Abstract:
A clinical specimen processing apparatus are described, a representative one of which includes: an operation means for conducting operations to perform predetermined processing of clinical specimen; a detection means for detecting a operating condition of the operation means which performs the predetermined processing; comparison means for comparing a detection value detected by the detection means to a first threshold value and a second threshold value; and a determination means for determining whether or not the operation means is in any one of three condition stages.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-179051 filed Jun. 17, 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 more specifically relates to clinical specimen processing apparatus and clinical specimen processing system which can be connected to a maintenance management device over a network.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Automatic analyzers are known which process measurement time-courses and measurement results, or analyzer abnormalities and measurement operation abnormalities in electronic mail, which is then transmitted to a predetermined 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 normally transmits measurement time-courses and measurement results in electronic mail with a predetermined timing to a predetermined destination, such as a personal computer or the like used by the user of the analyzer, and which, when an abnormality occurs in the analyzer, rapidly transmits data representing the content of the device abnormality in an electronic mail to the predetermined destination, such as a users personal computer, without waiting for the predetermined timing. In this way the user of the automatic analyzer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-308737 is quickly made aware of the abnormality when an abnormality occurs in the automatic analyzer.  
         [0005]     Also known are blood smear preparation apparatuses which prepare smear specimens of blood samples, and blood corpuscle analyzers (blood analyzers) which analyze blood samples for the number of blood corpuscles, hematocrit, hemoglobin or the like. In these clinical specimen processing apparatuses, adjustments are required when components gradually deteriorate with use. For example, normal operations cannot be performed when a component deteriorates, which necessitates halting the operation of the apparatus for component replacement and adjustment. In the art of the aforesaid patent publication, the user or the like is notified of the abnormal condition of the apparatus.  
         [0006]     Since component deterioration generally progresses gradually, the operation of the apparatus may be within a tolerance range (‘tolerance condition’ hereafter) for some time, but the specimen processing results may be affected because the apparatus is not operating normally up until the previously mentioned abnormality occurs. When an apparatus in this tolerance condition is used continuously, the operational performance also continues inexorably until an abnormality occurs, at which point the operation of the apparatus must be stopped. If one is ware of the tolerance condition of the apparatus, it is possible to perform apparatus maintenance and parts replacement before the abnormality occurs, so as to reduce the number of times the operation of the apparatus must be stopped, although art for detecting the tolerance condition of the apparatus is not disclosed in the aforesaid patent publication.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     An object of the present invention is to eliminate the previously mentioned problems by providing a clinical specimen processing apparatus and clinical specimen processing system capable of recognizing whether or not an apparatus is in an operation tolerance limit condition of the apparatus without affecting the sample processing results although the apparatus is not operating normally.  
         [0008]     The clinical specimen processing apparatus of a first aspect of the invention provides a clinical specimen processing apparatus including an operation means for conducting operations to perform predetermined processing of clinical specimen; a detection means for detecting a operating condition of the operation means which performs the predetermined processing; comparison means for comparing a detection value detected by the detection means to a first threshold value and a second threshold value; and a determination means for determining whether or not the operation means is in any one of three condition stages.  
         [0009]     The clinical specimen processing apparatus of a second aspect of the invention provides a clinical specimen processing apparatus including an operation means for conducting operations to perform predetermined processing of clinical specimen; a detection means for detecting a operating condition of the operation means which performs the predetermined processing; and a determination means for determining whether or not the operation means is in one among a normal condition, a first abnormal condition in which operation may be continued, and a second abnormal condition in which operation cannot be continued.  
         [0010]     The clinical specimen processing system of a third aspect of the invention provides a clinical specimen processing system including a clinical specimen processing apparatus comprising a plurality of operation means for conducting operations to perform predetermined processing of clinical specimen; a detection means for detecting the operating condition of each of the operation means; a determination means capable of determining when an operation means is not in a normal condition but is in a tolerance limit condition and still capable of operation based on the detection result; and a transmission means for transmitting information representing the tolerance limit condition when the determination result for a specific operation means is a tolerance limit condition; and a management device comprising: a receiving means for receiving information transmitted by the transmission means; and an information analyzing means for analyzing the received information.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a plan view showing the general structure of a clinical specimen processing system provided with a clinical specimen processing apparatus and external maintenance management device in an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a blood smear preparation device and transport device in the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the internal structure of the blood smear preparation device shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a plan view showing the suctioning/dispensing mechanism of the blood smear preparation device shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing the third suction discharge unit of the staining section of the blood smear preparation device of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a fluid flow path diagram showing the supply path of the staining fluid supplied to the third suction discharge unit of the staining section of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating condition verification performed by the controller of the blood smear preparation device in the operation to raise the dispensing pipette of the suction/dispensing mechanism shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating condition verification performed by the controller of the blood smear preparation device in the operation to retract the dispensing pipette of the suction/dispensing mechanism shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating condition verification performed by the controller of the blood smear preparation device in the chamber suctioning operation shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating condition verification performed by the controller of the blood smear preparation device in the chamber discharge operation shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating the information transmission operation performed by the controller of the personal computer shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a flow chart illustrating the information transmission operation performed by the controller of the personal computer in a modification of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a table showing the content of an error log;  FIG. 14  shows the content of an electronic mail with the attached error log of  FIG. 12 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  is a structural diagram showing the content of an electronic mail, which includes urgent information of the blood smear preparation device;  
         [0025]      FIG. 16  is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of the controller of the blood smear preparation device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 17  is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of the personal computer of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 18  is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of the maintenance management device (server) of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     The embodiments The embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter based on the drawings.  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a plan view showing the general structure of a clinical specimen processing system provided with a clinical specimen processing apparatus and external maintenance management device in an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a blood smear preparation device and transport device.  FIGS. 3 through 5  illustrate the structure of the blood smear preparation device, and  FIG. 6  is a fluid flow path diagram showing the supply path of the staining fluid supplied to the third suction discharge unit of the staining section of the blood smear preparation device.  
         [0030]     The general structure of the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  of the present embodiment is described below with reference to  FIG. 1 . The clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  of this embodiment is provided with a blood smear preparation device  2 , transport device  3 , and personal computer  4 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The personal computer  4  is connected over a network to a maintenance management device (server)  5  installed off-site at a maintenance company. The clinical specimen processing system is configured by the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1 , blood smear specimen preparation device  2 , transport device  3 , personal computer  4 , and maintenance management device (server)  5 . A dedicated network such as a telephone line or the like, or a network such as the internet, intranet, LAN or the like may be used as the aforesaid network.  
         [0031]     The blood smear preparation device  2  is provided to prepare smear specimens of blood samples. The blood smear preparation device  2  includes a controller  2   a , and is connected to the personal computer  4 . In the present embodiment, the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  is configured as a CPU, ROM, RAM and the like. The controller  2   a  has a function of performing the operation control of the blood smear preparation device  2 , a function of determining the occurrence of an abnormal condition in the blood smear preparation device  2 , a function of determining the occurrence of a warning condition in which there is a high possibility of future impairment compared to the normal condition of the blood smear preparation device  2 , and a function of transmitting information on the abnormality condition and warning condition (abnormal information and warning information) of the blood smear preparation device  2  to the personal computer  4 . Furthermore, the transport device  3  is installed on the front of the blood smear preparation device  2 , and has an input unit  3   a  and a pick-up unit  3   b . The transport device  3  is provided to automatically convey a sample rack  100 , which accommodates test tubes  101  containing blood, to the blood smear preparation device  2 .  
         [0032]     The structure of the controller  2   a  is described in greater detail below using  FIG. 16 . The controller  2   a  is mainly configured by a CPU  50   a , ROM  50   b , RAM  50   c , I/O interface  50   d , and image output interface  50   e , which are respectively connected by a bus. The CPU  50   a  is capable of executing programs stored in the ROM  50   b  and programs loaded in the RAM  50   c . The ROM  50   b  is a mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM or the like, and stores programs executed by the CPU  50   a , and data and the like used by the programs. The RAM  50   c  is an SRAM or DRAM or the like. In the present embodiment, the RAM  50   c  is a nonvolatile RAM. The RAM  50   c  is used when reading the programs stored in the ROM  50   c . The RAM  50   c  is also used as the work area of the CPU  50   a  when programs are executed. The CPU  50   a  reads the programs stored in the ROM  50   b  to the RAM  50   c , and displays an operation screen and setting screen on the display operation unit  2   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2  through the image output interface  50   e . The input information, such as settings and the like, from the display operation unit  2   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2  is transmitted to the CPU  50   a  through the I/O interface  50   d , and stored in the RAM  50   c . The CPU  50   a  exchanges data with the personal computer  4  through the I/O interface  50   d.    
         [0033]     In the present embodiment, the personal computer  4  is provided with a controller  4   a  for transmitting the condition information (abnormality information and warning information) of the blood smear preparation device  2  to the maintenance management device (server)  5 , and the controller  4   a  includes a memory for saving the condition information (abnormality information and warning information) of the blood smear preparation device  2 . The controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  includes a CPU, ROM, RAM and the like. The controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  stores programs for transmitting and receiving and processing electronic mail.  
         [0034]     The structure of the personal computer  4  is described below in greater detail using  FIG. 17 . The personal computer  4  is mainly configured by a controller  4   a , display  62 , and input unit  63 . The controller  4   a  is mainly configured by a CPU  61   a , ROM  61   b , RAM  61   c , hard disk  61   d , reading device  61   e , I/O interface  61   f , and image output interface  61   h , which are connected through a bus. The CPU  61   a  is capable of executing computer programs stored in the ROM  61   b , and computer programs loaded in the RAM  61   c . The ROM  61   b  is a mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM or the like, and stores programs executed by the CPU  61   a , and data and the like used by the programs. The RAM  61   c  is an SRAM or DRAM or the like. The RAM  61   c  is used when reading computer programs stored in the ROM  61   b  and the hard disk  61   d . The RAM  61   c  is used as the work area of the CPU  61   a  when the computer programs are executed. The hard disk  61   d  contains the installed operating system, application programs and the like, and the various computer programs and data used in the execution of the computer programs executed by the CPU  61   a . The hard disk  61   d  also stores an electronic mail client program (MUA) for sending, receiving, and processing electronic mail. The reading device  61   e  is configured mainly by a floppy disk drive CD-ROM drive, or DVD-ROM drive or the like, and is capable of reading the computer program  64   a  or data stored on a portable storage medium  64 . The CPU  61   a  exchanges data with the blood smear preparation device  2  through the I/O interface  61   f . A communication interface  61   g  is, for example, and internet interface, which provides a connection which allows data communication between the personal computer  4  and the maintenance management device (server)  5  over a network. A CPU  71   a  exchanges data with the maintenance management device (server)  5  through a communication interface  61   g.    
         [0035]     The structure of the maintenance management device (server)  5  is described below using  FIG. 18 . The server  5  is configured mainly by a body  71 , display  72 , and input unit  73 . The body  71  is mainly configured by a CPU  71   a , ROM  71   b , RAM  71   c , hard disk  71   d , reading device  71   e , I/O interface  71   f , image output interface  71   h , and communication interface  71   g , which are connected through a bus  71   i . The CPU  71   a  is capable of executing computer programs stored in the ROM  71   b , and computer programs loaded in the RAM  71   c . The ROM  71   b  is a mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM or the like, and stores computer programs executed by the CPU  71   a , and data and the like used by the programs. The RAM  71   c  is an SRAM or DRAM or the like. The RAM  71   c  is used when reading computer programs stored in the ROM  71   b  and the hard disk  71   d . The RAM  71   c  is used as the work area of the CPU  71   a  when the computer programs are executed. The hard disk  71   d  contains the installed operating system, application programs and the like, and the various computer programs and data used in the execution of the computer programs executed by the CPU  61   a , The reading device  71   e  is configured mainly by a floppy disk drive, CD-ROM drive, or DVD-ROM drive or the like, and is capable of reading the computer program  74   a  or data stored on a portable storage medium  74 . The communication interface  71   g  is, for example, an internet interface, and is connected so as to allow data communication between the maintenance management device (server)  5  and the personal computer  4  over a network. The CPU  71   a  exchanges data with the personal computer  4  through the communication interface  71   g.    
         [0036]     The overall structures of the blood smear preparation device  2  and transport device  3  are described below with reference to  FIGS. 2 through 6 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the blood smear preparation device  2  is provided with, in addition to the controller  2   a , a touch panel display operation unit  2   b , and member  2   c  for conveying test tubes  101  containing blood from the transport device  3  side to the blood smear preparation device  2  side. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the blood smear preparation device  2  is provided with is provided with a suction/dispensing mechanism  21 , smearing unit  22 , resin cassette  23 , cassette holder  24 , cassette conveyor  25 , slide glass insertion unit  26 , staining unit  27 , and storage unit  28 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , below the blood smear preparation device  2  are disposed a plurality of containers  80  which contain staining solution and rinse water and the like used in the staining unit  27 .  
         [0037]     The suction/dispensing mechanism  21  has the functions of suctioning blood from the test tube  101  conveyed to blood smear preparation device  2  side by the hand member  2   c  (refer to  FIG. 2 ), and dispensing the suctioned blood to the slide glass  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the suction/dispensing mechanism  21  includes a piasa (aspiration needle)  21   a  for suctioning blood from the test tube  101  (refer to  FIG. 2 ), dispensing pipette  21   b  for dispensing the suctioned blood to the slide glass  10 , support member  21   c  for supporting the dispensing pipette  21   b , front-back drive motor  21   d  for moving the support member  21   c  forward (arrow A direction in  FIG. 3 ) and backward (arrow B direction in  FIG. 3 ), sensor  21   e  for detecting the home position of the dispensing pipette  21   c  in the horizontal position by detecting a specific part of the support member  21   c , support member  21   f  for supporting the support member  21   c  and the front-back drive motor  21   d , raise-lower drive motor  21   g  for moving the support member  21   f  upward (arrow C direction in  FIG. 3 ) and downward (arrow D direction in  FIG. 3 ), and sensor  21   h  for detecting the home position of the dispensing pipette  21   c  in the vertical position by detecting a specific part of the support member  21   f.    
         [0038]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the smearing unit  22  is provided to supply a slide glass  10  to the dispensing/smearing position  90 , smear and dry the blood dispensed on the slide glass  10 , and label the slide glass  10 . The resin cassette  23  is constructed to be capable of accommodating the smeared slide glass  10  and the fluid (staining solution) used in the staining process. The cassette  23  includes a slide glass hole  23   a , and staining solution dispensing hole  23   b , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The slide glass hole  23   a  and the staining solution dispensing hole  23   b  are internal.  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cassette holder  24  is provided to accept a cassette  23  in the cassette carrier  25 , and includes a conveyor belt  24   a . Furthermore, the cassette carrier  25  is provided to convey a cassette  23  loaded in the cassette holder  24  to the slide glass insert unit  26  and the staining unit  27 . The cassette carrier  25  includes a cassette transport member  25   a  which is movable in a horizontal direction, and a transport path  25   b  to transport a cassette  23  supplied from the cassette holder  24 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Furthermore, the slide glass insert unit  26  shown in  FIG. 3  is provided to accommodate a slide glass  10 , which has been smeared and labeled, in a slide glass hole  23   a.    
         [0040]     The staining unit  27  shown in  FIG. 3  is provided to stain a smeared slide glass  10  by supplying a staining solution to a staining solution suction/dispensing hole  23   b  of the cassette  23  transported by the cassette transport member  25   a . The staining unit  27  includes a conveyor belt  27   a  for transporting the cassette  23 , and first through fifth suction and discharge units  27   a  to  27   f  for supplying and discharging staining solution to and from the cassette  23 .  
         [0041]     Using the third suction and discharge unit  27   d  as an example selected from among the first through fifth suction and discharge units  27   b  to  27   f , the structure of the third suction and discharge unit  27   d  and the staining solution flow path used by the third suction and discharge unit  27   d  are described below with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the third suction and discharge unit  27   d  includes a supply pipette  71  and discharge pipette  72  for supplying and discharging staining solution to the cassette  23 , pipette support member  73  for supporting the supply pipette  71  and discharge pipette  72 , and a drive mechanism  74  provided with a motor  74   a  and drive belt  74   b  for moving the cassette support member  73  in vertical directions (arrow E direction in  FIG. 5 ). The third suction and discharge unit  27   d  is constructed so as to supply and discharge staining solution to the cassette  23  by moving the supply pipette  71  and discharge pipette  72  in vertical directions using the drive mechanism  74 .  
         [0042]     Next, the flow path for supplying staining solution from the supply pipette  71  of the third suction and discharge unit  27   d  includes, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a chamber  81  for temporarily storing the staining solution, pressure regulator  82  for increasing and decreasing the pressure in the chamber  81 , mixing chamber  83  for mixing the staining solution with a diluent for diluting the staining solution, diaphragm pump  84  for moving the staining solution between the chamber  81  and the mixing chamber  83 , and pressure regulator  85  for increasing and decreasing the pressure in the diaphragm pump  84 . The chamber  81  is connected to the container  80 , pressure regulator  82 , mixing chamber  83 , and outlet by means of pipes. The mixing chamber  83  is connected to the supply pipette  71  of the third suction and discharge unit  27   d  of the staining unit  27  by means of pipes. Furthermore, pipes  86 ,  87 , and  88  are respectively provided between the container  80  and chamber  81 , the chamber  81  and mixing chamber  83 , and the chamber  81  and the outlet. The diaphragm pump  84  is connected to a valve  87  by means of a pipe. The mixing chamber  83  is connected to a pipe which supplies diluent for diluting the staining solution.  
         [0043]     The chamber  81  has storage unit  81   a  which contains staining solution, and a float switch  81   b  provided within the storage unit  81   a , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The float switch  81   b  is formed of a material capable of floating on the staining solution, and is configured by a float member  81   d  within which is embedded a magnet  81   c , and a support rod  81   f  which has an internal reed switch  81   e  of the magnetic contact type to support the float member  81   d  so as to be movable in vertical directions. Furthermore, the reed switch  81   e  is embedded at a predetermined position in the support rod  81   f  and is capable of detecting thee magnetic force of the magnet  81   c  of the float member  81   d  when the staining solution reaches a stipulated amount within the storage unit  81   a . The float switch  81   b  is constructed so as to be turned ON when the magnetic force of the magnet  81   c  within the float member  81   d  is detected by the reed switch  81   e  of the support rod  81   f  when the float member  81   d  is near a predetermined position, and be turned OFF when the magnetic force of the magnet  81   c  within the float member  81   d  is not detected by the reed switch  81   e  of the support rod  81   f  when the float member  81   d  is removed from the predetermined position.  
         [0044]     The storage unit  28  shown in  FIG. 3  is provided to store the cassette  23  which contain slide glasses  10  stained by the staining unit  27 . The storage unit  28  is provided with a conveyor belt  28   a  for transporting the cassette  23 .  
         [0045]     The operation of the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  of the present embodiment is described below with reference to FIGS.  1  to  4  and FIGS.  6  to  10 . First, the clinical chart information of the person (patient) who supplied the specimen is input to a host computer not shown in the drawing. Then, the blood smear preparation device  2  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  collects a blood specimen from a test tube  101  held in the sample rack  100  transported by the transport device  3 , and prepares a blood smear specimen in accordance with the information from the host computer.  
         [0046]     When a blood smear specimen is prepared by the blood smear preparation device  2 , in an initial suction and dispensing operation, the sample rack  100 , which holds test tubes  101  containing blood samples, is placed in the input unit  3   a  of the transport device  3 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Then, an automatic suction start switch displayed on the display operation unit  2   b  is pressed. In this way the sample rack  100  is transported to the pick-up unit  3   b  of the transport device  3 . Then, after the hand member  2   c  of the blood smear preparation device  2  lifts and agitates the test tube  101  of the sample rack  100 , the test tube  101  is disposed in the suction/dispensing mechanism  21  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Next, the blood within the test tube  101  is suctioned by the piasa  21   a . Thereafter, the dispensing pipette  21   b  is moved forward (arrow A direction in  FIG. 3 ) and downward (arrow D direction in  FIG. 4 ) to the dispensing/smearing position  90  shown in  FIG. 3 , and subsequently blood is titrated (dispensed) from the dispensing pipette  21   b  to the slide glass  10 . After the dispensing operation, the dispensing pipette  21   b  moved upward (arrow C direction in  FIG. 4 ) and backward (arrow B direction in  FIG. 3 ) to return to the home position. When the dispensing pipette  221   b  is raised after the dispensing operation, the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  is driven with the dispensing pipette  21   b  disposed at a bottom edge position. In this way the support member  21   f  which supports the dispensing pipette  21   b  is moved in the arrow C direction in  FIG. 4 . Then, the drive of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  is stopped when the support member  21   f  is detected by the sensor  21   h . The operation of raising the dispensing pipette  21   b  is controlled by the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2 .  
         [0047]     The condition verification flow by the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  in the raising operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  of the present embodiment is described below with reference to  FIG. 7 . First, in step S 1 , the CPU  50   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  determines whether or not the operation of raising the dispensing pipette  21   b  performed by the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  has ended; when it has been determined that the dispensing pipette  21   b  raising operation has ended, the routine advances to step S 2 . Thereafter, in step S 2 , the CPU  50   a  counts the number of pulses of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  when the dispensing pipette  21   b  is raised (arrow C direction in  FIG. 4 ) by the raise-lower drive motor  21   g , and determines whether or not the number of pulses of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  required from the start to the end of the dispensing pipette  21   b  raising operation is within a range of 2700 or more but less than 3300. Then, when the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 2  that the number of pulses of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  required from the start to the end of the dispensing pipette  21   b  raising operation is within a range of 2700 or more but less than 3300, then the CPU  50   a  determines that the dispensing pipette  21   b  raising operation is a normal condition, and the routine advances to step S 9 . Then, when the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 2  that the number of pulses of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  required from the start to the end of the dispensing pipette  21   b  raising operation is not within a range of 2700 or more but less than 3300, then the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 4  whether the number of pulses of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  required from the start to the end of the dispensing pipette  21   b  raising operation is within a range of more than 2400 but less than 2700, or more than 3300 but less than 3600. Then, when the CPU  50   a  has determined in step S 4  that the number of pulses of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  required from the start to the end of the dispensing pipette  21   b  raising operation is within a range of 2400 or more but less than 2700, or 3300 or more but less than 3600, then in step S 5   a  warning condition of the dispensing pipette  21   b  raising operation is confirmed, and error code is called from the error code table, and saved as an error log in the RAM  50   c  (refer to  FIG. 16 ) of the blood smear preparation device  2 . Thereafter, the routine advances to step S 9 . The error code table allocates error codes to various warning conditions and is prepared beforehand, and is saved in the ROM  50   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 .  
         [0048]     Next, in step S 6 , the CPU  50   a  transmits warning information from the blood smear preparation device  2  to the personal computer  4 . Then, when the CPU  50   a  has determined in step S 4  that the number of pulses of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  required from the start to the end of the dispensing pipette  21   b  raising operation is not within a range of 2400 or more but less than 2700, or 3300 or more but less than 3600, then in step S 7  an abnormal (error) condition of the dispensing pipette  21   b  raising operation is confirmed, and error code is called from the error code table, and saved as an error log in the RAM  50   c  (refer to  FIG. 16 ) of the blood smear preparation device  2 . The error code table allocates error codes to various abnormal conditions and is prepared beforehand, and is saved in the ROM  50   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 . Then, in step S 8 , the CPU  50   a  displays an error display on the display operation unit  2   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 , and transmits error information to the personal computer  4 , whereupon the routine advances to step S 9 . In step S 9 , the CPU  50   a  determines whether or not to begin shutdown. When the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 9  to not begin shutdown, the routine returns to step S 1 . When the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 9  to begin shutdown, shutdown start information is transmitted to the personal computer  4 , and the blood smear preparation device  2  is shutdown and the process ends in step S 110 . In this way the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  can confirm the existing condition in the dispensing pipette  21   b  raising operation.  
         [0049]     When the dispensing pipette  21   b  is moved backward after being raised, the forward-back drive motor  21   d  is driven with the dispensing pipette  21   b  set at the front end position after the raising operation by the forward-back drive motor  21   d . In this way the support member  21   c  which supports the dispensing pipette  21   b  is moved in the arrow B direction in  FIG. 3 . Then, the drive of the forward-back drive motor  21   d  is stopped when the support member  21   c  is detected by the sensor  21   e . The operation of retracting the dispensing pipette  21   b  is controlled by the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2 .  
         [0050]     The condition verification flow by the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  in the retracting operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  of the present embodiment is described below with reference to  FIG. 8 . First, in step S 11 , the CPU  50   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  determines whether or not the operation of retracting the dispensing pipette  21   b  performed by the forward-back drive motor  21   d  has ended; when it has been determined that the dispensing pipette  21   b  retracting operation has ended, the routine advances to step S 12 . Thereafter, in step S 22 , the CPU  50   a  counts the number of pulses of the forward-back drive motor  21   d  when the dispensing pipette  21   b  is moved backward (arrow B direction in  FIG. 3 ) by the forward-back drive motor  21   d , and determines whether or not the number of pulses of the forward-back drive motor  21   d  required from the start to the end of the dispensing pipette  21   b  retracting operation is within a range of 270 or more but less than 330. Then, when the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 2  that the number of pulses of the forward-back drive motor  21   d  required from the start to the end of the dispensing pipette  21   b  retracting operation is within a range of 270 or more but less than 330, then the CPU  50   a  determines that the dispensing pipette  21   b  retracting operation is a normal condition, and the routine advances to step S 19 . When the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 12  that the number of pulses of the forward-back drive motor  21   d  required from the start to the end of the dispensing pipette  21   b  retracting operation is not within a range of 270 or more but less than 330, then the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 14  whether or not the number of pulses of the forward-back drive motor  21   d  is 240 or more but less than 270, or 330 or more but less than 360. Then, when the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 14  that the number of pulses of the forward-back drive motor  21   d  required from the start to the end of the dispensing pipette  21   b  retracting operation is within a range of 240 or more but less than 270, or 330 or more but less than 360, then a warning condition is confirmed for the dispensing pipette  21   b  retracting operation, an error code is called from the error code table and saved as an error log in the RAM  50   c  (refer to  FIG. 16 ) of the blood smear preparation device  2 . Thereafter, the routine advances to step S 19 . The error code table allocates error codes to various warning conditions and is prepared beforehand, and is saved in the ROM  50   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 .  
         [0051]     Next, in step S 16 , the CPU  50   a  transmits warning information from the blood smear preparation device  2  to the personal computer  4 . When the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 14  that the number of pulses of the forward-back drive motor  21   d  required from the start to the end of the dispensing pipette  21   b  retracting operation is not within a range of 240 or more but less than 270, or 330 or more but less than 360, then an abnormal (error) condition is confirmed for the dispensing pipette  21   b  retracting operation, an error code is called from the error code table and saved as an error log in the RAM  50   c  (refer to  FIG. 16 ) of the blood smear preparation device  2 . The error code table allocates error codes to various abnormal conditions and is prepared beforehand, and is saved in the ROM  50   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 . Then, in step S 18 , the CPU  50   a  displays an error display on the display operation unit  2   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 , and transmits error information to the personal computer  4 , whereupon the routine advances to step S 19 . In step S 19 , the CPU  50   a  determines whether or not to begin shutdown. When the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 19  to not begin shutdown, the routine returns to step S 11 . When the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 119  to begin shutdown, shutdown start information is transmitted to the personal computer  4 , and the blood smear preparation device  2  is shutdown and the process ends in step S 20 . In this way the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  can confirm the existing condition in the dispensing pipette  21   b  retracting operation.  
         [0052]     The smear operation is performed by the smearing unit  22  in parallel with the previously described suction and dispensing operation or after the suction and dispensing operation by the suction and dispensing mechanism  21 . In the smearing unit  22 , a slide glass  10  is supplied to the dispensing/smearing position  90  (refer to  FIG. 3 ), and blood is titrated onto the slide glass  10 , smeared and dried. After the blood sample information has been printed on the slide glass  10 , the labeled slide glass  10  is moved to the slide glass insert unit  26 . Next, the cassette  23  placed in the cassette holder  24  shown in  FIG. 3  is conveyed to the transport path  25   b  of the cassette transport unit  25  by a feed belt  24   a . Then, the cassette  23  is delivered to the slide glass insert unit  26  by the cassette transport member  25   a  of the cassette carrier  25 .  
         [0053]     In the slide glass insert unit  26  shown in  FIG. 3 , first a determination is made as to whether or not a slide glass  10  is set in the slide glass hole  23   a  of the cassette  23 . When it is determined that a slide glass  10  is set in the slide glass hole  23   a , the cassette is moved directly along the transport path to the staining unit  27  by the cassette transport member  25   a . In this case, the cassette  23  is moved to the storage unit  28  without undergoing the staining process by the staining unit  27 . Furthermore, in the slide glass insert unit  26 , when is has been determined that a slide glass  10  is not set in the slide glass hole  23   a  of the cassette  23 , a slide glass  10  insertion operation is performed to insert a slide glass  10  in the cassette  23  by the slide glass insert unit  26 , and thereafter the cassette  23  containing the smeared slide glass  10  is transported to the staining unit  27  by the cassette transport member  25   a.    
         [0054]     In the staining unit  27  of the present embodiment, the cassette  23  is transported by the conveyor belt  27   a , and in the first suction and discharge unit  27   b  through fifth suction and discharge unit  27   f , the smeared slide glass  10  in the cassette  23  are subjected to the staining process by sequentially dispensing and suctioning rinse water and staining solution through the staining solution suction and dispensing hole  23   b  of the cassette  23 . Furthermore, the fluids, such as staining solution, used in the staining process of the slide glass  10  are temporarily stored in the chamber  81 , and thereafter dispensed into the cassette  23  from the supply pipette  71 , as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0055]     Using the third suction and discharge unit  27   d  as an example selected from among the first through fifth suction and discharge units  27   b  to  27   f , the suction operation and the discharge operation are described below for the chamber  81  which temporarily stores the staining fluid dispensed into the cassette  23  with reference to  FIG. 6 .  
         [0056]     First, when the chamber  81  suction operation is performed, the valve  86  shown in  FIG. 6  is opened and the valve  88  is closed, and in valve  87  the flow path is closed between the chamber  81  and the mixing chamber  83 . Then, the pressure is reduced within the chamber  81  by the pressure regulator  82 . In this way staining solution in the container  80  moves into the chamber  81 . The float member  81   d  of the float switch  81   b  installed within the chamber  81  moves upward in conjunction with the inflowing staining solution. Then, the vacuum is released by the pressure regulator  82  when the float switch  81   b  is turned ON, and the staining solution suctioning operation by the chamber  81  ends.  
         [0057]     When the staining solution within the chamber  81  is moved to the mixing chamber  83 , the valves  86  and  88  are closed, and in the valve  87 , the flow path is opened between the chamber  81  and the diaphragm pump  84 . Then, the pressure is reduced within the diaphragm pump  84  by the pressure regulator  85 . In this way the staining solution within the chamber  81  is suctioned at a constant rate into the diaphragm pump  84 . Thereafter, in the valve  87 , the flow path is opened between the diaphragm pump  84  and the mixing chamber  83 . Then, the pressure is reduced within the diaphragm pump  84  by the pressure regulator  85 . In this way the staining solution within the diaphragm pump  84  is moved at a constant rate to the mixing chamber  83 . Then, after the staining solution is diluted in the mixing chamber  83 , the staining solution is supplied from the supply pipette  71  of the third suction and discharging unit  27   d  into the cassette  23 .  
         [0058]     Furthermore, when the chamber  81  discharge operation is performed, the valve  86  is closed and the valve  88  is opened, and in the valve  87 , the flow path is closed between the chamber  81  and the mixing chamber  83 . Then, the pressure is increased within the chamber  81  by the pressure regulator  82 . In this way the staining solution within the chamber  81  is discharged from the device through the outlet. The float member  81   d  of the float switch  81   b  installed within the chamber  81  moves downward in conjunction with the outflow of the staining solution. Then, the pressure is released by the pressure regulator  82  when the float switch  81   b  id turned OFF, and the staining solution discharge operation from the chamber  81  ends.  
         [0059]     The condition confirmation flow by the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  in the chamber  81  suction operation in the present embodiment is described below with reference to  FIG. 9 . First, in step S 21 , the CPU  50   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  determines whether or not the chamber  81  staining solution suction operation has ended; and when it has been determined that the chamber  81  staining solution suction operation has ended, the routine advances to step S 22 . Thereafter, in step S 22 , the CPU  50   a  measures the time required from the start of the chamber  81  staining solution suction operation until the suction operation ends when the float switch  81   b  is turned ON, and determines whether or not the chamber  81  suction operation has ended by whether the float switch  81   b  has been turned On within 5 seconds. When the CPU  50   a  has determined that the chamber  81  suction operation has ended when the float switch  81   b  is turned ON within 5 seconds in step S 22 , then in step S 23 , the CPU  50   a  determines that the chamber  81  suction operation is a normal condition, and the routine advances to step S 29 . When the CPU  50   a  has determined that the chamber  81  suction operation has not ended and the float switch  81   b  has not been turned ON within 5 seconds in step S 22 , then in step S 24 , the CPU  50   a  determines whether or not the chamber  81  suction operation has ended when the float switch  81   b  has been turned ON within 7 seconds. When the CPU  50   a  has determined that the chamber  81  suction operation has ended when the float switch  81   b  is turned ON within 7 seconds in step S 24 , then in step S 25 , the CPU  50   a  determines that the chamber  81  suction operation is a warning condition, and an error code is called from the error code table and saved as an error log in the RAM  50   c  (refer to  FIG. 16 ) of the blood smear preparation device  2 . Thereafter, the routine advances to step S 29 . The error code table allocates error codes to various warning conditions and is prepared beforehand, and is saved in the ROM  50   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 .  
         [0060]     In step S 26 , the CPU  50   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  transmits the warning information from the blood smear preparation device  2  to the personal computer  4 . When the CPU  50   a  has determined that the chamber  81  suction operation has not ended and the float switch  81   b  has not turned ON within 7 seconds in step S 24 , then in step S 27 , the CPU  50   a  determines that the chamber  81  suction operation is abnormal (error) condition, and an error code is called from the error code table and saved as an error log in the RAM  50   c  (refer to  FIG. 16 ) of the blood smear preparation device  2 . The error code table allocates error codes to various abnormal conditions and is prepared beforehand, and saved in the ROM  50   c  of the blood smear preparation device  2 . Then, in step S 28 , the CPU  50   a  displays an error display on the display operation unit  2   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 , transmits the error information to the personal computer  4 , and the routine advances to step S 29 . In step S 29 , the CPU  50   a  determines whether or not to begin shutdown. When the CPU  50   a  determines not to begin shutdown in step S 29 , the routine returns to step S 21 . When the CPU  50   a  determines to start shutdown in step S 29 , then in step S 30  shutdown start information is transmitted to the personal computer  4 , the blood smear preparation device  2  shuts down and the process ends. In this way the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  is able to confirm the condition in the chamber  81  suction operation.  
         [0061]     The condition confirmation flow by the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  in the chamber  81  discharge operation in the present embodiment is described below with reference to  FIG. 10 . First, in step S 31 , the CPU  50   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  determines whether or not the chamber  81  staining solution discharge operation has ended; and when it has been determined that the chamber  81  staining solution discharge operation has ended, the routine advances to step S 32 . Thereafter, in step S 32 , the CPU  50   a  measures the time required from the start of the chamber  81  staining solution discharge operation until the discharge operation ends when the float switch  81   b  is turned OFF, and determines whether or not the chamber  81  discharge operation has ended by whether the float switch  81   b  has been turned OFF within 2 seconds. When the CPU  50   a  has determined that the chamber  81  discharge operation has ended when the float switch  81   b  is turned OFF within 2 seconds in step S 32 , then in step S 33 , the CPU  50   a  determines that the chamber  81  discharge operation is a normal condition, and the routine advances to step S 39 . When the CPU  50   a  has determined that the chamber  81  discharge operation has not ended and the float switch  81   b  has not been turned OFF within 2 seconds in step S 32 , then in step S 34 , the CPU  50   a  determines whether or not the chamber  81  discharge operation has ended and the float switch  81   b  has turned OFF within 5 seconds. When the CPU  50   a  has determined that the chamber  81  discharge operation has ended when the float switch  81   b  is turned OFF within 5 seconds in step S 34 , then in step S 35 , a chamber  81  discharge operation warning condition is confirmed, and an error code is called from the error code table and saved as an error log in the RAM  50   c  (refer to  FIG. 16 ) of the blood smear preparation device  2 . Thereafter, the routine advances to step S 39 . The error code table allocates error codes to various warning conditions and is prepared beforehand, and is saved in the ROM  50   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 .  
         [0062]     In step S 36 , the CPU  50   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  transmits the warning information from the blood smear preparation device  2  to the personal computer  4 . When the CPU  50   a  has determined that the chamber  81  discharge operation has not ended and the float switch  81   b  has not turned OFF within 5 seconds in step S 34 , then in step S 37 , the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  confirms that the chamber  81  discharge operation is an abnormal (error) condition, and an error code is called from the error code table and saved as an error log in the RAM  50   c  (refer to  FIG. 16 ) of the blood smear preparation device  2 . The error code table allocates error codes to various abnormal conditions and is prepared beforehand, and saved in the ROM  50   c  of the blood smear preparation device  2 . Then, in step S 38 , the CPU  50   a  displays an error display on the display operation unit  2   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 , and transmits error information to the personal computer  4 , whereupon the routine advances to step S 39 . In step S 39 , the CPU  50   a  determines whether or not to begin shutdown. When the CPU  50   a  determines in step S 39  to not begin shutdown, the routine returns to step S 31 . When the CPU  50   a  determines to start shutdown in step S 39 , then in step S 40  shutdown start information is transmitted to the personal computer  4 , the blood smear preparation device  2  shuts down and the process ends. In this way the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  is able to confirm the condition in the chamber  81  discharge operation.  
         [0063]     The flow of the information transmission operation performed by the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  in the present embodiment is described below with reference to  FIG. 11 . First, in step S 101 , the CPU  61   a  of the personal computer  4  determines whether or not warning information or error information has been received from the blood smear preparation device  2 . When the CPU  61   a  determines in step S 101  that warning information or error information has been received, the routine advances to step S 102 . Thereafter, in step S 102 , the warning information and error information are saved on the hard disk  61   d  (refer to  FIG. 17 ), and the routine advances to step S 1103 . When the CPU  61   a  determines in step S 101  that warning information or error information has not been received, the routine advances to step S 103 . In step S 103  the CPU  61   a  determines whether or not shutdown start information has been received from the blood smear preparation device  2 . When the CPU  61   a  determines in step S 103  that shutdown start information has not been received, the routine returns to step S 101 . When the CPU  61   a  determines in step S 103  that shutdown start information has been received, then in step S 104  the warning information and error information are transmitted to the maintenance management device  5  by electronic mail, and the process ends. In this way the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  is able to transmit information received from the blood smear preparation device  2  to the maintenance management device  5  installed off-site at a maintenance company.  
         [0064]     Thereafter, the cassette  23  containing the smeared slide glass  10  is sequentially fed from the conveyor belt  27   b  to the conveyor belt  28   a  of the storage unit  28 . Then, the cassette  23  is transported by the conveyor belt  28   a  and stored in the storage unit  28 .  
         [0065]     The error log saved in the RAM  50   c  of the blood smear preparation device  2  is described below. A table illustrating an error log is shown in  FIG. 13 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the error log includes a serial number  201 , device ID number  202 , error generation date  203 , error generation time  204 , and error code  205 . The 22511 of the error code  205  is a code corresponding to a warning condition in the raising operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b , and the 141001 of the error code  205  is a code corresponding to an abnormal condition of the discharge operation of the chamber  81 . The error log is transmitted to the personal computer  4  and saved to the hard disk  61   d . The error log saved on the hard disk  61   d  is transmitted to the maintenance management device  5  by electronic mail by the CPU 50   a  of the personal computer  4 .  
         [0066]     The format of the electronic mail transmitted to the maintenance management device  5  is shown in  FIG. 14 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the electronic mail includes a transmission origin address  301 , transmission destination address  302 , subject header  303 , error log attachment file  304 , operation count attachment file  305 , and maintenance part and replacement part log attachment file  306 .  
         [0067]     The CPU  71   a  of the maintenance management device  5 , which has received the electronic mail with the error log attachment file, classifies the information contained in the error log for each error code, and calculates the frequency of occurrence of each error code. The CPU  71   a  classifies the condition of the blood smear preparation device  2  as warning condition and abnormal condition based on the calculated results.  
         [0068]     If a warning condition occurs more than a stipulated number of times, the CPU  71   a  a message indicating that the warning condition has occurred more than the stipulated number of times is displayed on the display  72  to alert the personnel of the maintenance company. The personnel who receives this message contacts the institution where the blood smear preparation device  2  is located, or discusses the circumstances with maintenance supervisors to devise countermeasures. A maintenance employee is dispatched to the concerned institution as necessary, and performs the required repairs and maintenance on the parts of the device associated with the warning condition.  
         [0069]     The CPU  71   a  of the maintenance management device  5  also may compares a occurrence count of the warning condition with a predetermined standard number occurrence, determines the requirements of repairs and maintenance on the parts of the device associated with the warning condition, and displays a message of the determined result on the display unit  72 .  
         [0070]     In the case of an abnormal condition, the CPU  71   a  of the maintenance management device  5  displays a message indicating abnormal condition on the display unit  72  to alert the personnel of the maintenance company. The personnel who receives this message contacts the institution where the blood smear preparation device  2  is located, and dispatches a maintenance supervisor to the concerned institution to perform the required repairs and maintenance on the parts of the device associated with the abnormal condition.  
         [0071]     The CPU  71   a  of the maintenance management device  5  also may transmit the notification of warning condition or abnormal condition of the blood smear preparation device  2  to the portable terminal of a maintenance employee.  
         [0072]     In the present embodiment described above, the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  is provided to compare the number of pulses of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  necessary from the start to the end of the raising operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 , a standard number of pulses of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  within a non-abnormal condition range of the raising operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2  (2700 and 3300: first threshold), and a standard number of pulses of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  for determining an abnormal condition of the raising operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2  (2400 and 3600: second threshold), such that the controller  2   a  is capable of easily determining a warning condition in which there is a high possibility of future damage compared to the normal condition of the raising operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 . Furthermore, the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  is provided to transmit over a network the warning information representing the warning condition of a high possibility of future damage compared to the normal condition in the raising operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2  to the maintenance management device (server)  5  installed off site, such that the maintenance company at which the maintenance management device (server)  5  is installed can easily confirm the warning condition of the raising operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 . In this way, the problem can be dealt with before a breakdown occurs in the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  since suitable maintenance can be performed at the stage before a breakdown occurs in the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  which includes the blood smear preparation device  2 . As a result, since the number of breakdowns is reduced in the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1 , there is a reduction in the number of times the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  is shutdown due to abnormality (breakdown) of the blood smear preparation device  2 .  
         [0073]     In the above embodiment, the controller  2   a  of the smear specimen preparation device  2  is provided to compare the signals (time and pulse number) detecting the operations and the respective first threshold value and second threshold value in the suction operation and discharge operation of the chamber  81 , and the retraction operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  in the same manner as the raising operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  described above, such that the controller  2   a  can easily determine a warning condition which has a high possibility of future breakdown compared to the normal condition in the suction operation and discharge operation of the chamber  81  and the retraction operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b , and the maintenance company at which the maintenance management device (server)  5  is installed can easily, by means of the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4 , confirm the warning condition of the suction operation and discharge operation of the chamber  81  and the retraction operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 .  
         [0074]     Furthermore, although a notification of the warning condition of the blood smear preparation device  2  is transmitted to the maintenance management device (server)  5  in the aforesaid embodiment, a warning condition having a high possibility of future breakdown also may be displayed on the operation display unit  2   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2  when the warning condition has occurred a standard number of times.  
         [0075]     In the above embodiment, the blood smear preparation device  2  receives notification of a warning condition or an abnormal condition from the maintenance management device  5 , and the maintenance personnel of the maintenance company contact the institution which owns the blood smear preparation device  2  with the warning condition or abnormal condition, however, a message indicating required maintenance or parts replacement of the target blood specimen preparation device  2  which has the warning condition or abnormal condition also may be transmitted from the maintenance management device  5  to the to the personal computer  4  connected to the blood smear preparation device  2 , and furthermore the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  may transmit this message to the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2 , and the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  which receives this message may display the message on the operation display unit  2   b . Moreover, this message also may be displayed on the display unit  62  of the personal computer  4 . In addition, the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  may also display a message indicating the need for maintenance and parts replacement of the associated part corresponding to the warning condition or abnormal condition on the operation display unit  2   b . In this way it is possible to inform a user of the need for parts replacement before the part is actually replaced, and the usage schedule of the blood smear preparation device  2  can be reevaluated by displaying a message indicating the need of parts replacement on the display unit  62  of the personal computer  4  or the operation display unit  2   b  of the blood smear preparation device  2 .  
         [0076]     The embodiment of the present disclosure is an example in all respects and is not to be considered as limiting in any way. The scope of the present invention is expressed in the claims and not in the description of the embodiments, and further includes all modifications within the scope of the claims and equivalent meanings appertaining thereto.  
         [0077]     Although the present invention is described by way of example in terms of a clinical specimen processing apparatus including a blood smear preparation device in the above embodiment, the invention is not limited to this arrangement and is further applicable to other clinical specimen processing apparatuses. For example, the present invention is also applicable to clinical specimen processing apparatuses such as blood corpuscle analyzers (blood analyzers) which analyze the number of blood corpuscles, hematocrit, hemoglobin and the like; immunoassay devices for determining infectious disease, cancer marker antigens or antigen concentration; blood coagulation measuring devices for determining coagulation function of serum and plasma samples; biochemical analyzers for measuring serum total protein, and enzyme activity as an organ function indicator; urine qualitative analysis device for determining urine protein, sugar, and presence/absence of red blood cells in urine samples; or urine sediment analyzers for quantifying red blood cells, white blood cells, epithelial cells, cast and bacteria.  
         [0078]     Although the example of the present embodiment describes transmitting condition information (warning information and error information) of the blood smear preparation device from a personal computer to a maintenance management device at shutdown of the blood smear preparation device, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement inasmuch as the condition information (warning information and error information) of the blood smear preparation device also may be transmitted from a personal computer to a maintenance management device at startup of the blood smear preparation device start. Furthermore, information requiring urgent attention among the error information and warning information also may be transmitted from a personal computer to a maintenance management device in real time without waiting for shutdown or startup.  
         [0079]     For example,  FIG. 12  is a flow chart illustrating the information transmission operation by the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  in a modification of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 11 . Referring to  FIG. 12 , in this modification condition conformation flow error information in each operation described in the flow chart of  FIGS. 7 through 10  is transmitted in real time from the personal computer  4  to the maintenance management device (server)  5  without waiting for the shutdown of the blood smear preparation device  2 . That is, in steps S 101  through S 102  shown in  FIG. 12 , after processing identical to that of steps S 101  through S 102  of  FIG. 11  is executed, then in step S 102  the CPU  61   a  of the personal computer  4  determines whether or not the error information saved on the hard disk  61   d  of the personal computer  4  is error information requiring urgent attention (urgent information). Then, in step S 201 , when the CPU  61   a  has determined that the error information is urgent information, then in step S 202  the urgent information is transmitted by means of electronic email immediately to the maintenance management device  5  without waiting for shutdown. When the urgent information is transmitted by electronic mail to the maintenance management device  5 , the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  halts subsequent operation of the blood smear preparation device  2 . Then, in step S 201 , when the CPU  61   a  has determined that the error information is not urgent information, then the routine advances to step S 103 , and the subsequent processes of step S 103  and thereafter are performed as shown in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0080]     The urgent information of the blood smear preparation device  2  is embedded within the text body of the electronic mail without preparing a file attachment, and transmitted to the maintenance management device  5 . For example, the device ID, date, time, error code and lie information are included in the text body of the electronic mail in this case.  
         [0081]     The specific format of the electronic mail (urgent error mail) containing the urgent information is shown in  FIG. 15 . The urgent error mail shown in  FIG. 15  includes the transmission original mail address  401 , transmission destination mail address  402 , subject header  403 , and text body  404 . The subject header  403  ads the text “ERROR” to the device ID, so that a reader knows at a glance that it is urgent information. Furthermore, The text body  405  includes a serial number ( 153 ), device ID (SP-1000iˆ13713ˆ11001), error generation date (2004 Feb. 21), error generation time (16:35:22), error code (141001). The error code 141001 indicates an abnormal condition in the discharge operation of the chamber  81  of the blood smear preparation device  2 .  
         [0082]     The CPU  71   a  of the maintenance management device  5  which received the urgent error mail displays the a message indicating the urgent abnormal condition of the blood smear preparation device  2  on the display unit  72  to alert the personnel of the maintenance company. The personnel who receives this message contacts the institution where the blood smear preparation device  2  with the urgent abnormal condition is located, and dispatches a maintenance supervisor to the concerned institution to perform the parts replacement of the parts of the device associated with the abnormal condition. The CPU  71   a  of the maintenance management device  5  also may transmit the notification of the abnormal condition of the blood smear preparation device  2  to the portable terminal of a maintenance employee.  
         [0083]     Although electronic mail is used in the aforesaid embodiment to transmit condition information (warning information and error information) of the blood smear preparation device to a maintenance management device (server), the present invention is not limited to this arrangement inasmuch as the condition information (warning information and error information) of the blood smear preparation device also may be transmitted to a maintenance management device (server) by data communication methods other than electronic mail.  
         [0084]     Although the example in the above embodiment describes the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  as having an electronic mail transmission function, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement inasmuch as the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  also may have an electronic mail transmission function. In this case, the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  does not require the personal computer  4 , and the structure of the clinical specimen processing apparatus  1  may be simplified.  
         [0085]     In the example described in the above embodiment, the warning information of the raising operation and retraction operation of the dispensing pipette  21   b  of the suction and dispensing mechanism  21  of the blood smear preparation device  2 , and the warning information of the suction operation and discharge operation of the chamber  81  which supplies staining solution to the third suction and discharge unit  27   d  of the staining unit  27  of the blood smear preparation device  2  are transmitted to a maintenance management device, however, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement inasmuch as the warning information of operations of other parts of the blood smear preparation device  2  also may be transmitted to the maintenance management device. For example, warning information of the raising operation of the piaso  21   a  of the suction and dispensing mechanism  21 , warning information of the suction operation and discharge operation of the chamber supplying staining solution and rinse water to the suction and discharge units other than the third suction and discharge unit  27   d  of the staining unit  27 , and warning information of the suction operation and discharge operation of the other chambers (for example, waste fluid chamber and the like) of the blood smear preparation device  2  also may be transmitted to the maintenance management device.  
         [0086]     Furthermore, in the above embodiment the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  is provided with a function for determining an abnormal condition of the blood smear preparation device  2 , and a function for determining a warning condition having a high possibility of future breakdown compared to the normal condition of the blood smear preparation device  2 , however, the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4  also may be provided with a function for determining an abnormal condition of the blood smear preparation device  2 , and a function for determining a warning condition having a high possibility of future breakdown compared to the normal condition of the blood smear preparation device  2 . In this case, the operation information of the blood smear preparation device  2  is transmitted from the controller  2   a  of the blood smear preparation device  2  to the controller  4   a  of the personal computer  4 , and the controller  4   a  determines the warning condition and abnormal condition of the blood smear preparation device  2  based on the received operation information. In the above embodiment, the operation information represents the number of pulses of the raise-lower drive motor  21   g  of the blood smear preparation device  2 , number of pulses of the forward-backward drive motor  21   d , time required for the float switch  81   b  to turn ON in the suction operation of the chamber  81 , and time required for the float switch  81   b  to turn OFF in the discharge operation of the chamber  81 .