Automated analyzer and tag reading method

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automated analyzer capable of shortening the overall time required for reading a bar code affixed to a specimen container. To this end, an automated analyzer according to the present invention comprises: a placement unit on which a rack capable of holding a plurality of containers for accommodating specimens is placed; a reading unit that reads information stored in tags affixed to the containers and the rack; and a control unit that controls the reading unit. When the reading unit reads a first rack tag affixed to a first rack among the racks, the control unit performs control so as to read a first container tag affixed to a first container held in the first rack, and when the reading unit cannot read the first rack tag, the control unit performs control so as not to perform an operation for reading the first container tag.

Description

Automated Analyzer and Tag Reading Method

[0001] The present invention relates to an automated analyzer and a tag reading method.

[0002] In an automated analyzer that analyzes specimens such as blood and urine provided by patients, a specimen container containing the specimen is placed on a specimen disk or the like, and when the operation is started, during the preparation operation, a tag such as a barcode attached to the specimen container is read to obtain specimen information. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses reading a barcode label attached to a specimen container and a barcode label attached to a specimen rack with a barcode reader.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-072783

[0004] However, in the prior art, regardless of whether a specimen container is placed or not, attempts are made to read tags at all positions, so there is a problem that the overall time required for reading becomes long. Patent Document 1 mentioned above also does not disclose the operation when the barcode attached to the specimen rack cannot be read.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an automated analyzer and a tag reading method that shorten the overall time required for reading a barcode attached to a specimen container.

[0006] An automated analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a placement unit on which a rack capable of installing a plurality of containers for accommodating specimens is placed, a reading unit that reads information stored in tags attached to the containers and the rack, and a control unit that controls the reading unit. When the reading unit reads a first rack tag attached to a first rack among the racks, the control unit controls the reading unit to read a first container tag attached to a first container installed on the first rack. When the reading unit fails to read the first rack tag, the control unit controls the reading unit not to perform the operation of reading the first container tag.

[0007] Furthermore, in the tag reading method of one embodiment of the present invention, if the reading unit reads a first rack tag attached to a first rack among a rack on which a plurality of containers for containing specimens can be mounted, the control unit controls the reading unit to read a first container tag attached to a first container mounted on the first rack, and if the reading unit is unable to read the first rack tag, the control unit controls the reading unit not to perform the operation to read the first container tag.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automated analyzer and a tag reading method that reduce the overall time required to read barcodes attached to sample containers.

[0009] A schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the automated analyzer. A top view showing the positional relationship between the sample rack, sample container, and barcode reader. A top view of the sample rack. A side view of the sample rack of the automated analyzer. A table summarizing the time required for SR disk rotation and barcode reading in Example 1 for each operation pattern. A table summarizing the time required for each operation in the comparative example. A table summarizing the time required for each operation when 6 sample racks are placed on the SR disk in Example 1. A table summarizing the time required for each operation when 5 sample racks are placed on the SR disk in Example 1. A table summarizing the reading time for each number of sample racks placed in Example 1, along with the comparative example. A table summarizing the time required for SR disk rotation and barcode reading in Example 2 for each operation pattern. A table summarizing the time required for each operation when 6 sample racks are placed on the SR disk in Example 2. A table summarizing the time required for each operation when 5 sample racks are placed on the SR disk in Example 2. A table summarizing the time required for each operation when four sample racks are placed on the SR disk in Example 2. A table summarizing the reading time for each number of sample racks placed in Example 2, along with comparative examples. A side view of the sample rack of the automated analyzer according to Example 3. A table summarizing the time required for the rotation of the SR disk and the reading of barcodes for each operation pattern in Example 3. A table summarizing the time required for each operation when six sample racks are placed on the SR disk in Example 3. A table summarizing the reading time for each number of sample racks placed in Example 3, along with comparative examples.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <Overall Configuration of the Automated Analyzer> Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the automated analyzer 100. The automated analyzer 100 is a device that analyzes samples such as blood and urine provided by patients, and includes an incubator (reaction disk) 1, sample reagent disks (hereinafter referred to as SR disks) 3, a dispensing unit 9, a washing tank 13, a reagent stirring unit 14, a spectrophotometer 15, a detection unit 16, a transport unit 17, a water supply tank 24, a waste liquid tank 25, and a control device 50. Each part will be described below.

[0012] In the incubator 1, reaction vessels 2 into which samples and reagents are dispensed are arranged along the circumference. The incubator 1 is driven to rotate, moving the reaction vessels 2 to positions accessible by the dispensing unit 9 and the transport unit 17, as well as to the spectrophotometer 15. The incubator 1 is also maintained at a predetermined temperature. Unused reaction vessels 2 are held in a container tray 20 and transported from the container tray 20 to the incubator 1 by the transport unit 17.

[0013] The SR disk 3 (mounting section) stores (mounts) a sample rack capable of holding multiple sample containers 5 and a reagent rack capable of holding multiple reagent bottles 4. The sample containers 5 contain samples provided by patients, and the reagent bottles 4 contain multiple reagents to be reacted with the samples. The SR disk 3 rotates to move the sample containers 5 to the sample suction port 7 and the reagent bottles 4 to the reagent suction port 6. The sample suction port 7 and the reagent suction port 6 are the locations accessed by the dispensing section 9. In addition, the reagents in the reagent bottles 4 are stirred by the reagent stirring section 14 as needed.

[0014] The dispensing unit 9 has a dispensing nozzle used for dispensing samples and reagents, and moves between the SR disk 3 and the incubator 1 along an arc-shaped trajectory indicated by a dotted line. A dispensing pump 11 is connected to the dispensing nozzle, and the dispensing pump 11 drives the dispensing nozzle to draw up samples from the sample container 5 and reagents from the reagent bottle 4, respectively, and dispenses the drawn-up samples and reagents into the reaction vessel 2. After dispensing the samples and reagents, the dispensing nozzle is washed in a washing tank 13 located on the arc-shaped trajectory. Pure water used for washing the dispensing nozzle is supplied from a water supply tank 24, and the waste liquid generated by washing is stored in a waste liquid tank 25. Multiple dispensing units 9 may be provided.

[0015] In the reaction vessel 2 from which the sample and reagents are dispensed, the reaction between the sample and reagents is promoted by maintaining the incubator 1 at a predetermined temperature, thereby generating a reaction solution.

[0016] The spectrophotometer 15 includes, for example, a light source that irradiates the reaction solution with light and a detector that detects the light transmitted through the reaction solution, and measures the absorbance of the reaction solution in the reaction vessel 2. The measurement results from the spectrophotometer 15 are transmitted to the control device 50.

[0017] The detection unit 16 has a photodetector such as a photomultiplier tube and performs optical measurements to detect the labeled substance contained in the reaction solution. The reaction vessel 2 is transported from the incubator 1 to the detection unit 16 by the transport unit 17, and the first liquid is supplied from the first liquid bottle 26 by the drive of the first liquid pump 28. By mixing the first liquid with the reaction solution, electrochemiluminescence or chemiluminescence occurs, and the labeled substance is detected by measuring the amount of these emissions with the photodetector. The detection results from the detection unit 16 are transmitted to the control device 50. After the optical measurement, the detection unit 16 is supplied with cleaning solution from the cleaning solution bottle 27 by the drive of the cleaning solution pump 29.

[0018] A dispensing tip 18 may be attached to the tip of the dispensing nozzle to suppress contamination during dispensing. Unused dispensing tips 18 are held in a tip tray 19 and transported from the tip tray 19 to the tip mounting position 22 by a transport unit 17. Dispensing tips 18 used for dispensing are discarded into a waste box 21 through a tip disposal port 23. The reaction vessel 2 used for analysis is also discarded into the waste box 21.

[0019] The control device 50 is a computer that controls the operation of the incubator 1 and the dispensing unit 9, stores the detection results from the detection unit 16, and displays them as analysis results. It has a control unit 51 and a storage unit 52 and is connected to the input / output unit 53. The control unit 51 is an arithmetic unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The storage unit 52 is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) and stores the operation programs that operate each part of the automatic analyzer 100. The input / output unit 53 is a keyboard, mouse, liquid crystal display, touch panel, etc., and is used to input instructions related to the operation of the automatic analyzer 100 and output analysis results.

[0020] <Positional Relationship between Sample Racks, Sample Containers, and Barcode Reader> Figure 2 is a top view showing the positional relationship between the sample racks 10, sample containers 5, and the barcode reader 8. As shown in Figure 2, six arc-shaped sample racks 10 can be placed side by side in the circumferential direction on the outer circumference of the SR disk 3. Note that in Figure 2, the reagent racks placed on the inner circumference of the sample racks 10 are not shown. Six sample containers 5 can be placed side by side on each sample rack 10 along its arc shape. In Figure 2, the reference numeral 10 is used to indicate the sample rack itself, and (1) is used to indicate the first of the six sample racks, thus distinguishing between them.

[0021] A sample rack input opening 12 is formed in a portion of the circumferential direction of the SR disk 3 (the front left region in the example of Figure 2). On the other hand, a barcode reader 8 (reading unit) for reading barcodes attached to the sample rack 10 and sample container 5 is provided on the outer circumference of another portion of the SR disk 3 (the front right region in the example of Figure 2). Note that tags other than barcodes may be attached to the sample rack 10 and sample container 5, in which case the tags will be read by a reading unit other than the barcode reader 8.

[0022] Furthermore, six rack placement spaces for placing the sample rack 10 are defined on the SR disk 3. In the example shown in Figure 2, the rack placement space (1) and the sample rack (1) placed in that space are positioned at the sample rack input port 12. This state will be defined below as the "home position" of the SR disk 3. The six rack placement spaces are located in the order of (1) to (6) in a counterclockwise direction.

[0023] Example 1 will be described with reference to Figures 3A-7.

[0024] <Barcode Position> Figure 3A is a top view of the sample rack 10 of the automated analyzer 100, and Figure 3B is a side view of the sample rack 10 of the automated analyzer 100. As shown in Figure 3A, the sample rack 10 has six circular through-holes along an arc shape for inserting the sample container 5 from above, and each through-hole is in a counterclockwise direction, with positions (1) to (6). The outer periphery of positions (1) to (6) is open. Therefore, as shown in Figure 3B, by arranging the sample container 5 such that the side of the sample container 5 to which the container barcode 5a that stores the sample information is attached faces the opening on the outer periphery of the sample rack 10, it becomes possible to read the barcode by the barcode reader 8. In addition, a rack barcode 10a that stores the information of the sample rack 10 is attached to the outer wall surface of the sample rack 10 approximately in the circumferential direction.

[0025] <Barcode Reading Procedure> First, the operator places the sample rack 10 on which the sample containers 5 are mounted on the SR disk 3 and starts the operation of the automated analyzer 100. Then, during the preparation operation, the automated analyzer 100 reads the rack barcode 10a to confirm the presence or absence of the sample rack 10 and reads the container barcode 5a to obtain the sample information. The details of the reading operation of each barcode are described below.

[0026] The control unit 51 rotates the SR disk 3 from its home position and stops it when its approximate circumferential center in the rack mounting space (1) is facing the barcode reader 8, and attempts to read it with the barcode reader 8.

[0027] If a sample rack (1) is placed in the rack placement space (1), the rack barcode 10a of the sample rack (1) is read by the barcode reader 8. Once the rack barcode 10a of the sample rack (1) is read, the control unit 51 rotates the SR disk 3 and stops it when the position (1) of the sample rack (1) is facing the barcode reader 8, allowing the barcode reader 8 to read the container barcode 5a. Subsequently, the control unit 51 rotates the SR disk 3 and stops it when the position (2) of the sample rack (1) is facing the barcode reader 8, allowing the barcode reader 8 to read the container barcode 5a. The same operation is repeated thereafter until the reading of the container barcode 5a is completed when the position (6) of the sample rack (1) is facing the barcode reader 8. Subsequently, the control unit 51 rotates the SR disk 3 and stops it when the circumferential center of the rack mounting space (2) faces the barcode reader 8, and attempts to read it with the barcode reader 8.

[0028] On the other hand, if the sample rack (1) is not placed in the rack placement space (1), the rack barcode 10a of the sample rack (1) will not be read. In this case, the control unit 51 will not perform the container barcode 5a reading operation in the aforementioned positions (1) to (6), but will rotate the SR disk 3 and stop it when the circumferential center of the rack placement space (2) faces the barcode reader 8, and will attempt to read it with the barcode reader 8.

[0029] Here, if a sample rack (2) is placed in the rack placement space (2), the rack barcode 10a of the sample rack (2) is read, and then, as in the case of the sample rack (1) described above, the container barcode 5a is read at positions (1) to (6). On the other hand, if a sample rack (2) is not placed in the rack placement space (2), the rack barcode 10a of the sample rack (2) is not read, and therefore, as in the case of the sample rack (1) described above, the container barcode 5a is not read at positions (1) to (6).

[0030] Subsequently, the same operation is repeated for rack placement spaces (3) to (6). In this way, if the rack barcode 10a of the sample rack 10 is not read, the reading operation of the container barcode 5a at positions (1) to (6) of the sample rack 10 is skipped, thus shortening the overall reading time.

[0031] <Barcode Reading Time> Figure 4 is a table summarizing the time required for rotation (movement) of the SR disk 3 and barcode reading for each operation pattern in Example 1. In the table, "BC" means rack barcode, and "Pos" means position within the sample rack. For example, "BC1" indicates the rack barcode of sample rack (1), and "Pos1_Rack1" indicates the position (1) of sample rack (1).

[0032] According to Figure 4, the time required for the main operation patterns is as follows: The operation pattern that involves rotating the SR disk 3 and reading the rack barcode 10a of sample rack (1) from the home position to the position where the rack barcode 10a of sample rack (1) faces the barcode reader 8 takes a total of 1.6 seconds. The operation pattern that involves rotating the SR disk 3 from the position where the rack barcode 10a of sample rack (n) faces the barcode reader 8 to the position where position (1) of sample rack (n) faces the barcode reader 8 takes a total of 0.6 seconds. The operation pattern that involves rotating and reading positions (1) to (6) of sample rack (n) takes a total of 5.9 seconds. The operation pattern of rotating the SR disk 3 from the position (6) of the previous sample rack (n) facing the barcode reader to the position where the rack barcode 10a of the next sample rack (n+1) faces the barcode reader 8, and reading the rack barcode 10a, takes a total of 1.6 seconds. The operation pattern of rotating the SR disk 3 from the position (6) of the sample rack (6) facing the barcode reader 8 to the home position takes 1 second. The operation pattern of rotating the SR disk 3 from the position where the rack barcode 10a of the previous sample rack (n) faces the barcode reader 8 to the position where the rack barcode 10a of the next sample rack (n+1) faces the barcode reader 8 takes 1.6 seconds. The operation pattern of rotating the SR disk 3 from the position where the rack barcode 10a of the sample rack (6) faces the barcode reader 8 to the home position takes 1 second.

[0033] (Comparative Example) As a comparative example, the total reading time (sum of SR disk rotation and barcode reader reading time) is calculated when reading the container barcode at all (36) positions without using a sample rack. Figure 5 is a table summarizing the time required for each operation in the comparative example. Note that each operation in the comparative example is different from each operation in Example 1 and is therefore not defined in Figure 4.

[0034] First, the operation pattern that involves rotating the SR disc from the home position to the position where position (1) faces the barcode reader, and reading the container barcode, takes 1.6 seconds. Furthermore, the operation pattern that involves rotating the SR disc from the position where position (n) faces the barcode reader to the position where position (n+1) faces the barcode reader, and reading the container barcode, takes 1.2 seconds. Finally, the operation pattern that involves rotating the SR disc from the position where position (36) faces the barcode reader to the home position takes 1.6 seconds. Based on these, the total time required in the comparative example is calculated to be 45.2 seconds.

[0035] (Example 1: When 6 sample racks are placed) Figure 6A is a table summarizing the time required for each operation when 6 sample racks 10 are placed on the SR disk 3 in Example 1. Each operation in Example 1 corresponds to one of the operation patterns defined in Figure 4. According to Figure 6A, the total time required is 49.6 seconds. Therefore, even in Example 1, if sample racks 10 are placed in all the rack placement spaces on the SR disk 3, the total time required will be longer than in the comparative example.

[0036] (Example 1: When 5 sample racks are placed) Figure 6B is a table summarizing the time required for each operation when 5 sample racks 10 are placed on the SR disk 3 in Example 1. Here, it is assumed that sample racks (1) to (5) are placed in rack placement spaces (1) to (5), and no sample rack is placed in rack placement space (6). In the case of Figure 6B, unlike in the case of Figure 6A, the rack barcode 10a of sample rack (6) is not read, and the reading operation of the container barcodes 5a at positions (1) to (6) of the sample rack (6) is skipped. As a result, the total time required is 43.1 seconds, which is shorter than that of the comparative example.

[0037] (Effects of Example 1) Figure 7 is a table summarizing the reading time for each number of sample racks 10 placed in Example 1, along with the comparative example. When six sample racks 10 are placed on the SR disk 3, the reading time is longer than that of the comparative example, but when five or fewer sample racks 10 are placed, the reading time is shorter than that of the comparative example. Overall in Example 1, the reading time was 11.85 seconds shorter on average than that of the comparative example, and in particular, when only one sample rack 10 was placed, the reading time was 28.1 seconds shorter than that of the comparative example.

[0038] Example 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 8-10. In Example 2, after attempting to read the rack barcode 10a for all rack mounting spaces on the first pass of the SR disk 3, the container barcode 5a at positions (1) to (6) is read only for the sample rack 10 corresponding to the rack barcode 10a that was read on the second pass of the SR disk 3.

[0039] Figure 8 is a table summarizing the time required for rotation (movement) of the SR disk 3 and barcode reading in Example 2, for each operation pattern. According to Figure 8, the time required for the main operation patterns is as follows: The operation pattern that involves rotating the SR disk 3 from the home position to the position where the rack barcode 10a of the sample rack (1) faces the barcode reader 8, and reading the rack barcode 10a, takes a total of 1.6 seconds, the same as in Example 1 (Figure 4). The operation pattern that involves rotating the SR disk 3 from the home position to the position where position (1) of the sample rack (1) faces the barcode reader 8, takes 0.6 seconds. The operation pattern that involves rotating and reading positions (1) to (6) on the sample rack (n) takes a total of 5.9 seconds, the same as in Example 1 (Figure 4). The rotation pattern of the SR disk 3 from the position where the rack barcode 10a of the previous sample rack (n) faces the barcode reader 8 to the position where the rack barcode 10a of the next sample rack (n+1) faces the barcode reader 8 takes 1.6 seconds, the same as in Example 1 (Figure 4). The rotation pattern of the SR disk 3 from the position where the rack barcode 10a of the sample rack (6) faces the barcode reader 8 to the home position takes 1 second, the same as in Example 1 (Figure 4). The rotation pattern of the SR disk 3 from the position where the position (6) of the previous sample rack (n) faces the barcode reader 8 to the position (1) of the next sample rack (n+1) faces the barcode reader 8 takes 1.2 seconds. The rotation pattern of the SR disk 3 from the position where the position (6) of the sample rack (n) faces the barcode reader 8 to the home position takes 1 second.

[0040] (Example 2: When 6 sample racks are placed) Figure 9A is a table summarizing the time required for each operation when 6 sample racks 10 are placed on the SR disk 3 in Example 2. Each operation in Example 2 corresponds to one of the operation patterns defined in Figure 8. According to Figure 9A, the total time required is 53.6 seconds. Therefore, even in Example 2, if sample racks 10 are placed in all the rack placement spaces on the SR disk 3, the total time required will be longer than in the comparative example.

[0041] (Example 2: When 5 sample racks are placed) Figure 9B is a table summarizing the time required for each operation when 5 sample racks 10 are placed on the SR disk 3 in Example 2. Here, it is assumed that sample racks (1) to (5) are placed in rack placement spaces (1) to (5), and no sample rack is placed in rack placement space (6). In the case of Figure 9B, unlike in the case of Figure 9A, the rack barcode 10a of sample rack (6) is not read, and the reading operation of the container barcode 5a at positions (1) to (6) of the sample rack (6) is skipped. As a result, the total time required is 46.5 seconds, which is shorter than when 6 sample racks 10 are placed, but is still longer than in the comparative example.

[0042] (Example 2: When four sample racks are placed) Figure 9C is a table summarizing the time required for each operation when four sample racks 10 are placed on the SR disk 3 in Example 2. Here, it is assumed that sample racks (1) to (4) are placed in rack placement spaces (1) to (4), and no sample racks are placed in rack placement spaces (5) and (6). In the case of Figure 9C, the rack barcodes 10a of sample racks (5) and (6) are not read, and the reading operation of the container barcodes 5a at positions (1) to (6) of the said sample racks (5) and (6) is skipped. As a result, the total time required is 39.4 seconds, which is shorter than that of the comparative example.

[0043] (Effect of Example 2) Figure 10 is a table summarizing the reading times for each number of specimen racks 10 placed in Example 2, along with a comparative example. When 6 or 5 specimen racks 10 are placed on the SR disk 3, the reading time becomes longer than that of the comparative example. However, when the number of specimen racks 10 placed is 4 or less, it can be seen that the reading time becomes shorter than that of the comparative example. Overall in Example 2, the reading time is on average 9.4 seconds shorter than that of the comparative example. In particular, when only 1 specimen rack 10 is placed, the reading time is 27.1 seconds shorter than that of the comparative example.

[0044] Example 3 will be described based on FIGS. 11 - 14. Similar to Example 1, in Example 3, after reading the container barcodes 5a at all positions of the specimen rack 10 corresponding to the read rack barcode 10a, an attempt is made to read the next rack barcode 10a. However, in Example 3, the location where the rack barcode 10a is attached is different from that in Example 1.

[0045] FIG. 11 is a side view of the specimen rack 10 of the automatic analyzer 100 according to Example 3. In this example, the rack barcode 10a is attached to one end side in the circumferential direction of the wall surface on the outer peripheral side of the specimen rack 10. In this example, the SR disk 3 rotates in one direction (clockwise in FIG. 2) while reading each barcode, and completes reading all barcodes in one rotation. For example, when the rack barcode 10a attached to one end side of the specimen rack (1) is read, the operation of sequentially reading each container barcode 5a one by one is performed from the position at one end side to the position at the other end side of the specimen rack (1). Then, when the container barcode 5a at position (6) of the specimen rack (1) is read, an attempt is made to read the rack barcode 10a of the specimen rack (2). If it is read, the operation of sequentially reading each container barcode 5a one by one is similarly performed from the position at one end side to the position at the other end side of the specimen rack (2). On the other hand, if the rack barcode 10a of the specimen rack (2) is not read, the operation of reading the container barcode 5a of the specimen rack (2) is skipped.

[0046] FIG. 12 is a table summarizing the time required for the rotation (movement) of the SR disk 3 and the reading of the barcode for each operation pattern in Example 3. As shown in FIG. 12, the main operation patterns and the time required therefor in this example are basically the same as those in Example 1 (FIG. 4). However, for the operation pattern of rotating the SR disk 3 from the position where the barcode of the previous specimen rack (n) faces in front of the barcode reader 8 to the position where the rack barcode 10a of the subsequent specimen rack (n + 1) faces in front of the barcode reader 8 and reading the rack barcode 10a, in Example 1, a total of 1.6 seconds is required, whereas in Example 3, only 0.6 seconds in total is sufficient.

[0047] (Example 3: When six specimen racks are placed) FIG. 13 is a table summarizing the time required for each operation when six specimen racks 10 are placed on the SR disk 3 in Example 3. Each operation in Example 3 corresponds to any of the operation patterns defined in FIG. 12. According to FIG. 13, the total time required is 44.6 seconds. Therefore, it can be seen that even when the specimen racks 10 are placed in all the rack placement spaces of the SR disk 3, the total time required is shorter than that in the comparative example.

[0048] (Effect of Example 3) FIG. 14 is a table summarizing the reading time for each number of specimen racks 10 placed in Example 3 together with the comparative example. It can be seen that the reading time is shorter than that in the comparative example regardless of the number of specimen racks 10 placed. Overall in Example 3, the reading time is on average 15.18 seconds shorter than that in the comparative example. In particular, when the number of specimen racks 10 placed is one, the reading time is 29.1 seconds shorter than that in the comparative example.

[0049] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the placement portion is not limited to a disk shape such as the SR disk 3, and the shape of the specimen rack 10 is not limited to an arc shape.

[0050] 1: Incubator, 2: Reaction vessel, 3: SR disk, 4: Reagent bottle, 5: Sample container, 5a: Container barcode, 6: Reagent suction port, 7: Sample suction port, 8: Barcode reader, 9: Dispensing unit, 10: Sample rack, 10a: Rack barcode, 11: Dispensing pump, 12: Sample rack input port, 13: Washing tank, 14: Reagent stirring unit, 15: Spectrophotometer, 16: Detection unit, 17: Transport unit, 18: Dispensing tip, 19: Tip tray, 20: Container tray, 21: Disposal box, 22: Tip mounting position, 23: Tip disposal port, 24: Water tank, 25: Waste liquid tank, 26: First liquid bottle, 27: Washing solution bottle, 28: Pump for first liquid, 29: Pump for washing solution, 50: Control device, 51: Control unit, 52: Storage unit, 53: Input / output unit, 100: Automatic analyzer

Claims

1. An automated analyzer comprising: a mounting section on which a rack capable of holding multiple containers for holding specimens is mounted; a reading section for reading information stored in tags attached to the containers and the rack; and a control section for controlling the reading section, wherein the control section controls the reading section to read a first container tag attached to a first container mounted on the first rack when the reading section reads a first rack tag attached to a first rack, and controls the reading section not to perform the operation to read the first container tag when the reading section fails to read the first rack tag.

2. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the reading unit to read the second rack tag attached to the second rack after it has read the container tags attached to all the containers mounted on the first rack, or after it has failed to read the first rack tag.

3. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the reading unit to read the rack tags attached to all racks placed on the aforementioned mounting unit, and then read the tags attached to the containers mounted on the racks from which the rack tags were read.

4. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the rack is formed in an arc shape, the first rack tag is attached to one end of the first rack, the plurality of containers are mounted on the first rack along the arc from one end to the other end, and the control unit controls the reading unit to read the containers one by one in order from the container at the one end to the container at the other end after the reading unit has read the first rack tag.

5. A tag reading method comprising: when the reader unit reads a first rack tag attached to a first rack among a rack on which multiple containers for holding specimens can be mounted, the control unit controls the reader unit to read a first container tag attached to a first container mounted on the first rack; and when the reader unit fails to read the first rack tag, the control unit controls the reader unit not to perform the operation to read the first container tag.

Images