Abstract:
Clinical specimen processing apparatuses and clinical specimen processing systems are described, which are connectable to a management apparatus over a network.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-142639 filed May 12, 2004, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a clinical specimen processing apparatus and clinical specimen processing system, and specifically relates to a clinical specimen processing apparatus and clinical specimen processing system, which are connectable to a maintenance management apparatus and user management apparatus over a network.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     There are well known conventional automatic analyzers which process measurements over time, assay results, or analyzer abnormalities, and measurement operation abnormalities by means of electronic mail, which is then transmitted to a specific destination (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-308737).  
         [0004]     Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-308737 discloses an automatic analyzer which, when performing normal assays, transmits device measurements over time and assay results by electronic mail to a predetermined destination, such as the personal computer of the user of the analyzer, by a predetermined timing, and when abnormalities are generated in the device, transmit data indicating the content of the abnormality of the device by electronic mail to a predetermined destination, such as the personal computer of the user or the like, rapidly without waiting the predetermined timing. In this way the, as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-308737, the user of the automatic analyzer is quickly alerted to the abnormality when an abnormality occurs in the automatic analyzer.  
         [0005]     Smear preparation devices which prepare blood specimen smears, and hemocyte analyzers (blood analyzers) which analyze blood specimens to determine the number of blood corpuscles, hematocrit, or hemoglobin and the like, are known types of clinical specimen processing apparatuses. Since these devices must provide accurate and rapid specimen processing information, such as assay results and smear acceptability, any abnormality must be quickly reported to the maintenance company when the device stops working due to an abnormal occurrence in the device. Furthermore, since specimen processing information may include private information, such information must be handled with great care.  
         [0006]     When the art disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-308737 is applied to clinical specimen processing apparatuses and an abnormality is generated in the clinical specimen processing apparatus, data representing the content of the abnormality is transmitted to a predetermined destination, such as the personal computer of the user of the automatic analyzer, with the result that the user may be inconvenienced by the necessity of contacting the company which maintains the analyzer and providing the abnormality information. Therefore, a disadvantage is that there is an increased load on the user when abnormalities occur.  
         [0007]     When the art disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-308737 is applied to clinical specimen processing apparatuses, the predetermined destination to which the abnormality information is sent to is considered to be the maintenance company rather than the user. In this case, however, since the specimen processing information, such as the assay result which includes personal information, is also transmitted to the maintenance company with a predetermined timing, a new disadvantage is created, that is, the patient&#39;s private information is dispersed to the maintenance company.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,060 discloses art for transmitting predetermined status information indicating the historical operating status of an analyzer over a network to a management apparatus.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     One object of the present invention is to eliminate the previously described disadvantages by providing a clinical specimen processing apparatus and clinical specimen processing system which do not require the user to send information concerning abnormalities of the apparatus to a maintenance company, and prevent the private information included in the assay data of a specimen from being sent out.  
         [0010]     A first aspect of the present invention is a clinical specimen processing apparatus connectable over a network to a first management apparatus and a second management apparatus, the clinical specimen processing apparatus including a specimen processing apparatus for performing predetermined processing of clinical specimens, and a data processing apparatus comprising a first transmission means for transmitting status information representing the historical operating status of the specimen processing apparatus to the first management apparatus with a predetermined timing, a second transmission means for transmitting emergency information within the status information to the first management apparatus without waiting for the predetermined timing, and a third transmission means for transmitting specimen processing information obtained by predetermined processing of a clinical specimen to the second management apparatus.  
         [0011]     A second aspect of the present invention is a clinical specimen processing apparatus connectable over a network to a management apparatus, the clinical specimen processing apparatus including a specimen processing apparatus for performing predetermined processing of clinical specimens, and a data processing apparatus comprising a first transmission means for transmitting a first electronic mail of first information relating to the specimen processing apparatus in a predetermined format to the management apparatus with a predetermined timing; and a second transmission means for transmitting a second electronic mail of predetermined second information within the first information in a format which is different from the first electronic mail to the management apparatus without waiting for the predetermined timing.  
         [0012]     A third aspect of the present invention is a clinical specimen processing system connectable over a network to a management apparatus, the clinical specimen processing system including a first specimen processing apparatus for performing predetermined processing of clinical specimens, a second specimen processing apparatus for performing predetermined processing of clinical specimen, and a data processing apparatus comprising a first transmission means for transmitting status information representing the historical operating status of the first specimen processing apparatus to the management apparatus with a predetermined timing, a second transmission means for transmitting emergency information within the status information of the first specimen processing apparatus to the management apparatus without waiting for the predetermined timing, and a third transmission means for transmitting status information representing the historical operating status of the second specimen processing apparatus to the management apparatus with a predetermined timing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the general structure of the clinical specimen processing apparatus of the first embodiment;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a sample rack used in the clinical specimen processing apparatus of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart describing the information transmission operation of the blood analyzer of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating the information transmission operating on the specimen smear preparation apparatus side in the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating the operation of each apparatus including error generation by the specimen smear preparation apparatus, specimen smear preparation apparatus when starting shutdown, personal computer, and maintenance management apparatus in the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating the information transmission operation on the blood analyzer side in a second embodiment;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top view showing the general structure of the clinical specimen processing apparatus of a third embodiment;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a structural diagram showing the content of electronic mail including emergency information of the specimen smear preparation apparatus in the first embodiment;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a structural diagram showing the content of electronic mail including operating information of the specimen smear preparation apparatus in the first embodiment;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a table showing the content of the error log in the attached file of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a table showing the content of the operation count in the attached file of  FIG. 9 ; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a table showing the content of the maintenance parts and replacement parts log in the attached file of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0026]      FIG. 1  is a top view showing the general structure of a clinical specimen processing apparatus including a blood analyzer and a specimen smear preparation apparatus in a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a sample rack used in the clinical specimen processing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0027]     The general structure of the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  of the first embodiment is described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  of the first embodiment is provided with a blood analyzer  2 , specimen smear preparation device  3 , personal computer  4 , loader  5  with a sample rack  100  installed therein, conveyer  6  for transporting the sample rack  100 , unloader  7  for accommodating the used sample racks  100 , and transport controller  8  for controllably driving the loader  5 , conveyer  6 , and unloader  7 . Furthermore, the blood analyzer  2  and specimen smear preparation device  3  are arranged along the conveyer  6 .  
         [0028]     In the first embodiment, the personal computer  4  is connected over a network to a host computer (user management apparatus)  40  installed on the user side, maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  installed externally at the maintenance company, and portable terminal  60 . Furthermore, the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  is connected over the network to the portable terminal  60 . The clinical specimen processing system is configured by the host computer (user management apparatus)  40 , maintenance management apparatus (server)  50 , and clinical specimen processing apparatus  1 . The network may be a special network such as a telephone line, internet, intranet, or a network such as a local area network (LAN) and the like. Furthermore, the specimen smear preparation device  3  and transport controller  8  are also connected to the host computer  40  over the network. The host computer  40  is provided to perform information exchange and issue instructions to the specimen smear preparation device  3 , personal computer  4 , and transport controller  8 . The personal computer  4 , specimen smear preparation device  3 , and blood analyzer  2  are connected by respective communication cables.  
         [0029]     A plurality of sample racks  100  are used in the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  of the first embodiment. A plurality of sample containers  101  respectively containing blood samples are accommodated in each sample rack  100 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . A barcode label  200  provided with the sample identification information (ID) is adhered to each sample container  101 . A window  100   a  is provided on the side surface of the sample rack  100  so as to allow the barcode label  200  adhered on the sample container  101  to be read.  
         [0030]     The blood analyzer  2  is provided to collect and analyze the sample within the sample container  101 . In the first embodiment, the blood analyzer  2  includes a controller  2   a  which has the function of transmitting the analysis results and status information of the blood analyzer  2  to the personal computer  4 , and a barcode reader  2   b  for reading the barcode of the sample containers  101 . The controller  2   a  configured by a CPU, RAM, ROM and the like.  
         [0031]     The specimen smear preparation device  3  is installed in order to prepare specimen smears of samples which require specimen smear preparation based on the analysis result of the blood analyzer  2 . The specimen smear preparation device  3  is connected to the personal computer  4  and the host computer  40 . The specimen smear preparation device  3  includes a controller  3   a  which has the functions of transmitting specimen processing results such as whether or not the smear is acceptable to the host computer  40  and transmitting status information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the personal computer  4 , and includes a barcode reader  3   b  for reading the bar codes on the sample containers  101 . The controller  3   a  of the specimen smear preparation device  3  is configured by a CPU, RAM, ROM and the like.  
         [0032]     The personal computer  4  includes a controller  4   a  which has the functions of transmitting status information of the blood analyzer  2  and status information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  and transmitting analysis results of the blood analyzer  2  to the host computer  40 , and a memory  4   b  of storing the analysis results and status information of the blood analyzer  2  and status information and the like of the specimen smear preparation device  3 . The controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  is configured by a CPU, RAM, and ROM and the like. The controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  also stores programs sending and receiving and processing electronic mail.  
         [0033]     The operation of the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  of the first embodiment is described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 5 . First, the clinical chart information of the specimen provider (patient) is transmitted, for example, from an in-hospital database (not shown in the drawings) to the host computer  40  shown in  FIG. 1 . Then, when the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  operates, the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  starts when a sample rack  100  containing sample containers  101  is placed in the loader  5 . After the sample rack  100  is transported in the arrow A direction to the input end of the conveyer  6  adjacent to the loader  5 , the sample rack  100  is moved from the loader  5  to the conveyer  6 . The first sample rack  100  is transported in the arrow B direction by the conveyer  6 , and stopped in front of the blood analyzer  2 . Then, the barcode of the first sample container is read by the barcode reader of the blood analyzer  2 . Next, the blood analyzer  2  collects and analyzes the specimen in the sample container  101 , and sends the barcode and analysis result data (analysis numerical value of each item, and abnormality message determined from these numerical values) to the personal computer  4 . The personal computer  4  sends the barcode and analysis result to the host computer  40 . The analyzed sample container  101  is moved in the arrow B direction a distance equal to the pitch between sample containers, and the specimen in the next sample container is analyzed. In this way the specimens are sequentially analyzed.  
         [0034]     The information transmission operations of the host computer  40  on the blood analyzer  2  side and the maintenance management apparatus  50  are described in detail below with reference to  FIG. 3 . In step S 1 , the controller  2   a  of the blood analyzer  2  collects information from the sensors and the like which monitor the operation of the apparatus, and determines whether or not status information, such as error information indicating an operating abnormality, has been generated. When status information, such as error information indicating an operating abnormality, has been generated in step S 1 , the status information is transmitted from the blood analyzer  2  to the host computer  4  by the controller  2   a  of the blood analyzer  2  in step S 2 . Thereafter, a determination is made in step S 3  as to whether or not the blood analyzer  2  has started a shutdown procedure. The routine advances to step S 3  and makes this determination even when it is determined in step S 1  that status information has not been generated. When shutdown has started in step S 3 , then the shutdown start information is transmitted from the blood analyzer  2  to the host computer  4  by the controller  2   a  of the blood analyzer  2  in step S 4 , and the process ends. When it is determined that shutdown has not started in step S 3 , then in step S 5  a determination is made as to whether or not analysis has started. When it is determined in step S 5  that analysis has started, then in step S 6  a determination is made as to whether or not analysis result data (specimen processing information) have been generated. When it is determined that analysis result data have been generated, then in step S 7  the analysis result data are transmitted from the blood analyzer  2  to the host computer  4  by the controller  2   a  of the blood analyzer  2 . When it is determined in step S 5  that analysis has not started, the routine returns to step S 1 , and the routine returns to step S 1  even when it is determined in step S 6  that analysis result data have not been generated.  
         [0035]     The information transmission operation of the personal computer  4 , among the information transmission operations on the blood analyzer  2  side, is described below with reference to  FIG. 3 . The controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  determines whether or not status information of the blood analyzer  2 , such as error information, has been received in step S 11 . When it is determined that status information of the blood analyzer  2 , such as error information, has been received in step S 11 , the status information is stored in the memory  4   b  of the personal computer  4  in step S 12 . Thereafter, in step S 13 , a determination is made as to whether or not analysis result data of the blood analyzer  2  have been received. The routine advances to step S 13  and this determination is made even when it is determined in step S 11  that status information has not been received. When it is determined that analysis result data of the blood analyzer  2  have been received in step S 13 , the analysis result data (specimen processing information) is transmitted from the personal computer  4  over the network by the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  to the host computer  40 . Thereafter, in step S 15 , a determination is made as to whether or not shutdown start information has been received. The routine advances to step S 15  and this determination is made even when it is determined ion step S 13  that analysis result information has not been received. When it is determined in step S 15  that shutdown start information has been received, then in step S 16  the status information of the blood analyzer  2  stored in the memory  4   b  of the personal computer  4  is transmitted by the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  externally installed at the maintenance company, and the routine ends. When it is determined in step  15  that shutdown status information has not been received, the routine returns to step S 11 . In the first embodiment, the transmission of analysis result data from the personal computer  4  to the host computer  40  is accomplished by normal data communication without using electronic mail. The blood analyzer  2  and personal computer  4  repeat the process of steps S 5 ˜S 7  and S 13 ˜S 14  until the analysis of all specimens in the sample containers  101  of the sample rack  100  is completed.  
         [0036]     In the first embodiment, electronic mail is used when status information of the blood analyzer  2  is transmitted from the personal computer  4  to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  in step S 16 . Specifically, the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  divides the status information of the blood analyzer  2  into a plurality of types, creates a plurality of attachment files respectively corresponding to the plurality of types, and attaches the plurality of attachment files to a single electronic mail, which is transmitted to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50 . The status information of the blood analyzer  2  may be, for example, an error log representing the status of abnormality if the blood analyzer  2 , operation count representing the number of operations performed by the blood analyzer  2 , and maintenance parts and replacement parts log representing the maintenance parts and replaced parts. Various information, such as device ID, date, time, error code and the like, may be included for each abnormality information in the attachment file when the error log represents the status of abnormality information of the blood analyzer  2 . Furthermore, information such as the date, time, operation segment, and number of operations, may be included in the attachment file of status information of the operation count. The information transmission operation of the host computer  40  on the blood analyzer  2  side and the maintenance management apparatus  50  are performed.  
         [0037]     The host computer  40  determines whether or not a specimen requires a smear preparation based on the analysis result data of the blood analyzer  2  transmitted from the personal computer  4  by the process of step S 14 . A specimen smear preparation may be necessary, for example, when the analysis result of the specimen analyzed by the blood analyzer  2  includes an abnormality message. Furthermore, a specimen smear preparation may be unnecessary, for example, when the analysis result of the specimen analyzed by the blood analyzer  2  does not include an abnormality message. A sample rack  100 , which accommodates only specimens that the host computer  40  has determined do not require smear preparation, is moved past the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the unloader  7 . The transport control of the sample rack  100  in this case is accomplished by the transport controller  8  controllably driving the conveyer  6  based on instructions from the host computer  40 . In this way the sample rack  100  reaches the output end  6   a  of the conveyer  6 . Then the unloader  7  adjacent to the output end  6   a  of the conveyer  6  moves the sample rack  7  in the arrow C direction to receive the rack.  
         [0038]     A sample rack  100 , which accommodates specimens that the host computer  40  has determined require smear preparation, is moved to the specimen smear preparation device  3 . The transport control of the sample rack  100  in this case also is accomplished by the transport controller  8  controllably driving the conveyer  6  based on instructions from the host computer  40 . Then the barcode of each sample container  101  is read by the barcode reader  3   b  of the specimen smear preparation device  3 . The controller  3   a  of the specimen smear preparation device  3  transmits this barcode to the host computer  40 , and queries the host computer  40  as to whether or not smear preparation is necessary for the specimen having that barcode. When the host computer  40  determines that the specimen with that barcode requires smear preparation, the specimen smear preparation device  3  collects the specimen from the sample container  101  which requires smear preparation, and prepares a blood specimen smear.  
         [0039]     The information transmission operation of the host computer  40  on the specimen smear preparation device  3  side and the maintenance management apparatus  50  is described in detail below with reference to  FIG. 4 . The information transmission operation of the specimen smear preparation device  3  is described first below. In step S 21  in  FIG. 4 , a determination is made as to whether or not status information has been generated, such as error information or the like, for the specimen smear preparation device  3 . When it is determined that status information, such as error information or the like, has been generated for the specimen smear preparation device  3  in step S 21 , then in step S 22  the status information is transmitted from the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the personal computer  4  by the controller  3   a  of the specimen smear preparation device  3 . Thereafter, in step S 23 , a determination is made as to whether or not shutdown has started. The routine advances to step S 23  and this determination is made even when it is determined in step S 21  that status information has not been generated. When shutdown has started in step S 23 , then the shutdown start information is transmitted from the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the personal computer  4  by the controller  3   a  of the specimen smear preparation device  3 , and the routine ends. When shutdown has not started in step S 23 , then in step S 25  a determination is made as to whether or not the smear has started. When it is determined in step S 25  that the smear has started, then in step S 26  a determination is made as to whether or not acceptable smear data (specimen processing information) have been generated. When it has been determined that acceptable smear data (smear processing information) have been generated, then in step S 27  the controller  3   a  of the specimen smear preparation device  3  transmits the smear data from the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the host computer  40 . When it is determined in step S 25  that smearing has not started, the routine returns to step S 21 , and when it is determined in step S 26  that smear data (smear processing information) have not been generated, the routine also returns to step S 21 . In the first embodiment, the transmission of smear data from the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the host computer  40  is accomplished by normal data communication without using electronic mail.  
         [0040]     The information transmission operation of the personal computer among the information transmission operations on the specimen smear preparation device  3  side is described below with reference to  FIG. 4 . In step S 31 , a determination is made as to whether or not status information, such as error information or the like, for the specimen smear preparation device  3  has been received. When it is determined in step S 31  that status information, such as error information or the like, for the specimen smear preparation device  3  has been received, then the status information is stored in the memory  4   b  of the personal computer  4  in step S 32 . Then in step S 33  a determination is made as to whether or not status information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  stored in the memory  4   b  of the personal computer  4  is status information of an emergency (emergency information). Status information of an emergency (emergency information) means error information indicating a situation which is difficult for a user to deal with, and from which recovery is impossible without a service visit.  
         [0041]     The type of emergency information (error code) is set beforehand in the personal computer  4 . When the existence of emergency information is determined in step S 33 , controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  transmits the emergency information immediately, without waiting for shutdown, from the personal computer  4  over the network to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50 , in step S 34 . In the first embodiment, the emergency information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  is sent by electronic mail, and the information is sent in the text body of the electronic mail without creating an attached file. The body of the electronic mail in this case may include information such as, for example, the device ID, date, time, error code and the like.  
         [0042]     The specific form of the electronic mail including emergency information (emergency error mail) is shown in  FIG. 8 . The emergency error mail shown in  FIG. 8  is configured by a transmission origin mail address  301 , transmission destination mail address  302 , subject header  303 , and text body  304 . The subject header  303  adds the text “ERROR” to the device ID so as to alert the reader that emergency information is included. The text body  305  includes a transmission number (153), device ID (SP-1000i″13713″11001), date of error generation (2004/02/21), time of error generation (16:15:39), and error code (113005). The error code 113005 represents a vacuum abnormality supplied from the vacuum source for creating a vacuum in the specimen smear preparation device  3 . Since the device ID, date, time, and error code information are written directly in the text body, the maintenance company which receives the emergency error mail at the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  can respond quickly to the apparatus abnormality. Furthermore, if service personnel of the ma9ntenance company is alerted of the emergency error mail via a portable terminal (notebook computer, portable telephone), the emergency error mail is extremely effective compared to electronic mail alters via attached files described later and which cannot be opened on some portable terminals since the device ID, data, time, and error code are written directly in the text body.  
         [0043]     When it is determined in step S 31  that status information such as error information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  has not been received, when it is determined in step S 33  that status information of an emergency (emergency information) does not exist, when it is determined in step S 35  that shutdown start information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  has not been received, then the routine returns to step S 31 . Furthermore, when it is determined in step S 35  that shutdown start information has been received, the personal computer  4  which received the shutdown start information transmits the status information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  stored in the memory  4   b  of the personal computer  4  over the network to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  using electronic mail by means of the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4 .  
         [0044]     In the transmission process of the status information during shutdown, all status information of the specimen smear preparation device  3 , including the status information for emergency (emergency information) is transmitted from the personal computer  4  to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  over the network. Furthermore, the status information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  is transmitted by creating attachment files for each type of status information and sent as an attached file by electronic mail. The types of status information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  may be, for example, an error log representing the status history of abnormality information of the specimen smear preparation device  3 , operation count representing the number of operations performed such as number of smears and number of stainings and the like, and maintenance parts and replacement parts log representing the maintenance parts and replaced parts. Various information, such as device ID, date, time, error code and the like, may be included for each abnormality information in the attachment file when the error log represents the status of abnormality information of the specimen smear preparation device  3 . Furthermore, information such as the date, time, operation segment such as smear and staining, and number of operations, may be included in the attachment file of status information of the operation count.  
         [0045]     The specific form of the electronic mail with file attachment is shown in  FIG. 9 . The electronic mail shown in  FIG. 9  is configured by a transmission origin mail address  401 , transmission destination mail address  402 , subject header  403 , error log file attachment  404 , operation count file attachment  405 , and maintenance parts and replacement parts log file attachment  406 . The subject header  403  has the device ID so as to alert the reader as to the object device. The error log file attachment  404  shown in  FIG. 10  is a table configured by the transmission number ( 501 ), device ID number  502 , error generation date  503 , error generation time  504 , and error code  505 . The error code 113005 represents a pressure abnormality of the vacuum supplied from the vacuum source used by the device, and 161100 represents a blood suction abnormality. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the operation count file attachment  405  is a table configured by the operation generation date  511 , operation generation time  512 , segment  513 , and operation number  514 . In segment  513 ,  1  indicates the stain count,  2  represents the slide glass operation count, and  3  represents the total slide glass count. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the maintenance parts and replacement parts log file attachment  406  is a table configured by the replacement date  521 , replacement time  522 , and maintenance parts and replacement parts information  523 . In the maintenance parts and replacement parts information  523 ,  13  indicates ink ribbon replacement,  16  indicates buffer solution replacement, and  12  indicates slide glass replacement. In this way the error frequency can be quickly ascertained and error classification can be easily understood by the error code  505  by allocating the content of the error to the error code. Furthermore, breakdowns can be estimated from the operation count by knowing the operation count of each part of the device by means of the segment  513 . Which parts have been replaced can be known and next replacement dates can be estimated by the maintenance parts and replacement parts information  523 . The file attachment electronic mail alert format allows a large quantity of data to be transmitted, and the file attachment can be read by commercial spreadsheet software, thereby being effective for processing large quantities of data.  
         [0046]     In this way the information transmission operations are accomplished by the host computer  40  on the specimen smear preparation device  3  side and the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50 .  
         [0047]     The operation of each device of the specimen smear preparation unit  3 , personal computer  4 , and maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  is described below when an error (abnormality) and shutdown operation are generated in the specimen smear preparation device  3  with reference to  FIG. 5 . The processes of steps S 22   a , S 24   a , S 32   a ˜S 34   a , and S 36   a  shown in  FIG. 5  respectively correspond to steps S 22 , S 24 , S 32 ˜S 34 , and S 36  shown in  FIG. 4 . First, when an error (abnormality) is generated in the specimen smear preparation device  3 , the error information is transmitted from the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the personal computer  4  by the controller  3   a  of the specimen smear preparation device  3 . The error information is saved in the memory  4   b  of the personal computer  4 , as shown in step S 32   a . Then, in step S 33   a , a determination is made as to whether or not the stored error information is an emergency error. An emergency error is defined as an error which is difficult for the user to deal with and which is difficult to recover from without a visit from service personnel of the maintenance company. The types of emergency error (error code) are set beforehand in the personal computer  4 . A minor error which is recoverable from the user side is not an emergency error. Then a determination is made in step S 33   a  by the personal computer  4  as to whether or not the stored error information is the error code of an emergency error set beforehand.  
         [0048]     When the personal computer  4  determines that the error information is emergency error information in step S 33   a , then in step S 34   a  an emergency error mail (electronic mail) is transmitted from the personal computer  4  to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  installed at the maintenance company. In this case the content of the emergency error is written in the text body of the electronic email and transmitted without attaching a file. When it is determined in step S 33   a  that the information is not emergency information, the process ends directly.  
         [0049]     The maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  which receives the emergency electronic mail performs an emergency service process in step S 41 . Specifically, service personnel from the maintenance company contacts the user by telephone or the like, and immediately visits the user to perform a recovery process on the specimen smear preparation device  3 .  
         [0050]     When shutdown has started in the specimen smear preparation device  3 , the controller  3   a  of the specimen smear preparation device  3  transmits a shutdown start information from the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the personal computer  4  in step S 24   a . Then, the personal computer  4  which received to the shutdown start information transmits the error status stored in the memory  4   b  of the personal computer  4  to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  in step S 36   a . On the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  side, the normal service process is performed in step S 42 . In the normal service process, the status information is checked for the day after the shutdown was performed to determine whether or not maintenance is required, and processes such as sending service personnel and the like are performed as necessary.  
         [0051]     In the present embodiment, status information such as error information and the like of the specimen smear preparation device  3  is transmitted over a network from the personal computer  4  to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  installed externally at the maintenance company, and smear data (specimen processing information) of the specimen smear preparation device  3  is transmitted over the network from the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the host computer  40  on the user side, and therefore the user is not required to contact the maintenance company to send status information such as error information and the like of the specimen smear preparation device  3 , and smear data which include private information such as patient ID and the like is prevented from being sent to the external maintenance company.  
         [0052]     In the first embodiment, among the status information of the specimen smear preparation device  3 , the emergency information (emergency error information) of an emergency which is difficult to recover from on the user side is transmitted over a network to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  immediately without waiting a predetermined timing, therefore when such an error, which is difficult to recover from, is generated on the user side, the maintenance company where the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  is installed is immediately informed of the abnormality and quickly respond to perform maintenance. Furthermore, status information is transmitted periodically to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  by transmitting status information to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  during shutdown of the specimen smear preparation device  3 .  
         [0053]     In the first embodiment, status information and emergency information are transmitted from the personal computer  4  to the maintenance management apparatus  50  using electronic mail, and specimen processing information is transmitted from the personal computer  4  to the host computer  40  by normal data communication without using electronic mail, such that the transmission of information to the external maintenance management apparatus  50  can be accomplished by electronic mail, and transmission of information to the in-house host computer  40  can be accomplished by normal data communications without using electronic mail.  
         [0054]     In the first embodiment, the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  transmits status information as a file attachment to electronic mail to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50 , and transmits emergency information in the text body of the electronic mail to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50 , such that the content of the emergency information can be readily understood simply by reading the text body of the electronic mail, thereby allowing the manager of the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  to quickly respond. Furthermore, the content of status information which is not emergency information can be readily understood by opening the file attachment.  
         [0055]     In the first embodiment, the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  divides the status information into a plurality of types, creates a plurality of file attachments corresponding to the respective plurality of types, and attaches the plurality of file attachments to a single electronic mail which is transmitted to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50 , thereby simplifying the status information transmission operation on the personal computer  4  side because a plurality of types of status information are transmitted in a single electronic mail. Management is also easy on the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  side since the status information is classified into a plurality of types before management processes are performed on the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  side by dividing the status information into a plurality of types, and creating and transmitting a plurality of file attachments corresponding to the respective plurality of types as file attachments to a single electronic mail.  
         [0056]     In the first embodiment, the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  transmits status information not only of the specimen smear preparation apparatus  3  but also the status information of the blood analyzer  2  over a network to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50 , such that the status information of both the specimen smear preparation apparatus  3  and the blood analyzer  2  can be transmitted to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  using a single personal computer  4 .  
         [0057]     Although the electronic mail is transmitted to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  in the first embodiment, electronic mail also may be transmitted directly from the personal computer  4  to the portable terminal  60 ; furthermore, after once transmitting electronic mail to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  at the maintenance company, the electronic mail may be transmitting from the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  to the portable terminal  60 .  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0058]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating the information transmission operation on the blood analyzer side in a second embodiment of the present invention. Described below with reference to  FIG. 6  is the case in which not only the emergency information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  but also the emergency information of the blood analyzer  2  is transmitted immediately from the personal computer  4  to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  without waiting for shutdown in the second embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment. The apparatus structures of the clinical specimen processing apparatus of the second embodiment is identical to the apparatus structures of the clinical specimen processing apparatus of the first embodiment.  
         [0059]     In the second embodiment, the specimen smear preparation device  3  performs the information transmission operations as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  in the same manner as in the first embodiment. That is, emergency information (emergency error information) of an emergency which is difficult to recover from on the user side is transmitted immediately over a network to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  without waiting a predetermined timing, and status information of the specimen smear p[reparation device  3  is transmitted to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  when the specimen smear preparation device  3  shuts down.  
         [0060]     In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the blood analyzer  2  performs the information transmission operation shown in  FIG. 6 . In the flow chart shown in  FIG. 6 , the processes of steps S 1 ˜S 7 , steps S 11 ˜S 12 , and steps S 13 ˜S 16  are identical to the information transmission process of the blood analyzer side of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . In the second embodiment, in step S 37  a determination is made as to whether or not the status information of the blood analyzer  2  stored in the memory  4   a  of the personal computer  4  is status information for an emergency (emergency information). The status information of an emergency (emergency information) is defined as error information or the like representing a condition which is difficult to deal with on the user side and which cannot be recovered without a visit from the service personnel of the maintenance company.  
         [0061]     The type (error code) of status information (emergency information) of emergencies of the blood analyzer  2  are set beforehand in the personal computer  4 . When emergency information is determined in step S 37 , then in step S 38  the emergency information of the blood analyzer  2  is transmitted immediately without waiting for shutdown by the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  over the network to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  by electronic mail. In this case the emergency information is transmitted as content in the text body of the electronic mail. The mail text body includes, for example, device ID, date, time, and error code.  
         [0062]     When it is determined in step S 37  that the status information is not status information of an emergency (emergency information), steps S 13  and S 14  are performed (same steps as in  FIG. 3 ), and in step S 15  a determination is made as to whether or not shutdown start information has been received from the blood analyzer  2 , and when it determined that shutdown start information has not been received the routine returns to step S 11 . When it is determined in step S 15  that shutdown start information has been received, then in step S 16  the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  which received the shutdown start information transmits the status information of the blood analyzer  2  stored in the memory  4   b  of the personal computer  4  over the network to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  by electronic mail. The electronic mail transmission process in this case is identical to the transmission process described in step S 16  of  FIG. 3 , and the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  divides the status information into a plurality of types, creates a plurality of file attachments respectively corresponding to the plurality of types, and attaches the plurality of file attachments to a single electronic mail which is transmitted to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50 .  
         [0063]     In the second embodiment, not only emergency information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  but also emergency information of the blood analyzer  2  is transmitted from the personal computer  4  to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  without waiting for shutdown, such that not only emergency information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  but also emergency information of the blood analyzer  2  can be transmitted to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  in real time. In this way when an abnormality occurs which is difficult to recover from on the user side, whether in the specimen smear preparation device  3  or blood analyzer  2 , the maintenance company where the maintenance management device (server)  50  is installed is immediately informed of the abnormality. As a result, maintenance can be performed quickly for not only the specimen smear preparation device  3  but also the blood analyzer  2 .  
       Third Embodiment  
       [0064]      FIG. 7  is a top view showing the general structure of a clinical specimen processing apparatus of a third embodiment of the present invention. Described below with reference to  FIG. 7  is the case in which not only the status information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  but also the smear data (specimen processing data) are transmitted from the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the personal computer  4  in the second embodiment, which differs from the first and second embodiments.  
         [0065]     In the clinical specimen processing apparatus  61  of the third embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the status information and smear data (smear processing data) of the specimen smear preparation device  3  are transmitted by the controller  3   a  of the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the personal computer  4 . Then, the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  transmits the smear data (smear processing data) from the personal computer  4  to the host computer  40 , and transmits the status information of the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50 .  
         [0066]     The transmission of the barcode read by the barcode reader  3   b  of the specimen smear preparation device  3  and the query as to whether or not to prepare a specimen smear is performed from the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the host computer  40  through the personal computer  4 . In other respects the device structure and operation of the third embodiment is identical to the first embodiment.  
         [0067]     In the third embodiment, the status information and smear data (specimen processing data) of the specimen smear preparation device  3  are transmitted from the specimen smear preparation device  3  to the personal computer  4 , and, therefore, the status information can be easily transmitted to the maintenance management apparatus (server)  50  of the maintenance company, and the specimen processing information of the smear data which includes private information such as patient ID and the like can be easily transmitted to the user host computer  40  using the personal computer  4 .  
         [0068]     The embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limited to the provided examples. The scope of the present invention is expressed in the scope of the claims and not in the description of the embodiments, and includes all modifications which are within the scope and meaning of equivalence of the claims.  
         [0069]     Although the present invention has been described by way of examples applied to clinical specimen processing apparatus including a specimen smear preparation device and blood analyzer in the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these applications inasmuch as the invention is also applicable to other clinical specimen processing apparatuss. For example, the present invention is also applicable to clinical specimen processing apparatuss such as immunoassay devices which determine the concentration of cancer-marker antibodies or antigens and infectious disease, blood coagulation measuring devices which measure coagulation function, biochemical analyzers which measure enzyme activity as an indicator of organ function and serum total protein, urine qualitative analyzer for determining the presence/absence of proteins, sugars, and red blood cells in urine specimens, and urine sedimentation analyzers for quantifying red blood cells, white blood cells, epithelial cells, cast, and bacteria.  
         [0070]     Although the examples in the above embodiments pertain to transmitting status information from a personal computer to a maintenance management device when shutting down a device, the present invention is not limited to these examples inasmuch as status information also may be transmitted from a personal computer to the maintenance management device when a device is started.  
         [0071]     Although the above embodiments have been described in terms of transmitting status information of an emergency (emergency error mail) to a maintenance management apparatus (server) installed at a maintenance company, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement inasmuch as status information of an emergency (emergency error mail) also may be transmitted to a notebook computer and portable telephone of service personnel of the maintenance company.  
         [0072]     Although the above embodiments are described in terms of transmitting status information and status information of an emergency (emergency information) to a maintenance management apparatus (server) using electronic mail, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement inasmuch as status information and status information of an emergency (emergency information) also may be transmitted to a maintenance management apparatus (server) by data communication methods other than electronic mail.