtains the test order information, it identifies the test item information associated with the blood collection recipient ID of the person who has received the blood collection procedure, and obtains the required blood collection volume information and maximum blood collection time information registered in association with the test item information. It also identifies the type of blood collection tube to be used and the number of blood collection tubes to be used. Based on the test item information, the type and number of blood collection tubes required for the series of tests specified by the test order are identified.

[0100] The blood collection support system 2, upon acquiring information on the required blood volume, determines the target blood volume, which is the target amount of blood to be collected from the person being collected, and also determines the number of blood collection tubes to be used to collect the target blood volume. Since biochemical and immunological tests use serum, it is necessary to set a target blood volume that ensures the required amount of serum is secured. By setting a target blood volume, the required sample volume for blood tests can be secured in the shortest possible time.

[0101] The target blood volume for each test item can be determined by summing the required blood volume for each test item with the required margin volume for the test. For tests using serum, the required blood volume for each test item can be the amount obtained by dividing the required serum volume for the blood test by the general hematocrit value. The margin volume can be a dummy volume, dead volume, or the sum of these.

[0102] Dummy volume refers to the amount of dummy sample aspirated in addition to the amount required for measurement when sampling a sample using a sampling probe in an analytical instrument. Dead volume refers to the volume of blood collected in a blood collection tube that cannot be used for analysis. It may be difficult to aspirate the small amount of blood remaining at the bottom of the blood collection tube with an analytical instrument. In such cases, a larger amount of blood than the amount required for the blood test is collected to account for the dead volume.

[0103] The type and number of blood collection tubes to be used for blood collection are determined by the following procedure. First, the test item information associated with the blood collection recipient's ID is obtained from the test order information of the blood collection recipient who has undergone the registration procedure. Then, the blood collection tube information corresponding to the blood test items specified in the test order is read from the test item information, and the type of blood collection tube for each test item is identified.

[0104] Next, information on the required blood volume for each type of blood collection tube is retrieved, and the required blood volume for each blood test item specified in the test order is identified. For tests that use serum, the required serum volume is identified. Then, based on the required blood volume for each test item, the total required blood volume for the series of tests specified in the test order is calculated. For tests that use serum, the total required serum volume is calculated.

[0105] Next, based on the total required blood volume, the target blood volume, which is the target amount of blood that should actually be collected from the patient, is determined. The target blood volume is determined by adding a buffer amount that takes into account dummy volumes and dead volumes to the total required blood volume for a series of tests. For tests that use serum, the total required serum volume is converted to the total required blood volume before being added together.

[0106] The total required serum volume can be converted by dividing it by a correction amount corresponding to a typical hematocrit value. A typical hematocrit value for men is 40-50%, while for women it is 35-45%. For example, the required blood volume corresponding to the required serum volume can be determined by dividing the total required serum volume by the maximum hematocrit values ​​of 50% or 45%.

[0107] Next, based on the calculation results for the target blood collection volume, the type and number of blood collection tubes capable of collecting the target blood volume are identified. For the blood collection tube type, a type with a capacity sufficient to collect the target blood volume is selected from the blood collection tubes stocked in the blood collection tube preparation device 22. If the capacity of the blood collection tubes is insufficient, multiple blood collection tubes capable of holding the target blood volume in divided portions are identified.

[0108] The suitability of a person for finger blood collection may be determined by referring to laboratory order information in addition to biological information and blood collection history information. The suitability of a person for finger blood collection may also be performed after step S104. The determination unit of the blood collection support system 2 may also determine the suitability of a person for finger blood collection based on biological information for each person transmitted from the biological information acquisition device 25 and laboratory order information for each person transmitted from the electronic medical record system 1, or based on biological information, blood collection history information, and laboratory order information. Laboratory order information may also be used to determine suitability for arm blood collection.

[0109] By referring to the test order information, the required blood volume information registered in association with the test item information can be obtained. The determination unit of the blood collection support system 2 can determine the suitability of the person to have blood drawn from their finger based on the biological information and the required blood volume information, or based on the biological information, blood collection history information, and the required blood volume information. By referring to the required blood volume information, the threshold set to show a positive correlation with the blood volume indicated by the biological information can be corrected.

[0110] The threshold, which is set to show a positive correlation with blood volume, can be corrected so that the value becomes smaller as the required blood volume registered as required blood volume information decreases. For example, as a correction coefficient for correcting the threshold, a value obtained by dividing the standard required blood volume by the required blood volume for each test item can be used. The blood collection support system 2 can be provided with a calculation formula for correcting the threshold, as well as a correction table that correlates various required blood volumes with the corrected threshold.

[0111] By adjusting the threshold, the criteria for determining suitability for finger blood sampling can be adjusted according to the required blood volume for each test item. Therefore, the suitability of a person for finger blood sampling can be precisely determined for each test item specified in the test order. The more test items requiring smaller blood volumes are included, the more relaxed the suitability criteria become, thus expanding the scope of use for finger blood sampling as an alternative to arm blood sampling.

[0112] Next, the blood collection support system 2 determines whether the conditions of the blood collection tubes specified by the test order match the conditions for using the blood collection device 26 (step S105). The determination unit of the blood collection support system 2 determines whether the types and number of blood collection tubes required for the series of tests specified by the test order are within the range of types and numbers of blood collection tubes available for use in the blood collection device 26.

[0113] If the determination results in the condition that the blood collection tube specified by the test order does not meet the conditions for using the blood collection device 26, the blood collection reception machine 21 can display a message indicating that there are difficulties in performing finger blood collection. On the other hand, if the determination results in the condition that the blood collection tube specified by the test order meets the conditions for using the blood collection device 26, the blood collection reception machine 21 can display a message indicating that finger blood collection is possible.

[0114] Next, the blood collection support system 2 prompts the person to select a blood collection method according to the display on the blood collection reception machine 21 and confirms whether or not to perform finger blood collection (step S106). The blood collection reception machine 21 can present options for finger blood collection and arm blood collection as selectable options using buttons on a touch panel or mechanical keys. The blood collection support system 2 receives the blood collection support system's selection result along with the reception number. The blood collection support system 2 associates the reception number with the person's ID. The reception number is notified to the person to be collected by printed paper or the like.

[0115] The blood collection reception machine 21 can display information indicating the suitability assessment results for finger blood collection and arm blood collection, as well as the waiting time for finger or arm blood collection, when allowing the person to select a blood collection method. The person can refer to the suitability assessment results and waiting time information to select the blood collection method they wish to receive. The waiting time for finger or arm blood collection can be determined based on the operating status of the blood collection device 26 and the usage status of the blood collection table 27.

[0116] For example, the estimated time required for blood collection for each person is predicted by summing the maximum blood collection times that are acceptable for each blood collection tube for a series of test items specified by the test order. Then, by assigning the estimated time required for blood collection for each person to each blood collection device 26 and each blood collection station 27 in the order of the blood collection reception procedure, it is possible to plan the operating schedule for each blood collection device 26 and the usage schedule for each blood collection station 27. Based on such a schedule, the waiting time for each person can be calculated and transmitted to the blood collection reception machine 21.

[0117] Next, when finger blood collection is selected as the blood collection method (step S106; YES), the blood collection support system 2 begins preparing the finger blood collection tubes to be used for finger blood collection (step S107). The transmission unit of the blood collection support system 2 sends a request to the blood collection tube preparation device 22 to prepare the finger blood collection tubes. It also sends information to the blood collection tube preparation device 22 indicating the type and number of blood collection tubes required for the series of tests.

[0118] When the blood collection tube preparation device 22 receives a request for the preparation of blood collection tubes for finger blood collection, it prepares a set of finger blood collection tubes for one person, attaches an information label to the finger blood collection tubes used for each test item, and then provides them in a tray or the like. The information label codes the sample ID associated with the blood collection recipient ID of the person who has undergone the registration procedure, as well as blood collection tube information to identify the required blood volume and maximum blood collection time. The set of finger blood collection tubes is placed in the blood collection device 26 assigned to the blood collection recipient who has undergone the registration procedure.

[0119] When finger blood collection is selected as the blood collection method (step S106; YES), the blood collection support system 2 specifies the blood collection device 26 to be used and the blood collection order for each person who has completed the registration procedure. The blood collection support system 2 transmits the registration number of the person whose blood collection order has come to the blood collection guidance display device 23. The registration number of the person whose blood collection order has come is displayed on the blood collection guidance display device 23. The blood collection order can be determined based on the operating schedule of each blood collection device 26 and the usage schedule of each blood collection station 27.

[0120] Next, the blood collection device 26 is used to start finger blood collection from the fingers of the person to be collected (step S108). When the receiving unit receives the selection result for finger blood collection from the blood collection support system 2, the transmitting unit transmits test order information indicating the test order for each person to be collected to the blood collection device 26. The blood collection device 26 refers to the transmitted test order information and performs blood collection according to the test order.

[0121] When a person to have their blood drawn is called by the blood collection guidance display device 23, they receive blood collection using the designated blood collection device 26. The blood collector terminal 24 can display the name of the person to have their blood drawn, information on the test items, the results of the suitability assessment, and the device number of the blood collection device 26 used for blood collection, etc., for the blood collector to confirm.

[0122] Figure 3 shows an example of the configuration of a blood collection device for collecting blood from a person's fingers. Figure 3 schematically shows the internal structure of the blood collection device 26 viewed from the side, and the configuration of consumables mounted on the blood collection device 26. As shown in Figure 3, finger blood collection targeting a person's fingers is performed with the person's fingertips 301 placed on top of the blood collection device 26.

[0123] A consumables cassette 302 is detachably mounted on the blood collection device 26. The consumables cassette 302 is fitted with a lancing device 303 containing a lancet, hemostatic materials 304 such as gauze, and protective materials 305 such as adhesive bandages. In addition, multiple blood collection tubes 306 and 307 are detachably installed. Micro-blood collection tubes for finger blood collection can be used as blood collection tubes 306 and 307.

[0124] The blood collection device 26 includes a start button 310 for starting blood collection, a turntable 311 on which blood collection tubes 306 and 307 are placed, a reader 312 for reading information labels, a blood collection volume sensor 313 for measuring the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tubes, a rotation drive mechanism for rotating the turntable 311, a movement mechanism for moving the consumable cassette 302 in a two-dimensional horizontal direction and in a vertical direction, and a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the blood collection tubes 306 and 307.

[0125] It is preferable to place the blood collection tubes 306 and 307 in outer tubes and then on the turntable 311. The outer tubes are used for purposes such as matching the size of the installed equipment to the installation location of the blood collection tubes. As outer tubes, it is preferable to use tubes of a size that is larger in diameter than the micro-blood collection tubes, such as a tube with a diameter of 13 mm and a length of 75 mm, which is commonly used in automated analysis.

[0126] As shown in Figure 3, a barcode label, which functions as an information label, can be attached to the side of the outer tube. The information label will contain codes for the sample ID and blood collection tube information. For example, the information label can record a combination of a sample ID code to identify the sample and a blood collection tube information code to identify the type of blood collection tube.

[0127] Information labels may be added by printing barcodes, attaching 2D code labels, printing 2D codes, attaching data matrix code labels, printing data matrix codes, embedding IC chips, etc., instead of attaching barcode labels. Furthermore, information labels may be attached to the outer tube or the blood collection tube, as long as they are readable from the outside.

[0128] The consumable cassette 302 is attached with the lancing device 303, hemostatic material 304, and protective material 305 facing upwards. The consumable cassette 302 is driven to move in a two-dimensional horizontal direction and vertical direction, and its movement from the side toward the underside of the blood recipient's fingertip 301, and from the underside of the fingertip 301 toward the side, is controlled.

[0129] The lancing device contains a lancet. When the lancing device 303 is pressed against the finger or other body part of the person from whom blood is collected, the lancet extends and punctures the person from whom blood is collected. The hemostatic material 304, such as gauze, is pressed against the puncture site of the person from whom blood is collected and absorbs the blood bleeding from the puncture site to stop the bleeding. The protective material 305, such as an adhesive bandage, is pressed against and attached to the puncture site of the person from whom blood is collected to stop the bleeding and protect the puncture site.

[0130] The blood collection tubes 306 and 307 are placed in holders on the turntable 311 with their caps open. The turntable 311 is rotatable in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions around a vertically extending axis of rotation. The rotation of the turntable 311 is controlled by a predetermined step angle according to the blood collection operation or procedure operation. The movement of the blood collection tubes 306 and 307 to a blood collection position below the fingertip 301 of the person receiving blood, or to a waiting position different from the blood collection position, is controlled by the rotation of the turntable 311.

[0131] A compression band 319 is wrapped around the fingertip 301 of the person receiving blood. Compressed air of approximately 0.5 to 1 atmosphere is intermittently supplied to the compression band 319 from a compressor (not shown). The fingertip 301 is placed on a finger rest located on the top of the blood collection device 26. The finger rest has a window-like opening in the center so that the ventral side of the fingertip 301 is exposed downwards. The blood collection device 26 is activated by the operation of the start button 310 by the person receiving blood.

[0132] The blood collection tubes 306 and 307 are placed on the turntable 311, and after the blood collection device 26 is started, the information labels are read by the reader 312. The reading result of the information labels is compared with the registration information registered in the storage device of the blood collection support system 2. In addition, the blood collection volume information associated with the sample ID is transmitted to the blood collection device 26 and stored in the storage device of the blood collection device 26.

[0133] The reader 312 reads barcode information, IC information, etc., depending on the format of the information label. Depending on the format of the information label, the reader 312 can be composed of an optical reader such as a CCD image sensor or laser scanner, or an RFID reader that receives electromagnetic waves.

[0134] If the blood collection tubes 306 and 307 are not properly installed in the blood collection device 26, or if the information labels attached to the blood collection tubes 306 and 307 are not read correctly, or if the reading result of the information label does not match the registered information, the user of the blood collection device 26 will be warned of the abnormality. The blood collection device 26 can warn of the abnormality by displaying a warning image or emitting a warning sound. The preparation and blood collection operations of the blood collection device 26 will be suspended until the abnormality is corrected.

[0135] Next, the fingertip 301 of the person to be blood collected is compressed by the compression band 319 to promote blood circulation in the fingertip. Then, the lancing device 303 inserts the lancet into the target puncture site on the fingertip 301. The lancing device 303 is driven to move horizontally and vertically and is pressed against the fingertip 301. The lancing device 303 extends the lancet due to the pressure from the fingertip 301 and punctures the fingertip 301 with the lancet. After puncturing the fingertip, the lancing device 303 retracts to a standby position below the fingertip 301. After that, each blood collection tube 306, 307 is transported to the blood collection position below the fingertip 301.

[0136] Blood 308 bleeding from the puncture site of the fingertip 301 is collected by dripping it into blood collection tubes 306 and 307. The compression band 319 can be driven to periodically compress the fingertip 301. When compressed periodically, droplets of blood form on the surface of the skin of the fingertip when compressed, and when the compression is released, blood flow to the fingertip is restored, and blood is collected again in the fingertip. The blood collection tubes 306 and 307 can be raised to a position near the puncture site or in contact with the blood bleeding from the puncture site, and then lowered after being raised, repeating this action during blood collection. Preferably, the raising and lowering cycles are adjusted so that they rise when compressed to form droplets of blood, and descend after the blood droplets are collected. By repeating this action, the retention and coagulation of blood bleeding from the puncture site can be avoided.

[0137] A blood collection volume sensor 313 is installed at the blood collection site below the fingertip 301 of the person being collected. The blood collection volume sensor 313 is a sensor that measures the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tube. The blood collection volume sensor 313 measures the amount of blood collected in each blood collection tube 306, 307 by measuring the attenuation caused by the blood collected in the blood collection tube.

[0138] The blood collection volume sensor 313 can be composed of a light source that irradiates light toward the blood collection tube and an optical sensor that detects reflected light, scattered light, and transmitted light from the irradiated light. A suitable type of light source can be used, such as a laser light source or an LED. A photodiode or a photodiode array can be used as the optical sensor. The light source and the optical sensor may be integrated into the same location, or they may be arranged separately in different locations.

[0139] The blood collection volume sensor 313 can be positioned to irradiate light from the side onto the blood collection tube when it is transported to the blood collection location. When light is irradiated onto the blood collection tube, the intensity of reflected, scattered, and transmitted light changes depending on the presence or absence of blood. Therefore, by measuring the intensity of reflected, scattered, and transmitted light, a measurement signal correlated with the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube can be obtained. The amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube can be calculated based on the measurement results from the blood collection volume sensor 313, blood collection tube information indicating the shape and inner diameter of the blood collection tube, and a pre-determined calibration curve.

[0140] Next, it is determined whether the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tube has reached the required amount (step S109). The blood collection device 26 can measure the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tube while blood is being collected into the blood collection tube and after blood collection into the blood collection tube is completed. The determination of the amount of blood collected is performed by the blood collector terminal 24 based on the measurement result of the amount of blood collected by the blood collection device 26.

[0141] The blood collection terminal 24 can determine whether the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tube has reached a preset required amount, based on the measurement results of the blood collection volume by the blood collection device 26 and the required blood collection volume information for each type of blood collection tube registered in association with the test item information. The determination of the blood collection volume can be performed for each blood collection tube.

[0142] If the determination shows that the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube has reached the required amount (step S109; YES), blood collection into the blood collection tube is terminated. If the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube has reached the required amount (step S109; YES), a message indicating that the amount of blood collected is appropriate can be displayed on the blood collector terminal 24. On the other hand, if the determination shows that the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube has not reached the required amount (step S109; NO), the process proceeds to step S110. If the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube has not reached the required amount (step S109; NO), a warning indicating that the amount of blood collected is inappropriate can be displayed on the blood collector terminal 24.

[0143] In step S109, the blood collection device 26 can also determine whether the time required for blood collection has exceeded a preset maximum blood collection time. The blood collection device 26 can measure the time required from the start to the end of blood collection into the blood collection tube while blood is being collected into the blood collection tube. The determination of the blood collection time can be performed by the blood collection device 26 based on the measurement result of the blood volume collected by the blood collection device 26 and the maximum blood collection time information for each type of blood collection tube that has been registered in association with the test item information.

[0144] If the determination shows that the time required for blood collection into the blood collection tube exceeds the maximum blood collection time, blood collection into the blood collection tube can be forcibly terminated. The blood collection tube is forcibly moved from the blood collection position below the fingertip 301 to a standby position. Subsequently, if multiple blood collection tubes are set up, a new blood collection tube is transported to the blood collection position below the fingertip 301 and blood collection is performed. On the other hand, if the determination shows that the time required for blood collection into the blood collection tube does not exceed the maximum blood collection time, blood collection into the blood collection tube can be continued.

[0145] Next, if the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube does not reach the required amount (step S109; NO), the blood collection support system 2 determines whether or not to perform a re-collection (step S110). If the test order includes a high-priority test item and the required amount of blood for that test item can be secured by re-collection, then re-collection can be performed. The determination of whether or not to perform a re-collection is performed by the blood collector terminal 24 based on the test order information associated with the blood recipient ID. The result of the determination of whether or not to perform a re-collection can be displayed on the blood collector terminal 24. The medical staff then contacts the physician who ordered the test with the displayed information and decides whether or not to perform a re-collection according to the physician's judgment.

[0146] The blood collector terminal 24 can request from the blood collection support system 2 the test order information associated with the blood recipient's ID and the required blood volume information registered in association with the test item information when determining whether re-collection is necessary. Based on the required blood volume information registered in association with the test item information, the blood collector terminal 24 can determine whether the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tube for high-priority test items reaches the pre-set required blood volume. The determination of whether re-collection is necessary can be made for each blood collection tube.

[0147] The blood collection terminal 24 can determine whether or not re-collection of blood is possible, based on the required blood volume information, as well as the biometric information for each person being collected transmitted from the biometric information acquisition device 25 and the blood collection history information for each person pre-registered in the blood collection support system 2. By referring to the blood collection history information, the possibility of re-collection of blood can be determined by taking into account the trends shown in past blood collection history.

[0148] For example, if a test order includes high-priority test items, and the required blood volume for those high-priority items has not been secured, it can be determined that re-collection of blood is conditionally necessary. Furthermore, if the quantity indicated by the biometric information that shows a positive correlation with the blood volume is above a predetermined standard value, and the biometric information does not indicate poor blood circulation in the fingers, or if there has been no shortage of blood volume by a predetermined amount, an excess of blood collection time by a predetermined amount, or a predetermined special event in the most recent blood collection history, or if it has not occurred more than a predetermined number of times in the past blood collection history, it can be determined that the factors on the part of the person receiving the blood that contributed to the shortage of blood volume are small, and re-collection of blood is possible.

[0149] On the other hand, if the test order includes high-priority test items and the required blood volume for those high-priority items has been secured, it can be determined that re-collection of blood is conditionally unnecessary. Furthermore, if the quantity indicated by the biological information that shows a positive correlation with the blood volume is above a predetermined standard value, and the biological information indicates poor blood circulation in the fingers, or if there is a shortage of blood volume by more than the predetermined amount, or if the blood collection time exceeds the predetermined amount, or if a predetermined special event has occurred in the most recent blood collection history, or has occurred more than the predetermined number of times in the past blood collection history, it can be determined that the insufficient blood volume is largely due to factors on the part of the person being collected, and that re-collection of blood is not possible.

[0150] If, based on the physician's judgment or the blood collection terminal 24's assessment, it is determined that re-collection of blood is possible (step S110; YES), the process returns to step S107. Subsequently, preparation of the blood collection tube for finger blood collection (step S107), finger blood collection (step S108), and determination of the blood volume (step S109) are performed again to conduct re-collection of blood for the person who has completed the registration procedure. On the other hand, if, based on the physician's judgment or the blood collection terminal 24's assessment, it is determined that re-collection of blood is not possible (step S110; NO), the process proceeds to step S111.

[0151] For re-collection of blood, any of the following methods can be used: additional blood collection from the fingers, re-collection of blood from the fingers, or re-collection of blood from the arm. The method of re-collection can be selected depending on the type of test item and the required amount of blood. Re-collection of blood from the arm can be selected after finger blood collection (step S108).

[0152] Additional blood collection from the fingers means puncturing a finger that has not yet been pricked with a lancet and collecting additional blood into a blood collection tube that has insufficient blood volume. For example, if there are two blood collection tubes, blood must first be collected in the blood collection tube for complete blood count (CBC) testing, which requires whole blood, and then blood must be collected in the blood collection tube for biochemistry and immunology testing, which requires serum. If the required amount of blood has been collected in the blood collection tube for CBC testing, but not in the blood collection tube for biochemistry and immunology testing, additional blood can be collected in the biochemistry and immunology testing tube.

[0153] Re-collection of blood from the fingers means puncturing a finger that has not been previously punctured with the lancet and collecting blood in a newly prepared blood collection tube. For example, in blood tests, it may not be possible to add blood to a blood collection tube that has insufficient blood volume due to analytical reasons. In such cases, it is necessary to change the finger from which the lancet is punctured and collect blood again in a newly prepared blood collection tube. When collecting additional blood or re-collecting blood, the blood collection tube and consumable cassette 302 should be replaced with new ones.

[0154] A re-collection of blood from the arm means inserting a puncture needle into the forearm, cubital fossa, or upper arm and collecting blood in a newly prepared blood collection tube. For example, if there are two blood collection tubes, blood must first be collected in the tube used for complete blood count (CBC) tests, which requires whole blood, and then blood must be collected in the tube used for biochemical and immunological tests, which requires serum. If the CBC test tube, which requires a relatively larger amount of blood, does not contain the required amount, it is difficult to obtain the necessary amount of blood by re-collecting from the fingers, so a re-collection of blood from the arm is performed.

[0155] Next, when arm blood collection is selected as the blood collection method (step S106; NO), or when re-collection of blood from the fingers is not possible (step S110; NO), the blood collection support system 2 begins preparing the blood collection tubes for arm blood collection (step S111). The transmission unit of the blood collection support system 2 sends a request to the blood collection tube preparation device 22 to prepare the blood collection tubes for arm blood collection. It also sends information to the blood collection tube preparation device 22 indicating the type and number of blood collection tubes required for the series of tests.

[0156] When the blood collection tube preparation device 22 receives a request for the preparation of blood collection tubes for arm blood collection, it prepares a set of blood collection tubes for one person, attaches an information label to the blood collection tubes used for each test item, and then provides them in a tray or the like. The information label is coded with the sample ID associated with the blood collection recipient ID of the person who has received the blood collection procedure, as well as blood collection tube information to identify the required blood volume and maximum blood collection time. The set of blood collection tubes for arm blood collection is used at the blood collection table 27.

[0157] Next, arm blood collection is started using the blood collection table 27, targeting the arm of the person to be collected (step S112). The display device attached to the blood collection table 27 can display the name of the person to be collected, the contents of the test order, the result of the suitability judgment, information on the required blood volume, information on the maximum blood collection time, etc., for the blood collector to confirm. On the blood collection table 27, manual blood collection is performed from the forearm, cubital fossa, upper arm, etc., to satisfy the pre-set conditions for the required blood volume and maximum blood collection time.

[0158] Next, once the required amount of blood has been collected in all the designated blood collection tubes, the blood collection process for the person who has completed the registration procedure is complete. In manual blood collection from the forearm, cubital fossa, upper arm, etc., the blood collector instructs the person to stop the bleeding by applying pressure to the needle removal site with an adhesive bandage or similar (not shown).

[0159] Meanwhile, in the blood collection device 26, once the blood collection operation is complete, hemostasis is performed at the puncture site using a hemostatic material 304 such as gauze. The hemostatic material 304 is pressed against the puncture site of the fingertip 301 by the horizontal and vertical movement of the consumable cassette 302.

[0160] Next, once hemostasis at the puncture site is complete, the puncture site is protected using a protective material 305 such as an adhesive bandage. The protective material 305 is pressed against the puncture site on the fingertip 301 and adhered to the puncture site by the horizontal and vertical movement of the consumable cassette 302. Covering the puncture site with the protective material 305 reduces the risk of infection from the puncture site and prevents unintended blood from adhering to the blood collection device 26, etc. It should be noted that hemostasis using the hemostatic agent 304 and protection of the puncture site with the protective material 305 by the blood collection device 26 are also performed as a matter of course if the re-blood collection determination in step S109 is YES.

[0161] Once the protection of the puncture site is complete, blood collection using the blood collection device 26 is finished. The blood collector terminal 24 is notified that blood collection has been completed for the person who has completed the registration procedure. After confirming the notification that blood collection is complete, the blood collector removes the blood collection tube from the blood collection device 26, seals it, and performs post-processing such as inversion and mixing as necessary. The blood collection tube from which the blood has been collected is transported to the testing facility where blood tests are performed, and then subjected to analysis by the analyzer 32.

[0162] According to this blood collection support system 2, the system is connected to the electronic medical record system 1, the blood collection reception machine 21, and the biological information acquisition device 25 via a communication line. It is equipped with a determination unit that determines the suitability of each person for finger blood collection. Therefore, it can determine the suitability of a person for finger blood collection by referring to the measurement results of biological information that correlates with the amount of blood collected by finger blood collection. By acquiring and analyzing biological information, it is possible to measure the suitability of a person for finger blood collection. Furthermore, since the suitability determination result can be transmitted to the blood collection reception machine 21, it is possible to allow the person to choose the blood collection method themselves according to their suitability for finger blood collection, etc. If arm blood collection is burdensome or the person does not wish to have their arm blood collected, finger blood collection can be performed. On the other hand, if it is predicted that it will be difficult to secure the necessary amount of blood required for blood tests, arm blood collection can be performed. In this way, it is possible to enable the selection of blood collection methods according to the suitability of the person for blood collection, thereby ensuring a stable supply of the amount of blood required for blood tests and reducing the burden on the person for blood collection.

[0163] Figure 4 shows an example of a blood collection reception image used for blood collection registration procedures. Figure 4 shows an example of a blood collection reception screen displayed on the blood collection reception machine 21 for blood collection registration procedures. As shown in Figure 4, the blood collection reception machine 21 can display images of the blood collection content and blood collection method options available to the person to be collected when they undergo the registration procedure.

[0164] The blood collection registration screen can display information such as the patient ID (blood collection recipient ID), the patient's name, the name and affiliation of the physician who requested the test order, the types of tests to be performed, and the required blood volume for each test. It can also display options for blood collection methods, the suitability assessment results for each method, and information indicating the waiting time for each method.

[0165] Patients receiving blood can select their preferred blood collection method by referring to information indicating the details of the blood collection, the suitability assessment results for each blood collection method, and the waiting time for each method. In Figure 4, the selection result for the blood collection method is displayed by inverting the blood collection method options, but it may also be displayed as text or other characters indicating the blood collection method. By pressing the confirm button, the patient can confirm the blood collection method they will receive and complete the registration procedure.

[0166] Furthermore, if a specific blood collection method is designated for medical reasons, this may be displayed on the blood collection registration screen. In such cases, the display of blood collection method options may be discontinued, or the selection button may be disabled to prevent users from selecting a blood collection method.

[0167] Figures 5 and 6 schematically show images of the vascular structure of the fingers of a blood sampler. Figures 5 and 6 show examples of the results of imaging the vascular patterns in the fingers using near-infrared detection. Figure 5 shows an image of the vascular structure of the fingers when blood circulation is good. Figure 6 shows an image of the vascular structure of the fingers when blood circulation is poor. In Figures 5 and 6, reference numeral 320 denotes the fingers of the blood sampler, and reference numeral 330 denotes the blood vessels. The upper side of the figure is the fingertip side, and the lower side is the base side.

[0168] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, among the biological information of the person from whom blood is collected, the vascular pattern in the person's fingers can be obtained by taking finger vascular images. Finger vascular images can be taken by irradiating the fingernail side of the person's fingers with near-infrared light and detecting the transmitted near-infrared light on the palm side of the fingers. It is preferable to detect the transmitted near-infrared light with the fingertip of the person from whom blood is collected as the detection range, and to focus the detector on the blood vessels near the surface of the palm side of the fingertip.

[0169] The biological information acquisition device 25 may include a light source that irradiates the fingers of the person from whom blood is collected with near-infrared light, and a photodetector that detects the transmitted light that has passed through the fingers, when measuring the vascular course pattern in the fingers. As for the light source, it is preferable to use one that generates near-infrared light with a wavelength of 700 nm to 2500 nm, for example, around 940 nm, as it has high penetration into living tissue and is greatly absorbed by hemoglobin.

[0170] Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be used as the light source. Semiconductor sensors equipped with detection elements arranged in a two-dimensional array can be used as the photodetector. CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensors, CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensors, etc., can also be used as photodetectors.

[0171] In images of a person's fingers from which blood has been drawn, areas corresponding to blood vessels are areas with a high concentration of hemoglobin, which absorbs near-infrared light, and are therefore detected as areas with low intensity of transmitted near-infrared light. When the intensity of near-infrared light and the brightness of a pixel show a positive correlation, such areas are detected as areas composed of pixels with low brightness. Areas consisting of a series of pixels with low brightness represent blood vessels running through the fingers, and the signal intensity, such as the brightness of each pixel, corresponds to the amount of blood.

[0172] Figure 5 shows a thick, clearly defined blood vessel running from the right side of the base of the finger towards the center of the fingertip. Multiple clear blood vessels are also detected throughout the entire fingertip. This vascular pattern indicates good blood circulation in the fingers of the person from whom blood is collected. When such a vascular pattern is measured, it is easy to obtain the required blood volume, and the person from whom blood is collected is deemed highly suitable for finger blood sampling.

[0173] Figure 6 shows a single connected blood vessel running from the left side of the base of the finger towards the center of the fingertip. However, even this representative blood vessel is relatively thin in diameter and lacks clarity. Furthermore, the vascular network is unclear throughout the fingertip. This pattern of vascular course indicates poor blood circulation in the fingers of the person from whom blood is collected. When such a pattern of vascular course is measured, it is difficult to secure the necessary blood volume, and the person from whom blood is collected is judged to have low suitability for finger blood collection.

[0174] In finger blood collection using the blood collection device 26, as shown in Figure 5, when thick, clearly visible blood vessels are identified, it is preferable to insert the puncture needle into such blood vessels with a large blood volume. Blood vessels with a large blood volume can be detected by performing image analysis on the finger blood vessel images and identifying groups of pixels with low intensity of transmitted near-infrared light. The groups of pixels with low intensity of transmitted near-infrared light must be identified in the image of the finger of the person receiving blood collection, within the movable range of the puncture needle that can be inserted. The puncture needle is movable in two dimensions, including directions toward or away from the finger of the person receiving blood collection, as well as in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the finger.

[0175] When the blood collection device 26 moves the puncture needle horizontally across the surface of the subject's fingers, it is necessary to puncture a blood vessel within the needle's movable range. Therefore, the target puncture location can be specified on the finger vascular image as the intersection of the trajectory of the needle's movement and a blood vessel with a large blood volume running through the fingertip. Pixel groups with low intensity of transmitted near-infrared light, representing blood vessels with a large blood volume, can be detected by creating a graph representing the relationship between the coordinates of the pixels corresponding to the needle's position and the signal intensity of each pixel within the needle's movable range, and identifying the signal with the greatest decrease in transmitted light intensity on the graph. The signal with the greatest decrease in transmitted light intensity can be detected by identifying the signal with the smallest interior angle at the valley-shaped peak on the line graph.

[0176] Figure 7 shows an example of a blood collection result display screen. Figure 7 shows an example of a blood collection result display screen that is displayed on the blood collector terminal 24 for confirmation of the blood collection results. As shown in Figure 7, after finger blood collection using the blood collection device 26 is completed, the blood collector terminal 24 can display images of the blood collection result information showing the blood collection results for each person and each type of blood collection tube.

[0177] The blood collection result information includes the patient ID (blood sample ID), the patient's name, the result of the assessment of suitability for finger blood collection, and detailed information on the blood collection results for each test item. The detailed blood collection result can display the sample ID that identifies the blood test sample read from the blood collection tube, the blood collection tube information indicating the type of blood collection tube used for blood collection, the target setting value for the amount of blood collected that corresponds to the required amount of blood to be collected in the blood collection tube from the blood sample recipient, the measurement result of the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube measured by the blood collection device 26, and the result of the assessment of whether or not re-collection is necessary.

[0178] The blood collection result information may include a determination result indicating whether the amount of blood collected in the blood collection tube has reached the required amount, and blood collection time information indicating the time taken from the start to the end of blood collection in the blood collection tube. In Figure 7, the determination result of the blood collection volume is displayed by inverting the measurement result of the blood collection volume, but it may also be displayed as text or other means.

[0179] After the blood collection operator checks the blood collection result display screen, they can instruct the blood collection device 26 to end the blood collection operation by pressing a confirmation completion button or similar on the touch panel. By checking the blood collection result display screen, they can decide whether to repeat the blood collection for the current patient, change the blood collection site for the patient, or move on to the next patient. Displaying the blood collection result information helps prevent the generation of unsuitable samples that do not meet the blood test requirements.

[0180] As shown in Figure 7, the determination of whether or not re-collection of blood is necessary is displayed separately for each method of re-collection. In Figure 7, the blood collection results for patient ID 400 show that the required amount of blood was met, and therefore re-collection is deemed unnecessary. The blood collection results for patient ID 401 show that the required amount of blood was not met for biochemical tests, but the required amount of blood was met for the high-priority complete blood count tests, and therefore re-collection is deemed unnecessary under certain conditions.

[0181] The blood test results for patient ID 402 indicate that the amount of blood collected for biochemical tests is insufficient, and therefore additional blood collection from the fingers is required. The blood test results for patient ID 403 indicate that the amount of blood collected for biochemical tests is significantly insufficient, and therefore re-collection of blood from the fingers is required. The blood test results for patient ID 404 indicate that the amount of blood collected for both complete blood count and biochemical tests is significantly insufficient, and therefore re-collection of blood from the arm is required.

[0182] Blood collection results are transmitted from the blood collection support system 2 to the laboratory information system 3. The laboratory information system 3 can refer to the blood collection results when verifying the results of blood tests. In addition, the blood collection results can be saved as a history of blood collection results in the storage device of the blood collection support system 2. The blood collection support system 2 can refer to past blood collection results when performing blood collection again.

[0183] Figure 8 shows an example of a blood collection history display screen that shows the history of blood collections. Figure 8 shows an example of a blood collection history display screen that is displayed on the blood collector terminal 24 for checking past blood collection results. As shown in Figure 8, the blood collector terminal 24 can display images of blood collection history information showing the history of past blood collection results for each person whose blood was collected.

[0184] The blood collection history information includes patient IDs corresponding to the blood recipient ID, patient names corresponding to the blood recipient's name, blood collection date and time information indicating the date and time the blood was collected, requester information indicating the physician who requested the test order, information indicating the blood collector who performed the blood collection, information indicating the blood collection device 26 used for blood collection, information indicating the site from which blood was collected, information indicating the type of lancet used for blood collection, information indicating the type and number of blood collection tubes used for blood collection, blood collection volume information indicating the amount of blood collected into the blood collection tube, blood collection time information indicating the time taken from the start to the end of blood collection into the blood collection tube, and information indicating whether or not there were any special events.

[0185] Blood collection history information can be collected along with blood collection result information as information for each test order each time finger blood collection using the blood collection device 26 is completed. The blood collection history information can be stored in association with the blood collection result information collected for each test order. The blood collection history information may be stored in the storage device of the electronic medical record system 1 or in the storage device of the blood collection support system 2. The blood collection history information can be read from the storage device when requested by a doctor or medical staff, or when used to determine suitability for blood collection.

[0186] Figure 8 shows that in the history of No. 5, there was a record of a change in the person in charge of blood collection. In situations such as arm blood collection targeting the cephalic vein, if it is difficult to insert the needle into the vein, the procedure may be to have a more experienced blood collector take over. If such a special event has occurred in past arm blood collections, it can be determined that the person being collected has low suitability for arm blood collection.

[0187] On the other hand, no special events occurred in the histories of No. 6 and No. 7. In the history of No. 7, finger blood sampling was performed, resulting in a total blood volume of 0.8 mL. In such cases, it can be said that there is no problem in recommending finger blood sampling to the person receiving the blood in subsequent blood samplings, such as those corresponding to the history of No. 8. For example, if no special events occurred in the most recent blood sampling, it can be determined that the person is suitable for blood sampling with a target volume equal to or less than that of the most recent sampling.

[0188] Next, we will explain an example of a calculation method using images of fingers to determine a threshold used for assessing suitability for finger blood sampling, which shows a correlation with the amount of blood in the fingertip.

[0189] Figure 9 schematically shows an image of the fingers of a blood sampler. Figure 10 schematically shows an image of the fingers of a blood sampler while they are compressed. Figures 9 and 10 show an example of the results of imaging the blood vessel pattern in the fingers by detecting near-infrared light. Figures 9 and 10 are the results of imaging the same fingers of the same blood sampler, using near-infrared light of approximately the same intensity. Figure 9 is the result when the fingers are not compressed. Figure 10 is the result when the fingers are compressed with a compression band 319.

[0190] In Figures 9 and 10, reference numeral 500 indicates an evaluation region set on the image to evaluate the amount of blood loss during blood collection, reference numeral 510 indicates a background region set on the image taken without compressing the fingers for background evaluation, and reference numeral 520 indicates a background region set on the image taken with compressing the fingers for background evaluation. The evaluation region 500 and the background regions 510 and 520 are set on the image as two-dimensional regions by a collection of multiple pixels.

[0191] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the vascular pattern in the fingers of the person from whom blood is drawn shows almost no difference whether or not compression is present. However, when the fingers are compressed, as shown in Figure 10, a decrease in the transmitted near-infrared light that has passed through the fingertips is detected. Compressed fingers are in a state where blood accumulates at the fingertips, i.e., they are congested, and are therefore captured as dark shadows due to a collection of pixels with reduced brightness.

[0192] When calculating a threshold that correlates with the blood volume in the fingertips, images are taken under equivalent conditions, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, with the subject's fingers not compressed and with the subject's fingers compressed. In addition, blood vessels with a high blood volume are identified in the captured images.

[0193] Next, on the image taken without compressing the fingers, an evaluation region 500 is set, which includes a section of a blood vessel with a large blood flow, and a background region 510 is set, which includes the evaluation region 500. The evaluation region 500 is set as a relatively small area so that it includes approximately one blood vessel with a large blood flow that is a candidate for the target puncture site. The background region 510 is set as a relatively large area so that it includes a wide area of ​​the fingertip and also includes the evaluation region 500 and surrounding blood vessels. Furthermore, on the image taken with the fingers compressed, a background region 520 is set, which consists of the same pixels as the background region 510 in the uncompressed state.

[0194] Next, the average value of the transmitted near-infrared light intensity in each region 500, 510, and 520, i.e., the average brightness for each pixel, is calculated, and the change in this calculation result due to compression is determined. For example, let the average brightness in evaluation region 500 be a, the average brightness in background region 510 be A, and the average brightness in background region 520 be B. In this case, the following formula (1) can be defined as an index value V that shows a correlation with the blood volume at the fingertip: V = α(A / a) + β(A / B) + γ ... (1)

[0195] In equation (1), α, β, and γ represent arbitrary constants. A / a represents how relatively dark the shadow of a blood vessel with a large blood volume, which is a candidate for the target puncture site, is compared to the surrounding area (a larger value indicates a darker area). A / B represents how dark the fingertip becomes due to compression (a larger value indicates a darker area). Therefore, V, which consists of these linear equations, is a quantity that shows a correlation with the blood volume flowing through the blood vessel with a large blood volume, which is a candidate for the target puncture site. The constants α, β, and γ can be determined by multiple regression analysis using the blood volume collected and the measured values ​​of A / a and A / B.

[0196] Figure 11 shows the correlation between the amount of blood collected from a fingertip puncture site and an index value (V) that shows a correlation with the amount of blood in the fingertip. Figure 11 shows an example of the results of a multiple regression analysis based on measured blood volumes. In Figure 11, the vertical axis represents the amount of blood collected from a fingertip puncture site over a period of 3 minutes, and the horizontal axis represents the index value (V) that shows a correlation with the amount of blood in the fingertip calculated by formula (1). The sample size n is 36. A blood volume of 250 μL is a practical guideline for blood volume, as it allows for complete blood count and blood glucose testing using whole blood. A blood volume of 500 μL is a practical guideline for blood volume, as it allows for biochemical and electrolyte testing of up to approximately 20 items using serum separated from whole blood.

[0197] As shown in Figure 11, a certain correlation is observed between the amount of blood collected from the fingertip puncture site and the index value (V) that correlates with the amount of blood in the fingertip. The correlation coefficient R was 0.75. It can be said that there is a moderate correlation between the amount of blood collected and the index value (V). The index value (V) is a quantity that correlates with the amount of blood in the fingertip. Therefore, reflecting this property, it will also show a certain degree of correlation with the amount of blood collected from the fingertip puncture site.

[0198] Table 1 shows an example of a threshold used to determine suitability for finger blood sampling, where the threshold correlates with the amount of blood in the fingertip. In Table 1, an index value (V) = 500 is set as the threshold that correlates with the amount of blood in the fingertip, and the results of counting the number of appropriate finger blood samplings are shown.

[0199]

[0200] As shown in Table 1, when a threshold showing correlation with fingertip blood volume was not considered, the number of blood draws where the blood volume was 250 μL or more was 29 (81% of the total 36 draws). Also, the number of blood draws where the blood volume was 500 μL or more was 17 (47% of the total 36 draws). On the other hand, when an index value (V) = 500 was set as the threshold showing correlation with fingertip blood volume, 25 out of the total 36 draws met the condition of being above the threshold. The number of blood draws where the blood volume was 250 μL or more was 23 (92% of the total 25 draws). Also, the number of blood draws where the blood volume was 500 μL or more was 14 (56% of the total 25 draws).

[0201] Therefore, by setting an appropriate index value (V) as a threshold that correlates with the blood volume at the fingertip, it is expected that the probability of obtaining a blood volume greater than the predetermined amount, i.e., the success rate of finger blood collection, can be improved. When calculating the index value (V) that correlates with the blood volume at the fingertip, the change in pixel gradation due to compression of the fingertip is reflected in the image of the fingers of the person from whom blood is collected. Since the amount of blood that can be collected from a blood vessel with a large blood volume that is a candidate for the target puncture site is evaluated taking into account the change due to compression of the fingertip, the amount of blood collected that is required for blood tests can be stably secured.

[0202] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the present invention is not necessarily limited to having all the configurations of the embodiments described above. Some configurations of one embodiment may be replaced with other configurations, some configurations of one embodiment may be added to other forms, or some configurations of one embodiment may be omitted.

[0203] For example, the blood collection support system 2 described above is configured to allow selection of either finger blood collection (targeting the fingers) or arm blood collection (targeting the arm). However, it may also be configured to allow selection of other blood collection sites based on suitability for finger blood collection. Other blood collection sites include the shoulder for shoulder blood collection, the back of the hand for hand blood collection, and the back of the foot for foot blood collection. However, it is preferable to include at least the option of finger blood collection, and more preferably to include the options of finger blood collection and arm blood collection.

[0204] 1: Electronic medical record system, 2: Blood collection support system, 3: Laboratory information system, 4: Communication line, 11: Input terminal, 21: Blood collection reception machine, 22: Blood collection tube preparation device, 23: Blood collection guidance display device, 24: Blood collector terminal, 25: Biological information acquisition device, 26: Blood collection device, 27: Blood collection table, 31: Laboratory terminal, 32: Analyzer, 100: Blood collection system, 301: Fingertip, 302: Consumable cassette, 303: Lancing device, 304: Hemostatic material, 305: Protective material, 306: Blood collection tube, 307: Blood collection tube, 308: Blood, 311: Turntable, 312: Reader, 313: Blood collection volume sensor, 319: Compression band, 320: Fingers of the person being collected, 330: Blood vessels, 500: Evaluation area, 510: Background area, 520: Background area

Claims

1. A blood collection support system that assists in blood collection from a person to be collected, comprising: an electronic medical record system that manages medical records and accepts orders for blood tests; a blood collection reception machine that accepts people to be collected and displays information related to blood collection; and a biometric information acquisition device that acquires the biometric information of the person to be collected, connected via a communication line; a receiving unit that receives data related to blood collection; a transmitting unit that transmits data related to blood collection; and a determination unit that determines the suitability for finger blood collection targeting the fingers of each person to be collected, wherein the receiving unit receives biometric information for each person to be collected from the biometric information acquisition device; the determination unit determines the suitability for finger blood collection of the person to be collected based on the biometric information for each person to be collected received from the biometric information acquisition device; and the transmitting unit transmits the suitability determination result to the blood collection reception machine and displays the suitability determination result on the blood collection reception machine. The aforementioned biological information is the body temperature of the person from whom blood is collected, the surface temperature of the person from whom blood is collected, the thickness of the person from whom blood is collected, the length of the person from whom blood is collected, the vascular pattern in the person from whom blood is collected, the vascular pattern in the person from whom blood is collected, the appearance of the person from whom blood is collected, or one or more combinations of these, in a blood collection support system.

2. A blood collection support system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit compares a quantity correlated with the blood volume indicated by the biological information with a preset threshold to determine the suitability of the person to have blood collected from their finger.

3. A blood collection support system according to claim 1, wherein the blood collection reception machine displays the suitability determination result, presents options for blood collection methods to be used for blood collection for each person to be collected, and transmits the selection result of the blood collection method selected by the person to be collected to the blood collection support system.

4. A blood collection support system according to claim 3, wherein the blood collection method options include an option for finger blood collection targeting the fingers, and an option for arm blood collection targeting the arm.

5. A blood collection support system according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting unit is connected via a communication line to a blood collection tube preparation device that prepares blood collection tubes to be used for blood collection, and the transmitting unit transmits a request to the blood collection tube preparation device to prepare blood collection tubes for finger blood collection when a selection result for finger blood collection is received, and transmits a request to the blood collection tube preparation device to prepare blood collection tubes for arm blood collection when a selection result for arm blood collection is received.

6. A blood collection support system according to claim 4, wherein the system is connected via a communication line to a blood collection device that collects blood from the fingers of a person to be collected, the transmitting unit transmits test order information indicating a test order for each person to be collected to the blood collection device when a selection result for selecting finger blood collection is received, and the blood collection device refers to the test order information and performs blood collection according to the test order.

7. A blood collection support system according to claim 6, wherein the test order information includes required blood collection volume information indicating the required amount of blood to be collected in a blood collection tube from a person to be collected blood, registered for each test item of the blood test, and maximum blood collection time information indicating the maximum blood collection time which is the upper limit of the time required from the start to the end of blood collection into a blood collection tube, registered for each test item of the blood test, and the blood collection device is a blood collection support system that collects blood in such a way as to satisfy the conditions of the required blood collection volume and the maximum blood collection time.

8. A blood collection support system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the suitability of the person to have their blood drawn from their fingers based on biological information for each person to have their blood drawn received from the biological information acquisition device and test order information indicating a test order for each person to have their blood drawn received from the electronic medical record system.

9. A blood collection support system according to claim 8, wherein the test order information includes required blood collection volume information indicating the required amount of blood to be collected in a blood collection tube from a person to be collected, registered for each test item of the blood test, and the determination unit compares a quantity correlated with the blood volume indicated by the biological information with a threshold corrected based on the required blood collection volume information to determine the suitability of the person to be collected for finger blood collection.

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