Information processing device, component management system, and component management method

Abstract

Provided is a component management system comprising a component information database that stores, for each component individual identification number, component information including first inspection data, which are physical data obtained by an inspection relating to the performance of the component before being installed in an automated analysis device, and second inspection data, which are physical data obtained by the inspection of the component after being removed from the automated analysis device, and an analyzing unit that analyzes the component information, wherein the analyzing unit: calculates first change data relating to the physical data for each individual identification number on the basis of the first inspection data and the second inspection data; compares operation information of the component acquired by the automated analysis device with the first change data; and associates the operation information with the individual identification number for components for which the first change data corresponds to the operation information.

Description

Information Processing Apparatus, Parts Management System, and Parts Management Method

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a parts management system, and a parts management method for managing parts of an automatic analyzer.

[0002] An automatic analyzer for analyzing specimens such as blood is composed of a plurality of parts. Since the state of parts changes due to deterioration over time, etc., in order to maintain the performance of the apparatus, it is necessary to regularly replace worn-out parts or timely replace faulty parts. Also, among the replacement parts, there are some that can be reused as recycled parts by replacing the worn parts and then reinstalled in the apparatus.

[0003] As a technology related to parts replacement, a system has been proposed in which the usage amounts of parts attached to each analyzer are registered in a server, the operation information of multiple analyzers is compared, and sudden replacements are handled (see Patent Document 1). Also, a system for determining the replacement timing from the operation information of parts that need to be replaced (see Patent Document 2), and a system for determining the optimal replacement timing of parts from the operation status of the analyzer and notifying the user or the replacement operator have been proposed (see Patent Document 3).

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-011565, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-074487, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-145691

[0005] When applying the systems disclosed in Patent Document 1, etc. to parts recycling, it is necessary to link the individual identification number of the removed part with the usage amount of the part and determine whether it can be recycled based on the usage amount. In this case, if the individual identification number is not registered in a server or the like that manages parts information, the replacement operator needs to manually link the individual identification number of the replacement part and the usage amount of the part by entering it manually into a PC or the like or writing the usage time on a dedicated sheet at the time of replacement. When such manual work is involved, work omissions, mistakes, etc. may occur, and the information linking cannot be done accurately, so an accurate determination cannot be made regarding the recyclability of the parts removed from the automatic analyzer.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, a parts management system, and a parts management method that can automatically link the individual identification number of a part removed from an automated analyzer with its operational information, thereby improving the accuracy of determining whether the removed part is recyclable.

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an information processing device for managing parts used in an automated analyzer, comprising: a memory for temporarily storing data relating to the parts; a processor for processing the data stored in the memory; the memory is configured to read part information including the individual identification number of the part and operational information of the part acquired by the automated analyzer via an interface, wherein the part information includes first inspection data, which is physical data obtained from an inspection of the performance of the part before it is mounted in the automated analyzer, and second inspection data, which is physical data obtained from the inspection of the part after it has been removed from the automated analyzer; the processor calculates first change data relating to the physical data for each individual identification number based on the first inspection data and the second inspection data, compares the first change data with the operational information, and associates the operational information with the individual identification number of the part for which the first change data corresponds to the operational information.

[0008] According to the present invention, the individual identification number of a part removed from an automated analyzer is automatically linked to its operational information, thereby improving the accuracy of determining whether the removed part is recyclable.

[0009] This is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a parts management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic diagram showing the hardware configuration of an information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an automatic analyzer, which is an example of a managed device of the parts management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This is a diagram showing an example of a record to be recorded in the operation information database provided in the automatic analyzer. This is a diagram showing an example of a record to be recorded in the parts information database provided in the manufacturing server. This is a schematic diagram showing an example of first change data calculated from the parts information database. This is a schematic diagram showing an example of second change data calculated from the operation information database. This is a diagram showing an example of a record to be recorded in the judgment information database (first database and second database) provided in the analysis unit. This is a diagram showing an example of a record to be recorded in the judgment information database (third database) provided in the analysis unit. This is a diagram showing an example of a record to be recorded in the judgment information database (fourth database) provided in the analysis unit. This is a schematic diagram showing the data flow from the manufacturing of a part to the determination of whether or not it can be recycled. This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the analysis unit to determine whether or not a part can be recycled. This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the manufacturing server to determine whether or not a part can be used. This is a schematic diagram showing examples of combinations of first and second change data that can be added as parameters to be matched. This is a schematic diagram representing the overall configuration of a parts management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic diagram representing the overall configuration of an automated analyzer, which is an example of a managed device of the parts management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Embodiments of the parts management system and parts management method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <First Embodiment> - Parts Management System - Figure 1A is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the parts management system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 1B is a schematic diagram showing the hardware configuration of the analysis unit 40 (information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention) that constitutes the parts management system 1. The parts management system 1 is a system for managing parts used in the automated analyzer 20 (device body 20a) to be managed. In this embodiment, the automated analyzer to be managed by the parts management system 1 is exemplified by one used, for example, in clinical testing for component analysis of specimens such as blood and urine. Although only one automated analyzer 20 to be managed is shown in Figures 1A and 1B, the parts management system 1 may also manage multiple automated analyzers 20.

[0012] The parts management system 1 of this embodiment comprises an inspection device 10, an automatic analyzer 20, a manufacturing server 30, and an analysis unit 40. In this embodiment, the inspection device 10 and the manufacturing server 30, the manufacturing server 30 and the analysis unit 40, and the analysis unit 40 and the automatic analyzer 20 are each connected via a network NW and can communicate with each other. In this embodiment, the parts of the device body 20a (Figure 2), which is the mechanical part that performs the analysis operation in the automatic analyzer 20, are managed by the parts management system 1, and the functional parts of the automatic analyzer 20 excluding the device body 20a, specifically the control unit 21, storage unit 22, output unit 24, etc., constitute the parts management system 1. However, the entire automatic analyzer 20 may be excluded from the components of the parts management system 1.

[0013] -Inspection device- The inspection device 10 is installed, for example, in the manufacturing plant of the automatic analyzer 20 and is a device that performs inspections related to the performance of parts. It comprises a control unit 11, an input unit 12, a measurement unit 13, a display unit 14, and a communication unit 15. The inspection device 10 is controlled by the control unit 11 according to the inspection conditions input in the input unit 12 to perform inspections of parts (e.g., light source units), measures inspection information including physical data (e.g., light intensity) obtained from the inspection using the measurement unit 13, and displays the inspection information on the display unit 14. The communication unit 15 of the inspection device 10 is connected to the communication unit 34 of the manufacturing server 30 via a network NW, and the inspection information of parts acquired by the measurement unit 13 is transmitted by the control unit 11 to the manufacturing server 30 via the communication unit 15 and the network NW.

[0014] -Automated analyzer- The automated analyzer 20 is operated at user facilities such as hospitals and comprises a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and an output unit 24. The storage unit 22 is a storage device such as flash memory or an HDD and includes an operation information database 23. The operation information database 23 stores operation information acquired daily by the automated analyzer 20 for the components mounted on the main unit 20a of the device. Therefore, the operation information stored in the operation information database 23 includes first operation data, second operation data, and usage time for each managed component while it is mounted on the automated analyzer 20. The first operation data is physical data (e.g., light intensity, pressure, temperature, etc.) obtained during the first or predetermined period of operation (sample measurement, etc.) after the component is mounted on the automated analyzer 20 and put into use. The second operation data is physical data obtained during the last or predetermined period of operation (sample measurement, etc.) before the component is removed from the automated analyzer 20. For example, if the component under management is a light source unit, the amount of light emitted by the light source unit during daily operation is an example of physical data (first operation data and second operation data, etc.). Usage time is the total time the component has been used in the automatic analyzer 20 since it was installed in the automatic analyzer 20. In addition to the usage time of the component, the operation information database 23 may also record cumulative usage time obtained, for example, through communication with the analysis unit 40. Cumulative usage time is the cumulative value of the time the component (or a sub-component included in the component) has been used in the same or a different automatic analyzer 20 in the past. As will be described later, after the component is returned to the manufacturing plant, some or all of the sub-components may be recycled. Therefore, in the case of recycled components manufactured including recycled sub-components, the cumulative usage time may differ for each sub-component. An example of the operation information database 23 is shown in Figure 3 below.

[0015] The output unit 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 outputs operational information for each component stored in the operational information database 23 to the analysis unit 40. The operational information is automatically output from the automatic analyzer 20 to the analysis unit 40 at predetermined timings by the control unit 21, but it may also be input from the automatic analyzer 20 to the analysis unit 40 via a storage medium such as a USB memory or CD. If the analysis unit 40 is installed within the user's facility, the output unit 24 of the automatic analyzer 20 and the input unit 46 of the analysis unit 40 may be connected by a LAN or the like, or if the analysis unit 40 is installed outside the user's facility, the automatic analyzer 20 and the analysis unit 40 may be connected by a wide-area network NW.

[0016] The analytical performance of the automatic analyzer 20 is affected by the condition of the components that make up the main body 20a, which is the mechanical part that performs the analytical operations. The condition of the components changes due to deterioration over time, etc. Therefore, in order to maintain the performance of the main body 20a, it is necessary to understand the condition of the main body 20a and replace worn-out components periodically or replace faulty components in a timely manner. In addition, some replacement components can be recycled and installed again in the main body 20a by replacing the worn-out parts. According to the components management system 1 of this embodiment, by managing inspection information by the inspection device 10 and the usage history in the automatic analyzer 20 for each component of the automatic analyzer 20, the performance of the main body 20a of the automatic analyzer 20 can be maintained even when recycled components are used. In the case of the automatic analyzer 20, the component that can be recycled is, for example, the light source unit. The light source unit is composed of multiple sub-components such as an optical chip, a substrate, and a multiplexer, and by replacing some of the deteriorated sub-components, it can be reused in the automatic analyzer 20 as a recycled component.

[0017] -Manufacturing Server- The manufacturing server 30 is, for example, a server owned by the manufacturer of the automatic analyzer 20, and stores information on the parts to be installed in the automatic analyzer 20. This manufacturing server 30 comprises a control unit 31 such as RAM, ROM, and CPU, a storage unit 32 such as HDD and SSD, and a communication unit 34. The storage unit 32 stores a parts information database 33. The parts information database 33 records inspection information measured by the inspection device 10, and the inspection information includes a record for each individual identification number of the parts under management. The parts information stored in the parts information database 33 includes first inspection data and second inspection data. The first inspection data is physical data obtained from inspections of parts performance performed by the inspection device 10 before the parts are installed in the automatic analyzer 20, for parts that will be subsequently installed in the automatic analyzer 20. The second inspection data refers to physical data obtained from inspections of component performance performed by the inspection device 10 after the component has been removed from the automatic analyzer 20 and returned by the user to the manufacturer, etc. In the case of the same type of component, the first inspection data and the second inspection data are the same type of physical data as the first operational data and the second operational data described above. For example, if the component under management is a light source unit, the amount of light emitted by the light source unit under predetermined conditions is an example of physical data (first inspection data and second inspection data) measured by the inspection device 10. The first inspection data and the second inspection data include at least this amount of light.

[0018] The communication unit 34 of the manufacturing server 30 is connected to the communication unit 45 of the analysis unit 40 via a network NW, and the control unit 31 can transmit records of part information stored in the part information database 33 to the analysis unit 40. The control unit 31 also records the recycling determination results received from the analysis unit 40 via the communication unit 34 in the part information database 33 for each part.

[0019] -Analysis Unit- The analysis unit 40 consists of one or more computers and functions as an information processing device that performs processing for managing parts used in the automatic analysis device 20. The analysis unit 40 analyzes data such as operation information and part information stored in the operation information database 23 and the part information database 33, and performs a determination of whether or not a part can be recycled and whether or not a recycled part can be used for each part removed from the automatic analysis device 20. The analysis unit 40 comprises a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, a calculation unit 44, a communication unit 45, and an input unit 46. The communication unit 45 and the input unit 46 are, for example, computer interfaces. The input unit 46 is connected to the output unit 24 of the automatic analysis device 20 via a network NW and can receive records recorded in the operation information database 23. The communication unit 45 is connected to the communication unit 34 of the manufacturing server 30 via a network NW and can receive records recorded in the part information database 33, and can also transmit the results of the determination of whether or not a part can be recycled or used to the part information database 33. As shown in Figure 1B, the control unit 41 and the calculation unit 44 are composed of memory 47 such as RAM or ROM and a processor 48 such as a CPU. The memory 47 is configured to read part information, including the individual identification number of the part, and operational information of the part acquired by the automatic analysis device 20, via an interface (communication unit 45 and input unit 46). Data related to the part that is input via the communication unit 45 or input unit 46, or read from the storage unit 42, is temporarily stored in the memory 47, and the data stored in the memory 47 is processed by the processor 48 according to the program loaded from the memory 47. The control unit 41 and the calculation unit 44 may be configured to use the same processor. The storage unit 42 is equipped with storage such as an HDD or SSD. This storage unit 42 stores a judgment information database 43. The judgment information database 43 stores the results of the recycling feasibility judgment and the usability judgment for each individual identification number of the part. This section will provide an overview of the functions of the analysis unit 40, and specific examples of the procedure for determining whether a part can be recycled or used by the analysis unit 40 will be described later using Figures 11 and 12.

[0020] The calculation unit 44 (processor 48) of the analysis unit 40 calculates first change data relating to the above physical data (e.g., light intensity) for each individual identification number based on the first inspection data and second inspection data of the part information received from the manufacturing server 30. The calculation unit 44 also calculates second change data relating to the above physical data (e.g., light intensity) for each part based on the first operation data and second operation data of the operation information received from the automatic analyzer 20. Examples of the first change data and second change data will be described later with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

[0021] The control unit 41 (processor 48) of the analysis unit 40 compares the operational information of the parts acquired by the automatic analyzer 20 with the first change data, and for parts for which the first change data corresponds to the operational information, it associates the operational information with the individual identification number of the part and stores it in the storage unit 42. Specifically, the control unit 41 compares the first change data with the second change data and identifies the operational information corresponding to the part information for each part based on the correspondence between the first change data and the second change data. For example, if the degree of agreement between the first change data of a certain part information I1 and the second change data of a certain operational information I2 is within a predetermined range, for example, if the two match within an error range of ±1%, the control unit 41 automatically associates the part information I1 related to the first change data with the operational information I2 related to the second change data. Then, based on this association between part information and operational information, the control unit 41 associates the individual identification number of the part included in the part information I1 with the cumulative usage time obtained from the usage time of the part included in the operational information I2. Furthermore, if the component includes multiple recyclable sub-components, the control unit 41 associates a component identification number for identifying these sub-components with their corresponding cumulative usage time, based on the correspondence between component information and operational information.

[0022] Furthermore, the control unit 41 determines whether a component can be recycled for each individual identification number, or whether a sub-component can be recycled for each part identification number, based on the cumulative usage time for each individual identification number of the component identified by linking such data, or based on the cumulative usage time for each part identification number of the sub-component. For example, components or sub-components with a cumulative usage time of less than or equal to a predetermined time are determined to be recyclable, while components or sub-components with a cumulative usage time exceeding the predetermined time are determined to be unrecyclable. The predetermined time is, for example, a value set to be a certain amount shorter than the set assumed lifespan of the component. The results of this recycling eligibility determination are stored in the determination information database 43 of the storage unit 42.

[0023] The communication unit 45 of the analysis unit 40 is connected to the communication unit 34 of the manufacturing server 30 via a network NW, and is capable of receiving records stored in the parts information database 33 and transmitting the recycling determination results to the parts information database 33.

[0024] Parts determined to be recyclable by the analysis unit 40 may be regenerated (reassembled as recycled parts) by reusing, for example, their sub-components. For parts regenerated in this way, as described above, part data including first inspection data is acquired by the inspection device 10, and the part data is transmitted to the manufacturing server 30 and recorded in the part information database 33. The part information recorded in the part information database 33 is transmitted from the manufacturing server 30 to the analysis unit 40, and the analysis unit 40 determines whether the regenerated part is usable by the automatic analysis device 20 based on the first inspection data of the part information. For example, a regenerated part (for example, a light source unit) is determined to be usable if its first inspection data (for example, light intensity) is within a preset standard value, and unusable if it is outside the standard value. The result of this usability determination is stored in the determination information database 43 of the storage unit 42. Subsequently, the determination result is transmitted from the analysis unit 40 to the manufacturing server 30, and the part information record for the regenerated part is updated, for example, 1 is added to the "Number of recycles" in Figure 4. The part information may be updated in the analysis unit 40, and the updated part information may be sent to the manufacturing server 30 and reflected in the part information database 33.

[0025] -Details of the Automatic Analysis Device- Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the automatic analysis device 20, which is an example of a device managed by the parts management system 1. The automatic analysis device 20 includes the control unit 21 and memory unit 22 shown in Figure 1A, as well as the device body 20a, which is the mechanical part that performs the analysis operation.

[0026] The control unit 21 is a computer and mainly includes a processor (CPU) 21-1 such as a CPU, memory 21-2 such as RAM or ROM, an input interface 21-4, an output interface 21-3, a media interface 21-6, an input / output interface 21-5, a bus 21-7, etc. The processor 21-1 executes predetermined processing according to the program loaded into memory 21-2. The control unit 21 is also communicatively connected to other components of the automatic analysis device 20, such as the storage unit 22, the main unit 20a, the input unit 80, and the display unit 90. The control unit 21 can exchange data with these other components and can also relay data exchange between components.

[0027] Input interface 21-4 is connected to an input unit 80 such as a keyboard or pointing device. Output interface 21-3 is connected to a display unit 90 such as a display. Media interface 21-6 can be connected to a storage medium 70 such as a USB memory or CD. Input / output interface 21-5 communicates with each component included in the main body 20a of the device. Bus 21-7 connects the processor 21-1, memory 21-2, storage unit 22, input interface 21-4, output interface 21-3, media interface 21-6, output unit 24, and input / output interface 21-5 so that they can communicate with each other.

[0028] The storage unit 22 is a storage device such as a flash memory or HDD (not shown), and includes an operation information database 23 (Figure 1A). The storage unit 22 can also be configured to function as a storage device built into the control unit 21.

[0029] The main body 20a of the automated analyzer 20 is the mechanical unit that performs the analysis of the sample, and as shown in Figure 2, it includes various pieces of equipment such as a sample input unit 20-8, an analysis unit 20-1, a sample storage unit 20-9, and a transport line 20-10. The sample input unit 20-8 and the sample storage unit 20-9 are connected by the transport line 20-10. The analysis unit 20-1 is positioned along the transport line 20-10. A sample container containing the sample to be analyzed is inserted into the sample input unit 20-8, and the sample container is transported to the analysis unit 20-1 and the sample storage unit 20-9 via the transport line 20-10.

[0030] In this example, the sample containers are transported one or more times on the sample rack 20-11. The samples are identified by identification information such as a barcode or RFID attached to the sample container. The identification information of the sample placed in the sample input unit 20-8 is read by a reader (not shown) provided in the sample input unit 20-8 and sent to the control unit 21.

[0031] The analysis unit 20-1 includes a reaction disk 20-2 that holds multiple reaction vessels and reagent disks 20-5a and 20-5b that hold multiple reagent bottles 20-4 that contain reagents used for analyzing samples. Samples are dispensed into the reaction vessels on the reaction disk 20-2 from sample containers transported by the transport line 20-10 using sample probes 20-3a and 20-3b. Furthermore, reagents are dispensed into the reaction vessels containing the dispensed samples from reagent bottles 20-4 on the reagent disk 20-5 using reagent probes 20-6a, 20-6b, 20-6c, and 20-6d. The analysis unit 20-1 uses a measuring instrument 20-7 to measure the mixture of sample and reagent (reaction solution) dispensed into the reaction vessels. For example, if the analysis unit 20-1 is performing biochemical analysis, it is equipped with a spectrometer as the measuring instrument 20-7, and the absorbance and scattered light intensity of the reaction solution are measured by the measuring instrument 20-7. The spectroscopic analyzer is an example of the measuring instrument 20-7, and the measuring instrument 20-7 is selected according to the measurement content. The measurement values ​​from the analysis unit 20-1 are output to, for example, the control unit 21 and processed by the processor 21-1. This allows for the analysis results of the sample to be obtained. The light source unit, which was previously exemplified as a component subject to the determination of whether or not it can be recycled in the parts management system 1, is a component used in the measuring instrument 20-7.

[0032] - Operational Information Database - Figure 3 shows an example of records recorded in the operational information database 23 provided in the automated analyzer 20. As shown in Figure 3, the operational information database 23 records "acquisition date" and "operational information" as records for each automated analyzer 20. The "device identification number" is an ID that is individually assigned to each automated analyzer 20. The data in Figure 3 shows the operational information for automated analyzer 20 with device identification number: S0001. The "acquisition date" is the date on which each record of operational data was acquired by the automated analyzer 20 (device identification number: S0001). The "operational data" is various physical data acquired daily by the automated analyzer 20 (device identification number: S0001). It is desirable that multiple types of operational data (e.g., light intensity, pressure, temperature, etc.) be acquired for a single component. A, B...X for operational data represent the type of physical data. When measuring light intensity by changing the wavelength of the light source, the data may be recorded separately for each wavelength.

[0033] For example, the date and time a certain component (e.g., a light source unit) is incorporated into the automatic analyzer 20 and the date and time it is removed from the automatic analyzer 20 are recorded in the operational information database 23. Furthermore, even if records of component installation and removal are not kept, the replacement time of a component (e.g., a light source unit) can be determined from the changes in physical data (e.g., light intensity) recorded by the automatic analyzer 20. For example, if physical data that was on a downward trend improves discretely at a certain point in time, it can be seen that the related component was replaced at that time. Therefore, the usage period (usage time) of the component in the automatic analyzer 20 can be determined from the two dates and times of installation and removal of the component, and the history of physical data obtained by the automatic analyzer 20 can be identified for each type of component. For example, in the example in Figure 3, let's assume that physical data A and B are data (light intensity, etc.) related to a light source unit. When a light source unit is incorporated into an automatic analyzer 20 (device identification number: S0001) and put into operation, and then removed from the automatic analyzer 20, the first operational data obtained is data a0001 and b0001 for acquisition date AAAA, and the last operational data obtained is data a000X and b000X for acquisition date XXXX. In this case, for physical data A related to the light source unit, the first operational data is a0001 and the second operational data is a000X. Similarly, for physical data B related to the light source unit, the first operational data is b0001 and the second operational data is b000X.

[0034] - Parts Information Database - Figure 4 shows an example of a record recorded in the parts information database 33 installed in the manufacturing server 30. As shown in Figure 4, the parts information database 33 records the following for each part as a record: "Unit Number", "Part Identification Number", "Recycling Count", "Shipment Date", "Pre-Shipment Inspection Data", "Return Date", and "Post-Return Inspection Data". The "Unit Number" is an individual identification number (ID) assigned to each part. The "Part Identification Number" is the identification number of the sub-parts a, b, etc. that make up the part, if the part with a certain unit number is an assembly part of multiple sub-parts a, b, etc. For example, if the part under management is a light source unit, sub-part a is an optical chip, sub-part b is a circuit board, etc., then the light source unit with unit number 0002 includes the optical chip with part identification number A0002 and the circuit board with part identification number B0003 as parts to be recycled. The "Recycling Count" represents the recycling count for each sub-part (part identification number) if the part contains at least one sub-part to be recycled. Figure 4 shows an example of this. Furthermore, if a component (unit number) contains only one recyclable sub-component, or if the component itself is a recyclable component, the number of recycles may be recorded for each component (unit number) rather than for each sub-component. If there is no recycling history, the number of recycles will be recorded as 0; for example, if it has been recycled twice in the past, it will be recorded as 2.

[0035] "Pre-shipment inspection data" refers to the inspection data (i.e., the first inspection data mentioned above) obtained during the pre-shipment inspection for each component (unit number). A, B, etc., for the pre-shipment inspection data, like A, B, etc., for the operational data, represent the type of physical data, and it is desirable to obtain multiple types for each component. "Shipping date" is the date on which the pre-shipment inspection data for each component (unit number) was obtained.

[0036] "Post-return inspection data" refers to the inspection data (i.e., the second inspection data mentioned above) obtained during the post-return inspection for each part (unit number). Parts removed from the automated analyzer 20 are returned to the manufacturer and undergo post-return inspection at the manufacturing plant. The inspection data for each unit part obtained during this post-return inspection is the post-return inspection data. A, B, etc. for the post-return inspection data are the same as A, B, etc. for the operational data, representing the type of physical data, and it is desirable to obtain multiple types for each part. "Return date" is the date on which the post-return inspection data for each part (unit number) was obtained.

[0037] -First Change Data- Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of first change data calculated from the parts information database 33. In the example in Figure 5, for part (e.g., light source unit) with unit number: 0002 in the parts information database 33 of Figure 4, a graph is shown with the value of physical data A (e.g., light intensity) on the vertical axis and the acquisition timing of physical data A on the horizontal axis. The first change data exemplified in Figure 5 is the rate of change α1 of physical data A calculated from the first inspection data XXX, which is the value of physical data A measured in the pre-shipment inspection, and the second inspection data YYY, which is the value of physical data A measured in the post-return inspection. The rate of change α1 corresponds to the deterioration rate of the part from before shipment to after return. The rate of change α1 is calculated by the calculation unit 44 of the analysis unit 40. However, it is also possible to configure the calculation unit 44 to calculate the difference between the first inspection data XXX of physical data A before shipment and the second inspection data YYY of physical data A after return as the first change data. In the example shown in Figure 5, we explained how to calculate the first change data for physical data A, but the same procedure can be used to calculate the first change data for other physical data.

[0038] -Second Change Data- Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of second change data calculated from the operational information database 23. In the example in Figure 6, the graph shows data for a certain component (e.g., light source unit) acquired by the automated analyzer 20 with device identification number: S0001 in the operational information database 23 of Figure 3, with the value of physical data A (e.g., light intensity) on the vertical axis and the acquisition timing of physical data A on the horizontal axis. As shown in Figure 6, in the sample measurement performed daily by the automated analyzer 20 (device identification number: S0001) using the component in question, the value of physical data A for the component is accumulated in the operational information database 23. The second change data illustrated in Figure 6 is the rate of change β1 of physical data A calculated from the first operational data a0001, which is the value of physical data A measured in the first sample measurement performed after the part was incorporated into the automatic analyzer 20 (device identification number: S0001) (or during a predetermined period), and the second operational data a000X, which is the value of physical data A measured in the last sample measurement performed before the part was removed from the automatic analyzer 20 (device identification number: S0001) (or during a predetermined period). The rate of change β1 corresponds to the rate of deterioration of the part while it is being used in the automatic analyzer 20 (device identification number: S0001). The rate of change β1 is calculated by the calculation unit 44 of the analysis unit 40. However, it is also possible to configure the calculation unit 44 to calculate the difference between the first operational data a0001 and the second operational data a000X as the second change data. The example in Figure 6 illustrates the calculation of second-change data for physical data A, but the same procedure can be used to calculate second-change data for other physical data.

[0039] - Judgment Information Database - Figure 7 shows an example of records recorded in the judgment information database 43 provided in the analysis unit 40. The judgment information database 43 includes a first database 43a created from the parts information database 33, a second database 43b created from the operation information database 23, a third database 43c1-43c3 (Figure 8) created from the first database 43a and the second database 43b, and a fourth database 43d (Figure 9) created from the third database 43c and inspection data. The first database 43a records "unit number," "part identification number," and "inspection change data" as records for each part (unit number). The inspection change data corresponds to the first change data mentioned above, and it is desirable that multiple types of physical data A, B, etc. be acquired for each part (unit number), just like the inspection data and operation data. The second database 43b records "device identification number," "usage time," and "operation change data" for each automatic analyzer 20 (device identification number). The usage time is the time that each part (unit number) is used in the automatic analyzer 20 from the time it is attached to the analyzer 20 until it is removed. Operational change data corresponds to the second change data mentioned above, and it is desirable that, like inspection data and operational data, it be acquired for multiple types of physical data A, B, etc.

[0040] Figure 8 shows an example of records recorded in the third databases 43c1-43c3 of the judgment information database 43 provided in the analysis unit 40. The records in the third databases 43c1-43c3 form the basis for determining whether a part removed from the automatic analyzer 20 and returned to the manufacturing plant is recyclable. In the third database 43c1, the "unit number" of the part, the "part identification number" of each sub-part (parts A and B in this example) included in the part that is subject to recycling, and the "usage time" of each part in the automatic analyzer 20 are recorded as records for each part (unit number). In the third database 43c2, the "part identification number," "cumulative usage time," and "recyclability" are recorded as records for each sub-part (sub-part A in this example). In the third database 43c3, the "part identification number," "cumulative usage time," and "recyclability" are recorded as records for each sub-part (sub-part B in this example). To determine whether a part is recyclable, it is important that the individual identification number ("unit number") and cumulative usage time ("usage time") of the part are known. The first database 43a is data obtained by the inspection device 10 at the manufacturing plant, etc., and does not include data from when the parts are being used in the automated analyzer 20 at the user facility after shipment. On the other hand, the second database 43b is data obtained from the daily operation of the automated analyzer 20 at the user facility, and does not distinguish between parts, and does not include data on the individual identification numbers of the parts used. Therefore, the analysis unit 40 compares the inspection change data in the first database 43a with the operation change data in the second database 43b, and associates the first database 43a and the second database 43b where the inspection change data and operation change data correspond (for example, matching within an error range of ±1%), and the third database 43c1 is created. This links the "unit identification number", "part A identification number", "part B identification number", and "usage time".Next, the analysis unit 40 reads the cumulative usage time of each recyclable part (part and sub-part) recorded in the judgment information database 43, adds the past cumulative usage time of each part read from the judgment information database 43 to the usage time of each recyclable part (sub-parts A and B in this example) in the third database 43c1, and links the part identification number with the cumulative usage time up to the present (third databases 43c2 and 43c3). The cumulative usage time may also be received by the analysis unit 40 from the part information database 33 or the operation information database 23. Here, the example was given where sub-parts A and B are recyclable parts, but even if the part (unit number) itself is a single recyclable part, the identification number and cumulative usage time are linked in the same manner. That is, for that part, the usage time in the third database 43c1 is added to the past cumulative usage time of that part read from the judgment information database 43 to calculate the cumulative usage time up to the present, and this is linked to the unit number. In this way, the cumulative usage time is identified for each individual identification number (unit number) or part identification number of the parts and sub-parts to be recycled. The calculated cumulative usage time for each part to be recycled is reflected in the cumulative usage time of the corresponding part and sub-part in the judgment information database 43, and the judgment information database 43 is updated.

[0041] To improve the accuracy of this linking, it is desirable to compare inspection change data and operational change data for multiple types of physical data. For example, when linking inspection change data and operational change data for a light source unit, it is possible to calculate change data for each wavelength of light emitted from the light source unit. For example, if the amount of light for 12 wavelengths (12 types of physical data) can be measured, 12 change data (α1 to α12, β1 to β12) can be created for both the inspection data and the operational data, and by comparing the first change data with the second change data for each physical data and associating databases where all (or a predetermined number or more) correspond, the accuracy of the linking can be further improved.

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, by using combinations of multiple change data, the number of parameters to be matched can be increased, thereby further improving the accuracy of the matching. In this case, in the analysis unit 40, the first change data and the second change data are each calculated using multiple combinations of multiple types of physical data, for example, (α12 × α11) and (β12 × β11), (α13 × α11) and (β13 × β11), (α13 × α12) and (β13 × β12), etc. In the example in Figure 13, the case where the product of two types of physical data is calculated as the first change data and the second change data is illustrated, but it is also possible to multiply three or more types of physical data. Moreover, not limited to product, values ​​calculated using any calculation method based on multiple physical data, such as ratios, sums, or differences of multiple physical data, can be used as the first change data and the second change data. The analysis unit 40 compares the first change data and the second change data for each combination of physical data, and if the degree of agreement between the first change data and the second change data is within a predetermined range for a set number of combinations or more (for example, 90% or more of 50 combinations), it associates the component information related to the first change data with the operational information related to the second change data.

[0043] By linking the individual identification number of a component or the component identification number of a sub-component with the cumulative usage time in this way, the analysis unit 40 compares the cumulative usage time with a predetermined time (a threshold for cumulative usage time) set in advance based on the assumed lifespan of the component, and determines that components with a cumulative usage time of less than or equal to the predetermined time are recyclable, and components with a cumulative usage time exceeding the predetermined time are not recyclable (third databases 43c2, 43c3).

[0044] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a record to be recorded in the fourth database 43d of the determination information database 43 provided in the analysis unit 40. The record of the fourth database 43d serves as a basis for determining whether a recycled part in a manufacturing factory can be used in the automatic analyzer 20. In the fourth database 43d, "unit number", "part identification number", "inspection data", and "applicability to the device" are recorded as records for each part (unit number). The inspection data of the fourth database 43d is physical data (such as light quantity) measured by the inspection device 10 in a performance test for a recycled part (such as a light source unit) that is a part recycled using at least one part determined to be recyclable or a sub-part determined to be recyclable. This inspection data can also serve as the first inspection data regarding the recycled part. The inspection data of the fourth database 43d tends to have a lower value for recycled parts compared to new parts. Therefore, among recycled parts, there are some that cannot exhibit the desired performance even if there is a margin in the part life. Thus, the analysis unit 40 compares the inspection data of the fourth database 43d with a preset reference value, determines that the use of a recycled part with inspection data outside the reference range is not allowed in the automatic analyzer 20, and determines that the use of a recycled part with inspection data within the reference range is allowed only in the automatic analyzer 20. Recycled parts determined to be not usable are not provided to the user, and recycled parts determined to be usable can be provided to the user thereafter. The result of this determination is recorded in the applicability to the device of the fourth database 43d in FIG. 9.

[0045] - Data Flow - FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the data flow from the manufacture of a part to receiving a determination of recyclability. In FIG. 10, the dashed arrows indicate the data flow. Here, the data flow regarding a certain part Z (such as a light source unit) will be described along the time flow of (1)-(6).

[0046] (1) Before the parts are installed, parts Z manufactured at the manufacturing plant are subjected to performance tests, etc., at the manufacturing plant before being shipped to the user's facility, and inspection data including various physical data (e.g., light intensity) is acquired by the inspection device 10. The inspection data acquired at that time (first inspection data) is transmitted from the inspection device 10 to the manufacturing server 30 and recorded in the parts information database 33 along with the unit number of parts Z and the part identification numbers of the sub-parts to be recycled that are included in parts Z. The data in the parts information database 33 is then uploaded to the analysis unit 40 at a predetermined timing (for example, when determining whether or not to recycle in (6) of Figure 10), and a record of parts Z is recorded in the first database 43a of the determination information database 43. However, the inspection data (first inspection data and second inspection data calculated later) may also be recorded in the determination information database 43 (first database 43a and second database 43b) at the same time as it is recorded in the parts information database 33.

[0047] (2) Immediately after component installation to immediately before component removal Thereafter, component Z is shipped and delivered to the user's facility, and is assembled into the automatic analyzer 20 by replacing it with the used component during component replacement. In the automatic analyzer 20, physical data (e.g., light quantity) for monitoring the state of each component is measured daily separately from the measurement value of the specimen for operations such as specimen measurement, and the operation data including this physical data is sequentially accumulated in the operation information database 23. Note that the operation data may be uploaded to the analysis unit 40 as well when it is sequentially recorded in the operation information database 23. The physical data measured immediately after the installation of component Z to the automatic analyzer 20 (e.g., the first opportunity for specimen measurement after component Z is assembled into the automatic analyzer 20) becomes the above-described first operation data. Also, the physical data measured immediately before the removal of component Z from the automatic analyzer 20 (e.g., the last opportunity for specimen measurement before component Z is removed from the automatic analyzer 20) becomes the above-described second operation data. However, at this stage, it is not determined whether the operation data uploaded from the automatic analyzer 20 between (2) immediately after component installation and (4) immediately before component removal contains physical data related to component Z. Operation data can also be uploaded to the analysis unit 40 from other automatic analyzers.

[0048] (5) After component return Component Z removed from the automatic analyzer 20 at the user's facility is then returned to the manufacturing company. Component Z returned to the manufacturing company is, for example, subjected to a performance test or the like at the manufacturing factory, and inspection data including various physical data (e.g., light quantity) is acquired by the inspection device 10. The inspection data (second inspection data) acquired at that time is transmitted from the inspection device 10 to the manufacturing server 30, and is recorded in the component information database 33 together with the unit number of component Z and the component identification numbers of the recyclable sub-components included in component Z. The data in the component information database 33 is then uploaded to the analysis unit 40, and the record of component Z in the first database 43a of the determination information database 43 is updated.

[0049] (6) When determining whether a part is recyclable, the analysis unit 40 performs a determination of whether a part is recyclable, for example, when the second inspection data has been uploaded. When the second inspection data for part Z is uploaded, the analysis unit 40 calculates the first change data for part Z from the first inspection data and the second inspection data obtained from the part information database 33. In addition, the analysis unit 40 records first operation data and second operation data in the second database 43b for each of the same type of part (for example, a light source unit) that has been put into use and removed from each automated analyzer 20 under its control between the shipping date (the date the first inspection data was obtained) and the return date (the date the second inspection data was obtained) of part Z. The analysis unit 40 then calculates and records the second change data for each part from this first change data and second change data. These second-change data are compared with the first-change data. If any of the second-change data corresponds to the first-change data, the operational information (second database 43b) related to this second-change data is associated with the part information (first database 43a) related to part Z. The cumulative usage time of part Z or its sub-parts is identified, and based on the cumulative usage time, it is determined whether part Z or its sub-parts can be recycled.

[0050] - Determination of Recyclability - Figure 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure for determining whether a part is recyclable by the analysis unit 40. As explained in Figure 10, the analysis unit 40 receives part information from the part information database 33 and operational information from the operational information database 23 from the manufacturing server 30 and the automatic analysis device 20. When the analysis unit 40 receives second inspection data from the manufacturing server 30, it starts the processing shown in Figure 11 for the part (let's call it part Z1) related to the second inspection data.

[0051] When the processing shown in Figure 11 is started, the analysis unit 40 obtains a record for part Z1 from the first database 43a created from the parts information database 33 (step S101). The analysis unit 40 also obtains a record from the second database 43b created from the operation information database 23 for parts of the same type as part Z1 that were put into use and removed between the shipping date and the return date of part Z1 (step S102). The analysis unit 40 then calculates the second change data and the first change data for part Z1 based on the data obtained in steps S101 and S102 (step S103), and compares the first change data and the second change data (step S104).

[0052] Subsequently, the analysis unit 40 determines whether any one of the second change data corresponds to the first change data of part Z1 (step S105). If the degree of agreement between any one of the second change data and the first change data is within a predetermined range, the analysis unit 40 associates the operational information (second database 43b) related to the second change data with the part information (first database 43a) related to part Z1, and links the identification number (individual identification number or part identification number) of the recyclable part (part Z1 or sub-part) with the cumulative usage time calculated from the usage time included in the operational information (step S106). If there is no second change data that matches the first change data within a predetermined range, or if there are multiple such data, the analysis unit 40 terminates the process shown in Figure 11 without linking the data.

[0053] Once the cumulative usage time is associated with the identification number of the part to be recycled, the analysis unit 40 determines whether the cumulative usage time is less than or equal to a predetermined time (step S107). If the cumulative usage time is less than or equal to the predetermined time, it determines that the part to be recycled is recyclable (step S108), and terminates the process shown in Figure 11. If the cumulative usage time exceeds the predetermined time, the analysis unit 40 determines that the part to be recycled is not recyclable (step S109), and terminates the process shown in Figure 11.

[0054] - Usability Determination - Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure for determining whether a part is usable by the manufacturing server 30. The result of the recycling eligibility determination performed in the process shown in Figure 11 of Figure 12 is transmitted from the analysis unit 40 to the manufacturing server 30. The manufacturing server 30 executes the process shown in Figure 12 for the recyclable part (let's call it part Z2) for which it has received the recycling eligibility determination result from the analysis unit 40. In this example, part Z2 is assumed to be a sub-part of part Z1.

[0055] When the analysis unit 40 receives the result of the determination of whether part Z2 is recyclable, the manufacturing server 30 confirms whether part Z2 is recyclable (step S201). If part Z2 is determined to be recyclable, the manufacturing server 30 outputs a part assembly instruction to the worker to the output device (step S202). The manner in which the part assembly instruction is output is not limited and may be either a display output to a display device or a print output to a printer. If part Z2 is determined to be non-recyclable, the analysis unit 40 completes the process shown in Figure 12 without outputting a part assembly instruction.

[0056] When a parts assembly instruction is output, part Z1 is disassembled by an operator according to the instruction, and a recycled part Z3 is produced by reusing part Z2 extracted from part Z1. The operator inspects the produced recycled part Z3 with the inspection device 10. Accordingly, the manufacturing server 30 receives and acquires inspection data (first inspection data) including the physical data measured for the recycled part Z3 from the inspection device 10 (step S203). The manufacturing server 30 also compares the physical data measured for the recycled part Z3 with a reference value (step S204) and determines whether the physical data measured for the recycled part Z3 is within the range of the reference value (step S205).

[0057] If the physical data is within the standard range, the manufacturing server 30 determines that the recycled part Z3 is usable in the automatic analysis device 20 (step S206), adds 1 to the number of times the part Z2 incorporated into the recycled part Z3 has been recycled (Figure 4), updates the record of part Z2 in the part information database 33 (step S207), and completes the processing shown in Figure 12 for part Z2. On the other hand, if the physical data is outside the standard range, the manufacturing server 30 determines that the recycled part Z3 is not usable in the automatic analysis device 20 (step S208), and completes the processing shown in Figure 12 for part Z2 incorporated into part Z3. As described above, the recycled part Z3 can only be reused in the automatic analysis device 20 if it is determined to be usable. Note that the determination of whether the recycled part is usable in the automatic analysis device 20 shown in Figure 12 may also be performed by sending inspection data (first inspection data) including the physical data measured for the recycled part Z3 from the manufacturing server 30 to the analysis unit 40, and executing the process in the analysis unit 40.

[0058] -Effects- (1) According to this embodiment, for example, first change data is calculated from first inspection data and second inspection data obtained in inspections at a manufacturing plant as the degree of deterioration of the part from the time of shipment to the time of return, and by matching this with operational information recorded in conjunction with the operation of the automatic analysis device 20, operational information for each part can be automatically identified based on the correspondence with the first change data. The cumulative usage time of the part or its sub-parts used in the automatic analysis device 20 is calculated from the operational information.

[0059] This reduces the need for workers to manually input data into a PC or other system, record usage times on a special form during replacement, and ultimately, to manually link the individual identification numbers of replacement parts with the amount of parts used. Furthermore, by reducing the need for this linking process, it is possible to reduce human error and omissions, thereby improving the accuracy of determining whether parts removed from the automatic analyzer 20 are recyclable.

[0060] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, recyclable parts or sub-parts can be identified with high accuracy, and parts can be efficiently recycled. Therefore, the reduction in manufacturing costs of parts can be reflected in the sales price, allowing parts to be offered at a lower cost. In addition, by actively recycling parts or sub-parts, the resources required for manufacturing parts can be reduced, contributing to a circular economy that aims for sustainable development.

[0061] (2) When comparing the first change data with the operational information, the second change data for the physical data of each part is calculated based on the first and second operational data described above. The second change data represents, for example, a change in physical data of the same type as the first change data. The first operational data is physical data measured shortly after the part is mounted on the automatic analyzer, and is estimated to be of a similar value to the first inspection data at the time of shipment. Similarly, the second operational data is physical data measured just before the part is removed from the automatic analyzer, and is estimated to be of a similar value to the second inspection data at the time of return. Therefore, for the parts mounted on the automatic analyzer 20, the second change data that corresponds to the first change data is calculated, and this is compared with the first change data, thereby enabling accurate linking of part information and operational information for each part.

[0062] (3) Furthermore, when comparing the first change data and the second change data, if the degree of agreement between the two is within a predetermined range, the component information and operational information can be associated, thereby allowing measurement errors in the physical data of the inspection device 10 and the automatic analyzer 20 to be tolerated and ensuring practicality.

[0063] (4) Furthermore, with a single first change data, there is a possibility that operational information of a different part than the target part may coincidentally match and be linked. In contrast, by comparing the first change data and the second change data for multiple types of physical data, the accuracy of data linking can be further improved. Moreover, by adding combinations of first change data relating to multiple types of physical data and combinations of second change data relating to multiple types of physical data to the comparison target, it is possible to further improve the accuracy of data linking. By combining change data, the characteristics of the combined change data interact with each other to create new, unique change data. By comparing this with part information and operational information, the accidental matching of second change data of a different part with the first change data of the target part is suppressed.

[0064] (5) Furthermore, since refurbished parts do not necessarily possess the desired performance, the manufacturing server 30 or the analysis unit 40 determines that a refurbished part is unsuitable for use in the automatic analyzer 20 if the physical data of the first inspection data does not meet the standards. As a result, parts that do not meet the performance standards are incorporated into the automatic analyzer 20, and the essential effect (1) described above is obtained while suppressing a decrease in the operational efficiency of the automatic analyzer 20.

[0065] <Second Embodiment> Figure 14 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the parts management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 15 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an automated analyzer, which is an example of a managed device of the parts management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figures 14 and 15 correspond to Figures 1A and 2 of the first embodiment, and elements that are the same as or corresponding to those in the first embodiment in Figures 14 and 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Figures 1A and 2, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0066] The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that it includes a management server 50 that receives and stores operational information from the automatic analyzer 20, and operational information is transmitted from the automatic analyzer 20 to the analysis unit 40 via the management server 50. In this embodiment, the inspection device 10 and the manufacturing server 30, the manufacturing server 30 and the analysis unit 40, the analysis unit 40 and the management server 50, and the management server 50 and the automatic analyzer 20 are all connected via a network NW and can communicate with each other.

[0067] The management server 50 is, for example, a data center operated by a management company that manages the parts of the automated analyzer 20, and manages the information in the operational information database 23 transmitted from all automated analyzers 20 under its management. There may be multiple management servers 50. The management server 50 comprises a control unit 51, a storage unit 52, and a communication unit 54. The communication unit 54 is connected to the communication units 24' and 45 of the automated analyzer 20 and the analysis unit 40. The storage unit 52 is a storage unit that receives and stores operational information, and the management information database 53 is stored in this storage unit 52. The management information database 53 manages the information in the operational information database 23 acquired from all automated analyzers 20 that can communicate with the management server 50 via the network NW. For example, the management server 50 receives physical data (light intensity, pressure, temperature, etc.) of each part of the operational information database 23 acquired daily by the automated analyzer 20 from the automated analyzer 20 at predetermined timings, and stores that physical data in the management information database 53 for each automated analyzer 20. The presence of the management server 50 makes it possible to centrally manage the operational information of all automated analysis devices 20 that can communicate via the network NW. Based on this information, it is possible to apply it to determining whether or not parts can be recycled, as in the first embodiment, or to construct algorithms for fault prediction.

[0068] In this embodiment, the analysis unit 40 associates individual identification numbers with operational information for each component based on the operational information stored in the management information database 53 of the management server 50 and the first change data. The processing of the analysis unit 40 is the same as in the first embodiment, except that the analysis unit 40 obtains operational information from the management information database 53 of the management server 50 and creates a second database 43b. Furthermore, the configuration of this embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment, except for the points described above.

[0069] <Addendum> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and may include various modifications. For example, the embodiments described above are described in detail for the purpose of explaining the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. For example, it is possible to replace some of the configurations with other configurations. It is also possible to delete some of the configurations of the embodiments or to add other configurations.

[0070] For example, although a configuration in which parts information and operational information are uploaded from the manufacturing server 30 and the automatic analysis device 20 to the analysis unit 40 has been described, it is also possible to configure the analysis unit 40 to access the parts information database 33 and the operational information database 23 of the manufacturing server 30 and the automatic analysis device 20 and download the parts information and operational information.

[0071] Furthermore, although a configuration in which the analysis unit 40 is provided separately from the manufacturing server 30 and the automatic analysis device 20 has been described, the functions of the analysis unit 40 may also be provided in the manufacturing server 30 or the automatic analysis device 20.

[0072] 1...Parts management system, 20...Automatic analyzer, 32...Storage unit (first storage), 33...Parts information database, 40...Analysis unit (information processing device), 41...Control unit (memory, processor), 42...Storage unit (storage), 43...Judgment information database, 44...Calculation unit (memory, processor), 47...Memory, 48...Processor, 50...Management server, 52...Storage unit (second storage), a0001...First operation data, a000X...Second operation data, XXX...First inspection data, YYY...Second inspection data, α1...Rate of change (first change data), β1...Rate of change (second change data)

Claims

1. An information processing device for managing parts used in an automated analyzer, comprising: a memory for temporarily storing data relating to the parts; a processor for processing the data stored in the memory; the memory is configured to read part information including the individual identification number of the part and operational information of the part acquired by the automated analyzer via an interface; the part information includes first inspection data, which is physical data obtained from an inspection of the performance of the part before it is mounted in the automated analyzer, and second inspection data, which is physical data obtained from an inspection of the part after it has been removed from the automated analyzer; the processor calculates first change data relating to the physical data for each individual identification number based on the first inspection data and the second inspection data read into the memory; compares the first change data with the operational information; and associates the operational information with the individual identification number of the part to which the first change data corresponds.

2. An information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first inspection data and the second inspection data include at least the amount of light.

3. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the operational information includes, with respect to a component mounted on the automatic analyzer, first operational data which is physical data obtained by the automatic analyzer for the first time or during a predetermined period after being mounted on the automatic analyzer, and second operational data which is physical data obtained by the automatic analyzer for the last time or during a predetermined period before being removed from the automatic analyzer, wherein the processor calculates second change data relating to the physical data for the component mounted on the automatic analyzer based on the first operational data and the second operational data, compares the first change data and the second change data, and identifies the operational information corresponding to the component information based on the correspondence between the first change data and the second change data.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processor associates component information related to the first change data with operational information related to the second change data when the degree of agreement between the first change data and the second change data is within a predetermined range.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first change data and the second change data are each calculated using a combination of multiple types of physical data, and the processor compares the first change data and the second change data for each combination of physical data, and if the degree of agreement between the first change data and the second change data is within a predetermined range for a set number or more of all combinations, the information processing apparatus associates the component information related to the first change data with the operational information related to the second change data.

6. An information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the operational information includes the cumulative usage time for each component in the automatic analysis device, and the processor associates the individual identification number of a component or a sub-component of the component with the cumulative usage time based on the correspondence between the component information and the operational information.

7. An information processing device according to claim 6, wherein the processor determines whether a component or sub-component can be recycled for each individual identification number or component identification number for identifying the sub-component, based on the cumulative usage time.

8. An information processing device according to claim 7, characterized in that it includes storage for storing the result of the determination of whether or not recycling is possible for each individual identification number.

9. An information processing device according to claim 8, characterized in that, with respect to a component or sub-component that has been determined to be recyclable by the processor, the automatic analysis device determines whether it is usable based on the first inspection data relating to the component or sub-component.

10. A parts management system comprising: an information processing device according to claim 1; and a first storage device that stores a parts information database for recording the parts information for each individual identification number.

11. A parts management system according to claim 10, comprising a management server having a second storage for receiving and storing the operational information, wherein the operational information is transmitted from the automatic analysis device to the information processing device via the management server.

12. A parts management system according to claim 11, wherein the information processing device links the individual identification number with the operation information based on the operation information stored in the management server and the first change data.

13. A parts management method for managing parts used in an automated analyzer, characterized in that: part information including first inspection data, which is physical data obtained from an inspection of the performance of the part before it is mounted in the automated analyzer, and second inspection data, which is physical data obtained from an inspection of the part after it has been removed from the automated analyzer, is stored for each individual identification number of the part; first change data relating to the physical data is calculated for each individual identification number based on the first inspection data and the second inspection data; operational information of the part acquired by the automated analyzer is compared with the first change data; and for parts for which the first change data corresponds to the operational information, the operational information is associated with the individual identification number of the part.

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